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Sin Quirin is a two-time Grammy nominated guitar player from LA. Sin is a member of Ministry and a primary songwriter on the 2007 Ministry album The Last Sucker and 2013's From Beer to Eternity.
In addition to his role in Ministry (co-writing credits on Ministry's 2007 release The Last Sucker & 2013's From Beer to Eternity and guitar on 2008's Cover Up album) and primary writing credits for RevCo's Sex-O Olympic-O and Got Cock?, Sin Quirin toured the U.S. and worked with DJ Hardware on the 2009 ReVamp tour. He has been Grammy nominated twice, both times with Ministry, the first for 'Under my Thumb' from Cover Up – 2008 and the second time around for 'Señor Peligro' from the live 2009 album Adios… Puta Madres.
In 2010, Sin joined Lords of Acid for Sextreme Ball 2010.
In 2011, it was announced that he would be joining American Head Charge
In 2012 Ministry toured the U.S. and Europe and Russia for the first time.
In 2015 Ministry embarked on their "From Beer To Eternatour" that took them to Australia, South Africa, South America, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada.
- Society 1 – Exit Through Fear – 2003
- Society 1 – The Sound that Ends Creation – 2005
- Society 1 – The Years of Spiritual Dissent – 2006
- Ministry – The Last Sucker −2007
- Ministry And Co-Conspirators –Cover Up– 2008
- Saw 4 Soundtrack
- Saw 5 Soundtrack
- Wicked Lake Soundtrack
- NCIS Soundtrack
- Revolting Cocks – Sex-O Olympic-O – 2009
- Ministry – Relapse – 2012
- Ministry – From Beer to Eternity – 2013


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HMS library is collecting "gently used books" that you don't want anymore! We have an account at 2nd and Charles in Dothan (located in the old Books-A-Million store). You send your "gently used books" (any kind will do) to HMS and Mrs. Tew can trade in your old books to get store credit to purchase new books for the HMS library. Our first trade-in was four boxes of used books that equaled up to $141.00 in store credit. Mrs. Tew was able to purchase 39 new books for our library.
We would like to thank the parents that have donated used books to this fundraiser. It is a great way to earn new books for our school and for parents to clean out your bookshelves and closets at home! Please contact Mrs. Tew if you have any questions about book donations! Thank you for you support with this project!
Copyright © 2020 Headland Middle School

subset: commoncrawl


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Genuine Sepura STP8000 STP9000 EH6 type Ear Hanger.
RAC version with direct fit connector.
Length 50 cm. Part number 300-00562£ 36.00 S-300-00562
Genuine Sepura STP8000 STP9000 EH6 type Ear Hanger.
RAC version with direct fit connector.
Length 90 cm. Part number 300-00563£ 36.00 S-300-00563
Genuine Sepura STP8000 STP9000 EM2 type Ear Hook.
RAC version with direct fit connector.
For those of you who remember the days this headset replaces the old Lowe EM2 model.
Length 90 cm. Part number 300-00580£ 36.00 S-300-00580
Genuine Sepura STP8000 STP9000 GSM Handsfree headset.
RAC version with direct fit connector. Part number 300-00428£ 27.60 S-300-00428
Sepura 6 + 6 charger for SC21. Includes 1 x 300-00846 cahrger and 6 x Inserts for 300-01910inserts to adapt charge rto take SC21 radios£ 441.60 S-300-00846SC21
Sepura SC21 Klick Fast Leather Case.
This case is made for Sepura by Klick Fast and only available through Sepura.£ 29.40 S-300-01917
Sepura SC21 Klick Fast radio adapter stud.
Attaches to back of radio.£ 5.40 S-300-01832
Genuine Sepura large sprung Belt Clip attachment for SC21£ 10.08 S-300-01923
Genuine Sepura sourced SDAC USB lead.
This USB slave lead allows connection to third-party USB host-equipped devices, such as personal computers (PCs) to communicate with the radio.
The radio can be used with the Slave lead…£ 60.00 S-300-01384


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Issue 4: Page 26 – Ghost of Future's PastJune 3rd, 2010 |
This new character is going to be mysterious for awhile. Is he good or bad? What is his history with Sabra? Yeah, those questions are going to have to wait, but there will be clues in the future.
Art by Pow Rodrix
Colors by Guillermo Ucha
Letters & written by Adam J. Monetta


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UCSF's neuroradiologist Alisa Gean, M.D., writes "DTI ready for prime time?" in response to recent publicity of radiology's newest rage – high-definition fiber tracking MRI for TBI.
Although new probabilistic methods for DTI evaluation of nerve fiber bundles are providing unique information about the microstructure of white matter, the best approach to maximize information from DTI is still a matter of debate, especially when it comes to quantifying the integrity of nerve fiber bundles. Visual inspection
alone of the images can be unreliable. Moreover, while DTI is providing some remarkable insights into TBI, some believe that there is an "irrational exuberance" for it in the literature, especially for 3D color tractography ([1]). Abnormalities within the tractogram, while visually very appealing, are not specific for TBI. DTI findings must be interpreted in the context of the characteristics of the injury, clinical features, other associated imaging findings, and co-morbid
conditions. Additionally, the white matter tracts generated with DTI
tractography are quite variable and depend on the parameters used to create the tracts. Indeed, the sensitivity of fiber-tracking algorithms to many physical and computational variables is still poorly understood, and their behavior in the face of injured tissue even less so. Numerous issues must still be accounted for to reduce false positives and false negatives when interpreting DTI studies. For example, FA and ADC are affected by imaging variables such as field strength and resolution, as well as subject variables including pre-existing disease. Patient age affects the interpretation of FA,
as low FA may be expected during early development and enescence. Another limitation of DTI is that it samples only a very small subset of the full diffusion information encoded in q-space and describes
diffusion as single compartment (i.e., Gaussian). This assumption, however, falls short in fiber crossings and in biological tissue, which may exhibit restricted, non-Gaussian diffusion ([2]). Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging (DKI) is a new extension of conventional diffusion imaging that measure water diffusion in non-Gaussian tissue so it is thus more accurate than DTI. Kurtosis is a dimensionless statistical measure of the departure of a distribution from Gaussianity. DKI is thought to be an imaging marker of tissue structure complexity (i.e., cellular compartments and barriers). DTI is also limited by the fact that it suffers from severe artifacts in the presence of magnetic field inhomogeneities. In addition, the significant T2* decay that can
occur during long echo trains makes high-resolution acquisitions challenging. With the recent advance of parallel imaging technology, less spatial distortion and higher signal-to-noise ratio can be achieved in a time-efficient manner with single-shot EPI. More case-control studies are necessary, however, with age-matched comparisons of DTI results between patients and corresponding
control subgroups. Finally, the difficulties of post-processing and the need for statistical analyses to evaluate the effects on FA maps of spatial distortion correction induced by gradient nonlinearity, misregistration, image processing, and variable protocol parameters (e.g., b value, number of diffusion-encoding gradient directions, number of excitations, software data analysis package, etc.) are currently keeping DTI primarily in the research arena. Therefore,
further research with comprehensive analysis needs to be done before there is widespread adoption of this new technique into our routine clinical imaging armamentarium. DTI and DKI are
further addressed in Chapters 4 and 5.
[1] Field AS. Diffusion tensor imaging at the crossroads: fiber tracking meets tissue characterization in brain tumors. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2005 Oct;26(9):2183-6.
[2] Menzel MI, Tan ET, Khare K, et al. Accelerated Diffusion Spectrum Imaging in the Human Brain Using Compressed Sensing Magnetic Resonance in Medicine 000:000–000 (2011)


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Talkshop is a specialist advice and information service for young people aged between 13 and 19 years old (up to 25 depending on circumstances). Based at Sale Waterside, our aim is to support your needs through offering a variety of services in a friendly environment. The Talkshop staff team consists of qualified youth workers who offer a non-judgemental, confidential service to young people across the borough.
The Talkshop operates a drop in service Monday to Thursday afternoons where you can pop in to speak to a youth worker. Some of the issues our youth workers can offer support with include healthy relationships, family breakdowns, bullying, sexual health, sexuality, anger, self harm, depression, homelessness, drugs and alcohol mis-use.
Where Talkshop can also signpost you on to other agencies and local services. We work in partnership with a number of agencies, including Connexions, HOST (Housing Options Service Trafford), Trafford College, Surestart, YOS, CAMHS, 42nd Street, Phoenix Futures, Fairbridge and The Princes Trust.
The Talkshop offer a confidential service. This enables us to offer a safe and non-judgemental environment for young people to seek the help they need.


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SKETCH : "West of Oz – Midnight Harbour" – Pic 7 : Work in Progress – Phase I
Continuing to create these pics to relax between commissioned illustration work, here´s the first steps for yet another West of Oz pic of mine which I just started. Work in progress. Stay tuned for more tomorrow. To be… Read More


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What a wonderful story! Baseball games and now we have a couple hand in hand exchanging their vows. Congratulations B & J!
To celebrate the colours of love and embrace their beautiful story of how they met, I took the honor to put together this Macaron tower for their wedding.
I know I know my little boy loves it. Look at his smile and his wide eyes!
There are 7 colours and 4 flavours. So yes I baked 7 batches of macarons in 2 days. It was like a marathon! And I had a couple of disasters when I rushed through the baking. Yes listen number one on Macaron making – no rushing. It won't work!
Now it comes to the baseball macarons. Well being me (or should I say stupid?) I thought royal icing would be a good option and I just simply pipe the pattern onto the white macarons. Wrong! Even with the smallest piping tip, it's still far too thick to make the delicate patterns on it. Then I thought hang on a minute, didn't I buy some cookie writer pens that I never used? (It's just one of the million baking related things I bought and never get used). They are just perfect and very easy to use.
I didn't take any photos of how I put together the Macaron tower. But I will when I do one next time and I will show you how easy it is to get one done. If you are up for a Christmas Macaron tower then don't forget to sign up for updates from my blog (marketing? Nah just trying to sound interesting).
I have not done anything too fancy on the flavours. They are just classic ones – dark chocolate ganache, salted caramel with coffee, green tea buttercream and passion fruit lemon. In my next post I will share my recipe on the salted caramel with coffee. I absolutely adore the diversity of the flavours and the surprises of the hint of saltiness.
Will keep you all posted on my next project!


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Wafaa Bilal, video artist
Wafaa Bilal, video artist
The Department of the Arts / iEAR Presents! at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will feature the work of Iraqi-born video artist Wafaa Bilal. The opening of "Virtual Jihadi" and Bilal's lecture will be March 5, 2008 in the West Hall Auditorium of the RPI Campus in Troy, NY. The exhibit opens at 7:00 p.m., and the lecture is at 7:30 p.m. A reception with the artist will follow. Refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public. For directions or more information, please visit www.arts.rpi.edu or call (518) 276-4829. Unable to make the event?
Video of the event is now available online, Wafaa Bilal Video.
In the widely marketed video game "Quest for Saddam," players fight stereotypical Iraqi foes and try to kill Saddam. Al Qaeda did its own take, creating an online video game using the structure of Quest for Saddam but adding a new "skin" to turn the game into a hunt for Bush: "The Night of Bush Capturing." Now Iraqi-born artist Wafaa Bilal has hacked the Al Qaeda version of the game to put his own more nuanced spin on this epic conflict.
In "The Night of Bush Capturing: A Virtual Jihadi," to be unveiled at RPI on March 5, Bilal casts himself as a suicide-bomber in the game. After learning of the real-life death of his brother in the war, he is recruited by Al Qaeda to join the hunt for Bush. This work is meant to bring attention to the vulnerability of Iraqi civilians to the travesties of the current war and racist generalizations and stereotypes as exhibited in games such as Quest for Saddam; along with vulnerability to recruitment by violent groups like Al Qaeda because of the U.S.'s failed strategy in securing Iraq. The work also aims to shed light on groups that traffic in crass and hateful stereotypes of Arab culture with games like Quest for Saddam and other media.
Along with the opening of "Night of Bush Capturing: Virtual Jihadi," Bilal will also present a lecture on his internationally-acclaimed 2007 project "Domestic Tension: Shoot an Iraqi." Domestic Tension² placed him on the receiving end of a paintball gun that was accessible online to a worldwide audience, 24 hours a day. Bilal's month-long piece spurred online debates and intense conversations, earning him the Artist of the Year award from The Chicago Tribune.
As an artist who feels he does not have the privilege to create work that is not political, Bilal uses platforms such as these to create dialogue around war. In the face of a war that stretches on, the 2005 deaths of his brother and father and the violence his own history, Bilal seeks to imbue his audiences with a sense of empowerment that comes from hope in the enduring potential of humanity. Bilal accepts this responsibility and nurtures it, as he states, "It is through my art that I work to create awareness among those that would not normally be aware, to give voices to the voiceless, and to bring them peace." Bilal earned his M.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003 where he is now a faculty member.
Spring 08 iEAR Visiting Artists Residencies
Residencies will consist of a collaborative production with interdisciplinary electronic artists, faculty and students at the iEAR Studios. Special attention will be given to networking international artists with the local, and considering connections between local communities of Troy, NY and the local communities of the visiting artists from Iraq, Malaysia, Indonesia, and England. This series is supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts
Future events in the series:
April 2 - Leonard Retel Helmrich
April 23 - Hasnul Saidon
iEAR Presents! is a series of public performances, exhibitions, screenings and lectures. Curated by artist faculty, iEAR Presents! seeks to bring artists into a creative dialogue regarding integrated electronic arts practice and theory with a participatory community of faculty and students from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and members of the general public.
Visit www.arts.rpi.edu for more information or call (518) 276-4829.
For disability services for West Hall events, including wheelchair access, please call (518) 276-2746.


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About us
Providing Kitchen, Bathroom, and Basement Remodeling in Gaithersburg and Beyond
Located in Gaithersburg, Maryland, Wellman General Contracting is a family owned and operated company servicing the Maryland area. We have the professional experience to do the job right from start to finish. We are a full service Design/Build business and we specialize in Basement, Kitchen, and Bathroom remodeling in Maryland.
We are Licensed, Insured and Bonded: MHIC# 125488
Wellman General Contracting and Home Improvements, LLC has serviced the Washington Metropolitan area for several years. We are very proud of and confident in our work. There are many satisfied clients who will serve as a testament to the efficiency and integrity of our work. We gladly provide a viable list of references upon request.
Please take the time to browse our site and be sure to take a look at some of the projects we have completed. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to doing business with you.


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I have launched WPDublin.com on February 1st, 2018.
The idea behind this site is to provide site maintenance, site upgrades and site care to WordPress-based small and medium businesses.
While the owners can manage their own sites, it's nice to have a dedicated third-party look after WordPress updates, server software upgrades, plugin conflicts and compatibility issues.
Over time, I want to add more WordPress tutorials, hosting suggestions and reviews, a job board and a blog.
Check out the maintenance pricing plans and read more about it here.


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The one category in the beauty world that it's nearly impossible to keep up with is mascara. We all want long, thick, lush lashes; what's the best mascara to get them? I put seven of the new releases to the test!
From L'Oreal Paris, Voluminous® Superstar Red Carpet Black Mascara ($10.99) has a lightweight lash primer on one end and a fiber-infused mascara formula on the other. The tube is numbered "1" and "2" so you know the order to apply. The combination, plus the curved brush, really delivers! Of all the mascaras I tried, I would say the Voluminous Super Star Mascara delivered the "thickest" looking lashes.
IT Cosmetics recently introduced Superhero Mascara ($24) using "Elastic Stretch Techology" to coat and lift each lash. It works! I love the bristle brush, which is a conical shape and much easier to work than some of the larger brushes. I like that there are conditioners like peptides, proteins and biotin in the formula. Would buy this one again.
Milani Lash Trifecta Lengthening Mascara ($7.99) has a plastic, 3-sided, curved brush to lift and sculpt lashes. Good separation of lashes, good lengthening. The size of the brush gives you more control than some of the other mascaras I tried; overall, a good pick for the price!
Fiona Stiles Limitless Lengths Lash Sculpting Mascara ($16) has a conical-shaped bristle brush to fan out eyelashes in addition to lengthening. I didn't have any clumping or flaking with this formula and overall really liked the look of my lashes after using.
COVERGIRL Plumpify blast PRO Mascara has the largest brush (silicone) of all the mascaras I tested, which to be honest, I found a challenge to work with. The helix-shape lifts and combs lashes; the tip is rounded. Because the brush is so big, there is a lot of formula, which although good, can be hard to work with; be prepared for some cleanup with small, hard-to-reach lashes. There's a waterproof formula available, too.
PUR Cosmetics Fully Charged Mascara ($22) has an hourglass-shaped bristle brush and an anti-aging formula that uses magnetic technology. The formula attracts to each lash, strengthening lashes to maximize lift, volume and curl, while reducing fallout. I liked the formula, the effect on my lashes and didn't experience any clumping or smudging.
Maybelline the Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara ($9.49) has a silicone brush to "push up" lashes to volumize. The mascara has a bit of a "wet" formula; I find that using this as the very last step of makeup works best. The bristles are small on the brush, which does load the mascara. I didn't get significant lengthening with the Falsies Push Up Drama Mascara, mostly volume. There's a learning curve to getting the best results with this mascara.
Do you have a favorite mascara? The gold standard that you compare every new mascara to? Share in the comments!


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US rules out military intervention in Syria
"We believe a political transition is essential in Syria," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, hours after the US expelled the top Syrian diplomat from Washington, working in coordination with its allies.
Carney, however, said White House did not perceive any military action in Syria at this point of time. "It would not be the right course of the action," he added.
"We do not believe that militarization, further militarization of the situation in Syria at this point is the right course of action," he said, as "it would lead to greater chaos, greater carnage."
The spokesman warned, "we are assessing the situation and we are working with our allies and with the Security Council as we continue to give the Annan plan support and hope that the pressure on Assad has an effect."
"We also obviously believe that there is a desire among some of the members of the Assad regime to defect. We encourage those who would to take that action, to separate themselves from a regime that would go down in history as notable principally for its willingness to murder its own people," Carney said.
The spokesman accused President Bashar Al-Assad`s government of depravity, saying the Houla massacre was a horrifying testament to it.
Pentagon spokesman George Little said these remarks did mean that the US had backed off its position that military intervention risks doing more harm than good. Pentagon has not been asked to provide for military options in Syria, he said.
"When it comes to military options, again, the focus remains on the diplomatic and economic track. But at the end of the day, we in the Department of Defense have a responsibility to look at the full spectrum of options and to make them available if they`re requested," he told reporters.
"The policy of the United States remains to focus, with our international partners, on applying diplomatic and economic pressure on the Assad regime to try to convince them that they are pursuing a reckless, inhumane and deplorable course of action," Little said.
State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland said the decision to expel the top Syrian diplomat in Washington is a statement of America`s extreme disapproval and horror at the massacre. "We will obviously continue to look at other ways we can pressure the regime economically, politically, diplomatically, and continue to try to tighten the noose. And we will do that in New York and we will do that in capitals over the coming days," she said.


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Part 7, Note 26
Click Here to See All Notes to Part 7
Letter of George W. Smith, December 30, 1865, Governor's Papers (RG 301), Andrew J. Hamilton, Archives and Records Division, Texas State Library, Austin; Letter of Enon M. Harris, August 23, 1867, Barry A. Crouch Collection (Ms. 41), Archives of the Nesbitt Memorial Library, Columbus; Gammel, comp., The Laws of Texas 1822-1897, vol. 5, pp. 1256-1257, 1308-1312; Colorado County Bond and Mortgage Records, Book F, p. 150. On August 28, 1868, the legislature amended the charter of the Columbus, San Antonio and Rio Grande Railroad to allow it to commence its rail line at Gonzales, or some other point on the as yet unbuilt rail line of the Indianola and Austin Railroad, rather than at Columbus, removing it from the concerns of Colorado County historians (see Gammel, comp., The Laws of Texas 1822-1897, vol. 6, p. 56).


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$0.69 $0.59
Embellished Chiffon Flower
- Brand: Born Posh
Price: $0.69 $0.59
Availability: 41
Availability: 41
Stock is limited and only while supplies last, new items are added all the time so please be sure to check back often!While supplies last. No refunds or exchanges. All sales are final. Have a question? We are here to help! Contact our helpful and friendly customer support department :
Approximate Size:
Wholesale Girls presents one of our newest arrivals, Embellished Chiffon Flowers.These high quality Hair Flowers are made with Chiffon Material, have layered petals, and feature an embellished pearl and rhinestone bead center. These flowers are perfect for headbands, hair clips, and garment trimming.
Approximate Size:
2.1'' x 2.1'' x.75''
Also check out our Embellished Chiffon Flower Hair Clip!
Customer support hours:
Monday through Friday: 9am to 5pm MST
email: email@example.com
phone: 406-222-4853
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GENEVA, Switzerland, July 25 (UPI) -- Kuwait was awarded more than $1 billion in compensation Thursday for damages caused by Iraq's 1990 invasion, a United Nations panel announced.
The money was awarded on behalf of the Kuwait Petroleum Corp., from a fund generated by a percentage of the proceeds from export sales of Iraqi petroleum and petroleum products, the U.N. Compensation Commission said in a statement.
The commission said it has now paid out $42.3 billion in compensation from the fund.
The U.N. panel has paid compensation to 1.5 million claimants from nearly 3 million claims submitted by about 100 governments since it was established in 1991.


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|Call control strategy for high capacity telecommunication services
|Chung et al.
|Automated call handling apparatus
|Davidson et al.
|Telephone agent management information system
|Davidson et al.
|Multilocation queuing for telephone calls
|Cuschleg, Jr. et al.
|Call data collection and modification of received call distribution
|McNabb et al.
|Call distribution arrangement
|Glapa et al.
|Automatic call distributor telephone service
|Frauenthal et al.
|Data base communication call processing method
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/634,255, filed on Dec. 26, 1990, now abandoned.
in a data base of said network, maintaining a record of a number of calls currently connected to each of said destinations, each destination comprising apparatus for connecting a call to one of a plurality of agents;
using said record, a type of said call from said caller to said customer, and routing parameters, said routing parameters based on information provided by said customer for each type of call to said customer, for selecting one of said destinations for connecting said call from said caller to one of a plurality of agents connected by said one of said destinations.
calculating an expected wait at each of said destinations based on said queue length and said number of calls being served; and
calculating an expected probability of an abandonment prior to serving said call;
wherein said step of selecting comprises modifying said expected revenue by said expected probability of an abandonment.
selecting a destination to minimize an expected waiting time for said call.
selecting a destination to minimize an expected waiting time for an average call to said customer.
selecting a destination to minimize an expected waiting time for an average call of said type of said call.
calculating said routing parameters by said customer in response to a routing policy selected by said customer and data supplied by said customer.
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for distributing telecommunication calls to destinations of a telecommunication customer having a plurality of call destinations for serving calls.
Large customers of telecommunication and telemarketing services have facilities such as private branch exchanges (PBXS) and automatic call distributors (ACDs) across the country for receiving and processing calls. The purpose of a network call distributor is to distribute calls to various destinations. A can distributor makes decisions based on a routing algorithm or rule.
Some prior art call distributors distribute calls based on a static rule, such as a fixed percentage allocation of calls per facility. This presents a problem because conditions in the telecommunications network often change. A static rule distribution method does not adjust to changes in the network. Further, some prior art call distributors use distributed routing control, wherein only partial information is available at each routing control point. Thus, a problem with the prior art is that calls are not distributed effectively.
Customers of telecommunication and telemarketing services also have classes of calls that are "more revenue producing" than others. For example, a sales order call is more revenue producing than a customer service call. Prior art call routing distributors distribute calls without regard to the revenue producing class. Thus, another problem with the prior art is that calls are not distributed with a customer's economical benefit in mind.
One prior art solution to the problem of routing calls to one of a plurality of destinations of a terminating customer is presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,191,860, Data Base Communication Call Processing Method, issued Mar. 4, 1980, of R. P. Weber. This patent discloses an arrangement for routing inbound calls such as Inward Wide Area Telephone Service (INWATS) (800) or 900 calls to ones of a plurality of destinations based on the geographic location of the caller, the plurality of destination sites and the load status of each of the latter. The load status is an indicator of whether the number of calls in progress to each of these sites exceeds a predefined threshold.
Another prior art solution is that presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,983, Automatic Call Distributed Telephone Service, by J. C. Frauentlial et al. This patent discloses an arrangement whereby each of the sites periodically transmits a message to an update processor specifying the length of call queues in each of these sites. Based on the length of these queues, the update processor assigns new incoming calls to an appropriate site with the objective of minimizing the expected delay for that call. The update processor decides for each interval, an interval being typically 30 seconds, which site should receive calls during the next interval. This information is transmitted to a network control point which actually allocates calls to that site in response to this information.
Neither of these arrangements fully utilizes the capability of the network to route calls based on real-time information to the optimum destination. For example, in the case of the Weber solution a call might be routed to a destination site which has maximum queue length, as a result of which the callers are subjected to a substantial wait while other sites may be relatively idle and if the callers were routed to these alternate sites they would incur no wait. In the Frauenthal arrangement, there is substantial delay between the time that the optimum site is calculated and the time that a call is actually routed to this site with the result that the "optimum site" may be far from optimum at the time that the call is actually routed there. Further, neither of these arrangements differentiates among classes of calls to give preferred treatment to certain classes, although in the past priority arrangements have been superimposed on other arrangements with the result that priority calls are simply placed at the head of the queue in any site receiving the priority call. In summary, a problem of the prior art is that there is no optimum arrangement for routing of calls to customers having a plurality of destinations.
The problems of the prior art are solved and an advance is made in the art by providing a call distribution using dynamic network occupancy information in one or more centralized intelligent nodes, each customer served by only one centralized node, of a telecommunications network along with customer provided routing parameters. In a departure from the art, real-rime dynamic data in the network is used to select a call destination. Advantageously, calls are distributed efficiently because the call distributor can respond to changing conditions in the customer network. In a further departure from the art, the call distributor separates calls to a given customer into classes based on customer provided information such as revenue producing potential. Advantageously, calls are distributed, for example, for maximum profit for the customer.
In accordance with the present invention, a dynamic routing arrangement is implemented. A dynamic routing arrangement is one for implementing a dynamic routing law which performs the following function: given that a call belongs to one of a plurality of classes and arrives when the system is estimated to be in a given state, then the call should be routed to a destination site defined by the state and the class. In other words, the routing law can be viewed as a black box that accepts call classes and system states as inputs and provides destination sites as outputs.
In accordance with one specific implementation of the invention, dynamic customer network occupancy information is continuously accumulated at a centralized (for this customer) intelligent node, for serving the customer, of a telecommunications network. In a departure from the art, the real-time dynamic data in the network is used to determine the best destination for each call. Advantageously, calls are distributed efficiently because the call distributor responds immediately to changing conditions in the customer network as well as to variations in the number of calls enqueued at each site. Changes in the customer network include changes in the number of servers and the service time per call. In a further departure from the art, the call distributor separates calls into a plurality of classes and bases its decisions as to where a call should be routed on the class. One special example of a division of calls into different classes is that based on the expected revenue for different types of calls (for example, calls to place orders and calls to receive general information). For example, if a customer is very heavily loaded, a decision may be made to reject a call, which could be completed, if the call is a low revenue or otherwise a low priority type of call.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the customer has the ability to specify a policy for processing calls. The policy defines different classes of calls and their relative treatment including such items as the maximum queue length to which each class should be subjected, and parameters to define the level of loading at which each of the classes of calls is to be rejected. In addition, different kinds of parameters may be provided including the expected revenue for each class of call and the cost of processing each class of call in order to provide information so that the distributor may route calls to the optimum site or reject calls under the restraint of maximizing revenues.
The exemplary embodiment of the present invention is a dynamic network call distributor (DNCD). The DNCD has two modules: (1) the DNCD policy maker which resides on customer premises and comprises software that maps customer provided cost, revenue, and system data into routing parameters; and (2) the DNCD routing controller which resides in the intelligent node of the telecommunications network, and uses an algorithm that routes calls according to their class, the routing parameters, the customer policy, and the number of calls in progress at various locations.
In an alternative embodiment, the basic data is provided by the customer and the routing parameters are calculated therefrom in the DNCD routing controller or are calculated by a service company and transmitted therefrom to the DNCD controller. This simplifies customer equipment but may limit customer control.
Dynamic Network Call Distributor (DNCD) strikes a balance between two conflicting needs: the need to base the decisions on real-time information, and the need to keep the information flow at a manageable level. This is accomplished by a new concept that splits the functionality of the DNCD into two modules: the policy is determined at customer premises, while the actual decisions are taken at the NCN (Network Control Node).
The Dynamic Network Call Distributor (DNCD) addresses among other needs, the need to enhance inbound services with a weighted load balancing traffic routing to customer premises, in order to get the highest possible percentage of call completions. The term load balancing is defined as a fair distribution of the traffic load among the various customer premises. For each customer, there exists a variety of 800 calls, identified by the called 800 number. (For convenience, the term 800 number is used, but 900 number calls can be treated similarly.) They come from different regions, as specified by their NPA. All 800 calls are grouped in a certain number of classes. Membership in a class is defined in terms of the 800 number including optional additional digits supplied by a caller, and may also be based on the caller's NPA code. The term weighted comes into the picture because of customers' need to discriminate between different classes of 800 calls: depending on the expected revenues associated with a particular call, for example, customers may, or may not, be willing to pay the extra cost of routing to a remote location. Affinity of certain classes for some specified locations may also be based on staffing considerations (attendants talking a particular language, knowledgeable about a particular topic, or better trained to handle certain situations).
The information pattern available to the network control node (NCN), which is the only decision maker for the DNCD, is
(1) Centralized
(2) Dynamic
(3) Imperfect (only partial, delayed information is available from customer premises)
Customers determine the routing strategy at their premises, and send the NCN the routing parameters. The call distribution function is network based, in the sense that the NCN executes the routing actions, based on the routing parameters received from customer premises, and available traffic information. Advantageously, calls are routed efficiently.
A multi-class, revenue driven strategy is one of the options that can be followed. Routing parameters reflect customer's expected revenues and costs, which depend on the class of the call, as determined by its origination location and the called 800 number. Therefore, high revenue calls get higher priority than low revenue ones. Advantageously, calls are routed economically.
Accordingly, this invention relates to a method of selecting one of a plurality of destinations of a customer for connection of a call via a network to a caller originating one of a plurality of types of calls to the customer by maintaining a record of the number of calls connected to each destination and, using that record, the call type, and routing parameters based on information provided by the customer, selecting the destination.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a large telecommunications network;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the interaction between various elements of the network;
FIG. 3 is an information flow diagram of parameters and data used by the DNCD at the customer premises module; and
FIG. 4 is a call flow diagram of a call routing procedure at the network control node.
The key attributes that characterize a routing algorithm can be classified as follows:
(I) Goals: Some common, non mutually exclusive, goals are
(a) Delay minimization
(b) Routing cost minimization
(c) Throughput maximization
(II) Information pattern:
(a) Centralized vs. distributed
Centralized: Routing decisions are made based on global network information.
Distributed: Only local information is made available to the node that makes the routing decision.
(b) Static vs dynamic
Static: Only a priori information, e.g. traffic rates, is available. It typically leads to probabilistic routing.
Dynamic: The information available evolves over time, reflecting the state of the network. Depending on the frequency of the information updates, it can be further classified in:
(i) Periodic updates: The information is updated periodically. A routing strategy is chosen at the beginning of the period and maintained throughout it.
(ii) Arrival driven updates: Fresh information is made available as a new call arrives. It allows routing on a call by call basis.
(c) Perfect vs imperfect
Perfect: Accurate, instantaneous information is available.
Imperfect: The information is either incomplete, or noisy, or available after some delay.
FIG. 1 is a diagram of a telecommunications network of a large customer. The network comprises three call center sites, located in San Francisco (SF) 151, Chicago (CHI) 152 and Atlanta (ATL) 153, and four remote agents 161, 162, 163 and 164. The network further comprises a customer work station (CWS) 100, the host of the DNCD Policy Maker Module 105. The DNCD Policy Maker Module receives information from the customer and formulates a routing policy and calculated routing parameters based on that policy that are sent to the DNCD Routing Controller 115, located in a Network Control Node (NCN) 110 which might be part of the telecommunications network, or might be partly or fully owned by a customer. When a caller 140 places a call to the customer, the call goes through a local switching system 130 to a toll switching office 120. The toll office 120 sends a message requesting routine information for the call through a signal transfer point 125 to the NCN 110. At the NCN 110, the DNCD Routing Controller uses the routing policy, routing parameters, and loading information for each customer location to make a routing decision for the call. The call can be routed to any one of the three call center sites 151, 152 or 153, or to one of the remote agent sites 161, 162, 163, and 164. The remote agents can be considered isolated sites by the DNCD or as a single site or pool of agents.
Under the DNCD, 800 calls are dynamically routed to the preferred location. Unlike sequential routing schemes, preference is based on both a priori customer information and the state of congestion of different alternate customer locations.
To illustrate this point, consider the following scenario in FIG. 1:3 potential customer destinations 151, 152 and 153, and 3 different classes of calls a, b, c. Suppose that the minimum cost destination is the SF site 151 for class a, the CHI site 152 for class b and the ATL site 153 for class c. In a sequential routing scheme, if location the SF site 151 is busy, a class a call is routed to the CHI site 152, and only if the CHI site 152 is also busy is the call routed to the ATL site 153. Suppose that the arrival stream of class a creates congestion at the SF site 151, the arrival rate of class b is moderate to high, and the arrival rate of class c is low. In a sequential routing scheme, a good portion of class a calls will be routed to the nearby congested CHI site 152, while attendants at the ATL site 153 might be free. As a result of it, some b class calls will be routed to the ATL site 153. Therefore, extra transport cost is incurred. Even worse, destination CHI site 152, which is capable of handling its primary load with a reasonable delay, might be forced into a heavy load situation, likely to generate a high abandonment rate. The approach taken by DNCD avoids this anomaly by sending calls to the preferred destination, which, in this case, would be the ATL site. Here, preferred destination is the one that better meets the ultimate goal of maximizing revenues, given the constraints imposed by the customer and the actual state of the network.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the interaction between various elements of the network. The customer network 210 comprises call center sites 151, 152, 153, a remote agent pool 202, and a customer work station (CWS) 100. The DNCD Policy Maker Module 105 resides in the CWS 100. The Policy Maker 105 formulates the routine policy and routing parameters. The CWS 100 sends periodic updates to the DNCD Routing Controller 115 to reflect that routing policy and such changing parameters as those affected by the number of agents currently active at each location. When a caller 140 places a call to the customer, the call is processed through the Interexchange Carrier (IC) Network 200 to the NCN 110. The Routing Controller 115 in the NCN makes the decision to route the call to one of the call center sites 151, 152, 153 or to a remote agent in the remote agent pool 202.
The DNCD explicitly separates the strategic process of policy making from the act of actual implementation of the routing strategy. Policy making means mapping goals into routing laws. Actual implementation means using these routing laws to map state information into actual routing.
The DNCD places the policy making in customer premises (and hands), and the actual implementation in the exemplary network of this description, the ASN (AT&T Switched Network). Its main features are: (a) Dynamic nature: the actual decisions will be based on current estimates of the state of the network. (b) Robustness: the design will emphasize simplicity. In particular, it will not rely on very frequent information updates from customer premises. Also note that customers' updates will refer to very specific parameters, admitting simple consistency checks. (c) Flexibility: customers will be able to change their information at will. They will be able to test the algorithm off-line in different traffic scenarios, so that a good deal of confidence and understanding can be developed.
Before describing the policy maker and routing controller, a simple example of the DNCD is detailed to illustrate the basic concepts. An example policy is to maximize call completions. This is a policy which is effective if all classes of calls are treated as being equally important, for example by producing equal profit. It is assumed in this case that routing costs are the same or essentially the same for all destinations.
Derivation of a Basic Routing Policy
I The purpose of the DNCD then is to distribute the traffic of an 800 customer with multiple destinations in order to maximize call completions. For ease of reference, we start with the definitions of a few parameters of interest. Some of the quantities, e.g., calls in progress (CIP), vary over time. To simplify the notation, we will not denote this explicitly.
Notation: N =number of 800 terminations available bi =buffer size at termination i qi =number of calls queued in termination i , i--1, 2,...N h =average holding time of a call
Dadm =set of admissible terminations
(i.e., temiinations to which the customer is willing to have the call routed to) dm,,x =maximum tolerable queueing delay
(beyond this point the probability of abandonment becomes non-negligible) si =effective number of attendants in termination i dedicated to 800 traffic
(the available pool of attendants deflated by the average number busy with other
traffic) Li =number of lines available at temiination i MCTI =Maximum Calls Threshold =maximum calls allowed to termination i
so that the average delay does not exceed dn,, MCAI =min (Li, si+bi J =maximum number of simultaneous calls to termination i
as dictated by facilities and software limitations.
Although all the above parameters are available at the CWS, the routing policy is defined by the set of thresholds
{MCAi } and {MCTi },
and only these are sent to the NCN. Note that MCAi is the physical limit on the number of simultaneous calls, and that it is independent of the traffic. Hence, at any time CIPi ≤MCAi. Also note that any performance oriented limit will be captured by MCTi.
While MCAi is the absolute, facility-based limit, MCTi is a threshold based on site parameters. It follows from the above definitions that the number of calls queued at termination i can be estimated by ##EQU1## In order to avoid excessive delays that result in high abandonment rates, customers may want to limit the number of calls queued at their terminations so that the mean waiting time at a queue does not exceed a customer-specified dmax. The value of dmax may depend on the load. It is reasonable to assume that customers choose a higher value of dmax during heavy traffic, than they do during light traffic. However, as will be pointed out later, the choice of dmax does not impact the behavior of the DNCD. Note that si /h gives the mean removal rate of calls from the queue due to attendant activity, given the usual assumption that the resident holding time of a call is independent of the length of time that the call is already in progress; for other assumptions ##EQU2## is still a reasonable approximation. Customers will have little trouble in estimating the average holding time h, since this is a standard measurement in most ACDS. Sometimes a pool of attendants serves local traffic, in addition to 800 calls. In these situations, customers should subtract the average load of local calls from the total number of agents, to get the estimates si. An estimate will suffice, given that properly designed dynamic routing algorithms are robust in the face of parametric perturbations. Based on the above, a proper specification of the set of MCTi values is MCTi =Si +dmax si /h. (2)
If thresholds are supposed to be integers, equation (2) should be read as MCTi =si + dmax Si /h , where a stands for the largest integer not bigger than a.
Equation (2) says that the maximum calls threshold (ignoring the limitations posed by the number of lines and buffer sizes), should be chosen as the number of attendants plus a fraction thereof given by the ratio of the admissible delay to the mean holding time.
We now show a derivation of a basic routing law, which is based on the thresholds MCA and MCT (which are sent from the CWS) and real-time counts, CIPi (calls in progress) which are accumulated at the NCN.
The average waiting time in queue, as seen by an arrival at termination i, is (approximately) given by ##EQU3##
The routing rule that maximizes call completions, subject to the limitations imposed by the set of admissible terminations, is ##EQU4##
Straightforward manipulations, and consideration of the restrictions imposed by MCAS, lead to ##EQU5##
If no value of i * is permissible, give the call final treatment, such as an announcement or a busy signal.
The optimization implied by rule (5) is sequential in nature; i.e., two candidates are compared, and the winner is compared with a third one, and so on. However, the customers do not need to specify sequences.
In the homogeneous case, i.e., when all terminations are alike, this rule boils down to the well known Join the Shortest Queue policy, known to be optimal except in pathological cases. Ward Whitt, "Deciding which queue to join: some counterexamples", Oper. Res. 34, 1986, pp. 55-62.
Several characteristics of this basic rule are: (1) It routes the call to the best destination available at the time, within the admissible set. (2) It is based on information readily available to the NCN: the CIPs, the MCAs the MCTs and the set of admissible terminations. Customers should have no problems in specifying these parameters. (3) It is remarkably simple. There will be no mystery for customers regarding the routing of their calls. They specify the routing parameters on which the rule acts. (4) Its dynamic nature makes this rule very robust, in the sense that its performance does not degrade abruptly due to inaccuracies in the values of CIPs and/or MCTi.
The DNCD Policy Maker Module is a software package that resides on customer premises. The customer can access it, study it, even modify it. Far from being transparent, it is intended to be "owned" by the customer. Three crucial aspects of the DNCD Policy Module are:
(1) Mapping of customer goals into a cost structure:
This phase supposes good customer input. The key idea is to produce a comprehensive set of goals and related parameterized costs that customers can tune to their particular environments. Major inputs to be considered are:
(a) Average revenue generated to the customer (per call) by each class of 800 calls.
(b) Probability of abandonment as a function of queue delay, per 800 class.
(c) Preferred and banned locations per 800 class. (Considerations might be: particular skills only found in certain locations, access to local data bases, etc.).
The classification may range from a soft tilt towards a certain location to a hard constraint, forbidding certain sites for specific classes.
(d) Site parameters: Number of attendants, number of lines, average holding time, etc.
(e) Cost of routing to, and processing at different locations.
(2) Routing policy:
The routing policy maps, for a given cost structure, the state of the network into routing decisions. In line with our desire to have a robust controller, that can live with limited updates from customer premises to the NCN, we devise a constrained algorithm such as the one illustrated above.
Based on a given cost structure (that the customer can modify at will), the policy maker will generate a set of parameters on which the actual routing decisions will be made (at the NCN). This is done by computing the following parameters:
(i) Average holding time per site, which could vary with the call type mix.
(ii) Abandonment for each site, Fi, which gives the probability that a caller will abandon on queue, based on a count of calls currently being handled by the site. The function F can be calculated by simulation, mathematical model, or a specific function can be used to accomplish a particular policy (see examples below).
(iii) Call handling limits, which could depend on site and possibly on class. Again, the limits can be used to accomplish a policy (like congestion control strategy below).
Based on the site parameters and the computed parameters, the customer can define the routing policy.
(3) Flow of information from customer premises to the NCN:
The type of routing policy (if available) and the appropriate parameters are sent periodically (for example, every 15-30 minutes) from the CWS to the NCN. Not all the parameters have to be sent every period, as most of them do not change. Additional static routing information is also stored at the NCN. All the records of a given customer reside at a single NCN. The customer has the freedom to update the parameters whenever the scenario changes. Note that the routing policy does not depend explicitly on the traffic intensity. Robustness with respect to traffic intensity variations is a critical consideration in the design of the routing policy, so that the need for updates is not felt unless the scenario changes substantially.
FIG. 3 is an information flow diagram of sample parameters and data used by the DNCD Policy Maker Module. The following customer parameters 302 are provided by the customer and available at the CWS:
(1) the number of attendants and number of lines for each destination site; (2) the revenue per call and abandonment time distribution for each class of calls; and (3) for each class at each site, the average call handling time and the cost of routing and processing a call. The historical data 304 used by the Policy Maker Module is collected at the CWS and comprises:
(1) the call class mix per call center site; and (2) the abandonment time distribution for calls.
Based on the parameters and data, the Policy Maker Module computes for each site, the parameters 306:
(1) average handling time, h, for each site; (2) an abandonment function, F, which gives the probability that a call will be abandoned based on a count of calls currently being handled by a site; and (3) call handling limits, M, which give the maximum number of calls from a class that can be admitted to a site.
The CWS sends the appropriate parameter 308, along with the type of routing algorithm to be used by the Routing Controller (for example, an algorithm based on maximum revenues) to the NCN.
(a) FIG. 3 shows the general multi-class policy, which maximizes expected profit per call. It uses revenues per class, cost per class/site, and an abandonment function. The call is routed to the site which maximizes expected profit for the call. In a typical moderate congestion situation, low revenue calls are likely to be completed to the nearest available site (lowest call transport cost) even if that site currently has a long expected delay. High revenue calls are likely to be sent to the site having the shortest expected delay to minimize the possibility of call abandonment. Intermediate revenue calls will be handled accordingly, by the policy. As congestion increases further, some low revenue calls may be blocked.
(b) If all revenues are the same (no distinction between call classes), routing costs are the same, and the abandonment function F is any monotonically increasing function, the routing policy becomes the simple example discussed above, which maximizes call completion of a single class by routing to the destination with minimum expected delay.
(c) If all revenues are zero, but each site has its own cost, the policy becomes a sequential routing algorithm, which sends calls to the minimum cost destination. The abandonment function is not required in this case.
(d) If all revenues are the same, costs are different for each site, but are much smaller than the revenues, and the abandonment function Fi is zero up to a certain level Li, and then it increases sharply, the routing policy becomes sequential up to a certain queue length, and then it sends to the site with minimum expected delay.
(e) Congestion control strategy: Situations arise in which the offered traffic exceeds the customer capacity. If no action is taken, calls are routed as usual. As a result of long delays a fraction of those calls abandon. Under severe congestion, this fraction can be high. A congestion control strategy alleviates this situation by restricting the traffic admitted at the source. A congestion control strategy for the DNCD is described below.
For every class c define the admissible location set Ac as ##EQU6## where Nic stands for calls in progress of class c at site i, and Mic is the limit for such calls.
If Ac =φ, i.e., if no feasible destination is presently admissible for a call class i, the call is given final treatment. Two remarks are in place:
(i) The parameters Mic defined by the customer, determine the treatment to be given at site i to class c in heavy traffic. (ii) This congestion control mechanism provides an efficient way to prevent one class, from hogging the resources.
The DNCD Controller resides at the NCN. It receives the routing parameters from the CWS and, based on them and on real-time counters, makes a call-by-call decision as to what the best destination is. We describe next one scenario.
The NCN maintains real-time counts, Nic, of the number of calls from class c in site i. For each class c, the admissible set of sites is defined as: Ac ={i;Nic <Mic and Ni. <Mi. },
where ##EQU7## and Mi. is a limit for all calls in site i.
If Ac is an empty set, the call is blocked. Otherwise, the best destination is determined by minimizing (or maximizing) some objective function over the admissible set. The routing rule (5) is a simple example. A more general rule is shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of NCN call flow. When a call comes into the network, a network process identifies and sends the call to the appropriate NCN (action block 401). Once the call is received by the NCN, the class of the call is determined (for example, by translating from the 800 number to a POTS (for plain old telephone service) number, as discussed in the Weber patent), and the DNCD Routing Controller takes over (action block 402). In this example, a maximum revenue algorithm is used. The Routing Controller next sets the variable MAXREV to zero for the first call center site considered (action block 404). The Controller next determines if the site is eligible to receive the call by determining whether the number of calls for class c already being handled by the site is greater than the maximum number of calls that can be admitted to the site (test 405). If the site is eligible to receive the call, the Controller next computes the expected revenue of the call at that site (action block 406). If the expected revenue is greater than the variable MAXREV (test 407), then the current site is assigned to be the optimum site, and the variable MAXREV is assigned equal to the expected revenue of the current site. Next, and also if tests 405 or 407 were negative, the controller checks whether the current site is the last possible site (test 409). If the current site is not the last possible site, the controller repeats steps 405-408 for the next possible site. If the current site is the last possible site, the Controller checks whether the variable MAXREV is still equal to zero (test 411). If so, then there is no eligible site, and the call is blocked (action block 414). If MAXREV is not equal to zero, then the call is sent to the site assigned as the optimum site (action block 412).
Some customers have automatic call distributors (ACD) at one or more of their destinations. For such customers, the routing parameters include parameters describing the allocation of types of calls to different ones of the queues of the ACD. For example, one of the queues may receive priority treatment, and a decision must be made, based on the length of that queue, whether to enter the next call of a second most profitable type in that queue or another.
It is to be understood that the above description is only of one preferred embodiment of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be devised by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention is thus limited only as defined in the accompanying claims.


text:
Local Authority Housing
Local Authority housing has traditionally been the main option for those who could not afford decent housing from their own resources. While other housing options have been introduced in recent years, local authorities remain the main providers of social housing, making available a range of rented housing to meet a variety of accommodation needs.
Do I Qualify
If you are in need of housing and unable to provide it from your own resources, you may apply for local authority housing. In assessing your application, the local authority will take into account such factors as household size, household income, your present accommodation (if any), the condition of that accommodation and any special circumstances including age, disability, medical circumstances etc. If you feel that you qualify for local authority housing, talk to your local authority.
Where do I apply?
The larger local authorities have offices dealing specifically with housing applications. Smaller local authorities usually have an officer designated to deal with housing issues in their area. Addresses and phone numbers of local authorities are listed in the State Services Section towards the front of the telephone directory.
Please see the Social Housing Application Form on the Forms Page.
Can I buy my house from the local authority?
Yes. If you have been a tenant of a local authority house for at least one year you may apply to the local authority to purchase it at a discounted price. You may purchase the house either outright or by way of a shared ownership option, which enables a tenant who cannot afford outright purchase in one step to buy a share in the house now and the remainder at larger stages within 25 years. If you are buying outright, you have the choice of applying to your local authority or to a bank or a building society for a mortgage loan. If you are buying by way of shared ownership, you may obtain a mortgage loan from your local authority to meet the cost of the share in the house you are purchasing. A separate leaflet on the tenant purchase scheme is available from your local authority.
What if I Don't Qualify?
If you don't qualify, the local authority will inform you and explain the reasons for their decision. The authority can provide information and offer advice on other housing options available - e.g. Affordable Housing, Local authority housing loans etc.


text:
In this tutorial, we'll look at connecting to ElasticHosts Cloud Storage Folders from Windows 10, via SSHFS, using SFTP Net Drive.
The client's name is a bit confusing, but since it will effectively add the folder as a network drive on your desktop, it does act as an SSHFS client. Once you set it up and connect to the cloud storage, you can simply move files from and to it as you can do with any other local storage.
Table of Contents
- What is Cloud Storage
- Log into ElasticHosts
- Creating a Cloud Storage
- View Connection Details
- Download SSHFS client
- Install SSHFS
- Connect to Cloud Storage
- Using the Cloud Storage
What is Cloud Storage
Cloud Storage is our new storage product specifically built for the needs of Linux system administrators and works out of the box with common Linux tools such as Rsync and can be accessed via SSH, SSHFS, and WebDAV. It's a folder backed by regular HHD, available in Lon-b and Dallas zones.
Log into ElasticHosts
The first step is to log into your account in the zone you intend to create your cloud storage. For the sake of this tutorial, we will
If you don't already have an ElasticHosts account, you can create a trial account here (no credit card needed): 5-day free trial.
Creating a Cloud Storage
Now that you're logged in, you can see your control panel. Here, open the "Add" menu and select Cloud Storage:
A small window will pop up where you can name the storage and finalise its creation.
Note: If you want an SSD-backed solution or use a data location that's not Lon-B or Dallas, create a Folder instead of Cloud Storage.
View Connection Details
To connect to the cloud storage, first, we will need to look up the login credentials for the cloud storage. This is very easy to do on the control panel: find the box representing your cloud storage in the control panel and click on the 👁 symbol.
This will bring up a popup window with every detail you might need - and much more!
See the "Mounting a folder via SSHFS" heading. It tells us that we will need to use the SSH hostname with the username and password to connect to the cloud storage via SSHFS. But we need an SSHFS client first, so click on the link SFTP Net Drive.
Download SSHFS client
The link brings you to the basic description of the client on the manufacturer's website. To continue, click "Download and Try!" Once on the download page, click on the SFTP Net Drive Free link to download the installer.
Install SSHFS client
Run the installer once it's downloaded.
Then launch the program.
Connect to Cloud Storage
To set up the Cloud Storage as a network drive in SFTP Net Drive, create a new profile.
In the next step, we will add the host name for the Cloud Storage. Copy the SSH host name from the Connection details we opened before on the ElasticHosts control panel.
In the next step, copy the username and password from the same place.
You have all the credentials needed. Press "Connect".
If you connected to the cloud storage successfully, you should see the following panel. Press "Accept", and then you should see the mounted network drive in the File Explorer.
Using the Cloud Storage
The mount Cloud Storage acts as any other storage drive. You have full control over the storage: you can create, delete and modify every file and subfolder. To see, open it with File Explorer.
Let's create an empty text file called
Example.txt in the Documents folder on your hard drive. Now try to copy it to the network drive via the usual drag and drop.
Yup, it works like a charm.
You have your network drive up and ready.
Are you looking for other ways to use Cloud Storage? Check out the list of tutorials!
New to ElasticHosts?
Report a technical issue


text:
The National Service Scheme (NSS) is a programme organised by the Ministry of Education and Youth Services of the Government of India to offer opportunities and training in service to the community and the nation for students with an aptitude. It is intended to involve the college students in a variety of social service and developmental activities concomitantly with the normal academic programme. The motto of the scheme is �Education through Community Service�
Students of the first and second year Degree classes are eligible for admission. A total of 300 students will be enrolled in our college units which will be under the control of three Programme Officers.
A variety of service programmes like slum clearance, adult education, small savings drive, community welfare, rural reconstruction, maintenance of national monuments, socioeconomic survey, etc. are available. certificate will be issued to deserving volunteers at the completion of their two year term. volunteers are expected to participate in all the training programmes and work camps organized from time to time.


text:
IKEA BESTÅ Entertainment cabinet in the Wayfarer - Transcend Tiny Homes
A simple unit can be enough storage for a limited space or the foundation for a larger storage solution if your needs change.
All you need to keep the area around the TV organized. Choose a ready-made combination or create your own. This is just one of many, many possibilities.
Care instructions
Wipe clean using a damp cloth and a mild cleaner.
Wipe dry with a clean cloth.


text:
1. How do I hire a VACC apprentice?
Register your interest with VACC Auto Apprenticeships, and a Field Officer will contact you about potential candidates available.
2. Do I need to release the apprentice from work for TAFE?
An apprentice/trainee will need to attend TAFE or an RTO at regular intervals for the duration of their training contract. Depending on the training arrangement, TAFE training may occur once a week or 1 week block release, 4-9 weeks per year. The rest of the time is spent in the workplace.
3. What costs are involved?
You will only need to pay an hourly charge-out rate according to the hours worked by the apprentice/trainee within your workplace. For a full list of what VACC looks after, see Employers - How it Works
4. How much is the apprentice or trainee paid?
As per Award conditions, for more information please contact VACC. Apprentices are employed under the Vehicle Manufacturing Repair Services & Retail Award 2010. Trainees are employed under National Training Wage Award.
5. How does the VACC recruit its apprentices/trainees?


text:
Radiator covers are used to hide radiators. Many people prefer to coordinate their radiator covers with the rest of the room. You can always buy new radiator covers each time you change your decor or paint the room, but this can get expensive. A more economical solution is to change the colour of your existing radiator cover. With all of the paint colour choices available, your options are numerous. Changing the colour of your radiator cover can change the whole look of a room.
Apply the paint thinner using a rag and allow it to sit for about one to two minutes.
Scrape the softened paint off the radiator cover starting at one corner and working your way across the area. Apply more paint thinner as needed.
Reapply paint thinner with a fresh rag once you have scraped as much paint off as you can. Wipe the paint thinner-soaked rag across the radiator cover area to remove the remaining paint residue.
Apply painter's tape and newspapers/dust sheets to the surrounding surfaces to protect them from overspray. Tape off each section of your radiator cover, except for one. You will be working with this untaped section first.
Apply the paint primer spray to the first section of the radiator cover. Use side to side sweeping motions, releasing the spray trigger at the end of each side motion. Allow the primer to dry completely.
Apply the oil-based spray paint in the same manner as the primer. Allow the paint to dry. Add a light second coat to the radiator cover, then allow the second coat to dry.
Remove the painter's tape and newspapers/dust sheet from a second section of the radiator cover. Carefully add new painter's tape and newspapers to the newly painted section.
Repeat the priming, painting and taping process for the remaining sections.
Remove all the tape and newspapers/dust sheets when you are finished painting and all your paint has dried completely. Replace your radiator cover in its location if necessary.
Most recent
- Spray paint and spray primer are often more desirable to use because you can control the thickness a little better than when painting with a brush.
- Keep your spray can nozzle at least 6 inches away from the radiator cover to avoid paint runs.
- Wear rubber gloves when using the paint thinner.
- Work in an extremely well-ventilated area.


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Rather nomadic, Gadora has edited her belongings (this does not generally include my shoes) with near-scientific precision—before, during and after each move across town and country—slowly reducing the muck. The acquisition of things has never been a motivator. The pursuit of adventure, that's a different story. And sometimes yes a special thing from a special place is in order. Recently, I spied this here "Blankets in a Pig" a friend's Sister had procured while on a Mexican vacation.
How stinkin' cute! Mexico. I've been there. How could I have missed this pig? Recognizing the pitch black ceramics I'd seen in Oaxaca, Mexico many years ago, I came home determined to quickly find me a puerco de Mexico. He's simply precious and makes me giggle. And I want him. Sadly, what I thought would be a quick score has yielded pages and pages of not-so-successful surfing. But Gadora has learned Pomaireware, and what Mister Pig is fashioned from, is both functional and decorative earthenware typically produced in CHILE since the middle of the 19th century.
Laarsen Associates, a wholesaler out of Colorado and member of the Fair Trade Federation, will sell you some pigs. In bulk.
Though not as deep as the original "Blankets in a Pig," the Pomaireware salsa option at Delight.com comes with recipes!!!
Not quite, but close, this piggy bank by Etsy seller MaryMee studio is of black metallic and handmade in Nebraska. One could remove his cork snout and insert the sarape drink coasters (but turns out they're hard to come by, too…).
Days later Gadora is no closer to that pig, or his blankets, than when I started searching, but it's been a swell time looking. I STILL HOPE for my pig in a poke, so when you find one, do tell Gadora!
• • •
Other clay works:
Ken Edwards ~ still an absolute favorite.
La Fuente Imports ~ the finest in home décor from Mexico: folk art, Talavera pottery, Palomar dishware, etc…
SooRightCollectibles ~ a collection of black clay pottery pieces from Oaxaca… "the only place in the world where this type of clay is found…"
Talavera Emporium ~ San Antonio-based importers of import products exclusively from Mexico for Talavera (colorful make-you happy pottery) and from Spain for Majolica.


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The Many Faces of Grief
December 7, 2017 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This is the last district meeting for 2017. Come out and support Richard Hincher in closing out the year with a good attendance. Last chance for continuing education this year. Dinner from 6 to 7 pm
NCFDA Members – $ 40
NON NCFDA members – $ 50
Dinner is included.
This program is approved for 2 hours continuing education by the North Carolina Board of Funeral Service.
Location: Arbor United Methodist Church 1984 Arbor Grove Church Rd Purlear NC 28665 USA
Category: Continuing EducationTags: District 10


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"Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it, and spend it rather than invest it." – Jim Rohn
Maybe it's because I have survived cancer and feel the clock ticking with uncertainty. Maybe it's because I am impatient. Maybe it's because I am wicked competitive. Maybe it's a habit from all these years of coaching. I don't really know. What I do know is that I am obsessed with getting myself and others better. Sometimes in profound ways. Sometimes a fraction at a time. I have an overwhelming sense of urgency about this. It has become, more than anything, what I do. It has become me.
As such, I feel like my time is precious. I feel like every spare minute presents an opportunity to get myself and others better. It's as if I were in a race with an undetermined finish line. At some unknown moment the horn will blow and that will be it. The victory decided by how far I have traveled and helped others travel in the time that's been allotted. How far we go is determined by how efficiently we use our time and how much meaning we inject into each moment.
I know this annoys the hell out of people. I don't claim to know if I'm right. Maybe they are right and I should be more frivolous. Maybe they are wrong and just resent me because they see me and realize the time they waste. I don't know who is right. But in the end I will have made as much of a difference as I could. When the final buzzer sounds I will have traveled some distance and though I will no longer be able to get better my echoes, however loud or feint, will endure.
I have invented little. I have invested much. My trophies are people. My dividends are lives lived a little more deeply. Is that so bad?


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While choosing a quality pet food is an important first step, it is only half of the nutrition equation. Without consistent portion control, much of the value of that premium food is actually wasted and your pet receives little benefit from the additional expense. The Perfect Petfeeder was conceived and developed for just this reason. Whether you're home or away, it reliably delivers the right amounts, right on time. It offers caring pet owners the ideal, proactive solution to providing a proven healthier portion controlled diet customized for your pet's individual requirements.
For some, it's immediately apparent that free-feeding their furry family member is out of the question due to weight gain, gorging, or regurgitation issues. But many pets don't exhibit these obvious problems, at first, and seem to "self regulate" their intake. While it's certainly convenient to simply maintain a bowl full of food, it's these same animals that most often develop illness or physical problems in later stages of life. A sudden change in appetite is often among the first signs of many such problems, and because their daily intake is unmonitored, the warning goes unnoticed. With our quality automatic pet feeder solution, you can easily monitor your pet's diet and can easily see if their habits change.
Just as we now realize the value of quality pet food, we have also come to understand that our pet's needs evolve (just like our own) and require our responsible attention through the years. As our pets age, food volume and meal frequency need to be adjusted as behavior and dietary needs naturally change.
This is where the Perfect Petfeeder excels. Not only does the patented dispensing mechanism give you finite control of when and how much your pet consumes, but it also affords the flexibility to make dietary adjustments in a convenient, stress-free manner. Make the Perfect Petfeeder a part of your healthy lifestyle today with reliable, round-the-clock portion feeding. You'll guarantee a lifetime of healthy happy returns.
©2007 perfectpetfeeder.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


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The hooter went without warning. This is it, head down, let battle commence.
Rewind a few days and there I was in Auckland, preparing for my second appearance at an ITU age group triathlon world championships. The weather wasn't playing ball. Or maybe it was just playing with us triathletes. The wind was seriously strong, the heavens were opening on a regular basis and it was cold. Pretty much all the conditions you don't want for a triathlon.


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Signs that Indicate Your Mortgage Readiness
The mortgage loan is one of the most powerful debt instruments in the world. It grants borrowers the chance to obtain a home, even though the repayment conditions are strict. Mortgages are also volatile because their rates are constantly changing. Yet, even though a mortgage can set you back financially, the feeling of having your own home is worth the catch.
Before applying for a mortgage loan, you have to determine if you are ready. Listed below are the top four signs that indicate mortgage readiness.
Financial Discipline
Financial discipline is an important aspect lacked by many borrowers. With such discipline, you'd think twice before buying things that you don't need. Also, financial discipline is all about long-term planning. Under a mortgage agreement, you cannot afford mishaps. The loan can take years before it's actually finished. Whenever you fall short on payments, the bank will foreclose and repossess your home. This can be stressful for you and your family. To gauge if you're financially disciplined, observe your spending habits. What are the things that you keep on buying? Are they assets or liabilities? Are you pleasure-oriented or progress-oriented? These questions can properly guide you towards financial discipline.
Above Average Monthly Income
To become qualified for mortgage, you need to have above average monthly income. Check your finances. If you barely scrape by, then you're not yet ready for mortgage loans. As a rule of thumb, you need to have at least two sources of income. This will help you sustain all of your monthly needs, along with mortgage fees. You don't need a six-figure income. You just need an income rate that will give you lots of financial leverage while paying for your mortgage. This way, you won't be trapped.
Genuine Interest in Real Estate
Mortgage loans are totally affected by the changes in the real estate arena. Whenever new housing prices are introduced, mortgage rates will shift. If you're not interested in real estate, you're gonna have a difficult time. True – you can always hire the services of a mortgage advisor or a real estate analyst. But it's beneficial to make your own observations. There are thousands of information materials that can help you understand real estate. This can be done in just few hours. You only need the basic concepts since you're not aiming for certification.
Adept financial strategists know that financial plans are not perfect. There are several situations that can challenge your plan. What if an event breaks your plan and leaves you scrambling for pieces? You need to develop the key trait of adaptability. If you cannot adapt, the financial jungle will tear you apart. Mortgages are the beasts of such jungle. It has the potential to push you to your limits. So, learn how to adapt! Learn how to be proactive whenever situations appear in front of you.
Do you have these four signs that indicate mortgage readiness? If not, then you shouldn't lose hope. Step back for a while, then draft a plan. Create a bird's eye view of your life and determine your key challenges. Consult your family so you can have second opinions. Once you think you're ready for the mortgage stretch, start your application today!


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Thank you for choosing Lulu's Crafty Corner and helping Boy Scouts of America raise funds at the same time! With your purchase of this gift card, 10% will automatically be donated to BSA with the funds helping troops in the South Utah County area. Use this gift card towards painting ceramic crafts, parties, birthday parties, girls nights, beenie boos and more at Lulu's Crafty Corner in Payson.
$15 In-Store Gift Card *BSA Fundraiser
To redeem, print or show digital image of your emailed certificate along with your order confirmation number. An official Lulu's Crafty Corner gift certificate can be issued at this time. Gift certificate can be used in part or as a whole towards your IN-STORE purchase at Lulu's Crafty Corner.


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- WNA for Residential Customers
Weather Normalization Adjustment for Residential Customers
WNA: 2019 – 2020 Season Starts with November 2019 Bills
Our 2019 – 2020 weather normalization adjustment program (WNA) resumes in November for residential customers. The WNA adjusts a portion of the bill to reflect normal winter weather conditions, adding a bill credit in colder-than-normal weather or adding a surcharge in warmer-than-normal weather. No adjustment occurs in normal weather.
Normal weather conditions measured in heating degree days (HDD) are based on a rolling 30-year period. For the 2019 – 2020 heating season normal weather will be based on the heating degree days recorded by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the period October 1989 through May 2019.
The WNA applies to six bills during the winter heating season typically November through April. Each bill period during that time will have a different WNA factor based on the weather experienced during that bill period.
WNA provides customers relief during extremely cold winter weather and the company revenue stability to help plan and schedule system maintenance and improvements that contribute to operational quality and pipeline safety.How Will the WNA Change Your Bill?
For example, when the weather is five percent colder or warmer than normal, a typical residential customer will receive a credit or surcharge of approximately $14.50 spread over six bills.
Call our Customer Care Center at 866.229.3578 or send an email to email@example.com.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA)?
A WNA is a factor that helps level out high gas bills due to colder-than-normal weather and low gas bills due to warmer-than-normal weather.
How does the WNA work?
For the 2019 – 2020 winter heating season normal degree-days will be based on the period from October 1989 through May 2019. No WNA adjustment occurs if these normal weather conditions occur. Weather conditions colder than normal will result in a credit. Weather conditions warmer than normal will result in a surcharge. The WNA factor, based on customer usage and weather conditions during each billing period, will be used to calculate the amount of the credit or surcharge.
Why have a WNA? What are the benefits for customers?
WNA benefits customers in the following ways:
- Customers will receive a credit on their bills during colder-than-normal weather when bills are typically at their highest.
- WNA provides Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) revenue stability, enabling the company to better plan and schedule system maintenance and improvements contributing to operational quality and pipeline safety.
Is WNA used in other states?
Yes, many states have approved a weather normalization adjustment for natural gas companies. WNA has a proven track record of working well for both customers and gas companies in many states throughout the country. The use of weather adjustments began in the early 1980s and has grown substantially to include many gas companies across the country and in Virginia.
Is the WNA a rate increase?
No. The WNA is designed to be revenue neutral because it reduces bills when the weather is colder-than-normal and surcharges bills when the weather is warmer-than-normal. The calculations used to determine these amounts are based on the method and data approved by the VSCC.
Which customers will see a WNA on their bill?
All residential customers will see a WNA on their bills during the heating season.
When will a customer see a WNA on the bill?
WNA is effective for six billing periods during the heating season beginning with billing cycle 10 in November. Billing cycles 10-21 will have a WNA on their bills November through April and billing cycles 1-9 will have a WNA on their bills December through May.
By how much will my bill be affected?
For example, when the weather is five percent colder or warmer than normal a typical residential customer will receive a WNA credit or surcharge of approximately $14.50 spread over six bills.
How is the Weather Normalization Adjustment (WNA) on my bill calculated?
A WNA factor adjusts your delivery charge during the winter months for fluctuations in normal weather. The factor is based on customer's weather sensitive portion of their bill, defined during the 2019 – 2020 heating season as usage greater than 8.9 ccf (hundred cubic feet). CCF of natural gas used and weather conditions (heating degree-days) during each bill period, are used to calculate the amount of your WNA bill credit or surcharge. The actual heating degree-days in the bill period are compared to the normal heating degree-days for the period to determine if the weather is colder or warmer than normal. Normal weather for the 2019 – 2020 heating season is an average of temperatures in our service area over a 30-year period from October 1989 through May 2019. Heating degree-days are calculated by subtracting the average temperature for the day from 65 degrees F. Sixty-five degrees is considered the base temperature at which most homes and buildings would be comfortable. Heating degree-days statistics provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a government agency that tracks weather conditions, are used to calculate the WNA factor.
View the WNA factor and heating degree-days information for your bill period.