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Politics of Kuwait
Kuwait is a constitutional emirate with a semi-democratic political system.[1][2][3] The hybrid political system is divided between an elected parliament and appointed government.[1][4][5]
Kuwait is among the Middle East's freest countries in civil liberties and political rights.[6] The Constitution of Kuwait was promulgated in 1962. Freedom House rates the country as "Partly Free" in the Freedom in the World survey.[7] Kuwait is the only one among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf which is ranked "partly free".[8]
The Constitution of Kuwait was ratified in 1962 and has elements of a presidential and parliamentary system of government. The constitution stipulates that Kuwait must have an elected legislature (the National Assembly parliament). The Emir is the head of state, whose powers are defined in the constitution.
Citizens who have reached the age of 21 years can vote. Parliamentary candidates must be eligible to vote and at least 30 years old. The Constitution expressly supports political parties, but they remain illegal as no law has arisen to define and regulate them. MPs tend to serve as independents or as members of de facto political parties and factions based on ideology, sect, social class or clan.
Legislative branch (Parliament)Edit
The National Assembly is the legislature in Kuwait.[9] The National Assembly has the power to remove government ministers from their post. MPs frequently exercise their constitutional right to interpellate government members. The National Assembly's interpellation sessions of ministers are aired on Kuwaiti TV. MPs also have the right to interpellate the prime minister, and then table a motion of non-cooperation with the government, in which case the cabinet must get replaced.
The National Assembly can have up to 50 MPs. Fifty deputies are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. Members of the cabinet also sit in the parliament as deputies. The constitution limits the size of the cabinet to 16, and at least one member of the cabinet must be an elected MP. The cabinet ministers have the same rights as the elected MPs, with the following two exceptions: they do not participate in the work of committees, and they cannot vote when an interpolation leads to a no-confidence vote against one of the cabinet members.
The Constitutional Court has the authority to dissolve the house and must subsequently call for new elections within two months. The Constitutional Court is widely believed to be one of the most judicially independent courts in the Arab world.[10] The Emir also has the authority to dissolve the house and must call for new elections within two months. The Constitutional Court can invalidate the Emir's decree dissolving the parliament.
The National Assembly is the main legislative power in Kuwait. The Emir can veto laws but the National Assembly can override his veto by a two-third vote. The National Assembly (per article 4 of the Constitution) has the constitutional right to approve and disapprove of an Emir's appointment. The National Assembly effectively removed Saad al-Sabah from his post in 2006 because of Saad's inability to rule due to illness. Kuwait's National Assembly is the most independent parliament in the Arab world,[11] it is among the strongest parliaments in the Middle East.[12]
Executive branchEdit
The prime minister chooses the cabinet (government). The appointment of a new government requires the approval of the National Assembly. The prime minister is a member of the ruling family and is appointed by the Emir.
At least one member of the cabinet must be a deputy who won election to the National Assembly. The 1992 cabinet included six elected members of the National Assembly, the most of any cabinet in Kuwaiti history. The current cabinet has two elected members of the Assembly.
The National Assembly has the right to remove government ministers from their post. MPs frequently exercise their constitutional right to interpellate government ministers. The National Assembly's interpellation sessions of ministers are aired on Kuwaiti TV. MPs also have the right to interpellate the prime minister, and then table a motion of non-cooperation with the government, in which case the cabinet must get replaced.
The Emir's powers are defined by the 1961 constitution. These powers include appointing the prime minister, who in turn chooses the cabinet (government). The crown prince must be approved by an absolute majority of the members of the National Assembly parliament. If the new crown prince fails to win approval from the National Assembly, the Emir submits the names of three eligible members of the family to the National Assembly, and the National Assembly selects one to be the crown prince. Upon the death of the Emir, the crown prince succeeds.
In January 2006, the Kuwaiti parliament voted to remove the ailing Emir Saad from power. He was Emir only briefly, after the death of Emir Jaber al Sabah on January 15, 2006. The cabinet nominated the previous Prime Minister, Sabah Al Sabah, to be elected Emir. He won the majority of the votes in the parliament and then became the 15th Emir of the state.
The constitution calls for new elections to be held at a maximum interval of four years (or earlier if the parliament is dissolved). Kuwait has universal adult suffrage for Kuwaiti citizens who are 21 or older.
Once elected, many deputies form voting blocs in the National Assembly. Kuwaiti law does not recognize political parties. However, numerous political groups function as de facto political parties in elections, and there are blocs in the parliament. Major de facto political parties include: National Democratic Alliance, Popular Action Bloc, Hadas (Kuwaiti Muslim Brotherhood), National Islamic Alliance and Justice and Peace Alliance.
See alsoEdit
- ^ a b "Kuwait's Democracy Faces Turbulence". Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Selvik, Kjetil (2011). "Elite Rivalry in a Semi-Democracy: The Kuwaiti Press Scene". Middle Eastern Studies: 478.
- ^ "Kuwait Country Report". Bertelsmann Foundation.
- ^ Selvik, Kjetil (2011). "Elite Rivalry in a Semi-Democracy: The Kuwaiti Press Scene". Middle Eastern Studies. 47 (3): 477–496. doi:10.1080/00263206.2011.565143.
- ^ Ulrichsen, Kristian Coates (2014). "Politics and Opposition in Kuwait: Continuity and Change". Journal of Arabian Studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea. 4 (2): 214–230. doi:10.1080/21534764.2014.974323.
- ^ Ibrahim Ahmed Elbadawi, Atif Abdallah Kubursi. "Kuwaiti Democracy: Illusive or Resilient?" (PDF). American University of Beirut. p. 6.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
- ^ "Freedom in the World: Kuwait". Freedom House. 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- ^ "Kuwait rated 'partly free' by Freedom House". Mubasher.
- ^ Robert F. Worth (2008). "In Democracy Kuwait Trusts, but Not Much". New York Times.
- ^ "Kuwait court ruling may threaten economic recovery". Reuters. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ Nathan J. Brown. "Mechanisms of accountability in Arab governance: The present and future of judiciaries and parliaments in the Arab world" (PDF). pp. 16–18.
- ^ Eran Segal. "Kuwait Parliamentary Elections: Women Making History" (PDF). Tel Aviv Notes. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-01-04.


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Pantaloon Christmas StockingDecember 4th, 2016 in member junk
whiteflower, member
This Christmas "pantaloon" stocking is crafted from vintage ticking I picked up a tag sale and a vintage window curtain. I traced the outline of a woman's thigh high stocking from the 1940's and altered it a bit to create the pattern -- the stocking is dramatically long. I made the stocking from the ticking, and then added the "curtain" to look like a pantaloon! I embellished with a vintage millinery flower and an old ornament. These look great on a staircase as well as on the mantle.
Pattern or design used: My own design - White Flower Farmhouse
posted in: member junk, seasonal, vintage, cottage, country, whimsical, house wear, retro, fabric
Comments (3)
junkermidge writes: This is great! The window curtain really resembles a pantaloon (I guess?? I haven't peeked into my pantaloon drawer lately). I hope I can remember this for next Christmas. It's big fun.
Midge Posted: 12:03 am on December 24th
Midge Posted: 12:03 am on December 24th
Junk_Sophisticate writes: That is so cute! Boy, would my kids love a looonnng stocking like that.
Candy Posted: 7:20 am on December 23rd
Candy Posted: 7:20 am on December 23rd
suewhitney writes: This is hysterical! I love it.
Thanks for the smile,
Sue Posted: 12:00 am on December 23rd
Thanks for the smile,
Sue Posted: 12:00 am on December 23rd
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subset: commoncrawl


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The Federal Open Market Committee's voting members are likely to be decidedly more hawkish in 2014, as shown in the chart below from Credit Suisse.
Esther George, currently the FOMC's most hawkish voting member, will not be voting in 2014, but Charles Plosser and Richard Fisher, both very hawkish themselves, are on deck.
There are several members who will be leaving the Fed shortly for other various reasons, so we will not have a complete concrete view of the committee's leanings until all new appointments are made.
Via: floatingpath.com


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Glycomet is a medication that's used in order to help people who have hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar levels) a result of type 2 diabetes. The reason why a medication such as Glycomet is important is because for a lot of people who have type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise alone aren't going to be enough to control blood sugar levels. Glycomet is given out usually as a first time treatment for those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes, and for people who find alternative options aren't working well for them. It can be used by itself or with other options as well.
If you decide to use Glycomet, then what are some of the possible side effects you might end up experiencing as a result?
Gastrointestinal problems
A condition called lactic acidosis (which is a build up of lactic acid in the blood).
Why is this medication a good option for type 2 diabetes sufferers?
Glycomet might not be the best option for all. A lot is going to come down to what a doctor says and your medical history. Treatment such as this is good though, because it can help you have an easier time living with your condition. Don't get too concerned though if the treatment doesn't work as well as intended. There are other options out there and there could be any number of reasons why you don't respond to it as well as someone else.
What type of questions should you ask a doctor before using this treatment?
The primary questions you should ask a doctor will all have to do with minimizing side effects, and maximizing the benefit. Sure, the basics are going to be to not take it with alcohol and take the proper dosage. However, there might be other things you have to do in order to ensure you keep away specific side effects. This can be because you have a certain medical history or because your at particularly higher risk based on using another medication for another condition.
Are there other less expensive options to using the brand name version of this drug?
Yes there is. You'll find that there are other options, and they'll work just as well as the name brand version will. The only negative is you might find the price is still high depending on where you go through. The primary benefit of getting generic drugs is to save money, not to spend the same amount as you would spend getting the name brand version. So a good option for you would be to use an online option where the prices are known to be low. You'll just have to exercise caution with the option you decide to go with.
All in all a medication such as Glycomet is effective at what it does, but this doesn't mean you can count on it to work one hundred percent according to the way a doctor expects. Constant monitoring will be required in order to see how you progress using the treatment.


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Conference Attendance
There have been a series of conferences within the last month that DMS have attended. Here are a few snapshots from them:
We were fortunate to attend the MobileTech Conference held in Rotorua at the end of March, aimed at bringing farming communities and technical experts together to collaborate on ideas.
There was a good range of vendors there, with some great discussions sparked among the agricultural community.
We also returned to the Local Government ALGIM GIS Symposium held in Auckland at the start of April.
This was followed by attendance at the Eastland Farming and Technology Expo held in Wairoa, a new initiative on their part and was excellent to support the local community there.


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Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille) (2009)
- Studio: Independent
- Release: October 10, 2009
- Director: Klaus Härö
- Writer: Klaus Härö
- Cast: Kaarina Hazard, Jukka Keinonen, Heikki Nousiainen, Kaija Pakarinen, Esko Roine
Video archive for the film Letters to Father Jacob (Postia pappi Jaakobille), which has a domestic theatrical release in the year of 2009. There is currently one video available for the film, of which one and only one is a trailer, as listed below. Happy viewing!
Featured Movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker


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If you want to have a Rolex watches, but hope to spend as less money as you can when you are at budget economy situation, you can consider the between-gold Rolex watches. but how to choose the Rolex between-gold watches? just see here for more choices on Rolex Replica watches.
Rolex between-gold watch – Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Calendar Watch
Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Calendar Watch is one of the equipment that professional divers, and also the outstanding model of the diving watches. Since its birth in 1953, it not only conquers the deep-sea world relying on the perfect performance, and its charm is more throughout the land. Since its birth to today, this Rolex Submariner watch keeps improving its waterproof technology and the increasing the diving depth of this wrist watch from the original 100 meters, 200 meters to finally reach 300 m today, fully confirming that Rolex's Special and outstanding charm in the field of waterproof technology.
Rolex between-gold watch – Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust
The Noble and graceful Rolex Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust shows the charm of women from a new Angle – 31mm in diameter, arch outer bezel set with 24 diamonds, screw-down crown, 2235 self-winding movement, instantaneous jumping calendar, chocolate-color dial, Roman numerals time scales, diamonds setting in the position of 6 o'clock, waterproof of 100 meters. The 18ct yellow-gold watch case is equipped with the branded-new Champagne dial, and there setting with 11 rubies at the time scale of VI on the watch dial, which implicitly embodies the precious of this wrist watch, and adds charm for this daily-wear treasure. As a member of the Datejust series, the Oyster Perpetual Lady Datejust continues to use the Rolex distinctive aesthetic element – triangle grooved outer bezel. This series since its advent in 1945, becomes the Rolex's signature style with the distinctive style and excellent performance.


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MailChimp is a marketing automation platform and an email marketing service that allows users to send out mass emails and newsletters. The MailChimp integration gives users the ability to categorize their contacts into groups which they can assign to email lists in MailChimp. The groups are created in Lexicata using a combination of Contact Types and Tags. Once the criteria is set up in Lexicata any contacts who match that criteria will be automatically added to the appropriate email list in MailChimp.
Signing up in Mailchimp
Creating a MailChimp is the first step in the process for getting the integration working. MailChimp offers a free subscription up to 2,000 subscribers on your email list and up to 12,000 emails per month. Beyond those metrics a paid account is required.
You can sign up for your account here:
The next step is to create lists that you want to be able to mass email. A list can be as broad or specific as you want. For instance, a list might be a "Holiday List" or "Referral Partners" or "Leads" or as simple as "All Contacts." The point of these lists is to be able to easily communicate with a group of contacts via one mass email. Lexicata will populate these lists with contacts at a later point.
Once your lists are created in MailChimp, you will want to link the your MailChimp account with your Lexicata account. Navigate to the Integrations page in your Lexicata settings. Here you will find a MailChimp logo. Simply click on the Mailchimp Logo and follow the prompts to authenticate the integration. This will require you to input your credentials for your MailChimp account. When this is complete you should get a message stating "You are connected to Mailchimp!"
Connecting Lexicata Contacts to Mail Lists
Now that you have connected your Lexicata and MailChimp accounts, you can set up the contact groups in Lexicata to sync to your MailChimp Lists. Clicking the "Connect new email list" will bring up a pop-up with 4 options. First, pick the mail list you wish to sync to. Next decide the criteria for the types of contacts that you want to be added to this list. For example, you can choose to add the contacts that have a Contact Type of "Client" and have the Tag "New York". Check the box to add all existing contacts with this criteria to this MailChimp list. If this box is not selected then only future contacts that match this criteria will be added to the list.
Now that you have connected your first list, you should see the number of contacts that are assigned to this MailChimp list start to climb. Keep in mind, there are some factors that could affect this number. Only contacts that have email addresses in Lexicata will get added to the list and only person contacts will get added.
If the list is not updating, please give the program some time. Sometimes it can take up to 5 minutes for the contacts in Lexicata to sync to the list in MailChimp.
The number of groups that you can connect to MailChimp list is only limited by the number of lists that you have in MailChimp. Please keep in mind that only one group of contacts can be connected at a time to a Mailchimp list.
Best Practices
Connecting the right contacts to the correct lists in MailChimp is highly dependent on the contacts correctly fitting the criteria you set. For this reason, it is very important that the Tags and Contact Types are not only applied to each contact but that all users are aware of which Contact Type and Tag combinations result in the contact being added to MailChimp lists.
While mass emailing contacts can be used for numerous possibilities we have found that creating a Newsletter can be an extremely effective way of communicating a message to your target audience, which is an important step to building your law firm brand. The more frequently people hear your name and interact with you, the more likely they will be to remember you when they are ready to hire a lawyer or refer one to a friend. You can find out more about starting a newsletter here.
Related How Tos
How to set up the MailChimp integration
How to create Mailchimp account
How to create groups for email lists
How to add contacts to MailChimp list


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We are closing 2017 with a hilarious episode. Docious still has sexual assaults on his mind this week and we talk Baltimore setting a new record for killings. Is the new generation of youngsters a part of the issue? On a local level the anchorage mayor is proposing a bill to sell ML&P to Chugach but what does that mean for people paying for utilities? Lastly, we get into a hilarious debate on the recent government UFO secret unit that leads into...well who knows LOL. Cuzzo is a believer Docious isn't so sold yet. Do you believe??
Right back at you for the 25th episode of the show. We discuss feedback about the previous episodes and what Cuzzo and Docious have learned so far, the media, the government and how people intake their news. Cuzzo questions whether or not he was sexually assaulted and we look at the latest cases and possible flipside of the coin. Tyrese is old news but still gets read his rights. Denzel Washington's latest comments and Cuzzo gets a series 3 IWatch and Fitbit. Thank all of you for listening, laughing, loving and hating us for 25 episodes! R.I.P Harold Bryant aka Stretch!!
We are back in the building and ready to cool out for this hour long episode. We talk about the Ciara and Russell Wilson photo that seems to be reworking its way into social media. Should there be biological father drama if the mother of your kids gets remarried? The Kardashians got how much for 5 more years? Looks like the truth is starting to come out on the DNC once again. Cuzzo appreciates the Black Podcasters. Enjoy these topics and more!
Cuzzo is ecstatic over his new 4K Ultra HD television. Docious didn't know AT&T had an unlimited plan and wants new ways to jack music. The NFL still seems to be the talk of the town. Is Trump's widow comments fact or hearsay? Cuzzo goes in on the Breakfast Club, and Docious reconsiders his media intake. Is it time for us as a community to pull the plug on worldstarhiphop? We also talk R&B playlists and more!!
Cuzzo is regaining his footing after falling to the seasonal ....whatever this is. Docious spends the episode talkin shit and counting cash. Why is he not feeling his landlord? What is the new NFL protest really about? Is Vegas Casino lack of security the reason for this weeks shooting? Who is to blame? Should Docious be a guest on A.H.C.A.H.H atleast pre-1998? Cuzzo reads America it's rights about bias politics. Can you see the bs in you favorite politician or president? Enjoy!!
Cuzzo and Docious are back in the building diving into multiple topics. Cuzzo breaks down why he thinks that Canelo won the fight last weekend against GGG and also gives Docious a Game Of Thrones history lesson. Will we be buying the new Series 3 IWatch? Docious reflects on the hustle days and parenting. What tv shows we are watching currently and Docious dreads the current WWE product. These topics and much more!!
Cuzzo pokes his chest out over the Mayweather vs McGregor results (yes he is talkin trash). Is Joel Osteen a modern day snake oil salesman? Can a person be religious and still believe in climate change? Hillary Clinton has a new book and Docious could care less. We reflect on some favorite podcasting moments so far since we started. Lastly we discuss the new movie it and some brief old school horror talk.
We discuss the upcoming PPV event this weekend and give our thoughts. What does McGregor need to do to win? What Mayweather's strategy could be and we give our predictions for the outcome. We also briefly touch on the latest Jon Jones failed test news.
We are back this week with special guest Ken Dog in the house! We discuss the events of Charlottesville and what led to it. They sell tiki torches at Walmart? Looks like healthcare could be going up again. Who is profiting from unaffordable care? We talk about cost of living especially ridiculous utility costs. The iPhone 8 will retail at over $1000? Smh and Docious is curb servin during the podcast and much more! Geeez LOL!!
Docious picked the topics this week and we go right into a serious topic on why there are no police convictions. What can we do to improve the justice system and police relations? Is child support fair and do judges favor the mothers over the fathers? Cuzzo finally saw the 2pac movie and gives his opinion. We also dive into what's hot on tv and movies right now, briefly talk about Mozzy vs C-Bo & Brotha Lynch and more!
Cuzzo just came back from an audition to play as an extra in a movie and Docious explains his reasons against it. We talk Trump's decision on transgenders in the military and we thought we could not talk about Russia but....it didn't go as planned. Why is the African American community more worried about R Kelly and Usher instead of political issues? Do we still think Bernie Sanders jigaboo'd for Hillary? Skip Bayless doesn't know what a pull counter is?? Pacquiao's recent loss to Jeff Horn and we end with a Docious topic on if Eminem is a top lyricist. Lastly Docious says f**k jury duty LOL. Enjoy!
We discuss Bill Maher use of the **N**word. Did Ice Cube help or hurt the situation? Steve Harvey dissing Flint Michigan?? Sup with that? House of Cards new season running dam near parallel with the current times? Cuzzo is on his conspiracy talk again. We applaud Wonder Woman and Mayweather vs McGregor is on!!
It's hot as hell outside and we are back in the building (with the fan on lol) after a long break and Cuzzo losing his voice. Is James Comey a disgruntled employee? Kathy Griffin pulling the race card......really?? Is the media to blame for the growing tensions in the country and the shooting of Majority whip Scalise? Trump talk. All these topics and more!
Since it's a slow day we chop it up briefly about 2pac and the HOF, the Health Bill, boxing and more!
Cuzzo and Docious head to the movies once again and review what was the Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 movie and well.......we give our honest opinion and it is indeed honest. P.S. Don't be mad at us LOL
Right back at it and we dive right into the topics for the week. We give thoughts on Bill O'Reilly being cut from Fox News, YouTube censorship, Alex Jones being a "performance artist", the unfortunate Stevie Stevens situation, North Korea, Mayweather vs McGregor initial Canelo vs Chavez thoughts and Docious the O.G. parent lol. Julia Roberts named the most beautiful woman in the world.....wtf huh?? #ThankyouUndertaker
Cuzzo and Docious are in the building talking what is going on in Syria and what they are not saying in the news. Russia, Russia and more Russian smh! What can the DNC do to get it together??? CIA looking into WikiLeaks?? Is a United Airlines beatdown worth 200 million?? Why are there so many cops in the area???
Plug for the website for www.overtimehustlin.com
The remaining partial test and Cuzzo and Docious continue the discussion. We get into Trump and Russia, Snoop and Bow Wow tweets, what would Docious let Oprah get away with, and Cuzzo conspiracy theories and then..... it dropped SMH LOL. No matter what we give you the content so enjoy the test of the new equipment!
We give you the good, the bad and the ugly as we test new equipment and get cut off recording while talking the hot topics. Part 1 of 1 3/4 LOL.
We are back after an extended break just choppin it up. Cuzzo's car was stolen and also recently went to Juneau while Docious made a few changes as well and for once Cuzzo has no notes so we are shooting from the hip. We discuss Affordable Healthcare, Is the HBCU executive order good or bad? What things should we be looking for in communities? Does Kaepernick stating he will stand during the national anthem make him a sellout? And Remy vs Nicci with a shot of Foxy added huh???? Enjoy!
Extra Media Highlights:
Ted Cruz And Bernie Sanders Full Debate:
Trump signs HBCU executive order:
Remy Ma "Shether":
Cory Booker and the Sanders-Klobuchar Amendment:


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Sealed BIDS for construction of the 2017 Recycle Center Project will be received at the City Public Works Building 340 W. Highway 291, Salida, CO 81201 until 9:00 AM, Date: February 27, 2017. At which time, they will be opened and publicly read.
The project consists of the construction of a new Recycle Center Site at the City Water Gallery location 8551 U.S. Highway 50. The project includes site grading, asphalt driveway, compacted Class 6 recycle pad, fencing, manual gates and motorized gate.
Bid, Bond, Performance, and Payment Bonds are required. The project is tax-exempt; the contractor will be provided with the tax-exempt number for materials purchases.
A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21st at 9:00 AM at the City Public Works Building 340 W. Highway 291, Salida, CO 81201. Contractors must have the capability to communicate via email and submit project documentation via cloud tools such as Dropbox.
All bid questions to be submitted in writing via email or postal mail, no faxes to the City Engineer. Mail questions shall be submitted to Crabtree Group, Inc., PO Box 924, Salida, CO 81201, Attn: Recycle Project. Email questions shall be submitted to both the email addresses listed below with the subject line Recycle Project.
Copies of the Plans and Specifications will be available on Monday, February 13th, 2017. Electronic copies by email are available at no charge to qualified contractors registered in good standing with the Secretary of State. Paper copies of the Contract Bid Documents may be obtained by qualified contractors from Crabtree Group, Inc., 325 D. Street, Salida, CO 81201 upon the submittal of a $100.00 fee in the form of a check made out to the Crabtree Group, Inc. (submitted at time of request), and the requester's FedEx or UPS shipping account number (to be used for the shipping of the documents). Qualified contractors' email requests for electronic copies shall use the subject line of : 2017 Recycle Center Project and must be sent to both of the following email addresses: firstname.lastname@example.com & email@example.com. All other requests for documents shall be to the City of Salida via public records request.
Dates of Advertisement: Feb 8, 10, 13, 15, 2017


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A Differences Of Serviced Apartments and Apartments
Back many years ago, when many people planned journeys anywhere in the nation, they would certainly immediately ponder which hotel they may stay in after which it worry about how much they have to allot for any trip, given the correct way expensive lodge accommodations are usually. Well, all which is a thing for the past as in recent times, you get more choices with regards to accommodations move and picks that not simply work for you but in addition fit your budgets as well. Whereas many people would search hotels, motels and B&BS in earlier times, it's now facts about looking for and simply finding the best maintained apartments. Renting a high-rise apartment for mass season? It was in the past an horrible concept up to the point people found a come to feel of what it was subsequently like in which to stay one. People also useful to think this renting a rental on any temporary structure was costlier than just staying at a accommodation but judging belonging to the rise inside inquiries as well as bookings, it's no longer possible.
The popularity worth mentioning less highly-priced alternatives provides rose to the condition that people will not consider hotels particularly they are travelling for the limited or possibly set price range. However, notwithstanding its worldwide recognition, there are some which are still confused in what differentiates your serviced apartment from a usual house. First from, a maintained apartment is synonymous with a sort of furnished apartment that can be found for small or long-run stays and one that features amenities meant for daily benefit from. They act like hotels exactly where services and even amenities set off but that's from where the similarity comes to an end because besides are maintained apartments levels cheaper, and also they afford extra space and also privacy together with save an individual money from requiring you to eat out given that they come with their own kitchens, completely equipped together with the gadgets not to mention appliances you should have. An apartment then again, is some self-contained unit which might either occupy a portion or the main building plus comes typically unfurnished or perhaps fully-furnished. Apartments are likely to be owned or rented plus considered more from the residence than the place regarding accommodation.
At the same time, both maintained apartments along with apartments consist of several variations. The different kinds of serviced apartment's rentals usually can include extended-stay hotels, condoles, and flattens together with corporate and executive lodgings. Apartments are usually classified in studio living spaces, garden apartment rentals, secondary locations, marionettes, two-story rentals and public apartments. Serviced apartments rentals offer day to day or 7 days a week cleaning offerings while apartments are likely to be on any DIY function. You will be able to stay for as much as three weeks in maintained apartments whilst you can let apartments for approximately one a time, with a selection to continue or discontinue.
The Differences Between Serviced Apartments and Apartments
Several years ago, when persons planned vacations anywhere in the united kingdom, they might immediately give thought to which hotel they will stay in after which you can worry regarding how much they are able to allot to your trip, given the way expensive accommodation accommodations could be. Well, all that's a thing belonging to the past as right now, you have more choices so far as accommodations proceed and alternatives that don't just work for you but moreover fit a budgets additionally. Whereas persons would lookup hotels, motels or maybe B&BS previously, it's now about looking just for and picking out the best maintained apartments. Renting a condo for special occasions? It was previously an unspeakable concept before people gotten a think of what ?t had been like in which to stay one. People also accustomed to think of which renting a high-rise apartment on some temporary foundation was higher end than just being at an inn but judging within the rise inside inquiries and also bookings, this really is no longer the way it is.
The popularity these less high priced alternatives features risen to the stage that people will not consider hotels particularly when they really are travelling at a limited and also set price range. However, in spite of its attractiveness, there really are some who definitely are still confused of what differentiates some sort of serviced apartment in the usual property. First down, a maintained apartment is understood to be a types of furnished apartment which can be found for quite short or long lasting stays anyone that presents amenities intended for daily apply. They act like hotels in as much as services together with amenities travel but that's the spot that the similarity concludes because as well as are maintained apartments prices cheaper, additionally they afford even more space as well as privacy along with save anyone money from difficult eat out as they come by their own kitchen sets, completely equipped with the gadgets along with appliances you absolutely need. An apartment however, is a new self-contained unit which may either occupy an element or your entire building in addition to come normally unfurnished and / or fully-furnished. Apartments are often owned or possibly rented together with considered more to a residence compared to a place involving accommodation.
Additionally, both maintained apartments together with apartments are available in several choices. The kinds of serviced apartment rentals usually incorporate extended-stay lodgings, condones, and flattens as well as corporate or maybe executive amenities. Apartments could be classified right into studio condominiums, garden residences, secondary rooms, marionettes, two-story houses and public apartments. Serviced apartment rentals offer day-to-day or 7 days a week cleaning expertise while apartments are often on a new DIY process. You will stay for approximately three several weeks in maintained apartments some people choose to can let out apartments for an estimated a 12 months, with a way to coastal decor or bring to an end.


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You will have read this text with the title Small Kitchen Cabinet Format Ideas Photos. More homes are being built with the kitchen as the hub of the house, and even for those who're on a tight funds, that should not stop you from making it a pleasing and private place to be! Take into accounts for a deep drawer for simpler accessibility to the kitchenware, and in addition include enough cupboard space for kitchen appliances in which usually would possibly mess up the counter tops.
Bear in mind that should you're planning on transferring, totally updating your kitchen won't add value; many buyers need to put their very own stamp on a spot and will not need to change a new kitchen. In keeping with the National Kitchen and Bathtub Affiliation cabinets make up one-third to 1-half of kitchen remodel budgets.
A row of kitchen models runs alongside one side of the 'L', whereas a row of low-level models runs along the jutting out portion of the 'L' – a simple solution to create a barrier between the kitchen prep and dining or residing zones. A gallery kitchen design will be helpful as the cupboards and home equipment line up at one facet of the kitchen offering a huge house to position different furniture and decorations.
The rooms and kitchen join with it. With it on HI cool/Max(7) the whole house has been exceptionally chilly and gigantic measures of water have been hauled out. That is essentially the most basic thought behind choosing a kitchen that may be seamlessly integrated.
If you want to keep each exits, place the refrigerator near the end of the galley kitchen for straightforward entry – this manner, your loved ones and associates can reach the refrigerator without interfering with the person who is cooking. You can also use the kitchen island as a small eating space with the addition of bar stools.


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fever606 wrote:It rips. Everything I wanted the Ghost Echo to be, honestly. Can go from splashy to drone with the dwell knob, and the Terror feedback cascade is... monumental.
I'll do up some clips over the next few days...
Im setting up a run of preorders to open sometime in the next few weeks.


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International Agreements
Recommendations & Best Practices
- This is multi- step process that can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months
- It is advised to send all USF agreement draft templates to the corresponding university
for draft approval early in the process as to avoid any discrepancies later.
- No changes to the language of the General Agreement will be automatically accepted.
Should you believe a compelling reason for changing the approved agreement language
please seek an early meeting with Ms. Morales.
- It is the responsibility of the sponsoring USF party to send the agreements to the
corresponding institution for signatures and to make sure that USF World receives
a final copy of all agreements signed by both parties.
- If the agreements need to be translated into another language the sponsoring faculty/staff
will communicate with the partner institution. USF World cannot provide translation
services to the partner institutions.
- Early in the planning process, please consider the Feasibility Report carefully. How
easy or difficult will this agreement be to implement? How many academic departments
/ units / colleges at USF could potentially be affected or involved in the proposed
exchange? How will the proposed exchange contribute to the goals and priorities to
the University / College / Departments involved? Careful thought at this early stage
will save on time later.
- If faculty exchange is part of your vision, speak with your department administration
(and if needed college administration) very early in the process as you will be asking
for their resource support. Consider whether the exchange be for a short-term experience,
a semester or an academic year. What will be the support stipend, how will you accommodate
lodging, office space, access to digital libraries, e-mail accounts and use of fax
and phone both here at USF and at the partner institution? Will immigration documentation
be required and how will you establish international health insurance and possibly
emergency evacuation?
- There are also the intangibles, such as the visitor's expectations based on social/cultural differences (and the differing relationships of Faculty/students/administrators in universities around the world). Be sure you understand the expectations for teaching load, research productivity, etc.


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How the Pentagon Countered China's Designs on Greenland
Washington urged Denmark to finance airports that Chinese aimed to build on North America's doorstep
NUUK, Greenland––The Pentagon raised an alarm last year over what it deemed a troubling development in this ice-cloaked territory: China was looking to bankroll and build three airports that could give it a military foothold off Canada's coast.
Greenland's prime minister had flown to Beijing in 2017 and asked Chinese state-run banks to finance the new commercial airports, including a big one for one of the smallest capitals on earth, Nuuk, which can now be served only by propeller planes. The bankers were interested, people...


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Burning mouth syndrome is a painful and often frustrating condition. Some patients compare it to having burned their mouth with hot coffee.
The burning sensation may affect the tongue, the roof of the mouth, the gums, the inside of the cheeks and the back of the mouth or throat. The condition sometimes is known as "burning tongue (or lips) syndrome," "scalded mouth syndrome," "glossodynia" and "stomatodynia."
The exact cause of burning mouth syndrome often is difficult to pinpoint. The disorder has long been linked to a variety of other conditions: menopause, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies, tongue thrusting, disorders of the mouth, acid reflux, cancer therapy and psychological problems.
Once burning mouth syndrome begins, it may persist for many years. Patients who have it may awaken with no pain only to find that the burning sensation grows progressively worse during the day. They may have difficulty falling asleep. The discomfort and restlessness may cause mood changes, irritability, anxiety and depression.
Your dentist can confirm the diagnosis and develop an appropriate treatment plan. The dentist will review your medical history and ask you to describe your symptoms.
First, any oral conditions causing the burning sensations should be investigated. For example, if you have dry mouth, your dentist may advise that you drink more fluids or may suggest saliva-replacement products that can be purchased at a pharmacy. An oral swab or biopsy may be used to check for thrush, which is a fungal infection; thrush can be treated with oral antifungal medications. Any irritations caused by sharp or broken teeth or by a removable partial or full denture should be eliminated.
Other simple measures may help. Eliminate mouthwash, chewing gum, tobacco and very acidic liquids (certain fruit juices, soft drinks and coffee) for two weeks to see if there is any improvement.
If your dentist determines that no oral conditions are causing the burning sensation and the steps listed above do not resolve the problem, disorders such as diabetes, abnormal thyroid conditions, Sjögren's syndrome (a rheumatological disorder), mineral deficiencies or food allergies should be investigated.© 2017 American Dental Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction or republication is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission from the American Dental Association.


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Now we all know I like my herbal tea. I've written about lavender, rose water, my favorite tea shop, and even done a whole roundup on tisanes.
Today, in honor of the end of Fall fast approaching, we're going to jump into something bigger. Something better. That's right, we're going to talk about hot tasty comfort drinks.
Not just any hot drinks though. You already know about coffee and normal tea, so we're going to skip those. Yes… that means even skipping pumpkin spice lattes! Instead we are going to explore the world of hot caffeine free drinks you've probably never heard of that are great for you and won't keep you awake if you drink them before bed. Let's go!
Dandelion Coffee Latte
Dandelion coffee is just another name for a tisane made from dandelion leaves. Because the resulting brew is a little bitter and acidic, it has been called poor man's coffee in the past. You can drink this because you know it has a lot of vitamin A, K, C, and Calcium AND it won't stain your teeth or wear down the enamel on them. It's also the fashionable food of the year. If you need another reason to love dandelion coffee besides just using up the weeds you've been pulling out of your garden anyways (assuming you live somewhere things are growing right now and dandelions are a weed in your area, like the Southern USA) this can also be made into a pumpkin spice latte with a twist! Just combine
- 2 teaspoon pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup dandelion tea
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
for a rich and creamy latte without the expense of buying from your local cafe or worry over caffeine or getting coffee that isn't fair trade. You can buy roasted or dried dandelion leaves online, or you can buy a blend of dandelion and other ingredients from Dandy Blend that is supposed to be a combination that tastes like coffee smells. I found personally that sometimes coffee can taste like coffee smells, but in my experience only the green beans straight off the tree actually taste that good without any acidic aftertaste- because apparently it gains the acidic flavor over time and shipping the beans to a retailer near you leaves a lot of time for it to get more and more acidic. You can skip all that hassle by buying straight dandelion or dandelion blend to get a brew without the caffeine though.
Lavender Tea
I dry whole bundles of these in the Summer precisely because I want to use them for tea in the Winter.
Hot Carob
Carob is a Mediterranean food. It tastes about halfway between cinnamon and cocoa powder, if that makes sense, but is milder than either. It's easy to make a hot chocolate alternative with this plant, and there's several reasons why you might want to. For one there is the concern over caffeine again, as chocolate does contain some of that sleep reducing quality. Chocolate also has the problem that, though it does contain some good for you nutrients, it also has been shown to prevent calcium absorption into the bones and cause acne. Both of those are major reasons why I like to occasionally take a break from my favorite dessert. The last reason is that it is expensive for me to find soy and corn free eating dessert chocolates (as opposed to savory chocolates intended for savory mole sauce or something similar) in the US. Most chocolates have soy lecithin or corn syrup in them, and I'm unfortunately allergic to both of those things, so I can't afford to eat chocolate too often. Which, yes, is heartbreaking.
But carob is a good alternative. You can find recipes online to make carob truffles just like the chocolate bonbons you love, but making a cup of hot carob is a lot like making hot chocolate from scratch. You combine
- 1 cup (250 ml) rice milk (you can use any other milk I just find the thin texture of rice milk reminds me of the texture of the common watery hot chocolates I am used to)
- 1 tbsp carob powder
- a few drops of vanilla extract
- one drop of mint extract for funsies
- 2 tsp honey or other sweetener
White Coffee
My new favorite go-to drink is not really a new drink at all realistically speaking. But eh, discovering things for the first time makes them new to you even if the world has already known about them. White coffee is orange blossom water stirred into hot water. That's it, that's all there is to it. Some people like to go all out and add some sweetener to it, but honestly it's great the way it is. You can add just a spoonful to your mug and it will be a fragrant and light drink to cheer you up on a dark cold day- and that's what a warm drink is all about in Winter.


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There's a Katy Perry movie coming out. Here's what to expect.
Wednesday April 4th 2012
The producers of Katy Perry: Part of Me in 3D must have known they were on to a winner as soon as they got that (^^^) YouTube thumbnail for their trailer. [EDIT: the thumbnail has changed to a more discreet image now. It was far more cleavage-y before.] But what about the other 3024 frames that make up this spectacular preview for what's sure to be the summer's most poignant cinematic experience? Let's take a closer look …
|As trailer openings go, this is one for the ages. The stage is set. All is dark. The sound of a solitary drum foretells of the arrival of a great stage presence. The lights come up on the one aspect of Katy Perry's identity that the producers clearly feel is her trademark, her signature move, her shorthand — her sideboob.
|"Katy's just an explosion, keeps getting bigger and bigger."It's a hyperbolic assertion, but one that's deftly backed up by some slow-motion footage of adoring hands waving in the air. Because the only thing that can make adoring hands waving in the air more meaningful is slow-motion.
|We're told (via an entirely authentic-looking newspaper headline) that Perry sold out her 2011 California Dreams world tour. Yep, even the Nottingham date.
|She's clearly thrilled, but that doesn't mean she's about to become complacent …"It's all about the challenge. What are people saying she can't do? That's what she does next."
|For example, remember when people kept saying, "Katy, you cannot be the first woman to have five number one singles on one album!" Well, I bet they're feeling pretty stupid right about now.
|"Every song has something to do with her life."Finally we get a proper look at the man imparting all of this voiceover wisdom, and he does not disappoint. Speaking with precision, clarity and plenty of illustrative hand movements, he adds an all-important sense of gravitas to this 3D concert movie in which people dress as lollipops and shoot whipped cream out of their tits.
|"She outworks everyone. I honestly don't know how she does it."Whoa there trailer, did you just double down on the solemn male talking heads? You ought to be careful with that shit — everybody knows self-important soundbites work better with 10-second dancing interludes.
|"She's under a ton of pressure: the whole world is watching."We'll let Box Office Mojo be the judge of that one, shall we?
|Only joking. They are of course talking about Perry's short-lived marriage to Russell Brand. Just look at her looking all upset/confused/nauseous. She's almost definitely thinking about him.Presumably the montage of the producers jumping for joy when they realised the divorce would make for an ideal emotional arc was cut for time.
|As if the divorce didn't already provide more than enough emotional backbone, the filmmakers have also 'dug into the vaults' (pulled some clips off YouTube) to relive Perry's earlier career as a Christian gospel rock singer. Because the footage was shot in the early noughties (when most people definitely still recorded their home videos on 16mm) these are presented in flickering, edge-feathered windows in the middle of the screen. You know, like in the olden days.
|"She signed to a label and then the label dropped her."Somebody pass the tissues, this is like Sophie's Choice all over again.
|"I was going through some depressing and dark times, but it's a journey and I learned so much from it."Anything I could add to this sentence would only lessen its potency as one of the great philosophical statements of our time, so I'll just leave this here.
|As the emotion threatens to runneth over, the trailer takes a sudden turn for the dramatic. That 'rushing' sound usually reserved for Michael Bay movies starts to build and clips begin to fly past in rapid succession. And then, all is silent as Perry declares: "Thank you so much for believing in my weirdness."Don't you just love it when people point out their own uniqueness?
|The answer appears to be yes, except that this montage climaxes with a woman shooting foam out of a cannon rather than a giant alien spacecraft destroying the Earth.
|"My goal when I'm playing shows is just to … make … people … smile", says Perry, ACTUALLY FIGHTING BACK THE TEARS. If only the world understood how hard it is to be talented. At least Samantha Brick only has to deal with beauty; Perry has THE WHOLE PACKAGE.
|"If you have a dream, you've got to go on a journey to pursue that dream."Stop it Katy, I'm not sure this trailer can withstand any more of your wisdom! SHE WON'T HOLD!!!!
|Phew, respite. Anyone wanna bet exactly which 'Part' of Katy Perry is in 3D? I'm offering 6/5 on sideboob.
|Not the greatest post-title sequence I've ever seen.


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Philadelphia Unites
So this is what I love about Philly. It's a Tuesday evening and I'm strolling past Rittenhouse Square for a quick run to CVS. I start to see arms all sequenced and reaching for the sky like they could grasp the gray clouds above. Soft music is playing as a soft voice instructs these community members on how to flow, how to breathe and how to unite in the moment of now.
I love the heart and soul of this city and this community. The drive for wholeness and self discipline is inspiring.
Keep shinning Philadelphia .. Even through these gray skies.. Keep reaching.
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Bright Lights.. Big Dragons
I'm ecstatic that we made it. So many events happen in Philadelphia all the time and with busy schedules it's finding the time to attend these events that can be challenging. But I love a challenge!
My lover and biggest fan, MGB, was on board and ready for this evening spectacular.
The Chinese Lantern Festival
was a week away from ending and we took advantage of a pleasant spring evening.
Franklin Square
was hoppin'.. Especially for a Monday evening. Guess everyone had the same idea..
I couldn't get over the time it must took to assemble everything .. How long it took to craft all of the individual pieces that made up a whole display, character, pin-wheel, tulip, dragon.. I could go on.
It truly was a beautiful sight and stimulating to my creative mind. I heard a couple comments in regards to "how cool this would be on LSD.." .. I thought damn, well I think this is righteous right now!
I commend all the artists that took a hand in creating these beautiful displays, works of art. Franklin Square was perfect for this event with many pathways leading to new lanterns and ultimately the largest lantern dragon I have ever seen!
Pictures probably don't do justice for just how neat this was.. And I keep wondering how much electricity goes into lighting all those lanterns..
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Send Me Back to CO
Vacations always fly by. You wait what seems like forever for your departure day to come. You wait ever so patiently to board the flight, wait for your luggage, get to your rental car and finally you are on your way!
A much needed trip was in store to see a fine young lady in CO. A girls adventure through the mountains was long overdue.
Bringing our 603 vibe together once again, fancy unites!
Having a flexible schedule allowed me to explore the neighborhoods of Denver and really take in the sunshine they rave about 360 days a year.. Or something like that. Denver is diverse, artsy, quaint and culturally vibrant.
We took the time to explore one the greatest Brewery's in CO- New Belgium. I highly recommend this informative, fun and thirst quenching tour. One of the best tours I've probably ever been on. The old school slide at the end doesn't disappoint either.
Writing love notes...
Sour barrels
Our mountain experience was quite the opposite from my last venture west. As you may recall a powder blast in Jackson Hole.. This trip was nothing short of spring skiing (or boarding). Blue bird skies, warm temps, soft snow. We found some nice piles through the glades.
Loveland Pass car ride .. Only so I could experience the road and view!
Finding some 'safety' sheds was on the agenda for sure..
Sweet bench..
"Shred till ya dead"
My season wasn't filled with numerous snow chasing trips but the ones I did embark on we're well worth it. Exploring new terrain at A-Basin and Keystone are just a couple more check marks off the USA list.
Till next time CO- it's been real.
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When in Rome (or Jackson Hole)
The flight from Denver to Jackson Hole was definitely the most gorgeous view from the window seat. With my love by my side we're ready to rock, ready to roll.
Everyday was serene in its own way. Snow fell, hard. We saw blue skies and sunshine. The pow was deep. Truly an epic adventure.
We rode hard for four days. I was even convinced to climb the headwall.. About a 500 foot vertical climb.. In the snow.. Carrying your board.. Breath slow. Once at the top the view you have is worth every step you just climbed. I felt so rejuvenated and grateful in that moment. The adrenaline was pumpin that's for sure. Thank you nice stranger for this great pic! Also photo credit to MGB for always trying to capture the moment and getting some awesome shots.
We frequented the Mangy Moose après ski. Live music and spicy margaritas, yes please! Mom, you would love this place.
A trip into town was a necessity as I had been instructed to check out The Cowboy Bar. Original saddle bar seats and dollar coins cemented into the bar. Everything looked original except maybe the floors had been redone.
It'll be hard to top this one.
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Having spent thousands of years fleeing from persecution, war and genocide, it may come as no surprise that there are more Armenians living in cities around the world than in Armenia itself. Bringing their culture of food with them and integrating it with the cuisine of other nations to create many wonderful variations is of course, no surprise either. As Los Angeles can boast of having the second largest Armenian population in the world, tradition and integration has brought about a culture of old time cuisine merged with a unification of a newer, more disparate style.
Though the Armenian population didn't begin to number a significant amount in America until the turn of the 19th century, Armenians have actually been migrating to America since the early 1600's. While many settled in cities like Boston and Detroit, still more migrated west into the California Central Valley due to the land and climate more closely resembling their own homeland. As Los Angeles began to experience booming growth in the 1900's, more Armenians began to populate a city already known for it's many other immigrant communities, especially in the 1970's. The 1990's also saw massive importations of Armenians coming to the Southern California region when the Soviet Union fell and war again plagued the ancient christian land.
Today, the Los Angeles area is gifted with an Armenian population that shares it's diverse culture and helps to contribute in many different sections of society like politics, business, education and naturally, food. Regardless of where they arrived from, integrating into Los Angeles has seen them all come together to share a bit of their culture and history with everyone (though it's not unusual for historically tense regional disputes to occur when discussing different classifications of food authenticity).
With so many more Armenians now rooting themselves in Southern California has also created a void needing to be filled. Many grocery stores now fill the Los Angeles area with foodstuffs from their homeland and many restaurants are also bringing an Armenian taste into their business. As Los Angeles is infused with so many diverse people from all over the world, it's wonderful to know that the resplendent Armenian culture and traditions have found a home to grow and thrive in.


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Twin Cities, Minnesota Blog
After a mild exchange on Twitter, my state Senator Scott Jensen blocked me from his Twitter account. I am a constituent. Read how it went down.
Minnesota is the third-fastest warming state in the Union, according to a new report by Climate Central.
David Erickson's favorite sports moment was the ability to see the effect Hank Aaron's 715th home run had on his African American friend's family.
What makes Marcus and Michele Bachmann so virulently anti-gay? The truth hurts.
Minnesota Government Shutdown: I'm flying our Minnesota state flag at half-mast in symbolic mourning for the death of our government.
Miss Minnesota, Brittany Thelemann, believes evolution should be taught in school. Good for her!
This is pretty funny. Stephen Colbert lampoons Tim Pawlenty's GOP debate performance.
This video features parents and grandparents and the caregivers who assist them twenty-four hours a day sharing their feelings on funding for older adult services in the face of a potential Minnesota government shutdown.
On the date of the 100th birthday of former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Minneapolis City Hall will host a series of discussions about politics and policy that Humphrey has influenced locally and nationally.
The day will conclude with a reunion of former Humphrey staff and Humphrey family members and presentation of Humphrey Liberalism awards to a number of dignitaries who influenced Humphrey or carried on his work.
Madeline Koch, a friend and former colleague of mine, testified recently in opposition to SF 1308 in the Minnesota state Senate, a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota.
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The Twin Cities, Minnesota Blog is published by moi, David Erickson.
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"Mediratta will assume office on February 1," says a person with direct knowledge of the development.
Mediratta is considered one of the main architects of building a wholesale retailing business for Walmart in India first as vice president for then joint venture Bharti Walmart and later as the chief operating officer of the alliance before Bharti Enterprises and the Bentonville retail giant parted ways in October 2013. Walmart rewarded Mediratta with a global role in the headquarters as a vice president for operation.
Mediratta assumes office at the time Metro is focusing on emerging markets like India for future growth and German retailer is planning to invest Rs 400 crore into India. The company has announced plans to expand its network of distribution centres to about 50 by 2020.
Mediratta takes over from Rajeev Bakshi who has been MD since June 2010. Bakshi is stepping down as MD of Metro by January end.
Prior to Metro, Bakshi was chairman of PepsiCo India and was responsible for its business in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka


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Pashley Manor is a quintessential English garden located on the Sussex and Kent border in the heart of South East England's garden country. It offers a sumptuous blend of romantic landscaping, imaginative plantings and fine old trees, fountains, springs and large ponds.
Pashley is an ideal destination for groups of garden lovers, art and history enthusiasts, keen photographers or those just looking for a peaceful and enjoyable day out surrounded by beauty and nature.
For further details about bringing a group to Pashley, and a booking form, please see the Printable Group Information and Booking Form.
To discuss group visits with us in person do visit us at one of the group travel fairs, see below for a list of where we are exhibiting, otherwise call Louise or Kate on 01580 200888 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Excursions 2018
Saturday 26th January 2019 at Alexandra Palace, London. For more information or to view last year's video visit www.excursionsshow.com.
The South East England Group Visits Fair and Brochure Giveaway
Friday 1st March 2019 at Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, organised by Sussex Top Attractions.
The Holiday and Leisure Show
Sunday 24th March 2019 at the Kent County Showground.
For more information www.theholidayandleisureshow.co.uk.


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Thanks to our awesome patrons!
Primary Warlock
[julia][SleepyPanda][KJ][santi p.k.][Mochakat9][Sleepy Panda][Nahomi A.][Michi]
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Senior Warlock
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Advanced Warlock
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Great Summoner
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Saint Summoner
[Kinki][Cecille L.][Daniel F.H.][Laura B.K.][Soulsmsher][DY][MeiMeiStardust][Christopher H.][Kang V.][Reading Demon][Thet A.][Steph][Wenny][Tiffany][Ctctctct][Nicole A.] [Mia C.][Czarina N.S.][lesheta p.][Daoliemguan][egosumqt][Marcheilla G.]
With the arrival of workers, the reconstruction of The Rising Sun City could officially start.
In the Barren Land, abundant resources were inexhaustible, and local materials were much quicker acquired than those transported from the Long Xuan Empire.
In building a city, stone materials, bricks, and tiles were needed. Shen Yanxiao directly divided the work among the three thousand slaves.
A thousand people were to explore the eastern part of the Barren Land to mine ores and excavate stone materials.
Five hundred people, together with Uncle Jiu and the others, would open up a part of the Barren Land just outside the city to plant grains and other plants for their food.
Among the remaining 1,500 people, 500 slaves were women. These were the women slaves that Shen Yanxiao specifically bought. They would be responsible for logistical work and preparation of food for others workers.
The 500 women slaves were removed, and the remaining 1,000 would be thoroughly devoted to the reconstruction of The Rising Sun City.
Shen Yanxiao waved her hand in front of the teary-eyed members of the Cave Wolves Mercenary Corps and ordered them to build the city walls first before building the houses.
When the order was issued, every member of the Cave Wolves Mercenary Corps faced the sky and helplessly smiled.
How long will it take before we can finally rest on a proper bed ah?!
Wuwuwu, if we continue living in a dangerous place all day, then one of these days, we will really be killed by stones in minutes!
However, Shen Yanxiao was iron-hearted and was resolute on building the city walls first.
After allocating every job, all people, as well as the demons of The Rising Sun City, were mobilized.
Although the demons could not really participate in the reconstruction of the city, the work of transporting things was very suitable for them.
The mining team outside the city were divided into 20 teams with each team consisting of 50 people. In each of these teams, there would be a higher demon, five middle demons, and a hundred lower demons accompanying them in their trip, so as to completely avoid the possibility of becoming prey to the demons from outside the city.
Shen Yanxiao divided an area outside the city and used it to grow food. Although she brought a lot of food, the current population of her city had now risen above 3,000 people. Although the food on her hands could support this number for a period of time, it was not a permanent solution.
Fortunately, she had been smart enough to buy a large number of seeds before she came to the Barren Land.
Giving people fish was not as good as teaching people how to fish. The cycle of sustainable development was the way of the king!
The slaves were assigned to their respective work in The Rising Sun City, and they received corresponding rewards for it. Shen Yanxiao was not a slave owner who would abuse her slaves. She gave them clothes and gave them food.
And she also gave them dignity.
Every time a slave finished a day's work, Shen Yanxiao would give them five gold coins as their pay. Although the money could not be used today, it would have its use after the completion of the city.
Shen Yanxiao's approach made those numb slaves very grateful.
[Annoying Sky: But I mean, let's ignore that these are stolen coins, if they'll use it later to buy stuff in your city, then wouldn't your money just go back to you?]
They had thought that they would stay in the dark slave market for the rest of their lives. And even if they had the privilege of being bought, they would only continue to live without dignity and human rights.
However, Shen Yanxiao not only lifted their identity as slaves, she even gave them the same respect and recognition other people received, and gave them gold coins they never dared to expect.
Five gold coins a day. If they worked for two days, they could get ten gold coins!!!
They were numb because there was no hope, but Shen Yanxiao gave them the hope of living as a human being. They saw a bright future. The heart that was desperately buried for a long time finally revived.
He knew that Shen Yanxiao disapproved of using slaves from the very beginning, but she had to do so because of the present situation.
Yet, even though she did buy some slaves, she insisted on using her own methods to gradually transform them from slaves without human rights to humans with their own will.
In her own way, she changed the world that she could not accept.
Shen Yanxiao: Y-yes, I pay them five coins a day for their work certainly because I don't see them as slaves! Hehehe... Good he didn't noticed that I can't understand how valuable a gold coin is. (^_^)
Xiu: ...
Shen Yanxiao: What? You have no rights to give me that look when you, whose trap in my body for how many years also don't have any idea the value of a gold coin at the present time!
Shen Yanxiao: I mean, I just got in this world recently and mostly I just let others handle the money, and so far all the transactions I have met are always in my favor soo...
Shen Yanxiao: Well it doesn't matter anyway, since I have unlimited sources where I can borrow some coins.
Vermillion Bird: SHAMELESS!
And chat with us in or in .


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FOS review mulls new funding model
By Justin Cash
An independent review into the Financial Ombudsman Service has mooted the idea of linking funding contributions to the risk of complaints firms pose.
The review was carried out by Money and Mental Health Policy Institute vice chair Richard Lloyd after a Channel 4 documentary earlier this year criticised the complaints adjudicator for providing a lack of training on complex cases and bias among investigators, amid a host of other alleged failings.
Lloyd's review, published today, calls on FOS to estimate the medium-term costs it is likely to incur given case volumes and capacity in order to run a good quality, efficient service.
The review adds: "Based on this analysis, the FOS and FCA should consider consulting on a new levy funding structure for the FOS that meets this cost, is based on the risk that firms bring to the market, and enables more stable forward planning."
Currently, eight firms, including the largest banks, account for around two-thirds of all FOS complaints.
Around three-quarters of FOS' workload is funded by these largest financial services groups, with the rest coming from a levy on all firms and a case fee of £550 applicable after 25 "free" cases.
For IFA networks, each network is entitled to the same 25 free cases regardless of membership size.
Lloyd's review has found no evidence of systemic bias at the FOS, and also questions allegations made by Channel 4 that thousands of PPI complaints were left unanswered for years and thousands of other letters were left unopened.
There were also accusations in the Channel 4 documentary that FOS's approach to calculating distress and inconvenience awards was formulaic.
While the review notes that "the approach to this was revised in 2014 and "internal guidance suggests levels of award based on severity", FOS should still review how it trains its staff on these awards.
The review is also critical of a past performance management approach that risked a system where missing targets could lead to pay and promotion prospects cut for investigators.
Lloyd notes that "a number of experienced staff are disengaged" at the FOS, but morale is improving as a new organisational structure beds in.
He writes: "I have found that people at the FOS have strongly-held and positive values. They believe in its mission and want to 'do the right thing', while recognising the need to improve."
Overall, the review says the FOS should focus improvements on six areas in particular, including its casework handling capability for new complex complaints, staff management and quality assurance.
The review calls on the FOS to be clearer to the public on what its role is as an independent adjudicator.
It reads: "FOS is not a campaigning consumer champion or a regulator, and that is not always well understood or explained.
"No stakeholder expressed the view to me that the FOS is unnecessary or overly costly. But there are legitimate frustrations about the speed with which the FOS resolves disputes, and concerns about the quality of some casework."
"Consumers should…be fully informed about their right to make a service complaint. Quality assurance checks should be carried out to ensure that staff are not putting undue pressure on consumers to accept a decision quickly."


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Excellent Advice About Hvac That You Will Want To Read
When a home HVAC system develops issues, homeowners often don't know where to begin. This situation can cost you a lot of time and money. These suggestions will benefit you for years to come.
To make sure your condenser fan works properly, keep the fan blades and the coils clean. Always turn the unit off before you do anything to it, including leaning. Remove leaves and debris from the outside condenser.
Clean the condenser on your debris regularly. Things pile up after storms and damage your system. Overheating could occur, which will be problematic.
When you are cutting the grass, be sure not to cover your outdoor units with clippings. Direct the grass clippings in a direction away from the HVAC unit. Do the same when blowing snow or leaves.
Your outdoor HVAC units might suffer when your trees lose leaves. Frequently clean the fan grill when trees are shedding leaves. The air needs to be unobstructed into the fan, and any blockages create performance issues for the whole system.
Make sure your HVAC unit is in the shade. It will help you save on your energy bill when you do this.
Have your heating and cooling system inspected twice a year. Most homeowners choose to have their unit inspected during the spring and the fall months. This helps prepare for the coming weather changes of summer and winter. Regular inspection will help you avoid unexpected repairs.
Putting in a programmable thermostat is a smart way to cut back on air-conditioning costs. You have greater control over the temperature settings with these. You can often control it from your mobile phone!
Make sure to have your unit serviced once a year. When they come out for a service visit, expect inspections of freon levels and the motor, and they will oil all the moving parts. This will keep you energy efficient and comfortable.
If there isn't anyone at home, then there's no need for the AC unit to be running and wasting electricity. Sure, the temp will rise, but no one is home anyway. Obviously, if you leave your air conditioning set at a low temperature all day long even if you're not home, you'll be paying to maintain that low temperature.
There are plenty of online tools, such as sizing calculators, which can help you find the best unit to cool your home. If you buy a unit that's too large, it won't be energy efficient for your needs. Check the manual to see what the manufacturer rates the unit to cool for accurate information.
Before you go out there and hire an HVAC contractor, find out the length of time they've been in the industry. Companies with proven track records typically provide better service. It's a risk to hire a new one.
Ask for helpful information when you are looking for a HVAC contractor. Find someone that has a lot of quality work under their belt. This will also help you to avoid undesirable companies.
When HVAC fails, everyone feels miserable. However, homeowners can avoid this disaster by having the unit serviced twice a year. These tips can help homeowners make HVAC decisions that are smart.
Bitcoin: 1BJbBAvdNHcZPZBnaFpyExUmAD9H1crosU


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I have been homeschooling my children since day one. When my husband and I decided to keep our children home it was with deep conviction and with a sense of ability. Here I am 5 years later, knee deep in curriculum we haven't used, piles of papers that need to be filed, and lessons that we may never get around to going over.
No one told me when I started homeschooling that it was going to be something akin to herding cats some days. Don't get me wrong, some days are awesome and I feel like we got everything done that we needed to and that my children were learning right on track. Then there are those days that I feel like I have doomed my children to failure. This is nothing new for moms. It is part of the process of raising children. It is just that we have added another layer to the parenting role – homeschooling.
It is true homeschooling IS hard. Some days I want to quit. Call the big yellow bus and have them pick up the kids and send them off for 8 hours of uninterupted bliss. For us that isn't an option. We know that we are doing the work God called us to do and face it, when God is in it the devil is going to make it hard. It is just part of it.
So, I am going to redeem our hard homeschool days. I made some wonderful curriculum choices this year that have allowed us to be more flexible and me to be a bit more hands off. Including Teaching Textbooks for math has been such a blessing for me and S. She is learning so much and I don't feel like screaming at the end of the day! Not having a solid reading curriculum for N has proven to be the best decision ever. We are just working through our Usborne Books and some fun other stories like Frog and Toad.
They key is to follow their lead and to take breaks! Don't let homeschooling become a burden. It is a tool to shape and mold your children. We spend a lot of time learning about the Bible and working on character. It has made all the difference.
If you are having a hard time with homeschooling, you aren't a lone. Here are some encouraging posts that you can find on The Multi Taskin' Mom. Know that you aren't alone!
- Our 2015 – 2016 Curriculum Choices
- I wish I could homeschool my children but…
- I don't have the patience to homeschool my chilren
- An Open Letter to a Tired, Work-From-Home, Homeschooling Mom
- Why We Quit Homeschooling
What are some ways you redeem your hard homeschooling days?


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7.5 - Environment loading issues
AaroBear last edited by
Updated to the Mac 7.5 client today. The environment won't load, leaving me unable to play the game. See attached screenshot for reference. It was working fine until the client update.
I've tried to uninstall and re-install, but I don't know what else I can do. Seems like it's working for friends.
ShaydenMac last edited by
Please report bugs here: https://github.com/StrangeLoopGames/EcoIssues/issues


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Step-by-Step: Windows Azure Backup
Azure Backup "is a simple and reliable data protection solution which enables customers to back up their on-premises data to Microsoft Azure." Remember Windows Server Backup? Well, like that perennial utility, this one backs up from or restores items to your Windows File System. "But this one backs up to or restores from Azure?" Bingo. And… Read more


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[ Ref. ATOOOML500 ]
Leaves an clear finish that also cares for the vehicle base coat
Is highly durable and has excellent adhesion and flexibility
Modern acrylic formulation
Fast drying, easy to use
Excellent covering power
Excellent durability
Contains UV inhibitors
[ Ref. AT00PRL500 ]
[ Ref. CLC/AL ]
Gives a clear finish that protects newly painted bodywork from scratches and stone chips. It's been specially formulated to spray on easily giving a perfectly clear, high gloss finish that will protect your bodywork and keep it looking its best for longer
UV resistant - will not discolour with time
Crystal clear gloss finish
Quick drying
Copper coated emergency motorist booster cable.
Features increased cross sectional area which maintains performance.
Supplied in PVC clip bag.
Length 2m, CSA 7.5mm2, peak output 170A, starting output 100A.


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A growing body of empirical work documents how management is a key production factor, both in terms of management practices and managerial talent. This column distinguishes three disparate theories, proposing a new framework that reconciles the insight of each. Contingency theory holds that firms always make optimal decisions, while the organisation-centric and leader-centric approaches hold that firms adopt better management practices, or hire better CEOS, respectively, for unmodeled reasons. The new framework integrates leadership quality and organisational capital, and generates new testable hypotheses.
Wouter Dessein, Andrea Prat, 25 February 2019
Sharmin Sazedj, João Amador, José Tavares, 24 December 2018
When appointing a CEO, firms can choose a newcomer or someone who has been at the firm for a long time. Using data on Portuguese firms in the wake of the Global Crisis, this column finds no performance gap between newcomers and experienced CEOs in the period prior to the crisis. During the crisis, however, firms run by newcomer CEOs outperformed those run by experienced insiders. Newcomers attain higher productivity by making different decisions regarding personnel, expenditure, investment, and international trade.
Mari Tanaka, Nicholas Bloom, Joel David, Maiko Koga, 25 August 2018
What is the effect of firms' beliefs on their decisions and performance? This column explores this link using a unique survey of Japanese firms' quantitative forecasts of future GDP growth combined with detailed company accounting data for over 1,000 large Japanese firms over 25 years. Firms' input decisions and subsequent profit and productivity are found to react strongly to expectations of macroeconomic conditions, while significant heterogeneity in forecast accuracy across firms appears to be related to observable characteristics such as productivity, size, age, and governance structure. The results highlight a key role of firms' forecasting ability for micro and macro performance.
Dirk Jenter, 12 July 2018
The ways in which the size and nature of a company's board of directors affects its performance are complex. Using a dataset of German firms, Dirk Jenter shows that profitability and stock market valuations decrease as board sizes increase. Ill-designed board size regulations can therefore negatively impact a firm's performance.
Giordano Mion, Luca David Opromolla, Alessandro Sforza, 21 January 2017
Despite the seemingly obvious link between good management and firm performance, establishing a causal link between the two is actually rather tricky. This column examines how Portuguese firms responded to the sudden and unexpected end to the civil war in Angola in 2002, and discovers an immediate spike in export entry rates for firms with at least one manager with previous experience of exporting to Angola. This finding on the impact of acquired knowledge on performance is especially useful for firms looking to operate in foreign markets.
Jan Hanousek, Anna Kochanova, 04 May 2015
The evidence about the effect of bribery on economic growth is mixed. Some find it harmful while others believe it helps via a 'grease the wheels' effect. This column argues that the ambiguity can be explained by divergent effects of the mean and dispersion of corruption. A high bribery-mean retards productivity growth of firms, but a high bribery-dispersion facilitates performance of weak firms.


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Looks like its going to be an interesting forum. Some great shots posted already. I photograph mainly weddings but have an inexperienced interest in Hawk and Owl photography.
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About us
Green & Blue View is a family run guesthouse with beachfront bungalows on the Greek island of Euboea. Inspired by our childhood memories of endless summers, we do our best to offer a homely stay and an unforgettable experience.
The estate is comprised of four fully furnished bungalows, the family house and an one acre garden. Each bungalow features its own wide veranda, with unlimited views to the Aegean Sea, directly opposite the famous Koukounaries beach of Skiathos island and mount Pelion, the residency of ancient Greek god Zeus and land of the Centaurs.
Surrounded by the dense pinewood forests of northern Euboea and the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea, it literally is a Green and Blue View.
Green & Blue View has been built with care and designed with simplicity and practicality in mind. Large windows make each bungalow bright and airy and each one features its own wide veranda, with direct views of the sumptuous gardens and the Aegean Sea. Everything is made with respect and in balance with the environment.
Each bungalow features a spacious bedroom with a double bed and flat screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen and a WC with a shower. Additional accommodation for children or adults can be arranged at the second main room.
We provide linen and towels but since this is self catering accommodation, no additional services or products are on offer. We are however open to discussing any special request you might have and we will do our best to fulfil all your needs. Especially for long staying guests, access to a washing machine can be arranged upon request.
Booking Terms
For the period of July and August 2019, our booking policy is on a weekly basis (one, two or three weeks) with arrival and departure day on Saturdays only.
For any other period, the minimum stay is 4 days. However, In some cases, special arrangements can be made so please do not hesitate to contact us.
Green & Blue View offers unique tranquillity among the pine forests and the sea. The fine sand and crystal clear waters beach in front of the property is easily accessible through a private staircase (although this is not recommended for people with mobility problems). The surrounding forests are perfect for hiking and reaching down to the sea, they provide access to remote and un-spoilt beaches.
The nearby fishing village of Ellinika offers a wide choice of taverns, offering fresh fish and local delicacies. Local amenities and shops are no more than 400m away.
Due to its proximity with mainland Greece, Euboea is easily accessible by road either through its capital Chalkida, or through a 45min ferry ride to the post of Akritsa. The distance from Athens is about 170km and from the Athens International Airport 195km. It typically takes about 3 hours drive.


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This interview by Christopher P. Skroupa was originally published on Forbes.com on October 14, 2015
Building on a background as a Business Lawyer and a State Authorized Public Accountant, Helle Bank Jorgensen brings more than 25 years of experience advising global companies and investors within Corporate Responsibility and Integrated Reporting.
Helle has led PwC's Sustainability and Climate Change practice in Denmark and in the US, hereof 11 years as a Partner. She now runs B.Accountability advising global businesses and heads the Global Compact Network Canada. In 2014 Helle was chosen as a UN Global Compact Board Facilitator. Helle is also the chair of eRevalue and is a known speaker and author of articles and books and the first in North America to have passed the GRI G4 Exam.
Christopher P. Skroupa: Why is gender equality important to you?
Helle Bank Jorgensen: Because I've seen so many examples where business and societies waste 50% of their resources. Also, because I would like my son to grow up in a world where it's the quality of what he brings to the world and to businesses that determines his possibilities of achieving what he wants to do and become in his life.
Let me tell you a story; my mom had to leave school and start working when she was 13, while her little brother could continue in school and get an opportunity for a better life. It was the norm, and in many places globally, it is unfortunately the norm of today. Needless to say, my mom was happy when I became a Partner with one of the Big4 accounting firms in the country I grew up in. However, I was also the first female partner to have a child, and I became a role model for many women who are way smarter than I, but who have fought hard to break the glass-ceiling or worse, gave up on their dream of either becoming parents or on their dream position.
I have been fortunate enough to have both – and to travel and work in many countries. Unfortunately, I have seen how people are treated based on their gender rather than their knowledge and talents. This is and has been very costly to societies, to business and perhaps to the future of our children and grandchildren.
Skroupa: Why is gender equality important to business?
Bank Jorgensen: It makes business sense. Most smart business leaders would agree that Diversity of Minds in the Boardroom, in the c-suite and in the workforce mean better business. Diversity of Minds does not necessarily mean gender-diversity, but to exclude 50% of the talent does not suggest diversity of minds. And an analysis conducted between April and June 2015 by Grant Thornton reported that the few S&P500 companies that have male-only executive directors missed out on USD 567 BN of investment returns, compared to companies with more diverse boards and women executives.
Further, female graduates in the developed world are now as or better educated than men – so business that is looking to attract and retain talent would be wise to look at the full workforce and ensure gender equality.
Besides the business imperatives, gender equality is a fundamental human right and one of the Sustainable Development Goals that was adopted by all UN member states on September 25th this year. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been developed with leading businesses via the UN Global Compact.
The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact, focus on the role of business in achieving gender equality and provide seven Principles for business to follow, covering the workplace, value chain and community. The initiative has grown to more than 1000 signatories globally, and we see an exponential interest. It is a rolling snowball – and you can either get behind it, or try to outrun it with the danger it could have to talent attraction, reputation and financial return.
Gender equality not only makes business sense – it makes world sense.
Skroupa: What are leading businesses doing? What is the business case, and why?
Bank Jorgensen: Leading businesses are signing the CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles I talked about. Even though it is called Women Empowerment principles – it is about treating all women and men fairly at work. And I expect that all parents would like to see their kids treated fairly in school as well as in their workplace.
The business case is clear – 50% of the talent in the workforce and 50% of the global consumers are women. Furthermore, women are often the person in a household who directly or indirectly decides what products to buy and what investments to make. So as women get more and more buying and investment power, it will often be the businesses that are known for gender equality that will get positive attention. Further, it is a general trend for millennials, as 70% in 2014 reported that they'd be likely to make investments based on social issues, such as gender equality. So the ingredients in the business case are talent attraction, reputation and financial return. Apart from this there is a human return – as you will see your children grow up in a world where you know they are treated fairly.
Here is an example: A global beverage company launched a multi-country initiative to enable the economic empowerment of 5 million women entrepreneurs across its value chain by 2020. Among other things, the initiative provides women with business skills training courses, access to financial services and access to support networks of peers or mentors to address the barriers they face to business success. Needless to say that they build goodwill, great brand power and future talent pipeline with such initiatives.
Skroupa: You argue that women sometime should say no to Board positions, why is that?
Bank Jorgensen: As both the business case and soft and hard regulation point to having more women serve on boards, more women will be asked to serve – and that is a good thing. However, women, as well as men, will need to do their due diligence, and not just be flattered by being asked. I wouldn't like to see women or men accept board positions and then face the growing risk of financial and reputational hardship that the 'wrong' board position could bring. As a facilitator for UN Global Compact Board Program, I see how boards of directors are under increasing scrutiny and increased pressure. A chairman once told me, "Today everything is 10 times as big, also 10 times as quick. Technology, mobility and digitalization keep everyone awake. It is easy to understand that CEOs and management can't last as long as they used to, when transparency and knowledge were more limited." When discussing the role of the Board, it is often clear that the board members have blind spots that, if not illuminated, can result in reputational damage, legal consequences, remuneration impact and removal from the board.
I also see how programs such as the Board Program can disrupt the normal thinking and bring insight that can help reduce risks and create opportunities. The Board Program enables all board members, including newly appointed women, to ask the key questions to disrupt group-thinking and bring value. But as mentioned, start by doing due-diligence and ensuring you're informed on the growing number of regulation that represents a civil and criminal liability if breaching the duty of care.
Skroupa: So what should we do to get to gender diversity?
Bank Jorgensen: Besides the suggestions I've given earlier I would suggest five steps:
1. Take stock – measure so you can manage.
2. Identify, discuss and tackle the barriers in the organization – including the unconscious bias we all have.
3. Show leadership – an honest dialogue with the leadership and a commitment from the c-suite and board of directors, combined with a well-thought-through action plan and clear goals and targets, are often necessary.
4. Ensure the spoken and unspoken incentives are aligned with the goals – and treat all who do not comply as you would if they weren't complying with the financial guidelines. In the end, if the diversity work is only an exercise in public relations, it could hurt the financials.
5. Be accountable and transparent in your communications and reports on the challenges of instilling diversity in workplace culture. Collaborate with other companies to find and implement solutions that will make certain the company, suppliers, communities and future workplace eventually won't need a diversity policy in place to ensure this.


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Work wear makes sense
Published: 03 September, 2009
SHIPLEY: Despite new legislation being introduced earlier this year, which now makes imprisonment an option for most health and safety offences, some employers are still putting their employees at risk by not providing them with the correct protective work wear and equipment for their jobs.
Under The Health and Safety Offences Act, which was introduced in January 09, maximum fines that can be imposed by Magistrates Courts increased from £5000 to £20 000 and potential prison sentences doubled from six to twelve months.
In addition more Health and Safety related cases can now be heard in Crown Courts which have the power to impose unlimited fines and prison sentences of up to two years.
However according to workplace equipment provider Slingsby, which sells more than 35,000 branded and non branded products through its catalogue and website, some organisations are still not providing basic personal protective equipment and work wear.
Lee Wright, marketing director of Slingsby, explains: "We're constantly speaking to employers across all industries that are unsure about what clothing and work wear they should be providing to their employees in order for them to carry out their jobs safely.
"Employers have basic duties concerning the provision and use of personal protective equipment
(PPE) under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 and abiding by these
regulations is the easiest way for a business or organisation to improve employee safety.
"The main requirement of the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 is that personal protective equipment
is supplied and used at work wherever there are any risks to health and safety that cannot be
adequately controlled in other ways."
Mr Lee adds: "The regulations cover nearly all clothing and equipment which is intended to be worn or
held in order to protect an employee from potential risks including safety helmets, gloves, eye
protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, harnesses and weather resistant clothing."
According to guidelines from the Health & Safety Executive the main hazard areas are:-
- Eyes - Hazards include chemical or metal splash, dust, projectiles, gas and vapour, radiation.
- Head - Hazards include impact from falling or flying objects, risk of head bumping and hair entanglement.
- Protecting the body - Hazards include temperature extremes, adverse weather, chemical or metal splash, spray from pressure leaks or spray guns, impact or penetration, contaminated dust, excessive wear or entanglement of own clothing.
- Hands and arms - Hazards include abrasion, temperature extremes, cuts and punctures, impact, chemicals, electric shock, skin infection, disease or contamination.
- Feet and legs - Hazards include wet, electrostatic build-up, slipping, cuts and punctures, falling objects, chemical splash and abrasion.


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Trevor Zeck is a Partner with Longview Communications & Public Affairs, Canada's leading independent corporate and financial communications firm. He advises a range of clients, principally public companies, on using strategic communications to grow, protect or transform their businesses. Trevor's experience includes advising management and Boards on a range of reputational issues, corporate governance matters, issues management, and corporate litigation.
Prior to joining Longview, Trevor spent almost ten years working on economic issues with the federal government, concluding his time in Ottawa with the Privy Council Office. He is a graduate of the University of Calgary and the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University.