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The question of the day seems to involve the difference between the original cathedral-port and modern rectangular-port LS heads. More specifically, which one is better? Were we to compare two sets of production heads, there would be little comparison, as even the very best production (cathedral-port) LS6 heads (243 castings) offer nowhere near the flow and power potential of the current LS3 heads. Based on flow numbers alone, the LS3 head has the LS6 heads covered by 50-60 cfm on the intake side (though the change in chamber volume will drop the static compression ratio). The flow figures alone make the swap over to the LS3 components very desirable, especially considering the fact that the stock LS3 head will support well over 600 horsepower (we recently made 690 hp on a 468 stroker with stock LS3 heads). The downside is that the head swap from LS1/LS6 heads to LS3 heads is more involved than a simple R&R. The new heads require a 4.00-inch bore block, LS3 rockers and intake manifold as well, both increasing the cost and limiting the swap potential to 6.0-6.2L motors (and big-bore stroker variants).
Measured stock to stock, LS3 heads will offer power gains over the cathedral-port heads, but what about the aftermarket stuff? After the introduction of the LS3 heads, many enthusiasts started looking down their noses at the original cathedral-port heads, obviously not remembering how much better they were than the original small-block heads they replaced. Has the advent of the rectangular-port LS3 heads relegated the cathedral-port heads to second-tier status or is this just a case of bad PR? To answer this question, we enlisted the aid of Mast Motorsports. Included in their listing of performance components for the LS engine family was an impressive array of both cathedral and rectangular-port cylinder heads. In fact, they had the ideal set of heads for our comparison. One of our concerns for the head test was addressing the potential change in static compression ratio. Traditionally, cathedral-port heads offer smaller chambers than their rectangular-port cousins. The change in compression ratio can be as much as a full point or more, which can improve power by as much as 3-4 percent (near 25 hp on a 600hp motor).
To cure this issue, we selected a set of cathedral-port heads with 70cc combustion chambers to match the chamber volume typical in rectangular-port heads. Many aftermarket manufacturers are now offering larger chambers on their performance cathedral-port heads, as many find their way onto larger displacement strokers. Equalizing the compression ratio eliminated the variable, so we could concentrate on the power difference associated with the flow numbers, port size, and efficiency. For our test, Mast sent us a set of their cathedral-port, 11-degree, six-bolt, medium-bore CNC heads along with a set of LS3 heads that also featured an 11-degree valve angle and full CNC porting. In the tale of the tape, the cathedral-port heads offered 245cc intake ports, a 2.08/1.60 valve combination and peak flow numbers of 338 cfm on the intake and 237 cfm on the exhaust. The CNC-ported LS3 heads stepped up these numbers with an intake port volume of 256cc, a 2.165/1.60 valve package, and peak flow numbers of 372 cfm on the intake and 261 cfm on the exhaust. On numbers alone (like their production counterparts), the ported Mast LS3 heads seemed to hold a clear advantage over the cathedral-ports.
Another area of concern when it comes to any comparison between the cathedral and rectangular-port heads is cam timing. Optimum cam timing is a function of effective operating range, but another important factor is the relationship between the intake and exhaust flow. Typically, the superior intake flow offered by the LS3 head lowers the intake to exhaust flow relationship. This can be equalized (or optimized) by increasing the exhaust duration on the cam relative to the intake. On our Mast heads, the LS3 head offered both more intake and exhaust flow than the cathedral-port heads, resulting in an intake-to-exhaust flow percentage (372/261 cfm) of 69.89 (meaning the exhaust flowed roughly 70 percent of the intake). By comparison, the Mast cathedral-port head checked in slightly higher at 70.1 percent (338/237 cfm). Typically we'd see more of a difference between the two, but the intake-to-exhaust flow differed by less than 1 percent (actually 3/10 ths of a point). Despite the similarity, we decided to run two different cam profiles with the heads. Before you cry foul, know that we ran both heads with both cams just to see how each would respond.
Running a pair of heads with a pair of cams meant we had to double up on cam swaps, but it was all in the name of science, so we didn't mind putting in the extra work. For cam choices, we went right to the Comp Cams catalog and selected cam profiles designed specifically for the cathedral and rectangular-port heads. On the cathedral-port side, we chose a 289LRHR14 (PN 54-461-11) that offered .624-inch lift, a 239/247 duration split, and a 114-degree lobe separation angle. The 289LRRHR14 rectangular-port cam offered the same .624-inch lift, 239-degree intake duration and 114-degree LSA, but increased the exhaust duration to 255 degrees. LS3 cams typically offer a wider spread between the intake and exhaust than comparable LS1 cams. The idea is to help the (relatively) limited exhaust flow with additional exhaust duration. Not only would we show the difference between the two head configurations, but also the difference with their respective cams. How would the cathedral-port heads work with the rectangular-port cam and vice versa? Questions like these are what keep us up at night and why we do so much testing here at GM High-Tech.
Obviously our high-flow heads required something other than a stock 6.0L or even an LS3 short-block. Knowing the heads will support over 600 hp, we built our test motor accordingly. The 6.0L iron block was bored .030 over then treated to a forged 4.0-inch stroker crank and rods from ProComp Motorosports along with a set of dished pistons from Probe Racing.
Airflow Data
The slugs were combined with a ring set from Total Seal and a precision balance job from the boys at L&R Automotive. The combination has already exceeded 1,000 hp in boosted form, so we knew it was plenty stout and more than sufficient for our head test. The short-block was assembled first with the Comp cathedral-port cam (and new hydraulic roller lifters), FAST LSXr intake and matching 102mm throttle body. FAST also supplied the fuel rail and 75-pound injectors for our test along with an XFI engine management system. Additional components used on the motor included a complete Moroso oiling system, Fel Pro MLS head gaskets, and American Racing 1-7/8-inch headers. Equipped as such, the cathedral-port heads and cam combo pumped out 631 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque, with torque production exceeding 550 lb-ft from 4,200 rpm to 5,800 rpm.
Having dialed in the combination, we proceeded to swap out the cam. After installation of the rectangular-port cam, the peak power numbers improved slightly to 639 hp and 578 lb-ft. The increased exhaust duration offered by the rectangular-port cam (255 degrees versus 247 degrees) improved power production slightly from 5,500 rpm on up, but the improvements in top-end power came with a penalty. The increased exhaust duration had a negative effect on low-speed power, as power was down from 3,000 rpm to 4,700 rpm, the greatest difference of 20 lb-ft coming at 3,100 rpm. This should not come as a huge surprise, as increased duration usually follows this trend. Increased duration is done to increase the effective engine speed. The additional exhaust duration also decreased idle vacuum slightly compared to the cathedral-port cam, so low-speed drivability might also suffer (we never loaded the motor below 3,000 rpm).
Though the dyno test was run in reverse order, we will provide the data for the rectangular-port heads first with the cathedral-port cam. Swapping over to the Mast LS3 heads required a change in intake manifold as well. Once again we relied on a FAST LS3 LSXr intake and 102mm throttle body along with the 75-pound injectors, rails and XFI management. Given the difference in airflow, we were naturally excited about replacing the cathedral-port heads with the rectangular-port heads. Run with the Mast CNC LS3 heads and Comp cathedral-port cam, the 408 stroker produced 634 hp and 577 lb-ft of torque, meaning a difference of just 3 hp and 2 lb-ft measured peak to peak. In reality, the cathedral-port heads were within 1-2 hp at the peak, but offered as much as 20 additional lb-ft below 4,000 rpm. We suspected that the rectangular-port heads were not optimized with the cathedral-port cam, but we were still surprised to see such a small difference in power given the extra airflow offered by the LS3 heads.
The final test run was to combine the rectangular-port cam with the Mast LS3 heads. The combination produced the highest peak power numbers of the day (640 hp and 680 lb-ft), but only by 1 hp and 2 lb-ft over the cathedral-port head and rectangular-port cam combo. The LS3 heads did respond better to the installation of the rectangular-port cam. The cam improved power from 5,300 rpm on up, with only a slight loss in power below 3,300 rpm. Obviously there is something to increasing efficiency of the exhaust port with increased duration. Though we were happy with the results of the cam test, we were still surprised that the LS3 heads offered little or no power over their cathedral-port counterparts. Given the disparity in airflow, we expected to see 10-15 hp, but the results of this head-to-head shootout just go to show that airflow isn't everything. It also showed that you can't go wrong with either set of Mast heads on your performance LS combination.
Coefficient of DischargeThough this may be a tad on the technical side, it might well help explain why the cathedral-port heads did so well against the rectangular-port heads despite the difference in flow. The coefficient of discharge is essentially a measurement of the efficiency of the port (actually the curtain area of the valve). The curtain area of the valve is easy to visualize. Imagine dropping a circular shower curtain down from the outside diameter of the intake valve. The length of the shower curtain would be determined by the maximum valve lift, but (more importantly), the curtain area can be calculated at every valve lift where airflow is measured (usually .100-.700-inch lift). Much like average airflow through the head port, we can take the average coefficient of discharge by combining the averages for all the lift values and then dividing by the number of lift points. The formula for coefficient of discharge is as follows: C/D=airflow/curtain area. Curtain area=valve diameter x Pi x Lift. Applying the formula to our heads, we see that though the LS3 heads offer a better coefficient of discharge at the maximum lift of .700, the cathedral-port head offered not only a superior coefficient of discharge from .100-.400 lift, but a better average coefficient of lift from .100-.600 lift. Could it be that the efficiency of the port overcame the absolute flow of LS3 heads?


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Even though it seems like an anomaly, there is a scientific reason for this phenomenon happening in every day life. It is true that an iron needle sinks in the water while a ship, which is much heavier than an iron needle, floats in the water. To understand the reasons behind this unusual phenomenon, we need to first understand the flotation principle of Archimedes.
What is the principle of Archimedes?
The principle of Archimedes states that on immersion of an object in a liquid, the upward buoyant force experienced by it the same as the amount of displaced fluid, by weight. The salient features of this principle are à
a) Every object fully or partially immersed in the water experiences an upward thrust
b) The volume of the fluid displaced equals the volume of the sunken object
c) The displaced fluid weight is called the buoyancy of the displacing object
d) This principle holds true for all solids and liquids.
Explaining the sinking of an iron needle:
Taking the above given principle into account, it can be said that when an iron needle is immersed in water, ità
a) Displaces some amount of water
b) This displaced water is equal to the weight of the iron needle.
Now since the weight of the iron needle is very less, the water it displaces is also very less. There are also two types of forces working in the opposite direction of the needle here. They are a Buoyant force or upward thrust which tries to force the iron needle to float and
a) Gravitational force or the pull of the earth's gravity on the needle
In the case of an iron needle because the water displaced is very less, consequently the buoyant force acting in the upward direction is also very less and is unable to overcome the force of gravity or gravitational force acting in the downward direction. This causes the iron needle to sink in the water.
Explaining why an iron ship floats in the water
It is a known fact that objects weigh more on land than in water. To understand the reason behind it we need to know two things a
a) Definition of weight which is nothing but the measure of the pull of gravity on an object
b) Forces acting in opposite directions tend to decrease the intensity of the net force acting on the object.
Thus we can say that in the water, the force of gravity is countered by the buoyant force thereby reducing its impact on the object concerned, thereby making it weigh less in water than on land.
This principle is also applicable on an iron ship thereby making it weigh relatively less in water than on land. But the water displaced, even then, is substantial in amount making it experience a buoyant force of a very high magnitude. This buoyant force or upward thrust is able to overcome the pull of gravity on the ship to a great extent, thus causing it to float in water.
That is why we say that whereas an iron needle sinks in water, an iron ship much heavier than the iron needle floats in it.

subset: commoncrawl


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Please help me understand how OS X Mavericks renders colors (or else how the Digital Color Meter app reports them).
Following Bjango's advice on Photoshop color configuration for OS X, I found my way to this this tutorial on OS X color management, which included this PNG image which offers a grid of supposedly pure colors (I'm hoping stack exchange doesn't modify the image, which is available at the tutorial page):
The tutorial page says you can check the rendering configurations of an app by viewing the PNG and trying to "Set your color meter to 'Use native values' and move the mouse cursor over each color swatch".
When I open this PNG in the built-in Preview.app, and sample the colors with Digital Color Meter with "Use native values", I don't get the correct hex values! For instance, the blue box in the top row shows up as 0x3F, 0x00, 0xFF. I also see wrong values in Safari!
Are Preview and Safari simply broken out of the box? I find that very hard to believe. Can anyone explain what on earth is going on? (I'm not looking for advice to use another app instead. I want to understand why I'm seeing what I'm seeing.)


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With its classic, even-handled shape, matt black coating and 32 thinning teeth, the Kobe 65 is a superb barbering thinner in every inch of its 6 inches.
The 32 teeth offer excellent all-round thinning performance with a smooth cutting action, while the straight, even handles have a familiar, traditional feel.
There's contrasting gold detailing on the 65's tension screw and removable finger rest for an extra touch of style and there are removable black finger-ring inserts too.
Supplied with a leather scissor sheath.
Look after your scissors with Kobe's scissor care kit including a scissor cloth, high quality scissor oil and 3 different sizes of finger-ring inserts.
Innovative barber comb (195 mm) featuring an integrated ledge that provides a guide for your scissors or clippers for incredibly precise cutting.
Comes in Black, White or Pink.
Smart, dark grey scissor case made from sturdy leatherette with a secure zip to keep everything safe.
Inside there are loops to hold 2 scissors on one side and 2 slots on the other for your favourite combs.
The outside of the case is embossed with Kobe's disctinctive logo.
Revitalise your tools with our professional services
Copyright © 2005-2019 CoolBlades.


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Almost everybody knows who Maria Ozawa is. In case you don't know who she is, Ozawa is a world-renowned adult actress born in Hokkaido, Japan on (born January 8, 1986) Her mother is Japanese and her father is French-Canadian. Ozawa graduated from Christian Academy in Japan, and has asserted that she has a higher ability to read and write English than Japanese. Ozawa played hockey on a daily basis, and often sang karaoke after classes. She claims that she became sexually active at the age of 13 and learned the "48 sexual positions" from a book she purchased.
In 2002, when she was 16 years old, Ozawa debuted in a 30-second Japanese TV commercial for DARS Chocolate alongside the Japanese pop duo KinKi Kids. Ozawa is featured sharing chocolate with one of the two singers while secretly holding hands with the other.
What will you do when you know an AV model crash into your car?
Maria was in Philippines for an event when she crashed into a Filipino's car. After crashing into the car, the owner dashed out from the car filled with anger and wanted to start an argument until she saw a very gorgeous looking lady sitting in the car. Surprisingly, she was Maria Ozawa, his all time favourite AV Model.
He then quickly took out his cell phone and ask her for a few 'selfie'. His anger is then toned down and he displayed the 'fanboy' side of him while Maria keeps apologising to him for her mistakes but all the man did was smile widely as he never expect he could meet Maria in such a way.
This video was captured by passer-by and uploaded on YouTube and between hours, it hit more than 100 thousand views


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HE R/W/B PROJECT: Art inspired by the American flagAs part of the Budweiser Made in America festival and in collaboration with the Art Directors Club Young Guns project, the R/W/B Project is an opportunity to create a unique art piece inspired by the American flag using each artist's preferred artistic medium.
Submit art by August 15th, 2012. Submissions will be reviewed by Shawn "JAY Z" Carter's Life+Times site and Translation. Six finalists will have their artwork exhibited at the Budweiser Made in America festival in Philadelphia on festival grounds to a crowd of over 100,000 patrons.
One winning artwork will be personally chosen and signed by JAY Z and Translation CEO Steve Stoute and the winner will receive a trip for two to Budweiser Made in America festival.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of U.S. (except CA), 21+ Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Contest submission deadline 11:59 PM ET 8/15/12. See Official Rules.
SPONSOR: Live Nation Worldwide, Inc.


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I Hate My Friends
I have tried to put on a brave face. I have tried to be nice and positive and maintain my composure but this past weekend pushed me over the limit. I hate my friends. Okay, I know they are super nice and they are always there for me and tomorrow I will probably love them again. But today I hate them. I hate them because this weekend, I was reminded how much I love running. I was reminded how much I loved completing Ironman. And I was reminded that those things are right out for me from now on.
I hate my friends.
Yes, I know, I few weeks back I wrote a whole post on how it is okay. In Saving My Bucket List I wrote about how I will move on by volunteering for races. But today, today I HATE MY FRIENDS.
Today I am focused on Dana, Caitlin, John "Be The Hammer" Young, Grandma Noreen and Ali Rochelle who all kicked ass at Ironman Maryland even in the pouring rain, on a flooded course with winds that nearly blew them over. I am focused on how they persevered even in the toughest of conditions and how I didn't because I can't.
Today I am focused on Lara and Jen who had a blast running together at the Wineglass Marathon in NY. I am seething a bit about my friends Sandy and Karen B. who finished one of my favorite races, the Metric Marathon on a near perfect fall day. I am hating my friends Karen and Rose Mary who ran the Yeungling Octoberfest 5k in cute little costumes, looking like hot mamas having so much fun that I couldn't ignore their posts.
I am pouting and cranky and angry and grumpy. I am beside myself with self pity and I am just going to wallow in it. So there.
But I am proud.
But as mad as I am, I am so very proud of each and every one of these friends. I am so very proud of them for pushing through the crappy weather for the Ironman. I am proud of them for keeping their heads up even as the race made changes every few hours. I am proud of my friends for signing up, for training and for being there, together and on their own. I am proud that I have built a community of friends that accomplish so much and inspire so many.
I can't deny that I am jealous. That I am a little heartbroken. That I do hate my friends a little. I love them but today I hate them too.


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King: "Do you know who I am?"
Ledley King. If you had his knees you'd be drowning your sorrows every night. He has an unwanted habit of attracting this type of attention far too often, but I'm loving how the bouncer can't wait to get himself on tv to be interviewed about it.
We all know Ledley likes a drink. He's been photographed four times since the Carling Cup final, falling out of nightclubs smashed out of his head, trousers down at his ankles. It's a mess to look at. Whether it has something to do with the fact that he knows he probably doesn't have that much time left in the game thanks to his dodgy knees is a distinct possibility and it makes for sad reading. More so because Ledley comes across as a shy quiet type of bloke, but I guess that's rather irrelevant when you mix it up with alcohol.
Then again, he might just like a drink. Though a few years back, you never read about him getting into trouble outside night clubs.
It's obviously not good news that he's been arrested for ABH and any lesser player for the club would probably have the book thrown at him. In fact a lesser player, committing this type of offence on the back of other night club incidents would probably be in serious trouble.
As for the incident itself, even though King really has to sort himself out I'm inclined to believe it's all been blown out of proportion just a little bit. ABH could simply constitute some pushing around. It's not like blood was drawn. Not that I'm defending the act. But the doorman/bouncer doesn't come across as a victim to me, sitting there with half a grin on his face being interviewed by Sky News. If King did make those racist remarks then it's inexcusable. Was that not caught on someones mobile phone? And how does a bouncer allow a drunk to 'beat him up'?
Apparently he has a sore head.
Expect him to turn up in the tabloids being interviewed and paid plenty. Apparently he didn't recognise King and had to be told who he was. I'm sure at that point he knew he had scored a blinder. I mean, for someone who has been 'attacked' he sure got himself in front of a tv camera quick enough.
As for King, if he did come out with the textbook classic 'Do you know who I am?' comment, then again shame on him.
Footballers, across the country, get smashed out of their heads every weekend. Much like most people who go out on the town. Doesn't take much to get into a scuffle. Especially with a doorman. The trick is to retain some type of dignity and walk away or just not get yourself into that type of situation in the first place. But he is obviously in no fit state to know when to walk away when refused admission.
It's ridiculous to have to chaperone him, but he obviously needs someone there who can control their drinking to make sure he doesn't get himself kicked out of clubs or refused entry. He obviously doesn't do half measures.
If Ledley wants to continue playing surely boozing it after a game is the last thing he should be doing. Stick your feet up and rest man. The club need to take some type of responsibility here. King also needs to accept there's a problem.
Someone should have a word with him a while back, but somehow it's looking more and more like Ledley is drowning his sorrows and the club are allowing him to do so because before you know it, he'll have hang up his boots. He still has football in his life. He should be doing his best to keep it that way.
I know who you are Ledders. A top top player. With a horrid taste in nightclubs.


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Summer is winding down and for the most part we have kept busy with non-house related activities. One of those activities was hanging a hammock in our back yard. It has been quite peaceful to sit out there and read. So peaceful and quiet, that the wildlife which surrounds the house can be totally unaware that someone is suspended in a hammock 5 feet away. Take this groundhog for instance.
He wandered UNDER the hammock and around the yard one night in June. Amazed, I snapped this picture and quietly called Mary on my cell phone and told her about the groundhog in the back yard. Which turned out to be a bad idea: y'see, Mary came to check it out. And where Mary goes, so goes Bogart, our dog. Mary grabbed the screen door handle to prevent Bogart from going into the yard... but he's 70+ lbs, and the screen door is pretty flexible. So BANG! Bogart is out the back door and chasing the groundhog as it desperately runs to the back gate.
So, how thin do you think groundhogs can compress their bodies to get under a fence gate? You'd be amazed. There might be 3 inches of clearance under our gate, and after I grab Bogart so the groundhog doesn't hurt him (Bogart's big, but not tough!), the groundhog flattens himself and squeezes under the fence. I couldn't believe it.
Anyway, just thought I'd keep everyone informed about the wild animal adventures at our new home.


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Mission Hills Golf Resort and Spa, located on the north east coast, is the newest course on Phuket Island. The Jack Nicklaus design has added some distinguishing features, such as the two greens that offer alternative finishes on Hole 18.
The course is 10 minutes drive from the Phuket International airport and 30 minutes from Phuket City. It offers a range of facilities including health spa, excellent restaurant and hotel accommodation.
Click here to view property in the Phuket Mission Hills Golf Resort area


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J2SE up to version 1.5 doesn't allow you to easily create translucent menus as in the screenshot below.
At first you might think that calling
menu.getPopupMenu().setOpaque(false) would be enough. Wrong. When you click onto a menu, the popup does not appear directly on screen. It is first put in a container. This container is a JPanel for lightweight popup menus for instance. Therefore, you need to get the parent of the menu's popup and set its opaque property to false. Wow, we end up with:
JMenu menu = new JMenu("File"); JMenuItem item = new JMenuItem("Open"); item.setOpaque(false); JPopupMenu popup = menu.getPopupMenu(); popup.setOpaque(false); // the following line must be executed only when // the poup menu is shown popup.getParent().setOpaque(false);
To be truly honest this is not a big deal for most applications. Unfortunately this is a show stopper for Synth. Check out this excerpt of a Synth theme file:
<style id="popupMenuStyle"> <opaque value="false"/> <insets top="2" bottom="4" right="4" left="2"/> <state> <imagePainter method="popupMenuBackground" path="images/popupMenu.png" sourceInsets="5 5 3 3"/> </state> </style> <bind style="popupMenuStyle" type="REGION" key="PopupMenu"/>
The picture used in this image painter is supposed to drop a shadow below the popup menu. Unfortunately, and even if opaque is set to false, this cannot work. The opaque property is effectively set to the popup menu but not to its parent.
Rejoice, this is fixed in Mustang. Well, at least for lightweight popup menus :)
P.S: You can download the source code of the example shown in the screenshot.


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Somerset given more time to fundraise for Frome Hoard
- 23 February 2011
The deadline to raise funds to save the Frome Hoard for the Museum of Somerset has been extended until the end of March to give more time for the funds to be raised. Almost £100,000 of the £320,250 needed is already in the pot.
The news of the extension comes as we announce the success of our match-funding initiative. £10,000 has been raised by members of the public which we have doubled to create a total of £20,000, in addition to our £40,250 grant which kick-started the campaign.
The Museum of Somerset now has until the end of March to raise the full amount needed to ensure that the coins are kept in Somerset.
Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund said: "The Frome Hoard has really captured the imaginations of the public and thanks to their generosity we are able to double their donations to £20,000 through our match-funding appeal. This is a great boost to the Frome Hoard campaign and I hope that people will continue to give to keep this extraordinary treasure on display in Somerset."
Stephen Minnitt, Head of the Museum of Somerset said: "I am delighted at progress being made with the fund raising. We are still awaiting the outcomes of a number of applications to grant giving bodies and, whilst nothing is guaranteed, I very much hope that we will reach the target by the end of March."
To donate visit www.artfund.org/frome, call 0844 415 4141 or post a cheque made payable to the Art Fund to: The Art Fund, Freepost SN1457, Halifax Road, MELKSHAM, SN12 7BR.


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Countdown to spring in Des Moines 2015
We're just one week away from the official start to spring (it's March 20). But we have a few other ways to measure the official start to spring here in Des Moines. Here are seven:
Snookies 2014 opening day is April 4. Feel free to camp out the night before. You won't be the only one.
The Iowa Cubs open their 2015 home season Friday, April 17. The Cubs take on Oklahoma City at 7:08 p.m. at Principal Park in Des Moines.
The Des Moines Downtown Farmers Market opens May 2. The summer farmers market in the Court Avenue district downtown runs 7 am to noon on Saturdays.
Woodland Hills Golf Course opened today. All of Des Moines' public golf courses appear to be open for the season as well.
The Drake Relays begin April 22. Get involved by running the Grand Blue Mile on April 21.
Spring means … football! The Iowa Hawkeyes play their 2015 spring game April 21 at 1 p.m. at Kinnick Stadium. The Iowa State Cyclones play their spring game April 11 in Ames. Attendance to the game is free.
And the best sign of spring … your furnace is off. Well, hopefully soon. Now is the perfect time to schedule your air conditioning tune-up (or to sign up for our maintenance plan) to make sure everything is working great when that first shot of hot summer weather arrives.


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Okay. I have to apologize for all these posts that have nothing to do with observing. I know now that last Saturday I missed a wonderful opportunity to go out to Great Basin National Park where Ranger Kelly Carroll and his fellow rangers does an OUTSTANDING job of hosting those who want to observe (if you go there, call him ahead of time and he'll set you up, and probably observe with you; email me if you can't find his info and I'll share it with you). So this is the situation tonight with a thin crescent in the sky (behind the clouds and no, that is not ash from the Machine Gun Fire in Herriman, its snow): Snow falling (that is my front yard and why when I observe at home now I don't go to the front; back is much better if a LP zone can be better).
Just a little more than an inch. Weather is suppose to be great Thursday so I am intending of getting out Thursday night at a local dark spot.
Now another confession. I got new glasses just over a year ago and man, I hate getting older. Just seems more and more on the body starts getting ticked off at me. Guess its the hard years I've put on it. Anyway, just over a year ago I got new glasses and didn't need the bifocals on them quite yet. When I observe I sometimes wear my glasses (more and more) and sometimes I let them fall to my chest since I use a neck strap cord lanyard like this one. Works great but if I leave the glasses on and I go to look at a star map I find I am having trouble seeing my star chart. You may say go get bifocals. Nope, I'm too cheap. Next year when I get new glasses again I will. Until then I have a new toy I found for under $8.00 that will work! It is an illuminated magnifying glass. Here are the images. Note, the light is still too bright for me and I'll work it down until it works for a dark site. I promise, as soon as I can observe I will and I will report it, even it is double or lunar observing.
There it is. The light is a very bright white light that has to be dimmed down. Good old red fingernail polish for me to do this. If you do this, keep some with you in the field so if the paint chips off, you can do a quick fix.
This is the back of the unit with the switch that pushes up to turn it on. So I can use it without the light.
Here it is with the light on. Yes it is bright as I mentioned above. I will deaden it some more with more red finger nail polish up and perhaps some extra rubylith.
I next went into a very dark bedroom with no other lights, turned the flash off on the camera and used this light on the Orion Belt page of the Sky Pocket Atlas. You can see that the magnification here really helps as does the light. I will be wearing an eye patch on my left eye (my observing eye because my left is dominant) so I don't lose too much dark adaptation. The next image blurred a little but it is of Ursa Major from the Sky Pocket Atlas so you can see the light and magnification. I can't wait to take it into the field and use it! Hope this mod helps someone else like me.


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How is Dry Eye Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease occurs after a comprehensive workup that includes a detailed case history and lifestyle assessment and a series of specialized tests not normally performed during a routine eye examination. Read more below to discover all the key components that need to be assessed before a diagnosis of Dry Eye can be determined.
Dry Eye Questionnaire
There are several evidence-based questionnaires that are used during a dry eye examination. At MyDryEye.ca we have chosen to use the SPEED questionnaire, which is easy to fill out and quickly determines if you might suffer from Dry Eye Disease. CLICK HERE if you want to take the SPEED quiz.
Medical & Life Style Factors
Lifestyle factors such as digital device use, cosmetics worn around the eyes, smoking, diet and overall humidity levels where you work and live can have a big impact on how dry your eyes are. Any medical conditions you may have, particularity auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, thyroid disease and many others, can cause or exacberate dry eye disease. Many common medications such as anti-depressants and anti-hypertensive agents can also dry out the ocular surface.
Tear Concentration & Inflammation
In layman's terms, we measure how 'salty' your tears are and if there are any inflammatory markers present. The higher the salt concentration of your tear layer, the more indicative it is that you have dry eye disease. A high concentration of salt and other particles can indicate that you don't have enough water in your tears and/or you suffer from inflammation on the surface of the eye.
Eye Lids & Oil Glands
The eyelids are closely examined during the dry eye workup. Ideally, the lashes are normally positioned and free of debris and buildup. The oil glands of the eyelids (meibomian glands) are imaged and expressed to see what type of oil production there is. Almost every case of dry eye has some form of meibomian gland dysfunction.
Meibomian Gland (Oil Gland) Imaging
Because the meibomian glands play such a crucial role in dry eye disease, it helps to get an image of the glands so that we can visualize them in their natural state. Lipiview © is a state of the art instrument that images the meibomian glands and shows us how many of them are still functioning.


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Hi folks Kathleen here with my thoughts and what I did to my new Curl Up by Gabor so I would like it. Have you ever received a wig and thought ugh this is not what I expected but perhaps you see the potential? I'm going to talked about that and what I did in this case. Perhaps it'll help you with that wig you just never seem to wear.
Image 2 illustrates Curl Up right out of the box and after I thinned the bangs conditioned her re-twirled the curls trimmed the extra lace off the lace front and all around gave her a make over. I thought I would enjoy another mid length wavy/curly wig. I was curious how she compared to Finn by Estetica and Mia by TressAllure. Unlike Finn and Mia however she was not wearable right out of the box as you can plainly see. I loved the color though and the root was beautiful and the length was very flattering. But boy the wave pattern was all over the place. The fibers were very dry and already in a tangled mess. I couldn't even run my fingers through her without tangles. I almost returned her but thought she would be a good experiment for me or challenge..lol. How could I use what I've learned through trial and error to transform this ugly duckling into a swan. Was it even possible? I had my doubts. 😜
Some things I did before I decided to do this blog. The bang area on Curl Up was very dense and in my opinion quite wiggy. I did thin and texturize the bangs. I didn't trim the length of the bangs though. I also used a lot of Jon Renau's HD Detangler on her and used a wide tooth comb to gently comb her out and re twirl the entire wig and then sprayed water on her and scrunched up her curls.
Now I've have a few Gabor wigs and all of the lace fronts were beautiful. This one was awful. The knots looked very pluggy. They were large and loosely knotted. I thought I might just thin and trim the length on the bangs and not worry about the lace front. Instead I decided to trim the extra lace off and a few of the knots at the same time that were especially pluggy looking. I could always trim the bangs at a later date.
I have a variety of scissors I use to trim my lace fronts. From small to large. It depends on how much lace I want to trim off. In this case I used a larger scissors. As I cut the extra lace off you can see I also trimmed some of the knots right off. 😉
I have an observation about lace fronts. A contoured lace front looks more realistic because it looks more like our own hairline. I will say most lace is contoured but what I find in many instances the knotting isn't. In other words the knotting goes straight across and doesn't follow the lines of the lace. So I just trim as close to the knots as I can (obviously in this case I trimmed even closer to remove some knots I didn't like) and not worry about following the contour of the lace too much.
After I trimmed the lace I sprayed some more Jon Renau HD Smooth Detangler and gently combed through. It looks rough but I'm just combing the very outer layer of hair.
I continue to comb through gently to get tangles out and to help remove hair that I had thinned and any hair from the bang area.
I comb through with my fingers and remove the rest of the loose hair from thinning her and where I trimmed a few of the knots off the lace front.
So this still isn't my favorite lace front but much nicer trimmed. I still might cut the bangs shorter to hide the lace a little but I really like the side sweeping bang.
In the above video I spray and scrunched with Jon Renau's HD Smooth Detangler. I also want to pont out that this is a wonderful casual no makeup wig. Sure you can get all glammed up and look equally pretty but I love a wig that looks good dressed up or down.
I continue to use my HD Detangler and scrunch technique. If you are wondering why I'm not using water I could and do all the time. I have a spray bottle I keep filled with water and use to revitalize curl/texture on a wig without have to wet the whole wig. In the case of Curl Up her hair fibers are so dry she could use as much conditioners etc as I can give her.
Image 12 is one of the reasons I kept curl Up. The color is a very pretty
Blonde and the root color is beautiful. Soft pleasant warm but not garish.
Finn and Curl up have similar textures but Curl Up is quite a bit shorter in the front. Both of my wigs Finn and Mia touch my shoulders and Curl Up doesn't.
Curl Up looks a lot better now..very fluffy with a lot of its visual bulk around the middle and back. I like her but still wish the lace front was better and will probably trim in some very textured bangs. Light bangs will obscure the lace front enough to see it's there but not it's detail. 😉
This is one reason why I kept her…this wave/curl pattern is gorgeous.
I love when the back is a little longer than the front and comes to a soft V. Very flattering cut.
The take away here is sometimes you get a wig and you aren't in love with it but you see its potential. Be it a clearance wig you can't return or perhaps you've "played" with a new wig too much to return it…I''m soooo guilty of that.😂 Don't give up. There are so many little things you can do to your wig that added up take it from so so to wow! 😉 Enjoy and be fearless…🙋
Product listing:
You can see all of Kathleen's posts here as well seeing her talent as an amazing artist at KathleenRyanArt.com.


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Czeslaw Cimachowski
From simple mechanical parts to complex machinery designs and manufacturing, Czeslaw has consistently demonstrated his versatility as an engineer and designer. Czeslaw has a diverse background with a strong passion for rehabilitation, human anatomy, and mobility. Czeslaw his dedicated to improving mobility by building specialized wheelchairs and complex seating systems that assure comfort and safety for individuals. These seating systems enable individuals to live full, independent lives.
For over 30 years our staff have been helping clients reduce the risk of pressure wounds resulting from their mobility devices.
Contact us today at 705-716-8485 for a FREE consultation.


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Can Pea Protein Outmuscle Whey?/
Whey protein has been considered "king of the jungle" when it comes to protein supplement and building lean muscle, however new research some vegetarian proteins might be making up ground. If you're an athlete and training intensely or an avid exerciser trying to lose weight and improve your health, achieving your daily protein intake with a morning smoothie, mid-afternoon snack or post-training can go a long way to realizing your goals.
But, if you currently use a whey protein supplement and struggle with chronic gas, bloating or abdominal discomfort after consuming shakes, then whey protein might not be for you. Sometimes symptoms are subtler; low energy, fatigue, constant congestion or frequent colds and flu are all signs you may not be reacting well to whey protein. This can be particularly problematic if you're adding multiple whey shakes per day to your diet, common in athletes and bodybuilders, and the problems persist.
Most people just decide to "live with it" because they know whey protein is superior to vegetarian proteins when it comes to strength, power and hypertrophy. A new study suggests this might no longer be the case.
Over 160 men between the ages of 18-35 went through 12 weeks of upper-body training, consuming either 25g of pea protein, whey protein concentrate, or carbohydrate only drink (e.g. maltodextrin) twice daily. Their biceps muscles were tested pre, during and post-training over the course of the 12-week program to assess hypertrophy gains. The results were very surprising. It showed that pea protein was able to produce equivalent muscle gains compared to whey.1 Pea protein is contains 85% of proteins and is especially rich the branched-chain amino acid leucine that stimulates the genetic pathways that promote muscle protein synthesis.
If you struggle to digest whey protein effectively but stick to it thinking it's markedly superior to vegetarian sources, it's time to perhaps reconsider. Chronic gas, bloating, abdominal discomfort, dark circles under your eyes, consistent nasal congestion, dry sinuses or inconsistent stool are all signs that whey protein may be causing you digestive disturbances. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, it's likely time for a change.
So, can pea protein outmuscle whey? Not quite, but this research shows it can perform "on par" with whey protein, which is quite a big win for typically inferior vegetarian proteins. Try switching over to pea protein formula for 4-8 week and see for yourself how it can upgrade your health and performance.
Dr. Marc Bubbs ND, CISSN, CSCS
Check out more articles in the "PROTEIN" SERIES...
- Very High Protein Diet For Fat Loss? Science Says Bodybuilders Were Right
- BCAAs - Key Amino Acids For Performance
- Can Creatine Boost Physical (And Mental) Performance?
- Glutamine - What It Is, Benefits & Natural Sources


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Flagship Motorcars of Lynnfield offers outstanding Mercedes-Benz sales, servicing and financing to drivers from all over Greater Boston and the North Shore. Our Mercedes-Benz dealership near Marblehead, MA, is a proud Herb Chambers Companies dealership, and we go out of our way to make sure that every customer who comes to our showroom leaves satisfied. We hope you'll honor us with your business the next time you're looking to purchase, lease or service a Mercedes-Benz.
Our Mercedes-Benz dealership near Peabody, MA, stocks a wide inventory of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles for you to test-drive. Explore the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan or E-Class Coupe to improve your daily drives, or opt for a GLC or GL SUV to gain the space you need to transport your family, friends and gear in breathtaking style. We also sell a variety of Certified Pre-Owned and used Mercedes-Benz vehicles, as well as pre-owned models from other top makes. As a Herb Chambers dealership, we offer Smart Pricing to give you added peace of mind, and our Mercedes-Benz finance team can help you buy or lease a vehicle that's within your budget.
If you need to schedule routine Mercedes-Benz service or significant repairs, we can help there, too. Flagship Motorcars of Lynnfield employs talented and passionate technicians who know your Mercedes-Benz vehicle inside and out, and they can get you back on the road in no time. You can take advantage of our fleet of new Mercedes-Benz loaner vehicles, or relax in our comfortable, modern customer lounge. We'll also help you order OEM Mercedes-Benz parts and accessories, and when you sign up for our Rewards Program, you'll earn points toward future service and parts purchases.
With our convenient location at 385 Broadway, Route 1 North in Lynnfield, MA, Flagship Motorcars of Lynnfield is easy to get to from Swampscott, Melrose, Wakefield and beyond. Visit our dealership at your next convenience, and let us treat you to an experience commensurate with the Mercedes-Benz name.


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For a 7th or 8th grade assignment we were asked to write about the etymology of our last names. We didn't have the Internet back then, nor did anything in the public library in the suburbs of Philadelphia have references on Filipino last names, so I asked my dad. Of course he had some answers.
In pre-Spanish Philippines, people didn't have last names. It wasn't until Spanish colonization and (coerced) Catholicism that the adoption of "Christian" names became custom. Like many cultures around the world, families took names that were somehow reflective of a family occupation or trait. This is obvious in the English surnames of Baker, Carpenter, Taylor, or Smith. Sometimes the names were due to a physical trait, as in the English Small, Armstrong, or Swift.
My last name, Malabuyo, had two potential meanings. One combined the Spanish "mala" meaning bad and Tagalog/Bicol "buyo" as in betel, a plant whose leaves are used in combination with a paste and nut as a chewable narcotic common in many parts of Asia. Frequent chewers of this combo, commonly called betel nut, have red discolored mouths and the same charm we commonly attribute to tobacco chewers.
Another translation is to take the Tagalog "ma-", a prefix for "many", and "labuyo", a small, native, belligerent chicken. I romantically imagined that my ancestors were given this last name because they were small and belligerent people. Just like the namesake chicken, instead of backing down from a fight, they'd puff themselves up and attack.
I think it's more likely that we were chicken farmers.
After college, I started playing multiplayer games online, and these games required players to have a unique name or handle to identify themselves. I was playing a lot of Quake back then, and game kills were announced onscreen with a line of text: <Handle> fragged <victim's handle>. I thought it was funny to have a silly or weak-sounding name, so I tried various handles on for size.
Peter Pan fragged Satanspawn666. This was just to add insult to injury.
GodOfAwesome fragged Tinkerbell. It must take away just a tiny bit from that frag.
I then remembered that paper I wrote many years back and thought it would be funny if I tried using variations of "chicken" as my handle. I got to trying "Wildchicken" and it seemed to stick.
When I worked at Microsoft, I became rather obsessed with Age of Empires and its sequel, Age of Empires II: Age of Kings. After work hours, a group of players across the company would play 8-player games, first-come, first-served. We would hash out the details of the game, balance out the teams, get teammates on a conference call, and have at it. When I joined Microsoft Game Studios, playing with the team was part of the job. While working on Mechwarrior IV we played a lot of Counterstrike and Unreal Tournament. Not only did this help the team bond, but it was good research as we played various games and figured out their strengths and weaknesses. Wildchicken was often present.
While working on Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, we played a lot of Halo. Some of my favorite gaming memories involved having four Xbox consoles on the local network with four player splitscreen on each one - sixteen players on teams or free-for-all was incredibly fun. When Xbox Live launched I made sure to grab the gamertag "Wildchicken" since the name had become my de facto nickname; people who I played with on a regular basis would actually find it easier to call me "chicken" as in, "Hey, Chicken, take a look at this..." without it sounding like an insult.
As multiplayer design lead, I was responsible for designing the game types and maps for the game. I wanted to create a unique game aside from the to-be-expected team and free-for-all dogfights and capture the flag. Inspired by quidditch from Harry Potter, I created a team-based game that gave points both for kills as well as scoring a goal.
Quidditch has a quaffle, the ball you would use to score points, and a golden snitch, the winged object that played hard-to-get but would give you an automatic win if caught. Since shooting others down was a key mechanic of Crimson Skies, we wanted to keep that as an obvious scoring mechanism. By combining the concept of the quaffle and golden snitch, we created a "ball" that was somewhat difficult to catch but would give you significantly more points if you flew it into the other team's goal.
For some reason, the team agreed to make this ball a large, clucking chicken. It would fly somewhat erratically around the environment when free, but latch onto a plane when touched. To make the chicken visible it had to be quite large; it also constantly shed feathers and clucked loudly. When caught, it would hold onto the plane while leaving behind a stream of feathers. This wasn't just for comedic effect. The size of the chicken made it easy to spot, and the feathers made it easy to track. As a placeholder name, I called this gametype "Wild Chicken" but, as we continued developing the game, no other name seemed to make sense so it stuck.
I'm still quite proud of this dubious achievement, and I wonder how well the game will have aged by the time it gets rereleased on the upcoming Xbox One backwards-compatibility program.
This online name continues to be my go-to alias in other domains like Twitter, partially out of habit and stubbornness, but also because it's easy to remember. I don't have to spell it out for people, which is a benefit when you have a name like mine. I would have never thought that a paper I wrote as a kid would have become the foundation of something I continue to use decades later.


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Pope Benedict XVI on Liturgical Worship and Our Identity – Fr. Z's Blog
The Standard Bearer's Battle Hymn and Large Families – Rebecca Frech, Ignitum Today
40 Hours at the Birmingham Oratory (England) – Shawn Tribe, New Liturgical Movement
The Earliest Biblical Painting? – Thomas L. McDonald, Patheos/God and the Machine
Struggles & Unexpected Blessings of Special-Needs Kids – Jim Graves, Cthlc World Rprt
One of the Most Beautiful Stories I Know, St. John the Apostle of Love – J. Akin, NCReg
Archbishop Müller on the SSPX & His Controversial Writings – Edward Pentin, Daily Reg
St. Hildegard of Bingen, Doctor of the Church – Leroy Huizenga, Frs Thn/On The Square
Archbishop Müller: No More Talks with SSPX – Fr. Z's Blog
The New York Times Doesn't Understand Freedom of Religion – Joe Carter, Acton Inst.
Episcopalian "Bishop" Hits Passive-Aggressive Home Run – Christopher Johnson, MCJ
Hollywood's New Bible Stories – Erica Orden, Wall Street Journal
For the SATURDAY EDITION click here.


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The Replacements are playing Primavera Sound in Barcelona on May 28! Great news for fans in Europe (and fans elsewhere who like to travel). Let's hope this is the first announcement of many. … Read more →
Tag Archives: Festival
As you can tell from the picture, ACL weekend 2 was a bit of a hootenanny. If you click on the picture, you'll see those are genuine Hee-Haw overalls, worn sans shirt. And while reclining on a hammock. The hijinks might be a bit in response to what was reported to be a crowd that was weighted towards Pearl Jam fans who had staked out spots early (PJ followed … Read more →
Replacements wear the decades well at ACL – Peter Blackstock, Austin360 "How young are you, how old am I?" That's how the Replacements classic "I Will Dare" begins, and when the band played it near the end of a 19-song, hourlong set on the Samsung Galaxy stage nearing sundown on Sunday at ACL Fest, it seemed to sum up the reality of this 1980s underground-rock archetype playing a music festival … Read more →
The Mats played the Summer Ends Festival in Tempe on Saturday night, sort of. The festival was scheduled for outdoors but the area was hit by a major rain storm and the venue was shut down Saturday afternoon by the city. Kudos to the festival organizers and bands for coming up with a Plan B because what a plan it was! The festival, with a reduced number of bands, was … Read more →
The Mats dodged a bullet playing on Sunday because the venue (which is an outdoor plaza in downtown Boston) was evacuated Saturday night due to severe thunderstorms and lightening and a few acts got bumped. Weather was not a factor on Sunday, thankfully. Here's the set list, which kicked off with "Favorite Thing". Time was quite tight, I think this may have been the shortest set to date at just … Read more →


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General Services Administration (GSA) Information Technology (IT) Schedule 70 is the largest, most widely used acquisition vehicle in the federal government. Schedule 70 is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) multiple award schedule, providing direct access to IT products, services and solutions for Federal, state, and local governments. RPI's Schedule 70 contract is awarded on Special Item Numbers (SINs) 132-50 Training Courses and 132-51 IT Professional Services.
Contract Number: GS-35F-0379Y
Period of Contract: May 2, 2012 - May 1, 2022
Website Link: Click Here


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The use of single sign-on and multifactor authentication for accessing the Comodo Certificate Manager is in pilot mode for the month of September 2017. If your campus would like to participate in the pilot, contact Paul Caskey (email@example.com).
We anticipate moving to production during October 2017.
The InCommon Certificate Service offers single sign-on convenience, and the security of multifactor authentication (MFA), for logging in to the Comodo Certificate Manager (CCM) buy those who administer their organization's certificates.
The benefits for using SSO and MFA include:
The InCommon Certificate service is used by organizations as the basis of internal and external trust. Protecting it with MFA reduces the likelihood of stolen credentials.
MFA protected SSO increases security by leveraging protected campus credentials that RAOs already use in their local context to access higher security services.
If your campus would like to participate in the pilot, contact Paul Caskey (firstname.lastname@example.com).


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Bones is off to marketing for Ilion Animation
EmptyGiles Bones has been appointed marketing director at Ilion Animation Studios as the company prepares to unveil its $50 million "Planet One" at the Festival de Cannes.
Bones, who has handled international marketing at Lola Films and Paramount Comedy, will continue his responsibilities on Lola's big-budget "Manolete," starring Adrien Brody and Penelope Cruz. The film is in postproduction and due out this year.
"Planet One," directed by Jorge Blanco, tells the story of an alien invasion of an innocent 1950s-style planet, where the invading force is an American astronaut.
The film is co-produced by Ilion and the U.K. production, financing and sales banner Handmade Films. The CGI project, based on a script by "Shrek" creator Joe Stillman, will see Lola chief Andres Vicente Gomez serve as a producer along with former Nickelodeon president Albie Hecht.
"Planet One" looks to compete with Pixar and DreamWorks with its own innovative technology and design, according to Ilion producer Ignacio Perez Dolset.


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text: The salesman is using sex to sell me a CD player, giving me pressure about my love life. 'Mr. Mercurio, it's a five CD player carousel model. You load all five of your CDs into this baby -- you're with your woman, you're gonna make love -- you press "Play," you can go all night.' And I'm like, 'You know, Mr. Salesman, I'm not really a five CD man. You got something that plays 45s? Give me two minutes -- I'll give you the world.'


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Are you ready?
Do you have a talent you wish you could share with the world? What about the desire to improve and learn from professionals in the industry? MIST provides not only the opportunity for you to share your abilities, but you also get to compete against other talents in your area, and receive feedback from experts in the field.
Find your local region, assemble a team at your school, register for an upcoming tournament, and show us what you've got.


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Work with us
U.S.-based Positions
While there are no opportunities for paid employment at Providence currently, we have several positions available for qualified individuals who are willing to volunteer their time or raise funds to cover their own salary. The current positions that we need to fill include:
- Administrative Assistant
- Communications Director
- Fundraising Director
- Research & Development Director
- Marketing Director
Teaching Positions
At La Providencia, the only employment opportunities for non-Hondurans are teaching positions at La Providencia in various subjects where the children speak English during their classes. These positions are available to qualified individuals who raise funds to cover their own salaries.
We currently do not have any English teaching positions available for the current school year (2017-2018), but would love to talk with you if you are interested in working with us at La Providencia Academy during the 2018-2019 school year.
Additionally, three-month, one-year, eighteen-month, and two-year internships are available to those who are interested in volunteer service with Providence for an extended period of time. These internships are available in our Folsom, CA office and at La Providencia in Honduras.


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Here's an update on the DC Universe Reboot.
DC Comics is currently in the midst of rebooting their comic book universe in the hopes of attracting new readers. This news comes as little surprise, as we've known that DC was in for a bit of overhaul ever since their restructuring venture with Warner Bros. created the DC Entertainment brand earlier this Fall.
DCE's primary goal has been to streamline their brand into a cohesive multimedia package, where comic books, video games, TV projects and feature films are all being planned and coordinated under one creative umbrella to optimize brand appeal across all media formats.
On the comic book front, DC will soon be debuting Earth One, an ongoing series of graphic novels that will re-imagine classic DC Universe superheroes in modern context, much the same way Marvel did with its "Ultimate" brand. So what does re-introducing audiences to the DC Universe and its heroes mean for future DC superhero flicks? Let's take a look...
AICN had a chance to interview J. Michael Straczynski and Geoff Johns, two acclaimed DC Comics writers who will be tackling the two biggest names on the Earth One slate, namely Superman and Batman, respectively. If you want to know what this Earth One universe is all about, here are a few choice quotes from the Q&A with Straczynski and Johns:
AICN: Tell me a little bit about the premise behind SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE.
J. Michael Straczynski: Clark [Kent] comes to Metropolis in his 21st year to decide what he really wants to do. And this is someone who can be anyone, do anything. If he keeps his background secret, as he's done for the preceding 21 years, he can be the best athlete the world has ever known, he could be the next Stephen Hawking, could take away the golf crown from Tiger Woods, create patents that could earn billions. He can finally step out of the shadows and into the light.
By contrast, if he chooses to become Superman, then Clark must live forever in the shadows, dedicated to a life of service and self-sacrifice that could eventually get him killed. That's a hard choice for anybody to make, let alone a 21 year old kid who wants to look after his mom and is lured by the idea of money and success and fame. So the story is about Clark's...moment, when he has to finally make that choice, why he makes it, and what follows after.
This is probably one of the most often told and re-told stories in comics history...But I'll be straight up with you: I'm not here to change his story into something it was never intended to be so that I can "make my mark" on the character. It's about respecting the character and his origins...
Will we ever see these Earth One versions of Supes and Bats on the big screen?
AICN: So what is BATMAN: EARTH ONE all about?
Geoff Johns: BATMAN: EARTH ONE allows [artist] Gary Frank and I to break the restraints of any continuity and focus on two things: character and story. Add to that the idea of working on a line of graphic novels instead of being limited to twenty-two pages, it's a challenge and I love a challenge...Our Batman is a decidedly different Batman yet it is, of course, Bruce Wayne.
I want to let the book will speak for itself, but Batman, Alfred, Detective Gordon, Arkham Manor, the twisted origin behind Gotham City, the Bat-Mobile and, of course, the world's greatest group of villains are all a part of the world we're creating. Some of it the characters will more closely resemble the classic interpretations while others will be wildly different. We're introducing a lot of new characters and elements to this Batman...The first graphic novel features an entirely new villain.
For the full transcript of AICN's interviews with Straczynski and Johns, go HERE.
Ok, so like I said, this kind of venture sounds a lot like Marvel's "Ultimate" universe, which was introduced a few years back. But what does this mean for the superhero films that DCE/WB hopes to make in the next few years?
Well, Chris Nolan has already succeeded in lifting the Batman lore out of its traditional comic book origins, re-introducing the character to movie audiences in full modern, real-world (some of you argue dark and depressing) splendor. However, Superman needs a fresh cinematic start right about now, and you can bet that DCE is keeping that fact tucked somewhere in mind when launching this new graphic novel series.
Just as a fun little bonus, here's some concept art for the Superman: Earth One version of Clark Kent, as drawn by hot new artist Shane Davis:
Click image for hi-res version
Understand: Straczynski and Johns are two of DC Comics' hottest writers at the moment - Johns in particular has done an almost miraculous job catapulting the characters of Silver Age Green Lantern and Flash (that's Hal Jordan and Barry Allen) from the second-tier status of dead and irrelevant, back into the comic book industry limelight. Johns' work with the characters has been so celebrated that he's now branched out behind the scenes, lending his wisdom and guidance to DC/WB movies like The Green Lantern, The Flash and Shazam!
If Johns and Stracynski are being given the free reign to re-imagine the most carefully-guarded characters in DC's stable, it's a small leap of deduction to say that they (and other eventual Earth One creative teams) could ultimately become key players in envisioning forthcoming DCE/WB movies according to their Earth One mythos. In a lot of cases, what is done on the comic book page serves as the preliminary storyboards for an eventual feature film; when you think about it like that, it's easy to wonder if we aren't seeing the future of DC Superhero movies being plotted out before our eyes...
For now, we'll keep you posted on how DC's Earth One venture develops, and what (if any) affect it will have on DC Superhero movies. Stay tuned.
Sources: Comic Book Resources, AICN, Slash Film


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The Sydney Facial Nerve Service was founded to integrate the expertise of some of Australia's leading facial nerve specialists to ensure patients are receiving the highest standard of modern multidisciplinary care. Our shared interest in facial paralysis has motivated us to collaborate and overcome geographical boundaries.
Another major focus of this service is clinical and translational research. We use this to improve our understanding and treatment of facial paralysis. Many of our projects are at the cutting edge of facial nerve clinical research. We are incredibly excited about the advancements being made in this field and the future is bright.
Our Story
For many years leading specialists in facial palsy have been functioning independently. Barriers such as geography, busy medical practice and operating theatre schedules have made it hard for multidisciplinary collaboration in this field. The Sydney Facial Nerve Service was conceived to amalgamate the shared expertise of our clinicians in a technologically aware environment to ensure the foremost care for our patients.
The team
We are a group of proactive clinicians who share a common interest. We do not function in one referral centre, but rather are spread out across Sydney, Australia. This group does not seek monetary gain or prestige. We are focused on using our shared experience and perspectives to develop and improve the standard of care for facial palsy patients by engendering a culture of sensitive, holistic and patient-focused care to the management of this condition.


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Madison Avenue Beauty has secured a distribution agreement with men-ü, a professional men's brand out of the UK. The comprehensive men-ü range of skincare and hair products includes the recently launched LIQUIFFLEX styling product and PRO BLACK shaving brush.
"men-ü is a Great British grooming brand with significant products & resources behind it & we look forward to helping them achieve their goal of introducing more US men to quality grooming," George T. Eliades, Executive Director at Madison Avenue Beauty says.
Graham Fish, Founder & Director at men-ü says, "What drives us to invest in a market is the right trading partner & with George Eliades at the helm it was a no brainer for us. George is not only a lovely guy, liked by many in the professional business but also very experienced. George & his team really get what we are about & that is offering products for men that are different to make a difference – how else does one introduce more men to quality grooming? Just being "on trend" moves current buyers of professional products from one brand to another in our experience & the Madison team agree. So a meeting of like minds looking for like-minded professional salons & barbers who would like to work with us."


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The several emotions going on currently in my life.
Confused: I'm running for secretary at my school. At lot of people are going to vote for me anyways just because I'm their friend. But here's the problem:
I want the job that has less stuff to do-that would be vice president, but that's for only fifth graders. T_T That leaves president or secratary, and obviously it has got to be secratary, and my best friend, Yvette is funning for president, along with my also long time friend, Jason. (guess what? he's also a SMART ASIAN DUDE!!!)
That leaves representatives. Listen, people, this is my last year before I graduate forever from elemantary school, and reprasentative is not enough for me. I NEED to leave with a ka-BAM.
So, i'm settling for secratary.
Next reason-I have major stage fright, and I need to do a speech in front of all the little voter people (fourth graders to sixth graders) and this is...well...
You get the point. I know, I know, you may be thinking, 'Why the heck are you even trying to go for secratary?' Well, all I have to say is,
So, um, CONTEST TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need help. I don't kno what the heck a secratary does. Does anyone know? (this is not the contest, but i give a shout out to who tells me)
OK, the CONTEST!!!
Can you guys do like, a fake speech thing? I'm not gonna copy your speech, but can you just write down a speech if you're going to try being a school secratary?
I mean, I need to appeal to not only sixth graders, but fourth and fifth graders too. Can any of you please help me write a speech? (please post it on this blog post)
Thanks a lot!!!!!!! Thanks so much you guys, I totally owe all of you people!!!!! (when it's the day before I go do the speech, i'll post the speech here so you guys can all see, and i'll see if you guys like it)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Confused, confused, and confused
The several emotions going on currently in my life.
Posted by Dibsy at 7:05 PM
13 comments:
- gogodibsy :D said...
I am serious with this, people. I am totally aiming FTW (for the win) Please help me with a good speech! (that will actually get me some votes!) :) Thank you!
- October 8, 2008 at 7:22 PM
- Cuppy said...
Well, first of all, a secretary is the person that wries down stuff that needs to be written down (things that happen during top secret meetings for example :P)they also help to collect info. on peoples you need info. on(businesses, phone#s, names, dates, etc.) I dunno what you might wanna do for a speech, though. I'm not so good with thw riting of speeches myself, so...But I know you'll get a good one!
- October 8, 2008 at 8:23 PM
- gogodibsy :D said...
Thanks...next post I'll say kudos to you! :)
OK...now...anyone up for giving my speech ideas?
- October 8, 2008 at 9:04 PM
- c said...
you can't seriously believe that i got my belly button pierced!!!
I barely got away with getting my ears pierced!!
yes i am 11!!! (almost 11 and a half!!)
my bellybutton is NOT pierced.
- October 9, 2008 at 9:30 AM
- gogodibsy :D said...
TT_TT Darnit.
- October 9, 2008 at 6:59 PM
- jckandy said...
Hey, Dib. Guess what? Last year I ran for secretary and I won!!! You should get a speech that's not too long (people will get bored) and not too short. I tried to make mine a little bit funny in places. Secretary is a big responsibility though, at least in my SRC. I really like it though. No offense, but if I post my speech on here, will you copy it??? Not cool, Dibsy. Not cool.
- October 10, 2008 at 8:39 PM
- gogodibsy :D said...
I won't copy it, Jckandy, I'm not like that. >:< I'm just looking for a few ideas to brainstorm with, that's all. I need a base.
Can you still help me?
- October 11, 2008 at 11:49 AM
- Neon Duck said...
HEy, thought I'd pop in, see the comments on nerdocity for my advise and for stage fright...I don't know, I don't really get stage fright, try looonnng cleanssing deep breathing, that should work, espicially if you start hyperventalating....
- October 11, 2008 at 6:18 PM
- gogodibsy :D said...
That's nto how work. I turn really red and sweaty and my eyes go really wide, and I become a klutz...
- October 11, 2008 at 7:40 PM
- Beaut!fully Br()ken said...
ok..so i click piks of my drawings cause i dont have a scaner n then i put them up on my blog !!
- October 12, 2008 at 3:05 AM
- gogodibsy :D said...
Ok!!1 :D
- October 12, 2008 at 10:02 AM
- Alyce Kullen said...
Ouch... Well, write a speech. Practice. I know you can do this, dibs. You can do it! ^^'
- October 12, 2008 at 1:17 PM
- gogodibsy :D said...
I am unsuccussfel! I NEED HELP! D:
- October 12, 2008 at 4:27 PM


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We ship G16 Skin Repair worldwide through our network of couriers DHL Express and Royal Mail Postage. You will see the shipping cost before you purchase G16 Skin Repair and have the option to update your cart by adding more bottles to reduce shipping charges.
We currently ship 2 bottles for same shipping price as one bottle to give you extra value for money.
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Over the coming months we will be offering some amazing deals so that you can get heavily discounted or even free G16 Skin Repair. Please make sure you add your name to the link below and be the first to know how you can access these deals.
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text:
Training bonds are very common across aviation – especially for engineers, air traffic specialists and pilots. As with any contract, they are enforceable but it does depend on the wording.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared burnout an "occupational phenomenon" and it is now categorised as an official medical condition.
It is a desperate commentary on English education policy in the late 2010s that a metaphor about leaping from a great height is frequently to be heard as headteachers and governors contemplate the future of their schools.
Prospect has been very vocal about the problem of the gender pension gap.
Prospect warmly welcomed the first International Day of LGBT workers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) in 2018. And we'll be marking it again on 5 July 2019.


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To speed up the healing process for a broken wrist, stop smoking, eat a good diet, watch your intake of calcium and stick to the treatment plan, states About.com. Talking to the doctor about other methods of treatment is also an option.
Doctors recommend that those with a broken wrist stop smoking, as it may affect the way the bone heals, explains About.com. Smoking increases the risk of developing a nonunion, which means the bones do not heal. Bones also heal faster when they get more nutrients, so eating a healthy diet can also help to heal bones, and it helps to improve and maintain bone health.
Taking enough calcium, but not too much, may also help to heal a broken wrist faster, states About.com. Take the amount on the label if using supplements and do not overdo it. Sticking to the doctor's treatment plan is also important. Trying to alter that plan by moving things ahead of schedule may delay recovery. It is also important to not remove a cast or splint on your own, as the doctor knows best. In some cases, there are alternatives to splinting or casting, so talk to the doctor about this option, too, which includes surgery, which can help the bone heal faster.


text:
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we sell much brand of Printing Machines and Printhead. We are established at 2010 and we are located in indonesia.
It makes lower your cost without lowering, For more information regarding the product, you can visit our official website,grosirbudget.com.
Write Your Own Review


text:
SFCAS Day 21 Ponderosa
June 2nd, 2010, 3:36 am
Author's Comments:
Reply SWSU-Master, June 2nd, 2010, 3:41 am
I've been wanting to do a Ponderosa comic since about SFC4, and finally decided that All Stars would be the best time to start doing it.
Reply Advertisement, September 19th, 2019, 12:31 pm
User's Comments:
Reply gatemaster, June 2nd, 2010, 5:42 am
Invisible cameraman is probably eating everything in there
Reply AkumaTh, June 2nd, 2010, 7:20 am
Sweet! We get one more comic with the jury! Nice to see Sin taking defeat a lot better then most people.
Reply LordViking (Guest), June 2nd, 2010, 7:49 am
One of the rare times we see interaction with the camera crew. Though the only other time I can remember from the top of my head was wen Hugo caught one on the fishing line, causing the poor camera guy to be attacked by sharks.
Reply Trigger_Happy_Beast21, June 2nd, 2010, 8:21 am
It does get boring when there's nobody to talk to after a while, but it just gets awkward when someone is there invading your privacy by recording whatever you are doing.
Reply Shard, June 2nd, 2010, 8:26 am
Heh, these should be fun... especially if we get a sore loser...
Reply Djoing, June 2nd, 2010, 8:43 am
@lordviking there was also that one guy who asked the cameraman if he had a coin to flip.
Reply Sine Diego (Guest), June 2nd, 2010, 9:25 am
The Smiley Hat returns! <3
Reply SWSU-Master, June 2nd, 2010, 11:33 am
Djoing: Indeed
Reply The_mad_one, June 2nd, 2010, 1:25 pm
Smiley hat AND smiley fridge in one page! This is awesome.
Reply Jaegerofice, June 2nd, 2010, 1:30 pm
3 days alone with cameraman... Sin is going to be really bored
Reply Ginka (Guest), June 2nd, 2010, 11:48 pm
Wait...why would you turn off the lights in the first place?
Reply qazox, October 3rd, 2011, 11:41 pm
@Jaegerofice: Or we're gonna have a sucidial cameraman.
Post A Comment


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Our Russian office is very active in working together with CEMS, the Global Alliance for Management Education, and its member school GSOM in St. Petersburg to teach, train and recruit top talent to our team. In another recent event, four of our colleagues form he Moscow office conducted a workshop with more than 30 participants. The "Industry Analysis: Systematic Approach to Structuring" workshop contained breakout sessions and in the end the students presented their findings to the "board".
We received great feedback from the participants. One student said, "An interesting presentation of industry analysis with many details not often found in presentations or workshops." Another said, "the language of the presentation was simple, lively, and friendly."
"It was a pleasure to see so many international students in one room and we sincerely enjoyed the workshop," said Evgeni Mitassov, consultant. "The students showed good deal of knowledge of the topic and were able to tackle the tasks in a very creative way. Student teams made strong appearance during group presentations and substantiated their answers properly."
We strive to support and employ the best and the brightest amongst young graduates. Talented people are our key resource for generating best solutions to our clients. We look forward to seeing you at more of our events soon.


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Juicing: Not Necessarily the Healthiest Trend
I have been sick with a horrible cold and fever for the better part of last week - it hasn't been fun. When I felt this cold creeping up on me, I took a detour during lunch to Clover, a Cambridge favorite, to pick up a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the hopes of giving my immune system a burst of vitamin C (which failed, I should stick to my usual astragalus pills from now on). Anyway, as I was placing my order, the gentleman who works there told me "isn't it crazy how it takes 12 oranges to make a glass of juice?!". I was quickly reminded why I rarely drink juice at all these days. I was too embarrassed to cancel my order, so I took my 12 oranges in a glass and drank them (very slowly) throughout the day.
The reason why this juicing trend is not great for your health is not because the ingredients are bad for you, on the contrary, I think it is great that so many people are enjoying their fruits and vegetables. However consider this:
SUGAR: when was the last time you sat down and ATE 12 oranges in one sitting? And how easy is it for you to gulp down that glass of juice in 3 minutes? Think of the amount of sugar rushing through your system. Unreasonably high amounts of sugar in your body leads to mineral deficiencies, inflammation, blood sugar imbalances, weight gain (the extra glucose your cells do not need are stored as fat) and a plethora of other unpleasant side effects.
PROCESSED: Even if you make your juice at home with the freshest of ingredients it is still a processed food. What you end up drinking is not a whole food, but rather the fruit or vegetable minus the skin and pulp. This is problematic because: 1) without the fiber the glucose rushes through your system, spiking your blood glucose levels causing a sugar rush and subsequent crash. Moreover, the processed juice digests extremely quickly and is unlikely to leave you feeling full for very long. 2) Without consuming the skin and pulp you are missing our on many of the nutrients that you would otherwise enjoy by eating the whole food.
Proponents of juicing say that drinking juice allows you to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables (you can drink more than you can eat) - and that is certainly true, except for the fact that you are not eating (drinking?) the whole food as nature intended. For those who think that they need to drastically increase their intake of raw vegetables I would suggest blending rather than juicing (with blending you blend and drink the whole food and therefore do not have to worry about a loss of nutrients and the lack of fiber. You are also less likely to blend 10 apples and drink them all in one sitting).


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San Diego State Student Government Invites Free Speech Violations/
Palestine Legal and Jewish Voice for Peace wrote yesterday to San Diego State University (SDSU) warning against free speech violations after the student government passed a resolution that brands Palestinian rights activists as antisemitic.
The resolution adopts a widely-discredited, overbroad and vague definition of antisemitism that classifies virtually all political speech supportive of Palestinian rights as antisemitic. The definition - often referred to as the "State Department definition" – is a favored tool of Israel advocacy organizations to suppress criticism of Israel. It also invites the university to violate free speech.
Palestine Legal's letter warns, "If [the student government], or any other agent of the university, implements the resolution to restrict or penalize speech supportive of Palestinian rights, you will violate the U.S. Constitution, in addition to California law, and California State University policy."
The State Department definition is particularly detrimental in university settings, where academic freedom, unfettered debate, and critical inquiry are integral to the educational mission. Even the lead-author of the definition, Kenneth Stern, has repudiated its use in the university context.
At a time when bias incidents and hate crimes, including those motivated by antisemitism and Islamophobia, are on the rise, this resolution serves only to further target Arab, Muslim and other students who advocate for Palestinian rights, while providing no new legal protections for Jewish students.
Read the full letter here.


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Have problem running ANT script from Silverlight web service hosted in IIS
Hi All,
I have a problem running ANT script from Silverlight web service hosted in IIS.
When I run the script from a Silverlight web service normally, by not hosting in IIS, it is running fine.
Actually I am running the ant script just like any other command prompt command from the web service.
If anyone has ever faced this problem and found out a solution, please help me out.
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text:
Welcome to our PAC website. We plan to be active in the 2016 Presidential and Congressional elections.
Please consider making a donation to our NJRTL State and Federal PACs by clicking the tab that says "Donate" at the top of this page.
State and Federal PAC information can be found by going to the respective tabs on this page.
Notice to our Supporters: Unlike some other PACs, we do not use financial contributions made to our state or federal political action committees to pay for rent, salaries or other administrative expenses.
Paid for by New Jersey Right to Life PAC. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.
Thank you.


text:
Discover the Power of Collaborative Inquiry
Teaching Better is packed with details to ignite and sustain the collaborative improvement of teaching and learning.
Includes U.S. and international case studies, powerful metaphors, reflection questions, presentation ideas, application exercises, a Leader's Guide, and more. A companion website features full color, digital versions of the artwork and digital templates that can be customized for any school context.
Through this unique combination of imagery, narrative, and resources, Teaching Better empowers leaders, teacher teams, and facilitators to:
shift the focus from evaluating teachers to improving teaching;
develop essential skills and mindsets for collaborative instructional inquiry;
establish a framework for supporting inquiry across multiple teacher teams;
and find inspiration to persist with steady, systematic improvement over time.
Learn what lesson study and collaborative inquiry can and should look like. Find the guidance you need to lead and support school-wide, inquiry-based improvement!
Click Here for an Interview with the Authors on The School Leadership Show
Click Here for an Overview of the Book on EduTalkRadio


text:
To the untrained eye, seeing one bridal collection can feel like seeing them all—yet, season after season, Bridal Fashion Week consistently proves that there are plenty of ways to innovate upon the traditional wedding gown.
The Spring 2019 collections, which debuted in April in New York City, were a little more scaled back than last season's, with fewer shows on the calendar and more intimate presentations (in lieu of full-blown runways). Still, there were fresh takes aplenty on wedding wear. Creating a breathtaking bridal moment doesn't necessarily equate to overzealous tulle. For many designers, beauty was found in streamlined simplicity—and with a royal wedding just weeks away, you can bet that some tipped their veils to the impending nuptials. Additionally, they gave us plenty to dream about with their latest collections.
From bridal legends like Vera Wang to up-and-comers like Alexandra Grecco, these 33 Spring 2019 wedding gowns are among the most gorgeous we've seen yet—and they're certainly worth a year's wait. Check out some of our favorites.


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Font Family: Stylish Brush, Number of fonts: 1*OTF + 1*TTF + Bonus, Type Foundry: Nicky Laatz, Design date: 2015
Introducing the gorgeous new Stylish Brush - A fabulously trendy brushed typeface... with a sweet little bonus.
Perfect for : Using in ink or watercolour based designs , glammed up in gold, or just on its own as bold statement-making, hand-brushed lettering :)
FAQ : Stylish Brush Font works in any font supporting software - including Word/Pages/Powerpoint - you name it.
A SWEET BONUS! 4 Brand New, freshly-painted Trendy watercolour Patterns - available as Photoshop Styles, Illustrator Patterns and original seamless transparent PNGS.


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273 Winton M. Blount Loop
Phone: (334) 280-1500
NEW LOCATION ADDRESS: 7917 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36116
There is quite a professional atmosphere, but at the same time, everyone there is very approachable and just plain kind and courteous. I am grateful to them all for the attention and care they provide me with each time I visit, no matter which floor or which staff personnel. THANK YOU, MCA!
I have ALWAYS been treated with care and concern.
Your staff works hard to accommodate the patients. They are courteous and very informative.


text:
i'm sorry to be the one to break it to you… but no one is reading your emails! if you're not being deliberate about your content, and if you're not using analytics to inform your content strategy, it's just not happening!
when done right, however, email is one of the most powerful – and underutilized – tools for growing your business and building your brand. did you know, for example, that email conversion rates are 40 times those of facebook and twitter? 40 times! that makes email one of the best ways to connect with your customer, remind them of your value and drive conversions. so, let's talk about how you can optimize your email efforts and make email work harder for your brand and your business.
first things first, email is both art and science:
- the art part is content and the key is that content is king, but only if you craft it with your goal in mind
- the science part is analytics and the key here is that if you cannot measure it you cannot manage it
on the art of content:
like with any other channel, having a solid content plan is the key to success in email marketing. step one, ladies and gentlemen: decide on your goals and build an editorial calendar with a content mix that speaks to those goals.
here are three goals i'd suggest using to shape your content mix: 1. build a connection with your brand, 2. deepen engagement around that connection and 3. drive acquisition. you'll want a mix of these but it's up to you to decide how much you'll weigh each of these types of content. the important part is to always craft your email content with the goal in mind.
- build the brand. this content is designed to tell the story of your product. it's great to tie this kind of content to timely, seasonal topics and very important to tie the key message of the email back to your brand and your value proposition. remember your goal: get your customer to read and connect with it!
- grow the community. this content is designed to generate action around the connection with your brand. that can mean asking them to share something, engage with you on social media, watch a video, and so on. when you want customers to engage with you in some way keep in mind that facts, tips, giveaways and questions are a great way to prompt engagement. remember when drafting these emails – in both content and design – your goal is for them to share it!
- drive acquisition. this content is designed to drive customers to purchase your product. here it's important to give them a clear action. but only one! the more you give a reader to do the less likely it is they'll do it. and remember your goal here: buy it!
on the science of analytics:
with the resources available today, analytics should be an important part of your strategy. if you cannot measure it you cannot manage it, and if you cannot manage it you cannot improve it. the key is to test different elements of your email, measure and adjust your content accordingly. let the data (and not your assumptions about your customer!) inform your decisions.
here are some examples of elements you can test: subject lines, tone, design and layout, use of social media, the action or "ask" of the email, and personalized content for different segments of your list.
and depending on what you're testing you'll want to look at: opens, clicks, conversions (whether than means buying a product or engaging with you on facebook) and related engagement on other channels.
in conclusion:
remember that effective email marketing is equal parts art and science:
- the art part is content and the key is that content is king, but only if you craft it with your goal in mind
- the science part is analytics and the key here is that if you cannot measure it you cannot manage it
this post originally appeared over at the TSBC collective. more here!


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Critical Transitional Justice
This sub-theme focuses on understanding the frictions and adaptions that emerge in the implementation of transitional justice mechanisms from a critical perspective that is African-centred and decolonial.
Epidemics, Digital Media and Health Communications in Africa
Epidemics, Digital Media and Health Communications in Africa, funded by The Wellcome Trust and DFID, is a project aimed at evaluation -and further developing- two-way channels for rapidly gathering socio-cultural insights that matter during an epidemic and in the post-epidemic care landscape.
PiMA (Politics and Interactive Media in Africa) is an 18-month collaborative research project funded by the ESRC and DFID, with a focus on the expressions of 'public opinion' in broadcast media via new information and communication technologies (ICT) such as mobile phones in Kenya and Zambia. It also examines the political implications of such interactions in the two African countries, with a view to drawing conclusions of wider significance to practitioners and policymakers.
ICTs and the Right to Life
Since 2011 CGHR has been collaborating with Christof Heyns, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, on topics related to the right to life. A new project for 2014/5, links this work with CGHR's work on new information communication technologies. Dr Ella McPherson, a CGHR Research Associate, will lead a study into the implications of ICTs for Prof. Heyns' mandate, ahead of a report to the Human Rights Council.
Social Media, Human Rights NGOs, and the Potential for Governmental Accountability
In early 2014, CGHR Research Associate Dr Ella McPherson began work on an ESRC-funded project examining the relationship between human rights NGOs, social media and governmental accountability. This project is concerned with the methodological and reputational implications of using social media as data sources and dissemination tools, as well as with social media's effects on pluralism in human rights discourse.
Past Projects
CGHR's past projects include the Africa's Voices Pilot, which alongside PiMA has led to the spin-out Africa's Voices Foundation. Our ongoing collaboration with the UN UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, on topics related to the Right to Life includes two previous projects on Unlawful Killings in Africa, and on the Safety of Journalists.