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zour wrote:I am surprised that the mainstream science is actually looking after this planet:
I don't think the scientists involved are mainstream, and the WISE project is shut down. But this doesn't address your other questions.
For discussion of Electric Universe and Plasma Cosmology. The ideas and opinions expressed on this forum do not necessarily reflect those of T-Bolts Group Inc or The Thunderbolts Project(TM)
zour wrote:I am surprised that the mainstream science is actually looking after this planet:
may be harbouring two supersized planet just out of reach of our telescopes.
Sparky wrote:If they can't find a gravitational reason for what they observe, then maybe they need to look for another cause.
Recent analyses have shown that distant orbits within the scattered disk population of the Kuiper Belt
exhibit an unexpected clustering in their respective arguments of perihelion. While several hypotheses have
been put forward to explain this alignment, to date, a theoretical model that can successfully account for the
observations remains elusive. In this work we show that the orbits of distant Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs)
cluster not only in argument of perihelion, but also in physical space. We demonstrate that the perihelion
positions and orbital planes of the objects are tightly confined and that such a clustering has only a
probability of 0.007% to be due to chance, thus requiring a dynamical origin. We find that the observed orbital
alignment can be maintained by a distant eccentric planet with mass gsim10 m⊕ whose orbit lies in approximately
the same plane as those of the distant KBOs, but whose perihelion is 180° away from the perihelia of the minor
bodies. In addition to accounting for the observed orbital alignment, the existence of such a planet naturally
explains the presence of high-perihelion Sedna-like objects, as well as the known collection of high semimajor
axis objects with inclinations between 60° and 150° whose origin was previously unclear. Continued analysis of
both distant and highly inclined outer solar system objects provides the opportunity for testing our hypothesis
as well as further constraining the orbital elements and mass of the distant planet.
These are remarkable claims. Do you have any real evidence of your supposed discovery? If so, you should become famous!pavlink wrote:There are three more planets, orbiting the sun, beyond Pluto.
Closest a smaller than Earth rocky planet.
Further a Neptune like gas giant.
Biggest a Saturn like Gas giant.
Metryq wrote:Considering the wacky acrobatics of Pluto's satellites, is it possible an electrically-related explanation might explain both? If Sedna and company are "trojan point" or shepherded moons of a massive planet, one would think other sky surveys (IR?) might have found said planet by now.
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Kiwanis Club of Perth on Tay - Perth ON
Volunteering Opportunities - Youth Volunteering Opportunities
Listing Contact: Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Online: Website
Perth ON K7H
The Kiwanis Club of Perth-on-Tay is having an exciting year serving the County. This spring, we'll host a Regional Caucus & Hootenanny for Hope fundraiser. Hope Markes, Governor of Eastern Canada & Caribbean District, will be here along with 150 area Kiwanians. Funds will be raised for Eliminate, a joint Kiwanis/Unicef program to combat neo-natal tetanus in third world countries, and of course to aid local kids and youth. Free membership and one monthly meeting.

subset: commoncrawl


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Free Shipping
on orders over CAD $60
Sale Price: Can $27.09
For use in Kodak All-in-One Machines Easyshare 5100, Easyshare 5250, Easyshare 5300, Easyshare 5500, ESP 3, ESP 3250, ESP 5, ESP 7, ESP 7250, ESP 9, ESP Office 6150 and all other Kodak printers that use the Kodak #10 black and color ink cartridges. This DIY Refill Kit includes 96ml black ink and 32ml each Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Glossy inks (enough to refill the Kodak #10 black cartridge four times, and the Kodak #10 color cartridge six times). Refill tools and instructions also included. Chips are required (available for sale separately).


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I have always had an interest in perfume since...well, since as long as I can remember! From exploring my mum's bottles when I was little, to looking at the various counters selling beautifully packaged glass bottles of scent when I was a teen. As a child, I can vividly remember dabbing my mother's perfume on myself and how it made me feel like a 'grown-up princess'. As a teen, perfume made me feel 'mature' beyond my years, and now, as a mummy, perfume allows me to feel a little bit more feminine and pretty...even if I have the remnants of little sticky fingers all over my clothes and the rest of me looks a mess! I guess it has become a part of my routine that provides a touch of glamour and luxury- and there are days when these little things can make such a difference to a young mum!
However, when it comes down to making a decision and actually purchasing a bottle, I don't like to experiment far from what I have come to know, trust and love. For the past three years I have worn the same perfume without change. I fell in love with Chanel's Mademoiselle and my husband has bought me a bottle either for Christmas or for my birthday ever since. Last summer though, I came across a whole new obsession when I was given a free sample of Chanel's Chance eau Fraiche. Since then, I have not been able to walk past the Chanel counter without having a quick peek!
What I love about this scent is how fresh, clean and crisp it is. There are three variations on the original Chance perfume that Chanel released but eau Fraiche was, without a doubt, my favourite. Eddy bought me a bottle for Christmas and now, having had a week to wear it, I can say that it was so worth taking the plunge and trying something new.
Not only is the packaging exceptionally beautiful and hardwearing, (I have already dropped it and thankfully there was no breakage!) but the way it lingers on fabrics for so long really impresses me. If I am putting my coat on, I can always smell eau Fraiche on it from the previous day and it is just as fresh and clean as the day before.
I think I am onto a real winner with this scent and I think I am also going to be starting a whole new obsession for the next little while!
Have any of you tried eau Fraiche? What are your thoughts?
Love Bunty


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|Product code
|Liquori Santo Spirito
|More items available upon order
Grappa is the classic alcohol beverages that come from the past, it was made in the houses by alembic.
Liquorice grappa is perhaps the most classic. This kind of grappa, in origin is colorless and transparent, with a delicate and characteristic aroma and taste dry and clean. At the end of the distillation is macerate in it, the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra creating such a grappa with the typical aroma, slightly grassy, delicate and with many nuances. We select only pure licorice that gives flavor and quality to Spirito Santo Grappa. Taste distinctive, sharp and rather decided, with a not too sweet and slightly woody that makes it excellent as a digestive.
Ingredients: Grappa, pure liquorice
Alcohol content: 30%
The distillation methods have been developed between the eighth and sixth centuries BC in Mesopotamia and were soon applied to wine for the preparation of brandy. These processes are cited by alchemists from the twelfth century A.D. Even distillation from the pomace has probably very distant historical origins. According to legend, it is attributed to a Roman legionary in the first century BC, after his return from Egypt, he had stolen a distillation plant, and it has begun production of a distillate from the pomace of a vineyard which was in assignee Friuli using the techniques learned. The historian Luigi Papo traces the first production in Friuli in 511 A.D. by the Burgundians, who from neighboring Austria, during a brief installation in Cividale applied their techniques used in the distillation of cider apples for distillation from marc, thus obtaining grappa.
Santo Spirito aroma d'Abruzzo
Santo Spirito aroma d'Abruzzo is an artisan vocation company, natural for quality, and traditional for recipes, it is distinguished for the excellence of taste of its products. The choice of the brand, the hermitage of Santo Spirito a Maiella in Abruzzo, is the expression of the essence of our land: simple, cozy and full of spirituality.
The quality of Santo Spirito aroma d'Abruzzo comes from the tradition and the passion to create Liquors. Even today in the Sanro Spirito's cellars some of the old recipes handed down by the Friars, come to life in the typical tradition of Abruzzo.
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Sunday, April 11, 2010
Tax Judo: Eliminate April 15th Deadline to Dilute Tea Bags
International... like Europe? Uh oh. The "movement" just can't control message, can it?
Our fellow citizens in Rapid City are at least taking their tax tirade to the park again.
Even without attending the April 15th rallies, I get plenty of tax angst from the regular media, listening to the inevitable stories about people hurrying to file their taxes at the last minute. I miss out on this communal stress: this year, as usual, I filed my 1040 online in one February evening. The refund popped electronically into our account in early March and has already paid off our insurers and bought supper at El Vaquero. For the Heidelbergers of Lake Herman, April 15th is just another day.
But for many Americans, April 15th serves as a focal point for anti-government grouchiness. Conjuring fears of tyrannical bureaucrats in Washington and jackbooted thugs knocking down your door is easy on a day when lots of people are worried a poorly carried 2 could get them audited.
And then it hits me: here's an easy, cynical, Machiavellian machination the Obama Administration could use to defuse the Tea Parties. Revise the tax code to create a rotating schedule for income tax deadlines. Do it like South Dakota license plates: last name starts with A or B, you file in January; C, D, or E, February; and so on. Or do it by state or region or Social Security Number or some other rational scheme to spread out the deadlines.
Get rid of April 15th as everyone's tax day, and Fox News and their astroturf lose a day around which to whip up a media circus. Plus, we spread out some employment, creating a more stable job market and revenue for accountants and tax specialists. We smooth out the workload for our public servants at the IRS, who can level the mountain of spring paperwork and steadily process 1040s throughout the year.
Or we could just replace the income tax with a national sales tax. Would the Tea Bags be less sour if every day at the grocery store was tax day? :-)
7 comments:
National sales tax. I love those words.ReplyDelete
Crap! Thanks for reminding me I have to do my taxes tonight!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous4/11/2010 4:47 PM
to answer you simply and succinctly, NO. Increasing smoke and mirrors will not placate people that are mad about tyranny.
-- Scott Burton
"Or we could just replace the income tax with a national sales tax ..."ReplyDelete
Cory, you come off like Mike Huckabee!
The key word is "replace." It will never happen that way.
- Barry Smith4/13/2010 5:58 PM
Here is an interesting piece from Bruce Bartlett concerning the tea baggers and taxes.ReplyDelete
Bartlett says,ReplyDelete
According to calculations by the Joint Committee on Taxation, a congressional committee, tax filers with adjusted gross incomes between $40,000 and $50,000 have an average federal income tax burden of just 1.7%. Those with adjusted gross incomes between $50,000 and $75,000 have an average burden of 4.2%.
According to my calculations, without divulging my actual adjusted gross income here, I can vouch for the fact that either this statement constitutes a kettle of cooties, or else I need to hire a sharp accountant and file amended returns for the last twenty-five or thirty years -- and then retire to Monaco.
Bartlett wants a value-added tax on top of all our other taxes. Nuff said.
I'm not quite to the teabagger level yet, but I'll keep working my way down the intellectual ladder, and maybe, along with sufficient degeneration of my dilithium brain power pack, I'll get there pretty soon.
- Barry Smith4/14/2010 8:15 AM
Stan . The key word in the quote is average. Since the tax credits in the stimulus package have been in effect,the average has dropped dramatically from where it was a few years ago. Here are links to the IRS and the joint committee on taxation, if you would like to explore without spin.ReplyDelete
Comments are closed, as this portion of the Madville Times is in archive mode. You can join the discussion of current issues at MadvilleTimes.com.
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The thermodynamic cycles like Carnot cycle, Stirling cycle, Brayton cycle are closed cycles as the working fluid keeps on circulating inside the cycle. In these cycles the addition of heat takes places externally, hence they also called external combustion engines. The most commonly used practical engines used in our day-to-day life are internal combustion engines for our vehicles, motorcycles, construction machineries etc.
The engines in which combustion of fuel takes place inside the engine are called as internal combustion engines or IC engines. The IC engines comprises of the piston and cylinder arrangement with suction and exhaust valves.
In the beginning of the internal combustion cycle, the air-fuel mixture is inducted inside the cylinder. When the fuel is combusted lot of heat is released which makes the engine cylinder very hot. To avoid the deterioration of the engine, it is very important to cool the engine either with water or with external air. After combustion of fuel the pressure of gases becomes very high which pushes the piston producing the work. Thereafter the burnt gases are released to the atmosphere as exhaust gases and the fresh air-fuel mixture is inducted inside the cylinder. Since the burnt air-fuel mixture does not moves into the cycle again and fresh air-fuel mixture is inducted at the beginning of each cycle, the internal combustion engines are said to be working in non-cyclic process.
The Concept of Air Standard Cycles
No matter whether the engine works in cyclic or non-cyclic process, its analysis is very important to find out the amount of fuel consumed and work produced by it. To carry out the analysis of the heat engines, the concept of air standard cycles was conceived. In these cycles certain mass of air is considered to be working in the thermodynamic cycle. The addition and rejection of heat is considered to take place with the external reservoir and ideally all the processes are reversible.
The internal combustion engines are considered to be working on the principle of air standard cycles. The two most commonly used air standard cycles are Otto cycle and Diesel cycle. The Otto cycle corresponds to four stroke gasoline or petrol engines also called Spark Ignition (SI) engines. The Diesel cycle corresponds to four stroke Diesel engines also called as Compression Ignition (CI) engines.
In the next part of the article we shall see Otto and Diesel cycles.
Next: Part-2 of this article
Next: Part-3 of this article
Book: Engineering Thermodynamics by P K Nag
Related Readings
Carnot Cycle and Carnot Theorem: Working and Relation to Second Law of Thermodynamics – Part 1
Types of Thermodynamic Systems and Important Terms Related to Thermodynamics – Part 1


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Sorry folks, no fun blog post tonight! I will give you this word of warning though. If your kids all have diagnosed ear infections and sinus infections and you've been feeling really run down and miserable yourself and you have amoxycillin leftover from when you had that sinus infection last month…. do not even think about self-diagnosing and taking it!
I just got back from the emergency room after breaking out with a beet red, burning, itching, painful, maddening head-to-toe (starting at the head!) rash. Within 15 minutes of taking the pill, my face and chest looked like I had a blistering sunburn. The nurses in the ER actually thought I was burned.
One hour, three shots and a whole lot of icy wet towels later, they let me go home with some medication and instructions to never again take a penicillin family drug.
Wow! That was really, really unpleasant! 🙂
According to this site, I have discovered "the poor man's mono test" and that anybody with mono who takes a med like amoxycillin will develop this rash. Some seem to have a harder time with it than others, but most of these poor folks had it for days or weeks. I can't imagine having it for more than a minute. It burns!
In any case, I have pills to take and am heading to my own doctor in the morning. I'll be back with something fun for you tomorrow!


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KMS host key = This key is obtained from the VLSC. This is the key that you would use during the install of the KMS host when setting up a Office 2010 KMS server
KMS Client Key = This is a generic key that is hardcoded into all of the Office 2010 client products. ie.. ProPlus, Visio, Project.
This key allows the product to be installed without manually entering a product key. Also, when this key is installed it triggers the Office product to attempt to locate and activate against a KMS server.
Volume license versions of Office 2010 are hardcoded with a generic KMS Client Key. This key can be located by opening the setup.xml file from the *.ww folder of the product.
As an example, here is the built-in KMS Client Key from the Visio 2010 volume license setup.xml
Visio is a unique product in the volume license space in that Visio can install as Visio Standard, Visio Professional, or Visio Premium based upon the key that is input. By default, Visio 2010 uses this Visio Premium 2010 KMS client key, which enables all the features that are available for Visio Premium 2010. If you are licensed to use Visio Standard 2010 or Visio Professional 2010, you must install the appropriate KMS client key. Different features or applications are available, depending on the kind of key that is installed. This makes it easier for you to upgrade or downgrade without having to deploy a different product edition.
If your license agreement with Microsoft is for Visio Standard 2010 or Visio Professional 2010, use the appropriate Generic KMS client key shown in the following table.
|Visio edition
|KMS client key
Visio Standard 2010
Visio Professional 2010
Visio Premium 2010
For information about how to plan your Visio Professional 2010 installation, see Plan customizations and options for Visio 2010.
There are two scenarios to consider for installing an appropriate KMS Client key.
Scenario 1
Visio 2010 has already been deployed in your organization.
At the time of the deployment no key was specified and as a result everyone has Visio Premium installed although the organization is licensed for Visio Standard 2010 or Visio Professional 2010.
To downgrade these versions from Premium to Pro or STD, they will need to change the installed KMS Client key to the generic PRO, or STD key using a script that calls ospp.vbs , or by using VAMT. After the key is changed it will automatically activate against the KMS s host server, provided the KMS host is healthy and reachable.
Method 1 – Using a script that calls ospp.vbs on the machine to install a new KMS Client key. This script can be pushed out as a startup script via GPO to the affected machines.
Here is a simple, example batch file script that I have used to install the Visio 2010 Client key for Standard edition post install. This should work on X86 and X64 machines. I have placed a registry key query in this script so that it checks for the existence of a registry key that does not exist natively, and then when the script runs it adds that dummy registry key. This way the next time the script runs (if deployed as a startup script for example) it will simply end when it locates the dummy key that had been added during the script's previous run.
@echo off
if "%PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"=="x86" if "%PROCESSOR_ARCHITEW6432%"=="" goto x86
Method 2 – Use the VAMT tool to install a different KMS Client key for Visio 2010 post install.
For more information and a walkthrough of the Volume Activation Management tool
Managing Office 2010 Activations using the Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT 2.0)
Scenario 2
Visio 2010 has not yet been deployed in the organization and we need to ensure that correct edition of Visio 2010 is deployed.
If the organization is not licensed for Premium, they will either need to ensure that they modify the config.xml (in the visio.ww folder) and include the generic KMS client key for Pro or STD, or create a custom.msp file with the Office customization tool and specify the generic KMS client key for Pro or STD. After the install Visio will activate against KMS without issue if the KMS host is activated, healthy and has had the 5 minimum unique requests.
Method 1
Modify the config.xml to specify the KMS Client key to use. If we specify the KMS Client key for Standard edition in the config.xml file from the Visio.ww folder, than Visio will install with that KMS Client key instead of the built-in key for Premium.
As an example, here is a modified config.xml with the generic KMS Client key for Standard specified.
Method 2
Create a custom MSP file with the Office Customization Tool to specify the KMS Client key to use. If we specify the KMS Client key for Standard edition in the Office Customization Tool and save the custom MSP in the updates folder, Visio will install with that KMS Client key instead of the built-in key for Premium.
Open the Office Customization Tool by calling setup.exe with the /admin switch
In the OCT under the Licensing and user interface section, you can choose "Enter another product key" and input your generic Pro or STD KMS Client key.
After saving the custom MSP file from the Office Customization tool, make sure to place the custom MSP file in the updates folder of the Visio source. Now when your Visio installation takes place it will use the custom msp file you created in the updates folder and apply your generic Pro/STD key rather than the built in Premium key.
This is also discussed in the following technet article:
Deploy volume activation of Office 2010


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Any BENEFITS in cashing in all your Pension now?
- Details
- Created: Sunday, 14 June 2015 12:11
Pensions Freedom? Its SHAMELESS
Any BENEFITS in cashing in all your Pension now?
For a lot of people the approach of the 6th April 2015 is filled with excitement and trepidation.
well from that day an unprecedented level of freedoms are being granted to money purchase pensions such as Personal Pensions, SIPP'S etc, Final Salary Pensions are excluded from the new regime unless you transfer your benefits away.
What can you do in the new regime? well you have the
Freedom to
- You will have a right - in theory at least - to gain full access to your pension from age 55
- No one will be forced to buy an annuity
- Choose your own level of income
- You will be able to cash in your pension in one go - subject to an income tax charge
- You will be able to make withdrawals above your right to tax-free cash - subject to an income tax charge
- Pass on Pension pots free of Inheritance tax on death (Under age 75
In todays, Telegraph on Sunday the Prime Minister talks about trusting people to make the right choices.
Will everyone make the right choices? NO


text:
Global operations and investments are exposed to hundreds of political, social, environmental and economic variables that can jeopardise the security of assets and personnel, damage brand reputation and undermine long-term value. While your internal teams can track some of these issues, to build a true 360° view of country risk across a large portfolio of developed and emerging markets without external expertise is a huge challenge.
Finding a trusted partner to provide an independent and data driven perspective on your organisation's risk exposure is crucial. Our country risk analysis service combines a forensic understanding of the country-level risks impacting different sectors in markets across the world with the industry's leading and most wide-ranging portfolio of risk analytics. This holistic approach enables you to anticipate and manage emerging risks, and gives you the confidence you need to make strategic decisions that help protect your people, operations and investments. Learn more about our risk indices:
You can gain a comprehensive view of your country-level risk exposure from our proprietary datasets, which cover 150+ risk issues, and from incisive independent analysis from country, human rights, economic and environmental specialists who are also on hand to answer your questions.
We blend in-depth insight with timely commentary, dynamic risk data and visualisations that help to cut through the noise and enable you to focus on the issues that matter to your business.
By using our unique proprietary forecasting models for issues such as government stability, security and interstate tensions, you can pinpoint the key risks to the value of your long-term investments
Using our global risk data to compare risk between markets, together with expert country risk analysis and on-the-ground insights, you can develop an actionable, independent risk assessment that can be used for board-level strategy
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Discuss your needs with us. We have expertise spanning multiple sectors and the unique issues facing them in each market. Our analysis service can include coverage on sector-specific risks for any country.
View our case studies to find out how we can help your business
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CBR was the first family bank accredited by AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks) and the company's quality standards have been recognized through ISO 9001:2008 certification—the global business standard for quality. The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has issued cord blood regulations, and the states of California, Illinois, Maryland, New York and New Jersey have mandatory licensing for cord blood banking. The stringent laboratory processes, record keeping, quality control and quality assurance of CBR are designed to meet all federal and state guidelines and regulations.
Private storage of one's own cord blood is unlawful in Italy and France, and it is also discouraged in some other European countries. The American Medical Association states "Private banking should be considered in the unusual circumstance when there exists a family predisposition to a condition in which umbilical cord stem cells are therapeutically indicated. However, because of its cost, limited likelihood of use, and inaccessibility to others, private banking should not be recommended to low-risk families."[11] The American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also encourage public cord banking and discourage private cord blood banking. Nearly all cord blood transplantations come from public banks, rather than private banks,[9][12] partly because most treatable conditions can't use a person's own cord blood.[8][13] The World Marrow Donor Association and European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies states "The possibility of using one's own cord blood stem cells for regenerative medicine is currently purely hypothetical….It is therefore highly hypothetical that cord blood cells kept for autologous use will be of any value in the future" and "the legitimacy of commercial cord blood banks for autologous use should be questioned as they sell a service which has presently no real use regarding therapeutic options."[14]
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics don't recommend routine cord blood storage. The groups say private banks should only be used when there's a sibling with a medical condition who could benefit from the stem cells. Families are encouraged to donate stem cells to a public bank to help others.
Remaining in the umbilical cord and placenta is approx. 40–120 milliliters of cord blood. The healthcare provider will extract the cord blood from the umbilical cord at no risk or harm to the baby or mother.
Founded in 1992, CBR has stored more than 600,000 cord blood and cord tissue collections from 3,500 hospitals in over 100 countries and partnered with institutions to establish multiple FDA-regulated clinical trials. CBR has helped more than 400 families use their cord blood stem cells for established and experimental medical treatments, more than any other family cord blood bank. CBR's goal is to expand the potential scope of newborn stem cell therapies that may be available to patients and their families.
The United States Congress saw the need to help more patients who need a bone marrow or cord blood transplant and passed the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005, Public Law 109-129 (Stem Cell Act 2005) and the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010, Public Law 111-264 (Stem Cell Act 2010). These acts include support for umbilical cord blood transplant and research.
^ a b Thornley, I; et al. (March 2009). "Private cord blood banking: experiences and views of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation physicians". Pediatrics. 123 (3): 1011–7. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0436. PMC 3120215 . PMID 19255033.
After a look at the many reasons to bank including the various diseases cord blood can treat, most parents would love to preserve their baby's cord blood and cord tissue. We are the premier cord blood banking provider and offer an exceptional level of quality while giving parents the best price possible, with no unexpected fees or hidden surcharges. We offer a number of special discounts for returning clients, referring a friend, multiple births and medical professionals in addition to in-house financing options to keep the cost of cord blood banking in everyone's reach. We are committed not only to offering the best quality service but also to meeting the price of any reputable competitor through our best-price guarantee.
There is little doubt that scientists believe umbilical cord blood stem cells hold promise for the future. Cord blood stem cells are already used to treat blood disorders such as aplastic anemia, and research is underway to determine if they can treat other more common conditions like type 1 diabetes. But many experts question whether many companies's marketing materials confuse or even mislead parents about the usefulness of private banking.
Parents who wish to donate cord blood are limited by whether there is a public bank that collects donations from the hospital or clinic where their baby will be born. Search our list of public banks in your country. Parents who wish to store cord blood and/or cord tissue for their family can find and compare private banks in your country. Family banks usually offer payment plans or insurance policies to lower the cost of cord blood banking.
Stem cells are often extracted from cord blood and bone marrow.Different cells have different life cycles, and many are constantly regenerating, but when damage occurs and the body needs to come up with a new supply of cells to heal itself, it relies on the stem cell's ability to quickly create more cells to repair the wound. Herein lays the potential for the introduction of new stem cells to enhance or be the driving factor in the healing process.
To recap, we have certain types of stem cells that can become a variety of different cells—they are like the renaissance men of cells—but there is one more thing that makes stem cells special. This has to do with how they replicate themselves.
HSCs can become any type of blood cell or cellular blood component inside the body, including white blood cells and red blood cells. These cells are found in umbilical cord blood and are multipotent, which means they can develop into more than one cell type.
Cord blood (short for umbilical cord blood) is the blood that remains in the umbilical cord and placenta post-delivery. At or near term, there is a maternal–fetal transfer of cells to boost the immune systems of both the mother and baby in preparation for labor. This makes cord blood at the time of delivery a rich source of stem cells and other cells of the immune system. Cord blood banking is the process of collecting the cord blood and extracting and cryogenically freezing its stem cells and other cells of the immune system for potential future medical use.
There was a time before the 1990s when the umbilical cord and its blood were considered medical waste. Today, parents bank or store their baby's umbilical cord blood because the stem cells it contains are currently utilized or show promise in the treatment of life-threatening and debilitating diseases.
The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) has also adopted a position on the ethical aspects of umbilical cord blood banking. The EGE is of the opinion that "support for public cord blood banks for allogeneic transplantations should be increased and long term functioning should be assured." They further stated that "the legitimacy of commercial cord blood banks for autologous use should be questioned as they sell a service which has presently no real use regarding therapeutic options."
There is not one right answer. Your family's medical history and personal preferences will play a major role in this decision process. However, we can help you make sense of the available options. Continue to follow our guide on cord blood to understand what is the best choice for your family.
Tracey Dones of Hicksville, N.Y., paid to bank her son Anthony's cord blood. But four months after he was born, Anthony was diagnosed with osteopetrosis, a rare disease that causes the body to produce excess bone, leads to blindness, and can be fatal if left untreated.
CBR is a proud media partner of @MarchForBabies, as we join @MarchofDimes in the fight for the #health of all #moms and #babies. Join us at Fort Mason in San Francisco on April 28th and march with us, because every baby deserves the best possible start. marchforbabies.org
To prevent graft-versus-host disease and help ensure engraftment, the stem cells being transfused need to match the cells of the patient completely or to a certain degree (depending on what is being treated). Cord blood taken from a baby's umbilical cord is always a perfect match for the baby. In addition, immediate family members are more likely to also be a match for the banked cord blood. Siblings have a 25 percent chance of being a perfect match and a 50 percent chance of being a partial match. Parents, who each provide half the markers used in matching, have a 100% chance of being a partial match. Even aunts, uncles, grandparents and other extended family members have a higher probability of being a match and could possibly benefit from the banked cord blood. Read more reasons why you should bank cord blood.
Estimated first minimum monthly payment. Future minimum payments will vary based on amount and timing of payments, interest rate, and other charges added to account. You may always pay more. The more you pay each month, the quicker your balance will be repaid and the lower your total finance charges will be. For more information about CareCredit's healthcare payment plans, please visit carecredit.com. If minimum monthly payments are 60 days past due, the promotions may be terminated and a Penalty APR may apply. Standard terms including Purchase APR or Penalty APR up to 29.99% apply to expired and terminated promotions, and optional charges. Subject to credit approval by Synchrony Bank. Other terms and conditions may apply. Please see here for more details.
Your free donation will be part of a program that is saving lives and supporting research to discover new uses for cord blood stem cells. Units that meet criteria for storage are made available to anyone, anywhere in the world, who needs a stem cell transplant.
The process is safe, painless, easy and FREE. Your physician or midwife collects the cord blood after your baby has delivered, so it does not interfere with the birthing process. The collection will not take place if there is an concern for your safety or that of your baby.
ES cells are pluripotent, and similar to iPS cells, but come from an embryo. However, this kills the fertilized baby inside the embryo. This type of cell also has a high chance for graft-versus-host disease, when transplanted cells attack the patient's body.
As noted earlier, with better matching, there is a greater chance of success and less risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) in any stem cell transplant. With cord blood, the baby's own cells are always a perfect match and share little risk. When using cord blood across identical twins, there is also a very low chance of GvHD although mutations and biological changes caused by epigenetic factors can occur. Other blood-related family members have a 35%–45% chance of GvHD, and unrelated persons have a 60%–80% chance of suffering from GvHD.
Exciting news reported by US News & World Report: Results from a cerebral palsy clinical trial at Duke University have been published. Read all the details on our blog now! bit.ly/2AsXSY4 pic.twitter.com/e6vxcXxTuO
Another way scientists are working with stem cells is through expansion technologies that spur replication of the cord blood stem cells. If proven effective and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these expansion technologies will allow scientists to culture many stem cells from a small sample. This could provide doctors and researchers with enough stem cells to treat multiple family members with one cord blood collection or provide the baby with multiple treatments over time. To better prepare for the day when these expansion technologies are more easily accessible, some cord blood banks have begun to separate their cord blood collections into separate compartments, which can easily be detached from the rest of the collection and used independently. You can learn more about Cryo-Cell's five-chambered storage bag here.
In terms of performance, our PrepaCyte-CB processing method has taken the lead. PrepaCyte-CB greatly improves on parents' returns on investment because it yields the highest number of stem cells while showing the greatest reduction in red blood cells.1–4 Clinical transplant data show that cord blood processed with PrepaCyte-CB engrafts more quickly than other processing methods.7 This means patients may start feeling better more quickly, may spend less time in the hospital and are less likely to suffer from an infection. The ability to get better more quickly and a reduced chance of infection can prove vital in certain cases. Learn more about PrepaCyte®-CB here.
In New Zealand, a hopeful couple are participating in a study that will use one of their son's cord blood stem cells to research treatment for another son's cystic fibrosis. In Chicago, people are using their sibling's stem cells to successfully treat sickle cell disease. And countless other families have banked their second child's cord blood after their first child was diagnosed with leukemia. Many of those children are alive and well today thanks to their sibling's stem cells. Since the first successful cord blood stem cell transplant on a sibling in 1988, over 30,000 cord blood transplants have been performed worldwide.
First isolated in 1998, there is a lot of controversy around acquiring embryonic stem cells. Thankfully, we can also acquire the stem cells that form just a little bit later down the road, like in the umbillical cord tissue. These stem cells, known as adult stem cells, stay with us for life. (Later, we will learn why not all adult stem cells are equal.) Adult stem cells are more limited in the types of cells they can become, something known as being tissue-specific, but share many of the same qualities. Hematopoietic stem cells (Greek "to make blood" and pronounced he-mah-toe-po-ee-tic) found in the umbilical cord's blood, for instance, can become any of the different types of blood cells found in the body and are the foundation of our immune system. Another example is mesenchymal (meh-sen-ki-mal) stem cells, which can be found in the umbilical cord tissue and can become a host of cells including those found in your nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage, and more.
Most cells can make copies only of themselves. For example, a skin cell only can make another skin cell. Hematopoietic stem cells, however, can mature into different types of blood cells in the body. Hematopoietic stem cells also are found in blood and bone marrow in adults and children.
While banking cord blood is a new experience for many parents, it is a simple one. After all, most mothers are worried about how the delivery will go and don't want to also be worried about the details of collecting, processing and cryo-preserving their babies's cord blood. Thankfully, the healthcare provider and the cord blood bank do most of the work. Here are the steps found in cord blood banking:
Cord tissue is rich in a completely different type of stem cell. With over fifty clinical trials currently in progress, researchers agree that banking cord tissue is the future of stem cell banking. Learn more >
CBR uses the AutoExpress automated processing method. AutoExpress (AXP) reduces the chance of human error and provides consistent results in the reduction of certain blood components. It also provides quick and accurate data tracking. Cord Blood Registry is the only cord blood bank to have adopted the AXP processing method.
Women thinking about donating their child's cord blood to a public bank must pass certain eligibility requirements. While these vary from bank to bank, the following list shows general health guidelines for mothers wanting to donate.
iPS cells are artificially-made pluripotent stem cells. This technique allows medical staff to create additional pluripotent cells, which will increase treatment options for patients using stem cell therapy in the near future.
The majority of programs that accept cord blood donations require the mother to sign up in advance. In the united States, the current requirement is to sign up by the 34th week of pregnancy. This cannot be over-stressed; time and time again, mothers who want to donate are turned away because they did not inquire about donation until it was too late.
When a donor signs up with a public bank, the mother must pass a health screening and sign a consent form. After that, the bank processes the application, which makes last-minute donations impossible. However, there are a small number of banks that accept late donor requests.
Taking time to consider helping another person when you are already busy planning for the birth of your child is greatly appreciated. A gift of cord blood may someday give someone a second chance at life.
Our annual storage fee is due every year on the birth date of the child and covers the cost of storage until the following birthday. The fee is fixed upon enrollment for 18 years and will not increase during that span of time. If the stem cells are preserved after the 18th year, preservation may then fall under the new pricing structure.
Umbilical cord blood contains a large amount of stem cells. If parents sign up for personalized storage or donation, medical staff will remove stem cells from the umbilical cord and placenta. The blood is then cryogenically frozen, and put into long-term storage.
When the medical courier delivers the cord blood collection kit to the cord blood bank, it is quickly processed to ensure the continued viability of the stem cells and immune system cells found in the cord blood. Firstly, a sample of the cord blood is tested for microbiological contamination, and the mother's blood is tested for infectious diseases. As these tests are being conducted, the cord blood is processed to reduce the number of red blood cells and its total volume and isolate the stem cells and immune cells.


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Birmingham Sister City Commission
is dedicated to promoting global cooperation, and economic development between Birmingham and cities around the world.
What is Birmingham Sister Cities?
The Birmingham Sister Cities Commission is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering international and intercultural relationships as well as community relations in order to facilitate foreign direct investment and economic development in Birmingham, Alabama.
It is our belief that intercultural understanding and diverse person to person communication expands the potential for growth and ideas. Our relationships with our Sister Cities enable these types of exchanges by establishing a medium of communication between Birmingham and our partner cities around the globe.
For more information on our mission and our values, visit About BSCC.
Who Are Our Sister Cities?
Birmingham's oldest Sister City partnership is with Hitachi, Japan, a relationship that began in April 1982. Since then, Birmingham has partnered with cities in Ukraine, China, Ghana, and England as well as many others. Also, in 2005, Birmingham became the first city to have a joint signing with an Arab and an Israeli Sister City.
For more information about our many partnerships and activities, check out our country pages and read through our recent Newsletters!
What We Do
As a commission, each of our citizen-led Country Committees helps organize events and exchanges between Birmingham and our Sister Cities abroad. In 2017, we organized an exchange between our Sister Cities in Jordan and Israel where we sent students from Philips Academy to visit, learn, and engage in the culture of the region and build relationships with the people they met. They were hosted by homestays and were afforded the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local culture thanks to relationships established by our Sister City relationships.
Also, Birmingham Sister Cities helps coordinate local cultural events related to international cultures that reside
Birmingham Sister Cities Commission has relationships with the Japan American Society of Alabama, the International World Games Association, and other prominent cultural groups. We have assisted in video conferences between a former youth ambassador and business contacts in Hitachi, Japan, fostered connections between Liverpool, UK and research institutions in Birmingham, and much more.
In addition to promoting business and community engagement, we can also lend assistance with things like finding translators and discussing complex international questions or ideas.
Please visit the Contact Us page for further inquiry.
Recent News
Birmingham Runner Greg Wingo Visits Székesfehérvár, Runs Around Lake Balaton
This week, Birmingham adventure runner and trail consultant Greg Wingo is in Hungary. Over the past several days, Greg has met with city officials in our sister city of Székesfehérvár, and has explored the cultural and sports-related offerings of the city. He even...read more
Sister Cities International Names Birmingham Sister Cities "Best Overall"!
Sister Cities International has named Birmingham Sister Cities the winner of the Best Overall Award for 2018! "Birmingham Sister Cities (BSC) successfully involved each of their 14 sister city relationships in meaningful exchanges in 2017. The exchanges included an...read more
Birmingham Sister Cities is Featured in the Birmingham Business Journal
Find out how Birmingham Sister Cities has been creating economic opportunity and global partnerships in Birmingham! Going Global: How Bham Execs are Tapping into Sister Cities Program - Birmingham Business Journalread more
Sign Our Petition: Bring Back Funding for the Birmingham Sister Cities Commission!
Help bring back the funding to Birmingham Sister Cities by signing our online petition and contacting the Birmingham City Council….Raise Your Voice Birmingham!read more
Japan and Ghana Youth Trips Coming Up!
Birmingham Sister City Commission has two different youth trips coming up. One to Japan and one to Ghana. If you are interested in one of these two trips, please submit the appropriate form below and someone will contact you shortly with more information. Interested...read more
Birmingham Won The SCI Humanitarian Award
In 2017 Birmingham won the SCI Humanitarian award for the ongoing medical humanitarian shipments to Ukraine to bring relief to the Donbas. featured image: Mayor Bell and Mayor Morgunov with flag signed by Vinnytsia patriots fighting for freedomin the...read more


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The Rolex World No. 24, Kim, cruise to a five shot victory at the Buckinghamshire Golf Club finishing at 18-under-par.
Four birdies on the front nine in a round of 68 saw the 26-year-old South Korean end on a four-round total of 18-under-par, holding off the challenge of Campbell, who had two eagles and a birdie in her 67.
Rising star Stephanie Meadow from Northern Ireland, playing in her second event as a professional after finishing third two weeks earlier at the US Women's Open, equalled the course record with nine birdies in a 63. She ended in a share of third on 11-under-par, alongside South African Lee-Anne Pace and Germany's Caroline Masson.
In bright and breezy conditions, Kim collected her fifth victory as a professional and her first since the 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She said that caddie, Gerald Adams, whose nose was broken by a stray golf ball during the Pro-Am on Wednesday, had inspired her to win the event.
"It's amazing that he was caddying for me on Thursday because he got hit by a golf ball on Wednesday and was bleeding everywhere. His attitude towards living and daily life is inspiring to me and many people on the tour," said Kim.
Adams recovered from prostate cancer last year. The World No.24 continued: "I just had a great time. It's great to win the tournament and this is my first time playing the course so I'm really honoured to win the championship. I feel like I've been hitting the ball really well and putting really well so I just had to go out there and enjoy myself."
Campbell, who played with Kim for the first three rounds, commented: "I played really well but couldn't catch IK. I'm happy with second." The Canberra golfer took home a cheque for Euro 50,750 and has moved to second on the ISPS Handa Order of Merit.
Another Aussie finished in the top 10, 36 hole leader, Sarah Kemp. A final round of 71 saw her finish at 10-under and tied for sixth. Unfortunately amateur Minjee Lee could not reproduce the form from earlier in the week and settled for a 73 on Sunday to finish at nine-under and just outside the top 10 in a share of 11th position. It is another great experience for the talented teenager from WA.
Queensland's Sarah Jane Smith (71) ended the event a further shot back and tied for 14th. Karrie Webb signed for a 70 and finished tied for 20th at five-under. Stephanie Na (73) and amateur Su-Hyun Oh (75) finished tied for 24th. Rebecca Artis (71) finished tied for 48th at three-over. Nikki Garrett (73) and Bree Arthur (72) completed the tournament at seven-over and in a share of 64th position.
American Hannah Jun and Ladies European Tour rookies Amy Boulden and Sally Watson could celebrate on Sunday evening after qualifying for this week's major championship (RICOH Women's British Open), as the leading three Ladies European Tour members not otherwise exempt.


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Treasury Tax and Loan Account(redirected from TT&L)
Also found in: Acronyms.
Treasury Tax and Loan Account
An account at a bank where a Federal Reserve bank deposits taxes that it receives from individual and corporate taxpayers. This increases the liquidity of the banks with the TT&L accounts; this in turn keeps the banking system stable.


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Fish live in many bodies of water. From the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, to lakes and reservoirs, to smaller streams and rivers. Even small farm ponds may have sizable fish populations, sometimes over 200 pounds of fish per acre of water. The type of habitat will determine the kinds of fish that live there.
There are 148 different kinds of fish in Iowa. Scientists have classified fish into groups.
Primitive fish – resemble their fossilized ancestors. Primitive fish are most commonly found in major rivers, like the Missouri and Mississippi, and their tributaries. Rarely are they found in the lake and waterways within the state. Some examples include: lampreys (eel-like fish), paddlefish, sturgeon, gar, and bowfin.
Bony fish – most fish in Iowa and around the world are bony fish. Bony fish are more evolutionarily advanced than primitive fish and differ from them in several ways. There are several families of bony fish found in Iowa. Some families include: pike, perch, sunfish, trout, catfish, minnow, and sucker.
The Fisheries Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) performs most of the public fish management operations in Iowa. The goal of the Fisheries Bureau is to make sure Iowa waters always have a continuous yield of healthy fish. In managing the fish populations of Iowa's waters, the DNR has implemented a number of fishing rules and regulation to protect fish and allow for safe, enjoyable outings. See the web link below for Iowa rules and regulations.
If you are 16 or older and want to fish in Iowa, you must purchase a fishing license. The funds collected from license fees are used to fund the states fisheries management program, Iowa's six fish hatcheries, and to fund educational programs. The money is also used to build new lakes, public access roads, fishing jetties, underwater structures, and to enforce fishing laws in the state.
For information on fishing in Polk County check out the Things to Do section in this web site.
Iowa Outdoors Magazine - Fishing - pictures, information, distribution maps, and tips from experts on how to catch all 148 species in Iowa. Includes Iowa rules and regulations and suggestions on where to fish. Excellent resource.
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We are a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping on your project.
To qualify for the winners prize we especially need to see that the stamping is the focal point on the project and that the stamping follows the format of the theme.
No digi stamps are allowed but you may use digi downloads for enhancement of your projects … but the main focal point must be stamping.
Please welcome our sponsor of FSC a fabulous company called Flonzcraft.
The winner of each challenge will receive a very generous voucher for Leo's Store of $20. Here is a little information about our sponsor:
We are a small family-owned design and craft company from New Zealand, a very small country where all people are great neighbours. We work very hard for our store and work philosophy to reflect that in our company. We are very proud of our products and our main goal is making and selling rubber and clear stamps. We have a unique collection of stamps that you cannot find anywhere else.
Well done and a huge thank you to all who entered our 'Things With Wings' challenge. Please pop back on Tuesday to see who the winner is and for the top 3 plus the spotlights on Saturday.
'Old Favourites'
Use an old forgotten but favourite stamp
This should be a popular theme as we all have those favourite old stamps in our stash just waiting to be used again. When you have chosen the path you want to take with your make come back and show us the results with Mr Linky below.
Esther chose the theme this time round so she starts her solo walk with a delicious but an extremely delicate piece. Her trio of vases and beautiful cascading flowers are absolutely adorable.
Catwalk Inspiration Time
Oh my we have a jam packed catwalk this fortnight brimming with vibrancy right down to the delicate from the fashion stampettes. All have a distinct style that is individual to themselves and are truly an inspiration to everyone. They would love it if you popped over to read about how they have come up with these magnificent makes.
So let's take that catwalk stroll to see each of their pieces starting with Laura who has chosen her all time favourite detailed stamp and surrounded it with the most amazing flowers. Her chosen quote couldn't be more true.
We are a stamping challenge so we do need to see stamping on your project especially depicting the theme, also no digi stamps are allowed.
You may use digi downloads for enhancement of your projects … but the main focal point, for the theme, must be stamping.
To read and see more about how the Fashion Stampettes have created such exquisite pieces please visit their blogs and while there maybe leave a little bit of love to let them know how much you adore seeing their creations every fortnight … but before you do …
Just a few fashionable rules girlfriends
We are a stamping challenge so we really Must See some form of stamping on your project which follows the theme
Absolutely No Digi Stamped Images Allowed
Closing date for this challenge will be midnight Saturday, 30th May, 2015
The winner will have two weeks to contact us for the code to claim their prize from Flonzcraft.
We would love to see any project as long as it follows the theme of the challenge and is a new creation Entry is limited to three projects per challenge … no linking back to projects previously posted
Please link back to your post and not your blog
You must also include a link back to this challenge blog
If you don't have a blog but would still like to enter please e-mail a pick to us and we will add for you.
Now it's your turn to show us your creations for "Old Favourites".


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S: Our Wedding Day
FC: July 23, 2010 | Our Wedding Day
1: "As I have given you My hand to hold, So I give you my Heart to keep." | "May these rings remind you of my promise, not only on our wedding day, but for the rest of our lives." | Live... | Laugh... | Love... | When TWO become ONE..
2: "Now and always.... I will Love and Cherish you." | Our Engagement Photos | J&A | Sycamore Canyon and Leo Carillo, CA
3: Santa Monica, CA | "I not only love you for who you are, but for the person I have become with Loving you."
4: The Groom......
5: ...... and Groomsmen
6: The Bride......
8: Getting Ready.. | Smile for the Camera!
9: Note to self :One shouldn't drink Crystal from the bottle. and a napkin isn't stronger then the velocity of the cork.!! | FULL MOON | My last drive as a Single Woman | "Going to the Chapel and We're gunna get married..."
10: ~ Walnut Grove ~ | ~ Moorpark, CA ~
12: The Venue
13: The Venue
14: The Bridal Bouquet...
15: Our Wedding Flowers | A bed of green & white Hydrangea | Staphanotis Stars
16: Jalepeno White Cheddar Mac and Cheese | Imported and Domestiv Cheeses, baked brie with Strawberries and Grapes | Our Wedding Dinner
17: Strawberry & Avocado Salad | Carved Roast Sirloin | Chicken Florentine | Roasted Red Bee Potatoes | Grilled Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Green Beans and Red peppers
18: ~ Allison Pinkowski ~ | F | L | O | W | E | R | G | I | R | L
19: For My Flower Girl You are so very young but the years will pass by and you'll too be a bride in the blink of an eye. While you may not remember the day that I married, the part that you played or the basket you carried. There will be a day that will burn bright like an ember. The day you will wed, you will always remember. So here is a necklace for the day you will say... "I need "something old" for my wedding day" With All My Love your Big Sister.
20: The Bridesmaids and Maid of Honor!
21: Best friends are sisters we choose for ourselves ..... | Pamma, Nyssa, Cassie and Megan
22: The Best Man and Ushers! | Bobby, Mike and Brandon
23: MEN in Black | Band of Brothers
24: Our Family...
25: There for one another through thick and thin!
26: Our Mothers | Inez Hyslep- My Great Grandmother | Kelly Pinkowski Dorothy Willetts
27: Our Fathers | Charles Willetts | Nick Pinkowski
28: "Here we are, In this holly place together, Bearing witness as the two of you become man and wife. On this day, As you join in heart and spirit, You begin another chapter in the book of life, Love is the circle that surrounds you, You can find it on the faces of your family & friends Love let it wrap its arms around you and guide you on Your journey down the road that never ends....." | The Ceremony
30: Here comes the BRIDE... | "Who here has the honor and privilege of presenting Ashley for this ceremony of marriage?"
31: "Dearly beloved we are gathered together here today in your presence, to join | together this man and this woman in marriage."
33: I, Jason, take you, Ashley, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live. | I, Ashley, take you, Jason, to be my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, so long as we both shall live.
34: Rose Ceremony | Letting your children go... | and gaining Family. | Ashley and Jason would like to present a beautiful rose to each Mother symbolizing their Love and Appreciation for their Mothers support.
35: Let us pray: Dear God, Ashley and Jason have come here today to pledge their lives and their hearts to each other. We ask you to help them to be ever loving and true to one another, to temper their hearts with kindness and understanding and to rid them of jealousy. May their home be a place of love, peace and harmony. Bless them this day and walk beside them through all the days of their lives. Amen | We ask you God, to bless this couple whose lives are now joined in one unbroken circle. Wherever they go, may they always return to one another in their togetherness. May these two find in each other the love for that all men and women deserve. May they grow in understanding and compassion. May these rings on their fingers symbolize the touch of the spirit of love in their hearts. Amen
36: "Jason do you promise to love Ashley, to comfort her, to honor and to respect her and to be her companion and friend; And, forsaking all others, to be faithful to her so long as you both shall live? Jason: "I do." | Ashley do you promise to love Jason, to comfort him, to honor and to respect him and to be his companion and friend; And, forsaking all others, to be faithful to him so long as you both shall live? Ashley: "I do."
37: On our wedding day, I think of all the reasons I am blessed to be your other half. You are the joy of my life. In you I found much more than I ever hoped, more than I ever dreamed a person could be. In your arms, I feel happy, safe, protected. You're my hero, my defender, my soul mate, my love. There was a space in my heart that you filled perfectly. I fall in love with you every time I see you. We are alike, and yet we are different. Our similarities bond us together, and our differences keep things interesting. No matter what, you let me be me, just as I am. I am so grateful for that. I want to keep discovering who you are and allow our relationship to continue to flourish. I love so may things about you now and I know I will find many more to love. The many little things you do touch me more than you will ever know. You see me with your heart, and you always make me feel cherished. This is the beginning of the rest of our lives together. We have so much happiness ahead of us, a lifetime of love, a lifetime to create wonderful memories and fulfill our dreams as husband and wife. Nothing matters more to me than being here to love, care and be there for you loving you more and more each day. Thank you for all that you bring into my life and all that I am because of you.
38: "Ashley, I give you this ring and with it I give you all of my love. This ring is symbolic of all that is in my heart today. And when you wear it know that I will love you always. With this ring I thee wed." | "Jason, I give you this ring and just as the ring encircles your finger, going endlessly on o will my love for you continue forever. With this ring I thee wed." | i thee wed
39: Jason you may Kiss your Bride...... | I pronounce you Husband and Wife.
40: Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you,.. | Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Ashley Willetts!
41: "I love you not only for who you are, but for who I am when I am with you." | J | & | A
42: Bride and Groom | A lifetime to create Wonderful memories
43: This is the Beginning of the Rest of our Lives together.
45: "I see trees of green, red roses, too I see them bloom for me and you And I say to myself what wonderful world."
46: true | Love
47: I will love you forever | "Do what makes you Happy, Be with the one who makes you Smile, laugh as much as you breathe and love as Long as you live"
48: My Handsome Husband. . .
49: My Beautiful Wife. . .
50: Friends | Family | Guests | Love | Smile | Laugh
51: PreciousMoments | Memories | Joy | Cherish | Celebrate
60: "I can't believe I finally found you baby, Happy Ever After after all this time...." | F | i | r | s | t | D | a | n | c | e
61: Dance with me as my Husband. | Dance with me as my Wife. | J | & | A
64: Thank you | Thank you Friends and Family for being a part of our Special Day.
65: Maid of Honor | Best Man | Bobby is the type of friend that not much has to be said to one another it just takes a look, and I know exactly what he is thinking. I could not imagine having a better friend or best man than Bob. It's hard for me to think of him as just a friend, in my mind he is my brother. There has never been a time that he has not been there when I needed him, I can always count on Reggie. On my wedding day I will be proud to have him standing next to me. | Our relationship has always had a perfect rhythm. I consider her family to be part of my family and would do anything for them. I enjoy every second that we spend together. We have a special bond that has only become stronger over the years. Having Pamma as my Maid of Honor I get to have my sister stand next to me and share one of the most important experiences of my life. I love her with all my heart and am so proud to have such an amazing Best Friend; Sister. | Bobby LoVerme | Pamma Tahan
68: Lets DANCE!
70: '"Cause I always have to steal my kisses from you ..."
71: C | a | k | e
72: The Bouquet Toss
73: And The Winner is.....
74: Money Dances..
75: Money Dances..
78: "There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved."


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The Japanese media tells us that the White House has begged off Prime Minister Abe's bid for a January state visit, pleading all-around busyness around the Obama reboot including the inauguration on the 21st. Nikkei speculates that it's the Obama administration's way of telling the Abe administration to make up its mind on the TPP negotiations. Perhaps. It's true that it would be little more than a courtesy visit without a TPP negotiations commitment, problematic as the Japanese government's position on agriculture may be to the Obama administration. Collective self-defense will remain under study for a while, there'll be absolutely no movement on Futenma well past the end of any reasonable schedule for an eventual visit, and what does Obama have to gain by telling Xi Jinping, "I'm with Shinzo"? The media reports that the foreign minister is traveling to talk to State Secretary Hillary Clinton instead and the administrative senior vice minister is being dispatched to handle the state visit.
Meanwhile, Katsuhiro Kuroda Sankei's long-time correspondent in Seoul* reports -- the Japanese ambassador in Seoul has been bumped from the traditional second in line, behind the US ambassador, to receive an audience with the new South Korean president to third, behind the Chinese ambassador. And this, after the Abe administration downplayed the South Korean decision to refuse the Japanese request to extradite the Chinese arsonist at Yasukuni after he served his South Korean sentence for a similar incident in Seoul and allow him to return to China. (To be fair to South Korea, it was the Seoul High Court that ruled that it was a "political offense," an act for which "[e]xtradition shall not be granted under [t]he TREATY [ON EXTRADITION BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA,]" so the Korean government acted appropriately in denying the Japanese request.) The Abe administration had also had to take South Korea's reportedly not-so-subtle protocol downgrade for special envoy Koshiro Nukaga in stride.
All this is unlikely to change the Abe administration's behavior one or the other. My guess is that a further chilling of mutual relations that leads to informal boycotts is likely to disproportionately harm South Korea economically since Japanese exports are more under the hood, inside the package, behind the factory wall than the consumer goods** and services—entertainment—that at South Korea excels at. However, it will be harmful to Japan, too, and visibly at that. Besides, the United States will be highly displeased, not to mention most of the things that annoy South Koreas also annoy the Chinese, with whom the Abe administration does not want a no-holds-barred confrontation. On the other hand, there's absolutely no reason to believe South Korea will side with Japan on the Senkaku Islands if the Japanese government yields on Takeshima and all the other history-related issues. As for North Korea, it's first and foremost South Korea's problem.
If there's going to be a Japanese breakthrough at all on the Western front, it looks increasingly like it's going to come by way of Moscow. Do we need each other or what?***
* Reminder to Japanese-reading liberals (no, I didn't mean you): If you can get over his Sankei affiliation, Katsuhiro Kuroda is about as informed and undogmatic in his reporting as they get, though Koreans will never agree to that.
** You already know how Samsung is dominating the non-iPhone smartphone market, but did you know that South Korean instant ramen and distilled spirits command premiums in Japan and kimchee imports show no visible discounts?So much for fear of Chinese vegetables, but that's another story.
*** No, I haven't forgotten about you, Matt.


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New Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier really, really likes Joe Flacco.
Coach Leslie Frazier On What He's Wants In His Quarterback
Minnesota Vikings head Coach Leslie Frazier discusses what he's looking for in his starting quarterback.
Daily Chat: Meet The New Boss
Zygi Wilf introduces Leslie Frazier as the Minnesota Vikings new head coach: What did Frazier's press conference reveal about what kind of coach he will be?


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Carl Miller
Click on image for more
THE FIRES OF REMORSE is a psycho-thriller that chronicles the life of a man groping to fulfill his destiny, and a woman unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Travel from the sun-drenched life in
South Florida's fast lane to the dark recesses of the human psyche. Along the way, you'll go drift fishing in
the Atlantic, take a trip to a nude beach, spend an evening at a trendy
South-Beach nightclub and dine in the fashionable digs of
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So Foul A Sky is a Mystery/Suspense that will take you from the subtropics of South Florida to the frozen tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Travis Pike is a gifted quarterback who lead the University of Miami Hurricanes to a national title and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers. A more talented player never took a snap. Lack of character, however, proved to be his downfall. It would cost him his life.
| Autobiography | Contact | Short stories |


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Dr. Aquila has been a research scientist at Johns Hopkins University since February 2013. From 2010 to 2013 she was awarded a postdoctoral fellowship in the Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics (Code 614) of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. D. Aquila holds a PhD in meteorology from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, and an MS in physics from the University of Genoa, Italy.
Valentina Aquila
Associate Research Scientist
PhD, Ludwig Maximilian University
314 Olin Hall
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Website
Google Scholar Profile
Dr. Aquila's principal research interest is understanding the climate effect of atmospheric aerosol. Using the NASA GEOS-5 Chemistry Climate Model and measurements from several satellites, Dr. Aquila is investigating the sources of the stratospheric aerosol, and its effects of stratospheric aerosol from volcanic eruptions and geoengineering on the stratospheric chemistry and dynamics.


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MANCHESTER, England - Manchester City reclaimed its position as the top team in English football by winning the Premier League and the League Cup last season.
Next in the firing line for the club's ambitious Abu Dhabi owners: Conquering Europe.
In its three years in the Champions League, City twice has failed to get out of the group stage and last year was eliminated by Barcelona in the last 16.
That's a poor return for one of the world's wealthiest clubs and for a team crammed with talent in every department.
"We won the league two times in three years and finished second. We won the FA Cup, (League) Cup — we have won everything in England," City playmaker Samir Nasri said. "Now we have to see the bigger picture and try to do something in the Champions League.
"With the players we have, that is what we need to do. Everyone has to be ambitious."
Winning the Premier League, it appears, is the minimum requirement at Etihad Stadium nowadays. But neither of City's recent championship successes have come easy.
In 2012, City scored twice in injury time to win its final match and beat great rival Manchester United to the title on goal difference. And last year, City won its last five matches to overhaul Liverpool in a title race that again went down to the last weekend.
City never has done things the easy way and it seems that's not about to change even in the era of the Sheikh Mansour regime, when more than $1 billion has been spent on the first team since 2008.
The club appears to have learned its lessons from 2012, when it relaxed after ending a 44-year wait for an English league title and failed to make the kind of signings that could have led to a period of prolonged domestic dominance.
This time around, bound by a transfer spending cap of 60 million euros ($80 million) for breaching UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations, they have bought wisely and strengthened areas where they were short last season — namely in defence and central midfield.
Willy Caballero arrived from Malaga and is pushing first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, while Bacary Sagna gives Pellegrini a strong option as an alternative right back to fans' favourite Pablo Zabaleta after joining from Arsenal as a free agent. On Monday, France centre back Eliaquim Mangala — a long-term target — joined from FC Porto for a reported 32 million pounds ($54 million), easily the club's most expensive acquisition of the off-season.
Fernando, a 12-million pound ($20 million) recruit also from Porto, will provide depth to central midfield as will Frank Lampard, who will spend the first half of the season on loan from MLS side New York City — one of the clubs jointly owned by City — after his departure from Chelsea.
The new recruits may lack the name recognition of those from recent years but they join an already-strong squad and Pellegrini's biggest success arguably is keeping hold of key midfielder Yaya Toure, who hinted he could leave City at the end of last season.
"The matter is closed now. The most important thing was to try to focus again," Toure said. "This year is going to be fantastic. We've got some fantastic players coming in and important players are staying. If you want to be the best you need to win every trophy possible, and the Champions League is a target this year."
With Toure on board, City still has probably the strongest team in the league although it starts the season as second favourite behind Chelsea with most British bookmakers. Sunday's 3-0 loss to Arsenal in the Community Shield — a friendly between the teams that won the Premier League and FA Cup — won't worry Pellegrini.
City's prolific attack — led by Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and Nasri — is its strength and Stevan Jovetic looks like becoming an increasingly important member of the strike force this campaign after impressing in preseason.
After beginning his tenure at City with two trophies, expect silverware to keep coming for Pellegrini.
In: Fernando (Porto), Willy Caballero (Malaga), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Frank Lampard (New York City on loan).
Out: Jack Rodwell (Sunderland), Gareth Barry (Everton), Costel Pantilimon (Sunderland), Marcos Lopes (Lille on loan), Joleon Lescott (West Bromwich Albion)


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Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'new drones'.
Found 1 result
Buying guidance DJI Matrice 200/600 or other?
Stella posted a topic in Drone Pilot TalkHi Everyone! I'm a student here studying for Part 107! Hope everyone's doing well : ) I'm interested in getting some feedback about my options for buying a drone with specific specs for a project I'm working on. OK so here it goes: Carrying capacity of up to 8-10 lbs Transmission distance at least 3 miles Ability to fly at least 6 miles roundtrip I have been looking at the DJI Matrice 200 & 600 but I'm sure there are alternatives out there...just don't know enough about all of the different manufacturers yet! I suppose a fixed wing UAV would also be an option. I really appreciate any help I can get as a newcomer here! Thanks!!


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Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc.5895 Southwestern Boulevard,Hamburg, NY 14075Tel.: 716.649.8202Fax: 716.649.8237
For Media Inquiries Contact:
Brian PlecasTel.: 716.649.8202Fax: firstname.lastname@example.com
HAMBURG, N.Y., – February 22, 2018 – Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York Inc. (SWA) (www.southtownswalleye.org) held its annual Harry A. Smith installation dinner for its Officers and Board of Directors. The organization which boasts over 1,000 members annually supports kids fishing, philanthropic and conservation programs for the Great Lakes region and was instrumental in pushing for the removal of gill netting on Lake Erie, helping to make it the great fishery it is today.
This year's event took place on February 17, 2018 at Lucarelli's Banquet Facility located in Lackawanna, NY for the official swearing in of its newly elected officers and board members. It also recognizes various members of the community and the club for outstanding service and dedication to furthering the organization and Great Lakes fishery.David B. Woodworth former President of Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. presented his final Presidents Awards for 2017 to the following members:
Additionally, Sue Guenther, newly elected President of Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. presented the remaining 2017 awards to the following individuals:
Previous year James Ridge Award Winner Franklin Thompson presented this year's award to:
Previous year Harry A. Smith Award Winner Sam Schrecengost presented this year's award to:
We would like to thank each of these individuals for their continued support and dedication to improving our fishery and our organization, and look forward to more great work from our membership and the community.Southtowns Walleye Association of Western New York, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving fishing opportunities in the region for all individuals. With a clear focus on kids, community, conservation, and philanthropy our various programs support these pillars for a strong future generation of outdoorsmen and women and our fishery. For a complete listing of descriptions of each of these awards and to learn more about our organization, please visit www.southtownswalleye.org or stop by our facility located at 5895 Southwestern Boulevard, Hamburg, NY 14075, Tel.: 716.649.8202, Fax: 716.649.8237, Meetings are held the third Thursday of each month at 7:30pm and are open to the public.


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Although the model of using an Excel AddIn can be a little clunky (especially for what PPS Planning called the contributor scenario) I think my team did a pretty good job getting some very usable reporting elements. Now I get to point you to things my team didn't do, but are native features of Excel….
Tag: Member Intersections
HOWTO: Show actuals from the past while forecasting for the future
Also phrased: How can I create an "asymmetric crossjoin" without using custom MDX? MDX experts will probably recognize this issue right away and understand how to build a matrix from scratch for this. But not everybody recognizes that the add-in has specific support for this scenario. It's called "defining member intersections" and it can be…


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Sessions are done on location.
All sessions will include a disk of up to 40 edited high resolution images. Individuals would own the rights to, and can print, copy, and share the images however they like.
Maternity Session or Engagement
Up to 1 hour at an outdoor location of choice
Newborn Session
Up to 3 hours at location of choice
Includes posed and lifestyle
Family and sibling included
Baby's First Year Package
Includes Newborn, 3, 6, 9 months, and 1 Year Sessions at location of choice
Newborn session up to 3 hours, and one hour sessions for the remaining
Family and sibling included
$1,275 (a savings of $100)
Family/Children (5 people max)
Up to 1 hour at an outdoor location of choice
Senior Session
Up to 2 hours at one or two outdoor locations of choice
Includes formal head shots taken at senior's home


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Google has officially declared on its Google+ page that it will keep its much awaited tech device the Google Glass for one day sale on April 15th. Google has done it as a part of its Glass Explorer program so that users can have a close look at the device.
On April 15th anyone who is an adult resident of US, can buy these device with the same old price tag of $1500. Buyers will also get the privilege to pick their favorite fames and shades at absolutely no additional cost.
Google said that at the moment it is not ready to sell the Glass to other parts of the world and is keep this one day promotional event for the tech so as to get good suggestions from tech geeks for further improvement of the device.
Here is an promotional video that the search giant has released.


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Time to get your hands dirty and start planting! Having the right soil is vital to your herb garden's success.
Do I Have the Right Soil?
Soil Selection
Different growing environments call for different soils for the plants to flourish in. Don't just grab a handful of dirt from outside because you're going to be bringing in all the organisms and pests that come with it. Choose an indoor potting mix that includes some lightweight ingredients such as perlite that can help aerate the soil and improve drainage.
Seeds or Seedlings?
With all the basics covered, it's time to plant! You might be considering starting from scratch and planting seeds, but this is really hard and there's a ton of room for little mistakes. It's best to let a professional take care of that, and instead buy seedlings that are already sprouted. There are so many factors that can prevent seeds from sprouting, or dying quickly once they've germinated – but starting from seedlings eliminates the toughest challenge.
Give them some space!
If you're planting your herbs in individual pots, use ones that are at least 6 inches in diameter to give them enough room to grow. If you're going to be planting them in one large pot or flower box though, leave at least 6 inches of space on all sides to be sure that the roots don't start invading each other, and to give them each a little breathing room.
Label Your Herbs
When you've just planted your seedlings they may look similar, but have different needs in terms of watering, sunlight and care. It's important to keep everything properly labelled, even if they're in separate pots. It also makes it easy to identify what you're looking for when you're cooking.


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What is Custom Decision Service?
In a typical web or mobile application, a front page links to several articles or other types of content. As the front page loads, it could request the Custom Decision Service to rank articles included on that front page. So, when a user chooses an article by clicking on it, a second request could be sent to the Custom Decision Service, which will log the outcome of that user decision.
Custom Decision Service converts your content into features for machine learning. The system uses these features to understand your content in terms of its text, images, videos, and overall sentiment. It uses several other Microsoft Cognitive Services, like Entity Linking, Text Analytics, Emotion, and Computer Vision.
Some common-use cases for Custom Decision Service include:
- Personalizing articles on a news website
- Personalizing video content on a media portal
- Optimizing ad placements or web pages that the ad directs to
- Ranking recommended items on a shopping website.
Custom Decision Service is currently in free public preview. It can personalize a list of articles on a website or an app. The feature extraction works best for English language content. Limited functionality is offered for other languages, like Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Japanese. This documentation will be revised as new functionality becomes available.
Custom Decision Service can be used in applications that are not in the content personalization domain. These applications might be a good fit for a custom preview. Contact us to learn more.
API usage modes
Custom Decision Service can be applied to both webpages and mobile apps. The APIs can be called from either a browser or an app. The API usage is similar on both, but some of the details are different.
Glossary of terms
Several terms frequently occur in this documentation:
- Action set: The set of content items for Custom Decision Service to rank. This set can be specified as an RSS or Atom endpoint.
- Ranking: Each request to Custom Decision Service specifies one or more action sets. The system responds by picking all the content options from these sets and returns them in ranked order.
- Callback function: This function, which you specify, renders the content in your UI. The content is ordered by the rank ordering returned by Custom Decision Service.
- Reward: A measure of how the user responded to the rendered content. Custom Decision Service measures user response by using clicks. The clicks are reported to the system by using custom code inserted in your application.
Next steps
- Register your application with Custom Decision Service
- Get started to optimize a webpage or a smartphone app.
- Consult the API reference to learn more about the provided functionality.


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Review and Approval
The OSC determines whether the firm or its individual applicants are fit for registration based on the information provided in the registration application, through background checks, public information and from other information we may request.
Firm Applicants
Once the application has been received by the OSC, we will proceed to put the firm in a pending state on the National Registration Database (NRD). At that time, we will request the firm to submit their registration application fees, generally through their Electronic Funds Transfer account with NRD. For more information please refer to our Application fees for firms section.
We will review the application and will communicate with the firm by providing comments and/or requesting additional information when necessary. An incomplete or deficient application will delay the review process.
When considering your application, we conduct a pre-registration meeting with the key principals of the firm, including the proposed Chief Compliance Officer and/or Ultimate Designated Person, to understand the firm's business objectives, to provide guidance and to determine whether the firm has the appropriate individuals and compliance structure in place to meet the ongoing regulatory requirements for registered firms.
If a firm fails to meet any of the requirements, the OSC may refuse the registration or grant registration subject to terms and conditions. If this happens, the firm will have an opportunity to be heard by the Director under section 31 of the Act.
Firms are notified by e-mail when their registration is approved.
Individual Applicants
Applications for registration, reactivation or reinstatement of individuals are submitted through NRD by the sponsoring firm.
When staff recommends that the Director refuse, amend, or suspend an individual's registration, or impose terms and conditions on an individual's registration, staff will send the registrant a letter providing written notice of its recommendation and brief reasons for it (the Letter of Brief Reasons). Section 31 of the Act then gives the registrant the right to be heard by the Director before a decision is made concerning staff's recommendation.
OSC staff also sends a copy of the Letter of Brief Reasons to the sponsoring firm at the same time that the Letter of Brief Reasons is sent to the individual applicant or registrant.
Providing registered firms with the Letter of Brief Reasons promotes the accuracy and completeness of information provided in respect of individuals they sponsor, thereby assisting firms in fulfilling their obligations under s. 5.1 of National Instrument 33-109 Registration Information.
Information on registered firms and individuals appears on our website under Check Registration.
How long does it take to become registered?
We are committed to reviewing and processing your file promptly and professionally, while fulfilling our regulatory responsibilities to address any compliance or policy issues that may arise.
Our service commitments are outlined in our Services Standards and Timelines.
Key factors that may affect the timeliness of our decision:
- the completeness and accuracy of your filings
- the complexity of the issues they raise
- timeliness of your response to our request for information
- concerns with your fitness for registration
A filing that is "complete" means a filing of acceptable quality that contains the necessary analysis and addresses relevant issues.


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It was Uta Rindfleisch-Wu's infatuation with Taiwanese culture that prompted her to move all the way from her hometown in Europe to the nation three decades ago, but it was her unwavering determination to help her daughter, who has cerebral palsy, overcome her disability that made her one of the few top-notch equine therapists in the country.
Rindfleisch-Wu, a 55-year-old German who now goes by her Taiwanese name, Lin Wu-tien (林嫵恬), is the director of the Therapeutic Riding Center of Taiwan at the Qi Zhi Vocational Training Center, an organization dedicated to helping about 2,000 mentally and physically challenged people each year.
Having lived in Taiwan for decades, Lin speaks Mandarin so fluently.
Lin relocated to Taiwan in 1982 and she soon got married to a Taiwanese man.
They have a son and a daughter, with the latter suffering from walking difficulties since a doctor's misdiagnosis jeopardized her chances of receiving timely treatment for neonatal ischemic brain damage and led to her being afflicted with cerebral palsy for the rest of her life.
Although the incident devastated Lin and her family at first, she decided to make the best of the situation after she learned about the therapeutic effects of horseback riding, a childhood pastime of hers, on physically challenged people.
In an effort to improve her daughter's condition, Lin went to great lengths to learn the basics of raising and feeding horses, and even flew back to her birthplace to take a professional equine therapy training course.
She then accepted the job as an equine therapist at the Qi Zhi Vocational Training Center, though it only comes with a meager paycheck and requires her to drive every day from her home in New Taipei City's Tamsui District (淡水) to Taoyuan County's Jhongli City (中壢).
"I insist on doing the right thing," Lin said, adding that her profession has allowed her to help out not only her own daughter, but also many children who have birth defects, autism or physical disabilities.
"The joy of riding a horse has helped these children to regain their confidence, health and happiness," Lin said.
One of them is Ken Sun (孫育仁), a 24-year-old cerebral palsy patient whose remarkable horseback riding skills made him a recipient of a Presidential Education Award in 1999 and a promising contender in this year's World Equestrian Games in August in Normandy, France, the world's largest equestrian event.
"We are glad to see Sun making his way onto the international stage... and we hope Sun's story will encourage more people to make a financial contribution to the center to help us cultivate more students like Sun in the future," Lin said.