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Fit 1x03: Civic
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Fit 1x03: Civic
In the glow of the pre-morning sky, I headed towards Celia's Taco Stand. It had been another restless night, which also meant that I had spent the latter part of the night in discomfort from hunger pains. Some breakfast would do me good.
I walked up to the counter. Celia had just finished opening up her stand. As usual, I was to be her first customer of the day.
"Good Morning, Celia." I mumbled my usual greeting.
"I'm not Celia, Mr. Mayor. I'm her daughter, Celia the Second."
I looked up and took a closer look at the woman behind the counter. Indeed, she looked quite similar to Celia, but there were some differences - her cheeks were more gaunt, the shape of her eyes somewhat off.
"Ah. I didn't know she had a daughter. How are you doing? Is Celia sick?"
"You could say that... she died yesterday. A severe imbalance of the humors, the doctor said."
"...Oh my. I am so sorry for your loss."
I could not help but feel sorry for Celia the Second, although I was unsure of what death really meant here. I still had not thought of a way to discover whether I was wandering around a video game or an alternate reality. But should it really matter if the sims are virtual or not? Death still robs others of those it takes.
Some other things nagged at the back of my mind. Celia was not very old, barely pushing 40. And she had died of an imbalance of the humors? Humorism had been discredited hundreds of years ago! Perhaps biology works differently here. Or perhaps the sims had somehow yet to progress in matters of science to understand germ theory and proper sanitation.
Or perhaps I might have neglected some things while building this city...
Back at my office, I checked my hunches.
Yes, it was indeed true. This village I had built had no medical services to speak of, to the point that the sims did not even register on the health data map!
And they were dumb as a doorknob as well! I did not earn a Bachelor's Degree just to let my sims lead unhealthy, uneducated lives. This could not stand!
Once again, the daily council meeting.
"...And so in conclusion, I state that the city must do more to diversify our commerce sector activity. Does New City truly need 10 different car dealerships? That is one for nearly every 200 citizens!"
"Thank you, Mr. Dunnerham," Neil said. "Now, is there any other business that needs to be brought before the council?"
I motioned for the floor. "Yes, I have a proposal I would like to share."
"Of course, Mayor Defacto. What will it be?" I had gotten somewhat used to having everyone look at me when I speak, but it still caused me some discomfort.
I cleared my throat and began to speak. "As it currently stands today, the citizens of our town live short, unfulfilling, and sickly lives, having no regular access to doctors, and no opportunity to advance from the economic position they were born into. It is my view that if this is to continue, this city will never rise to the greatness that it can achieve."
"It is with this in mind that I believe that this is the best time to open New City's very first schoolhouse and clinic. After some analysis of the city, I believe that the best place to place these buildings is at the northern end of the former site of Farhan's Local Strawberries. We can buy the lot and locate the buildings on the fields. The greenhouse can perhaps be converted into additional classrooms."
"I believe that this is an excellent plan, Mr. Mayor. If there are no more additions or changes to be made, we can put this plan up to vote."
The vote passed unanimously, as my suggestions always did.
By the next morning, the schoolhouse and clinic were open. In fact, I was not entirely sure that any construction had happened; it seemed they had simply appeared. But of course, this was what the game did. I began to write a note to myself to install the plugin allowing for civic construction, until I remembered that I did not have access to my plugins. This was becoming a bit of an annoying problem.
I also noted with satisfaction that some middle class homes had sprung up in response to the heightened desirability around these civic services. I spent a few minutes observing their construction, and then walked back to the village hall. As I walked in, the secretary sitting in the waiting area stood up.
"Ah, you're finally here Mr. Mayor. Your Finance Advisor wants to see you, and she seems quite agitated." The secretary had a slightly worried look on his face.
"Monique?" Oh dear. I don't remember her ever having anything good to say to me.
Sure enough, I found Monique in my office pacing around restlessly. When she saw me enter, she immediately began haranguing me.
"Mayor Defacto! What do you think you're doing spending all this money on services? Our budget just took a large hit, and if that keeps happening, we'll be bankrupt!"
"Yes, I understand that this is quite a bit more expenses per month, but we are still making near a thousand simoleans a month. In addition, I have adjusted the funding of these services to accommodate the growth that the council has forecasted we will have. We won't need to increase civic funding for a while."
"It would work a lot better if we didn't have to fund the school buses or ambulances." Monique said in a huff.
"That would cut into their effectiveness though."
"Plus," I added, "There was hardly a dent in our funds due to the construction and ongoing costs. We make enough money every month for it to be covered."
At this moment, the secretary came in accompanied by a woman with a bob cut. "Mr. Mayor, Bettina Dean has something urgent to report to you."
"Yes, what is it?" I did not quite recall meeting Bettina before, but she looked familiar.
"Mr. Mayor, there's been a strike. The hospital's been closed down." Ah, she was the Health and Educa...
"Wait, what?"
Under the hot noontime sun, we observed the protest.
"You need to go talk to them, Defacto." Neil Fairbanks said flatly.
I eyed the protesters with caution. They looked quite energized and indignant. I really did not want to deal with this. "But, I'm not so good at negotiations or confrontations. I've never had to manage highly emotional and conflicting feelings before."
"You do quite well at the council meetings. Wouldn't you agree this is a similar situation? I'm sure their demands will be reasonable. Open a dialogue with them."
"All right, I'll give it a try..."
I approached the protestors with some trepidation. "Excuse me, what is this all about?"
A man in a doctor's coat turned to me. "Mr. Mayor! We demand that our funding levels be increased. There is too much demand for our services, our equipment is old and outdated, and most importantly, we are overworked!"
"But you've only been on the job for a day."
"That is more than enough to ascertain that these conditions are deplorable. There are far too many sickly people in this town who need care, and yet our current funding levels only allow for two fully qualified professionals: me and Doctor Jurcevic. We need more funding now!"
I checked with my tablet on their efficiency levels. It was then that I realized that I had forgotten to set the funding to meet demand, and there were twice as many patients as they could handle. "Fine, very well," I said, "I will double your funding."
The doctor's seemed befuddled at the sudden acquiescence, but look gave way to a gratification. "Really? OK then. Let's get back to work everyone!"
I could almost feel the heat from Monique's fumings. "Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea, Mr. Mayor? You said we didn't need to raise funding for a while! This will be yet more expenses on our budget."
"I'm quite sure. Providing these services will help to attract more wealthy sims and better jobs into this city, further increasing our tax base."
"As you can see, the projected demand for higher paying jobs has already gone up, just from the placement of these civic buildings. To be sure, the demand is very slight, but I'm sure that as time passes, we will be able to build up a nice economic base from these beginnings."
"Besides," I added, "If we just let them continue striking, they'll probably move their activities over to city hall and cause disruptions there."
Seeing that my mind was completely made up, Monique gave up. "I hope you're right, Defacto. We'll be sunk otherwise."
Unfortunately, this day was not done yet. As we began to walk back to city hall, a cream-colored station wagon pulled up beside us. The driver rolled down the window to talk to us.
"Mr. Mayor? I'm from Foradect. The city council is having a meeting right now, and we need your input on some matters."
"Alright then. It's quite convenient that my advisors are here right now. Can you drive us there?"
"Of course."
I had missed my daily attempt at an afternoon nap. The car was not very comfortable, but all the same I began to feel the drowsiness that came whenever my sleep schedule was disturbed. In spite of the drowsiness, I still noticed that we'd passed the village hall. "Excuse me; I think you just missed the turn."
"We're going to the Foradect village hall."
Foradect has its own village hall? "What's wrong with the hall at White Tail?"
"White Tail's hall is too far from us. I'm sure you would agree that a council meeting should be held close to those who will be affected by the decisions it makes?"
He had a point. Still, I wished that we would get to the meeting quickly. Cars in this place seemed to move quite slowly. If I were sprinting, I could probably keep up with them.
Foradect's village hall was located just off of the road connecting the town to White Tail. As we got out of the vehicle, I noted that it was very similar in shape to White Tail's city hall. It was however set closer to the street, without any cottages at the front. We went into the meeting room, which only contained several people. A somewhat stout man sitting in the petitioning booth stood up.
"Greetings Mr. Mayor. My name is Jeff Lukesworth."
"It's nice to meet you Jeff, what's the meeting about?" I hoped the meeting would end soon. I was beginning to feel rather tired.
"Mayor Defacto, I have asked for this meeting because I had just discovered that New City has just built a schoolhouse for its children, but the colony has apparently decided to build it mostly for the service of White Tail, with little consideration for Foradect. Upon hearing this distressing inequality in service, I came over from supervising the construction of my pool to ask the council to take up the issue and avoid the shortchanging of the future of our village."
I tried to come up with a suitable response, but in my drowsy state my mind latched onto the wrong thing. "You have a pool?"
Jeff smiled. "Yes. If you want to use it, I live just down the road from this hall. You can't miss it; it's the largest house on the block."
I checked my tablet. It was indeed true. I'd already managed to attract high wealth sims into my city! Unfortunately, I also felt a bit intimidated. Would he pack up and skip town if this meeting went really poorly?
"It's rather late," I responded, "I think I'll pass for now. Please continue."
Jeff began again. "I chose to live in Foradect due to its quieter surroundings and great environs. However, it's come to my attention that White Tail has just gotten a new schoolhouse. But then this leaves Foradect a bit shafted, as the buses don't come all the way through this fine town of ours, and we don't have our own institution of education. Mr. Mayor, I am petitioning for Foradect to have its own schoolhouse to educate its children, so that they may keep up with their peers in the north."
"Don't take from this as an attempt to only increase my personal reputation, or to gain a benefit for myself only. I'm sure you realize that in fact my house is within the bussing limits of the current schoolhouse. I'm doing this for the people of Foradect. This institution will help to enhance the livelihood of our citizens and attract more talent here, which I'm sure is why the current schoolhouse was built."
"Your points are well made," I replied, trying to end the meeting quickly. "I guess I can build another schoo..." Monique cut me off.
"I'm very sorry Mr. Mayor, Mr. Lukesworth. The budget of this colony cannot sustain another school. Between the costs of transporting the children to school, the additional administrative costs, and so forth, we will be losing money as soon as this building is built."
"Well, that's a bit of a shame." Jeff replied. "But all the same, adding this school would help in the development of this colony."
At this point, Neil, who had been having a private conversation with Bettina, motioned for the floor. "Perhaps there can be an alternative solution?" Neil said. "Bettina, please explain your proposal."
"Well, libraries can also help in increasing the education of sims, not to the same extent as schools, but in the long run we will likely have the funds for them to complement each other. Thanks to lower staff and equipment requirements, they cost less than most educational buildings. There isn't a need for any sort of bussing, either." She gave a glance towards Monique, who after a moment gave a begrudging nod approving the idea.
Jeff gave the idea some thought. "...I suppose that will be acceptable, given the apparently dire financial straits of this colony. So, what shall it be Mr. Mayor?"
I was rather glad to see agreement come so quickly. "This proposal would work, I think. Let me see where we can put it..."
Using the education data overlay, I looked around the map for a suitable place for the library, one where the radii between it and the school overlapped least. My eyes caught a windbreak lining a farm at the southern end of town. "How about here?"
"Hm, this does seem like a decent spot. Perhaps a bit too far from the center of town, but then it'll be quiet there, a perfect place for reading. I can accept this proposal."
The council accepted the proposal, and the library was put up as the sun set. It indeed just popped up, or perhaps it was only my sleep deprived mind unable to fully comprehend my surroundings? At any rate, I could finally go home for a nap, maybe even sleep through the evening...
Click for large image.
After a nap, I woke up to find that night had fallen. Tired, but unable to fall back to sleep, I went out for a walk around town, observing the lights coming from the tenements that had come up after the school and hospital was built. Lost in thought, I began to wonder what the lives of the sims in this town was like. Were they happy? Was I being a good mayor to them? It seems that here, people always think that I do a good job, but perhaps I wasn't meeting those that didn't, or couldn't remember them. I was never quite good with names or faces.
It had been a long day. I went back to my home, showered, and went to bed. I slept fairly soundly.
Next: Awakens
I think I might have typed waayyy too much for this update, and the next few have even more pictures! Going to have to let the pictures do more of the talking...
hahei: Thanks for the compliment!
Schulmanator: They are indeed, but of course growth brings with it issues that need to be solved.


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|"Mikhail Fursov (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] Commented: (HARMONY-1531) [drlvm][jit] Internal testing framework for Jitrino.OPT compiler.
|Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:10:22 GMT
[ http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HARMONY-1531?page=comments#action_12439626 ] Mikhail Fursov commented on HARMONY-1531: ----------------------------------------- The only possible reason is that files from ''jitrino/src/test" folder are not built nor linked into jitrino dll correctly. I'm going to test the tests.patch file that jitrino.xml compiler's and linker's settings are correct. It takes a while, right now I'm unable to rebuild it (I'm writing from friend's PC). > [drlvm][jit] Internal testing framework for Jitrino.OPT compiler. > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > Key: HARMONY-1531 > URL: http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/HARMONY-1531 > Project: Harmony > Issue Type: New Feature > Components: DRLVM > Reporter: Mikhail Fursov > Assigned To: Geir Magnusson Jr > Attachments: compiler_tests_1.zip, ik_tests_1.zip > > > This JIRA contains the code and discussion of the internal testing framework for Jitrino.OPT compiler. -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. - If you think it was sent incorrectly contact one of the administrators: http://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/Administrators.jspa - For more information on JIRA, see: http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
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MOTHERS AND OTHERS will meet for a get-together brunch on Thursday, Sept. 1st at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please bring something to share.
We will start our new study, Refresh Your Heart, on Sept. 15th. We meet on the first, third and fifth Thursdays of the month from 9-11 a.m. If any women are interested in joining our group, please contact Jennifer Hays, 303-659- 5510.


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Grandmother Oak
Once upon a time in val d'Orcia, a beautiful valley of Southern Tuscany, there was an oak forest. Over the years they were all cut down, except one, called the Oak of the Magpies, for the birds nesting in her branches. She was also called Oak of the Witches because of the magic rituals performed under her crown. Now she is 370 years old. History passed by under her branches and she is still standing, a majestic matriarch attracting loving visitors from near and from afar. When I was inspired to dedicate the 2015 Aurora Nature & Spirit Festival to the Tree of Life, it was natural to think of the Oak of the Magpies.
Jonathan Horwitz, master shaman of great experience and talent, advised me to go to the Oak of the Magpies to ask for help and advice for the coming festival. Arriving in val d'Orcia I learned that in mid-August 2014 the oak suffered terrible damage: one of her main branches was broken, by a group of people climbing on it. Even though the branches run parallel to the ground, nobody ever thought of protecting her and this century old plant wasn't part of a list of Monumental Trees.
This improper use and lack of attention to such a unique tree made me think that, more than ever, the Aurora Festival's aim was to wake up consciousness so that each one of us learns to take better care of every other living being on the planet, which, as St Francis reminds us in his Canticle of the Creatures, are our family.


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Ashgrove Homes
Ashgrove Homes
Ashgrove Homes, Fair Wind
Ashgrove Homes has positioned itself within the luxury new homes sector. Peter Owen, Managing Director, has hand picked a team of directors who can draw on over 60 years of combined experience in this marketplace and boast a full understanding of what today's homebuyers want. Whether it's a development of contemporary apartments or a bespoke detached family residence they know that today's lifestyles demand new and improved construction techniques, advanced technologies and far higher internal specifications than ever before.
They appreciate that their homes should blend sympathetically with the environment and they pay particular attention to distinct architectural characteristics and enhancements. It is just as important, in their view, to provide a high level of specification irrespective of the size of the property. They know this because they listen carefully to valued feedback from their customers.
Ashgrove Homes, Lambourne House
Ashgrove Homes is a housebuilder committed to creating homes of the finest quality. Their ethos is simple, to ensure their exacting standards and attention to detail are met at every stage of the construction process, culminating in properties of exceptional quality and style.


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SOURCE: Cray Inc.
June 21, 2016 03:01 ET
New Customers Include Kyoto University in Japan, the Center for Modelling and Simulation in Bristol, United Kingdom, and Argonne National Laboratory in the United States
New Customers Include Kyoto University in Japan, the Center for Modelling and Simulation in Bristol, United Kingdom, and Argonne National Laboratory in the United States
SEATTLE, WA and FRANKFURT, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Jun 21, 2016) - At the 2016 International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, global supercomputer leader Cray Inc. (NASDAQ: CRAY) showcased continued momentum for its supercomputing, analytics, and storage solutions. The Company announced today it has been awarded new contracts for its Cray® XC40™ supercomputer, two Cray® CS400™ cluster supercomputers, a Cray® Urika®-GX agile analytics platform, and its DataWarp™ applications I/O accelerator to customers in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies (ACCMS) at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan awarded Cray a contract for a Cray XC40 supercomputer, featuring the Cray DataWarp applications I/O accelerator, and a Cray CS400 cluster supercomputer. The 5.4 petaflop Cray XC40 system at Kyoto University will also include the new Intel® Xeon Phi™ processors, formerly codenamed "Knights Landing".
The Centre for Modelling & Simulation (CFMS) in Bristol, United Kingdom -- home of Cray's Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) headquarters -- recently purchased a Cray CS400 cluster supercomputer, and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne Leadership Computing Facility at Argonne National Laboratory awarded Cray a contract for the recently launched Cray Urika-GX system.
"The demand for Cray's portfolio of supercomputing solutions is strong," said Fred Kohout, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Cray. "As customers continue to look for capabilities and solutions to successfully leverage the rise of data-intensive computing, we are seeing increased traction for Cray's supercomputing, storage, and analytics solutions. Particularly, the interest generated from the recent launch of our Cray Urika-GX system is significant, and we are pleased the agile analytics system will play a key role in Argonne's data science program."
The researchers and scientists at Kyoto University's highly regarded ACCMS will use its new Cray systems to conduct research and development related to the advanced use of information technology infrastructure and information media. ACCMS has four research departments for networking, multimedia oriented educational computer systems, academic digital contents, and supercomputing. ACCMS will use its Cray XC40 supercomputer and Cray CS400 cluster supercomputer for applications that require scalability and high sustained performance, as well as applications that require large capacity for multiple jobs.
"Our center is focused on advanced research and education, and we are pleased to be able to provide our researchers and scientists with the computational resources of the Cray XC40 and CS400 systems," said Professor Hiroshi Nakashima, Chair of ACCMS's Supercomputing Service Committee. "Our new Cray systems will be available to universities and research institutions across Japan, and will play an important role in several nationwide, joint research projects. Cray's advanced supercomputing technologies will play an integral role in support of our mission."
The Centre for Modelling & Simulation is currently installing the first-ever Cray supercomputer in the city of Bristol, where Cray opened its EMEA headquarters in June 2015. An independent, non-profit organization, CFMS was founded in 2007 out of a consortium of companies including Airbus, BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, MBDA, and Williams F1. With a vision to drive a practical revolution in engineering design capability, CFMS offers access to a collaborative facility with advanced simulation expertise, technologies, and tools that enable companies to incorporate these elements in their design processes. The Cray CS400 system will serve as the primary high performance computing system at CFMS.
"With modelling and simulation at the core of product development, providing a technology platform that enables rapid innovation and supports the acceleration of engineering design capability is central to our vision," said Sam Paice, Chief Operating Officer of CFMS. "It was paramount to select a technology partner like Cray, who is at the forefront of high performance computing, and with whom we can develop a collaborative partnership beyond the technology, and support our strategic vision."
The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility has purchased a new Cray Urika-GX system. The 32-node Cray Urika-GX agile analytics platform will be used to perform research in the areas of life science, material science, and machine learning. Combining supercomputing technologies with an open, enterprise-ready software framework for big data analytics, the Cray Urika-GX system will also be used in part by researchers at Argonne in support of the 2016 ALCF Data Science Program. The new initiative is targeted at big data science problems that require the scale and performance of leadership computing resources.
"Argonne is committed to exploring and improving various computational methods that will help enable data-driven discoveries across all scientific disciplines," said Rick Stevens, Associate Laboratory Director for Computing, Environment and Life Sciences at Argonne National Laboratory. "As part of The 2016 ALCF Data Science Program, various leadership computing resources will give the program's product teams the ability to parse and analyze massive data sets generated from an increasing number of data centric applications. The Cray Urika-GX system will be an important tool in our efforts."
The Cray XC40 supercomputer and Cray CS400 cluster supercomputer at Kyoto University are expected to be delivered in the second half of 2016.
For more information on the Cray XC supercomputers, the Cray CS series of cluster supercomputers, the Cray Urika-GX agile analytics platform, and the Cray DataWarp applications I/O accelerator, please visit the Cray website at www.cray.com.
About Cray Inc.
Global supercomputing leader Cray Inc. (NASDAQ: CRAY) provides innovative systems and solutions enabling scientists and engineers in industry, academia and government to meet existing and future simulation and analytics challenges. Leveraging more than 40 years of experience in developing and servicing the world's most advanced supercomputers, Cray offers a comprehensive portfolio of supercomputers and big data storage and analytics solutions delivering unrivaled performance, efficiency and scalability. Cray's Adaptive Supercomputing vision is focused on delivering innovative next-generation products that integrate diverse processing technologies into a unified architecture, allowing customers to meet the market's continued demand for realized performance. Go to www.cray.com for more information.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, including, but not limited to, statements related to the timing of delivery of the systems purchased by ACCMS at Kyoto University and Cray's ability to provide systems that meet the requirements of ACCMS at Kyoto University, CFMS and ALCF at Argonne National Laboratory. These statements involve current expectations, forecasts of future events and other statements that are not historical facts. Inaccurate assumptions and known and unknown risks and uncertainties can affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements and cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect actual future events or results include, but are not limited to, the risk that the systems required by ACCMS at Kyoto University, CFMS and ALCF at Argonne National Laboratory are not delivered and/or installed in a timely fashion or do not perform as expected, the risk that the new Intel Xeon Phi processors, formerly code named "Knights Landing," are not available with the performance expected, including in larger-scale systems, or when or in the volumes expected, the risk that Cray is not able to successfully complete its planned product development efforts, including testing and debugging the new Intel Xeon Phi processor family incorporated into its Cray XC and other systems, in a timely fashion or at all and such other risks as identified in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016, and from time to time in other reports filed by Cray with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not rely unduly on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this release. Cray undertakes no duty to publicly announce or report revisions to these statements as new information becomes available that may change the Company's expectations.
Cray, the stylized CRAY mark, SONEXION and URIKA are registered trademarks of Cray Inc. in the United States and other countries, and XC40, CS400, and DataWarp are trademarks of Cray Inc. Other product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
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The dream of many is to be their own bosses, work few hours per week, and have the chance to spend the rest of the day doing the things we are passionate about. But as the say goes "work hard and you will become rich." Does this say really work?
It is true that working hard is a good thing, but do you really want to work hard all your life and then reap the benefits (maybe) later in life? When you are too old to enjoy anything at all? Therefore although working hard is the prerequisite, working smart is the nonlinear enhancer that can bring most of the benefits. Thus, where do we start?
Ideas are overrated
The past has been built over ideas. Ideas have changed the world; ideas are the foundation of business. Is this really true? In part it is, although we like to believe that great ideas change the world, and that those who are able to conceive them will thrive, this is half of the story.
Of course, that sounds very poetic, but how far from the truth is that? We humans are hard-wired to have ideas, as Thomas Edison used to say, "I pull ideas out of the air." Therefore creativity is far from being something special but rather something common to all human beings. Thus, why some ideas succeed while others don't?
From Theory-land to reality
Many of us have the feelings at all times that people stole ideas from us. It may not be rare for some of us to have the feeling at times to have thought about creating Tesla or SpaceX even before Elon Musk did.
With hindsight the idea of creating a company, which produces electric cars, makes a lot of sense and of course many of us knew that electric cars would have been successful sooner or later. But then why didn't any of us start a venture called Tesla?
What really makes the difference between an idea, which succeeds, and one, which does not, is actually the willingness to test that idea in the real world, therefore to transition from theory-land to reality. Elon Musk had the willingness to test ideas that seemed to make sense in Theory-land but that are very hard to prove in the real world.
Are ideas really in the air?
Thomas Edison before discovering one of his greatest inventions, the light bulb, had to actually try and fail 10,000 before finding out what worked and what not. Real story or legend, the point here is that ideas are worth nothing if there aren't people willing to test them out, while being ready to fail many times before that idea may work.
In addition, history has shown us that many times great inventions come out of serendipity rather than a preconceived plan. Take Christophorus Columbus, which was persuaded to navigate toward India before finding out to be on a new continent (although we are not sure if he ever realized he was in America).
In other words, sometimes to revolutionize the world there is no need for an idea, but rather the willingness of few men to bring an already existing idea to reality. But who are those adventurers, which are willing to take the leap?
Welcome to the entrepreneurial age
We all assume that history goes from ebb and flow and in part this is true. In ancient history, although Greeks were the fathers of our civilization, Hellenism (the diffusion of the Greek civilization) happened thanks to Macedonians, a small, barbarian (Greeks called everyone's barbarian) population, located North of Greece.
Indeed, while Greeks lived in Theory-land for many centuries, Macedonians and in particular Alexander the Great in just few decades spread the Hellenism throughout the ancient world. Alexander the Great was just one of the main examples in history of people with the entrepreneurial mindset.
Another myth to bust is that to be an entrepreneur you got to change the world! Although Alexander the Great revolutionized the known world (at that time), to become an entrepreneur there is no need of such extravagant plans. Many opportunities lie in front of us and we don't even realize.
The opportunity is right there
If I asked you, "what is the best way to go from A to B?" You would mock me by thinking how trivial this question is. After pausing for few instants you would answer without hesitation "of course through a straight-line." Although many of us get the concept in Theory-land few of us actually apply this concept in reality.
This is due to our domain dependency. In short, we seem to be able to grasp a concept theoretically but then we seem not to be able to bring this concept in the real world. With no surprise many academics may have an incredible expertise of their subject, but no clue of how that subject applies in the real world.
Therefore, the point here is that you can start in this moment to be an entrepreneur if you have the willingness to do so. I know what is the first objection you are going to move is, "Hey man, all you are saying here is very cool, but how am I supposed to start a business if I have no money?"
Nothing down
Robert Allen in his book "Nothing Down" tells us how to start a real estate business with no money down. On the other hand Robert Kiyosaki also tells us what are the principles to follow to become a real estate investors.
Few principles are important when starting as a real estate beginner investor. Three of those principles are:
- You have to buy your real estate at 30% discount (at least)
- You are not buying it for yourself
- A property is an investment just if it has positive cash flows
As for the first point, anyone would agree with that. But how can you find a property, which is selling at a 30% discount? One of the most basic principles, which amateur investors seem not to grasp is that you have to make a deal when you buy rather than when you sell.
In other words, most amateurs make the mistake of buying properties and hoping them to increase in value overtime. Indeed, you do not have to accept the price set by the seller as given, but rather to challenge that price.
Good real estate deals are available at anytime. Therefore, do not get emotional if you are losing what it seems at first to be a good deal. Sure enough you will find an even better deal moving forward.
How to find good deals? You have to find a motivated seller, someone who is trying to cash out, and that would accept 30% to 50% less on the property. Although occasional, those cases are less extra-ordinaries that you might think.
Here we go to our second point, which is "you are not buying the house for yourself." Too often when buying a property prospective buyers get too attached to it and they end up living in the property rather than treating it as an investment. Thus, once you buy the property, rent it. The property is a tool to become financial free. Let the property work for you rather than you sacrificing your life for the property.
The third and crucial point that few really seem to understand is that "the property is not an investment unless it generates future cash flows for you." In other words, assuming you buy an apartment for $150,000 and get a mortgage for the full amount; assuming a monthly rate of $1,000 you want to rent the place out for at least $1,200. In short, the rent has to cover for the mortgage monthly rate plus all the other expenses, so that eventually will have a positive cash flow.
Millionaire in three years
If we continue our thought experiment, and buy several apartments with the above method, eventually we may end up with few apartments, which also generate positive cash flows, in three years time. Then, why not using the equity of those apartments to actually buy an entire building? Although it all seems so easy, it probably is.
Not all that glitters is gold
Let's clarify; both Kiyosaki and Allen were able to build their wealth on real estate (at least that what they claim) but also through their training companies. Therefore, for how much we can trust their judgment we have also to admit that strategies, which work in US, may not work in other countries.
Although, the three principles explained in this article can instead be applied to any real estate deal. Therefore, the point here is for you to change your mindset before approaching the real estate market or any other kind of investment. But the central point is that you got to act rather than wait for that revolutionary idea to come.
To know more about real estate investing check out:
Nothing Down for the 2000s: Dynamic New Wealth Strategies in Real Estate, Robert Allen
The Real Book of Real Estate: Real Experts. Real Stories. Real Life, Robert T. Kiyosaki
The Four-Week MBA is an online community which purpose is to share educational resources. Therefore, the information contained in this article is not meant as an investment advice.


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Wednesday, 13 January 2010
Treats from Bloomsbury!
And I have some great treats to share with you today, courtesy of Bloomsbury Children's Books!
Need by Carrie Jones will be released in the UK in February (hurrah!), and Bloomsbury has kindly put up the first chapter on their site, which you can find here.
Haven't heard of Need? Want to know more? Here's the blurb!
Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect Facebook friends. It's little wonder, since she's had a fairly rough life. Her father left when she was a baby, her stepfather just died and her mother's almost given up – in fact, she's sent her to live with her grandmother in cold and sleepy Maine to 'keep Zara safe'. Zara doesn't think she's in danger; she thinks her mother just can't cope.
Zara's wrong. The man she sees everywhere – the tall, creepy guy who points at her from the side of the road – is not a figment of her imagination. He's a pixie. But not the cute, sweet kind with little wings. Maine's got a whole assortment of unbelievable creatures. And they seem to need something – something from Zara. From Bloomsbury.com
There is also a Facebook page for My Love Lies Bleeding by Alyxandra Harvey (released this January), which will be used to update readers on books by the author, and on any Need news.
Don't know My Love Lies Bleeding either? Another blurb for you!
The Drakes are rather different to your usual neighbours. They are vampires and some of the members of the family date back to the twelfth century. One of the children, Solange, is the only born female vampire known and, as such, she poses a direct threat to the vampire queen.
Her best friend Lucy is human, and when Solange is kidnapped Lucy and Solange's brother, Nicholas, set out to save her. Lucy soon discovers that she would like to be more than just friends with Nicholas. But how does one go about dating a vampire?
Meanwhile, Solange finds an unlikely ally in Kieran, a vampire slayer on the hunt for his father's killer... From Bloomsbury.com
Cannot wait for both of these books, they sound awesome!
12 comments:
You lucky thing. I want to read both of these awesome books!ReplyDelete
My Love Lies Bleeding is pretty awesome! Need is on my ARC pile...I should reach it in a few books time :) Yay for great books!ReplyDelete
Becky - Don't they sound just amazing? I can't wait to have my own copies!ReplyDelete
Jessica - Ohhh, lucky you for having read My Love Lies Bleeding already, and for having Need! I can't wait to read them myself!
MLLB is pretty good, and I got Need last week so will be reading that soon. Yay!ReplyDelete
Wow you are lucky, looks like some great reading ahead of you!ReplyDelete
Jenny - Ohh, awesome! I look forward to hearing what you think of Need! And it's great to here MLLB is good! :)ReplyDelete
Elie - I don't have these books :) Bloomsbury just emailed me about them! But I can't wait to get my own copies!
I'm reading My Love Lies Bleeding, and definitely enjoying it so far.ReplyDelete
Very glad to hear that Need is being released in the UK at last. I've been meaning to get myself a copy and this will make it so much easier.
Ohh, I'm glad you're enjoying MLLB! I'm looking forward to reading both at some point! I've been wanting to read Need since it's been making it's rounds on the US blogs!ReplyDelete
I really like the sound of both of these books, they are on my wishlist :o) I hate the way My Love Lies Bleeding has a different name over here to the one in the States though - soooo confusing when you're reading reviews on US blogsReplyDelete
I didn't realise it had a different name until today. It's a little odd. I guess when I get the book and review it, I'll put an "aka" in with the review :)ReplyDelete
Congrat's on the goodies! Need is suppose to be a wonderful book....not to mention, an interesting cover! =0)ReplyDelete
It is a great cover! And I was lucky enough to receive both books about a week later! :)ReplyDelete


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Causing Death and Serious Personal Injury
The toughest Michigan drinking and driving laws (or driving while impaired or under the influence of drugs) are reserved for persons who cause a death or injury to another. When aggravating factors are involved and a death occurs, the prosecutor may opt to charge the intoxicated party who caused the death with second degree murder. These offenses are charged as felonies and carry possible prison terms. Second degree murder can carry up to life in prison.
Contact ABDO LAW if you find yourself in this position to formulate a defense strategy. All it takes is one phone call to get a same day appointment and answers to your pressing legal questions. Our attorneys will take immediate action get your case under control. Our initial action plan broadly encompasses the following:
- Obtaining the police/accident report/witness statements/test results
- Preserving, photographing accident scene
- Retaining experts to render an opinion regarding causation
- Retaining experts to inspect crash site and vehicles
- Retrieving Event Data Recorder (black box) from vehicle
- Interviewing prospective witnesses regarding cause of accident and intoxication
- Making recommendations regarding counseling, alcohol testing
- Preparing motions for independent blood testing
|License Sanctions
|Indefinite revocation, minimum 1 year
|Maximum Jail
|5 years
|Maximum Fine
|$1,000.00 to $5,000.00
|Vehicle Immobilization
|Up to 180 days unless forfeited
|License Plate Action
|Driver Responsibility Fee
|$1,000.00 per year for 2 consecutive years
|License Sanctions
|Indefinite revocation, minimum 1 year
|Maximum Jail
|15 years, 20 years if emergency responder death
|Maximum Fine
|$2,500.00 to $10,000.00
|Vehicle Immobilization
|Up to 180 days unless forfeited
|License Plate Action
|Driver Responsibility Fee
|$1,000.00 per year for 2 consecutive years
The prosecuting attorney is required to prove all of the elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. This applies in all criminal cases including those where a person is charged with operating while intoxicated or impaired causing death or injury. There are three major elements that must be proven in cases where a drunk driver is involved in an accident causing death or injury.
- Injury: Does the injury qualify as a serious injury under the statute? A "serious injury" pursuant to Michigan laws includes loss of limb, permanent disfigurement, skull fracture or other serious bone fracture. Serious injury is broadly construed to include serious impairment of a bodily function. Pursuant to MCL 500.3135(7), serious impairment of body function' means an objectively manifested impairment of an important body function that affects the person's general ability to lead his or her normal life.
Causation: Did the accused cause the injuries or death to another person? Causation is an essential element of the crimes operating while intoxicated or impaired causing injury or death.
Michigan case law defines causation as follows: For a defendant's conduct to be regarded as a proximate cause, the victim's injury must be a direct and natural result of the defendant's actions. In making this determination, it is necessary to examine whether there was an intervening cause that superseded the defendant's conduct such that the causal link between the defendant's conduct and the victim's injury was broken. If an intervening cause did indeed superseded the defendant's act as a legally significant causal factor, then the defendant's conduct will not be deemed a proximate cause of the victim's injury.
- Intoxication: Was the defendant impaired, intoxicated or under the influence? Intoxication, impairment or under the influence may occur due to the consumption of alcohol, marijuana (including medical marijuana) illegal drugs, prescribed medications or a combination of alcohol and drugs. An accident investigation involving the death or injury of another will invariably mean that the police will seek a breath, blood or urine sample(s) of the alleged responsible party/driver for testing pursuant to MCL 257.625(a). Should an individual refuse to take a test, the police are able to obtain a search warrant for a blood test. All testing, including blood testing is subject to ridged standards of care which are the subject of attack at trial. When a person is tested for prescribed medications, the defense may call witnesses to testify as to the person's sobriety or normal behavior before operating a vehicle. When marijuana is the drug that is found, the defense may assert that the THC levels are below standards to be considered "under the influence". The State of Colorado has adopted a legal threshold for DUI/marijuana cases. In Colorado, the legal limit has been set at 5 nanograms of THC of the driving suspect. Michigan has no such law but the matter has been addressed by the appellate courts and is expected to pass legislation similar to Colorado.
Jurors, judges and lawyers struggle with the meaning of causation. The defense attorney may need to utilize experts when causation is contested for purpose of accident reconstruction or to provide testimony regarding the speed of the vehicles and the meaning of skid marks. The information which is derived from the vehicle Event Data Recorder (EDR) also needs to be scrutinized. At a minimum, the EDR provides vital information regarding the speed and braking of a vehicle in the moments before a traffic crash.
Defending drunk driving cases involving death or injury requires the skill of an experienced defense lawyer and team of experts. In addition to knowing all of the defenses that apply to drunk driving cases, careful analysis must be given when the element of causation is questionable or contested.
At ABDO LAW, our defense team may consist of various experts such as: accident re-constructionist, mechanical engineer, private investigator and chemical analysis expert. As a matter of course, we also obtain a court order for independent testing of the blood, breath or urine sample. Our private investigators will obtain the criminal records of witnesses and obtain additional statements when necessary.
When you or a family member faces any drunk driving offense, it is extremely important to contact the ABDO LAW firm located in Clinton Township immediately to begin preparation of an aggressive defense.


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Launched for over 40 years, Marintec China has become renowned as the most authoritative B2B platform for the International Maritime Industry. Organised with the professional expertise of China's largest trade exhibition organiser--UBM Asia-- in conjunction with the Shanghai Society of Naval Architects & Marine Engineers (SSNAME), Marintec China is set far apart from other platforms in connecting businesses and distilling insight for Asia's maritime industry.
The 2017 edition of this biennial event hosted 2,100 exhibitors and 65,096 professional visitors from 91 countries breaking all previous records. Regarded as only gateway to the Asian maritime market, Marintec China provides the largest range of exhibiting companies, manufacturers, and service providers across the complete supply chain for shipbuilding as well as professional services, components, and finished equipment.
Marintec China 2017 hosted 15 national and regional pavilions with companies across China, Europe, the United States and Asia. Exhibitors in Marintec China originate from more than 32 countries and regions all over the world, delivering visitors not just a comprehensive bridge to Asia but also worldwide.
To view the latest Marintec China 2017 exhibitors, please cliick the following button.
From shipbuilding raw components, electrical systems, deck and safety equipment, port constructions to shipbuilding systems and technology, all maritime related products and services can be found in Marintec China.
• Ships (Seagoing Vessels)
• Ship Repairing and Dismantling
• Shipbuilding Materials and Semi-Finished Goods
• Ship Fittings and Equipment
• Engines and Components
• Propulsion System
• Propulsion Auxiliary Systems
• Component and Accessories
• Power Systems
• Propulsion Technology
• Electrical Auxiliary Systems
• Electrical Systems / Equipment - Equipment and Accessories
• Deck And Safety Equipment
• Ship Operation Equipment
• Auxiliary Equipment / Machinery - Equipment and Accessories
• PORT Constructions
• Transportation Systems
• Offshore Natural Resources
• Offshore Platforms
• Offshore Vessels
• Systems And Technology
• Public Rooms and Accommodation
• Entertainment System
• Ship Manoeuvring, Safety and Security Systems
• Catering & Laundry Support System
• Services
• Trade Association
• Media
Professional visitors to Marintec China have been increasing every single edition with predominant representation from maritime industry company owners, chairmen, CEOs & Presidents, GMs, Sales & Marketing professional with purchasing authority and sales engineers and surveyors.
Main Objective of visiting
- 98% Understand more industry news in China
- 95% Find new suppliers
- 95% Source new products/services
- 94% Consolidate contacts
*based on Organiser Visitor Survey 2017
"This is my fourth time visit in Marintec China and every time I found it is growing bigger and bigger. I noticed many exhibit highlights in this edition. Many new products, services and integrated system debut especially in German Pavilion and Danlish Pavilion. In this visit, I met many old friends and I am so glad to see many new exhibitors as well."
- Mr Pang Jianto, HISSEN Marine & Industry
(Interviewed in 2015)
"I am really impressive about this fair. We have attended Marintec China over ten years and seeing it expending and expending. It is one of the biggest shows in South Asia. Marintec China is very organized and full of potential visitors."
- Mr Wil van Mol, General Manager
Siemens Ltd., China - Process Industries and Drives Division
(Interviewed in 2015)
Marintec China also plays host to one of the most respected conferences of the industry: the Senior Maritime Forum. The 2019 edition of the Senior Maritime Forum is themed "Innovation, Smart Manufacturing, Collaboration" and takes place 2 - 5 December conveniently at the Kerry Hotel connected to the Marintec China Exhibition.
Learn more about the Senior maritime Forum 2017.
Aside from the Senior Maritime Forum, Marintec China also hosts over 30 seminars on specific topics and new product launches right on the show floor as well as hosts networking cocktail receptions.


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Class Details
The who, what, where and when of your chosen class.
Class Summary
2 Sep 2018 - 21 Oct 2018
Age 2 - 3.5
30 mins
2 Sep 2018 - 21 Oct 2018
0 places left
at 8 sessions
€12.00 per session
Most children love Rugbytots, but if you find after your first two sessions that it's not for you, we'll give you a full refund, including the classes you've attended and the Welcome Pack. Learn more in our FAQ.
This class is run by:
Rugbytots Ireland
Call 086 - 839 0818 or Email us
This class takes place at:
St Andrew's Parish Centre
Church Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin, K36 X968
Michael Carey
Michael is currently studying Sports Management & Coaching in Blanchardstown IT and has a vast background in coaching all levels and various sports. A predecessor to Darren Magee (ex Dublin footballer and games development officer), Michael boasts learning all he knows from Darren. Michael has multiple qualifications and continues to impress both management and customers with his coaching skills and ability to interact with children of all ages.
Arty says, "If it's your first time at Rugbytots we need to add our fantastic Welcome Pack"
A cost of €30 will be added to your order for the Rugbytots Welcome Pack which includes a Rugbytots Kit and a sunshade. The cost of postage and packaging is included and will be sent via Royal Mail.
Class Calendar
Session #1
2 Sep 2018
Session #2
9 Sep 2018
Session #3
16 Sep 2018
Session #4
23 Sep 2018
Session #5
30 Sep 2018
Session #6
7 Oct 2018
Session #7
14 Oct 2018
Session #8
21 Oct 2018


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As the curtain came down on the closing keynote of a fantastic Citrix Summit 2016, I took a few moments to look around the auditorium and drink in the excitement and enthusiasm that was tangible in the eyes of our partners and colleagues in the room. It was quite an experience.
Events like Summit are certainly unique. Almost 4,000 partners and colleagues converge under one roof, openly sharing roadmaps, thoughts, opinions, ideas and challenges. Every attendee is an expert in their field, yet perhaps the most striking element of the event is the incredible passion that surfaces once we are all together, discussing how technology and expertise can be combined to deliver solutions that enable our customers to accelerate their business transformations.
Study any organization today–irrespective of industry or service–and you will discover that each of them is looking towards innovation to help them drive business and grow revenue.
At Citrix, we're no different. The technology industry, by definition, mandates continuous and sustainable innovation. If you don't innovate, you become irrelevant. Quickly.
The great news for us is that we have an amazing track record of innovating and it was encouraging to hear that innovation remains a key theme, a key belief and a main takeaway from Summit 2016. In fact, the two words I heard over and over again, and that resonated most with the folks to whom I spoke throughout the event, were focus and innovation.
Focus on what we do better than any vendor in our space – deliver the solutions to enable secure app & data delivery – and then commit to ongoing innovation around that core set of products to ensure that what we provide to our partners and customers helps them enable their business.
It's a simple, yet powerful and winning formula.
During the Summit 2016 keynotes, Bill Burley, Citrix CVP and GM of Workspace Services group, (of which I am proud to be CTO of course), stated
Last year, our innovation was 3X the year before. We're going fast. Run with us because in 2016 we're going to go just as fast – and probably faster.
Wait! What did Bill say? This is an amazing statistic, which I subsequently captured in the graphic below and wanted to share as an example of our commitment to being a leader in product innovation.
The great thing about being CTO and being so close to the product groups is that I have a wonderful and privileged vantage point in terms of being able to see into the near-term product roadmaps.
Across the entire organization, the teams are hard at work preparing the next releases and they too are packed with innovations that will really help move the needle and address the growing challenges that all organizations face, regardless of size or scale, with the secure delivery of apps & data.
In fact, it was Bob Calderoni, Citrix Interim CEO & President who best summarized the landscape and laid out the Citrix strategy superbly in the opening keynote
All of these changes in the market today and all of this complexity is only making Citrix even more relevant and even more important than ever before, and that's the reason why we're refocusing and doubling down on our core competency and our initial vision — to take advantage of these market forces and become the global standard for the secure delivery of apps and data on any app, on any device, anywhere in the world.
We, and all our partners, are energized, enthused and ready for 2016 following a truly great Summit. It promises to be a year of amazing products, happy partners and delighted customers.
Let's go!


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The role of compliance and ethics in company culture
Written by Frank Ruelas
This article, published in Compliance & Ethics Professional, appears here with permission from the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). Contact SCCE at 888.277.4977 with all copy and reprint requests. Searching for something specific look through the archive index.
- The relationship between compliance and ethics contributes significantly to the overall development of an effective compliance program.
- There are two subsets of values that are developed within an organization which impact the ethics that are applied to the organization's compliance program.
- The interpretation of rules and regulations by those responsible for the management of the organization's compliance program has a direct relationship to the program's consistency and stability in how it is implemented.
- Avoiding a "right versus wrong" philosophy in the evaluation of compliance-related issues helps promote open lines of communication that can contribute to a greater degree of collaboration in reaching mutually agreeable conclusions.
- Recognizing and understanding the different philosophical perspectives that people have with respect to compliance may help in developing a compliance program that will gain the support of the organization on a broader and larger scale.


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You are currently browsing the monthly archive for November 2009.
We have confirmation of my ovulations suspicions in form of the arrival of a new cycle. Not quite what we had hoped would come of that little eggy but that's ok!
We go into this new cycle with a new outlook, a new determination and a new excitement.
Continuing on with our lifestyle changes, healthy eating and regular exercise. After a a lifetime of bad habits it's not easy to make the choices I need to now but they're choices that benefit our whole family. Our children will grow with healthy habits rather than repeating our bad ones. If we do manage to conceive #3 I am hoping to experience an easier pregnancy with less strain on my body. Hubby will kick some of his ad habits and get healthier too.
Hopefully our changes will add another much loved child to our family but most importantly, will keep us all healthy enough to enjoy our family for years to come.
Disclaimer: I just found this sitting in my drafts, didn't realise I'd never posted it. lew turned 1 at the end of Septemer, etter late than never right???
My wee little fellow is now 1. <insert all the usual cliches about 1st birthday's here>
Here's the gorgeous birthday boy. Happy birthday my darling boy, you are a joy!
For the last 2 weeks I've been participating in an 8 week weight loss challenge. I've joined Contours and I'm recording my eating on Calorie King. I've lost 2.8kgs so far which is exciting in itself!
But the super excitement, I had some cramps and fertile signs so I did an OPK this morning, just in case. And it was positive! I am ovulating without the assistance of medication for the first time since I came off the birth control pill in 2005.
A hugely exciting day for me 😀
My darling boys are getting closer and closer each day. And their friendship has exploded now that little Lew is walking.
I'll admit, when Lew was first trying to get mobile Jack wasn't too impressed. Lew would stand up and be tackled to the ground as soon as Jack saw him in the guise of a "cuddle".
This rivalry has given way to to the most adorable affection. These photos were taken yesterday. Lew had just woken from his nap. I brought him into the rumpus room where Jack was sitting on the couch watching In The Night Garden. As soon as Jack spotted Lew he had his arms up asking for "curry curry" (carry).
And 10 minutes ago, Lew was starting to whinge in his high chair. Jack immediately responded with "coming coming coming" and raced over to try and get Lew out of his chair.
I hope their closeness lasts a lifetime. Afterall, there's no buddy like a brother!
A trip to Ikea is one of those things that always seems like such fun when you start it. And by the end you're cursing.
I had a truly brilliant brainwave and decided to attempt an Ikea hack and make a play kitchen for my boys for Christmas. I managed to score the main part on Ebay for $15 and since we were headed in the general direction of Ikea to collect the item thought we'd pop in for the other bits and pieces we needed.
We should never have ventured out of the car, the carpark held all the warning signs, crowded carpark, toddler sleeping in the car and only a single stroller in the boot…it didn't bode well! Bravely (stupidly?) we got out of the car and ventured in to the store, 14kgs of reluctant toddler on one hip.
It started well, we meandered through the store, found a couple of little things we needed and made it to the marketplace relatively intact. That was when we discovered that several of the main things we needed were in the showroom. Upstairs. That wasn't so great.
We fought our way back on to the elevator we had not long vacated, eventually locate the items we needed and headed back towards the elevator. That's where things got bad. Somewhere along the way we managed to turn at the wrong "shortcut" and experienced that horrible sinking feeling when you realise you are walking through the same place you've already been.
Both boys then hit their patience wall, briefly appeased them with juice and we pushed on. The trolley was ditched in rugs and flooring to carry the very much protesting toddler. And finally after waiting in line for 15 minutes to pay we were out! Huge sighs of relief all round….until we tried to get out of the carpark. 20 minutes waiting in the queue and we were totally free!!!
Not going back in a hurry!


text:
Florin Bilbiie
Professeur à PSE
Professeur Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
Campus Jourdan – 48 Boulevard Jourdan 75014 Paris
4e étage, bureau 11
Tél. 01 80 52 17 77
florin.bilbiie psemail.eu
florin.bilbiie univ-paris1.fr
- Dynamique macroéconomique
- Politiques monétaires et budgétaires
- Macroéconomie et accumulation d'actifs
- Économie Européenne
Endogenous Entry, Product Variety and Business Cycles, with Fabio Ghironi (Boston College) and Marc Melitz (Harvard University), Journal of Political Economy, 2012, vol. 120(2), 304-345, (older version NBER WP).
Limited Asset Market Participation, Monetary Policy and (Inverted) Aggregate Demand Logic,Journal of Economic Theory, 2008, vol. 140(1), pages 162-196. Earlier version with more materialhere
Asset Market Participation, Monetary Policy Rules and the Great Inflation', with Roland Straub (ECB), Forthcoming in Review of Economics and Statistics. Recent version available as CEPR DP.
Public Debt and Redistribution with Borrowing Constraints, with Tommaso Monacelli and Roberto Perotti (both IGIER and Università Bocconi), Forthcoming, The Economic Journal
Monetary Policy and Business Cycles with Endogenous Entry and Product Variety, with Fabio Ghironi (Boston College) and Marc Melitz (Harvard University), NBER Macroeconomics Annual, vol. 22, 2007, pages 299-353. Also NBER Working Paper w13199
What Accounts for the Change in U.S. Fiscal Policy Transmission?, with Gernot Mueller (Frankfurt Uni.) and Andre Meier (IMF), Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 2008, vol. 40(7), pages 1439-1470 (this version is ECB Working Paper 2006/582)
Non-Separable Preferences, Fiscal Policy Puzzles and Inferior Goods, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 2009, vol. 41(2-3), pages 443-450.
Non-Separable Preferences, Frisch Labor Supply and the Consumption Multiplier of Government Spending: One Solution to a Fiscal Policy Puzzle, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 2011, 43(1), 221-251(previous version with slightly different title: Non-Separable Preferences and Frisch Labor Supply: One Solution to a Fiscal Policy Puzzle, CEPR DP).
The Time Inconsistency of Delegation-Based Time Inconsistency Solutions in Monetary Policy, Journal of Optimization Theory and Applications, 2011, vol 150(3), 657-74
Designing Domestic Institutions for International Monetary Policy Cooperation: A Utopia?', Journal of International Money and Finance, 2011, 30(3), 393-409 Very early (2002) version entitled:The utopia of implementing international monetary policy cooperation through domestic institutions
Changes in the Output Euler Equation and Asset Markets Participation with Roland Straub (ECB);Forthcoming, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
From Global Inflation to Global Financial Crisis, with Giancarlo Corsetti (EUI), Asia-Europe Economic Forum
Optimal Monetary Policy with Endogenous Product Variety - with Fabio Ghironi (Boston College) and Ippei Fujiwara (Bank of Japan), Revise and Resubmit ("Reject/Revise"), Journal of Monetary Economics, CEPR DP and NBER WP
Delegating Optimal Monetary Policy Inertia, Revise and resubmit, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control
Macroeconomic Implications of Entry, Variety and Exit
Monopoly Power and Endogenous Product Variety: Distortions and Remedies' - with Fabio Ghironi (Boston College) and Marc Melitz (Harvard University), Manuscript. NBER Working Paper w14383
Fiscal Policy with Financial Market Imperfections
Asset Market Participation and Distortionary Taxation: Keynesian and Non-Keynesian Effects of Fiscal Policy', with Roland Straub (ECB), the link is to differenty-named old WP 2004-6 at Hungarian National Bank, new version available soon.
**NEW** Tax Cuts vs. Spending Increases: Welfare at the Zero Lower Bound, with Tommaso Monacelli and Roberto Perotti (both IGIER and Università Bocconi) - First draft December 2011; This version July 12, 2012
Coming Soon
The Aggregate Supply Channel, Monetary Policy and Multiple Equilibria, with Jess Benhabib (New YorkUniversity)
Political Economy and Macroeconomic Policy
'Incomplete Fiscal Rules with Imperfect Enforcement', (submitted), with David Stasavage, New York University. Working Paper, Nuffield College, University of Oxford, WP2005-10
'Fiscal Contracts for a Monetary Union', Working Paper, Nuffield College, University of Oxford, WP2005-11.


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Artist Statement
Through my 60 years of painting, my art has allowed me to express my emotions in a wide variety of artistic forms which include oil, watercolor and modern eclecticism involving both large and small paintings, assemblage, sculpture, clothing and most recently, digital art.
My art has always been an visual representation of my philosophy of living . . . that art is life affirming.
Now, I use the computer as an electronic paint brush to express emotional concepts and images from within my minds eye.
It is my belief that the production of art using the computer is the most complex and rewarding medium I have ever attempted.
Using the Giclee Ink-jet process, my digital images are printed dot by dot, pixel by pixel, onto archieval quality paper resulting in art for the next century from someone who has survived this one.


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Turkey: The Land Where Eastern Culture Meets Western Cultureby Don
Turkey is one of the most beautiful places across the world and is a center of art, culture and history which dates back several hundred years ago. People go to Turkey for holidays and enjoy every bit of it. Turkey is the land where eastern culture meets western culture. It is an ideal holiday destination with its never ending list of attractions and places to visit.
Turkey is surrounded by eight other countries with its exceptional natural beauty. The vivid sun, the high mountains and the brimming seas and lakes along with the mixture of sound and sights of cultural civilization make Turkey a great holiday spot for tourist from all over the world. Tourists experience immense pleasure while visiting this country and come here again and again to experience the beauty and grandeur of the land. Turkey is also known for its magnificent architecture and historical sights. People come on holiday to Turkey and enjoy water sports with some great holiday homes for rental right by the side of the beach.
If you are planning your holidays to turkey, let me tell you that Turkey is a diverse country which offers holidaymakers plenty of options. The people who are looking for exploring different areas will find that a self catering hotel for them would be a great choice. However, the holidaymakers who are looking for just to sit back and get relaxed will find cheap package holidays to turkey which is both affordable and stress-free. So, visit Turkey for your next holiday and pamper yourself.


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Press Release: Virgin Islanders United's Caribbean Cultural Fest 2017
For Immediate Release!
ontact: Kevin Hughes
Past President
Virgin Islanders United's Caribbean Cultural Fest 2017: The Centennial Edition, Delivers Hit Caribbean Music & Commemorates the V.I. Transfer Centennial
U.S. Virgin Islands – Summer in the USVI is hot, but on Labor Day weekend in New York City it will sizzle, as Virgin Islanders United, Inc. proudly presents – "Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2017: The Centennial Edition" – Commemorating 100 Years since The Transfer of The Virgin Islands from Denmark To The United States. This outdoor Caribbean music concert is a FREE, family fun day, and is the largest annual celebration of V.I. culture and pride in North America, and a Mecca of eastern Caribbean music. The event takes place on Sunday, September 3, 2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Jackie Robinson Park, located at 85 Bradhurst Ave. on 145th Street in Harlem NYC. Caribbean Cultural Fest. 2017 is sponsored by: The VI Transfer Centennial Commission, The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, Southland Gaming, WSTA Radio 1340 a.m., McCall's Funeral Home (NYC) and Virgin Islanders United, Inc.
A Message from USVI Senator Marvin Blyden
Link to letter.


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Three Nights in Moscow (Day 2)
Every traveler has a honeymoon phase with the place she visits. This initial state of wonderment, this giddiness caused by jet-lag, novelty and sunshine, this child-like attitude that makes the traveler point at everything she sees and shout, "look, look, look," eventually comes to an end. It happens when she tries to communicate in the local language and the locals have no patience for her fractured attempts; when a simple procedure, like having a piece of paper stamped, becomes a week-long ordeal of bureaucratic dances, when her greetings and smiles go either ignored or are scoffed at, when she gets confused by the local currency (which irritates the supermarket cashier and everyone standing in line), when she goes shopping for souvenirs, lifts some foreign object and asks, "excuse me, what is this?" and all she gets is an eye roll and a sigh.
And when on top of it all, the traveler wakes up nice and early to a torrential rain that doesn't abate for 24 hours, and the wind blows colder and harder with each passing minute, and the idea of catching a taxi is out of the question because the traffic is horrendous, she does what any good traveler does in these circumstances: smile and make the most of it. Focus on the good and use her head to understand the not-so-good.
She admires the metro stations (she tries to snap pictures but they are not allowed as the stations are considered military installations and crawl with police), gets serious vertigo going up and down the longest, steepest escalators in the world (they were built deep underground to serve as bomb shelters), and gets all giddy again at the sight of a place intricately decorated with mosaics, sculpture and bas-reliefs made of engraved metal, glass, granite, marble, or carved alabaster. The metro stations in Moscow were meant to be "palaces for the people" and as such, each has its own theme, ranging from futuristic to realist, from war-related to avant garde, from deeply socialist to seriously nationalist.
The Metro truly is a fantastic display of immeasurable artistic talent and functionality: over 130 miles of route length, boasting 12 lines and 177 stations, and carries an average of over 7 million commuters per day. Finding out this underground free-of-charge museum might make the traveler point and shout again and again: "look, look, look."
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October 2017


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Nola Injured and the Phillies Make a Trade
The Phillies 40 man roster will be a story all year, as they navigate the 11 players they added in front of the Rule 5 draft. With Clay Buchholz's season ending injury and Elniery Garcia's PED suspension, the roster opened up some. This was all just in time for injuries to hit the Phillies elsewhere.
The heart attack inducing injury was to Aaron Nola's back. Right now, all indications are that Nola will only miss a start or two on this DL trip, but the news caused some level of panic anyway. The corresponding move is fairly obvious. Nick Pivetta has gotten off to a hot start and is both on the 40 man roster and on turn in the rotation. Pivetta probably needs more time in AAA, but he should be fine to make a 1 to 2 start cameo in the majors. The Phillies could choose to go with a bullpen game in those starts instead, but all signs point to Pivetta making his debut.
The injury no one is worrying about is to Howie Kendrick's oblique. The reason for this is Aaron Altherr. Altherr has moved from the first outfielder off the bench to a near everyday role. He is still striking out at a high rate, but he is showing why everyone was excited heading into 2016. Altherr might have some struggles has he continues to get more playing time, but the payoff could be another everyday outfielder for the Phillies.
The pain from the Kendrick injury is really felt on the Phillies' bench. Because of Kendrick's positional flexibility, the Phillies were able to carry 3 OF/1Bs (Altherr, Nava, and Stassi), Andres Blanco, and Andrew Knapp. Kendrick's ability to play 2B and 3B allowed Pete Mackanin to use Andres Blanco as a sub or pinch hitter, because if something happened to Hernandez, Galvis, or Franco, the Phillies could move Kendrick to the infield and reshuffle the rest. Since Kendrick went on the DL, the Phillies have been carrying 8 relievers and only 4 bench bats. This has led to Mark Leiter Jr. sitting on the bullpen bench not pitching (thanks to a great string of the starts by the Phillies' rotation), and Andres Blanco nailed down to the bench because no one else on the roster can play the infield in an emergeny.
Enter Ty Kelly. Ty Kelly is not a major league player. He is a no power utility player who can play almost anywhere on the diamond. He works good at bats, but he is essentially a zero on the field. The Phillies acquired him via trade from the Blue Jays for cash, so their investment is minimal. Kelly should never see the field for the Phillies. He will be their 5th best pinch hit bat, and he is not really a defensive upgrade anywhere for the Phillies. What he is, is a trade for Blanco's bat off the bench, which is now available to Mackanin for the first time in nearly a week. He also allows the Phillies to continue to push off promoting Jesmuel Valentin into a bench role.
Kelly will be activated when Nola is put on the DL, with Leiter likely returning to AAA the be replaced by Wednesday's starter replacement for Nola. Given Leiter's lack of activity, the Phillies won't miss having an 8th reliever.
The other thing we saw in the past week was how the Phillies will manage their 40 man roster going forward. Leiter's addition to the roster does give the Phillies 3 up and down relievers, and I suspect we will see him, Luis Garcia, and Adam Morgan making trips up and down from AAA to majors as they are needed. In the case that they are not available, the Phillies showed they are willing to pull up a minor league starter as an extra arm when needed. The Phillies entire AAA rotation is on the 40 man roster, meaning they should be able to pull up pitchers when they need them for short stints, like they did with Ben Lively when Pat Neshek went on the paternity list.
No team is resilient to injuries forever, but the Phillies have been able to weather their first set, and their depth has led to opportunities going to Aaron Altherr, Zach Eflin, and likely Nick Pivetta, as well as quick stints to the bullpen bench for Ben Lively and Mark Leiter Jr. It should only get more interesting from here.


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Metro Primary Care Associates (MPCA) are a group of primary care physicians working in the southern suburbs of Chicago. They have extensive capabilities which range from care for a minor illness or injury to a comprehensive physical and laboratory evaluation.
As board-certified internists they provide complete assessments, diagnoses, and treatment of an array of internal medicine problems.
MPCA also offers a number of programs to further advance health and wellness in the communities they serve, including:
Services available in the office:
Call 708-385-2400 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
Crestwood Office
13755 S. Cicero Avenue
Crestwood, IL 60445
We accept most major insurance carriers, including Medicare.
Besides geographic diversity, MIDC strives to provide infectious disease services to the full spectrum of healthcare venues including long term acute care hospitals and long term care facilities as well as acute care hospitals.


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The immersed 41-layer beamsplitter operates at AOI of 45 degrees in the spectral range from 400 to 500 nm.
Target specifications: Ts=Tp=50%
Materials: ZnS/Al2O3/MgF2, Glass substrate, Incident medium is Glass
Design method: Gradual evolution
Software tool: OptiLayer
Find illustration of the design process at YouTube
We can design an immersed polarizing beamsplitter operating in the spectral range from 400 to 700 nm for AOI of 65-75 degrees. Refractive index of the corresponding prism is 1.85.
These design specifications were taken from Li Li and J.A. Dobrowolski, "New developments in thin film polarizing beamsplitters", in Optical Interference Coatings, Vol. 9, OSA Technical Digest Series, (Optical Society of America, Washington DC, 1998), pp. 158-160.
Target specifications:
Our video example at YouTube presents the details of the design procedure.
Materials with refractive indices 2.35 and 1.45.
Design Technique: Gradual Evolution
Software: OptiLayer
Our video example at YouTube presents the details of the design procedure.


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Going in to the bout both men were making their US debuts and for some fans this was the first chance they had had the chance to see any of the Kameda brothers in action. Tomoki went into the bout with the intent of spreading the Kameda name and he did exactly that as he scored one the most eye catching body shot KO's of the year putting the tough Thai down in pure agony.
Following this win Kameda inked a deal with American "advisor" Al Haymon and appears to have done what was needed to secure himself a great future stateside. For Pungluang however this loss will likely dump him down the pecking order.
(Video courtesy of boxingfan778)


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Yaf Sparkle, Sapphire earrings, irregular
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General Dynamics Information Technology, a developer of aerospace, combat, information and marine technologies, announced on Thursday that it received a $23 million contract to develop modeling software for the U.S. Department of Defense.
General Dynamics will develop software for Joint Effects Model Increment 2, the DoD's primary system for modeling the effects of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear material releases. The cost plus fixed fee contract from the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command has a potential value of $23.5 million over five years if all options are exercised.
The software will serve as the foundation for the JEM Increment 2 System and as the software architecture for the JEM science and technology prototype. The prototype provides quick CBRN defense planning capabilities to remotely deployed warfighters through web application interfaces.
"General Dynamics has a strong foundation of CBRN scientific subject matter experts who understand both the parameters and requirements for successful model development," Ed Hudson, the vice president and general manager of General Dynamics Information Technology's Network and Mission Systems sector, said. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with SPAWAR and expanding our presence in the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive weapons community."
SPAWAR is one of three major U.S. Department of Navy acquisition commands. The command provides hardware and software to warfighters on land, sea and in the air.
General Dynamics currently supports multiple SPAWAR contracts.


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From Our Pre-Owned Jewelry Collection
14K Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Earrings
by Long's Estate Collection | SKU: ESER4498
14K Yellow Gold Sapphire and Diamond Earrings. The earrings are channel set with 12 baguette cut sapphires, approx. total wt. 1.75cts., further set with 16 full cut diamonds, approx. total wt. .50cts., IJ/SI, length 7/8".