Has Mario Lemieux's presence on the team's roster played any role in your decisions?
It will definitely be great to meet Mario. However, Pittsburgh is a great attacking team and they have a bunch of excellent players. Even though Robert Lang left, they still have Straka, Kovalev, Hrdina.
Have you talked about your role on the team yet? Aren't you, for example, afraid that they may ship you to the line of 'goons'?
That should not happen. Before I signed, we'd solved my team role as well. The team management has certain ideas about my position on the team; they say that it would be worthless to bring me from Europe just to play on the third or fourth line. What definitely helped was my successful season in Finland; I'd say my best in my whole career. However, I am fully aware of the fact that my just past performance won't guarantee a spot on the team's top lines for me; I'll have to prove myself to play there.
How did the negotiations go? Did it take some time for you to decide?
Everything went extremely fast. Yesterday at 2:30 PM I came home from a practice and I got a phone call from my agent Rich Winter who said: 'Pittsburgh has offered such and such one-way contract for one year, with the option for the second year.' I wasn't even able to think about it for long, the trade deadline was coming. So I said yes. I felt that they are really interested in me, and the fact that it was just Pittsburgh was important as well. If it were any other team, I would have probably thought about it for some more.
So you had no idea about the Pittsburgh's interest before?
I wouldn't say that. I talked to my agent usually once a week, and he always told me which teams showed some potential interests. But I haven't received anything firm, the real offer came just yesterday afternoon.
You said you'd come from the practice. How are you preparing for the next season?
I practice with Pavel Kubina and a conditioning trainer, Igor.
Is that some Russian trainer? Did your father [a successful Czech coach who has just lead the team of Yaroslavl to the Russian Hockey League title] arrange some good Russian drill training for you?
Oh no, fortunately not. His name is Igor Horyl, he's a Czech, and his methods aren't that drastic.
After you finish your practicing in the Czech Republic, you'll be headed back to America and the NHL. The last time around, your career over there ended in a really unpleasant way - with a cut-through cheek, a result of a hockey accident. Aren't you afraid that somewhere in the back of your mind, this injury is permanently fixated as an association with this league?
It happened three years ago, that's too long a time for me to be bothered by it. Since then I was able to cope with it perfectly, no memories haunt me. Plus my last season was really successful. If I were scared, it would be pointless to go back. In that case I would not have signed that contract.


I have created a custom notification that is a combonation of a general notification and claim notification.
Also, if I add a task to the notification, I can populate the task with the partner type to perform the task, but I can't populate/select the actual person to perform the task. What am I doing wrong?
Thanks for your assistance, in advance!
Person have been created in PA30 or PA40?


text:
Q: Is the LQP queue adding multiple comments? I've just seen a number of posts in the Low Quality Posts queue which appear to have multiple identical automatic comments from a reviewer:

*

*Example 1: 2 identical comments (now deleted; 10K+ only)

*Example 2: 4 identical comments (now deleted; 10K+ only)

*Example 3: 3 identical comments (now deleted; 10K+ only)

Given that all the comments have almost identical timestamps, this seems to be a bug.
Obviously, I can just flag these for deletion, but I haven't yet because I want to make sure non-moderators can see this behavior.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Tatsuro Ogata has been making diversity of motion graphics for commercial projects and performances over a decade. Professional especially in combination of visual effects and motion graphics.
Born in 1986. He met the Computer and the Internet in his 10 years old and it changed his life. He gradually have strong interests in graphic design and the web culture.
He, in youth, learned Graphic Design, Web Design, Flash and Motion Graphics skills on his own. And then decided to work as freelance in motion graphics industry.
After 8 years of freelance, He and Naojiro Yasui founded a design team "Composition" based in Tokyo.
With a passion for involving worldwide design communities and artists.
Loving Photograph, World Cultures and Travel, and the Internet.


The stunning example we are offering is finished in its original colour of Nero Daytona. It has recently undergone a fully documented restoration and respray making it one of the cleanest examples on the market. It has just been Ferrari Classiche Certified and also maintains an original owner's handbook, tool kit roll and briefcase.


Description: New To You is a business categorized under clothing and shoes, secondhand, which is part of the larger category used merchandise stores. New To You is located at the address 10217 North Ih 35 in San Antonio, Texas 78233-6630. The Owner is Marvadale Robinson who can be contacted at (210)655-9080.
Location & access map for "New To You"


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The Deliver for Good Campaign Welcomes P&G and Merck in its Effort to Advance Gender Equality
As world leaders and global advocates convene for the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, leading companies introduce the Deliver for Good Business Ally Network to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and to promote critical investments in girls and women.
Vancouver, Canada, 4 June 2019 –Today, Merck and P&G joined civil society organizations in announcing the Deliver for Good Campaign Business Ally Network – a platform for private sector champions to work alongside leading civil society organizations and governments to drive solutions toward a more gender equal world. The announcement came at the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, the world's largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women.
Launched during the Women Deliver Conference in 2016, Deliver for Good is an evidence based advocacy campaign that calls for better policies, programs, and financial investments in girls and women. Supported by the governments of Canada and Denmark, Deliver for Good is a network of multi-sector, multi-issue partners united in a shared commitment to advance gender equality across the Sustainable Development Goals.
Three years later, the introduction of the Business Ally Network demonstrates the next step in breaking down barriers and effectively engaging across sectors, issues, generations, and geographies. Recognizing the powerful role the private sector plays in addressing inequality, this new network will leverage the voice, expertise, and scale of the private sector to accomplish three main goals alongside civil society partners:
Change the narrative around girls and women from vulnerable people to critical agents of change.
Mobilize stakeholders working across sectors and issues areas with a shared vision for a gender equal world.
Inspire concrete action for the effective implementation of policies, programs, and investments that reflect the important role girls and women play in achieving the SDGs.
"At P&G we aspire to build a better world for all of us – a world free from gender bias, with equal voice and equal representation for all individuals – a world where everyone sees equal," said Carolyn Tastad, Group President - North America and Executive Sponsor - Gender Equality at Procter & Gamble. "We know that when equality increases – businesses perform better, economies thrive, communities are healthier – and the world is a better place for all. It benefits all of us – and it will take all of us. That's why we're joining Deliver for Good as a founding member of the Business Ally Network."
Since 2016, more than 400 organizations globally have signed on to the Campaign, building a movement to catalyze action for girls and women. "Seeing such a diverse group of partners rally together for girls and women is inspiring – and it's critical if we want to see a more gender equal world," said Katja Iversen, President/CEO of Women Deliver – the organization that first initiated the Campaign. "Gender equality is everyone's business, and it can't be business as usual. It's time to activate the power of partnerships to be bold, be brave, and step forward, to deliver for girls and women."
"At Merck, we actively recognize our responsibility and the important role we play in advancing women -- who represent our employees, shareholders, customers, partners, suppliers, and community members," said Anna Van Acker, President and Managing Director, Merck Canada. "We also recognize that we cannot work in isolation and must create alliances to see the change we want. The Deliver for Good Business Ally Network creates a unique and powerful platform for driving collective action across the public and private sectors in order to change the narrative and to find those opportunities to support girls and women around the world."
The Deliver for Good Business Ally Network was formally launched today during an event at the Women Deliver 2019 Conference and featured key Campaign supporters including Deliver for Good high-level Influencers Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Dr. Alaa Murabit, High-Level Commissioner: Health, Employment & Economic Growth.
Learn more about the Deliver for Good Campaign, see the partners and allies, and sign the Commitment to Girls and Women here.
About the Deliver for Good Campaign: Deliver for Good is a global campaign, initiated by Women Deliver and partners that applies a gender lens to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promotes critical investments in girls and women to power progress for all. The evidence-based advocacy campaign calls for enhanced policies, programming, and investments in girls and women. The Deliver for Good Campaign highlights the ripple effects of investing in girls and women so decision makers understand the central role that gender equality plays across all global development efforts. The global campaign was launched at the Women Deliver 2016 Conference held in Copenhagen, Denmark. In September 2017, India, Kenya, and Senegal were announced for dedicated advocacy work aiming to facilitate greater collaboration between government, NGOs, the private sector, UN agencies, and young people to ensure girls and women are prioritized in the local implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and other development plans. Kenya is the first country implementing this national level campaign and is led by FIDA Kenya and a network of partners. The Deliver for Good campaign is made possible with the generous support of the Government of Canada and the Government of Denmark.
About Merck: For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer's disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
About Procter & Gamble: P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com/for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
BACK TO PRESS & MEDIA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Find everything you need for a fantastic hens party in Hawkes Bay. We can help you plan and book a complete hen party break.
Why You ladies Should Have A Hawkes Bay Hens Party!
This is the wine country. There, need I say more? WINE country. It's also exquisitely beautiful and Napier has fantastic art deco architecture. There are some cool events designed around the art deco theme like dressing up in fashions of the 1930s and going to themed festivals and parties. What's not to love?
The usual drive, fly or bus are all available and easy.
The Most Awesome Hawkes Bay Hen Day Ideas!
include lunch in your tour. Having your wine expertly matched to your meal by those in the know is always useful.
This is a Hawkes Bay must do! Cycle between vineyards on flat, dedicated bike trails that are suitable for all fitness levels. A van can follow you to carry any wine that you buy as well as rescue you in case of a flat tyre. Not to mention that if you indulge a little too much in the wine tasting, you can give the bikes a rest and get a ride. Forget the gym because this hens' activity will have everyone looking their best on the wedding day.
Shimmy down the pole, turn upside down, and contort your limbs in ways that you didn't think possible. This pole dancing lesson means that fun is guaranteed for any hens' group. It's also a great workout. An experienced instructor will be there to give you pointers and inspiration.
Get rid of pre wedding stress by shooting at your friends! Seriously, your hen party is going to love playing paintball, especially if there are a few of you with a competitive streak! This messy sport will have you all in fits of laughter.
Think Great Gatsby. Have your group dress up for an elegant gourmet dinner in a VIP private room. Since this is the Hawkes Bay, the art deco capital of New Zealand, why not choose a 1930s or 1920s inspired theme so you can all look glamorous in red lipstick, pearls and elegant gowns? This is a great way to include fun hen party games into your weekend. We can give you some great ideas‒just let us know how naughty you want them to be.
All aboard the party bus! Step onto a VIP bus to be transported around the region. Choose your party bus‒a fully stocked bar, music, a pole to show off your new pole dancing abilities (see above‒some of you will be itching to give it another go). It can take you on a pub crawl or just drive around the sights of the Hawkes Bay such as the haunted prison. Let us tailor it to your desires.


Can you really homeschool for free?
Google the term "free homeschooling" and you'll get a plethora of sites! While at times it may be necessary to go that route, keep in mind that the saying "you get what you pay for" may apply here as well.
You homeschool for many reasons, but no matter what they are, it's not to short-change your children for life!
In this excellent article from NextGen Homeschooling, Rosanna explains the difference between frugal and cheap. Keep in mind it's from the perspective of a small business owner, but then again, many homeschoolers themselves are small business owners and may appreciate that perspective.
I understand that it's so easy to cross the line into "being cheap." And I totally understand why: homeschoolers are frequently (often?)(always?) single-income households and we need to be good stewards of the limited income we have. But Barb Shelton (whose high-school resource Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+U+La is my constant companion when our kids go through high school) really delves into the difference in her book, and offers some valuable insight ~ it's a definite "must read" if you're looking at homeschooling through high school ;-)!
Ann Zeiss of A to Z Home's Cool also offers this excellent article on "Truly Free Homeschooling" where she discusses some serious considerations regarding "free" homeschooling (for example, a certain degree of privacy loss when using the internet…), and also offers some valuable resources to cut costs.
It's important for homeschool moms to build skills that will help them educate their kiddos well, while going easy on the homeschool budget. Enrollment in this conference is for a limited time, but gives you lifetime access to all the sessions! Check it out today for early bird pricing!
co-op classes and unit study groups.
On this site and many others, you may find little advertisements for "free" homeschooling curricula, programs, ideas, books or what-have-you.
Some of those resources may actually cost some money, but many of them will only cost you a certain amount of creativity. I find it to be somewhat of a trade-off in the long-run: what do I have more of right now – money or time? And even if it's time, sometimes due to lack of ideas, or burnout, or just too many irons in the fire, I may need to purchase something to "get us going" again.
My suggestion? Check out everything as carefully as you can before-hand!
I mean, what good is a free class when you can't get support with a problem? Or a free accredited curriculum that doesn't give you access to transcripts when you need them? Or a free program that closes its doors mid-year (probably because they were giving a little too much away!)?
Don't be wasteful with your budget, but do spend it wisely, and develop some creativity as well. Your kids are watching you 24/7 ~ and learning much more than the 3R's.
Oftentimes the solution to frugal or free homeschooling is to develop some killer homeschooling skills of your own. That, and learning how to discern quality resources and tools.
For one week only, let me encourage you to take advantage of the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference to help you do both!
The BEST thing you can do for your homeschool is to attend a homeschool conference – the encouragement, practical help, and advice you receive are instrumental to your success. And the 2018 Homeschool Moms Conference brings the homeschool conference to YOU! Your enrollment gives you lifetime access to over 100 workshops from 60 dynamic speakers and veteran homeschoolers from the comfort of your home.
With more than 50 speakers and over 100 sessions, there's a plethora of training here for homeschool moms – all for less than the price of dinner for two! There are two tracks included: one covers homeschooling topics (with over 10 sessions on homeschooling high school) and one covers work-at-home topics (for those of us who could use a "side gig" to pay some bills or cover a fun family field trip this summer). Get the skinny on the whole shebang here. And if you register soon, you can grab their early bird discount!
Learning how to homeschool for free can teach your kiddos good stewardship, but let them see the value of investing in a good education!
Tunes to Get your Back-to-School "Groove" on!
What's the best planner for your homeschool?


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Get Ready for "Christian Spring," Urges John Paul II
Extols Need for High Standards at Catholic Universities
February 01, 2005 00:00ZENIT StaffSpirituality
VATICAN CITY, FEB. 1, 2005 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II said that Catholic universities must be distinguished by their quality of teaching and research in order to promote dialogue with the world.
The Pope touched on the vocation of Catholic universities in the message he sent today to Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, on the occasion of its plenary session.
The congregation has authority over all the universities, faculties, institutes, and ecclesiastical and lay schools of higher studies that are under ecclesiastics.
After acknowledging that Catholic universities "represent a rich heritage for the Church," the papal message explained that "in the great Christian spring that God is preparing, they must be distinguished by the quality of the teaching and research, so that they are capable of dialoguing fully with other faculties and universities."
"Given the speed of the present scientific and technological development, these institutions are called to a continual renewal, seeing the way in which the new discoveries may be used for the genuine good of each person and of the whole of human society," the Holy Father wrote.
To achieve this objective, he mentioned one of the concerns he has expressed most often ever since he was a university professor in Poland: the need for dialogue among the various disciplines of learning.
"In particular," the Pope stated, "dialogue is revealed fruitful with a philosophy of a genuinely metaphysical scope and with theology itself."
February 01, 2005 00:00Spirituality
Pope's Medical Condition Stabilizes
Letter to Priests on the Eucharist and Pastoral Care of Children


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Cyanogenmod 10.1.3 stable builds rolling out to a variety of Android devices
Cyanogenmod 10.1.3 has now reached stable build status, and already has compatible builds available for over 50 devices. Keep reading for more details!
Andrew Grush
Between planning for its new commercialized future and preparing for the Cyanogenmod version of the Oppo N1, Cyanogen Inc. certainly has its hands full right now. Despite all the changes heading Cyanogen's way, the team seems as dedicated as ever when it comes to bringing out a stable Cyanogenmod experience to as many devices as possible.
With that in mind, Cyanogenmod 10.1.3 has now reached stable build status, and the list of compatible device builds is actually pretty large (currently at 50). Even better, version 10.1.3 features CyanogenMod account access, which allows for tracking and remote wiping your lost or stolen device.
According to a G+ post by the Cyanogenmod team, 10.1.3 is the final planned release for the 10.1 code branch, as the team plans to turn their attention towards CM 10.2 (based on Android 4.3) and KitKit 4.4.


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Q: information send to microsoft by joining to microsoft improvement program group I wanna deploy a WSUS server 2008r2 in my network .during deployment I saw an option "Join to Microsoft improvement program group" .
I'm curious that what kinds of information will send to Microsoft after joining to this group.
I know this group is created to improve Microsoft product ,But I wanna know what information will send exactly?

A: From the related TechNet article:

Specific information sent: The information that is sent includes
  details about the computer hardware configuration (such as the number
  of processors and screen resolution), performance and reliability
  (such as how quickly a program responds when you click a button), and
  information about use of the system (such as how many folders a user
  typically creates on the desktop). It also includes information about
  the use of features such as Event Viewer and Remote Assistance. For
  additional details, see the link to the privacy statement later in
  this list.


text:
Le Cycle du centre galactique (titre original : ) est une série de livres de Gregory Benford couvrant une guerre galactique entre formes de vies mécaniques et biologiques, elle est composée de :

Liens externes

Œuvre de Gregory Benford
Cycle de science-fiction américain

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


A.M. Art Conservation, LLC helps its clients preserve their art and cultural property for future generations through preservation consulting, hands-on conservation treatment, collections management services, education and training.
LOOKING FOR A COLLECTIONS ASSESSOR?
Read about our services and see our client list.


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Posts Tagged ' lee harvey oswald '
Stone says US in denial over JFK assassination
Stone says US in denial over JFK assassination By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press American film director Oliver Stone talks with students at an international school as part of a one-day visit to promote world peace in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) Photo by: Sakchai Lalit <!– Copy and paste this…
John Armstrong talks at COPA 2009
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxn_nZlKuPg&hl=en_GB&fs=1&] John Armstrong is an independent researcher and author of Harvey & Lee and co-author of Dead Witnesses. His main work outlines the evidence that there were two people using the name of Lee Harvey Oswald who are both linked to the Kennedy assassination. See http://www.free-press-release.com/news/200311/1068503919.html
Full speaker list for COPA 2009
The Coalition on Political Assassinations presents: OPEN SECRETS: THE ASSASSINATIONS OF THE '60s 15th Annual Regional Conference, November 20-22, Dallas, TX Latest evidence and research, authors, medical and ballistic experts, academics and researchers into modern political assassinations, including Malcolm X, John F. Kennedy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert Kennedy. Resource room with books,…
Dartmouth scientist says Oswald photo real
Article follows after commentary During interrogation by the Dallas police, Oswald was shown the photo, which allegedly had been found in the Payne's garage where Marina was staying, and he said, "That's my head on someone else's body." None of the evidence "discovered" there has proper chain of custody, since Marina Oswald and Ruth Payne…
Peter Dale Scott on NY Times and JFK assassination
First published on Global research The New York Times, on October 17, published a page-one story by Scott Shane about the CIA's defiance of a court order to release documents pertaining to the John F. Kennedy assassination, in its so-called Joannides file. George Joannides was the CIA case officer for a Cuban exile group that…
NY Times- C.I.A. is still cagey about Oswald mystery
From the NY Times October 17, 2009 C.I.A. Is Still Cagey About Oswald Mystery By SCOTT SHANE WASHINGTON — Is the Central Intelligence Agency covering up some dark secret about the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Probably not. But you would not know it from the C.I.A.'s behavior. For six years, the agency has fought…


Living for this stunning navy and gold dress from Knee Deep Vintage.
Celebrating the unofficial end of summer if a lovely 1930s maxi dress.
Wearing an ultra-romantic Gunne Sax dress at the lovely gardens at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Living my best life in a late 40s/early 50s peasant dress, shot at the beautiful Clarke House in Chicago's Prairie Avenue Historic District.
I think I found my new favorite summer outfit - a fabulous 1950s Egyptian print patio set.
I'm back from hiatus with a dress that works by the lake or in the desert sun.
Feeling light and airy in a delicate crochet dress at the Field Museum.


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package com.devteam.sistrans.dto;

import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;

public class SistransDto {

    private Map<String, Object> map;
    private  static final String ERROR_KEY = "error_cod";
    private  static final String ERROR_DESC_KEY = "error_desc";
    private static final String DATA_KEY = "data";

    public SistransDto() {
        map = new HashMap<>();
        setErrorCod(0);
        setErrorDesc("Ejecución correcta");
    }

    public void setErrorCod(int errorCod){
        map.put(ERROR_KEY, errorCod);
    }

    public void setErrorDesc(String errorDescripcion){
        map.put(ERROR_DESC_KEY, errorDescripcion);
    }

    public void setData(Object data){
        map.put(DATA_KEY, data);
    }

    public void put(String key, Object data){
        map.put(key, data);
    }

    public Object get(String key){
        return map.get(key);
    }

    public int getErrorCod(){
        return (int) map.get(ERROR_KEY);
    }

    public String getErrorDesc(){
        return (String) map.get(ERROR_DESC_KEY);
    }

    public Object getData(){
        return map.get(DATA_KEY);
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Showing results by author "Amy McCulloch" in All Categories
The Magpie Society: Two for Joy
The Magpie Society, Book 2
By: Zoe Sugg, Amy McCulloch
Narrated by: Katie Leung, Jill Winternitz
Audrey and Ivy, determined to bring their fellow student Lola Radcliffe's killer to justice, find themselves in the middle of another mystery when a friend disappears in suspicious circumstances. Their only clue is a mysterious card left by the enigmatic Magpie Society. With time running out and the police baffled, Audrey and Ivy must delve deeper than ever into the dark secrets that their school is hiding. But someone is playing a deadly game. And to beat them, Audrey and Ivy have to start rewriting the rules....
Series: The Magpie Society, Book 2
By: Amy McCulloch
Length: Not Yet Known
When struggling journalist Cecily Wong is invited to join an expedition to climb one of the world's tallest mountains, it seems like the chance of a lifetime. She doesn't realise how deadly the climb will be. As their small team starts to climb, things start to go wrong. There's a theft. Then an accident. Then a mysterious note, pinned to her tent: there's a murderer on the mountain. The higher they get, the more dangerous the climb becomes, and the more they need to trust one another. And that's when Cecily finds the first body.
Pre-order: Free with 30-day trial
The Magpie Society
One for Sorrow
By: Amy McCulloch, Zoe Sugg
Narrated by: Jill Winternitz, Katie Leung, Laurence Dobiesz, and others
Illumen Hall is an elite boarding school. Tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered at their exclusive summer party - on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie. When new girl Audrey arrives the following term, running from her own secrets back home in America, she is thrown into solving the case. Despite her best efforts to avoid any drama, her new roommate Ivy was close to the murdered girl, and the two of them can't help but get pulled in.
This was my first audio book
By chesterNatalie on 05-11-20
Narrated by: Jill Winternitz, Katie Leung, Laurence Dobiesz, Olivia Darnley
Jinxed
Narrated by: Harper Marshall
Lacey Chu has big dreams of becoming a companioneer for MONCHA, the largest tech firm in North America and the company behind the "baku" - a customisable smart pet that functions as a phone but makes the perfect companion, too. When Lacey finds out she hasn't been accepted into Profectus - the elite academy for cutting edge tech - it seems her dreams are over. Worst of all, rather than getting to choose one of the advanced bakus, she's stuck with a rubbish insect one. Then, one night, Lacey comes across the remains of an advanced baku.
Series: Unleashed, Book 1
Narrated by: Catherine Ho
Lacey Chu has always dreamed of working as an engineer for MONCHA, the biggest tech firm in the world and the company behind the "baku" - a customizable "pet" with all the capabilities of a smartphone. But when Lacey is rejected by the elite academy that promises that future, she's crushed. One night, Lacey comes across the broken form of a highly advanced baku. After she repairs it, the cat-shaped baku she calls Jinx opens its eyes and somehow gets her into her dream school. But Jinx is different than any other baku she's ever seen.... He seems real.


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Home Editor's Choice CKD Porsche For Malaysia
CKD Porsche For Malaysia
Rumours were swirling last year on the possibility of Porsche AG setting up its first assembly plant out of Germany to this region, even more exciting was news that Malaysia were among the countries said to be selected. Of course when asked, Sime Darby Motors the sole distributor for Porsche denied such claims and the speculation eventually subsided.
However, as it turns out the rumour was true and yes! Porsche AG is setting up an assembly plant and have chose Malaysia as the preferred country. Partnering Sime Darby Berhad for the venture, the German sports car maker has confirmed that the assembly plant will be only assembling cars for the Malaysian market with production scheduled to begin in 2022.
Sime Darby Motors has been a partner of choice for Porsche in Malaysia for the last 11 years, representing Porsche as its exclusive distributor and retailer for the sports car brand.
"This partnership with Porsche marks a coming of age of our relationship with the brand. To be entrusted to assemble cars for one of the world's most admired sports car brands speaks volumes of the highly qualified and competent Malaysian talent we have at Sime Darby and our ability to provide meaningful value to our partners," Sime Darby Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer Dato' Jeffri Salim Davidson said.
"Malaysia and the whole ASEAN is a region of great potential and we look forward to the first locally assembled models reaching our Malaysian customers next year," said Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. "As Porsche is moving into a new era of mobility, Malaysia and the ASEAN region are gaining an increasing importance. This step now is part of a long-standing initiative to keep pace with rapidly evolving customer and market demands."
Assuring customers on quality, Dato Jerri said every Porsche assembled by Sime Darby will go through the same rigorous standards and processes as its European counterparts. Quality will be a shared key commitment between Porsche AG and Sime Darby in the assembling of the vehicles.
Sime Darby is also keen to partner with local vendors to provide seamless supply and production support.
Porsche CKD
Sime darby motors
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How Kristaps Porzingis compares with 10 greatest European players of all-time in their rookie NBA seasons
By Daniel Popper
Knicks rookie sensation Kristaps Porzingis is already generating debate on whether he'll be an all-time European-born NBA great. (Bill Kostroun/AP)
Monday night's Knicks-Mavericks matchup will pit master against student, as 37-year-old Dirk Nowitzki and 20-year-old Kristaps Porzingis go head-to-head at the Garden.
Porzingis, the Knicks' Latvian sensation who has emerged as an early frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race, grew up watching highlights of Nowitzki, now widely considered the best European basketball player in history. But Nowitzki, who is seventh on the all-time NBA scoring list, didn't become a superstar overnight. In fact, the German arrived in the league lanky and underweight, unable to bang down low with the bigger bodies of the NBA as a 20-year-old.
ISOLA: PORZINGIS WANTS TO FOLLOW IN NOWITZKI'S FOOTSTEPS
Over time, Nowitzki honed his game to become one of the best scorers of all time, European or other. But there's no denying that so far into his rookie campaign, Porzingis - averaging 14 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1 assist in 21 career games - is ahead of where Nowitzki was at the same age and in the same situation.
To put Porzingis' hot start in perspective, the News went back to look at the 10 best European players in NBA history and how each fared in their first season in the league.
1. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Germany
Rookie numbers: 8.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1 assist and 0.6 blocks
Now considered the greatest European NBA player ever, Dirk Nowitzki struggled mightily during his first season in the league. (MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA)
As mentioned above, the 7-foot Nowitzki largely struggled in his debut NBA season after going ninth overall to the Mavs in 1998. He was young and undersized, shooting just 20.6 percent from three in 47 games. The struggles were brief, however. The next season, Nowitzki raised his scoring average to 17.2. He would average at least 21 points per game for 13 of the next 14 seasons.
2. Pau Gasol, C, Spain
Rookie numbers: 17.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.1 blocks
Gasol was taken with the third overall pick of the 2001 draft by Memphis and turned 21 before the start of the 2001-02 season. Unlike Nowitzki, the Spaniard wasted no time proving his game translated to the NBA en rout to winning Rookie of the Year.
3. Tony Parker, PG, France
Rookie numbers: 9.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds
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Four-time NBA champion Tony Parker got an early taste of NBA success, making the playoffs as a 19-year-old with the Spurs in his first season in the league. (Chris Covatta/NBAE/Getty Images)
The 6-foot-2 Parker obviously has a much different body type than Porzingis, but he's an apt comparison because of his career path. Both Porzingis and Parker were drafted out of Europe as 19-year-olds (Nowitzki turned 20 five days before the 1998 draft) and jumped right into their respective starting lineups. Parker, though, played the entirety of his rookie season at 19, including the playoffs. Porzingis turned 20 in August.
4. Drazen Petrovic, SG, Croatia
Rookie numbers: 7.6 points and 1.5 assists
The Trailblazers drafted Petrovic in the third round of the 1986 draft, but the Croatian star didn't join the NBA until the 1989-90 season as a 25-year-old. He struggled in Portland to begin his career, largely because he was being misused as a spot-up three-point shooter, but blossomed after earning a trade to the Nets. In 1992-92, at age 28, Petrovic averaged 22.3 points per game for New Jersey. Tragically, however, Petrovic died in a car accident the ensuing offseason.
5. Peja Stojakovic, SF, Croatia
Rookie numbers: 8.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists
A bust in Portland, the late Drazen Petrovic blossomed into an NBA star with the New Jersey Nets. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images)
Peja joined the Kings as 21-year-old in 1998 after being drafted in the 1996 draft. He would go on to become a lethal three-point shooter, finishing his career above 40 percent. But he shot just 32 percent as a rookie. Porzingis is shooting 35.1 percent so far this season.
6. Vlade Divac, C, Serbia
Rookie numbers: 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks
As a 21-year-old rookie with the Lakers, Divac came off the bench and only averaged 19.6 minutes per game. He became a full-time starter the following season. At the end of his career in the early 2000s, he played along Stojakovic on the Kings.
7. Marc Gasol, C, Spain
Rookie numbers: 11.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.1 blocks.
Long considered just the younger brother of Pau, Marc Gasol has developed into one of the best centers in the NBA. He was a diamond in the rough, going in the second round to the Lakers (48th overall) in the 2007 draft. He was traded to the Grizzlies in February 2008 before making his debut the following fall.
8. Toni Kukoc, F, Croatia
Rookie numbers: 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists
Kukoc was another late-arrival from Europe. He was drafted by the Bulls in the second round of the 1990 draft but didn't make his debut until the 1993-94 season, when he was also 25 years old. Kukoc is best known for being a key piece in Michael Jordan's 1996-98 title three-peat.
9. Andrei Kirilenko, F, Russia
Andrei Kirilenko, who ended his NBA career with the Nets, had a solid rookie campaing for the Jazz, averaging 10.7 points per game. (David Zalubowski/AP)
On top of having one of the best nicknames in sports (AK-47), Kirilenko put together a very well rounded NBA career. A tremendous defensive player who blocked 3.3 shots per game in 2004-05, the Russian also posted solid offensive stats, three times averaging more than 15 points per game.
10. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, C, Lithuania
Rookie numbers: 13.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks
At 7-foot-3, Ilgauskas stands as tall as Porzingis. He also boasted very similar rookie averages. However, Ilgauskas was not a three-point shooter. He made just one three as a rookie and only 31 for his career - 26 of which came in a two-year stint toward the end of his playing days. Porzingis, meanwhile, is on pace for 78 threes this season alone.
dirk nowitzki
tony parker
drzen petrovic
peja stojakovic
vlade divac
Latest Knicks
The highlight of the Knicks preseason will be Zion Williamson's visit


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class SurveyQuestionChoice < ActiveRecord::Base
  belongs_to :survey_multiple_choice_question
  has_many :survey_multiple_choice_question_answers

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text:
The Featurette In Our Stars
by Leah Stone
"It's a love story about two kids with cancer, but it's not about cancer." –Shailene Woodley.
It's the film that everyone is preparing themselves emotionally for. The Fault in Our Stars, based on the book by award winning American novelist John Green, is exactly as Woodley, who plays Hazel, describes it. It follows the story of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus 'Gus' Waters. Hazel has Stage 4 Thyroid Cancer, and Augustus was in remission after suffering from Osteosarcoma.
This featurette allows us to see the connection and chemistry between Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, as well as seeing more of the film. John Green states about the duo "they are just really magical together. I've never seen anything like it." As there seemed to be many skeptical comments about the casting choices, hopefully this featurette will help people to see both Woodley and Elgort as the correct casting choices. We see them messing around on set and getting along quite well.
As for extra insight into the film, this featurette tries to focus more on the humorous parts of the film than the more emotional ones. Its moments like this that in the film will help to cushion the deeper and darker moments that will occur, like what we see at the end of this clip.
Set for release on the 6th of June in the US and the 20th of June in the UK, there are high expectations for this film since it is based on a book that debuted at Number One on the New York Times Best Seller list in 2012.
Just be prepared to bring a big box of tissues when you venture out to see this film, its set be an emotional rollercoaster.


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In Memoriam: J. Karla Lemon
Jason Victor Serinus on October 20, 2009
Berkeley-raised conductor J. Karla Lemon, who conducted a host of local and national new music ensembles and orchestras between teaching gigs at Stanford University and other institutions, died peacefully at her Oakland home on October 15. The cause of death was a massive and catastrophic stroke endured during open-heart surgery for correction of a congenital heart condition.
The daughter of the late Rev. Jerry Lemon of St. John's Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, she began her musical studies on violin. Soon she graduated to double bass, which she played for a short while as a member of the original Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.
J. Karla Lemon
Lemon began conducting in the Oakland Youth Symphony, where she played bass alongside violist and future mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt (Lieberson). She soon realized that her first love was conducting. After graduating from UC Berkeley, she received her masters in conducting at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg. From 1992 to 2002 she worked at Stanford University, conducting all their orchestras as well as teaching. Other gigs included Composers, Inc., Earplay, San Francisco Contemporary Music Players, Sonoma State, Rohnert Park Symphony, San Francisco State, the Women's Philharmonic, and UC Davis.
According to her partner of 14 years, soprano Christine Brandes, Lemon's special love for new music led to a long association with composer Eric Moe, performances of music by Mark Winges and Richard Festinger, and premieres of works by both Moe and Chen Yi, and other notable composers. Her recording premieres of Moe's Up and Adam and Sonnets to Orpheus (with Brandes as soprano soloist) are available from Albany Records.
"Karla was under-recognized, but she was one of the finest conductors of contemporary music out there," Moe said by phone from his home in Pittsburgh. "She always found ways to stretch herself as musician. She could take a work like Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, which she conducted with the Santa Rosa Symphony, and make it work in ways I had never heard. I brought her to New York to conduct because her insights were always so illuminating." In 2005, Lemon conducted the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in the premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning
composer Melinda Wagner's Four Settings, featuring Brandes as soloist. Recorded by Bridge Records in 2008, the work is part of an all-Wagner CD slated for release by mid-2010. Also on the CD are Wagner's Wick, performed by the New York New Music Ensemble, and Trombone Concerto played by the New York Philharmonic under Loren Maazel, with Joseph Alessi as soloist.
Most recently, Lemon guest conducted at the Mancini Institute in Los Angeles and the Nashua Symphony in New Hampshire. Last year, she conducted the Composers Inc. premiere of Allen Shearer's The Dawn Makers, with Brandes as one of the soloists.
One of Lemon's most fateful performances took place at Stanford University in the spring of 1997, where she was slated to conduct Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Two years earlier, when she was scouting for a soprano soloist to pair with her already chosen mezzo, Hunt, a friend suggested Brandes. After Lemon heard Brandes sing, she turned to her friend and whispered, "I'm in love." Once Lemon and Brandes began speaking, they realized that they were the two women that their mutual friend Lorraine had always suggested should meet. ("She was our little arranger," says Brandes.) Within a couple of months, the two had begun a 14-year relationship that included a civil union in Vermont.
Besides conducting, Lemon's other lifelong passion was social justice. Influenced by her father, who left St. John's to minister at a black congregation in Oakland and support the Black Panthers, she headed to New Orleans right after Katrina as a Red Cross volunteer.
"It's the way she was," says Brandes. "When she saw an opportunity to make something happen, she threw herself into it. She wanted to serve, and was really passionate about the benefits that players and audience members derive from music. Everything for her was about relationship."
Lemon recently completed her Masters in counseling and psychology at the Wright Institute in Berkeley. She intended to continue conducting while serving disadvantaged populations and was working for Crisis Support Services in Alameda, through which she provided counseling to four little boys who had witnessed one of the recent murders of police officers in Oakland.
In addition to her partner Brandes, Lemon's survivors include her half-brother Darwin Lemon of Sausalito, half sisters Linda Lemon of Tahoe and Wanda Huddleson of Montana, and Brandes' parents Joe and Carol Orin. Joe and Carol often joshed that if Karla and Chris were ever to break up, they would have a hard time deciding which one to keep as their daughter.
A memorial service is planned for Nov. 7 at 10 a.m., at the First Congregational Church in Berkeley.
Jason Victor Serinus regularly reviews music and audio for Stereophile, SFCV, Classical Voice North America, AudioStream, American Record Guide, and other publications. The whistling voice of Woodstock in She's a Good Skate, Charlie Brown, the longtime Oakland resident now resides in Port Townsend, Washington.
More From Jason Victor Serinus
Brian Mulligan Premieres Contemporary American Songs
The Essential Joyce DiDonato


Mosquito nets are not only suitable to keep mosquito's and other bugs at a distance, but can also be used for decorative purposes in the bedroom. Mosquito nets consist of a fine woven net were no mosquitos or other insects can pass through. In our assortment you will fine many types of mosquito nets that are made from natural materials. The mosquito nets from cotton have a natural look en are soft to touch. Mosquito nets from cotton are the preferred choise if you do not want to create a electro magnetic field in the room. As can be the case with synthetic mosquito nets.
Most people think that mosquito nets have one standard shape, but less is true. We stock a large collection of mosquito nets in different colours and designs. Varying from round shaped mosquito nets to square shaped mosquito nets. Our assortment contains mosquito nets for single beds up to large nets suitable for king size beds. We have mosquito nets available for order in many types, colours and sizes.
Mosquito nets can be suspended in different ways, like on a canopy bed or by rings and hooks attached to the ceiling. It is also possible to suspend two cords between walls with on one side a cord tensioner. The mosquito net can then be connected to the cords. If you do not posses a canopy bed and do not want to drill holes in the walls or ceiling, we have a mosquito net available that consist of a tube construction with special feet. The mosquito net can then be placed around the bed. This type of mosquito net is also ideal to take on a holiday and easily foldable.
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Retention, Publicity, Teams, Help Publicise BOINC. Discussion 2.
This discussion was along similar lines to the earlier discussion with a similar heading.
Retaining users is as important as recruitment of new users.
Gathering info about why users stop.
Research reasons why users leave projects.
Ask new users how things are going?
Tooting horn v Buzz Marketing.
Old news Results/New? angles, making it hard to get in.
Possible selective marketing to top users.
More tools to publicise BOINC.
Frequent news posts, revise project pages for this.
Separate Technical news. Science news/ Project news.
Problems with sharing news. Update RSS feed.
Get better data and stats on retention. Analyse it, deduce best practice, and experiment with best approaches.
Get companies to join BOINC (Very challenging, security!).
Monthly BOINC newsletter, Default ticked to "Opt in". Example ISGTW.
Do publicity, list as many ways as possible on one page with links to more detailed ways for each method.
New opportunities, Myspace, Facebook, Web buttons.
Enthusiastic users will help if they have easy access to lots of ideas.
Learn from other grid computing; Folding@home.


text:
JHTML stands for Java within HTML. This is a page authoring system developed at Art Technology Group (ATG). Files with a ".jhtml" filename extension contain standard HTML tags in addition to proprietary tags that reference Java objects running on a special server set up to handle requests for pages of this sort.

Overview
When a request is made for a JHTML page, e.g. "index.jhtml", the request for this page is forwarded from the HTTP server to another system running a Java application server. The JHTML page is compiled first into a .java file and then into a Java .class file. The application server runs the code in the .class file as a servlet whose sole function is to emit a stream of standard HTTP and HTML data back to the HTTP server and on back to the client software (the web browser, usually) that originally requested the document. The principal benefit of this system is that it allows logic running in Java on the application server to generate the HTML dynamically. Often a database is queried to accumulate the specific data needed in the page.

The system is derived from earlier forms of CGI programming that allow a program running on a web server to generate HTML dynamically. With JHTML, you can author standard HTML and just insert a few extra tags that represent the pieces of the HTML page data that Java should be used to create. JHTML is a proprietary technology of ATG. Sun Microsystems licensed parts of this technology and developed the JSP system from the ATG page compilation system.

HTML
Java platform


text:
Gehr Industries
Our Team – Douglas Suddarth
Douglas Suddarth
EVP & Chief Operating Officer
Doug supports Gehr customers through leading and managing the company's operating and supply chain teams. He is responsible for safe company-wide import, production and distribution operations, quality and delivery performance plus strategic business and capital planning. Doug works as part of the executive leadership team to leverage the company's values, history and accomplishments to continue building a world-class industrial supplies business.
Prior to joining Gehr Doug served in a variety of executive management roles in global manufacturing and third-party logistics companies. He is a veteran of the United States Navy who earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and his master's degree in business administration from The College of William and Mary. Doug is a member of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), several non-profit boards, leadership, and business advisory groups.
Meet the rest of Our Team
Contact us to learn more about the Gehr Group and Gehr Industries
The Gehr Group
7400 E. Slauson Avenue
For more information, please visit: www.gehr.com
Gehr Industries © 2022 All Rights Reserved.


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Nick Carter & Jordan Knight New Album September 2014 & Tour, See Nick & Knight Dates & Watch Teaser Here (VIDEO)
By Matt Lloyd May 04, 2014 02:00 AM EDT
(Photo : nickandknight.com/)
Nick Carter & Jordan Knight New Album September 2014 & Tour, See Dates & Watch Teaser Here (VIDEO)
Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block) and Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys) have announced that they will be joining forces to release an album and support it with a tour to follow in Fall 2014. They will be going by the name Nick & Knight with the new album revealed to be releasing on September 2nd.
The guys stopped by Good Morning America earlier this week and Jordan shared, "Me and Nick have combined our talents, our super powers, and now we are a new duo called 'Nick & Knight". He continued, "We recorded a whole new album and are going on tour September 15." As for their album, Nick described it as: "It's a bunch of our pop, rock, R&B and urban. It's all mixed together to create 'Nick & Knight.'" Tickets went on sale on Friday, May 2nd, with VIP and merch Packages available. You can get the new song, "Just the Two of Us" with merch package purchases as well. Visit their official website for more ticket information HERE.
Jordan spoke with On Air with Ryan Seacrest saying, "I am excited about doing this project with Nick. I also admire Nick's ability, I admire his talent and the way he performs onstage. I think he's a great partner to do this new project with."
Nick & Knight Fall 2014 Tour Dates:
9/15 - Cannery Ballroom - Nashville, TN
9/17 - Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
9/19 - Bogart's - Cincinnati, OH
9/20 - Murat Theatre - Indianapolis, IN
9/21 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
9/23 - Folly Theater - Kansas City, MO
9/24 - Mill City Nights - Minneapolis, MN
9/26 - House of Blues - Chicago, IL
9/28 - Royal Oak Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
9/30 - Agora Theater - Cleveland, OH
10/1 - Byham Theatre - Pittsburgh, PA
10/3 - Metropolis - Montreal, QC
10/4 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
10/8 - Emerson Colonial - Boston, MA
10/10 - Best Buy Theater - New York, NY
10/11 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
10/14 - Center Stage - Atlanta, GA
10/15 - Fillmore Charlotte - Charlotte, NC
10/17 - Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
10/18 - The National - Richmond, VA
10/19 - Charleston Music Hall - Charleston, SC
10/21 - Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
10/22 - Revolution - Miami, FL
11/4 - Civic Theatre - New Orleans, LA
11/5 - House of Blues - Dallas, TX
11/7 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
11/9 - Orpheum - Phoenix, AZ
11/11 - House of Blues - San Diego, CA
11/13 - House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
11/14 - House of Blues - West Hollywood, CA
11/15 - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA
11/18 - The Regency - San Francisco, CA
11/20 - Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA
11/21 - Vogue Theater - Vancouver, BC
11/22 - Flames Central - Calgary, AB
Tags : nick carter jordan knight nick & knight nick & knight new album nick & knight tour 2014 nick & knight tour dates 2014 new kids on the block backstreet boys jordan knight tour 2014 nick carter tour 2014
Previous Disney Channel's 'Girl Meets World' Premieres June 27th, Watch New Extended Trailer Here (VIDEO)
Backstreet Boys' Nick Carter & New Kids on the Block Jordan Knight Release New Single "One More Time" for Nick & Knight New Album & Tour Coming Fall 2014, Listen Here (VIDEO)
Two Backstreet Boys Were Baptized in Israel
Backstreet Boys' Brian Littrell Dedicates"Happy Birthday" Video to Jesus
Ten Years Ago, Brian Littrell Released "Welcome Home"
Florida Georgia Line Teams Up with Backstreet Boys for "God, Your Mama and Me"


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Infiniti's IPL Range To Get 'Powered By AMG' Badges?
Nelson Ireson December 6, 2010 Comment Now!
The new Infiniti Performance Line was just introduced a few months ago at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, but already rumors are swirling that Nissan's tie-up with Daimler could spawn "Powered by AMG" badges for the range.
The first of the IPL cars doesn't wear the tag, however, as it gets what is essentially the same VQ-based 3.7-liter engine the NISMO 370Z uses. The first of the supposedly AMG-powered IPL cars would be the M sedan, according to Autocar, getting the 6.2-liter V-8 from the E63 AMG.
Unsurprising may be the best description for the new report, as we've already heard the new G and M sedans could be based on Mercedes-Benz's E-Class platform. On the other hand, it puts a point on the question we raised then: what impact might such sharing have on the Mercedes-Benz, and now, AMG, brands?
Sliding architecture under the sheetmetal of another marque's cars is one thing--it's out of the public eye, a fact likely to be known only to enthusiasts. But start sticking badges on cars, and the fact that you can get a discounted, restyled Mercedes/AMG product for (very likely) far less cash becomes readily apparent.
We'll believe it when we see the badges, but it's certainly not beyond the range of possibility. In the mean time, we'd like to hear from you: would you choose the cheaper AMG-powered Infiniti over the real thing? Or would you prefer to spend for the original?
[Autocar]
High-Res Gallery: 2011 Infiniti M37
2011 INFINITI M News INFINITI News News
2012 Ford Focus Production Kicks Off In Germany
Report: Honda CR-Z With Turbocharged Four-Banger Planned
VIDEO: Street Race Between Mustang And Camaro Leads To Crash
2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class, 2022 Ford Ranger, 2022 Nio ET7: This Week's Top Photos
Nelson Ireson - Senior Editor


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Office Property, REMIC
By Judy Newman
Are businesses shifting from the suburbs to downtowns?
Prestigious addresses at lower prices may be luring companies back to big-city downtown digs for now. But in the long run, price will not be the only factor determining where businesses locate. An easier commute, environmentally-sensitive buildings, and good-quality housing and neighborhood amenities may also play an important role in office market decisions in many cities, experts say.
In the post-recession economy, downtown office buildings are experiencing a renaissance with big, corporate tenants flocking back to city centers, leaving swaths of empty offices in the suburbs, the Wall Street Journal reported in December.
In Chicago, for instance, United Continental Holdings, parent company to the merged United and Continental Airlines, is moving into the 110-story Willis Tower in the West Loop from its sprawling office complex in Elk Grove Village near O'Hare Airport. United Continental has said it will fill 12 floors of the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, and eventually, will have 13,000 employees in Chicago.
In Detroit, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan plans to start moving 3,000 employees from suburban Southfield to the GM Renaissance Center in May, doubling the health care organization's work force in Detroit's central city.
"The pendulum has swung the opposite way," said Victor Calanog, vice president of research and economics for Reis, Inc. "Cities are, basically, back and it's fascinating."
But others are not so sure. "We have heard the same thing, that there are big deals going on in downtown markets," Arthur Jones, senior managing economist for CB Richard Ellis, said. "Nationwide, the data just don't show it."
National Association of REALTORS®' George Ratiu said some cities are seeing a downtown rebound, but many are not, at least, not yet. "There is a shift toward central business districts, but I would not say it is as uniform as it would be portrayed. New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C., to some extent, but other markets are not going in the exact same direction," Ratiu said.
In his fourth-quarter 2010 analysis, issued in January, Calanog said office occupancy rates improved in 48 of the 82 primary office markets around the U.S.
In New York City, office vacancies dropped during the last three months of 2010, while effective rents increased 1.5 percent. It was the second consecutive quarterly rise in rents, following nearly two years of declines, including a fall of about 20 percent in 2009 — more than twice the deterioration in the 12 months after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that destroyed the World Trade Center, Calanog said.
With decreases that sharp, the spread between rent rates in the central business district and those in the suburbs has narrowed. "It also means class A office space in New York City is suddenly more affordable now than across the river in New Jersey," he said. As a result, tenants are finding less expensive space in more desirable locations.
In Washington, D.C., CoStar Group pulled up stakes in Bethesda, Md., last October and bought a 10-story office tower from the Mortgage Bankers Association. CoStar, a commercial real estate research organization, touted the bargain price, at less than half the median market rate, and government incentives such as$6.1 million in tax abatement over 10 years if the company hires 100 D.C. residents.
CoStar CEO Andrew Florance probably summed up the feeling of many companies getting in on recession bargains when he said, at the time, he felt lucky to get "a historic opportunity to secure an exceptional asset at a greatly reduced price."
Chicago is another city where companies are taking advantage of reduced rates to upgrade their address, said Deena Zimmerman, senior associate with Jameson Commercial. "Absolutely, yes, 100 percent. All the deals I've done lately are suburban offices coming into the city," she said.
In most cases, businesses moving from the suburbs are lured by the cachet of a downtown Chicago location. "The address means a lot. Michigan Avenue or Wacker Drive absolutely helps their business," Zimmerman said. United Continental's decision to migrate to the Loop probably was not the catalyst that prompted companies to follow suit, but it may have lent some support to the idea, she said.
"I really think the downtown surge is just a signal of things to come," Zimmerman said.
Reis economist Calanog said price is not the only reason, though. "On a macro (economics) scale, cities have done a really good job repositioning themselves as highly livable, highly attractive places for businesses and individuals to flourish. This was certainly not the case in the 1980s or early 1990s," he said.
Denver's downtown also is seeing new sparks of interest from the business community now that rents have dropped, said John Propp, of John Propp Commercial Real Estate. "It's most definitely a trend," he said.
But the downtown migration touched Denver well before the recession hit in late 2008, he said, and has proven to be more of a long-term change. In the early 2000s, executives and young families started to return, renovating Victorian houses, and old warehouses were rejuvenated as condominiums and lofts. "And all of a sudden, preservation and reurbanization of older buildings became hip," Propp said.
At the same time, Denver was embarking on a series of public improvements that included turning 16th Street into a pedestrian mall with free buses; ramping up what has become a major light rail system; and building the Pepsi stadium for the Denver Nuggets basketball team and the Colorado Avalanche hockey team downtown. Transit-oriented developments began appearing around light rail stations in the environmentally conscious community, with housing, retail and some offices.
Last July, DaVita, a kidney care services company, announced plans to build its new headquarters adjacent to Denver's Millennium Bridge, at the west end of the 16th Street Mall. The 15-story, $100 million project — counting the cost of both land and office building — will sit across from Union Station, a railroad station with roots that date back 130 years, now targeted for a major redevelopment as a multi-modal transit hub for Amtrak, commuter trains, light rail, buses and shuttles, as well as a public promenade and gardens and private development.
When DaVita decided to leave California for Colorado in 2009, chief executive officer Kent Thiry cited Denver's good business atmosphere and "an environment where our people could live great lives." Propp said the downtown's revitalization, its emphasis on parks, transit, bike and car-sharing programs, and its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified housing have made the central city inviting to companies like DaVita and their employees. "Our city has really, really embraced that piece," he said.
DaVita is not alone in considering smart growth policies a "plus" in potential locations. "There are certain elements of sustainability and overall environmental consciousness that contribute to the return to downtown office space," but it is hard to quantify how much they play into those decisions compared to other factors, said Heather Payson, a portfolio manager for Ecological LLC, of New York.
Many companies now include "green issues" among the items they consider, she said. "They put more weight on what will enable them to attract and retain young and forward-looking employees. For this generation, the ability to "live a green life" is a factor that is increasing in importance," Payson said.
In some cities, companies are moving into urban boundaries from the suburbs, but they are not necessarily aiming for downtown digs. Atlanta, for instance, has three urban markets: downtown, midtown and Buckhead, said John Ferguson, president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®. He said while there has been somewhat of an influx back to the city from the Central Perimeter — the ring around Atlanta that comprises the area's largest office market — the downtown area has not been the biggest beneficiary.
"We've seen this trend for about 18 months — accounting, advertising and professional firms that have relocated back into urban centers to take advantage of the market conditions. But what we haven't seen is a total fight back. Most of the absorption is really in midtown and Buckhead," said Ferguson, who also serves as executive managing director of CB Richard Ellis for the Southeast.
For the Washington, D.C. area, the trend toward urban environments has been apparent since the mid-2000s, driven largely by traffic congestion and the high cost of gasoline, said Susan Pepper, senior vice president of Grubb & Ellis' Washington, D.C. office. But there, too, companies have not all chosen downtown sites.
"Certainly downtowns have benefited, but in the greater Washington area, we've seen equal growth in northern Virginia and in the Bethesda, Md., area," Pepper said. "What tenants are really seeking is proximity to public transportation, getting out of their cars and availing themselves to Metro access, rather than the almighty car."
As the Metro system expands, development — including offices — is expected to follow, Pepper said. "This region really doesn't have a discernible trend of businesses leaving the District of Columbia nor a wave of businesses leaving the suburbs for the city. There's a healthy ebb and flow throughout the region of businesses moving to urbanized environments with direct Metro access, inside the Beltway," she said.
With gas prices quickly rising toward $4 a gallon, that's likely to be the case elsewhere, as well, said NAR economist Ratiu. "If the trend in gas prices continues, it will become simply more expensive to have an hour's worth of commute to your work versus being able to take public transit," he said. Suburbs can also be on transit lines. "In some areas, the layout of the metro area is centered a lot more on suburban than central business districts," Ratiu said.
It will probably be three or four years before the large inventory of office space is absorbed enough to see construction of new buildings ramp up, he said. But when it does, more buildings will incorporate "green" architecture principles, which already have proven their value, Ratiu said. "That, I believe, will become a lot more prevalent. Landlords recognize they are able to attract better tenants and extract higher rents."
Reis economist Calanog said the nationwide office vacancy rate —which has been the highest in 17 years — is finally starting to inch down slowly, at 17.5 percent for the first quarter of 2011, down from 17.6 percent the previous quarter, and the first decline since the third quarter of 2008. He expects vacancies to be at 14.3 percent in 2015, dropping to12.5 percent by 2019. "So we're not projecting massive improvements in the office sector given recent trends towards the more efficient use of office space, etc.," he said.
As for where the demand for office space will go over the next decade, Calanog offers this reminder: "Trends tend to move in cycles. If central business district office space becomes so attractive that rents start spiking to high levels, suburban office space may once again become an attractive option for businesses that are priced out of ritzy downtown locations."
Judy Newman is a newspaper reporter in Madison, Wis.
About On Common Ground
A free, semi-annual magazine published by NAR, On Common Ground presents a wide range of views on smart growth issues, with the goal of encouraging dialog among REALTORS®, elected officials, and other interested citizens.
500 New Jersey Ave, NW
Center for REALTOR® Financial Wellness


Nummer 14 schon! Mein Gott, soo viele Fotos, die nicht so wollten wie ich. Wollt ihr bei der nächsten Runde dabei sein? Schickt mir eure Fotos an almoststylish(at)gmail.com!
Part 14 already! Bloody hell, so many photos that didn't turn out the way I wanted them to. Do you want to be part of the next round? Send your bloopers to almoststylish(at)gmail.com!
das rot gemusterte kleid gefällt mir super!
überhaupt dein style ist klasse!
Haha isn't it so funny how quickly we can shut our eyes or move the hand! I always have weird bloopers.
All wonderful looks indeed -notwithstanding the bloopers. Greetings!
Thank you for stopping by my blog. This is a unique title for looks lovely in all.
PS: zu nestle... du hast recht, ich habe erst heute einen artikel wegen gelesen, bei dem es um die wassernutzungsrechte geht :( nicht gut! danke für den offenen kommentar, ich gebe dir recht!
I remember my wife's old cat walking right into pictures before. It's funny how cats never seem to care. He used to climb right into the game-board box before we took the stuff out.
What a wonderful edition! You know how to dress to impress!


Place the water and barley into a medium saucepan; cover, set over high heat and bring to a boil. Once the barley comes to a boil, decrease the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. While the liquid is cooking, peel the lemons, being careful not to cut into the white pith. Juice the lemons and place the juice along with the peel into a 3-quart pitcher and set aside.
After 30 minutes, strain the barley water through a fine mesh strainer into the pitcher. Discard the barley. Add the honey and stir to combine. Refrigerate until chilled.


text:
AOL Names Andy Spillane as Vice President of Product Development for Messaging and Social Media
DULLES, VA, - AOL today announced that Andy Spillane has joined the company as Vice President of Product Development for Messaging and Social Media. In this role, Spillane is responsible for the leadership, vision and day-to-day management of AOL's messaging and social media products, including AIM, AOL Community and AOL Voice products.
Spillane brings to AOL more than 15 years of experience in the Internet and computer industries. He returns to AOL after serving more than two years as vice president and general manager for Yahoo! Mail, where he was responsible for all aspects of the company's email service.
Prior to his role at Yahoo!, Spillane held several key roles at AOL and Netscape over the course of a decade. During this time, he served as project owner of AOL's Open Client initiative and directed the team in charge of developing product strategies for AOL's communications and connectivity experiences over broadband, with specific emphasis on the launch of AOL Communicator, an advanced email and instant messaging communications suite. Spillane's first leadership roles for AOL came within iPlanet E-commerce Solutions, an alliance with Sun Microsystems created after AOL's acquisition of Netscape in late 1999. During his years at Netscape, Spillane held numerous technical and managerial positions in Netscape Worldwide Professional Services. He holds doctorate of philosophy, master's of science, and bachelor's of science degrees in systems engineering from the University of Virginia
"We're thrilled to have Andy return to AOL to fill such an important role" said Marcien Jenckes, Senior Vice President, AOL Messaging and Social Media. "Having worked with him previously, I know his proven expertise in the online communications field will lift AOL's messaging and social media products to even greater heights."
"It's great to be back at AOL in such an exciting and diverse role," said Spillane. "I look forward to working with the outstanding product and development teams to continue driving innovation for key products such as AIM and our community services."
Spillane will report to Marcien Jenckes.


Strategis Consulting is a mashup of creativity, talent, and expertise!
The Strategis cast falls somewhere between Monty Python and Saturday Night Live. We are artists, wine tasters, parents, travelers, golfers, surfers, film buffs, gamers and everything in between.
We apply to your projects a kaleidoscope of creativity, talents and experience. We are a multilinguistic, multicultural incubator where the cross-pollination of ideas flow freely. For each project, we mindfully select the best talent for outstanding results.
Our Goal: Connect our Clients with Success.
Philosophy: People want to do business with people they like and trust.
Trust is the bedrock of our relationships. We knew that to earn the trust of other business people, we would need to demonstrate integrity in all aspects of our work—always. Earned trust also demands that we have the expertise to deliver to our clients what wesay we will.
Inter-business friendships make life better. We emotionally invest in your success. How so? The work we do for our clients' is personified by collaboration, teamwork, and professional partnerships. We want the experience of working together to be both fun and productive. Being likeable on and off the "playing field", fosters open communication, reduces stress and increases productivity. It's the only way.
Business is serious business. Money and profits are important to us. We know it's important to you, too. At the same time, our reputation with our clients is more important than for us to turn a profit. We still like to turn a profit! But we will not sacrifice our professional friendships with our clients for the sake of profit.
To some this may appear unrealistic in the 21st century. To others it may sound quaint or old fashioned. But for us it's our philosophy. And it works!
We are with you in success!
Dennis is the President and senior consultant for Strategis Consulting Group Inc. He brings to Strategis' clients a pragmatic, results-oriented business and marketing philosophy that ensures their growth and success.
He is convinced that the behavioural and social sciences, as well as psychograpics should drive marketing and business development decisions. Without their application, marketing decisions too often result in missed opportunities and significantly wasted resources.
Dennis has worked with business owners and executives to help develop their business vision, strategic management, operational decision-making, and policy development. He leads a group of executive level professionals who specialize in online and offline marketing, branding, media relations, and social media marketing.
Dennis is fully bilingual in Canada's two official languages.
Susan is an experienced marketing consultant who applies her broad marketing knowledge to creatively envisioning clients' needs and delivering their projects under tight deadlines—all with a smile.
Prior to joining Strategis in 2007, she was a key account advisor with a large-format graphic display company. During her time there, Susan assisted clients with projects ranging from retail displays and trade show exhibits to full graphic production and installation for real estate presentation centres.
Susan has extensive experience in all phases of online and offline campaign development; from conceptualization to layout and design to execution.
Susan graduated on the Dean's List from Langara College with a diploma in Professional Photography, which has given her an eye for detail and a solid understanding of visual communications. While attending Langara, she also completed accredited courses in Written Communications, Interpersonal Communications, and Economics. She continued her education at BCIT, while working full-time, completing courses in: Marketing Essentials, Media Techniques, PhotoShop and Graphic Design.
Stephen is a marketing strategist who works with SMEs to grow their businesses using online and offline best practices. After discovering he didn't really want to be an optometrist, he decided to become a programmer, where his talent was soon noticed by a Fortune 500 company. Stephen has since designed and implemented many software systems that today still process hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue.
Stephen has a rare combination of deep technical knowledge allied with an intimate sense of what businesses and people are searching for. If there is something new that helps businesses get new customers, Stephen has implemented it and produced results before others have even heard of it. Professional, corporate, retail, e-commerce, whatever the business, Stephen knows how to efficiently acquire more customers for them.
Having emigrated from the UK to Canada in 2013, he now applies his 20+ years experience in the IT field by helping companies grow using innovative strategies. An accomplished public speaker and soccer fan, you will find him either out volunteering in his local community, or moaning about Canadian beer.
Heather applies her 20 years of experience and training as a human resources specialist to help companies strategically develop their talent by providing management training, recruiting services, performance management, and conflict resolution.
Heather is a firm believer that improving the communication skills at all levels within an organization lays a solid foundation for greater productivity, reduced conflict, loyalty and better decision-making.
Heather has consulted for small companies to large corporations (1,800 employees), on the gamut of HR activities, such as recruiting, screening, wage/salary reviews, employment contracts and legal issues. She has also mounted management training programs such as: performance management, employee and employer rights and duties, workplace ethics, as well as policies and standards.
Heather holds a CPHR (Chartered Professional in Human Resources) designation. She has also completed supplemental training, such as: Essential Management Skills (Faculty of Commerce UBC), Fundamentals of Personal Law (Harris and Associates), Strategic Leadership and Management (Professional Performance Centre), amongst others.
Allemande After earning her degree at Simon Fraser University for New Media Journalism and Editing, Allemande has become an accomplished writer and editor. She is also certified in strategic social media marketing, Google Ads, Google Analytics, and digital sales.
Allemande fluently identifies the channel and content mix that is precisely right for your business and audience, conducts in-depth analytics for continuous improvement in your audience engagement and generation of sales leads through strategic planning and search engine optimization (SEO), establishes KPIs and related metrics, and prepares meaningful reports that you can quickly action. Connect with Allemande.
Brook is our dedicated Website and marketing happiness engineer.
He is energetic, plays well with others and adapts quick to new environments.
Brook runs multiple development teams, and is adept in full stack web development including Front-end Dev: HTML, PHP, CSS, JQuery | Database Development | DevOps and server support.
Brook is constantly keeping up with the new programming languages and tricks of the trade.
Brook is standing by to develop, enhance or redesign your website.
Camille after more than a decade honing her skills in the Graphic Design field Camille has proven herself as a strong creative force. Teamed with immense experience in door-to-door sales and intense training in interpersonal skills Camille brings a new viewpoint to Public Relations and client sales.
As an entrepreneur herself, Camille knows what your start-up or small business wants and needs to keep up in this fast-paced marketing world. Let Camille bridge the gap between what your business is and the success it can achieve.
If you think you've got what it takes to serve our clients while packing the intestinal fortitude for bad puns and office antics then we'd love to hear from you.
We firmly believe that respect for one another is the strongest filament that stitches together healthy and lasting relationships—within the workplace and with our clients.
We are committed to creating a work environment of inclusivity—where everyone is respected and recognized for their achievements. An workplace where opportunities to grow and work on exciting projects is de rigueur.
We are convinced that cultural diversity is not only a powerful asset for any organization—it's a must for marketing consultancies. A marketing agency needs to be a seed-bed of new ideas; where creativity flourishes and grows. Our cultural diversity is the seed bed for the cross-pollination of creativity and fresh ideas.
We're a company where the volunteer spirit is accommodated and celebrated.
percent of our customers - we love!


Before you head out on that summer adventure make sure your pet will be safe.
People aren't the only ones who love the dog days of summer. For everyone, including pets, summer is an active season which involves time spent outdoors in the sunshine, lots of exercise and a whole lot of fun. However, with all that activity, accidents can happen. Giving your pets a little extra attention will ensure they enjoy their summer to the fullest and stay happy and healthy. Here are some tips for helping your pets have the best summer ever.
Being out in the sun all day can be fun, but it can also cause dehydration and heatstroke in pets, just as it does in humans. If your pet is going to be spending a lot of time outdoors, it is important to ensure it has easy excess to plenty of water and shade. If you are taking your dog on a walk or trip, be sure to have a supply of water with you at all times. Take frequent breaks in the shade and observe your pet's behaviour so you can spot signs of fatigue.
We already know the benefits of applying sunscreen on our own skin. Well, dogs can get skin cancer, too, and sunscreen is often a good idea for white and light-coloured dogs, which tend to be more susceptible to skin cancer and sun damage than dogs with darker-coloured coats. Be sure to reapply periodically, or after the dog has had a dip in the lake or pool.
Many pet owners make the mistake of leaving their dogs in the car, thinking that winding down the windows a little will give them enough oxygen. As dogs cannot perspire like humans, they regulate their body temperature through the air and are dependent on the temperature of the air around them to keep themselves cool. If they inhale hot air in a hot car, their body temperature increases exponentially, which can be fatal.
Summer often means lots of walks outdoors. While this can be great for your dog's wellbeing, it also means his paws are going to come into contact with asphalt, which can get hot fast on warm days. Walking your dog on burning concrete can damage their pads, but we often do not realise this as our own feet are protected by shoes. This can be extremely painful for dogs, akin to pulling the skin off a blister on your foot and then walking barefoot in the hot sun. Other than limiting exposure to hot concrete whenever you can, you can also use pad protectors to keep those feet safe. If you cannot avoid contact with concrete, opt to walk your dog early in the morning or in the evening when the ground has cooled off.
Dogs and cats tend to spend a great deal of time outside in summer. While this can be great in that they get more exercise, it also makes them more susceptible to ticks and fleas, which proliferate in the warmer months. Prevention is better than cure, so begin a flea and tick protocol when the weather gets warmer to ensure your pet doesn't become the victim of an outbreak.
Never assume your dog knows how to swim. Just because you might have seen other dogs happily splashing around doesn't mean that every dog is a great swimmer. Even if your dog loves water, he may be less proficient at swimming than you think. Furthermore, dogs can and do get lost in pools and sometimes fail to find a way out, which can result in drowning. Never let your dog near a pool, lake or sea without close supervision. Just like children, they may jump in to retrieve their ball, and you want to be around if they need help.
Just because you're not finding the heat overwhelming doesn't necessarily mean your dog feels the same way. Dogs tend to get heated up faster than humans, and when your pet has been running around and playing, the unrelenting sun can take its toll. Always supervise your pet closely and watch for signs of discomfort, dehydration and heatstroke. If your dog begins panting a lot or seems tired and weak, it is time to take a rest in the shade and have a drink of water. If he doesn't recover even after a break, that may be a sign that something more serious is happening.
You might think that giving your dog a haircut will help him cool off in the summer heat, but this often does the opposite. A dog's coat aids in the regulation of body temperature, so a haircut might actually lead to your pet becoming more susceptible to the heat and sunburn.
Summer can be a wonderful season for pets, but is not without its hazards. Ensure your pet has the best possible summer by doing all you can to keep him cool, hydrated and healthy.
And as always be sure to visit us at www.naturegnaws.com for healthy chews and treats for your dogs.


text:
PIGEONHOLED
There are only four types of Facebook users, researchers have found
Post it, or else it's "useless"?
Image: Reuters/Juan Medina
Lila MacLellan
Anyone who uses Facebook can safely assume that to the company we are all one type of one thing: bundles of sellable data. The massive social network is more than one thing to its customers, however. Some of us use it to keep tabs on distant friends, for instance, and others to promote their creative works, or "literally" too-cute toenails. Still others see Facebook as a passive medium, a television channel made up of shows starring everyone they know and some they don't.
Now a new study, published in the International Journal of Virtual Communities and Social Networking, confirms that Facebook has a Rashomon effect: various user groups interpret the experience of using it very differently. Surprisingly, however, the researchers also found they could easily categorize users into four broad types: "relationship builders," "window shoppers," "town criers," and "selfies."
The study authors, from the School of Communication at Brigham Young University, say these four categories emerged from a survey that asked subjects to respond to a list of 48 statements. These included phrases like, "Facebook is a source of stress, and it depresses me" and "Facebook is an instant way to ask for help or something I need from people." Subjects ranked each statement on a scale from "most like me" to "least like me," and were later interviewed by the researchers who gathered additional insights and qualitative data.
Notably, only 47 subjects were involved in this study, but the authors argue that, because they employed Q methodology, an approach to investigating divergent perspectives on subjective topics using sorting, statistic, and factor analysis, the small sample size is sufficient to reveal solid patterns.
As you read through the profiles of the key types below, however, you may see yourself reflected in more than one category. The authors acknowledge that we aren't all easily pigeonholed, but say that we're likely to find we're mostly like one type. That is, at least among American young adults; the study only involved Americans aged 18 to 32, so global populations and older demographics may include other types. What's more, your attitudes about Facebook and your online behavior might change over your life.
Here's a closer look at the types revealed by the survey:
This cohort uses Facebook much the way humans once used actual mail and landline telephones: to strengthen existing relationships with friends and family. In fact, Facebook is an extension of their offline life, according to Tom Robinson, associate director of BYU's Graduate School of Communication and a professor of advertising. A sample statement that relationship builders identified with was "Facebook helps me to express love to my family and lets my family express love to me."
As the researchers explain in the study, this gang does not consider Facebook an "open virtual social society but rather a mini-hub site for personal storytelling, where information freely flows between friends and family." In the interview phase, one subject who fell into this category said she didn't call her family, so Facebook was "just an easy way to say 'hi' and share a bit of love."
Relationship builders also tend to be heavy posters and viewers of pictures and videos; they commonly comment on the images and updates others have shared, and engage in conversations.
Window shoppers
Driven by "a sense of social obligation" to be on Facebook, window shoppers see Facebook as an inescapable part of modern life, but they very rarely divulge personal information, share photos, or write updates. Nor do they do much liking or commenting.
Clark Callahan, one of the paper's co-authors, who is also a specialist in research methods and the director of the undergraduate school of communication at BYU, called Facebook window shopping, "the social-media equivalent of people watching." Men and women in this group most identified with statements such as: "I can freely look at the Facebook profile of someone I have a crush on and know their interests and relationship status," or "I have to use Facebook in order to stay connected with people."
One window shopper told the researchers, "I would rather live my life outside Facebook." Another said that Facebook was not a place to "post things about myself or just about my daily life, or what I did on Saturday—because I think people who want to know me will be around doing it with me."
These are the self-styled or professional journalists, activists, and event organizers who see Facebook primarily as a soapbox. Unlike relationship builders, their virtual world does not resemble their real life. They might broadcast information they feel compelled to share to a wide range of close and distant connections, but they're not looking for a follow-up—or not online anyway. "Sometimes they post things and they don't even care if someone likes it or not," Kris Boyle, a BYU professor of journalism who was also a co-author, tells Quartz.
The members of this faction are often sounding alarms on big issues, and passing along the latest memes, and see Facebook as the easiest way to do that. One has to wonder whether, in a year of political upheaval in the US and elsewhere, their constant posting of online articles—for which Facebook, as a powerful distributor, takes home the biggest slice of the ad revenue pie—hasn't most helped the tech giant while further weakening the newspaper industry. But if the newspapers can successfully fight back through a legal battle, as they hope to, the town criers will be the first to tell you about it— through Facebook.
Just don't ask them to share personal details. Although keenly focused on pushing out alerts (whether real or invented news) and inviting people to events (whether protests or church brunches), town criers tend to reveal little "private" information in their Facebook activity.
Their lack of sharing and interacting does not represent a lack of interest in their acquaintances. "I don't talk to my family on Facebook," one town crier explained to the paper's authors, adding, "They are more important than that."
Most town criers would rather pick up the phone, text, or direct message someone for an actual conversation.
The final group, the selfies, is the one we're all too familiar with—and that's the way they like it. Their ways have spawned a thousand essays on the problem with social media, and contributed to the myth of the narcissistic Millennial.
Selfies routinely use the same Facebook features as relationship builders—posting pictures, videos, and status updates—but they do it primarily to call attention to themselves, say the researchers behind this study. Energized and validated by likes and comments, the selfies agreed with statements like: "The more 'like' notification alarms I receive, the more I feel approved by my peers."
Speaking in a study interview, one selfie explained that: "Taking [a] picture and letting it sit on my phone makes it nothing and useless, but once I post something on Facebook, it shows I've done something."
Although the selfies were found to be least concerned about the accuracy of the self they presented online, says Boyle, that tendency could exist in any category. "Even relationship builders could look like they have a loving relationship with someone on Facebook, and when they get together, it's a different story," he says. Among town criers, the computer may provide a protective barrier for those who don't necessarily feel comfortable sharing their ideas or opinions in real life.
One seductive quality of online interaction generally, Boyle notes, is that people are able to create a better—or different—versions of themselves.
To share our darkest truths, we prefer the perceived anonymity of a Google search.


text:
MICHELA M. SMITH
Writer - director
(This is Michela, dreaming about writing her bio in the third person)
Born into a Italian-Irish-American family, Michela was destined to be a multi-hyphenate.
Now a writer-director, Michela makes her parents both proud and furious by working far from home.
Michela has written scores of short-form pieces for Adult Swim, Broadway Video and Funny or Die. Her dramedy script, Bury The Lede, was a recent Script-of-The-Month on The Black List.
Michela was also a recent semi-finalist for The Orchard Project, The Sundance New Voices Lab, and the Made in New York Fellowship.
As a director, Michela has helmed commercials and branded content for companies like Google, The PGA, Drizly, and Truly Hard Seltzer. She recently received a grant to direct a short film from The Russo Brothers.
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