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Tracking Lifting and Rigging Equipment
Kennedy Wire Rope and Sling (KWRS), established in 1979 in Corpus Christi, Texas, provides lifting and rigging equipment and systems to construction companies for use in large-scale industrial projects in the United States and other countries. In addition, the firm inspects and certifies the fitness of the materials it sends out into the field—and clients rely on those tests.
One KWRS client fabricates parts for onshore and offshore construction projects. The client was storing cables, shackles, slings and other parts in containers on job sites, with no reliable system to track and trace those items. Sometimes, it was easier for the client to call KWRS and request a new part than to hunt for the item in the job-site containers.
Wire rope sling storage
"In some cases, a part is worth $10, but other parts are worth $10,000 and more," says Jonathan Cloutet, KWRS' financial manager. If a $10,000 part was sitting at a site ready for use, but no one knew it was there, he says, that was simply an inefficient use of funds.
The client asked KWRS to provide a more efficient method to track and trace its own equipment—comprising more than 6,000 parts—and for the ability to access certification, usage and repair information online. Jeremiah Alspach, KWRS' inside sales manager, was tasked with finding the solution. "We needed to track items where they went, when they went out, who has them and when we get items back," he says.
KWRS also needed a way to store certification information online for the client. When equipment is returned to KWRS, each item is put through a "pull test" to ensure the strength of the load-bearing product. Once the equipment passes that test and is visually inspected, it receives a certificate indicating it is in good working order.
"This client buys products and wants us to store and maintain those pieces of equipment," Cloutet explains. "When they need it in Alaska, for example, we send it. When it comes back to us, we inspect it and store it again until they need it at their next job somewhere else. We track every product for them, hold it in our warehouse on their behalf, make sure it is up to spec and ready to be sent out."
In fall 2014, KWRS adopted an RFID asset- and inspection-management solution from Houston-based InfoChip. "Our customer enjoys using the system," Alspach says. "They are enjoying the cost savings. In less than a year of use, this customer has already saved tens of thousands of dollars."
Choosing the Solution
KWRS had used RFID to keep tabs on some items, but not on a large scale and not with any online component. Alspach knew the technology had become easier to use and that RFID data could be integrated with online systems. After researching options, he turned to InfoChip, which offered the RFID hardware, software and Internet application required—its RFID Asset & Product Lifecycle Management solution.
"Our client specifically requested that they be able to access certifications, locations, jobs, repairs—all that information—online," Alspach says. He and Cloutet agree that higher-ups at KWRS saw the benefits, knew the client needed the tracking and the online access, and the company easily decided to move forward with the InfoChip solution.
DuraTab attached to wire rope sling
The solution uses InfoChip's high-frequency rugged RFID tags—DuraPlugs inserted into the shackles, DuraTabs, which are crimped onto wire rope and nylon slings, and DuraBands, which are attached to wire ropes and some of the nylon slings via stainless steel ribbon.
The tags are read in KWRS's warehouse and at the job site using InfoChip's handheld Bluetooth Easy Reader, which can be paired with a desktop computer in the office, and with a smartphone or laptop in the field. (The tags can be read via any BlueTooth-enabled device that has InfoChip's app downloaded to it.)
InfoChip customized its software to meet KWRS' needs, says Dylan Sewell, InfoChip's account manager, but the solution is the result of years of developing RFID solutions for the company's customers. InfoChip's IC Online application compiles item-tracking records, so the client can view where various parts are located, where they are heading and what condition they are in.
The IC TestBench software compiles inspection certifications, which can then be uploaded to eQuip Online so clients can review reports themselves. Reports include certification and inspection schedules, test results, where items will be, where they are headed and more.
"It was really just about a month from the time the customer made the request of KWRS to the time all the equipment was tagged," Alspach recalls. "As we tagged each item, I loaded the chips with the information," such as its serial number, where and when it goes, testing results, the full catalog description and any repairs or replacements that are made. That information is housed in a database on an InfoChip server, using that company's proprietary software, but KWRS maintains and updates the content.
When a part comes back to KWRS, Alspach says, it is logged into the system for storage, certification and repair. If the part is damaged, or if it is never returned from a job, the repair or loss is charged to the job from which the part just arrived, not to the job to which it might be headed. Tracking and tracing has made this aspect of accounting easier for the client, too, he adds.
Deploying the Solution
There were no major hurdles to overcome, Alspach says. "We did have to figure out how to drill into the shackle to put the DuraPlug into it without compromising the integrity of the shackle," he notes, adding, "We got together with the manufacturer to figure out exactly where we could drill." InfoChip gave KWRS a special bit made to drill the shackles, but in the end, rather than drilling the shackles in-house, the company sent out that job to a machine shop, where it is done efficiently to KWRS' standards. KWRS tagged the other items.
The biggest challenge, Alspach says, involved entering all the information mentioned above. "In fact," he states, "we are still entering it, finding items that haven't gotten into the system or refining descriptions."
Shackle storage area
"We try to mitigate the data-entry hurdle," InfoChip's Sewell says. "We can import old information used on other systems, get old systems to talk to the new system. There is a lot we have to help customers get on board with more quickly," though he readily acknowledges the first year can be tough in the data-input arena.
Getting the pull tests to integrate with the IC TestBench software can be more challenging, Sewell notes, but InfoChip always sends someone to be onsite for that part of the turnover. "Sometimes, it can be complicated to get older machinery talking to the system," he says. "The pull test machine connects to our system. There is an analog-to-digital converter. Users can see the chart populate itself with the results as the test is performed. The certificate saying it passed the test is automatically uploaded" to equip Online, so the KWRS client can view it.
The learning curve for the software and the system is not too steep, Alspach says. An InfoChip representative spent a single day onsite at KWRS, and Alspach and several other KWRS employees attended a free, two-day training session offered by InfoChip.
After that, when individual questions arose, they were answered with quick phone calls directly to InfoChip.
KWRS invested roughly $50,000 to deploy the RFID solution, Cloutet estimates. "That's for all the chips we will use, the software, the equipment, everything," he says. "Before, we weren't spending more than a few hundred dollars per year on traceablity and RFID, tracing one item here, one item there," he says, and there was no online database involved. Although Alspach recognizes that the cost is high for one customer, the business from that customer made it worth the investment, he says. What's more, he adds, KWRS can now offer the RFID solution to other clients facing similar storage, traceability and certification challenges.
"Before, we might have had to buy new equipment or manufacture something new for them and charge them for it because they were not able to keep track of it on their own job sites," Alspach says. "Now, because we know exactly where everything is because we, not they, are storing it, we just charge straight labor. The margins are much higher for both parties."
DuraTab in a shackle
When the client buys a new item, it is tagged and logged into the system, and the tagging cost is charged to the client. InfoChip's Sewell says the chips cost $2 to $4 apiece, depending on the volume purchased.
The customer is also able to more efficiently plan projects and schedule the transport of equipment to where it needs to be. The system tracks where a needed part is located, when it is available and how long it will be used, effectively eliminating costly downtime for the equipment. "Project planning is much more efficient," Cloutet states.
The online access to all that information has been a boon as well, Alspach reports. "On weekends, the client used to have to call us if they couldn't find a needed part," he says. "Someone here had to be on call to locate or order an item they might need. Now, they can go online, search for it themselves, see exactly where it is, how long it will be in use in the location, and its condition."
KWRS believes the RFID solution it adopted for this one client will also appeal to other customers that need to move equipment worldwide. "This is an investment we have taken on in anticipation of all our clients," Alspach says, "especially the larger companies wanting it."
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Ryan Seacrest Speaks Out On Mariah Carey New Year's Disaster
Ryan Seacrest was on-hand live when Mariah Carey had her onstage mishap during New Year's Rockin' Eve, but he's remained mostly mum about the incident. That is, until Mariah's manager lashed out at Dick Clark Productions for sabotaging her performance.
However, Seacrest managed to provide a statement that didn't really pick sides. On Thursday's episode On Air with Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KIIS-FM, Seacrest delivered the kind of statement that perfectly walks the line to prevent from actually offending either Mariah or DCP. Check out the statement below via Entertainment Tonight:
"It is difficult to perform in Times Square," he explained. "[Carey] knows what Times Square is about. It's complicated. Imagine every single TV outlet in the world was there. So, there's all kinds of technical things going on."
Seacrest also noted that after introducing Carey, he was heading over to another stage that was blocks away to give the countdown, and did not even see the performance. "Things happen on live TV," he added. "If something goes wrong, it's unfortunate for anybody."
The former American Idol host was also quick to defend the crew of the live show, who have been blamed for the awkward incident. "I know this team of producers. I've known these guys for years. I knew Dick Clark very, very well. This is a team that wants to do everything they can to accommodate any artist," he noted. "They and we are in the business of wanting people to look good!"
"Believe me, tricky things, tough things that can happen, happen on live television," Seacrest continued. "It's just unfortunate that it comes to all of this, because it's a night of celebration and a night of fun."
In a sense, you could say Seacrest was trying so hard not to offend anybody that the statement ended up being a bit vapid. But, when you think about it, Seacrest is actually right. It is pretty complicated to perform at such a high level in such an atypical environment. Occasionally, things are going to go wrong, and it's unfortunate when they do. I'm not sure there's much more to say than that: on the one hand, I don't think this was all Mariah's fault and, by the same token, I don't think this was outright sabotage on the part of Dick Clark Productions. It was just a really crummy situation all around.
But what do you think of what Ryan Seacrest had to say about the Mariah Carey situation? Sound off in the comments!
And for more music news, check out Fifth Harmony's first press photo without Camila Cabello!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Reading is one of the best activities we can do. It calms the mind at the end of a busy day and rids the brain of the endless number of distractions and dissatisfiers that keep us from being our most focused self. That's something you can't get by watching movies, television, or You Tube videos that are primarily designed to get you jazzed up and thinking in ten different directions. Here is a compilation of my favorite books on adventure, travel, and the outdoors to keep you inspired to pursue whatever it is that you're dreaming of doing.


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Amelia O'Hara was born 1818 in Madras, India. She died JAN 1858 in Madras, India. She was the daughter of Lawrence O'Hara and Unknown Female.
Amelia O'Hara had 2 marriages/partners. Her 1st husband was Jerimiah Martin. They were married OCT 1839 in Madras, India. Their 4 known children were Henry William Martin, Letitia Emma Martin, James Thomas Martin and Jeremiah Martin.
Her 2nd husband was William Dunstan Green. They were married JAN 1853 in Madras, India. Their known child was Catherine Green.
She was a Sponsor at Anne Amelia's baptism at Vepery Church in 1838, When she would have been 20 estimated from her burial record.


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About a year ago, we started building a scrum-like burndown tool for Trello to help us manage our own projects. After a few months of work, we made it so that anyone could sign up for the free burndown charts for Trello.We thought that a decent number of people would find it useful, but we didn't count on it growing as fast as it did! We started getting a lot of requests for additional features. Since we were busy releasing Hive for Xbox 360, it was hard to find time to add new things. Our solution was to create a paid account, so we can spend more time on this project which it seems there is a huge demand for.
We want to do-right by our existing free users, so here are the basics:
- The free account will remain free and will have all of the features it has today.
- Anyone who signed up before the paid account was created is an "Early Adopter" and is eligible for a perpetual discount on the paid version (look for Early Adopter in the dropdown that lets you pick a plan).
- The name is now "Burndown for Trello". We were told by someone at Trello that 'Trello Burndown' might create trademark issues.
- The app is no longer just in a folder on BlueLine's site… it's at its own domain now: http://BurndownForTrello.com
- All requests are now sent over https, so your company's data is always encrypted.
We'll be adding more and more to the paid account, but here are the main reasons to upgrade:
- Support us! More paid accounts == more time for us to make new features!
- Automatic daily updates of stats – even if you don't visit the site in a given day, if you have a paid account we'll pull the data from the Trello API for each board and store the stats. Until now, if you didn't view a board in a specific day, then the next time you view that board, we just extrapolated (averaged) the data across all of the missing days.
- All new features will be added to the paid accounts. Free users get the app as it is now (with only minor upgrades, like site redesigns, bug fixes and global changes like adding https). All of the big stuff coming up is paid-only.
- MORE SOON! – We've had a ton of suggestions, and we're hoping to add many cool features. Next up, we're hoping to let you put your estimates in the titles of Trello cards, so you don't have to visit Burndown for Trello to update your estimates.
- Update: March 8th, 2013 – we just finished & rolled out integration with the "Scrum for Trello" Chrome extension. This means that you can put estimates in the titles of the cards in parentheses like this: (2) whether you have the extension or not. If you do this, Burndown for Trello will automatically pull in the estimate. This was hands-down our most requested feature up to this point.
If you want to get all of the new features as we add them, head over to Burndown for Trello and click on the upgrade button!


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POEA Board exempts qualified Balik-Manggagawa from OEC requirement
News Release: August 8, 2016
POEA Board exempts qualified Balik-Manggagawa from OEC requirement
Labor and Employment Secretary Silvestre Bello III yesterday announced that the
Governing Board of the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, of which he is
the Chairperson, has issued Governing Board Resolution No. 12, Series of 2016,
exempting a group of overseas Filipino workers from the overseas employment
certificate (OEC) requirement on an experimental basis starting 15 September 2016.
Aside from Secretary Bello, POEA Administrator and Governing Board Vice-Chair Hans
Leo J. Cacdac, and members Felix M. Oca, Estrelita S. Hizon, Alexander E. Asuncion,
and Milagros Isabel A. Cristobal, signed the Resolution.
Bello said the POEA Board issued the Resolution following the directive of President
Duterte to streamline processes in the deployment of OFWs, to afford them facility and
ease in transactions before government offices.
The Secretary said those exempted on a pilot basis are returning workers who are: (1)
returning to the same employer and job site, and listed in the POEA database of OFWs;
or (2) hired through POEA�s Government Placement Branch.
Bello said the POEA is already implementing the Balik-Manggagawa Online Processing
System which has eliminated the long lines at its offices, but emphasized a further need
and growing demand to enhance the system for workers returning to the same
employer and job site.
POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 12, series of 2016, states that an OFW Balik-
Manggagawa or returning worker returning to the same employer or job site shall, prior
to departure, shall register at bmonline.ph, and provide personal and employment
particulars to validate if the worker is indeed exempted from obtaining the OEC.
The worker�s updated profile will be forwarded to the Bureau of Immigration, to serve as
basis for clearance to exit the country without payment of processing fees.
View More Announcements


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Ditch the kids and experience Jungle Fever like never before as the park transforms from 7pm every Saturday throughout the summer.
With a programme of awesome evening entertainment, you'll want to grab a drink from the Cheeky Cocktail Bar before donning your headphones to take part in the Silent Disco, then dance the night away down in the Woodland Pond to live DJ sets!
In addition to the party down in the Woodland Ponds, you'll also be treated to the epic brand-new show from Brightsparks! Different to the daytime Jungle Fever show on Tuesdays & Thursdays, the Two Cheeky Monkeys will present their new show, Flaming Risque! Expect circus skills, whip cracking, and of course, plenty of danger and fire!
Bring a group of friends, experience a night of entertainment in the woodland and dance the night away!
Please note, this is an age restricted event and no individuals under the age of 16 will be permitted after 7pm and anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Our rides (4D Cinema, Colossus & Cow Train) will close at 8pm during the Jungle Fever AFTER DARK event.


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Nickerous writes, "Sony has done an outstanding job creating value for the Playstation Plus service by allowing users to play games for free (as long as you have the PS+ service, anyway). Now, they've gone a step further by giving out one free game a week for the next 6 weeks from their Playstation Mobile brand of games. "
So I guess if we wait a few days, it's okay to submit old news and have it approved?


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Philip Bannister's illustrated covers for the British Dental Journal now hang in the Royal Army Medical Services Museum.
Philip illustrated twelve covers last year for the centenary of the start of the First World War showing aspects of the dental practice during this time and how army dental surgeons were at the forefront of early plastic surgery. Shortly after, Philip was contacted by the Royal Army Medical Services Museum who were interested in having the originals for display - and now they hang ready for a service this weekend where the artworks will be unveiled at the Former Army Staff College in Camberley.


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The Doodle God franchise is a fairly weird franchise. It's really based off of nothing more than a few crude drawings and some clever quotes, but it's managed to spawn a fair number of games at the same time. One of them, Doodle God Rocket Science, has been played by many but doesn't really change up the formula. It's got the same basic systems in play, giving players something that's easy to term as more of the same.
Continue reading Time To Recreate The World In Doodle God Rocket Scientist!


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One of the best weeks of the year has returned — we're talking "Shark Week." But Texans are in for a special treat this year as Discovery Channel's summer television event begins tonight, featuring Texas researchers in "Return of Monster Mako."
The team hails from the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. "Return of Monster Mako" will air at 8 p.m. and is a sequel to last year's "Monster Mako," which drew 3.265 million viewers — the highest ratings of the night.
According to TAMU-Corpus Christi's news release, the shark experts set out on a seven-day expedition to tag and study the over 1,000-pound Mako sharks that feed off the Southern California coast.
Read the full news release here and places to celebrate "Shark Week" in Austin here.


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I'm happy to say that I finally have a Leica rangefinder camera. This is something I've been wanting for ages now and the opportunity to get one finally arose. I've been shooting with it nearly two weeks now. I have been extremely busy during this time, and only now I found some time to write this short update about the camera and other news. I'll go into more detail about things later.
New camera — Leica M4-2 + Leica Summaron 35mm f2.8
So anyways… a Leica. Seems like a dream coming true. I'm a huge fan of the M models. I have now the M4-2 from late 70's and a really nice Leica Summaron 35mm f2.8 lens to go with it. Pretty much my dream setup. I've had few rangefinder before, but they just weren't the same. I've liked the idea of a rangefinder for a long time, but it had to be a Leica M series. You really cannot even compare something like Canon QL17 GIII (which was my previous rangefinder) to a Leica.
Let me tell you some of my criteria for deciding which model to go for.
- Vintage model from circa 1950–1970's (basically M3 or M4, even M6 is too new for my taste)
- No expensive collector's item — just something for pure shooting
- No light meter (going as simple and manual as possible)
- Black body
- Classic M design, so M5 is out of the question
- Leica lens, 35mm focal length
- Few cosmetic details such as bubble window frame counter etc.
Based on these criteria and availability, I narrowed the search down to couple of M4-P's and a M4-2. The M4-P's were sold before I had the chance to grab one of them. M4-2 doesn't the iconic red dot, which was a minor downer, (yeah, I'm superficial — I know) but otherwise I could not be happier about the camera. I works perfectly and it's just as perfect as I imagined. I'll post some sample photos of course, but in the meantime, you can see the ones I've posted on Instagram.
So far I've absolutely loved shooting completely without a light meter. Geez, I just wish it would be spring already. It is now the shittiest and darkest time of the year. It's christmas soon, but there isn't even any snow. The weather and light are far away from optimal at the moment. The days are so short and it is hard to arrange quality shooting time.
Getting into medium format too and starting a huge film stock test with Kameratori
I hope I don't have to change my website name because of this, but I'm getting into medium format too. Super excited about this! Let me give you the background. I've been in contact with the guys from kameratori.fi and we decided to kick of an awesome long term project. We are going to test out all the current film stocks that are currently available here in Finland. At the moment I have almost 50 rolls of film in my fridge, including 35mm and 120 roll film. I'm going to shoot all of them and document everything. We are posting the images and review (in Finnish) at www.kamerakoulu.fi blog. We wanted to include medium format films too, which means I'll be shooting a boat load of 120 film too. How awesome is that?
I'm now borrowing a Rolleicord TLR camera for the 120 tests, since my own medium format camera has seen it's better days. So far I'm loving the Rolleicord and I can't wait to share you guys some thoughts and images. Also… once again — I have to complain about the weather just a bit. I have a ton of film, but we have about 4h of "light" per day. And mostly it's raining. And muddy. And grey.
Portrait project
Oh well, if the weather is bad then I'll have to arrange my own shooting conditions. I'm starting a portrait project alongside with my documentary endeavours. This means posed shots with possible artificial lighting etc. I have already one enthusiastic model. We have a bunch of cool ideas for the shots. I have such an amazing selections of different kinds of films, that I can pick and choose the perfect one for each individual photo shoot. For example, we are planning to do a film noir inspired model shoot and something like JCH Street Pan, with it's infinite contrast, will be perfect for bringing that vision to life.
And hey, speaking of models! If you know any, or are one yourself, and want to contribute — please get in touch and we'll make art together! We'll be shooting in Helsinki area, here in sunny Finland.
Other things
I feel like I have such a vast amount of different cool things going on at the moment. It'll be a busy winter and spring. In addition to these, I'm also having my current photo exhibition Ajaton Helsinki, which is running at the moment. Please go check it out if have the chance. And as I mentioned in my previous post, I'm planning the trip to the Arctic ocean too. Somehow I have the feeling I won't get bored anytime soon!
Peace! 🙂


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Lawn Fawn Dye Ink Reinker Black Licorice LF1070
Squeeze bottle gently & drop ink evenly over pad surface
0.5 oz of ink
Made in the USA
Acid-free, fast-drying dye based ink
Clear crisp ink formulation
Fun custom colors
Made with care in the USA!
Use these foam pieces for adding dimension to any project! It adheres to most paper, plastic, metal, fabric, wood and glass. The foam dots are doub...View full details
Use these foam pieces to add dimension to any of your craft projects! Adheres to most paper, fabric, plastic, metal, wood and glass. This package c...View full details
*Acid free - Solvent free *Extra strong adhesive *High grip on metals, glass, wood, paper, plastics and fabric *easy to peel release liner
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Mapletreehouse.com offers a wide variety of affordable products, ranging from papercrafts and hobby materials from the USA, to healthcare and beauty products. Enjoy a complete shopping experience from the comfort of your home! We specialize in bringing fun to parties through papercrafting, and promotes team bonding through corporate events.
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IE9 Platform Preview 3 Now Available
Yesterday we released the latest preview of IE9 (Preview 3) with enhancements including HTML <audio>, <video> and <canvas> tags, (even more) improved JavaScript performance and increased standards support including ES5 and an improved Acid 3 score. We also submitted additional tests to the working groups at the W3C and published some new developer samples on the Test Drive site.
You can download the preview and try out the developer samples to explore the enhancements at http://ie.microsoft.com/testdrive/.


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More information about ourRide Pass
Ride Passes
View our schedule of activities or book now.
Ride Pass (Peak Time)
15 minute wakeboard set How does a ride pass work?
€30 (no kit included)
€2 Wetsuit
€3 Wakeboard
All prices per person.
Ride Pass (Off Peak Time)
15 minute wakeboard set during off peak hours (please refer to the schedule of activities for off-peak and peak hours). How does a ride pass work?
€25 (no kit included)
€2 Wetsuit
€3 Wakeboard
Student & Youth Deal:
Off-peak Ride Pass for students: €25; free equipment rental. Proof of age and if applicable, valid student card required, no further reduction if equipment is not rented
Off-Peak Ride Pass for under 18s: €15; equipment rental: €3 per wakeboard, €2 per wetsuit
All prices per 15 minute set.
Session Savers**
|5 Sessions
|€27.50 per session
|10 Sessions
|€25 per session
|25 Sessions
|€22.50 per session
|50 Sessions
|€20 per session
|100 Sessions
|€17.50 per session
** Session savers are non-transferrable.
How does a ride pass "session" on the cable work?
During the hour, every rider will get 15 minutes ride time on the cable. When the rider falls off, the operator stops the System and drives the handle back to them, so there is no need to swim to the quayside or to the starting platform which means the rider gets maximum ride time.
Lunchtime sessions are a bit different, because a maximum of two people can book in for a 30 minutes slot. We do this to accommodate those who want to pop down during their lunchbreak. The individual ride time is the same as in the regular peak/off-peak sessions, 15 minutes per rider.
How does the session saver discount work?
Your user account in the booking system will be charged with the credit you purchase, so for example if you purchase a 5 session saver you pay €137.50 and your account will be credited with €150. Every time you book in for a session, the amount will be deducted from your account.


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Sgerber needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 196 designs submitted by 58 freelance designers.
Bohemian Bloom
Bohemian Bloom produces luxurious handcrafted paper flowers for high-end weddings, boutiques and special events.
We're looking for Baroque, Shabby chic designs that are clean, elegant and distinctive. The logo will be used for multiple purposes including web, print and stamps, so the logo will need to be able to be flexible when it comes to colors. We would like a solid gray and black logo presented along with your full design. Here are some very specific examples that we would like designers to review prior to getting started:
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Address:Sera Mey Monastic University
P.O. Bylakuppe – 571104
District Mysore, State Karnataka
Country INDIA
Sera Mey and Sera Jey are the two monasteries within the compound of Sera Monastery, situated at a two hours' drive from Mysore, Karnataka, South India. The Tibetan settlement of Bylakuppe is perhaps the biggest Tibetan camp in India. The climatic condition at Bylakuppe is moderate. From Bangalore, it takes about six hours by bus.
The bus stop nearest to Sera are Bylakuppe, Koppa and Kushalnagar. A bus from Mysore will first take you to Hunsur in an hour, and then after half an hour it will reach Priyapatna. From there to Bylakuppe it will take half an hour, and then from there it will take 10 minutes to Koppa, and and around 7 minutes from Koppa to Kushalnagar.
Please visit these websites for your kind information.
- Train : www.irctc.com
- Bus : www.ksrtc.com or www.bmtcinfo.com
- Air flight : www.yatra.com or www.bengaluruairport.com or any travel agencies.
- Place : www.maps.google.co.in
PAP is mandatory for all foreigner who wish to visit most of the Tibetan settlements in India.
You can for apply for the PAP permit at the Indian Embassy or the Indian High Commission in your country when you apply for an Indian Visa.
You can also apply for it directly at:
Rehabilitation Section, Ministry of Home Affairs,
Jaisalmer House, 26 Mansingh Road,
New Delhi 110 011.
If you want to apply through the Bureau Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi, you would need a support letter from the monastery that you would like to visit.
The Rehabilitation Officer
Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama
10-B, Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar-IV
New Delhi – 110024, India
Tel : +91-11-26474798, 26439745, 26218548
Fax : +91-11-26461914,
Web : www.tibetbureau.in
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
- Copy of Valid Passport and VISA
- Two recent Passport Size Photos
- Consent Letter from the Settlement Office or the monastery that you are visiting, if you are applying through Bureau Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Delhi
- It will take three months to process the PAP if all the necessary documents are submitted properly.
- Download the application form here: Protected Area Permit.doc or Protected Area Permit.pdf
You can book our guest house at a very nominal charge. A restaurant is attached to the guest house and so, there is basic facility for visitors. Visiting guests are required to produce their PAP and passport for the record. If you want to visit Sera, you can also book your room in advance.
Please contact:
The Manager
Theckchen Khangsar Guest House
Sera Mey Hospital, P.O. Bylakuppe- 571104,
Mysore District Karnataka State, India
Ph : +91-8223-258452
Email : email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com
Or you can make us to arrange with your requirements.
For further details, please contact:
The Secretary
Sera Mey Monastery
P.O. Bylakuppe – 571104
Mysore District, Karnataka State
Ph :+91-8223-258207/408
Fax : +91-8223-258576
Email : email@example.com, email@example.com


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Japanese Hawks Lifted by Donald Trump
By Nobuaki Masaki
SNA (Tokyo) — Donald Trump's comments about the potential need for the United States to retract its responsibility to defend Japan may help conservative Japanese politicians bolster this East Asian nation's military posture.
In a May 4 Republican Town Hall hosted by CNN, Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, said that Tokyo should pay "all the expense" of the US military being deployed in bases across Japan, or else "they're going to have to defend themselves." Trump suggested that Japan could even arm itself with nuclear weapons in such an event.
On May 6, Regional Revitalization Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who was in Washington to speak at a symposium, responded to Trump's comments, saying that the Republican candidate "should reread the US-Japan Security Treaty carefully." He argued that the US-Japan security alliance was also in the interests of the United States because it contributes to the stability of the region. Ishiba also argued against nuclear armament, saying that this would weaken the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
However, Ishiba seems to agree with Trump in the sense that they both want to change the alliance in some way, stating that "the revision of the US-Japan Security Treaty is a subject that should be considered seriously to move the US-Japan alliance to a symmetrical relationship."
Ishiba has long referred to the one-way commitment of the United States to potentially take military action on Japan's behalf as "unsymmetrical." Japan is obligated to the provision of US military bases on its territory. Ishiba wants to set "symmetrical" bilateral conditions in which the two sides can protect each other. In the symposium, he also acknowledged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to revise the Japanese Constitution to allow for a wider use of collective self-defense.
Prime Minister Abe's opinions on this issue are clear. In his 2006 book, Toward A Beautiful Country, Abe wrote, "Article Nine of the Constitution caused Japan to lack the necessary conditions to be an independent country."
Trump's comments could potentially lead Japanese people to think that they cannot always count on the United States for their defense. This will strengthen the arguments of security policy focused politicians like Abe and Ishiba.
This situation hearkens back to the time in which Abe suggested during the Diet proceedings for the Legislation for Peace and Security that his proposals will gain public support in the future, referencing the US-Japan Security Treaty that his grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, pushed through in 1960. Abe noted that this was also deeply unpopular at the time, but subsequently won public support.
Nobuaki Masaki is a contributing writer to the Shingetsu News Agency


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Les Suites Orient, Bund Shanghai
The Overview
Updated on September 18, 2014
European Art-Deco style meets contemporary Chinese allure at Les Suites Orient, an elegant hotel nestled within a 23-story heritage building by the iconic Bund. Earthy tones dominate the 168 rooms, which are equipped with thoughtful amenities such as iPod docks, Illy espresso machines and weather display panels on bathroom mirrors, while Bund-facing rooms feature oversize windows with unobstructed views of the skyscraper-lined Huangpu River. The upscale boutique also boasts 43 disabled-friendly suites, smart room key-cards that double as transport pass, and mobile phones that enable guests to connect with the hotel's concierge for directions and translations while exploring Shanghai.
Tel: +86 21 6320 0088
Website: lessuitesorient.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LesSuitesOrientBundShanghai
Twitter: @LesSuitesOrient
Published on Jul 5, 2011
See All Articles...
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December 16 2019 - Plans For Tarps Plus in 2020
Tarps Plus has some big plans for 2020 that are sure to entertain. Tarps Plus plans to show how tarps can be fun, creative, and more useful than ever. The quality of tarps is always our tarp priority, and 2020 will show even more increases in the area of excellence. A website update is also planned for 2020 to make sure we offer the best shopping experience possible.
Below is our new Tarps Plus logo. Look for this logo to be featured in many places in 2020.
October 7 2019 - Tarps Flashback
Tarps have changed throughout the years, how they are used and the materials that they are made of. Tarps Plus has started "Tarps Flashback. Every Thursday on the Tarps Plus Facebook page we post a picture of a tarp from the past ranging from the 1980s, to the Renaissance era and beyond. The pictorial essay gives us an understanding of the history of tarps and how they have been applied in the past.
June 19 2019 - 7 Great Uses for Tarps This Summer
Summer is here again! Here are 7 great uses for tarps this summer of 2019
May 16, 2019 - Tarps Plus Ramps Up Tarps For The Military
Tarps Plus has increased it's military type tarps inventory for the summer of 2019. Some of the tarps that have been added are, poly hurricane tarps, olive drab canvas tarps and poly camouflage tarps. The increased supply will enable Tarps Plus to continue being the key emergency tarp supplier in North America. The hurricane tarps, are widely used by emergency roofing companies and FEMA. Canvas tarps have been used by the Army Core of Engineers for debris removal and the camo tarps are used by the several departments of the military for many applications.
March 1, 2019 - Fun Tarp Themes For Spring
There are nearly countless applications for tarps. Abadak Inc. will be creating wild and entertaining videos on the many ways how tarps can be used. These videos will be shown on the corresponding product pages for that tarp. So, if you are looking at a 30x60 blue tarps you might see a video on tarps surfing. If you are looking at a 33' round tarp, you might see a video on covering an above ground pool cover. The first tarp video will be launched on March 29th. Customers or on our email newsletter members will be able to see the videos first so join our newsletter today and get the first sneak peek.
January 14, 2019 - Ice Rink Liner Tarps
There are many applications for tarps all year long. One of the most fun uses for tarps come in winter when hockey enthusiasts build ice rinks in their own backyard. The tarp of choice for this is the 30x60 white poly tarp. The tarp is used as a liner to hold in water after a small trench for the rink has been built. For more information on ice rink liner tarps, go to: https://www.tarpsplus.com/ice-rink-liner-tarp.html A new shipment of the ice rink liner tarps has just arrived in time for the 2019 winter season.
September 10, 2018 - Hurricane Peak Season Has Arrived
September 10th is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and right on queue, here comes a category 4 hurricane in the Atlantic, Florence. The deadly storm will be hitting the Carolina areas sometime late Friday the 14th. Tarps Plus has a massive inventory prepared for shipment in the area. The tarps will be essential to have after the storm hits and people will need to cover roofs to homes, commercial buildings and various other types of structures, to prevent water damage to compromised structures. Abadak Inc. has containers of hurricane-grade tarps stockpiled at their 10-acre facility in Texas. Tarps are also ready for shipment to the Pacific for Tropical Storm and soon to be Hurricane Olivia.
For more information about hurricane tarps call: 800-838-3057
June 1, 2018 - Tarps Plus Stockpiles Largest Supply of Hurricane Tarps For 2018 Hurricane Season
June 1 is the first day of hurricane season, which spans to November 30. Tarps Plus is going through its annual ritual of stockpiling container loads of tarps on their 10-acre facility in Georgetown Texas. Abadak Inc., the corporate name of Tarps Plus, has specialized and has been the hurricane tarp leader for decades. The National Oceanic and atmospheric administration predict that the 2018 hurricane season will be average or slightly above the norm. The calm prediction has limited Tarps Plus' inventory. Abadak Inc/Tarps Plus say, "We have seen hurricanes touchdown in or around the continental U.S. in a cyclical fashion over the years and given last year's activity, we made sure we have the same amount of tarps on hand."
May 8, 2018 - Tarps Plus Adds More Seasonal Sales
Tarps Plus loyal customers will be seeing more seasonal discount promotions. The new discounts will be sent via email to opt-in customers. The discounts will include the full tarps catalog as well as some closeout promotional items. The discounts will be in the 5% to 10% range and sent out on a monthly basis.
March 14, 2018 Tarps Plus Builds Custom Tarps Department
When it comes to tarps, one size cannot fit all. The people at Tarps Plus realized that a long time ago, that is why they a leader in custom tarps. The leading US tarp supplier will be increasing it's custom made tarp capacity this year to handle the increased business. Tarps Plus Abadak Inc. owner Michael Stein said, "We will fulfilling the needs of those esoteric customers that need custom tarps for that unique custom solution." The tarps company says it will be focusing on the material; longer lasting options and faster lead times.
February 9, 2018 - Tarps Plus Offers Up "Tarp Tuesdays"
There are many applications for tarps and the questions on how to use the tarp can almost seem endless. Abadak Inc. www.tarpsplus.com have decided to offer up a video every Tuesday via YouTube to enable people to get more uses out of their tarps. Abadak Inc owner Michael Stein said, "We get a lot of inquiries about tarps and the types of uses, so we thought it would be useful to post a short weekly video post on all the different types of tarps we have and the applications the tarp can be used for." A short video is posted on YouTube every Tuesday, featuring a different type of tarp and it's uses.
January 02 2018 - Plans For Tarps Plus in 2018
Tarps Plus had a very busy 2017. Tarps Plus was the leading online tarps supplier with the demand for hurricane tarps being the main driver. Tarps Plus owner Michael Stein said, "We were able to increase our profitability and at the same time lower our prices of tarps due to better forecasting and SKU rationalization." Tarps Plus stockpiled more selective and desirable sizes of hurricane tarps and sold other sizes that did not move as fast at a discount. Massive inventory for the 2018 hurricane season will be arriving in June.
August 25, 2017 - Tarps Plus Stockpiles Hurricane Tarps Covers for 2017 Hurricanes
Leading North American Tarp Supplier, "Tarps Plus" has stockpiled what is to be believed as the largest supply of hurricane tarps at their Texas Warehouse. This comes on the heels of Hurricane Harvey's arrival in the Texas Gulf. Shipping containers of the Army Core of Engineers, Blue Cross and, FEMA desired 20x25 blue tarps have been staged at the tarps facility. Tarps Plus owner Michael Stein said, "We have strategized our hurricane tarps supply for years in the event of a hurricane hitting the gulf."
The tarp company says it will be working around the clock to fulfill government and emergency needs; keeping their tarps warehouse open 24/7.
July 11, 2017 - Making Tarps Fun For The Tarp Industry
When people think of tarps, they might think of a boring plastic cover. Tarps Plus is starting a "Fun Tarp Campaign"; showing fun applications for tarps. CEO, Michael Stein said, "We want to change the mindset of how tarps are used, as opposed to the traditional application of covering things." Tarps Plus will be sending out weekly emails with a focus of the fun aspects of tarps. If you wish to get these emails with fun facts and uses for tarps you can apply to the Tarps Plus newsletter at the bottom of the homepage at www.tarpsplus.com
May 17, 2017 - Preparing For The 2017 Hurricane Tarps Season
June 1st to November 30th is hurricane season and people that live in the hurricane zone need to be prepared. Folks in Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and pretty much the entire eastern seaboard know they all need a tarp during this time of year. In the event of a strong hurricane, tarps will be needed to cover roofs that have been damaged. It is essential to cover the roofs before more rains do more damage to the home. A light duty tarp that lasts up to a month or two will suffice. Tarps Plus Founder and CEO says: "We are known and counted on tarps for hurricanes and tornados so we feel obligated to have the largest supply for our customers."
Other important items that accompany the tarps are, sand bags and 100 foot log poly rope.
January 5, 2017 Tarps Plus Redesigns Baseball Tarps to Lead Industry Standards.
Every year coaches and athletic directors scurry to find ways to cover the field during the winter months. Baseball tarps and athletic field covers are an essential tool to preserve the field. One of the biggest concerns for coaches when it comes to athletic field covers are Life of the tarp and the ease of application. Tarps plus has taken this item to the next level with three main factors:
1. Thicker material - The nylon mesh count has been increased to a 14 x 16 mesh count
2. Seatbelt grade handles
3. Industrial stitching
Tarps Plus owner Michael Stein said, "Our goal is to offer the highest grade polyethylene baseball tarp on the market."
Each baseball tarp cover is packed in an industrial wooden crate and shipped via freight.
November 28, 2016 - Tarps Plus Donates Tarps and Tents to Austin Homeless For Holidays.
Every year hundreds of homeless people die of hypothermia due to living on the streets. A simple plastic tarp prevents the damp and cold. Tarps are an essential item for homeless people living in cold climate areas that are in danger of hypothermia.
The founder and CEO of Abadak/Tarps Plus, Michael Stein started the "Abadak Gives Back" program in Los Angeles where the company is originally from. Abadak moved their headquarters to Austin in 2014 and this marks the first year the homeless drive will take place in Texas. Abadak will be delivering the tarps, tents, and clothing to "Mobile Loaves and Fishes" , an Austin based homeless foundation.
Stein stated The "Abadak Gives Back" homeless drive is something that we have been doing for many years and we are very excited to bring it here to Austin.
Next year Tarps Plus plans to find other companies that wish to donate their products for the event as well.
October 16, 2016 - Tarps Plus™ leads relief for Hurricane Mathew
Truckloads of tarps leaving Tarps Plus head out to North Carolina and Florida as people deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
Tarps Plus founder and CEO Michael Stein said, "We have been donating and discounting the blue hurricane tarps heavily in order to help out as many as we can".
Florida and North Carolina have been classified as "state of emergency".
Several containers of poly tarps will be arriving at Abadak – tarps plus headquarters later this week.
March 15, 2016 – Expansion of Baseball Tarps and Athletic Field Covers.
Building a 170' X 170' baseball tarp is not easy. Handles need to be triple stitched, material needs to have heavy duty seems and packaging the product must be extremely secured for transit. Tarps Plus has taken one more step toward a better quality tarp to make sure their baseball field tarps are of the highest standard.
Tarps Plus CEO Michael Stein says, "Every year we are taking steps to advance the quality of our tarps. This year we focused on Quality of material and the packaging of baseball tarps."
The giant covers are now wrapped, strapped and pelleted in wooden crates to assure safety in transit.
Tarps Plus says it plans to further expand their athletic field cover product line, working closely with baseball coaches and athletic directors across the country.
January 25, 2016 – Tarps Plus plans Annual Tarp Aid Program.
Tarps Plus donates thousands of carbs every Thanksgiving to the homeless but now deleting you as tarp supplier wants to donate tarps all your round two agencies that help the needy. The company will be offering overstock, seconds, closeout tarps and various other types of irregular tarp stock items to US government agencies free of charge, barring certain restrictions and criteria's.
Tarps Plus CEO and founder Michael Stein said, "this gives us the opportunity to offer tarps that do not fit our high standard, whether opened or slightly and perfect for free of charge two schools and government agencies that help our country.
The free tire program starts on February 1, 2016.
December 2, 2015 - The tarp drive at the Los Angeles Mission was a big success as far as the number of tarps that were given out by Tarps Plus. The final count for the 2015 Holiday homeless drive was over two thousand poly tarps. The plastic covers will prevent hypothermia for many people living on the streets of LA. Tarps Plus sales manager stated, "This has been my seventh year personally handing out the tarps and this year seems to be the most tarps distributed." Tarps Plus plans its efforts to it's new home in the Austin Texas area for 2016.
November 4, 2015 - Tarps Plus Plans Largest Tarp Drive For Homeless To Date! Leading tarp supplier, Tarps Plus, will be holding their annual tarp drive in Los Angeles this Thanksgiving and they plan to break their own record in tarps distributed. Poly tarps are a helpful tool for the homeless during the winter months. Hundreds of in the U.S. will die of hypothermia due to living on the streets every winter and a simple waterproof tarp can supply a protective shield against dampness and cold. Founder and CEO of Abadak, Michael Stein says, "We gave out over two thousand tarps to the L.A. city homeless last year; we will giving out nearly three thousand tarps this year." Stein says, if there are any tarps left over, they will leave the tarps with the Los Angeles Mission which heads the annual Thanksgiving gala. The mission will distribute the rest of the plastic covers to people as needed.
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Barbados Hotels Your home away from home Barbados hotels are world class... the ultimate in tropical vacation accommodation. Actually the island has some of the best hotels found anywhere in the Caribbean. Set amidst exotic tropical gardens they spawn some of the most picture perfect beaches you can imagine. There are five star hotels, all inclusive hotels and intimate romantic hotels, all complimented by beautiful beaches, friendly people, fabulous snorkeling and tons of other activities. You'll no doubt recognize the popular brand names like Hilton, Sandy Lane, The Crane and Sandals to name a few but there are some fantastic smaller gems like The Rostrevor on the south coast and Little Good Harbour on the west coast. Below you'll find our list of Barbados hotel set out in various categories to make your planning that much easier. Barbados Hotels by Coast Here we have group the hotels in Barbados by coast, namely west coast, south coast and east coast. Each coastline featured here is characterised by significant differences on the west coast or platinum coast as it is commonly referred to you'll find a number of posh hotels sitting on some gorgeous beaches. This definitely is the upscale side of Barbados hotel accommodation... Click here to learn more about Barbados west coast hotels The south coast like the west coast also feature stunning white sandy beaches lapped by the gentle pristine waters of the Caribbean sea. However the hotels on this coast fall in the mid price range so if you are on a limited budget the south coast hotels maybe the place for you... Click here to learn more about Barbados south coast hotels. The east coast is the rugged underdeveloped side of the island here you'll fin beautiful rolling hills, lush natural vegetation and the pounding waves of the rougher Atlantic ocean. Unlike the west and south coast you wouldn't find many hotels on this coastline but there definitely is something on the coast for the more adventurous holiday seeker... Click here to learn more about Barbados east coast hotels. Barbados 5 Star Hotels Here you'll find eight hotels with the top five star rating in Barbados. They all have some of the highest guest ratings you'll find anywhere. However, there are all unique accommodation properties catering to your unique needs. The nightly rates for most of these start at way over $1,000. Barbados 5 star hotels are the cream of the hotel accommodation on the island. So if you are seeking to pamper your self with celebrity style treatment these fancy resorts are the ideal place for you. You'll treated to the best money can buy from spa treatments to world class cuisine. These hotels will allow you to unwind in a world that is just beyond your imagination. Click here to learn more about Barbados Luxury hotels. . Barbados All Inclusive Hotels Here you find the best all inclusive hotels in Barbados. This type of vacation accommodation is becoming extremely popular in tourism destinations like Barbados. Mainly because the all inclusive concept mean that your room rate cover most of the extras like onsite meals, activities like tours and facilities like the fitness center. If you are on a budget the Barbados all inclusive hotels may be the place to stay. Just remember that each all inclusive property may vary on whats included. So do your research thoroughly to be sure of what you are getting for your dollar. Click here to learn more about our highly rated Barbados all inclusive hotels. Barbados Intimate Hotels Barbados intimate hotels is a grouping of most of the indigenous owned small hotels, apartments, guest houses, villas and condos on the island. Comprising less than 80 rooms you'll definitely be taken back by the charm and quaintness of these amazing properties. And the good news is they are located all around the island even on the famous platinum coast. Click here to learn more about the Intimate hotels of Barbados. . Cheap Hotels in Barbados Barbados hotels are usually pretty expensive. However, there are still some relatively cheaper accommodation options available to the budget conscious vacationer. Here you will find more clean affordable options that may even offering self-catering facilities. Most are around $100 or less a night. The amenities they offer are limited, but they are great places to stay if you are operating on a shoestring budget... Click here to learn more about Barbados cheap hotels. Honeymoon Hotels in Barbados Barbados has a long tradition of hosting honeymooners and with so many wonderful hotel and resorts the island can provide a number of romantic accommodation packages to ensure that your journey together is a memorable one. So if you are looking for a Barbados honeymoon hotel. Here are the best places to stay if you are planning a honeymoon in paradise. All of these hotels come with all the amenities to make your stay perfect. Click here to learn more about Barbados honeymoon hotels... . Share this Image On Your Site
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I was one of the people who always was against APPLE products, even though I had the iPad, i always was against APPLE, and I always used to advice my friends to purchase androids.
When Apple introduced iPhone 4s, I purchased the samsung s2, and i was amazed with the ability of customization that I was able to do, and the amount of applications that i was able to download, especially that I was a BlackBerry user, who was just stuck with its stupid ecosystem (if it has one). And then my closest friend bought the iphone 4s. I used to laugh at him, because he couldn't do anything from what I was doing, and that is that trap that I was in, I thought I was doing more, but I did in the first few days, then I started to use the phone just like an iphone.
The thing that I wasn't saying is that I had a mobile that I couldn't get the accessories that I wanted, but my friend did, and i was stuck with the plasticy, out of proportion mobile that I had to use it by two hand, even though i used to argue that it is a smarter phone, with more specification, but i was in that swinging mood between loving the system and hating the physical touch of it. and that made me sell the plastic toy I used to have.
I sold the s2, and I started using the BlackBerry Z10, which I thought that it is the next innovative mobile that will be in the market, and I wasn't more wrong about it.
I still have the Z10, and I bought the Samsung S4 to my wife, with all these air gestures that it has, and all the specifications that APPLE doesn't have, but guess what ! all these options are switched off, because there is no need for it !! i wouldn't hover my finger above the album to check what is inside, and I wouldn't tilt my head to scroll down a page. and touching the screen makes me feel that I was touching a toy, it is a big plasticy phone that I can't scroll down the notification bar with one hand, unless I do some kind of acrobatic move raising the chance to drop the phone !
So I made my decision, I'm moving to iOS, and that is for the following reasons:
1) The strong ecosystem
APPLE AppStore is the best store compared to Android Play Store, windows, and BlackBerry. It is the safest, and the richest store ever. Most of the application are built right, that runs so smooth on APPLE devices, and everyone can feel that AppStore respects the hardware that the devices have, and provide a compatible applications for it.
2) The SUPPLEMENTARY
Apple has one of the largest communities, and this community loves apple, and loves apple's customers, and that made them produce a huge amount of accessories that are fit only for apple. Go to any mobile accessories store, and you'll find that 70% of the accessories they have is Apple friendly. but you will not find that with the huge android providers such as Samsung, HTC and LG. I'm not saying that there is no accessories, but not as Apple's.
3) Quality not Quantity
Until today, My friend has his iPhone 4s, and it is running iOS 7 smoothly, but I sold my S2 4 months ago, and before selling it, it had all these cheap scratches from the Cheap Quality.
Samsung provides a lot of features in its mobiles, and a lot of specifications that 90% of the S4 users disable just to save battery. I'm not saying that they are not innovative, Yes they are, but they are useless, and the devices have very low quality.
I'm saying that iPhone provides high quality products that can last a lot longer, with the specifications that 90% of the users are satisfied with, and they don't want more. (I'm not saying about HTC, because
4) After Market Price
it is a very important features, iPhone has the highest after market price, and that is very motivational for me, maybe because I upgrade from phone to phone a lot, and because when i want to sell to move to another brand, i will garantee that I will not loose much value
I'm thinking about getting the iPhone 5s, and enter the world of iOS not by the iPad, but by the iPhone. Even though I invested some money in Google Play store purchasing a lot of application, but I think it worth it, because Apple provides the thing that are useful, not more, and it is well done, balanced device with a balanced system with the balanced hardware it has. I think I'm going to love it, and I hope so.


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I don't mean to be a nit picker, but that photo in the page header has a black square in the bottom right hand corner.
The same mistake was made in Better Homes and Gardens last Friday.
I don't mean to be a nit picker, but that photo in the page header has a black square in the bottom right hand corner.
The same mistake was made in Better Homes and Gardens last Friday.
It's been that way since a site redesign a number of years back. The person doing the redesign picked a stock image, it wasn't noticed by the one person who saw it before it was uploaded, and unless there is another redesign we're stuck with it.
Last edited by Kevin Bonham; 11-10-2018 at 07:33 PM.
ACF Newsletter Information - All Australian players and administrators should subscribe and check each issue for relevant notices
My psephology/politics site (token chess references only) : http://kevinbonham.blogspot.com.au/ Politics twitter feed https://twitter.com/kevinbonham
I am just as upset with the lousey cheap board in the display when considering all the beautiful crafted classic sets produced over the centuries.
Zionism is racism as defined by the UN, Israel by every dirty means available steals land and water, kill Palestinian freedom fighters and civilians, and operates an apartheid system to drive more Palestinians off their land
LOL....Funny how time flys.....Sprout remembers this very convo in da shoutbox w KB's lolol to funny..... remember da update to cheschats n for days this topic was major like in da shoutbox.....By this time meh guessing that were totally stuck like chuck with da busted up board in our header m8's
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You are here: Corporate Partnerships
How we can help your business succeed
We help companies achieve their business objectives by partnering with them to ensure no family goes without shelter.
We put a lot of importance on the word partnership. Partnerships are about shared values, mutual benefits and measurable impact.
Help us give the tools that enable people to rebuild homes and transform their lives.
Let's get in touch
Contact Simon, Head of Major Gifts
Boost your performance
High performing teams are as essential in business as they are in disaster response.
Attend our unique course and benefit from the same leadership, team-building and problem-solving expertise we use to train response teams to be effective in some of the most challenging and dangerous environments in the world.
THE SHELTERBOX WAY is one of a kind course, drawing upon years of experience in building teams that achieve superior results in high-risk environments.
Engage your staff
Partner with ShelterBox to increase staff engagement, attract talent and drive down staff turn-over.
We have a wide range of campaigns, events and volunteering opportunities to roll out to staff. We provide compelling content and rigorous measurements to show the impact of our partnership. We can even lend you some of our disaster relief equipment to boost awareness with internal or external stakeholders.
After working with Beazley Furlonge Ltd - a FTSE 250 insurance company - to engage staff globally, 78 percent agreed their employer was socially responsible and 83 percent felt CSR was the number one priority for the company to maintain.
Inspire your customers
Contribute to our work and use our eye-catching content to align your business or brand with a simple, compelling cause that resonates with millions of people.
Source: Nielsen
Ways to Partner
Our corporate team has a wealth of experience in managing partnerships of every size and is keen to explore the different ways in which we can work together:
- Strategic partnerships
- Corporate donations
- Employee and customer fundraising
- Event sponsorship
- Cause-related marketing initiatives
- Emergency giving
- Gifts in kind
Let's talk more! Please email Simon, Head of Major Gifts at email@example.com to discuss how we could work together.


text: Welcome WIAA fans - we look forward to welcoming you when you come to Madison for your High School State Championships! Whether you are looking for tournament times and ticket information, hotel rates for WIAA fans or visitor information, we are able to help you with all of it. Good luck to your athletes and teams, and enjoy your time in the Madison area!


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This is exciting news!!! Remember our last trip to Amsterdam? You know the one with that house boat? In that post, we spoke briefly about an exciting project that we were working on with Airbnb and STA Travel… Well, its finally here!
Presenting – our campaign with Airbnb & STA Travel! 🙂
You can read more about it on the STA Travel website here but first things first, what do you think about the video? 🙂 🙂 🙂


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When we say that travelling to Ladakh by road is one of the most stimulating road adventures in the world, it is no exaggeration. Trip to Ladakh by road means driving past some of the highest passes in the world, maneuvering your vehicle through semi-arid planes, savoring the wonderful view of the mighty mountains as well as breathtaking vistas and, catching the sight of simple lifestyle of the nomads, staying in tiny settlement. Monasteries, huge prayer bells, fluttering prayer bells and Tibetan Buddhist people are all interesting parts of a road journey to Ladakh.
There are two highways that take you to Leh- the Srinagar-Leh Highway and the Manali-Leh Highway. The second one is more popular amid road travelers and bikers as it offers a chance to travel across some of world's highest mountain passes, admire the wonderful natural beauty of the place, the Himalayas on one side and the gushing rivers on the other. The excitement to drive on these thrilling roads is matchless.
This page offers complete information on how to reach Ladakh by road. You get details on distances, accommodation, petrol pumps, basic facilities available and more.
Manali - Leh Highway
Ideal for road trippers and adventure seekers, Manali-Leh Highway has a total length of 464 km. Out of this, there is no civilization on 350 km. You are not going to find any fuel pump on a distance of 365 km. This clearly points out to the fact that if you wish to travel to Ladakh via this highway, you need to do proper preparation.
We advise that instead of driving from Manali to Leh, choose the other way round that is Leh to Manali because as you would as it is be comfortable on high altitudes and driving down is not really going to be a problem for you. You can stay overnight in Sarchi, a destination with a number of accommodation option. This lovely town has an equal distance from both Manali and Leh.
However, if you are willing to drive the other way round, day is going to be Manali - Keylong and day 2 is going to be Keylong to Leh. Overnight at Sarchu is not advisable at it is positioned on a high altitude.


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Looking for easy art projects to keep the kids busy this summer? Craft ideas like these, which all require very little adult supervision, can be a lot of fun for kids while helping you get a little work done! Be sure to choose the right craft project for your children's ages and interests. Or, it could turn into mom's summer crafts project. These summer craft ideas require very little adult help but pack a lot of fun.
Depending on your children's ages and abilities, you may need to be nearby or do some prep work in advance, but you shouldn't have to participate. If you find you are needed for constant hands-on help, then try a different activity next time. Also, remember that big kids make great helpers for little kids.
Ideas for Toddlers Through Kindergarteners
These summer craft ideas for young children may take some prep, work and you'll want to be in the room. But try not to jump up every time they encounter a problem. This is how they will learn to be independent.
Lace Yarn Around Large Foam Letters
Lacing yarn around these large letters is a great way to reinforce lessons on the alphabet, while at the same time improving fine motor skills. For toddlers and preschooler, you will want to cut these shapes in advance and let them do the lacing. Because the letters are so large kindergarteners and first graders may be able to cut the letters themselves if you are nearby to supervise.
Create Alphabet Refrigerator Magnets With Foam Letters
Again, if your child is old enough and skilled with scissors then cutting out the foam letters could be a great activity. But if not, buy the pre-made foam letters and let them stick the magnets to the foam. The real fun begins when they start building words and letters on every metal surface they can find.
Cereal Jewelry
String colorful loops of cereal on chenille to make lovely jewelry. This activity combines snack time and crafts. What fun! Of course, your "beads" may get eaten up before they are ever strung. If that's a problem maybe try these noodle and rice crafts, which are a handy--but not as tasty--medium.
Coloring Pages
Family Crafts has a seemingly endless supply of free, printable coloring pages, so print a new one every day for your child. Use them in your themed collages too.
Ideas for Kids in First to Third Grades
At this age, you can try some messier projects because kids can clean up after themselves. Most will be able to use scissors fairly independently but may still need supervision.
Collage of Favorite Things
Once your child is an independent cutter, creating collages can occupy him for hours. Use magazines, copies of a family photo or just about anything else that will stick to the paper. But also encourage kids to draw on their collages or maybe add poems or other written items. Vary this activity by adding themes, i.e. my favorite foods, best friends, etc. This is an activity that some kids will enjoy for many years. My teenager still makes collages with photos of friends, album art from favorite music and words cut from magazines.
Alphabet Book
Use the templates in this project's instructions to print out each letter, and every day let your child paste on or draw items that begin with that letter. At the end of the summer, your child will have an alphabet book to review. Kids at the older end of this range can make an alphabet book with younger siblings but can write as many words as they can think of around the edges.
Bagel Bird Feeder
Combine birdseed and bagels and hang this craft out for the birds. This project is simple enough for very young kids (except for cutting the bagel). The question is how messy will it get. If you want to get any work done, best save this project for kids old enough to clean up after themselves.
Foam Visors
Visors are just one of the dozens of foam craft pieces that can be made into instant (and wearable) art. Younger kids can simply stick other foam pieces on them or kids with good cutting skills can create animal faces to wear.
Candy Plants
Candy "growing" from cute painted pots. Kids old and young will love this one. Younger kids can decorate the pots with markers or foam pieces. Teens and tweens can paint them.
Ideas for Tweens and Teens
Teens and tweens may enjoy some of the above summer craft ideas (like the collage or birdfeeder) if done with younger siblings or scaled more to their level and interest. But these ideas below may capture their attention even better.
Apple Prints
Like the birdfeeder, younger kids younger can most certainly make apple prints, but paint is not a practical while-you-work activity until they can work fairly neatly. If your tween has not been taught to use a knife you may want to cut it for him or her. Try other fruits or more printmaking projects.
Make Your Own Bath Salts
This is a very easy craft. Younger kids could certainly make these. But teens and tweens will enjoy them more. Girls can make them as gifts for friends.
Friendship Bracelets
The possible variations on friendship bracelets could keep your tween tying knots all summer, so stock up on hemp and beads and set them up with these step-by-step instructions.
Drawing Cartoons
Bracelets and bath salts are for girls, but boys like to draw as well as girls. And they may like to draw cartoons even more. So get your teen a sketchbook and let them start learning to draw this summer.
Note: The instructions on many of these projects have suggested ages, but keep in mind that these are just suggestions. If you are only supervising and not participating, you may find that the age range is too young.


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It's the 15th of the month, which could only mean one thing: yes, that's right, it's time to announce the winner and runner-up in our ongoing monthly Short Film Contest! A hearty thank you goes out to our March judges Craig Zobel, Alison Willmore, and Mike S. Ryan. Though this month's runner-up is a 9-minute documentary and the winner is a 17-minute narrative, they make for quite a complementary—and emotionally affecting—double-bill. Before explaining why, I should first remind you that *submissions are currently open for next month's contest*, which will be judged by: sometimes HTN contributor Lena Dunham, whose HBO series Girls premieres on April 15th and is already getting crazy great reviews; Jeff Deutchman, Director of Acquisitions for IFC Entertainment; and Kelly Sears, who won our first ever contest with her haunting descent into high school past, Once It Started It Could Not End Otherwise. If you've made a short film, please submit it! But enough about that, it's now time to celebrate this month's worthy winners.
Figure Father (Andrew Ellis, 9 minutes)
Filmmaker Andrew Ellis spent one year documenting the life of 49-year-old Pedro Sodo, and though the resulting film runs only 9 minutes long, it nonetheless has the gravity and impact of a feature (when's the last time a short film made you cry? this one might very well do it). Released from prison in 2004, Sodo now volunteers as a motivational speaker at inner city high schools, where his life story brings these typically take no frills kids to tears. Ellis also introduces us to Sodo's 22-year-old son Tony, who sees his dad now but is still grappling with the impact of having grown up with an absent, emotionally unhinged father. While there is nothing formally groundbreaking about Figure Father, that only makes its climax all the more powerful. Piercing emotional truth like this KOs style any day of the week.
I Am John Wayne (Christina Choe, 17 minutes)
From the first paragraph of my review:
The street where I live in Brooklyn has a rather unfortunate nickname: "the OK Corral." Not long ago, a teenager was shot and killed here (intense police presence, as well as recently installed surveillance cameras, have calmed things down). As portrayed by the media, these incidents happen so often that inner city residents don't even mourn this consistent loss of life—or, at the very least, nobody puts forth much of an effort or desire to understand the emotional fallout that impacts these communities. Having recently experienced one of these tragedies first-hand, Christina Choe's I Am John Wayne resonated much more personally for me. But more than that, watching it reminded me just how infrequently any of us are challenged—through the media, through the arts, through anything—to consider these types of situations from the inside-out. Rarely are we asked to relate to this endemic pain.
Read the full HTN review.
***Watch The Film Now Through April 15th Only!!!***
— Michael Tully
HTN Tool Belt:
2 Responses to "SHORT FILM CONTEST WINNER/RUNNER-UP: MARCH 2012"
SHORT FILM CONTEST WINNER/RUNNER-UP: MAY 2012 – Hammer to Nail Says:
May 20th, 2012 at 9:05 am
[…] in NYC on May 18th), Chris Horton (Sundance's #ArtistServices), and Christina Choe (winner of March's contest with I Am John Wayne)—who watched and ranked the finalists, which has resulted in this […]
SUMMER '13 SHORT FILM CONTEST — SUBMISSIONS OPEN – Hammer to Nail Says:
April 24th, 2013 at 4:13 pm
[…] March 2012 — Winner: I Am John Wayne (Christina Choe); Runner-up: Figure Father (Andrew Ellis). Judges: Craig Zobel, Alison Willmore, Mike S. Ryan […]


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42 people feared dead in traffic accident in SW France
Reports say the bus and the truck caught fire after the collision.
The two vehicles are reported to have collided head-on in the town of Puisseguin, near Libourne in the Gironde region, east of Bordeaux.
Sud Ouest newspaper says the bus was carrying elderly people who were setting off on holiday.
This is reportedly the worst French road disaster since one in Beaune in 1982 in which 52 people died.


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Donnita - posted on 02/05/2010 ( 141 moms have responded )
Hi Moms,
My husband and I are thinking about moving within 5-6 years and wondered where are some good communities for interracial couples. I'm black, hubby's white and we have one son. We currently live in the DC area which is fine but a little fast-paced for family life. Any suggestions on the best cities for interracial couples?
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- 9789960995649
- Category
- Biography
- Publisher
- Darussalam Publishers
- Publish Date:
- March 02, 2015
- Author
- Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf Al-Qahtani
A Mercy to the Universe shows how the Last and Final Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was truly the Mercy to the Whole Universe. From his mercy towards Animals, Children, Women, his humility, patience, bravery to each and every aspect of his blessed life, each part is covered with such beauty that the reader falls rightly in love with the amazing personality of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). A must-read book for learning the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
Ship to All over the world
Delivered by
Delivered by
- Language:
- English
- Book Pages:
- 448
- Book Size:
- 14x21
- Genre:
- Biography
- Weight (KG):
- 0.476
- Color:
- 1 color


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|Adam Rippon and Eric Radford show off their medals. (from Radford's Instagram)
LGBTQ athletes competing at the 2018 Winter Olympics had a strong showing during the first weekend of the Games.
Only seven of the 14 out athletes have competed so far in the games, but three LGBTQ athletes have already won medals in their events, according to a tally by Outsports.
Canada's Eric Radford and United States' Adam Rippon both took home medals in team event figure skating — Rippon received bronze and Radford received gold.
Radford has made history, not only as the first gay man to win a Winter Olympic medal (a title he shares with Rippon), but also as the first gay man to win gold at the Winter Games.
Meanwhile, Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst won silver in her 3,000-meter race, narrowly losing out on gold by just .08 seconds, while Swedish ice hockey player Emilia Andersson Ramboldt played 21 minutes to help her team best Japan in a 2-1 opener.
See full story here.


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tailgate city's tent men
Story by Audrey Hanes; photography by Amy Long
As Arkansas State University and its football team have continued to gather increased interest and support in recent years, the need for a revamped pre-game atmosphere quickly became apparent. Enter Artents, a locally-owned, family-run company that rents and sells custom tents and awnings that has helped make Tailgate City outside Liberty Bank Stadium a fan favorite before home football games.
Jimmy Campbell has been a part of the tent and awning industry since finishing high school at Harding Academy in 1978. After graduating from the University of Texas at Dallas with a bachelor's degree in business administration and an emphasis in marketing, Jimmy was hired as sales manager for Tent Systems Inc. His son, Cameron, who attended ASU, has been going on appointments with his father since he was 1 year old. Cameron's son, Sutton, is now learning the ropes and is included in lots of sales and installations.
"Cameron and I started (Artents) eight years ago from scratch with only enough money from Farm Bureau's deposit to build a small tent and place their name on it," said Jimmy. "We now solicit business from each of our neighboring states and have had calls from New York, Arizona and the Carolinas. The event rental business has propelled Artents into the spotlight in several arenas.
"We have aspirations of being a big time company, but we are not willing to let go of our family-oriented management style."
The father and son business partners say that it wasn't long before they realized Artents was going to be much more than just a place to rent tents.
"We have been so incredibly blessed in that short time," said Cameron. "We have a tent manufacturing and sales side that has become equipped to put out a bigger, better and more uniquely designed product. … Now, we have grown to cover a wide variety of items, creating an event rental company."
In addition to thousands of square feet of tents for rental, purchase and personalization, Artents now offers tent liners in the form of ornate fabric draping inside tents to offer a more elegant look, tables in various sizes, an array of chairs, dance floors, chandeliers and other lighting options, heating and cooling options and linens in a variety of colors. In addition to the products themselves, the company also offers site inspections, client consultations and more.
"Some of our projects are pretty straightforward and can have details put to rest quickly, while others are more of a specialized idea for a particular application that may – and often times by design, does – differ from anything prior to it," said Cameron. "We have had some wonderful clients who have come to us with their vision of their event and then trusted us to make that happen. That is something we have grown to love doing."
The Artents owners attribute much of their company's success to ASU and the loyal support of many longtime customers.
"Prior to the 2010 football season, we were contacted by Brad Pietz with the Red Wolf Club about an idea," said Cameron. "We had built a red and white striped tent with a hint of black underneath that a university official happened to see while taking a lunch break. The rest, as they say, is history.
"We quickly got together and created a new look to tailgate city. The idea was and is to allow more fans to have the total football experience, which traditionally begins with tailgating. … The end result? 20,000 square feet of red and white and black and white tents."
Artents uses special software to plot out the tents' formation, which allows for more tents and better traffic flow in Tailgate City. Each set-up consists of a 20-foot by 40-foot tent, along with tables and chairs, all of which is already set up for fans when they arrive.
"We have also had the privilege of setting up events for functions at the chancellor's home, football (events) besides just tailgating, basketball, other departments' respective events and many private events held on ASU campus," said Cameron.
In addition to ASU events, Artents works with many other local groups such as St. Bernards, many major factories, area churches, local philanthropists and charities and businesses to help make their events successful. National names such as Walmart, Monsanto and the American Cancer Society also use Artents' services.
"At Artents, we are determined not to tell anyone 'No,'" said Jimmy. "We will try our best to accommodate any reasonable request and some that almost seem impossible. Our motto is 'If you can dream it, we can do it.'"
The company provided more than 17,000 square feet of tent for last year's district fair. They have done hundreds of weddings, many of which were very elaborate.
"We plan to dominate the convention services industry in this and surrounding states," said Jimmy. "We love to help businesses in preparation for sales events and help factories prepare to put their best foot forward for their customers, employees and vendors. There are no events that we do not desire to be a part of planning and renting and servicing from conception to fruition. … We wish to be your one-stop, turn-key company that you can depend on to do everything for every event.
"Arkansas State University has been a huge part of our success. We have done lots of other events for the college, our city and too many of Northeast Arkansas' finest folks to give (that) many shout-outs, but we are grateful to you all and to God, from whom all blessings flow."
For more information about Artents, call 935-5000 or go to artents.com. To rent a tent in Tailgate City from The Red Wolf Club, call 972-2401.


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Bottom-up information architecture – creating wireframes from the ground up
by Randy Tsang
Lately at work, I have been exploring the idea of a Bottom-Up Information Architecture methodology for web design. Traditionally, I have taken more of a Top-Down approach, whereby I begin the wireframing process with the navigation and homepage layout, before progressing down the sitemap through landing pages, individual content pages etc. Meanwhile, individual components such as registration forms, search and social media widgets would be designed as and when relevant to the page I am working on. The obvious benefits of this approach are that you can quickly get an understanding of the system in its entirety, and whole webpages can be tested early and in context.
A bottom-up methodology would take the opposite approach, whereby the emphasis is instead placed on designing and testing specific individual components separately, before they are eventually brought together into the final page layout. The potential of this approach would be a more robust overall system built around core functionality, thereby affording key user tasks more extensive attention wherever they are situated within the website. This approach fits into the growing importance of lower tiered pages relative to the homepage.
Background to Bottom-Up Design
The bottom-up approach has traditionally been adopted in areas such as software design, management and state organisation (see Wikipedia article). Another interesting application is detailed by Richard Feynman in his section of the Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident in 1986. In this report, Feynman details how NASA had originally engineered their space shuttles using a bottom-up or "component system", thereby insuring a rigorously designed and tested space shuttle system. In the case of the ill feted Challenger, a top-down engineering approach had been taken.
The Space Shuttle Main Engine was handled in a different manner, top down, we might say. The engine was designed and put together all at once with relatively little detailed preliminary study of the material and components. Then when troubles are found in the bearings, turbine blades, coolant pipes, etc., it is more expensive and difficult to discover the causes and make changes.
He goes on to explain another key problem in the top-down method:
A further disadvantage of the top-down method is that, if an understanding of a fault is obtained, a simple fix, such as a new shape for the turbine housing, may be impossible to implement without a redesign of the entire engine.
Such lessons could also be applied to web design, where components such as forms, social media widgets or video players are designed individually without the constraint of having to fit within predefined column structures or a position on a page.
Application in Information Architecture for the Web
For a typical website information architecture project, once the user flows have been created and key user tasks identified, the first stage of wireframing should focus specifically on the mini-systems to be built to satisfy these individual tasks. Designing these mechanisms individually and out of context can help create better usability and allow for speedy testing of these features. Usability issues are identified early and will have little knock-on effect for the rest of the site.
Once all these individual subsystems have been created, we can begin to link them together to create larger subsystems. Eventually a top-level system is formed, with multiple complex links and interconnections between the individual components. The layout, navigation and general page furniture are then constructed AROUND and FOR these systems.
Final thoughts
This approach, which I admit is still only a theory, does raise its own questions. Does such an approach increase the likelihood that the designer will miss the big picture or the overall context of the site? Testing individual components is great, but would this lead to a delay in testing the experience as a whole? And do we run a risk by not presenting the client with the big picture early in the project?
My initial impression is that these problems can be overcome as long as the user journey and sitemaps have been thought out properly. Testing individual components may uncover the main issues early in the project, meaning the test of the system as a whole, even though it may be late in the day, is likely to only uncover issues in page layout and not problems with the more complex mechanisms themselves. Client expectations can be managed, perhaps most suitably in an agile working environment for a case like this.
If any anyone has ever had any experience in designing this way, or if you have any thoughts please leave a comment or email me. Until then, I may just give this a go on my next project.