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Liberty University students got a special treat at Monday's convocation service as they were shown clips from the upcoming film Son of God by its producers, Mark Burnett and Roma Downey.
Johnnie Moore, senior vice president for communications, introduced the married couple, calling them the "prototypical image of people who are excellent at their craft and yet committed to their faith."
Downey, an Emmy-nominated actress, is best known for her recurring role on the television program Touched by an Angel. Burnett, a five-time Emmy winner, has been credited with starting the reality television phenomenon. He is the creator of hit shows such as "Survivor," "The Voice, The Apprentice, Shark Tank and, with his wife, The Bible. He has produced more than 2,400 hours of programming that air regularly in more than 70 countries. He has also been named to Forbes' list of the world's 100 most influential celebrities.
Burnett and Downey have been producing together for five years. Burnett said they decided to leverage their voice in Hollywood to put the Bible on primetime TV.
"We have a big platform with what we do for a living," Burnett said. "So we have a chance to say a lot about the love of Jesus and our love for Him. ... [But] you still have to be really good at your craft; just being Christian doesn't make it OK to make bad content."
After the global success of The Bible miniseries on the History Channel last spring (viewed by more than 100 million people), the couple re-edited episodes featuring Jesus and added more footage to create a major motion picture: Son of God, which opens in theaters Feb. 28. The film will also be released in Spanish and Korean.
"We knew that the footage that we had on the life of Jesus was so extraordinary that it deserved its own big-screen moment," Downey said. "Jesus has not been on the big screen in 10 years, so there is a whole generation of young people who have not had an opportunity to go to the theater and see the life of our Savior on the big screen."
The couple shared two scenes, a music video and a trailer from the film.
Downey also shared stories from the set, illustrating how God was working behind the scenes in the creation of the miniseries and film.
"This whole project began with prayer," she said. "It came in on a whisper in our hearts to make this series, and we prayed on it."
Burnett said they wanted to provide a fresh visual reference point for young people to experience the Bible, similar to how the 10 Commandments and the Jesus film did for previous generations.
He said that while Christ calls Christians to be as harmless as doves and as wise as serpents, Christians today tend to embrace the former and forget the latter. He challenged Liberty students to strive for excellence and become the next generation of Christian leaders.
"It is never easy, and there are no guarantees of the outcome. ... You just have to pray and have faith," he said. "But remember, just praying and having faith and staying on the couch isn't going to help you. ... You have to be willing to take risks. Get off that couch and do something with that education."
Burnett said Liberty is a great training ground for budding talent. "The fact that you are at Liberty means you are so advantaged, as your minds are being trained for leadership and your hearts are being trained for service," he said to the students.
During the convocation service, Downey and Burnett announced for the first time a competition to create a movie trailer for Son of God. They said submissions should be mock political campaign ads. The competition is open to anyone, and the winner will be flown to Hollywood for a VIP experience with Downey and Burnett. For more information or to download movie clips and music for submissions, visit ShareSonOfGod.com.
Burnett also thanked Dr. Randall Price, professor and executive director of Liberty's Center for Judaic Studies, for providing some rare artifacts from biblical times for the Bible Experience. The artifacts were on display March 19-27 in New York City as a celebration of the DVD release for The Bible.
After convocation, the couple took time to interact with students and take pictures with them.
Later in the day, the couple toured Liberty's Cinematic Arts, Zaki Gordon Center and then held a Q&A with film students, where they shared their years of knowledge and experience with budding filmmakers.
"As a Christian, you have to make your product as good as something as it appears in the secular world," Burnett told the students. "You need to take risks. Who knows what happens when Son of God comes out? We hope it does well, but we are not sure. If you do not want to risk, then do not play. You are responsible for the emotional connection. If you cannot connect to someone on a screen, then you are in the wrong business."
Downey emphasized her hope that projects like The Bible and Son of God bring the gospel to the forefront of mainstream conversation.
"The opportunity with a movie like this that is so clearly about the Lord Jesus," she said, "you cannot help but be humbled and feeling so special because of the love that comes off the screen."
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PANAMA CITY, FL — This region of Northwest Florida is known as the Emerald Coast, with its scenic beaches and Gulf Coast waters. The region has blossomed into a tourist mecca over the past two decades while also attracting new residents, putting significant strains on the existing 700-acre airport that rests on the bay adjacent to the city. The answer: build a new airport north of the city; sell the old one and use the proceeds for financing; and, involve local environmental groups from the outset to ensure that the end result is an airport construction project that provides a net environmental benefit. The new Panama City-Bay County International Airport, set to open in mid-2010, is today well on its way to becoming a reality as pavement is being poured and construction begins on the new terminal. Along the way, the story has become one that may serve as an environmental template for others.
The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District. Randall 'Randy' S. Curtis, A.A.E., who took over as executive director in 1995, relates that when the decision to build a new facility was made the authority's mandate was, "First of all, do it right."
Up front, that meant overcoming environmental concerns in a region dominated by wetlands and pine forests. Explains Curtis, "With our stormwater system here there's a regulatory requirement regarding the quality of water once it's treated and leaves the airport. We elected to treat it to a level that's about 50 percent higher than what's required."
The authority also decided to build the new terminal to U.S. Green Building Council LEED standards — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
"Another thing we elected to do was with the mitigation and permitting for the airport — the goal has been to permit as much as possible of the 4,000 acres as we can legally do. We're only impacting 1,300 acres; the mitigation area is being done to mitigate the entire 4,000 acre site," says Curtis.
"There are wetland areas elsewhere that we're mitigating for today that we may not impact until ten, 20 years in the future."
As with any such project, it required dealing with state and federal permitting agencies, and officials took the initiative at all levels to coordinate their efforts, most notably by having the Federal Aviation Administration oversee an environmental impact statement study as opposed to the airport merely conducting an environmental assessment, according to Curtis.
"The goal was to create a project that would have net environmental benefits, and that's where we really got into the stormwater being treated to a higher standard; doing the mitigation up front; and LEED was another component," he explains. "Once we got into the legal challenges, all these efforts really paid off when the judges looked at the efforts we were making. It wasn't just doing whatever we could to get by; it was a matter of trying to be responsible and to really do it right."
One effort leads to another
Curtis, 57, has been in airport management since 1975, having worked at airports in Nashville, Lexington, and Sioux City, IA, where he was director in 1989 when the infamous crash of United 232 occurred at the airfield when an engine mishap blew out the airplane's hydraulics. Yet, he says, developing a greenfield site has been a new challenge.
"It's been a very unique opportunity. Typically the problems you deal with involve an existing facility and how to work around existing facilities. All of a sudden somebody hands you a clean sheet of paper with more than ample land and to do it right, it's truly an opportunity. There have been a lot of headaches and sleepless nights, but I couldn't think of a better way for an airport management career to end."
Through the years, he relates, there had from time to time been some minor discussion about possibly building a new airport as the city grew towards the existing facility.
It wasn't until the authority took a serious look at extending the 6,304-foot primary runway into the bay that a genuine discussion emerged about relocation.
Explains Curtis, "They had tried since the late 1970s to fill in anywhere from 20 to 40 acres of the bay bottom to extend the runway. Since that time, the environmental laws have changed significantly.
"When I came to Panama City we started an environmental assessment, working with the FAA, to basically do a project that would extend the runway into the bay. It became very controversial from an environmental perspective, locally and with the regulatory agencies. We struggled with that project until the fall of 1998. At that time, we started conversations with the St. Joe Company, a long-time timber company. They were the largest private landowner in the state of Florida. They own something like 300,000 acres of land here in Bay County.
"We approached them asking for their support for our efforts to extend the runway at the existing airport. They had started to reorganize and were getting into the real estate and development business, versus the traditional tree farming that they had done.
"They wholeheartedly supported our efforts. They felt that their future plans to start developing their properties depended on having a strong, viable airport."
Along the way, says Curtis, comments from various regulatory agencies during the environmental assessment suggested that a new airport may be a better option.
Concurrently, the St. Joe Company proposed to donate up to 4,000 acres of land for a new airport and agreed to provide land for any mitigation requirements tied to the permits, according to Curtis.
Another key decisionmaking component was neighboring military operations — nearby Air Force and Navy bases and operations heavily restrict local airspace operations, most notably at the existing facility.
At the end of the day, says Curtis, some 75,000 acres of land were allotted to the airport and related mitigation. The airfield itself will only encompass some 1,300 acres, part of a 4,000-acre tract. Explains Curtis, "So, what evolved out of this is, the environmental groups that were fighting the airport about filling in 30-40 acres of bay bottom suddenly became supporters of this concept, because it gave them about 40,000 acres-plus of land that they consider extremely important to the environment."
To pay for its local share, the authority will sell the existing airport site for up to $56.5 million, with FAA and the State of Florida accounting for the remainder. The airport authority also gets one half of one percent on proceeds of future land sales of the old site, which is considered upscale bayfront property.
The permitting process
Curtis stresses that the decision to go with an EIS under FAA's direction was critical to the success of the project. Other key components:
- For land use planning, the airport worked closely with the Florida Department of Community Affairs, which focuses on land use regulations and zoning. "The state legislature had just passed a law providing for five demonstration projects for something called Sector Planning and Permitting, and that's what this ultimately became. It was a demonstration project for innovative land use planning," explains Curtis.
- A "very public process" with numerous public meetings and workshops, particularly environmental. "We essentially went to the environmental community and said that we've identified this site and the question we posed was, How would you like to see the remaining areas developed?" says Curtis. "They presented a plan to us which they called the Emerald Arc and their goal was to protect the bay and also the watershed that flows into the bay — the creeks, the tributaries. "Almost half of the total area was set aside for preservation. It provides buffers that are far greater than the regulatory requirement."
- The airport used "an innovative process" called Ecosystem Team Permitting, with the lead agency being the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). Instead of working with each agency individually on permits, it was done on a group basis and publicly.
- The airport entered into an agreement with FDEP to set up a series of public meetings.
- The federal permit with the Army Corps of Enginers (404 Dredge and Fill permit), dealing with wetland impact, saw a "huge amount of overlap" with state permits and the work that was done with the EIS. "The Corps was the cooperating agency with FAA on the EIS, so when it was time to issue the Army Corps' record of decision, they were able to get a lot of data from the work that had been done as part of the state and federal permit process," explains Curtis.
By the fall of 2007, most permits had been issued. Legal challenges were put to rest in 2008 and construction ensued. It is today ahead of schedule and remains within budget.

subset: commoncrawl


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Indie Periwinkle & Silver
Indie Periwinkle & Silver
Wandering through your garden enjoying a warm summer day, just living lovely, as you do. An outdoor evening concert—definitely. These sweet periwinkle flip-flops will remind you to relax and smell the peonies.
- Vegan Leather Upper
- Recycled Outsole
- Slim Sole & Straps
- Cushioned Arch Support & Footbed


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Cut. It. Out. "Fuller House" returns to Netflix on Dec. 22 with more hugs, dancing and babies than ever before.
In the first look at the second half of Season 3, the Tanners head to Tokyo for what Jimmy Gibbler (Adam Hagenbuch) says will "blow your mind."
'Fuller House' Star Andrea Barber Calls Season 3 Tokyo Trip 'Controversial' and Promises 'Cliffhanger' (Exclusive Video)View Story
The first half of the season left viewers with a cliffhanger after DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) unknowingly told her high school sweetheart Steve (Scott Weinger) that she still had feelings for him while they were on a plane to attend his wedding overseas.
The trailer promises a lot of drama, from DJ jumpoing into a waterfall after saying yes to Matt's (John Brotherton) proposal to Kimmy (Andrea Barber) becoming Stephanie's (Jodie Sweetin) surrogate since she's having baby.
"My oven is pre-heated and easy-bake. We're getting pregnant," Kimmy tells Stephanie.
And of course there are cameos from our favorite neat freak Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and puppeteer Joey (Dave Coulier).
TooFab spoke to Barber at PaleyFest ahead of the Season 3 premiere, and she said the trip to Japan is "controversial."
"Season 3 is the big lead up to our episode in Tokyo, which you won't see in this half of the season. You'll see it in the second half of the season, which is released at a later date," Barber told TooFab. "But you'll get to find out why we're going to Tokyo, which is a little bit of a controversial reason. There's a little bit of a cliffhanger involved with that, as well."
Since Season 3 of the Netflix reboot started streaming exactly 30 years since "Full House" premiered on ABC, TooFab asked Barber what fans have asked her about most frequently in the past three decades.
"People are still talking about my feet, like my stinky feet, 'Don't take your shoes off!' Like people will still say that," she said. "Anytime I post a picture of my cute, fashionable shoes or anything, people are like, 'Oh my God, don't take your shoes off, your feet stink,' and I'm like, 'That was 30 years ago,' and people are still talking about that."
"Fuller House" Season 3B streams on Netflix Dec. 22.


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This berrylicious sipper is perfect for iced or hot drinks and can double as a vase for thirsty flowers. Use as a ceramic travel mug with silicone lid to stay hydrated on the go. Never worry about leakage! The lid sits brilliantly inside the cup rim so you can drink from the actual ceramic lip edge. The narrow bottom fits easily in most car cup holders. Round at the rim and square at the bottom the clever form makes for a comfortable grip.* Always decorated in the round because more is more!
Listing is for one tumbler. Two are available in this pattern. Colors on both are the same, however, pattern placement may differ.
Dimensions: 6"tall, 3 1/2" diameter Contains 16 ounces, a full pint, 14 ounces with lid in use.
Universal reusable silicone lid is PBA free, reusable, insulating, dishwasher safe and if chosen comes in the color as pictured with the listing. Lid fits most container openings from 2 7/8" - 3 1/4" (72mm-82mm).
Here's a fun link to a video on Colleen's Instagram featuring her tumblers lined up like the dazzling Rockettes in her studio.
*Please note piping hot liquids may be too warm for this handle less tumbler.
Additional information
|1.65 lbs
|10 × 8 × 8 in
|Lid Option
No Lid, With Lid


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English Ivy antique quilts in museum collections
date back to 1830...
though I'm still on the hunt for even older versions.
In my research, I came across the same pattern
entitled Clover Blossom.
With this information, I was able to
track down free instructions:
Here's to hoping you enjoy the block
as much as I have.
Happy Piecing,


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7. International Compost Seminar
Date follows!
Our international CMC seminar on compost takes place for the seventh time.
A varied schedule with theoretical topics and practical lessons will give you an insight into the treatment of organic waste to high quality compost.
Due to the current situation we cannot give an exact date!


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Mental Floss shared some of the historic, linguistic, and literary origins of names from the Harry Potter series in a pair of videos. The first video covers characters including Remus Lupin, Quirinus Quirrell, and Sirius Black, while the second video covers Aragog, Argus Filch, and Lucius Malfoy.
via Cosmopolitan, DesignTAXI


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Dr. Georgia Nugent will give the keynote address at SCICU's Board of Trustees Biennial Retreat. The Retreat will begin with a reception and dinner on March 5, 2015, and conclude with a luncheon the next day. The Westin Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville will serve as the Retreat's venue.
Georgia Nugent, Senior Fellow at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC), served as the president of Kenyon College from 2003-2013. Before Kenyon's presidency, she held several administrative roles at Princeton University, including assistant to the president. Prior to her administrative roles, Nugent was a professor of Classics on the faculties of Swarthmore College, Princeton University, and Brown University. A member of the first class of women to graduate from Princeton, she later became the first alumna appointed to Princeton's faculty. She took her Ph.D. in Classics at Cornell University. Nugent has received numerous teaching awards and was among the earliest lecturers included in the nationally distributed "Superstar Teachers" series of audio and videotapes.
Dr. Nugent leads the Council on Independent Colleges' Securing America's Future: The Power of Liberal Arts Education campaign.


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Who we are
Sunshine Vanilla is a Queensland based small business specialising in sourcing, importing and distributing the finest natural vanilla products from around the world.
When you shop with us, you can rest assured knowing that our vanilla is Organically Grown, Naturally Sundried, Crafted with Passion and Empowering Local Communities.
It has always been our intention to create an experience where passion meets purpose.
Don't hesitate to contact us for any retail or wholesale vanilla enquiries.
Our Products
Pure Ground Vanilla Powder
- Regular price
- From $23.70
- Sale price
- $23.70
Vanilla Beans
- Regular price
- From $12.50
- Sale price
- $12.50
Vanilla Bean Seeds
- Regular price
- From $17.77
- Sale price
- $17.77
Vanilla Extract
- Regular price
- Sale price
- $27.00


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|High Light:
vegetable garden shade cloth,
greenhouse shade cloth
Dark Green Garden Agricultural / Carport Shade Netting / Greenhouse Shading
Quick Detail:
* Model no.: 11108
* Material: HDPE
* Weight: 80gr/sqm
* Color: dark green
* Specification: in rolls or pieces
Dark Green Garden Shade Netting For Agricultural / Carport / Balcony.
* Normal size: 2*5m, 4*5m, 3*4m, 2*10m, 100m big rolls or as requirement.
* UV resistance: 3% UV added according to general standard..
* Edges: reinforcement on each edges.
* Long using life: with UV resistance, we assure 3 years warranty.
* Application: widely used in agricultural, carport, balcony or roof shading. Provide cool and nice environment for plants, animals, cars, etc.
* Packing: packed with polybag. If you need more protection, your required packing way is available.
* Price: high quality with competitive price
* Delivery time: normally 30 days for 40 HQ products.
* Payment term: we accept L/C at sight or 30% T/T with 70% paid before delivery.
* After sale service: our sales will quickly reply to any of your questions. Please be free to contact us.
agricultural, carport, balcony or roof shading
|shade net
|Item code:
|2*5m, 4*5m, 3*4m, 2*10m,100m big rolls or as requirement
|Dark green
1: Heat & light penetration
2: Well protect plants from hot sunshine
3: Provide cool and nice environment for plants and animals
|As requirement
|Price terms:
|Payment terms
|L/C at sight, 30% T/T
|55,000 ㎡
|Delivery time:
|30 days after deposit received
Competitive Advantage:
black greenhouse parts and accessories 12w inflation blower for double - layer films
max 150w Greenhouse spare parts sulfur burner for controlling pests inside greenhouses
1.1kw 44000m3/h Greenhouse spare parts sidewall fan , 1380mm*1380mm*400mm
30mm high 1250mm long galvanized steel Greenhouse rack and pinion truss rail ventilation rack
Outside teeth Curved rack and pinion for greenhouse shading system
galvanized steel sheet Greenhouse rack and pinion curved inside teeth continuous ventilation rack
50Nm 40w DC24v electrical gearbox Greenhouse roll up motor for small greenhoue screening
Steel manual gear roll up motor for greenhouse sidewall windows
Electric 90Nm DC24v 100w Greenhouse roll up motor for greenhouse shading


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THE POWER VERTICAL: Declaring Open Season On Journalists
Two weeks before yesterday's near-fatal attack on Echo Moskvy correspondent Tatyana Felgengauer, Russian state TV ran a segment accusing the station of colluding with foreign powers, and identified Felgengauer and showed her face on the screen.
'They Gave Me Electric Shocks' -- Accounts Of LGBT Crackdown In Azerbaijan
Firsthand accounts of an alleged crackdown on the LGBT community in Azerbaijan detail the use of electric shocks and beatings in detention facilities.
Russia Formally Hands Over MiG-29 Fighter Jets To Serbia
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu attended a ceremony in Belgrade to formally present six MiG-29 fighter jets to Serbia.
The Perils Of Russian TV
Russian TV channels regularly invite foreign guests on their programs, where they are often insulted and beaten on air. Current Time TV compiled the most memorable moments. (over 164k views on Current Time TV Facebook)
Russian Journalist Out Of Coma
Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio says prominent journalist Tatyana Felgengauer, who was stabbed by an attacker in the station's studios on October 23, has been operated on and transferred to an intensive-care unit of a Moscow hospital.
Russia Implicates Browder In Magnitsky 'Murder' Probe
According to an October 22 report by The New York Times, Russian authorities are pursuing a possible murder charge against U.S.- born British businessman William Browder in the "murder" of his former employee, Sergei Magnitsky.
Sobchak Calls For Release Of Russia's Political Prisoners
Ksenia Sobchak -- the Russian socialite, TV personality, and opposition activist who announced last week she would run in the presidential election in March -- has called on the authorities to release political prisoners.
Moscow Mayor Sobyanin Announces Intent To Run Again
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, eyed by many observers as a potential prime minister after presidential elections in March 2018, told Russian media he intends to run for a third mayoral term in September 2018 to finish implementing reforms he promised. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
Russian Orthodox Faithful Hold Prayer Vigil At Matilda Premier
About a dozen conservative Russian Orthodox protesters have prayed outside St. Petersburg's famed Mariinsky Theater to protest the gala premiere of the controversial film, Matilda.
Ukraine's Anticorruption Agents Raid Odesa Mayor's Home
Agents with Ukraine's anticorruption bureau have raided the home and office of Hennadiy Trukhanov, mayor of the Black Sea port of Odesa, who is at the center of an embezzlement probe.
Ukraine Registers 1.6 Million IDPs Since Start Of Eastern Conflict
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Volodymyr Yelchenko told the body on October 23 that about 1.6 million Ukrainians have been registered as internally displaced persons, or approximately 4 percent of the country's population. (Ukrainian Service)
Georgian Dream Wins Mayoral Races In Tbilisi And Other Cities
Final preliminary results from Georgia's mayoral elections suggest that the candidates of the ruling Georgian Dream coalition have been elected mayors of Tbilisi, Batumi, Poti, and Rustavi in the first round of voting.
Armenia Debates Bill Outlawing Domestic Abuse
Armenia's National Assembly appears set to adopt a bill that would criminalize domestic abuse and protect its victims.
Kyrgyz Journalist Saipov Commemorated In Osh 10 Years After Murder
Kyrgyz civil rights activists, former colleagues, friends, and relatives of the late Kyrgyz independent journalist Alisher Saipov have gathered in southern Kyrgyzstan to mark the 10th anniversary of his death.
PODCAST: Now That The Money Is Gone -- Turkmenistan After The Games
PRESSROOM: RFE/RL Condemns 'Intimidation' Of Its Journalist In Ukraine


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Avr2011 kit
From HacDC Wiki
Kit Contents
You will need:
1) AVR ATMega microcontroller 2) AVR Classboard printed-circuit-board 3) Eight resistors (~120 ohm) 4) Eight LEDs (I like the small square ones) 5) 1 uF capacitor 6) 0.1 uF capacitor 7) Two push buttons 8) 6-pin header to connect the FTDI serial cable 9) A small-signal diode for backward-power protection (optional, but certainly won't hurt)
(D'oh! I left the AVR out of the photo. You should have one.)
A Brief Tour of the Board
Before you start assembling anything, have a look at the printed circuit board.
Big and bold in the center is the location for the AVR chip. Notice the notch in the silkscreen at one end? That corresponds to a notch on the top of the AVR chip, and helps you get it in the right orientation when the time comes.
Just to the outside of the AVR chip itself, you'll see two rows of holes labelled for the port/pin combinations that appear in the datasheet. For instance, just below the chip see the two rows labelled PORTD, and PD0 -- PD7. See how there are tiny white lines connecting the two rows of holes, pairwise? Those indicate that the two holes are electrically connected to each other. This was a convenience -- you can solder two things easily to each AVR pin. One side of the chip has PD0-PD7, the other has PB0-PB7 and PC0-PC6.
Just outside of the AVR connection points, you'll see two more rows of holes, labelled VCC and GND respectively. GND is connected to the board's ground plane, and so is at 0V. VCC is connected to the board's power supply and is whatever voltage you're using to drive the whole mess -- In class, I'll refer to this as VCC or I usually just call this 5V.
And finally, at the edge of the board is another pair of rows of holes. These are electrically connected in pairs, and are just there to allow you to connect things together easily. For the LED array, we'll use these paired holes to connect the resistor to the positive end of the LED.
Other stuff:
To the left of the AVR, there are holes for two buttons, a protection diode, power-supply buffering capacitors, an optional power LED and its resistor, a 3x2 SPI programming header, and the 6-pin inline FTDI cable.
Below the AVR chip area and to the right, there's more prototyping space -- just sets of holes electrically connected to each other in ways to facilitate soldering stuff up.
The power LED and it's associated LED are optional and included for your creative use/abuse. Everyone should solder the coolest LED they can find in here, with a 100-1k ohm resistor, depending on how bright you want it.
And those white areas? They're for writing your initials on. Or notes. Tiny, little notes.
Assembling the Kit
0) If you're new at soldering (or even if you're not) go spend seven minutes with the best soldering video ever.
1) To get your feet wet soldering, install the two capacitors. They can go in either capacitor position, and are non-polarized (can go in either way). When you clip off the leads from the capacitors, save the wire for the next step.
2) Now install the two pushbuttons. They're oblong, but there's no top or bottom.
3) Solder in the protection diode. Notice that it's polarized, with a black band on the diode itself corresponding to the little band in the silkscreen.
4) Above the buttons, there are two pairs of holes -- these connect the button to the pin on the AVR when they're jumpered together. (I did this for flexibility so that you could connect the buttons up to other pins later as you wish.) Take two of the leads you saved in step 1) and connect each pair of holes together.
5) Solder in the 6-pin header for the FTDI cable. Rather than doing it the way I did (which covers the labels on the circuit board) why not mount the header on the bottom side like Ed did?
6) Now start on the LEDs -- in PORTB pins PB0 through PB7. They _are_ polarized, and you'll notice that one lead is longer than the other. The short lead gets connected to ground, while the long lead will eventually connect through a resistor to the AVR output pins. (Resistors soldered in next step.) Place the LEDs so that their short leads are in the ground strip (labelled GND), and the long lead is in one of the outside rows of hookup holes. Orientation matters here. Double-check it before soldering?
For aligning the LEDs, I had success putting them all face-down on the table, and using the fact that they have rectangular faces. Pro-tip: solder one pin on each LED, make sure they're in a nice line, and re-heat any that you need to wiggle into place. Then solder in the second pin on each LED.
7) Once you've done the LEDs, you can solder in their resistors. These fit most easily and cleanly on the underside of the board, so you'll want to trim off the extra leads from the LEDs before installing. You want to solder each resistor to the outside strip of holes that connected to the positive (long) pin of the LEDs, and the other end of the resistor to the pins of the AVR. Notice that you're working on the back-side of the board! Double-check that you're not connecting the resistor to the VCC line that is closest to the LED.
8) At this point, you can install the chip. They come from the factory with the pins splayed out a little bit -- you can lean the chip into a tabletop to straighten the pins out. Place the chip with the notch on the top of the chip corresponding to the notch in the silkscreen. Double-check. Solder.
9) Optional fun stuff: Feel free to solder in an artistic power LED and its resistor. (Note the polarization. Short pin downwards, or notice that there's a flat-spot on the LED flange.) Write your name on it. Wire up the battery (black wire to GND).
10) You should now be ready to flash in your first program. Hooray. From here on it's (mostly) firmware!
Adding the Light Sensor for Class 2 (ADC)
For the light sensor, you're creating a voltage divider with the photoresistor and two legs of the potentiometer used as a variable resistor. The photoresistor is connected to VCC and the AVR pin PC0, and the variable resistor from PC0 to ground.
In the following image, the red pins represent the potentiometer, and the blue are the leads from the photoresistor.
Start out by placing and soldering the potentiometer on the underside of the board. Make sure that the smaller center pin connects to the ground lines. Do _NOT_ clip the leads short yet.
Bend one lead on the variable resistor up and over the two other holes on the board, and plug it into PC0. Solder it in on the top side. Now soldering the photoresistor in place should be easy.
Flash in the light sensor firmware and turn the potentiometer until it give you a nice range of values on the LED display. I found that turning it up to _just_ max out in full light works well -- you'll see that it'll get down to one or two bars when you cover the cell with your hand. You're done!
Schematics, etc
If you'd like to make yourself a class-board, the attached Eagle files should get you started.
Warning: It's a good idea to socket your AVR in the board so that you can remove/swap chips when you want to.
Also, the LEDs in port B will over-ride the SPI port. For the class, we used AVRs with a bootloader already flashed into them, so we didn't use the SPI most of the time. If you'd like to use the SPI instead, you can probably get away with using large-value (1k Ohm?) resistors for the LEDs. Best is to omit them if you're going to use the SPI a lot, though.
Media: mega_classboard_files.zip
Finally, if you want something with almost all of the functionality (but none of the style!), Evil Mad Science sells a nice, very cheap, AVR Mega breakout board.


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I love sitting down on Sunday evening and reading. Whether it be a book, a magazine or even online I find it really relaxes me before a busy week and also distracts me from the busy week ahead! So I decided to start a new round-up post for 2018, it'll be on a Sunday evening and share our top posts of the week.
And to start here is what we talked about this week;
- Firstly, the exciting news that our shop page went live, sharing our tops picks available online now
- The Finalists were announced for the Irish Fashion Innovation Awards – so much amazing talent!
- We shared the details of The Jewel Collection by Catriona Hanly
- And finally sharing our love of the block heels style
Please note that there will be every other week and only if there has been a lot of new content in the week!


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Article Text
OBJECTIVE: To explore some of the problems encountered in the postal administration of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36). Questions that seem to present particular difficulties for the group are identified. In addition some of the written comments from the questionnaires and people's responses to questions on how difficult they found the SF-36 are discussed. DESIGN: The study group were asked to complete a health questionnaire containing the SF-36 on three separate occasions (at zero, three, and six months). The first and final questionnaires were interviewer administered during a face to face interview. A shorter questionnaire containing only the SF-36 and another health status measure was sent by post to each patient in the interim. PARTICIPANTS: People aged 65 years or above who were new referrals to community based occupational therapy or physiotherapy services in three areas in north west England. MAIN RESULTS: Response and completion rates for the postal questionnaire were lower than expected, even though all the patients had already had a face to face interview and had therefore completed the SF-36 once. Only 34 of 56 respondents (60.7%) completed all the items on the SF-36. CONCLUSIONS: All those planning to use the SF-36 (and similar measures) with older populations should be sensitive to the problems of postal administration. Non-return of questionnaires, high levels of missing data on those that are received, and ambiguities in response may mean that other measures, or perhaps alternative research methods, are more appropriate.
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South African Freshwater Angling Fish Species List
All The Freshwater Fish That Occur In South African Inland Waters
South Africa has one of the most diverse freshwater fisheries in the World and all sorts of fish species inhabit the lakes, dams, weirs, streams, rivers and ponds in South Africa. South Africa is home to some of the best Specimen Carp anglers in the world and has tremendously talented fly fisherman who target Yellowfish, Mudfish and Trout species. South Africa is home to well over 150 species of freshwater fish, quite a large number if you think about it!
How Many Freshwater Fish Species Are There In South Africa?
There are over 150 species of fish that occur in the freshwater systems of South Africa. Among these species are Carp, Trout, Yellowfish, Mudfish, Kurper, Tilapia, Barbel and Tigerfish... You will rarely find a body of flowing or still water in South Africa that does not have any freshwater fish species in it! Freshwater fish depend heavily on their natural habitats in order to breed, eat and function properly. A slight change in the environment around them can cause a lot of damage to the overall population of fish. It is vitally important that we try and protect their habitats and the numerous fish species as about 30 or more of these South African fish are endangered. The list of all these species is below: (The list below is in no particular order)... Pictures of freshwater fish
See Saltwater Fish List...
South African Freshwater
Fish Species List
|Barnards Rock Catfish
|Clanwilliam Rock Catfish
|Oxeye Tarpon
|Common Rock Catfish
|Longfin Eel
|Natal Mountain Catfish
|Shortfin Eel
|Common (Stargazer) Mountain Catfish
|African Mottled Eel
|Makriel (Silver Catfish)
|Giant Mottled Eel
|Barbel (Sharptooth Catfish)
|Estaurine Round Herring
|Bluntooth Catfish
|Southern Kneria
|Snake Catfish
|River Sardine
|Penant Tailed Suckermouth
|Southern Barred Minnow
|Incomati Suckermouth
|Breede River Redfin
|Phongolo Suckermouth
|Berg River Redfin
|Sawfin Suckermouth
|Eastern Cape Redfin
|Shortspine Suckermouth
|Smallscale Redfin
|Lowveld Suckermouth
|Fiery Redfin
|Brown Squeker
|Slender Redfin
|Cape Galaxias
|Maloti Minnow
|Brown Trout
|Chubbyhead Barb
|Rainbow Trout
|Redtail Barb
|Brook Charr
|Marico Barb
|Spotted Killfish
|Amatola Barb
|Rainbow Killfish
|Treur River Barb
|Johnston's Topminnow
|Broadstriped Barb
|Natal Topminnow
|Barotose Barb
|Striped Topminnow
|Line Spotted Barb
|Mosquito Fish
|Shortfin Barb
|Sidespot Barb
|Goldie Barb
|Bluegill Sunfish
|Longbeard Barb
|Common Bluegill
|Hyphen Barb
|Largemouth Bass
|Bowstripe Barb
|Smallmouth Bass
|East Coast Barb
|Black Bass
|Beira Barb
|Spotted Bass
|Threespot Barb
|Clanwilliam Redfin
|Southern Mouthbrooder
|Twee Rivier Redfin
|Orange-fringed River Bream
|Orangefin Barb
|Canary Kurper
|Namaqua Barb
|Lowveld Largemouth
|Border Barb
|Vlei Kurper (Banded Tilapia)
|Rosefin Barb
|Redbreast Tilapia
|Straightfin Barb
|Mozambique Tilapia
|Black Tilapia
|Plumb Barb
|Nile Tilapia
|Clanwilliam Sawfin
|Israeli Tilapia
|Berg Breede River Whitefish
|Blackspot Climbing Perch
|Vaal-Orange Largemouth Yellowfish
|Manyspined Climbing Perch
|Vaal-Orange Smallmouth Yellowfish
|Eastern Cape Rocky
|Kwazulu Natal Yellowfish
|Cape Kurper
|Bushveld Small Scale Yellowfish
|Zambezi Shark
|Clanwilliam Yellowfish
|Smalltooth Sawfish
|Lowveld Large Scale Yellowfish
|Bald Glassy
|Inkomati Chiselmouth
|Slender Glassy
|Longspine Glassy
|Orange River Mudfish
|Cape Silverside
|Loskop Dam Mudfish
|Flathead Mullet
|Tugela Labeo
|Freshwater Mullet
|Clanwilliam Sandfish
|Large Scale Mullet
|Rednose Labeo
|Longarm Mullet
|Silver Labeo
|Striped Mullet
|Purple Labeo
|Freshwater Pipefish
|Redeye Labeo
|Shortail Pipefish
|Leadan Labeo
|River Bream
|Mirror Carp
|Southern Churchill
|Common Carp
|Checked Goby
|Grass Carp
|Sibayi Goby
|Silver Carp
|River Goby
|Common Koi
|Tank Goby
|Common Goldfish
|Burrowing Goby
|Freshwater Goby
|Golden Sleeper
|Striped Robber
|Broadhead Sleeper
|Dusky Sleeper
The information for this table was obtained from South Africa Fish & Fishing...


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Letters to the Rev. Wm. E. Channing: Containing Remarks on His Sermon, Recently Preached and Published at Baltimore
Flagg and Gould, 1819 - Tritheism - 156 pages
Selected pages
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
absolute substances absurdity admit affirm apostle appellation Arians ascribed to Christ assert attributes aver believe Bible called Christians Church confess connexion consubstantial contradiction Council Council of Nice created creation Creed Crellius defend designate dispute distinction divine nature divine Unity doctrine earth essence eternal existence explain express feel glory Godhead gods Greek hath heaven Holy Ghost human nature hypostases infinite Jehovah Jesus Christ Jews John language laws of exegesis Logos Lord manner meaning meant Messiah nature of Christ Nicene Creed numerical unity object Old Testament omniscient passage Paul of Samosata plain plainly polytheism Praxeas predicated present principles prove question reason regard reject respect revelation Sabellians Sabellius sacred writers Saviour Scriptures sense sentiments Septuagint Sermon simply speak spirit substance suppose supreme Tertullian things thou tion Trinitarians Trinity truly divine truth ture understand Unitarians unto verse views word person worship
Popular passages
Page 101 - And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Page 101 - And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof : for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us -to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation ; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests : and we shall reign on the earth.
Page 139 - Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Page 83 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Page 103 - Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
Page 127 - For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) but to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him ; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
Page 101 - The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart. That is, the word of faith, which we preach, that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart, that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness ; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.) For the scripture saith ; Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Page 96 - Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
Page 103 - To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Page 98 - But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting King : at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.


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Greetings from Boston
Hot off the press – WriterAccess Writer Newsletter V2.
Thanks bunches for the feedback on last month's debut WAW! Your avalanche of feedback and positive support WOWed us. Keep it coming, and we'll keep the newsletter humming. Just reply to this email and we'll actually respond—can you imagine?
Contest Winner
More than 100 photos were upgraded, and the pool of talent is looking good. Thanks to all that joined the fun in shaping up our image to customers, prospects, friends, partners, husbands, wives and fans.
And the winner is: David W from Columbus, OH! We'll include your $100 cash prize in your PayPal account with your next payment. Enjoy! Thanks again, everyone!
New Contest: How to Avoid Common Writing Mistakes
Simply submit a common writing mistake, along with an explanation of how to fix it. For each accurate entry you make, you'll earn a ticket in our lottery drawing. This month's prize: $100 in cash or a $125 Starbucks Card! Your choice!
We'll post all the submissions to our blog as well, linking over to your profile for bonus promotions to our customers, readers and fans.
Sample Mistake: Use Pronouns Like a Pro
Which is correct? The dog played with Joe and me. The dog played with Joe and I.
Language plays games on us. We tend to want to think of me as I, especially when we talk. The trick is to remove the first object of the verb "played" and temporarily drop the Joe: The dog played with me. The dog played with I. Hmmm. "I" does not seem right here. Bingo. Technically, "I" is in the subjective case, which is only used as the initiator of the action ("played"). The recipients of the action are the objects—Joe and me!
What's New
WriterAccess 4.0 will launch to customers this month. New features include sleeker UX design, managed service, images, responsive design and streamlined order forms. The list goes on and on, so we won't bore you. However, one exciting first-of-a-kind feature is something called Rule Sets on the Order Form. Clients quickly summarize requirements in a "checklist" that make it fast and easy for you to meet and exceed the expectations and requirements. We're also upgrading the Revision Request area so that customers can make annotations/notes in the content, making it easier to fulfill the request.
Tips On Sourcing
Yeah, I know, when it comes to snagging orders and banging them out, it's "Ready, fire, aim." (Tom Peters, In Search of Excellence). Notice the source.
It makes no sense NOT to source your work and cover your you-know-what, protecting your reputation and advancing your career the right way. Avoid the penalty box now that you're in the Stanley Cup Finals (Go Bruins!).
Meet the WriterAccess Team
Byron White, Founder and CEO. How does a philosophy major end up at Arthur Andersen? Exactly. It didn't last long. Byron quickly migrated to the London School of Economics and re-launched an advertising career at Hill Holliday. That didn't last long either. With serial entrepreneurdom in his blood, he started FreelanceAccess back in 1992, later sold to Aquent. Next up was LifeTips.com in 2000, followed by a full-service content marketing agency way ahead of its time. WriterAccess was finally born, taking a firm foothold and center stage – at least for a millisecond. DesignerAccess, PhotographerAccess, CoderAccess- they're all on the way. You just can't stop this guy.
Aaron Robinson, Director of Technology. Aaron has worked with Byron since the Web was in diapers. And with parenthood as his proudest accomplishment, he's no stranger to diapers, or even keeping a squeaky rubber duck in his desk drawer. Aaron oversees all software development, technology and innovation for the idealaunch properties, backed by impressive high-tech honors. He's twice qualified as a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, and his support of the online development community earned him Microsoft's honorary recognition as a Microsoft MVP. As expected, the Internet is one thing Aaron could not live without, although a daily dose of Dilbert.com runs a close second.
Mia Coen, Content Strategist. As WriterAccess' resident content queen, Mia truly earned her crown – and perhaps even keys to the kingdom. After graduating from UMass with an English and Professional Writing degree, this highly driven pro honed her skills managing freelancers, editorial calendars and digital content at a small print publishing firm. She was adopted by ideaLaunch in 2011, and currently manages the talent and editorial teams at WriterAccess. She is fiercely proud of her independence, lives by the tenet that "life is good," and enjoys a smooth glass of pinot noir to reboot after a daunting day.
Allison Lynch, Support Specialist. With a degree in Creative Writing and Fine Arts that backs up her right-brain affinities, Allison makes one clever Support Specialist. She joined the WriterAccess team in 2013, working with freelance writers and clients to manage the content market workflow. Qualifying for the 2013 Boston Marathon is high on her list of accomplishments, as is supporting the victims of the subsequent terrorist attack. Her downtime includes creating vibrant, abstract paintings, running with the Greater Boston Track Club, writing for local running magazines, and grooving to sitar music.
Blog Posts of the Month
Semantic SEO: Not Just a New Ballgame, a Whole New Ballpark
Google is building a new ballpark, and one of the building blocks is semantic search. In the old days, content writers were required to embed blatant signals within content in order to have it rank for specific search terms. These signals were keywords…
by Paula A
Creating an Awesome Freelancing Space Outdoors
I read a book about a place of solitude a few months ago, ROOM by Emma Donoghue. It's about a woman and her young son who are held captive in an old wooden shed in their…
by Miranda B
Attention WriterAccess Competitors: Read This!
Almost all of our competitors at WriterAccess are funded by VC's—SkyWord, CrowdSource, Contently, Scripted, TextBroker and more. Some pockets are deeper than others, but all are driven with the same strategy—find a way…
by Byron White
Feedback (Always) Wanted!
As always, we'd be tickled with any feedback you have on the WAW newsletter. What would you like to know more about next month? Help us help you. And have a great May!


text: This really is an entry level rod that ticks all the boxes. You have real quality on a budget for a beginner. It's user-friendly and light for younger anglers. Yet, it's totally up to the expectations of the experienced angler wanting to fill a gap in his armoury. For example, a river angler can buy himself a ten foot, seven / eight-weight reservoir sunk line rod for the price of a couple of day permits.


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Rocker Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones was given a formal police warning Tuesday for assault, his spokesman said.
Spokesman David Rigg confirmed that Wood, who is 62, received the warning, or caution, after he was arrested earlier this month for assault near his home in Esher, in southern England.
Rigg said he was unable for legal reasons to give details of who made the complaint against Wood.
A caution is a formal warning given by police. It is not a criminal conviction but police keep a record of it for five years.
Wood's private life has been in turmoil for more than a year since he started a high-profile relationship with Ekaterina Ivanova, a 20-year-old Russian cocktail waitress.
That relationship led to his divorce last month from Jo Wood, his wife of 24 years, on grounds of adultery.
The Woods have two children together.
When asked about Wood, Surrey Police said a 62-year-old man had been cautioned over a domestic incident. Neither Surrey Police nor Rigg gave any further details.
Wood issued a statement through his spokesman saying: "I am greatly relieved that this matter is resolved and look forward to 2010 very positively."
Wood is a longtime guitarist with the Rolling Stones, one of the world's most popular rock bands. He joined the band in 1976 and has spent more than three decades touring the world with the band, one of the most successful live acts in history.
According to Forbes, the band recently earned about $88 million in one 12-month stretch.
In recent years Wood has also found success as an artist, selling his paintings in numerous galleries.
His romantic troubles have provided ample fodder for Britain's tabloids, who have run repeated photographs of the craggy, aging rocker cavorting with his young Russian girlfriend.
He was treated for alcoholism in 2008.


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Motorcycle paint schemes
Not just did Indian present Vintage Motorcycle times, the business took the opportunity to show-off its brand-new two-tone paint systems, beginning at $19, 799. The newest colors might be offered for future model year Indian Chief type of motorbikes. The classic paint palettes had been uncovered within the week-end for fans of classic motorcycles at Vintage Motorcycle times 2014, which were held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car program in Lexington, Ohio. Extra details and home elevators all 2015 models, including functions and all sorts of 2015 MSRP's is going to be launched on August 2 out of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The cool new two-tone Chief Classic, Chief Vintage and Chieftain will likely to be on-display and available for demo rides during the future 74th yearly Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, operating August 2 – 9 in Sturgis, South Dakota and you will be on supplier floors when you look at the fall of 2015.
Featured Two-Tone Colors for 2015 tend to be:
- The 2015 Indian Chief Classic available in Indian Motorcycle Red/ Thunder Ebony. (additionally for sale in solid Indian Motorcycle Red)
- The 2015 Indian Chief Vintage obtainable in Indian Motorcycle Red/ Thunder Ebony, Indian Motorcycle Red/ Ivory Cream, and Willow Green/ Ivory Cream. (Also available in solid Indian Motorcycle Red and solid Thunder Black)
- The 2015 Indian Chieftain for sale in Indian Motorcycle Red/ Thunder Ebony, Indian Motorcycle Red/ Ivory Cream, and Springfield Blue/ Ivory Cream. (In addition obtainable in solid Indian Motorcycle Red and solid Thunder Black)
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally attendees can take a look at the complete design 12 months 2015 line-up in most its fame in the Indian Motorcycle Display on 3rd & Lazelle Street or during the Indian Motorcycle at Crossroads at Sturgis Buffalo Chip from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. each day. Go to the Indian Motorcycle Sturgis event web page for updates.


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Baba Presence
Anonymous Devotee from India says: Hi, Hetal Ji. I want to share my experience of Baba's miracle. Hetal Ji, I humbly request you to edit where ever it is required as I am not good in written English. Please don't mind. I had more problems in my pregnancy period due to my in laws. They used to take me to government hospital for check up, even though I was working in private organisation and they used to keep all my ATM card and cheque book. They used to take money whenever they want in my account and give just 300 Rs for my expense. I did not have support of my husband as he doesn't have any affection on me. He wanted to be a good son.
Even my caesarean date was fixed in inauspicious date by doctor. My in laws and husband wanted to get operated in that date only. I prayed to Baba that if doctor agrees to postpone the operation at least for one day. I will post my experience. First doctors did not agree for that. Later on after sometime they agreed to postpone it for one day. And I gave birth to boy baby on Thursday 11.8.2011 due to Baba's grace.
Two more incidents are I prayed to Baba that if my bother gets 1st class in final year graduation, I will make him to come to any of your temple for 9 Thursdays. And it happened, he got 1st class though he had arrears in 2nd year and his IQ level was not that much good. After his graduation, I prayed to Baba that if he gets good job, I make him to give half salary to you in his 1st salary. And even that came true.
Unplanned Visit To Shirdi On Birthday
Sai Brother Suhas Ji from India says: Well, I like all of you is a child of our beloved Sai! He has been my mentor, friend, hope and a beacon to my life. I and my family have always been ardent devotees of Baba. It was one of my dreams to visit Shirdi from a long time, which finally happened this year in August and that too on my birthday. What else can you ask for?
It was truly His calling. It's been a practice for me to have parties with friends on my birthday every year, and like every year I had planned to do the same this year as well and had thought of having a holiday in Goa, but miraculously every friend of mine, who was supposed to join were occupied. It had never happened before (and there were quite a few of them). I was upset with the same and was thinking of what to do and while browsing accidentally found a link online about "travel to Shirdi". Till then I hadn't thought of this and immediately made up mind and booked the tickets next day and travelled alone. To my surprise I got the tickets easily, and landed in Shirdi on my birthday itself. This by far was my best birthday ever, imagine the joy of falling on the feet of Sai on your birthday. What was more special was the crowd wasn't huge and I could see Him thrice in 2 days. It was His wish to call me and I obliged.
Sai Darshan
Anonymous Devotee from India says: I believe very much in Shirdi Sai Baba and Akkalkot Swami Samartha. I am married now and mother of a child. This is the experience I will never forget. I am very sure that Sai Baba gave me Darshan at that night. But still I don't believe on my own eyes. I just see Sai Baba and Swami Samarth everywhere.
It was a night time of 8:30 to 9:00 pm in Panvel (Maharashtra). I, my sisters, my mother and my elder sister's daughter had been to Sai Mandir in Panvel. We finished our Darshan and were going back to home. An auto rickshaw stopped for us and we were in. By the time we were taking our seats in rickshaw I saw someone like Sai Baba in His bright white cloths and He was in pose of giving Ashirwad. I still remember and I will never forget Him. He was just like a poor BHIKHAKARI, but had bright white clothes.
It just fraction of minute I could see Him as auto-rickshow moved very fast from Mandir. I asked my sister if she saw what I saw and she said yes even she saw Him. But same as rickshaw move so fast, she was not able to see for more time. Next day I went to the Mandir again as I was not able believe on my own eyes, I feel I have done so many bad deeds in my life, why Sai Baba will give Darshan. I asked the phulwalas there if they see any man wearing white clothes outside Mandir. That shopkeeper said me, many bhikaris in white clothes keep coming outside Mandir.
But very strongly I feel that man was no bhikari or any usual man, He was Sai Baba. If He was bhikari, He will not have such bright white clothes to wear. His smiling face I still cannot face it was all like unbelievable experience. If anyone has got such similar experience please share.


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Milwaukee police identify 19-year-old killed in officer-involved shooting
Posted: Jan 31, 2014 1:53 PM CST | Updated: Nov 5, 2014 1:20 PM CST
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police identified the robbery suspect killed by an officer as 19-year-old Cornelius Turner. Turner was shot and killed near the intersection of N. 58th St. and W. Custer Ave. on January 29th.
Police say Turner was suspected of robbing a beer delivery man at gun point. The robbery happened around 5:40 p.m. on January 29th.
According to police, Turner fit the description of the robbery suspect. When they located him, they confronted the teen things got physical. Police say Turner reached for his gun, and that's when an officer shot and killed him.


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How to Get Lucky on New Year's Eve
The first time Sevillano neighbors invited us over for New Year's Eve, our host casually added, "And don't forget to bring your red underwear and grapes!" I said, "Yes, of course," as if I knew what he was talking about, and hastily consulted Yolanda, my Spanish teacher, on the finer points of local New Year's Eve etiquette.
Here in Spain, she explained, to ensure good luck in the year ahead you're supposed to ring in the New Year sporting bright red underwear that you've received as a gift. The local shops are full of every conceivable style, from nice to very naughty indeed. I was greatly relieved to hear that I was not expected to show everybody my new red lingerie but simply wear it under my party dress. I later learned that residents of the Spanish town La Font de la Figuera don't get away so easily; every year they strip down to their scarlet undies and run through the center of town as part of their New Year's celebrations. Note to self: don't even consider moving to that town!
"Where do the grapes come in?" I asked. Yolanda told me that at midnight on December 31st it's customary — no, mandatory — to consume twelve grapes, one at each tolling of the clock; for every one you swallow at the right moment, you'll have a month of good luck in the coming year.
As we sat around in our red underwear (and outerwear) sipping cava and waiting for midnight to arrive, our neighbors explained that it's impossible to get your grapes down fast enough unless you peel them first. And as I soon learned, skinning small, round, slippery fruit after several glasses of cava takes some practice. Nowadays, I do what so many Spaniards do: I buy special cans that contain twelve peeled, waterlogged grapes that are perfect for chugging.
I naturally assumed that the grape tradition sprang from some saint's miracle or a 13th century edict by King Alfonso the Wise, but later I learned it was born from modern commercial greed. In 1909 the grape growers of Alicante had such a surplus that in desperation they came up with this new "tradition" as a way to get the public to take the extras off their hands. Those grape growers must have been wearing extra-powerful red underwear that year, because it caught on in a huge way, and ever since then, downing 12 grapes at midnight has defined New Year's Eve in Spain.
Wherever you're ringing in the New Year, I hope you'll have your red underwear on (with or without outer clothing) and a dozen slippery grapes ready to pop into your mouth as midnight chimes. We may think this is all silly superstition, but why take a chance? I think we could all use a little extra luck in 2013, don't you?
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Futureworks Shops invites you to jam out with wearables at BF+DA, perfect your product plan at Craftsman Ave and win free 3D printing credits at Voodoo Manufacturing
Last month, we launched Futureworks Shops, a network of nine advanced production spaces who are opening their doors to you. In July, we're inviting you to a series of free events that will help you hone your product and grow your business. The lineup starts July 7 at the Brooklyn Fashion and Design Accelerator (BF+DA) in Bed-Stuy with an intensive workshop on wearable technology. You'll learn about conductive yarns and fabrics, thermoreactive threads and color-changing filaments. On July 11, head to Voodoo Manufacturing to tour their Bushwick 3D-printing factory; you'll also get a chance to win up to $600 in printing credits. Then on July 12, Craftsman Ave in Gowanus hosts an evening workshop that'll take you through the core elements of positioning and branding your business. Check out the events and RSVP below. Space is limited.
Pratt Institute's Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator
Friday, July 7 from 10am-4pm
RSVP link – use passcode: fwshopsbfda
Join a group of creative technologists, designers and textile engineers for a day of discovery and a deep dive on envisioning the future of apparel. The BF+DA has challenged a multi-dimensional group from eight universities to explore the intersection of technology, manufacturing, sustainability and textiles in the form of TEK-TILES – 10″ x 10″ knit swatches activated by a variety of technical materials.
In collaboration with Futureworks NYC, BF+DA is opening its doors to a select group of industry leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators to help us envision how to take our TEK-TILES to the next level. Three ideas, based on our themes of "Connectivity, Monitoring and Transformation," will be manufactured and put on display in an upcoming exhibition.
Pratt Institute's Brooklyn Fashion + Design Accelerator is redefining the apparel industry to benefit the environment and society. BF+DA provides workspace, manufacturing services, mentorship, and programs designed to build financial success alongside ethical production. A community initiative of Pratt Institute, it has supported more than 40 emerging ventures and collaborated with close to 200 organizations over the past three years. NYC entrepreneurs who called BF+DA home include Maddy Maxey, Mandy Kordal and Tara St. James.
Voodoo Manufacturing
Tuesday, July 11 from 6:30-8:30pm
RSVP link – use passcode: futureworks_shops_voodoo
Voodoo Manufacturing is building a digital factory to make manufacturing as fast, affordable, and scalable as software. The Brooklyn-based factory of 160 3D printers can make thousands of plastic parts and products in astonishingly short periods of time.
This event is held at Voodoo's facility in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and sponsored by Futureworks NYC. Voodoo Manufacturing is excited to be a part of the Futureworks Shops program, and open up its space to the community of local makers, entrepreneurs, designers, engineers, and hobbyists who are looking for fast or high volume 3D printing services.
Craftsman Ave
Wednesday, July 12 from 6-9pm
RSVP link – use passcode: MakerMind
A three-hour workshop that covers the basics of what it takes to launch a product company. You'll develop an entire roadmap to blueprint the launch of your idea, product or company. Craftsman Ave will break down the evening into five steps with a short interactive session in between each one:
- Step 1 – Validate your idea – 30 min
- Step 2 – Prototyping – 30 min
- Step 3 – Market testing – 30 min
- Step 4 – Branding – 30 min
- Step 5 – Launch strategy – 30 min
- Presentation and pitches.
- Beer and networking
Craftsman Ave opened up their 1500 sq-ft space in 2015 to help New Yorkers bring their ideas to life. Since then, they've had more than a thousand students come through for workshops in everything from product design to woodworking and prototyping. For curriculum and teaching, Craftsman Ave partners with instructors at Pratt and Parsons. Six of them were awarded Best Instructors by CourseHorse in 2016. They also teamed up with Soho House to bring their maker education to Manhattan.
Founder Taras Kravtchouk also runs Gravity Hill – a digital design agency that helped FIKA develop their brand identity, packaging and interior design and works with brands like Earos Acoustic, Cobble Hill Juice and Roomi. Craftsman Ave has a wood and metal shop as well as hotdesking and events space. Check out Craftsman Ave's full list of resources, explore the space and workshops and join them on Instagram.


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Members of the Independence Police Department on Monday saluted a colleague who died after being injured in a weekend hunting accident.
James Lockard was hunting Saturday in northwest Missouri when a falling tree knocked him off his all-terrain vehicle. Emergency personnel airlifted him to Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, where he died Sunday.
He had been a member of the Independence Police Department since July 2008 and had served in the patrol division and the special-response team. He is survived by a wife, a son and a stepson.
On Monday morning, friends and co-workers lined Noland Road as a hearse transporting Lockard's body to a funeral home paused outside Police Headquarters.
Memorial services are being planned.
Lockard was going back to his tree stand or going to pick up a slain deer when the tree fell on him amid high winds, said Nick Tompkins, a Gentry County deputy sheriff.
Donations for the family's expenses can be made to the James Lockard Memorial Fund, c/o Code One Credit Union, P.O. Box 270020, Kansas City, MO 64127.
Copyright 2013 - The Kansas City Star
McClatchy-Tribune News Service


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The trade deadline is heating up … well, the rumors are anyway. Manny Machado to the Yankees! Scooter Gennett to the Dodgers! J.T. Realmuto to the Red Sox! Maybe all these blockbusters will happen, and even if they don't, hey, it's fun to speculate. One thing seems clear about this deadline: It's going to be weak in starting pitchers, so teams needing to plug a hole in their rotation might instead look to upgrade the bullpen or the offense.
Keep in mind, as well, how the deadline has changed in recent years. As Joe Sheehan pointed out, the teams making the biggest moves haven't been those fighting to get into the playoffs, but those who have already locked down a playoff spot and are looking to improve their postseason roster — think Yu Darvish to the Dodgers and Justin Verlander to the Astros last year (although that was an August trade) or Aroldis Chapman to the Cubs and Andrew Miller to the Indians in 2016.
Still, it should be an active deadline period this year, even if Machado ends up as the only really big name traded. Here is one guy every team should trade:
Boston Red Sox — Tanner Houck, RHP. It has been a disastrous season for Boston's top four prospects — Jay Groome had Tommy John surgery, Michael Chavis was suspended for PEDs and Houck and Bryan Mata can't throw strikes — and since they're not going to trade Rafael Devers for a couple of months of Manny Machado, they probably won't do much more than add a bullpen arm.
New York Yankees — Dillon Tate, RHP. While Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar have excelled at the major league level, many of the top prospects still in the minors have struggled with injuries and/or performance. Tate has been healthy and pitched well in Double-A and could help bring in a starter to add rotation depth. Now, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the Yankees are "showing increased interest" in Machado. That could be mean swapping Andujar. What do you think, Yankees fans?
Tampa Bay Rays — Nathan Eovaldi, RHP. After missing all of 2017, Eovaldi has allowed one hit in two of his past three starts and had six no-hit innings in another. He has turned into a strike-throwing machine (44 strikeouts, six walks), and he's an impending free agent. Given the lack of quality starters available, Eovaldi suddenly looks like a hot commodity.
Toronto Blue Jays — J.A. Happ, LHP. Josh Donaldson's injuries have lowered his trade value, so the Blue Jays might keep him and give him a qualifying offer. Happ isn't a difference-maker, and he has been hammered his past two starts, but somebody will trade for him.
Baltimore Orioles — Manny Machado, SS/3B. The Orioles are looking for their version of the Torres-Chapman trade the Yankees made with the Cubs in 2016. They might not get that, but the Orioles should get a top prospect in return.
Cleveland Indians — Francisco Mejia, C/OF. With Yan Gomes still under contract for up to three more seasons (with team options), Mejia's path to being a starting catcher isn't clear, especially given how much the Indians love Gomes' defense. Mejia has bounced back in Triple-A from a terrible start, but the bat looks merely good more than special right now. The Indians haven't won a World Series since 1948. Mejia for Machado?
Minnesota Twins — Eduardo Escobar, 3B/SS. The Twins might be the most disappointing team of 2018, failing to take advantage of a weak division. They might just run the course and hope to get hot in the second half, but Escobar and Brian Dozier are both free agents and potential trade bait if Minnesota decides to sell.
Detroit Tigers — Leonys Martin, CF. Martin is on the disabled list with a hamstring strain, but he's a plus defender in center and was having a solid enough year at the plate (.257/.327/.431). He's a potential fit for the Indians (28th in the majors in wOBA from their center fielders) or the Astros, who could use another left-handed bat if rookie Kyle Tucker isn't ready. They could play Martin in center with Josh Reddick and George Springer in the corners.
Chicago White Sox — Joakim Soria, RHP. The easiest thing for contenders to do is load up in the bullpen, and Soria is having another solid season. The best thing I see is the way he has limited home runs the past two seasons (just three in 89⅔ innings).
Kansas City Royals — Mike Moustakas, 3B. A cheaper alternative to Machado if you want a third baseman, although with a .309 OBP, he's not really a major impact bat. One rumor had the Yankees interested in him as a first baseman with Greg Bird continuing to struggle.
Houston Astros — Cionel Perez, LHP. Concerns about the Astros' bullpen are overblown even if they don't have an obvious lockdown closer, but maybe they'll look to add another piece. They also could add an outfielder or a left-handed option at DH or first base. Perez is a small lefty with a 1.98 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 68⅓ innings at Double-A Corpus Christi, relying on a low-90s fastball with sink and a good slider.
Seattle Mariners — Juan Querecuto, SS. The Mariners made an earlier trade for Alex Colome and they have the weakest farm system in the majors, so a major deal probably isn't in the works. Querecuto was a top-30 international prospect when the Mariners signed him last year for $1.225 million, but he's years from the majors — and thus definite Jerry Dipoto trade bait.
Oakland Athletics — Franklin Barreto, 2B/SS. The A's absolutely should be buyers and not sellers, given Seattle's 6.5-game lead over them is based on the Mariners' remarkable (and unsustainable?) record in extra innings and one-run games. In 2014, Barreto was the prime prospect acquired for Donaldson, but he has struggled in his big league trials with a .203 average and 56 strikeouts against six walks. He's still young, and maybe another team will take a chance that he figures things out.
Los Angeles Angels — Blake Parker, RHP. At this point, the Angels need a big run and the Mariners and A's to fold have a chance at the wild card. Good luck with that. They're kind of stuck in no man's land, but they may as well flip Parker for some random kid in A-ball with some tools and potential.
Texas Rangers — Cole Hamels, LHP. This is a tough one. Hamels can block a trade to 21 teams, including the Yankees (that doesn't mean he would block a trade). Maybe he waives his no-trade clause if a team agrees to pick up his $20 million team option for 2019. He also has a 4.28 ERA and has allowed 21 home runs in 103 innings (although his strikeout rate has increased this season from 2017), so a team has to be careful it's not trading for Hamels' reputation as opposed to what he is right now.
Philadelphia Phillies — JoJo Romero, LHP. Top prospect Sixto Sanchez is on the DL with elbow inflammation, but I'm not sure I'd trade him for Machado anyway. I'd try to land Machado with a package of prospects, starting with Romero, a fourth-round pick in 2016 who has seen his stuff tick up since drafted. He's in Double-A with a 4.06 ERA, but 96 strikeouts in 99⅔ innings.
Atlanta Braves — Kolby Allard, LHP. The Braves need bullpen help, but should also be in the mix for Machado. The team's first-round pick in 2015, Allard is pitching well in Triple-A at age 20 with a 2.96 ERA. With a mediocre strikeout rate (79 in 97⅓ innings) and less-than-blazing fastball, his upside isn't viewed as high as some other Atlanta pitching prospects. I'd consider dealing him as the centerpiece of a Machado trade or for a controllable reliever such as Brad Hand or Kyle Barraclough.
Washington Nationals — Jefry Rodriguez, RHP. Realistically, the Nationals have to rely on the current roster to start playing better rather than making a splashy trade. After Monday's loss to the Pirates, however, the Washington rotation is 4-18 since June 1 with a 6.17 ERA — worst in the majors. Rodriguez, who started Monday, has a nice arm but isn't the answer right now.
New York Mets — Jacob deGrom. Look, you obviously want to acquire guys like deGrom, not trade them away. On the other hand, it's now back-to-back awful seasons for the Mets, the new wave of youngsters such as Amed Rosario and Dom Smith hasn't impressed, and deGrom's value is absolutely sky high right now. Would I trust the Mets to make the right deal here? No. Should they at least pursue one? Yes. The alternative, safer plan: Trade Asdrubal Cabrera and Jose Bautista.
Miami Marlins — Kyle Barraclough, RHP. Again, with the lack of difference-making starting pitchers on the market, teams will be looking to load up bullpens rather than overpay for a No. 5 starter. Barraclough is one of those effectively wild relievers, with a walk rate that's a little high, but he's tough to hit (.121 average) with no platoon split. Because he's under team control for three more seasons, the Marlins should be able to extract a nice price for him.
Milwaukee Brewers — Corbin Burnes, RHP. When I suggested the Brewers go after deGrom, I was surprised Brewers fans were so resistant to the idea. I get not wanting to empty the farm system, but deGrom is an ace who is under team control through 2020. The Milwaukee rotation has surpassed all expectations with a 3.73 ERA, but the Brewers are 26th in the majors in quality starts (because they don't go deep into games) and there's no guarantee they'll pitch to a 3.73 ERA in the second half.
OK, getting deGrom is unlikely anyway. The Brewers also could use Machado, and that would probably mean parting ways with Burnes, the team's top pitching prospect. Oh, he was just called up to pitch out of the bullpen. Sounds like a little bit of a showcase.
Chicago Cubs — Thomas Hatch, RHP. The Cubs have hinted they won't do much, and that makes sense. Their best chance to catch the Brewers lies with what they already have: Yu Darvish getting healthy and Kyle Hendricks and Jose Quintana pitching better. The offense leads the league in runs even though Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant have underperformed. If they make a deal, it will be a small one to add a bullpen arm. Hatch has a 3.83 ERA in Double-A and has a mid-90s fastball, but the walk and strikeout rates suggest he might be a future reliever.
St. Louis Cardinals — Carson Kelly, C. Free Carson Kelly! Yadier Molina is signed through 2020 and currently sports the second-highest slugging percentage of his career. In other words, there's no immediate opening for Kelly, who has proved he's ready for a big league job.
Pittsburgh Pirates — Corey Dickerson, OF. Dickerson has changed his approach this year — less power, fewer strikeouts — although the overall production is basically the same, just in a different way. He's limited to a corner outfield spot but would be a nice bench bat/part-time starter for the Astros, Rockies, Indians, Diamondbacks or Mariners.
Cincinnati Reds — Scooter Gennett, 2B. The Reds could trade Matt Harvey or David Hernandez, but those guys aren't going to bring in an impact prospect. Gennett, just named to the All-Star team, would do that since he's also controlled through 2019. The Dodgers need a second baseman and have a deep farm system, and prospect Nick Senzel could take over at second for the Reds in 2019.
Arizona Diamondbacks — Jon Duplantier, RHP. "Hello, Baltimore, would you be interested in our top prospect?"
Los Angeles Dodgers — Keibert Ruiz or Will Smith, C. The Dodgers have a couple of interesting prospects sharing time at Double-A Tulsa in Ruiz and Smith (Ruiz has caught more, as Smith has also played third base). Smith is a college player out of Louisville, while Ruiz doesn't turn 20 until next week, so while Smith has outhit Ruiz, you have to factor in the age and experience difference. I don't know which one is the better prospect, but if the Dodgers know whom they prefer, maybe they should trade the other.
Colorado Rockies — Carlos Gonzalez, OF. The Rockies are on that bubble, although only 3.5 games out of first place, which probably makes them moderate buyers, maybe for some bullpen help or a first baseman such as Lucas Duda. DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino are both free agents, but the feeling is they won't trade either guy, since talk out of Denver is they have to try to contend if they have any hope of keeping Nolan Arenado long term. Anyway, J.P. Morosi floated a Gonzalez-to-the-Astros rumor, and if they can deal CarGo for a decent prospect, they should do it.
San Francisco Giants — Shaun Anderson, RHP. The Giants are in the same situation as the Rockies, and while it would be fascinating if they put Madison Bumgarner on the block, that's not going to happen. In fact, they just traded Austin Jackson to clear off some salary room. The Giants got Anderson last July for Eduardo Nunez, and he's having a solid season at Double-A.
San Diego Padres — Kirby Yates, RHP. What, not Brad Hand? Sure, the Padres will listen to offers for the two-time All-Star, but since he has signed through 2021, the Padres also view him as part of the future they think will soon arrive. Yates, however, is clearly the kind of guy you should cash in, a 31-year-old journeyman who is having a career season with a 1.53 ERA and good peripherals.


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KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan currently assigns more importance to private investment and growth than inflation the Governor SBP Yasin Anwar said in an exclusive interview to Dawn. He dispelled the impression that the government meddling in the affairs of the central bank has increased in his tenure. He said the SBP decides the monetary stance based on its own independent assessment of the economy and its needs.
The Governor preferred to email written replies to questions forwarded to him. The full text of the interview follows:
Q. Do you think that monetary policy easing has run its course or do you see scope for further easing?
A. The SBP's monetary policy stance is determined after a careful assessment of prevailing macroeconomic conditions and their outlook. In particular, we analyse in detail the inflation and growth dynamics, fiscal and balance of payment positions, global developments, monetary and credit behaviour, and liquidity conditions in financial markets. The SBP staff then holds a series of internal meetings with me to discuss different aspects of likely scenarios and available policy options. A consensus is developed that is presented to the Central Board of Directors. After a thorough debate, the collective wisdom of the Central Board determines the monetary policy stance.
The future course of monetary policy stance will also be decided by the SBP Board, whose next meeting for reviewing the stance is scheduled for the second week of December. We are currently in the process of updating the macroeconomic data and outlook. At this stage, therefore, it would be premature to draw any conclusion about the monetary policy stance.
Q. Is IMF in agreement with current monetary policy stance of SBP?
A. The SBP has its own independent and transparent mechanism of decision-making. And, as I said earlier, the SBP Board of Directors is empowered to take monetary policy decisions after reviewing the rigorous analysis of both the current economic developments and outlook prepared by the SBP staff. We do not need to reach an agreement with the IMF on the monetary policy stance of SBP. Similarly, we may or may not have similar views in terms of assessing the risks and challenges faced by the economy. Nevertheless, we do interact with the Fund periodically and exchange our respective views with each other. I believe both institutions learn a great deal in the process and we respect each other's point of view.
As far as the current monetary policy stance is concerned, most of the issues highlighted by the SBP are similar to that raised by the Fund. However, a key difference is that, at the moment, we are assigning a relatively higher weight to private investment and growth than inflation. And the reason is simple. In our assessment, inflation is likely to remain within the target of 9.5 per cent for FY13, while IMF's estimates suggest a slightly higher inflation outlook.
Q. What is the outlook for inflation?
A. As you very well know, inflation has declined considerably over the past five to six months; from 12.3 per cent in May 2012 to 7.7 per cent in October 2012. Also, the pace of decline in inflation has been faster than our earlier estimates. Therefore, we are quite confident that inflation may remain below the target of 9.5 per cent for FY13. We discussed this assessment in the monetary policy statement of October 2012 as well. Currently, we are in the process of updating our inflation outlook in the light of latest developments. All I can say is that the likelihood of meeting the inflation target for FY13 remains quite high.
Q. Without additional foreign inflows, and IMF repayments, is the BOP situation under control?
A. In the first four months of FY13, balance of payment position has shown significant improvement over the last year.
Particularly, the external current account balance has turned into a surplus; $258 million, against a deficit of $1.7 billion in the corresponding period of last year. In the remaining months of FY13, we are expecting a deficit in the external current account.
However, this would remain moderate compared to both international standards and Pakistan's own economic history.
The developments that need to be monitored carefully are those related to financial inflows. For the overall health of balance of payments, it is important that all the budgeted financial flows materialise. In case of shortfall or delays, the BOP may experience some stress, but, at this point in time, we expect the position to remain manageable during FY13. We do not foresee any difficulty in the repayment of IMF loans and other debt obligations that have already been factored in.
Q. Why, then, is the rupee constantly under pressure?
A. Like in most emerging economies, the day-to-day value of the currency in Pakistan is essentially determined by market forces of demand and supply of foreign exchange. While export receipts, remittances and financial inflows are the main sources of supply of foreign exchange; import payments, financial outflows and debt repayments influence the demand. The overall macroeconomic conditions such as inflation relative to trading partners and other factors like perceptions of economic stability also influence the behaviour of participants in the foreign exchange market. The SBP does not target any specific level of exchange rate. Our interventions in the foreign exchange market are essentially geared towards dealing with excessive volatility to ensure smooth functioning of the market.
As I have mentioned earlier, the trade balance together with remittances is in surplus during the first four months of FY13. It is the weak financial inflows that are creating some pressure in the foreign exchange market. As the budgeted financial inflows are realized in the coming months, the situation would become more manageable.
Q. Will SBP be further raising minimum capital requirement for banks of Rs10 billion by end 2013?
A. Imposition of Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) on banking institutions is a standard practice in a number of countries, including Pakistan. This requirement addresses several regulatory objectives: a) to counter any fragilities in the financial system, capital requirements ensures that banks have sufficient core capital to bear shocks on account of unexpected losses; b) it also ensures that the bank operates at a size which is more conducive to economies of scale; and c) the financial stake of sponsors/owners in the bank is significantly large in order to encourage prudent behavior. The SBP's policy regime is dynamic and duly takes into account the prevailing economic conditions. It is important to note that existing MCR regime requires gradual increase in the capital, and the same has been operative with significant success. Going forward, any change in the policy would be considered after taking into account the economic conditions prevailing at that point of time.
At the moment 70 per cent of our commercial banks are fully compliant with the MCR of Rs8 billion, while the sponsors of non-compliant banks are actively working with the SBP to execute their respective capital injection plans. Over the last three years (from Dec-2008 to Dec-2011), commercial banks have increased their paid-up capital by around Rs124 billion through equity injection as well as capitalisation of earnings.
Q. Are you satisfied with the level of autonomy the central bank enjoys in the monetary policy management?
A. As far as the matter of taking monetary policy decisions, such as changes in policy rate, is concerned, we are satisfied with the level of autonomy currently being enjoyed by the SBP. However, it is the issue of direct fiscal borrowings from the SBP that dilutes the autonomy and thus the effectiveness of independently-taken monetary policy decisions. Recently, in March 2012, some important legislative changes have been made in the SBP Act that deal with this issue. Specifically, the amendments in SBP Act stipulate that the government has to ensure zero borrowings on a quarterly basis and take necessary steps to retire the existing stock of SBP borrowings over the course of next seven years. We are hopeful that the government would adhere to these requirements and that this would increase the autonomy of the central bank.
Q. If there are BOP difficulties ahead that start impacting adversely the value of the Rupee, what measures, if any, will you consider to defend the exchange rate? Will you be prepared to abandon your monetary policy easing stance?
A. As I mentioned earlier, SBP foresees a manageable balance of payment position in FY13. SBP monetary policy stance is adopted, with an overarching consideration of achieving inflation target while keeping an eye on growth prospects, after a holistic view of the macroeconomic developments and is not limited to developments in any one segment of the economy.
Future monetary policy stance will also be adopted following similar practice keeping in view any challenge to the exchange rate. _AS


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A Clean Office in Haringey with a Cleaning Company
16Oct 2014
Keeping your business in Haringey running is challenging task. You will have to continuously be working to ensure that all the work is commencing, your staff are happy, then there are no problems and so on. In order to achieve this you must supply a comfortable but productive atmosphere, provide all necessary equipment and files, assist with any problems and more. All of this can help you get the best out of your staff but it is worth remembering the importance of the office itself. The workplace you operate in must be clean, organised, spotless, and spacious. This allows staff to work properly and safely and ensures that any visitor will be impressed.
In order to keep your office in Haringey, N4 clean, you would have to dedicate yourself to a lot of work. You would have to take time out of your busy schedule to wash, wipe, sort, vacuum, and more. You can struggle to do this consistently and effectively, so a local cleaning service may be necessary. You will have a top cleaning team taking care of thing for you, so you can focus on your work. To learn what they can do for you and how to find the right firm, then read on.
You will want professional cleaners at your disposal who can do all the tasks you need undertaking. You will want accredited experts with years of experience and skill. They will be at your office when you need them so they can have any mess taken ace f. They should be flexible, so you get the right amount of support and when you want it. You can hire the team as often as you need, so that there is never any mess. You may require them at the end of a working day, beforehand, or even between, so it's important to know what you want. The staff should be fully equipped and trustworthy, so they can operate in your office even when you are not present.
There may be several cleaning agencies in your area so you must find the one right for you. Once you have a list of specifications and requirements, you can begin your search. You can start by looking in local newspapers, listings and yellow pages for any firms based in the N4 area. Searching online can be useful as it can bring up many results as well as websites and comparison pages. This will let you read review and get more details so you can be sure which firms to contact. Ask colleagues and partners about any companies they use for cleaning and they can give an honest recommendation.
You should make note of the contact detail of every rim so that you can get in touch with them. The various cleaning services you look into will have different approaches and be able to offer different things, so you should know as much as possible about each. Discuss at length with what they do and how they can help so you have all the necessary information.
A free quote is essential and so you must ensure that you get one from each firm. An estimate will let you know not only what you will have to pay but if they can down what you need and work as often as you desire. Compare the prices and companies, but never go with one simply because they are the cheapest. Put quality before cost, but do be mindful of your budget.
If you use these tips, you can find the right office cleaning team for you to ensure you workplace in Haringey is tidy, spotless and productive.


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We value your privacy and have taken steps to protect your privacy in the Settlement and throughout the Claims Administration Process.
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