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Home » Contests » The People Issue
ELEVATOR WORLD is proud to present its fourth issue devoted to people. Of the 15 industry players profiled, a significant number are salespeople. Sales are the lifeblood of business and, indeed, fuel for the engine that drives the world economy. Of course, behind each sale is a backstory involving R&D, relationships, science, information technology (IT), marketing and more. Besides sales professionals, this year's people include company leaders, from branch managers to CEOs; scientists; consultants; educators and IT experts. Whether they entered the vertical-transportation (VT) industry through happenstance or family heritage, their passion and dedication are clear. Many have been in the industry for at least several decades. They work for OEMs, independents, suppliers, universities and even themselves. In North America, the New York metropolitan area — Yonkers, Hauppauge — is represented, as are the West Coast (California), the Washington/Baltimore region (Baltimore and Salisbury, Maryland), greater Philadelphia (Chester County, Pennsylvania) and southern New England (Connecticut). Four of the people came up through the industry in Canada: two salespeople, an educator and a general manager. Two are innovators based overseas: an OEM branch manager in Portugal and a VT R&D leader in India. Both individuals used their intelligence and expertise to guide and grow their employers' companies in unique, groundbreaking ways. Regardless of the path they took to a career in VT, there is no doubt our industry is richer for their being a part of it.
Mary Beeson
When someone has more than 30 years in the elevator industry, you might think there's a chance for burnout or simply a desire to do something else, but you couldn't say this is true of Mary Beeson. Joining Otis in the late 1980s, Beeson says, "I have enjoyed every position that I have had over my 34 years." She started her career right out of college, selling computers for Tandy, but soon landed a position with Otisline, quickly being promoted to group leader. Meeting numerous Otis leaders while working a booth at a Building Managers and Owners Association Convention, she was asked what she wanted to do next at the company. "Sales!" she enthusiastically responded. She was offered a position at the Otis office in Baltimore, and, though she was one of the few women in the elevator industry at that time, she was supported by colleagues who saw her potential and mentored her. Whether it was taking part in field training or becoming a territory manager, Beeson says she was treated well the whole way, and it's obvious that, for her, Otis was the right choice.
"I love working in the elevator industry because I learn something new every day and am exposed to so many different facets of the industry," Beeson said. "My favorite part of the business is dealing with customers and fellow employees. I truly enjoy that interaction, and hopefully am making a difference." One place she's making a difference is as a member of the Vertical Initiative of Elevator and Escalator Women. "My goal is to help support women in the elevator industry by sharing some of my experiences and being a mentor if needed."
Working for Otis has not been a one-way street, as Beeson's co-workers have nothing but praise. It's not unusual to hear such comments as, "I've never met anyone like her," "All my support for Mary," or "She is simply amazing." Seems that if you love what you do, everyone notices.
Louis Bialy
Louis Bialy, president of Louis Bialy & Associates LLC, has made quite an impact in his more than 54-year career. His nominator, Steven Reynolds, describes Bialy as "an institution in the elevator industry." It's not hard to imagine why. From developing and teaching a class in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers MasterClass series to receiving six United Technologies Corporation Special Awards, Bialy's contributions to the elevator industry are widely recognized and appreciated.
Bialy holds a bachelor of science in engineering degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and a master of engineering degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada. After several years of general engineering practice, Bialy joined the elevator industry and spent 33 years with Otis, where he managed Mechanical Engineering which was responsible for the development of various elevator systems and components. He subsequently directed the worldwide codes and standards department. He also led the Otis initiative to modify legacy swing-door elevators in order to eliminate possible injuries to children. He was 1991 ASME Distinguished Engineer of the Year, the 2008 ASME Safety Codes and Standards Medalist and recipient of the 2012 ASME Distinguished Services Award. He went on to his current position at Louis Bialy & Associates LLC in 2013. He was elected as an ASME fellow in 2018, which he considers to be his greatest honor.
After serving for many years on various ISO Committees and ASME Boards and Committees, some of which he chaired, Bialy has been phasing out his participation, but remains involved in an industry that is grateful and better for his numerous contributions.
Michael Bonardi
From helper to mechanic to executive to president, Michael Bonardi has truly built his career from the ground up. After graduating from Rockland Community College with a degree in electrical engineering, he entered into the industry as a helper. He later worked as a mechanic with Archer Elevator, which taught him the basics of the elevator industry. He then moved on to American Elevator in California, where he began to develop his business skills. After the company was purchased by Otis, he moved to Boston and worked as a mechanic on properties such as Charles Square and Polaroid Headquarters.
Bonardi then moved on to hold several executive positions, including para-manager and operations coordinator for Archer Elevator, sales manager for Mainco Elevator, safety manager for ThyssenKrupp Elevator Co. and regional president for ThyssenKrupp/New York.
"As president of D&D Elevator, a recently acquired American Elevator Group company, Michael possesses a widespread knowledge and understanding of the elevator industry," nominator John Curzon said.
D&D founder Bobby Schaeffer described Bonardi, whom he first met at Archer, as an outstanding industry leader who has always excelled at what he does "because he cares about the industry and prepares himself well, regardless of the job or task." He became a partner at D&D in 2005. Schaeffer went on to state:
"As business partner he was always honest, hardworking and fair-minded. His sensible ideas and practical approach always helped temper my out-of-the-box, some would say 'crazy' ideas, which made for a very successful 15-year partnership. He has transitioned seamlessly to his current role as president and proven once again he is capable of handling any position within our industry. He's just a 'real elevator guy,' and, as we say in New York, a real 'Mensch.'"
Patrick Bothwell
Most people work for several companies before finding their perfect fit. Patrick Bothwell found his on the first try. Starting in the elevator industry 24 years ago with EHC Global, he has been a loyal employee ever since. Now, as Draka EHC, part of the Prysmian Group, he currently serves as vice president of global sales and customer experience.
Bothwell graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1994 with a degree in business and economics. In 1997, he began working at EHC Global as sales manager, Asia Pacific. Fluent in Japanese, he moved to Japan in 1999 and assumed the position of representative director of EHC Japan. In 2007, Bothwell returned to Canada, first as director of worldwide sales for EHC Global, before he was promoted to vice president of sales in 2016.
Bothwell has been involved in many industry organizations. He currently serves as the chair of the ASME A17.1 Escalator & Moving Walk Committee and is a member of the ASME A17 Standards Committee. He was previously on the board of the Elevator and Escalator Safety Foundation and is an active supporter of the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) and the National Association of Elevator Contractors.
Nominator Catharine Bothwell, CECA executive director and his wife, said:
"Patrick is one of the most recognizable, truly global industry executives and highly deserving of this award. In non-COVID times, he frequently traveled to all corners of the world for work and to attend industry association tradeshows. This past year has been especially exciting for him as he was instrumental in the acquisition of EHC Global by Prysmian Group's Draka Elevator business unit and is looking forward to the challenges of his new role with increased responsibilities."
Mario Bronze
Sometimes, taking risks and testing a new approach to becoming more efficient pays off. This is certainly true in the case of Mario Bronze. As branch manager of TK Elevadores Portugal, Bronze pioneered change within the organization and across the nation, with great success.
A few years ago, Bronze implemented a new method of organization within his branch that involved segmenting his employees by their regions and work to better organize and streamline their work. This new format proved to be much easier to understand, and it worked well within his department. It worked so well, in fact, that it was expanded and eventually replicated in other branches of the company nationwide. This allowed TK Elevadores Portugal to provide better service for its customers, which is what every company aims to do. "It's a fact that we all have to work for a living, and the greatest heritage that we can leave with the people that we work with, are the moments we have passed fulfilling the challenges that our company entrusted to us," Bronze says.
Nominator Helena Calado praised:
"All our employees are exceptional. However, Mário stands out for his genius. He has a degree in management, but a remarkable intelligence and acumen. He not only manages our business; his management of his teams is remarkable and there is no employee who does not wish to have him as their boss. He is an understanding, affable and motivating person. Mario deserves all the personal and professional success, and we want to continue to be part of his journey."
Preparation, confidence and proficiency in your career field are qualities that usually don't go unnoticed – especially when you've been consistently exhibiting these qualities for the past 15 years like Michelle Connell. She has spent a total of 25 years in the elevator industry, and 15 of those were at MAD Elevator Fixtures, where she currently works as the sales manager. "Michelle has proven herself time and again to be the quintessential salesperson at MAD, and she is truly one of the faces of the company," says Carl Strychaluk, director of business development and co-owner of MAD. "We are blessed to have her as a keystone figure."
Connell graduated from Carleton University with a degree in psychology in 1994. She also got her master's certificate in sales leadership in 2016 from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. A natural leader, she doesn't shy away from daunting tasks like making a presentation during meetings, and has never had an issue with winning over a room full of industry professionals.
Nominator Matthew Jackson says of Connell:
"I've known Michelle as long as she has worked at MAD. I have also been along with her at meetings where she was the lead presenter, and there has been no one that I have ever been with in these situations that was more prepared and had a more intimate knowledge of the products she represented. After 25 years in our industry, she is most deserving of this honor."
MAD Elevator Inc. President Steve Reich-Rohrwig says:
"As our very first salesperson, Michelle has been instrumental in the success of this company. We have more than doubled in size over the last several years and that is due in large part to the work of people like Michelle. In an industry such as ours, personal reputation and relationship building are essential, and there is no better example of that than Michelle. I join all of us at MAD by saying it has been nothing short of a pleasure to work with her, and I look forward to many more years together."
Nick Dalvano
Some people find their way into the elevator industry by chance, luck or a twist of fate. Others grow up in the industry and it becomes their life's work. The latter is true for All-Ways Elevator Inc. Vice President Nick Dalvano. Dalvano started out as an apprentice to a mechanic, which gave him a special view into the industry as a whole. He began working at All-Ways Elevator, Inc., in 2006 as director of operations. He moved to his current position as vice president of the company in 2015.
Rich Dalvano, president of All-Ways Elevator, Inc, said of him:
"Nick's forward thinking and problem-solving skills have been instrumental in the selection, design, development and subsequent implementation of our new company-wide operational software system, which will provide a cohesive environment and enable us to refocus and recreate our customer centric mission. Nick's unwavering efforts and attention to detail with all aspects of our business will ensure our continued success and the success of everyone involved. Nick's resolve has given him experience beyond his years, and his leadership will push our business forward through these ever-changing times. We are proud to share in his continued excitement for our future."
Nominator Brie Lattman said:
"Nick is a think-outside-the-box kind of guy, always seeing what others cannot to find a solution. When COVID hit, Nick would not let it stop our ongoing training programs. Laptops were ordered for the employees in the class, and virtual trainings were set in place. There is no stopping this man in his ability to grow and succeed. With Nick at the helm, All-Ways Elevator, Inc., along with its employees and clients, will be sure to prosper. He is different from anyone I have ever met. He wants to learn and know and be able to teach anyone about everything regarding this industry. I can honestly say I am in awe of his passion for this industry."
In addition to his career, Dalvano is an associate co-chair of the Political Action Committee for the Long Island Builders Institute.
Karen Dodds
Though she represents her family's fourth generation in the elevator industry, Karen Dodds did not, at first, plan a career working for contractor Kencor. As an undergraduate in college, she majored in business and hospitality. Still, she would gain an appreciation for the industry's history and current operations by working at Kencor during her high school and college summer breaks and, after college graduation, took a "temporary" job as an assistant administrator. It was then that she decided to make elevators her career. Upon receiving a masters degree, she was qualified for a permanent position, and has worked with Kencor ever since, today serving as CEO of the company as her father, co-founder Rick Kennedy, has transitioned to "executive chairman." Early on, he and other talented supervisors showed her the ropes, and this helped her as she took on some memorable projects. A particularly satisfying project was working with the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) to launch a nonprofit that represents merit shop companies in legislative affairs. This gave her experience in law, regulatory affairs and government that she likely wouldn't have otherwise attained. Another rewarding effort for her was leading the company during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Co-workers and other industry people with whom she deals have great praise for Dodds, with many making such comments as, "She thinks on her feet," "Sees the big picture" and "Is proactive and effective in a crisis." She's known for "drilling down on detail," and, as a manager, provides people with opportunities to reach their potential.
As for Dodds, it's easy to name the best thing about working in the elevator industry:
"You are always learning, as nothing is static. It is a high-risk industry, so you are always vigilant and in touch with the people. There is competition among companies, but also interdependence. For the past 20 years, I've grown up with, and continue to grow, with remarkable industry long-haulers."
Allan Lockyer
Innovator. Educator. Entrepreneur. These are just a few words that nominator Bill Rogan uses to describe Allan Lockyer, professor of the Elevating Devices Mechanic (EDM) program at Durham College in Oshawa, Canada. Lockyer began his career at Otis as a fabrication shop foreman, moving on to maintenance mechanic. Lockyer purchased Wood-Croft Renovations, Ltd., which Rogan describes as among the first companies in North America to specialize in cab renovation. This venture evolved into Tri-Crown Elevator Co. Inc., where Lockyer and his team of class-A mechanics designed, engineered and manufactured cabs and cab components for disabled-access elevators.
Throughout his career, Lockyer has spread awareness about the need for improved training. In the early 1990s, Ontario's AHJ transitioned to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). Several serious accidents pointed to the need for education, and it was recommended that a standardized elevator mechanic education system be developed. Involving the TSSA, industry associations like the Canadian Elevator Contractors Association (CECA) and the union, the path to an official EDM program was not always smooth. After nearly a decade, new training regulations were created. Critical to this was the Independent Elevator Contractors Association (IECA) (which Lockyer helped form) and CECA presenting a unified front.
With IECA, Lockyer launched the EDM College in Toronto, a first in English-speaking Canada. CECA and IECA worked with TSSA to create the EDM apprenticeship program, with Durham's Whitby Campus chosen to deliver it. Lockyer stepped in in 2014 to teach and manage the program. He also helped launch another first — an EDM program for women — in 2016 (ELEVATOR WORLD, February 2017). Upon implementing yet another first — a two-year EDM diploma program — Lockyer is currently working with the school to build and design its CAD30-million (US$37.2-million) Whitby addition (EW, March 2021), which will provide hands-on and classroom training to EDM mechanics and others.
Joseph McAnulty
With nearly 20 years in the industry, Joseph McAnulty has made a name for himself as an advocate for health and safety for elevator mechanics. Starting as an apprentice at Delaware Elevator, McAnulty quickly climbed the ladder to become construction mechanic. He continued his growth, spending 10 years at Kencor where he rose from lead troubleshooter to service manager. Today, he serves as general manager of Liberty Elevator Experts, growing the firm from eight to 45 employees in the NYC tristate area-headquartered company. In his role, he performs inspections, consults across the country and testifies as a legal witness. His dedication to safety is apparent: he serves as chairman of NAESA International's safety committee and sits on the board of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation. He holds several licenses and credentials, including QEI, CET-S, master electrician, OSHA 30, OSHA 10 and OSHA Confined Space. He holds a bachelor's degree in business operation management with a concentration in strategic leadership. Friends in the industry consider him a witty character and dependable business associate.
The elevator industry isn't where McAnulty started — prior, he was a volunteer firefighter, but a fellow firefighter was a mechanic at Delaware who told him the company needed a new apprentice. McAnulty applied and was accepted, and soon was working as an apprentice himself, sent to federal government jobs in the Washington, D.C., area. Trusting what he learned from his father about electrical theory, mechanics and the value of hard work, today he guides Liberty as the "go-to" guy. While others say he always gives a helping hand, McAnulty returns the compliment: "The best part about working in the elevator industry," he says, "has been meeting and working with colleagues throughout the country who have now become friends."
Pete Meeks
When building a successful family-owned company, "family" is clearly the key word. Paul Meeks, who founded Delaware Elevator of Wilmington, Delaware, in the 1930s, saw this reality when his son, Charles, returned from World War II to launch Delaware Elevator of Maryland. Though maintaining the Wilmington operation up until his death in the 1960s, it could not survive his passing. With the Maryland operation growing and thriving, Charles felt comfortable passing leadership to the next generation, and his son, Pete, took over in the 1980s, just as it was set for expansive growth. With new contracts, Delaware Maryland was moving onto solid ground.
My philosophy has always been to stick with new construction," Pete Meeks says. "We felt the recession from 2008-2011, but now we're back probably larger and stronger than ever."
Pete Meeks is a familiar face at both National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) events and on jobsites. He is a hands-on leader, working closely with Delaware teams handling high-profile jobs that have included the elevator system serving the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (ELEVATOR WORLD, October 2019), and jobs for notable clients in the Capitol area like the General Services Administration and NASA. Pete Meeks is big on safety and education. More than a decade ago, he decided to invest in a two-story training facility that's used by not only new hires, but others such as private elevator inspection firms.
Friends and colleagues have nothing but praise for Pete Meeks, who is widely credited with making Delaware a true force in the vertical-transportation (VT) industry. One such fan is VT consultant Matthew
Jackson, who offers:
"Pete has built one of the largest elevator companies in the U.S., including a manufacturing base, and is probably one of the most humble and generous industry people I have ever come across. I speak not only as an industry veteran, but also as one who has worked closely as a sales consultant to Delaware and directly with Pete. I don't know if there has ever been a time when I didn't see a smile on Pete's face."
Dr. Rohit Nehe
A natural-born leader and innovator, Dr. Rohit Nehe has been an intellectual standout since his college years, conducting laboratory classes and handling grading for the undergraduate program in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, from which he earned a PhD in mechanical engineering in 2013. Prior to that, Nehe studied mechanical and aerospace engineering at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, where he earned a Master of Science degree. The Mumbai native came to the U.S. from the University of Mumbai, where he earned a bachelor of engineering with a focus on mechanical engineering. Nehe's professional career saw his return to India in 2015, where he became director of the electrical and electronics division of sheetmetal manufacturer Rewale Engineering. In this role, he led a team that developed applications implementing interdisciplinary engineering principles for the medical-equipment; heating, ventilation and air conditioning; and vertical-transportation (VT) industries. Nehe would become further focused on VT when he joined Creestaa Elevators (India) Pvt. Ltd. as head of its Electrical and Electronics department in 2016. His current activities at Creestaa involve VT product R&D. His nominator, Sneha Rewale, said:
"[Nehe] has a strong research and academic background in developing diagnostic instruments. Although a mechanical engineer by education, in a very short time he was able to take control of all electrical and electronics activities at Creestaa Elevators. As a result, he successfully published two peer-reviewed research papers on 'Preventive Maintenance and Automatic Doors' at an international forum [the Lift & Escalator Symposium in the U.K.]"
"In addition to his R&D, [Nehe] has also been instrumental in establishing a high-throughput control panel assembly and testing line. The quality achieved is of the highest order, and involved standards obtained by developing test jigs and setups for subassemblies and implementing the 'four-eyes' principle."
Stephen Nichols
Stephen Nichols' initial exposure to the elevator industry was in 1998, through his FIRST® robotics team in high school. Nichols' team was sponsored by Otis. After college, Nichols joined Otis as an intern, and was hired full-time the following year. He is now the associate director of systems engineering.
Since March 2020, Nichols has been the research, development and integration lead on the cross-functional global task force at Otis focused on pandemic response. This includes leading customer-facing rapid innovation, technology and product development, research, strategy and partnership efforts. Nichols is a two-time National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering alumnus and received the 2019 Gilbreth Lectureship. He has earned degrees in mechanical engineering from Tufts University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a professional certificate in systems engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Nichols played a pivotal role in a recent study done by Otis on elevator airflow and exposure to COVID-19 (see "Airflow and Elevators," p. 94). The results concluded that a short elevator ride with scientific exposure-reduction methods in place holds a lower risk of exposure than other everyday activities. Nichols helped lead the collaboration with Purdue University and Otis over three months of research and is the spokesperson for the study's findings, allowing passengers to confidently use vertical transportation amid the pandemic.
Nichols' nominator Katy Padgett, director of public relations and communications at Otis, says:
"Stephen is a true innovation leader - making strides for Otis and the industry. And he's also an amazing STEM advocate, inspiration and mentor. We're grateful to have him on our team."
Nichols remains active in FIRST®, where his interest in the industry started, and he mentors the same robotics team that he was once a part of. His involvement with FIRST® spans nearly 23 years.
John Tateossian
As anyone who runs an elevator company knows, problems can arise when least expected. A bolt can break or a rope can slip. The point is to be aware of potential trouble and ready to respond. One way to reduce risk is to have sufficient insurance coverage, and John Tateossian has made it his mission to help contractors and suppliers stay ahead of the game. As senior vice president of HUB International's National Elevator Insurance Program, Tateossian brings nearly 30 years of industry experience to this niche. Working with a team at JM & Associates, Tateossian met with elevator-industry clients who all had the goal of avoiding risk. In this quick-moving business, "I had to hit the ground running," Tateossian says. His role overseeing the National Elevator Insurance Program meant building relationships with existing elevator clients while trying to meet as many new ones as possible. "I was also tasked with making sure we had the best coverage at the most competitive price while delivering superior service," he adds.
Clients find Tateossian to be an outgoing business partner who enjoys building relationships. Every year he can be found at the National Association of Elevator Contractors (NAEC) convention and the NAEC Spring Educational Conference, plus many regional elevator events. In every case, he says, "I need to truly understand the elevator industry and, more specifically, the individual company's business."
In addition to elevator companies, he works with carriers to offer competitively priced, quality insurance to those in the industry. Regardless of size or geographic location, companies with adequate capacity and financial stability turn to Tateossian and HUB International for their needs. "The best part of what I do is build relationships with the elevator clients, as well as interact with colleagues," Tateossian says. While at times he may have had clients outside the elevator industry, he finds that "the attributes of the elevator industry remain unique."
Ross Watson
Ross Watson, general manager of Schaefer Elevator Components North America, based in Surrey, Canada, says a focus on quality, short lead times and customer service are the foundations that guided him through a 40-year elevator industry career. He started out working on elevator construction tools in Victoria, British Columbia (B.C.), moving on to construction manager based in Alberta. He returned to his native province, B.C., to take a job as construction manager, then general manager for what was, at the time, ThyssenKrupp, in Vancouver. Later, he became installation manager for KONE's Western Canada division. Over the years, Watson sat on various code and industry safety committees. As part of the advisory board for OSHA's Work Safe initiative, Watson helped develop fall protection standards, an effort he said was extremely challenging, but also extremely rewarding. Of his current job and employer, which he joined in 2018, he says: "It is truly a pleasure to share my knowledge with a dedicated team as we grow the business."
His nominator, Schaefer Elevator Components Process + Operating Manager Susanne Boos, said:
"At Schaefer, we value [Watson's] outstanding, empowering leadership. When it comes to product knowledge and understanding, he is detail-oriented, always shares his knowledge and is supportive of new ideas. He has been key in creating and maintaining a very pleasant working atmosphere in unprecedented times. For [Watson], quality always comes first. He had quite an elevator-industry journey throughout Canada before coming to Schaefer, and he still has good working relationships with former co-workers and companies."
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Stand-up paddleboarding: Where and how
08/14/2019 Adventure, Lifestyleby SEO GH
Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, is one of the fastest growing water sports around the world. People are swapping out their kayaks—the former reigning champ—and trying their hand at this balance-testing activity. The origin of stand-up paddleboarding is traced back to Hawaii, where it was originally used for more practical reasons, such as traveling distances or fishing.
The sport has now become recreational, thanks to local surfers who invented the sport as a way to still get out on the ocean when the waves got low in summertime. They also realized that stand-up paddleboarding was much quicker and easier to learn than surfing—therefore making it available to a much broader audience and allowing its popularity to skyrocket.
Get ready to learn everything you need to know about how to stand-up paddleboard—and where the best places to do it are!
Photo courtesy of Seabreeze.
If you're planning a trip or a vacation near the water soon—be that an ocean, a river, or a lake—you're in the right place to give stand-up paddleboarding a go. When weather permits, it's the perfect, fun-filled activity to include on any trip's itinerary, in addition to being a great full body workout once you've mastered it!
The perks of this water sport don't stop there, though. While stand-up paddleboarding, you're bound to be surrounded by a stunning natural environment, all while floating along a tranquil lake or sparkling river and having the utmost fun with this serene, yet challenging, activity.
The following are some of our favorite destinations:
Oahu, Hawaii
Photo courtesy ofISLE.
What better place to learn how to stand-up paddleboard than in the birthplace of the sport? Oahu, Hawaii, is known for it's epic big wave surfing, but in the summer when the waves are calmer, this is the perfect destination for both beginners and pros. Not only famous for it's epic water sports, the tranquil, clear waters; white, sandy beaches; and soaring temperatures are also a huge bonus when heading to this beautiful island.
Photo courtesy of Tripaneer.
British Columbia, Canada, is filled with reflective lakes and meandering rivers, and these peaceful waters make this the ideal place for SUP beginners. The possibilities are endless for diverse stand-up paddleboarding and sightseeing while here—and the incredible views will leave you in awe while doing so, too!
Photo courtesy of Portugal Sport.
It's not hard to see why stand-up paddle boarding is so popular in Portugal, with its 1,793 kilometers of coastline to explore. You can explore the caves in the Algarve, or head to Luiz Saldanha Marine Park to go paddleboarding in an aquarium-like setting. With crystal clear waters and up to 70 meters of visibility, this spot is totally unique.
The need-to-know
Paddleboarding in Hawaii from Turtle Bay Resort.
Getting a feel for stand-up paddleboarding should only take 30 minutes or less, depending on how good your balance is. For first-timers, it's recommended to find calm waters and head out with a friend, in order to increase your chances of succeeding while learning this new skill.
Minimal equipment is required, and it all can be rented from a water sports shop. The three main items are:
A paddleboard
A paddle
A life jacket
Once you have your equipment, you can head to the water to start this adventure. Simply put, it's all about balance—using strength from your core to keep you upright and centered while on the water. The three most important parts of learning this water sport are: how to stand up properly, how how to balance while paddling, and how to fall.
Someone learning how to stand up on the paddleboard.
Photo courtesy of REI.
Trying to stand-up immediately as you get on the board is most likely going to end in disaster. Climb on the board while using your knees to balance, and head out into deeper water, away from the shallow shores. Once you feel comfortable, you can then begin to stand, one foot at a time. Plant your feet where your knees were and place the paddle horizontal along the board to anchor your balance.
Someone successfully standing on the paddleboard.
Once you're standing, you must rely on your core balance to keep you from falling. Your feet should be hip-width apart, and your weight should be evenly distributed. Keep your gaze on the horizon and avoid staring at your feet; this will help you keep your balance and avoid falling into the water.
What to do if you fall
Learning a new skill is always a challenge and will come with its wins and failures during the learning process. Falling is all a part of the fun when learning how to stand-up paddleboard; however, knowing how to fall correctly is important in order to avoid getting injured.
Fall to the side to avoid the board.
Try to fall flat to avoid hitting your head.
Hold onto your paddle.
You'll be paddling off into the sunset and off to your next scenic trip in no time!
Paddle off into the sunset and onto your next scenic trip! Here's some inspiration on where to head—and some other adventure sports you can give a shot.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


There's a profit party at McLaren and if the UK doesn't hurry, it could rain on our supercar parade.
Unlike its supercar rivals Ferrari and Lamborghini, McLarens seem to be averse to going up in flames, but that doesn't stop the British supercar maker from being figuratively on fire. Due to its best efforts, McLaren can't keep any of its two-seat supercars off of dealership lots and as a result, profits have been soaring. In 2015, 1,654 McLarens found their ways out of the Woking, England factory and into new garages. More impressive is the fact that the number is expected to double by 2016 and triple by 2020.
In its five years of building cars, McLaren has managed to turn a profit for three of them, and now on its fifth anniversary, the company is celebrating its most profitable year ever. To keep up with the uptick in demand, McLaren had to increase its workforce by 16% and will likely need to keep expanding. Part of its success has to do with the fact that instead of doling out bonuses, McLaren reinvests a large amount of its profits back into creating new cars. Outlined in its Track22 business plan, which is supposed to carry the young automaker ahead into the year 2022, up to 25% of profits are to be reinvested into research and development of new technologies and vehicle improvement.
With the EU trade laws still in place, McLaren isn't feeling any pain in its bottom line, but the uncertainty could complicate and postpone important decisions that need to be made to ensure optimal adaptability. He urged action from UK regulators by adding, "…continued uncertainty is not good for any business and we urge the authorities to get on and make a decision." We're sure that whatever happens, wealthy McLaren buyers outside of the UK won't mind the likely increase in import/export taxes brought on by Brexit, but given that the automaker channels precious profit money from its coffers into heart-snatching supercars, we'd like McLaren to feel as comfortable as it can.


Lorena Fontana, singer, vocalist, composer, born in Formigine (Modena) in 1961.
At the age of 15 she first took up guitar as an instrument, but she was soon captured by the world of the human voice. Later on she studied piano and composition.
1980 : After her Gymnasium Diploma she made her musical debut in 1984 in the local jazz clubs of a city in turmoil, Bologna, where her name was paired with those of established Italian jazz musicians such as Giorgio Baiocco, Ares Tavolazzi, Jimmy Villotti, Tomaso Lama and Renato D'Aiello.
Between 1986 and 1988 she lived in London and attended the Advanced Course in Jazz & Rock Music at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, studying with Norma Winstone, Kenny Wheeler, John Taylor, Ian Carr, Brian Abrahams.
Back in Italy in 1991 she graduated in Classical And Operatic singing with Maria Gabriella Munari at the Conservatory of Rovigo and attended Siena Jazz, studying with Bruno Tommaso, Franco D'Andrea, Paolo Fresu, Enrico Rava.
She studied arrangement with Bruno Tommaso and piano on her own. In response to an invitation from altoist Lee Konitz in 1993, she went to NY for a learning experience. Thanks to the hospitality of the jazz singer Judy Niemack she was able to study with Sheila Jordan. Between 1995 and 1996 she completed her classical training with contemporary soprano Dorothy Dorow.
In 1997 she graduated in jazz music from the Conservatory of Trento with pianist Franco D'Andrea.
1988 : lead vocalist in the group of Mediterranean music "King Solomon's Ring" with guitarists Delfio Plantemoli and Guido Sodo.
1989 : vocalist in the fusion band led by British altoist Geoff Warren, followed by a stint with the minimalist music group Der Bach of composer Marco Lucchi where she started experimenting with improvisation using vocal effects and a wide upper range.
1990 : backing singer on the debut CD of rock guitarist Ricky Portera and worked as a vocalist for producer Dino Melotti in the projects of pop artists such as Marco Masini, Leo Pancaldi and others.
presented at the Two Worlds Festival in Spoleto.
1992 : she took part in the project "Mirrors" by Kenny Wheeler and Tiziana Simona with lyrics drawn from Lewis Carroll's novels and poems by the great Irish poet and dramatist William Butler Yeats with original music by Kenny Wheeler. In the same year she founded the Italian-Danish all-female group, Jazzønde (Cristina Mazza, Cinzia Gizzi, Helle Marstrand, Benita Hastrup) with which she toured Italy with the support of the Danish government.
She performed with Bologna Jazz Orchestra OFP directed by George Russell and in Trento with the Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Henry Threadgill featuring Enrico Rava. She began collaborating with jazz saxophonist Cristina Mazza on a repertoire inspired by free jazz which resulted in the CD "Lanxsatura" and invitations to various festivals including Jazzitalia at Teatro Romano in Verona in 1995.
1996 : live collaboration with trumpet player Paolo Fresu on Iberica project, commissioned by the Nonantola (Mo) City Council, which was presented at Cassero Jazz and later released on CD with the title "Iberian Roots and Vagabond Music". She was a member of the traditional folk music group Viulàn in 1996-97, performing at Folkfest, backing Jethro Tull, at The Sounds of the Dolomites and at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. Again in 1996-98 she performed in a duo with harpist Cristina Blarzino performing a selection of Celtic arias in Scottish Gaelic. She sang Celtic music with the Benbecula Celtic Connections and Fool's Abbey (created by the founder of Modena City Ramblers Luciano Gaetani). Since 1990 she has been deeply involved in gospel music. She founded the Afro-American Choral Lab with a large group of her own students, that later became known as the band "Upper and Higher." This band worked with the Italian rock group Nomadi both in studio and live from 1999 to 2003. She sang soprano for the Sounds Virtual Tour Sampletank2 for IK Multimedia.
From 2003 to 2006 she was Italian star Rita Pavone's backing vocalist.
2004 : she released her third CD "Guccini in Jazz" receiving rave reviews from Musica Jazz (I) and Jazz Hot (Fr). In 2005 with C. Mazza she participated for the first time in Woma Jazz Festival in Modena with the Free Nightingales project, a project of original compositions and avant-guarde.
2007: she joined vocal group The Gospel Spirits led by pianist Ivano Borgazzi, holding concerts throughout Italy.
2010 : she represented Woma Jazz, together with Mazza and Claudia Natili, in Luxembourg at "Les Printemps des Poètes", a Festival of Poetry dedicated to the female gender "Couleur Femme".
2012 : she performs at the I° Memorial Tribute for Sergio Catellani - Teatro di Bagnolo (Re) with Sandro Comini, Tullio de Piscopo, John Serry ecc.ecc organized by FlowerTerry prod.
2013 : she performs at Zola Jazz & Wine Festival - Zola Predosa (Bologna) "The Jazz Baroness"
2013 : ARTS&JAM Jazz Festival - La Tenda (Mo) "A VISION" cd launch - Lorena Fontana Qt.
Lorena Fontana has been listed in SIAE (Italian Copyright Society) since 1984. She was amongst the winners of the radio RAI-3 competition Orione in 1989 with her own instrumental piece for voices Hit-Hot. In 2003 she composed the song Mother's Milk Lullaby for the Breast-feeding Campaign of the Health Institute in Rome, whose spokesperson was the Italian actress Amanda Sandrelli. She wrote the ballad "Fallen Angel" performed by Nomadi and included in the following CDs: "The Love you may take, the love you may give" and "Nomadi 40". In 2007 she wrote the song that represented France, "Io gioco" for the 50th Zecchino D'Oro of Antoniano in Bologna. In 2009 she was selected to participate in the International Competition "Invitation to composers," and her composition "The Link" was chosen to be performed by the London Schubert Players from London. Again in 2010 she took part in the Song Festival for Children "Another Star" in Fontanarosa (I) with the song "Il Geko", which placed third.


text:
class Admin::UsersController < Noodall::Admin::BaseController
  include SortableTable::App::Controllers::ApplicationController
  include Canable::Enforcers
  sortable_attributes :name, :email, :role
  before_filter :enforce_admin_permission, :except => :index

  # GET /users
  # GET /users.xml
  def index
    @users = User.paginate :page => params[:page], :per_page => 20, :order => sort_order(:default => 'asc')

    respond_to do |format|
      format.html # index.html.erb
      format.xml  { render :xml => @users }
    end
  end

  # GET /users/new
  # GET /users/new.xml
  def new
    @user = User.new
    render :action => 'show'
  end

  # GET /users/1/edit
  def show
    @user = User.find(params[:id])
  end

  # POST /users
  # POST /users.xml
  def create
    @user = User.new(params[:user])
    respond_to do |format|
      if @user.save
        flash[:notice] = 'User was successfully created.'
        format.html { redirect_to(admin_users_url) }
        format.xml  { render :xml => @user, :status => :created, :location => @user }
      else
        format.html { render :action => "show" }
        format.xml  { render :xml => @user.errors, :status => :unprocessable_entity }
      end
    end
  end

  # PUT /users/1
  # PUT /users/1.xml
  def update
    @user = User.find(params[:id])

    # Remove password params if blank so devise does not validate them
    if params[:user][:password].blank?
      params[:user].delete(:password)
      params[:user].delete(:password_confirmation)
    end

    respond_to do |format|
      if @user.update_attributes(params[:user])
        flash[:notice] = 'User was successfully updated.'
        format.html { redirect_to(admin_users_url) }
        format.xml  { head :ok }
      else
        format.html { render :action => "show" }
        format.xml  { render :xml => @user.errors, :status => :unprocessable_entity }
      end
    end
  end

  # DELETE /users/1
  # DELETE /users/1.xml
  def destroy
    @user = User.find(params[:id])

    @user.destroy
    flash[:notice] = 'User was successfully deleted.'

    respond_to do |format|
      format.html { redirect_to(admin_users_url) }
      format.xml  { head :ok }
    end
  end

  # Uses tag cloud to render all groups
  def groups
    render :json => User.tag_cloud
  end

  private

  def enforce_admin_permission
    raise Canable::Transgression unless current_user.admin?
  end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


They say that living without a dream is not living at all because you lack the purpose for which you try your best each day of your life. And for this dream you are willing to do what you must, overcome challenges and hurdles, and liberate what needs to be set free just to get where you want to be. No amount of hardship or difficulty is enough to stop us in reaching for something that we really, really want to achieve, not even a disability.
This is exactly what Shayla Winn, a teenager who is known as Shayy to her family and friends, showed the judges of the popular talent competition American Idol last Wednesday as she belted out Andra Day's hit song "Rise Up" for her audition. Her voice was so jaw-dropping that Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie could not help but be amazed by her!
After suffering from hydrocephalus and finding out that she had a brain tumor, Shayy told the judges that she became practically blind about a year ago. Her condition may have challenged her but she remained steadfast in reaching for her dream of becoming an artist and sharing her beautiful voice with the world. When asked what she would perform, she said she would be singing "Rise Up".
The moment she started singing the song, the judges were taken aback by her undeniable talent and amazing vocals. Shayy was singing really well and her emotions were definitely felt in her every word.
Her sweet and emotional voice filled the room and sent goosebumps to the judges. Lionel Richie was so touched that he had to wipe tears from his eyes! He really connected to Shayy's performance and he was moved by her voice.
After the beautiful rendition by Shayy, the judges clapped their hands in admiration and even gave her a standing ovation! Luke Bryan said that Lionel looked like he was walking a daughter down the aisle.
Shayy's beautiful song was definitely a moment that the judges were really happy about. Her talent is evident and her emotions are all in place as she sang, making her performance a heartwarming version that surely touches the soul.
And as expected, the judges made a unanimous decision to let her through to the Hollywood round.
Shayy's will to never stop chasing your dreams is something that everyone can be inspired by.


text:
IRT Group in the Running for Top Retirement Living Award
Parkside at IRT Pioneer Place in Wollongong is a finalist in the prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW Awards for Excellence in Retirement Living 2019.
Designed to make retirement an opportunity to live life to the full, Parkside is a vibrant over 55s retirement community located in the heart of the Wollongong CBD. The architect-designed apartments offer comfortable, relaxed living with the best of city life right on the doorstep.
IRT Group is among four finalists in the running to be named the best retirement living development in NSW. The award recognises retirement communities that provide particular attention to the needs of active retirees over 55.
IRT Executive General Manager – Retirement Villages, Stig Andersen says that Parkside was designed to promote connected city living for seniors.
"We wanted to ensure the design of Parkside helps combat social isolation, which is often a challenge for seniors, by making sure residents feel connected with Wollongong City.
"It's within easy walking distance to Wollongong's major shopping centres, supermarkets, cinemas, alfresco restaurants and the café precinct; with Wollongong Harbour, WIN Entertainment Centre and the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre also nearby.
"Utopia Coffee House, the on-site café, is open to the public to encourage residents' day-to-day contact with the broader community."
Communal barbecues, a resident lounge and common garden areas are all intended to enable residents to socialise with one another or host visiting friends and family.
A concierge further helps to create a community atmosphere, working with residents on an events calendar. Happy hour, public holiday get-togethers, Tai Chi, movies, card games and bus trips are all on the agenda.
"Parkside is the new face of retirement living in Wollongong and we are proud of the great lifestyle opportunities it offers to over 55s in our community," Mr Andersen said.
The winner of the UDIA NSW Award for Excellence in Retirement Living will be announced on 2 August 2019 at The Star in Pyrmont.
Media enquiries: Hannah Ellson 0429361627
General enquiries: 134 478
IRT celebrates 30 years of home care service
IRT is celebrating 30 years of providing home care this month.That's approximately 5 million hours spent providing care and services to our customers to enable…
IRT reflects on the ups and downs of another tough year
IRT held its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, marking the end another tough year. IRT CEO Patrick Reid said the ongoing pressures of managing the…


Doesn't really matter. Kids are living it.
According to Common Core curriculum guidelines, 50% of classroom reading in elementary and middle school must be nonfiction. So it's no surprise the market for middle grade nonfiction is stronger than ever. Not surprisingly, nonfiction for young readers has exploded in the last five years, especially in the market of "browsable" nonfiction.
Browsable nonfiction allows young readers to explore topics of interest in a fun way, without the stress of longer chapter books. With short chapters and small bites of information such as lists or "fun facts," browsable fiction is the perfect learning tool for even the most reluctant reader. It is also ideal for the busy, on-the-go child. Rather than investing the time and concentration to read a full on chapter book, the browsable book is a good choice for the drive between band rehearsal and soccer practice.
HOW THEY CROAKED is a middle grade browsable book filled with facts and stories about how nineteen famous people in history died. Also check out the companion book, HOW THEY CHOKED about the mistakes and failures of many notable figures in history.
BUGGED: HOW INSECTS CHANGED HISTORY is a browsable book that takes a kid-friendly hook, in this case, bugs, and uses it as a springboard for a broader lesson in history.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS: WEIRD BUT TRUE is an entertaining and wacky easy-to-browse, casual reference book. Based on the hugely popular magazine page of quirky, fun facts that many readers of National Geographic Kids magazine love.
It's no wonder the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS is the world's best-selling annual. First published in 1955, the 2016 edition is packed with thousands of amazing new records and trivia, colorful images and photography.
Do you have a favorite browsable nonfiction book? We'd love to hear about it! Share your suggestions in the comments below.
Thank you for these suggestions, I've been having a difficult time locating nonfiction books that my kiddo finds interesting. I think How They Croaked will fit the bill very well.
You're welcome, Brenda! I hope your kiddo enjoys it!


Dubrovnik Boats team is a specialist in offering a suitable boat for any type of charter, excursion, or transfer by sea.
We will cater for all your needs on land as well (excursions, transfers, car rental....).
Dubrovnik Boats mostly offers its services to individual clients, but we also organize transfer and excursions for groups.
All our excursions by speedboats, sailing boats, yachts, or cars are private and tailor-made.
If you choose Dubrovnik for one of the most important day in your life, Dubrovnik Boats team will do their best to make your wedding ceremony and party unforgettable.
If you are looking for accommodation please contact directly apartment owners from our site.
Dubrovnik Boats team is free to contact for all your needs.
Our offer of sailing boats, motor vessels, yachts, and speedboats will surprise you with its diversity, providing you with the possibility of choosing the model that will guarantee your greatest pleasure.
We are also offering smaller boat rentals for shorter periods. Even at times when the beaches are bustling with crowds, we will find a peaceful and perfect spot for you alone.
You can rent a boat with or without a skipper, discover the Croatian islands and solitary bays on your own or just leave it to one of our experienced skippers, who will show you the best spots around. We will get to you shortly with our offer – all we ask from you is to tell us your wishes, the number of people, and the type of boat or yacht you prefer.
Best choice for "uper level" excursions and services on daily bases.
Use one of our speedboats in order to reach your destination fast and without traffic jam, exploring the archipelago at leisure.
We do transfers to Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, Ston, Mljet, Korčula, Lastovo, Hvar, Brač, Vis, and Split.
Our most popular transfer is from Dubrovnik to Hvar or vice versa, with a stop on the island of Korčula.


In what ways is God our Father?
Glory = value on display. Where is God's value on display? What are our reasons for not recognizing his value?
What does the following story show us about the heart of the Father for those who recognize His value?


text:
Q: How do we force compiler not to have structure padding? Please explain How do we force compilers not to have structure padding?Please explain.

A: The post What is a "packed" structure in C? addresses how to avoid padding when using gcc.
struct foo __attribute__((__packed__))
{
   ...
};

The method is same for clang. See How to declare packed struct (without padding) for LLVM?.
The post at Locally disable padding addresses how to avoid padding when using MS Visual Studio.
#pragma pack(push, 1)
struct foo
{
   ...
};
#pragma pack(pop)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Business Survival: Culture Is Key
But no one could have anticipated how rocky the road would actually be. When the dust settled, the ad market got decimated, terrorist attacks shook the markets, the economy continued to nosedive, then Enron, Arthur Andersen and now Worldcom further rattled investor confidence. Given Vivendi Universal's high debt load, it stood out in investor's eyes and Messier took the fall, resigning in July 2002.
it's the culture
In hindsight, Messier pushed his luck. It was one thing for him to establish residency in New York City, after all, the city is located midway between LA and Paris. But it was quite another for the proud French board members on the Vivendi side to see their power get diluted.
Just as Messier was ruffling some feathers, many on the North American side also had issues with losing so much power to the French. Apparently, one of the elder members of the Bronfman clan — the influential clan that founded Seagram — sought to wrest back some power to this side of the Atlantic.
It is indeed ironic that years after permeating the "bigger is better, we need size" mantra, companies are now asking themselves whether bigger is indeed better. Questions are being asked at AOL Time Warner regarding the rationale of having such a huge empire trying to move at a fast speed. The fact that they failed to deliver on the numbers did not help the warring factions at AOL and Time Warner. Today, most of the top lieutenants hail from Time Warner.
Vivendi Universal is no different; it grew too fast, became too unbearable, and even if it did manage to deliver on its promise, the turf battles between the French and North Americans would have never subsided.
Vivendi Universal and AOL Time Warner are beautiful gems, they have tremendous traction in the marketplace but they will both experience more change. Vivendi Universal, especially, will likely come out of this a leaner machine after having to shed some assets in order to make up for its massive debt. This presents an opportunity for the firm's entertainment holdings to shine as it loses the extra weight.
Business side notwithstanding, in the end, the lesson comes down to understanding the culture you inhabit. People are ethnocentric by nature: No matter how much the world becomes a global market, we still seek to promote and protect our neck of the woods.
When the time comes for you to make such decisions, study the bottom line but remember that it is the people that make those numbers possible. Size and scale are necessary in business for survival, but it can also harm you. After all, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Ash Karbasfrooshan is also the author of Course To Success, available at www.CourseToSuccess.com.


As a level 7 leadership and mentoring coach, Rakesh coaches many people from all walks of life in helping them fulfill their potential professionally and personally.
Registered with the British Combat Association, Rakesh provides group and personal based practical and sensible self-defence sessions and courses called Kata Combat.
Rakesh uniquely blends training techniques & principles from martial arts & boxing to form the hugely popular fitness training class called Y-Box!
A qualified level 3 Personal Trainer, Rakesh combines his gym, martial arts & development coaching skills to provide holistic personal training to help others achieve their physical goals.
Ranked 6th Dan black belt, Rakesh is co-chief instructor and founder at the Kamaete Schools of Traditional Shotokan Karate (KSTSK).
Development coaching for business and sports club/group on a one to one basis.
Personal & Sports development, leadership and business coaching.
This was my written element I submitted for my 5th Dan grading under Iain Abernethy 7th Dan.
Article on some simple bunkai drills.
Article on some simple bunkai drills to progress those covered in part 1.
Article on a dual theme based approach for karate kata - combat and competence.
Article on the evolution of Jion being expressed in the kata Jiin.
FREE sequence from the eBook on the practical applications of the kata Bassai Dai/Passai.


text:
package com.b2international.snowowl.datastore.events;

import com.b2international.snowowl.core.branch.Branch;
import com.b2international.snowowl.core.branch.BranchManager;
import com.b2international.snowowl.core.domain.RepositoryContext;
import com.b2international.snowowl.core.exceptions.NotFoundException;

/**
 * @since 4.1
 */
public final class ReopenBranchRequest extends BranchRequest<Branch> {

	public ReopenBranchRequest(final String path) {
		super(path);
	}

	@Override
	public Branch execute(RepositoryContext context) {
		try {
			final Branch branch = context.service(BranchManager.class).getBranch(getBranchPath());
			return branch.reopen();
		} catch (NotFoundException e) {
			// if parent not found, convert it to BadRequestException
			throw e.toBadRequestException();
		}
	}

}


text:
Cecile McLorin Salvant - For one to love
'For One to Love' includes five original songs as well as Burt Bacharach's 'Wives and Lovers,' and continues to showcase her deep appreciation of the great Bessie Smith with a take on 'What's The Matter Now.'
She also sings in French on a song by French singer Barbara from 1965 called 'Le Mal de Vivre'. McLorin Salvant is superbly supported in her vision by a world-class group of musicians who share her values and play a key role in shaping each performance into an artistic statement.
There are no studio tricks or subterfuge here. For One To Love is truly the creation of a singular and unique creative. We present to you with Cecile, the second record in her young and amazing career.
Brand Mack Avenue Records


Choose the affordable, reliable GP7500E (electric start) for recreational applications, job sites and emergency backup power.
Power the fun stuff or cover an emergency with a GP Series portable generator. Affordable reliability and features not usually found on basic portable models make these a favorite for home use, camping, job sites or outdoor events.
Because of Generac's focus on power generation, we know how to design an engine that can stand up to the long hours of continuous use generators can be required to run. Cast iron cylinders add longevity, not found on every portable generator engine.
A portable generator needs to be ready for use at all times. Generac added maintenance reminders on the hour meter, so scheduled maintenance is easy to track, and the convenient fuel gauge provides at-a-glance fuel monitoring. Many portable models have controls located in inconvenient locations and are difficult to access quickly, especially in the dark. We gave control placement careful consideration, with comprehensive control sets conveniently located for easy access.
The hardened steel frame gives our portable generator cradles added strength and are a premium 1¼" thick, a full ¼" thicker in diameter than competitors' models. The addition of integrated brackets and impact resistant corners on most models gives contractors rugged options ideal for job site use.


Preserving history, connecting families and improving the local community are three core practices of the Latter-day Saint life. Wednesday's opening of the Museum of the American Revolution (MoAR) is a combination of each.
MoAR, located just a few minutes away from the Church's new temple in downtown Philadelphia, tells the complete story of the American revolutionary era that dates from 1760 to 1783, when the 13 American colonies broke away from the British Empire and formed the United States of America.
The museum was made possible in part by a donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


text:
Roncus julianus est une espèce de pseudoscorpions de la famille des Neobisiidae.

Distribution
Cette espèce se rencontre en Italie et en Autriche.

Publication originale
 Caporiacco, 1949 : Aracnidi delle Venezia Giulia. Atti del Museo Civico di Storia Naturel di Trieste, , .

Liens externes

Notes et références

Neobisiidae
Espèce de pseudoscorpions (nom scientifique)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
By Annie Dillard
Read by Tavia Gilbert
Annie Dillard Blackstone Publishing
4 Formats: Digital Download
4 Formats: Digital Rental
4 Formats: CD
4 Formats: MP3 CD
$12.99 With Membership: Learn More
In Stock ● Ships in 1-2 days
A memoir about parents, the world of science, and consciousness A book that instantly captured the hearts of readers across the country, An American Childhood is Pulitzer Prize–winning author Annie Dillard's poignant, vivid memoir of growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. "Dillard's luminous prose painlessly captures the pain of growing up in this wonderful evocation of childhood. Her memoir is partly a hymn to Pittsburgh, where orange streetcars ran on Penn Avenue in 1953 when she was eight, and where the Pirates were always in the cellar. Dillard's mother, an unstoppable force, had energies too vast for the bridge games and household chores that stymied her. Her father made low-budget horror movies, loved Dixieland jazz, told endless jokes and sight-gags, and took lonesome river trips down to New Orleans to get away. From this slightly odd couple, Dillard acquired her love of nature and taut sensitivity."—Publishers Weekly
A memoir about parents, the world of science, and consciousness
A book that instantly captured the hearts of readers across the country, An American Childhood is Pulitzer Prize–winning author Annie Dillard's poignant, vivid memoir of growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1950s.
"Dillard's luminous prose painlessly captures the pain of growing up in this wonderful evocation of childhood. Her memoir is partly a hymn to Pittsburgh, where orange streetcars ran on Penn Avenue in 1953 when she was eight, and where the Pirates were always in the cellar. Dillard's mother, an unstoppable force, had energies too vast for the bridge games and household chores that stymied her. Her father made low-budget horror movies, loved Dixieland jazz, told endless jokes and sight-gags, and took lonesome river trips down to New Orleans to get away. From this slightly odd couple, Dillard acquired her love of nature and taut sensitivity."—Publishers Weekly
"With…An American Childhood…Dillard helped usher in the age of memoirs…[and] defined a literary genre." —Washington Post
"An exceptionally interesting account…A remarkable work." —New York Times
"A vivid and thoughtful evocation of particular personal experiences that have an exuberantly timeless appeal." —Chicago Sun-Times
"The reader who can't find something to whoop about in this book is not alive. An American Childhood is perhaps the best American autobiography since Russell Baker's Growing Up." —Philadelphia Inquirer
"Loving and lyrical, nostalgic without being wistful, this is a book about the capacity for joy." —Los Angeles Times
"By turns wry, provocative, and sometimes breathtaking…This is a work marked by exquisite insight." —Boston Globe
"An American Childhood is a charming and delightful reminiscence that helps cement Annie Dillard's reputation as one of our major writers." —San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle
"With the publication of An American Childhood in 1987, poet, essayist, naturalist, novelist, and critic Annie Dillard helped usher in the age of memoirs. Following by only a few years the groundbreaking memoirs of Russell Baker and Eudora Welty, Childhood, like these predecessors, defined a literary genre…With good reason, An American Childhood was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as a bestseller. It's easy reading—happy reading, even—and, at least for me, it's lively and whimsical, but serious enough so that it doesn't creep over into the saccharine." —Washington Post
"Dillard's luminous prose painlessly captures the pain of growing up in this wonderful evocation of childhood…The events of childhood often loom larger than life; the magic of Dillard's writing is that she sets down typical childhood happenings with their original immediacy and force." —Publishers Weekly
"An American Childhood does all this so consummately with Annie Dillard's '50s childhood in Pittsburgh that it more than takes the reader's breath away. It consumes you as you consume it, so that, when you have put down this book, you're a different person, one who has virtually experienced another childhood." —Chicago Tribune
"Every paragraph Dillard writes is full of information, presenting the mundane with inventive freshness and offering exotic surprises as dessert…[Annie Dillard] is one of nature's prize wonders herself—an example of sentient homo sapiens pushing the limits of the creative imagination. She deserves our close attention." —St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"An American Childhood shimmers with the same rich detail, the same keen and often wry observations as her first book [Pilgrim at Tinker Creek]." —Charlotte Observer
"[An American Childhood] combines the child's sense of wonder with the adult's intelligence and is written in some of the finest prose that exists in contemporary America. It is a special sort of memoir that is entirely successful…This new book is [Annie Dillard's] best, a joyous ode to her own happy childhood." —Newark Star-Ledger
"Tavia Gilbert delivers the poetic words with all the meaning and emotion that Dillard invested in them. It would be easy for a narrator to lull the listener to sleep with the microscopic details of the memoir, but Gilbert's portrayal of a quiet yet vital life captures the listener's attention. Listeners will hear Dillard's respect for life, nature, and family clearly in Gilbert's careful delivery." —AudioFile
Author Bio: Annie Dillard
Annie Dillard is the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and numerous other works of nonfiction, including An American Childhood and For the Time Being. Her novels include The Living and, most recently, The Maytrees.
Author Bio: Janet Stevens
Format: Digital Download Format: Digital Rental Format: CD Format: MP3 CD
Available Formats : Digital Download, Digital Rental, CD, MP3 CD
Category: Nonfiction/Biography & Autobiography
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Publisher: Blackstone Publishing Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Tracks: 42 Tracks: 42 CDs: 7 CDs: 1
ISBN: 9781470800536 ISBN: 9781482133424 ISBN: 9781441773913 ISBN: 9781441773920


text:
Události
 Bitva u Vouillé

Úmrtí
 Alarich II.
 Burecu

Vědy a umění
 V Bamjánu postavena menší ze dvou soch stojícího Buddhy.

Hlavy států
 Papež – Symmachus (498–514)
 Byzantská říše – Anastasius I. (491–518)
 Franská říše – Chlodvík I. (481–511)
 Perská říše – Kavád I. (488–496 a 499–531)
 Ostrogóti – Theodorich Veliký (474–526)
 Vizigóti – Alarich II. (484–507) » Gesalich (507–511)
 Vandalové – Thrasamund (496–523)

Externí odkazy

6. století


Promotional products are ideal for creating awareness.
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Promotional consultants go beyond just selling products.
A professional and experienced promotional consultant will help answer your questions—even those you might not think of or didn't know you needed to ask. He or she will be able to help you design a program to get results and save you time and money in the process.
These award-winning campaigns demonstrate real work strategies and results, and show the impact you can achieve when promotional products are used alone or integrated with other media.


text:
Arts & Entertainment Movies
Presto! The fun disappears from 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' ★ 1/2
Steve Carell. Steve Buscemi. Jim Carrey. Alan Arkin. James Gandolfini. Olivia Wilde.
Good start, right? But the more you like the performers featured in "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone," the harder it is to sit back, relax and enjoy. The comedy about Las Vegas illusionists on the rocks is thin, weak and sour. The typical gags involve burnt flesh and the sight of someone pretending to crush a puppy to death. It's not a comedy; it's a wince-edy.
No magic here.
"The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" serves as a reminder that everything in a film has a chance to go wrong before a film begins filming. In other words: It's the script, stupid. This sort of comic vehicle isn't designed to improve the world or change the way Hollywood does business; it's simply meant to hand you a few laughs and throw in a little heart by way of its pompous, dislikable main character's redemption. And yet with so many jokes based on pain and humiliation, without the requisite cleverness or nerve, the result is blah.
Since childhood, Burt Wonderstone and Anton Marvelton have been partners in magic, fellow outcasts in a world they yearn to dazzle with feats of illusion taught to them by their hero, Rance Holloway (who once appeared on "The Merv Griffin Show," we learn from watching one of his '80s-era promos). They boys grow up and become a hot attraction in Las Vegas — Siegfried and Roy without the tetchy felines.
A decade later, the act's grown stale, and Burt, a blase Lothario played by Carell, has become a terrible person. Buscemi's Anton isn't so much a character as an embodiment of hurt feelings. They can't stand each other. And there's a dangerous new kid in town, a "Jackass"-y guerrilla performer (Jim Carrey, doing pretty much what Tom Cruise did in "Rock of Ages" — self-serious preening, with weirdly off-kilter timing) who gives the bloodthirsty public what it wants: violence, drills to the skull, that kind of thing.
The key to this kind of intended smart-stupid comedy, I think, is elusive. The best of Will Ferrell's smart-stupid comedies to date ("Anchorman," "Blades of Glory") skipped along while pulling a straight face in their treatment of adolescent narcissists on parade. Both films leaned on strong ensembles, keeping different sorts of funny people busy and wittily deployed, complementing Ferrell's knack for clueless, brainless, egotistical confidence.
Carell is different, and drier, but a wonderfully skillful actor. You can barely tell in "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone." It's interesting seeing Carell play a full-on louse (though, of course, a sweetheart underneath), but director Don Scardino seems to have misplaced everything he learned directing all those "30 Rock" episodes. Where's the fleet-footed throwaway material? The movie settles for slow and crude, and that combination works like an anti-charm with any sort of comedy. Nothing ignites or even intersects here. Carrey's in his own movie, doing stand-alone stunts that never work up a head of steam. Gandolfini underplays shrewdly as a venal casino owner; Wilde, as Burt and Anton's assistant with skills of her own, redeems what she can, where she can.
Then Alan Arkin shows up, and as I say every day of my film critic life: Thank God for Alan Arkin. Plying his trade in a retirement home, the fallen Burt finally meets his lifelong magician hero in his avuncular dotage. Arkin's Holloway mentors Burt back to life, reconnecting him to what drew him to magic in the first place. The actor can't save the movie. But he can save his scenes.
And with this script, written by the "Horrible Bosses" team of Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, that really is magic.
mjphillips@tribune.com
'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' -- 1 1/2 stars
MPAA rating: PG-13 (for sexual content, dangerous stunts, a drug-related incident and language)
Opens: Friday
After Twitter outcry, 5 women detail Chris D'Elia's alleged sexual improprieties
'The Chi' recap: Season 3 returns, minus Jason Mitchell
National Geographic series explores 2 historic Lake Michigan shipwrecks on new Chicago-set episode


text:
Q: Android Navigation Double Drawer with ActionBarDrawerToggle I have implemented a double drawer layout. I have also set up an ActionBarDrawerToggle.
My problem is when I click on the home button, my left drawer opens and the animation is played. My right drawer when opened also shows the drawer opening animation. This causes strange sync issues with the Home Icon even when using mDrawerToggle.syncState();
What I am trying to do is intercept the home button click event that opens the left drawer so I can test which drawer is open, then close that one appropriately. Is there a way to set a click listener on the home icon? (The icon used with Android 5.0, and when mActionBar.setHomeButtonEnabled(true); mActionBar.setDisplayHomeAsUpEnabled(true); are used)
I have tried checking onOptionsItemSelected for the "android.R.id.home" item, but it is never called when i click home to open the left drawer.

A: Since ActionBarDrawerToggle just manages the home drawable the only reason you don't get the onOptionItemSelected callback is that you're inside a fragment.
onOptionItemSelected with android.R.id.home is only delivered inside an activity. This is because Action Bar is activity-scoped (at most one Action Bar per activity).
Override onOptionItemSelected inside the activity instead.
@Override
public boolean onOptionsItemSelected(MenuItem item) {
  int id = item.getItemId();
  switch (id) {
    case android.R.id.home:
      // Do something.
      return true;
  }
  return super.onOptionsItemSelected(item);
}


Westermann, Gert and Mareschal, Denis (2012) Mechanisms of developmental change in infant categorization. Cognitive Development , ISSN 0885-2014.
Computational models are tools for testing mechanistic theories of learning and development. Formal models allow us to instantiate theories of cognitive development in computer simulations. Model behavior can then be compared to real performance. Connectionist models, loosely based on neural information processing, have been successful in capturing a range of developmental phenomena, in particular on-line within-task category learning by young infants. Here we describe two new models. One demonstrates how age dependent changes in neural receptive field sizes can explain observed changes in on-line category learning between 3 and 10 months of age. The other aims to reconcile two conflicting views of infant categorization by focusing on the different task requirements of preferential looking and manual exploration studies. A dual-memory hypothesis posits that within-task category learning that drives looking time behaviors is based on a fast-learning memory system, whereas categorization based on background experience and assessed by paradigms requiring complex motor behavior relies on a second, slow-learning system. The models demonstrate how emphasizing the mechanistic causes of behaviors leads to discovery of deeper, more explanatory accounts of learning and development.


Working in an agile manner with start-up Day2, the team responded quickly to research that showed the audience was reacting in a positive way to posts that included real people. Adopting the strategy of an instagram influencer, I was responsible for the visual look and feel the client wanted to convey in a series of social posts. I conceptualised, shot and edited a few short form assets for the brand to continue testing on facebook during soft launch phase.


text:
"""
Annotate module
"""
from __future__ import unicode_literals
from __future__ import absolute_import

__author__ = "Clare Corthell"
__copyright__ = "Copyright 2015, summer.ai"
__date__ = "2015-12-07"
__email__ = "clare@summer.ai"

from nltk import pos_tag, word_tokenize, pos_tag_sents
from .readability import Readability
import logging

log = logging.getLogger('serapis.annotate')

def batch_tag_sentences(message_dict):
    """
    Uses a more efficient way of tagging all sentences for a given
    message at once.

    """
    num_sentences = [len(page['sentences']) for page in message_dict['urls']]
    all_sentences = [word_tokenize(s['s_clean']) for page in message_dict['urls'] for s in page['sentences']]
    all_tags = pos_tag_sents(all_sentences)

    for page_index, slice_length in enumerate(num_sentences):
        slice_start = sum(num_sentences[:page_index])
        slice_end = slice_start + slice_length
        for sentence_index, tags in enumerate(all_tags[slice_start:slice_end]):
            pos_tags = ['/'.join(b) for b in tags]
            message_dict['urls'][page_index]['sentences'][sentence_index]['pos_tags'] = ' '.join(pos_tags)

def annotate_single_sentence(sentence):
    tags = pos_tag(word_tokenize(sentence))
    pos_tags = ['/'.join((b[0].lower(), b[1])) for b in tags]
    return " ".join(pos_tags)

def annotate_pos_with_term(sentence, term):
    """POS-tag single sentence while preserving _TERM_ using the original term"""
    try:
        pos_term = []

        # replace term if necessary
        if '_term_' not in sentence.lower():
            sentence_term = sentence.lower().replace(term.lower(), '_TERM_')
        else:
            sentence_term = sentence.lower()

        tok = word_tokenize(sentence_term)
        tags = pos_tag(tok)

        for tag in tags:
            if '_TERM_' in tag[0].upper():
                pos_term.append('_TERM_')
            else:
                pos_term.append(tag[1])

        return ' '.join(pos_term)
    except Exception, e:
        log.error('POS annotation error: %s', e)
        return None

def get_pos_term_context(sentence, ngrams=5):
    """
    Returns just POS tags while preserving _TERM_

    Returns substring context around _TERM_
    as defined by number of `ngrams` preceding and following _TERM_

    """
    s = sentence.split()
    try:
        loc = s.index("_TERM_")
    except Exception, e:
        return -1
        log.warning("_TERM_ not found in pos tags. %s", e)
    back = loc - ngrams + 1
    if back < 0:  # we don't want negative indicies
        back = 0
    forward = loc + ngrams - 1
    return ' '.join(s[back:forward])

def annotate_sentence(sentence_dict, term):
    """
    Annotates a sentence object from a message with Penn Treebank POS tags.

    Args:
        sentence_dict: dict -- Must contain 's' and 's_clean', which is the
                       sentence with all occurrences of the search term
                       replaced with '_TERM-'
    Returns:
        dict -- updated sentence_dict with 'pos_tags' field.

    """
    tags = pos_tag(word_tokenize(sentence_dict['s_clean']))
    pos_tags = ['/'.join(b) for b in tags]
    sentence_dict['pos_tags'] = " ".join(pos_tags)
    sentence_dict['features'] = {}
    return sentence_dict

def readability_score(url_object):
    """
    Calculates the Fleisch Reading Ease (https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesch_Reading_Ease)
    for a document and saves it as 'readability_score' into the url_object

    Args:
        url_object: dict
    """
    if not url_object.get('doc'):
        url_object['readability_score'] = None
        return
    scores = Readability(url_object['doc'])
    url_object['readability_score'] = scores.fleisch_reading_ease()


text:
Coronavirus 'circuit breaker' lockdown proposed for every half term as second wave solution
One week would not be long enough to have an impact, he said
Sophie Grubb
Some experts feel the new tiered lockdown system is not enough (Image: Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)
Two-week 'circuit breaker' lockdowns should be held every school holiday to tackle coronavirus, a scientist has suggested.
Professor Graham Medley, who sits on the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) committee, said it would make sense to shut down businesses and schools to coincide with half term breaks and the Christmas holidays.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme yesterday (Friday, October 16), he said this would help to reduce the amount of school time children would miss.
While most half-term breaks are only one week, he said this would not be enough to be effective in stopping the spread of the virus, as infected people can be contagious for longer.
He said: "It's a proposal, it's a way of reducing prevalence of having some control over the virus without having to go into severe restrictions before you have to.
"Potentially you could say if we do it at half term, we could do it again over the Christmas holidays.
"It [the timing] is advertised so businesses and people know it's going to happen, that potentially helps a lot."
So-called 'circuit breaker' lockdowns have been discussed in the past couple of weeks as an alternative to the much longer lockdown we experienced earlier this year.
The idea is that they would reduce the spread of the virus and contact between households, without having as much damage on the economy and mental health.
Prof Medley told the BBC: "People have said it's kicking the can down the road but all the time treatment is getting better and there's the prospect of a vaccine, and a low prevalence is better because it just helps everything in the system works better."
Disaster expert says UK government's tiered Covid alert systems have 'created confusion and been largely ignored'
What England's new rules mean for half-term holidays, work and dating
Yesterday (Friday) the Independent SAGE committee, a group of scientists investigating coronavirus independent of the government, put forward an emergency six-week plan in response to the spike in cases.
The proposal also agreed that a two-week circuit breaker could be a useful tool to reduce transmission.
They added: "However, the time bought by a circuit breaker and continuing restrictions must be used to prepare for how we can re-open the economy safely, learning the lessons from this summer and autumn."
Their plan also suggested that the circuit breaker should coincide with half term.
Despite the new tiered lockdown system brought in by the government, Independent SAGE said they "do not believe the system is sufficient to reverse the growth of the pandemic".
CoronavirusCoronavirus cases in Bath and Somerset pass 30,000 as 13 new deaths confirmed in regionAll areas of the region have now seen at least 100 deaths from the virus
Bath homeless worker aims to teach children about rough sleeping
BathHelen's four-year-old was her inspiration behind the book
'Small' number of military personnel helping at Royal United Hospital in Bath
BathThey are helping in light of high numbers of coronavirus patients


An extensive and fun guide to let your imagination on loose using Manga Studio 5.
Chapter 9: Adding a Third "D"
Michael Rhodes took apart grocery bags at the age of five to create pads of drawing paper. Decades later, he still hasn't stopped, although he has switched from grocery bags and crayons to charcoal, paint, pen, ink, and computer. He has taught web designing at Silicon Valley College and has conducted cartooning classes for elementary school children. He has illustrated Tales of The Living Room Warrior, an eight-part fable following the epic adventures of cats from the creation of the world to the domestication of humans.
He is also the creator of Thingies, a fantasy comic book series that details the adventures and perils that a reporter experiences while she uncovers secrets of her universe. His books and art work are carried by Fantastic Comics in Berkeley, Heroes and Villains Comics in Pleasanton, and Solo Comics in the Napa wine country. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Digital Design. His cartoons and artwork are displayed at www.crtoons.com and www.quatumgumbo.com.


Slow Food is the antithesis of fast food: whereas one is scarfed down on the go, the other is savored around a table of friends; while one is mass-produced using the cheapest suppliers, the other is prepared with care and a preference for high-quality, sustainable ingredients. According to its website, Slow Food seeks to "protect the heritage of food, tradition, and culture" that make the pleasure of good food possible. This principle is exemplified in the "Ark of Taste," an effort to preserve local culinary traditions that are in danger of being forgotten or regulated out of existence.
The Slow Food movement can trace its roots to the Italian Communist Party. It was there that the culinary movement's founder, Carlo Petrini, first became concerned about the loss of cultural cuisines while working as a food and wine journalist for communist newspapers in the late 1970s. This led him to form a group called ArciGola, a predecessor to Slow Food. By 1986, when McDonald's opened its first location in Italy next to the Spanish Steps in Rome, Petrini was ready to launch a movement. The "Slow Food Manifesto" was signed three years later by delegates from twenty countries, and today the organization boasts 83,000 members.
Indeed, the Slow Food movement constantly has to fend off criticisms of elitism. As Ouwerkerk states, "You need money in order to make these kind of decisions. If you have $5, and you can buy five hamburgers or one salad, you're going to buy the hamburgers. If you're a busy mom, you may not have the time or the luxury to buy organic ingredients and cook them." Much of her ambivalence about the movement stems from its lack of "a social justice component," which she sees as being necessary to make it relevant to students and to the greater Chicago community. As the coordinator of the University's Community Service Leadership Training Corps, Ouwerkerk is probably more concerned with social justice than the average UofC student, but it goes hand in hand with the subject of food when the discussion takes place on the South Side. Here, many neighborhoods are so-called "food deserts": the nearest grocery store can be miles away, making it difficult to access fresh fruits and vegetables, and local, organic produce is even harder to find and to afford.
Unfortunately for the Rothfields and their guests, the board members who came to the dinner were unable to address these issues or explain why they are "not just a group of wealthy people who get together to have dinner," according to attendee Emma Boast. "A lot of people had a lot of interesting questions about the elitism perceived to go along with Slow Food, but they evaded them–they didn't answer at all. It was a little disappointing." Ms. Rothfield had the same impression of two of the speakers, whom she felt "really missed an opportunity" due to their lack of preparation for the students' questioning. Still, many came away with a fairly good impression of Slow Food Chicago, its principles, and its initiatives, such as the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy. "I think a lot of people already knew what Slow Food is about, and students were able to overlook a lot of things," says Ms. Rothfield.
In the service of this long-term mission, Slow Food Chicago raises money: it charges $60 membership dues and hosts dinners with similar prices per person. It also sponsors less expensive awareness-raising events, such as tours of ethnic food markets and mushroom hunts. "It's easier for the average person to be involved than if we were to be cause-related," Pallotta says of Slow Food's status as a movement. "More people can become members and make contributions. They can vote with their money by coming to events, which we can then channel into broader improvements." Those might include greater support for local farmers or, as his food consulting company Tonic offers, "better food strategies" for food managers, distributors, and growers.


Graduate student visa holders in the U.S. can choose from a wider variety of technical degrees under an expansion of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) list of eligible training programs.
ICE said on May 12, two days after President Obama called for more flexible regulation of student visa and immigration, that it had expanded its list of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degree programs under its Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The expansion qualifies eligible graduates to extend their post-graduate training in the U.S., said ICE. The expansion includes neuroscience, medical Informatics, pharmaceutics and drug design, mathematics and computer science, according to ICE.
Under the OPT program, foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities are able to remain in the U.S. and receive training through work experience for up to 12 months, according to ICE. Students who graduate with one of the newly-expanded STEM degrees can remain for an additional 17 months on an OPT STEM extension, it said.
In his El Paso speech on May 10, Obama called for broad immigration reform, including allowing talented, motivated foreign students to more easily remain in the U.S. to continue their studies or settle into business, rather than forcing them to return to their home countries once their student visas expired. He said allowing such students to continue on in the U.S. working in science and technology jobs and fueling innovation in their chosen fields here in the United States, was a part of his vision of larger comprehensive immigration reform.
"By expanding the list of STEM degrees to include such fields as neuroscience, medical informatics, pharmaceutics and drug design, mathematics and computer science, the Obama administration is helping to address shortages in certain high tech sectors of talented scientists and technology experts-permitting highly skilled foreign graduates who wish to work in their field of study upon graduation and extend their post-graduate training in the United States," said an ICE statement on May 12.


An Owner/Officer/Partner of the Company must be the person to take the required 8-hour Business Course required by the Board.
Effective August 21, 2006, the Designated Employee or a member of Responsible Management of all contractors applying for initial licensure (for an entity that is not currently licensed) must successfully complete an eight hour business class approved by the Board for Contractors. This applies to Class-A, Class-B and Class-C Contractors.
Class C contractors must document 2 years of experience.
Class C contractors must have single contracts from $1,000 or more but less than $10,000 or contracts totaling less than $150,000 over a one-year period.
Application Fees are non-refundable. The Class C License fee is $ 235.00.
There are no bonding or insurance requirements for licensing in the state of Virginia, at this time.
There is currently no reciprocity for this classification between Virginia and any other state.
Virginia does not require Continuing Education for the Class C Contractor classification.
There is no exam required for the Class C license, however all classifications now require an examination.
American Contractors currently offers the required 8-hr Pre-Licensing course required by the Board for Contractors, both Live or Online.