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It helps to have friends in high places, and if you're a struggling entrepreneur who can't secure a loan, Samuel Adams would like to be your friend. Through a partnership with Accion Chicago, the beer-maker is bringing its microloaning program here to give financial help to small businesses who can't get traditional loans through the usual channels. The program has been around since 2008, and the first local recipient is Pecan & Charlie's Mobile Cupcakery, a cupcake truck run by chefs who quit their day jobs.
I gave Jim Koch, founder and brewer at Samuel Adams, a call to talk about the program, what Sam Adams gets out of it, and whether programs like these can fix the economy.
For those who aren't familiar, can you give some background information on the program?
Jim Koch: It started in June 2008 in New England. It grew out of my experience 27 years ago starting Samuel Adams in my kitchen. Even though I have a lot of passion about brewing, I couldn't get any loans to start the business. The other thing that I couldn't get that would've been helpful is just basic coaching and mentoring about the nuts and bolts of the small business. I've got an MBA from Harvard. I'm supposed to know about business. You get tripped up all these basic things like how do you pay your people and make all the right deductions for FICA and unemployment and federal withholding, blah blah blah. You can't just write them a check. Or how do you design your packaging? What should you look for when you're negotiating your lease? Just these basic nuts and bolts, because a small business is generally expert at one or two things. I knew a lot about brewing and I knew a lot about beer. Everything else I needed help on. Out of that experience came the American Brewing Program that fills both of those missing elements.
There's a microlending component, and there's a coaching and counseling component. Both of which we do in partnership with Accion Chicago. They have been indispensable in getting us off the ground and making it work successfully. It really is a partnership with them. We can provide business expertise and we can obviously provide money to fund the program, but it takes expertise, hand-holding, it's a very high-touch kind of lending. They also know how to screen applicants.
What we've been able to bring on is not only funding but also visibility for it because we actually have more money to lend than we have qualified applicants. Which seemed surprising at first, but when you think about the small businesses, businesses that can't qualify for a bank loan or even an SBA loan, businesses like that generally the entrepreneur is working so hard that they don't have the time go and find available resources. What we're doing now, between you and I, is publicizing the program. That's how we've gotten a lot of our loan recipients, through getting the word out that is money available. We love to find people who can take a small loan of $2,000, and use that loan to successfully grow their business, create jobs, hire people, and then pay the money back so that we can then take that money and continue to recycle it until it eventually runs out.
Why bring this to Chicago?
Jim Koch: A couple of things. We're comfortable taking it on the road because we started it in New England and it's been very successful there. We then rolled it out earlier this year to other places where we have a presence. That would be Ohio presumably. We have Pennsylvania where we have a brewery. New York City, which is not that far from Boston. We're down there a lot. Chicago was the next place because Accion Chicago is very strong. Our distributors here in Chicago have been very supportive of the program both financially and being willing to provide expertise in our coaching sessions.
That's another piece of the program that so far we've been able to engage and hopefully help about 1,500 small businesses. One of the other elements to the program that we developed is like speed-dating, but it's speed-coaching. We do it in the evenings, when businesses generally have some free time, and a small-business owner or an entrepreneur comes and they will sign up for 20-minute sessions with people from Boston Beer Company, and now additional organizations who have expertise in specific areas that are necessary for small businesses. Generally we'll have about 20 different coaches. They'll come in and say, "Okay, I'm starting a cookie business with exotic grains. I need some help with packaging." So we'll have a package designer and procurement, and we'll have our person who goes around the world to find our ingredients. Whether it's cinnamon from Saigon or lemon zest from the Middle East. We have our Indiana Jones of ingredients there. And they may need expertise licensing, because it's a food business. So we'll have somebody with expertise in licensing. They'll have 20 minutes with each one of them. What you discover is it's amazing how much value you can add to a small-business owner just in 20 minutes when it's focused on a specific problem that the business owner has and an area of expertise that the coach has.
What's the benefit to Sam Adams?
Jim Koch: I think it is a benefit to us because it keeps us very close to our entrepreneurial and small-company roots. As the company has grown, I've felt a real need to make sure that we continue to realize that we're basically not that much different from these other small companies. The fact is in our industry we're a very small company and we need to continue to think entrepreneurially, to think like a small company, and make sure we maintain that part of our culture. To me that's a really important part of it. It is also, for our people, a really gratifying experience. It's fun to have an area of expertise and come to one of these coaching sessions and actually be an authority to small businesses. It's really gratifying to do what you do every day and use it to help a little business that is very grateful, and you can see the results.
Do you see this as a short-term solution to a long-term problem? Do you foresee programs like these
Jim Koch: Well, I can't speak for the economy. [Laughs.] What I can say after over three years of doing this is there's a very clear and strong need for programs like this because there's this funding gap. Banks don't want to lend money much under $100,00. Certainly not under $50,000. If you're a business and you're a sausage company that has a 50-year-old sign out on the busy road that's in front of your store, and the sausage has turned green and you need $1,800 to get a new sign and you know it's going to push your business up 20 percent, there's no where to go. Banks won't do it. The engine that's gonna pull us out is, I think, is small businesses. We're just a tiny part. I think we've made about 100 loans at this point. It's resulted in about 600 jobs.


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Born Natalie Scarritt Wales in Massachusetts, Douglas-Hamilton lived a privileged Manhattan life, going to charity balls, appearing in Vogue and Life magazines, and getting married and divorced — twice (scandalous in that era). In 1940, with the start of World War II, her name was Natalie Latham (as the wife of former diplomat Edward Latham), and she was outraged at the German attacks on Britain. "I had never had time to think before," she said in 1941. "I began to think of Britain." Wanting to do something for the war effort (even though the U.S. was not to enter the war for two more years), she set up a "knitting bee" among her local friends to make hats, gloves, scarves, and socks for British sailors. The idea quickly multiplied: soon more than 1.5 million volunteers across the U.S. were making not just sweaters and socks, but also buying blankets, cots, ambulances, x-ray machines, food, surgical instruments, and much more, all sent marked "From your American friends." The effort was dubbed "Bundles for Britain" — and it produced so many goods that British civilians, as well as soldiers and sailors, benefited. (Thank-you letters generally started, "Dear Bundles…". Latham organized a group of debutante friends to answer them all.)
Queen Elizabeth helped the Bundles fundraising effort, donating a red, white, and blue (from rubies, diamonds, and sapphires) cigarette case, which was given away in a raffle. King George VI awarded Latham the honorary title of Commander, Order of the British Empire — the first non-British woman so honored. In 1947 Natalie and her third husband, Edward Bragg Paine, co-founded Common Cause (a moderate anti-Communist organization, not the 1970 liberal group of the same name). After Paine died, she spoke to the House of Commons as the President of Common Cause. There she met the 13th Duke of Hamilton, Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, himself divorced (from one of Queen Elizabeth's cousins); they married in 1953. The couple moved to the U.S., where they co-founded the American-Scottish Foundation, which worked to promote Scotland in the U.S. (He died in 1964, in a plane crash.) Lady Malcolm died at a nursing home in New Jersey on January 14. She was 103.

subset: commoncrawl


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At our next Open Meeting, at 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th May at Fleetville Community Centre, members of the Home Grown Food Group are organising the sharing of vegetable plants, seedlings etc.
The young plants & seedlings available are likely to include: tomatoes, lettuce, courgettes, celery and celery leaf, globe artichokes, runner beans, sea kale, broccoli, watercress, melons and various herbs.
Do come and take some away – you might go home with ideas about experimenting with growing something new. Do also bring spare seedlings if you have any.
We will provide written information on the care of seedlings and harvesting of crops, and the evening includes a question and answer session where growers will share their experiences and knowledge of growing the plants on offer.
We shall be asking for a small donation for any seedlings taken away, to enable us to produce more in the future, and to buy compost.
A small number of containers will be available to take away the plants, but you might like to bring some of your own too (e.g. recycled yoghurt pots).
Whether you are new to growing your own food or an experienced grower with ideas to share, the Home Grown Food Group looks forward to seeing you on 18th May.
UPDATE: you can read a brief report on the evening here.


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Marti Gould Cummings
Gypsy Gemini – Such a creative video and look at how we always try to perfect our beauty. I loved the ending after the face was pulled, very creative and engaging to watch.
Tini Davenport Phillips – The songs were fun. Unfortunately the aesthetic didn't read drag to me or bio queen, it just read as a fun girl lip synching.
Maureen San Diego – I love that she showed her performance in front of an audience which really gave a feel for who she is. I love stand up and re interpreting songs so this is right up my alley. It really funny and great use of video showing contrasting looks. I would pay to see this show.
Crimson Kitty – Horror movies are my favorite so starting this out as a horror flick was brilliant and we all know the phone company is scary when that bill is due! I loved that she took an everyday event and made it into a comedy spoof and it was really well thought out.
Misty Violet
Monroe Fitzgerald: I love that there was a story told, but bringing in the modern twist. My only concern is that I'm pretty sure your prince is a Nancy…
Pierretta Viktori: I like a girl that's not afraid of color! I can also relate to sitting on the couch using lots of tissues… But I don't think that's what her number was about.
Kitty Meringue: I've always said it takes balls to do stand up… So she's got big ones? Especially that crowd… They've been to my shows before… They're rough.
Cream Victoria: Were we shoo-ing away the kitty at the beginning? Either way I loved seeing all three of her racks. I'm bad at math so I dunno how many boobs in total I was looking at there.
Judy Darling
Pierretta Viktori: You might be playing "blue" but your white and black outfit was giving me ALL THE FEELINGS – LOVE! And THEN the outfits kept coming! FASHIONS – and props for going on that pebbly beach in heels!
Monroe Fitzgerald: Really creative opening and concept! She's GIVING you PRODUCTION! CHOREOGRAPHY HUNTY!
Kitty Meringue: YAS comedy! LOVE that you did standup! Next time do it in front of a "Human" crowd – I'm not at all being gnome-phobic – but comedy is a living breathing thing and having the give and take of a crowd laughing is the best tool a comic can have! Looked like you had a sold out show – did you open at a Travelocity convention? *wink*
Cream Victoria: Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf…? NOT Cream Victoria! What a BABE!
Kitten LaRue
Monroe Fitzgerald: Fabulous dance moves and production value!
Kitty Meringue: Bold choice to do stand up, and super cute bangs! Would love to see some specific vocal character development!
Pieretta Viktori: Love how the look matches the set in the beginning, and great range of creative looks!
Cream Victoria: Looks like she's really feeling sexy, fun, and full of confidence with the burlesque routine! Would love to see some bigger hair to amp up the drag!
Lou Henry Hoover
Gypsy Gemini: Make-up was on point, and great video editing…perhaps a touch more enunciation would take it over the top!
Maureen San Diego: Funny, irreverent, fabulous voice, and great command of her audience! Loved how the video intro slyly poked fun at drag culture in general.
Tini Davenport Phillips: Super fun dancing, and great energy! Good commitment to the character, would love to see more drag makeup and hair.
Crimson Kitty: Loved her clear understanding of camp and use of timing….very clever video editing, and love that her drag is both glamorous and scary!
Spencer Williams
Pierretta Viktori: Ms. Viktori first of all I would like you to know that Blue by Marina and the Diamonds is my number one most played song on my iTunes so you can imagine how fast I started dancing. I liked your video. I understand the story line you created but it felt like part 1 was a bit more polished as compared to the second number. The lip sync to Blue was a lot stronger as compared to the second song. But your costume design skills are out of this world!
Monroe Fitzgerald: This performance was absolutely amazing. I am in love with your character and talent. Everything about this video was great! You continue to impress me.
Kitty Meringue: Kitty! First of all, I love that you chose comedy as your act. Way to take a risk! I think the routine was cute and the material was cute. I think it would have payed off if maybe we heard a laugh reel in the video or something to that sense. Some of the jokes weren't really landing with me, and some of them made me laugh out loud. A pretty good job.
Cream Victoria: Well well well, Cream Victoria what a fun talent you brought to the table. Your burlesque act was great. I totally was not expecting that. In terms of content, I think you did really well. My only critiques would be in the editing and lighting. I think for a Burlesque act it would benefit to override the video with your soundtrack. Also be careful with lighting! But aside from editing which isn't the focus of this challenge, you did very well.
Dallas Coulter
Pierretta Viktori: Your looks are always so put together! I really liked that this was a legit music video. Great song choice, great lipsynching, great everything.
Monroe Fitzgerald: I loved this video! Concept was great, loved the costumes. I can tell a lot of work and passion and family went into this one
Kitty Meringue: Standup comedy is not an easy thing to pull off. With that said I think you did a great job! I have a lot of respect for people who can do things easily that I wouldn't even try.
Cream Victoria: I like that you didn't lipsynch and stepped out of the drag box. Loved the theme, loved the look.
Kat Sass
Gypsy- Again, your video felt intimate and well done, and I so appreciated that. Your looks were clean and beautifully executed and I so appreciated that you had a storied through line. I think perhaps people may consider the topic of plastic surgery to be overdone in drag. I don't share this opinion, but I always want to see something fresh if possible.
Tini- BRAVO! What an improvement on concept, and video quality and I loved that you did more than one character. The song choices were effective and funny in the storytelling. I think though I would love to see your wig choices and makeup continue to elevate further into a more exaggerated arena.
Maureen- I appreciated that you put forward a new look and it was certainly more visually "draggy" than Maureen is. For me personally, I am content to just see Maureen but I'd like to see her look more cultivated and heightened in costume and makeup. I think she needs more wigs too. Your performance as Maureen was DELICIOUS. You know exactly who she is and she is so good.
Crimson- I laughed A LOT during your video. It was absurd, charming, and clever. I feel like I really saw what Crimson is all about here, never having seen your work in person. I don't really have a critical note for this one, but perhaps you can next show a different side of Crimson?
Courtney Conquers
Gypsy Gemini: I loved how the look suited the theme of the song! Bring able to see your hip pads and the process of getting into drag was perfect for the lyrics of the song. Your concept was also extremely well done. I've seen a lot of queens do the plastic surgery idea but yours was still unique and stood out to me completely. You really made a "shtick" your own (and I squirmed when you tore your face off)!
Tini Davenport Phillips: I loved your concept! You edited well without over-relying on it and I liked that you played more than one character rather than just leaving Eminem/The Joker as a voice with no person in the video to match. I'd still like to see wilder hair and makeup from you, even if you're using your own hair like you did in this video. I want to see it march your big personality!
Maureen San Diego: I'm happy to see you giving us a new aesthetic! Having a regular character is awesome, but it's good to see diversity and it looked great on you. Your performance gave us a good combination of comedy and vocal talent, which I really liked. It was nice to see you do "Maureen" rather than "Maureen playing someone else" this time, I'm glad you took advantage of the opportunity to show us what she's about.
Crimson Kitty: Your concept was great. I enjoyed the overall "classic horror movie" aesthetic at the beginning and the mix was hilarious. The edited clips etc. were a little long though. I would have enjoyed getting to your actual performance more quickly, since that's what the category was really about. Your lipsync, however, was on point as usual. You always know the words and hit them well, with good expression.
Crunk Panda
Gypsy Gemini – Really enjoyed this. You look amazing throughout, and I really love how you tied in the various imagery with the song. Just really well done. Looking forward to what you bring next!
Tini Davenport Phillips – This was so fun, and I love you went Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, I gotta be honest with you. At first, I was kind of bummed because Harley is done so much now, but, seeing how you evolved the character, the music choice, and the Joker/Em inclusion, you nailed it. Looking forward to more of this level creativity in the future, you really thought this out.
Maureen San Diego – Anyone who can throw a Tanya Harding reference out in 2016 is okay with me. Comedy is subjective, and it's such an unforgiving world sometimes, and so far and including this week, you've been really good. You had the crowd eating out of your hand. Keep stepping your game up, I can't wait to see what you bring next.
Crimson Kitty – Your eyes match your dress! Really interesting concept, the various songs used we're well done, I lost it at "Hello", and I'll admit, I was hoping you were going to just go in on Telephone with Beyonce's verse. I think a shorter version could have benefited you a bit this week without really leaving anything out.
Ja'mie Queen
Pierretta Viktori: I loved all the different scenes and costumes! It looked like it took a lot of time and effort for each scene and outfit. Showed a lot of good emotion, like that you mixed 2 songs by completely different artists! I'm glad there were so many costumes showed off, as that is a talent in itself!
Monroe Fitzgerald: Thought this was a really amazing concept – loved that there was an into and an ending to really seal everything up. So many different talents in one! Singing/dancing/ acting/ lip-syncing – it had it all! Everyone really helped the whole production and it didn't take away from you at all! Loved the costume reveals and style change ups!
Kitty Meringue: I like that this wasn't one run on video & that you edited the best parts together! You seemed to have a lot of confidence delivering the jokes! Only suggestion I would have is maybe changing up the background or costumes so the visuals change since the talent is mostly voice based! I think the addition of an actual microphone was a funny and cute touch!
Cream Victoria: Loved seeing burlesque as your talent! Very brave, definitely something I couldn't do! The pig theme was absolutely wonderful, and the 3 bras at the end was hysterical! Only suggestions I would have is to maybe add the music in overtop after filming to avoid background noise and graininess!
Brandi Amara Skyy
Gypsy Gemini – GUUUUUUURL. SOLID. Performance, videography, subject, execution = EVERYTHING!
Tini Davenport Phillips – Love love your creative take on this story. Talent over all was good (great character diversity) i would just like to see you drag it up just a bit more.
Maureen San Diego – Wrecking Ball and Firework = perfection. You have such and amazing presence on stage and are 100% captivating. Love that you gave us another look (Acid Betty meets Jeffree Star – LIVE!). Keep doing you. Cause you're fabulous!
Crimson Kitty – Your face is EVERYTHING in this talent. I LOVE the beginning; so creative! I love how you incorporated the songs with the visuals – there was a very nice dance between them. However, towards the end I felt it took away – rather than added to – your performance (WHICH WAS PERFECTION!).
Chiffon Dior


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A great nationalist leader and social reformer who influenced economic and development thinking.
Gopal Krishna Gokhale was born on May 9, 1866, and died at the age of 49, on 19 February 1915. During this year and next, we mark a centenary of his death anniversary, and also his 150th birth anniversary. He is described as one of…Continue
Added by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal on April 27, 2015 at 10:08 — No Comments
China has now urged the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to "put aside his illusions" about talks on Tibet's future and China accused him of pushing for independence for Tibet. China has further said that "the only sensible alternative is for the Dalai Lama and his supporters to accept that Tibet has been part of China since antiquity, to abandon their goals of dividing China and seeking independence for Tibet." With sort…Continue
Added by N.S.Venkataraman on April 24, 2015 at 16:18 — No Comments
Amongst around 490 million workers in India,…Continue
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Added by N.S.Venkataraman on April 19, 2015 at 15:42 — No Comments
The recent accident in T.V.Ramamurthy Girls' Higher Secondary School in Besant Nagar in Chennai, India when two girls died due to wall collapse, raises the question as to whether the teachers and trustees running the institutions should be held responsible and be arrested straightaway by the police when such accidents occur. Fortunately, this has not happened so far in the case of the particular incident in Besant Nagar school.
In the past, in a women's…Continue
Added by N.S.Venkataraman on April 18, 2015 at 17:01 — No Comments
On 18 April, 1951, Vinoba got 100 acres of land as donation in Pochampalli village of Andhra Pradesh. Thus, triggered the phenomenal Bhoodan-Gramdan and people's movement. Now more than 60 years have gone by and it is now time to attempt having an overview of the movement.
In reality, the movement was…
Added by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal on April 18, 2015 at 8:00 — No Comments
Gandhi statue vandalized in SA
Added by Balamurali Balaji on April 14, 2015 at 5:00 — No Comments
The politics of GreenPeace and India's affairs
GreenPeace, the leading international NGO has finally been barred from its activities in the country as the Government orders a 180-day trial intimidation and blocking of 7 bank accounts of the organization on 9th of April. Even as we seen this move as a sincere and global vision of the government, one shall not deny the success stories of the GreenPeace in India when it campaigned for the Nuclear Liability Bill,…Continue
Added by Balamurali Balaji on April 13, 2015 at 6:00 — No Comments
Gandhi Journal Article-III
Inclusive growth through Self-Help Groups - A Gandhian Paradigm of Sustainable Development
By Dr. Marina B. Pereira
India faces many challenges in the New Millennium. Most notable among them is attaining the objective of Inclusive growth and reducing the…Continue
Added by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal on April 9, 2015 at 8:27 — No Comments
i will be available at london from 2nd may to 4th may evening....if any respected personality wish to meet with me who works on gandhi ji principal,are welcome to meet me at london indian student hostel of y,m.c.a london
my contact number is 07919602848.
naresh chander lal
film producer director
gandhi the mahatma.
Added by NARESH CHANDER LAL on April 8, 2015 at 12:52 — No Comments
Gandhi's failure to secure commutation of Bhagat Singh's execution has provided his critics a convenient weapon to attack him. He has been accused of making half-hearted effort and even…Continue
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Levels of happiness in the United States are falling, according to results from the World Happiness Report 2017, and it appears to be down to a "social crisis."
The report - released to coincide with the International Day of Happiness - has ranked the U.S. as number 14 out of 155 countries for happiness levels, dropping one place from last year.
According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network and co-author of the report, a decline in social support, a loss in the sense of personal freedom, and an increase in distrust of the government, are all key players in America's dwindling happiness.
"America's crisis is, in short, a social crisis, not an economic crisis," says Sachs.
The World Happiness Report is an annual report provided by the United Nations (UN) that ranks the levels of happiness across 155 countries.
The results are based on data from surveys that use six criteria to assess the happiness levels in each country: healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, social support, perceptions of freedom to make life choices, generosity of donations, and perceptions of corruption.
Each country is allocated an average score between zero and 10, with 10 representing the highest levels of happiness.
Norway is the world's happiest country
In this year's report, based on survey data gathered between 2014 and 2016, Norway took the top spot for the world's happiest country, with a score of 7.53.
Report co-author Prof. John Helliwell, of the University of British Columbia in Canada, says that given the recent fall in oil prices, it is "remarkable" that Norway - a major oil supplier to the European economy - ranked first for happiness levels.
He speculates that this is down to factors independent of Norway's economic outlook.
"By choosing to produce oil deliberately and investing the proceeds for the benefit of future generations, Norway has protected itself from the volatile ups and downs of many other oil-rich economies," notes Prof. Helliwell.
"This emphasis on the future over the present is made easier by high levels of mutual trust, shared purpose, generosity, and good governance. All of these are found in Norway, as well as in the other top countries," he adds.
Denmark came a close second for happiness, followed by Iceland, Switzerland, and Finland.
The U.S., however, missed out on a spot in the top 10. An average score of 6.99 for happiness put the country in 14th place, ranking one place lower than in last year's report. Why are Americans becoming less happy?
America 'looking for happiness in all the wrong places'
In a section of the report titled "Restoring America's Happiness," Sachs looks back at the state of happiness in the U.S. over the past 10 years.
He notes that while per capita GDP in the country is rising, happiness levels have mostly declined since 2007, suggesting that other factors are at play.
Looking at the individual happiness criteria for the U.S., Sachs identified a decline in four areas: social support, personal freedom, generosity, and perceived corruption - areas in which Nordic countries are thriving.
"In sum, the United States offers a vivid portrait of a country that is looking for happiness 'in all the wrong places.' The country is mired in a roiling social crisis that is getting worse. Yet the dominant political discourse is all about raising the rate of economic growth.
And the prescriptions for faster growth - mainly deregulation and tax cuts - are likely to exacerbate, not reduce social tensions."
Jeffrey D. Sachs
Sachs points to a number of factors that may be to blame for such declines in the U.S. One he cites is the aftermath of 9/11.
"America's reaction to these unprecedented terrorist attacks was to stoke fear rather than appeal to social solidarity," Sachs writes. "The U.S. government launched an open-ended global war on terror, appealing to the darkest side of human nature by invoking a stark 'us versus them' dualism, and terrifying American citizens through the government's projections of fear."
Additionally, Sachs believes the "severe deterioration" of the educational system in the U.S. has played a role in the country's declining happiness, noting that the percentage of students in America achieving at least a university degree has become motionless.
"This matters because the failure of America to educate its young people is a major force behind the rise in income inequality (condemning those with less than a bachelors degree to stagnant or falling incomes) and, it appears, to the fall of social capital as well," writes Sachs. "The U.S. political divide is increasingly a divide between those with a college degree and those without."
How can America's happiness be improved?
Sachs suggests that in order for America's happiness to be restored, the country must place more focus on improving the social capital, rather than the economy.
He adds that this should involve addressing the fear created by the aftermath of 9/11, noting that President Trump's travel ban to stop individuals from Muslim countries entering the U.S. is a "continuing manifestation" of such fear.
An improvement in educational quality and attainment should also be a key focus in the U.S., says Sachs.
"America has lost the edge in educating its citizens for the 21st century; that fact alone ensures a social crisis that will continue to threaten well-being until the commitment to quality education for all is once again a central tenet of American society."


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Dodge Shadow Spark Plug Replacement Cost
Know what price you should pay to get your vehicle fixed.
What is a spark plug?
Spark plugs are a crucial part of the vehicle's ignition system. They provide the spark that ignites the air-fuel mixture inside the engine, creating the chain-reaction that generates the engine's power.
How does the spark plug work?
The spark plug turns high voltage electricity from the ignition coil into a strong spark inside the engine. This ignites the air-fuel mixture, creating power.
What are the symptoms related to a bad spark plug?
When spark plugs fail, the engine will struggle. The check engine light will come on, and it may appear either solid or flashing. The driver would likely notice one or more of the following: engine vibrations, rough idling, poor gas mileage, excessive cranking time needed to start the engine, and power loss or surging. In extreme circumstances, the engine may stall or fail to start.
Can I drive with a spark plug problem?
The car will run with a spark plug problem, but it's not wise to keep driving it this way. If a spark plug isn't working, unburned fuel from the engine will get into the exhaust at a higher rate, causing problems for the catalytic converter. If the converter gets ruined by this unburned fuel, it will lead to a costly repair.
How often do spark plugs need to be replaced?
Spark plugs do eventually wear out, and failure is most common after 100,000 miles of use under normal driving conditions. But that can be greatly shortened by harsh conditions or leaking fluids.
- Repair shops in Sterling, VA
- Repair shops in Dulles, VA
- Repair shops in Leesburg, VA
- Repair shops in Herndon, VA


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How To Eat For Your Voice
Many singers and speakers fail to realize what a great impact their food choices have on their voices. Below find some helpful information and tips for keeping your voice at it's shiny best.
STAY HYDRATED. No seriously, if you don't have to pee right now, you aren't drinking enough water, go drink a gallon and come back to read the rest later.
Disclaimer: Your body will react differently to most foods, these are general rules. Your allergies, intolerances and body chemistry may vary.
Foods that affect your voice will generally fall into 2 categories:
Mucus-Inducing Foods: These include all dairy products, as well as most sugary processed foods and candies, as well as chocolate. They will tend to produce a coating of mucus (or "slime") on your vocal folds, generally making it more difficult to sing/speak, though sometimes desirable if you are feeling particularly dry/raw/horse.
Drying Foods: These include salt and foods that emphasize it (nuts, chips, etc.), citrus foods (oranges, lemons, limes) and spicy foods. They have the pleasant effect of relieving the intense mucus of the previous category (also caused by allergies and food intolerances). However if not properly hydrated (do you have to pee yet?) it's best to avoid these foods near performance time.
In general avoid eating within an hour of performance to avoid losing the ability to properly support your tone from your core. If you aren't "peeing pale" then you aren't drinking enough water. And try to get your 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day, it will leave you feeling refreshed and energetic and give you the stamina to approach the major roles. Professional singers and speakers are athletes, and need to respect their bodies.
How have you noticed particular foods affecting your voice? Tell me in the comments.


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- This event has passed.
Mini Movers, Hip Hop for 3-4 yr olds
December 6, 2019 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 3:30 pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, repeating until December 21, 2019
Movemakers Philly presents Mini Movers, a Hip Hop Dance class for students ages 3-4 years old.
In this Hip Hop dance class we will focus on listening skills, team work, coordination, music appreciation, cool moves, and having fun!


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Downloading, streaming, or encoding music and movies.
New York Times Puts Out 'Virtual Reality' Edition
Episode 1236
Partnering with Google, the NY Times has put out a virtual reality edition with a custom Google Cardboard viewer and app. Leo says that while this may be the future of news, he's not sure he wants to be immersed in a news report, especially one that's coming from war torn areas of the world.
Beatles Videos on Blu-Ray Selling Out Everywhere
Episode 1236
45 years after they broke up, the Beatles continue to outsell just about everyone. Lately, they released a Blu-ray of videos of all their hit songs and it's selling out everywhere. 31 million copies sold!
Twitch Branches Out to More Than Just Gaming
Episode 1233
Twitch.tv, the Amazon streaming site that allows gamers to stream their gameplay, has added some channels that take it beyond its "Let's Play" videos. They currently have a Bob Ross "Joy of Painting" marathon, and a channel where they're installing Arch Linux.
How many songs do I have in Apple Music?
Episode 1234Chris from
Chris can't find out how many songs he has in Apple's new Music app. Leo says to try sorting by songs. But it could be that Apple has dropped their obsession with the number of songs available. Leo says to go into the Settings -> General -> Usage settings and he should see how many songs he has. It should be app specific and Apple has been moving stuff like this to settings now.
How can I extend the range of my video signal?
Episode 1234Steve from
Steve has a Security Camera DVR and he's used a splitter to watch it in several rooms using a balun, but he keeps losing the signal. Leo says that HDMI doesn't throw very far, and using a balun amplifies the signal and sends it over ethernet to the other side. The distance is still limited to around 200' and it could be that he's at the extreme edge of the range. Steve could go RF. The chat room says that using Cat6 Ethernet cables could make it that far, and at MonoPrice.com he could get an extender kit to around 328 feet.
How can I share my band's music online?
Episode 1234Tyler from
Tyler is in a rock band and they're recording their first album. They want to release a few songs for free on their website, but they're having trouble offering free downloads over iOS. Leo says that iOS can play MP3s, but it's hard to get mobile apps to talk to one another. Leo advises putting them on SoundCloud. It's a good place to do it because he can do it for free. And SoundCloud has an app that people can use to play the songs on mobile as well.
How can I rip my DVDs?
Episode 1231Scott from
Scott bought some new DVDs and he wants to rip them to his Mac, but he's having trouble with it. Leo says it's likely due to copy protection. Leo recommends Handbrake and VLC VideoLan client. Both of those will work together to bypass copy protection and rip the movie to his hard drive. He can also use VLC to play the ripped video file back.
Why can't I burn DVDs anymore?
Episode 1228Christine from
Christine is having trouble burning DVDs via iDVD. Leo says that program hasn't been updated in years. Apple abandoned it, but many still use it. If Christine updated it, that could have broken the usability of it. It could also be a bad DVD blank. The bottom line is that the future is calling, and optical media isn't coming along with it. We're moving to the cloud. But for sharing movies with family members, a DVD is still a good idea.
Could I replace my external drive with cloud storage for my media?
Episode 1227Joe from
Joe has a Mac Mini and he has been keeping programs on the internal drive and data on his external data drive. He wants to move all the data over to cloud storage, though. But he has about 160GB of data with movies, music, photos etc. Leo says that the amount of data he stores in the cloud will be limited by his upload speed. To get an idea of what his upload speed is, he could take his download bandwidth speed and reduce it by 75%, then divide that by the amount of data he wants to upload. It could take months.


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Let us just get this out of the way right now - it's been a while since we've written. But we have a good reason, honest we do. We've been making mad upgrades and system tweaks for your benefit.
So without further ado:
Do you have a job that failed? Now you can see exactly why by clicking View Errors. By the way, we'd love to get your feedback on this one, so don't hold back!
Xplenty now supports IBM SoftLayer cloud services. We are creating clusters and processing TONS of data on Softlayer and we support their Object Storage as data repository. Not only that, but you can choose the region where your datacenter sits, specifically Amsterdam, Dallas, and Singapore. If you'd like to change the region for an existing account, contact us.
Speaking of regions, we now offer multi-region support with Amazon Web Services too. This means you can choose which region you'd like to work on when you set up a new account. The regions are EU (Ireland), US East (N. Virginia), US West (N. California), and US West (Oregon). As with other types of accounts, if you'd like to change the region for an existing account, contact us.
We support Swift based cloud storage source and destination, so you can read and write data from Rackspace Cloud Files for example. Party on Wayne.
We support Microsoft SQL Server and SAP HANA in addition to PostgreSQL and MySQL as database sources and destinations. Party on Garth.
We've added support for datetime data type and functions.
So there you have it. Always making your Xplenty Xperience Xtra special. Sorry, had to be done.
Don't forget, if you have comments, concerns, questions, recipes, you can always always contact us.


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Curbside Pickup at our Hinsdale Bakery
Due to the current construction in downtown Hinsdale, Sweet Ali's Hinsdale Bakery is offering curbside pickup for prepaid orders through the end of August.
Simply place and prepay for your order; for pickup – pull up to the front of the bakery (or in the side alley), give us a call, and we'll happily bring your order out to you!
We greatly appreciate everyone's patience while the downtown area is being enhanced for everyone's enjoyment.


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The standards at both the Independent Zone and the Canterbury Championships were particularly high this year.
Congratulations to Taiko Torepe-Ormsby who achieved Gold in both his events at the Canterbury Champs.
Taiko Torepe-Ormsby 1st 12 years' 50m Freestyle
1st 12 years' 50m Butterfly
Josh Ford 4th 12 years' 50m Breaststroke
Annabelle Schneideman 5th 12 years' 50m Freestyle
Jonty Foote 20th 10 years' 50m Breaststroke
Charles Beale 26th 9 years' 50m Breaststroke


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Thursday, November 17, 2005
Hebrew slang - now and then
Hebrew slang - now and thenA funny AP article on a new Hebrew slang dictionary. There are so many examples that I am quite surprised to have found this in the China Post.
(The beautiful and talented Daughter of Ziyon told me the other day that "l'hitpajaim" means "to put pajamas on" in modern Hebrew.)
The English "spin" becomes "speen," plural "speenim."This is clearly not the first time someone tried to research this phenomenon; check out these two articles from the Palestine Post in 1945:
The language of Moses has also absorbed "blind date," "under control" and "hacker" (pronounced hah-cker), along with some 10,000 other words and expressions that have been compiled in a dictionary of Israeli slang, a bestseller since it came out this fall.
The hefty hardcover tome reflects the onslaught of foreign words in the age of globalization and the struggle of modern Hebrew _ revived as a spoken language just a century ago _ to adapt an ancient vocabulary to modern times.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, for one, doesn't like the trend. A while back, on Hebrew Language Day, he complained that the once ubiquitous Hebrew farewell "shalom" has largely been replaced by "yalla, bye," an Arabic-English hybrid. He also chastised the satellite and cable TV companies "Yes" and "Hot" for choosing foreign names.
The guardians of proper Hebrew don't seem to be overly worried.
Hebrew is flourishing and has proven its adaptability, said Avraham Tal, deputy director of the Academy for the Hebrew Language _ ironically known in Hebrew as the "academia."
Seeking to stem the use of foreign words, experts at the academy have been inventing Hebrew alternatives for words such as "sensatia" and "conditioner." From time to time, the nation's top linguists present their creations to the academy's plenum, where favorites are adopted by vote, often after stormy debate. A few times a year, the academy publishes a list of new words and asks state radio and TV to use them.
Ruth Almagor-Ramon, the language adviser at Israel Radio, said it's easy enough to introduce words in news casts and other programs, but that doesn't always mean they'll take hold.
"Every word has its fate," said Tal, acknowledging quite a few of the academy's creations have fizzled, such as Hebrew substitutes for "video" and "jingle." A belated effort to get the public to accept a Hebrew word for shampoo seems doomed from the start.
Almagor-Ramon said politicians and ad copy writers are among the worst language offenders.
"There is no way to correct them," she said, noting that in a recent radio ad a Labor Party legislator refused to use the formal Hebrew substitute for "primaries," arguing that no one would understand him.
Journalists don't seem to be far behind in the list of culprits. In a recent front-page article, political commentator Ben Caspit complained about what he said the foreign minister's manipulation of the press and his habit of posing for photographers in faraway "locationim."
The author of the "Comprehensive Slang Dictionary," Ruvik Rosenthal, said Hebrew's relatively small vocabulary _ around 150,000 words, a fraction the size of English _ encourages borrowing.
Rosenthal, who writes a weekly language column in the Maariv daily, mined some 800 Web sites, hundreds of books as well as TV and radio broadcasts for his dictionary. He also consulted with specialists on subcultures _ criminals, youth, computer nerds, the ultra-Orthodox and soccer fans.
The biggest contributors to slang are English, Arabic and Yiddish. "These three are competing without casualties," said Rosenthal.
Arabic rules emotional expression _ "ahla" (great), "walla" (true), "sababa" (cool), "ashkara" (for real) _ as well as the most emphatic curses. With the rise of Oriental culture in Israel after decades of European domination, Israelis feel at ease using Arabic words, despite their ongoing conflict with much of the Arab world, Rosenthal said.
Some of the Arabic already found its way into Hebrew in the 1930s and 1940s, absorbed by children of Zionist pioneers who wanted to blend into the region and distance themselves from their parents' Diaspora upbringing.
English dominates computers, high-tech, dating, fashion and sports. "Yesh lo touch," (he has the touch) a sports commentator has been heard saying of a talented soccer player.
Car mechanics use mangled English, a throwback to British rule when cars first came to the Holy Land: brakes become "breksim," a back axle is a "back ax." Following a strange logic, a front axle is a "back ax kidmi," literally a front back axle.
German still rules in construction, going back to 1920s and 1930 when builders and architects immigrated from Germany to pre-state Palestine. Today, Palestinian and Chinese construction workers communicate on the job with words such as "kabel" (cable), "stecker" (plug) or "spachtel" (spatula).
Yiddish, still a strong source of slang with about 1,200 words in the book, offers some of the juiciest insults, such as "freier" (sucker), "shtinker" (informer) and "nudnik" (pest). However, some of the words are fading away, or are now used only by ultra-Orthodox Jews, Rosenthal said.
Literal translations of phrases from other languages are also popular. "Ma bo'er?" (from the Yiddish "was brennt?" or "what's burning"); "mi pi hasus" ("from the horse's mouth").
In a gray zone between slang and standard Hebrew, some foreign words are squeezed into the corset of Hebrew conjugation: to subsidize becomes "lesabsed," to zap TV channels is "lezapzep," to discuss is "ledaskes," to torpedo is "letarped."
Most Israelis know the boundaries between slang and standard Hebrew, and there's nothing wrong with the flourishing of slang, said linguist Rafael Nir. "It's definitely a sign of how alive the language is, not necessarily a sign of the deficiency of the Hebrew language."
"Slang gives it (Hebrew) something extra," he said.


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At Norton CEVC Primary School we welcome everybody into our school community. The staff, governors, pupils and parents work together to make Norton CEVC Primary School a happy, welcoming place where children and adults can achieve their full potential and develop as confident individuals. This means that equality of opportunity must be a reality for our children. We make this happen through the attention we pay to the different groups of children in our school, thus providing a learning environment that enables ALL pupils to make the greatest progress and achieve their full potential in a caring, supportive and fully inclusive environment.
We are committed to narrowing the gap between SEND and non-SEND pupils. All SEND children and those identified as 'vulnerable' or at risk of not making at least expected progress are supported through Pupil Passports which set out targets that are reviewed termly and which identify specific areas for development for each child. Pupil passports highlight measures that the school has in place to help children achieve their targets, which include short term intervention learning programmes and suggestions for ways in which parents can support their child at home.
The school's Learning Muscles: Concentrate, Don't give up, Be cooperative, Be curious, Have a go, Use your imagination, Keep improving, Enjoy learning. Our Growth Mindsets approach to learning underpins all that we do at Norton CEVC Primary School and enables ALL of our pupils to become increasingly effective and successful learners.
Mr Peter Mabbitt is the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator. If you wish to contact him then please contact the office on 01359 230520 or email email@example.com
To find out what we do at Norton CEVC Primary School to support children with SEND:
Other useful websites:


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Happy New Year! I can't believe 2018 is already here! I know this year will bring lots of amazing adventures for me and I wish the same for you! This month's free "treasure" is an editable template for Question Cards! As teachers, we all have those tiny pockets of time between classes, before dismissal, or while standing in the hallways… Read More
Classroom Crayon Storage for Students – DVD Cases!
How do your students store their supplies? I actually typed a long-winded explanation/brief history of supplies in my classroom but decided that being short and to the point might be a better option since it's so close to back to school time and I know how precious time is right now! So here's the quick version. I don't like pencil… Read More
Daily Schedule
I'm linking up with Falling Into First's linky on Daily Schedules. My schedule changes slightly every year and it evolves throughout the year. I do believe that routine and consistency are important for sure, but when something is not going well for me I modify it until it works for me and my students. For example, for awhile I moved… Read More
Meet the Class!
Have you seen the adorable All About Your New Teacher book by Brooke Hilderbrand? It is TOO cute! I bought it and made my own book about me to share with my students. They got a kick out of the picture of my in first grade and pictures of me as a kid. The idea inspired me to make a… Read More
Whole Brain Teaching Rules – Freebie!
I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a Whole Brain teaching training in my district back in April. Chris Biffle and Chris Rekstad were awesome! They have amazing ideas and were very inspiring! If you don't know much about whole brain teaching, check out their website – wholebrainteaching.com I will be implementing aspects of whole brain teaching into my classroom even more… Read More
Magic Math! Timed Tests for Math Fact Fluency!
Mastering addition and subtraction facts in first grade is soooo important! We learn multiple strategies to help with adding and subtracting. One thing I do in my classroom is daily timed tests on addition and subtraction facts. I wanted a way to make it more fun and exciting so I came up with Magic Math! It took me almost the… Read More
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My husband and I have a definite difference of opinion. I am a purger who assumes that at least half of what we own at any given time (if not more) is dispensable. He saves scrap wood.
And other stuff. And not in an organized fashion. His is the work bench so disastrous that when he needs a nail it is easier to go buy a new box of nails than search for one the right size.
I routinely go through closets, drawers and storage areas. I throw out the kids' artwork. Pass on books that I loved and could probably reread. Discard family heirlooms. He keeps the user's guides from the technology training course held so long ago it is like the Model A of technology.
All this, in the garage. Because I won't let it in the house. Once something is deposited in the garage it would take an act of congress to get me to bring it back inside. And we all know how unlikely that is given the current state of Washington.
When my husband and I disagree about whether or not to keep something, it goes to the garage. To him, it's convenient storage. To me, the garage is a staging area for the stuff we can someday discard, when the mood is right, when my husband is so sick of banging his car door into that box of junk that he is seized with a temporary urge to purge.
When he hits this point, all sentiment falls away from the man. He will discard boxes without looking into them first. He will throw out toys the kids are still using, practically removing them from their hands. I take full advantage of these liberating moments, when they arrive.
Today, a new twist. He called me to the garage to take a look at something he'd brought home. It was a motorcycle. Something he's always wanted. And needs to park in the garage.
I am not a fan of motorcycles. They scare me. And they cost money. But when I saw it, I did not raise concerns about safety or expense. Instead, my first reaction was, "If you're going to park that in the garage we will need to get rid of some stuff."
"OK," he said, amenably.
Yessssssss! Guess what I'm doing today…
This is a Blogging University Writing 101 post.


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Welcome to Fantasy Speedway
{Click on any photo to enlarge}
Fantasy Speedway Historical Racing Assn. is an all volunteer Maine registered non-profit historical preservation organization. We are committed to preserving the formative years of Maine's stock car racing heritage, that exciting dirt track racing era of times past, and sharing it with all of our fans, friends, and supporters. Many of us dreamed of a day when flathead Fords, "stovebolt" Chevys, and in-line Mopars might once again join together and replay that beautiful old music on the primitive dirt tracks of yesteryear. Yet it ended 6+ decades ago; never more to be enjoyed or appreciated for what it was, nor remembered for its contribution to automobile racing history here in the State of Maine and across the country.
Automobile production ceased following the attack on Pearl Harbor, resulting in only a few 1942 models making it to showrooms. Leftover 1941 models and the limited production 1942 models quickly became military staff cars, as car manufacturers converted to wartime production. America's young men and women committed themselves to achieving victory and freedom for all of us; and times were tough, especially for those risking it all.
With no new cars, nor parts to repair the old ones, wartime workers and their families coaxed, enticed, persuaded, wheedled, and patched the car they had already worn out, in order to make it through the war years.
1946 brought better times for families as military personnel began returning home, and automobile production began anew, primarily with warmed over 1942 model automobiles. The 1930's thru 1941 model year cars that had managed to get people through the war years disappeared down behind the barn or out back into the woods, or sometimes to the local automobile graveyard. And there they sat.
In 1949, auto manufacturers presented America with newly designed cars like nothing that had been seen before. These cars were a major departure from the cars of old, both in styling and engineering, and America was once again on the road !
Our wartime heros were still in the process of extricating themselves from the horrors and pressures of military action, and were game for most anything that could push those unpleasant memories aside, or provide them with an adrenaline "rush". Southern boys had already converted some of their old "moonshine" cars for organized competition in a neighbor's back field, or at an old fairgrounds dirt horse track.
Maine was not far behind, as this new sport called "Stock Car Racing" began in earnest during 1949; and Maine's young men and women were ready. By the early 50's, Maine may have had as many as 15 dirt tracks operating on a weekly basis. Those once discarded automobiles again found a place within the family structure, as they were pulled out of the Maine woods, fired up, and converted to racing automobiles in only a day or two. Maine's dirt ovals soon flourished as old family sedans, farmer's pickup trucks, and an occasional doctor's or salesman's coupe hit the dirt running. And Mainer's were rocking !
The 1950's was the day of the "Jalopy" style racer – the era that began it all – for THESE were the original STOCK CARS. 1936 Chevrolets, '38 Plymouths, '40 Fords and an occasional Cord, Terraplane, Essex, Rockne, or Lafayette broadsided their way around Maine's many dirt ovals. As stock car racing in Maine "progressed" over the years toward more modern, more sophisticated, and more expensive racing machinery; racing ovals correspondingly evolved toward more professional appearing facilities. The efficiencies of asphalt (from a promoters standpoint) eventually brought about the demise of dirt based stock car racing activities here in Maine, although Beach Ridge did manage to hold out until the mid-80's. In the process of these changes, the special aspects surrounding stock car "dirt tracking" got lost and nearly forgotten here in Maine. Many other states, however, never did lose the attraction and enthusiasm for racing on the dirt, and maintain their dirt heritage to this day. It is reported that dirt tracks still outnumber paved racing facilities in the US. Maine will soon be seeing something of a "dirt tracking" revival of it's own, with Unity Raceway having ripped up the aged asphalt and now in the process of converting to a dirt racing surface for the 2019 season, complimenting our own 3/8 mile period correct (as in "primitive") vintage dirt facility in Unity Plantation, 3 miles down the road.
Speed itself has been for sale for many decades, and can certainly be purchased today if one has sufficient finances to invest heavily in specialized race car components. Race cars now employ sophistication and engineering never dreamed of back in the day when it all began. Even some so-called "vintage race cars" make use of this more modern sophisticated chassis construction. Today's race cars often arrive piece-by-piece in brown or white trucks and are merely assembled on site. Money tends to be the prevalent construction method these days; the outgrowth of which can be conflict and animosity.
But ours was a different time, when you began with an old car, did only what you had to do to get it going, used what you had or "fudged it" in some way that worked, and went racing! Terms like "tubular frame", "jacking bolt", "wedge", "slicks", "racing shock", or "coilovers" did not yet exist. Fun with your friends, your brother, or your Dad was the motivation and who took home the so called purse was of far less importance. And helping the other guy was the way it was done.
We hold the same philosophy today as the olde-timers did in the beginning, and continually strive to maintain this historically significant racing era as authentically and as honestly as we are able to do so, nearly 70 years later. Straight front axles, leaf springs, and stock frames remain prominent in our game plan, as do ignition systems energized by a single wire to a stock coil and fired by a set of points. "As simple as it gets" !
We are indeed most fortunate to enjoy the "cutest" race cars of all time, and to once again experience the sights, the sounds, the excitement, and the action of this almost forgotten stock car racing phenomenon. Bringing understanding, appreciation, and excitement to many generations in the future is the goal of our "living museum".
Our "living museum" of racing history is located on Reynolds Road in Unity Plantation, just "down the road a piece" from the Unity Raceway of olde (#139 north) toward Benton/Waterville. This facility is offered for our use on a no cost basis by Mr. Ed Picard; a gentleman, supporter, and fellow enthusiast of true early era stock car racing.
Years of work by our vintage racing enthusiasts and volunteers have produced a racing facility reminiscent of the simpler and more primitive times in which our race cars lived and "played", right down to our era correct track service vehicles. Our 1948 GMC and 1947 International water tank trucks help keep the dust under control. Our 1946 Ford wrecker/push truck helps get things moving and drags whimpering race cars back to the pit area so the crews can begin the mending process. Our "much more modern" 1966 Galion road grader helps keep the track surface "groomed" for racing.
Our group of friends have been having fun since the summer of 2004. Fantasy Speedway appears to be the only race facility in the U.S.A. functioning both on a non-profit basis, and as a fully volunteer operation, "just for the love of it".
Our greatest rewards come in "turning right to go left", sliding rather bravely through a turn, having fun with one's family and friends, and sharing it all with each other !
There are neither purses nor trophies for the drivers. There is no reward for the first to cross the finish line beyond a checkered flag and a few moments of celebrity. We each became a winner when that green flag flew once again over our antique race car, for that which we so enjoy today was never supposed to happen again. Our "Fantasy" has indeed come alive. We invite you to join with us in this unique experience and enjoy the excitement, the "music", and the fun these olde race cars still generate today.
We neither choreograph our racing events nor predetermine finishing positions, for our goal is to demonstrate all aspects of 50's era stock car racing as accurately as possible. Anything but honest racing would be false. They did not "fake it" then, and we will not "fake it" now.
Nearly one half of our vintage race cars are original 50's era stock cars, i.e. passenger cars manufactured from the late 1920's through the late 1940's and converted for racing in the 1950's, which have been rescued after 50 or more years living in the Maine outdoors and restored as accurately as possible. The remainder of our race cars are newly built in the old fashioned way from authentic period correct antique autos (and/or parts thereof) that we continue to discover still growing in the Maine woods; those cars somehow having escaped the racing scene the first time around. Our antique race cars may not achieve the faster racing speeds of today's high tech chassis and engines, but they are what they were, straight axles and all ! On the other hand, racing our antique race cars on genuine Maine dirt provides its own kind of excitement and fun that is unattainable in any other forum. Sliding through the turns of our dirt track can be accomplished (barely) by a 1937 Ford 85 hp. flathead V-8, or a 1948 General Motors in-line six sporting 94 horsepower.
Our vintage cars are cherished. Yet, they were and are race cars and we choose to race that vintage tin once more ! We all clearly understand that by the very fact that we are really racing these antique cars, 'racing incidents' will and do occur, and that we will bend our antique race machinery on occasion. Yet, over our nearly 15 year history of operation, not one of our "elderly" race cars has been seriously damaged or destroyed, although we have certainly had our exciting moments. Our race cars are repairable; the drivers perhaps less so. Our race drivers, fully aware that it is always one of our friends driving the other car, choose to refrain from the intentional and sometimes dangerous slam bang aggressiveness that takes place at many of today's modern racing facilities. Our drivers may race hard, but one sees no ungentlemanly behavior from our vintage race car drivers. What one can expect to see is a crowd of competitors surrounding someone else's damaged race car, working together to repair it as quickly as possible.
The one exception we make to originality is where safety is concerned. Roll cages are either of modern design and materials or significantly upgraded originals, renewed to modern standards. Safety harnesses, seats, and helmets are also modern and much different from those fashionable 50 years ago. We all wish to go home at the conclusion of our race day.
Thanks, Sam
The laughter, the smiles, and the amicable "bantering" one hears coming from our pit area demonstrates that same joviality and fellowship as was experienced during the 1950's. This alone is a welcome relief for a number of our drivers who have "escaped" from today's intense racing environment.
Whether it is donating engines or other critical parts to our friends; working as part of a team to repair a competitor's car for the feature; encouraging, assisting, and becoming a part of another's success, cheering for your chief competitor, or swapping drivers or cars for the next race; sportsmanship is the name of the game here at Fantasy Speedway.
Having this much fun with our olde race cars, as well as enjoying the friendship of those who build and race them with us, was for many years considered to be quite impossible at best. Yet here we are today, a mere 6+ decades later, undertaking this adventure together; and sharing our fun. It is a remarkably good day !


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There are things in this life that actually mean something. Things that are worth holding dear, things that are worth keeping safe and close to your heart.
When you have people in your life that mean something to you and when you mean something to people, it is okay to think of them when you make a decision, it is okay to consider their feelings.
Whether we are "grown ups" and can "do what we want" or not, sparing someone's feelings should at least be in the forefront of our mind. Thinking of someone else, doing something you may not want to do or feel up to doing for someone else is something that I feel should come naturally, at least if it has to do with someone you truly love. I wish it was a lot easier, even if it isn't someone we are extremely close to. (That's when it gets really tricky)
What is our goal while we are here, in this world? Is it to, like so many things and "heartfelt" quotes I see, completely phase out the people who don't make us feel good about ourselves, who don't allow us to be a better person? There are few times when I see a quote like this or hear someone say this exact thing, that I actually agree with it. (I do believe that some people are toxic and can emotionally and physically be hurting you and in that instance I'm all for distancing yourself but I so often see or hear people wanting to rid themselves of everyone who makes them feel bad about themselves and the person doesn't even have to do anything wrong to be on the dump list, except maybe appear happy of Facebook.)
Why can't we be the someone who makes that other person want to be a better person? Why can't we have a servant's heart and do for others? Why don't I have a servant's heart and do for others? If I am in this world to do for myself then what is the point?
We give ourself what we want, we spend our money on ourself, we only think about what kind of relationships will make us stronger (make me stronger) or us happier or make MY world better. What are we leaving behind when we leave? Well I would answer with, absolutely nothing.
There is nothing left after we are gone but a faded shadow of what could have been.
What could have been?
A light in someone else's life. Someone who is different or hard to love, someone who doesn't make us light up when we are around them. If we touch someone else and change their life, just think of how many others are changed just by that one small thing that we did, that one small sacrifice that we made.
Our light though tiny, just a speck in the night sky, has the potential to light up a city.


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The developers at Clear Books are always finding ways to improve our software. The roadmap for developing new Clear Books features involves a combination of ideas from our customer community along with new innovations from our team.
In addition, we also offer a custom accelerated development service, allowing customers to fast-track ideas to our developers and commission a feature for any Clear Books plc product.
A feature request is submitted by the customer by logging in and filling out the accelerated development form.
After a feature has been requested, it goes through our approval process. Features that pass our approval process are taken to the next project stage.
When a feature request has passed our approval process, an online meeting may be arranged between the customer and project leader. This is to discuss the specification and price of the project, which all depends on the complexity of the feature.
Following the meeting, we will provide working milestones as time estimates. We will also provide an estimated price based on the previous discussion.
Once the project specification has been agreed upon, and the customer is happy with the estimation, payment will be made. Once the agreement is in place, the project will begin, and no more changes can be made to the project from this stage onwards.
We can now start development.
Next, we come back with the first stage of the project for feedback. Throughout the process, we will keep you updated on the progress of the project.
The feature is complete, including all amendments and improvements, as stated on the specification. All that's left is for the project to be signed off by the customer.
All current customers who use any Clear Books plc application are able to submit a request for a custom accelerated project. The requests will then be put through to our approval team who will decide whether the proposed project(s) are to be accepted.
After a request has been submitted it will first go through our approval process. This consists of our heads of department and our CEO, coming together as our approval team. Our approval team will either put that request into the queue to be processed or park it aside. Unsuccessful requests will be sent to the Community should they not make the cut.
Our base day rate starts at £450/day + VAT for our development team but all timescales and prices are affected by the project length, complexity, the number of tasks associated to the project and how tailored the feature is for specific customers. Please contact us for a quote.
Once a project is complete, if the customisation is applicable to our wider customer base, we will release the change to all Clear Books customers.
If you are interested in our Custom Accelerated Development service and would like further details, please contact us.
Clear Books is proudly registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as an Account Information Services Provider (register no. 843585).


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Hetan Shah
Hetan is Executive Director of the Royal Statistical Society, a membership body whose vision is for data to be at the heart of understanding and decision-making. Hetan is visiting senior research fellow at the Kings Policy Institute, Kings College London. He is chair of the Friends Provident Foundation and a non executive director of the Higher Education Statistics Agency. He is an Honorary Vice-President of the Geographical Association and is on the Steering Group of the Natural Capital Initiative. Hetan is also a member of the National Statistician's Data Ethics Committee.


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Book your schedule for our Mini Japan Festival this coming sunday @ AEON Shah Alam !!!
Main Event
6:00pm Event start
6:05pm Speech by ALEPS representative
6:10pm Speech by Embassy of Japan's representative
6:15pm Japanese traditional dance performance
6:30pm Japanese traditional musical instrument
6:40pm Aikido Performance
7:15pm Silat gayung performance
7:30pm Karate performance
7:45pm Silambam performance
8:00pm Kendo Performance
8:15pm Ninjyutsu Performance
8:30pm Standup Japanese Comedy
8:45 End of Event
Concurrent Event
Time 6:00pm-9:00pm
Free experience corner for Japanese traditional games
-daruma otoshi
-Yukata experience (man/ ladies)
-Photo session with samurai


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Possibly the single largest guest list we've ever had. The members of The Man Power, The Notorious MSG, and The Slants sit down with John, Charlie, and Dylan at Middle Tennessee Anime Convention to talk about their music, anime, and other important matters.
Intro music: Vice Versus Virtue by The Slants


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Black Sun Agents On Earth!
This photograph of what looks like the actress, Jayne Mansfield, may actually be the Human Replica Droid, Guri, impersonating the actress while on assignment for the Black Sun. The Black Sun symbol is clearly "tattooed" on Guri's back as shown in the photograph above.
Guri was created by Imperial researchers and was the only one of its kind to be an engineered assasin. Leader of the Black Sun criminal organization, Prince Xizor, purchased Guri to serve as his lieutenant.
The ISWWR team has identified several dealings of the Black Sun in earthly affairs. This is the first recognizeable figure to be identified. Other photos of Jayne Mansfield do not show the tattoo seen above, therefore, we speculate that this was an isolated event, perhaps a secret mission to infiltrate Hollywood. An assasin droid that looks like this could get into places no other assasin could which has led authorities to re-open investigations of the many mysterious deaths of American entertainers.
In recent years there has been a rapid increase in various "sun" tattoos on both male and females, usually, on the lower-back region of the body. Is this just a fad or are these markings identifiers of individuals that are not quite human? The investigation continues...
Evidence #:ISWWR0000030
Submitted by: H. Lee
Below: An illustration of Guri, the human replica droid assasin.


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You can make your donation to the Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation worth 25% more with a simple Gift Aid declaration.
As a registered charity, we can claim the tax back from HMRC, thanks to the government's Gift Aid scheme
How it works
If you currently pay tax in the UK, and fill in our Gift Aid Declaration when you make a donation, we can claim back 25 pence for every £1 that you donate. So your donation of £30 is worth £37.50 to us, at no extra cost to you.
We can claim Gift Aid on any donation you may make in future, or over the previous four years. Donating with Gift Aid does not affect your tax status.
We can only claim Gift Aid on donations made personally by individuals, and not on behalf of a group or from a collection.
If you choose to donate online, you will be offered a Gift Aid declaration as part of the online process.


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Sweetheart Treat Using the Jaded Blossom Lollipop Die
Hello my friends! Today, I am playing with the new Lollipop Die from Jaded Blossom! When this was release, I knew I had to have. I instantly thought about projects I could create and started brainstorming for my child's valentine treats for class.
This die is so versatile and I have really enjoyed seeing the Jaded Blossom design team's projects using the die. Check out the Jaded Blossom blog to see some additional inspiration for the lollipop die.
I will definitely will be making more projects with this die.


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Wallonia offers more than half a million hectares of forest to lovers of nature and green spaces. Along with its gardens, caves, protected parks and animal reserves, the region has a wealth of places to satisfy those who like to be out in the open air.
Nine parks and gardens in Wallonia have been officially classified as exceptional.
If you appreciate calm, greenery and authenticity, come and discover these:
-The park of the castle of Attre
-The vegetable garden of the Castle of Ecaussinnes-Lalaing
-The park of the Château of Modave
These gardens have become places of recreation and discovery. They invite you to appreciate the work of landscape architects over the centuries, or simply take a moment to dream and escape.
The gardens of southern Belgium await you ...
The information on this website is given as an indication only. Before you leave, check directly with the organisers of the event that interests you.


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Study shows Americans open to nude sunbathing more than ever
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Those under the age of 35 show even stronger support with 65% saying yes to nude sunbathing. (View entire study.)
Now, people need to get out and try nude sunbathing, whether it be at Sandy Hook Beach in New Jersey or Haulover Beach in Miami or at many of the other clothing-optional beaches throughout the United States. There are also many campgrounds and resorts (for example, Cypress Cove - see past review) that offer more seclusion and ammenities.
Labels: nudist travel


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The certificate program in Public Sector Safety & Health Fundamentals supports OSHA's mission by training public sector employees in occupational safety and health to reduce incident rates for workers in state and local governments. Participants have the opportunity to earn certificates for Construction and General Industry training.
Participants can choose from a variety of topics such as occupational safety and health standards for the construction or general industry, safety and health management, accident investigation, fall hazard awareness, and recordkeeping. Courses are available at OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers nationwide. Although this program was primarily designed for public sector employees, it is available for anyone interested in furthering their knowledge of occupational safety and health.
Participants must complete a minimum of seven courses, comprised of required and elective courses, that include a minimum of 68 contact hours of training through OTI Education Center courses to earn the certificate in Public Sector Safety & Health Fundamentals for General Industry.
The Machinery and Machine Guarding Standards (OSHA #2045) course covers the various types of common machinery, machine safeguards, and related OSHA regulations and procedures. Guidance is provided on the hazards associated with various types of machinery and the determination of proper machine safeguards. Course topics include machinery processes, mechanical motions, points of operation, control of hazardous energy sources (lockout/tagout), common OSHA machine guarding violations, and guarding of portable powered tools, conveyors, and robotics. Program highlights include the ability to recognize hazards and provide options for control and hazard abatement through machine safeguarding inspection workshops. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to describe common machine hazards and sources of energy, ident(fy resources for assisting with machine guarding issues, and determine methods of control and hazard abatement, and selection of appropriate machine safeguards.
The Principles of Ergonomics (OSHA #2255) course covers the use of ergonomic principles to recognize, evaluate, and control workplace conditions that cause or contribute to musculoskeletal and nerve disorders. Course topics include work physiology, anthropometry, musculoskeletal disorders, use of video display terminals, and risk factors such as vibration, temperature, material handling, repetition, and lifting and patient transfers in health care. Course emphasis is on industrial case studies covering analysis and design of work stations and equipment workshops in manual lifting, and coverage of current OSHA compliance policies and guidelines. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to recognize work-related musculoskeletal and nerve disorders, assess employer's ergonomic programs, and conduct ergonomic evaluations.
The Permit-Required Confined Space Entry (OSHA #2264) course covers the safety and health hazards associated with permit-required confined space entry. Course topics include recognition of confined space hazards, identification of permit and non-permit required confined spaces, use of instrumentation to evaluate atmospheric hazards, ventilation techniques, development and implementation of a confined space program, proper signage, and training requirements. This course features workshops on permit entry classification, instrumentation, and program development. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to identify permit and non-permit required confined spaces, reference the OSHA Permit-Required Confined Spaces Standard, conduct atmospheric testing, and implement a permit-required confined space program.
The Electrical Standards (OSHA #3095) course covers OSHA Electrical Standards and the hazards associated with electrical installations and equipment. Course topics include single- and three-phase systems, cord- and plug-connected and fixed equipment, grounding, ground fault circuit interrupters, and safety-related work practices. Emphasis is placed on electrical hazard recognition and OSHA Standards, policies, and procedures and applicable portions of the National Electrical Code (NEC). Students will participate in workshops on the safe and correct use of electrical testing equipment. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to understand the severity of electrical current on the human body, recognize and evaluate actual and potential electrical hazards and reference the applicable OSHA Standard, determine hazard abatement measures, and understand the proper use of electrical testing equipment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry (OSHA #511) course covers OSHA Standards, policies, and procedures in general industry. Topics include scope and application of the OSHA General Industry Standards, general industry principles and special emphasis on those areas in general industry which are most hazardous. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to define general industry terms found in the OSHA General Industry Standards, identify hazards which occur in general industry, locate and determine appropriate OSHA General Industry Standards, policies, and procedures, and describe the use of OSHA General Industry Standards and regulations to supplement an ongoing safety and health program.
The OSHA Guide to Industrial Hygiene (OSHA #521) course covers industrial hygiene practices and related OSHA regulations and procedures. Course topics include recognition, evaluation, and control of chemical, physical, biological and ergonomic hazards, Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL), OSHA health standards, respiratory protection, engineering controls, OSHA sampling protocols and strategies, and workplace health program elements. The course features workshops in health hazard recognition, OSHA health standards and use of sampling equipment. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to recognize basic industrial hygiene principles and practices, identify characteristics of common air contaminants, locate PELs, perform basic industrial hygiene calculations, and determine methods for hazard control and abatement.
The Lockout/Tagout (OSHA #7115) course covers the role and responsibility of the employer to develop and implement an energy control program, or lock-out/tag-out (LOTO) for the protection of workers while performing servicing and maintenance activities on machinery and equipment. Course topics include types of hazardous energy, detecting hazardous conditions, implementing control measures as they relate to the control of hazardous energy, developing and implementing energy control programs including written isolation procedures, training of authorized and affected employees, and periodic inspection of energy control procedures using the OSHA Control of Hazardous Energy Standard. Upon course completion, the student will have the ability to explain the importance of energy control programs, procedures, training, audits and methods of controlling hazardous energy.
The Introduction to Evacuation and Emergency Planning (OSHA #7105) course covers OSHA requirements for emergency action and fire protection plans. Course topics include purpose and requirements of emergency action and fire prevention plans, elements of emergency evacuation plans, and features of design and maintenance of emergency exit routes. Students will participate in workshops pertaining to the development of emergency action plans. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to list the elements of an emergency action plan and emergency evacuation floor plans, recognize violations of OSHA exit route requirements, determine whether their organization requires an emergency action plan, and develop and implement workplace emergency action and fire protection plans.
The Bloodborne Pathogen Exposure Control for Healthcare Facilities (OSHA #7200) course covers the development and implementation of Exposure Control Plans (ECP) for healthcare facilities. Course topics include understanding the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, determining potential exposure and methods of control, developing an ECP, vaccinations, exposure incidents, training, and record keeping. The target audience is the program administrator, manager, or other personnel designated with the responsibility of developing a Bloodborne Pathogens ECP for a healthcare facility. Course highlights include students developing a template for their facility's ECP. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to take a step-by-step approach in developing an ECP for their healthcare facility while utilizing the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard as a reference.
The Health Hazard Awareness (OSHA #7205) course covers common health hazards that are encountered in the workplace. These health hazards include exposure to chemicals, asbestos, silica and lead. Course topics include identification and evaluation of health hazards and their sources of exposure, health hazard information, and engineering and work practice controls. Students participate in workshops on evaluation and abatement of workplace health hazards. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to understand common health hazards in the workplace and methods for controlling and abatement of these hazards.
The one-day Understanding OSHA's Permit-Required Confined Space Standard (OSHA #7300) course covers the requirements of the OSHA Permit-Required Confined Space Standard. Course topics include safety and health hazards associated with confined space entry, and the evaluation, prevention, and abatement of these hazards. The course covers OSHA requirements; it does not feature workshops (instrumentation, control methods and testing) which are included in the OSHA #2264 Permit-Required Confined Space Entry. This course is designed for small employers or a designated representative (line supervisor or manager) with the responsibility to develop a permit-required confined space program. Upon course completion students will have a basic understanding of confined space hazards, evaluating and abatement of the hazards, and determining when a confined space shall be classified as a permit-required confined space.
The Introduction to Safety and Health Management (OSHA #7500) course covers the effective implementation of a company's safety and health management system. The course addresses the four core elements of an effective safety and health management system and those central issues that are critical to each element's proper management. This course is an interactive training session focusing on class discussion and workshops. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to evaluate, develop, and implement an effective safety and health management system for their company.
The Introduction to Incident [Accident] Investigation (OSHA #7505) course covers an introduction to basic accident investigation procedures and describes accident analysis techniques. Course topics include reasons for conducting accident investigations, employer responsibilities related to workplace accident investigations, and a six-step accident investigation procedure. The target audience is the employer, manager, employee or employee representative who is involved in conducting accident and/or near-miss investigations. Upon course completion, students will have the basic skills necessary to conduct an effective accident investigation at the workplace.
The Recordkeeping Rule Seminar (OSHA #7845) course covers Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for maintaining and posting records of occupational injuries and illnesses, and reporting specific cases to OSHA. Upon course completion, students will have the ability to identify OSHA requirements for recordkeeping, posting and reporting and to complete OSHA Form 300 Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, OSHA Form 300A Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and OSHA Form 301 Injury and Illness Incident Report.


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Fordham University Gabelli School of Business Center for Digital Transformation in partnership with Urban Studies Program and Urban Law Center & Bronx Technology Innovation Coalition Present
The 4th Annual Bronx Summit on Technology Innovation and Start Ups: Opportunities and Challenges
Wednesday, October 14, 2015, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
The Gabelli School of Business
Hughes Hall, C04A-B
441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458
The Bronx presents great opportunities for technology-based innovation and start up activity and the support of small businesses with digital information & communication technologies. The presence of higher education institutions, health care entities including hospitals and medical colleges, the Botanical Garden, the Bronx Zoo and other government and non-profit agencies makes it attractive to consider the Bronx for entrepreneurial and business support activities.
This 4th annual summit brings together faculty, students, practitioners, companies, non-profit agencies and Borough government officials to discuss opportunities and challenges in the application of digital information and communication technologies in entrepreneurial start up and support of small business activities. Keynote speakers and panelists from academia, industry and government will share their expertise in exploring this potential, and identify the grand challenges, opportunities and solutions.
The summit is an essential event to those interested in the transformation of the Bronx into a viable borough of sustainable, technology-driven business activities and economic growth.
Free registration – RSVP required: https://fordhamcdtbronxsummit2015.eventbrite.com
PDF Download: 4th Annual Bronx Summit Oct 14 2015
For more information & participation, please contact:
W. "RP" Raghupathi
Director, Center for Digital Transformation (www.fordhamcdt.org)
Teresita Abay Krueger
Founder BTIC, and Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Transformation
Three winning teams, and the two undergrad teams, 2017 March Data Crunch Madness. | More
Photos from the 2015 Reception for MSBA students and Fellows of CDT | More
Center Fellows receive awards and medals at Awards Brunch, May 2015.
| More
Center Director RP Raghupathi and students visit IBM World of Watson May 2015 Event | More
CDT-STEP Summer 2017 High School Internship Program in Analytics
| More
CDT Fellows for 2016-2017 at May 12th Dean's Awards Brunch | More
Professors RP Raghupathi and Yilu Zhou attend the UN Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs (STI Forum). | More
Constructing a New Paradigm for Protecting New York's Critical Infrastructure: Watch Professor RP Raghupathi moderate a session. | More
Karen Parrish talks to Profdessor Katsamakas's Gabelli students | More
Center for Digital Transformation, Gabelli School of Business
Copyright 2020. The Center for Digital Transformation, Gabelli School of BusinessFordham University. All Rights Reserved. Site Credits


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PPT On Combinational Logic Design
Presentation Transcript:1. Combinational Logic Design
2. Combinational Logic Design
A process with 5 steps
Technology mapping
3. BCD-to-Excess-3 Code converter
BCD is a code for the decimal digits 0-9
Excess-3 is also a code for the decimal digits
4. Specification of BCD-to-Excess3
Inputs: a BCD input, A,B,C,D with A as the most significant bit and D as the least significant bit.
Outputs: an Excess-3 output W,X,Y,Z that corresponds to the BCD input.
5. Formulation of BCD-to-Excess-3
Excess-3 code is easily formed by adding a binary 3 to the binary or BCD for the digit.
There are 16 possible inputs for both BCD and Excess-3.
6. Thank You.


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If you are a follower of May Loves Makeup, you will more than likely remember that she did a giveaway for this very same shaving cream last month (and if you're not a follower of May's, you should be. Seriously). I entered the giveaway, telling May that I used to nick my dad's traditional shaving cream and brush ensemble to shave my legs when I was a few years younger!
I got a very pleasant surprise when Nick from Bluebeard's tweeted me telling me to leave my dad's shaving cream alone, and asking if I'd like to give The Bluebeards Revenge a whirl! What an attentive company. Massive thumbs up from the get go! Along with the shaving cream and brush, I got a short magazine type publication with info, testimonials and the like – I assume this comes with every purchase and was really funny to read. Totally sarcastic and completely my sense of humour!
The Bluebeards Revenge is a paraben free premium quality shaving cream developed especially for Desperate Dan lookalikes – you know, the poor guys who have to shave every day to keep their beard at bay and don't suffer so much with a five o'clock shadow as a 'two hours post shave' shadow.
Since ol' Bluebeard is developed for super hairy men, it contains a unique active ingredient called Declerine™. This ingredient has been proven to reduce hair growth. Really! In tests, Declerine™ showerd a 30% decrease in hair length as well as a 16% reduction in hair density after 60 days. If it can do that to a man's diamond-strength facial hair, imagine how well that might fare on our lady leg hairs?!
The product smells absolutely divine. It's so clean and manly, I could sniff it all day. Get your fella to use this and not only will he appreciate the ease of the shave but I'm sure he'll appreciate all the neck nuzzles that you won't be able to resist giving him. It smells SO GOOD!
For those who somehow hadn't realised this yet, I wasn't trying this product out for use on my face. Obviously it's for my legs! I didn't use it in the shower, I just did it standing in the bathroom with a sink full of water to rinse my razor between strokes. I just dipped the very tip of the brush in the cream and that was enough to do a whole leg from ankle to mid thigh. This is all you'll need for each leg:
Just a splash of hot water is all this needs to create the most luscious lather. Well, I say lather, it's not bubbly or anything, just deliciously creamy (and again, smells good enough to eat). Just buff the brush all over your pins in circular motions until they're covered in gorgeous luxurious lather. For men, using a shaving cream and brush often leads to a closer shave as the buffing motions with the brush help to lift the hairs away from the face. Same principle goes for our pins!
Lovely lather… in my hand as I'm not up for showing you lot my bare legs. They're BIG. Haha :) but what you really want to know is how well it works. I can neither confim nor deny anything about the Declerine™ claims of reduced hair growth as I've only been using this for a couple of weeks (every 3-4 days), but I can promise you that this is the BEST shave your legs will ever have. No word of a lie, my legs are smoother after a shave with this than they ever have been after a wax. And, because the brush lifts the hairs, you can still get an immaculate shave with just a few days' growth. It even made my underarms feel smooth, which I don't think they have done since before I even hit puberty. Haha. Plus, if you spend a bit of time doing it as a separate beautification job and don't just leave it as an afterthought in the shower, it really feels like a good pampering session as opposed to the chore it usually is!
I am definitely going to repurchase this when my sample runs out – which won't be for a LONG time yet since you only need the tiniest bit! I highly recommend it for a bit of a treat to yourself :) I promise it will make shaving less of an arduous task! And, like I said, if you let your man use it you won't be able to stop sniffing him. Mmm!
The Bluebeards Revenge retails at £14.99 for 180ml (which will last you forever) and they will throw in a FREE shaving brush (normally £6.99). You can get it here from the Shaving Shack. If you've shaved your legs with the aid of a proper shaving cream and brush before, I hope you'll consider giving this one a go. And if you never have, you're missing out!