text:
It's hardly news that the retail industry is going through significant contraction of selling space as an uptick in bankruptcies and outright liquidations forces hundreds of locations to close en masse. In addition, dozens of struggling retailers continue to shutter outlets hoping to improve profitability or avoid a similar fate. In fact, there is a pretty good chance that the number of store closings this year will exceed last year's record pace. While there are plenty of new store openings, the net downsizing of retail space in certain categories is clearly significant (for a deeper dive I recommend this excellent report by Coresight Research).
Another factor that is starting to affect vacancy rates is that some brands are "right-sizing" their prototypical store, in what I affectionately label the "Honey, I shrunk the store" phenomenon. Some of this is a sure sign that the retailer has run out of ideas for the space it has and is hoping to shrink to prosperity. Good luck with that. Others are wisely optimizing their footprints to address the rise of e-commerce and other fundamental changes in shopping behavior. I fully expect the large scale thinning of the herd to continue apace through (at least) next year, while the evolution of store models will take multiple years to play out.
What's new—and fundamentally more interesting for retail's future—is the rise of much smaller and very much reimagined formats from well-established brands. I first delved into this last year writing about Nordstrom Local, the storied retailer's new service-focused micro-concept. Nordstrom has since disclosed plans to open additional locations and hinted in its recent investor presentation that Local could be a key part of the company's portfolio strategy to drive market share on a city-by-city basis. And just this week Ikea joined Sephora, Target and others who are hoping to spur outlet growth by announcing a smaller format that holds the potential to unlock many additional urban locations by having fundamentally different economics and site-location requirements.
In some cases these retailers are dealing with the harsh reality that their concepts are maturing and it's becoming impossible to find locations where they can generate an ROI from their traditional format. Without reengineering their underlying economics, their store growth plans come to a screeching halt. In other cases they are mirroring aspects of the playbook employed by many digitally-native brands as they began opening physical stores: locate closer to where the target customers live or work, make services a key component of the value proposition, harmonize the experience across digital and physical channels, minimize inventory and use technology as a differentiator.
Over the years, many retailers have chased the notion of a smaller store as the key to spurring outlet growth (I've personally worked on several of these initiatives). Where most went wrong was delivering a watered-down version of what the brand was known for. Saks' Main Street strategy is an expensive lesson in what not to do. The smaller box did encourage them to open in locations that could not financially accommodate a "real" Saks store. In theory, this strategy held the promise of increasing the luxury retailer's store count by some 50%. Unfortunately customers were underwhelmed by the offering, seeing it as a "baby" Saks. Eventually all the expansion sites were closed.
What savvy brands know is to avoid creating a new concept that is merely a smaller version of the core value proposition, designed by pruning all the "non-essential" elements. This top-down approach is likely to be seen as a compromise. And who wants the customer to feel like she is settling? Instead, any new offering should be built by leveraging what the parent brand is known for, while taking a bottoms-up approach to eliminating customer pain points and finding new ways to be intensely customer relevant. This is one way a brand that's running out of gas can go from boring to remarkable.
It's increasingly clear that when we get beyond the outlet growth we see in the off-price/discount segment, a lot of new store openings are being driven by the Warby Parker's, Casper's and Indochino's of the world who have made this way of thinking central to their store expansion strategies. For legacy retailers hoping to stay relevant, well thought out micro-concepts have the potential to jump start growth by reaching new customers and getting closer to the customers they already have, while providing a measure of protection against often more nimble new competition.
Many mature retailers would be wise to follow Nordstrom and Ikea's lead. Small is starting to become big.
A version of this story appeared at Forbes, where I am a retail contributor. You can check out more of my posts and follow me here.


text:
Theme: Non-Human Player – hosted by Cell – February 2014
<– Return to Announcement Post
Clicking killerby Caridorc - Mini LD 49 Entry
Click to kill and gain points.
Downloads and Links
Aaaaaarggghhh, so hard to kill!!! :)
My game got blammed from Newgrounds.
Now it is on the Stencyl arcade.
Interesting :)
I love this understanding of "non-human"
Good job! I was pleasantly surprised when I actually got a different ending by not attacking anyone. Takes me back to the Cecil Paladin / Dark Knight fight in Final Fantasy IV.
Nice message, and made quickly. 5 stars
I like the ending messages excellent!
Everything about this game is fantastic.
Excellent idea. Also the music is great for this... "hobby".
Wow! Thank you all for the great feedback.
I don't mind that mind that my game was banned from Newgrounds, it simply is not the right place for a game like this.
Ha, nice ending. And quite right, too! :)
Would have been cooler with better graphics, but it's the message that counts! Very good!
Like the approach.
You must sign in to comment.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Below are "Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres" that we found for you based on the words that were entered when this page was created.
If you see too few items then please broaden the keywords a little. If you see too many listings then please narrow the search words and search again using the search box to the right.
|No items matching the keyword phrase "Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres" were found. This could be due to the keyword phrase used, or could mean your server is unable to communicate with Ebays RSS2 Server.
Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres on amazon
|AWS Access Key ID: AKIAIOL4E6YAYNXADBOQ. You are submitting requests too quickly. Please retry your requests at a slower rate.
Interesting Lambretta History
Within 1922, Ferdinando Innocenti of Pescia developed some sort of steel-tubing manufacturing plant in Rome. Within 1931, this individual had taken this company to Milan where he built a better factory producing seamless metal tubing and hiring about 6,thousand. Throughout the World War Ii, the manufacturing facility was intensely bombed and ruined. It is known that surveying the wrecks, Innocenti saw the future of low-cost, private transport and decided to produce a motor scooter -- competing on cost in addition to weather protection against the all-pervasive motor cycle.
The primary stimulus for the design style of the Lambretta as well as Vespa extends back to Pre-WWII Cushman scooters made in Nebraska, USA. These types of olive green motor scooters had been throughout Italy in large numbers, purchased initially by Washington as field transportation for the Paratroops in addition to Marines. The Us armed forces had utilized these to Nazi protection methods of ruining highways along with bridges in the Dolomites (a portion connected with the Alps) and also the Austrian border locations.
Aeronautical professional General Corradino D'Ascanio, responsible for and building of the first modern helicopter through Agusta, was presented with the task by Ferdinando Innocenti of creating a simple, strong as well as affordable vehicle. It would have to be straightforward to drive intended for both women and men , be able to carry a passenger but not get the person's apparel dirty.
The design Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres,
D'Ascanio, who hated motorbikes, created a innovative motor vehicle. It was constructed on a fre body having a handlebar gear alter and also the motor mounted directly onto the rear steering wheel. The front protection "shield" kept the driver dry and clean when compared to outdoors front-end on motor bikes. The actual pass-through leg area style and design was geared towards women, as wearing gowns or perhaps dresses made operating standard motorbikes challenging. The front fork, such as aircraft's landing gear, permitted for easy steering wheel altering. The interior fine mesh transmission eliminated the regular motorcycle chain, an origin of oil and dirt. This particular fundamental design permitted a number of features to be used around the body which could later on allow quick growth and development of new models.
Nevertheless, Common D'Ascanio dropped out with Innocenti, that as opposed to a molded and outdone fre frame desired to create their frame through folded tubing, permitting him to bring back each parts of his prewar company. Common D'Ascanio disassociated themself along with Innocenti as well as took their design to Enrico Piaggio that created the actual spar-framed Vespa from 1946 on.
In to production
Taking a year lengthier to create, the 1947 Lambretta showcased the back pillion seat for any passenger or even additionally a storage area. The original entrance protection "shield" was really a flat section of aero steel; later on this created in to the twin skin to permit extra storage space at the 'back of'/behind the leading shield, similar to the baseball glove area in a vehicle. The actual energy limit was underneath the (easy-to-open) seat which saved the expense of an extra locking mechanism for the energy cap or need for extra steel work on the graceful pores and skin.
Deriving the title Lambretta from the little river Lambro within Milan, that went near to the factory, Innocenti started manufacturing the Lambretta moto scooters within 1947 - the year after Piaggio started manufacture of it's Vespa models. Lambrettas had been manufactured under license in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India as well as The country, occasionally below additional names however always to some identifiable style (e.g. Siambretta in South America as well as Serveta in Spain).
BLMC drawing a line under of Innocenti
As prosperity increased in The European Union in the past due 1960s, the actual need for motor scooters dropped since the little vehicle grew to become available to more people as well as Lambretta started to struggle monetarily as did parent Innocenti. The British Leyland Motor Company took benefit of Innocenti's financial hardships as well as their manufacturing and architectural knowledge and caught Innocenti to create cars below license through BLMC. The Innocenti Mini utilized the actual mechanical parts of the initial but was in many ways superior to it.
Innocenti/Lambretta was ultimately sold in order to BLMC. Regrettably, lack of experience experienced triggered BLMC to join a way trend that was ending rapidly. Long industrial strikes within BLMC ensued; motor-scooter sales required the nosedive, as well as both Innocenti and Lambretta close up shop in 1975.
Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres
Car Products of India Or Scooters India Ltd Business Scooter
Founded 1972
Headquarters Bombay Or Lucknow, Indian
Products Lambretta, Lamby, Vijay, Vikram, Lambro
Web site moto scooters Indian
The actual Indian native government bought the actual factory with regard to basically the same reasons that Ferdinando Innocenti had built this after the Battle. India was a country along with poor infrastructure, financially not ready for small personal cars however with a need for private transport.
Car Products associated with Indian (API) started assembling Innocenti-built Lambretta moto scooters within Indian following self-reliance in the 1950s. They ultimately obtained the license to build the actual Li150 Sequence 2 model, which was offered under the Lambretta Series 2 name until regarding 1976 as well as afterwards transformed the name to Lamby for legal factors as Scooter India Ltd obtained the whole Innocenti Device in 1975. API additionally built the trademark model [API-175] three wheeler that was based upon Innocenti's Lambro. API ongoing to construct Lambretta-derived versions until the 1980s however have most certainly been non-operational since 2002.
In 1975, Scooters Indian Ltd. (SIL) the state-run business located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, purchased the whole Lambretta manufacturing as well as brand privileges. Former Innocenti workers were utilised to setup a good Indian manufacturing plant because all of the manuals as well as machinery directions had been within Italian language. The first scooter constructed had been the Vijay Delux/DL, which was badged the Lambretta GP150 in export markets. This offered badly due to build problems as well as had been improved to become the actual Vijay Super. Additional enhancements had been made in the final years of production by incorporating a modern day Japoneses CDI unit as well as an advanced front suspension. SIL additionally distributed CKDs that were put together in various places associated with India as well as offered because the Allwyn Pusphak, Falcon, as well as Kesri. They were of a reduce quality than the SIL produced models and often integrated substantial design modifications.
SIL manufacturing seems to have actually peaked during the monetary year 1980-1981, with around thirty-five,thousand scooters being built. Nevertheless through 1987 this particular had dropped close to four,five hundred units along with production finally ceasing within 1997. By this year Utes.I.L.Is manufacturing right now centres on the Vikram 3-wheeler, driven because of the Lambretta engine. SIL additionally produces limited extras for the GP/DL range of moto scooters. Addititionally there is a well established move trade within second-hand Lambrettas (and their types), primarily to the United kingdom marketplace.
Today Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres
In the United States, moto scooters Indian Ltd licensed the actual Khurana Group United states LLC to fabricate and distribute scooters with the Lambretta brand name. The first release in 2008 were rebadged Adly versions of contemporary style, including a 49 cc DUE50, the forty-nine cc UNO50 and a 150 closed circuit UNO150.
You can still find clubs across Europe and also the United kingdom, each national and native night clubs, dedicated to the actual Lambretta moped. The clubs nevertheless take part and organize ride outs and rallies which regularly take place during weekends across the summertime and have high attendance, a few rallies achieve two,500 paying rally guests. Across the UK there are many privately owned moped stores that cope with every thing Lambretta, from sales, services, components, tuning, overall performance and also enthusiast as well as bolt corrections.
(Artical taken from wiki and spun)
Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres,
|No items matching the keyword phrase "Lambretta Dunlop 360 Tyres" were found. This could be due to the keyword phrase used, or could mean your server is unable to communicate with Ebays RSS2 Server.


text: Marcus Goldfish wrote: > I use ctypes to capture a device-dependent bitmap in Win32 (~600x400, > 32bpp), and I would like to process it using PIL. I need a fast way > to convert the DDB to a PIL Image-- any solutions or suggestions > (ctypes, win32 solutions acceptable])? > > "Fast" means that I need to be able to convert the image in << 1 second. if you can convert it to a DIB, you can use the BmpImageFile.DibImageFile constructor. see the ImageGrab module for sample code. </F>


text:
Strap Ons
Strap On Dildos can be used for a wide variety of sexual activities and can add a whole new dimension to your sex life. Here at Angels & Sinners we have Strap On Dildos available is all shapes and sizes. All strap ons include 100% free discreet UK delivery
Angels & Sinners - best strap on dildos on-line.
Your Shopping Basket
Your basket is empty.


text:
Fashion Show
Sun, Dec 8: 8am – 9:30am
Join us Sunday, December 8 for Santa Cares Day in Las Vegas, NV! Children within all spectrums of special needs and their families are welcome to our sensory-friendly event to experience the time-honored tradition of a visit and photos with Santa at Fashion Show.
If you'd like to reserve a complimentary ticket to this event, please visit our event page for more details.


text:
Program Search
College Calendar
Areas of Study
Start Here
Connect with Us
Apply Now
International Students
Apprenticeship Students
Aboriginal Services
Financial Aid & Awards
IT Services
Accessibility Services
Our Campuses
Student Organizations
Alumni and Friends
Find Us
Work Here
People Directory
In Case of Emergency
News and Events
Print this Page
Report an Error on this Page
Copyright Inquiry
Okanagan College Media Release
Four Okanagan College business students will be representing the interior at a B.C. Tourism Industry Conference competition in February, thanks to a victory at a regional competition this week in Kamloops that involved developing a full business plan for a luxury biking tour company.
Adrian Lemiski, Nicolas Gallant, Brooks Hewko and Merissa Hucul spent about 60 hours, with help from coaches Laura Thurnheer and Blair Baldwin (both professors in the Okanagan College School of Business), developing the plan for Pioneer Adventure. The fictitious company serves the Columbia and Western Rail Trail from Castlegar to Midway and the Kettle Valley Rail trail from Midway to Osoyoos.
One of the objectives of the plan was to promote rural economic development.
The students' plan was submitted to four private-sector judges last Monday and they met with the judges privately on Thursday.
Afterward they had to present their plan to an audience of about 150 people, who were able to vote on their phones as part of the competition. The voting counted for 10 per cent of the students' mark, while the presentation counted for another 30 per cent. Sixty per cent of the mark was based on the business plan itself.
"There is an incredible amount of work involved in preparing for this case competition," explains Baldwin. "It's almost as much work as a full semester's course, but it provides the students a chance to test their knowledge and ideas against the expertise of private sector experts."
"Stressful? A little," admits Lemiski, "but definitely a great learning experience. The whole team really coalesced and we came up with a solid plan. And now we need to continue our prep for the provincial competition."
The Tourism Industry Case competition is sponsored by Go2HR, an industry organization that promotes tourism careers, helps with labour market information and analysis and provides training and certification.
The four OC students will travel to Victoria in February to compete against regional winners from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Kootenays and from Northern B.C.
"I feel like I am in a great place to start my career," says Wildeman, who is completing her first year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree bridging program at Okanagan College. "Between the College and UBC, there are so many opportunities for hands-on training in local hospitals. As a student, you feel very dialed into the industry from the beginning."
The bridging program is a conduit that allows students to complete the first two years of the four-year BSN degree at the College before transitioning to UBC Okanagan to complete the final two years. Graduates earn a BSN degree from UBC.
"You get to start off in the College setting with small class sizes and lots of one-on-one instruction, which makes for a smooth transition out of high school. And then there is the excitement of knowing you are stepping into another really well-respected nursing school," explains Wildeman.
Wildeman began her studies at the College in fall of last year. Next September, she will make the move to UBC to finish off her degree. She will do so with the knowledge that both programs were recently accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN), a national independent body which conducts rigorous evaluation of nursing schools across the country.
"Having an independent review of our program is valuable," explains Yvonne Moritz, Dean Science, Technology and Health for Okanagan College. "It is a tremendous learning opportunity. It gives us the chance to see how we compare to national standards, and to better understand our strengths and opportunities for improvement.
"And as a relatively new program, we are with pleased the accreditation, and by the positive feedback that we received from CASN. That feedback, will guide the continuous improvement of the program."
The Okanagan College BSN program years 1 and 2 is also approved by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC), the body that oversees regulation of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and licensed graduate nurses in B.C.
The accreditation by CASN is another feather in the cap for the program, explains Moritz, and one that will hopefully continue to strengthen the reputation of the OC-UBCO collaborative partnership in the minds of students and prospective students.
"It gives our students confidence and affirms for them that we meet not only provincial but national benchmarks, the highest standards," says Moritz.
Since the bridging program launched in 2011, 95 students have completed Years 1 and 2 at the College.
"It feels good knowing the program is accredited, especially from an employability standpoint, looking ahead to the future," notes Wildeman.
She and her classmates have reason to be optimistic about their job prospects. According to B.C. government statistics, the province will need 25,000 nurses by 2022.
And while she may not have a final destination in mind for that future, the Kelowna student (who hails from Abbotsford) is excited about the flexibility offered by her chosen field.
"I would love to work locally, but the possibilities are endless in nursing. It's a great feeling to know that my education can take me anywhere."
Ground was broken at the Penticton campus today for the daycare facility by Penticton MLA Dan Ashton (representing Minister of Child and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux), Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton, Penticton and District Community Resources Society (PDCRS) Executive Director Tanya Behardien and Okanagan College Regional Dean Donna Lomas.
When the daycare is complete in mid-2017, it will be operated by PDCRS.
"This is great news for the local families," says Ashton. "Adding 64 new child care spaces for Penticton-area families who need them demonstrates our government's commitment to building stronger, healthier communities throughout the province."
"There is definitely a need for this capacity," explains Behardien, whose organization operates eight child care programs in the region, including three centres in Penticton. The PDCRS has more than 40 years of experience in early childhood programming and is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an organization this year.
"The new child care centre will benefit the community, but is also a major benefit to our students and staff," explains Hamilton. "The survey that was part of the business case for the daycare clearly identified the need for this. We also know that even when our campus is less busy in the summer months, there will be demand for the daycare because of the increase in activity in the tourism and hospitality sector."
The daycare will be located at the northern end of the campus, with access from Timmins Street.
Lomas, who is retiring in the next month, sees the daycare as a legacy project that fits into the College's well-deserved reputation for partnerships, service to students and the community. It will also continue the College's growing reputation for leadership in sustainable building.
The 372-square-metre (4,000 sq. ft.) daycare facility is being constructed to Passive House Design with the goal of being built to net-zero energy and LEED Platinum standards.
"This will be another example of how sustainable building technologies can be incorporated into comfortable learning and care space," says Lomas.
In 2016, the campus's Jim Pattison Centre of Excellence was recognized as the greenest building in Canada's university and college environment. The design of the daycare has been aided by students from the College's Sustainable Construction Management Technology program, and students from the College's Residential Construction program will help with the construction of the facility, which starts in February 2017.
Thor-Larsen learned she was one of about 100 recipients of a $5,000 Transfer Scholarship from the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society. She didn't realize at the time that the honour would prove to be much more than a just financial reward.
The Society offers transfer scholarships to students who have completed one year or more at a public post-secondary institution in BC and are transferring to another degree-granting institution to complete their studies. Thor-Larsen completed a Business Administration Diploma and a year of general studies at Selkirk College before transferring to Okanagan College's School of Business in September.
The $5,000 awards are granted on the basis of academic merit and involvement in their school or community. In addition to her good grades, Thor-Larsen was also actively involved in her community and volunteered for the Castlegar Minor Soccer Association, Relay for Life and Selkirk College.
"With the scholarship I don't have to take out a student loan; it took off a lot of the financial burden," says Thor-Larsen. The scholarship funds also allowed her the financial freedom to take a research assistant position for Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism over the summer.
"It was really nice to be able to do something I enjoyed and not have to worry about money for school," explains Thor-Larsen. The position challenged her to step beyond her comfort zone and talk to business owners in the community, a skill she has already been applying in her classes at the College. "I'm more comfortable actively participating in class discussions and less nervous in presentations."
Thor-Larsen completed her non-business electives before transferring to Okanagan College, allowing her the freedom to explore a greater range of courses than were available to her in Castlegar. Okanagan College's Human Resources Management courses have piqued her interest and she is now considering declaring it as her degree specialization and pursuing workforce experience in the industry.
The Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society was developed in 2004 to help students obtain degrees while studying closer to home longer and at less cost. The Society's namesake, Irving K. Barber, was a prominent entrepreneur in B.C.'s forestry industry. Known as an advocate of public education, Barber credited his own successes to a second chance he was given to pursue education and receive a post-secondary degree.
The Society continues to champion that legacy and has awarded over $13 million in awards and scholarships to thousands of B.C. students since 2006. In addition to transfer scholarships, international scholarships and aboriginal awards are given annually.
Thor-Larsen first heard about the scholarship opportunity from her older sister, Samantha, who was also a recipient of an Irving K. Barber Transfer Scholarship. Their mother encouraged Sawyer to apply after her sister's positive experience. Samantha graduated from Okanagan College's School of Business in Jan. 2014 with a Bachelor of Business Administration, specializing in marketing.
"Okanagan College students have often received transfer scholarships and moved on to other degree-granting post secondary institutions," says Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton, who is also a Director of the Irving K. Barber B.C. Scholarship Society. "That is still the case, but it is great when we see students like Samantha and Sawyer come to us from other B.C. institutions to complete their education. I know that is what Ike Barber was hoping to support when he set up this scholarship."
Thor-Larsen has been enjoying the switch to Okanagan College and the perks of living in a larger city centre haven't compromised a sense of community at school. "I like that the teachers actually care about what you are doing. My favourite thing is they know you by name."
Thor-Larsen will graduate in Dec. 2017 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and plans to go on to law school.
She admits that the scholarship application can be intimidating, but encourages other eligible students to apply.
"Definitely do it," she says. "It looks like a lot of work, but it is worth it."
The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society also awarded transfer scholarships to Okanagan College students Duncan Gordon MacGregor, Teresa Oyer, Kelsi Layne Taron, Adia Van Buren, and Alisha Wozny. These six students transferred to complete their degrees at the University of British Columbia.
For more information on Irving K. Barber scholarship and 2016 recipients visit www.ikbbc.ca
The next deadline for scholarship applicants is early 2017.
A $50,000 donation from FortisBC assisted in the construction and outfitting of a new natural gas lab, located in the plumbing shop of the renovated and expanded Kelowna Trades Complex that officially opened last month. An additional $25,000 gift from the company will also help the College enhance the delivery of curriculum for construction carpenters and technologists in the Sustainable Construction Management Technology program.
"FortisBC sees giving back as an important part of our efforts to create a sustainable future for British Columbians," explains Barry Smithson, Director Operations, FortisBC. "This partnership is a great fit for FortisBC, as Okanagan College trains students that could one day become our employees."
The new lab will be utilized by students across the piping trades, and will allow the College to deliver all four levels of its new Steamfitter/Pipefitter apprenticeship program. Demand is mounting for Steamfitter/Pipefitters in B.C. (more than 1,100 openings are projected over the next eight years), and the arrival of LNG projects could spell even greater need. The first class of students recently completed Level 1 and the first offering of Level 2 began on Oct. 3.
"We are deeply grateful to FortisBC for this generous support," says Steve Moores, the College's Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. "This donation is already having a direct impact on students. The new lab provides us with a state-of-the-art space to deliver the latest training."
Over the past five years alone, Okanagan College has trained more than 1,200 Foundation and Apprenticeship students in the Plumbing/Pipefitting and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic programs.
As part of the $50,000 donation, FortisBC contributed equipment for the lab – including state-of-the-art gas meters – and stepped in to assist local company Kal West Mechanical with the installation. The installation provided a chance for hands-on learning for Okanagan College students.
Tammy Rudrum is one of those students. A recent graduate of the Sheet Metal Foundation program and the Women in Trades Training program, Rudrum and about a dozen of her classmates helped put in furnaces which will serve as training tools in the new lab.
"I definitely learned some great practical skills that you can't get from a book," says Rudrum. "Hands-on experience is better. Everyone's furnace units are different, so it was interesting to see how things can be adapted."
On top of the $50,000 for the new lab, FortisBC's additional donation of $25,000 will soon generate further hands-on training opportunities for students.
Among other teaching tools, the funds will allow the College to purchase two calibrated blower doors to be used for training and testing. The doors demonstrate to students how different wall assemblies and construction techniques can reduce energy consumption by preventing air leakage. The resources will benefit students in the Carpentry and Sustainable Construction Management Technology programs.
"It is very positive for our students to see a major employer like FortisBC investing in their education," explains Moores. "It shows them the industry need is real. It validates their choice to learn here and to pursue a career in the trades."
Okanagan College's new Trades Complex opened its doors to students in April and was officially opened by Premier Christy Clark and Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson on Sept. 22.
The three-year renovation and expansion project began with a $28-million investment from the province and has also seen strong support from donors in the community. The Okanagan College Foundation kicked off the Bright Horizons campaign in October 2014 with the goal of raising $5 million for capital construction and $2 million for student and program support to complete the project.
More information about the new Trades Complex and opportunities to support the campaign can be found at www.okanagan.bc.ca/campaign.
Lewis, co-owner of Penticton's Bad Tattoo Brewing, will be leading Beer Appreciation – an evening of craft beer tastings and beer education offered by Okanagan College. Delivering basic beer knowledge, the course is designed to help students make the best of any beer tasting experience – in particular, at festivals.
The tastings will take place on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the B.C. Wine Information Society Sensory Centre, a state-of-the-art classroom-style laboratory at the College's Penticton campus. The facility was created for the sensory discovery and evaluation of wine and food and opened in 2014. This will be the second beer course offered in the Centre by Okanagan College and the first craft beer appreciation course.
"The lab is a great venue for people to come in and learn something about the food and beverage culture that is going on in the Okanagan," says Lewis. "It's a phenomenal facility in an easy, central location."
Lewis, a Red Seal chef, will pair the beer tastings with festival-inspired culinary creations he prepares in the Centre's kitchen. Participants will explore diverse styles of beers and gain an understanding of their palate range and preferences. The course will also delve into new and emerging beer trends, such as barrel-aged beers, beers with innovative ingredients and ancient beer styles coming back into popularity.
Known for its wine education programming, the College recognized the growing interest in craft brewing in the region and the popularity of local events, such as Fest of Ale.
"Our programming reflects what the community expresses an interest in," says Dr. Dennis Silvestrone, Director of Continuing Studies and Corporate Development. "Our Viticulture and Wine Program was a response to the region's thriving wine industry, and now our Beer Appreciation course acknowledges the growing enthusiasm for beer literacy in the Okanagan. And given the number of beer and wine experts on hand in the valley, it was very important to us to engage top caliber instruction for these programs."
The industry has seen significant growth across the Pacific Northwest in the last decade. Many local restaurants and private liquor stores have jumped on the trend, offering more diverse beer selections from smaller, independent breweries.
According to Ken Beattie, Executive Director of the BC Craft Brewers Guild, the industry is undergoing unprecedented growth.
"In 2013, there were less than 50 craft breweries in the province. We now have over 125 breweries in 60 different communities that employ over 4500 people directly."
The Okanagan now boasts 15 craft breweries, including four in Penticton. Lewis believes the industry is just gaining momentum and we can expect to see more breweries pop up in the region.
"The craft beer culture offers a tremendous amount of choice and flavours," he says. "There is a tremendous energy in the industry and a camaraderie between brewers and the customers."
Lewis believes the course will yield for students a much more robust experience at future festivals or tastings.
"It's easy to go to a beer festival and just stick your glass out," he says. "After taking the course, students will be able to ask informed questions, relate concepts and understand how brewing applications affect flavour."
Registration for Beer Appreciation is now open. Cost is $96 plus GST. Seating is limited. To register, call 250-492-4305 or visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/registerbeer. Visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/cs for more information.
CANsave, a financial literacy program designed in 2015 by college students for primary school students has caught the attention of teachers throughout British Columbia, and Valley First is stepping up to lend its support.
A supporter of CANsave since its pilot program launched in 2015, Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union, initially pledged $25,000 to the program for the 2016 school year. However, upon seeing the immediate success and the overwhelming teacher demand for the program, the local credit union has doubled its support to $50,000 to help Enactus Okanagan College students expand the program to more BC schools.
In addition to this financial support, Valley First will be lending its expertise in the field, and staff will be volunteering as guest instructors in some of the local classrooms. Aimed at teaching primary school students critical lessons about debt and the importance of saving money, and giving to charity, CANsave offers students the opportunity to experience financial responsibility firsthand.
"This is an incredible commitment," says Abbey Jones, a fourth-year Okanagan College Business Administration student, who is also one of the leaders of the CANsave program. "Valley First has been with us every step of the way since we launched our pilot program last year. Their latest donation will allow us to take CANsave out to all the teachers and schools who have expressed an interest in the program. This is a phenomenal opportunity for us to expand the program and enable more kids to learn about financial literacy."
"We've all heard about the importance of teaching kids at a young age about money in order to set them up for financial success in the future," explains Susan Ewanick, president of Valley First. "Our team at Valley First fully believes in the benefits of starting young and it's been so rewarding to see the tremendous outcomes CANsave has achieved in one short year. The rapid pace at which BC teachers are adopting the program has been nothing short of amazing. We're very proud to partner with the volunteers of Enactus and have the opportunity to help young people develop their financial savvy."
The positive evaluation of the program is echoed by Kelsey Dawson, one of the teachers who experienced CANsave in her Grade 3 classroom last year. "It had a real impact on the students," says Dawson. "It's learning that will stick with them through their lives and it's provided a good base in understanding personal and household finances. It also gave them a sense of what it means to think about others in the community."
With help from Valley First and from the Central Okanagan Foundation, the Enactus OC students established a website over the summer that introduced the CANsave program to approximately 40 Central Okanagan teachers just before school recommenced this fall.
The response from the teachers was overwhelming. "Within three days, we were already exceeding the 40 classes we had planned. Somewhere between 10 and 15 of them are from outside the College region, extending into the Kootenays and Northern B.C.," explains Devin Rubadeau, an OC Business Administration professor who has served as a mentor to the Enactus OC students involved in the project. "Now we are projecting that CANsave will be in 100 or more Central Okanagan classes this year."
There's no better time for the Valley First commitment, notes Rubadeau – November is officially financial literacy month.
CANsave was introduced into classrooms in School District 23, in 2015, and was created in response to changes in the BC Ministry of Education Curriculum that came into effect September 2016. The program includes lessons on topics young adults wished they had learned early on, including the advantages of having a savings account, critical lessons about debt, and the importance of saving money for themselves and for those in need. Teaching fundamental financial lessons through the use of a simulated economy, CANsave allows primary school students the opportunity to experience first-hand financial responsibility.
During the curriculum development period for Grade 3 students, the Enactus team worked closely with teachers and community partners to ensure learning objectives could successfully be met in the classroom. In the spring of 2016, two Grade 1 teachers modified the curriculum to suit younger grades and ran the program twice in their classrooms with great success. The end results are the CANsave Early Primary and CANsave Late Primary programs. For more information about CANsave, visit http://cansaveoc.ca/.
Experience, knowledge, passion and family will be the fuel that drives a new Aboriginal Community Support Worker program being offered by Okanagan College.
Tina-Marie Christian and her daughter Holly Dalgleish, both of the Syilx Nation (Okanagan) and members of the Splatsin First Nation (Enderby) will be collaborating to teach a new certificate program being offered at Okanagan College this fall.
The Aboriginal Community Support Worker Certificate (ACSW) is a full-time program that will be taught at the College's Salmon Arm Campus beginning in late November this year. This program will see students immerse themselves in a five-month course that includes 375 hours of course work and a 70-hour practicum component that focuses on indigenous help.
With a Master's degree in Organizational Management and a Bachelor's degree in adult education, Christian brings a strong blend of experiences in community and personal development from her more than 35 years working in education, staff development, health and wellness within Aboriginal organizations. Dalgleish, who holds a Master's in Clinical Social Work and has worked as a Child Protection Social Worker as well as youth counsellor and Family Support Worker, also has strong ties to the Aboriginal community in the Okanagan.
The women have been instrumental in bringing this new certificate program to fruition. They have been active members of the program's curriculum development team, ensuring that the focus is targeted and has pervasive Indigenous content.
"The courses in this program will provide students with a holistic approach to Aboriginal community support, helping to prepare them for entry-level positions in a variety of fields," explains Dalgleish. "It is designed to become part of the pathway to further studies such as the Human Service Work diploma, or a degree in Social Work while providing a foundation for community service work."
"We are excited to be a part of this College initiative that will help to strengthen our Indigenous communities. Programs such as the ACSW program empower individuals to create a new future and an opportunity to contribute to the needs of their community," notes Christian. "The certificate is ideal for students who have a strong compassion for helping individuals and families and will give them the core training required by community support workers."
Students will finish the program with a practicum at a local community-based organization that works with Aboriginal individuals and families.
Students interested in finding out more about this program (which is eligible for student loans) are encouraged to contact: www.okanagan.bc.ca/acsw
Kelowna Grandmothers for Africa and the Okanagan Chefs Association are hosting the second annual evening of Discover Africa's Culture and Cuisine in the Atrium of the Centre for Learning at Okanagan College's Kelowna Campus.
"This is a tremendous chance to taste the unique African inspired dishes prepared by the Culinary Arts students under the mentorship of distinguished Chefs of the Chef's Association," explains Doug Fraser of Kelowna Grandmothers for Africa.
The volunteer, non-profit organization of grandmothers and "grandothers" supports African grandmothers, in communities affected by the AIDS pandemic, as they care for the vulnerable children in their care. The group's goal is to increase awareness and raise funds to help nurture and raise a healthy self-sufficient next generation.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation and the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign provide targeted and accountable support for African grandmothers and orphans through healthcare, education initiatives and self-sufficiency programs such as microcredit grants and human rights support.
Last year this event showcasing African food and culture was a huge success, says Fraser.
"The Junior Chefs creations delighted our guests. People have been asking when the tickets are available for this year's event."
They're $75, available now in limited numbers, and can be purchased by visiting bit.ly/GFAtickets.
"This (Discover Africa's Culture and Cuisine) gives our students a real opportunity to explore a different food culture and stretch their culinary imaginations," explains Okanagan College Chef instructor Reinhard Foerderer. "It also gives them the satisfaction of putting their talents to work for a worthy community initiative."
Part of the proceeds for the evening go to the Okanagan Chefs Association to provide further educational opportunities for the community's junior chefs.
Fraser notes that a host of area businesses and organizations have thrown their support behind the event, including the Jane Hoffman Group of Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty, Alison Oxtoby of Entrust Law, Baptist Housing, Brenda Fischer of Edward Jones, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Gorman Bros., Kelowna Mercedes-Benz, Vineyard Developments and Voyager RV.
Those in attendance on Nov. 19 will be entertained by the Nankama African Drum and Dance Group and will be able to participate in silent and live auctions.
Kelowna Grandmothers for Africa supports the Stephen Lewis Foundation and since the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign began in June 2006, grandmother groups across Canada have grown to 250 involving 10,000 Grandmothers and more than $25 million has been raised.
As many as 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS. Grandmothers bury their own adult children and step in to care for the orphaned children and other children who have no other resource.
If you would like to help, donations can be made to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.


text:
Our Team
We aim to foster a work environment comprised of creative and committed investment professionals dedicated to the highest standards of excellence and integrity.
Michael Tiedemann
Chief Executive Officer
Michael Tiedemann is Chief Executive Officer of TIG and is involved with all strategic decisions to add investment talent and operating partners.
Management Team
Spiros Maliagros
Spiros Maliagros, President, joined the Adviser in 2006 as General Counsel assisting the Adviser with SEC registration and overseeing all legal matters for the firm.
Laurie A. Jelenek
Chief Administrative Officer
Laurie A. Jelenek, Chief Administrative Officer, joined TIG, an affiliate of the Adviser, in July 1991 and became a General Partner in 1996.
Michael Fastert
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer
Michael Fastert, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer, joined the Adviser in June 2007 as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer overseeing all legal and compliance matters of the Adviser.
Steve Tangredi
Chief Information Officer
Steve Tangredi, Chief Information Officer, joined the Adviser in May 2004 and is responsible for its technology group.
Portfolio Managers
Drew Figdor
Portfolio Manager - Event Driven Global Merger Arbitrage Strategy
Drew Figdor joined TIG in 1986 as a Senior Arbitrage Analyst and became a General Partner in 1990. In 1993 he became the sole Portfolio Manager of the fund.
Stuart Lippman
Portfolio Manager - Securitized Asset Strategy
Stuart Lippman joined the Adviser in 2012 as the Chief Investment Officer of the TIG Securitized Asset Fund.
David Liu
Portfolio Manager - Securitized Asset Strategy
David Liu joined the Adviser in 2012 as the Co-Portfolio Manager and Chief Strategist for the TIG Securitized Asset Fund.
Investor Relations
George Sophocles
Managing Director, Investor Relations
George Sophocles, Managing Director, Investor Relations, joined TIG in April 2010.
Grace Crandall
Director, Investor Relations
Grace Crandall, Director, Investor Relations, joined TIG in September 2015.


text:
Lake Clark Air and The Farm Lodge; offering access to Lake Clark National Park, Katmai National Park, and remote Southwest Alaska for over 40 years.
For over 40 years we have offered bear viewing in Katmai National Park, caribou and wildlife viewing, flightseeing, photography workshops, and catch-and-release fishing to help you experience the best of southwest Alaska.
The Farm Lodge is located in Port Alsworth, the headquarters for Lake Clark National Park. Lodging is in modern accommodations on the waterfront. Both our standard and deluxe suite guest cabins have heated rooms, covered porches for relaxing, and private bathrooms with running water.
Lodging includes home-cooked Alaskan meals served in the main lodge. The amazing activities and sights you encounter throughout your day can only be rivaled by the excellent meals that you will encounter in our lodge dining room. Our fresh baked breads, garden fresh vegetables, homemade deserts, made to order lunches, and optional children's menus are just part of what makes a stay at The Farm Lodge make you feel right at home. We also offer vegetarian and special diet options when reserved in advance. Daily maid service is also included in all of our lodging packages.
The lodge overlooks Hardenberg Bay, mid way down Lake Clark on the east side. Lake Clark itself is over 35 miles long and offers access to numerous fishing holes and beautiful scenery. From the lodge you can walk to the Lake Clark National Park Service Visitor's Center, the Tanalian Falls, and Kontrashibuna Lake.
The Farm Lodge offers a relaxing getaway for couples, small groups, and family groups.
The Farm Lodge has no minimum required stay. We offer day trips as well as trips that range from 1 night/1 day tours to 2 week-long packages.
Whether you enjoy fishing or just wish to take in the spectacular scenery, The Farm Lodge offers access to some of Alaska's most breathtaking sights. Wildlife viewing, rafting, hiking, flightseeing and camping are some of the many activities The Farm Lodge offers as ways for you experience our area.
The sights are outstanding and the wildlife is plentiful. Depending on the time of your stay, you may fish for Arctic Char, Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout, Dolly Varden, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, and Salmon. In order to preserve the quality offishing in our area, The Farm Lodge insists on the practice of catch and release for all fish species.
The Farm Lodge is now taking reservations for 2019 through 2021. A 50% deposit is required in order to hold a reservation against other inquiries, with balance due 2 months before the date of your stay. The deposit is refundable up to 80% only if all cancellations are made no less than 60 days before the scheduled travel date. If you are planning a visit in 2020 or 2021 you can take advantage of our 2019 rates by making reservations before January 1 of 2020. Rates will increase on reservations made after January 1 of 2020. Prices are subject to change at any time prior to a reservation deposit being received. Call 888-440-2281 or visit our Information and Pricing Request Page now to make your reservation.
Below are a few packages that many of our guests have enjoyed. We also offer custom packages to meet your individual group's budget, schedule, and desires. Please use the following links for more information regarding Custom Packages, Family Packages, Budget Packages or one of the following prebuilt packages.
Our tours truly take you away from the crowd and into Alaska the way it is meant to be experienced. We offer a number of activities that are suitable for all ages. It is our pleasure to offer a place for your whole family to experience the untamed parts of Alaska.
Bernard and Brigitte - Zurich, Switzerland
Geoff and Marcia - England
Cecil and Norris
Jim and Ethel - Pomfret Center, CT
Take a look at our
Deluxe Sample Packages
Or build your own:
Custom Package
Family Package
Budget Package
If you are traveling on a budget, you can indicate on the Budget Information Request page the amount you have budgeted for your visit to Lake Clark. We can provide you with the best Family Package pricing and peak activities that fall within your budget.
Some guests have found that the prebuilt sample packages do not always fit their schedule and budget. Because we specialize in setting up custom packages and pricing, we can help you build the package that fits your desires.


text:
Shortly after the new year began, Elizabeth Gilbert tweeted something that stuck with me:
"There are only 2 two ways to have a peaceful conscience: Never do anything wrong or learn self-forgiveness (Pro tip: first way's impossible)"
I love the this quote because it exposes perfectionism for what it really is: an exercise in futility. Of course none of us never does anything wrong. To avoid mistakes is impossible, and yet so many of us would rather try than take the path of self-forgiveness.
I messed up this week. It wasn't a huge deal, but what I did impacted another person, and I was immediately struck with intense guilt, as well as anger at myself for having indulged the controlling tendencies I'm trying so hard to soften. In this particular situation, it was my need to "fix" that got me into trouble, my habit of pouncing on potential problems and managing them aggressively. In trying to do what was right, I ended up doing what felt foolish, and wrong. In my effort to be proactive, I created difficulties, rather than smoothing them over.
As I sat with these facts, I remembered Gilbert's quote. I gave some thought to the egotism that's embedded in being a perfectionist. Most of the perfectionists I know–myself included–would admit that to err is human. Yet we make ourselves the exception; we specially select ourselves to be the only people we know who never screw up. It's crazy, really.
I say this with an understanding of what drives so many of us to aim for flawlessness in the first place: demanding or painful childhoods, socially reinforced expectations, our own insecurities. I can't speak for all perfectionists, but for most of my life I've believed that if I can just keep doing everything right, I might be able to escape the sense of my own rottenness that has followed me around for as long as I can remember.
You can't outrun yourself, though–at least not in my experience–which brings me back to Gilbert's choices: either you keep aiming for the impossible, in which case you'll need to constantly fend off disappointment and disillusionment, or you learn to forgive your mistakes and let them go. I'm aiming for the latter these days, no matter how ill-equipped I sometimes feel in doing it.
Part of my struggle this past week was to realize how far I am from being able to practice self-forgiveness with ease. I thought maybe this mistake would be the one I could regard with humor and perspective, the one I could leave behind without a struggle. Instead, I experienced the usual onslaught of guilt, the familiar wave of anxiety that comes with my fear of being perceived as a failure.
I guess I can acknowledge the fact that, rather than trusting in these feelings, I was able to question their veracity. I didn't feel their impact any less, but I may have bounced back more quickly than usual, because I took the time to question a thought process so unforgiving that it that shuts humanity out.
Sometimes we do things that we regret. We hurt ourselves and others. We speak without thinking, or we speak with the intention of harming. We lash out. We act too fast, or without thinking. It's all part of the big tapestry of being human, and while it's OK to have regrets–to assess our actions critically and learn from them–it's not very fruitful to get swept into an endless vortex of self-loathing.
I'm starting to regard self-forgiveness as one of the most essential human capacities, a prerequisite for resilience and looking forward. I see that it's an important part of being humble, of being able to accept that you're as fallible and messy as the next person–no better, but also no worse. I have a long way to go with it, but I'm practicing each and every time I stumble.
The theme of self-forgiveness runs through this week's reads, especially Dan Maio's essay about leaving his life as a fisherman behind. Part of what makes Maio's reminiscence so powerful is its honesty. He begins,
I used to trick animals on to sharpened hooks. Sometimes, I'd use two or three just to make sure they couldn't get away.
The hooks would cut their mouths open and, more often than you'd think, pierce them somewhere on the face, even in the eyes. I didn't even do it to eat. Like millions of others, I did it for "fun".
If I had done these things to a dog or a cat, people would want me in jail. But here I am, talking about fish. "Fish have no pain receptors", they say. "Don't worry, they're too stupid to understand."
I believed it all, especially since it came from the mouths of family members and friends.
Maio goes on to describe how an encounter with one fish off the coast of Perth allowed him to see things in a radically new light:
I held in my hands one of the prettiest fish I'd ever seen. He was scared and oxygen-deprived, and I'd torn almost his entire bottom lip right the way around. Fish don't have arms or legs to help them get by. All they have is their lips and mouths to gather food, build nests, and protect their young. Damaging these parts of their body can be fatal, even if they are swiftly released.
I had the sudden realisation that I had ruined this fish's life. The one I'm holding in this photo is (and will always be) the last fish I ever caught. I was an arsehole. I'm sorry but, at the same time, forever grateful that he helped me flick the switch.
This is an incredible example of remorse and resilience coexisting. What Maio regrets isn't small or inconsequential; it's a decade's worth of actions that he now considers unacceptable. Yet he's able to process the regret in such a way that it doesn't cripple him; rather, it galvanizes him to do things differently from now on.
Maio goes on to describe his newfound understanding of fish sentience, his admiration of their intelligence and capacity to feel. He notes that his appreciation of the ocean and love for its inhabitants "has grown tenfold since I stopped treating them like disposable playthings." In sharing these words, he's both making himself vulnerable and also speaking out against a "pastime" that is probably still cherished by many of his family and friends. He's taking a big risk. I hope he can take consolation in the fact that his words will undoubtedly compel someone else to look at fishing in a new way.
Self-forgiveness can take a physical form, too. It can involve learning to forgive one's own body for not neatly conforming to expectations. Ashley Ford's essay on buying a crop top at her heaviest weight is about a lot more than fashion. It's about learning–through lots of struggle–to accept her body without qualifications or conditions. And it's pretty great.
I hope you'll enjoy the reads. But first, here are some of the awesome recipes that caught my eye this week.
First up, juicy cauliflower steaks from Finn of Port & Fin. I particularly love the idea of an almond chimichurri to spoon over them!
I can't get enough soup at the moment, and Jennifer's smoky Spanish tomato soup just topped my list of recipes to try next. It's packed with veggies, and I'm a sucker for anything with smoked paprika.
More healing foods for winter: Molly's beautiful ginger mushroom kale noodle soup. I love how the addition of turmeric gives this one a golden color.
Tis the season for citrusy winter salads. Sierra's winter bliss salad features grapefruit wedges, arugula, and an ingenious chia tahini dressing.
Finally, a little comfort food for you. Monique's curried sweet potato wild rice burgers look delicious, and I love the unexpected incorporation of cranberries for a little savory/sweet action.
1. Dan Maio looks back on the sport of fishing–and shares why he'll never cast a line again.
2. As many of you have probably heard, Ringling Brothers is permanently ending its performances, which is a victory for the elephants, lions, tigers, camels, donkeys, alpacas, kangaroos and llamas that it holds captive for entertainment purposes. The organization has pledged to find homes for all of the animals.
3. Also on the topic of animal rights, Mark Bekoff shares an excellent and illuminating article in Psychology Today about the emotional lives of chickens.
4. An inspiring green recovery story from Taylor Wolfram, a vegan RD and passionate body acceptance advocate. Taylor always has insightful things to share about health at every size on her social media channels, and I really enjoyed reading about her personal journey to making peace with her body.
5. Finally, and on a related note, Ashley Ford on body acceptance, body love, and the power of crop tops.
Here's to cultivating our capacity to celebrate our bodies and ourselves. Here's to forgiveness, and here's to peace. Have a great Sunday evening, all.


text:
So it seems that a crap-ton, or crap-tonne if you want to go metric (each equivalent to one unit of shit-pile), of bad reviews hasn't stopped Aliens: Colonial Marines from reaching number one in the UK gaming charts this week.
Even from the kinder reviews I've seen online – T3 calls it "too rough around the edges" – this one never looked like it would take the gaming world by storm. It was, however, named Game of The Week over at The Blurb just before release – which could mean they've spotted a diamond amongst all that rough. Another review over at The Guardian has also experienced more than its fair share of detractors (and by that I mean of the review as well as the game). However, this choice quote from Eurogamer seals it for me:
"It's shocking stuff, certainly one of the most glitchy mainstream releases of this hardware generation, and the sort of thing that would barely pass muster as a low budget game from 2002. That it comes from Gearbox, a developer with considerable talent and experience, is bewildering. The studio behind Borderlands, one of the freshest and most elegantly structured shooters of the last decade, spent five years making a basic meat-and-potatoes corridor shooter and this is all it could come up with? It's hard not to think of Duke Nukem Forever, that other long-delayed FPS that fell into Gearbox's hands, and the comparison isn't favourable."
There have been tales, nay; whisperings that all was not well behind the scenes at Gearbox. That as they prepared for another critically-acclaimed smash in Borderlands 2, that A:CM was, shall we say…less of a priority for them – and that it was only the rapid approach of a deadline which would've incurred a financial penalty for non-completion of the game which hurried its release and caused all the backlash.
So why the rush release? Why the wildly differing reviews? The answers to these questions and more will, I'm sure, come out in good time; in the meantime if you're thinking of picking up a copy of the game, make sure to read more reviews than usual – just to make sure.


text:
Wallace Nictune
Wallace Nictune was an Inupiaq elder from Alatna, Alaska. Born in 1926, he grew up living a subsistence lifestyle based upon hunting, fishing and trapping. His father worked on boats hauling freight on the Koyukuk River. He married Florence and they raised eight children together. Wallace lived near Evansville, Alaska until he passed away in 1996.
Date of Birth:
Apr 19, 1926
Date of Death:
Jan 8, 1996
Wallace Nictune appears in the following new Jukebox projects:


text:
Cheryl Cole is currently in LA to start her new job on the X Factor US judging panel, and as you can see, things haven't exactly got off to a great start for poor Cheryl, who had her feet snatched at the first round off auditions: ouch!
Cheryl was also attacked by the ongoing colour-blocking trend. It was obviously an, er, hair-raising experience for her. (Sorry.)
As regular readers will known, The Foot Snatcher is one of The Fashion Police's arch enemies. We've been after this dastadly villain for a while now, although lately our detective work has been greatly hampered as we believe the Foot Snatcher is being harboured by the fashion community, and even by some of our own readers, who believe him to be innocent of all charges.
The Foot Snatcher divides opinions: what's yours? (And what do you think of the rest of Cheryl Cole's look here?)


text:
The town of Ayer, Massachusetts is located approximately 35 miles west of Boston. Ayer has a population of 7,287 and a total area of 9.6 square miles. The town was home to Fort Devens, a Civil War army camp, until its closure in 1994. Ayer is part of Middlesex County. The Ayer District Court is located at 25 East Main Street and serves the following municipalities:
For over 25 years, Boston Legal Malpractice Attorney Keith L. Miller has been representing victims of professional malpractice throughout Massachusetts. If you or a loved one If you or a loved one has suffered damages which you believe were caused by your former attorney's mistakes, contact Boston Legal Malpractice Lawyer Keith L. Miller to arrange a free consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephone at (617) 523-5803, or click here to send him an email. You will be contacted within 24 hours.


text: Once a busy warehouse area, Bricktown is Oklahoma City's hottest entertainment and dining district. With dozens of restaurants, shopping, Harkins Theatre and more surrounding Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, there's plenty of ways to have fun between games. Enjoy a stroll along the mile-long Bricktown Canal, take a cruise on a Bricktown Water Taxi or enjoy some tunes at the American Banjo Museum. Bricktown is a great place to watch a game, and so much more.


text:
Simply follow the links below to sign up!
If you're not a trade customer, you just need web access: Register Now
If you are a trade customer but don't have a web account, click here to apply.
The OVO3 is a 3" low impedance small design two-way loudspeaker. This speaker is loved for its price and sound quality and because of its elegant design the OVO3 loudspeakers fit into every interior. This newcomer in the OVO Series can be used in more residential places and for background music in smaller retail-stores, restaurants…
The OVO3 uses a bracket system that allows you to position the loudspeaker in a variety of different angles. In case you want to install the OVO3 on a flat surface, this can easily be done with the supplied pad. The sturdy ABS plastic housing guarantees years of trouble free musical enjoyment. The wall bracket and shelf mount adaptor are included.
Of course we don't want to forget to mention that OVO3 is a small but perfect loudspeaker that likes to be used in combination with a subwoofer like the Apart SUBLIME. A combination OVO3/SUBLIME is a solution that will be almost unnoticeable as the SUBLIME subwoofer is extremely compact which allows you to hide it behind a closet or curtain.
No documents available
If you have difficulty in finding a dealer please contact us directly. We can help identify the most suitable dealer for your needs.
You can place an order using guest checkout, and we'll email your order details when we ship.
You can register by following this link. When you register, we will retain your order history and checkout information for future transactions. Registration is quick and free. We'll never share your registration details outside Amber Technology.
Your user id is the email address that's recorded for your account. If you don't know or have forgotten your password, please reset it using this link.
If you need help with any login or site-related issues, please contact us here.
Orders placed though the Amber Technology website are despatched from our Sydney warehouse. Orders placed before 1.00pm Sydney time (for items in stock) will generally be shipped on the same day.
We ship using Australia Post and Startrack Express. We deliver Australia-wide to residential, business and PO box addresses.
Shipping is free for all orders over $275 including GST (effective 1 March 2018). There is a $22 (including GST) shipping and handling charge for all orders under $275 including GST.
You can track your shipment through the web sites of our couriers:
Australia Post
Star Track Express
We will email the tracking number for your shipment shortly after it's been despatched. If you have any questions regarding shipping, please contact us.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.
All items purchased from Amber Technology will be covered under warranty. The duration and terms of this warranty are specified by the manufacturer unless otherwise stated. Warranty information is available on the individual product listings on this site.
Refurbished items will include a 12 month warranty unless otherwise stated.Please contact us if you have received an item which has been damaged in transit or is otherwise not working correctly when you receive it. Subject to availability, we will arrange for a replacement item to be despatched and for the faulty item to be returned to us.
Amber Technology maintains a nation-wide network of carefully selected Authorised Service Agents to ensure that you are never far from convenient, expert technical and service support. If your item develops a problem and requires servicing under warranty, please contact your local Authorised Service Agent.
The availability of stock is communicated via the indicator of each product listing page. "Available" means that reasonable stock is in our warehouse, ready for immediate shipment. "Limited Stock" means that we have only a small number of items in stock. "Out of Stock" means this item is currently unavailable for immediate shipment - orders placed for 'Out of Stock' items will be fulfilled as soon as replacement stock arrives.
"Special Order" items are products that are not generally kept in stock in Australia. Lead times for Special Order items vary depending on country of origin, manufacturer's stock levels, factory production schedules and/or incoming shipment transit times. Please contact us for an estimate as to the likely lead time.
If refurbished stock is available, this will be shown on the summary page for the product. If a product listing only allows you to choose refurbished stock, we are not holding new stock and we can no longer obtain new stock.
Refurbished items are always in perfect working order and will include all accessories. Refurbished items are may
Refurbished items include a 12-Month warranty unless otherwise stated.
Please visit the Get Support page to find a service agent, log a service ticket, or ask a technical question about your product.
Please contact us if you have received an item which has been damaged in transit or is otherwise not working correctly when you receive it. Subject to availability, we will arrange for a replacement item to be despatched and for the faulty item to be returned to us.


text:
August 29, 2008 1:11 PM
[TLBAT] Intranet: The database behind
As described in the last post, the Download Center relies on a Microsoft Access database that will be described in this post. So, first create a new MSAccess database and then create a table called "Packages" like the following:
August 28, 2008 7:01 AM
[TLBAT] Intranet: The concept behind it
In this post I'll explain how our Download Center will be constructed, how it works and what's the idea behind it. The Download Center is a project I developed in the past for a company where I worked for; this project was a part of another part of the project that had two main goals: first I...


text:
Tea Guy Speaks
life's short. drink good tea.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
How Tea is Made
Watch how tea is grown, collected / harvested, processed in a traditional factory, then packed and sold in the market.
The Breville One-Touch Tea Maker
Email This
Share to Twitter
Share to Facebook
Share to Pinterest
Tea Video - Other
No comments:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)


text:
by WFLA
favorite 0
quote 12
papa john's.
by WFLA
favorite 0
quote 6
and chills across the country. ? one day ? ? when the glory comes ? john legend and common wrapping and singing about the struggle for civil rights in the academy award-winning song "glory" from ? glory ? >> did it feel in the loom like it fell watching on tv? >> yeah, i just remember all the people that were part of the performance. i remember just being backstage with them, saying, hey, y'all, this is bigger than us. we're doing this for those who came before us and those coming after us. >> for common, the journey for glory began on the south side of chicago where he was born teacher, his dad a former professional basketball -- >> i was a ball buy for the chicago bulls, which i did see michael jordan in my reach. >> when he wasn't rebounding for michael, he was listening to rappers like run-d.m.c., nwa, and big daddy king, whose bick >> maybe my favorite song of that era >> i used to study that video and want to get the your highness unless you just address with and bless, the paragraph, i man fast. you know, i mumbled a couple words in there -- >> you got it. >> he wrote his fir
by WFTS
favorite 0
quote 19
:45 and helping her on the trail will not just be presidents clinton and obama but also jay john bon jovi, who will host a get out the vote performance for clinton in st. petersburg today but remember this weekends rallies in the bay area are free to attend but you do need to reserve a ticket so check out our website abcactionnews.com. >>> a new poll shows hillary clinton picking up momentum 47- 43 per from but it's still considered a neck and neck race. >> the eelectoral map is tightening over the next couple days. here is abc with more on the >> [applause] >> wow. not great. but you're saving it for november 8? >> reporter: the race for the white house down to the wire and every last vote. hillary clinton and donald trump on a campaign bridge through battleground states. >> back in new hampshire, get out and vote. >> donald trump trying to pry the granite state into his column, with his outsider credentials. >> we are going to washington d.c. and the swamp. >> hillary clinton and pennsylvania pleading for undecided voters. >> it is not as important that they think about voting for
by WTSP
favorite 0
quote 7
he death is related. john fallujah looked to why no one has studied the effect of the halley concentrated thc as much as 90% fewer it is legal in colorado. was on top of the world graduating through the top of his class and mending a great job in denver. he documented his success. mark was looking forward to 2016. >> it is time to start planting seeds. >> reporter: four months later in april of this year he took his own life. a month after he recorded this video his diary shows sinking into a severe depression. what he did not tell his parents is he was inhaling a concentrated form of thc. it is the drug in marijuana. his parents, mark and jenny, had never heard of it. >> i had the mindset it is just marijuana. >> reporter: it gives the rush of an instant high and colorado where it is legal there are no limits on the concentration levels. concentrations of thc, we don't know what happens because we have not been studying. she has been studying this for years. >> they are getting 90% thc in concentrated oil. and when they smoke that they are getting in the 800 milligrams of th
Fetching more results


text:
Word that Game of Thrones alum Finn Jones would be the lead in Marvel's Iron Fist Netflix adaptation has circulated since February, but now the comic giant is ready to give the casting news its official stamp.
The decision to have Jones step into the role of Danny Rand was trumpeted on Marvel's website today, with Head of Marvel TV Jeph Loeb gushing that their chosen hero "wonderfully blends confidence with vulnerability, making him the perfect choice as he struggles to find his place in the world." The Netflix offering's maestro also strongly endorses Jones as the ideal man for the job.
"Danny Rand is a very complicated character. He's a billionaire New York Buddhist monk martial arts superhero who's still trying to figure out what exactly that all means," said Executive Producer and showrunner, Scott Buck. "Finn is able to play all these levels in such an honest, revelatory way that as soon as I saw him I knew he was our Danny."
The character of Rand is a white dude, but the decision to not go with an Asian-American actor in the role has perplexed some observers who considered this an ideal opportunity for representation and diversity in a field already packed with caucasian heroes. It's certainly a fair question, especially when other comic book properties have shown flexibility in this respect while still scoring Ws with critics and fans.
In addition to Marvel going "yes, that thing you heard is true," they've also trotted out a teaser for the upcoming streaming series. It's not exactly brimming with details, but that's why it's considered a "tease." (It also doubles as confirmation you weren't simply imagining an Iron Fist series was on its way.)
Word on when the series will debut is still under wraps, but if you want your Finn fix you can (likely) see him in the new season of Game of Thrones which premieres on April 24.
(Via Marvel)


text:
Conte expects fierce Serie A title battle
Juventus manager Antonio Conte is anticipating his side's recent dominance of Serie A to be challenged next season.
Conte has guided Juventus to consecutive Italian titles since taking over in 2011.
The Turin club start their 2013-14 campaign at Sampdoria on August 25.
Conte's men finished nine points clear of second-place Napoli last season, but the 44-year-old is expecting a tougher fight next term.
"The values of clubs are changing, our rivals are getting stronger," he told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It will be a very open championship.
"Juve, Milan and Inter are traditionally title contenders. Napoli have spent €75m-€80m and have reinforced with Rafael Benitez, a great coach who has won it all.
"Fiorentina have legitimate hopes. Not only do they have Mario Gomez, but also Giuseppe Rossi, who some are maybe underestimating.
"Lazio have amplified their squad and are tough, tactically strong."
Juventus have strengthened their forward line by bringing in strikers Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente in the close-season.
Conte is quick to praise the respective qualities of the duo and has not ruled out more signings before the end of the transfer window.
"Tevez is extraordinary. He's a great professional, a splendid person who puts himself at your disposal. He works in an exceptional way," he added.
"Llorente is a model athlete. He has the right mentality, it is a pleasure to watch him train.
"More signings? We'll see. I've spoken with the club, but I won't tell you what I have said. I know that sales are needed first in order to buy."


text:
Located on the eastern fringe of Lhaviyani Atoll and just a 35 minute Seaplane ride away, sits this exquisite little island between two channels connecting the atoll's inner lagoon to the outer sea, whilst a large sand bank lies on one side. Fushifaru Kan'du is a national Marine Protected Area teeming with marine life. Only few metres from the island is three major dive sites including the renowned Fushifaru Thila, one of the Maldives most iconic dive spots and a marine cleaning station, where sums of cleaner fish draw in underwater creatures like Manta Rays, Turtles and many more.
Merging Maldivian design and architecture with modern aesthetics, Fushifaru Maldives' offers accommodation on both land and water. A total of 49 Villas exude a sense of cosiness, yet luxurious in space and amenities. Guests have an option of dining at Korakali for International cuisine, Raakani for signature Asian recipes with a focus on the finest local varieties of seafood and Fanihandhi Bar for pool side snacks and sunset cocktails. Heylhi Spa, our wellness sanctuary will sooth any tired soul whilst our multi-sports court and various exciting water activities will keep our guests vibrant with energy.


text:
Glambassador empowers brands with the digital equivalent of Word-of-mouth marketing by providing the tools to connect and collaborate with trusted social media influencers. Our influencers work with you to create stories that attract the attention their already engaged followers. Sign up now to join 3124 brands increasing their ROI with influencer marketing!
Our Glambassadors are located worldwide and their interests range from fashion & beauty to tech, food, and video games. Your campaign possibilities are virtually endless!


text:
Latest articles from Ormond Nurseries
Our latest product - Ultra Vines available to order now!
We have a new product range available for the first time this year. Our 'Ultra' vines are potted, dormant grape plants that have been grown on for a year in a pot before being two budded in winter.Read the full article
Avoid Bent Trunks When Replanting
Important information for any growers replanting/developing vineyards with HI-STEM® vines if they want to avoid bent trunks.Read the full article
Not All Tall Vines are HI-STEM® Vines
Not all 'tall vines' are Ormond Nurseries HI-STEM® vines Do you know the difference? Not all 'tall vines' are created equalRead the full article
What to Expect with Young Vine Replants
We often receive questions regarding variability in the vineyard when replanting young vines. As a rule of thumb, growth variability should be anticipated as it is hard to determine what is happening underground. Oftentimes, old material remains from a vine pull or the soil is tired and has not been left fallow for the suggested period of time. We all know that realistically, sometimes there is not enough time or it is not economically viable to adhere to 'best practice strategies.'Read the full article
Hand Planting a Grapevine
Tips and advice for hand planting a grapevineRead the full article
Wickham Estate Replanting 2015
This year we will be beginning a multiple year replanting project with one of our own commercial blocks planted in 1997. This project has been instigated as a method of recovering information to pass on to our growers as Marlborough begins to explore the concept of vineyard replanting. Being a service provider as well as commercial growers, we acknowledge the fact that no two vineyards are identical. Every grower needs to address his/her own individual constraints before laying the groundwork for their own personal replanting programme. We can only offer our own personal experience as a vehicle for sharing information.Read the full article
Checklist for Replanting
Talk to your wine company in regards to timing. Can you lift the cap on tonnes per hectare on what you are not replanting to mitigate the cost of having part of your vineyard unproductive? Probably would only apply if you are replacing less than 10% of any one block, but worth a go!Read the full article
Replant Programme
We planted our own commercial vineyard almost 20 years ago so that we could get a better understanding of our customer's needs as grape growers. We are now realising that eventually our vineyard's productivity will begin to decline and it will become less profitable. Like everyone, we don't really know when this will happen.....Read the full article


text: Operating Systems HPE provides Operating systems and virtualization solutions for its servers from strategic partners. These include Microsoft Windows Server, Linux and VMware. These solutions are quick to pick, simple to manage and deliver a superior experience by leveraging HPE-delivered technical support. Once integrated it delivers high infrastructure service levels, flexibility and reliability to power business-critical workload. HPE-UX 11i v3 HPE-UX 11i v3 ensures core business processes are always on and available, combining this robust operating environment with pre-packaged software, ISV solutions, services and HPE Integrity systems to support an HPE mission-critical converged infrastructure that's: unified viacommon management in a common modular architecture, Always-on and delivering a highly secure, proven UNIX computing platform, dynamicallyadjusting resources and responding to business needs. This core OS is enduring and offers a comprehensive future roadmap. Microsoft® Windows® HPE and Microsoft combine the intelligence of HPE ProLiant Gen8 - the world's most self-sufficient servers, with the virtualisation and scalability of Microsoft Windows Server 2012, automating the IT lifecycle, accelerating workloads, optimising energy and ensuring availability. Together HPE and Microsoft make Microsoft Private Cloud work for End-Users, enabling customers to accelerate delivery of private clouds. Microsoft Windows Server 2012 running on HPE ProLiant delivers converged infrastructure horsepower to go "beyond virtualisation", running with unparalleled performance and scalability in the cloud. HPE VirtualSystem makes it simple to deploy virtualisation and private cloud infrastructure. Linux Perfect for HPE BladeSystem, ProLiant, Integrity and Storage, Linux operates alongside HPE-UX and Microsoft Windows in heterogeneous environments, and is the platform of choice for business-critical Linux is HPE. From SMB to enterprise, HPE's Linux distributions run on standards-based HPE Converged Infrastructure, delivering any workload, anywhere, at any time. HPE OpenVMS Now enabled for the most up-to-date Integrity Servers, OpenVMS provides the ability to consolidate systems and reduce footprint in data centre, and reduce power consumption. OpenVMS delivers well-integrated networking, distributed computing, client/server, multiprocessing and windowing capabilities. It contains extensive features that promote ease-of-use, improve the productivity of programmers and facilitate system management. HPE NonStop The fault-tolerant software foundation for HPE Integrity NonStop servers, enabling them to detect, isolate, and recover from failures without affecting critical applications and users. This OS combines the scalability of shared-nothing, massively-parallel processing with industry-leading application availability, uncompromising data integrity, supporting industry-standard application programming interfaces (APIs) and services. Tight integration with HPE NonStop SQL enables absolute control over concurrent mixed-workload environments. Read more HP-UX 11i V3 on HPE Integrity Servers Brochure (pdf)HP-UX 11i V3 Operating Environments Datasheet (pdf)Optimise Critical Workloads (pdf)Microsoft Windows Server 2012 from HPE Datasheet (pdf)Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 on HPE ProLiant (pdf)Why Linux Virtualisation is Ready for Prime Time (pdf)Red Hat – Fast Track to Open Cloud (pdf)HPE OpenVMS Roadmap (pdf)HPE NonStop Family Brochure (pdf) For more info contact your Tech Data Account Manager Find out more


text:
Here is a great post:
It shows how to get the connection string to the Project Server 2007 Reporting Database (and the other three databases which are not supported programming interfaces). This is extremely helpful when creating PSI extensions. Just one caveat, this may break after a hot fix or service pack install.
Chris Boyd
Technorati Tags: Project Server,PSI,RDB,PSI Extensions


text:
We had a warm piggie welcome at Chek Jawa by Young mama pig and her piglets!
|Photo by Johnson Ong.
|Photo by Johnson Ong.
|Photo by Johnson Ong.
It was great to have so many enthusiastic seagrass folks on this trip: Gladys Chua, Heng Pei Yan, Jin Yifeng, Johannes Liew, Neo Mei Lin, Johnson Ong, Valerie Phang, Quek Boon Seng, Jonathan Tan, Wee Meilin, Sean Yap, April Gwee, Cheryl Koh, Aristotle Lau, Josephine Lee, Liu Yihui, Rebecca Loh, Jerome Pang, Simon Pulford, Sankar, Tok Yi Xin, Alisa Wee.
It was nice that friends from NParks could join us for the field training: Cheo Pei Rong, Ibrahim Shamsul, Desmond Lee, Kelvin Loy, Nhung Nguyen, Abrie Won,
Special thanks to Rachel Lim, Lim Wei Ling and Nor Aishah Mohd Rashid for coordinating this trip and taking care of the countless arrangements to make the trip possible.
Posts by others of this trip
- Johnson Ong shares lots of lively photos of the Team from start to finish.
- Jonathan Tan shares photos of wildlife seen during our monitoring trip.
- Ria with more about the people of Chek Jawa and Pulau Ubin


text:
Watch this short video to preview the exciting features and layout of a Jayco 5th Wheeler as What's up Downunder takes us on a walk-through. Do you…
Article Library - Page 6 of 7 - Newcastle Jayco
What's in the News
Updates about everything Jayco from Jayco
Caravan World – Silverline Review
Watch this short video and see why the Jayco Silverline, our premium Caravan model, will make you feel right at home every moment you're away. Preview the…
Jayco – Towing Tips
Clint Bizzell gives us some handy tips on towing your Caravan. Do you have any handy towing tips? Let us know in the comments section below.
Places We Go – Episode 1 – Tilba
Places We Go visit Tilba with their Jayco in tow! Have you visited Tilba NSW?
Places We Go – Fleurieu, South Australia
The Places We Go team head to Fleurieu in South Australia with their Jayco in tow. Have you visited this location in South Australia?
Places We Go – Northern Territory
The Places We Go team explore the Western McDonald Ranges, Ellery Creek. Where is your favourite travel destination in the Northern Territory? Lets us know in the comments…
Places We Go – Episode 6 – Gippsland, Victoria
The Places We Go team visit Gippsland Victoria with their Jayco in tow! Is Gippsland Victoria a destination on your travel list?
Jayco News and Updates
· · ·
Signup to receive news from Jayco to your inbox.


text:
Telecommunications is fast catching up with the population in all the places owing to its vast coverage and demands of the information age. The invention of wireless and satellite telecom services has opened up a new era and has almost revolutionized the world. The emotional and social ramifications of such an event include today's colossal impact of telecom in our lives and our invalidity without its use even for one minute. Telecommunications indeed deserves this hype and hullabaloo given the fact that it soaks up more than half of the working population.
The educational qualifications of a telecom expert do not charge much except for a bachelor in electronics and communication like most other subjects and a brief stint with a reputed telecom company always comes as an icing on the cake for employers looking for their employees. A telecommunications specialist or agent is primarily involved with the following tasks varying according to the post of job given:
- Reviewing and inspecting company records, accounts and statements.
- Monitoring electronic devices and making observations.
- Conducting examinations and installing towers, wiring systems and antennas.
- Solving equipment related problems in case of breakdown of system sources.
- Interacting and cooperating with other departments to maintain communications interface.
Telecom Traffic Analyst Duties
Customer Service Manager Telecom Duties
Marketing Program Manager Duties
Telecommunication Project Manager Duties
Telecom Administrator Job Duties
Telecommunications Technician Job Duties
Telecom Billing Analyst Job Duties
Telecommunications Engineer Job Duties
Telecommunications Manager Job Duties
Telecom Project Coordinator Job Duties
Telecom Business Analyst Job Duties
Telecom Accounts Manager Job Duties
Telecommunications Specialist Job Duties


text:
From Office Depot, to Target, to Nordstrom to Costco, so many stores have mentioned the sales weakness that they're suffering in these formerly booming areas.
Two weeks ago, I decided to travel there and see the reality of what so many retail analysts have said. What I found are the dirty little secrets of retail: the empty Mom and Pop stores in strip malls.
Driving around Southern California's Ventura and Los Angeles counties, we saw many of those boarded up stores or "for lease" signs in small businesses. In Oxnard, California the local retail organization told me that these areas are getting "redeveloped" but store owners were much less optimistic.
Tracking firms like Costar and Reis report that formerly hot real estate markets in Southern California (also Arizona and South Florida) have seen a lot of new store additions over the past 5 years and are now showing rising vacancies.


text:
Arizona Shooting Fuels Debate About Open-Carry Gun Law in California
The mass shooting in Tucson last weekend is fueling the gun control debate in neighboring California, with an advocacy organization renewing a push to prohibit firearms in restaurants and state lawmakers taking up a bill that would end the state's open-carry law.
The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence launched a drive last week challenging restaurants and cafes to exert their private property rights and ban guns in their establishments.
The push formalized a campaign the group's California chapter has been loosely waging since last year.
Karen Arntzen, Brady's California chapter coordinator, told FoxNews.com on Monday she thinks the Arizona shooting should help refocus Californians on gun control and bring more restaurants on board.
"Since the Tucson shooting, more of them are coming forward," Arntzen said. "It's renewed the gun control debate. It's renewed the focus on mental illness, easy access to guns."
But open-carry advocates, who have been meeting at California restaurants exercising their open-carry rights over the past year, are not happy with the push and are vowing to counter the Brady Campaign. The California skirmish is one of many taking place across the country as gun control advocates and Second Amendment defenders clash anew in the wake of the Arizona shooting attack.
After Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in the head last Saturday by a lone gunman, several members of Congress have floated new ideas for restricting access to guns. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., is pushing a proposal to prohibit high-capacity magazines, a move criticized by the National Rifle Association. Most recently, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said Sunday that he wants to require the military to notify federal officials whenever somebody tells a recruiter or other official that they have used illegal drugs -- this way, they could potentially be prohibited from buying a gun. Shooting suspect Jared Loughner, according to a source, was rejected from enlisting in the Army in 2008 because he admitted to using drugs.
The attack will no doubt play into the same debate in state capitals. Along with the Brady Campaign's push, California Assemblyman Anthony Portantino has introduced a bill to end California's open carry law, which allows state residents to carry a firearm so long as it's unloaded and kept in a holster.
Yih-Chau Chang, spokesman for gun-rights group Responsible Citizens of California, said the network of open-carry advocacy groups in the state will continue to make their case to restaurants.
"They've taken away the law-abiding citizens' ability to defend themselves," he said of the Brady Campaign and those restaurants that have agreed to ban weapons. He accused the Brady campaign of trying to "capitalize" on the Tucson tragedy and urged restaurants to ignore the hype.
"The Tucson shooting incident was, unfortunately, a tragedy that no amount of gun control is going to be able to stop," he said.
The Brady Campaign push has already led to one confrontation, with more likely as the group sets out to protest the meetings of open-carry advocates in California. The latest incident occurred in Orange County over the weekend, when Brady Campaign activists arrived with protest signs as open-carry advocates carrying weapons met across the street at a Corner Bakery café. According to an account in the Orange County Register, the managers at the café eventually asked the open-carry crowd to leave because the presence of reporters, police and protesters was disrupting business.
One open-carry activist, Robert Cowdell, told the newspaper that his group considered postponing the meeting because of the Arizona shooting, but went ahead with it anyway to make the case that "guns level the playing field."
Arntzen said a similar protest is set for Jan. 20 at a local pizza parlor. She praised the state legislature for taking up the open-carry bill, but said the Brady Campaign would not wait for lawmakers to crack down on guns in restaurants.
To those restaurants that want to participate, the Brady Campaign is offering pre-made signs declaring restaurants to be "gun-free" establishments. To those that resist, the campaign is putting their names on a public "name & shame" list of "socially irresponsible businesses." Among those restaurants is Starbucks Coffee Co., which could not be reached for comment.
Chang praised Starbucks for its resistance to pressure from gun control advocates and suggested other restaurants that follow suit will be rewarded with more business from sympathetic customers.
"Second Amendment supporters vote not only at the ballot box, but also with their money," he said.