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Rossini Ricciardo e Zoraide
It was inevitable that when interest finally focused on the superb array of heavyweight operas Rossini created for Naples between 1815 and 1822, Ricciardo e Zoraide would be somewhat to the rear of the queue. Not because it is bereft of fine music – it has some good moments and some memorable quarters of an hour – but because the story, the essential stuff of the drama, is intrinsically less interesting than that of
The tendency has been to blame the librettist for all this: Francesco Berio di Salsa, gentleman of leisure and one of Naples's leading men of letters. Having, in Lord Byron's phrase, "crucified Othello into an opera", he now turned his attention to two cantos from a mock-heroic epic poem by the early eighteenth-century poet and priest Niccolo Forteguerri. The Arisoto-like ironies, such as they are, of Forteguerri's poem Il Ricciardetto appear to have passed Berio by or evaded his powers of appropriation and redeployment. Yet the libretto as such is clear enough, a workmanlike job with well-drawn dramatic sight-lines and cues aplenty for heart-stopping moments, some of which Rossini chooses to set in what was for him a new and expressively daring kind of accompanied recitative.
The drama is dominated not by Ricciardo (Giovanni David's role) or Zoraide (written for Colbran) but by Agorante, King of Nubia, Nozzarri's role. Though married to the formidable Zomira, an invention of Berio's to accommodate Rosmunda Pisaroni, a rising star in the Naples company, the king is in love with Zoraide, daughter of a stern tribal headman, and inamorata of the guileful paladin Ricciardo. Agorante's character, as it is purveyed to us by the libretto and through Rossini's music, is that of a reluctant tyrant. This is immediately established in Agorante's remarkable cavatina "Minacci pur" and proceeds to colour not only the role itself but the mood of the entire opera.
Bruce Ford, it should be said at once, sings the part magnificently. It was he who recreated it on stage in Pesaro in 1990, alongside the present Ricciardo, William Matteuzzi. Not only is Ford's singing exemplary, his pacing of the role is masterly, allowing him to dig beneath the surface of the character and reveal the 'more in sorrow than in anger' aspect of Agorante's temper. Matteuzzi is also perfectly cast in the florid, bright-toned role of Ricciardo. I have not always enjoyed Matteuzzi's work on record and have read some stinging criticisms of his performances in the theatre, but here there is real empathy with the role realized in page upon page of exemplary singing. He also works well with Ford. The Act 2 duet between the two men – improbably, as sexy a piece of male canoodling as you will hear in all opera – is a particular case in point.
David Parry's tempos help. Again, I have seen his work excorciated in print. "Overloud dynamics and unvarying timbres" was Opera magazine's judgement of the Ricciardo e Zoraide he conducted in Pesaro last summer. I have to say, there is nothing of that here. The ASMF (old Rossini hands) are exemplary and Parry's shaping of the work is both kind to the opera's prevailing tinta and mood and extremely solicitous of the singers' needs. Some of the tempos are daringly slow: the start of the great Act 1 Trio "Cruda sorte!", for instance. But with so much going on – powerfully fractured exclamations and a haunting off-stage chorus – the slowness seems justified.
The rest of the casting is meticulous. Nelly Miricioiu, who has a hint of Callas in her tones, makes a plausible and affecting Zoraide, Alastair Miles is superb in the Commendatore-like role of her father Ircano, and Paul Nilon makes a strong impression in the role of Ricciardo's lieutenant Ernesto. It was also a stroke of genius to cast Della Jones as the defiant wife Zomira. This is a role that needs working at. The power of the character is in the ensembles and the accompanied recitatives. (A set-piece solo is late arriving, and strangely muted when it does come.) Della Jones brings many of the same qualities to this role as she brought to her superb impersonation of Vitellia in Hogwood's recent recording of Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (L'Oiseau-Lyre, 3/95). The almost exaggerated clarity of her diction ensures that everything this mistreated wife utters is etched into the listener's imagination.
And it is this sense of living engagement with the score – born of a strong belief in the virtues of the music, meticulous preparation, direct theatrical experience and solid professionalism – that makes the set the success it is. Like the various Philips productions of some of the better-known Neapolitan operas by Rossini, this is a recording that will not readily brook challenge.
The recording itself is excellent. Expertly engineered by Robert Auger, it maps Rossini's richly perspectived score – the first in which he uses a complex array of separate on- and off-stage bands – with clarity and unaffected good sense.
As realized here Ricciardo e Zoraide is a piece of which the sympathetic listener could grow very fond. Frustratingly fond. I lost count of the times when I thought to myself, "Now, if only that was in one of the better known operas, it would be ranked among Rossini's most memorable ideas!" Flowers, as the poet has it, born (more or less) to blush unseen and waste their sweetness on the desert air.'


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Monthly bundle products
Monthly bundle products
Why Conquest Mini Line Boring Machine "Mini 13″?
The SCM SI 400 Nova sliding table saw runs on a 9-hp motor with a 16 inch blade capacity and a 1-hp scoring motor. This means the saw can cut through material up to 5.5 inches thick and offers a large 10′ sliding table to cut material for most job specifications.
The MiniMax FS41 Elite over-sized jointer and planer tables offer industrial performance, while the quick-change Tersa head, and digital readout add unmatched speed and finish for semi-professional or professional furniture and cabinet shops.
The MU2-P pneumatically controlled dovetail routing machine to rout a single dovetail keyway with each machining cycle. Heavy cast-aluminum construction with large table surface, precision linear bearings and steel motor carriage. For Dovetail Key sizes W-1, W-2, W-3 and W-4 (with optional larger motor)
This pneumatically controlled dovetail routing machine is the more automated version of the MU2. Aside from the same attributes in terms of design and built quality, the machine features two pneumatic cylinders and a pneumatic foot pedal. One short stroke cylinder is used to clamp the material the instant the foot pedal is pressed, while a second, larger cylinder is used to move the router carriage up and down. The main benefits compared to a manual machine are faster and more comfortable operation, more consistent results due to set routing feed rates and the fact that both hand can remain on the material during the routing sequence. This is an important advantage when processing longer parts.
JLT 8′ Buddy System Combo Clamp – #79R-8
Produce up to 100+ Cabinet Doors and up to 50 Panels per day
Combine your Edge Gluing and Laminating and your Door Clamping into one Machine with a JLT Combo Clamp Buddy System
Featuring our (2) Most Popular JLT Machines:
Increase Your Production and Take up a Smaller Footprint!!
The ME25 3mm/5mm Glue Pot Edgebander is MiniMax's newest Edgebander, a compact machine boasting capacities usually only found on much larger units.
The S315 Elite S has proven itself in American cabinet shops for many years. This machine boasts a full 10' stroke, and features normally found on much more expensive machines, for a fraction of the cost. This machine incorporates a top quality, American made, Leeson motor for 1ph shops. See for yourself why the S315 Elite S stands in a class of its own.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The search found 3 results in 0.061 seconds.
Search results
Annual Report
Annual report of the Commonwealth of Australia communications and broadcasting regulatory authority: the Australian Broadcasting Control Board
This report on the science and technology problems of Australia is expected to be the last, or almost, of the series of country examinations of science policy of the OECD Member states. It has differed in detail from earlier cases, owing to the short time...
The Aboriginal Land Rights Commission ran from 1973 to 1974 and had the purpose of inquiring into appropriate ways to recognise Aboriginal land rights in the Northern Territory.
Gough Whitlam had appointed Justice Edward Woodward to run the Commission, which became known as the...


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:gives the mic a quick thwack: Is this thing still on?
Quick quiz: When was the last non-Fourth Wall related blog I wrote? I had to check. It was three months ago. Twelve weeks of posts. The last time I posted a "cheat week" blog, it was eighteen weeks ago. I'm tired, folks. And that's okay. I'm going to to take a minute to look around. I've been watching some movies. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales barely qualifies as a human experience, The Circle seems like it was sold on a false premise, Thor: Ragnarok is a delight, and Justice League is certainly an improvement over Batman v Superman: Dawn of Misguided Media Strategy, but it would be hard to get worse than the dread Martha debacle. I've been reading these weird paper-bound things. I think their called books.
I'm also tinkering with stuff. The new book is coming along. New blog entries, too. Just before The Fourth Wall began, I posted on this space about how there's lot of fun stuff planned in the future. That's still the case.
See everybody next week.


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Monday, April 2, 2018, 1:45pm - 3:00pm in W-226, West Hall Recital Hall
The Judith K. Winn School of Honors will host an Honors Guest Lecture, during the Honors Conference Week, presenting Professor Sean Wilentz of Princeton University.
Sean Wilentz is a Professor of History at Princeton University. He received his Ph.D. in history from Yale University (1980) after earning bachelor's degrees from Columbia University (1972) and Balliol College, Oxford University (1974). His publications include: The Politicians and the Egalitarians: The Hidden History of American Politics, 2016; 360 Sound: The Columbia Records Story, 2012; Bob Dylan in America, 2010; The Age of Reagan: A History, 1974-2008, 2008; The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln, 2005. He has served as historian-in-residence at Dylan's official Website, www.bobdylan.com.
For more information, please email Dolores at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Hormone Disruptors Are Hiding In Your Home...
And here's what you can replace them with:
Your endocrine system is made up of all of your hormone-producing glands. It's a big deal in your body as it determines your growth, sex drive, reproduction, aging and sooooo much more. It's basically your body's system of checks and balances. When a part of that system is out wack, your body tells you through dis-ease or pain. The endocrine system is especially important regarding women's health since our hormones are the main decider of how we feel on a physical and emotional level, every single day.
In the last 2 decades though, our endocrine system has been disrupted due to the rise of modern "conveniences". Endocrine disruptors are anything (mainly chemicals) that throw that system out of balance, mainly by mimicking our natural hormones or by stopping their production all together. This manifests in women's body mainly in menstrual disorders including PCOS, endometriosis, irregular periods, early menopause, infertility and more.
Common endocrine disruptors include pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plastics, metal food cans, and cosmetics.
Endocrine disruptors are everywhere and we often can't control when we come into contact with them. But there's one place that we have almost 100% control; our home. Here are a few common household items that are common disruptors of your endocrine system and entire hormonal system and some ways you can replace them!
Your Kitchen:
This is the first on the list because it's the biggest impact on your health. Take a look at what you're heating your food up in; your cookware. Is it plastic, or non-stick? Start with your utensils. Are there plastics on your eating utensils; how about that spatula or slotted spoon? Most stores that carry our kitchenware are "big box" stores- they want to make things for ½ a penny and make a profit by turning them around quickly. So, more often than not, your cooking utensils are made with plastic; they're cheap to purchase and you just throw them away when they wear out. If yours are plastic, consider switching to stainless steel or even wood. If you're on a budget, you can get these at a thrift store for cheap, or yard sales for next to nothing!
What do you store your food in? If your tupperware is plastic, consider making the switch to glass. These will often come with a plastic lid but it's okay for food storage since the lid doesn't usually touch the food.
Your Bathroom:
This is a big area that's prey to filling up with endocrine disruptors. Many bathroom storage items are plastic (think bins, makeup bags, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser). Notice just how much plastic your hands touch each day. Think about your shower; what are you scrubbing yourself with? You could switch from the plastic-y shower scrub to a natural loofa or a cotton washrag. Notice your shampoo bottles. I love the stainless steel shampoo dispenser from Hairstory. There are also great options on Amazon; even if your products come in a plastic bottle, that doesn't mean they have to stay in a plastic bottle.
Speaking of bathroom; let's talk about body and bath products. Make-up. This is a HUGE endocrine disruptor for women. Your skin is your body's biggest organ- if you wouldn't eat it, you literally shouldn't put it on your skin. This goes for EVERYTHING. Take a look at your makeup bag. Dump everything out and start with your makeup brushes. Are the bristles plastic? Are the handles plastic? You can easily switch to wood and natural-bristle makeup brushes.
Now, how about what you're putting on your skin? This is a catch 22 for many women. They wear makeup to cover skin blemishes or uneven skin, when in reality, it's what they're putting on their skin that's causing hormonal shifts that result in skin issues. Even what we wash our face with can be a detriment to our skin. Your skin, specifically your face, has natural oil spots and natural dry spots. Skin LOVES oil. When our skin doesn't get to produce its natural oil, it over compensates, thus producing acne and blemishes. Have you ever used a face-wash that has those micro-scrubbing beads? Those are plastic; you're literally scrubbing plastic into your face. Not only that, but you wash that down the sink, it goes into the ocean, never breaks down, and is constantly being found in the stomach of deceased sea animals. Something to think about...
I invite you to go a week or two with washing your face with a product (a clay-based face wash) only every other day. Skip the foundation and anything that goes on your skin (mascara and eye-liner are fine). You'll notice your skin will be softer and more supple as you go longer without letting those man-made ingredients soak into it. You'll also save a lot of money not buying makeup products!
Other places in your home:
Take a look at your living room and bedroom and find things that aren't natural- what's man-made? Here's a list of common items that have tags so you can see what you're touching every day:
Furniture (couch, coffee table, chairs, pillows, etc)
I could go and on but I'm sure you get my point; be intentional about what you are touching every day. Imagine the span of your lifetime and how much plastic gets into your body on a daily basis. It's no coincidence that in our lifetime we've seen certain plastic items get BANNED, certain types of cancers rise, and infertility rates increase. Your endocrine system determines how you feel on a daily basis so it's no joke to asses what affects it, that you can directly change.
The quality of what we put on our around our bodies is a huge passion of my work and of Lunar Nourishment. In fact, it's a really big part of the Balanced Babes online training course. In this 4 week long course, you'll discover not only how to reconnect to your body through your menstrual cycle, you'll learn all about endocrine disruptors and how they affect how you feel. Want to know more about the course? Click here!


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We see a lot of our brides wedding photos, but this was the first time that I've seen one recreate their relatives wedding day photo.
It's just so effective!
Elaine looks absolutely gorgeous in her Dirty Fabulous 1950's lace and taffeta wedding dress which was teamed with one of our bespoke headpieces.
Don't the pics just ooze retro glamour!
Congratulations to Elaine and her new hubby


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With Kristin Bernier
Take some time to balance, relax and restore your vitality with restorative yoga. In this 90 minute class with Kristin Bernier, props like blankets and blocks will be used to help us comfortably settle into relaxing yoga postures, providing the benefits of deep, passive stretching. Class will begin with some breath work, a short gentle flow, and then move right into a few longer held restorative postures. Assists and soothing massage with essential oils will help us calm the mind and more deeply release into these postures. This class is perfect for all levels of yogis, all stages of pregnancy, and anyone who may be nurturing an injury. OM.
$25 per person. Please pre-register for this event. Participants are encouraged to bring a pillow and blanket for an extra comfy restorative experience!


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Hootsuite, Quickbooks, Mailchimp, Zendesk… do any of these words ring a bell?
These programs and applications are just a few of the many tools that can be used to automate a small business. The old-school way of doing business (i.e. hiring lots of employees to perform various tasks manually), is no longer a viable option for small businesses that seek to be competitive in this day and age. With limited staff and limited time, small businesses require options that allow them to operate at the same level as bigger businesses; thus, the popularity of automation.
Following is a list of the five biggest advantages of automation for small businesses:
#1 Automation saves time
Time is a crucial element all businesses seem to lack. There are always so many tasks to complete on a daily basis, yet so little time. What consumes a lot of time for most employees are the repetitive, clerical tasks such as answering the phone, managing email and social media accounts, appointment booking, filling out forms, sending of invoices and billing statements, and the like. As important as such tasks are, they can get in the way of more important or urgent projects and leave employees scrambling to make time to complete the projects after work hours. By incorporating automation into these particular areas, small businesses can easily maximize on their valuable time.
#2 Automation saves money
When small businesses utilize automation so that their employees can focus on completing more pertinent tasks rather than the routine ones, the result is less overtime. Team members can perform all of their responsibilities within the allotted time for the work day instead of costing the company money. Many automation resources are free or are available at a very affordable price. The amount of money that a business owner would spend incorporating automation into his or her business greatly pales in comparison to what they would spend paying employees to work overtime.
#3 Automation gives satisfaction to employees
Engaging in mundane, repetitive tasks day after day can be tiresome and boring for employees. After all, who would want to be stuck doing clerical tasks every working day? Today's typical millennial is known for quitting jobs that don't satisfy his or her need to feel relevant or that don't offer a sense of purpose. By having automation in small businesses, owners can make sure that they are helping all their employees to do what they were actually hired to do: be more innovative and receive the satisfaction that a job well done brings.
#4 Automation produces a consistent quality of work
One of the nice things about technology, machines, and automation in general is that they are efficient at demonstrating a consistent method of completing a task. They are built to follow an order or a routine so that they get the same results every time. When certain tasks are automated in small businesses, human errors greatly decrease, as tasks will be automatically done the way management prefers it to be done. Most of the time, computer programs actually have a better way to perform certain tasks than what a human can manually do. As long as business owners make sure that there are no flaws with the automated process, they will be able to offer the best quality that a small business can have.
#5 Automation can give a small business a competitive advantage
Small business automation can positively affect lots of areas like customer satisfaction, sales and marketing, and business efficiency. Customer satisfaction improves when the business regularly attends to customer queries in a timely manner and manages messages in the fastest way possible. Sales may also increase when marketing strategies are automated to reach a wider audience than a small business may be able to reach on its own. Furthermore, business will be more efficient as it will require less time from employees and reduce the chance of errors.
As business demands grow, daily tasks grow; therefore, automating many daily processes can be a big help. Automation is trending and has been for a while. Go with the trend and be open enough to allow technology to help you transform your business.
~ Gem Borja, Team Tuxedo Impressions LLC™


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September 23rd - John Vanderslice
7PM Doors - 8PM Performance
Vanderslice needs no introduction. We can reel off a list of artists who have passed through his hands; St Vincent, Death Cab For Cutie, The Mountain Goats, Sufjan Stevens. Listening to their work, it's apparent that his influence has shaped each of them to a degree.
Tickets: https://undertowshows.com/collections/john-vanderslice


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Twice previously, I've written about Jeffrey Bernard.
Jeffrey Bernard was unwell, but I'm feeling fine, thank you.
Got a Drinking Problem? "Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell."
The third time's bound to be the charm. For those doubting the ability of a reformed alcoholic to write sympathetically about another who never did, Bosley's account is a corrective. Whether there is glamour in drinking oneself to death can be decided by the reader. There was a time when it appealed to me. Now, not very much.
Jeffrey Bernard Was Unwell, and Wonderful, by Deborah Bosley (The Fix)
... His other regular watering hole and second home, The Coach and Horses, was around the corner from the Groucho on Greek Street, and had become something of a destination as people came along hoping to catch a glimpse of the legendary writer and drinker. Jeff had made a career and built his considerable notoriety around a life of excess but he wasn't just some drunk who made people laugh; he wrote with elegance and insight, was a cultured man with considerable knowledge of music and naval history, particularly his hero, Lord Nelson. He was complex and contradictory and though drinking often made him foul-tempered, he was capable of great charm.


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Hebrews 11:24,25 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…
Some of the conversational highlights for me this week were:
Thanks for sharing!
Here's another link to an article and more photos: NY Times article
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!


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The Single-minded Binder design is is a binder full of just one thing. What will it be for you? Based on an animation by LightBWK. Background photo is by Salvadonica Borgo del Chianti.
This is a 400x300 design, with 800x600 available to subscribers.
The design is made using Blender, a free and open source 3D animation suite.


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Join Us Wednesday – Open House/TourMay 23, 2016
Dear Parents,
Hello, from Intercultural's Admissions Office! We are still offering rolling admissions for the 2016-2017 school year.
If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of our Chicago Campus open houses, we welcome you to come this Wednesday:
Open House/Coffee Tour
Wednesday, May 25th at 9:00 AM
Intercultural Montessori's Chicago Campus
114 S Racine, Chicago, IL
RSVP by replying to this email or writing firstname.lastname@example.com. If you are unable to make it, choose one of our other scheduled open house dates here, or reply to request a private tour.
If you are interested in our Oak Park Campus, please schedule a private tour with Oak Park Campus Director Rod Shaw at firstname.lastname@example.com.
I invite you to watch our introductory video on our website here: Intercultural Introductory Video, and I look forward to welcoming you for a visit very soon.
Frances Limoncelli, Admissions Director
Intercultural Montessori Language School
312-265-1514 o
773-450-8177 m
Chicago campus / 114 S. Racine Suite 100 Chicago, IL. 60607 / (312) 265-1514
Oak Park campus / 301 S. Ridgeland Oak Park, IL. 60302 / (708) 848-6626


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Aggregating Multiple GitHub Account RSS Feeds Into Single JSON API Feed
Aggregating Multiple GitHub Account RSS Feeds Into Single JSON API Feed
Using GitHub's RSS feature is a great way to stay up-to-date on what the developer community is up to. Learn how to create an API to keep track of all these feeds!
Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.Join For Free
GitHub is the number one signal in my API world. The activity that occurs via GitHub is more important than anything I find across Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social channels. Commits to repositories and the other social activity that occurs around coding projects are infinitely more valuable, and telling, regarding what a company is up to than the deliberate social media signals blasted out via other channels. I'm always working to dial in my monitoring of GitHub using the GitHub API, but also via the RSS feeds that are present on the public side of the platform.
// function for sorting by date
function date_compare($a, $b)
$t1 = strtotime($a['published']);
$t2 = strtotime($b['published']);
return $t2 - $t1;
// add any users I want
$user_array = array('kinlane','apievangelist','streamdataio');
$feed_array = array();
// loop through my users
foreach($user_array as $user)
// pull the RSS feeds
$rss_feed = 'https://github.com/' . $user . '.atom';
$github_rss = file_get_contents($rss_feed);
$github_object = simplexml_load_string($github_rss);
foreach($github_object->entry as $entry)
// establish local values, in case I want to do something else
$id = $entry->id->__toString();
$published = $entry->published->__toString();
$link = $entry->link["href"]->__toString();
$title = $entry->title->__toString();
$author_name = $entry->author->name->__toString();
$author_url = $entry->author->uri->__toString();
// create an array
$item = array();
$item['id'] = $id;
$item['published'] = $published;
$item['title'] = $title;
$item['link'] = $link;
$item['author_name'] = $author_name;
$item['author_url'] = $author_url;
// add the individual entry
// sort the collection of feeds
usort($feed_array, 'date_compare');
// publish as json
$feed_json = json_encode($feed_array);
echo $feed_json;
The simple PHP script just takes an array of GitHub users, loops through them, pulls their RSS feeds, and then aggregates them into a single array, sorts by date, and then outputs as JSON. It is a pretty crude JSON API, but it provides me with what I need to be able to use these RSS feeds in a variety of other applications. I'm going to be mining the feeds for a variety of signals, including repo and user information, which I can then use within other applications. The best part is this type of data mining doesn't require a GitHub API key, and is publicly available, allowing me to scale up much further than I could with the GitHub API alone.
Next, I have a couple of implementations in mind. I'm going to be creating a GitHub user leaderboard, where I stream the updates using Streamdata.io to a dashboard. Before I do that, I will have to aggregate users and repos, incrementing each commit made and publishing as a separate JSON feed. I want to be able to see the raw updates, but also just the most changed repositories, and most active users across different segments of the API space. Streamdata.io allows me to take these JSON feeds and stream them to the dashboard using Server-Sent Events(SSE) and then applying each update using JSON Patch. Making for a pretty efficient way to put GitHub to work as part of my monitoring of activity across the API space.
Published at DZone with permission of Kin Lane , DZone MVB. See the original article here.
Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.


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Blueridge Gear
School Directory
Newcomer's Tea
Welcome Back BBQ
Sing for our School
Staff Appreciation Lunch
Parent Social
Family Movie Night
Our Yearbook celebrates Blueridge Elementary with photos of students in their classes as well as at events through out the school year. We are fortunate to have this wonderful keepsake available each year thanks to the dedicated parent and student volunteers that work so hard in putting it together from start to finish.
Thinking of volunteering at Blueridge? We need you to help on the Yearbook Committee! Please visit the Yearbook Volunteer page for more information.


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EVENT: The Relay 2013
EVENT DATE: May 04, 2013
A dozen moms from our local elementary school, Springer, are participating in the Golden Gate Relay to raise money for Organs R Us. From Calistoga in Napa Valley, across the Golden Gate Bridge, to the ocean in Santa Cruz, each member of our team runs three legs in rotation.
The transfer of the baton from runner to runner symbolizes the transfer of an organ from donor to recipient. Of 110,000 Americans waiting for organs, 20 die each day before a donor is found. Discuss your wishes regarding organ donation with your family.
The Team: $900 TOTAL RAISED SO FARJOIN THE TEAM
Donor Comments
Tracy Stone
6 years ago


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Role at RSR Partners
Gabby is a research analyst in the firm's Human Capital Practice. In this capacity, she assists in preliminary research and candidate outreach.
Experience and Expertise
Prior to RSR Partners, she worked with Betts Recruiting, partnering with emerging technology startups in Silicon Alley to help them scale their revenue generating teams. There, she ran a full desk, bringing on new clients and assisting them in entry-level to enterprise-level searches. At RSR Partners, her focus is on senior-level assignments for human resource departments. Working functionally across various verticals, she has recently conducted research and initial candidate outreach for clients looking to bring in new talent at the vice president and C-suite for their human resources teams.
Outside RSR Partners
Gabby graduated from the University of Virginia where she was an active member of Class Council and Kappa Alpha Theta. She lives in New York City where she is involved in the Young Professionals Committee for Susan G. Komen and the Shadwell Society for the University of Virginia. She also actively raises awareness for One Love Foundation, Cancer Research Foundation, and the ALS Association through her involvement with Church Party NYC and Iron Horse NYC.


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Congratulations! You are engaged. You start planning and researching everything you need for your big day – including hair and makeup so you can look your very best on one of the most important (and most photographed) days of your life! But where to start? So many artists and options out there it may seem overwhelming. Being a hair and makeup artist myself, here a few things to look for in your search that I find the most important.
The Checklist:
Licensed or certified? Know the difference
Knowledge of Sanitation and hygiene practices
Do they have a professional website?
Reviews from past clients
Experience and training listed
Do you like their work?
Does their work fit your desired aesthetic?
Assess what you need and what you value
Are their rates within your budget?
First up, Licensing. An unpopular opinion of mine but this is what I find single-handedly the most important. Unfortunately, in most states, the state is not keeping a close eye on artists and stylists opening their own business with no licenses. With the rapid growth of social media such as YouTube and Instagram, anyone can become an artist. While this is a great tool for people to showcase their work give them a platform to be the artist they desire to be, it's hurting the actual professionals. If anyone can be an artist/stylist, where is the regulation? How do you decipher between a true professional and a non-professional?
Licensing vs Certification: You browse the web and come across a great artist, and in their bio, it says they are 'certified.' Great! That means your artist took the time to invest in themselves to gain further education in their craft. Not a bad thing - Bonus points, if you ask me. But this does not mean they're licensed. Certifications should be used to further one's education and skill. I like to compare it to teachers, electricians, lawyers, nurses etc. They all must take a state-regulated exam and must pass in order to be a professional. Makeup artists and hair stylists are not any different. Look for someone who holds a cosmetology or an esthetics license.
Sanitation: Hairstylists and makeup artists work with the general public. They come in contact with bodily fluids, skin conditions, conjunctivitis, cold sores, potential open wounds and whatever else the client may or may not have. Your artist needs to be able to know how properly handle any illnesses/diseases/contagious conditions of the client. (And in school, you learn all about contamination, proper sanitation, hygiene, anatomy, etc) You want to make sure your artist/stylist practices proper hygiene and sanitation. A few simple things to look for is disposables. Does your artist have mascara wands, cotton pads, q tips, alcohol, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant? Are they using mascara straight from the tube and double dipping? (Can you say pink eye!?) Are they using lipstick or gloss straight from the tube onto your mouth? (how about oral herpes?!) How about the brushes, are they dirty with the last client's makeup still on them? It's equivalent to going to a makeup counter and applying testers, that thousands of people have used, all over your face. Yuck.
Next is Website. Does the artist/stylist you are hiring have a professional website? I know today people use social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook to show off their work, but you want to look for someone who has really invested the time and money into building a professional website for their business. Here you not only can view their work but can also access their rates, reviews, bio, etc
Reviews are so important to research! You want to work with someone who has reviews from past clients and read about their experience with this artist or stylist.
Experience: Most likely on their website they will have an about me section. There you can usually find more information on your stylist/artist of their career experience and find out their qualifications, education, training, etc. This doesn't necessarily mean someone with say 10 years in the business is better than someone with 5, but it's important to know the background of your stylist or artist to see if they fit your needs.
Portfolio is also very important when it comes to finding the right stylist or artist for you. You not only want to like their work, but you want to make sure their overall general aesthetic compliments yours. For example, if you are a bride who really loves the dramatic and glam hair and makeup, I would suggest finding someone who has a lot of that particular style in their portfolios. If you view their portfolio and find that most if not all of their work is nothing even close to what you'd like, then maybe that artist/stylist isn't the best fit. Many artists and stylists can accommodate all different styles but finding someone who can help create your vision for your wedding day and compliment your personal style would be best. If you are ever unsure of what your artist/stylist can create for you, be sure have a full consultation beforehand and book a trial.
Also, be cautious to artists who over edit their work. If you find photos of their work are heavily filtered and clearly edited with smoothing tools and photoshop, the work they deliver may not look like what is in their portfolios. Try to find a makeup artist that does not filter or heavily retouch their photos.
Last but certainly not least, is Pricing. Every bride has a budget and a lot goes into planning a wedding. There are many vendors to be considered to fit into this budget so its essential you budget properly to make sure you have enough put aside to invest in your wedding day hair and makeup. Again, this is probably the most photographed day of your life and you want to make sure you and your bridal party look and feel beautiful.
Ask yourself, What do I value? What are my needs? If you really value hair and makeup, need services for your whole party, need on location services, and require touch-ups, etc – you're going to need to invest in all of those luxury services. If you're a bride who doesn't necessarily care about her hair or makeup, you may not need or see value in all these luxury services. Your budget may be much different than someone who does. More needs = Higher Budget. If you want the best of the best, you're going to have to invest!
Also, keep in mind that experience plays a factor as well with pricing. Someone who has been a professional for longer may be more expensive than someone who hasn't. Someone who is in higher demand may also have higher rates.
Rates and pricing are most likely listed on their website. If not, contact the stylist or artist and ask for a price quote.
And most importantly: Be sure not to price shame. While the beauty industry is fun and rewarding, at the end of the day it is still a business. We are still a wedding vendor just like your DJ, and your florist, and your dress shop. Be sure to budget properly and do your research to find someone who will meet your needs and expectations that fits within your financial means. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for.
Written by Miranda Berube


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With Mother's Day falling on the 11th of March and my mum's birthday then coming around on the 20th, March can certainly be an expensive month for me, especially this year as she's celebrating a big birthday…her 50th (don't tell her I told you). It can be difficult to know what to get someone each year, given that they probably have everything already, so trying to rack up your brain to tick Mother's Day organisations off your to-do list can be rather tricky. Well, with a little helping hand from me, it might not be so difficult this year after you read this post, as I've got a few products that'll be sure to steal your mum's heart (they certainly stole my mum's as we both got to review them together).
Funky Pigeon* is an online card and gift company, and an extremely popular one at that. Whether you're wanting a personalised card or personalised gift, Funky Pigeon have got it, so you'll be guaranteed to find something to place in your shopping cart. Now, there's nothing I love more than a personalised gift, I feel like it comes across that a lot more thought has went into it when it has that personal touch from the gift giver. Funky Pigeon offer personalised boxes of chocolates (Lily O'Brien's chocolates if that entices you even more) and by personalised, it allows you to add pictures of your and your lovely mother, or any pictures of your preference to the lid of he box, with a little caption too. You know when you receive a gift and you sometimes try and guess what it is depending on the weight, size, shape (and by giving it a little shake too)? Mum's know everything so it's likely they'll guess that it's chocolate, but what they won't be expecting is the personalised picture on the front of the box upon opening it. I chose a picture of my mum and I from our annual trip to London last year where we were both glowing from all the nice weather we were lucky enough to experience. I was excited for these to arrive, although I wasn't quite sure how the picture would turn out on these box of chocolates given that it was a portrait picture rather than landscape like the box, but all I had to do was wait and see. I had high expectations but upon arrival I realised that these chocolates were OVER and ABOVE these expectations. The picture went so well with the colour scheme of the box, and I was just so impressed with how professional this box of chocolates looked with our pretty little faces plastered all over it (watch out, we might be the new faces of Lily O'Brien's). I could have waited till Mothers Day to give my mum the products featured in this post but what's a Mother's Day Gift Guide without the thoughts of an actual mother? Exactly. I was so excited about how this product turned out that I had to do the big reveal… and what can I say? My mum was not expecting it and yes, she even shed a tear due to just how much she appreciated them. I would actually say she was a little bit skeptical about even opening the box and eating the chocolates, I think she'd have happily left them untouched and as an ornament on the fireplace.
The chocolates themselves were delicious, and my mum kindly allowed me to tuck into them too. My personal favourites were the Orange Chocolate Ganache and Raspberry Creme, boy were they luxurious. These chocolates are part of Funky Pigeon's Mother's Day gift range and start from £19.95, increasing in price to £29.95 if you want two levels of chocolates (60 CHOCOLATES!!) I'd highly recommend going for the two tiered box as these chocolates really are that amazing. So if you're wanting to get your mum some chocolates this Mother's Day, give it that extra special touch and purchase them from Funky Pigeon, just dig out a photo(s) of your choice and get them delivered straight to her door.
As a little extra, the lovely Simon from Funky Pigeon actually popped a personalised keyring into my parcel too with the very same picture that was on the chocolates. I must say, the picture made a great keyring and since my mum got the chocolates, I thought I'd keep the keyring but no, my step dad wants it for his keys so he can show off his two favourite girls to everyone (1…2…3….awwwww). Personalised key rings cost £3.99 and would make a lovely little extra to go with the above chocolates!
Boxie Box UK* is a beautiful subscription box delivered to your door monthly, containing beauty and lifestyle treats to bring a smile to your face. This is the type of subscript box that you can purchase for yourself or for a loved one. With Mothers Day on the horizon Boxie Box were offering a special edition Mother's Day Box costing only £19.95 despite the RRP price of £35.00 (you're saving yourself £15 just like that). I was kindly sent the Mothers Day Box to review with my mum, and I was excited for this to arrive as I've always loved the idea of a monthly subscription box. This special edition contained 5 beautiful items: a floral hardback notebook, a floral rectangular cushion, a floral heart bug, a shabby chic wooden plaque, and a shabby chic 'mum' banner. From the outset, you can tell there's a floral theme going on, but this is a theme my mum is very much into so it went down a treat with her, as well as me. There's a great range of products within the box, covering everything that your mum will need. My mum does love her home decor so the little wooden plague and cushion make the perfect addition to her already floral bedroom.
For this subscription box, orders are shipped each month on the 15th, so if you were wanting the March box for example, you'd have to order this before the 15th, if you were to order after the 15th you'd then receive the following month's box (did I make any sense there?). At £19.95 this is money well spent, and I know for a fact my mum will hang her wooden plaque in the house with pride to let anyone that enters our house know that she really is the best mum.
Scribbler* are a card and gifts company, which you'll already know if you read my Valentines Day post where I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to collaborate with them. I was glad to properly get to know Scribbler last month, that for any occasion I'd now consider them when it comes to gift and card buying. With Mother's Day approaching they got back in touch with me to send out some samples, which was something to look forward to. If you're not quite sure what to get your mum then Scribbler have you covered, as you could make her up a little gift bag of goodies that they have to offer, that's exactly what Scribbler done for my mum. As well as being in a cute little gift bag covered in hearts, there were multiple items inside that were right up my mum's street (not only do they sell great things, but they can obviously read minds too). Firstly, there was a little book titled "Gin and Bear It", Scribbler have got me with these puns that are proudly displayed on their products, I'm absolutely loving them. This book is for all the gin lovers out there (including my mum), it features cocktail recipes, facts, and lots of fun for anyone who appreciates gin and all its gloriousness. There's definitely an alcohol theme going on with these products, with a lovely little prosecco lip balm that would make the perfect handbag companion for any mum out there. With the freezing weather conditions we've been having lately, carrying around a mini moisturiser for your lips aka this lip balm, you'll be cracking a smile and not your lips in the cold. Another alcoholic product (Scribbler have absolutely spoilt my mum and I rotten) was Joe and Seph's popcorn, which is genuinely the best popcorn out there. When I pulled it out the bag I was in disbelief to see it was PROSECCO flavoured popcorn, I couldn't have been more excited. This is another flavour to add to my favourite popcorns. There were also a bag of jelly beans and an eye mask with the caption "it's not a hangover, it's wine flu", which I must admit gave me a good laugh. This eye mask feels so comfy and isn't tight and irritating if you're to wear this to bed for a solid 7/8 hours. Surely from those products from Scribbler there's at least one if not more products that your mum would love.
In addition to their gift range, they have a wide range of Mother's Day cards, whether you're wanting a funny one or a straight up "I just love you" mum. Whether you're looking for a card along the lines of 'Mum you're amazing, now when's dinner ready?' or 'Don't tell Dad, but you're our favourite' there is so much choice so get on there and have a browse.
My final gift idea is quite possibly the most favourite gift idea I've come across, and I can't emphasise enough just how glad I am to have been given the opportunity to be introduced to this amazing company. My Icon Story allow you to create prints with your selected icons that tell your own personal story, hence the name. Again, this is a personalised gift and I'm in love with the idea of creating your own story through icons. I'm not going to go into too much detail about this product as there will be an upcoming post on My Icon Story where I'll provide an in-depth explanation about the whole process when creating your product, why I chose the icons that I chose, and my very own review of the product itself (there has been a delay with my order due to the crazy weather we had over the weekend). Above is my print and I can't wait till it's finally in the hands of my mum and is hanging up in the living room as I know it's going to look amazing, especially with the range of different colours I chose matching the colours within our living room. There are multiple different categories of icons to choose from, so it would be impossible not to find an icon that suits you or creates a story for your lovely mum. I had a lot of fun creating my print and I know that when I explain to my mum the reasons for choosing those icons, she'll be well and truly touched. This is an extremely unique gift that no one else will have so I'd highly recommend purchasing from My Icon Story (Olly Murs is even a big fan). If you order by midnight tomorrow, you'll not only get it on time for Mother's Day but you can use the code MOTHERSDAY18 for 10% OFF, so take advantage of that!
My mum and I had lots of fun reviewing these products, but what do you think of the featured products? I hope this post has gave you a few ideas if you're doing some last minute searching for the perfect Mother's Day gift, I'd be very surprised if you came away from reading this post still struggling. If my mum loved them, yours will too. Treat your mum and I hope Sunday is a lovely day for all of you out there.


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AAM 9.25 Differential Cover made from 1/4" steel. CNC Laser cut and CNC Press formed 8 times from one piece. The ultra thick 3/8" flange resists pulling off of the sealing surface while dragging the differential. Threaded fill plug already welded in place. Includes weld on skull logo and Grade 8 hardware. Differential ring and seams come welded and machined flat for a great fit.
As shown in print below, the cover protrudes 3.375" from the face of the differential once installed.
Great Value Even Better Protection!
Please note : Some 2017+ Dodge Ram models have a different front differential. We're investigating currently, but please check visual shape of cover before ordering while we work through this issue.
- One (1) Differential Cover 1/4" Steel Plate With 3/8" Thick Ring
- All Necessary Installation Hardware
Customer Reviews
Great Product and quick delivery.
Perfect fit. Balls tough Great price
Vary nice diff covers for the price and I'd venture to say probably the strongest on the market for the dodge axles
Awesome product and fast shipping. Thanks guys!
Fantastic Diff cover. Just wish you made one for the rear AAM 10.5 in the Power Wagons! Fit and finish were top notch. Thanks!


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We are a family owned creative agency, based in Ipswich, Suffolk.
We help businesses, both big and small, across a multitude of sectors to communicate their independent spirit in smart and creative ways.
Every project is different. We like that!
We will help you create a concise brand strategy essential for starting something new or maintaining your successful business.
Our design services are aimed at promoting your business from creation to on-going marketing, design and digital collateral.
We combine art direction and photography to create captivating images to really grab your customers' attention.
WHAT's new...


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I had a super productive day off yesterday. The morning was spent making the drapes for our bedroom that I've been talking about for the last several entries. DH hung them this morning while I was at work. The fabric is silk dupioni and was a dream to work with. I am very happy with how they turned out. DH loves them too. The window faces the west and I was hoping the drapes would block out the light the blinds don't block. They do that. I don't know why I waited so long to make them. It took me longer to cut the silk, the lining and the interlining than it did to sew the five seams in each panel!
In case you're wondering, the white object at the bottom of the photo is our portable air conditioner. Instead of putting the AC in the window there is a large flexible tube, very similar to a dryer vent that sits in the window. The AC is on wheels and can be moved easily. We love it!
Yesterday afternoon I traced six stitchery projects: four Christmas Wish blocks, the Long and Short Stitching pattern, and one Giggle Button project. When I trace projects I use tracing paper and an Aunt Martha Transfer pencil. That way I can iron the pattern onto the fabric. It takes longer to get a stitchery ready, but it works for me.
Last night I worked on a secret project for a couple hours. Can't show photos until done. Hopefully I'll get it done this week.
There's a new post on Your Creative Spaces. Won't you drop by and post your space?
I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
Sweet P


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Jamaica, a Caribbean island nation, has a lush topography of mountains, rainforests and reef-lined beaches. Many of its all-inclusive resorts are clustered in Montego Bay, with its British-colonial architecture, and Negril, known for its diving and snorkeling sites. Jamaica is famed as the birthplace of reggae music, and its capital Kingston is home to the Bob Marley Museum, dedicated to the famous singer.
Points of Interest
Guest Houses and Tour Services
Interesting Figures
Andrew Michael Holness
Andrew Michael Holness, ON, MP has been the Prime Minister of Jamaica since 3 March 2016, following the 25 February 2016 general elections. Read More →
Marlon James
Marlon James wins the Man Booker prize 2015.Author of A Brief History of Seven Killings – a fictional account of an attempt to take Bob Marley's life – first Jamaican writer to win prestigious prize. Read More →
Mutabaruka (formerly Allan Hope) was born in Rae town, Kingston on 26th December, 1952. After primary education he attended Kingston Technical high School, where he was a student for four years. Read More →


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Dubbed a freight forwarder for the internet age, Flexport is among a group of start-ups looking to disrupt the field of logistics, digitizing the processes that their more established competitors currently handle by relying on telephones, spreadsheets and fax machines. And launched just four years ago, the San Francisco-based company, that now employs over 400 staff across seven international offices, has recently been valued by investors at more than $1 billion.
Shunning the industry's traditional and costly paper-led approach in favor of the speed and efficiency of software, Flexport's web-based app allows clients to organize transportation, clear customs and arrange associated services online, as well as offering real-time visibility of their shipments. Data analysis enables the company to optimize shipping routes and simplify relationships with all parties along the supply chain, from ports to truck drivers, and by reducing container travel time this also allows clients to keep less inventory to hand, without incurring the risk of running out.
Just a year after raising $65 million at a valuation of $365 million, Flexport is thought to have recently closed a new round of funding. According to TechCrunch, multiple sources have confirmed that the start-up, which has received support from Carmen via venture capital investor Susa Ventures and independently, has completed a $110 million Series C at an $800 million pre-money valuation, viewed by the company as more manageable than the $1 billion originally touted. "We've always sought the best investors, and the investors who can help the company the most don't always offer the highest valuation," explained Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen to Forbes.com.
Founded in 2013, Susa Ventures manages two early-stage technology funds. The company's focus is investing in teams with technical founders, and companies that use data, network effects or economies of scale to build value and achieve longevity. Since its launch, Susa has funded 41 companies, including Flexport, and in keeping with its rather unique family-style approach to business, has helped numerous founders connect with and learn from one another.
"Susa has been hands-down one of Flexport's most engaged, connected, and helpful investors," said Flexport's Ryan Petersen. "Over half of our anchor clients came through Susa introductions, and those in turn led to the other half coming on board. Flexport would be half as good a company without the clients that came through Susa introductions."
Ryan Petersen, who has an MBA from Columbia and a B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley, is also the founder and ex-CEO of ImportGenius.com, the largest provider of business intelligence to the import-export industry. It was importing dirt bikes and scooters from China with his brother, which involved having to deal with freight forwarders, that led the entrepreneur to realize how antiquated the industry was, and subsequently resulted in the launch of Flexport in 2013.
The new capital raised will undoubtedly help Flexport continue to transition from a pure-play software company handling logistics to a bona fide freight company. The start-up opened its first warehouses at Los Angeles International Airport and Hong Kong International Airport last month, with more scheduled to follow, a move that will allow Flexport to offer a wider range of services and gain market share - Petersen told Forbes he expects revenues of $500 million this year, which compares to those in excess of $1 billion currently enjoyed by 25 of the company's freight forwarding competitors.
"It's a logical step for [Flexport] as well as for any other start-ups looking to disrupt this market,'" Cathy Roberson, a shipping industry analyst, explained to wsj.com. "Right now a lot of those start-ups are nothing more but marketplaces where all you can do is compare rates, book freight, manage documents and so on. It's time for them to start differentiating themselves."


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School Groups
Save 45%
Exclusive discounts are available for school groups of 20 or more, including 1 FREE admission ticket for every 10 summer season tickets purchased*, deeply discounted dining deals, and more! Plus, school groups are invited to participate in our 6 yearly Education Days. Start planning your Hersheypark® visit today!
Pre-Purchased Schools Save
Hersheypark Summer Season Purchase by Sept 29, 2019
Tickets Valid All Summer May 3 - Sept 29, 2019$69.80 $38.50
Hersheypark In The Dark Event
Tickets Valid Weekends October 18 - November 3$42.80 $34.00
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane
Tickets Valid November 15 - January 1, 2020$31.80 $22.85
Download Seasonal Order Forms
2019 Education Days
Learning is FUNdamental at Hersheypark! Students enjoy hands-on experiences across curriculums during our 6 yearly Education Days! Not able to visit on an Education Day? Use our manuals below to customize a day of your choice.
- History Day | Friday, May 3
- Discover the history behind our founder Milton S. Hershey, the town of Hershey, the Milton Hershey School, and Hersheypark by attending the Hershey Trolley Works' fun and informative presentations during History Day! The show is scheduled in the Music Box Theatre at 1:00pm for your convenience. During your visit, complete our fun and educational crossword puzzle designed for History Day. Answers can be found throughout the Park and during the presentation. Walk away from the day with a richer appreciation of our founder, Milton S. Hershey, and his legacy. Download & Print Crossword
- Physics Day | Friday, May 10
- The Franklin Institute will host a Physics showdown, an interactive tour-de-force with two sci-athletes engaging in a battle for science supremacy. From the opening bell our sci-athletes will explain the physics behind a series of demonstrations. The referee will keep everything in line and administer fouls as necessary. This Physics Edition is sure to have some explosive and memorable moments! Presentation times are at 11 AM and 1 PM at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre. View Physics Manual
- STEM Day | Friday, May 17
Enjoy two unique STEM education focused presentations during your Hersheypark visit!
Bean To Bar The Science Of Chocolate
Learn about the science behind the sweetness! Linda Wright, Hershey Fellow from The Hershey Company's Chocolate Research & Development Team, will present "Bean to Bar: The Science of Chocolate" - a brief history of chocolate, the chocolate product development process, and food science career paths. During her presentation she will also lead the audience through a "taste panelist" activity, where you will be able to sample Hershey's products and learn how science is used to develop their unique taste and textures. Presentation begins at 11:30am at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre.
View Science Manual
From Field to Coaster
How Hersheypark's Engineering and Construction Team Builds a New Roller Coaster." Did you ever wonder how a new roller coaster is built? This presentation will take the audience through the process of installing our Skyrush roller coaster. Hersheypark's mechanical engineer will explain how a roller coaster is designed, built, tested, and ready for opening day. Presentation begins at 1:30pm at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre.
View Math Manual
- Entertaining Arts Day | Thursday, May 23
The spotlight shines on the award-winning shows at Hersheypark on Entertaining Arts Day! Students will have the opportunity to take a special behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce our resident shows, and meet the animal trainers and sea lion stars of our Aquatheatre show.
- Come watch "Our Friends From the Sea" show and participate in a question and answer session with our trainers. Show starts at 11:45 AM at the Aquatheatre.
- Meet our beach group "The Waves" as they demonstrate how their voices create the harmonies we hear in their songs. Show starts at 1 PM at the Sound Zone in front of the restrooms near Fahrenheit.
- Be entertained with a preview of our new 2019 show followed by a question and answer session with our Hersheypark production staff and cast. Show starts at 2:15 PM at the Music Box Theater:
- Business & Marketing Day | Friday, May 24
Join our 2nd annual Marketing Campaign Challenge! Create an attraction to bring to Hersheypark and build your marketing campaign, including a name, logo, email, mailer, and radio spot. Groups are judged by a panel of leaders from Hersheypark and The Hershey Company. All participants in the Marketing Campaign Challenge will receive a sweet treat courtesy of Hershey's Chocolate World. The Challenge winners will receive a prize package including a team trophy, Hersheypark snack vouchers for all group members on the winning team, and Hershey's Gold Kisses and t-shirts courtesy of Hershey's Chocolate World.
Not able to participate? No problem! Everyone is welcome to attend the presentations and cheer on their favorite school groups as they present their campaigns beginning at 12 PM at the Hersheypark Ampitheatre.
Check Back For 2020 Details.
- Health & Wellness Day | Friday, May 31
Spend a day of wellness and physical activity at Hersheypark! Students will start the day by picking up a Health & Wellness scavenger hunt upon entering the Park. Have fun getting exercise by joining a mini dance party with our Hershey's Characters at 11:30 AM in front of the Echo Dell Stage across from the Music Box Theatre. Complete the scavenger hunt and redeem it for a prize at Hershey's Chocolate World. Then your group can enjoy our healthy dining options and spend the rest of the day exploring 121 acres of fun. It's a day focused on Hersheypark Happy
...and Hersheypark Healthy! View Wellness Manual
- Homeschool Month | May 3- May 31
Hersheypark invites Home School families to enjoy a special discount during the month of May! Participate in our scheduled education days or customize your own visit.
Download Order Form


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Cuckfield Bonfire Saturday 2nd Nov/
The skies of Cuckfield will once again light up on 2nd November as the village holds its annual Bonfire celebrations.
The event, which includes fireworks to music, will be held at Cuckfield Park.
Gates open at 6pm and the bonfire will be lit at 6.45pm. Fireworks to music with the Bright FM roadshow start at 7.30pm.
Admission costs £7 for adults, £5 for under 16s and under 4s go free. Food on offer includes hog roast, hot dogs, burgers, bacon butties, hot & cold drinks, snacks, sweets, popcorn and doughnuts. Proceeds go to Holy Trinity School Cuckfield, Woodlands Meed and other local charities. The event is sponsored by Bright FM, G4S – and the Firework display is by Pyro 1.


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Hair & Body Care Products Class
This in-depth, fun & hands-on training workshop is designed for those serious in making professional natural hair & body care products for personal use, or to sell in hair salons, or to customers. No previous training or knowledge is required, and you'll be amazed at how easy it is.
All ingredients are dimethicone-free, paraben-free, sulphate-free, environmentally-friendly & vegan-friendly (no animal products used and no animal testing required). You'll make shampoo & hair conditioners that don't leave annoying build-up in your hair which can cause dry skin issues.
Hair & body care formulations don't have to contain hundreds of unpronounceable ingredients to be good. We'll teach you to use cutting edge plant-based ingredients and specialised vitamins, essential oils & herbal extracts for specific hair types so you can easily tailor your products.
You'll make: shampoo, conditioner, foamy facial cleanser, combined Baby Shampoo/Mild Bath & Body wash, Bubble Bath, and you'll get to take it all home with you! You'll also receive your very own in-depth instruction manual so you can continue making your products in the future!
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm (Please do try to arrive on time as product formulas require very precise timings and the class cannot wait. Also please allow an extra half hour just in case products need to cool before leaving the workshop.
Location: Heirloom Body Care
Unit 9, 28 Coombes Drive
02 4722 2123
Cost: $250 per person (includes morning tea, refreshments, lunch & afternoon tea, your own In-depth Manual and commission for our Facilitator who travels 2 hours to teach this class).
Cancellation Policy: Should you need to cancel your class please let us know as soon as this information is available. We are happy for you to send another person instead, or to transfer your booking to another time slot. We do not, however offer a refund if you are unable to attend. In the rare event that we need to cancel your class we will let you know as soon as this information comes to hand. We reserve the right to supply another teacher for your class should Andrew be unavailable, to allow your class to proceed with minimal interruption. If circumstances cannot be worked with we will provide another date for your class if you wish, or a full refund of your course costs if you prefer. We are unable to refund any transport or accommodation costs you may have incurred. That said, we would do our utmost to ensure all courses proceed as planned where there is the usual possibility to do so.


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Campeonato Brasileiro 2008 end of season round up
December 12, 2008 at 08:51 6 comments
The Brasileiro is over for yet another year and now the dust has settled it's time to reflect on the outcome and take a closer look at some of the league's statistics.
On the face of it, we couldn't have asked for much more from a championship. The league title, two Libertadores places and two relegation places were decided on the final day. Five clubs were in the running for the title from the start and any four from ten could have dropped into Série B.
As it turned out, it was no surprise Portuguesa and Ipatinga went. Five different coaches couldn't help Figueirense. But one has to feel a little sorry for the Santa Catarina club who have produced some reasonable teams on a shoestring budget. Vasco crashed into Série B for the first time in their history. They had teetered on the brink a number of times since the turn of the century but also managed a couple of decent finishes under Renato Gaúcho (2008 excepted). In hindsight, the sale of Morais to Corinthians was a mistake. Likewise, the gamble of bringing in old boys such as Edmundo (who earlier in the season was picking and choosing the game he played in), Pedrinho, and Odvan also failed. Palmeiras, Botafogo, Grêmio and Corinthians have all suffered the same fate since 2000. All bounced back at the first time of asking and in better condition. Vasco have got off to a positive start by appointing Dorival junior who produced some good football with São Caetano, Cruzeiro and Coritiba in recent seasons. Will Vasco be missed? If former president Eurico Miranda had still been in charge, the answer would have been a resounding 'no'. Under Roberto Dinamite, Vasco's demise has generated a lot of sympathy. Vasco played a significant part in the history of Brazilian football and in all probability they will do so once again.
São Paulo, as we all know, made it three in a row. But were they worthy champions this time? Even São Paulo fans admit their team rarely produced great football and had luck on their side on more than one occasion (the 'offside' goal vs Goiás on the last day was a case in point).
The Morumbi club took the trophy after spending just 6 rounds at the top. Grêmio led for 17 rounds and Flamengo 9 (not including round one). São Paulo were neither the league's top scorers (Flamengo 67) or had the best defence (Grêmio 35) but came a close second in both departments. They weren't even the best home side. Cruzeiro took that honour with a total of 47 points but again São Paulo came second alongside Grêmio with 46. The Tricolor, however, were the most successful away team; winning 7, drawing 8, losing 4 and in the process amassing 29 points. Grêmio came second with 26 points on their travels.
São Paulo's start to this campaign led many to believe that their days as champions were over. Things were so bad that they even found themselves in the bottom four for two rounds (3 and 4). For a time it looked like the tactics (ten man defence, hoof the ball forward to one of the large players, earn a free-kick on the edge of the opposition area) that Muricy Ramalho had used so effectively over the previous two seasons had finally been sussed. Calls for the coach's head grew and Ramalho was on the verge of getting the boot.
So how did São Paulo turn their seasons around? With the departure of their big target men Adriano and Aloísio, Ramalho was forced to adjust his team's playing style. This enforced change was to prove significant. São Paulo had to abandon the high ball into the area and instead began to play it into the feet of the more mobile pair of Borges and Dagoberto.
At the back, there were also changes. Alex Silva's move to Hamburg caused problems. Old boy Rodrigo returned and things began to tighten up. But the transition process took time. São Paulo remained out of contention and were at one stage 11 points behind Grêmio. The tricolor finally broke into the top four in round 18. But their position there was short-lived and they soon slipped back down the table. It wasn't until round 29 that they clawed their way back to the Libertadores places. 4 matches later, São Paulo went top after beating Internacional 3-0 on the 2nd of November.
Pure dogged persistence took the Morumbi club to pole position. But it was their ability to avoid defeat that was key to clinching the title. The top three all won 21 games. Cruzeiro lost 13, Grêmio 8, and São Paulo 5 and finished the season just 3 points clear of the Celso Roth's team.
Love him or loathe him, you've got to hand it to Muricy Ramalho for driving his team to the title yet again. But it is São Paulo's excellent infrastructure that provides the backbone for their success. The youth team training centre in Cotia and São Paulo's state-of the-art medical centre, Reffis, are the envy of every other club in the league and will serve them well for seasons to come.
So what happened to São Paulo's main contenders?
Palmeiras sold Henrique and Valdívia early on. Kléber picked up way too many suspensions. And Vanderlei Luxemburgo could do nothing to correct Palmeiras' inability to perform away from home.
Cruzeiro lacked consistency. They would beat Grêmio 3-0 one week and lose to Goiás by the same score the next round. Selling Marcelo Moreno, Jonathas, Kerlon, and Charles showed a lack of ambition from the club directors who once again were content to settle for a Libertadores place.
Flamengo let three important players (Souza, Renato Augusto, Marcinho) go when they were top of the league. The Rio side were also guilty of throwing away points. In the recent home game vs Goiás, Fla were 3 goals up but finished the match 3-3.
Caio Júnior demonstrated his inadequacies time and again. Fortunately for Flamengo they'll be a new man in charge next season.
Even die-hard Grêmio fans will admit that their club surpassed all expectations in 2008. With a relatively small squad and without any big names, Celso Roth worked wonders to get Grêmio to a second-place finish. Roth had (and still has) his critics and was roundly booed by a contingent of Grêmio fans at the start of the campaign. The coach, though, did enough to impress the Porto Alegre club's board and has just been given a one-year extension on his contract. Grêmio fell away with the injury to frontman Perea but if he had stayed fit, the outcome of this Brasileiro may have been different.
Everyone agrees that the championship was the closest and most keenly fought for years. True, the Brasileiro is an open and unpredictable league, and for the first time in a couple of seasons, there was no absolute favourite for the title. But as it turned out, there was no outstanding team in the tournament. In the end, there was little to separate the top five. What is worrying is the growing tendency to try to emulate Muricy Ramalho's and São Paulo's playing style because for now at least, it appears to be the way to success in the league. Palmeiras under Vanderlei Luxemburgo were perhaps the exception. However, had the Palestra Itália team been a little more like São Paulo in defence, they would have posed a greater threat in the run-in.
So, did São Paulo deserve to be champions? The answer is, yes. Did I enjoy commentating on most of their games? You've got to be kidding! But the 1-1 draw away at Atlético Paranaense was thrilling and showed everyone what the kids at the club can do if given the freedom to express themselves. The 4-2 win at Flamengo and the 2-1 home win against Palmeiras weren't bad. I also enjoyed immensely the two games vs Grêmio. Haha.
Now some stats.
The goal average was a respectable 2.7. Our televised games averaged out at 2.5 (four 0-0s in 53 matches).
Flu's Washington, Coritiba's Keirrison and Santos' Kléber Pereira grabbed 21 each.
Top scorers were Flamengo with 67. Ipatinga bagged just 37.
The biggest thrashing was Figueirense 1-7 Grêmio.
1-0 was the most common score (69 times)
Grêmio had the best defence letting in 35. Figueirense conceded 73.
Botafogo received 12 red cards. Santos got 2. Fla's Diego Tardelli, Grêmio's Léo, Botafogo's Andre Luís and Palmeiras' Kleber, were the bad boys with 3 reds each.
Goiás picked up 117 yellows. Atlético Mineiro, Cruzeiro and Ipatinga got 86. Palmeiras' Martinez, Goiás' Ramalho and Ipatinga's Augusto Recife were carded 15 times.
The average gate remained a disappointing 16,966. Flamengo's average was a reasonable 40,694, Grêmio had 31,725 and Cruzeiro managed 24,245. League champions São Paulo came in 5th with 21,331. No prizes for guessing that the lowest average was Ipatinga who performed to around 3602 (three thousand) per match. 77,387 turned up for Flamengo's 3-0 home loss against Atlético Mineiro. 153 (yes, one hundred and fifty three) were there in the Vila Belmiro for Santos 4-0 Atlético Paranaense in round 28.
12 clubs changed coach – Atlético Paranaense, Figueirense and Náutico went through five different managers each.
The 2009 Brasileiro gets underway on May 3rd. But we'll be back transmitting games from Brazil on Saturday January 24th with the Campeonato Paulista (though the competition starts on the 21st).
Entry filed under: Campeonato Brasileiro 2008. Tags: Brasileiro top scorers 2008, Brazilian football, Campeonato Brasileiro 2008 statistics, Cruzeiro, Flamengo, Grêmio, Keirrison, Libertadores, muricy ramalho, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Valdivia, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Vasco.
6 Comments Add your own
Excellent round up of the Campeonato Brasiliero. It was unpredicatable at both ends of the table throughout the year.
I'm already looking forward to next years championship and hope that Inter will break into that top four in 2009.
I hope you write a preview for the start of the next years championship!
My thanks too for the excellent review of the season. I think we should stop being surprised that Sao Paulo keeps winning championships. It is as pitacodogringo writes based in large part on the club's superb organization. The names may change but the final results don't for Sao Paulo. Watch out for them in the first half of 2009 in the Copa Libertadores.
Two quick questions, what happened with Daniel Carvalho at Internacional? I didn't see him these last few months, so I wasn't sure if he's been injured or returned to Europe. But I have always liked his play.
How did Sao Caetano do in Serie B? I had the impression they were a pretty well run club but they have fallen on hard times these past few years. I hope they can make their way abck up to the first division.
An enjoyable round-up 🙂
Was that Flamengo 0-3 Atletico Mineiro game the highest attendance of the season then? Glad I was there to see it then!
Thank you for the reply, I too have a soft spot for Sao Caetano and hope they can someday soon find a way to climb out of their 2nd division purgatory.
Maybe Daniel Carvalho was a flash in the pan or as we say in Spanish, a flower for a day. When Dunga first took over Brazil, Daniel Carvalho was pretty effective for the team but it sounds as if his form has really dropped since then.
Perhaps Colorado Matt can answer this but I was watching the pre match broadcast before the Copa Sudamericana Final and there was talk of how popular Pablo Guinazu is with Inter's fans. No surprise as he is one of those players who leaves it all on the field of play. I'll be curious if Inter can hold on to Nilmar, D'Alessandro, Alex and Guinazu for the first half of next year. If they can then they have the opportunity to become a very good team.
In Ecuador there is talk that Getafe may loan Joffre Guerron, the star of Liga de Quito's Libertadores triumph, to Santos. Guerron has a big ego and that is one reason why he has not settled with Getafe.
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text: Trillia Newbell @trillianewbell Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015) and United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity (2014). Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She has spoken at numerous conferences, churches, women's retreats, colleges and seminaries, including True Woman, The Gospel Coalition Women's conference, Southeastern Theological Seminary, and more. She currently is the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. Newbell was the Lead Editor of Karis, the women's channel for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (2013-2015). In November 2011, she launched a Christian women's blog-style e-zine, Women of God Magazine, where she was the managing editor. Her greatest love besides God is her family. She is married to her best friend and love, Thern. They reside with their two children near Nashville, Tennessee. Trillia Newbell's Resources Sexual Abuse Article 6 ways pastors can care for victims of sexual abuse by Trillia Newbell We are in a significant moment in our society because of the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements. As we have now seen clearly, sexual abuse and assault has deeply affected the Southern Baptist Convention. People are coming forward about suffering abuse... Continue... Events Article Hope for the future after the first ERLC women's summit by Trillia Newbell There will be many topics that will be remembered in 2018 but perhaps none greater than the #Metoo and #churchtoo movements. Sexual abuse, assault, and allegations of inappropriate behavior swept through our culture and our churches. The ERLC made it... Continue... Manhood And Womanhood Article Submit questions for a new podcast series on women's issues by Trillia Newbell In the beginning of 2019, the ERLC Podcast will run a guest series hosted by me, Trillia Newbell, featuring women throughout evangelicalism. More will be shared about the scope and purpose of the podcast in the coming weeks, but one... Continue... Family Article Why it's important to be a cross-shaped family in today's culture by Trillia Newbell This is the latest ERLC end-of-year update as part of our RISE Campaign. It's not a new understanding that culture influences children—it always has. But in our current cultural climate, it might be easy to argue that Christian parents must... Continue... Sexual Abuse Article #Metoo: The prevalence of sexual assault and a call to the church by Trillia Newbell Over the past week, the revelations of a Hollywood mogul's harassment, sexual assault, and threats came to light, making waves throughout Tinseltown. Harvey Weinstein was a successful American film producer and studio executive. He was also a man who used... Continue... Parenting Article Two motivations for the mundane works of motherhood by Trillia Newbell Monday is likely the most dreaded day of the week. And we all know why. It's the day that crushes the anticipation of Friday, the joy of Saturday, and the restfulness of Sunday. It's when most of us return to... Continue... Hunger Article Exercise for hunger: Join us at the GHR run by Trillia Newbell On Wednesday, June 14, the high in Phoenix, Ariz., is estimated to be around 101 degrees. I'm told the scorching temperatures won't actually feel quite as hot as 101 might sound because it's a "dry heat." It's seems logical, then,... Continue... Christian Living Article 4 good things we can turn into idols by Trillia Newbell There's something about marriage that can reveal the good, the bad and the ugly of the heart. Before marriage, I remember thinking I was a decent human being. I didn't realize that I had many passions and desires that would... Continue... Christian Living Article The idolatry of gifts and enjoying the better treasure by Trillia Newbell For many of us around the country, the sound of birds chirping in the air, the warmth of the sun on our skin and daylight well into the evening means two things: spring is here and summer is coming! I... Continue... Christian Living Article Fasting and feasting during Lent by Trillia Newbell The Lenten season begins today. Lent is a time when many, even within the Protestant tradition, fast from various food or habits for 40 to 46 days. For some of us, it might serve as an opportunity to fast from... Continue... « 1 2 3 … 5 … »


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Canyonlands National Park: Biking, Kayaking & StargazingAs the largest national park in Utah, Canyonlands National Park offers exciting activities from scenic drives, hiking trails and 4WD roads to swimming, canoeing and kayaking at the Colorado and Green Rivers. Experience whitewater rafting at Cataract Canyon or try mountain biking the 100-mile White Rim Road at Island in the Sky. The road itself up to the peak provides jaw-dropping views of the surrounding canyon country. Boasting some of the darkest night skies in North America, this dramatically beautiful park become a popular destination for stargazing. From April-June thousands of native wildflowers create a colorful backdrop for the panoramic vistas.
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Bottle Squad Numbers
Set of 16
Product description
Manufactured from a flexible rubber, these handy tools come in a small band design. Each one has been printed with a number between 1-12 and 14-17 in a contrasting white tone. They have been sizer appropriately to place around the body of standard water bottles and act as a visual indicator of each bottle's owner. Match the numbers to your player's individual numbers and ensures every player stays properly hydrated at all times.
These compact numbers can be stored easily and transported to your desired location with ease.
Features include:
- A stretchy design that allows them to accommodate most water bottle sizes
- Easy identification process to ensure all players are allocated a bottle of water during halftime
- Hygienic design that can be wiped clean after intense game
Product features
Numbers 1-12,14-17. Hygenic. Colour may vary.


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Seattle is the current crane capitol of the nation, with three times more cranes dotting our skyline than New York City (despite being only a fraction of the size!)
According to a recent article by Seattle Times writer Mike Rosenberg, at the end of 2016, Seattle had a total of 62 cranes within the city, which is up from 58 in the middle of last year.
To read more, please visit: Seattle Times | Seattle is Again Crane Capitol of America but Lead is Shrinking
Within a city, cranes are an excellent measure of growth. In Seattle, the tech boom alongside other factors such as increased foreign investment has driven this growth and created the need for these looming giants to expand our cityscape.
We currently have one of the hottest housing markets in the nation and the sheer and steadily increasing number of cranes details this.
From an investment standpoint, now is the perfect time to find your dream home.
If you are in the market to sell your property, it is also the perfect time to take advantage of the Seattle's hot housing market.
Whether you are looking for your dream home, selling your current property, or seeking an investment property, I would be happy to assist you with all of your real estate needs. Please contact me here.


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Investors doing business or looking to do business in Brazil must beware of the "Brazilian Cost." Brazilian cost or Brazil cost is a term coined by economists and entrepreneurs to define the additional operational expending incurred when doing business in Brazil. The Brazil cost has its roots in three great cost centres: the extreme Brazil taxes, lack of investments in infrastructure and labor costs. Those additional costs reduce the country's opportunity to compete with products produced abroad and are a burden to consumers in the internal market.
To illustrate how the Brazil taxes affect the product's final price, imagine a simple retail sale. This sale contains four different types of tax in the same transaction. Now imagine an entrepreneur from abroad having to deal with mandatory systems to register, process, and pay those Brazil taxes. It is clear that the entrepreneur will be dealing with a cost burden, especially considering the time spent in paperwork, controls, systems and specialized staff.
The World Bank reports the annual time spent per country to prepare and pay the corporate income tax, sales tax and labor tax (including payroll taxes and social contributions) which illustrates the Brazil tax system complexity. The report informs that in Brazil the time spent in 2012 was 2,600 hours against 131 hours in Canada, 332 hours in China, 132 hours in France, 207 hours in Germany, 243 hours in India, 330 hours in Japan, 177 hours in Russia, 110 hours in United Kingdom and 175 hours in the United States. The substantial difference between hours spent in Brazil versus hours spent in developed countries and (Brazil, Russia, India and China) BRIC's is an indicator that the tax system in place is time consuming and expensive. This cost allocated to Brazilian products reduces the country's competitiveness.
Another factor that increases the Brazil cost is the infrastructure. When examining the infrastructure, consider the investments made in railroads, highways, airports and ports. The railroads according with the 2006 data has an extension of 28,000 km. It is a small system considering the country's extension and the states covered. The services offered are mainly for ore, iron and grains.
The absence of railroads, especially in developed states, results in a shipping system concentrated in highways. The Brazilian highways suffer from an endemic lack of maintenance and expansion which promotes high costs of transportation and a non reliable system of delivery. It is routine in the country to have deliveries delayed for days at a time. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) for merchandize, in general, is an item that logistics companies cannot achieve regularly. The blame falls in the country's highway quality.
According to studies from Dom Cabral Foundation (FDC), companies are spending 13 per cent of their revenues in logistics costs. The long distance transportation is the one that has most contributed to the Brazilian infrastructure cost. The same scenario occurs with airports and ports. Investments to attend import and export activities were planned and budgetted by the Brazilian Government.
The new MP Ports legislation, currently at the Brazilian Congress to be voted, allows private sectors to create new rules for the concession of public ports and operate ports competing with the public ones. The Brazilian government intends to transform and modernize the industry by opening to new investors by changing the rules. The costs are expected to be reduced substantially and the operational efficiency improved. Nowadays, the average time a container stay in Santos is twelve days, compared to three in Hamburg, and the costs in place are considered exorbitant.
When analyzing the Brazilian costs, one item plays a very important role: the labour costs. They are the direct and indirect labour costs utilized by an entity to produce goods and services. Skilled workers are necessary to attend the demand for industrialized goods. At this point, the labour force available in the country is not able to attend the requirements of modern industries. The labour force available must be prepared and trained to perform the activities required. This is an additional cost that companies confront every moment in the country.
Another aspect to be evaluated by entrepreneurs, when budgeting their labor costs, are the Brazilian labour taxes including the payroll taxes, social contributions and the indirect costs derived from the labour system in place. Those costs can reach 103 per cent of the salary paid to an employee. The costs incurred in training and in labour taxes are aggravated, especially in times when the Brazilian currency is over evaluated when compared with the American dollar. The Brazilian products cannot compete with similar goods produced in Singapore, Taiwan, Mexico, China, India and East Europe.
The above brief descriptions of the three main components of the Brazilian costs are important indicators to be analyzed by entrepreneurs when deciding investments. The competition with similar products offered in the world market is a risk to be measured. On the other side, Brazil has a strong internal market 75 trillion representing 65 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In 2020, it is predicted that 145 million inhabitants of a population of 207 million will be in the labor force. The population income per capita is expected to grow 30 per cent in classes A and B, and 50 per cent in classes C and D. Taking into consideration the Brazilian internal market, the policies adopted by authorities to protect the goods produced in the country, the policies to reduce Brazilian costs, investments in projects to attend the internal market are considered a reasonable option.
I welcome your questions and comments.


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Anyone who has met Madhu knows what a great guy he is - but that does not stop us from marvelling at the support that we are seeing for this swim!
On November 14, Harvinder Dev opened up her beautiful home to a group of more than 30 ladies for a fundraising event for Madhu. It involved a painting class, wine, a raffle, wine, friends, and did I mention wine? Great fun was had by all, some great art was produced, and Madhu took a moment to thank everyone and speak briefly about the crossing attempt. The question again and again by the women was "Why?"
This is not a question with one single answer, or an easy one to pin down, but we tried, and you can read about it here: Why The Straits of Magellan?
Our deepest thanks to the fundraising committee of Lucy Rasmussen, Kim Czender, Harvinder Dev and Suman Joseph for the hard work in putting this event together, to the businesses that donated products and gift certificates, and of course, to everyone that came to this event and had a great time!
There are still a few tickets left for our next event on December 6th - go here for more details