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Crowdbooster Review + 50 Free Invites/
As a result of the popularity and influence of social media a lot of services have popped up recently that attempt to help individuals/businesses measure the effectiveness of their social media usage. Many of these services just aggregate data in different ways and end up telling you a lot of what you already know. Crowdbooster takes this concept a lot further and provides some great insight into how effective your social media usage really is.
The first thing you will notice after setting up an account on Crowdbooster is that it provides a very easy to read dashboard which illustrates the reach and influence of your tweets. This is useful because you can really draw some conclusions about when tweets are most likely to get noticed and who your target audience really is. Timing is everything and Crowdbooster not only provides insight on that topic but also allows you to schedule your tweets for maximum reach. Being able to determine the impact/influence of each tweet before you send it out really makes a huge difference and enables you to make more informed decisions.
Identifying and understanding the interests of your target audience is a critical factor in engaging and building your network. The data driven recommendations and insights that Crowdbooster provides are very helpful in identifying those interests and acting on them. Rather than just shooting (or in this case Tweeting) blindly you can take use information that Crowdbooster provides and really shed some light on what areas you need to improve on as well as what areas you are having a significant impact.
Obviously no analytics system is complete without a set of reporting tools and Crowdbooster is no exception. It features a number of customizable reports which provide further insight into both growth and impact trends. One of the features I like most is the ability to view specific details of a tweet including retweets, @ replies, link information (when applicable) as well as the number of impressions.
Crowdbooster is not just for Twitter, it also supports Facebook fan pages as well. The information Crowdbooster provides with Facebook is similar to Twitter data but instead of focusing on your followers it targets your fans. You can drill down further on a user-by-user basis and based on what they have liked you can really get a sense of what keeps them most engaged. A big part of understanding your community is knowing what gets their attention and what keeps them interested. To learn more about Crowdbooster's Facebook integration check out their recent blog post.
I think Crowdbooster could improve in a couple of areas. I would like to see data on tweets that have been added as favorites by other users as I think this would provide some interesting insight beyond just tweets that have been retweeted. I find the influential followers section to be rather limited and would like to see that expanded quite a bit. If you upgrade to either the business or agency level accounts you can generate on-demand CSV reports which is great but I would like to see Crowdbooster adopt the same model that Simply Measured has and allow personal users to generate a CSV report for the price of a tweet. I think that model works really well and enables personal users to work with the data on a more intimate level while still promoting the product, it's a win/win.
All-in-all I really like Crowdbooster and think that it is well on it's way to becoming the de-facto standard for social media analytics. I want to give a big shout out to the Crowdbooster team for providing 50 free invites for my readers. To give Crowdbooster a test drive (it is still in private beta) just click here to setup your FREE account.


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Largetha Navy Tote Bag
Largetha Navy Tote Bag
- Material : Canvas Wp
- Non Furing
- Size : Approximately 36 x 39 cm
- Handle : 59 cm
- Penutup Menggunakan Velcro
- Handcrafted in Indonesia
- Weight : 250 gr
- pp : eldnn
Returns are available for all items excluding discounted items. Items must be returned within 4 - 14 working days of receipt for a refund and any received thereafter may be denied. All returning items must be shipped through traceable mail at the customer's expense. Items must be returned in their original condition and packaging including tags.
Exchanging items is possible if the item is in stock and the customer is responsible for the shipping charges to AdorableProjects and back to the customer. If items are not in stock, we will refund minus the shipping cost. Please contact our Customer Care for returns.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Your story and personal experience with electronic visit verification (EVV) are always the most compelling when talking to others about this issue!
If you're unsure how to begin conversation or want more guidance on directing the conversation, feel free to use the media toolkit items below. You will find:
- Recommended social media post content
- Hashtags to use when discussing EVV
- Images and memes
- Frequently Asked Questions on EVV
- Sample telephone scripts
- Contact lists to Congress members and state Medicaid Directors
- Links to petitions and relevant news articles
Stop EVV understands that ending electronic visit verification in its entirety is not an option. We seek to end intrusive components. To that end, we propose the following:
(1) Pass a congressional bill amending the 21st Century Cures Act to exempt consumer-directed programs, and family-provided care, from the EVV requirements, maintaining the intent and integrity of these programs and waivers;
(2) Prohibit the use of invasive EVV components, including GPS tracking, biometrics, camera use and audio recording within a consumer's private home; and
(3) Recommend the use of web-based timesheets with dual authentication by both the consumer and the provider at the close of the pay period, like most government agencies use for their employees. A website timesheet can be designed to include entry for location, type of service provided, and start and end times. The consumer will be able to authenticate the hours and services provided using their own login and password. Each provider will also have their own, separate and unique login and password to authenticate timesheets. Once both parties have authenticated the same information, these web-based timesheets can be directly, electronically submitted to a third-party payroll for processing.
Suggested Social Media Posts
You can also feel free to use these short, succinct messages through Twitter, Facebook or other social media platforms.
There is a shortage crisis of home care providers in the nation. Low wages, few or no benefits and now #EVV privacy intrusions are driving providers to quit the field. This creates a heightened risk for disabled people to end up institutionalized. #StopEVV
As citizens of the United States we are guaranteed the same freedoms as anyone in America. We are disabled but we are not criminals and shouldn't be treated as such. No cameras & audio recordings in disabled homes! #EVV #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
All states are set to have #EVV implemented by 2020 or lose 1% of Medicaid funding. We demand fair, accessible technology that does not infringe on #privacy rights! #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
We have a nationwide shortage of healthcare workers. Use of invasive #EVV is causing many to quit. This loss of providers will cause disabled and older Americans to be institutionalized! #OurHomesNotNursingHomes #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Electronic Visit Verification #EVV is a violation of my Constitutional rights! We are disabled we are not criminals. #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Imagine a camera controlled by someone else that you're required to bring everywhere you go. Someone is always watching you and listening in on your most private conversations. Say NO to #EVV! #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Big Brother knows when you are sleeping and he knows when you're awake. #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Congress wants to end fraud by spying on private citizens when the fraud is right under their noses at the billions of dollars giveaway to tech companies and managed care insurers! #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
I am an employer. Now Big Brother wants to usurp my right to supervise my own employees while they're in my private home. #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Would you let the government record the sexy details you whisper to your partner at night? #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Identity theft is on the rise. No one should be required to have their HIPAA protected information and minute-by-minute geolocation available in 'the cloud' for hackers. #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Electronic visit verification #EVV is required by 2020 for #disabled and older Americans needing help in their private homes. When will you be next? #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
How many data breaches of medical information will it take to lose a government contract? #HIPAA #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Amend the 21st Century Cures Act to exempt consumer-direction and family care from #EVV requirements. #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
Keep private homes private. Stop audio and video recording #disabled and older Americans via electronic visit verification. #EVV #StopEVV #DisabledNotCriminal #disabilityrights #civilrights
The personal care industry has experienced a nationwide shortage for years, with some of the lowest wages of any field. Consumers are now reporting staff quitting at increasing rates over #EVV. Who will be left to take care of you? #StopEVV #disabilityrights #civilrights
Hashtags to Use When Discussing EVV
Images and Memes for Download
Telephone Scripts
Contact your Congress members and state Medicaid Directors via phone and let them know you oppose invasive EVV components! We've provided sample telephone scripts for you to follow.
(1) Contact your Representative and Senators directly or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for their office.
"My name is ___________ and I am a constituent. I am calling to let my representative know that I want him/her to introduce a bill banning the use of GPS tracking and biometrics collection through electronic visit verification (EVV) systems required to be used by consumers of home care and personal care services paid for through Medicaid."
(2) Call your state Medicaid Director.
"My name is ___________ and I am (a Medicaid consumer / an independent provider / a consumer's family member / a concerned citizen). I am calling to demand that my state Medicaid department prohibit the use of invasive electronic visit verification (EVV) components for disabled and older Americans who use personal care and home health care services. I do not agree with any EVV system that uses GPS tracking, biometric collection, places a camera in a private home or can potentially capture audio. Please support a web-based time sheet."
Contact Lists
Write to and phone your Congress members and state Medicaid Directors!
Locate your Congressional leaders
Find your state Medicaid Director
Senate members (Follow buttons)
Senate member Twitter handles list
House members (Follow buttons)
House member Twitter handles list
Political reporters on Twitter (Follow buttons)
Congressional media reporters on Twitter (Follow buttons)
Tweet at some of the biggest IT companies making and selling EVV: @mygeotracking @Sandata_Tech @HomeCareTech @Axxess @AloraSoftware @CareWatchInc1
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Stop EVV developed this short 2-page FAQ document to introduce individuals to electronic visit verification (EVV). These documents may be printed and distributed widely!
Petitions, News Articles and Other Resources
Federal Ban on GPS and Biometrics in EVV Systems (White House Petitions, Jan. 2019)
ADAPT Sign-On Form to Exempt Consumer Direction from Mandate (Survey Monkey, Jan. 2018)
News Articles on EVV:
State's new anti-fraud devices have the disabled worried about snooping (Dayton Daily News, Feb. 2018)
Federal Law Now Requires States to GPS Track Disabled People Who Use Attendants (The Mighty, Jan. 2018)
File A Complaint Online
File a Civil Rights (disability discrimination or ADA violation) Complaint
File a Health Information Privacy (HIPAA) Complaint


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The Colors We Carry
We tend to be worried about all the things we can not control. And therefore, we don't need to either worry nor control these things…. We also tend to pay very little attention to the things we actually can and should control, mainly, the colors, the vibration we carry!
We are entities fundamentally composed of molecules moving in wavelike form in space and time. We have physical, mental, emotional and energetic bodies creating a certain vibration which is the primary way in which we interact/communicate with the world. The words we say are only about 15% of how we communicate. We really speak with a vibrational voice.
Just like we have one of a kind fingerprints, we are also completely unique in the vibration we carry. There is no one else in the Universe just like you!
If we have our thoughts, feelings and actions all in agreement there is integrity, which leads to clarity and purpose in our being…. We clearly express what we desire and very directly move to manifest it. If we have competing messages between these different parts of our being, there is no clarity nor force with which to manifest into reality.
By creating greater integration, harmony, and alignment of our bodies we can refine our vibration and create a higher state of wellbeing for ourselves and those around us. We can choose the "feeling state" we would like to be in and we can choose to hold the feeling state on all our different bodies, both of these actions are what we can truly actively control.
Therefore our primary focus is to be placed on our "being" state. Instead of looking to control the outer world we can work on controlling the quality of our breath, of our thoughts, of our actions and our emotions. By refining our own being we are in an empowered position from which to engage with life. We create a place of clarity, integrity and precision which easily blends with the reality of the present moment. As you and the outer world come into alignment, friction and conflict are eliminated from your life. A state of inner peace and harmony is created.
If we set time aside each day to tend to our own wellbeing we will be creating a profound change not only in ourselves but it will also ripple out to the whole world. All change starts from within and the practices are fairly simple. It does take desire, time, and effort to develop the mental focus, inner-knowing, awareness and mindfulness to become fully empowered of your own being, of the quality of your vibration, of the colors you are carrying.
Our outer world is only a reflection of our inner world. Peace, health, love, happiness, joy, abundance, etc. are all created from within. Spending our days in fear and anxiety over our uncertain future is a futile path.
As we develop this inner strength and grounding life becomes this beautiful adventure to explore and experience. We welcome every day with the enthusiasm and delight of a child ready to explore the gifts inherent in each moment. The outer landscape changes but our inner being remains constant and vibrant.


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Now that you have a website worthy of your brand, what's next? You have got to begin establishing a reputation for it. I often tell my clients that gaining traction with a website is a lot like building up your own reputation, whether it be at a new job or in a new network of people. Unless you're already a well-known entity, you typically don't become a superstar overnight.
A Web Presence Lacking Strategy Results in Chaos
Building a web presence requires a strategy. It's a simple statement, but not always an easy task. As you work to build hype around your brand and present the best marketing messages for your customer, there are many variables and verticals--and even horizontals--to consider. But remember this: in whatever efforts are made and however much you invest in your web presence, make sure they validate and advance your strategy.
Listen, this isn't like in "Field of Dreams," where "if you build it, they will come." Having a website without driving traffic to it is not effective. There are too many individuals and businesses competing for the same prime real estate on SERPS and you've got to get in the game of making a name for your website and online profiles.
Introductory Thoughts on Strategizing
It's difficult to put an award-winning web presence strategy into an easy "to-do" list. For that reason, in this post you won't find "3 guides to building a better web presence" or "5 tactics to improve your online accessibility." It isn't because those items wouldn't be helpful (and I can't promise that you won't see me post about them in the future), but my focus in this post is to make the case for the importance of building an intentional web presence for your business and/or whatever brand you're trying to sell. I will leave you with some thoughts to consider as you venture into the ever changing whirlwind that is Internet marketing.
In no particular order, here are some things to keep in mind as you develop your plan:
- Web presence isn't limited to your website; it's a grouping of any online mention, ads, profiles, and content that refer to your company or your brand. Make sure it's worth reading!
- Consider the value in hiring a company who is considered experts in this field and who cares about your success as their customer.
- Speaking of customers, the most important focus of your web presence should really be your own. Who are they and where will they find you? Ask yourself how your target audience will likely see your website and online ads, and move forward from there.
- Part of your strategy should absolutely consider SEO tactics, paid search, link building, and rankings; however, this should all be geared around who you're targeting, who you hope visits your site, and who you want to eventually convert as a customer.
- Don't underestimate the impact of negative press or shady SEO efforts. Identify any areas of your web presence that pose a threat to your strategy and client conversions or consult with a company who can help you identify what's hurting your current campaign.
- Don't be afraid to change an existing strategy if it isn't quite working as you had hoped, but as the old saying goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" Even then, definitely improve upon it and make it better.
In conclusion, your online imprint should be strategically built and not just thrown together with each new demand. If your tactics are void of rhyme or reason you'll see the results in your lack of visitors, minimal conversions, and chaotic search exposure. Realize that it will take time to build a reputation and to develop a strategy that will produce results. Be patient and avoid making hasty decisions about your Internet marketing.


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10 Holiday Tips to Save Time and Money
Devise a Black Friday Strategy
If you're braving the crowds, have a plan of attack and you'll get in and out of stores faster and find great buys, advises Packagedealx3, who follows a relative's lead. "After Thanksgiving dinner," she says, "my sister-in-law sifts through a stack of newspapers to find the best deals. When she leaves the house at 5 or 6 a.m. the next day, she has a written plan of what she wants and where to buy it. She even maps out the order of the stores."
Cut Spending with Online Coupons
If you're not shopping the day after Thanksgiving but still looking to score deals, hit the computer before the mall and save big bucks, say Mel_dawn and JulieCleverCouponing. Sites like dealcatcher.com, couponcabin.com, and retailmenot.com offer free printable coupons to use in stores and discount codes for shopping online, where markdowns can run up to 80 percent off on items found in stores like Best Buy and American Eagle Outfitters. (You can search by store or specific item.) "Clue into good bargains by signing up for free e-mail alerts," adds Mel_dawn.
Visit the Dollar Store
Don't be proud. Head to the dollar store to stock up on wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, and bows, suggests Jetjmom, so you'll have more of your hard-earned money to spend on the gifts themselves. You're almost guaranteed to find the best prices and get a big chunk of basic shopping done in one spot. And you may also stumble on staples like decorations, seasonal candy, and tins and boxes for homemade presents.
Get Crafty
During these tough economic times, many Momster users are rolling up their sleeves and going D.I.Y. "People love homemade gifts and it's fun making them with your kids," says HoopieMom, pointing out that you can create a whole lot of items for a fraction of what you'd spend buying one new. Mel_dawn uses simple, inexpensive ingredients to make perfumes, body powders, ornaments, and treats for family, friends, and schoolteachers. (See her recipes for body powder and perfume below.) Go the extra distance with the wrapping to make the gift extra special.
Homemade Body Powder
1 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon essential oil of your choice, such as vanilla or lavender
Here's how: Combine cornstarch and essential oil in a zip-top bag; shake well to distribute the oil. Package in a small, decorative box.
Homemade Perfume (do this without children or else heavily supervise them)
5-6 drops sandalwood oil
10 drops bergamot oil
3-4 tablespoons vodka
2-3 cups water
Here's how: Mix essential oils with vodka in a dark glass bottle, shake and set aside. After three weeks, mix the vodka mixture with water and let sit again for a week. Store the perfume in dark bottles to keep the scent fresher. (Alternative scent: instead of sandalwood and bergamot oils, use six drops lavender oil and 10 drops of chamomile oil.)
Prep Food in Advance
Cook and freeze entrees, appetizers, cookies, and desserts before the holiday season kicks into high gear, or at least well before each event. With everything at-the-ready, you'll avoid being an MIA host. "By doing the majority of food prep ahead, I can enjoy the festivities and have a wonderful stress-free time instead of staying tied to the kitchen," says Sgtjohns2. You'll also be prepared to dazzle unexpected guests.
Pick a Theme and Run with It
Avoid shopping yourself into a frenzy by choosing gifts according to a single type of item, says Sgtjohns2, who picks a different category every year—pajamas for example, or table settings. You'll save money, too, by scoping out the best deals all year long and buying in bulk. "I sometimes save 80 to 90 percent by purchasing everything right away, right after the holidays," she explains.
Give a Feel-Good Gift Card
Restaurant and mall certificates might be your last-minute go-to presents, but The Good Card might be more original. You can purchase these gift cards at networkforgood.org for as little as $10 apiece. Recipients go online to donate to the charity of their choice—from a database of more than 1.2 million charities. "Families have so much stuff these days," says MOMSLK. "And it's really hard to buy for people you only see once every year or two—and make it meaningful. These fill the bill."
Go for the Fun
This year, take your Secret Santa to the next level with gift games. Jasper's family plays bingo to win fun, inexpensive items. (Each person brings two or three wrapped presents to create a big prize assortment that winners of each round can choose from.) Notmemom's family gives out beautifully wrapped, "recycled" knick-knacks purchased from garage sales or sneakily retrieved from the recipients' homes, like a singing fish plaque. "We end up laughing uncontrollably," she says. "Those times make for our best memories."
Take Advantage of One-Stop Holiday Card Sites
Sometimes it's worth spending a little cash and taking the easy way out. Case in point: holiday cards. At cardstore.com, shutterfly.com, and hallmark.com, you can select a template, write a personal greeting and, on the latter two, upload family photos to create one-of-a-kind products. Then, for a nominal fee, you can submit names and addresses, and the sites will handle stamping and mailing. "Years ago, we used to shell out big money to get photos and cards printed separately, and then we'd put them together ourselves," says Lauriemeek, "I send over 200 holiday cards, so getting everything done at once is a huge time and money saver."
Plan a Trip
Sharing an experience is a great alternative to acquiring more things, says CindiT. For the past 12 years, she and her family have exchanged only small gifts, and spent on a shared vacation instead. If a winter getaway isn't feasible, you can reap the same rewards close to home. Mrswalterjames schedules nights out with friends for drinks and family sledding or water park days in lieu of presents. "Planning events is an easy way to go green and focus on family and friends," she says. "And the bonus is it's much cheaper and less stressful."
Copyright © 2010 Meredith Corporation.


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Please visit my Etsy shop for more broken china jewelry collections. Click an image or link below to see what is currently available.
Etsy Shop Broken China Jewelry
Broken china jewelry is artfully created by Cracked Up Jewelry...Where Broken China Comes to Life®. Antique jewelry collection in Etsy shop includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, brooches, belt buckles and pendants. Custom orders using your own china and broken shards too!
Broken china jewelry is artfully created using antique broken and cracked china. Broken china jewelry collections are one of a kind and include necklaces, earrings, rings, bracelets, pendants, belt buckles & brooches. Custom orders using your own china and broken shards too!
No retail location, see art show schedule | P.O. BOX 625, Dunedin, FL, 34697


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1.85/5 (6 users)
My Rating
By Pritam Roy(05 May 2008)
Gopi (Sunil Shetty) comes from Hoshiarpur to Goa looking for his friend Kishan (Arshad Warsi) to give him his money for a piece of land. Kishen is a con man with Balu as assistant. He supports his sister Divya in London in this way. He also manages to hide his conmanship from his girl friend, Anuradha. He creates a story of his twin brother, Hari behind all misdeeds. Gopi finds Kishan with help of his girl friend, Tanya and asks him to return to Hoshiarpur, which he is not willing to do, as he is earning well from his con-job. Then, there are 3 girls, who lost their diamonds, staying at K.G.Resort, which is owned by Tanya's father, Kulbhushan Gupta (Sadashiv Amrapurkar), but managed by Tanya, herself. Kishan finds the diamonds and also manages to change the name of the resort to G.K.Resort to prove that its owned by Gopi and Kishan and dupe Tanya's boy friend and his father into believing, that Kishan is a very rich man. Tanya's father seekes help of a dumb policeman, Brown (Bharat Saxena). When Tanya and her boy friend are getting married, underworld don, Laadla (Ashish Vidyarthi) arrives in search of diamonds. A sardar (Vrajesh Hirjee) gets hold of the diamonds when his wife (Upasna Singh) grabs them from a taxi driver. With the diamonds changing multiple hands, there is all round confusion. Watch the movie to know, whether Gopi gets Kishan to return to Hoshiarpur or Kishan gets his love.
Copyright 2010-2013: Gomolo. All Rights reserved. | Terms | Privacy


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As the year reaches its finale, thoughts in the workplace turn to Secret Santa, mince pies and the by-now infamous Christmas party. For employees across the business, it's a time to let their hair down and celebrate another (hopefully!) successful year. However, the job of managers up and down the country – particularly those in HR – can become as stressful as St Nick's come December.
Not only have HR teams got the seasonal sniffles that wreak havoc on their absence levels to deal with, but one too many mulled wines can leave productivity levels low among a fuzzy-headed workforce. On top of that, rostering can become a nightmare, with parents taking time off for children's school holidays, staff scrambling to take remaining annual leave before it expires in January and people jetting off on winter getaways ahead of the 25th.
So, with the festive season already in full swing (yes, it gets earlier every year!), how can you manage your teams effectively at possibly the most hectic time of year and maintain productivity levels without coming off as the Grinch?
Spread some festive cheer
Businesses are increasingly adopting flexible working models – and not for no good reason. While staff morale is no doubt boosted by less strict regimes, evidence also demonstrates that they help to maximize output: something all companies could do with during the Christmas lull. Happy workers are productive workers, and that couldn't be truer than over the festive period when employees are prone to switching off, so consider allowing them to work from home if they must, or do overtime one day for an early dart another.
When it comes to the Christmas do, if it's on a weekday, think about giving staff a few hours off to recover in the morning. Let's face it, they won't be at their most productive then anyway so, if possible, let them reboot and revive at home, ready to come in a bit later and tackle their work with a clearer head.
Put it in their hands
With the number of people needing time off in December – an early finish here, a few days off there – HR teams can be bombarded with requests for shift swaps, annual leave and time off in lieu, leaving them little time to get on with the more strategic element of their role and planning for the new year. Implementing all-singing, all-dancing HR software that puts the power in the employee's hands, allowing them to manage their own shift patterns, alleviates this stress literally with the click of a button.
Don't ask for the moon
While December is certainly a time for getting things wrapped up so you start 2018 without hangover of 2017 work, be mindful that there are only so many hours in a day and it's important to make your end-of-year goals realistic. Make sure you're not overloading your employees just to get things done ahead of Christmas – some things can wait until January. After all, you'd rather a job be done properly than rushed before everyone puts on their 'out of office'.
To learn more about Mitrefinch's software for time and attendance or for workforce management or payroll software for your business, contact us today.


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Our 2019 Judging Panel
Chair of Judges Jez Back, Founder of Erebus Technology Consulting, will head our esteemed panel of judges, consisting of cloud leaders, analysts, consultants, CIOs, academics, vendors and venture capitalists.
"I am honoured and excited to be invited to be Head Judge for the UK Cloud Awards 2019. Cloud continues to be in the epicentre of Digital Transformation and there is much to celebrate. What better way than here?"
The following guidance from Jez Back on how to prepare and write a winning entry is available here.
Jez Back
Founder & Managing Director
Erebus Technology Consulting
Founder & Managing Director of Erebus Technology Consulting, Board Director of a Non-Profit Organisation, TEDx Speaker, TV Host & Cloud Analyst & Commentator


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I am ecstatic. Yesterday I was thinking about how I want this blog to be very honest, and how if my MRI results came back and were bad, I would have to be honest about how I felt. I would have to say that it is hard.
I don't have to. No new lesions! None! The injections and the welts and the ice packs and the needles and the biohazard containers ("personal-sized," as my friend Kacie said) have been worth it. I have four lesions, the same number I had in February.
Four lesions that my doctor can point to one by one and say "oh, this lesion is causing this problem," but no new lesions, no new problems.
Just the same old, same old, which may not sound so exciting, but it is. It is fantastic, I am ecstatic.


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Zenescoop Previews is back with a big debut issue, Hit List #1, the brain child of Editor in Chief and co-founder Ralph Tedesco. If you haven't heard about this new series yet, here's what to expect:
Are we ever truly safe from evil? What if you had the means to play God, choosing who lives and dies? Threats exist all around us and the lives of so many have been ruined by others evil deeds. Now one man will seek vengeance for all those who share in his pain. When a group of professional killers is brought together in order to take out a crew of gangsters, what starts as a seemingly good plan spirals into something more threatening and deadly than anyone saw coming.
Excited? We certainly are! So, without further ado, here is the preview of Hit List #1.
Cover A by Jamie Tyndall
Cover B by Feilpe Massafera
Cover C by Mike Krome
Cover D by Marat Mychaels
Incentive Cover by Elias Chatzoudis
Now, those are some awesome covers, but the interiors are equally as good. We're so excited to be able to publish a book like this to our fans, seeing as how it is now a twist on a classic tale, but a modern, action-drama. The interior artist is Sami Kivela, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Jim Campbell.
Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Hit List #1 will be on store shelves on September 11th, so be sure to pick it up at your local comic shop. The incentive cover will only be available at select retailers who took part in the promotion, so, check with your comic book shop to see if they have a copy for you.
We'll have copies available on day 1, so we've got you covered on our web store: http://shop.zenescope.com , should your shop run out. We hope you enjoy this new title and we can't wait for you to read it!


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A very special VW at the Volkswagen National Rally in July
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My 1970's Salzburg Rally Beetle replica
By Jakes Cronje
It all started in the early 1970's, the same time I started life as well.
The sole Austrian Porsche distributor, Porsche Salzburg Austria, seemingly were a bunch of pretty fantastic cooks back in the '70s. Why? Because they were a Porsche distributor, and they wanted to rally.
And they did so, but they entered a Beetle.
You may be thinking "Why don't they enter a Porsche?" but where's the fun in that? Instead they created one of the most amazing rally Beetles, the Salzburg Rally Beetle. It had a Porsche 914 5-speed transmission, and a very heavily modified Beetle engine that put out well over double the stock output to 129 HP.
My Early years.
My dad was a big Beetle man in the 60's and 70's and bought and sold many Beetles during that time on the side to make extra money. His stories of "what a Beetle can do" always stuck in my mind.
As I grew up, I got hooked on rallying during the 80's in rallying's glory days when Sarel (Audi Quattro) and Serge (Toyota Conquest) were the local heroes and my bedroom walls was covered in posters from that era.
Rallying was always my choice of sport.
As you get older things change and I then leaned more towards off road bikes and quads, rallying took a sabbatical in my dreams.
The rebirth of a Beetle dream.
Recently a couple of friends and I heard of a Charity event called the Jam Jar Rally, we decided it would be fun and acquired a 1970's Beetle. Some of the routes we did were the Zuurberg Pass and Die Poort with a total distance of 800km of rough gravel terrain. The Beetle performed flawlessly and I fell in love with it. I bought the car from the team and decided to build a cheap little toy car to go play in the dirt.
GMP Motorsport was approached and asked if it would be possible to covert the standard Beetle into a rally car. The idea was very grey and sketchy, but Grayham thought it was the most insane idea ever and was very excited about it. The build then got completely out of hand, and the one idea just snowballed onto the next idea. The concept went from a basic rally car to a replica Porsche Salzburg Austria and the final result a few months later was a massively modified fully fletched Replica rally car.
The Replica Beetle.
We chose the Salzburg Rally Beetle "theme" from the 1970's seeing it was Volkswagen's first rally car.
It made motorsport history in Europe. A lot of research on the internet was done to get the detail and artwork to make the Beetle look authentic.
We decided not to just make it look the part, it needed a heart as well.
I had the honour to have Mike Bishop build me the motor. The result was an 1835 cc big bore kit, race cam, competition big valve heads with stainless steel valves, dual 40mm downdraught carbs. Full-flow oil system with high-flow Melling oil pump and external oil cooler and remote oil filter, Bosch electronic ignition, high pressure fuel pump with fuel regulator. Polyurethane engine mounts were made up for us seeing we kept breaking the standard ones. A stainless steel 4-1 exhaust system was then fitted so the motor can breathe better. Currently we are changing the air intake system to allow clean cool air entering the carbs.
With the heart being taken care of, it needed more attention in other departments. Crucially, we had to stop the Beetle once it got up to speed! So hydraulic disc brakes were fitted front and rear with a hydraulic handbrake. The brake callipers were gusseted as well. Some old school rear spring plate mods were done to try keeping the rear wheels travelling upwards in a straight line as best we can. Billstein shocks were ordered and fitted.
The standard 4 speed Beetle gearbox is still being utilized but has a few mods to it to make it stop jumping out of gear in rough conditions, small issues we found during the Jam Jar Rally.
The gearing is very short and top speed about 150km/h.
As it stands, we have no idea of the Power output! But I feel it is enough.
The interior was a challenge, we tried to keep within the Era and Replica theme, but safety standards has been increased dramatically since the 70's and if I ever wanted to put the car into a rally, we had no choice but to modernise the interior. The car received a GMP roll cage and then kitted out with everything needed inside a rally car like safety harness, bucket seats, fire extinguishers, GPS odometer, etc.
A new set of modern Dunlop rally tires were also acquired to create the rally theme. Currently the standard 15inch 4,5J Rostyle rims are on but we are in process of making the newly acquired Speedline Corse rally rims fit.
GMP Motorsport ended up spending so much time on the details in building this car it became almost an obsession to get it all perfect. This must be the only Rally car that received that amount of love during it's built. All rubbers, chrome beadings, lights etc were replaced with new ones.
"When the Beetle was completed it looked more like a museum piece than a rally car and I couldn't see it being rallied. Many commented that it is just too beautiful to be raced"
Love at first drive.
During and after the build I had thoughts of selling the Beetle as a Replica, seeing how well it was built and how immaculate the final result was. But the Beetle had other ideas with me, the more I drove it, the more I fell in love with this Beetle. It was absolutely unique and the workmanship on it done by GMP Motorsport was phenomenal.
Then spectating at the recent regional rally at Baywest Mall it dawned on me, everyone was having so much fun rallying and I was standing on the side lines watching whilst I actually have a rally car of my own standing all pretty and begging me to be put on a gravel road. "The Beetle must be rallied" It was decided right there.
With a background of only off road bikes and the occasional few laps in an old 1980's off road car on my farm, I am now going to do my first rally ever. But it isn't just any rally, it just happens to be the VW National Rally starting from VWSA factory! And what an awesome event on the rally calendar to start "my rally career" with and most of all in a replica 1970's Salzburg Rally Beetle.
My navigator is going to be long-time friend Heiko Hnidey who works at VWSA. Born in Germany he has motorsport background, is a complete petrol head and flies hang-gliders. The latter I hope will come in handy with navigational skills, well that's the theory.
Preserving my "museum piece" will be my first priority and we are just going to drive the stages, try not to get too lost and hopefully I will stick to that strategy and even finish the event. The idea is to enjoy being part of the VW National and I bet that for us even coming in last place, we will feel like we just won the rally to be able to cross the finish line.


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Dual Tip - New 2-Stage Tip Point for Membrane Keypads
With the click-switch version, contact 1 is closed with no feedback when actuated, whilst contact 2, which is placed underneath, provides a tactile feedback. The use of this dual contact function in a membrane keypad is primarily for applications requiring high-level security, where a second, separate switch, is required for triggering an indirect control command. This construction meets the medical products specification IEC 60601 for the intrinsic safety of devices.
In the double-click versions, both contact 1 and contact 2 provide tactile feedback. This feature is required in applications where operators need to be aware of the dual switching stages. The operator can control two functions e.g. slow/fast or request/confirmation via one tip point and is made aware of the 2 switching points placed one after the other during the actuation. The actuation force can be set differently between the first and the second tip point and can be set individually by the use of different metal domes or stamping matrix of the key tip. The double-click versions are primarily used in automation applications.


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Qualifying for Life Insurance with Vasovagal Syncope.
Have you ever fainted after having had to stand in line for a really long time? Or does the sight of blood make you queasy? Well if so, it could be because you suffer from a pre-existing medical condition known as vasovagal reaction.
And while…
There are a lot of people out there that may have this condition without actually defining it or having had a doctor "diagnose" it, for some, it can be a condition that can occur quite frequently and become a cause for concern.
Which is why…
We chose to write this article about applying for life insurance after being diagnosed with vasovagal reaction so that we can shed some light on what the application "process" will look like. As well as hopefully, help people answer any questions that you may have like:
- Will being diagnosed with vasovagal reaction affect may chances at qualifying for a traditional term or whole life insurance policy?
- Will it affect what "price" I have to pay?
- And can I qualify for a no medical exam life insurance policy as well?
So, without further ado, let's dive right into it by first defining exactly what vasovagal reaction is.
What is Vasovagal Reaction?
Vasovagal reaction or Vasovagal Syncope is when your body faints at the sight or smell of something such as blood or a dislocated body part. It can also occur when one is exposed to:
- Stress,
- Long periods of standing,
- And exposure to heat or humidity.
It is believed to be caused by a sudden decrease in the heart rate and blood pressure.
There are a range of symptoms that can occur with vasovagal syncope, most of which are similarly found in any light-headedness or fainting. These include: pale skin, dizziness, nausea, excessive/inappropriate yawning, blurry vision.
Diagnosis of Vasovagal Reaction.
Your doctor will run a series of tests to make sure your fainting has nothing to do with anything else. This will include checking your heart through echocardiogram and stress tests as well as checking blood. After all, more serious causes are ruled out, your doctor can diagnose vasovagal reaction.
At this point…
We usually like to remind our readers that we here at TermLife2Go are not medical professionals and we're certainly not doctors. All we are is a bunch of life insurance agents who just happen to be really good at helping folks who have been diagnosed with a pre-existing medical condition like vasovagal syncope qualify for a great life insurance policy.
If you have any specific medical questions you'd like to have answered or you've recently fainted, quit reading this article and call a doctor. That said however, if you're just looking to qualify for an awesome life insurance policy, well then, keep on reading!
Qualifying for Life Insurance with Vasovagal Reaction.
Hopefully you've come to this article for one reason: to find out how to get life insurance with vasovagal reaction. So let's get to it!
First thing's first: Yes, you'll qualify!
Vasovagal reaction will NOT disqualify you from getting a great term or whole life insurance policy. Seeing as it's a minor medical setback, it's not going to impact your life insurance rate much, if at all. In fact, you may even be able to qualify for a no medical exam life insurance option.
Preferred Rate: Yes! It is possible for someone who suffers from vasovagal reaction to get a preferred rate on a term or whole life insurance policy.
There should be no instance of hospitalization or serious injury due to your fainting.
You should have no other concerning medical issues.
You must have a clean driving record and have no felonies.
You should live a fairly risk-free life (i.e. non-smoker, no dangerous hobbies, etc).
If you don't qualify for a Preferred Rate.
You will still qualify for a term or whole life insurance policy. The lowest your rate you can usually receive solely due to suffering from a vasovagal reaction is a Table C. So, basically, you can get a rate anywhere from Table C all the way to a Preferred.
How to "UP" your chances of getting a good/great life insurance rate.
There are some things you really can't do anything about, but some things are still in your control. Namely, the most important factor in upping your chances at getting a good or even great life insurance rate is to apply to the right life insurance company.
If you…
Are also slightly overweight but have normal blood pressure and cholesterol, then there's a life insurance company that's not going to punish you for it. Likewise, there are life insurance companies that will still punish you for your weight.
So… you need to apply to the life insurance company that goes easy on all your "weak spots" or "trouble spots" – whatever they may be.
Recommending a Life Insurance Company for Vasovagal Reaction.
It's not that simple. Even if you have vasovagal reaction, we can't just tell you the best life insurance company. Why, you ask? Well, because you are a sum of all your parts – and you have more to you than just vasovagal reaction.
Before we – or anyone else – recommends a life insurance policy, all things must be considered. If someone tells you they know the "right" life insurance policy for vasovagal reaction, be weary. This person is selling one product to everyone – and it might not be right for everyone!
Call TermLife2Go today. We will give you a personalized life insurance recommendation AFTER we know about all your medical needs/circumstances.
So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today or visit our Life Insurance Quotes page and see what we can do for you!
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inobtrusively monitor your friends
DescriptionThe idea: you have friends on a system, and you want to know when they log on and off when you're logged on. what's more, maybe you're tired of throwing together crappy/clunky who(1)/w(1)/finger(1) commands in obfuscated shell/perl scripts that only half do the job anyway. wuzzah is a program that selectively scans a system's utmpx records (where logins are stored, among other things), keeping an eye out for your friends logging in and out, taking customizable actions on events. wuzzah is small, fast, efficient, and written in C.
Upload more screenshots Please help extend the collection of screenshots. Just make a screenshot and upload it here. You don't need to register or anything.
Please help extend the collection of screenshots. Just make a screenshot and upload it here. You don't need to register or anything.
1173 other people were interested in this package here. The newest known version of this software is 0.53-3+b1 (Information last updated 1 day ago.)
Upload new screenshots
Thanks for uploading more screenshots. Please note:
- Your screenshot should contain a typical scene when working with it.
- Take only a screenshot of the respective application and not of your whole desktop (unless the screenshot is meant for a window manager).
- Your screenshots must be in PNG format.
- You can upload multiple images at once.
- Your screenshot need to be approved by the moderators first. You will already see your screenshot but it will not be visible to others instantly. If moderators reject your upload you will get notified next time you visit this site (requires cookies).
- Images larger than 800x600 pixels will automatically be reduced. So don't try to capture too much detail in a screenshot. It may become unreadable. Shrink the applications window if possible.
- Screenshots are made public and can freely be used by anyone.
- Useful programs for making screenshots are shutter, ksnapshot (KDE), gimp, xwd or scrot. See the Debian wiki for more information on how to make screenshots under Debian.
- Please set your language to english so that everybody understands it. If you don't use english by default please start your application from a shell using after setting "export LANG=C".


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Columns & Blogs
Great for gamers: My top 10 picks for 2008
The stack of video games on my entertainment center has grown embarrassingly tall.
That's usually the case around Christmas, with most of the marquee games coming out around the holidays. But the stack is taller this year. It's probably why I'll remember 2008 in video games for quantity over quality. The abundance of releases has overshadowed the quality of games released.
But there were certainly some great games released this year. Here's my top 10 games of the year.
10. "Braid" — The Xbox Live game was one of the most simple, yet great games released over the past few years. The game reminds me of the great platforming games of my youth.
9. "Mirror's Edge" — This was probably one of the most innovative games released this year. Being able to freerun through the skyline of a city in first person is awfully freeing.
8. "Dead Space" — "Dead Space" is the most terrifying video game ever released. It takes everything scary about being isolated in space with aliens, and it punishes you with both for hours.
7. "Prince of Persia" — The producers took a gamble with a re-booted "Prince of Persia" game, but this is the most fun yet in the franchise. This game might have the coolest graphics of any game this year.
6. "Fallout 3" — The game is a little slow and meticulous for my taste, but you have to give credit to Bethesda Softworks for its unbelievable recreation of a post-apocalyptic Washington, D.C. Perhaps no game ever has as much visual depth as "Fallout 3."
5. "Rock Band 2" — Yes, "Rock Band 2" is essentially a remake of the original. But the sequel gives you more music and more fun. Plus, why mess with the most interactive game ever released.
4. "Metal Gear Solid 4" — Everyone knew that "Metal Gear Solid 4" would be an amazing game, but the question was whether it was going to be worth the long wait. It was an amazing game, of course, and it was certainly worth the wait.
3. "Gears of War 2" — Much like "Rock Band 2," "Gears of War 2," doesn't seem on the surface much more than a sequel to the original. But the sequel added an epic feel that the original lacked.
2. "LittleBigPlanet" — If "Rock Band" was last year's most innovative game, this year's was "LittleBigPlanet." It provides all of the fun and simplicity of an old-school Nintendo game with the ability to customize like no game before.
1. "Grand Theft Auto IV" — It seems like a while ago since the latest "Grand Theft Auto" game was released, but not a week goes by where I don't pop it in my Xbox 360. The depth of the game and the upcoming expansion pack for the Xbox 360 make it one of the most ambitious releases ever and the best game released in 2008.


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NAISSO - Acceptable Use and Privacy Policy
Protecting your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices. NAISSO, Impala SuperStore will never sell, exchange, or release any of your individual personal information to a third party.
Use of Online Forms, Mailing Lists and Subscription Data:
Protecting your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices. NAISSO, Impala SuperStore will never sell, exchange, or release any of your individual personal information to a third party.
Use of Online Forms, Mailing Lists and Subscription Data:
- Any online forms submitted through the NAISSO, Impala SuperStore Web-site are used solely for the purpose of their intentions. NAISSO, Impala SuperStore does NOT sell or distribute any personal or business information whatsoever. All data received is used strictly in-house by NAISSO, Impala SuperStore only.
- All posted views presented are not necessarily those of NAISSO, Impala SuperStore.
- Although we promote Freedom of Speech, slander or flaming of any person or organization will not be tolerated.
- Neither NAISSO, Impala SuperStore, or it's principles will be held liable for any posts or their content. All complaints must be in writing to: NAISSO, Impala SuperStore, 138 Palm Coast Parkway, NE, Ste 319, Palm Coast, FL 32137.
- "Cookies" are small pieces of information that are stored by your browser on your computer's hard drive. We use cookies only to enhance your online experience. Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually change your browser to prevent that. Even without a cookie, you can still use most of the features on this site.
- NAISSO, Impala SuperStore uses advanced techniques to track user activity on this site. The data received is used to monitor which pages receive the most 'hits', the site where our visitors came from, and the amount of online traffic we receive. We do NOT extract any personal information.
- There is no association between the anonymous user information we collect or solicit and a visitor's identity. Furthermore, all of the customer data we collect is protected against unauthorized access.
- NAISSO uses the latest encryption technology to keep your credit card information safe. To further protect this information, we process your credit card number on a server that isn't accessible from the Internet. Credit card numbers are deleted from our system following order processing.
- When making a purchase at NAISSO, you will 'check-out' in secure mode using SSL encryption - the Internet standard for secure transactions. Or, you can telephone or fax your credit card information to us.
- Your order information and purchase history are further protected by a password you choose. If you forget your password, we will first verify your identity, then send your password only to the email address listed in your NAISSO account.
- NAISSO, Impala SuperStore does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to others. We may provide aggregate statistics about our visitors, traffic patterns, and related site information to third parties, but these statistics will include no personally identifying information.


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Wednesday, May 20, 2015
SCGS Jamboree - Why Go? The People. That's Why!!!!!!
The people attending Jamboree are friendly, enthusiastic, and fun. You'll find presenters and the attendees who are easy to talk to. There are many locations to sit and visit. Don't hesitate to talk to someone sitting next to you in a presentation, or at a table in the grassy area, or in the patio area, or in one of the restaurants. Jamboree attendees have distinctive badges, so just say "Hi."
The people organizing Jamboree are friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful. SCGS has a great group of volunteers for Jamboree. They try to anticipate any problems, but there are certain things they can't control. Like planes taking off or landing over the pavilions during a presentation. But their experience in organizing and putting on Jamboree for so many years, really shows in their organization. They are also innovators, and are willing to consider suggestions for improving Jamboree. So, please make sure you say Thank You to these very special people who provide us with an incredible conference year after year after year.
Come to Jamboree. Please say Hi to me. I'd love to meet you. And don't hesitate to talk to someone you don't already know. Who knows? It may be a cousin who has the photo of g-g-grandmother, as well as her maiden name. Happy Dance!!!
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Apple's mobile OS has long been considered one of the cleanest interfaces in every way, from general software functions to adjusting basic settings. Built-in apps have straightforward names (calculator, mail, clock, etc.), the settings menu is clear and easy to use, and apps are built with navigation options closer to the bottom so users can reach them easily. Menu navigation and nearly all OS functions have slight graphical chimes, like sliding between home pages or smooth scrolling.
More recently iOS has been updated to include more social media applications like Twitter, and cloud storage and backup through iCloud. Almost all functions of the iPhone are very clear and straightforward, and require minimal (if any) prior knowledge to operate. The new notifications bar, which is very similar to Android's notification bar, is customizable and shows all of the latest app notifications.
For the iPhone 4S specifically, with Siri users can voice commands and the phone will open applications, type dictated messages, provide internet searches, and do it all with everyday speech. Not the robot-talk you use when speaking to automated tech support.
iOS, however, does have some severe limitations. Ringtones and notification sounds must be in the list of available sounds or purchased directly through iTunes. Some functions just aren't available, like opening driving directions from locations listed in the calendar. Multitasking, which Apple touts though in reality isn't true multitasking, has serious limitations for users.
There are a number of Android OSs in the wild today, anywhere from Android 1.6 to Android 4.0. The UI differs only slightly between these different versions, but because Android is highly customizable, phone manufacturers and cell providers (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) all have their own design preferences. This makes Android a mess of differing UIs. Simple tasks like moving apps are different between not only different versions of Android, but different phones sharing the same Android firmware. This fragmentation means updates to Android phones, and thus UI improvements are sparse and sometimes simply unavailable. Android is the only mobile OS with phone and software fragmentation.
The general OS functions are very similar to iOS. It uses home pages with apps, while also including a full menu of apps so users can choose which apps appear on a home pages. Menu navigation (in the US) relies on four hard buttons: home, menu, back and search. Android 4.0 eliminates the back menu and search button, replacing both with an apps-open button. Built-in functions act differently across all overlays; HTC's TouchSense, for instance, includes a built-in phone button, while Samsung's TouchWiz is more similar to iOS's four bottom apps which are the same on every home page.
Android is the first and currently only OS to feature widgets. Android also has live wallpapers, which are interactive wallpapers for the home screen, completely adjustable ringtones and notification sounds, and even adjustable lock screens. There is no limit to the level of customization available on Android, from ringtones to virtual keyboards. Social media integration is limited to Facebook and Twitter.
Windows Phone 7:
Microsoft's mobile OS is a far departure from the app-centric designs of both iOS and Android. Everything about WP7 is different from its competition thanks to a feature-centric design. Like Microsoft's desktop OS, WP7 is based around centralized apps (like Internet Explorer and Office) and folders (like Xbox Live, which opens a list of owned games). This UI is so different from iOS and Android that critics like PC World have called it "refreshing".
The home screen uses large tiles that act like Widgets. Any app can be added to the single home screen, and they act either as a shortcut to the app or open the folder to the apps. Xbox Live, for instance, houses all games; Pictures stores all photos in sections based on what's on the phone, what's in the cloud, etc.
The general layout of apps, and the build quality, is superb. The Metro UI uses subtle pictures or visual cues to hint that users should slide to the right to see the next screen, or slide up to unlock the screen. This implementation is unlike any OS available, and is far more intuitive than iOS or Android. WP7 uses three hard buttons – back, start, and search – which help users navigate between menus or activate features like speech recognition.
Built-in apps like Internet Explorer feel great, and feel as though they're designed for both one- and two-handed use. Options are a simple tap away, and navigation is easy thanks to the option selection staying near the bottom of the screen. The keyboard is almost as precise as on iOS, but with word prediction it is the best virtual keyboard available.
Winner: Windows Phone 7
Microsoft's mobile OS takes the cake with the most intuitive and easiest-to-use user interface. It's not app-centric, but it is the most functional and the most convenient mobile UI to date.


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H i
g h S c h o o l
E d i t i o n
A u g
u s t 2 0 0 6
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Online Career Center
Elementary Edition
Middle Level Edition
This issue of the high-school edition of Science Class
features the theme Ocean
Science . Please tell
us what you think of the issue by using the Feedback link
on the left of Science Class or by sending an e-mail
to us at email@example.com.
If you have a text-only browser or are having any difficulties
accessing our links, please visit
So much of the Earth is covered by ocean waters, and yet our oceans
remain one of the last frontiers of truly unexplored territory.
As new technologies emerge that aid in exploration, the mysteries
of the seas are slowly revealing themselves to us. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presents a comprehensive
website (http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov)
that provides lesson plans and professional development opportunities.
Depending on where you live, many of your students may return to
school still excited about their beach vacations, and others may
have never seen the ocean. Inspire their curiosity about the unknown
with ideas and suggestions from this issue of Science Class.
Science in the News
Article summaries provided by the NSTA WebNews Digest
(Visit http://www.nsta.org/mainnews
for national news for science educators).
News stories selected for this issue focus on different ocean phenomena
and factors that affect the ocean environment.
To read more, visit
on the Web
SciLinks® is a web-based service from NSTA that provides online
content chosen to augment printed articles and books. It does so
through keywords; the keyword for this issue is
Ocean Research:
Journal Articles on Ocean Science
The NSTA journal archives yield several articles that provide creative
approaches to teaching your students about oceans.
Click here to read more:
Books, Books
To read about Ocean Science in NSTA Press® and NSTA Recommends®
books, visit http://science.nsta.org/enewsletter/2006-08/books_high.htm.
Click here for the newest titles from NSTA Press:
To receive the latest NSTA catalog for your specific grade level,
Issues New Position Statement on Professional Development
"To be prepared for the 21st century, it is
critical that all students have sufficient knowledge of and skills
in science. Studies suggest that high-quality teaching can make
a significant difference in student learning. NSTA believes a
high-quality science teacher workforce requires meaningful, ongoing
professional development." To read the entire Position Statement,
visit http://www.nsta.org/positionstatement&psid=45.
Science Teaching
Teachers from South Korea visit the United States
to learn about its Talented and Gifted (TAG) programs; they learn
that programs here differ greatly from their programs at home.
To read more, visit The Register-Guard website at http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/07/13/c1.cr.korea.0713.p1.php?section=cityregion.
Web Seminars
A new series of NSTA Web Seminars is scheduled between
September 2006 and March 2007. Topics include: nutrition and food
safety, the Moon, the ocean's role in weather and climate, living
and working in space, force and motion, energy, and the International
Polar Year!
To learn more or to register, visit http://institute.nsta.org/web_seminars.asp.
The following NSTA Symposia are scheduled to take
place at the Midwestern Area Conference in Omaha, Nebraska, October
19-21, 2006:
and Motion: Stop Faking It!, presented by NSTA Press author
Bill Robertson
Exploration, presented by NASA


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On this blog I invite questions from the readers on Economics. I don't do mathematical questions nor am I interested in giving answers to coursework. I publish any answer online in the public domain so that students know they can't try to pass it off as their own work. I hope these answers will be a learning device. There is nothing here I wouldn't offer to my own students studying economics.
However, before the exam season I became inundated with questions - I was getting up to 10 a day and I couldn't keep up. It was a simple case of demand being greater than supply, which is not unexpected given the price was zero.
Diagram of Supply and Demand
Price of 0 leads to excess demand of Qy - Qx (shortage)
Therefore, I had to change my pricing strategy. Rather than answering questions for free I would charge £1. In theory this would return the market to equilibrium. I would get less questions and the people who really valued the answers would pay. It was also a case of price discrimination charging a higher price in a time of inelastic demand (the exam season).
In practice not may wanted to pay £1. I think this was largely because of the difficulty in transferring money - maybe students didn't have a paypal account e.t.c. I think more students would have paid £1 if it was easier to transfer money
However, now the exam season is over I am going to revert to free questions, at least temporarily.
To be honest I prefer having questions free. When people pay there is an expectation to give complete answers. I'd rather be picky about the questions I answer and in some cases I feel I need to give just hints rather than full answers.
If you have any economic questions feel free to ask. But, please forgive me if I don't have time to answer!
You are also welcome to donate if you find this site useful.


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Husband and I are coffee addicts. While vacationing at Subic Grand Seas Resort last November, we went around looking for popular coffee shops within the area. Nada, none, zero! For lack of choices we went inside 7-11. Since then, 7-11's coffee became one of our favorites. It's way too cheap than that of popular brands but the taste is comparable.
January 6, 2011
7-11 Coffee
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How To Stop Ignoring Mobile/
According the latest OFCOM report, smartphones are now the UK's most popular device for getting online. Mobile Internet usage has been growing at a rapid rate for several years now but the recent take up of 4G services has now brought us to this highly significant tipping point. Mobile is no longer an alternative access point for use when a PC and Laptop aren't available; it is the primary route to the internet for a majority of the population.
Why is this change occurring?
It is important to realize that this isn't just about substituting one access point for another and behaving the same way, smartphones have fundamentally changed our relationship with the internet and the mechanics of how it works forever. More than a third of people use their smartphone within five minutes of waking up. Within the 18-24-year-old age range, this number creeps up to more than half. People are spending two hours a day on average on their smartphones, which now represent a crucial digital hub for both work and play.
Unfortunately, most employers are still struggling to keep up when it comes to effectively harnessing mobile in the recruitment process. It is often viewed as difficult, expensive or just an add on in a box ticking exercise. This is an unsustainable position with an overwhelming body of evidence now underlining the vital importance of mobile in the recruitment process.
My advice? Any change in talent acquisition strategy seems to work best when it is planned and done in stages. Instant revolutions are normally not possible. With that in mind, here are some key areas to focus on:
1. Optimise your recruitment marketing content.
The first connection you have with your audience, whether it's via a proactive message or by someone being exposed to a job post, has a high probability of reaching them via a mobile device. There is a huge amount of competition for attention on someone's screen and it's important to make sure that you understand the needs of your audience and are being both empathetic and interesting.
Wherever possible, step away from text. Videos and images are now the currency in the new mobile world. For years, long-form text has been the default method for recruitment marketing, so this is a big change. However, it is a good change, as visual communication is a brilliant way of getting a huge amount of information across in a limited amount of time.
2. Plan to go mobile first with your careers site.
As an industry, we need to step away from the whole idea of a mobile-enabled career site and embrace the mobile-first careers site. Mobile can't be seen as an afterthought — it needs to drive the whole concept, design and content of the corporate careers site.
It is important to give people what they want quickly. Don't make them search for the information that is relevant to them as they are likely to go somewhere else instead. If you can engage user attention quickly, the evidence, from the clients that I have worked with, indicates that they will actually engage with more content on the mobile site than they ever would on a desktop.
If you recruit across a number of different disciplines, an alternative approach to consider would be to build several targeted microsites rather than one big site that is a constant compromise between the needs of different audiences.
3. Put mobile apply on your roadmap.
It's nearly 2016 — you can't dodge this one anymore. An Indeed survey from last year found 66% of job seekers would apply via their mobile device if they were able to. This is confirmed by recent Forrester Wave research, which reports that candidates expect to be able to search and fully apply for jobs on company careers sites using their mobiles. So what can you do to improve things if you don't currently support mobile apply?
First, review your ATS provision. Can you really afford to continue to tolerate a legacy system that is not fit for your recruiters and your potential candidates? If you're stuck in a long-term contract with your ATS vendor, put pressure on your provider and investigate the growing number of services that offer a technical workaround for mobile apply.
While this all might seem daunting, it important to do something to improve your mobile strategy. Unfortunately, going mobile isn't easy and requires investment, however it's essential in the long term. Based on my experience working with employers, the benefits are also enormous and companies that have started on their mobile journey already have a huge advantage in the market.


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Report: Active hurricane season may be problem for state-run insurerPosted On Mon, June 20, 2011
It could be a costly year for Florida's state-run insurer, according to a local television station's investigation.
WFTV reports that Florida's state-run insurance company, Citizens Insurance, would be operating in the red if the state is hit with one major hurricane and may not be able to pay for all of the home insurance claims.
"I consider myself that average homeowner, and I am very concerned," said state Senator Alan Hays in an interview with the station.
Based on the news station's investigation, Citizens would be in the hole $17.3 billion if the state is hit with a hundred year storm, while a 25-year storm would lead to a deficit of $2.6 billion.
"That is woefully inadequate," Hays told the station.
Representatives for Citizens told the station that while its on-hand cash levels are low, it has access to a special catastrophe fund. Nevertheless, the likelihood of having to dip into this fund are low because the chances of such a storm hitting the state is minimal, the insurer told WFTV.
The National Hurricane Center says the season's second named storm, Beatriz, formed on the Pacific coast over the weekend.
Feedback or questions? Email the editor here.


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What is it about photographs? It's never been easier to take a picture of something and yet it's never quite right. Or at least to me. When I was a young woman travelling in Europe, and later, living on an island off the west coast of Ireland, I took almost no photographs. How will you remember, people asked. And yet those experiences are as vivid to me now as things that happened yesterday. The olive groves on Crete, the harbour at Sant'Angelo on Ischia, the Slyne Head light flashing, the hedges of fuschia and flowering haw as I walked the Sky Road.
This morning, though — we woke to the moon in the western sky, caught in a tangle of tall fir boughs, with a skiff of cloud floating by. John, usually eager to photograph everything, insisted it wouldn't work and went downstairs to make coffee. I went out on the deck and tried. Alas. He was right. But here's my effort anyway.


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Since we are nearing the end of 2010, I thought I would post some of CNML's accomplishments for the year. Thank you to all those who donated their time and money to help move CNML forward!
Catholic Nursing Mother League's 2010 Highlights:
January 12, 2010 Articles of Incorporation signed
January 14, 2010 - CNML received EIN number
January 19, 2010 - Catholic Nursing Mothers League incorporated in the state of New Mexico
April 7, 2010 - bylaws adopted
June 30, 2010 - 501 (c)(3) status granted
September 27, 2010- first CNML leader application packets emailed out
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
United States Breastfeeding Committee petition
Please sign the United States Breastfeeding Committee's "Breastfeeding: A Vision for the Future" petition at:
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Moving Forward, Walk for Diabetes/
Steve Kraabel, a senior client manager based out of GeoDecisions' Scott Air Force Base office in O'Fallon, Illinois, participated in the Metro East Step Out: Walk for Diabetes on Sept 17. Steve along with his son, Eli, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 8, and 14 of their family members and friends made up the "Kick It for Kraabel" team (seen here).
More than 360 people took part in the 1.5- or 3-mile walks on the campus of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, an annual event raising money used to fund research and programs for people living with diabetes.
Steve and his family have been actively raising money and awareness about the disease since Eli was diagnosed in 2010.
GeoDecisions proudly supports community involvement!


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Bank of the Sierra Reports Big Totals for 2015 Grants
February 1, 2016
PORTERVILLE, CA — Bank of the Sierra announced that 2015 saw over $175,000 distributed to a variety of non-profit organizations throughout the 6 counties it serves. Each quarter the Bank awarded approximately 15 organizations with a grant, the amount of which was determined individually by the specific needs of the organization. Most organizations received a grant of $1,000 to $5,000.
The grant program partners with traditional non-profits, public school districts, and other local organizations. The types of projects that benefitted from the grants ranged widely, including initiatives to help underprivileged children and the elderly, housing and community building projects, cultural and educational initiatives, and environmental preservation efforts.
Kevin McPhaill, Bank President and CEO, explained his appreciation for the grant program and the organizations that benefit from it: "The Sierra Grant program has been an important part of how Bank of the Sierra engages with the areas it serves. We're happy to assist with the projects these organizations introduce, and we're always grateful to hear of the many ways community members are making a difference."
About the Sierra Grant Program
Since its inception in 2004 the Sierra Grant Program has been responsible for donating over a million dollars to organizations that improve local communities. Non-profits who wish to apply for a Sierra Grant can pick up an instructional brochure at any Bank of the Sierra branch, or visit the bank's web site at www.bankofthesierra.com/resources/sierra_grant_program.
About Bank of the Sierra
Since its founding in 1977, Bank of the Sierra has grown to become the largest independent bank in the southern San Joaquin Valley, with approximately $1.8 billion in assets. The Bank is a multi-community financial institution that offers a full range of retail and commercial banking services, employing over 400 people at 29 locations, including an online branch, a real estate industries center, and an ag credit center. Offering more than just financial services, Bank of the Sierra is committed to providing the benefits of local banking with a focus on improving the communities in which it serves.


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The Documents & Recommendations section is where you upload your counselor recommendation. If you are brand–new to this process, the instructions on this page give you great guidelines for generating a strong recommendation letter. (Note: you can also indicate your inability to write on the student's behalf.)
When you are ready to upload your letter:
After uploading the recommendation letter and the other official documents the student requested, you need to complete the submission process.
Simply click the Submit button to make all of the documents available for inclusion with a student's application. Note: the student will not be able to view any of these documents.
Table of Contents | Download the PDF


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About Us
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Feng Shui Market provides diverse Feng Shui and related webinars, workshops and training - customized to hone in on the most relevant subject matter. Through inspirational lectures, hands-on techniques and Chi adjustments, become poised for greater performance, motivation, creativity, morale, and well-being. Prepare for an uplifting experience!
In addition to our local experts, we have been privileged to be able to offer workshops and classes from world renowned experts, such as David Daniel Kennedy, Karen Rauch Carter, and Eileen Weklar.
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On the bicentenary of her birth, Polish writer Narcyza Żmichowska is more relevant than ever. Though only one of her novels has been translated into English, her poetry, letters, and prose influenced feminist thinkers for generations after her death. Read on to learn about Żmichowska's portrayals of same-sex relationships and her forward-thinking views on womanhood and religion.
Narcyza Żmichowska (1819-1876), author of novels, other prose including educational tracts, poetry, and a vast lifelong correspondence, is regarded by feminists and literary historians as the first Polish woman writer to focus on women's experiences and issues that particularly affected women's lives. Often referred to as a "proto-feminist," she was in fact a feminist by any standard, that is, someone who analysed discrimination against women on grounds of their gender and fought against it, in her case with the pen. She was not a "suffragette" fighting for political rights. The political context of the nineteenth-century Polish lands, divided since 1795 between three partitioning empires, where Polish men also had no political rights, is crucial to understanding the emphasis of her struggle; free-thinking women of her generation were confronted not only by a conservative, predominantly Catholic society with its ideologically entrenched ideals of womanhood, but also by political censorship that suppressed any mention of Polish political independence. That said, many of the issues Narcyza Żmichowska addressed were, in broad terms, similar to those addressed by women across Europe. Well-read in French but also other literatures in French translation and abreast of major developments in European science, including Darwinism, Żmichowska was a European writer par excellence, a fact generally unappreciated thanks to the relative obscurity of nineteenth-century women writing in Polish and other "periphery" languages, caused by their marginalisation by traditional mainstream literary criticism in their own countries and by the lack of translations.


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As long as there's been humanity, there's been some form of torture. A look in the dictionary- Torture: The process of making total misfits/outcasts/total buttheads feel even more unloved than before.&
Just The Facts
- Torture is defined as: the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty. So in short, it sucks ass and it's mean.
- There is actually an organization called: The United Nations Convention Against Torture. Really. Really? There needs to be an entire organization out there to prevent this shit from happening? Wow....Wow.
- Some people get off on this. Yeah....I'm just going to leave that one alone.
10. Glasgow Smile
Have you ever dreamt (rather had blindingly vivid nightmares) about looking like the Joker? I mean come on, it would be pretty sweet, who can't resist that smile
"Why yes, I do all my own makeup."
Even if you aren't a demented comic book villian, you yes you, can have the super cool smile of the Joker. Actually, Glasgow smile is a real form of torture, involving cutting the edges of the mouth up to the ears. This became popular in London, becoming a sign to rival gang members.
9. Necklacing
Presumably everybody who's reading this has seen a car tire in their lifetime? If not, walk outside, and face the sun, get over your allergies to it. Now, the tires we have come to know and love have been involved in a execution method in Africa. I know, I've met some good tires in my lifetime, but you know what they say: "good tires go bad," or something like that. The idea consists of placing a tire filled with gasoline over the offender's head, and setting it alight. Now, there's some people (yes, I'm looking at you) who will point out that execution isn't torture. Now, what I have to say to that idea is: can you imagine having your head on fire? Watching your flesh burn off your face and having to deal with the smell of burn popcorn that is your skin. Necklacing has been used in Africa since the 80's to set an example.
At first, he thought his new necklace was pretty sweet, until he smelled the gasoline.
8. Wheel Torture
Back before there were laws against cruel and unusual punishment, people got quite creative with their torture methods. Wheel torture, also called the breaking wheel, is a prime example of medieval torture creativity. The (un)lucky person who got the privilige of taking a ride on the wheel was in for an intresting ride. Their limbs were strapped to the spokes, and the wheel turned very slowly. Through openings in spokes, they were hit with an iron hammer by some person who loved their job much to much, and this hammer had no problem breaking bones. Once their limbs were broken, they were left to be nibbled away by the cute little birdies waiting in the trees.
"Breaking wheel! I thought the sign said Ferris wheel! I'm never coming to this amusement park again."
7. Flaying
We all know snakes, among other animals, can shed their skin. There's a torture method that allows people to shed their skin as well. Flaying was used thousands of years ago on witches, captured soldiers, and to execute criminals. In one method, people's hands were tied above their head while the torturer cut off all his skin with a knife, starting at the face. Another method involved being severly sunburned, and then having your sking peeled off. Lastly, they could be boiled, burning their skin off.
"Oh, I left my wallet in my other skin."
6. Coffin Torture
All those cute little birds that you see in the parks, old people whiling away the hours feeding them, they have us all fooled. Allowing us to feed them is merely a ruse, a trick so we don't see their true nature (for further reference see: The Birds (haven't heard of it? what rock have you been living under?)). The birds show birds going crazy (insane in the membrane), pecking people to death, and this can all be prevented by feeding them. They're not that hard to please. And when they get mad, they take it out on these saps:
"I should've shared my bread. Why did I make such a mistake! Why?!"
Another form of torture simply involves being placed in a metal coffin, and hung from a tree, or somewhere high up. Then, you wait. Yes, the wait is even longer than that of a public bathroom line, and you're waiting to be pecked to death by disgruntled winged creatures. And if you're particularly hated by the townsfolk, you could have large, hard objects thrown at you by bystandards. I think that's kind of rude. You're just sitting nicely, waiting to be pecked to death (which is already going to be painful), and to pile on more pain, these people take it upon themselves to hit you with whatever they can find.
5. The Rack
How does the feeling that you're going to split in two sound to you? The rack, for those of you who don't know, is a tablesque sort of contraption. The victim is layed down on it, with his wrists tied above his head on the table, and his feet chained to the other end. While interrogating, the people who where torturing, tightened the tension, resulting in broken limbs, godawful sounds from ligaments snapping, and eventually your limbs ripped from your body.
Hmm... I think I'll just lie down on this cozy bed for a catnap. Remember to wake me up before I loose my limbs.
4. The Rat
I don't know how many normal people there are that don't like rats. I happen to be part of the not liking rats persuasion, as would I guess 76.888% of people reading this (yes I did make up that statistic, shut up about it). The following torture will make you cringe, that is if you have a heart. I don't know what kind of person would think this up, or a better question: who deserves this? The idea is that the victim is tied up, so as to not be able to prevent the most awful thing that he will ever see. A rat is placed upon his stomach, covered by a metal container. Luckily for both the rat and the victim, heat in the container is raised, to that the rat will have to burrow out: THROUGH YOUR STOMACH! It then travels your intestines in a desperate attempt at escape.
"You think i'm ugly now, wait 'till i'm in your belly!!"
3. Chinese Water Torture
Surprisingly, there is no evidence of the chinese people lending their name to this popular torture. The victim is restrained (duhhh) to a table, where water would proceded to be emptied, drop by drop, upon his forehead. The idea behind this is that it's supposed to make you go foam at the mouth, loony as a loon, just crazy. On a episode of Mythbusters, this idea was tried out, and they find out that the combination of the cold water, and the not knowing when the next drop will come to be maddening.
2. Forced Ingestion (water torture)
Those of you who read the first part were probably confuzzled (what? they feed you? sweet!). They weren't fed as torture (yes, I'd like some donughts please? Oh the agony!!). Rather, a tube was forced down their throat, forcing them to take in large amounts of water in short amounts of time. At a glance, this might not seem as bad as some aforementioned torture methods. But, drinking too much water can result in water intoxication. Apparently it's true: you can have too much of a good thing. Water intoxication encompasses muscle weakness, cramping, nausea, and vomiting. Eventually, cells in the brain will swell, resulting in seizures, comas, brain damage, and death.
1. The Head Crusher
The head crusher comprised of a chin placed on a bottom bar, and the head was under a cap. The torturer then would turn a screw, pushing the cap down, bringing the victim's head closer and closer to the bottom bar. Teeth shattered (hey! no flossing!), and you died of slow, agonizing pain, but, the coup de gras, you were concious while your eyes popped out of your skull. Yeah, I know, you cringed. If stopped halfway, there would be permanently damaged in their brain, as well as their jaw or eyes.
No explanation needed.... Yikes.


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Queensland is bracing for a tropical cyclone that is currently developing off the north east coast of Australia.
Evacuation centres are being set up in Townsville ahead of the storm, which is expected to bring gale force winds and a storm tide by Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned people that the storm will bring heavy rain and winds of up to 120km/h.
A tropical low has been developing off the north Queensland coast for the last few days and authorities have warned it may develop into Tropical Cyclone Dylan.
In Townsville, an emergency storm tide alert has been issued. The BoM said the tropical low is expected to move in a south-westward direction before crossing the Queensland coast on Friday morning.
"A strong ridge of high pressure extends through the Coral Sea to the south of the tropical low. The two systems are currently combining to generate Gales at times along much of the east coast between Cairns and St Lawrence" said the BoM.
"Winds are expected to increase further between Lucinda and St Lawrence during Thursday, with damaging wind gusts to 120km per hour possible and may extend to adjacent inland areas including Charters Towers and Moranbah on Friday morning."
"Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop about coastal and adjacent inland areas of the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, Herbert and Lower Burdekin and the Central Coast and Whitsundays districts during Thursday."
It advised people living in coastal areas to take measures to protect their properties, to prepare for flooding and to get ready to evacuate if authorities instruct them to do so.
BoM Queensland regional director Rob Webb told Australia's Associated Press: "Currently we're anticipating the cyclone crossing the coast somewhere in the Townsville region, granting that it is a fairly long way out at the moment."
A king tide up to 4.12m is expected to hit the coast when the cyclone makes landfall, with dangerous storm surges a potential danger.
Local disaster management groups have been mobilised and state disaster officials have met in Brisbane to discuss preparations for the cyclone, Australia's Broadcasting Corporation reports.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said: "Residents in these low-lying, coastal areas that are usually impacted by king tides can expect to see additional water inundation of up to 1.5 metres above the predicted tide.
"If you do not feel safe to remain in your property during the king tide event you can relocate to friends and family for a few hours until the tide recedes."


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Earlier we wrote about how David Stockman has a huge unhinged screed in today's NYT about how the US is doomed because of debt, money printing, and crony capitalism.
The piece is almost undebunkable because it's so big and unwieldy and, frankly, because it doesn't really try to make a coherent argument.
We were curious if Krugman was going to take on the piece, since it appeared in his own paper.
Alas he has delivered in a short, brutal post titled Cranky Old Men.
It's cranky old man stuff, the kind of thing you get from people who read Investors Business Daily, listen to Rush Limbaugh, and maybe, if they're unusually teched up, get investment advice from Zero Hedge.
This is really the essence of it. There are a bunch of scared old guys who can only remember the dangers of inflation, and who lap up content about how doomed the world is, and love hearing how dumb powerful people are. That's who all of these folks pander to.


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Go Beyond the Farm Gate with Danielle Costley »
A culinary journey through Australia's South West
By Sara Schwarz
This book takes you on a culinary journey through Western Australia's South West, where you'll visit a Calabrian-inspired olive grove, a silk and mulberry farm, an artisan sheep dairy and more as you meet 31 growers and producers around the region.
Beyond the Farm Gate by Danielle Costley with its glorious photos by Chris Gurney, is highly likely to inspire travel plans especially if pored over with a glass of delicious Western Australian wine in hand.
Ever since I learnt about the majestic karri and jarrah forests of south-west Western Australia in a high school geography lesson, this region has held a special place in my heart. Sadly, while my travels have taken me to many inspiring places, I have yet to make it to this special corner of Australia. Danielle Costley's Beyond the Farm Gate inspires me to get my act together and make it my resolution to plan a family trip there soon.
As the title states, this is a culinary journey through the region, with the author interviewing thirty-one beef and dairy farmers, winemakers, cheese makers, truffle seekers, berry pickers, macadamia nut growers and more. Being quite a sizeable area, the book is sensibly divided up by the four points of the compass.
This layout offers a wonderful way to plan my own gourmet holiday (and yours), around WA's south west, while the gorgeous imagery and helpful maps will inspire a plethora of back road adventures.
The Northern Regions, around the town of Bunbury, are home to some of the world's happiest chooks, a Calabrian-inspired olive grove, artisan sheep dairy and a macadamia nut farm.
The Western Regions, centred around the famous township of Margaret River [see links below], looks beyond the wineries the region is best known for, and offers wagyu beef and raw jarrah honey producers, fat lambs grazing on saltbush, a unique abalone business, and one of Australia's few silk farms and mulberry tea producers.
In the Eastern Regions, around the townships of Nannup and Bridgetown, you'll discover an organic farm that is home to some rather spoilt camels, an inland marron (fresh water crayfish) farm, a 35 year-old chestnut grove, and a biodynamic farm that has literally risen from the ashes.
If you are a vegetarian or simply a fan of good fruit and vegetables then you may want to head straight south. Here you will find hidden groves and rich fields producing walnuts, truffles, potatoes, and all manner of stonefruit and berries. The Southern Regions [see links below] are also home to the majestic timber giants that inspired me in my school days!
Ms Costley has interviewed the producers in depth and offers the armchair traveller their fascinating stories in a highly personal, engaging and entertaining format. Together these articles form an in-depth insight into the rich tapestry of the region, and the very special people who have chosen to make the area their livelihood, community and home.
To further inspire your adventures, and to remind you to pack a cooler bag or two on your travels, after the interviews for each region you will find a selection of delectable recipes featuring the hero products from each farmer and producer.
Many of these recipes are treasured family ones direct from the farmer and have never been written up before for public consumption, so you are most definitely in for a treat.
My whole family adored Chris Gurney's photography and even though the book is a fairly hefty tome, my small son will often drag it over to me so we can spend time exploring the photos of sleek and content cows, farm dogs, flocks of startling white sheep, purple-blue marron, and happy chickens producing the brightest orange yolks you'll ever have the pleasure to taste.
After reading through Beyond the Farm Gate again, I found myself with a glass of West Australian chardonnay in hand, searching for flights to Western Australia. I'll guarantee you'll likely find yourself googling for flights there too.
Beyond the Farm Gate – a culinary journey through Australia's South West by Danielle Costley with photographs by Chris Gurney is published by Margaret River Press (WA, 2015, HB, RRP A$60.00). It is available at good bookshops and direct from the publisher here »
Read an extract on Artisan sheep cheeses at their best »
You can also purchase via Booko here »
- South West WA (WA)
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