text:
For a healthier tomorrow
Digital farming services
Why developing countries need to focus on HACCP
Anjali Hardikar
Food Safety has been a matter of concern for many years. It has strongly surfaced every time there has been a food borne illness outbreak anywhere in the world. Today the European union is one of the few places that can boast of a sound food safety system - a result of assiduous work done by European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]. EFSA inturn has successfully built on the foundation work done by Pillsbury, NASA, and US Army's Natick Research Laboratory who had come together to develop a food safety system for astronauts, now adopted worldwide. Through this, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System, HACCP, was first developed in the late 1950s. The HACCP focused on the critical points for ensuring food safety. The methodology was used for selecting the right contractors and for eliminating critical failure areas in producing food for the manned space expedition.
The system was adopted for the Pillsbury's business some time in 1972 for controlling potential hazards in food production. HACCP identifies the potential hazards in each process involved from receipt of raw materials to finished product. These are the steps at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level. The system controls, monitors and eliminates such potential hazards to improve food safety. HACCP has now been accepted worldwide as a successful tool for food safety and has acquired a global acceptability in all food safety standards.
Today HACCP, has acquired endorsement from WTO, WHO, FAO and many other agencies, certifying bodies and trade association. It has been accepted by Global Food safety Initiative [GFSI] and has been an integral part of FSSC 22000 standard, an international norm for food safety assurance. Many countries have made it mandatory while few countries have kept it optional.
HACCP is a preventive tool, that shifts focus away from inspection and testing of product and towards prevention of hazards and monitoring the processes. This is a critical advantage of HACCP as it precludes possible damages to food in the first place rather than acting retrospectively. The hazard analysis identifies various potential threats from microbiological pathogenic organisms, chemical contaminants like pesticide residues and physical contaminants like glass particles. It is followed by determination of Critical Control Points [CCPs] and identification of its limit values which are monitored for a safe food production.
"Global food chains are spread all over, cutting across national and continental boundaries. Varying degree of food safety levels and concerns in different parts of the world is a challenge often faced by food ingredient sourcing agents and other players in the supply chain."
- Anjali Hardikar, Managing Partner, Kokan Organica LLP, India
Global food chains are spread all over, cutting across national and continental boundaries. Varying degree of food safety levels and concerns in different parts of the world is a challenge often faced by food ingredient sourcing agents and other players in the supply chain. While the West has a better developed and well-conceived food safety system, the developing countries are seen lagging in many aspects. In the era of globalization, the food safety cannot be seen in isolation, rather it has a built-in interdependency across the supply chain.
The success of HACCP in the West is primarily attributed to the cooperative efforts between industry and Government. Also, an important consideration in implementing HACCP is in recognition of critical relationship between HACCP and its Prerequisite programs [PRPs]. PRPs are the procedures, including Good Manufacturing Practices, that address operational conditions providing the foundation for the HACCP system. It is these aspects which are often seen missing in the developing countries. While many of countries have placed legislations to create legal framework, often the PRPs are missing. Additionally, Universities may not have extension services of creating faculty and industry interactions. As a result, industry-Government-Faculty tends work in isolation from each other.
Codex principles for establishing microbiological criteria for food safety requires database for risk analysis of foods and ingredients. If a country does not have the database, the subsequently enacted laws will be without a base. Laws may even be enacted but the training for the operators may be missing. The limits identified without a database to back it up can push up the cost of production to unreasonable levels.
The Government in these countries acquires a role of controller rather than one in which it can work with the industry. Also, it tends to create laws which protect its own industry rather than harmonizing with the other countries connected by the supply chain. The industry in developing world tends to rely more on the testing services as a proof of good product quality rather than building a reliable preventive mechanism.
Historically, many outbreaks of food borne illnesses are traced back to human failures in controlling food processing and the inherent weaknesses in management systems to prevent damage to it. These are lessons for the developing countries to learn. Building a reliable food safety system would effectively help prevent food and resource wastage and bring down the cost and strain on public health systems in these countries. Reduction in risk of food borne diseases will improve quality of life and create trade opportunities by opening new market access. HACCP is an amazingly effective tool for achieving this goal.
Managing Partner, Kokan Organica LLP, India
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So yeah… I've been out of touch lately.
Oil of turpentine. Plus paradichlorobenzene—which, if my 40-year-old memories of Chem 105 serve me—is actually mothballs. Mothballs!
In the last few months, I've had antibiotics, steroids, decongestants, and a particularly scary form of Indian ear-drops prescribed in Glasgow, Brooklyn, Bangalore, London, and back in Glasgow. Hopefully not related to those turpentine/mothball ear drops, I am now completely deaf in my right ear, but the doctor says that's temporary.
Are you packing a deluxe tape dispenser or are you just happy to see me?
The past couple of months have also included an emergency trip to New York, my scheduled trip to India, and my unscheduled pneumonia. But now that I'm back in Scotland, it's time to face facts. Although the house we're fixing up still lacks doors on the bathrooms, a working oven, and furniture, it now does have the single essential necessity for habitation: internet access. Since we might be renovating this old house for the rest of our lives, it makes sense to do it with someplace to sit. The friend with the moving van said he could be there the next day so I might want to pack. I slapped headphones over my (one working) ear, cranked up the oldie rock, grabbed my tape dispenser—and that's when the déjà vu hit.
So of course I did what anyone who has a moving van coming in less than 24 hours would do—sat down at the computer and read my posts from my last move to see if there were any useful tips from my blogging past. Sadly, the answer was yes. Below is the post from a few years ago. I'll let you be the judge as to whether I've learned anything since my last move.
Before moving to The Hobbit House in Glasgow, the last couple of times I moved involved one suitcase. One. Really. (I have a shopping list on Ikea to furnish an entire apartment in flat pack. At last count, I'd bought the Ektorp sofa at least five times.) But that was before I discovered online furniture auctions.
Option three, Google Fact Check, took 0.28 seconds to come up with "about 2,500,000,000 results" offering tips for packing and moving. (Am I the only one who finds it unnerving that this works out to about one tip for every three people on the planet?) Most took the form of fantasy timelines, like those wedding checklists that start with "Three Years Before Your Wedding Date—reserve venue, interview wedding planner, hire caterer" and end with a suggestion that you squeeze in meeting the groom somewhere in the six months before your big day.
Tip #6-Gazillion:How to pack appliances, dishes, pictures, etc.
My labeling efforts deteriorated as the flu took over. (NOTE: my daughters find these little bears very scary. They cite the presence of a severed head being used as a bucket by one little bear. Clowns, they say, are never good, and somewhere a headless little clown figure is probably wreaking unimaginable havoc on an innocent populace. My bad.
The good news? I've just found my moving-essentials kit. Margarita anyone?
Sounds like Mr Nelson and his removal form need a huge shout out and a pat on the back.
Thanks, Rosie. Mr. Nelson was awesome.
While my heart goes out to you for your ill health . . . I thank you for your hilarious take on moving. My solution? Don't! I will have been in my present location for 22 years in two months. I am too lazy to move!
Thanks so much for the reblog! I'm very flattered.
LOL Sorry to hear you've had so many health problems. I can relate to those as I've been sick off and on all winter (and it never made it below 65F during the day here, so no the weather is not the issue). I don't completely relate to the moving angst though.
Yes, please. We can compare scary illness stories. And while I still don't think I'll like moving, I know I'd love having you here!
Wish I could get there in time.At first I thought the move was next week and I was sorely tempted to try. But then I re-read the intro. Don't think I can get there in less than 24 hours. But it's a nice fantasy!
Do not joke about bear-revenge lobbing. Or moving.
But a visit would be excellent. The guest room is already set up. By then, there may actually be bathroom doors too. Miracles do happen!
LOL Seriously, I hope the move goes relatively smoothly (they never go completely smoothly). I'll keep you posted on the travel plans. Hugs!
Goodness, what a time you've had. Love Mr Nelson's labelling system – 'kitchen' and 'not kitchen'. Covers everything, really, doesn't it?
I hope you are feeling better and warmer weather (?) helps you deaf ear.
What I really loved was that the labels were completely irrelevant. Boxes were parked in the new house wherever there was room. (Most of the "kitchen" boxes ended up randomly in the guest room, while almost every "not kitchen" awaited opening in the kitchen.) Each was an adventure.
I'd hate to move. We've been in this house since coming back from Afghanistan in 1996 and have accumulated too much junk to ever move.
Sounds miserable. Bird flu is making a comeback so maybe that's it. H19F7 is something. We have been in our place 26 years. I fear a move, mostly because the house will spring free of its foundations and roam wild in north London creating havoc. Actually that might be a good thing. Get properly well please.
Damn! You're even funny when you're sick!
Coming from you that's high praise. Thanks!
My recommendation; never move with a small baby into a newly built house where the electricity company refuses to connect you up because the razor socket has been wired up inside the shower cubicle.
I do have to wonder about the person (obviously a candidate for Darwin Awards) who installed that socket in the first place. Also…how did the electric company find out?
It was a newly built house so had to be inspected. We survived with a very long extension lead to our nice new neighbours house!
That would be pretty amusing except for the part where you had a baby there. How long did all that go on?
They fixed it on the monday. We moved in on the Friday before.
I love your grasp of the priorities Ali! Coffee was the FIRST thing on my move list!


Granny Smith apples have a rich green skin with a crisp, firm, juicy, greenish-white flesh with a distinctive tart flavour which is excellent for cooking. Originated in Sydney, Australia in 1868 by Maria Anne "Granny" Smith. Now one of the major apple varieties grown around the world.


The latest colorway of the Nike Dunk Low Premium SB hits stores this weekend.
Known as the "Atlas" edition, this Nike Dunk Low Premium SB comes in a wolf grey, wolf grey, black and challenge red colorway. Featuring a grey nubuck and black tumbled leather upper, finished off by a red tongue tag, custom printed insoles and a full translucent outsole. A limited release, look out for them at select Nike SB accounts worldwide on Saturday, June 27th, 2015. Retail is set at, $110.
Enjoy the official images below of the "Atlas" Nike Dunk Low Premium SB in wolf grey, wolf grey, black and challenge red. If you're interested in picking these up when they release, check in with your skate shops to see if they will be receiving them. Those of you looking for a pair now can, grab them from eBay here.


text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical" >

    <TextView
        style="@style/TitleStyle"
        android:text="手机防盗"
        />

    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
        <TextView
            style="@style/ContentStyle"
            android:text="安全号码"
            />
        <TextView
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
            android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
            android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
            android:layout_centerVertical="true"
            android:textColor="@color/black"
            android:textSize="16sp"
            android:layout_marginEnd="5dp"
            android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
            android:text="1385621546"
            />
    </RelativeLayout>
    <ImageView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_margin="5dp"
        android:background="@drawable/listview_divider"
        />

    <RelativeLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">
        <TextView
            style="@style/ContentStyle"
            android:text="防盗保护是否开启"
            />
        <ImageView
            android:layout_height="20dp"
            android:layout_width="20dp"
            android:layout_alignParentEnd="true"
            android:layout_alignParentRight="true"
            android:layout_centerVertical="true"
            android:layout_marginEnd="5dp"
            android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
            android:src="@drawable/lock"
            />
    </RelativeLayout>
    <ImageView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_margin="5dp"
        android:background="@drawable/listview_divider"
        />

    <!-- 设置TextView控件可点击并设置点击事件 -->
    <TextView
        style="@style/ContentStyle"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:onClick="reEnter"
        android:clickable="true"
        android:background="@drawable/shape_selector"
        android:text="重新进入设置向导"
        />

        <ImageView
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center"
        android:layout_margin="5dp"
        android:background="@drawable/listview_divider"
        />

        <TextView
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:text="功能简介"
            android:layout_marginLeft="5dp"
            android:layout_marginRight="5dp"
            android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
            android:padding="3dp"
            android:background="#5000"
            android:textColor="@color/black"
            android:textSize="18sp"
            />

     <TextView
        style="@style/ContentStyle"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:drawableStart="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:drawableLeft="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:text="GPS追踪:#*location*#"
        />

    <TextView
        style="@style/ContentStyle"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:drawableStart="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:drawableLeft="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:text="播放报警音乐:#*alarm*#"
        />

    <TextView
        style="@style/ContentStyle"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:drawableStart="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:drawableLeft="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:text="远程删除数据:#*wipedata*#"
        />

    <TextView
        style="@style/ContentStyle"
        android:gravity="center"
        android:drawableStart="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:drawableLeft="@android:drawable/star_big_on"
        android:text="远程锁屏:#*lockscreen*#"
        />

</LinearLayout>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Giles Miller Studio specialises in the creation of projects including the creation of furniture, interiors and material surface design. Who else would British high fashion brand Stella McCartney pick then for it's pop-up in the iconic Parisian department store, Galleries Lafayette.
Using recyclable materials the temporary space conjures up the best of the quirky spirit of the brand, and makes us here in the AP. office really want one of those freestanding letters.


Crowder Painting's deck finishing services begin the same way as all our other projects do: with attention to detail and proper surface preparation. Washing and staining a wood deck is more than basic maintenance, it is preservation of the deck wood. When done correctly, this maintenance can save thousands of dollars in the form of major repairs or even early replacement of the deck itself.
Maintaining a protective finish will make it last longer and look better. This is especially important here in Southern Colorado, where extreme weather conditions age wood quickly.


"More than just a good bottom line."
We deliver as expected, for as long as expected. We know, as our clients do, that cleaning companies are a dime a dozen. We also know how hard it can be to come by a commercial cleaning company that consistently delivers a quality service over the entire duration of an agreement. Cleaning companies will often honor service agreements with a satisfactory service for a time. But, eventually they tend to provide sub-par quality of service as the months go by. We at Executive Impressions Cleaning LLC guarantee our service quality will remain consistent for as long as you choose to do business with us or it's your money back!
You've got a million worries as business owner/manager. Your cleaning service shouldn't be one of them!
We know our clients. We strive to tailor our services to their needs so they may have the best service scope and schedule possible. It's not always one size fits all. Whether we are providing services to doctors, lawyers, office managers or building owners we seek to develop a personal relationship with our clients so we can customize our services exactly to their needs.
We'll work with you closely to customize the optimal service profile for your business.
Get in touch with us today! Help us begin the process of tailoring a custom service profile for your business by getting in contact with us directly by email or phone, or by clicking on the button below and filling out a company profile form. We're waiting to hear from you!
*Filling out the form linked below can potentially speed up the walk-through and quoting process.


Paper Camellia June kits went on sale June 1st. There are still a few left if you want to hop on over and grab one you can find them HERE.
Here's what I created with the June Main kit and the Embellishment Add-on.
This Layout was created using only the main kit.
I consider my kits "killed" afters about 5 layouts and 4-6 cards, depending on whether I add cardstock from my stash or not.
When you are creating with a kit how many projects do you complete before you consider the kit "killed"?


text:
Q: Shared App Group Container Is Not Sharing Between Devices Expected behaviour:
All devices will share the same core data sqlite file using a shared directory in containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier rather than documents folder using a today extension
Whats actually happening:
Device 1 loads sqlite file into the group container.  On reload app checks if its there, if it is fine, if not add it. Device 1 is finding shared container sqlite so is working as expected. However, add another device (device 2) and it cant find the sqlite file and adds its own.  So now its just like a remote documents directory, but not common to other devices which is what is required.
Points to note:

*

*Both app target and today extension share the same group id.

*App is writing the sqlite file to the extensions group container (individually per device rather than shared)

*The apps directory is changed from local:
[[[NSFileManager defaultManager] URLsForDirectory:NSDocumentDirectory inDomains:NSUserDomainMask] lastObject];
to
[NSFileManager defaultManager]
containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:@"group.myapp.container"];
CODE:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:
if (copyDb == YES) {

    NSString *srcPath = [[NSBundle mainBundle] pathForResource:@"db" ofType:@"sqlite"];

    NSString *containerPath = [[[NSFileManager defaultManager] containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:@"group.myapp.container"]path];
    NSString *sqlitePath = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"%@/%@", containerPath, @"db.sqlite"];

    if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:srcPath]) {
        DebugLog(@"Source file doesn't exist locally");
    }

    if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:sqlitePath]) {
        DebugLog(@"Source file doesn't exist in shared container");
    }
    if (![[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:sqlitePath]) {
        DebugLog(@"Copying DB to shared group directory");
        NSError *error = nil;
        [[NSFileManager defaultManager] copyItemAtPath:srcPath toPath:sqlitePath error:&error];
        if (error != nil) {
            DebugLog(@"Copy failed %@", [error localizedDescription]);
        }
    }

}

if (populateData) {

  //app related code if db exists in shared conatiner

  }

- (NSURL *)applicationGroupDocumentDirectory
{
    return [[NSFileManager defaultManager] containerURLForSecurityApplicationGroupIdentifier:@"group.myapp.container"];
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
The 2017 Conservative Party of Canada leadership election was held on May 27, 2017.  Party members chose Andrew Scheer as leader, replacing Stephen Harper, who led the Conservative Party of Canada as its leader from 2004 following the merger of the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative parties. Harper led the party through five federal elections: the party increased its seat count in the House of Commons in 2004, formed two minority governments in 2006, and 2008, and then a majority government in 2011. Following the defeat of the party in the 2015 federal election on October 19, Harper tendered his resignation as party leader. In a statement, Conservative Party President John Walsh said he had spoken to Harper, "and he has instructed me to reach out to the newly elected parliamentary caucus to appoint an interim Leader and to implement the leadership selection process."

259,010 party members were eligible to vote in the leadership contest. 141,000 members cast a vote. According to raw voting figures, Scheer received 62,593 votes on the final ballot compared to 55,544 votes for Bernier with 23,000 voters who had voted in the first round ranking neither Scheer or Bernier in their ranked ballot. Votes were apportioned among ridings so that each riding was allocated 100 points, regardless of the number of voters, resulting in 17,222.20 points (50.95%) for Scheer and 16,577.80 points (49.05%) for Bernier.

Subsequent to the election, fourth placed candidate Brad Trost and his campaign were fined $50,000 by the Conservative Party of Canada for allegedly leaking the party's membership list to the National Firearms Association. Trost denied that he or any of his staff leaked the list. On February 11, 2019, the Conservative Party released a statement from its Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) which concluded: "In short, LEOC does not believe there is evidence that the Trost Campaign was responsible for leaking of the membership list...." The fine was therefore removed from the Brad Trost Campaign. Trost went on to lose renomination as the party candidate for his riding during the 43rd Federal election on March 10, 2018, to Corey Tochor, former speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature.

Criticism has been raised about how the party memberships were handled, with some prominent members saying they never received a ballot, even after contacting the party about it.

In addition, the result of the leadership race and party handling was questioned by some supporters of such as runner-up Maxime Bernier and  fifth place candidate Kellie Leitch due to discrepancies in the final ballot count, specifically a gap between the number of ballots cast and the announced result - a 7,466 vote discrepancy, which is greater than Andrew Scheer's 7,049 votes margin of victory in the final round. There was criticism over the exact role of the accounting firm Deloitte during the voting process - a deal revealed that Deloitte was not specifically tasked with auditing the vote but "observe" the counting process. It was also reported that some of  Brad Trost's supporters contravened the Elections Act and party membership rules by offering incentives to vote. Dimitri Soudas, a former Stephen Harper aide, pointed out that it violated election rules and it benefited Scheer's campaign but the ballots have been destroyed so the results stood.

Many considered Scheer's victory as an upset, given Bernier's consistent frontrunner status in the polls.

Interim leadership
Conservative Party president John Walsh's letter to caucus stated that only Members of Parliament (MPs) would vote for the interim leader, but Conservative Senators pointed out that the party constitution states that the entire parliamentary caucus votes. The caucus allowed senators to vote, declining to adopt the provisions of the Reform Act that would have only allowed MPs to vote.

The caucus chose Rona Ambrose, MP for Sturgeon River—Parkland, Alberta and former Minister of Health, as interim leader at its first meeting on November 5, 2015, in a vote by preferential ballot. Ambrose, as the interim leader, also served as Leader of the Official Opposition in the Parliament of Canada until a permanent leader was chosen. She defeated Candice Bergen, Diane Finley, Mike Lake, Rob Nicholson, Erin O'Toole, and the joint ticket of Denis Lebel and Michelle Rempel in the caucus vote.

Under the party's constitution, Ambrose, as the interim leader, could not run for the permanent position.

Leadership election timing
Following Harper's resignation, debate emerged within the Conservative Party regarding the timing of the leadership election. Some members of the party's national council called for a leadership convention as early as May 2016 according to Maclean's magazine. However, interim leader Rona Ambrose has said there is a consensus among the party's caucus that the leadership election shouldn't be rushed and should be held sometime in 2017. In a December 2015 interview, Ambrose said the party would take its time allowing all members, including those not already involved in politics, to build a strong candidacy. "If we take a little extra time, that will mean we'll have a better leadership race."

The Conservative Party's Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) met at Toronto's Albany Club January 15–17, 2016 to discuss the process for the Party to elect its next leader. Among its decisions, LEOC selected May 27, 2017, for Conservative Party members to elect their next leader.

Rules and voting system
Only party members in good standing at 5pm Eastern Time on March 28, 2017, were allowed to vote. The fee for a party membership was raised from $15 to $25, an increase that was reversed on April 23, 2016, after criticisms that the move was "elitist". Membership fees could only be paid via personal cheque or credit card. Cash payments were not permitted. This new requirement was intended to prevent the election being dominated by new members, and to prevent anyone other than the individual member, such as a candidate's campaign, from signing up scores of members and paying the membership fees in cash out of campaign funds. Despite this, the Conservative Party confirmed irregularities with 1,351 memberships connected to prepaid credit cards that it subsequently struck from its membership roll.

Voting was on a one member one vote basis using a ranked ballot; however votes were calculated so that each electoral district had equal weight with each electoral district allocated 100 points. Candidates were assigned a point total based on his or her percentage of the vote in each electoral district. To win, a candidate must receive at least 16,901 points which would be a majority.

To register, candidates must:
 be members of the party for at least six months (can be waived),
 submit nomination forms signed by 300 party members from at least 30 electoral districts in at least seven different provinces and territories,
 pay a $50,000 non-refundable entrance fee, half of which must be paid when filing nomination with the other half due by the close of nominations on February 24, 2017.
 pay an additional $50,000 compliance deposit, by December 31, 2016, or when filing nomination for those who register in 2017, which is refundable provided the candidate complies with campaign rules.
 and fill out a 40-page questionnaire that asks for:
 references,
 criminal background and credit checks,
 agreement with basic party principles,
 a list of social media accounts,
 questions about possible controversial positions the candidate has taken in the past, and
 questions about affiliations and personal associations and behaviour that may be problematic.
A party committee reviewed the candidate's nomination form and may disqualify a potential candidate. Candidates are allowed to spend a maximum of $5 million on their campaigns.

Timeline

October 19, 2015 – Federal election results in defeat of Conservative government. As Harper spoke to supporters in Calgary, making no reference to his future, a statement was released by the party announcing Harper's resignation as party leader and his request that an interim leader be chosen to lead the party in parliament until a leadership election can be held.
November 4, 2015 – Harper resigns as prime minister; Liberal government led by Justin Trudeau sworn in.
November 5, 2015 – Conservative caucus held its first meeting since the 2015 federal election and chose former health minister Rona Ambrose interim leader of the party.
December 4–5, 2015 – National Council meets, 20-member Leadership Election Organization Committee appointed, including seven members of the National Council and MP Diane Finley, all of whom have pledged to be neutral during the leadership campaign; Dan Nowlan is appointed the committee's chair.
January 15–17, 2016 – The Leadership Election Organization Committee meets at the Albany Club in Toronto to decide on the date of the leadership vote, the deadline for candidates to be nominated, campaign spending limits, the entrance fee for candidates and the appeals process for any disputes.
May 26–28, 2016 – Conservative Party national policy convention, held at the Vancouver Convention Centre, voted on policy resolutions and elected the party president and other officials. An attempt to change the party constitution to allow the party's interim leader, Rona Ambrose, to seek the permanent leadership is defeated.
September 12, 2016 – Former Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, who had been leading public opinion polls as the most popular potential leader, announces that he will not be a candidate for the party's leadership.
November 2, 2016 – Only those who have registered as candidates by this date, including having paid at least $25,000 of the candidate deposit, are permitted to participate in the first leadership debate, to be held the following week. 12 candidates meet this deadline.
November 9, 2016 – First of five official leadership debates organized by the LEOC, held in Saskatoon.
November 13, 2016 – Leadership debate organized by the Carleton Conservative Association, held in Greely, Ontario
December 6, 2016 – Second official debate held in Moncton in English and French.
December 31, 2016 – Deadline for candidates who filed their nomination papers in 2016 to have paid $50,000 compliance fee.
January 17, 2017, 6:30 pm – Third official debate held in Quebec City in French at the Quebec Convention Centre. The themes covered will be government and taxes.
February 4, 2017 – Leadership debate organized by the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia was held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The first debate involving well-known businessman Kevin O'Leary.
February 24, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-5) – Nomination period closes; deadline for candidates to pay any remaining balance of entrance fee.
February 24, 2017 – Leadership debate organized by the Manning Centre for Building Democracy, held in Ottawa, Ontario
February 28, 2017 – Fourth official debate, held in Edmonton at the Maclab Theatre in English and French.
March 28, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-4) – Members who have joined by this date are eligible to vote.
April 26, 2017 – Presumed frontrunner Kevin O'Leary withdraws from the election and endorses Maxime Bernier; as O'Leary has withdrawn after the deadline, his name remains on the ballot. Final leadership debate is held.
April 28, 2017 – Voting by mail-in ranked ballot begins.
May 26, 2017, 5pm ET (UTC-5) – Deadline for mail-in ballots to be received.
May 27, 2017 – In-person voting at Toronto Congress Centre and 14 polling stations across the country until 4 pm ET (UTC-5). Advance and in-person ballots counted; results announced.

Full results

Provincial summary

Debates

Registered candidates
Candidates who have paid their entrance fee and compliance deposit and filed their nomination papers:

Chris Alexander

Background
Chris Alexander, , is the former Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2013–2015), Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence (2011– 2013) and the former MP for Ajax—Pickering, Ontario (2011–2015). Prior to entering politics, he served as a member of Canada's foreign diplomatic service, most notably in the Canadian Embassy in Moscow and as the Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2005. From 2005 to 2009 he held the post of Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Afghanistan.  In addition to English, he is fluent in both French and Russian languages.
Date campaign announced: October 12, 2016
Endorsements
Former MPs: (1) Yuri Shymko (Parkdale, 1978–1979)
Policies

Chris Alexander has 40 detailed published policies that fall into three main categories: New Economy, New Country and New Role. These policies include how Canada should approach: employment, taxation, innovation, families, education, competitiveness, energy self-reliance, cities, agriculture, poverty, homelessness, First Nations peoples, the Métis, refugees, the Monarchy, justice, health care, protecting wilderness, forestry, mining, international diplomacy, terrorism, democratic reform, cyber-security, Canadian culture, northern development, and national defence.

He believes that immigration is the key to "economic growth." Is proposing to increase immigration to 400,000 a year including 40,000 refugees and calling for doubling defence spending and "for an accelerated push to settle all outstanding land claims and to sign treaties with First Nations communities that would empower them to govern themselves". Was prominent in the Conservative government's handling of the Syrian refugee crisis and in the government's promise during the 2015 election to create a telephone tip line to report so-called "barbaric cultural practices." As minister, he was criticized over delays in meeting the government's commitment to resettle Syrian refugees.

Maxime Bernier

Background
Maxime Bernier, , was the MP for Beauce, Quebec (2006–2019) and was the Shadow Minister of Innovation (2015—2016). He served in the Harper government as Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism (2011–2015), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007–2008), and Minister of Industry (2006–2007), Bernier is considered an advocate of limited government and has been compared to a Libertarian. He has been nicknamed "Mad Max", the "Bloc-buster", or the "Albertan from Quebec" by his Ottawa colleagues. Prior to entering federal politics in 2006, Bernier, a lawyer by training, was vice-president of the Standard Life of Canada Insurance company, MEI, and manager of corporate and international relations at the Commission des valeurs mobilières du Québec.

Date candidacy announced: April 7, 2016

Policies
Running a campaign based on individual freedom, personal responsibility, respect and fairness. Expects support around the ideas/policies he is placing in the campaigns.
Calls for smaller government, lower taxes everywhere, paying down the national debt, increasing investments, increase pipeline developments, and opening up markets. Opposes bailout to any corporation, and use of "corporate welfare" (business subsidies). Supports the decriminalization/legalization of marijuana Wants to allow MPs to vote their conscience and get rid of omnibus bills.
Phasing control of Canada Health Transfer to the provinces for health care by replacing it with a health transfer point systems, encourage provinces to move away from a single-payer healthcare system to a two-tier healthcare system, balance the budget within two years then reduce the number of tax brackets from five to three, increase basic exemption from $11,474 to $15,000 being paid by "boutique" tax credits. Supports abolishing capital gains taxes, and lowering corporate taxes to 10% by getting rid of corporate welfare.
Opposes a "Canadian values" test on the basis that it is logistically ineffective to fight terrorism. Abolish the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission, privatizing Canada Post Corporation, phasing out supply management on dairy and poultry, and expanding free trade. Ending inter-provincial barriers as a priority.
He also wants to "break" Quebec's maple syrup cartel and wants to allow foreign ownership for the airline industry. He wants to "streamline the process for hiring specialized workers abroad". He wants to put more emphasis on economic immigration and "slightly reduce" family reunification class immigration.  More privately sponsored refugee and fewer government sponsored. Reform temporary foreign worker programs. Bernier believes first nation communities need to be consulted before the Indian Act needs to be "abolished, or changed." Opposes federal control overreaching into other jurisdictions. Create stricter foreign aid standards and phase out development aid.

Steven Blaney

Background
Steven Blaney, , was the Shadow Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2015–2016) for the Conservative Opposition, and is the former Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2013–2015), Minister of Veterans Affairs (2011–2013). He is the MP for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis, Quebec (2015–present) and Lévis—Bellechasse, Quebec (2006–2015).
Date campaign announced: October 23, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators: (2)
Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu (Quebec),
Jean-Guy Dagenais (Quebec)
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs:
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations:
Media:
Policies Supports banning the wearing of the niqab while voting, taking the citizenship oath, or by federal public servants, even if such a ban would require invoking the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution in order to override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Also advocates testing of would be citizens on "their understanding and appreciation of Canada's core principles." He wants to "beef up" screening. The number of immigrants he wants to bring in will be based upon labour-market studies.

Michael Chong

Background
Michael Chong, , is the MP for Wellington—Halton Hills, Ontario (2004–present) and was the Deputy Shadow Minister of the Environment (2015–2016). He was Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Youth (2006) and Minister of Sport (2006). Chong resigned from the Harper cabinet in 2006 to protest the government's recognition of the Québécois as a nation within Canada. As a backbench MP he advocated democratic reforms in Parliament to limit the power of the Prime Minister's Office and party leaders over their caucuses and individual MPs and introduced the Reform Act to give caucuses the option of the power to remove party leaders, elect caucus chairs, and expel or readmit MPs, and elect interim leaders. He was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party at the time of the merger.
Date campaign announced: May 16, 2016

Policies
Advocates modernizing democratic institutions and strengthening the independence of MPs and parliamentary committees.
Calls for the privatization of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) mortgage insurance and securitization business, a measure he says will make housing more affordable in Canada.
Supports introducing a revenue neutral carbon tax. Chong's plan would phase in a carbon tax over a decade, while immediately cutting taxes by $18 billion and getting rid of green regulations and subsidies.
Believes that Canada needs an evidence-based immigration policy that would put economic interests at the forefront. He has criticized face-to-face values screening as a divisive tactic.

Kellie Leitch

Background
Kellie Leitch, , was the MP for Simcoe—Grey, Ontario (2011–2019) and Shadow Minister of Health (2015–2016). In the Harper cabinet, she was Minister of Labour and the Status of Women (2013–2015). She is an orthopaedic pediatric surgeon at SickKids Hospital and an associate professor at the University of Toronto.
Date campaign announced: April 6, 2016

Policies
Supports the decriminalization, but not legalization, of marijuana. Opposes a national tax on carbon emissions. Has suggested screening prospective immigrants using a "Canadian values" test. Described Donald J. Trump's win of the American presidency as an "exciting message and one that we need delivered in Canada as well." Urged by hundreds of health professionals to honour her medical oath and work against Canada's controversial asbestos industry, remained silent on the issue. Calls for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to be defunded and dismantled with the exception of the provision of emergency services to rural and remote parts of Canada.

Pierre Lemieux

Background
Pierre Lemieux, , is the former MP for Glengarry—Prescott—Russell, Ontario (2006–2015). In the Harper government he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Official Languages (2007–2008), Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (2008–2015), and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs (2015).
Date campaign announced: August 22, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators:
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs:
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations: (3)
Campaign Life Coalition
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Generation Screwed project,
Right Now
Policies
Running as a social conservative, highlighting his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Lemieux does not believe that screening potential immigration candidates to Canada would make Canada any safer. In March 2017, Pierre Lemieux received a rating of C− from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights for his policies on firearms ownership in Canada.

Deepak Obhrai

Background
Deepak Obhrai, , was the MP for Calgary Forest Lawn, Alberta (2015–2019), and represented Calgary East, Alberta (1997–2015), was Shadow Minister of International Development (2015–2016), and was the Dean of the Conservative Caucus. In the Harper government he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs (2006–2015). Obhrai was a member of the Canadian Alliance at the time of the merger.
Date campaign announced: July 14, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators:
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs: (2)
Corneliu Chisu (Pickering—Scarborough East, 2011–2015)
Joe Daniel (Don Valley East, 2011–2015)
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations: (1)
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Generation Screwed project
Media:
Withdrawn Endorsements: (2)
Julian Fantino (Former MP for Vaughan, 2010–2015)
Martin Shields (MP for Bow River)
Policies
Advocates a more inclusive party. Had promised to withdraw in favour of Peter MacKay if he were to run. He wants to increase the number of privately sponsored refugees and cut the number of government-sponsored refugees.

Erin O'Toole

Background
Erin O'Toole, , is the MP for Durham, Ontario (2012–present) and was Shadow Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness (2015–2016) for the Conservative Party in Opposition. Previously, he served as Minister of Veterans Affairs (2015).
Date campaign announced: October 14, 2016

Policies
O'Toole policies wants to give tax credits for youth underemployment and student debt. He wants to restructure temporary foreign worker and provincial nominee programs.

Rick Peterson

Background
Rick Peterson, 61, is a venture capitalist, party fundraiser, the principal of Peterson Capital, and a former candidate for leadership of the British Columbia Conservative Party. He was a member of the Progressive Conservatives at the time of the merger.
Date campaign announced: October 18, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators:
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs: (1)
Bill Clarke (Vancouver Quadra, 1973–1984)
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals: (3)
Brian Day (Canadian Medical Association President, 2006–2008)
Karen Mortfield (Press Secretary to the Ontario PC Leader, 1990–1993)
Mark Mullins (Former Fraser Institute President)
Organizations: (1)
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Generation Screwed project
Policies
Advocates a flat federal income tax rate of 15% and eliminating corporate income taxes and raising the GST to 9%. Supports boosting terrorist surveillance and enhance security screening for immigrants.
Advocates offering citizenship to almost 250,000 skilled workers a year by 2022, triple today's levels, and to 35,000 business people, more than five times today's level while freezing refugee integration to the levels of Harper Era.
Would reform health care provincial transfer payments and equalization payments.
Calls for Canada Revenue Agency to withdraw from Quebec and to transfer the administration and collection of the income tax in the province to Revenue Quebec.
Would take Canada out of the UN firearms marking scheme and to allow open carry of restricted firearms in the bush. Received a rating of C− from the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights for his policies and a rating of C from the National Firearms Association.

Lisa Raitt

Background
Lisa Raitt, , was the MP for Milton, Ontario (2015–2019), previously Halton, Ontario (2008–2015) and the former Shadow Minister of Finance (2015–2016), Minister of Transport (2013–2015), Minister of Labour (2010–2013), Minister of Natural Resources (2008–2010), President and CEO of the Toronto Port Authority (2002–2008). Stepped down from shadow cabinet on October 14, 2016, to prepare for leadership bid.
Date campaign announced: November 2, 2016

Policies Opposes Leitch's proposal to screen immigrants for "anti-Canadian values". She will "introduce balanced budgets, repeal carbon pricing legislation and prioritize the development of Canada's natural resources."

Firearms policy.  In March 2017, Raitt received a rating of C+ from the Canadian Coalition for Firearms Rights for her policies on firearms ownership in Canada.  In April, she received a rating of D from the National Firearms Association.

Andrew Saxton

Background
Andrew Saxton, , is the former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance (2013–2015), Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board and for Western Economic Diversification (2011–2013), MP for North Vancouver (2008–2015), former chief executive officer of King George Financial Corporation.
Date campaign announced: October 18, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators:
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs: (3)
Joyce Bateman (Winnipeg South Centre, 2011–2015)
John Duncan (Vancouver Island North, 1993–2006, 2008–2015)
John Fraser (Vancouver South, 1972–1993; Speaker of the House of Commons, 1986–1993)
Former Senators: (1)
Noël Kinsella (New Brunswick, 1990–2014; Speaker of the Senate, 2006–2014)
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations: (1)
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Generation Screwed project
Media: (1)
David Holmes Black (Black Press Owner)
Policies
Saxton's campaign is an economic platform. He plans on lowering taxes and balancing the budget.

Andrew Scheer

Background
Andrew Scheer, , Opposition House Leader (2015–2016), MP for Regina—Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan (2004–present), Speaker of the House of Commons (2011–2015). Scheer was a member of the Canadian Alliance at the time of the merger.
Date campaign announced: September 28, 2016

Policies
Running as an "unapologetic" Conservative who can unite all wings of the party. He is "committed" to lower taxes, fiscal responsibility, and "compassion". Scheer believes that there should be a "more robust screening process." Scheer is pro-life, but doesn't intend to bring any legislation on the topic. Scheer advocates for immigration based process, economic indicators, and "what our society needs."

Brad Trost

Background
Brad Trost, , was the MP for Saskatoon—University, (2015–2019) and Saskatoon—Humboldt (2004–2015) previously. He was appointed Official Opposition Critic for Canada-U.S. Relations (2015–2016) following the 2015 election. Prior to election, Trost worked as an exploration geophysicist (prospector) in natural resources extraction in the north. He was also an active participant in his family's mixed grain, oilseeds and beef cattle farm operation. In his first Parliament, he founded the Conservative Party Energy Caucus and pushed for the re-creation of the Standing Committee on Natural Resources. He has served on the Standing Committees on International Trade and on Industry, and was elected vice-chair of the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Association.
Date campaign announced: August 16, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators:
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs: (2)
Leon Benoit (Vegreville—Wainwright, 1993–2015),
Maurice Vellacott (Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, 1997–2015)
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations: (2)
Campaign Life Coalition,
Canadian Taxpayers Federation Generation Screwed project
Media:
Policies
Running as a social conservative, opposes a carbon tax, transgender bathrooms, tax increases generally, assisted suicide and abortion, deficit financing, and legalization of marijuana. Has been outspoken against abortion and against same-sex marriage and argued unsuccessfully at the 2016 Conservative policy convention to retain the party's definition of marriage as "the Union of one man and one woman". Advocates privatization of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Withdrawn candidates

Tony Clement

Background
Tony Clement, , is the MP for Parry Sound—Muskoka, Ontario (2006–2019) and has been Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015–2016), President of the Treasury Board (2011–2015), Minister of Industry (2008–2011), Minister of Health (2006–2008), and a 2004 leadership candidate, placing third. He was an MPP in the Ontario legislature (1995–2003) and a provincial cabinet minister (1997–2003) under Premiers Mike Harris and Ernie Eves. Clement also ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in 2002, placing third.
Date campaign announced: July 12, 2016
Date withdrawn: October 12, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators: (1)
Leo Housakos (Quebec; Speaker of the Senate, 2015)
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs: (1)
Brad Butt (Mississauga—Streetsville, 2011–2015)
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians: (1)
Gary Mar (Alberta MLA for Calgary Nose Creek, 1993–2004, and Calgary-Mackay, 2004–2007)
Former municipal politicians: (1)
Stephen Sparling (Halton Regional Councillor for Oakville, 1991–2000)
Other prominent individuals: (2)
Sandra Buckler (Director of Communications, Prime Minister's Office 2006–2008),
John Capobianco (FleishmanHillard National Lead)
Organizations:
Media:
Other information
Said he would bring in coherent environmental policies in the wake of the Paris climate change accord, end government subsidies to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Withdrew after he was unable to meet fundraising targets he'd set for his campaign.
Later endorsed Maxime Bernier.

Daniel Lindsay
Background
Daniel Lindsay, 60, president of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, radiologist, has done five tours as a civilian medical specialist with the Canadian Armed Forces, including in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Date campaign announced: May 25, 2016
Date withdrawn: December 28, 2016
Endorsements
MPs:
Senators: (1)
Betty Unger (Alberta)
Provincial politicians:
Municipal politicians:
Former MPs:
Former Senators:
Former provincial politicians:
Former municipal politicians:
Other prominent individuals:
Organizations:
Media:
Other information Withdrew after he was unable to fundraise enough money to meet December 31 deadline for paying the party the $50,000 leadership campaign compliance fee. Later endorsed Erin O'Toole.

Kevin O'Leary

Kevin O'Leary, , is a businessman, investor, journalist, writer, financial commentator and Emmy award-winning television personality.

Policies
O'Leary supported using a "big stick" federally in order to bring provincial governments in-line with federal policies, cutting waste in military spending, supports a peacekeeping role for the military, cutting carbon emissions through criminal sanctions rather than a carbon tax, supports current immigration policy but also wishes to "fast-track" the citizenship applications of skilled immigrants, asserted he would support LGBTQI people, legalize marijuana and defend reproductive rights.
Date campaign announced: January 18, 2017
Date withdrawn: April 26, 2017
Other information O'Leary withdrew from the election despite polls showing he was the frontrunner. He stated that while he believed he could win the leadership election, he would be unable to defeat Justin Trudeau in the next federal election due to his inability to speak French fluently and his lack of support in Quebec. He endorsed Maxime Bernier. As his withdrawal took place after the deadline, O'Leary remained on the final leadership ballot.

Adrienne Snow
Background
Adrienne Snow, 49, Toronto-based communications consultant, former director of policy for National Foundation for Family Research and Education. Former executive director of Centre for the Study of Civic Renewal. Announced on August 23, 2016, that she intended to be a candidate but failed to register and announced in January that she was ending her campaign.
Date campaign announced: August 23, 2016
Date withdrawn: January 4, 2017

Declined
Rona Ambrose – Interim Leader of the CPC and Leader of the Official Opposition (2015–2017), MP for Sturgeon River—Parkland (2015–2017) and Edmonton—Spruce Grove, Alberta (2004–2015), Minister of Health (2013–2015), Minister of Public Works and Government Services (2010–2013), Minister of Labour (2008–2010), Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs (2007–2008), Minister of the Environment (2006–2007). Ambrose is barred from running for permanent leader due to her position as interim leader and has declined interest in the permanent position.
John Baird – MP for Ottawa West—Nepean, Ontario (2006–2015), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2011–2015), Leader of the Government in the House of Commons (2010–2011), Minister of the Environment (2007–2008, 2010–2011), Minister of Transport (2008–2010), President of the Treasury Board, (2006–2007), Ontario Progressive Conservative Party MPP (1995–2005) and provincial cabinet minister (1999–2003).
Candice Bergen – Opposition House Leader (2016–2020), Shadow Minister of Natural Resources (2015–2016), State for Social Development (2013–2015), MP for Portage—Lisgar, Manitoba (2008–present).
Paul Calandra – Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada and for Intergovernmental Affairs (2013–2015), MP for Oak Ridges—Markham, Ontario (2008–2015) Endorsed Scheer.
Jean Charest – Premier of Quebec (2003–2012), Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (1998–2012), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (1993–1998), Deputy Prime Minister of Canada (1993), Minister of the Environment (1991–1993), MP for Sherbrooke (1984–1998)
Christy Clark – Premier of British Columbia (2011–2017), Leader of the B.C. Liberal Party (2011–2017)
Gérard Deltell – Quebec lieutenant and Shadow Finance Minister (2016–present), Shadow Minister of Employment and Workforce Labour (2015–2016), MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent, Quebec (2015–present), Quebec MNA for Chauveau (2008–2015) and leader of the Action démocratique du Québec (2009–2012). Endorsed O'Toole.
 Ed Fast – Shadow Minister for the Environment (2015–present), MP for Abbotsford, British Columbia (2006–present), Minister of International Trade (2011–2015). Endorsed O'Toole.
Doug Ford – former Toronto city councillor (2010–2014) and mayoral candidate (2014).
Daniel Fournier – real estate development and investor.
Jason Kenney – Chair of Shadow Cabinet Committee on Strategic Operations (2015–2016), MP for Calgary Midnapore, Alberta (2015–2016) and Calgary Southeast, Alberta (1997–2015), Minister of National Defence (2015), Minister for Multiculturalism (2013–2015), Minister of Employment and Social Development (2013–2015), Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (2008–2013)
Bernard Lord – Premier of New Brunswick (1999–2006), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick (1997–2006)
Peter MacKay – MP for Central Nova, Nova Scotia (2004–2015) and Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough, Nova Scotia (1997–2004), Minister of Justice and Attorney General (2013–2015), Minister of National Defence (2007–2013), Minister of Foreign Affairs (2006–2007), Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party (2003)
Caroline Mulroney – investment management executive, daughter of former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
Mark Mulroney – head of capital equity markets at the National Bank of Canada, son of former prime minister Brian Mulroney.
James Moore – MP for Port Moody—Coquitlam—Port Coquitlam, British Columbia (2000–2004) and Port Moody—Westwood—Port Coquitlam, British Columbia (2004–2015), Minister of Industry (2013–2015), Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages (2008–2013). Elected as a Canadian Alliance MP in 2000.

Michelle Rempel – Shadow Minister of Immigration (2015–present), MP for Calgary Nose Hill, Alberta (2015–present) and Calgary Centre-North, Alberta (2011–2015), Minister of Western Economic Diversification (2013–2015)
Brad Wall – Premier of Saskatchewan (2007–2018), Leader of the Saskatchewan Party (2004–2018).
Dianne Watts – Shadow Minister of Infrastructure & Communities (2015–present), MP for South Surrey—White Rock, British Columbia (2015–present), Mayor of Surrey (2004–2015) Endorsed O'Toole.

Opinion polling
Some of the polls below were conducted before nominations for the leadership closed and therefore include potential candidates for the leadership race. Rona Ambrose, as interim leader, is ineligible to run for the permanent leadership unless there is a change to the party's constitution.

Conservative Party members

Conservative Party supporters

All Canadians

See also
2017 United Conservative Party leadership election
2017 New Democratic Party leadership election

References

2017 elections in Canada
2017
May 2017 events in Canada
Conservative Party of Canada leadership election

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text:
Евелін Березін (; 1925–2018) — американська вчена, інформатик, винахідниця. Розробила перший в світі комерційний текстовий процесор для комп'ютера, автор багатьох патентів.

Біографія
Народилася 12 квітня 1925 року в Нью-Йорку в родині єврейських іммігрантів з Російської імперії .

Навчалася в школі Христофора Колумба у Бронксі. У 1921 році після закінчення школи продовжила навчання в Хантерькому коледжі. Поряд з фізикою приділяла велику увагу економіці. Після початку Другої світової війни отримала стипендію Нью-Йоркського університету. Відвідувала заняття у Політехнічному інституті Нью-Йоркського університету. Одночасно працювала асистентом з реології в дослідницькому відділі International Printing Company (IPI). У 1946 році отримала ступінь бакалавра з фізики.

Кар'єра
Евелін почала працювати в аспірантурі в Нью-Йоркського університету, отримавши стипендію Комісії з атомної енергії. У 1951 році вона влаштувалася на роботу в Electronic Computer Corporation (ECC) начальником відділу дизайну логіки. Березін стала єдиним співробітником, що займався проектуванням логіки комп'ютерів у ECC. У 1957 році компанію ECC придбала корпорація Underwood Typewriter Company, яка відома розробкою і виготовленням однойменних друкарських машинок. Евелін продовжила займатися проектуванням спеціалізованих комп'ютерів, зокрема для офісів армії США. В цьому ж році Евелін Березін перейшла в компанію Teleregister, яка раніше була підрозділом Western Union.

Використовуючи комп'ютери на електронних лампах, Teleregister створила одну з перших систем бронювання авіаквитків «Reservisor». Пізніше, вже використовуючи транзисторну технологію, Березін розробила автоматизовану систему бронювання для авіакомпанії United Airlines, яка на той час стала однією з найбільших комп'ютерних систем бронювання квитків. Також, продовжуючи працювати в Teleregister, створила першу комп'ютеризовану банківську систему.

У 1968 році в Евелін Березін виникла ідея створення текстового процесора для спрощення роботи секретарів, і в 1969 році вона заснувала компанію Redactron Corporation з розробки цього офісного програмного забезпечення. Основний продукт компанії називався «Data Secretary» і зовні виглядав як тумба розміром з невеликий холодильник, що не мала екрану і оснащена друкарською машинкою IBM Selectric. У 1976 році Redactron Corporation викупила корпорація Burroughs і перетворила її в підрозділ офісного обладнання. Евелін Березін працювала тут до 1979 року. У 1980 році вона зайняла посаду президента компанії Greenhouse Management Company.

Евелін Березін була удостоєна звання почесного доктора Університету Адельфі і Університет Східного Мічигану, працювала в радах компаній Cigna, Standard Microsystems, Koppers і Datapoint. Також була членом ради фонду Stony Brook Foundation Університету штату Нью-Йорк в Стоуні-Брук, Брукхейвенської національної лабораторії і Інституту Бойса Томпсона. Також була удостоєна декількох премій і введена в низку Залів слави. У 2015 році вона стала членом Музею історії комп'ютерів.

Особисте життя
Евелін Березін була у шлюбі з Ізраїлем Віленіцем (Israel Wilenitz, 1922—2003), інженером-хіміком. Шлюб тривав 51 рік. Разом вони організували Фонд Ізраїлю Віленіца (Israel Wilenitz Endowment).

Померла від лімфоми 8 грудня 2018 року на Мангеттені.

Примітки

Посилання

 Remembering CHM Fellow Evelyn Berezin
 Без неї не було б Гейтса і Джобса

Інженери США
Інформатики США
Російські євреї США
Науковці з міста Нью-Йорк


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Home > Newsletter > 2014 > Week 31 (2014) – Fit in 6 Seconds
Week 31 (2014) – Fit in 6 Seconds
Health News (Week 31 – 2014)
By Robert Redfern
Fit in 6 Seconds?
I trust you will never get bored with me talking about getting healthy? From next year onwards there is the first avalanche of what in the UK are called 'baby-boomers' reaching aged 65. Baby-boomers are those huge number of babies born between 1950 to 1970.
The medical system, since it is based upon the broken model of 'disease management' rather than a sensible 'health care' model, is already bankrupt and falling apart. The huge number of baby-boomers will tip it over the edge (and the pension systems, but more about that another day). It is simply a good reason to get and stay healthy. Leave the medical system to those who are desperate. The rest of us can take it or leave it.
I know in my 'keeping healthy' plans, I talk about exercise and walking 5 miles every day but I have not produced much evidence about this as I considered it self evident. A new study will help me to get this point over.
At Any Age!
It shows that at any age just 6 seconds of intensive exercise that gets your heart racing and repeated 6 times can transform your fitness and health. Age is no limit and nearly everyone (unless they have a good excuse, real or imagined) can manage 6 seconds. Count 6 seconds now and realize how little this is.
The people in the study were only doing this 2 times per week but of course you can do it every 2 days. After a week or so when you find it too easy add 50% on e.g. 9 secs, 14 secs, 21 secs etc.
Please, please, please, write in with your success at this to inspire others.
Six seconds of exercise 'can transform health'
By James Gallagher
Health editor, BBC News website
Short six-second bursts of vigorous exercise have the potential to transform the health of elderly people, say researchers in Scotland.
A pilot study involving 12 pensioners showed going all-out in very short bursts, reduced blood pressure and improved general fitness over time.
The team at Abertay University in Scotland believe it could help avert the "astronomical" costs of ill health in elderly people.
Experts said the study emphasised the benefits of exercise at any age.
High Intensity Training (HIT) has attracted a lot of attention for promising some of the same benefits as conventional exercise but in a much shorter time.
Instead of a comfortable half-hour jog or a few miles on the bike, HIT involves pushing yourself to your limits for a short period of time. The team in Scotland say they were conducting the first trials in older people.
Get a sweat on:
A group of pensioners came into the lab twice a week for six weeks and went hell for leather on an exercise bike for six seconds.
They would allow their heart rate to recover and then go for it again, eventually building up to one minute of exercise by the end of the trial.
"They were not exceptionally fast, but for someone of that age they were," researcher Dr John Babraj said.
The results, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, showed participants had reduced their blood pressure by 9%, increased their ability to get oxygen to their muscles and found day-to-day activities like getting out of a chair or walking the dog easier.
Dr Babraj told the BBC the benefits could be huge: "We've got an ageing population and if we don't encourage them to be active, the economic burden of that is going to be astronomical.
"A lot of diseases are associated with sedentary behaviour – like cardiovascular disease and diabetes – but if we can keep people active and functioning then we can reduce the risk. Also on the social side, they are less likely to be socially active and will interact with people more."
More than 10 million people in the UK are over 65 and that figure is set to rise. Dr Babraj says older people struggle to exercise as many are full-time carers, but argues High Intensity Training would be easier to fit in.
He said people could try it at home, but should see their doctor first to ensure there were no underlying health issues.
"Then the easiest way to do it yourself is to run up a hill, the steeper the hill, the harder it's going to be, give it everything you've got for six seconds."
Safe?
There is an argument that short and strenuous exercise may be safer than conventional exercise. A higher heart rate and blood pressure caused by exercise can be a trigger for heart attacks and stroke.
Dr Babraj said running for a long time "puts a greater strain on the heart overall" even if it is worked harder in the short-term in High Intensity Training. Larger trials are now planned.
Dr Adam Gordon, a consultant and honorary secretary of the British Geriatrics Society, told the BBC: "This is a brilliant, fantastic piece of work challenging assumptions about what the right type of exercise is in old age, but I'd encourage them to investigate the benefits in even older and even more frail people.
The broad message is that you're never too old, too frail, too ill to benefit from exercise, as long as it's carefully chosen.
"We know even into your 80s and 90s there's a benefit from developing a very slight sweat by exercising on multiple occasions per week."
Serrapeptase will stop aching muscles after exercise
Magnesium OIL ULTRA will stop cramping muscles and also help circulation into those muscles.
This Really Healthy Foods diet will build and power your new muscles Just 6 seconds? What is your excuse?
Yes! I would like for you to email me. Please keep In touch, Kind Regards, Michele.
annajones
Hi Michele,
Check out our range of free ebooks by clicking here and when you download a book, you will be added to our email list automatically. Many thanks.
Niel Maidman
I am 79 and overweight
My wife is 76 and has one lung and has trouble breathing with a cold or cough.
Hi Niel,
Try the Lung health plan by clicking here. You can also read the lung health plan and lifestyle advice by downloading the ebook here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Oberursel (Taunus) is een stad in de Duitse deelstaat Hessen, gelegen in het district Hochtaunuskreis. De stad telt  inwoners.

Geografie
Oberursel (Taunus) heeft een oppervlakte van 45,31 km² en ligt in het centrum van Duitsland, iets ten westen van het geografisch middelpunt.

Plaatsen in de gemeente Oberursel (Taunus)
 Bommersheim
 Oberstedten
 Stierstadt
 Weißkirchen


Let's start with the most boring design I can imagine: an entire newspaper page of solid text. All one story. No headlines. No images. No breaks or pull quotes. Just text, in even columns, from corner-to-corner.
In a design like that users will generally scan it in a pattern something like the "Z" shown above.
If we add a bigger headline (visual weight), create one column to follow (line tension), and use smaller sections (repetition)we can get people closer to the famous F-Pattern.
The colorful image above shows eye tracking results, called "heat maps". Eye tracking records where people look; the longer they look at something, the more "hot" it looks in the heatmap.
Start in the upper left corner, like the Z-pattern.
Read/scan the first (head)line of the text.
Scan down the left side of the column until you find something interesting.
Read the interesting thing more carefully.
By repeating that method over and over, the heatmap starts to look like an 'E' or an 'F', hence the name.
You may notice that some parts of the page get lots of attention "naturally" while other parts of the page are overlooked most of the time. This is what we mean by "strong" and "weak" spots in a layout.
On desktops, a button in the top left will get more clicks than a button in the top right, which will get more clicks than a button in the bottom left, which will get more clicks than a button in the bottom right. And all of those will get more clicks than something randomly stuck in the middle …unless you do something about it.
It might also be good to know that each "block" of content and each column can have their own F-pattern. It doesn't have to be one-F-pattern-per-page.
Visual Hierarchy is the arrangement of elements in a way that implies relative importance. It's the designer's attempt to guide the order in which the eyes perceive information presented. The way we perceive information is affected by several factors that contribute to how we rank the hierarchy of the content within the layout. White space (also know as Negative Space) plays an important role in effective visual hierarchy, and in this article we will look into it.
White space helps with readability and comprehension immensely. Have you ever looked at a menu / a website / an interface and thought, "This looks and feels great, but I'm not sure why?" The answer usually is good use of white space. A study found that good use of white space between paragraphs and in the left and right margin increases comprehension by almost 20%. Readers find it easier to focus on and process generously spaced content.
Helen uses a combination of line height, font size, color, and white space to separate content within each block itself. This allows for ease for users to naturally navigate the sections of these blocks of content.


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Is Rye Playland Open in 2021?
Rye Playland Opens for the Season May 8.
Is Playland Open this year?
Which rides are open at Playland?
What day did Playland open?
Is Playland privately owned?
When did Playland close down?
Are PNE rides open?
Is Playland in Rye NY still open?
Rye Playland now says they will be opening for the 2022 season on Thursday, June 9. It was previously announced that the park would open in May. The hours on Opening Day will be from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. The park will be weekends only until June 21 and will then be open daily from June 21 – September 6.
Playland Now Open, Season Passes Available.
Why did Rye Playland close?
Nearly one year ago, Latimer announced that the park would not open for the 2020 season due to a number of factors including restrictions on in-person hiring and training and supply-chain interruptions early on.
The CoasterCrazy Beach PartyAtmosfearEnterprise
PNE/Playland/Rides
Which Playland rides are open?
1929PNE/Playland / Opened
Has anyone died Rye Playland?
Rye Playland, New York More recently, two deadly incidents took place in 2004 and in 2005. Two 7-year-old girls died; one after being thrown from a ride and the other incident occurred on a water ride. In 2007, a supervisor died at the park while riding a ride without wearing a seatbelt.
(CBSNewYork) — There has been a major development for the future of Playland, the country's only government-operated amusement park. The county executive in Westchester has agreed to turn over management of Playland to a private company starting in 2022.
Why is the wooden roller coaster closed?
The PNE says the roller-coaster — which is arguably the biggest attraction at the park — will remain closed for the remainder of 2021, including through the PNE Fair, due to a major refurbishment project.
1972Playland / Closed
SAN FRANCISCO — Playland at the Beach is remembered with great nostalgia these days, but the longtime Ocean Beach amusement park closed with little fanfare on this date 46 years ago, Sept. 4, 1972.
Which theme park has the most deaths?
Action Park in New Jersey is known as the most dangerous amusement park in the country, six people passed away from 1980 to 1987. From 1984 to 1985 there were 26 head injuries and 14 broken bones reported.
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Winold Reiss
will not be classified
But Reiss's accomplishments back in New York are being rediscovered as equal in importance to his Western work. Scholarship is increasingly focused on Reiss's seminal role developing the fine arts component of the Harlem Renaissance. More than ever he is appreciated as the teacher of artist Aaron Douglas as well as an influential interpreter of America's jazz aesthetic. Starting in 1925, Reiss painted memorable, and in some instances, iconic, portraits of such stalwarts of the Harlem Renaissance as Langston Hughes, W. E. B. DuBois, and Zora Neale Hurston among a host of others. But not all of Reiss's portrait subjects were prominent figures. As he had always done, in all the places he traveled and worked, Reiss painted portraits of people whose faces "spoke" to him.
While Reiss's portraiture was important to the Harlem Renaissance, it was by no means his sole contribution to this seismic cultural upheaval. He was also the teacher of Aaron Douglas (1899–1979). The style that Douglas devised under Reiss blended influences from African sculpture and masks along with contemporary European currents like cubism. Douglas went on to become the iconic artist of the Harlem Renaissance. Reiss's modernist incorporation of African art forms into his contemporary designs permeated the entirety of the Harlem Renaissance's visual aesthetic.
Reiss's murals in New York for the stylish restaurants Crillon and Longchamps, among others, and especially the monumental mosaics and panels executed for Cincinnati's Union Terminal, are now celebrated as among the most accomplished and dynamic American public artworks of the 20th century. The spectacular Cincinnati murals, translated into mosaic at his insistence, explicate the history of that city within the greater panorama of America's story. Installed in 1933 in the midst of desperate economic depression, these mosaics lit up the concourse of the Cincinnati Union Terminal, their brilliant colors and shapes punctuating the walls between windows and doorways that led to the railroad platforms. Over the years, Reiss's beloved murals have become a focal point of Cincinnati pride.
The catalogue is soft cover, 32 pages, fully illustrated in color.
Price, postpaid
Domestic $25.00 USDInternational $30.00 USD


In 1897, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, in his study of the patterns of wealth and income, observed that the distribution of wealth was predictably unbalanced. He first discovered this pattern in 19th-century England and found it to be the same for every country and time period he studied. Over the years, Pareto's observation has become known as the 80/20 principle.
Now Richard Koch takes a fresh look at the 80/20 principle and finds that the basic imbalance observed by Pareto 100 years ago can be found in almost every aspect of modern life. Whether you're investing in stocks, analyzing company sales, or looking at the performance of a Web site, you'll find that it's usually 20 percent that produces 80 percent of the total result. This means 80 percent of what you do may not count for much. Koch helps you to identify that 20 percent and shows you how you can get more out of your business, and life, for less.
When the Market Moves, Will You Be Ready?


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Mag. 2.1 earthquake - - 63km W of Anchor Point, Alaska, on 2016-01-24 06:37:09 -09:00
24 Jan 16:20 UTC: First to report: USGS after 43 minutes.
Date & time: 24 Jan 2016 15:37:09 UTC
Nearest volcano: Iliamna (23 km / 14 mi)
64 km (40 mi) W of Anchor Point (pop: 1,930) --> See nearby quakes!
82 km (51 mi) WNW of Homer (pop: 5,520) --> See nearby quakes!
94 km (58 mi) W of Fritz Creek (pop: 1,930) --> See nearby quakes!
249 km (155 mi) SW of Eagle River (pop: 24,800) --> See nearby quakes!
249 km (155 mi) SW of Eagle River (Anchorage County) (pop: 24,800) --> See nearby quakes!
58 km (36 mi) NNE of Augustine Island --> See nearby quakes!
95 km (59 mi) NNE of Shaw Island --> See nearby quakes!
M 2.1 101 km - 63km W of Anchor Point, Alaska USGS
At magnitude 2.1, this quake was probably too small to be felt by humans, but it could be recorded instrumentally.


A couple of days ago, O'Reilly published a free mini eBook from Davey Shafik about Upgrading to PHP 7. This eBook has around 80 pages and is available in ePub, Mobi, and PDF at this link.
PHP 7—the most dramatic update to the language in over a decade—has arrived. This O'Reilly report provides you with a short guide to the major changes in this new release, including a revamped engine (Zend Engine 3), a bunch of new features, and lots of language cleanup. You'll learn about basic language changes, deprecated features, Unicode enhancements, changes in Object-Oriented programming, and other enhancements.
The book also covers why it took more than 10 years for the next major version of PHP since PHP 5 – and also what happened to version 6 in the meantime.


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Miss La Libertad is a beauty contest that selects the representative for the La Libertad Region in the Miss Peru pageant. The current titleholder is Paola Rodríguez Larraín, who was crowned in April, 2012. The event is held annually, generally in Trujillo city. In 2012, it was held in the Plaza de Armas in the historic centre of Trujillo.

Organization
Recent events have been organized by Isa Torres Castillo in several locations, such as the traditional Club Libertad, the ancient citadel of Chan Chan, Huanchaco beach and  the historical Plaza de Armas.

Winners

1 Age at the time of the Miss La Libertad pageant

Gallery

See also
Trujillo Spring Festival
San Jose Festival
Trujillo Book Festival
International Festival of Lyric Singing
Trujillo
Santiago de Huamán
Victor Larco Herrera District
Gastronomic Fair in Trujillo

External links
Map of Trujillo city

Media

References

Festivals in Trujillo, Peru


text:
Zasole Bielańskie (vilamovsky Błan Fjym Üwer) je vesnice v jižním Polsku ve Slezském vojvodství v okrese Bílsko-Bělá v gmině Wilamowice. Leží severovýchodně od Wilamowic mezi řekami Soła a Wilamówka.

Samostatná obec Zasole Bielańskie vznikla až v roce 1953, dříve se jednalo o levobřežní část ("za Sołou") vesnice Bielany. Ta je poprvé zmiňována v roce 1457 a patřila Osvětimskému knížectví. Z hlediska kulturně-geografického se Bielany a Zasole řadí k Malopolsku, resp. Západní Haliči.

Externí odkazy

 Webové stránky gminy Wilamowice

Vesnice v okrese Bílsko-Bělá
Gmina Wilamowice


Bald River--+Big Pine Camp+--Bald River--Holly Flats Road--Brookshire Creek--+Horse Camp(2)+--Brookshire--Holly Flats Road--Bald River--+Black Cave Camps+--Bald River and OUT.
Okay boys, this trip is special in that Little Mitten decides to join me on an end-of-the-year trip to watch 2005 become 2006. It's our New Year's Trip. And it snows, too! Here are are at the start of the Bald River trail before the Gorge climb.
The truck was loaded with 3 packs and we drove up the Tellico River road and parked at Baby Falls to begin another trip into the Bald River Wilderness with Little Mitten and Shunka dog. We are now stopped at the swimhole rock with the packs off and the sandwiches out, resting and listening to the loud high water of the mighty Tellico. In the distance 3 dayhikers approach and will pass us by and just did pass us by, all hailing from Madisonville. They asked, "Does this trail go to Green Cove?" but it sure doesn't. It's cloudy and we better get moving.
OVERNIGHT AT BIG PINE CAMP: Ok, here we sit at a small fire after a meal of pasta and green tea while I watch Mitten build up the small twig fire. She's across camp in the Light Wedge tent and I'm over in the Nammy 3 green jewel so she'll have her own little nest to enjoy which is all anyone would ever need while camping.
Sharing a tent is only a good idea when survival is at stake, the rest of the time solitude is more important than a lighter pack so I strongly recommend a tent for each person. Mitten is in a very good mood as she banks up the fire and we sit talking and laughing and both danged glad to be out again after an 18 month break since our last trip into Pisgah forest.
This trip is different as it is not difficult, there's no climb to kill the spirit, there's water nearby soothing the soul and a wide open campsite big enough for our separate tents. This will be Mitten's first time in a tent alone in 44 years and that is amazing. The fire is out and all is lost!
She's squared away and with stars in the night sky all is well. The river sings nearby and it feels good to be here camping beneath the big pine. I hope we both sleep long and deeply and first light comes quick. Our last trip or one of our last trips was not so joyful but so far all seems good.
My new thermy is a large Expedition model, 77x25x1.75, the perfect winter pad. With it I ordered a stuff sack and so all I do is roll it up, wrap it with my silnylon tent tarp and slide both into the sack where it is lashed onto the outside of the Dana pack on the back between the 2 pockets. By doing so I make room inside the pack for other things and it is easier to roll up the thermy this way and the tarp further protects it from punctures while hiking. It's a good system all the way around.
Tomorrow we hope to continue our journey up Bald River and pass Holly Flats camp and Sky Ranch to the Henderson and Upper Bald River both to reach Horse Camp where we can set up camp and build a decent fire. She'll like it and with a little luck they'll be firewood for the taking.
After that we'll just see where we're at, maybe a climb up Brookshire Creek to a high camp below Sled Runner, maybe a high camp at Beaverdam Bald or Water Gap, maybe we'll just hang out at Horse Camp till Friday and leave it all the next day. She'll love the Upper Bald area and I am looking forward to it myself. Pilamaya Tunkashile for the opportunity to sit inside nylon and to hear the creek nearby and to be out with my two loved ones in the new year of 2006. It's a dark night but I am up and wide awake in Defcon 5 waiting to shed layers and hit the sack.
I am thinking of Willow's trip on the AT which will be coming up in 3 months whereby she'll begin her 2,000 mile quest from Georgia to Maine. Like Dorothy Laker and like all the solo women hikers before her, she'll experience loneliness, fear and exhiliration and she will have to answer in her own way the several questions that will come on a daily basis: Who will I meet? How do I feel? Why am I doing this? When should I stop?
I guess a book could be written by a team of psychologists about why people walk the AT and about why most people quit, there's no clear sign to prove either result.
Nature is a powerful mirror and reflects without pity our real aggenda and motivations, our blemished image with warts and all. The boulevard of Nature is a strand where all must pass but few stay, most people are clear that they hate it and so never scratch the surface and so never really live, while the others like Eustace or Johnny B or dare I say myself have reached an accord of sorts though have been scarred by the Holy Indifference, by the pristine Aphrodite beauty and by the void of deep forest loneliness which confounds the most serious Nature Boy.
Therefore to hike a long trail is to hike our own timeline and to journey into our own history, to find out where we came from and to find what we've lost. To say it's not for everybody is illogical and it is like saying eating or sleeping is not for everybody though it may well be true that Nautre and community go together while the opposite does not. But now that the Hoop has been broken and the circle scattered, the solitary individual in Nature is oft times the only possible solution and relief. But the crux of it comes back to Reflection, what do I see, what have I learned and why does something so complex by its very simplicity confound and terrify so absolutely? What can Nature give Walter, what can Nature give Willow?
Of course it gives freedom and blissful exhaustion, it gives a symbolic journey into the wild green maze and it gives the footpath revolt from the Christian death worship, it gives a rightness and order with all things balanced in intricate beauty and its truth can be partly discovered in tribal culture and characterizations depicting Nature as God, Nature is God, Nature is, without man; without Man, Nature is still. Nature needs me to observe and applaud and then to graciously sink back down into Nature's field and embrace.
Untamed wilderness is Nature and the universe is wilderness. Over population of any creature always destroys wilderness and yet macro wilderness(a meteor hitting the earth)always destroys over population. But know this, as long as a sliver of the wilderness pie still exists there is hope and individuals will be fed by it and so Willow plans to pump nylon and Walter sits in a tent and Little Mitten rests on the ground and Johnny B drank and will drink Pisgah waters and Eustace saddles a horse and everyone eats sunlight and soil and contains sperm and ovum and we dance on sky and stone strings as puppets to the air and wind and blood and rain and trees and fields of plants and bugs.
Yoga is the study of our inner Nature, the wind of Om and the moon of the third eye, the spinal tree of life and the long tunnel trail of light thru the astral forest and deep causal space. No matter how hard we try we cannot escape Nature, we are therefore prisoners inside this confounding simplicity and such whiteness terrifies us, so the journey back begins with each inhalation and ends with the Unspeakable Not This which is the full unconditional embrace of Nature which all men call love.
And so love is sitting on the surface of the sun and not dying, love is breathing in empty cold space and not dying, love is hiking on the hot surface of Mars and not dying, love is sleeping in the snow atop Mt Everest and not dying. Or for us neophytes and egotists, love is backpacking a 40 pound pack up a trail in North Carolina and seeing truth at even this late date and not dying.


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Top 5 Business Texting Trends
By Marchex Marketing Team February 25, 2021 | 3 min read
Texting in Business
As customer communication channels evolve, many businesses seek to implement intuitive, easy, and engaging communication strategies. As 2020 brought a myriad of lifestyle changes, the ways customers wanted and expected to connect with businesses also changed. Businesses that chose to adapt during a time of immense uncertainty ultimately grew closer with their customers and communities. Based on these observations, we've developed some business texting trends and recommendations for digital communication in 2021.
#1: Personalization is Key
Successful businesses thoughtfully crafted messages for each segment of their customer base. This kind of personalization results in greater loyalty and long-term satisfaction. According to Forrester's 2021 B2C Marketing Predictions, optimized and automated campaigns enable "B2C marketers [to] get better campaign performance even while operating with reduced staff." When brands communicate with empathy and personalization, customers are much more likely to want to stay in touch and form a relationship.
#2: Messaging with a Purpose
As people grow accustomed to directly messaging brands, marketers and salespeople have more opportunities to engage throughout the customer journey. According to eMarketer, global business text messaging increased by 10% during 2020 to 2.7 trillion messages. Go beyond notifications and consider a variety of message types that help your customers, including reminders, payment assistance, educational content, technical support, and more. Texting isn't just one-way; it's an opportunity for nuanced, two-way conversations.
#3: Increased Value on Privacy
Despite comfort with text messaging, customers are increasingly protective of their online privacy. Early in 2020, Google announced its plans to end support for third-party cookies by 2022. While customers appreciate the convenience of business text messaging, they also expect transparency and the ability to opt out. Companies must always ask for permission to communicate and provide clear instructions for signing up and unsubscribing.
#4: Communicate on the Local Level
One of the biggest trends of 2020 was an increased demand for housing outside of urban centers. As people adjusted to working remotely, they sought more space and lower prices. As a result, tailored messaging based on a specific location became even more important. Brands that reference specific local events, trends, and even regional jokes can build relationships as people adjust to different living environments.
#5: Creativity Goes A Long Way
Lastly, we've seen firsthand how creative communication yields the most responses from customers. Automating and segmenting messages is just one piece of the puzzle; it's critical to also create compelling content that provides value. In April 2020, The Wall Street Journal highlighted a company that delivered uplifting audio and video messages via text. This kind of individualized and creative content can strengthen customer relationships and brand identity.
There are other ways in which businesses can best use SMS messaging that includes Sales, Field Communications, Marketing, & Service. Texting not only supports the revenue side of your business but also internal communications. See how Marchex Sonar can accelerate lead qualification, conversions, and communication with prospects, customers, and field staff.
Interested in learning how you can integrate text messaging into your 2021 communication strategy? Get in touch with our team.
Break through the noise with SMS marketing
Marchex Sonar, Texting in Business
Engage Job Applicants More Effectively with Business SMS
What to look for in a text message platform
By Frank Larkin
Zillow Sees Surge in Agent Engagement and Satisfaction with Marchex® Sonar


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The Sunset Series Outdoor Concerts
FREE SUMMER MUSIC SERIES IN DOWNTOWN PARK
From local favorites to emerging new talent, the Sunset Series is a showcase for great talent from all genres.
Hopkins Center for the Arts and Mill City Sound are pleased to present the 2022 Sunset Series. Join us Thursday evenings at 7pm in Downtown Park, 40 Ninth Avenue S, Hopkins. Bring a chair and some friends! Rain location announced by 3 PM day of concert.
CAPITAL SONS – AUGUST 18
Due to weather - this concert has been moved to Hopkins Center for the Arts' main theater!
Capital Sons is a melody and guitar-driven rock band from Minneapolis that plays original songs with soul and substance. The band combines unforgettable hooks with a rock-steady rhythm section, touching on themes of love, loss, introspection, and revolution.
For nearly two decades, Capital Sons has seamlessly blended their diverse musical influences into a high energy and lyrically poignant mix of pop-rock. The band members — Karl Obermeyer on lead vocals and guitar, Keith Raney on bass and vocals, Rick Paukert on lead guitar, and Mike Jueneman on drums — have earned a reputation as an original and expressive band making a mark on the Twin Cities and beyond. Citing inspiration from bands such as Led Zeppelin, The Replacements, The Rolling Stones and Pearl Jam, Capital Sons puts their own modern rock signature on every one of their original songs. Rock n' Roll
A few videos from the 2020 Sunset Series-
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