text:
Why Having A Product Vision Is A Must
24 August 2016 |
Anikh Subhan | About a 3 minute read
What is a Product Vision?
A product vision is an overall goal for the product. It's generally a long-term strategic direction, that articulates where the future of the product lies. It conveys what you're aiming to achieve, for the users you're targeting. There are a few templates out there, but this is my preferred one.
So why is it worth investing time in creating a Product Vision?
1. Motivation
Having a vision for a product improves a team's morale by giving them something to aim for. Dan Pink says in his talk and book titled "Drive" that according to behavioural research, when a team are set a challenge or a goal, their levels of motivation increase. This is due to the sense of purpose people gain by knowing why they are doing what they're doing. Clearly this is a key ingredient for any team, not just software delivery teams.
2. Clear direction
How do you effectively prioritise a workload? How do you know that the user story you're about to work on is the next most important thing? The art of prioritisation is not an easy one, but is made possible by having a clear direction for the overall product. If we know where we are heading with it, it's easier to make decisions about what should or shouldn't be focused on. These tough decisions are made slightly less tough by having a Product Vision in place. Everything in the backlog should help you move towards/ achieve the vision. If there's something in the backlog that does not do this, then how valuable is it compared to everything else?
3. Enables innovation
When a team are involved in creating a product vision, it often results in new ideas being generated. These ideas are the result of analysing and brainstorming the different components of a product vision, for example, the target audience, their needs and the business goals. Delving deeper into these areas allows for people to think outside-the-box, and not be restrained to particular solutions. Additionally, many creative minds are better at coming up with ideas than just one creative mind!
4. Shared ownership
When we think about what else makes a team effective, another factor is having a common goal. A central product vision acts as this common goal. It's the promised land that the team are setting sail and navigating towards. The journey that they will take there is somewhat unknown in the early days, but at least everyone in the team knows which way they need to steer. Ensuring a common understanding of the vision brings about a sense of collective responsibility or we're all in this together. When the team feel they have an input to the future success of the product, you gain their buy-in, which brings results. When the crew need to keep the ship afloat and moving forward, they will work closely together to get where they need to get to. This collaboration is potentially the most valuable trait in a team.
In Conclusion….
….The product vision is an effective method to bring the team and their ideas together in the initial phase of a software delivery process. However, it doesn't end there. The vision is always evolving. It's dynamic and needs maintaining. It's worth checking-in with your vision at intervals throughout the lifecycle of your product. Use feedback, analytics and insight to adapt your vision continuously, so that you're always delivering the right thing at the right time.Read More From This Author
Related Articles
We're looking for bright, dynamic people to join our team!
Tech Lead (Reading)
Bring your expert tech knowledge to the table to influence the direction of projects, whilst coaching and your team through engineering best practices.I'm Interested
DevOps Lead (Reading)
Bring your delivery expertise to the table, leading the pack as ambassador on operational requirements, influencing and continuous development.I'm Interested
Programme Lead (Edinburgh)
Bring your expert project knowledge to the table to own delivery of all our initiatives being delivered out of our Delivery Engine.I'm Interested


text:
Retirement Party!
Come celebrate the retirement of Mike Guingona and his quarter of a century in public service. Mike Guingona is a Filipino trailblazer having served on the Daly City Council as the city's first Filipino councilman and mayor.
When: Thursday, November 29, 2018
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: Daly City Hall, 333 90th Street, Daly City, CA
Please RSVP to email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hello, I'm glad you could join me.
The first two novels in my historical fiction series involving heroes Riley and Cornelius were published this year by Three Ocean Press of Vancouver, BC. The first is Riley and the Great War, and it was followed by Riley and the Roaring Twenties. Six further volumes are planned. I am currently working on one that takes place during the Great Depression and is tentatively titled Riley On the Bum (like it?). This site will be updated as more novels appear. Hope to see you at a reading soon!
"Captivating and engaging, James Anderson O'Neal's Riley and the Great War is a blend of historical fiction and nonstop adventure. … The dynamic between Riley and Cornelius definitely steals the show."
— Foreword Reviews, May/June 2018
"Riley and the Great War is a rollicking good historical novel that will keep the reader turning pages from start to finish. James Anderson O'Neal is a consummate novelist who knows both the craft and the art of good writing. Highly recommended."
—William C. Hammond, author of A Call to Arms and For Love of Country, winner of the Military Writers Society of America 2011 Gold Medal for Historical Fiction Protagonist
"O'Neal's evocative prose immerses you in the past, as if you'd stepped inside a painting."
— Brian Freeman, bestselling author of The Night Bird
"O'Neal (with Riley and the Roaring Twenties) drew me in. His 1920s story of gangsters, gambling and murder left me hungry for the next Riley story." —Dean Hovey, award-winning author of the Pine County mysteries


text:
Make it!
Ghouls' Night In Pinot Grigio Cocktail
Don't open the door! This crunchy, chocolately treat is all for you and your GFFs. There is no tricks only some Barefoot Pinot Grigio.
Want to find a store near you? Interested in receiving our newsletter? Search the site anytime just by typing!
When the sun is out it calls for one thing – FROSÉ (frozen rosé, of course). Why not slurp this scrumptious tipple with a friend! It's actually pretty simple to make, Frosé all the way!
Featuring: Pink Pinot Grigio Wine
Try our wonderfully bubbly pink punch for this festive season. Cheers to a sweet fun punch cocktail featuring our excellent Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato, a few mandarin oranges and some delicious strawberries.
Featuring: Bubbly Pink Moscato Wine
Celebrate Christmas with our very special Barefoot Malbec Mulled Wine recipe! Its unique spicy favours will give your holiday celebrations a brand new twist. The cinnamon and orange tang will transport you where all your best Christmas wishes might come true. why not give our simple mulled wine recipe a try for this holiday season.
Featuring: Malbec Wine
Make it!
Don't open the door! This crunchy, chocolately treat is all for you and your GFFs. There is no tricks only some Barefoot Pinot Grigio.
Make it!
Celebrate Halloween with our punch bowl cocktail featuring our delicious Barefoot Merlot and Pink Moscato. Get maximum spookiness with this perfect cocktail to share at your Halloween party.
Make it!
Bring the fabulous flavors of fall into your wine glass with our apple-inspired Barefoot Moscato wine cocktail. The cinnamon-sugar rim makes this cocktail a crowd favorite.
Make it!
To celebrate our inner nerd ahead of Embrace Your Geekness Day on the 13th of July, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly is launching the new ruby red Geek Chic cocktail. After days locked in a room calculating the precise formula for the concoction, the mathematician mixologists at London's The Cocktail Trading Co. combined lashings of cold brew coffee, ginger and orgeat with Barefoot's brand new Malbec to formulate the Geek Chic.
Make it!
Barefoot Wine & Bubbly has been out and proud for over 25 years and to celebrate the brand has joined forces with London's The Cocktail Trading Co. to create the toe-tally delish Stride of Pride cocktail, featuring a refreshing burst of Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato. Extending its appreciation to wine lovers everywhere no matter who they are or whom they love, Barefoot is raising a glass to toast the LGBTQ community across the globe. Celebrating diversity with splashes of passionfruit, juicy pear and sparkling Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato – no Pride party should be without it this summer!
Make it!
With tennis fever well and truly upon us, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly has teamed up with the toe-rrific mixologists from London's The Cocktail Trading Co. to serve up a berry delicious Courtside Cup Cocktail featuring the smooth and golden Barefoot Chardonnay. To stir-up the classic combination of strawberries and cream, add in a dash of guava and bergamot, as well as a splash of Barefoot Chardonnay. The Courtside Cup is the real champion this tennis season!
Make it!
This refreshing Springtime Sangria pairs perfectly with your backyard BBQ and the warm spring sunshine! Enjoy our latest holiday cocktail recipe.
Consider this a compliment
This site is intended for those of legal drinking age. By entering, you affirm that you are of legal drinking age in the country where this site is being accessed.
Not from the UK, just click here
A friendly little note. This site uses cookies. By diving in, you're agreeing to accept cookies from our site. To find out more, check out our cookie policy.
Pardon me, you are not of age.


text:
Once you start getting involved in a family law issue in Israel, you realize that you are not in "Kansas" anymore, Toto (or anywhere else in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. or Australia for that matter).
Although Israel may be a modern state, when it comes to Family law there are two competing systems - the secular Family court and the religious Rabbinic courts - which both compete and compliment each other and which can lead to some very unexpected results.
If you or your friends or family need help to navigate the Israeli family law system with pre or post nuptial agreements, divorce, wills and estates, probate issues, etc. then call us - we walk hand in hand with out clients and bridge the culture gap between Israel and "Kansas".
Our main office is in Tel Aviv, but we have satellite offices in Jerusalem and Haifa, and meeting spaces in most Anglo areas in israel. Click on our website link or facebook link to see informative videos about the family law process in Israel.
Call our office to receive our free informational booklet - "The 10 Commandments For People Considering Divorce".


text:
Will travel 40 miles
$125 per hour.
4.94 52 ratings
I took a discrete math course in college and received an A. The course was counted toward my minor in math that I got along with my math-heavy mechanical engineering degree. Hello! I graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania in May of 2009 with a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a minor in math. In high school I was a national merit finalist and scored a perfect 1600 on my SAT. I took the GRE in 2008, attaining a perfect math score of 800 and similarly high scores for the verbal and analytic sections. I worked for three years as a syst [more]
Will travel 40 miles
$30 per hour.
4.82 33 ratings
I have a bachelor's of science in mathematics from Penn State, and because of that I am thoroughly, thoroughly qualified to tutor discrete math (at least the discrete math I'm about to mention). At Penn State, discrete math was an introduction to proofs. Discrete math topics included: truth tables (Cayley tables), proof formats (direct proof, proof by contradiction, proof by contraposition, etc.), an introduction to the basic sets of numbers (natural, integers, rational, irrational, real), equivalence classes (partitions of the numbers, modular arithmetic), and there was a whole lot of practic [more]
Will travel 3 miles
$40 per hour.
4.77 90 ratings
I was a mathematics major in college. Although I myself never took a discrete mathematics course, I was able to successfully tutor a student in a 200-level proof-intensive course in discrete mathematics. I currently have the notes from the course if I ever need to refresh my memory. I've tutored and taught mathematics and physics in a lot of different contexts. Right now, I'm working as a mathematics teaching assistant at the University of Buffalo, but I've also worked as a lecturer for a five-week course in pre-calculus, as a tutor for an academic opportunity program at my college, and as an [more]
Will travel 20 miles
$100 per hour.
5.0 3 ratings
I received As in both my Foundations of Mathematics and Combinatorics classes. I have strong proof-writing skills and have educated classmates and other students in this topic. I find the best way to tutor in discrete math is to tune the student's problem solving approach and proof techniques. Greetings! I'm Douglas, a mathematics teacher at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, NY. I hold a B.S. in mathematics with a minor in philosophy and I absolutely love communicating math at all levels! I spent 3 years tutoring mathematics for my undergraduate institution, Allegheny College, and another 2 y [more]
Will travel 1 miles
$35 per hour.
4.9 124 ratings
After taking Bridge to Abstract Math / Logic, Set Theory, and Proofs at Canisius, Discrete Math is the same. I've tutored students in both courses and the material that is covered in Discrete Math is the same as the basic ideas of the Logic, Set Theory, and Proofs course that I took. I received my Bachelor's degree in Mathematics in June 2012 from Canisius College in Buffalo, NY. I also received my Master's degree in Mathematics in June 2015 from the University of Connecticut in Storrs, CT. I have teaching and tutoring experience in most levels of math (with the exception of statistics and any [more]
Will travel 12 miles
$40 per hour.
4.38 8 ratings
I am a graduate student and have taken a course in discrete math (combinatorics). Taking algebra and analysis courses also has exposed me to application of discrete math. So, I have had plenty of exposure to the subject. I have also tutored several students in discrete math. There are many counting techniques in discrete math. A permutation of letters is any arrangement of them in a row. The rule to calculate the number of permutations in "number" is similar but different than the rule to calculate the number of permutations in "repetition." The difference is that the letters in "number [more]


text:
The trio has 5.7" screens with QHD resolution, but while the Galaxy Note5 and Nexus 6P have very similar AMOLED screens, while the LG V10 stands apart with an LCD unit. Each of these screens offers plenty of room for content, which they render with impressive image quality.
Let's focus on that first - the quality. There are some premium features on these displays too, more on that in a minute.
The Samsung Galaxy Note5 uses the company's usual Super AMOLED panel, which has been tuned to perfection. It's the brightest of the three, even before it reaches its maximum brightness level (which only happens in some situations on Auto mode). Its sunlight legibility is among the best we've seen.
The Huawei Nexus 6P uses AMOLED displays sourced from Samsung, though it achieves noticeable lower max brightness. It's not clear if this is due to different tuning or different panels, but the sunlight legibility is still a match for the Note5's.
The LG V10 has an IPS LCD. The screen offers good brightness and great contrast, though sunlight legibility is well behind the AMOLEDs. Also note that the brightness slider is finicky and at the 50% position leads to less than a quarter of the max brightness.
|Display test
|50% brightness
|100% brightness
|Black, cd/m2
|White, cd/m2
|Black, cd/m2
|White, cd/m2
Samsung changed the conception that AMOLED displays are inaccurate. In fact, the Basic screen mode on the Galaxy Note5 allows it to offer an Avg. DeltaE of 1.1, a mark of an exceptional color accuracy. You can go to Photo mode, which boosts contrast and colors to make for punchier images, though the Avg. DeltaE goes up to 4.8.
That's still pretty good, the LG V10 screen gets a 4.9 score on that rating and the phone offers no way to adjust color settings, even if it's flipping between a few presets.
You'd expect the Huawei Nexus 6P to be up there with the Note5, but it proved to be the least accurate of the three with an average DeltaE of 6.5. With some digging you can find the option to switch from the slightly oversaturated colors to a more natural sRGB setting. Note that this settings flips back after a reboot, so you have to do it on every power up.
|Galaxy Note5
|Nexus 6P
|Average DeltaE
|Max DeltaE
All three screens are guarded by Gorilla Glass 4 so you can expect identical levels of wear on them, at least as far as scratches are concerned.
LG has double insurance against bigger shocks though - that is two layers of Gorilla Glass 4, instead of the usual one. The V10 has additional protection internally to absorb shocks, meaning the screen has a higher chance of surviving in those cases where the phone drops on any of its four corners and would normally crack.
The secondary screen above the main one is more like a strip really. It has 160 x 1,040px resolution and acts as a separate, second screen. It has its own backlight and control hardware so it can stay on 24/7 without drawing much power.
When the screen is off, detailed notifications can be shown on the secondary screen (much better than a notification light) and when it's on, you get shortcuts and recent apps on the strip to speed up multitasking.
The Samsung Galaxy Note5 screen is flat and all one piece (there was no second-screen Note last year). Its value-added feature lies in the built-in Wacom digitizer, which enables the pressure-sensitive S Pen stylus. The passive stylus never needs to be charged (unlike Apple's Pencil or Microsoft Surface Pen), but it can measure over 2,000 levels of pressure, can be detected from an inch away and even has a button to toggle shortcuts and special input modes.
Natural handwriting, note-taking and sketching has seen a resurgence recently, after being effectively killed off by digital gadgets. The Note5's 5.7" screen is close enough to the size of a notepad and can really boost productivity once you form the habit of using it.
The Huawei Nexus 6P screen doesn't do anything special beyond Ambient Display - waking the display when a new notification comes in or when the phone senses movement (there's no tap to wake though).
Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note5. A finely tuned display offers accurate colors and great sunlight legibility.
Runner-up: LG V10. It has more accurate colors than the Nexus and matches it max brightness, the secondary screen and dual Gorilla Glass are great additions too. Its Achilles' heel is sunlight legibility though - it's not great, even for an LCD.
Third place: Huawei Nexus 6P. While it handles bright sunlight with aplomb, the 6P screen got the lowest color accuracy and maximum brightness among the three.


text:
At this site we maintain a list of the 5000 Largest Known Primes which is updated hourly. This list is the most important databases at The Prime Pages: a collection of research, records and results all about prime numbers. This page summarizes our information about one of these primes.
field (help)value
Description:3938 · 5558032 - 1
Verification status (*):Proven
Official Comment:
Proof-code(s): (*):p304 : Babb, Srsieve, SierpinskiRiesel, OpenPFGW
Decimal Digits:390052 (log10 is 390051.22473535)
Rank (*):7151 (digit rank is 1)
Entrance Rank (*):218
Currently on list? (*):no
Submitted:12/30/2010 14:48:12 CDT
Last modified:12/30/2010 18:20:22 CDT
Removed (*):10/28/2017 15:55:46 CDT
Database id:97169
Status Flags:none
Score (*):43.7421 (normalized score 0.7204)
The Top 5000 Primes is a list for proven primes only. In order to maintain the
integrity of this list, we seek to verify the primality of all submissions.
We are currently unable to check all proofs (ECPP, KP, ...), but we will at least trial
divide and PRP
check every entry before it is included in the list.
machineRedHat P4 P4
notesCommand: /home/caldwell/client/TrialDiv/TrialDiv -q 3938 5 558032 -1 2>&1[Elapsed time: 9.553 seconds]
modified2011-12-27 16:48:35
created2010-12-30 14:52:02
machineRedHat Virtual STEM Server
notesCommand: /home/caldwell/client/pfgw -tp -q"3938*5^558032-1" 2>&1PFGW Version 18.104.22.16800405.x86_Stable [GWNUM 25.14]Primality testing 3938*5^558032-1 [N+1, Brillhart-Lehmer-Selfridge]Running N+1 test using discriminant 11, base 11+sqrt(11)Calling Brillhart-Lehmer-Selfridge with factored part 100.00%3938*5^558032-1 is prime! (10969.5080s+0.0649s)[Elapsed time: 3.05 hours]
modified2011-01-18 10:15:30
created2010-12-30 14:49:19


text:
We have always had a fascination with beautiful women. We love looking at them, talking about them, talking to them, fantasizing about them, writing about them, being envious of them.
It is certainly no secret that the French especially love to admire female beauty. That being said, it is no surprise that when it comes to the beautiful women who are married to or dating French footballers the public just can't seem to get enough.
Also Read: All the photos you missed from CK Mann's Funeral
See the beautiful pictures of girlfriends and wives of the 2018 World cup winners France
Olivier Giroud's wife Jennifer Giroud.
Antoinne Griezmann's girlfriend Erika Choperana.
Goalkeeper Hugo loris wife Marine Lloris.
Blaise Matuidi's wife Isabelle Matuidi.
Also Read: John Boye named in the list of ten greatest world cup own goals of all time
Mbappe's girlfriend Alicia Aylies was crowned Miss France 2017.
Benjamin Pavard's girlfriend Rachel Legrain-Trapani.
Samuel Umtiti's girlfriend Alexandra Dulauroy Avila.
Also Read: Chelsea's Hazard reportedly agrees £80m Barcelona's deal, Real Madrid shocked


text:
Got my yanigasawa new and improved custom tenor sax yesterday. I absolutely love it ! Best tenor I ever had. Great full tone. Effortless to blow and intonation unreal . It's like going from a compact car to a high end sports car. Mahalo to my friend Kanzaki and the folks at yanigasawa . Made with high quality in Japan and not China ! If you are thinking about a high quality instrument. Buy this and be done with it the rest of your life . My only regret is I wish I had this thirty years ago
4 Replies to ""
So what happen to the fall?
You posted Vale Lake in Temecula was postponed in the fall.
I'm so disappointed that you fell through.
Nice website, Michael, looking forward to Mindi and friends on Sept. 11th at the Liliu Room!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
We hope you will join us for an exciting Family Learning opportunity to work with professional historians from the Discovery Museum in Newcastle and discover your own family's history.
All family members welcome – the more the merrier.
You don't need to bring any resources to the first meeting – although we hope you will be inspired to become detectives, and bring along the evidence that you have collected to future sessions.
Over the course of the year you will build a record of your family, perhaps an album or scrap book, maybe design and create a family tree.
Join us for our first session on Monday November 12th – if you are unable to make some sessions but would still like to be involved, that's fine, just let us know.
- Session 1 – Monday November 12th
- Session 2 – Monday December 3rd
- Session 3 – Monday February 4th
- Session 4 – Monday March 18th
- Session 5 – Monday April 29th


text:
US bee playing cards
Known for their diamond backs, Bee playing cards are made with premium materials. Considered more durable than the average paper cards, Bee playing cards can maintain their shape and feel for a longer amount of time, providing increased play and use.
Bee cards are used internationally and are regarded as being the highest quality in the industry, with the best dealer feel and longevity. The finish is extremely smooth (not slick) so the cards slide easily across hard surface tables and table felt. The cards have a good snap when shuffling and work very well in shuffling machines, making it great for hand dealt games or dealing shoes.
Size: Poker Size, Regular Index
Material: Plastic coated playing cards
2 colors: red/blue
Great for any kind of card game


text:
Ain & Stein is a Rockville law firm established in 2005 when attorneys Michael M. Ain and Gary A. Stein joined forces to provide a "high level of service and responsiveness" to clients. Practice areas include accidents, medical malpractice, business law, and family law. Arbitration and mediation services are available to "minimize the time, costs, and risk to the parties involved" in a dispute.
Rockville, MD 20850
Alternative Resolutions in Silver Spring prides itself on "turning conflict into consensus." The company's president is a certified mediator by the International Mediation Institute, only one of six mediators in Maryland to have obtained this recognition. She also has over 30 years of litigation and public policy work experience. The company provides mediation, facilitation, arbitration, and training services.
Bailey & Ehrenberg is a Washington law firm that "handles the most sophisticated legal matters while providing clients with personalized service." The firm represents both individuals and corporate clients. Practice areas include bankruptcy, business and corporate law, criminal defense, employment law, litigation, and special investigations.
Brault Graham is a boutique law firm in Rockville "navigating the courtroom with experienced, respected attorneys." The company was established over 60 years ago and today continues the "decades-long tradition of representing clients in trials and appeals across the spectrum of civil litigation matters." Practice areas include commercial litigation, personal injury, medical malpractice, legal malpractice defense, estates, and insurance coverage disputes. The firm's attorneys represent parties in mediation and arbitration to resolve a range of disputes.
Brenda Waugh is a Washington attorney with an office that provides litigation, collaborative law, and mediation services. Attorney Waugh has over 25 years of experience and has conducted dozens of seminars on legal issues for groups such as the Association of Conflict Resolution and the Virginia Mediation Network. The firm also offers free seminars for new clients to meet the attorney and ask questions.
Brian S. Harvey is a Washington arbitrator, mediator, advocate, and advisor with over 25 years of experience handling "complex civil litigation and conflict resolution, including numerous bench and jury trials, appeals at all levels, arbitrations, mediations, and agency proceedings." Mr. Harvey is a member of the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Maryland State Bar Association.
Washington, DC 20006
The Center for Dispute Settlement in Washington has offered "innovation in dispute resolution" for over 40 years. The company is a nonprofit corporation and provides "alternative dispute resolution services, mediation training, facilitation, organizational development, and the design of systems for resolving disputes." Mediations are used to promote dialogue, diffuse hostility, stimulate negotiation, and suggest avenues towards settlement and resolution.
Eileen Coen, JD is a Bethesda divorce and family mediator who provides the "compassion, structure, and strategies it takes to find solutions that work." Mediation services are charged hourly, there is no retainer fee, and they can be conducted by phone or Skype if the parties involved live in different parts of the country.
Family Mediation Services is a Gaithersburg company providing "positive solutions" for families during difficult times. Services include parenting agreements, property settlement agreements, parent-child agreements, and cohabitation agreements. Mediation services cost $375 per hour and are usually divided equally between both parties or according to respective incomes.
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Luxenberg Mediation & Family Law is a Takoma Park firm helping clients settle legal disputes before they reach a courtroom. Attorney Deborah Luxenberg has been a family law practitioner and mediator for over 40 years who believes that settlement outside of court is the "most effective way for most people to resolve family-based disputes."
Takoma Park, MD 20912
Mediation Matters is a Kensington company providing mediation services with "flexible hours, a co-mediation team, and lower costs." The company has also offered mediation training for over 30 years. The mediators are committed to helping clients end marriages and long-term relationships in a non-adversarial way. The company also offers "accelerated mediation," a process that can be used to resolve disputes and reach settlements in a timely manner.
The Mediation Office of John Spiegel, JD & Donna Duquette, JD is a Rockville divorce and family mediation firm "providing compassionate and cost-effective mediation services." Attorney Spiegel has over 31 years of experience and has worked exclusively as a mediator and mediation trainer since 1996. Attorney Duquette has taught courses on conflict resolution and devotes her practice to mediation for divorce and separation cases.
Oscar M. Garibaldi is a Great Falls arbitrator with over 34 years of experience in the resolution of international disputes. Arbitration services for commercial, investment, and international cases are available. Mr. Garibaldi has been rated or individually listed in The Legal 500, Best Lawyers in America, and Super Lawyers. He is a member of the International Center for Dispute Resolution's Panel of Neutrals and the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre's Panel of Arbitrators, among other professional and legal organizations. Interested clients are encouraged to contact the arbitrator directly by phone or email.
Great Falls, VA 22066
Pax ADR is a Washington dispute resolution firm founded by a mediator and arbitrator with 20 years of experience. She was named one of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Champions in 2016 by the National Law Journal, while the Washington Legal Times named her Best Individual Mediator. Mediation services are available for commercial and business disputes. The firm's principal mediator also conducts internal investigations, workplace disputes, and professional liability claim evaluations.
Washington, DC 20037
Raymond G. Bender is a Washington independent arbitrator and mediator "serving in domestic and international cases, including those involving complex commercial disputes." He is a member of the American Arbitration Association's Roster of Commercial Arbitrators and the International Center for Dispute Resolution's Panel of International Arbitrators. Mr. Bender has 35 years of experience as a practicing attorney. Arbitration services provide the potential for "substantial cost and time savings" and "afford a confidential process that can protect trade secrets and other proprietary or commercially sensitive business information from public disclosure." Interested clients are encouraged to email or call Mr. Bender directly.
Washington, DC 20036
Regina A. DeMeo is a Bethesda custody and divorce lawyer with over 17 years of experience "focusing on stress-free divorces." She is considered a top matrimonial attorney and practices the areas of divorce, custody agreement, domestic partnership agreement, prenuptial agreements, collaborative divorce, and mediation.
Bethesda, MD 20814
Resolve Together is a Germantown "alternative dispute resolution firm committed to bringing people in conflict together to work through their differences and create a lasting resolution together." The company assists clients with mediation, facilitation, and parenting plan agreements. Initial consultations are free of charge.
Germantown, MD 20875
Robert Baum is a Rockville attorney dedicated to "helping individuals, families, and businesses with the highest quality of personal legal services available. Practice areas include family and business law. Mediation services for divorce are available and usually take between two and three three-hour sessions.
Technology Mediation Services is a McLean company offering mediation services for cases involving complex business disputes, computer hardware, software, information technology, and intellectual property disputes. The company's president has over 20 years of experience with high-tech business and as an intellectual property litigator.
McLean, VA 22101
The Law Firm of Wampler & Souder in Silver Spring practices bankruptcy law, personal injury, criminal law, and family law. The company's attorneys strive to deliver "reasonably priced yet effective legal services throughout Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland." Attorney Eugene Souder is a trained mediator in full compliance with the American Bar Association and the Association for Conflict Resolution's Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators.
Silver Spring, MD 20906


text:
To view the entire topic, please sign in or purchase a subscription.
Pediatrics Central™ is an all-in-one application that puts valuable medical information, via your mobile device or the web, in the hands of clinicians treating infants, children, and adolescents. Explore these free sample topics:
-- The first section of this topic is shown below --
Treatment of infections due to susceptible (β-lactamase-negative) strains causing following syndromes:
- Infections of the ear, nose, and throat – due to Streptococcus spp. (α- and β-hemolytic strains), S. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., or H. influenzae
- Infections of the genitourinary tract – due to E. coli, P. mirabilis, or E. faecalis. Note: empiric use is not recommended by IDSA due to higher rates of resistance to E. coli and poor efficacy[3].
- Infections of the skin and skin structure – due to Streptococcus spp. (α- and β-hemolytic strains), Staphylococcus spp., or E. coli
- Infections of the lower respiratory tract – due to Streptococcus spp. (α- and β-hemolytic strains), S. pneumoniae, Staphylococcus spp., or H. influenzae
- Gonorrhea, acute uncomplicated (ano-genital and urethral infections) – due to N. gonorrhoeae (males and females). Note: amoxicillin is not recommended by CDC for the treatment of gonorrhea due to high rates of resistance.
- H. pylori eradication to reduce the risk of duodenal ulcer recurrence in combination with other agents.
Amoxicillin ER tablet (Mmoxtag™) is indicated for the treatment of tonsillitis and/or pharyngitis secondary to Streptococcus pyogenes in adults and pediatric patients ≥12 y/o
- Lyme disease
- Non-severe Enterococcus infections
- Suppression therapy for prosthetic joint infections caused by streptococci, Enterococcus, C. acne
- Endocarditis prophylaxis
- Dental infections
- Low-risk penicillin allergies; challenge with oral penicillin "direct amoxicillin challenge"[17]
-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please sign in or purchase a subscription --


text:
The DPRK has launched a missile early morning on Sunday from its east coast, which is believed to have failed, Yonhap news agency cited the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
It remains unclear what type of projectile has been launched.
The DPRK "attempted to test an unidentified type of missile from Sinpo area in the South Hamkyong Province this morning, but we suspect the launch has failed," said the ROK Defense Ministry in a statement.
The new test comes a day after Pyongyang held a massive military parade to mark the 105th birthday of Kim Il Sung, the founding father of the country and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong Un, against a backdrop of mounting tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Story by CGTN's Huang Zhengzheng.


text:
Enventure, the world's leading provider of SET® solid expandable solutions for the energy industry, announced today that the company has reached a significant safety milestone: 1,000 consecutive SET systems have been installed with zero recordable incidents. Over the course of 2,640 calendar days, Enventure worked approximately 350,000 direct installation man-hours and expanded over 760,000 ft. of expandable pipe without a recordable incident. The landmark installation took place on April 14, 2013 in the Danish North Sea where Enventure expanded 450 ft. of 8-5/8 x 10-3/4 in. SET Openhole liner at a depth of 11,000 ft. in the well.
"This recognition is a true testament to Enventure's historic dedication to safety and the common goal of protecting people and the environment, while executing drilling operations and responsibilities in some of the most hazardous of surroundings," said Alastair McClean, President and CEO, Enventure. "We want to congratulate our employees on this achievement and thank them for their unwavering dedication to safety."
Enventure consistently evaluates the company's Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) systems and training programs to ensure they are operating at optimum performance and creating an incident-free workplace for all employees, customers and suppliers. This commitment is built on the company's foundation of the HSSE Excellence Statement and 10 Guiding Principles it abides by to meet or go beyond regulatory compliance: commitment; organization; accountability; management systems and standards; risk management; legislative compliance; training; environmental aspects; continuous improvement; and monitor, audit and review.
The company also maintains their strong safety record by performing smaller, yet significant initiatives day-in and day-out that support the larger HSSE management program such as: participating in Enventure's Observation System, beginning all meetings with a safety moment, and conducting Job Safety Analyses (JSA) on all customer job sites before every new activity begins.


text:
Offer to get paid if/when a listing sells?2299
63966 6 6
WGAN Forum
|DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user
|Offering to get paid only when a listing sells is a pricing option worth testing if:
1. you are not sold out (you have the time)
2. not winning 100 percent of your Matterport presentations
3. you understand and willing to accept the risk
4. you do not need immediate cash
5. you need digital assets for your website
6. you need testimonials
7. you price at a risk premium of 25-50 percent
8. you did not get the order and counter with this offer
9. you retain ownership of digital assets (offer the next agent)
The most important thing you can do with any proposal is establish value by solving problems:
1. I am not winning 100 percent of my listing presentations
2. I am not doing as many listings as I would like
3. My listings are not as big as I would like
4. I do not have enough buyer leads
5. I do not have enough seller leads
6. My client only wants pre-qualified people touring the house
If you can not establish value for "X" dollars, you likely will have a challenge for "X" dollars plus a premium of 25 to 50 percent.
That said, it's worth testing, even after a potential real estate client says no. (They may know that their selling will not sell unless they get the exactly listing pricing, for example.)
While it is likely others will disagree with me for many reason, I believe in fail fast. Test, try and learn. You can keep this solution in your hip pocket and decide when and why to offer.
Even if the house does not sell, you may be happy simply gaining experience and getting digital assets for your website.
This questions comes up from time to time. Here are some related threads (One | Two | (See TAGS for Pricing and Price)
Plus, from the Photography For Real Estate Blog ...
When Should Real Estate Photographs Get Paid?
Okay, what do you think about offering to get paid if/when a listing sells?
|Post 1 IP flag post
|3Dwalkmethru private msg quote post Address this user
|@DanSmigrod honestly sounds good, but you are going to have to chase payments. Not generalizing, but you have people that just don't like to pay if giving a little room to avoid it.
Sounds good, but I do not think it will work well for many.
|Post 2 IP flag post
WGAN Forum
|DanSmigrod private msg quote post Address this user
Actually, posting because I keep getting this question.
It's a great topic for discussion.
|Post 3 IP flag post
|3Dwalkmethru private msg quote post Address this user
I like the question would like to hear more comments.
|Post 4 IP flag post
|JC3DCX private msg quote post Address this user
|I have been asked the same question by a owner of a real estate agency.
Problem is that houses gets listed by a few different agencies and it is possible that the one commisionging you for a scan is not the one making the sale. Who is then going to pay you?
|Post 5 IP flag post
|3Dwalkmethru private msg quote post Address this user
|I still think is a bad idea regardless ... Get paid for your work when your work is done period.
|Post 6 IP flag post
This topic is archived. Start new topic?


text:
Netanyahu: 'I didn't say that Hamas and ISIS are twins, I said they are brothers'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't think he's wrong to compare Hamas with the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
"I didn't say that Hamas and ISIS are twins, I said they are brothers," Netanyahu told Fusion's Jorge Ramos on Wednesday. "They're branches … of the same poisonous tree of militant Islam."
Netanyahu initially made his remarks linking the two groups at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday. The U.S. State Department disagreed with the Israeli leader's characterization of Islamic extremist groups, saying that Hamas and ISIS pose different types of threats to Israel and the West.
"They both share a fanatic ideology of first getting these enclaves, militant Islam, and expanding them through terror—in an effort to dominate the world," Netanyahu said. "They also share the same fanatic methods. They're very similar though not identical."
The Israeli prime minister showed Ramos a photograph of what he said was a Hamas execution of Palestinian civilians.
"ISIS beheads people. And Hamas puts a bullet in the back of their heads. But to the victims and to their families, the horror is the same," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister said militant groups share common goals, but suffer from infighting. "They all agree that there should be an Islamist-ruled order but disagree on who among them would be the master of that ruled order."
Netanyahu rejected Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' claim that Israel committed war crimes during its recent conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
"I take it as absurd. I mean, Israel was targeted by these terrorists, by these Hamas terrorists, firing thousands of rockets into Israel cities, targeting our cities," he said.
Netanyahu suggested there would be a strong reaction if "you have thousands of rockets falling on New York, falling on Washington, falling on Los Angeles, Miami, you name it."
Ramos asked Netanyahu whether he's concerned about Israel's standing with young American Jews. Support for Israel remains strong among U.S. Jews, but according to a 2013 Pew survey, Jews between the ages of 18 and 29 are the most likely to say Israel is not making a sincere effort to make peace with the Palestinians.
The Fusion anchor referenced a Beyonce-inspired social media campaign by the liberal Israel advocacy group J Street, which encouraged supporters to tell Netanyahu, "If you like it, you should put a border on it."
"You've never been compared to Beyonce, I'm sure," Ramos said.
"Well, there are a few differences you know," Netanyahu responded.
"Every Israeli government would ask a simple question: what's beyond the border?" the Israeli leader added. "No Israeli government would offer a border if there is a state there, a Palestinian state that is like Syria, that is like Gaza, that seeks to have our destruction and uses the area that we vacate … to attack us.
"To ask Israel to do one and not ask the Palestinians to do the other—which is essentially what I'm being asked to do—is neither fair or sensible," he said.


text:
Gallagher's men primed for a supreme test of character
The most penetrating spotlight will shine on Fermanagh's character tomorrow - and manager Rory Gallagher is fully prepared for this.
His beaten Ulster finalists will meet rejuvenated Kildare in an All-Ireland Round Four qualifier at Navan which has assumed a level of appeal that would not have been thought possible.
Kildare's stunning win over Mayo last weekend has bolstered morale to such an extent that speculation surrounding the team's possible entry into the Super-8s is rampant, while Fermanagh in contrast will emerge from the shadows into the eye of what could prove a ferocious storm.
Gallagher, though, remains cool and composed now that he has applied the finishing touches to his team's build-up.
"I have told the boys that teams do have tough days. The Ulster final was very much a case in point from our perspective," muses Gallagher.
"But I think this Fermanagh squad is a great bunch of lads. They have had a good run this year, they feel they have done a lot of things right and you would hope they will have improved another bit for this game. Notwithstanding that loss to Donegal the challenge now for them is to get past Kildare if they can."
At the outset of the championship, the possibility that Fermanagh might reach the Ulster final and get to within one win of reaching the Super-8s would have been perceived as nothing more than a giddy notion.
Yet, providing his team can prove that they have put that miserable failure against Donegal behind them and produce the kind of performance of which Gallagher feels they are capable, an unexpected extension to their championship season could ensue.
"When we reached the Ulster final all we wanted to do was get over the line but now we really have to go for it all over again," insists Gallagher. "We want to play as many games as we can against the big teams and the Super-8s would offer us the opportunity to do this."
Kildare manager Cian O'Neill has watched his side beat Derry, Longford and Mayo in the qualifiers and believes the players have recaptured their self-belief and pride. But he is conscious of Kildare's erratic championship record.
"There have been many false dawns for Kildare football over the years, including the last three when I've been here," he admits. "There's no secret to the win my players achieved over Mayo. It was all down to hard work, dedication and resilience. We will need all three attributes tomorrow, that's for sure. "
Meanwhile, Cavan manager Mattie McGleenan is expected to meet with county board officials shortly to review the past season.
McGleenan's term in charge officially ended when Cavan lost to Tyrone in last weekend's All-Ireland qualifier but the Eglish clubman has already expressed a desire to remain in his post.
McGleenan took the Breffni side back into Division One in the league before they were halted in their stride when they lost to Donegal in the Ulster Championship preliminary round tie.
Belfast Telegraph


text:
The zodiac is the collection of twelve constellations that make up Western astrology: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. Each of the signs represents a phase of the human archetypal experience, starting with the birth of individual human consciousness in Aries and ending with the transcendence back into unity consciousness in Pisces.
In this post we'll give a foundational overview of each of the signs, including their planetary rulers and basic traits, and add a little sparkle to your understanding of the zodiac personalities with a Choose Your Adventure poll at the end of each sign!


text:
Tony Conigliaro Award
The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national recognition instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball (MLB) player who best "overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination, and courage that were trademarks of Conigliaro."
|Tony Conigliaro
Tony Conigliaro, the namesake of the award
|Given for
|Given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Conigliaro.
|Presented by
|Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America
|First award
|Most recent
|Stephen Piscotty, Oakland Athletics
Conigliaro debuted with the Red Sox in 1964, and was selected to the MLB All-Star Game in the 1967 season. Subsequently, he was hit in the face by a pitch at Fenway Park on August 18, 1967. After missing the rest of the year and all of 1968, he made a comeback in 1969, homering on opening day. He then hit 20 home runs in that season, winning The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award. In 1970, he posted career highs in home runs with 36 and RBIs with 116, but vision problems continued to persist; his performance fell off, and he was never the same player. After a final comeback attempt in 1975, Conigliaro retired at age 30.[1]
Conigliaro died in 1990, and the Red Sox instituted the award in his honor.[2] A panel is composed of the media, representatives of the commissioner, and the two leagues' offices. The selection is made by a panel of voters and the award is presented at the annual dinner of the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America, held in January, by members of the Conigliaro family.[3]
Award winnersEdit
|Indicates multiple award winners in the same year
|Denotes player who is still active
|Adversity overcome
|Jim Eisenreich
|Kansas City Royals
|Tourette syndrome
|Dickie Thon
|Philadelphia Phillies
|A 1984 beaning very similar to the one that shortened Conigliaro's career
|Jim Abbott
|California Angels
|Born without a right hand
|Bo Jackson
|Chicago White Sox
|Hip replacement surgery in 1992
|Mark Leiter
|California Angels
|Death of 9-month-old son to spinal muscular atrophy during the offseason
|Scott Radinsky
|Chicago White Sox
|Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma
|Curtis Pride
|Montreal Expos
|Born deaf
|Eric Davis
|Baltimore Orioles
|Diagnosed with colon cancer early that season
|Bret Saberhagen
|Boston Red Sox
|Serious shoulder injuries
|Mike Lowell
|Florida Marlins
|Testicular cancer
|Kent Mercker
|Anaheim Angels
|Cerebral hemorrhage
|Tony Saunders
|Tampa Bay Devil Rays
|Broke arm while throwing a pitch
|Graeme Lloyd
|Montreal Expos
|Arthroscopic shoulder surgery in 2000, and the death of his wife from Crohn's disease
|Jason Johnson
|Baltimore Orioles
|Type 1 diabetes that required Johnson to wear an insulin pump on the field
|José Rijo
|Cincinnati Reds
|Elbow injuries that required five surgeries and sidelined him for five years
|Jim Mecir
|Oakland Athletics
|Born with two club feet
|Dewon Brazelton
|Tampa Bay Devil Rays
|Reconstructive knee surgery and Tommy John surgery while in high school
|Aaron Cook
|Colorado Rockies
|Blood clots in both lungs
|Freddy Sanchez
|Pittsburgh Pirates
|Born with a club foot (right) and a severely pigeon-toed foot (left)
|Jon Lester
|Boston Red Sox
|Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2006
|Rocco Baldelli
|Tampa Bay Rays
|Diagnosed with a mitochondrial disorder that causes chronic muscle fatigue
|Chris Carpenter
|St. Louis Cardinals
|Had Tommy John surgery and nerve problems in his throwing arm
|Joaquín Benoit
|Tampa Bay Rays
|Sat out a year after a rotator cuff tear
|Tony Campana
|Chicago Cubs
|Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma as a child
|R.A. Dickey
|New York Mets
|Victim of child sexual abuse, born without an ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm
|John Lackey
|Boston Red Sox
|Underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012
|Wilson Ramos
|Washington Nationals
|Kidnapped in 2011, multiple injuries including a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a broken hamate bone, and repeated hamstring strains
|Mitch Harris
|St. Louis Cardinals
|Delayed baseball career five years while serving in the United States Navy; first Naval Academy graduate to make MLB debut since 1921
|Yangervis Solarte
|San Diego Padres
|Death of his wife to cancer during the season, caring for their three young daughters
|Chad Bettis
|Colorado Rockies
|Diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2016, underwent surgery eight days later, went through chemotherapy until May 2017, and returned to baseball activities one month later
|Stephen Piscotty
|Oakland Athletics
|Death of his mother to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
See alsoEdit
- ^ "Jason Heyward, Max Stassi hope for quick returns from pitches to face". MLB.com. August 22, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c "Tony Conigliaro, Ray Chapman, and the Catastrophic Beaning «". Grantland.com. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Wilson Ramos wins Conigliaro award". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 15, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
- ^ "Baseball: Conigliaro award presented". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Associated Press. December 10, 1991. p. 25. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ Swaine, Rick. "Jim Abbott". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Honored". The Times-News. Associated Press. December 8, 1992. p. 1B. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ Swartz, Bryn. "Bo Jackson: What Could Have Been?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ "Leiter to receive Conigliaro award". The Telegraph. Associated Press. December 2, 1994. p. 46. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ "Yanks put Boggs on hold". Eugene Register-Guard. December 2, 1995. p. 7D. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ "Curtis Pride wins award for courage". The Argus-Press. Owosso, Michigan. Associated Press. December 11, 1996. p. 11. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ "Davis to receive Tony Conigliaro Award". Bangor Daily News. November 26, 1997. p. C5. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Henderson set to steal for the Mets". Eugene Register-Guard. Associated Press. December 14, 1998. p. 6B. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
- ^ "Marlins' Lowell wins Conigliaro award". Bangor Daily News. December 14, 1999. p. C5. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ a b "Camden Yards Renovations | O's may add another dimension to Camden Yards renovations". The Baltimore Sun. December 10, 2000. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Luke set to fly with Blue Jays". The Sydney Morning Herald. April 7, 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Pumped-up Johnson adds Tony C. Award to 10 wins". The Baltimore Sun. December 12, 2001. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Rijo wins Conigliaro Award". The Victoria Advocate. Victoria, Texas. December 14, 2002. p. 3B. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ "Jim Mecir voted 2003 Tony Conigliaro Award winner". MLB.com (Press release). December 12, 2003. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ Devil Rays Public Relations (December 10, 2004). "Tampa Bay's Dewon Brazelton wins 2004 Tony Conigliaro Award". MLB.com (Press release). Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ Harding, Thomas (January 13, 2006). "Cook inks two-year pact with Rockies: Righty also wins prestigious honor in Boston". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
- ^ "Freddy Sanchez wins 2006 Tony Conigliaro Award". MLB.com (Press release). December 6, 2006. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
- ^ Wilbur, Eric (November 28, 2007). "Lester gets the honor". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ Times Editor (November 25, 2008). "Rocco Baldelli wins Tony Conigliaro Award | Tampa Bay Times". Tampabay.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
- ^ Keefe, Neil (January 11, 2010). "Chris Carpenter Wins 2009 Tony Conigliaro Award | MLB". NESN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2013.
- ^ "Benoit receives Conigliaro Award for comeback | tigers.com: News". MLB.com. November 19, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ "Tony C. wins Tony C. award « Muskat Ramblings". MLBlogs.com. December 9, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
- ^ Pepin, Matt (December 6, 2012). "R.A. Dickey wins Tony Conigliaro Award". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "John Lackey Wins 2013 Tony Conigliaro Award". MLB.com (Press release). December 3, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2015.
- ^ Pepin, Matt (January 16, 2014). "Nationals catcher Ramos wins Conigliaro Award". MSN Sports. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
- ^ "Cardinals pitcher Mitch Harris wins 2015 Tony Conigliaro Award". Fox Sports. Associated Press. December 15, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ "Padres INF Yangervis Solarte wins Tony Conigliaro Award". USA Today. Associated Press. December 15, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "Colorado Rockies' Chad Bettis, a cancer survivor, named 2017 Tony Conigliaro Award winner". MassLive. December 7, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Christopher. "Stephen Piscotty, Athletics outfielder whose mother died of ALS, wins 2018 Tony Conigliaro Award". masslive.com. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
External linksEdit
- "Tony Conigliaro Award". BBWAA Boston Chapter.


text:
celtic straits
bradstrait.com — real life stories from a christian mystic
Skip to content
about me
what is a christian mystic?
why "celtic straits?"
rievaulx abbey
Tag: pain
February 4, 2019
February 4, 2019
Brad Strait
pets in heaven
February 27, 2017
April 15, 2017
Brad Strait
Lobster dreams.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy


text:
Controlling the mind of your wife is one of the thorniest tasks for a husband. Moreover, if you are enthusiastic about how to control wife mind after marriage? Then this article is just only for you. With the help of this article, you will be proficient to know how you can have your full control over your wife. Analogous to it is significant to confess that why the need to subdue a woman does is considered the primary wish of the husband. As well as in today's life every husband wants that their wife should be in their control. Furthermore, in most cases, the need for husbands that only their wife can fulfill usually makes them dissatisfied.
For example, if you are not getting the love of your wife, you have to face the aggression of your wife. In addition, if your wife is in another relationship so you want to know how to handle a wife. then you will get to know some amazing facts. Although, with the use of you will bring an extreme change in your life.
How to control wife mind after marriage if she is not following your command or not giving you importance?
After marriage, life has to face a lot of difficulties if on the contrary talk about happiness. Furthermore, this is because of the reason that most of the husband never get the wife of their choice. In order for the survival of relation, they try to manage the circumstance. However, they don't need to do this. If you really want to know how to control wife mind by black magic? Then you are in the right place.
Our specialist has well knowledge of black magic. You need to opt their way out enough for the reason if you want to get rid of your troubles. Our specialist helps you using Black Magic to Control Wife at home. however, if you want that your wife needs to do what you want from her. Then you can make this possible. Our specialist helps you by the solution that how to control wife after marriage. With the use of soon, your wife will be pulled towards you.
How to control wife anger by black magic- how to handle a wife
Contrarily you can control the anger of your wife using Black magic to control someone mind. In the second place, your wife is not giving respect to your father or your mother. But in spite of it, you want from them that she does respect them. Therefore if you are looking for someone that could help you for how to control wife mind?
Then let me say that you can make this feasible with the help of black. The use of black magic power consists of the inclusion of black magic that can help you how to handle a wife. Moreover, by making the use of black magic, you can control your wife anytime. The black magic will boost the convincing power of yours.
As well as even though whenever you will get to see the aggression of your wife. Then our specialist can help you to recognize how to control wife anger by black magic. After making the use of black magic on your wife. Soon your wife will be under your control. As well there will be extremely available a new personality of your wife. Therefore get the constant of our specialist if you want to control your wife.


text:
Quarterly Earnings Process
MaisonBrison is involved in all aspects of the quarterly process including key messaging, preparation or review of MD&As and press releases, assessement of street expectations, analyst interaction, review of industry comparable financial results, and forward looking guidance.
Our team includes former financial analysts who bring our clients access to key relationships and a thorough understanding of capital markets.
Recognizing the importance of quarterly conference calls, we elaborate scripts for Management, prepare or review conference call presentations, and conduct Q&A preparation based on our knowledge of the issuer and capital markets.
We are in constant interaction with analysts and institutional investors. We offer MB clients added-value, constructive street feedback, to improve the way they communicate.


text:
Modular admin solution built with Meteor https://github.com/scorpiusjs
rwatts3 on master
materialize -> 0.3.4 patch rele… (compare)
rwatts3 on master
materialize -> 0.3.3 (compare)
Hello everyone, So I want to share a major change that will be coming to Scorpius to help better prepare you. Scorpius will be moving to a
Headless CMS Approach . Where you will deploy your schema and the admin panel to your server, and be able to write the entire front end of your application using any technology you choose. It will not be tightly coupled with the framework, but I will be working on a few boilerplate projects to help get you started.
Some front end technologies may include React, Vue, Riot, and even Polymer , from a truly decoupled approach.
nuxt.js evolved. If you are not familiar with Nuxt, it is the Vue equivalent of Next (react based)
Patch Release
scorpiusjs:accounts threw an error regarding
The scorpius project will be moving to Gitlab as the future plans of Scorpius will be heading in the direction or building or utilizing Scorpius as a Docker service.
With Gitlab's integrated Docker/Image Registry, the process of building, testing, and releasing new Scorpius features will be more inline.
This shift will also make it much easier for community developers to contribute to the project in a pre-built production environment as well as roll out custom iterations of Scorpius to their own platform.


text:
THE daughter of the Buckingham Palace beggar is calling for an inquiry into how her father died while in the care of Manchester Prison.
Leonard Hockey died in North Manchester General Hospital after being rushed there from jail two weeks earlier.
The 52-year-old drug addict begged near car park ticket machines behind Kendals in Manchester city centre, until he was banned by the city council in September in a landmark court case.
He later travelled to Buckingham Palace to protest at his treatment, but was sent to jail on his return for failing to attend a drug treatment meeting months earlier.
Daughter Donna Hockey said medical specialists told her he had been suffering from an infection thought to have been contracted when he took drugs.
Before going into prison he had been suffering from hepatitis. Cause of death was listed as septicaemia and breathing difficulties coupled with heart problems.
Miss Hockey said: "A specialist told us he might have got ill from taking unclean drugs in prison. You are not meant to get that kind of stuff in prison. They said the jail was for hardened criminals. He should not have been there."
Donna, who lives in Guernsey, came to visit her dying father.
Two days after his death she had his fourth grandchild.
A prison service spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment before his inquest, expected to take place next year. His funeral is on Monday at Southern Cemetery crematorium.


text:
Theresa Chevalier's debut novel, Shameful Innocence, is a historical set in a time and place not often explored. The heroine is a young girl of German heritage who is part of a Mennonite family living in Russia during World War I and the Russian Revolution. Theresa's extensive research enabled her to bring this culture and period to life with vivid detail.
Theresa's own family has a rich history of migration and adapting to changing lifestyles. She spent her childhood exploring the jungles of South America.
Now a single mom enjoying the task of raising her four children, Theresa lives in the beautiful Fraser Valley in British Columbia. She has maintained her love of the outdoors by hiking the fabulous B.C. mountains, skiing, swimming, biking and running whenever possible.
Join me as we learn more about Theresa and her journey to publication.
Theresa Embarks on Her Journey
•When did the idea for Shameful Innocence first come to you?
About eight years ago, I was having a conversation with my mom about some of our ancestors who lived in Russia during WWI, the following Russian Revolution and Communism. Of course, she'd shared stories before, but I'd never really listened. This time, I actually heard with my heart what she was saying, and their life in these unimaginable times brought me to tears. That day I realized I had an incredible opportunity to tell this unique story in a way that I'd never seen before!
•When did you start writing? How long did it take to get from first word to last?
One of the busiest times for any mother is the year her children start kindergarten. At this time, in the year 2000, I started formulating ideas but waited till my two youngest started full school days in 2001 to type those first words. As they started their new routine, I eagerly headed to my computer to bring this story to life.
After about seven solid months of writing, life changed, and I had to go back to full time work. At this point, months would often go by before I had a chance to get back to the story. But it was a quest that I would not give up on. The characters were always in my mind waiting to live their lives. In the spring of 2007 I ecstatically typed the words THE END!
Theresa's Process
•How much time did you spend researching World War I, the Russian Revolution and the German Mennonites in Russia before you began to write the story? How did you go about getting the information you need?
Measuring the time it took to do the research is a difficult thing. All I know is that I spent hours and hours reading and taking notes. It probably took just as long to research as it did to actually write the story.
Not to get ahead in my research is what I found to be the best trick for me. If my characters were living through events in 1921 and the research book went to 1935, I would stop reading at 1921. This way I could give my full attention to what was going on in the moment and not rush the process to move ahead in the story and leave out important detail and emotion.
I've heard many historical authors say that they get completely caught up in the research because it's so interesting, and I totally agree. So, my process is a back and forth. I research for a few days, and then I write till I need the next piece of accurate historical information.
I'm fortunate that I live in a city that was one of the main destinations for many of the Mennonites who fled when the Communist government made life for them unbearable because of their Christian beliefs. Our thrift stores have many original autobiographies and informational books from that period. Because I like to hang onto the research books for so long, it's best for me to buy them. I also visited our local library for books on WWI, and the Internet was very helpful in giving me information on the diseases during that period.
I also met in person with a 90-year-old gentleman who'd been a boy living in Russia during the time of my story. He only wanted to talk about the idyllic times prior to the upheaval. I sensed that even though he'd lived in freedom for years, he still feared repercussions if he spoke the truth about anything else.
•I understand you speak German and were able to read the accounts of some of the actual people who lived through the events that take place in your story. What aspects of their remembrances touched you most deeply?
I was most deeply touched by their strong will to live and survive! Their strength of character and deep faith is astounding! Even though we all have daily struggles and life goes smoothly for very few, we still have no idea how tough things have been for many people (and still are in many countries). I often ask myself, "How much would I be able to take before wanting to give up?"
I have been deeply inspired to have continual hope for the better days ahead, even if they're years from now. Although I've always been very appreciative of all that is in my life, it has now grown to profound depth!
A young woman, who was part of my sample market, read a part of my book before it was released. She asked me, "How much more is this poor girl going to have to endure?" To put it into perspective I told her this was only a small portion of my heroine's life. Just think of all the events and changes in the last 100 years. We have amazing grandparents and great grandparents!
•Your local community recognized your talent and gave you a prestigious award. How did this come about, and what was your reaction?
We had a small, very popular, local paper that circulated mainly to the businesses and coffee shops. I was fortunate enough to have an incredible article printed about me and my book in the very last issue. Much interest was generated through this one article.
I was completely overwhelmed when numerous people came to me and informed me that they were so powerfully impacted by my novel that they were nominating me for the "Outstanding Literary Artist" award. The city of Abbotsford, British Columbia put on a beautiful, elegant evening. Not once did I actually think I'd receive the award. I was a nervous wreck! And when I heard some of the accolades of the other nominees, I felt incredibly honored to be included.
When my name was read, I'm sure my jaw dropped! I felt my face scrunch and eyes fill with tears. To be so recognized by my community was completely overwhelming! I might as well have been receiving the Oscar! Truly, I just wanted to drop to my knees in thankful appreciation!
•You've received some glowing reviews. Which have meant the most and why?
The model on my book cover is my niece Lindsay. This girl with a heart of gold has already had to deal with some very painful issues. She was so moved and deeply impacted by my book, I just think her written testimonial says it best. I've had more discussions about this story with her than with anyone else. The aspects of the father/daughter relationship in the book were of great personal interest to her.
Then there's my dad. He'd never read a novel before reading Shameful Innocence. Now he's become an avid reader. He says he has yet to come across a book that will have the same impact on him. What more could I ask for than to have had someone else discover the joy/love of reading through my book?
I've also received very positive feedback from the academic, professional, and fellow writer community. The fact that they consider my book acceptable of their standards has really increased my confidence in my abilities.
The cutest review was from a 93-year-old gentleman. He said it's one of the only things that's kept him up all night in a long time! His recommendation was that no one should start reading it at night.
•Being a busy mother who works full-time, you went through periods when you weren't able to work on your story. How did you deal with those down times? What enabled you to maintain your momentum and return to your story ready to move forward when time allowed?
I prayed during the down times. For anyone who does not believe in God, it might seem strange, but when I'd start to worry that I had not written in a long time, I'd always hear God whisper in the most peaceful of ways, "Don't worry Theresa. This story is here for you, waiting. Whenever you're ready, it will still be there. It's a gift I've given you and all you have to do is take it." And that's what I did. I allowed myself to feel peace about the fact that I at times had other, more pressing, obligations. And I never doubted the voice of God.
I know my novel is very graphic in places and would not be considered a Christian novel because of this. At the same time, I felt led by God to write it in exactly the way I did. I prayed lots. "Lord, I can change this, I could make this different." But I felt compelled to leave it as is. At this point, no one has been offended. I'm told that it is one of the most real accounts of how things really were during that time period.
By allowing God to worry about the time issue and having faith, it all came together beautifully and easily. Through my eyes, miraculous. So, for me it never felt like a burden or a task. Regaining the momentum was always an exciting pleasure. I was always just as curious what would come next as the reader is!
•Seven years is a long time to work on one book. I admire your dedication. There must have been times, though, when discouragement and doubt waged war with your desire to fulfill your dream. How did you battle those persistent pests we writers face from time to time?
To battle those persistent pests I tried to put a few fail-safes in place. Because I felt so strongly that it was a story that needed to be written and brought to the world, I told both of my sisters, "In the event of my untimely death, this is where I keep my notes, etc. Please will one of you finish it?" Now it might seem overboard to go to this extreme, but as a single parent of four kids, I feel huge responsibility for their lives. I have to plan and be prepared for everything and anything. I always make sure to tell my kids where all the important papers are, etc. The story was almost like another baby, and knowing someone else who would care for it as I had and raise it to maturity brought me peace.
Partners on Theresa's Journey
•I understand two people were great assets to you, your niece and a tech-savvy friend. Please tell us about their contributions to your book.
I knew from the get-go that an eye-catching book cover is of utmost importance in the sale of a book, especially if you are an unknown author. If your name doesn't sell then the cover had better do the job. After reading the story and falling in love with the characters, my niece Lindsay was more than eager to grace the front cover and take on the role of one of the characters. She has the beauty, mystery, and intrigue needed to pull someone past the front cover. I am extremely fortunate to have her as part of this journey!
Shameful Innocence was written on three different computers! The first 100 pages were on a very old Mac that wouldn't even accept more than 100 pages! With technology changing so rapidly, I couldn't even save from one computer and put a disk into another. Plus people will tell you that I'm the most technological inept person they've ever met!
Anyway, my friend Diane found me other computer whizzes who helped turn things from one computer into a format that the other one could read and so on. Even after I had the whole book on one single computer, there were still all kinds of weird symbols between sentences. Diane helped me clean everything up!
•Your publisher, Eloquent Books, is a true partner in that they've come alongside you in your mutual endeavor. How does your joint-publishing agreement work?
Joint publishing is closer to the process of self-publishing than being 100% funded by a big publishing house. I did have to sign a seven-year contract. The idea is that we each pay half the cost involved and split the profits evenly. The bonus of joint versus self-publishing is that Eloquent put my novel on Ingram Books, a company that supplies only bookstores and not the public. This way any bookstore has access to my book. Self-publishing usually gets your book on Amazon and other public sites, but not Ingram.
Overall, working with Eloquent went very smoothly. With joint publishing, an author gets a lot of say in the final product. Having a striking cover was very important to me. I sent them all the artwork and told their art department which colors to use, etc. My instructions were followed to a T, and I couldn't have been happier!
Being 100% covered would be the ideal situation to be in but I had two issues that prompted me to choose Joint Publishing:
1) From my original test market, I had so many people asking me for the book that I did not want to wait any longer.
2) The part of this whole process that I disliked the most was trying to find an agent and publishing company. All I really wanted to do was hand my completed manuscript to someone else and say, "Here you go. Now you do the rest." I just wanted to get back to writing another story.
•How much assistance does Eloquent provide with marketing and promotion?
The more I do the more they do for me. To date, I've arranged all my own book signings and I've sent out copies of my book to public libraries. As it is being accepted, Eloquent is providing me with posters and promotional material. I can ask their marketing team any questions I like, and they are very helpful in giving me direction.
Theresa's Journey Continues
•Shameful Innocence is a fait accompli. What's next? Didn't I see mention of a sequel with more of a suspense/thriller focus? Can your readers expect to see familiar characters, or will there be an entirely new cast?
I am definitely working on a sequel and there will be some familiar characters. The fact that it's turned into a historical/suspense/romance has completely surprised me! I started wanting my main characters having to deal with one big issue, but all these other things started happening at the same time. Completely unplanned but I'm very excited by how things are playing out.
I have written the sequel in a way that if someone has not read Shameful Innocence they would never know that there is a story before the sequel. It will be an equally intense read either together or by itself.
Five Facts About Theresa the Writer
~ What time of day do you like to write?
Morning-have always been an early bird and that's when I have my best brain power.
~ What does your writing space look like?
Wish I could say clean, organized, etc., but the computers have always been shared with my kids who are now teens! Need I say more?
~ What do you snack on when you're deep in your writing zone?
Eeek! I usually load up on brownies and cool whip before I start and then don't eat till I'm done writing. (3-4 hours later I resume healthy eating habits)
~ What are your must-have reference books?
Does a thesaurus count? When reading other people's books, I'm often so impressed by their adjectives/adverbs. That's where I need the most help. Besides the thesaurus, all the original autobiographies and encyclopedias to make sure all my facts are right on.
~ What is your greatest source of inspiration?
People in general. I hear people's stories and go "Wow!" So many incredible people out there!
Five Fun Facts About Theresa the Person
~ I love raspberry fields. They bring me a sense of peace and appreciation.
~My favorite things are hiking, dancing, chocolate, and swimming in open water.
~I describe myself as a "Hopeful" romantic–still always putting myself out there to find the love of my life.
~A risk taker–always willing to try something new and take a chance.
~Doesn't take more than a sappy commercial to bring me to tears.
Theresa's Question for You
•I've enjoyed having you as my guest, Theresa. Thanks for your great answers to my questions. And now it's your turn to ask a question of your visitors. What would you like to know?
Is there anything you wish your parent(s) or prime caregiver would have explained to you in detail before becoming a teen or adult?
Learn More About Theresa
Visit her Web site – http://theresachevalier.com
Friend her on Facebook: Theresa Chevalier
Leave a Comment for Three Chances to Win
Theresa's Drawing
Theresa has generously offered to give away an autographed copy of her debut novel, Shameful Innocence, to one lucky visitor.
To enter the drawing, leave a comment for Theresa by midnight Pacific Time on August 11th and enter your email address when prompted. (I don't share your information or add it to any mailing lists.) On August 12th, I'll post the winner's name here.
Keli's Regular Drawing
My next drawing will take place August 20th. The winner will receive a metal bookmark from Hallmark that reads, "Miracles begin within."
To enter the drawing, just leave a comment on any blog post by August 21st and enter your email address when prompted. (I don't share your information or add it to any mailing lists.) On August 1st, I'll post the winner's name in the Welcome post at the top of the blog.
You could also win a First Sale Scrapbook!
If you'd like to have a chance at winning a First Sale Scrapbook created by me, your blog hostess Keli Gwyn, leave a comment on any post between now and August 30th. Be sure to include your name and email address when prompted if you want to be entered in the drawing. (Your information will not be shared.) Click red link above to see samples of covers and pages.
On September 1st, I will choose one person who will have her/his choice of several covers on an 8×8 inch, twenty-page scrapbook in which s/he can document that long-awaited first sale. The pages will cover various milestones including The Call, signing the contract, receiving the first advance payment and holding your debut novel in your hands.
(No scrapbooking skills required. You just add your photos and journaling.)


text:
442 sq km (172 sq miles).
Southern Tanzania. The temporary park headquarters
at Matamba are situated approximately 100km (60 miles)
from Mbeya town.
How to get there:
4x4 only. From Chimala, 78km east of Mbeya along the
surfaced main road to Dar es Salaam, head south along
the rough but spectacular dirt road - called Hamsinina
Saba (57) after the number of hairpin bends alongits
length - to the temporary park headquarters at
Matamba, from where it's another hour's drive to the
plateau. Basic and erratic public transport is available.
To do:
Good hiking trails exist and will soon be developed
into a formal trail system. Open walking across the
grasslands to watch birds and wildflowers. Hill
climbing on the neighbouring ranges. A half-day
hike from the park across the Livingstone Mountains
leads to the sumptuous Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa.
Denham's bustard, Blue Swallow, Mountain Marsh Widow,
Cisticola njombe, Kipengere Seedeater, Mountain Reedbuck,
Eland, Chameleon, Lizards, Frogs.
Best time:
Wildflower displays peak between December and April.
The sunnier months of September to November are
more comfortable for hiking but less rewarding to
botanists. Conditions are cold and foggy
from June to August.
Mbeya is serviced by everything from luxury
hotels to simple guesthouses, while two simple
guesthouses also exist in Matamba. There is no
accommodation in the park as yet, but very
basic accommodation and meals are available at
the adjacent Kitulo Farm. Three special campsites
are planned within the park, catering to fully
equipped campers. Two moderately priced
church-run hostels are situated on Matema Beach.
Source: TANAPA.
Back to top
Download here a pdf with a
more detailed description of this park.


text:
I have a tendency to dream of running away. Like if I packed up my dogs and husband and started somewhere else I would magically not be in debt, sad, fight depression daily and I would suddenly love the person in the mirror instead of dreaming I was someone else.
In my mind I would be this really chic plus size lady, with my edge being my cool hair and tattoos, Who lets the worlds problems roll off her back like water and who can smile when someone shits on her day. I would have a beautifully organized home preferably a tiny house, that was comfortable and eclectic. I would take walks with my husband in the evenings and each of us would have a content dog on a leash who is just enjoying the world they live in. I would cook simple, beautiful, healthy meals and be satisfied at the end of each of them. I would not cry over things I cannot control, or fictional characters that die in books, movies and TV shows. I would not take it so personally when people get irritated at situations. I would find the magic in a each day.
But no matter where I run, I can not escape me.


text:
Situational awareness:
- President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen plans to tell Congress about "irrefutable" proof that Trump had committed "illicit acts," and will allege Trump knew that his ally Roger Stone was talking to WikiLeaks about a release of hacked DNC emails. (Axios)
- Pakistan's military shot down "two Indian aircraft inside Pakistani airspace" in the disputed Kashmir region, the worst escalation of conflict since the 1971 war. (Bloomberg)
- The CBO says the U.S. will run out of cash by September without a debt limit increase. (CBO)
1 big thing: The green new deal everyone can agree on
While the Green New Deal is drawing both devotees and detractors on Capitol Hill, green energy is seeing nothing but love in the market.
Driving the news: The International Energy Agency reports that electricity investment has shifted towards renewables, networks and flexibility, while investments in coal dropped by a third in 2017.
- It's the second year in a row coal- and gas-fired power generation has seen a pullback.
Why it matters: That's got market analysts at UBS betting on renewable energy. They expect cumulative investment in renewable energy will exceed $9 trillion by 2050 and cumulative investment in clean-air technologies and energy efficiency will rise to $35 trillion between 2015 and 2030.
- "We think the renewables longer term investment theme has great potential, particularly for project developers and wind turbine manufacturers," UBS analysts said this week in a note to clients. "Clean air, energy efficiency and storage, and electric vehicles are topics closely linked to the theme."
What they're saying: UBS points to increasing urbanization and population growth, leading to higher electricity demand; technological progress with relative cost advantages for renewable energies; and an improved regulatory environment of social and political support as tailwinds that will buoy the demand for green energy.
2. ...Except the U.S. government
As the U.S. retreats from global clean energy leadership, China is stepping up.
China is now aiming for renewables to account for at least 35% of energy consumption by 2030. Its previous target was for "non-fossil fuels" to make up 20% of energy use within the same time frame.
- China just signed a deal with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund on renewable energy cooperation and is further ratcheting up investment in the industry.
The U.S. government has pulled back on state resources for renewable energy projects, and Democratic lawmakers are even battling the Trump administration's reported attempts to create a national security advisory panel aimed at countering the science behind global warming.
- Scientists this week announced evidence of man-made global warming has reached a "gold standard" level of certainty, meaning there is only a one-in-a-million chance the findings are incorrect.
Why it matters: China- and Hong Kong-based companies like Xinyi Solar, GCL-Poly Energy and China Everbright International are increasingly rising to the top of alternative energy ETF holdings, which are seeing strong returns in the market, Linda Zhang, CEO of Purview Investments, tells Axios.
- "When you give good incentives, the market acts," Zhang said.
Be smart: China currently has the world's largest installed capacity of hydro, solar and wind power, thanks in large part to government direct investment and subsidies for green energy.
Bonus: The energy transition
While many have expressed worry over campaigns to get asset managers to move away from oil and other fossil fuels through boycotts and divestment, since the beginning of 2019 the industry has faced a far more immediate problem, writes David Sheppard in the Financial Times.
What's happening: "Investors, regardless of their environmental view of 'Big Oil,' appear to already be losing faith in an industry roiled by both short and long-term challenges that few are certain how will play out.
- "The problems range from the prosaic to the existential; lower oil prices brought about by the rise of the US shale industry, which has flipped the supply outlook in many minds from one of scarcity to abundance, has damped the short-term investment case. Longer-term, there are fears about how the industry will fare if, as increasingly forecast, oil demand does peak in the 2030s."
"There's just this hate for this commodity right now," Bernstein analyst Bob Bracket told FT in January.
- "They don't want it in the short-run due to the price swings seen in recent years. And in the long-run there are fears about how these companies look in a decade's time, if the energy transition gathers pace."
3. Powell wades into the deficit debate
No one could have predicted that it would take two hours for a member of the Senate to prod Fed Chair Jerome Powell about the Fed's political independence — or that the U.S. deficit would be such a central point of yesterday's hearing, Axios' Courtenay Brown writes.
Why it matters: Powell answered a handful of questions about the U.S. debt and then chimed in on the modern monetary theory debate — whether or not deficits matter for countries like the U.S. that print their own money.
"The idea that deficits don't matter for countries that can borrow in their own currency I think is just wrong ... U.S. debt is fairly high to the level of GDP — and much more importantly — it's growing faster than GDP, really significantly faster. We are going to have to spend less or raise more revenue."— Powell in response to Sen. David Perdue's question about MMT
The caveat: Powell called out "unsustainable" federal debt in his opening remarks. But in response to questions from senators, he emphasized that "decisions about spending and controlling spending and paying for it" are up to Congress, not the Fed.
What's next: Powell will face the House Financial Services Committee — the first Democratic-controlled body of Congress he's seen since becoming chairman — at 10 am ET.
4. Fewer non-tariffed goods went to China, too
China imported far fewer goods from the U.S. once the first round of tariffs took effect last July and the country retaliated, Courtenay writes.
Between the lines: The trade war is to blame for the slowdown, but interestingly imports of U.S. goods that weren't subject to tariffs slowed too when the trade war began.
What's happening: According to new research by the International Institute of Finance, this dynamic is proof that non-tariff measures were also contributing to the decline of U.S. exports to China.
"[This explains] why the US trade deficit with China grew last year. China's retaliation more than offset the impact of U.S. tariffs," IIF Deputy Chief Economist Sergi Lanau and Head of China Research Gene Ma argue.
- Early on in the trade war, there were concerns that China would retaliate not with tariffs, but with other tactics — including canceling orders for U.S. goods.
Bonus: China is turning to other countries for imports of "animal, vegetable, paper, and mineral products" it used to get from the U.S., Lanau and Ma write.
- Russia and Brazil are among the countries benefiting most.
5. The perfect storm
Data released Tuesday showed U.S. home building starts in December were the lowest since September 2016, and the 11.2% fall from November was the biggest one-month decline since January 2007.
- But U.S. building permits rose during the month, by 0.3%, meaning a sharp divergence between the number of actual building constructions started and the number of permits filed to build.
What they're saying: "The divergence... reflects the December chaos around Federal Reserve interest and balance sheet policies, fearing new tariffs on imported construction materials, declining small business confidence and a federal government shut-down that damped new start enthusiasm," Steven Skancke, chief economic advisor at investment firm Keel Point, and a former Treasury Department official, tells Axios in an email.
- The housing starts data collection was interrupted by the 35-day shutdown, which Skancke and others say can have a disproportionate negative impact.
- Plus, U.S. interest rates rose through Q4, the stock market sold off and confidence among homebuilders suffered as did homebuilder stocks based on the NAHB index.
- It was "the perfect storm," Bank of America Merrill Lynch's Global Research team said in a note. "The good news is that both have rebounded impressively since the start of the year. This sets up for a recovery in starts as builders feel better about their growth prospects."
- Further, they said, the last time the gap between the two measures was this large was May 2015, "and starts rebounded sharply in the month following."
Yes, but: "While we think the data will recover in the near term, it will still leave a further slowing in housing activity," BAML's analysts said.
The bottom line: "For a housing sector already assumed on shaky legs, this is alarming," said Jon Hill, interest rates strategist at BMO Capital Markets.
History: Alice Augusta Ball was the first woman to graduate from the University of Hawaii, graduating in 1915 with a master's degree in science. She was the first African-American research chemist and the first female chemistry professor in the college's history.
At the age of 23, Ball discovered and developed the most effective treatment for leprosy, which at the time was a life-ending disease with no chance of recovery.
She was the first person to successfully develop a water-soluble, injectable form of chaulmoogra oil that was used for decades to relieve the symptoms of the disease.
Her technique involved isolating ester compounds from the oil and chemically modifying them, resulting in a substance that retained the oil's therapeutic properties and was absorbed by the body when injected.
Ball also studied chemistry at the University of Washington, previously earning a bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and a second degree in pharmacy 2 years later.
The University of Hawaii did not recognize Ball's work for nearly 90 years. In 2000, the university dedicated a plaque to her, and the state's former lieutenant governor declared Feb. 29 "Alice Ball Day," which is celebrated every 4 years.


text:
Phantom's Shipping List for February 13, 2013
Phantom's Covers of the Week: Batman & Robin #17, Mars Attacks #7, Star Wars #2, and The Walking Dead #107.
Click on over to the Cover Gallery to see all the covers for this week (plus preview pages and other items). What's your favorite covers this week?
Don't let these items pass you by!: Batman: The Night of the Owls HC, Dead Space Collections, Mylo Xyloto #1, Secret Avengers #1, Star Wars #2, Uncanny X-Men #1, and The Walking Dead: The Governor Special.


text:
Soft Skills
PDCCC's Workforce Development is proud to meet the employability and soft skills of today's workforce with our new Soft Skills modules!
Choose one or more of the 12 modules and customize them for your employees.
Each module lasts 2-4 hours depending on customization for your organization.
PDCCC will also work to incorporate Soft Skills into our training programs to increase the employability skills of our students.
- Introduction to Soft Skills
- Time Management
- Understanding Your Values
- Effective Communication
- Conflict Management
- Teamwork Dynamics
- Ethics in the Workplace
- Valuing Diversity in the Workplace
- Understanding Workplace Sexual Harassment
- Professionalism
- Stress Management
- Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Call PDCCC Workforce at (757) 569-6050 or email email@example.com for more information.


text:
Think of an OSC as another sales agent. You need someone with the same propensity and drive for helping customers, but with a burning desire to succeed. The main difference between an Onsite Sales Agent and an OSC is that an OSC is focused on setting appointments as opposed to "closing the deal." However, the same closing techniques used for a sale can be used to "close" the appointment. In fact, only someone who has the courage to ask for the appointment (every time) will truly be successful. Many leads will have a laundry list of objections as to why they don't want to visit a community, give their e-mail address, receive your newsletter, or why they simply want to "think about it."
To have an OSC who is comfortable responding to these situations, you need to seek a person who handles objections well, is willing to continuously work on self-improvement and is eager to learn valuable scripts and techniques that will overcome the common objections, whether they arrive via e-mail or over the phone.
Many sales managers say to me, "It is hard to find a sales-oriented person who has a technology background." That's fine. I understand that, but you don't need a computer geek. You need a salesperson.
There are plenty of companies you can enlist to set up the Online Sales Program for you. Once you have a process in place, almost anyone with desktop computer skills can manage this program. Don't expect your OSC to handle the website development, search engine optimization, marketing and/or the e-mail campaign programs. It is truly hard to find an individual who has both strong sales skills and strong website development and marketing skills. Also, with a high volume of leads, they will simply not have time to focus on these other areas.
Here is an ideal list of qualities to look for in an OSC:
- Sales background – An OSC is a salesperson first.
- Strong computer skills – Most of their job functions are conducted on a PC. Your candidate must be familiar with most Microsoft Office programs and be comfortable conducting business online.
- Excellent phone skills – When a lead responds, it is usually by phone. There is rarely any face-to-face selling.
- Pleasing demeanor and people skills – Your OSC must be a natural when interacting with all types of people.
- E-mail composition skills – Most communication is through e-mail conversations, so your OSC must be able to respond professionally as a representative of your company.
- Motivated by commission – This is where salespeople excel, right? An OSC must be excited about the endless opportunities this profession offers.
Read Part 1 – The Online Sales Counselor >>
Up Next – OSC Job Functions