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Retailers are increasingly looking at big data to understand their consumers better and improve not only their product offering, but also the consumers experience with the brand. Ultimately, the future of retail seeks to speak to "you" personally. Under the theme collectively individual, the South African Council of Shopping Centres (SACS) Congress which took place between the 13th and the 15th of September 2017, focused on the retail sectors move to personalisation, individualism and innovation.
Innovation in South African retail
We have seen innovative offerings such as Airbnb and Uber disrupt the hospitality and transportation industries, placing retailers on their toes as looming threats of disruption persist. Change is inevitable and retailers are having to become more innovative in adapting to fast changing retail trends. The pace of change in the South African market has often lagged other developed markets with retailers operating in a low growth economic environment with consumers continuing to tighten their belts as sentiment remain low and consumer debt remains high.
The World Bank has recently downgraded South Africa's economic growth rate forecast for 2017 to 0.6% with growth expected to pick up to 1.1% and 1.7% in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Despite the country exiting a recession in Q2 2017, the projected growth for the next two years highlights continued pressure in the economy with the retail sector not immune to the tough operating environment.
Without disregarding future trends, retailers are focusing on thriving in the current economic climate with the added difficulty of increasing competition as international brands continue to enter the South African market, the latest being Miniso. We anticipate greater emphasis on operational efficiencies, a cautious approach to expansion plans, and more conservative shop sizes.
Online shopping
Online shopping in the South African market represented less than 1% of total retail sales in 2016 indicating the relevance of traditional retail centres in the market. Despite e-commerce's small contribution to total sales, the growing trend cannot be overlooked as South African consumers increasingly embrace the convenience of shopping online. This may lead to fewer tangible goods bought in stores with implications of declining trading densities and less inventory on the shelves.
Threats of online shopping disrupting traditional brick and mortar retail have been extensively discussed and often cited as one of the reasons retailers have filed for bankruptcy (the most recent being Toys R Us) or closed shop. However, the quest for physical stores by Amazon (a predominantly online retailer) and Walmart's aggressive acquisition of online platforms are prime examples of how retailers seek to marry the convenience of online shopping with the retail experience of traditional bricks and mortar centres; a key trend going forward.
Outlook for the future
The good news has been the 0.25 basis points (bps) interest rate cut which is expected to give some relief to household debt service costs. Moderating inflation will also have a positive effect on consumer purchasing power which may see slight increases in retail trade sales going forward. Landlords and developers remain optimistic about the future of the retail sector in South Africa which has proven to remain defensive through fluctuating economic cycles.


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One of my readers admonished me to paint a picture of eternal life. It seems a reasonable request, now that I have had the last two weeks to offer a Biblical perspective on the subject. Fortunately for me I have already painted such a picture in one of my short stories found in my recent collection, Seven Stories. Thus, to honor my reader's request, I will post the story here in two parts. It is definitely the most philosophical/theological of my stories, so hopefully you will find it both thought-provoking and entertaining.
A Lesson in Time
[To be continued next week.......]

subset: commoncrawl


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- Disney+ 'hack' panic stresses why you need to use unique passwords
- Security Leader: Keith Marlow, ELMO Software
- Australia releases advice to counter 'foreign interference' after university cyber attacks
- Cisco: there's a bad bug in open source software that a Netflix engineer abandoned in 2016
- When moving to cloud, don't lift-and-shift your security techniques
Digital disinterest
Stagnating digital content and delivery innovation is sending a poor message to our Western peers and local neighbours, says David Bartlett.16 Dec / Written by David Bartlett / Comfort Zone
Why best practice is risky
Governance frameworks imply a well-oiled corporate machine, but is that really the way forward in the face of digital disruption?11 Dec / Written by Rob Livingstone / The Accidental CIO
Open Government, how ready is Australia?
Open Government fundamentally aims to build and maintain a systematic approach to improving transparency, accountability and responsiveness to citizens.28 Nov / Written by Rory Gregg / Leadership
Can business IT projects succeed?
For every enterprise IT project, there are as many versions of reality as there are stakeholders. Is there a way to defeat the odds and win?15 Sep / Written by Rob Livingstone / The Accidental CIO
Belling the tertiary education cat
Digital disruption is fuelling the rise of online curriculums in the university sector, and CIOs must be ready to deliver.15 Sep / Written by David Bartlett / Comfort Zone
E*Trade – when customer experience and IT fail
Sometimes IT fails. And when that happens, that's when the customer experience really kicks in. A perfect example of this is E*Trade Australia.16 Jul / Written by Davy Adams / Number Crunch
The mythology of IT and business alignment
Companies lacking a formal corporate strategy are making it even harder for IT departments to meet expectations and lead transformation.4 Jun / Written by Rob Livingstone / The Accidental CIO
Fitness smarts
Can smartphones and wearable technology solve our nation's health problems?3 Jun / Written by David Bartlett / Comfort Zone
The chief confused officer
Technology's democratisation is reshaping business but it's also introducing new complexities around management and governance. So where do you fit in?2 Apr / Written by Rob Livingstone / The Accidental CIO
Big data, big dilemmas
Organisations are increasingly touting big data as the next big opportunity, but are we equipped to deal with it intelligently?1 Apr / Written by David Bartlett / Comfort Zone
A day in the life of a CIO
A CIOs job is never done. A day in the life of a chief information officer
Choice Is Open
Information management has changed significantly over the last decade - both internally and externally. Think cloud, SaaS, PaaA, IaaS, open source, data integration, development ... the choice is open.
CIO Matters
Comfort Zone
CIOs stepping out of their comfort zones to become business leaders who help drive the business strategy.
Editor's Blog
CIO editor, Georgina Swan, talks ICT, business and what makes IT leaders tick.
Davy Adams
Davy Adams is the Managing Director of IDG Australia, publisher of Computerworld and CIO.
David Bartlett
David Bartlett is former Premier of Tasmania and one-time CIO. He is chairman of Asdeq Labs and works with communities on the NBN through Explor Digital Futures. He also likes to go fishing.
Peter Black
Peter Black is an experienced Business, Executive and Retirement Coach with specialties in CEO coaching and mentoring, the IT industry and professional services firms.
Bruce Carlos
Bruce Carlos is principal of Starmaster Group and an industry recognised CIO. He was a founding member of the CIO Executive Council of Australia, and the former CIO of Raytheon Australia and the Victorian Government's Centre of IT Excellence.
Rodney Gedda
Rodney Gedda is the former deputy editor of CIO and former editor of Techworld.
Rory Gregg
Rory is a Partner at Grant Thornton, leading their Business Transformation consulting practice in Sydney. His specialties are business strategy, performance improvement, and transformational change. Follow him on Twitter @rory_gregg
Rob Livingstone
Rob is a respected and experienced CIO, with more than three decades of industry and ICT experience. Over the last 16 years he has held the CIO role at several multinationals, most recently Ricoh. He is the owner of Rob Livingstone Advisory and a Fellow of University of Technology, Sydney. Rob delivers the Pathways Advanced and Business ICT leadership programs in conjunction with the CIO Executive Council.
Ross Maher
Ross Maher is the director of Build21c, an innovation project planning and research company that helps companies innovate. His specialities include project definition and set up, and he believes the best innovation occurs through a conversation with customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. Learn more at www.build21c.com.au
Scott Stewart
Scott is an experienced CIO with over 20 years of ICT experience. He has held senior management and executive positions in both the private and public sectors. These roles spanned both business and ICT functions including CIO of the large industry superannuation fund Sunsuper, and CIO of a large ASX listed stockbroker. Scott has more recently moved into the research and industry analyst sector and is now the Research Director at ITNewcom, a benchmarking, research and consulting practice. Follow Scott on Twitter: @CIOMatters.
Georgina Swan
Georgina Swan, former Editor of CIO.
Chris Yates
Chris Yates is the former CIO of Tennis Australia, where he oversaw the IT strategy for organisation and led the IT team for tournaments such as the Australian Open and Davis Cup. He has worked across various industries, including financial services, marketing and advertising.
- Sorry, Apple: For the education market, Chromebook is the clear winner
- Australia risks being 'steamrolled on AI,' Labor's O'Neil says
- Vodafone wants NBN connections to match 'sticker' speeds
- Twitter tightens bans on political ads and causes ahead of 2020 U.S. election
- Microsoft to probe work of Israeli facial recognition startup it funded
- 5 ways your cloud migration may fail—and 5 ways to succeed
- White-box switches yield initial savings but pose challenges
- What is the .NET Framework? Microsoft's answer to Java
- JNUC 2019: For enterprise pros, it's like the old days of Apple events
- National Hackathon Challenge Brings Together Cybersecurity Professionals, Developers and Students to Target Cyberthreats
- Eyres swaps Sport Australia for Vanguard investments
- Dentsu flags restructure following disappointing local results
- Why organisational culture is the new business superpower
- What Motorcycle Holdings is doing to optimise its content marketing strategy
- Forrester announces leaders in global digital experience agencies


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Physicians should not prescribe ADD drugs to healthy people
Physicians in Canada should consider refusing to prescribe cognitive enhancement medications—also used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD)—to healthy patients, states an analysis article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Lack of evidence for benefits and possibility of harm, limited health care resources and professional integrity of physicians are reasons why this use is not acceptable.
Prescription stimulants such as methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine are often used by people for "cognitive enhancement" to increase focus, concentration and memory. Because these drugs are available in Canada by prescription only, people must request them from their doctors.
"Physicians are important stakeholders in this debate, given the risks and regulations of prescription drugs and the potential for requests from patients for cognitive enhancers," writes Dr. Eric Racine, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal and Université de Montréal, with coauthors.
People take prescription stimulants to perform better in school or at work. Prevalence rates of cognitive enhancer use by university students ranges from 1% to 11% in some studies. Risks to taking stimulants include cardiovascular harm, dependence and psychosis. Current evidence has not shown that the desired benefits of enhanced mental performance are achieved with these substances.
"With uncertain benefits and clear harms, it is difficult to support the notion that physicians should prescribe a medication to a healthy individual for enhancement purposes," adds Dr. Racine with Cynthia Forlini, two coauthors of the paper.
Because physicians in Canada provide prescriptions through a publicly funded health care system with expanding demands for care, prescribing cognitive enhancers may not be an appropriate use of resources.
"Given the current state of limited evidence on medical, scientific, social and ethical aspects of cognitive enhancement, we call for greater attention to its appropriateness within existing Canadian health care systems," the authors conclude.
Explore further


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Silicone Jewellery - Bracelets and Bangles
Babies all do it – grab something to put into their mouth - and while babies are teething, it's something they do constantly. Bambeado's range of silicone jewellery is for every proud Mum to wear, and is a fantastic safe option for any little one determined to put things in their mouth. Available in a variety of styles and colours, including necklaces, pendants and bracelets, something in this range is sure to match any proud Mum's wardrobe choice…..while keeping your baby happy! Easy to clean, our silicone range is BPA free and heavy metal free.
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Adult Silicone Combination Bracelet (7cm, Candy)
MYR RMCountryNZAUUSSGMYIn Stock: 0
Our combination bracelets are 6.8 cm in diameter and come in a stylish combination of oval and round beads. The texture and colour of the beads will keep little ones occupied for hours.They look great and are so practical for multitasking mums. Matching necklaces are also available.Silicone jewellery is fantastic for multi-tasking mums that love to wear accessories but are worried about items being mouthed - or worse - pulled and broken by inquisitive hands or mouths.Bambeado silicone is made from 100% food grade silicone and has been tested to ensure it is free of heavy metals, and is PVC and BPA free.They are great to wear if you have a baby that is teething.Bambeado silicone is easy to look after - just simply wash with soap and water and dry with a clean cloth.Bambeado silicone jewellery is not a toy and children should not be left unsupervised with Bambeado silicone products.


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BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syria announced on Monday a presidential election for June 3, preparing the ground for Bashar al-Assad to defy widespread opposition and extend his grip on power, days after he said the civil war was turning in his favor.
Western and Gulf Arab countries that back Assad's opponents have called plans for an election a "parody of democracy" and said it would wreck efforts to negotiate a peace settlement.
U.N.-backed talks in Geneva collapsed in February with both sides far from agreement - not least over the question of whether Assad should go.
Monzer Akbik, of the Western-backed National Coalition opposition group, told Reuters the election was a sign Assad was unwilling to seek a political solution to the conflict.
"This is a state of separation from reality, a state of denial. He didn't have any legitimacy before this theatrical election and he will not after," Akbik said.
"We do not know what actor he is putting up as an opponent but we are not taking this seriously."
Infighting has fragmented the anti-Assad forces, and several major opposition figures did not attend the Geneva talks.
The European Union reiterated its stance against holding an election now. It said such a vote "conducted in the midst of conflict, only in regime-controlled areas and with millions of Syrians displaced from their homes would be a parody of democracy, have no credibility whatsoever, and undermine efforts to reach a political solution."
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: "Such elections are incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Geneva communique," referring to a June 2012 agreement on seeking a political transition in Syria.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "The Syrian regime under the Assads has never held a credible, free and fair election and has taken legal and administrative steps to ensure that this vote will not be fair.
"Calling for a de facto referendum rings especially hollow now as the regime continues to massacre the very electorate it purports to represent," she added.
The three-year-old rebellion against Assad has killed more than 150,000 people, forced millions to flee their homes and caused the government to lose control over swathes of territory.
On Monday, 11 government and loyalist fighters were killed near Talbisah, an Alawite town north of the central city of Homs, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an anti-Assad group based in Britain.
Alawites are followers of an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam. Assad is Alawite and the bulk of his opponents are Sunni Muslims, who form the majority of Syria's population.
On Sunday, dozens of people were killed in air strikes in the northern city of Aleppo, the Observatory said, including 14 people in the Baeedeen neighborhood killed by "barrel bombs" - highly destructive improvised explosives dropped by helicopter, a tactic that Western countries have condemned as a war crime.
Gun battles, shelling and air strikes continue daily and the weekly death toll from the conflict regularly exceeds 1,000. The Observatory put Sunday's death toll at 273.
The U.S. State Department said on Monday it had indications a toxic chemical, probably chlorine, was used in the Syrian town of Kfar Zeita this month.
We are examining allegations that the government was responsible," Psaki told a regular news briefing. "Obviously there needs to be an investigation of what's happened here."
Syrian opposition activists reported that helicopters dropped chlorine gas on Kfar Zeita on April 11 and 12.
In Damascus, which has been spared the worst of the fighting, two people were killed by mortars fired by "terrorists", state news agency SANA said.
Although Assad has not said explicitly he will run for office again, preparations for his candidacy have already begun in state-controlled parts of the capital.
Announcing the election on state television, parliamentary Speaker Mohamed Jihad al-Laham said requests for nomination would be accepted until May 1. Syrians outside the country would be able to vote at Syrian embassies on May 28, he said.
Parliament set residency rules for presidential candidates in March, a move that would bar many of Assad's foes who live in exile.
Assad said last week the conflict had reached a "turning point" because of military gains against the rebels.
Additional reporting by Dasha Afanasieva in Istanbul, Adrian Croft in Brussels, Louis Charbonneau and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, and David Brunnstrom and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Editing by Robin Pomeroy, Peter Cooney and David Gregorio


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If you own an arts and craft business, or any other business where you need to keep a simple record of your stock, this is for you. You can keep your stock figures, as well as track what you have purchased, stock adjustments, and what stock has been used in orders. If you want a simple stock solution, look no further.
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- Press the 'Order Product' button when you are ready to place the order.
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If you are unclear about anything, or if you just wish to chat to us to confirm, please do contact us. Various contact methods can be found on our home page.
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Beautifull Design For Your Home
Have you imagine that you have a dream library? It is not too large, but the most important thing is you can enjoy of the library. One of the solutions is you can design a small library in your house. What kind of the design? Of course, you can design as you want. Do you want to get some inspirations? Okay. Just let's see these pictures.
We see a strange home library here. There is a living room designed in cream theme. The sofa is designed in 'L' shape with glossy table here. Some windows looks so natural with semicircle and square shape and some white curtains here. But, it is not the main point. You can see a luxury library above this living room. With black ladder, you can reach a home library here.
The other living room design with unique design presented here. Look at this picture. You can see a white sofa presented here with some charming cushions on it. But, the main point is the library in this room. Behind the sofa, there is a bookshelf with wooden accent. I like those books. If you see it deeper, those books are so neatly design with colorful theme. Is it beautiful.Read more »
so enough information about Extraordinary Home Library Presenting Comfy Design may be useful for anada and family to build your dream home, if you need please book mark this page at the link http://veggieandtofu.blogspot.com/2014/08/extraordinary-home-library-presenting.html


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Indianapolis 500: Tony Kanaan finally earns Indy victory
|By Mark Glendenning
|Sunday, May 26th 2013, 19:32 GMT
Tony Kanaan's long wait for a win at Indianapolis came to an end on Sunday when the Brazilian drank the milk at the end of an action-packed Indy 500
You have viewed over 15 free stories this month. Why stop there? Click here to find out how to continue reading.


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The former People magazine writer who accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct responded to the Republican presidential nominee, saying in an article published Tuesday that women "cannot be silent anymore."
The magazine also said six people close to Natasha Stoynoff have come forward to corroborate her story, including a friend who was with Stoynoff when she ran into Melania Trump later in New York City.
Stoynoff, 51, said Trump forced himself on her at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in 2005 while his wife went to change for a photo shoot. Stoynoff said she was there to interview Trump and his then pregnant wife Melania, 11 months after the couple's wedding for a People cover story.
Stoynoff recalled taking a tour of the mansion prior to the incident. "We walked into that room alone, and Trump shut the door behind us. I turned around, and within seconds he was pushing me against the wall and forcing his tongue down my throat," Stoynoff wrote. She said Trump also told her, "We're going to have an affair, I'm telling you."
Eight other women have accused Trump of having touched them inappropriately and of being treated as objects over several decades, allegations Trump has denied.
"Women are talking about this, and they need to," Stoynoff said in the story published Tuesday on People.com. "We cannot be silent anymore. I didn't tell my story for politics, I told it for women."
Trump said during a rally in Florida last week that all the allegations of sexual miscondunct are "all 100 percent, totally and completely fabricated." He added about Stoynoff, "She lies! Look at her, I don't think so."
"I was obviously good-looking enough for him at the time to force-kiss me and insist that we were going to have an affair," Stoynoff told People.
NBC News has confirmed none of the allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump and his campaign have denied that he has ever behaved toward women in a way reflected in 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which he was recorded bragging about having made sexually inappropriate advances to married women. "Access Hollywood" is owned and distributed by NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News, MSNBC and this station.
"It's possible he just doesn't remember it," Stoynoff told People of the incident. "It was over 10 years ago and I assume I am one of many, many women."
In a pair of interviews with CNN and Fox News this week, Melania Trump suggested that the women who have come forward were attention-seekers who were making "damaging and unfair" accusations.
"I believe my husband," she told CNN in an interview that aired Monday night. "My husband didn't do anything."
Melania Trump, 46, has also demanded retractions from Stoynofff, telling CNN's Anderson Cooper that information in the article was fabricated.
"The story that came out in People magazine, the writer she said my husband took her to the room and started kissing her, she wrote in the same story about me that she saw me on Fifth Avenue, and I said to her 'Natasha, how come we don't see you anymore?' I was never friends with her, I would not recognize her," she said.
But Stoynoff's friend Liza Herz told People she remembers being there during the meeting on Fifth Avenue.
"They chatted in a friendly way," said Herz, who met Stoynoff in college. "And what struck me most was that Melania was carrying a child and wearing heels."
Five other people back up Stoynoff's version of what happened to her at the Florida estate, according to People. People Editor in Chief Jess Cagle said in a statement previewing the story that it would include "named sources who can corroborate Natasha Stoynoff's account.
Marina Grasic, who has known Stoynoff for over 25 years, told People Stoynoff detailed Trump's attack to her and was "struggling about not hurting pregnant Melania if the story came out."
"Beyond just the attack, she was horrified by the vulgar circumstances under which she was attacked and propositioned to have an affair. She was there in a professional capacity, writing an article about their happy marriage, and after the incident Trump acted like nothing happened," Grasic said.
Stoynoff's former journalism professor, Paul McLaughlin, told People she called him crying and looking for advice the night of the incident. He advised her not to discuss it publicly, fearing Trump may retaliate.
Stoynoff went on to share details of the encouter with People East Coast Editor Liz McNeil and Deputy East Coast News Editor Mary Green. Another coworker, Liza Hamm, who was friends with McNeil, also knew what allegedly happened to Stoynoff.
Melania Trump also repeated her husband's assertion, which he has made without supporting evidence, that the media and Clinton campaign are working in tandem to sink the Republican nominee's campaign.
NBC has reached out to the Trump campaign for responses to Stoynoff's latest comments and those by Cagle, the People editor.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x22D0po1h5Y&feature=player_embedded Hopefully this will keep the conversation going.
When I first joined the AIA in the early 1990's I was eager to be part of an organization that worked to promote Architects, first and foremost. I have, for the most part, been disappointed in this regard. For a long time, each time I paid the dues I was telling myself it was happening, but now, many years later, it hasn't happened.
The Architect and Architecture is struggling to survive. There is some great work being done, however there is far too much bad or no-design being promoted. Architects are quitting the profession and going to nearly anything else because their contribution to society is not valued as it should be. It should be the main focus of the AIA to promote this value head on.
While the AIA has promoted many issues that are noble, it has consistently gotten sidetracked on social issues and lost in the weeds of others that stem from personal political preferences - drifting wherever the current social trends take them. Those issues should be left to other organizations and architects left to join them separately as they choose. At best, the AIA has nibbled at the edges of promoting who we are as architects and how our service is essential to society.
And so, I can't shout loud enough my agreement with Mark Robin's comment: "the total legislative efforts of the AIA should be to pass the necessary legislation so than no construction in this country can be permitted without the services of an Architect."
This is long overdue to us as architects and to anyone who has any connection to the built environment. There needs to be a real change not just catharsis. AIA Leadership everywhere you are, I'm still paying dues are you listening?
First, greetings to Mark Robin, glad to hear you are still out and about.
With respect to legislating that buildings, including residential buildings be designed by architects, there are downsides to that and I don't support the idea.
When I see a problem, my reaction is never, "Let's pass a law, set up a board, establish a testing regimen to fix this!" 5 states already have license requirements for someone who shampoos someone else's hair. 7 states requires licenses for someone who does upholstery repair. Of 102 licensed occupations studied in a report from The Institute for Justice, only 15 were licensed in 40 states or more which means that either there is a lot of harm being done that could be prevented, or a lot of licensing is happening that is not vital---except that it is a source of state revenue and serves to protect the occupational opportunities of select classes of folks. Usually the excluded ones are from low income backgrounds.
Now maybe one could contend that as architects we have more opportunity to do good or harm. So, are we asking for homeowners to be required to hire licensed architects because of the havoc created by unlicensed designers and do-it-yourselfers, or because we'd like a special privilege, which has nothing to do with protecting society?
Or do we think that a license guarantees the best service? In my state all plumbers are required a licensed by the state. Are all those plumbers good plumbers? Top notch plumbers? Union plumbers are believed to have more rigorous training. They ought to be somewhat better for that, especially in the early years of their career. Should we require that all plumbing be done by union plumbers?
My state does also recognize that some structures require elevated skill, technical skill mainly. So, hospitals, schools, police stations and the like, must be engineered by licensed Structural Engineers. That is a higher standard than the more common Civil Engineer. Yet it is the Civil Engineers who manage the "structural" engineering of all other structures, that is most structures. If Structural Engineers are more capable, shouldn't all Civil Engineers be required to work under a Structural Engineer?
Some theoretical advantages are not vital, even before the offsetting disadvantages are considered.
There is also the issue of restraint of trade. If requiring all buildings be architect designed, in effect prices low cost designers out of the market, and AIA furthers this legislative effort, would AIA be open to the charge that it is engineering a floor under architectural fees? AIA got its wrist slapped pretty hard by the DOJ for attempting to keep fees above a certain level once before.
Leaders are not victims in need of protection. And how can we be so valuable to society if we clearly are working the system for our own benefit at the expense of others? We will benefit if our work is seen as beneficial and cost effective. The AIA can help with the messaging, but in the end each of us has to make the case if it can be made. I think for most architects, it can be made. Convincingly, but not in every instance. Take care, Donald
I agree with Mark Robin that the AIA (and every licensed Architect) should push for ALL buildings to require an Architect's stamp, please read my thoughts. I primarily work in and around Chicago where most every municipality requires stamped drawings and it is not seen as "extortion". These municipalities understand that a licensed professional who has been properly trained to review codes and structure is guaranteeing the building is safe and compliant to local codes. In addition they have insurance in case something ever happens. The City of Chicago now requires the Architect's certificate of insurance which I think is fantastic, I now bring my insurance certificate when I submit for permits in the suburbs and encourage them to make this a requirement (we should all do this). I believe the AIA should work with the insurance companies and make them aware that many areas in this country have homes or buildings that were designed and built by people without an Architect's license and may not be insured. I would ultimately hope they may increase premiums on buildings where this is the case, or decrease where an Architect stamp is in place. I believe they could be our greatest ally to encourage all municipalities to require both an Architect's stamp and insurance. It seems the profession has spent the last 30-40 years trying to shed the responsibility of stamping drawings so they don't get sued, I encourage the opposite. Please notice I have never mentioned "design", I work with many Designers who are extremely talented and I have great respect for them. I do not believe that just because someone has passed the Architect's exam that they are good designers. With this being said trying to sell Architect services on the "better design because I'm an Architect" principal alone is a tough sell especially when many Designers have proven they are better. However, I do believe that Designers should work in conjunction with Architects for the reasons stated above. I guarantee if we made this happen the occupation of Architects would be elevated.


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Anna Pottery was started in Anna, Illinois, in 1859 by Cornwall and Wallace Kirkpatrick. They made many types of utilitarian wares, bricks, drain tiles, and giftware. The most famous pieces made by the pottery are the pig-shaped bottles and jugs with inscriptions. Anna Pottery pigs often had maps of railroads inscribed on the body. Jugs were made with snakes and references to social issues like the Temperance Movement. The pottery closed in 1894.
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First Person Shooter
Assault on Dark Athena picks up moments after Riddick's escape from Butcher Bay. In flight away from the prison, Riddick and Johns' vessel is drawn into the clutches of a mercenary ship called the Dark Athena. Johns is taken captive while Riddick manages to awake from cryo-sleep and evade capture. With mercenaries in pursuit of the bounty on Riddick's head, Riddick must do what he does best - kill those who get in his way and escape, using sneaking, hand to hand combat & guns anything it takes. Starring Vin Diesel as the voice of Riddick.Read More


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Yes the title is true. Being an Atheist here is almost like being someone who doesn't wear camouflage, very rare. It's rough at times but people know that I will debate and make them feel silly about certain subjects, like getting to admit they believe in talking snakes and incest during those times was an okay activity. Well it's very late, early, however you want to put it (3:05CST here) but I wanted to say hi, and encourage any and all to add me to their friends list, ask me anything, add me to facebook, etc... Glad to be on board, been an Atheist for a decade now and life has been so much sweeter and logical.
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central time? where from the south are you? im originally from mississippi.
I was born in Ripley Mississippi, and currently live in West Tennessee.
im from jayess
I went to high school in Tipton County (T county as the locals there refer to it) above Memphis. I miss fishing the backwater sloughs for crappie. It does take finesse to debate the southern fundamentalist. I feel your plight as I now reside in the north of Arkansas and Jebus is still a very popular guy around here.
i miss fishing too. never fished for crappie though. mostly catfish.


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Double Fleece Dog Blanket - Red
By Charley Chau
Charley Chau's Double Fleece Dog Blankets are designed with two layers of super-soft fleece and styled with a simple stitched border - not fussy, not flash, but still gorgeous.
Additional information and key product features of this Dog Blanket:
Double Fleece Dog Blanket in Red,
The fleece used is super-soft, anti-pil, moisture-wicking and breathable, so they not only look and feel fabulous, they're practical too!
Perfect for adding a new level of cosiness to an existing dog bed, for protecting your sofa (the large size is huge) and also for lining Charley Chau's beautiful Oval Rattan Dog Basket,
Machine washable,
Made in England with love,
Other colours available.
Product code: CHC-00021
- UK Delivery (Non-Mainland) - UK Standard Delivery - £2.99 - Delivery Time: 2 to 3 days
- UK Delivery (Mainland) - Courier or Signed for - £6.50 - Delivery Time: 2 to 3 days
- UK Delivery (Mainland) - UK Next Working Day Guaranteed - £8.50
- UK Delivery (Mainland) - UK Saturday - £22.00
This item will be dispatched to you direct by our partner seller CHARLEY CHAU LIMITED who follows the general PetsPyjamas returns policy:
Please check your items on delivery. If you wish to return an item, it should be returned to our partner seller directly and not to PetsPyjamas. If you wish to organise a return, exchange or refund of any item, please go to the returns page on our website at www.petspyjamas.com/returns. For standard items, you have 7 days, from receipt of goods, to notify our partner and you must return goods at your own cost within 14 days of receiving the item.
For damaged/faulty items, you must contact us within 48 hours at firstname.lastname@example.com. To help speed up the returns process, we recommend you send us photographic evidence of the relevant item. You will then be issued with return guidance from us.
You must return items unused, in a saleable condition, with any labels still attached and in the original packaging that you received them in. Any items that do not comply with these guidelines, we hold the right to not refund. You should use a 'signed for' delivery method and obtain proof of postage.
Please note any exemptions and exceptions to the standard returns procedure, where the following items are likely to be non-returnable and non-refundable: personalised/customised items, perishable products (such as food), grooming products, large items of furniture which are often custom made and custom homewares. Please make sure you understand the relevant partner sellers' policies whenever you buy.
Please see www.petspyjamas.com/petspyjamas-returns/ for full PetsPyjamas general returns information.
Please click here for full PetsPyjamas general returns information.
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Director, Procurement & Contract Services - John Hebard
Ph: 907.474.6831 Fx: 907.474.7720
Procurement and Contract Services
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 757940
Fairbanks, AK 99775-7940
John Hebard was named Director of UAF Procurement and Contract Services in November, 2007. He has 14 years of contracting experience including 12 with UAF. Hebard was raised in Fairbanks, graduated from Lathrop High School, and received a B.A. in Political Science from UAF. A Certified Purchasing Manager since 1998, he also holds a Masters Certificate in Government Contracting from George Washington University.


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Kundra Not Concerned About Tech Execs Joining Obama Team
Vivek Kundra, national chief information officer, is not concerned that hiring top technology executives to serve in the Obama administration poses any ethical dilemmas.
The federal government has more than four million employees and 10,000 information technology systems, so the hiring of a handful of Google or Microsoft executives is barely a blip on the radar, Kundra said during Tuesday's Personal Democracy Forum.
"What I would say is that it's so exciting to actually be in an administration where I have access to some of the brightest minds when it comes to information technology," Kundra said in a response to a question. "Those people are coming to serve in the interest of their country and [are] driving towards making change that's fundamental and structural [and] extremely important in terms of where we're headed."
Those people include Andrew McLaughlin, a former Google policy executive who last month was selected as deputy chief technology officer. The appointment prompted protests from consumer groups who argued that hiring McLaughlin was a conflict of interest.
In April, meanwhile, Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer, were named to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), an advisory group intended to help the president and vice president develop tech-related policies.
Kundra was not concerned that any of these executives would greatly influence technology policy.
"As far as the universe of people who are involved in [government] technology, you can slice and dice it so many ways because you're talking about tens of thousands of people who are working in information technology," he said.
The contributions of someone like McLaughlin, while important, are a "small percentage" of the overall work on federal IT projects, Kundra said.
Macon Philips, the White House director of new media, agreed.
"What we are trying to do is bring in a lot of people who can facilitate a process, really think about how we can make the government more transparent, and involve the public in our decision making," Philips said.
These executives "get that in their gut, and they care every day about ways that we can be more open," Philips said.
The doubters, meanwhile, can keep the government in check, Kundra said, by keeping tabs of IT projects via the newly announced IT Dashboard Web site.
"You'll be able to see everything online ... when it comes to procurements, contracts, and investments across the board," he said.


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I use Grammarly's plagiarism checker because sometimes there's reason my dialog sounds eerily like a Dos Equis commercial.
I've been reading a lot of N.D. Wilson lately, which is to say, as of five minutes ago, I've read everything he's written: The 100 Cupboards Trilogy, Leepike Ridge, Ashtown Burials, Death by Living and Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl.
The author who forces you to read everything he or she has written is a rare find and I can count the ones I've met with my fingers. P.D. James was one of the last such discoveries for me and that was about eight years ago, and those wondrously haunting, psychological, bloody murders got me through the hardest days of seminary. Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl is the book that made me realize I'd have to read all of Wilson's stuff and his first nonfiction work.
What I like about Wilson? His irrepressible, G.K. Chesterton-like happiness in the created world, a faith that inspires humor (all too rare), and his optimism about death.
Wilson's writing jones is impressive, but what I enjoy even more than his wordsmithery is his outlook. It's a dogged, tenacious happiness that few possess and fewer still could explain or express. Christians should be happy, even when we're beat up. We should find a lot to joke about, starting with ourselves. If you follow Jesus, then you're in the camp that states unequivocally, Death is already the punchline of God's comedy, death has been had, death poses no real threat. Wilson:
This world is beautiful but badly broken. St. Paul said that it groans, but I love it even in its groaning. I love this round stage where we act out the tragedies and comedies of history. I love it with all of its villains and petty liars and self-righteous pompers. I love the ants and the laughter of wide-eyed children encountering their first butterfly. I love it as it is, because it is a story, and it isn't stuck in one place. It is full of conflict and darkness like every good story. And like every good story, there will be an ending. I love the world as it is, because I love what it will be.Other reasons I like Wilson: He has five kids. Renovates his own house. Has a high tolerance for risk, reasons outlined above, and...he writes. All said, this guy does my heart good. Highly recommended.


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This casual yet chic long-sleeved tee has an interesting strappy neckline to add edge to its slouchiness
What You'll Get
After purchasing this deal, you will need to visit the company's website to complete redemption.
The Deal
- $24 for one Cut Loose Shirt ($89.99 value)
A chic selection of effortlessly stylish clothing, curated by a team of expert fashionistas—that's what Alistfinds excels at. But it's hardly all the company has to offer. It also stocks 18-karat gold jewelry with Swarovski elements, on-trend bags, makeup supplies, and high-tech watches. By snatching up these sought-after items and putting them all in one place, alistfinds is able to give fashion-conscious customers a deal on tomorrow's trends.
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Limit 2 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Valid online only. Shipping not included. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Balla Bracelets
Turquoise and gold entwined in leather. A halo-shaped crystal inside a silver frame. A single silvery pendant inscribed with words of inspiration. The chic statements that make up the jewelry collections of Balla Bracelets effortlessly incorporate a balance between harmony and style, blending stones and crystals that offer healing and spiritual properties with a refined sense of fashion. The online boutique stocks both casual and elegant bracelets, giving you a bedazzling option for nearly any event, be it a friendly get-together, job interview, or black-tie chili cookout.
Though Balla is known for its bracelets, it also helps customers express their personalities through other accessories. These include sparkly white-crystal stud earrings, layered necklaces that mix metal and stones, and purses in soft, brightly colored leather.


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Albania - Profile Updates
Albania/ 2. General objectives and principles of cultural policy
2.1 Main features of the current cultural policy model
Arts and culture suffered in clashes between central and local government over funding and planning.
Albania/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.7 Copyright provisions
Piracy remains widespread and the enforcement of intellectual property rights is hampered by the lack of appropriate experience and qualifications of the Albanian courts.
Albania/ 5.3 Sector specific legislation
5.3.4 Literature and libraries
A draft strategy and action plan on Public Library Development was presented in anticipation of work on a new legal framework.
Albania/ 5.3 Sector specific legislation
5.3.5 Architecture and spatial planning
A new Law on Territorial Planning came into force on 1 September 2010.
Albania/ 8.3 Arts and cultural education
8.3.1 Institutional overview
The Law on Higher Education (2010) was implemented to clarify the education system in accordance with the Bologna agreement.
Albania/ 8.3 Arts and cultural education
8.3.4 Higher arts education and professional training
The private Kristal University launched its School of Arts in 2009, and plans to offer programmes in theatre arts from 2011.