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Need to Do More With Less
Business consistently becomes more complex and Operations face ongoing changes, unpredictable events, and changing demands by end users. And all of this happens at unprecedented speed. How can IT Operations & Management handle the complexity and pace of change?
We know that over the past several years, IT budgets have fallen dramatically. According to Gartner, they shrank 8.1 percent in 2009, and another 1.1 percent in 2010. Even though IT budgets have started growing again, they are still only at the level they were in 2005. As a result, IT operations teams are having to do more with less people and resources, while managing an increasing number of systems and also dealing with additional complexity. Increasing productivity while lowering costs is a challenging proposition – thus the need for ITOA.
Managing Enormous and Increasing Amounts of Data
System successes and system failures, and all underlying data is logged and saved as IT operations data all day long. But most of that data is raw and unstructured but is needed to manage operations successfully. Doing more with less requires a level of efficiency that requires complete visibility and intelligent management based on all that detailed data generated by IT systems.
Expect the Unexpected
The operations staff is ultimately responsible for the health of the entire business. Thus, understandably they resist changes that might introduce unpredictably within the IT infrastructure or applications. However, solving business problems requires creativity and flexibility to meet the changes dictated by business requirements. How do you embrace change, creativity and flexibility while guarding against unforeseen problems that can arise in production as a result? Often unplanned changes lie at the root of many failures. This then creates business and IT crises that need to be resolved quickly in order to avoid business losses.
The Emergence of IT Operations Analytics
Traditional approaches are not sufficient. Very simply, monitoring software alone cannot address the problems Operations face. If problems are not detected early on and resolved quickly, the result is downtime. Collecting data and filtering it to make it more understandable via a dashboard is certainly valuable, but it is not prescriptive.
A change in capabilities is needed where IT operations takes a proactive approach to service management. Because of the complexity of environments, huge volumes of IT data and changing processes in the environment, organizations need to have automation that is analytics driven. IT Operations Analytics provides the necessary insight buried in enormous quantities of complex data, and can provide the means by which IT operations teams can proactively determine risks, impacts, or the potential for outages.
Our solutions provide a new way for operations to proactively manage IT system performance and availability in complex and dynamic environments with less resources and greater speed. Let us show you how ITOA contributes both to the top and bottom line of any organization, reducing your operations costs and increasing business value through improved user experience and the reliability of business transactions.
Contact Technical Services to learn more:
Jim Anderson | firstname.lastname@example.com


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Welcome to FindLaw's coverage of existing West Virginia legislation and rules related to individuals' immigration status. Below you will find information on what, if any, rules West Virginia has regarding immigration checks by law enforcement, educational institutions, and employers, as well as the existence of E-Verify requirements, restrictions on public benefits based on an individual's immigration status, and more.
Under a federal program called "Secure Communities," all arrestees are fingerprinted and run through a federal database which checks their criminal record and immigration status.
Refer to federal employment eligibility verification rules and the requirements for Form I-9.
No requirement to use E-Verify for checking employees' status.
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residence is required for obtaining a West Virginia driver's license or state ID.
Certain categories of immigrants are ineligible to receive benefits from the West Virginia Works program.
Immigrant children are eligible for the West Virginia Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP) if they entered the U.S. before Aug. 22, 1996 and received legal status or entered after Aug. 22, 1996 and obtained legal status for five consecutive years.
Under federal law, illegal immigrants are prohibited from receiving most public benefits. However, they are allowed to receive emergency services, health care and other programs that have been deemed "necessary to protect life and safety."
No state-mandated identification requirement for voting.
Contact a qualified immigration attorney to help you get the best results possible.

subset: commoncrawl


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Best Shimano Spinning Reel – Tested & Reviewed in 2020!
Have you ever been in a position where you take a trip to the water expecting a pleasurable fishing experience only to be let down by your angling equipment? In such a situation, the problem follows you back from the point where you made bad choices during equipment purchase.
All you need to do as an angler is to find the correct fishing reel for your angling activities. Shimano has made a reputation out of producing high-quality fishing reels that are reasonably priced. One thing I know about these shimano casting reels is that they offer qualities that are found in high-end reels but are comparably easy to maintain and care for.
Table of Contents
- 7 Best Shimano Spinning Reels Comparison
- 7 Best Shimano Spinning Reel – Reviews
- 1. Shimano Thunnus 6000 CI4 Saltwater Baitrunner Spinning Reel
- 2. Shimano Curado E Reels
- 3. SHIMANO STRADIC HG, Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel
- 4. Shimano Sahara Spinning Fishing Reel
- 5. Shimano Spirex RG Spinning Reel
- 6. Shimano Sienna Spin Reel
- 7. SHIMANO SYNCOPATE Front Drag, Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel
- How to Choose the Best Shimano Reel
- Final Verdict
7 Best Shimano Spinning Reels Comparison
|Product Name
|Gear Ratio
|Latest Price
|Shimano Thunnus 6000 CI4
|18 ounce
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Curado E Reels
|10.5 ounce
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Stradic HG Freshwater
|6.0 : 1
|6.90 ounce
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Sahara Spinning Reel
|6.2 1
|7.2 ounces
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Spirex RG Spinning Reel
|9.9 ounces
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Sienna Spin Reel
|9.5 ounces
|Check Latest Price
|Shimano Syncopate
|8 ounces
|Check Latest Price
I have created a list of the best Shimano spinning reels in the market to help you narrow down to your favorite model.
7 Best Shimano Spinning Reel – Reviews
1. Shimano Thunnus 6000 CI4 Saltwater Baitrunner Spinning Reel
A good fishing reel should be lightweight and still equipped with enough power to stop big fish. It is designed with enough technology to help it work against the law of nature, in a good way. It has the latest technology so that it boasts superior durability, excellent performance, and fantastic functionality, all in one package.
The Shimano Thunnus 6000 CI4 can handle almost any live bait application including both blue water and inshore species. It is fitted with new drag systems for main drag and baits runner. In fact, it is the most efficient live bait, and one of the best surf fishing reels and anglers can ever bump into on the market today.
It also offers smooth stopping power among other features that make it easy to use and efficient for catching various types of fish. With many bogus models on the market, it has become difficult for many anglers to find a fishing reel that they can believe in and depend on, but Shimano Thunnus 6000 CI4 has given anglers more hope once again.
- Strong and durable construction
- Powerful performance
- Peerless adjustability
- Efficient propulsion line management
- Smooth stopping power
- The gears might begin to grind sooner if not well taken care of
Shimano Thunnus Saltwater Spinning Reel
Also Read: Finding the Best Bowfishing Reel for the Right Price
2. Shimano Curado E Reels
Angling is not supposed to be difficult, and that's why when you find a fishing reel that can make things easy and enjoyable for you on water, you go for it.
That is exactly what this fishing reel is designed to do. It takes a few casts to realize the Shimano Curado E Reels is a great improvement over the previous models.
Its' centrifugal system is also much better compared to the previous versions. The system is designed to give you more consistent spool control during a cast. It is interesting how the systems externally adjustable through a somehow stealthy dial that's located at the lower side of the front part of the non-handle side plate.
The result is a fishing reel that gives you an optimal power to tackle large and heavy fish. It is one of the best choices for anglers who don't want to spend too much money on a fishing gear but still want a highly effective equipment to help them make a difference on their fishing.
- Impressive casting distance
- Maximum comfort while you use it
- Compact and lightweight
- Ultra-smooth
- Effortless casting
- Brakes can slow down in some cases
Shimano Curado E Reels
3. SHIMANO STRADIC HG, Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel
This is a typical Shimano reel in every way. The Shimano Stradic is one of the most common series among Shimano lovers across the globe. This spinning reel is smooth right from the box. Its anti-reverse system is super solid.
The reel utilizes a new anti-reverse bearing design designed to minimize friction and the difference is clear when you use it.
The Shimano Stradic FK Spinning Reel, C5000XG has a more angular rotor, which will take you a short time to get used to in case you aren't used to it yet. The rotor design is the reason why the reel feels perfectly balanced.
I have noticed that this fishing reel functions with no detectable vibration even when you rotate it fast. It gives anglers great power to fight fish no matter how big it might be. Its body is made of aluminum while the rotor is made of composite, yet it looks and feels extremely solid and high quality.
Before you see its price, it would be hard to believe that it costs so less. This is a powerful and refined reel that will make your fishing activities better in a great way. Both freshwater and saltwater anglers will find it very effective because of its ability to live through tough conditions in both glasses of water. If you take good care of it, this reel will last long no matter how often you use it. The body area is protected by a series of seals to make sure it can last that long.
- Balanced weight makes it easy to control
- Designed to improve your experience on the water
- Perfectly sealed to keep contaminants out
- Extremely precise gear
- Reduce friction up to 25 percent
- Lightweight but not enough
Shimano Stradic FK Spinning Reel
4. Shimano Sahara Spinning Fishing Reel
This one of the best Shimano spinning reels feature high-end qualities, yet it has a low price. The Shimano Sahara Spinning Fishing Reel gives you the chance to benefit from its innovative features at a lower price and maintenance cost.
It delivers high power and performance that would revolutionize your angling activities in various environments.
It features Hagane gear which provides amazing strength and durability. It functions so smoothly you won't even feel the strain on an all-day out fishing. One of the reasons why I would recommend this nice equipment to any modern angler is because of the strong and sturdy structure that makes it good for large and struggling fish.
- Enhanced and powerful experience
- Innovatively enhanced construction reduces fatigue
- Can handle the heaviest fish
- Provide you with options to choose from
- Versatile
- Some people have complained that it binds up and become difficult to turn
Shimano Sahara Spinning Fishing Reel
5. Shimano Spirex RG Spinning Reel
Overall, this spinning reel boasts several excellent qualities that make it many anglers' favorite fishing gear. With the Shimano Spirex RG Spinning Reel, the fish doesn't stand a chance even a little bit.
This is one of my favorite fishing reels. It looks small but contains some of the best features an angler can ever dream of.
It is a good feel for angling purposes. Some of the latest technology you'll find in this spinning reel include propulsion line management system, various peed oscillation, and the quickfire 2. You also get the chance to benefit from one-hand casting procedure. This fishing reel belongs to the reputable Spirex rear drag series, which is famous for using several smart approaches to providing good spinning options.
It features an extremely lightweight rotor that allows you to operate this reel without any difficulties while you still get impressive results. Its ball bearings are constructed of shielded stainless steel, which enhances its performance a great deal. It is a user-friendly spinning reel which you can operate and care for with a lot of easy. It is less expensive to maintain compared to many other reels on the market today.
- Rubber handle grips
- High-standard spinning reel
- Cold-forged aluminum spool
- Lightweight graphite frame
- Fantastic rear-drag system
- Not a good choice for beginners
Shimano Spirex RG Spinning Reel
6. Shimano Sienna Spin Reel
The Shimano Sienna Spin Reel is a big hit today because of the endless amazing characteristics that make anglers praising it. It has a made for itself in the spinning reel market because it is easy to handle and to take care of.
It impresses me the most with its versatile nature. Though it comes at an incredibly low price, this spinning reel will always give you good results in both freshwater and saltwater fishing.
There is no difference in its performance in catching big or small fish. The Shimano Sienna Spin Reel is made of lightweight metal, making it strong and featherweight at the same time. Its propulsion line management system will help have a longer cast. It also features an instant reverse bearing that functions extraordinarily to make it perform smoothly and efficiently. It features super stopper 2 to stop reverse movement.
Besides, it is purely made from durable quality materials. Its frame is made of graphite and aluminum while the frame, rotor, and the side plates are made purely from graphite. The spool is made from aluminum.
All these parts function excellently, thanks to the quality materials and the innovativeness used in their construction. This is one of the things that give it the potential to stand up against tough conditions.
- Light in weight and easy to use
- Lasts long if you take good care of it
- Easy to maintain
- Versatile and can be used anywhere
- Features instant reverse and provide longer casting
- The instrument is too small for some people
Shimano Sienna Spin Reel
7. SHIMANO SYNCOPATE Front Drag, Freshwater Spinning Fishing Reel
This is the last Shimano casting reel in this guide, but also the one that has some of the greatest features among them. It provides reliable performance with a small price tag.
Its frame, side plate, and rotor are all made from graphite, which explains its overall lightweight quality.
The Shimano Syncopate 1000 Front Drag Spin Reel looks good from the outside. And unlike many reels that look good but performs poorly, this reel provides a powerful performance to compliment its good looks.
It casts long distance without much effort. You also get the chance to enjoy smooth and easy retrievals with this amazing fishing equipment. I've noticed that the Shimano Syncopate 1000 Front Drag Spin Reel is also a durable tool that will stay for longer if you take good care of it.
- Efficient stainless steel ball bearings
- Perfectly sealed to keep out destructive elements
- Dyna-balance eliminate wobble
- Sleek and elegant looking
- Varispeed provide excellent castability
- Sometimes it wobble, but that depends on how you use it
Shimano Syncopate Front Drag Spin Reel
How to Choose the Best Shimano Reel
Buying a reel is a very important investment. If you get it right, you will enhance the pleasure you get from fishing. Here are some of the most vital factors to guide you in choosing right.
Reel Handle
Something as small as the handle can make all the difference. The choice of Shimano casting reel handle is more of a personal one. Reel handles come in different shapes, lengths, and sizes. Some higher specification reels feature double handle while other have single handles. The double handle provides better balance when retrieving. You choose the type of handle that works best for you.
Spools on a spinning reel hold the line and affect the casting distance and the smoothness. It is an important part that you shouldn't take for granted when making a choice of the best spinning reel. Most spools on today's spinning reel market are made from either anodized aluminum or graphite. Graphite is lighter and therefore efficient. Aluminum spools are strong and rigid under pressure.
The number of bearings a reel has determines how smooth it will function. Bearings also help to prolong the spinning reel's lifespan. It is the bearings that absorb the majority of the wearing and tearing of the moving parts in the reel. The more the bearing or, the higher the quality, the more durable the reel will be. The bearings also increase its effectiveness and efficiency.
Drag System
Drag helps in applying pressure to the hooked fish and letting out the line during the struggle with fish. Without a smooth and high-quality drag system, there is a high risk of the line breaking and losing the fish altogether. That is a risk no angler would want to take. Check the drag system before you buy a fishing reel to make sure it will serve you right.
Final Verdict
Shimano is still one of the best fishing equipment companies today, and their products are unique in their way. Any of these seven Shimano spinning reels will help you achieve your most desired fishing success.
Relevant Resources:
- Best Spinning Reel Under 50 Dollars – Top Models Reviewed!
- Best Baitcasting Reel Under 100 – Top Models Reviewed!
- 8 Best Spinning Reels Under – Guide From A Pro Angler
- 10 Best Saltwater Spinning Reels – Top Models Reviewed!
- 5 Best Baitcasting Reels For The Money – Reviews
- Best Spinning Reels For The Money – Tested & Reviewed


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Air conditioning is the simultaneous control of a variety of factors that have an affect on the physical and chemical condition of the atmosphere within a structure such as a building. These factors can all affect a person's health so some degree. These can include temperature, motion, humidity, dust, distribution, bacteria, odors, and toxic gases.
Properly conditioned air is air that has had one or more of the factors performed on it; it might have been heated or cooled, moisture has been removed from it, it might have been put into motion by some apparatus such as a fan, or it may have been filtered and cleaned.
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Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems cool and heat rooms, but that is not the only thing that they do. The room itself is not treated by the HVAC system, just the air in the room. Air is like a vehicle that is used to carry heat and moisture from one place to another. Every cubic foot of air in a room weighs something, and the weigh depends on it's moisture content and temperature. The altitude of the building also comes into play.
Air Circulation
It is important that the HVAC system circulates the air at all times. The two reasons are:
1. The air needs to be constantly circulating in order to carry heat and moisture away from the body. When this is not working correctly, a person can become quite uncomfortable, even when in a room with relatively low humidity.
2. The air has to be continuously drawn into the conditioner and then passed over the evaporator, which is cool, so that the humidity that it has collected from the room can be condensed and then gotten rid of through the system's drain.
Cleaning and Filtering the Air
So many air cleaning and filtering devices are on the market that it is easy to get confused. Their job is to help to eliminate all of the little particles that are in the circulated air, many of which can cause property damage and are hazardous to one's health. The main particles that are filtered are dust, fumes, and smoke. Dust and fumes will settle in the room if the air is still, but smoke will actually remain in motion in the air if it is not removed.
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Posted in Cleaning Services Post Date 01/02/2017


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Thursday afternoons at 1 p.m., seniors gather at the Senior Center to play cards games such as canasta, bridge & pinnochle. Members of the group bring refreshments. This is an opportunity to make a new friend as well as learn a new skill.
A group of seniors meets every Wednesday and Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Senior Center to play billiards. Stop by at any other time to play on your own.
Buck's Bingo meets every Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. at the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center. The first card is free. There is a small charge for additional cards.
Senior Center Home | Aerobics | AHOY | Billiards | Bingo | Cards & Board Games | Clubs & Organizations | Computer Classes | Elder Law | Facility Highlights | Painting Classes | Quilting | Senior Dance | Senior Games | Trips | Walking Program | Yoga
© 2010 City of Washington, NC


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Compared to other animals, birds have a reduced sense of taste
Birds come in all shapes, sizes, lifestyles and with varying nutritional needs. Maxi Zoo understands that differing species have their own tastes and preferences. Whether you keep birds indoors or simply enjoy enticing some live nature into your garden, Maxi Zoo carries everything you need to feed, including:
• Readymade bags of complete foods, seeds, nuts, and mixes
• A smorgasbord of loose foods for you to tailor-create your own mixes!
• Feeding balls and cones for your outdoor wild visitors
• A variety of treats and treat sticks to jazz up your feathered friend's diet
• Plus more!!!
Call into your local store today to discuss your bird's personal needs with our Maxi Zoo Pet Experts
Compared to other animals, birds have a reduced sense of taste
Different birds require different foods, so ask your Maxi Zoo Pet advisor what mix is best for your bird.
Keep careful track of how many seed and nut treats you include in your bird's diet, as too many can be fattening
Visit us in one of our stores
We have loads of fun stuff for kids to do!


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Engine manufacturer Mercury Marine makes the Optimax outboard motor in two sizes: 150 horsepower and 135 horsepower. A 150 Optimax Mercury Marine motor relies on a two-stage fuel injection system to deliver power to your boat's outboard engine. You will need your engine's serial number to repair your Mercury Marine Optimax engine's fuel injection system, belts or motor blades; the serial number is also important if you want to purchase parts and accessories. Rely on three sources to find the serial number for your 150 Optimax Mercury Marine.
Step 1
Look on the engine brackets. Mercury Marine notes that it puts each Optimax engine's serial number and year of manufacture on a sticker on one of the engine's transom brackets. The transom bracket connects the engine to the rear of your boat, suspending the engine in mid-air behind the boat instead of hanging the engine over the edge of the boat, according to Marine Engine Digest.
Step 2
Ask a dealer. Mercury Marine dealers can help you find the serial number of your Optimax outboard engine. Check with the dealer who sold you the engine or contact any dealer using Mercury Marine's directory of dealers. All dealers have product literature and reference materials that can assist you in your search for the engine's serial number.
Step 3
Check your owner's documents. When you purchased your Optimax engine, you should have received a few important owner's documents that feature the engine's serial number. Check your owner's packet for a detailed receipt – which should list the engine serial number – and for an owner's manual. Optimax manuals feature the engine serial number either on the cover or inside front cover.


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Major General William H. Graham was Commanding General and Division Engineer of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division from March 26, 2015 to July 19, 2018.
The North Atlantic Division is one of nine regions providing engineering and construction services to the nation. It is the Corps' headquarters for the Northeastern United States, Europe, and Africa, with offices in Concord, Mass., New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Norfolk and Wiesbaden, Germany.
As Division Commander, Major General Graham oversees an annual program of more than $5 billion to plan, design and construct projects to support the military, protect America's water resources, mitigate risk from disasters, and restore and enhance the environment. He is also responsible for a variety of Division engineering and construction activities for international, federal, state and local governments and agencies in more than a dozen Northeastern states as well as overseas.
Prior to becoming the Commander and Division Engineer of the North Atlantic Division, Major General Graham served as Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C. Before that he served as the Engineer Director for the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District, Division Engineer for the 1st Armored Division and Multi National Division-North during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Major General Graham also commanded the 40th Engineer Battalion in Kuwait and Iraq, served as battalion engineer officer with the 4th Infantry Division (Mech) in Iraq, and served as a Combat Engineer platoon leader in the 3rd Armored Division during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.
Major General Graham is a native of Western Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Kansas. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was an Army War College Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Program.
Major General Graham's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Overseas Service Medal, Saudi Arabia Defense and Kuwait Liberation Medals, Valorous Unit Award and Combat Action Badge.


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It's commonly said that everyone has a book in them.
Do you have a story in you? A novel that's aching to be told?
Maybe you've always wanted to write a book.
That's fantastic!
Everyone should write the stories in their head. Everyone should write the book in them.
Whether it's just for them, for friends and family, or for the wider world.
But it can be difficult to know where to start.
Maybe you have a character but no plot.
Or a plot but no characters.
Or a spark of an idea and no idea what to do with it.
Don't worry.
I got you.
This free seven day email course is for you.
We'll get started as soon as you sign up, and you'll get the basics of how to start planning and writing your story.
By the end of the seven day course (actually, before the end) you'll be writing your story.
You can start your free seven day course, Let's Get Writing Fiction, by signing up below.


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Southern Hotel
Activities & Events
Visitors have been drawn to the peace, serenity and natural resources of St. Tammany Parish since the turn of the 19th century. With abundant lakes and waterways, biking paths, equestrian events, and bird watching opportunities, visitors to the area may still enjoy outdoor and recreation in St. Tammany.
A charming southern town whose center is on the National Register of Historic Places, Covington is home to boutiques, antique and specialty shops, art galleries, and famed restaurants. Its proximity to New Orleans (across the 24-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway) allows guests to take in the sights and sounds of the Crescent City while still enjoying the serenity of the Northshore.
Whether a shopping package with limousine transportation to New Orleans' Magazine Street or complimentary bike and kayak rentals, the Southern Hotel offers a variety of programs for visitors to enjoy St. Tammany and beyond.


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By Joseph Williams, Natural Resource Governance Initiative
This post originally appeared on www.resourcegovernance.org on June 13, 2017
Some days are more exciting than others when oil and gas companies disclose the payments they make to governments. We have seen a number of big days like this over the past years.
Statoil became the first company to report under a mandatory payment disclosure regime in early 2015, undermining U.S. oil lobby arguments.
Shell, which had fought so vigorously against project-level payment disclosure laws, published its first payments to governments report under U.K. law in April 2016 and included information on China and Qatar, countries it previously claimed prohibited disclosure.
BP, which had barely published any country specific information (save for seven EITI countries, often with huge time lags), reported on USD 15.2 billion worth of project-level payments in 23 countries in June 2016.
These disclosures were exciting, and staggered. Over the last fortnight, similar reports have poured in.
On 31 May, Italian oil giant ENI published its first report (search for "ENI"). It includes information on payments of nearly EUR 5 billion in 2016 to government entities in 30 countries including Nigeria and the infamous OPL 245 oil block. The lack of any information on China is a concern, though, and requires follow up. ENI's production in China was 2,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2016. In 2015, where ENI's production was 3,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, it made tax payments of EUR 1.4 million according to a voluntary report.
By last Friday, approximately 600 companies (not allowing for duplicates where a consolidated report was filed for multiple companies), had reported under Canada's Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA). The reports will take some time to sort through and NRGI is working on this with our partner PWYP Canada. In the meantime, there have been some pleasant surprises.
Chevron has published its report for relevant subsidiaries under Canada's ESTMA. We expected information related to its operations in Canada to be in this report. Indeed, Chevron's U.K. subsidiary has reported on its U.K. operations under U.K. law, as is the case with the subsidiaries of other large U.S. companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips operating in the U.K. What we did not expect to find was Chevron's Canadian subsidiaries reporting CAD 3.28 billion in payments to Indonesian and Nigerian government entities for projects such as its Rokan PSC in Indonesia or the Agbami field (OML 127/128) in Nigeria due to the way the corporation is structured. While this by no means captures all of Chevron's payments to government worldwide, it is the first time Chevron has reported under a mandatory disclosure law in some of the key countries for which these laws were intended to increase transparency. Chevron was instrumental in lobbying for the disapproval of an effective transparency rule in the U.S. earlier this year. Today its anti-competitiveness claims look more ridiculous than ever.
CNOOC Ltd
CNOOC Ltd agreed to list on the Toronto Stock Exchange as per requirements when it acquired Canadian company Nexen. As a result, CNOOC Ltd has disclosed USD 2.6 billion in payments to government entities in 17 countries. This is the most comprehensive disclosure report we have seen so far by a Chinese state-owned company and puts it far ahead of ExxonMobil and Chevron in terms of the information on payments to governments it makes available to citizens around the world. CNOOC's disclosures also raise questions as to why its peer Sinopec, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has not reported under U.K. law for its Angolan and Chinese operations. In another interesting quirk of these disclosure regimes, CNOOC has also filed its full payments to governments report in open data format (take your pick out of CSV, JSON or XML) with Companies House under U.K. law in order to meet the disclosure obligations of its U.K. subsidiary.
Royal Dutch Shell
To top all of this off, today Shell has published its report on payments to governments in 2016. It is available on Shell's website, as well as via Companies House in CSV, JSON, or XML format. It is available as a stock exchange announcement, as well. This year, Shell has reported on USD 15 billion in payments made to governments in 31 countries.
This is up from 24 countries last year, partly due to Shell's acquisition of BG Group (which explains the inclusion of Trinidad & Tobago and Tunisia). It's a decrease in terms of payments, down from USD 21.8 billion last year. Nigeria is the largest payment recipient at USD 3.6 billion. In Canada, Shell has again reported payments to a number of First Nations entities. Like last year, Shell is actually receiving large tax refunds in the United States (USD 254 million) and the U.K. (USD 142 million). Shell's project-level data needs careful examination to ensure the company is not aggregating legal agreements together to obscure project level reporting.
Finally, production entitlements account for nearly two-thirds of all payments reported by Shell. This is important. For example, Shell's report reveals that it made in-kind payments (mainly in the form of production entitlements) totalling 134.2 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) in 2016 to at least three government entities in Malaysia, including Petronas, the national oil company. The question then becomes: What is the government doing with these barrels of oil equivalent and who is buying them? It is crucial that the buyers of these in-kind payments and the payments they make to purchase this production are included in these payment disclosure laws given the size of the transactions and their susceptibility to corruption. Thankfully, the launch of an international dialogue looking at this issue is taking place this week at the OECD in Paris to take forward commitments made by major trading hubs such as the U.K. and Switzerland at the 2016 London Anti-Corruption Summit.
A significant reporting shift
We are definitely at an inflection point. In addition to the ESTMA disclosures described above, over 90 companies have reported payment information under U.K. law for 2015. A similar number are reporting for 2016 (Shell's report is one such disclosure.) In total, over USD 136 billion was paid to governments in 112 countries around the world by companies reporting under U.K. law for 2015. NRGI will detail this more fully in an upcoming report.
I encourage everyone—campaigners, investors, analysts, government official and others—to dive into these reports. The more eyes we have on them, the more likely we will see this transparency lead to empowerment of oversight actors and greater accountability.
There remains much work to be done, including ensuring these reports are more easily accessible; querying the reports with companies; improving the underlying legislation; analyzing them for insights; and using them to bring about accountability more purposefully in countries where accountability is lacking most. Please do get in touch if you would like to be involved with this work.
Joseph Williams is a senior advocacy officer with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI).
Introduction to Python
By Yan Naung Oak, Phandeeyar
The full version of this tutorial is available on GitHub
This tutorial is the first in a series that will help you learn how to analyse data about the extractives industry using Python.
We start off with a few FAQs before diving into the tutorial.
What are Python, R, Jupyter Notebooks, and Pandas?
Python and R are the most widely used programming languages for data science.
Python and R are just the languages, but you need a program on your computer where you can write, test, and run programs using those languages. For that purpose, you need a Development Environment, which is a program that lets you write, test and run code. For Python, the most popular Development Environment is called Jupyter Notebooks (which run right on a web browser), and for R, the most popular Development Environment is called RStudio.
On top of these languages, there are libraries which allows you to do specialised things. In Python, for example, the Pandas library is the most widely used library for data analysis.
Why are they useful?
How are they better than Excel, Tableau, etc?
What is the difference between R and Python?
Python is a general purpose programming language, which means that in addition to doing data science, you can write anything in Python ranging from web apps to online games. People with a background in programming usually find Python to be easier to learn than R.
R is a programming language that is especially made for data science. As a result you can't write all kinds of things like games and apps with it, but it is awesome if you want to work on data. People coming from a data analysis or statistics background usually find R to be easier to learn than Python.
In terms of working with data, such as wrangling, analysing, and visualising, both Python and R works great for pretty much anything you can think of. The two languages are very different in terms of style and syntax, but their functionality is very similar.
What do I need to get started?
For this tutorial, we will just stick to Python, and we will just run it using an online version of Jupyter Notebooks that does not require installing anything on your computer. You can get started by going here: https://try.jupyter.org/
To learn more, head over to GitHub for the full tutorial.
Hundreds of oil, gas and mining companies have reported their payments to governments, as required by the Canadian Extractive Sector Transparency Measures Act (ESTMA). Citizens now have access to a massive pool of previously hidden payment data that can help fuel their efforts to hold governments and companies accountable for how their natural resources are managed. The hundreds of ESTMA reports include disclosures from Chinese state-owned firm CNOOC on Canadian and global operations, ExxonMobil on operations within Canada, and Chevron on operations in Canada and Nigeria.
This post will show you step-by-step how to access those reports.
ESTMA requires that all natural resource companies that do business in Canada, or are listed on Canadian stock exchanges, such as the Toronto stock exchanges (TSX, TSXV), must submit reports on their payments to governments. The Canadian reporting requirements closely align with the requirements in effect in the European Union and Norway. Covered companies must report their payments by project in every country of operation.
Canada is one of the world's largest extractive industries markets. Over 500 company reports are now available through the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) website, and many more are expected to be posted in the coming weeks and months.The more than 500 reports that are currently posted can feel like a lot to sort through. You can make it easier by using the following spreadsheets from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) to search for companies by your country of interest, and then finding the corresponding ESTMA reports. The TSX site hosts pages detailing listed companies within the oil & gas sector (spreadsheet download) and the mining sector (spreadsheet download).The rightmost columns of the TSX spreadsheets indicate where each company has operations within rough regional categories. Subnational territories are also indicated for Canada and the United States.
With a number of companies identified, you can navigate to the NRCan page that lists all currently published company reports. There is no search function, but clicking 'Expand All' will present you with an alphabetical list of reports.
Company reports must pass a compliance check prior to being published on the NRCan page. If you do not find a particular company's report, it is likely published on the company's website and can be found by entering "{Company name}+ESTMA" into any search engine.
Of the several hundred posted reports, a small number are available in a data user-friendly Microsoft Excel format. The vast majority of posted reports are in PDF format.
Fortunately, Extract-A-Fact has tackled this data usability problem before. Consult our tutorial post on using Tabula to learn how you can scrape pdf documents to transform data from a PDF into Excel spreadsheets.
The reports present payments under two headings. The 'Payments by Payee' section aligns each payment with the individual recipient government entity. The second section, 'Payments by Project,' organizes all the of the payments according to each individual project.
Publish What You Pay Canada and the Natural Resource Governance Institute are creating a central database of ESTMA disclosures that will be released in the coming months. Check back on Extract-A-Fact for more information and sign up for our newsletter to receive our updates. For more on the analysis that can be done with the ESTMA reports read this post from Claire Woodside of PWYP-Canada.
By David Mihalyi, Natural Resource Governance Institute
This post originally appeared on www.resourcegovernance.org on May 15, 2017
Tullow Oil, a U.K.-based company operating mostly in Africa, began voluntarily disclosing payments made to governments four years ahead of the mandatory requirements for EU-based companies.
Accounting for half of the company's 2016 production, Ghana is important to Tullow. The reverse is also true: Tullow is the operator of Jubilee and Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN), the country's major producing oil fields. Tullow's sustained period of reporting in Ghana and elsewhere provides a unique opportunity to analyze how project developments affect oil company tax payments.
Tullow's first year of reporting coincides with first oil from the Jubilee field in 2011. Recently released reporting for 2016 corresponds to production at TEN. This six-year span was particularly volatile: Ghana's oil sector grew rapidly and was hit for the first time by a massive drop in oil price.
So what does the payment data tell us about this period?
NRGI collected and analyzed Tullow's yearly disclosures across payment types required to be disclosed under EU rules and of relevance to Ghana: license fees, infrastructure payments, royalties and income tax. The payment data confirms some of the textbook features of royalty and tax-based oil and gas fiscal regimes. But it also provides unique insight on the contrary dynamics of a growing sector and dropping prices.
Our analysis excludes payments made to the state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation regarding its approximately 15 percent participating interest in Jubilee and TEN. According to the latest 2014 Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report and the 2015 Public Interest Accountability Committee report, these payments provided over half of the government's oil revenues. These payments were excluded because Tullow's reports, unlike those of other companies, such as BP, do not include production entitlements states receive as participants in a project. While Tullow's disclosure provides highly timely data for six years, its coverage is less comprehensive.
The payment data shows that license fees generate marginal, flat revenues (less than USD 100,000 per year), and payments for infrastructure improvements are also relatively small (USD 2 million to USD 10 million per year). License fees and infrastructure improvement payments represent less than 4 percent of payments disclosed under the rules.
Production entitlements, in this case the royalties (paid in kind), represent over half of the revenues. They have fluctuated considerably, between USD 37 million to USD 87 million annually, depending on the oil price and production volumes.
But it is income tax that by has been most volatile. In 2013 and 2014, it was the largest source of revenues, generating over USD 100 million per year. None was collected in previous years, nor in 2015.
We previously analyzed and attempted to forecast 2015 oil revenues by building a fiscal model for the Jubilee field. Our retrospective analysis, which specifically investigates the drop in corporate taxes, found the international drop in oil prices accounted for some of this fluctuation. However, most of the difference came from deductions against taxable income from Jubilee. From 2010 to 2012, Tullow was recovering its investment in developing the field. Once these costs were recovered, it was paying large corporate tax in 2013 and 2014. But in 2015, Tullow started to offset costs associated with developing TEN against profits made on Jubilee. This led to unforeseen revenues reductions at odds with budgeted figures.
The good news for Ghanaians is that Tullow's latest disclosure indicates deductions from TEN may have plateaued. Despite oil prices remaining low last year, Tullow reported some, albeit more modest, corporate tax payments in 2016. This indicates Ghana's oil fields can remain profitable in the current environment and with reduced cost deductions, a relatively larger share of oil proceeds can accrue to the government.
But reasons for caution remain. Jubilee's offshore platform is undergoing another round of costly repairs. Further TEN investment may come, hinging on an international tribunal ruling in favor of Ghana on maritime boundaries. The Atuabo Gas Processing Plant is being put to test with recent expansion of gas production, which might lead to additional maintenance costs. These potential further investments, though beneficial in the long-run, could again depress tax payments expected over the next years.
There is often a trade-off in the oil sector between increasing short-term tax revenues and attracting further investment. With the help of Tullow's payment disclosures, we can monitor where Ghana stands.
Data covering Tullow payment disclosures for Ghana from 2011 to 2016 can be found here. Additional payment data is available on ResourceProjects.org.
David Mihalyi is an economic analyst with NRGI.
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August 2019


text: My best friend and I stepped into one of the fashion capital's of the world, Milan, not knowing very much about the hot spots, nightlife, or what there was to explore. Aside from the fashion world, there wasn't much else that I'd recognized Milan for in the past. Being in Italy we had a hunch that pizza and pasta were right at the top of the list, so after doing some hunting and taste-testing I put together a list of our top eats in Milan….


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VoIP Provider VoIP Hardware Provider VoIP Hardware Provider Infostructure - Business VOIP Providers
VoIP Business Directory
|VoIP Business Directory
|Add Entry
Infostructure - Business VOIP Providers
288 South Pacific Highway Talent, Oregon
Country: USA
Contact Person: Infostructure
Phone: (541) 773-5000
InfoStructure is a business telecommunication company providing voice and data services for businesses to achieve more flexibility and productivity by implementing Voip, small business phone system, other phone system solutions and high speed internet. Our voice services range from Hosted PBX Virtual Phone System, Business VOIP Provider for SIP Trunking Connectivity, and traditional phone system services for fastest communications mediums in the telecommunication industry. We also offer high speed internet services including Ethernet over Copper, standard Coax, DSL, Ashland Fiber Network (AFN), fiber optics, web and email hosting and eFax for businesses. We have clients from small, medium, to large enterprises. Whether you are setting up a home office or starting up a small business from home, looking to upgrade/expand your current office, or looking for better telecommunication solutions, we can provide technology that will keep your overall business telecommunication cost as efficient as possible. Visit us at InfoStructure.net to learn more.
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What's included:
Let's discuss what package is right for you
Rundeck Enterprise delivers what you need to run Rundeck as an enterprise-class service. Rundeck Enterprise is a subscription bundle that includes exclusive features and plugins, as well as professional support and on-boarding services.
High-availability and scalability are essential, and Rundeck Enterprise's cluster features do all of the heavy-lifting for you.
Rundeck Enterprise features enhanced workflow and visualization features to handle the advanced needs of enterprise environments.
Rundeck Enterprise includes supported versions of popular community plugins, as well as plugins that are exclusive to Rundeck Enterprise subscribers
Rundeck Enterprise provides tools that make it easy to manage and validate Rundeck access control policies.
Rundeck Enterprise provides expanded visibility into your past, current, and scheduled Rundeck activity.
Rundeck Enterprise's Windows power tools plugins help you get the most out of Rundeck in your Windows or mixed environments.
Let's discuss what package is right for you
From advice about your Rundeck usage to help with troubleshooting, our experts are here to help. Unlimited support means no restrictions on support tickets or inquiries. Ask and we'll answer. Short of writing code or configuring your servers, our support team will have you covered.
Rundeck engineers will help you through the first steps of your implementation. Get up and running quickly.
Learn about core concepts that will make you more successful with Rundeck through training webinars and self-help materials focused on different topics.
Are you maximizing your Rundeck usage? Get guidance from our experts on integration and optimization.
Share your Rundeck successes and get expert advice on issues. The Rundeck team is here to help you conquer challenges as they arise.
In addition to high-availability and scalability, Rundeck Enterprise's cluster features give you control of where jobs execute within your Rundeck infrastructure. You can direct user traffic (GUI and API) to one set of Rundeck Enterprise instances while setting aside a different set of Rundeck Enterprise instances to handle job executions for specific Rundeck Projects. Seamlessly adjust capacity as needed. If any of the Rundeck Enterprise instances in your cluster are unreachable, the built-in heartbeat service prevents downtime and manages schedule takeover.
Rundeck Enterprise features an upgraded workflow engine that allows you to create more sophisticated workflow strategies. Conditionally determine when steps should be run/skipped
(based on option variables or other steps). Seamlessly move between parallel and sequential execution in the same workflow using a fork-join branching model. Configure built-in error handlers to determine what to do if a step fails. Graphical visualization of the workflow makes it easy to write and follow the execution of workflow logic.
As your Rundeck usage grows, you will have more access control rules to manage and more user roles to test against those policies. Rundeck Enterprise provides advanced tools to simplify those tasks. Use Rundeck Enterprise's advanced rules editor to build and understand access control rules quickly. Verify the effect of changed rules using Rundeck Enterprise's access rules evaluator. Delegate project-level access control to project admins while maintaining separate system-wide access policies.


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Predictive Analytics In Manufacturing: Why & How For Non-Data Scientists
by Vin Vashishta, Data Science Consultant
A really interesting post on what predictive analytics is and the zero downtime. I recommend it to anyone who is trying to convince a potential client to integrate Internet of Things / Big Data based solutions.
"The problem with older models is they had significant blind spots. The available data didn't provide a complete picture of the machine in action and that led to frequent failures in the model. The IIoT is aimed at providing a more complete picture of the machine in a variety of environments to eliminate these blind spots. Predictive models rely heavily on compete, high quality data for accuracy. Older models would predict a machine failure based on an average and could me months off. Newer models based on IIoT data can be accurate to the week or even day."
Is IoT changing the manufacturing?
by Francisco Maroto CEO at OIES Consulting, IOT Advisor for IOTS
Here you will find three interesting case studies about the real usage of industrial IoT.
"While the IoT will allow real-time sharing of data by all who need it, it remains to be seen whether management will move to break down departmental silos to share data on a real-time basis and will choose to give rank-and-file assembly line personnel access to relevant information that would help them work more efficiently."
IoT Could Be Hobbled By Lack of Consumer Awareness
by Jacob Meister, Real Time Digital Reporter, Design Group
In case you are interested in B2C IoT products, this survey is bringing up some numbers on what people know about IoT.
"Eighty-five percent of those surveyed said they were worried about the possible security/privacy issues that IoT could create. A large number (70 percent) said they felt IoT would hurt daily interactions."


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Italian newspapers are unhappy at the reported outcome of the US investigation into the killing of Italian secret agent Nicola Calipari at Baghdad airport during the freeing of former hostage Giuliana Sgrena.
"Without truth" sums up the headline in an editorial written by Ms Sgrena herself in the communist daily, Il Manifesto.
"The inquiry has achieved nothing," she says. "After the apologies comes the slap in the face."
"The greatest disappointment would be if our authorities were to accept this insult without reacting," Ms Sgrena adds. "All the words said about Calipari would turn into hypocrisy...and Nicola would have been our government's hero, just for one day."
The paper also prints a sardonic cartoon showing bullets piercing Mr Calipari's gravestone, under the caption "Friendly Fire 2".
In an interview with La Repubblica, Ms Sgrena describes the report's outcome as "incredible". "Calipari is being blamed for what happened," she says and urges public opinion to rally behind her view.
"It is important that the judges continue...we need pressure from public opinion," she says. "I know that there is already a demand for an independent international commission of investigation, there is an initiative of Euro MPs and Nobel prize winners who are urging the truth about what happened and what is happening to Iraqi civilians every day."
Rome to continue probe
Under the headline "Not guilty", the Turin-based La Stampa says that Rome does not accept the conclusions of the investigation.
"As far as Italy is concerned, we are not willing to sacrifice the truth about Nicola Calipari's death on the altar of political and diplomatic relations with our American ally," the paper says. "Perhaps the government's embarrassment and current silence are due to the awareness of having turned into a dead end."
The paper quotes Italian intelligence sources as saying that the US decision to announce the report's findings without consulting the Italian authorities could force Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to publicly oppose the US findings.
"The consequences could be devastating," an intelligence officer said.
Il Corriere della Sera thinks the Italian government may have been outwitted over the timing of the report's release. "The USA wrong-foots the Italian government and reveals the outcome of the investigation into the death of the 007 during the freeing of Giuliana Sgrena," it says.
"The Rome public prosecutor's office too, which is also investigating the case as a wilful murder but has yet to receive the names of the soldiers involved from Washington, has at the moment a version which differs with the American one," the paper adds.
In the event that the names are not revealed the prosecution has not ruled out "the possibility of continuing the process in absentia", the paper adds.
The report adds that the Toyota Corolla, in which Mr Calipari and Ms Sgrena were driving at the time of the shooting, is arriving in Rome on Tuesday.
"The car's arrival is a signal that...the Italian investigation continues," it says.
BBC Monitoring selects and translates news from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It is based in Caversham, UK, and has several bureaus abroad.


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You can't believe your baby is starting middle school. You're ready. You've got all the school supplies and new shoes. You've even had him practice opening a combination lock, so that he's ready on his first day.
But, is he up to date on his immunizations?
We often think that once children get their last vaccines at age 2 they are done, but this couldn't be further from the truth.
Preteens, teens and even adults need periodic vaccinations to keep them healthy.
"A lot of people think of vaccines as something that are only important for babies and young children, but we want to make sure school- and college-age children are protected from illnesses as well," said Erin Bailey, MD, pediatrician at Medical Group of the Carolinas – Pediatrics – North Grove. "The meningitis vaccine and HPV vaccine are especially important for college-age children."
The CDC recommends that preteens receive the following vaccinations between the ages of 11 and 13:
- Tdap vaccine, which protects against:
- Tetanus, a bacteria found in dirt, dust and manure, that enters the body through a cut or sore in the skin.
- Diphtheria, an extremely contagious bacterium that affects the respiratory system and is spread like the common cold when a person sneezes or coughs.
- Pertussis, or whooping cough, which has initial symptoms similar to the common cold with a runny nose, sneezing and cough. However, the coughing worsens after one to two weeks, becoming violent and making it hard to breathe.
The CDC recommends the following vaccinations for preteens, teens and adults:
- HPV vaccine, which protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV). The HPV virus affects most people in their teens and early twenties and causes certain kinds of cancers and other sexually transmitted disease.
- MenACWY vaccine, which protects from meningococcal disease or meningitis. Meningococcal disease is severe, causing one in 10 people who contract the disease to die. Those who survive can become deaf, suffer from seizures and even lose their arms or legs. Meningococcal disease causes an infection of the brain and spinal column and is spread through coughing, kissing and sneezing. Symptoms come on suddenly and include fever, headache and a stiffness of the neck. Teens between the age of 16 and 18 years of age will need a Men ACWY booster to ensure lasting effectiveness.
Vaccines are an important part of children's overall health and wellbeing even into their teenage years. Don't forget to take care of yourself. Adults should get the Tdap vaccine every ten years and everyone should get a flu vaccine annually.
The slower summertime schedule makes it an ideal to time talk to your child's pediatrician or family medicine physician about what vaccines are right for them.
Don't have a primary care provider? Find one here.


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I have the IQ3 connected to my Vipec EVO IX ecu, but the AFR's, speed, and gear don't display anything. There is AFR1 and AFR2 to choose from, neither work.
I have noticed that in PCLink, it has my AFR's under WideBand, not AFR1 or AFR2 that is displayed in DataLink. Is there a way to change the data channels, or something like that, so the AFR1 in DataLink is getting the data from WideBand in PCLink? This would also be the same as Speed and Gears?


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What You Need to Know About Tongue Scrapers
While there is a huge focus on brushing your teeth twice a day, most people ignore the need to clean their tongue. Using a tongue scraper can be a very practical thing to do if you want to see some health benefits, however. Your tongue is a breeding site for bacteria, so it's important that you keep your tongue clean.
Buying Your Tongue Scraper
You might have noticed tongue scrapers before while in the dental aisle of your local grocery store, since they are sold with toothbrushes, mouthwashes, and toothpastes. These devices are made from metal or plastic and are very inexpensive. They look like a tiny shovel or resemble a hollowed out U shape. If you're not convinced enough of the benefits that tongue scraping can provide to buy a scraper, you can always use a spoon to get the job done just as well.
Using a Tongue Scraper
A tongue scraper will help remove the residue and toxins left behind on the tongue from all sorts of undigested food. The residue can be green, brown, white, clear, or another odd color depending on what you ate. A good time to use a tongue scraper is when you are brushing your teeth or after you eat a meal.
You simply place the scraper at the back of your tongue and then gently move it forward toward the front of the tongue. It may take a couple passes to remove the bacteria on your tongue. Just rinse the scraper out under hot water when you are finished with each pass. You'll want to rinse off the tongue scraper using warm and soapy water after you are done using it and then dry it off before you place it back into storage.
Benefitting from Tongue Scraping
In addition to removing the bacteria that has collected on your tongue, the scraper will help make your breath fresh. It will give you more confidence because you will know that you don't have any remaining bacteria on your tongue that could be contributing to bad breath. Tongue scraping will also help remove the film that is on the taste buds on your tongue. You may even start to notice that foods taste better.
By using an actual tongue scraper instead of a toothbrush, you will see a more thorough cleaning of your tongue. Bristles on a toothbrush can be staggered and not do as effective of a job as the flat surface of a tongue scraper.
For more information about the benefits of tongue scraping, speak to a dentist. If you are interested in finding a dentist, check it out online.


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Your loyal foreign correspondent has news from the Sublime Porte!
Last weekend Onur and two other gamers played a Black Powder battle using 1/72 armies based on the Battle of Waterloo
You can read a AAR at this link at Karargah Club.
Onur was nice enough to provide me with some pictures of the game, to make up for the fact that non-members cannot see the pictures on the Club Page.
The French overrun Hougemont and Le Haisainte


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Just a few loose ends to tie up. My dear friend, Ray Wong, is spilling all sorts of made-up secrets about me, on his blog. Something about a wild evening involving Chippendales dancers and Maker's Mark. I told him not to drink so much whiskey. Sheesh, can I help it if the guy is a total lightweight?
It's been meme-madness, and this is apparently the meme Ray is playing with:
"Monday Meme - December 19
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.
As always, I'd love it if you'd use the AWMondayMemes's tag."
Urm...Knowing the bunch of you that post here, I'm a tad bit hesitant, I gotta admit...
Also, the ever-lovely Unique tagged me to write to a photo prompt. You can see the photo on her blog, here.
I sort of cheated, and borrowed a couple of characters from the book-which-shall-not-be-named-lest-its-name-
So here goes:
Somehow, sometimes, storms cleanse the heart that holds them. From complete devastation, you find a place of serenity and simplicity from which you can begin again. Erin was like that, for Matt.
For the rest of his life, his loves would be defined by Erin. He felt certain of it, sitting alone, contemplating the ceiling of his apartment. He even found a small amount of satisfaction in the thought.
Last but certainly not least, go take the My Words Matter pledge. If for no other reason, take the pledge because you do know the power of words.


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Car Accident Attorney
Car Accident Lawyers in Fort Lauderdale
Filing a lawsuit after a serious auto accident is probably the last thing on your mind. But it is important to think about; obtaining compensation can help you recover as fully as possible and provide resources to make up for lost income. Of course, money cannot bring back your loved one or guarantee a full recovery. Having financial security, however, can remove one source of anxiety and allow you to concentrate on what matters most.
Call Our Fort Lauderdale Law Firm Today
Car accidents cause thousands of serious injuries and deaths each year. Drivers and passengers suffer spinal cord injuries and paralysis, head and brain injuries, broken limbs and damage to internal organs. Some of the injured never return to full functioning even after months or years of treatment and therapy. Others experience the pain of losing a child, spouse, sibling or parent. At Coffey Trial Law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, our attorneys help victim of catastrophic car accidents get the compensation they need to move forward with their lives. You owe it to yourself and your family to find out about your legal options. Call our car accident attorneys at (954) 541-3194 to learn more about how we can put our 20-plus years of combined legal experience to work on your claim.
Contact Our Law Firm After a Car Crash
If you or a loved one has been in a vehicular accident, contact Coffey Trial Law for a free, no-obligation consultation. Call us at (954) 541-3194 or contact our injury law firm online. If you choose to hire us, you will have direct access to your lawyer 365/24/7 to ensure that your questions are answered in a timely manner and that you have the support you need.
Free Consultations * Home and Hospital Visits * Focused on You
We Handle all Car Crash Claims
Our trial attorneys handle car crash cases resulting from:
- Driving outside lane lines
- Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, and prescription medication
- Failing to yield to right-of-way
- Being distracted or inattentive when texting or using a cell phone or other device
- Operating the vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, or negligent manner
- Failing to obey traffic signs or signals
- Using improper driving techniques
- Being unable to see because of obstructions such as trees, buildings, or other vehicles
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street
- Making an improper turn
- Driving when drowsy, sleepy, fatigued, ill or after experiencing a blackout
We work hard to obtain the compensation victims need after accidents like these. Put our results-oriented services to use in your case. Call on our experienced team today.
Resources for Vehicular Safety in Florida
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) addresses licensing, accidents and consequences, as well as ownership and proper registration of vehicles. Visit the FLHSMV Safety First page for information regarding teenage driving, aggressive operation, state of roads, seatbelt/safety laws, etc. The FLHSMV has a section of information pertaining to vehicle insurance. Another option is to go to the state legislature website for Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law. Accident and traffic safety facts and information are located at the Bureau of Transportation Studies, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is yet another excellent source regarding safety in traffic.
Coffey Trial Law's Latest Car Accident Cases
Injury Claims Filed for 2011-2017 Ford Explorer Exhaust LeaksFebruary 13, 2017
Your Legal Options to File a Hit and Run Claim if the Other Driver Left the SceneDecember 27, 2016
AAA Report: Not Getting Enough Sleep Increases Crash RiskDecember 19, 2016
Florida Highway Patrol Ticketing to Stop Aggressive DrivingOctober 13, 2016
Experience Matters. Contact Coffey Trial Law Today!
If you need help, or just have a question, we invite you to contact us today for a free, initial consultation. You can take comfort in the fact that everything that you tell us will remain completely confidential, and, if we accept your case, you will never pay us even a penny – unless we win money for you from a jury verdict or a settlement. You can contact us 24/7/365. We are available to meet with you anytime and anywhere.


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Charming Renovated Farmhouse After The Conversion Venture
Situated in the middle of the green area, this renovated farmhouse seems trendy with its unique design. The design is a mix between the standard look and the up to date style. The massive swimming pool is designed in extraordinary means in the midst of the grass yard.
It makes the swimming pool appears to be like natural and great. This may also gives the liberty to benefit from the beautiful nature since it is situated in the course of the open space. The earth colour is introduced by the home exterior design. Pink brick gives the strong characteristic of the traditional farmhouse.
This renovated farmhouse outcome presents the right connection between the home interior and the home exterior. Glass supplies are utilized to present the open and bright look of this traditional style farmhouse. Small terrace in concrete flooring is furnished with a set of smooth furniture in smooth look. The standard look is strengthened by the terracotta roof in the similar coloration with the purple brick. Inexperienced bushes around the home makes the house appears pleasant and comfortable.
The snug interior can also be seen from the outdoor. The lounge seems to be stylish with pink sofas in trendy design. The sofa seems to be nice among the many daring colored interior. As the farmhouse theme, an animal pores and skin carpet is utilized on the darkish wooden flooring.
A modern lounge is positioned in the corner of the home together with up to date evening stand besides it. Giant glass sliding door might be opened as wide as it might to attach the indoor with the outdoor. The eating room is furnished with wooden fashionable dining furniture.
Wooden eating chairs look nice with a big dining table. Classic wooden chandelier is hung over the furniture. This inside ornament offers the special character of a farmhouse interior. Renovated farmhouse look may be awesome with the combination between the standard style and the contemporary concept.


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Italy Tours offers tours throughout Italy that include: private tours in Italy, tours in Italy with small groups and excursions along the Italian shores. The best operators make their expertise, professionalism and passion available to guide you to the best places in Italy. Contact your italy tour guide before booking to discuss all the details and make sure that the tour offers everything you need.
Italy Tours is the perfect departure point to plan your tours in Italy. Places to visit in Italy Tours are divided by regions. Come whenever you like in Italy, the best time to visit Italy is....always!!
|Abruzzo tours
|Basilicata tous
|Calabria tours
|Campania tours
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James Olin has been working in the graphic design and multimedia industry since 1995. His experience and skill set include digital design, layout, photography, creative direction and project management. James earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Photography from The University of Miami. James began his career as a freelance graphic designer in college, then went on to become a designer for Starter Sportswear in New Haven, Connecticut. James' next stop was as a designer at Colangelo Synergy marketing in Darien, Connecticut. After Colangelo, he worked as an Associate Creative Director for Response Marketing in New Haven, managing the creative team. James now works as a designer with clients looking to enhance their visual communication needs.
James Olin – Designer
Mar 10, 2012 Posted in : Team By : Perisphere Media 0 Comments


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Beauty, Inc. (A Pennymaker Tale) by Tara Lain at Dreamspinner Press
|Reviewed by
|Lena Grey on 08-June-2016
|Gay / Contemporary / Erotic Romance
|Reviewed by
|Lena Grey on 08-June-2016
Is beauty only skin deep?
Chemist Dr. Robert "Belle" Belleterre loves flowers, green trees, his best friend Judy, and "his baby:" the new face cream he developed to help put his father's small cosmetics company on the map. Sadly he gets no help from his alcoholic, gambling-addicted father, who loses Belle in a poker game to Magnus Strong, the CEO of Beauty, Inc., the largest American cosmetics company—a man infamous for his scarred ugliness.
Belle finds himself uprooted from his home, living in a wildly crazy apartment in New York owned by Mr. Pennymaker, and completely unprepared for his mad attraction to the charismatic Strong. Feeling like a traitor, Belle fights his passion, only to see more and more of the goodness and humility hidden by Strong's ugly face. But when Belle's family starts manipulating his life again, the odds turn against happiness for beautiful Belle and his beloved beast.
"There's something sweet and almost kind but he was mean and he was coarse and unrefined and now he's dear and so unsure, wonder why I didn't see it there before. New and a bit alarming. Who'd have ever thought that this could be? True that he's no Prince Charming, but there's something in him that I simply didn't see." ~ Disney - (Something There) Beauty and the Beast
When Dr. Robert "Belle" Belleterre, of 'Beauty, Inc.' by Tara Lain, meets Magnus Strong, he is not impressed. Magnus is everything Belle dislikes in a man: arrogant, controlling, entitled, and cold. The last thing Belle wants is to work for the man. Unfortunately, due to his father's carelessness, Belle is forced to do exactly that.
In order for his father to keep his company, Belle has an obligation to work for Magnus, but he's determined to do as little as possible. Belle is not sure what Magnus's motives are, but he's convinced they are nefarious. However, Belle is surprised when he is given a beautiful luxury apartment, a driver, his own office, and, most amazing of all, complete access to all projects at the company. Even with all of this, Belle can't help but be suspicious. It just doesn't make sense for Magnus to be so considerate. Despite himself, Belle gets involved in projects at Beauty, Inc. and finds he's enjoying himself, especially when introduced to Magnus's many philanthropic programs. Belle never expected Magnus to be so considerate and sensitive; it throws him for a loop. As Belle discovers more about the man, he starts to question whether his first impression of Magnus was correct.
Belle's new life at Beauty, Inc. is a far cry from the cold atmosphere Belle grew up in where his father and brothers basically ignored or took him for granted, that is, until they had a problem and needed him to fix it. In New York, Belle has great neighbors and friends who truly care about him, a company in which he can thrive, and Magnus, whom Belle is not only attracted to, but whom Belle realizes is definitely not the man he thought he was. Belle begins to see beyond Magnus's scarred face and into his heart. Belle thinks of him as handsome rather than ugly and never wants him to change a thing. Now, all Belle has to do is convince Magnus.
Tara has taken a well-known Disney story and retold it with a modern twist. It's just as delightful as the animated 'Beauty and the Beast' if not more so. Magnus Strong is a magnificent Beast, ferocious outside and a heart of gold inside. Tara's Belle is definitely a departure from Disney's Belle, but just as beautiful inside and out, and a lot more 'naughty'. Belle didn't give up on Magnus no matter how difficult he became, just as Disney's Belle did with a similar outcome. The Beast was not a beast at all. Magnus, like Beast, was a tortured soul, caught in the past and doomed to stay there until someone could see his real heart. If you like fairy tales, life lessons, overcoming misconceptions, sleazy villains, good friends, and a happy ending, you may enjoy this tale. Thank you, Tara, for bringing one of my favorite animated stories to life.
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
|ebook and audio
|Novel, 121 pages/54232 words
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Can a new dad and a community center program director find common ground and fall in love?
Galen Frost buys a house and a bait shop in a small Florida town to get away from his life as a semipro football player.
He has many jobs. Hero is just one of them.
Where trust is the most precious jewel of all.
Vampires and werewolves are natural enemies. Therefore, Andre has no regrets about killing Raúl...


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Nebraska fires football coach Mike Riley
In an increasingly anticipated -- if not altogether expected -- announcement, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has fired head football coach Mike Riley effective immediately.
Linebackers coach Trent Bray has been named interim head coach.
Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Moos made the announcement Saturday in a news release.
"Riley has brought professionalism and energy to the Nebraska football program," Moos said, "but unfortunately, those attributes have not translated to on-field success."
A press conference has been scheduled for 1 p.m. We will carry it live on air and on KETV.com.
"I expect to find a leader for our football program that will put our student-athletes in a position to compete for championships and grow as young men," Moos said. "I am confident our next coach will meet that standard."
Riley, 64, was hired away from Oregon State by former Nebraska Athletic Director Shawn Eichorst in December 2014. Having been at the helm in Lincoln for 35 months, Riley becomes the first Nebraska football coach since Pete Elliott in 1956 to hold the position for less than four years.
Going 19-19 (6-7 in 2015, 9-4 in 2016 and 4-8 in 2017) left much to be desired for many Nebraska fans. This season was Nebraska's fourth with a losing record since 1962; two of the four are on Riley's tab.
This season marked Riley's 43rd as either a college or professional football head coach. Prior to his arrival, Riley led the Beavers for 12 seasons.
Riley initially signed a five-year contract averaging $2.7 million per season. Earlier this year, Riley signed a one-year extension, taking him through February 2021.
At the time, Eichorst said the extension was "indicative of our great relief in (Riley's) leadership of our program and in our future with him at the helm."
Shortly after firing Eichorst in September, UNL officials noted that the athletic programs at the university weren't competitive enough.
The buyout in Riley's contract will pay him $170,000 per month through February 2021. In total, the university will pay Riley $6.6 million over the life of the contract. Riley's scheduled contract would have paid him $3 million in 2018 and $3.1 million in 2019.
The university is still paying former head coach Bo Pelini, who was fired by Eichorst near the end of the 2014 season and had a $6.54 million buyout. Pelini is collecting $128,009 per month from the school through February 2019.
Less than a week after Pelini was fired, Eichorst announced that he had found the fiery coach's replacement on the West Coast.
Said one person who spoke to KETV NewsWatch 7 shortly after the announcement, "I think everybody's kind of like, 'Mike, who?'"
The Beavers had gone 5-7 under Riley in 2014. One day after the university announced Riley had been hired, he was formally introduced in Lincoln.
"Dee and I are excited to be in Lincoln and (to) be a part of the university and to be a part of what is known as the greatest fan base in college football," Riley said at the time. "We are in this together to build young men and win championships."
Eichorst publicly commended Riley for his "proven record of success" and said the coach understood the university's commitment to academics. He added, "Mike will assemble a tremendous staff and lead our student-athletes to win Big Ten titles and compete for national championships in the years ahead."
Interim head coach Barney Cotton led the Cornhuskers in the team's appearance in the Holiday Bowl, a 45-42 loss. Sitting in the back of the Qualcomm Stadium press box, Riley answered a handful of questions during the game and appeared on the televised broadcast.
"This might be my last shot to try something different, try something new," he told ESPN's Rece Davis during the game. "But this doesn't happen overnight."
Alongside offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf, defensive coordinator Mark Banker and special teams coach Bruce Read, Riley's first game resulted in the snapping of a 29-year streak of season-opening victories, the longest such streak in the nation.
After BYU quarterback Taysom Hill's season ended early in the fourth quarter, backup quarterback Tanner Mangum was inserted into his first college football game.
With one second remaining, down one, Mangum lobbed an arching ball into the right corner of the end zone, which Mitch Matthews improbably snared for the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall, his right fist raised, ran in circles around the field, hugging his players as though the team had won the Super Bowl. Riley, his hands on his hips, looked on in total dejection.
"I don't ever remember (being in a game like this)," Riley said afterward, unaware there would be more eerily like it.
Nebraska stumbled through its first season under Riley, finishing the regular season with a 5-7 record, 3-5 in conference play. Many of the games had sliver-thin margins; Nebraska lost its seven games by a total of 31 points, an average of 4.4 points per loss.
There was the overtime loss to Miami.
There was Geronimo Allison's touchdown with 10 seconds remaining to give Illinois a one-point win.
There was Rafael Gaglianone's 46-yard field goal with 4 seconds remaining to give Wisconsin a two-point victory.
Despite the losing record, Nebraska earned a berth in the Foster Farms Bowl, where the team ended the season on a high note, edging UCLA 37-29.
"Football goes better generally when you run the ball well," Riley said after. In the following offseason, Riley would reiterate the refrain and note publicly his desire to have a top-three rushing attack in the Big Ten after a season in which Nebraska ranked sixth. That desire would go unfulfilled over the next two seasons.
When salt-of-the-Earth, farm-grown punter Sam Foltz was killed in a car crash less than two months before the start of the season, Riley responded with poise, steering the program through the coming days and weeks.
"This day will be stuck in time forever," he said, hours after the school announced it would not take part in Big Ten Media Days. "It's a heartbreaking thing. Everyone will feel it. I am just so thankful I got to coach Sam Foltz."
A 7-0 start to the season produced the team's first top-10 ranking since 2011. Excitement crescendoed in Lincoln. Then it all came undone with the team's 2-4 finish.
Quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.'s heroic performance in the team's comeback victory over No. 22 Oregon -- which allowed Riley to exorcise the Duck demons that terrorized him over his career at Oregon State -- gave way to a 62-3 bloodletting at the hands of Ohio State in prime time.
A beaten-down Riley could only say what everyone in his locker room felt: "We were beaten thoroughly. This came out of the blue to me."
After back-to-back wins, over Minnesota and Maryland, respectively, Nebraska was bludgeoned on Black Friday by the Iowa Hawkeyes, dropping the team's third conference game by a score of 40-10. With a potential spot in the Big Ten title game on the line, Nebraska's offense was outgained by nearly 200 yards. "Really disappointed, all the way around," Riley said. It was the final college game of Armstrong's career, a player whose name blankets the school record book.
More than a month later, with Ryker Fyfe starting under center for Nebraska, Tennessee handled the Cornhuskers in the Music City Bowl, winning 38-24.
"This is kind of the end of one team, the beginning of another," Riley said after the loss.
Following the 2015 season, in which the Huskers ranked 30th in total defense (363.7 yards allowed per contest) and 33rd in scoring defense (23.9), Riley fired defensive coordinator Mark Banker, who had worked with him for more than a decade, with stops at Nebraska, Oregon State and the San Diego Chargers.
Shortly after the firing, the Cornhuskers hired former Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco to install his 3-4 base defensive scheme in Lincoln.
"I can't wait to get to work and help build a championship football program," Diaco said at the time.
With Tanner Lee, a quarterback transfer from Tulane University, eligible to play, a bevy of talented wide receivers, and an emerging crop of running backs led by Tre Bryant, Langsdorf's offense appeared ready to take to the next step.
Uninspiring performances against Arkansas State and Oregon quickly quieted those expectations, however.
Then came the 21-17 loss to Northern Illinois, a program Nebraska paid $820,000 to play to begin with. Fans rained boos down on the players as they trudged toward the locker room. Northern Illinois players joined together and took photos in the end zone to commemorate the moment, Nebraska's first loss to a non-power-5 opponent or major independent in Lincoln since 2004.
In a rare move, Eichorst made himself available to the media following the game, using "frustrated, angry, unacceptable, disappointed" to describe the situation. He was fired less than a week later, and the countdown to Riley's departure began to tick away.
After naming former Husker Dave Rimington the interim athletic director, the Cornhuskers bounced back with consecutive wins over Rutgers and Illinois, largely keeping the opponents' offenses in check.
But dominating performances by Wisconsin and Ohio State -- and a one-point victory over Purdue in late October -- brought the criticism back to deafening levels. Three consecutive losses followed.
Last Saturday, as the team's 56-44 loss to Penn State began to sink in, a Husker beat reporter point-blank asked Riley about a report that Scott Frost could take his job. That a coach was questioned about his potential replacement was stunning. Mostly, though, it was stunning because Riley, as always, smiled and answered the question with class.
Nebraska's blowout loss to Iowa proved to be the final game of Riley's career with the Huskers.
"I have appreciated the growth of the program as a part of the culture of the team and I have really appreciated the people here," Riley said Monday. "I think it was an easy place to move into. People are as advertised and so that part of it -- I really appreciate that comfort, walking around town as we do so often and then settling down and then getting to be a part of this. Walking out in that stadium, I will never get tired of that."


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