Explains how wildebeest live and grow; discusses their migration, its purpose, and its route; and lists threats wildebeest may face on their migration.
Explains what insects are and how they live and grow; describes the scientific method; and includes experiments testing different insect concepts.
Explains what life cycles are and how plants and animals grow; describes the scientific method; and includes experiments testing different life cycle concepts.


text:
Alejandra Molina
@alemolina
amolina@scng.com
Alejandra Molina writes about immigration, race, and religion for the Southern California News Group. In her decade-long career, she has reported how gentrification has affected downtown Santa Ana, how racism contributes the high black infant death rate, and how President Donald Trump is impacting undocumented communities across Southern California.
2 L.A. men arrested on suspicion of burglary tied to 2 Colton Rite Aids
Colton police Sgt. Ray Mendez said the suspects had "large quantities of prescription narcotics in their possession."
3 arrested after Arcadia resident reports strangers in surveillance footage
All three suspects are from San Bernardino County.
With temperatures expected to reach 100, heat warning issued for parts of the Inland Empire
The warning was issued for from 11 a.m. Sunday to 8 p.m. Monday for the Coachella Valley and San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, the National Weather Service said.
Rialto woman denies posing as teen, sending threatening letters to Glendora school
The 39-year-old was charged Tuesday with 3 counts of criminal threats, 3 counts of false personation, and 2 counts of attempted false imprisonment by violence by fraud.
Rialto woman accused of making threats against Glendora Catholic school
The 39-year-old is suspected of sending threatening letters to St. Lucy's Priory High School
Hesperia, El Monte men charged in 2012 West Covina slaying of 18-year-old
Both men, who were arrested earlier this month, are being charged with committing murder with gang allegations, police said.
Colton police arrest man and woman in 2017 killing
Arturo Flores, 36, and Deborah Daniel, 38, both from San Bernardino, were arrested on suspicion of killing 37-year-old Oscar Hernandez, police said.
'The whole campus was just still;' South El Monte High students mourn slain teen in ceremony
A 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday on suspicion of fatally stabbing Jeremy Sanchez, whose body was discovered Wednesday.
Police arrest South El Monte teenager on suspicion of killing his 17-year-old boyfriend
April 19, 2018 at 9:15 a.m.
The death of the South El Monte High School student and athlete shocked family, friends and school staff after the teen was found dead Wednesday afternoon along the San Gabriel...
Deported U.S. Army veteran Hector Barajas gets big welcome back at home in Compton
Barajas lived in Tijuana, where in 2013 he founded the Deported Veterans Support House. It provides shelter for deported veterans and helps them apply for benefits provided by the U.S. Department...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
10/6/2016: LGC NCOE and industry experts provide technical training for future Coast Guard LNG fueled vessel inspectors
The Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise works with the private sector to train Coast Guard LNG fueled vessel inspectors.
The Coast Guard's Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise's (LGC NCOE) coordinated a four-day "LNG as Fuel Workshop" for future inspectors of LNG-fueled vessels. The LGC NCOE with support from industry experts and the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Center (MSC) and the Office of Design & Engineering Standards (CG-ENG), provided Coast Guard marine inspectors from across the U.S. with an in-depth understanding of LNG fueled engines, bunkering evolutions, risk analysis, membrane containment systems, type C tanks, vessel operations, plan review and firefighting techniques.
This team of 'LNG as Fuel' specialists was comprised of several industry representatives from ABS's Global Gas Solutions Team, Applied Cryogenic Technology, Chart Industries, Cheniere Energy, Conrad Orange Shipyard, DNV GL's Risk Advisory Services, Eagle LNG, Gaztransport & Technigaz, Harvey Gulf International, and Texas A&M's Emergency Services Training Institute.
The four-day workshop provided classroom instruction, exercises, a live LNG demonstration, a trip to see the construction of type C storage tanks and visit to the shipyard constructing the U.S.'s first LNG bunker barge. Those who attended will be using this training to inspect LNG fueled vessels being constructed and/or operated in ports around the country. There are already five LNG fueled vessels operating within the U.S. with several additional vessels under construction for US service.
The workshop's project coordinator, Lt. Ethan Lewallen of the LGC NCOE said in his opening remarks, "The use of Liquefied Gas as fuel for vessels is no longer a novel idea. Industry has recognized the need and the positive economic and environmental impact it has. LNG as a maritime fuel is already in ports throughout the US and growing."
He concluded his remarks by stating, "Liquefied gas as a fuel is still new for Coast Guard marine inspectors, so we need to work with technical staff internal to the Coast Guard and industry partners to determine how to best inspect these complex systems."
Coast Guard attendees and industry presenters from the LGC NCOE's LNG as Fuel Workshop during a visit to Applied Cryogenics Technologies to witness the construction of type C liquefied gas tanks. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
About LGC NCOE
The LGC NCOE is one of six nationwide national centers of expertise focusing on providing industry specific consultation and services to the Coast Guard and maritime industry. The LGC NCOE provides technical advice on matters related to liquefied gas in the maritime community; liquefied gas training and outreach opportunities; liquefied gas workforce forecasting and performance development; and technical expertise for the establishment of local and national liquefied gas guidance, policy and regulations.
9/28/2017: LGC NCOE and industry experts provide technical training for future USCG LNG fueled vessel inspectors
In "Design & Engineering Standards"
10/2/2015: LGC NCOE and industry experts provide technical training for future LNG fueled vessel inspectors
9/27/2018: LGC Nat'l Center of Expertise, industry experts provide technical training for future LNG fueled vessel inspectors
Categories: Design & Engineering Standards
Tags: american bureau of shipping, DNV GL, ethan lewallen, liquefied gas carrier national center of expertise, liquefied natural gas, marine safety center, office of design and engineering standards


What is a bottleless water cooler?
A bottleless water cooler is a machine that dispenses water without a bottle. Traditional coolers have a bottle on top that holds the liquid. A water dispenser without a bottle takes water directly from the waterline. This plumbed-in system offers a number of advantages over classic bottled coolers.
These bottleless units are sometimes called plumbed in, point of use, POU, direct line, inline, mains, tankless and jugless water dispensers. All of these names describe the same kind of no-bottle hydration station.
This article will teach you everything you need to know about buying a bottleless water cooler dispenser.
How does a bottleless water dispenser work?
Traditional water coolers use a bulky 3, 10 or 5 gallon jug that goes on top of a water dispenser stand. Point of use water cooler dispensers, on the other hand, don't use a bottle. Instead of using a jug that gets delivered or refilled like a pitcher, bottleless water machines tap into existing sink or water lines. This allows them to supply an endless flow of fresh filtered H2O.
POU water systems utilize filters to provide clean refreshing water. Most direct line coolers purify the water with carbon filtration. Carbon filters use bits of carbon like charcoal that strains the water at a molecular level, removing impurities and chemicals. Unlike other companies, Avalon bottleless water coolers add a second phase of filtration. This second phase is a sediment filter which removes lead, rust, and bacteria.
The other type of filtration used in some jugless water coolers is Reverse Osmosis. Reverse Osmosis is a water treatment process that removes contaminants from water by using pressure to force water molecules through a semipermeable membrane leaving clean, delicious drinking water. However, this method does waste a significant amount of water. For each gallon you keep you flush away 4-5 gallons.
While they're often called tankless most bottleless water coolers do in fact have two tanks inside of them. One for hot water and one for cold water. These reservoirs allow the user to pour their water at the perfect temperature every time. No waiting for the water to chill or heat up. There is usually enough hot and cold water in the dispenser that you'll never run out! Some direct line water coolers also dispense water right at room temperature.
What are the advantages of using a bottleless water cooler?
A lot of visitors wonder "Are bottleless water coolers better than bottled?" The answer is yes. You can objectively say that coolers without bottles are better. There are several great advantages of buying a bottleless water cooler over a traditional bottled water dispenser.
Just how much does a bottleless water cost to use? Getting water jugs used for coolers delivered by a company typically cost $0.79 per gallon. A bottleless water cooler only costs $0.02 per gallon. That's a 97% savings! Just switching one unit to a machine without a bottle could save you hundreds per year! Just think of what your office could do with those savings.
If the taste of your water is important to you, you need a bottleless water dispenser. H2O flows through the dual stage filters on our plumbed in water coolers. This purified water tastes better than bottled water that sits stagnant and tastes stale. You'll never taste water that's cleaner and more pure than this. With an Avalon jugless water dispenser, you get perfect water every time!
One of the biggest issues with water cooler jugs is that there is a finite amount of liquid each one can hold. If there is an issue with delivery or you accidentally miss a payment your home or office could be stuck with nothing cold and refreshing to drink. Cut the cord to the bottle delivery companies and switch to a direct line water cooler. With a plumbed-in dispenser, you get an endless supply of perfect hydration right from your tap. No more running out.
For most offices, space is at a premium. With a traditional water dispenser, you need to put the extra water jugs somewhere. Often they're put next to the cooler taking up floor space and cluttering the room. With a POU water cooler, the H2O flows through the waterline so there's no need to store those bulky water jugs.
Say goodbye to that heavy and awkward five-gallon jug you have to lift to replace each time the cooler runs out of water. A 5 gallon bottle of water weighs about 42 pounds. For many people lifting this much weight into the stand is no small task and could lead to injury.
With a Point of Use water cooler you can say goodbye to that and any resulting back pain. Once you've installed the hydration system, all you need to replace are the filters and enjoy your water. Say goodbye to accidental spills, heavy bottle changes, and storage issues.
The traditional gallon cooler is highly susceptible to airborne germs and contaminants. Some water companies may also use old plastic jugs that are exposed to other elements, which can cause chemicals from the plastic to leach into the water. This system doesn't have a bottle that needs to be changed, so employees don't come in direct contact with the water. With a no bottle H2O dispenser, your machine is completely sealed so outside contaminants don't reach your water. This greatly reduces any risk of drinking water contamination. Thanks to our dual filtration system, you know you'll be drinking the purest hydration imaginable.
Water delivery services require trucks to transport the heavy plastic jugs. This, of course, uses gasoline and puts out harmful emissions. On top of that, water jugs are made out of plastic, which is a material that doesn't biodegrade and can sit in a landfill. While you can recycle these vessels, continuing demand for them continues their production which is not good for the environment. Furthermore recycling the jugs uses even more water and energy. Since bottleless water dispensers purify your existing tap water, they'll instantly help you reduce your carbon footprint on the world. There aren't many items out there that can save you money and save the environment.
Why buy an Avalon water cooler?
Some water cooler companies charge monthly fees to rent a water cooler. With an Avalon bottleless water cooler, you own your water dispenser so there's no ongoing rental price. This saves you hundreds per year!
Avalon hydration machines are unique in that they use a 2 stage filter system. This gives drinkers the purest cleanest water they've ever enjoyed.
Our point of use water coolers feature attractive modern designs and intuitive controls. With a variety of colors and styles, you'll find a device that compliments your office or home decor. All of our units are Energy Star approved, UL listed and our filters are NSF certified.
Whether you want to buy a bottleless countertop water cooler for your kitchen or a standalone water dispenser for the office, Avalon has the best tankless water machines. Thanks to our 30-day money back guarantee and 5-star customer service you can purchase one knowing you'll be thrilled with our products. You can see just how thrilled our customers are with our bottleless water coolers on Amazon.
Buy a bottleless water coolers today! With an Avalon bottleless cooler, Get Perfect Water, Every Time.


MetCon is a true embodiment of Atlas as a whole, fusing together the longer, endurance style structure of the fitness side, while incorporating the format and metabolic conditioning of CrossFit workouts.
Perfect for fitness athletes that are curious about CrossFit, but aren't ready to commit to Elements quite yet. Also, an option for the fitness athletes that want to ramp up the intensity of their workouts.
A great alternative for CrossFit athletes that need to take a day off from heavy loads, but still want a workout that will leave them writhing on the ground like only a true MetCon can.


text:
// [START earthengine__apidocs__ee_geometry_rectangle_withindistance]
// Define a Rectangle object.
var rectangle = ee.Geometry.Rectangle(-122.09, 37.42, -122.08, 37.43);

// Define other inputs.
var inputGeom = ee.Geometry.Point(-122.090, 37.423);

// Apply the withinDistance method to the Rectangle object.
var rectangleWithinDistance = rectangle.withinDistance({'right': inputGeom, 'distance': 500, 'maxError': 1});

// Print the result to the console.
print('rectangle.withinDistance(...) =', rectangleWithinDistance);

// Display relevant geometries on the map.
Map.setCenter(-122.085, 37.422, 15);
Map.addLayer(rectangle,
             {'color': 'black'},
             'Geometry [black]: rectangle');
Map.addLayer(inputGeom,
             {'color': 'blue'},
             'Parameter [blue]: inputGeom');
// [END earthengine__apidocs__ee_geometry_rectangle_withindistance]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
HomeMaritime NewsRegionsAsiaMalaysia's Pengerang port to see new $1bn terminal
Malaysia's Pengerang port to see new $1bn terminal
Super User_2 | Jun 09, 2009
Kuala Lumpur: Oil and gas services provider, Dialog Group Bhd, plans to invest over $1bn to build a storage terminal and port facility in Pengerang, Johor, writes news site Bernama.
Its chairman/group managing director, Ngau Boon Keat, said the project would start early next year once it was found to be viable after a six-month feasibility study, including an environmental impact assessment.
"The project is expected to take up to 10 years to complete. It may be split into three phases and we will be inviting other partners such as multinational corporations involved in oil storage services to build and operate the terminal," he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Johor state government and State Secretary Johor (Inc) on the project here Monday.
Ngau said under the MOU, the parties would form a joint venture company to undertake the development of the terminal on 200 hectares of reclaimed land in south-east Johor.
"It will be the first independent deepwater terminal facility of its kind in South-East Asia," he said, adding that the terminal would be able to accommodate approximately four to 5m cubic metres of storage.
He said the demand for storage facilities in the region has increased despite the recent financial crisis and the proposed project, located adjacent to Singapore, was timely to meet the demand.
"We are aware that there is inadequate land for further expansion capacity in Singapore. This project will enable Johor to become an important petroleum logistics and trading hub," he said.
Singapore is the region's main hub for petroleum trading in the region.
Ngau said Singapore recently planned to develop underground and floating storage facilities that would cost 30-50% more than normal above-ground facilities thus making Dialog's proposed terminal more competitive.
Meanwhile, in a statement here today, Dialog said the proposed terminal would handle, store, blend and distribute crude oil and petroleum products with port facilities capable of handling very large crude carriers with a depth of up to 26 metres.
"This project will be the third major investment after Kertih Terminal and the Langsat Terminal, which will result in an increase in the sources of sustainable and recurring income in the future," it said. [09/06/09]


text:
Wonder Boy in Monster Land (Japans: スーパーワンダーボーイ モンスターワールド; Romaji: Wandā Bōi Monsutā Rando) is een computerspel dat werd uitgegeven door Sega. Het spel kwam in 1987 uit als arcadespel. Hierna volgden releases voor diverse homecomputers. Het spel is een zijwaarts scrollend platformspel. Het perspectief wordt weergegeven in de derde persoon.

Titel
Omwille van de eigenaardige licentiepolitiek van Westone, is de titel afhankelijk van het platform en regio waar het verscheen, zie Wonder Boy (computerspelserie) voor meer informatie.

Verhaal

Het verhaal speelt zich elf jaar na de gebeurtenissen in Wonder Boy waar Tom-Tom een boosaardige koning versloeg. Nu blijkt dat "Tom-Tom" de bijnaam is van Bock Lee Temjin, een inwoner van Wonder Land. Na het verslaan van de boosaardige koning kreeg hij een andere bijnaam "Wonder Boy".

Sinds kort wordt het land geteisterd door een draak met een leger van monsters, demonen en duivels waardoor "Wonder World" een "Monster World" werd. De oorspronkelijke bevolking is radeloos en schakelt de hulp in van Wonder Boy om de monsters en de draak te verdrijven. Bij start van het spel heeft Wonder Boy enkel een zwaard en levenselixer dat hem door de burgemeester werd geschonken.

Spelbesturing

Het spel is opgedeeld in twaalf levels met elk hun eigen eigenschappen, objecten, monsters en geheimen. De levels bestaan uit dorpen, valleien, woestijnen, eilanden en kastelen.

Wonder Boy kan diverse huizen betreden waar meestal items gekocht kunnen worden: extra levenselixer, betere wapens, ... Met behulp van het toestenbord of joystick (naargelang het platform) kan de speler Wonder Boy navigeren over het hoofdscherm, de huizen laten betreden, zijn standaard zwaard of gekochte wapens gebruiken en om te springen over/op diverse objecten.

Wonder Boy heeft een levensmeter die bij start van het spel uit vijf rode harten bestaat. Telkens als hij verwondingen oploopt, kleuren de harten geleidelijk aan in het zwart. Wanneer alle harten zwart zijn gekleurd, sterft Wonder Boy en is het spel afgelopen. Punten worden verzameld door vijanden te verslaan en schatten te vinden. De meeste vijanden zijn in het bezit van goudstukken die Wonder Boy in bezit krijgt na deze uit te hebben geschakeld. Verder is goud te vinden in verborgen plaatsen zoals in/achter bomen en wolken. Met het goud kan Wonder Boy voorwerpen aankopen in de winkels.

Naast de levensmeter is er ook een tijdsmeter. Wanneer de tijd op is, zal dit een negatieve invloed hebben op de levensmeter. Bijkomende tijd kan worden verzameld door zandlopers te verzamelen, zich te laten verzorgen in het ziekenhuis of zich te verfrissen in tavernes.

Er zijn verschillende soorten van gebouwen die Wonder Boy kan betreden waaronder:
 Schoenenwinkel: De gedragen schoenen hebben een invloed op de snelheid dat Wonder Boy kan lopen en/of de hoogte hij kan springen.
 Pantser: Het pantser heeft invloed in hoeverre Wonder Boy gewond geraakt.
 Schilden: Het schild heeft invloed op de manier waarop Wonder Boy aanvallen kan opvangen.
 Toverwinkel: Hier kan men betere wapens kopen die meestal een magische eigenschap bezitten.
 Taverne: De aangekochte dranken hebben een positieve invloed op de tijdsmeter. Verder verkrijgt de speler soms ook belangrijke informatie van de barman.
 Toekomstvoorspeller: De toekomstvoorspeller waarschuwt de speler voor gebeurtenissen die zich in de nabije toekomst zullen voordoen.
 Ziekenhuis: in het ziekenhuis kan men de levensmeter en/of tijdsmeter positief beïnvloeden.
 Verder zijn er nog huizen waar de speler een vijand moet verslaan om in bezit te komen van een sleutel om naar het volgende level te kunnen gaan, waar extra goud is verborgen of waar men een krachtiger zwaard kan vinden.
 Lokhuizen: dit zijn huizen waar niets te rapen valt of waar enkel een vijand zit.

Verder zijn er nog diverse schatten die de speler kan verzamelen, waarvan er sommige ook in de winkels te koop zijn, waaronder:
 Bijkomende punten: goud, waterkelken, halskettingen, harpen, spiegels, kronen
 Tijdsmeter: zandlopers, tijdselexir
 Levensmeter: hartjes, levenselexir
 Verdubbeling aanvalskracht: pantserhandschoenen en pantserhelmen
 Vliegen/Zweven: Schoenen met vleugels
 Tijdelijke onzichtbaarheid: magische mantel

Platforms

Ontvangst
Van het tijdschrift Power Play kreeg het spel in januari 1989 de titel beste videospel van 1988.

Computerspel uit 1987
Computerspel van Sega
Computerspel van Activision
Actiespel
Amiga-spel
Amstrad CPC-spel
Arcadespel
Atari ST-spel
Commodore 64-spel
PlayStation 3-spel
Sega Master System-spel
Wii Virtual Console-spel
MSX-spel
ZX Spectrum-spel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
The Influence of AI on Digital Marketing
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Marketing are two terms that in recent years have started to progress together hand-in-hand. The constant innovation and consistent development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to make significant and permanent changes to the world of Digital Marketing & Advertising. Here's how AI continues to change the game for marketers and advertisers alike.
In today's world, Artificial Intelligence, more commonly known as AI, is steadily increasing its presence in a plethora of different ways. From Siri to chatbots and Google's Alexa to predictive analytics, the possibilities are endless and the sky's the limit! There's no telling where AI developers are drawing the line with new innovations and updates constantly being revealed.
But what is Artificial Intelligence?
The official Oxford Dictionary definition for AI is "the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages."
When it was first introduced a few years back, many marketers and advertisers around the globe were a bit apprehensive and hesitant about embracing and incorporating Artificial Intelligence into their digital strategies. But with time, it is starting to become accepted as the future of Digital Marketing and may become the platform for future campaigns and advertising strategies.
AI is often improved & developed through Machine Learning. Machine Learning is essentially an application of Artificial Intelligence that provides computer systems with the ability to automatically learn and improve from past experiences without actually being programmed to do so by a human. It relies solely on a set of patterns and algorithms that it uses to train itself and make more accurate actions or assessments.
There are several types of AI applications and features that have already started revolutionising the digital marketing industry, however, we're only just getting started.
Narrow vs Strong AI
Let's start by explaining one fundamental difference. AI can be divided into two categories: Narrow AI & Strong AI.
Most of the Artificial Intelligence that we see integrated in today's digital marketing strategies is considered Narrow AI. That's because Narrow or Weak AI is focused on one narrow task. A prime example of Narrow AI is Apple's Siri or the Google Assistant.
Since Siri operates within a limited, pre-defined range of functions, it is the perfect example of narrow intelligence. She may be able to answer many of your questions, but that's because of the way Siri has been set up to answer your questions in certain ways, rather than come up with its own form of intelligence and develop its own answers.
On the other hand, Strong AI has the ability to apply its own intelligence to any problem, even if it has never come across it before. Systems with strong intelligence require consciousness & self-awareness that allow them to develop their own solutions to problems without any human intervention.
Today's AI
Over the last few years, Artificial Intelligence has strongly impacted advertisers' strategies as they continue to think of innovative ways to revolutionise their products, services and campaigns. For now, we'll be focusing on Narrow AI as this is the type of intelligence that can be found most prominently in today's digital marketing strategies. Let's have a look at a few ways in which AI has already influenced Digital Marketing.
One of the most crucial elements of a successful digital marketing strategy is ensuring a smooth, efficient and enjoyable customer experience. If you can't offer this to your user or customer, then there is little chance of him/her converting or returning in the future. Retaining customers costs far less than attracting new ones, so providing them with a positive experience is absolutely key.
AI has a significant role to play here. That's because its ability to gather data and decide which type of content is most relevant and suitable to a member of your target audience based on factors such as location and past behaviour & data is extremely important. It may give consumers the feeling that a certain brand offers them exactly what they're looking for, as if it was built in order to tailor their preferences.
A perfect example of this is the recent introduction of AR or Augmented Reality. Some retailers have implemented AI into their systems so that it allows customers to visually try out an item of clothing without actually putting it on. In fact, last year, Amazon patented a mirror that dresses you in virtual clothes so you can see whether you think something will look good on you before deciding whether to purchase.
Thousands of brands have in the last few years started communicating with customers and prospects through messaging applications such as Messenger & WhatsApp. That's because, nowadays, customers need to have the option of asking a question and receiving a quick and helpful response.
However, with the introduction of AI chatbots, users will get the impression that they're talking to a customer service member, when they're actually just talking to an automated tool bot. Chatbots are designed in a way so that they appear and feel more "human", enabling them to answer and reply to basic questions about a company's product or services.
This usually works by having the chatbot identifying certain keywords that the user mentions during the chat, allowing AI to do the rest and come up with a sufficient response. What's also great about these type of bots is that they can be made available 24/7, resulting in a decrease in call waiting time which in turn can have a positive impact on customer satisfaction.
Although these systems may not yet be able to accurately answer every question you may have, it is definitely the beginning of a new era and it can only improve from here on.
Voice Activated Assistance
Another great addition to AI was the introduction of voice search technology allowing users to get results in the quickest and most efficient way: verbally asking them. Introducing innovations such as Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant have revolutionised the way in which users search for answers as it allows them to do so in the simplest way possible: speech.
In fact, Google has recently disclosed that the overwhelming majority of its Google Assistant voice searches are done in a natural, conversational language tone as opposed to spelling out some relevant keywords as you might do when looking something up on Google.com
In order to implement an efficient mode of voice searches, advertisers and marketers may have to adapt some of their content so that it is closer to the way in which someone would verbally express themselves when it comes to a certain topic.
Employing an intelligent and effective form of voice searching can help a company significantly increase its organic traffic, which in turn may help bring in more revenue to the business.
Customer Behaviour Analysis
Another great aspect of AI is that it can also predict the behaviour of new and current users with the help of statistics gathered from past behaviours. This is made possible through the collection of data which AI can collect from users across the web as well as those interacting with your website.
By gaining these invaluable insights, you will be able to personalise your offers to customers according to their preference, which in turn allows you to target users more accurately, increasing their chances of converting.
Artificial Intelligence has the ability to spot behavioural patterns and other crucial insights based on previous data with more accuracy than anyone could ever have imagined years ago.
When we consider the fact that marketers often base their campaigns on buyer personas & data and information collected from buyer journeys, conducting a thorough analysis with the help of AI seems like the best possible solution.
Artificial Intelligence is growing and expanding rapidly, showing no signs of letting up. Slowly implementing AI into your digital marketing strategy is starting to become a must and is certainly a challenge that many companies and brands around the world are facing in today's ever-evolving marketing & advertising industry. What do you think of the implementation of AI into digital marketing? Are you as excited about the future as we are? Let us know!
Louai Nasser
The Rise of Voice Searches PT 1


text:
Shindler, A. Zeno (Antonio Zeno), 1823-1899
0.25 cu. ft. (1 half document box)
This collection consists of four watercolor paintings of Funk Island by Shindler. The paintings were based on sketches by Captain Joseph William Collins, who led an 1887 voyage of the schooner Grampus to Funk Island, off the coast of Newfoundland, to collect skeletal remains of the Great Auk for the USNM.
Donald H. Sultner-Welles Collection
Sultner-Welles, Donald H. (Sultner, Donald Harvey), 1914-1981
Janus, Allan
Hanfstaengl, Erna
87.6 Cubic feet (318 boxes)
This collection is primarily the work of one individual, Donald Harvey Sultner, known professionally as Donald Sultner-Welles (1914-1981). The collection forms a written and visual record of Sultner's family, life, and career from 1913-1980. Its major strength is Sultner's photographic documentation of the world during his travels, ca. 1950-1980. W...
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Office of the Deputy Director
These records were created between 1974 and 1995 by Stephen E. Weil during his tenure as Deputy Director, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (HMSG). The records consist of correspondence with other international and national museums and art institutions; correspondence concerning policies and legal questions raised by the public and ot...
Administrative Records
Smithsonian Institution. Office of the Under Secretary
This accession consists of the records of Constance Berry Newman, which document her activities as Under Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. The records consist of correspondence and memoranda; institution-wide museum and departmental information; budgetary files; legislation; and information pertaining to the traveling exhibition A...
National Museum of American Art. Office of Program Support
146.04 cu. ft. (5 record storage boxes) (280 document boxes) (1 5x8 box) (1 film box) (2 oversize folders)
The records of the Office of Program Support, National Museum of American Art, 1965-1981, with related records from 1947, were received in the Archives from 1981 through 1994.
66 cu. ft. (132 document boxes)
This collection consists primarily of reports, notebooks, notes, photographs, maps, and related materials documenting field research conducted by staff naturalists of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and its predecessor, the Bureau of Biological Survey. The reports, which primarily concern biological surveys conducted in the Un...
Tomás Ybarra-Frausto research material
Ybarra-Frausto, Tomás, 1938-
1.27 Gigabytes
AAA.ybartoma
The research material of Tomás Ybarra-Frausto, measures 33.1 linear feet and 1.27 GB and dates from 1965-2004. The collection, amassed throughout Ybarra-Frausto's long and distinguished career as a scholar of the arts and humanities, documents the development of Chicano art in the United States and chronicles Ybarra-Frausto's role as a community leader and scholar in the political and artistic Chicano movement from its inception in the 1960s to the present day.
Public Program Records
National Museum of American History. Department of Public Programs
This accession consists of the records of Shirley E. Cherkasky, who served as Coordinator of Performance Programs at the National Museum of American History (NMAH), Department of Public Programs, from 1983 to 1995. Also includes records that date back to when Cherkasky was Director of Museum Programs in the Division of Performing Arts, 19...
Henry Mosler papers
Mosler, Henry, 1841-1920
AAA.moslhenr
The papers of painter Henry Mosler (1841-1920), who began his career in Cincinnati, Ohio, lived in Germany and Paris for at least 2 decades, and finally settled in New York, measure 4.8 linear feet and date from 1856-1929. The collection documents Mosler's life and career through biographical material, personal and professional letters from members of the military, museums, family, friends and colleagues, writings including an 1862 Civil War diary, personal business records, printed material, artwork and sketchbooks, and photographs of Mosler, his family, colleagues and artwork.


Yes, we also purchase books from the bookstore, but somehow it's never the same.
A. If you go to purchase books for children, most of the characters are white.
Instead, guests purchase individual or books of tickets and only pay for what they ride.
Many schools even take their students to help them purchase books from the school's bookstore.
You can even purchase books prior to there hardcover release.
He was also instructed to purchase the required furniture and books for the school.
Out of $2500 donated, $1000 was used to purchase books for setting up a new library.
Since 1996, he has donated $7,500 per year to elementary schools to purchase books.
He said the size of the college allowed the fund to purchase books for everyone.
If so, then how do you purchase and download books?


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Car Buying Tips >
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Nissan 350Z Used Car Buyer's Guide
By Lyndon Bell
One of the brightest spots in all of motoring over the past 10 years, the Nissan 350Z was a charismatic sports car with a distinctive design, excellent performance and best of all, an affordable price.
Nissan's single most direct successor to the original 240Z from the 1970's, the 350Z was the fifth generation of Z cars from the company. After the 240Z was introduced, the model grew larger and heavier with each generation. The 240Z eventually evolved from a sleek two-seat sports coupe into a bloated Grand Touring car with odd proportions.
That is, until the introduction of the 1984 Nissan 300ZX.
The ultimate iteration of the concept of a Z as a GT car was universally praised, but it was also considerably more expensive than any Z before it. Despite this, it sold well for a while. But the booming economy in Japan and the strong Yen of the day continually pushed the price of the 300ZX ever higher. This factor, in combination with the then-blossoming love affair with the SUV, which led to a shrinking sports car market, pushed the 300ZX farther and farther off the table.
Eventually, Nissan had to discontinue it in 1996.
With the version of the Z introduced in 2002 as a 2003 model, Nissan took the concept all the way back to its roots. This new Z eschewed bloated GT aspirations and was instead a pure sports car. Designed around Nissan's front mid-engine platform, the 2003 350Z was endowed with outstanding agility. The VQ series Nissan V6 engine, roundly regarded a paragon of smoothness and tractability, was chosen to power the model. This engine embellished the remarkable agility of the 350Z with strong acceleration, a delightful exhaust note, and a high top speed.
An improvement in every measure over the preceding Z cars, the 2003 Nissan 350Z found ready favor among enthusiasts — along with a voracious market and strong sales. The Nissan 350Z ran from model years 2003 to 2009.
The 350Z went on sale in late 2002 as a two-seat coupe. A 350Z roadster came on line just in time for the spring of 2003, but as a 2004 model. The 350Z coupe was offered in five trim levels; Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track.
Base models offered automatic climate control, seventeen-inch wheels, ABS and electronic brake force distribution. There were also power accessories, a CD-based audio system and remote keyless entry.
To those elements, the Enthusiast model folded in Xenon headlights, cruise control, traction control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a limited-slip rear differential.
The better-handling 350Z Performance model stacked Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), a tire-pressure monitor and eighteen-inch wheels on top of the Enthusiast model's offerings.
To that kit, the Track model added front and rear spoilers, a lighter set of eighteen-inch wheels and a more robust braking system.
Acknowledging there would be a group of buyers more enamored with the look of the 350Z than its performance potential, Nissan's product people also specified a more luxury-oriented version of the car, called the Touring model. Heavier and softer, this iteration of the Z featured an upgraded audio system fed by a six-CD changer. Its heated leather seat's adjustments were power actuated. A DVD-based navigation system was optional, as were side airbags.
The sole engine offering was a 287-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 producing 274 ft-lbs of torque. In true sports car form, the six-speed manual transmission was the standard offering, while a five-speed automatic was optional.
The 350Z Roadster was introduced in two states of trim, Enthusiast and Touring, featuring the same elements of those models as the 350Z Coupe. Also for 2004, the Touring version of the coupe was the first iteration of the 350Z to offer satellite radio.
To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the introduction of the 240Z, a special 35th Anniversary 350Z was offered. Featuring Brembo brakes, eighteen-inch alloy wheels, an aero package and two-tone leather seats, the 35th Anniversary Edition 350Z actually presaged the horsepower increase all 350Z models equipped with manual transmissions would get for 2006. The 2005 35th Anniversary Edition 350Z's 3.5-liter V6 produced 300 horsepower, making it the first Z model to do so since the twin-turbo 300ZX was discontinued in 1996.
For MY'05, Nissan also gave the Z a tire pressure monitoring system as standard equipment. The outside mirrors were heated and the driver's seat gained height adjustment. The navigation system's software was reworked to enable it to calculate routes more quickly and he five-speed automatic transmission was reprogrammed to perform rev-matched downshifts.
In addition to the more powerful engine, a number of other changes improved the offering, while still maintaining the Z's most desirable sports car attributes. Right off the top, eighteen-inch wheels were made standard equipment across the board, as were Xenon headlights.
The appearance of the 2006 model was updated with a new front bumper, headlights and taillights. The interior was reworked as well, incorporating new cloth upholstery, revised controls for the climate system and a new navigation system.
The Performance model was dropped, but a new, Grand Touring model was added for both the coupe and the convertible. To Nissan's credit, rather than taking the Touring model's luxe aspirations farther, the Grand Touring package was designed to make the Touring model a better performer. The 2006 Nissan 350Z Grand Touring model featured a Brembo brake package, along with additional spoilers for better aero and stability control.
Another nice change was the addition of a staggered wheel set for the Grand Touring and Track models. With this setup, the 350Z ran eighteen-inch wheels in the front for better turn-in, and nineteen-inch wheels in the back for increased grip. These wheels, supplied by RAYS, were super lightweight forged alloys.
Engine output was bumped to an even 300 horsepower for models equipped with the six-speed manual transmission. The 350Z models equipped with five-speed automatic transmissions were kept to 287 horsepower.
Bluetooth connectivity made its first 350Z appearance in 2007. Also that year, side impact airbags were added to the model's roster of standard equipment.
Another horsepower bump in 2007 predicated the adoption of a new hood design for the 350Z. Rather than a warmed over version of the previous engine, this was essentially an all-new engine with a higher compression ratio, a higher redline, a more durable block, twin air intakes, and variable camshaft timing for the exhaust valves. The hood bulge was necessitated by the new intake system.
Further, the 306-horsepower engine fitted to 2007 350Z models could be found attached to both automatic and manual transmissions. BTW, while that 306 horsepower figure looks low considering all the work done to achieve it, it's important to note 2007 was the year the SAE recalibrated the way it quoted horsepower. In actuality, the 2007 350Z made some 20 horsepower more than the 2006.
And, just in time to take advantage of that newfound horsepower came the limited edition NISMO 350Z. NISMO is the acronym for Nissan Motor Sports, the tuner division of Nissan, similar in concept to AMG at Mercedes, or the M division at BMW.
The 2007 NISMO 350Z replaced the Track model in the Z's lineup and featured hand-welded seams for the Z's unit body to enhance the torsional stiffness of the car. Mass dampers, designed by Yamaha, were fitted between the 350Z's frame rails to reduce vibrations caused by the additional stiffness. A more aggressive suspension system further improved the Z's handling, but also made it ride very roughly. If you're starting to suspect the NISMO Z was more track than street, you're correct. One look at its aero package unequivocally confirms that intent.
With an all-new 370Z Coupe model on tap for 2009, there were no changes. The 350Z coupe was discontinued after the 2008 model year.
The 350Z Coupe was discontinued in favor of the 370Z Coupe. The only 2009 350Z offered was the Roadster — which went into the 2009 model year unchanged.
Replicating its predecessor in more ways than one, the 2003 Nissan 350Z brought sales success back to Nissan the way the original Datsun 240Z attracted interest to the company at its introduction (Nissan was then known as Datsun in the U.S.). Both cars featured more performance than their prices would suggest could reasonably be expected, both offered dynamic styling, and both have gone on to become icons in their own right.
When it comes to deciding which 350Z to pursue, the old adage of buying the newest one you can afford holds true. Nissan constantly updated and improved the model, so the newest ones are at once more powerful, better handling, and more nicely equipped.
One constant criticism of the 350Z was the quality of its interior components. Indeed, if you're building a car to a price and place so much emphasis on the way it performs, you're going to have to cut corners someplace else. With the 350Z, that someplace else was the interior. While it was a nice looking design, the materials didn't wear very well. If a 350Z has been driven regularly, you will find the interior looks a bit tired. Happily, its most vulnerable components are available on the aftermarket, and they're not terribly expensive—so you can still drive your Z and ride in it too.
There have also been a number of oil-related engine problems associated with the 350Z, so you'd do well to make sure the car you get has been gone over for that situation too.
Which, of course, brings us to our usual admonitions to run a vehicle history report against the VIN, research the recalls to make sure your car was updated, and definitely get a trusted professional mechanic to give any 350Z you're seriously considering a very thorough pre-purchase inspection.
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Charles A. Guinta was awarded the Citizen of the Year for his dedication to improving interfaith relations and the general welfare of the community through a variety of services. He was a trustee of the Ferguson Library; Director of the Stamford Partnership which allows corporate and civic leaders to collaborate on improving community life .
Mr. Guinta is a life-long resident of Stamford. He attended the Stamford Public Schools and served as a combat soldier in World War II. After the war, he worked for Waldenbooks until his retirement in 1990 as a Senior Vice-President.
Citizen of the Year Award Dinner Program, April 20, 1993.


text:
Home / About / Our Team
The Witchcliffe Ecovillage is a wholly privately funded, 50:50 joint venture partnership between Sustainable Settlements Pty Ltd and Perron Group Pty Ltd. The project's developers have been in partnership for 20 years.
Project Developers
The Witchcliffe Ecovillage is a wholly privately funded, 50:50 joint venture partnership between Sustainable Settlements and the Perron Group. The project's developers have been in partnership for more than 20 years. Mike Hulme brings a complete focus on sustainable residential development, while the Perron Group team brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in all property related matters.
Sustainable Settlements Pty Ltd is a company owned by the Sheridan-Hulme Family Trust and directed by Mike Hulme. The sole purpose of this company is to design and develop sustainable human settlements. The Witchcliffe Ecovillage is the first model of just how sustainable our regional human settlements can be. Due to the complexity and huge amount of thought and effort required to plan and construct such a project, the company is only interested in focusing on one project at a time. Sustainable Settlements is the project manager of the planning, construction and marketing of the Witchcliffe Ecovillage.
The Perron Group Pty Ltd is a substantial, diversified private investment group with an extensive portfolio of commercial properties, land development activities, an automotive distribution business, interests in mining and other investment activities. The Perron Group has a strong commitment to sustainable practices with early adoption of green energy use, water harvesting, and recycling activities through its network of shopping centres and office buildings. The Perron Group is proud to be a partner in the Witchcliffe Ecovillage.
Perron Group
CEO, Ross Robertson; Stan Perron (deceased); Executive Director, Ian Armstrong.
Sustainable Settlements
Partners, Mike Hulme and Michelle Sheridan
Mike Hulme
Michelle Sheridan
Community Liaison Manager
Wayne Prangnell
Jeff Thierfelder
Project Manager, Architecture and Planning
Jo Thierfelder
Nicola Anastas
Mark Tupman
Horticulturalist
Andrew Jager
Paul Jurjevich


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GURU RANDHAWA'S "SUIT" BAGS FASTEST 100 MILLION VIEWS ON YOUTUBE
written by Aakash Rawal | September 20, 2017 12:43pm
The most popular Punjabi song "SUIT" by the stylish and most talented singer of Punjabi music industry has bagged 100 Million views on YouTube. Now, the track has created a record to get fastest 100 million views on non-film song in India.
The Punjabi singer Guru Randhawa has also thanked his fans and supporters for their overwhelming response to his song. He tweeted thanking his fans and wrote, "Fastest 100 Million on Non-film song in India till Date. We did it. That's record. Thankyou everyone ."
Fastest 100 Million on Non-film song in India till Date. We did it. That's record.
Thankyou everyone ❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/DFxlLgnDV2
— Guru Randhawa (@GuruOfficial) September 19, 2017
Guru Randhawa has always been one of most talked about Punjabi singer and his songs are always loved by his fans. He is not just popular in Punjabi music industry but he is also a renowned name in Bollywood. His song "Suit Suit" was also featured in Irfan Khan starrer Bollywood film Hindi medium.
If you haven't heard his song "Suit Suit" yet, so just don't wait and listen to it here:
100 Million Views on Youtube


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This Week in History (6/14 - 6/20) Facebook's Oculus Tests New VR Advertising Airline and Bank Websites Go Down Due to Major Internet ...
** Grieving Mother Sells Her Unused Crib, Someone Decides To Give It Back With A Small Change
by creepyworld June 20, 2021 0 commentaires
This Week in History (6/14 - 6/20)
Facebook's Oculus Tests New VR Advertising
Airline and Bank Websites Go Down Due to Major Internet Failure
Victoria's Secret Rebrands by Ditching Angels and Embracing Diversity
'Sports Illustrated' Teams Up With Venmo for New Ticketing Platform
IKEA Ordered to Pay $1.2 Million Fine for Spying on French Workers
Grieving mother sells her unused crib, someone decides to give it back with a small change
Most people reach a point in their life when a garage sale becomes a necessity. You accumulate so much stuff over the years that eventually you have to part ways with some of it. While you could just chuck away whatever you don't need anymore, it's usually better to pass it onto someone else. After all, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
Of course, while garage sales are generally used for getting rid of old junk, they can be particularly poignant events for some people. If you're trying to part ways with something that holds great sentimental value, a garage sale can actually be incredibly difficult to get through.
Valerie Watts found that out several years ago when she decided to sell a load of old baby stuff. She struggled to say goodbye to everything, from the toys to the clothes, because they were the last connection she had to the son she'd lost. The crib proved to be the hardest thing to get rid of, but she managed to sell it nevertheless. However, after seeing the pain Valerie was going through, the buyer decided to return it, albeit in a completely different condition.
Gone too soon
There's no easy way to lose a child. Having to say goodbye to your flesh and blood when they're so young is something that no parent should ever have to do.
However, Valerie Watts didn't have any say in the matter when her son was cruelly taken from her in 2013. She still hasn't gotten over the immense loss she experienced back then.
An unbearable pain
Valerie hadn't even been able to hold her son in her arms before he'd passed away. The mother was nine months pregnant and on the verge of giving birth when she'd tragically lost her second child, Noah. In the days leading up to his passing, Watts had felt like something wasn't right. She'd noticed that her baby wasn't moving as much as he had been before, and it worried her.
Sadly, she was right to be concerned. It wasn't long until she was in the hospital receiving the heartbreaking news that her child was no more. On July 22, she gave birth to her stillborn son through cesarean section, a day that Valerie will never be able to forget. After the doctors had removed Noah, the mother felt emptier than she ever had before in her life. How was she supposed to go on after this?
The painful reminders
In the days and weeks after her son's tragic passing, Watts didn't know what to do with herself. She was supposed to be having sleepless nights because her baby was keeping her up, not because her house was eerily silent. It didn't help that there were so many reminders of her child everywhere she looked. Naturally, Valerie and her fiancé, Jimi, had tried to prepare for the boy's arrival as much as possible.
They'd bought clothes for him to wear, toys for him to play with, and decorated a nursery for him to sleep in. They'd covered all the essentials, and even constructed a crib ready for their baby to use. However, no child was ever going to sleep in it now. They'd lost Noah before he'd even been able to make use of any of this stuff, and knowing that just made everything harder to bear.
Seeing all of Noah's unused stuff put Valerie through fresh heartbreak every day. However, the mother couldn't bring herself to get rid of anything, no matter how painful it was to look at. It all belonged to her son, and it was one of the only things keeping him in her life. So, rather than selling his stuff or throwing it away, Watts just left it all in the nursery.
That's where it stayed for almost a year before she realized she had to do something about it. Although she'd never truly be able to move on from her loss, she could at least try and find a way to lessen the pain. Living in the past wasn't going to bring Noah back. Plus, she still had a daughter – Nevaeh – who needed her mom to be there for her. Valerie couldn't give up on her now.
Many months after losing her son, Watts finally found the strength to start moving forward with her life. She decided to sell most of the unused baby stuff in a garage sale, hopeful that someone in the neighborhood would be able to find a use for it. Parting with all of Noah's possessions wasn't going to be easy.
However, Valerie knew she needed to start letting go of the past if she wanted to move forward. That didn't mean she was ready to get rid of everything, though. While all of the baby toys and clothes were priced up for people to buy, one thing stayed firmly out of the sale – Noah's crib. For some reason, the mother just couldn't bring herself to get rid of it. Even though her son had never slept in it, it still felt like the crib contained a little part of him.
Letting it slip away
However, despite Valerie's intentions to keep the crib with her, the mother ended up selling it once the garage sale came around. It caught the eye of Gerald Kumpula, an elderly man who hoped to put the baby furniture to good use.
And he asked how much it was being sold for. Watts had initially told him that she wasn't looking to part ways with the item. However, after a little persuasion, she agreed to give it up to Kumpula for a measly $2.
Full of regrets
The mother couldn't quite believe what she'd done after Gerald walked away with her son's crib. She'd given away the one thing she'd wanted to hold onto after Noah's passing, and all for a few dollars.
A part of Valerie hoped that selling the crib would help her heart to heal, but she still found herself aching for her stillborn son. That's why she was so relieved when Kumpula returned a week later with the crib, only it looked a little different. He'd turned it into a memorial bench!
Handy with his hands
It turned out that Gerald was pretty talented with his hands, and he enjoyed making furniture in his workshop. His latest hobby was crafting benches out of old headboards, and when he'd seen Valerie's crib, he'd been inspired.
He figured there was a lot he could do with it, which is why he'd pushed Watts to sell it to him. At the time, he hadn't realized the sentimental value behind the crib. His only thoughts had been on transforming the piece of furniture and giving it a new lease of life.
Although he hadn't understood Valerie's attachment to the crib, he'd realized there was something special about it. When he'd asked the mother how much it was, her resistance had been pretty clear to see.
A part of her was obviously hesitant to give away the baby furniture, and Gerald had wondered why she felt so strongly about it. Had he known the truth, he never would have bought it in the first place. However, then he wouldn't have been able to give the mother a gift she'd never forget.
Kumpula had assumed that Valerie's hesitation in giving up the crib was because she didn't want to let go of the past. While this was certainly true, he'd had no idea that she'd lost a child. He had merely assumed that Watts' kid had grown up and therefore no longer had any use for all their baby stuff anymore.
The thought that Valerie's son had been stillborn never even crossed his mind because it was too horrible a thing to consider – no-one should ever have to go through something like that.
Giving it up
If Gerald had known about Valerie's heartbreak, he never would have brought up the crib in the first place. However, if the mother had such a strong attachment to this piece of furniture, why did she give in and agree to sell it?
Despite her strong feelings, Watts believed that Kumpula would be able to do something beautiful with the crib. When he told her what he did for a living, it seemed like a sign that she should let go and hand over the furniture to the elderly stranger.
An awkward question
While Gerald had been entirely oblivious to what had happened to Noah, his wife, Lorene, wasn't. She was also at the garage sale, and she struck up a conversation with the mother while looking at the baby clothes.
Lorene unintentionally stuck her foot in it when she asked Valerie how old her child was, not expecting the devastating answer she received. When Watts told her that Noah was stillborn, Gerald's wife felt great sympathy for the woman. It turns out she knew what it was like to lose an unborn child.
Been in her shoes before
Lorene and Gerald are parents to a whopping 15 kids. They're all grown up now, but the couple still remembers them all as if they were little. With so many children in their family, it was inevitable that grandkids would be in the Kumpula's future.
However, while they were certainly a blessing, there was tragedy mixed in there too. Their first granddaughter was also stillborn, and the pain of losing her still sits with Lorene and Gerald. That's why they were so affected by Valerie's heartbreaking story.
Learning the truth
Although Gerald was initially unaware of what had happened to Noah, his wife clued him in after the garage sale. The story deeply moved the man, and he couldn't shrug the pang of guilt he felt inside.
He knew at that moment that they had to return the crib to Valerie so she could continue to treasure the son she'd lost. However, they didn't want to take the furniture back in its current state. Seeing the crib again would probably only bring on a fresh wave of heartbreak.
Working all week
Thankfully, given Gerald's experience as a craftsman, transforming the crib wasn't going to be that much of a challenge. The man knew how to turn the piece of furniture into something practical that would still hold all its sentimental value.
He got to work straight away and spent the next week putting in as many hours as possible in his workshop. It was a tiring job, but his desire to please Valerie motivated Kumpula. He wanted everything to be perfect for her after all that she'd been through.
Proud of his work
After many hours slaving away on the project, it was finally complete. Gerald had successfully turned Noah's crib into a beautiful bench that Valerie could now use. He hoped the mother would appreciate its practicality and, more importantly, not be offended by what Kumpula had done.
The craftsman didn't want Watts to be upset by seeing that the crib was no more, especially given everything the piece of furniture signified. However, he was quietly optimistic that she'd appreciate all the work he'd put in to transform Noah's unused bed.
The couple was nervous when they returned to Valerie's house with the rejuvenated crib, but they had nothing to worry about. When the mother saw the bench that Gerald had created, she reportedly burst into tears.
Thankfully, they were happy tears. She was overwhelmed by what Kumpula had created and couldn't believe he'd done this without being asked. There'd been no expectations on Gerald to transform the crib into anything for her benefit, but he'd done it anyway. Words couldn't describe just how grateful she was to the man.
Rejecting her payment
After receiving the generous gift from the Kumpulas, Valerie offered to pay them for their services. However, Gerald and Lorene refused. They hadn't done this expecting some kind of monetary reward; they merely wanted to give a grieving mother some piece of mind.
"It's just nice to be able to do something for someone," the craftsman said in light of his act of kindness. He understood the pain that Valerie was going through, and he was happy to lessen that burden. That meant more to him than a bit of cash.
Memorial corner
On that day in 2014, the Kumpulas brought a ray of light into Watts' life. Although her loss was still a lot for her to handle, she now had a place where she could try and deal with her grief. She set the bench near a bookcase that contained Noah's ultrasound and his ashes.
As well as his footprints and handprints. It was like a little memorial corner for her stillborn son, and it allowed Valerie somewhere to sit whenever her emotions got the better of her.
Sharing her pain
The story of Valerie's heartbreaking loss has resonated with many people. Around 24,000 babies are stillborn every year in the US, and for the parents affected by this, there's no easy way to move past the pain.
All of them could understand the grief that Watts was suffering, particularly the mothers who'd been in her position before. A bond develops between mom and child before the pregnancy is over, which is why when a baby's stillborn, it still hurts beyond belief. They've just lost a part of themselves.
A hero among men
Of course, even those who hadn't experienced a stillbirth before felt great empathy for Valerie. That kind of pain isn't something they'd wish on their worst enemy, let alone a woman who'd never done anything wrong.
That's why Gerald received so much praise for his actions in the aftermath. They celebrated the man for doing this massive act of kindness without expecting anything in return. He'd proven himself to be the kind of person that others should look up to, especially in this day and age.
Dealing with her grief
It's been several years since Valerie lost her baby boy, and the mother still lives with that immense pain. However, she's found a way to move forward with her life and not let the grief consume her.
Gerald's craftsmanship has been hugely influential in that because she now has the perfect place to remember her son. She no longer has his nursery locked off as she tries to forget what happened. Instead, Noah's memorial corner takes pride of place in the house, and it's made Watts a much happier mother.


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South Korea Permits Screening of North Korean Films Amid Diplomatic Thaw
By Daniel Moritz-Rabson On 7/10/18 at 6:29 PM EDT
World North Korea South Korea Kim Jong Un Korea
South Korea will allow the screening of North Korean movies at a film festival, in what appears to be an ongoing warming of Seoul-Pyongyang relations.
The two nations have banned all cross-border civilian contact that is not authorized by both governments since the Korean War, which ended in 1953, according to The Japan Times. This time, however, the countries are showing another breakthrough in recent positive developments. The permitted exceptions include a 2016 drama and a romantic comedy, according to news agency Agence France-Presse.
Six short movies and three full-length films will be shown at the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, which begins on Thursday. South Korean organizers also have requested permission to invite North Korean filmmakers and are awaiting government approval before reaching out, AFP reported.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un depart their summit in Panmunjom, North Korea, in this picture provided by the Presidential Blue House on May 26, 2018. South Korea will allow North Korean movies at a film festival, in an ongoing warming of Seoul-Pyongyang relations. The Presidential Blue House /Handout via REUTERS
The news agency indicated that "the impoverished North has a vibrant movie industry, though most of its productions are propaganda films extolling the ruling Kim family and its regime."
The diplomatic overtures follow a significant easing of tensions between the two countries in recent months. In January, the nations contacted each other using a hotline that was previously ignored for two years. The following month, North and South Korean athletes marched together under a unified flag at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, where women from both nations competed together as a united ice hockey team. During the games, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's sister, became the first member of the North Korean ruling family to enter South Korea since 1953.
In April and again in May, the North and South Korean leaders met at the Demilitarized Zone.
After the reunion in April, the North Korean leader said that the Koreas "will be reunited as one country." On May 26, the South Korean president crossed the border of Panmunjom, where they discussed the U.S.-North Korea summit that eventually took place in Singapore last month. According to North Korea's KCNA news agency, both parties agreed to "meet frequently in the future to make dialogue brisk and pool wisdom and efforts, expressing their stand to make joint efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula".
The film-related rapprochement comes on the heels of speculation about what Kim Jong Un actually wants from discussions with the U.S. Experts in Washington believe the North Korean leader is unwilling to give up his nuclear weapons, and they are unclear what he intends to accomplish through discussions with Trump, according to the Washington Post
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met in Singapore in a historic summit, but their discussions did not provide substantive progress for broader diplomatic advancements between the two countries.
Trump Tweets May Let North Korea Split U.S. and China
North Korea: Talks with Pompeo Were 'regrettable'
North Korea Building New Ballistic Missile Submarine


This group safety publication is primarily intended to be used as a product safety standard for the products mentioned in the scope, but shall also be used by technical committees in the preparation of their publications for products similar to those mentioned in the scope of this standard, in accordance with the principles laid down in IEC Guide 104 and lSO/lEC Guide 51.
– inject a voltage onto a circuit to analyse a new design.
Equipment having these testing and measuring circuits may be intended for performing tests and measurements on hazardous conductors, including MAINS conductors and telecommunication network conductors. See Annex BB for considerations of HAZARDS involved in various tests and measurements.


When I was a kid my favorite sweets were smarties. I used to sort them into colours before eating, and ended up with multi-coloured fingers. One evening I'd eaten too many red ones and I think the E-numbers got to me. Dreams that night were of smartie space ships invading the earth and taking over.
The first consideration was how to make the giant sugary coloured shell. With only domestic catering facilities to hand, I quickly gave up and decided to use a mosaic of smaller Smartie shells. This has the added benefit of being easy to repair in the event of any battle damage using off-the-shelf parts.
I decided a two piece mold would be the best approach. I was torn between plates that were too shallow, or bowls that were too deep. I went with the bowls, as the mother ship would need to house hangars for smaller smartie 'fighter' ships, command and control, planet destroying laser beam etc.
The bowls were given a a thin smearing of butter to aid removal later. I wasn't sure how necessary this was at the time, as if the plan worked, there shouldn't be too much chocolate in contact with the bowl.
Next, twenty or so smarties were lay in the bottom of the bowl, and then a thin layer of melted chocolate dribbled over them. When the chocolate had gone reasonably firm, another ring of smarties was added to the outside, and the same chocolate applied. This is built up tier by tier, until the smarties cover the whole inside of the bowl, all the way to the rim. This process gets progressively more difficult due to the steepness of the bowl increasing, and the side profile of the smarties giving them a tendency to 'slip' past each other. Some of these landslide moments can be seen in the final product.


Bacon on the beech: Damson, Media City Manchester.
We've not been to the original Damson in Heaton Moor. But we've heard good things about it. So when I heard that they were opening a new place in Media City, I decided to book us in. I got them to email us a menu. There is some interesting stuff on there, but we were supposed to be on cheap eats, and this was slightly pricier than I had anticipated. I kept the booking anyway. I picked Mrs Bacon up from work on the Friday night and we drove from town to Salford Quays. Luckily we knew it was above Italian chain Prezzo, or we'd have easily missed it, they've not even had time to put the sign up yet. We walked up the stairs and into the impressive space. It was beautiful, with fantastic views out of the floor to ceiling windows.
As it was the time when my mum and dad have their tea (strictly 5 o'clock,) there was nobody else around except the staff. I really enjoyed walking around the place, everything new and fresh, taking photos at my leisure. Mrs Bacon was watching TV out of the windows on the big screen. It was a bit weird though when 80's indie disco classic The Cult's "She Sells Sanctuary" was playing over the speakers - I've never heard this song been played in such an incongruously smart setting.
They've really done a good job of the interior. I spotted an excellent looking large booth at the far end, we made a mental note - good for large groups and birthday celebrations.
This was Mrs Bacon's favourite of the night. It was lovely and comforting - a perfect texture and the subtlety of the fresh crab was a real delight. It's funny with risotto, when I have a good one, I sort of don't think of it as rice (even though of course it is,) it's risotto and logged as such in my brain. The Potato & parmesan gnocchi, sautéed wild mushrooms with parsley & garlic, slow cooked egg yolk, salted crushed hazelnuts, potato & truffle foam (£7.95) was also good, it looked pretty, again it was comforting and the flavours simply worked. Mrs Bacon desperately wanted to lick her plate clean.
I got the feeling, not for the last time that evening that years of running a very popular local restaurant had put us in very safe hands. There would be no massive leaps in creativity, (although clearly there was some) neither would we want it, it was just great cooking, nothing to scare the horses; what they do, they do it brilliantly.
For mains we had a starter Grilled Scallops, slow cooked Middle White pork belly, Bury black pudding croquette, spiced apple purée & golden raisins (£10.95.) Another good combination. I was enjoying the crackling top when I realised I'd got carried away and hardly left any for Mrs Bacon and our allotted change over. She would not let me forget this in a hurry!
We also had the Chicken liver & foie gras parfait with rhubarb chutney & toasted potato bread (£8.95.) Whilst this was a pretty good paté, Mrs Bacon warned it wasn't quite quite foie enough for us, (see why here) but it was decent and rich.
Chicken liver & foie gras parfait with rhubarb chutney & toasted potato bread.
The Pièce de résistance for me was the Pumpkin Risotto with Blacksticks blue cheese, roasted chestnuts, salted pumpkin seeds & sage (£12.95.) It was just perfect. A really lovely dish, I like intense flavours, so the strong blue cheese was a real winner for me.
Pumpkin Risotto with Blacksticks blue cheese, roasted chestnuts, salted pumpkin seeds & sage.
Of the desserts, Pistachio Crème brulee, prune, chocolate & prune brownie, hot chocolate fudge sauce (£6.95) was our favourite. The brownie was a real treat. Proper moist as we like to say.
Pistachio Crème brulee, prune, chocolate & prune brownie, hot chocolate fudge sauce.
Although it looked the part, neither of us were quite as into the Butterscotch panna cotta, caramel, orange & ginger jelly, granola & hot cinnamon doughnuts with orange curd centre (£6.95) We loved the little tiny doughnuts, but I wished the panna cotta had been just a plain one.
Butterscotch panna cotta, caramel, orange & ginger jelly, granola.
Our bill came to £72.68 which because we'd done the starter mains/switch we thought was good value. Like I said, Damson does what it does brilliantly, it's clearly a very well run operation. When you eat out as much as we like to, you end up comparing restaurants. I would class this as at the upper end of what I like to think of as a (very good) middle range restaurant.
The food at our local favourite Etrop Grange is on a different level in terms of creativity, it's higher end, more cutting edge and possibly more challenging to some (not us though.) I suppose the food here is fairly ambitious for Manchester though, (with the foam elements) but most importantly it all tasted great.
When you go to somewhere like Damson you want solid dependability great food, in a beautiful setting, and that it exactly what you get.
Pretty much everything was done perfectly, and you can't say fairer than that.
Price: About £72.68. 2 glasses of wine & 5 courses.
Atmosphere: Beautiful interior, good & interesting views over the BBC & Media city.
Mr Bacon: Pumpkin risotto with Blacksticks blue cheese.
Mrs Bacon: Whitby crab & parsley risotto, salt & vinegar cockles.
*Minor point; currently you do not get your car park for free, it cost us £4.50.
I believe the restaurant are working on this.


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U.S. military U.S. military
NATO Investigators Deem Reports Of Civilian Casualties In Kunduz 'Credible'
October 24, 2015 • Gen. John Campbell also appointed an Army general to investigate the U.S. airstrike against a Doctors Without Borders hospital. The organization is asking for an independent investigation.
U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan walk away from a helicopter at Forward Operating Base Connelly in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Aug. 13. The U.S. formally ended combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of last year. But nearly 10,000 American troops remain in the country and the U.S. frequently carries out air sorties. Fourteen American military personnel have died in Afghanistan this year. Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Wakil Kohsar/AFP/Getty Images
Hey, Wasn't The U.S. Supposed To Stop Fighting In Afghanistan?
October 7, 2015 • The U.S. airstrike on a hospital has shown the military is still deeply involved in Afghanistan's war. The U.S. has flown more than 3,300 sorties and fired on the enemy more than 600 times this year.
On May 21, an Afghan child is treated at a Doctors Without Borders hospital in the northern city of Kunduz, after being injured in a fight between the Taliban and Afghan security forces. Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images
Kunduz Airstrike Reportedly Kills 19 At Doctors Without Borders Hospital
October 3, 2015 • A trauma center in northern Afghanistan run by the international aid group was apparently hit by a U.S. airstrike early Saturday.
Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl faced a preliminary hearing in San Antonio last week. He faces a possible court-martial for walking off his base in Afghanistan in 2009. An Army investigation produced a wealth of new information on his motivations. The major general who led the inquiry recommended against a prison sentence. AP hide caption
The Very Strange Case Of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl
September 24, 2015 • The Army's investigation produced a wealth of new information on why Bergdahl walked off his base in Afghanistan in 2009. The major general who led the inquiry recommended against a prison sentence.
The Pentagon's only maximum security prison, at the U.S. Army's Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, is one of the facilities being considered for placement of Guantanamo prisoners deemed too dangerous to release. Julie Denesha/Getty Images hide caption
Julie Denesha/Getty Images
Kansas, South Carolina Take NIMBY Stance On Guantanamo Prisoners
August 26, 2015 • President Obama's plan to close Guantanamo lacks a crucial element: a U.S. prison to hold captives too dangerous to release. The Pentagon is considering military prisons in Kansas and South Carolina.
U.S. Marines arrive at Saudi Arabia's Dhahran Air Base on Aug. 21, 1990. The U.S. began a buildup in the region just days after Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2 of that year. The U.S. military has been active in Iraq virtually nonstop for the past quarter-century. Gerard Fouet/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Gerard Fouet/AFP/Getty Images
25 Years In Iraq, With No End In Sight
August 2, 2015 • Iraq invaded Kuwait on Aug. 2, 1990. The U.S. reversed Saddam Hussein's aggression, but it was just the start of the U.S. military role in Iraq that's spanned four presidents and a panoply of goals.
Alan Oates was exposed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange, while serving in Vietnam in 1968. Decades after returning home, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and because Congress passed the Agent Orange Act, he's able to receive VA benefits. Courtesy of Alan Oates hide caption
Courtesy of Alan Oates
World War II Secret Mustard Gas Testing
Can The Agent Orange Act Help Veterans Exposed To Mustard Gas?
July 16, 2015 • Just like World War II vets who were exposed to mustard gas during secret chemical testing, Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange had trouble obtaining VA benefits — until they got the law changed.
Army Cpl. Simranpreet Lamba (center) stands in formation with fellow soldiers before taking the oath of citizenship, prior to his graduation from basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C., in 2010. He was the first enlisted soldier to be granted a religious accommodation as a Sikh since 1984. Brett Flashnick/AP hide caption
Brett Flashnick/AP
Why Are Only Three Observant Sikh Men Serving In The U.S. Military?
June 5, 2015 • The Pentagon's ban on facial hair and religious headgear has long been an obstacle for Sikh men, who wear turbans and don't cut their hair. Sikhs are hoping a court ruling might lead to a rule change.
Chagossians weep at the grave of their parents on Peros Banos Island April 10, 2006. Fifteen elders are allowed to visit once a year. AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Islanders Pushed Out For U.S. Base Hope For End To 40-Year Exile
April 16, 2015 • Britain forced thousands off Diego Garcia, a remote Indian Ocean island, in the '70s to make way for a U.S. military base. For 40 years residents have fought to return. Now they have a growing chance.
Sgt. Courtney White carries her machine gun before a live fire exercise at the Marine base at Twentynine Palms, Calif. David Gilkey/NPR hide caption
David Gilkey/NPR
Back At Base
Can Female Marines Carry The Load And Kill The Enemy?
March 25, 2015 • Marines have to carry a pack that weights more than 100 pounds. For some of the women training in the Mojave Desert to join combat units, that nearly matches their body weight.
ISIS Issues 'Wanted' List Of 100 U.S. Military Personnel
March 22, 2015 • U.S. defense and intelligence officials tell NPR that the list appears to have been derived from publicly available sources and not a breach of a government server.
As an Army chaplain in Iraq, David Peters administered last rites and grieved with survivors. When he came home, he says, he "fell apart emotionally and spiritually." Courtesy of Robert K. Chambers hide caption
Courtesy of Robert K. Chambers
An Army Chaplain, First Tested By War, Finds His Faith Renewed
January 6, 2015 • When David Peters went to Iraq as an Army chaplain, his relationship with God faltered. But after years of feeling adrift, he eventually found that the trauma of war had actually deepened his faith.
A helicopter's eye view of a new ETU, funded by USAID and built by Save the Children. Kelly McEvers/NPR hide caption
Kelly McEvers/NPR
Goats and Soda
Ebola Is Changing Course In Liberia. Will The U.S. Military Adapt?
November 25, 2014 • The U.S. had planned to build 17 treatment units across Liberia, one in each county's major town. Now that more cases are appearing in remote areas, the Army may need to rethink its strategy.
Iraqi soldiers walk in Jurf al-Sakhr, south of the capital Baghdad, on Monday after Iraqi military forces retook the area from Islamic State militants. Iraqi forces, supported by U.S. airstrikes, have made limited gains in recent months, but critics are questioning whether the U.S. strategy is likely to succeed. Haidar Mohammed Ali/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Haidar Mohammed Ali/AFP/Getty Images
With Limited Gains, U.S. Bombing Campaign Faces Growing Criticism
October 30, 2014 • U.S. airstrikes against the Islamic State began nearly three months ago, yet there have been relatively few changes on the battlefield. Many analysts say the U.S. effort may not be sufficient.
John W. Poole/NPR
The U.S. Ebola Hospitals In Liberia Are Going Up ... Slowly
October 7, 2014 • Last month, the U.S. promised to build treatment centers for health care workers and for the general public. Our photo gallery checks in on the progress thus far.
More from U.S. military


The Preventative Maintenance Plan is for a period of twelve months from date of signing and includes a diagnostic & precision Spring Tune-up on your Air Conditioner as well as a Fall Heating Unit Tune-up in our Maintenance Program.
Did you know that 80% of all compressor failures are due to lack of maintenance? Repairing a small problem early on can save your compressor from premature failure. If you were to never change your car's oil, it would cost more to replace the engine after it breaks down, than it would to maintain it and change the oil occasionally.
The same principle applies to HVAC systems. If you maintain your system routinely, then you won't have to worry about it needing costly repairs or replacements.


Ah yeah the Yank tourists are horrible, they are everywhere though. It's a shame as they have made Playa Del Carmen like the Gold Coast.
Also probably the first time in my life where I think the East playoffs series are going to be more interesting than the West.