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Clinton's Search for Ginsburg: Deliberate, Difficult, but Fruitful
A look at the process of picking a Supreme Court nominee shows a highly public job open to criticism. The president took a personal interest in the search to the final hours.
PRESIDENT Clinton decided Sunday afternoon, June 13, that federal appeals Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg was his choice for the Supreme Court. At about 11:30 p.m., he went to the kitchen of the White House living quarters and tried to telephone the judge with the good news. He got nothing but static on the line. "Hello? Hello?" the perplexed chief executive said. When he got through, he couldn't hear anything. So the president dialed again. This time, he told Judge Ginsburg, "If I'm going to propose, we might
as well have a good line."
The president's difficulty establishing a telephone connection - related by senior White House officials on condition of anonymity - was only the last, nagging obstacle he faced in a long, torturous search for a Supreme Court nominee. The 88-day ordeal, which culminated in Ginsburg's formal nomination June 14 at a Rose Garden ceremony, has come under fire even from many Democrats.
The process, critics say, was too drawn out, too disorganized, and too public, with failed nominees subjected to unnecessary ridicule. "The president was cruel to [Interior Secretary Bruce] Babbitt to leave him hanging," says one Democratic lawyer. "Many people think it was done in a way that appeared to be callous to those under consideration."
White House officials say it took as long as it did because the president, who is a former constitutional law professor, took a personal interest in every facet of the process. But, these officials argue, no great harm was done. "We knew that [Justice Byron] White's resignation [on March 18] gave us a lot of time. We knew we had until late May or early June. And we were going to take all that time," says one top White House official. Preliminary list of 50
The search for a Supreme Court justice began one day after Mr. White announced he would step down at the end of the current term. Administration officials were not expecting a court vacancy so soon, but the White House counsel's office had drawn up a preliminary list of 50 possible appointees. The list, which included Ginsburg's name, was presented to Clinton at an Oval Office meeting on March 19.
Before long, the president's aides cut the list down to about 40 people. For each of the contenders, aides prepared a mini-biography of 8-to-10 single-spaced pages. By the end of April, approximately 25 candidates had been profiled. Each of the mini-bios was passed along to Clinton, who discussed them with aides at numerous and lengthy meetings.
"Initially the president was interested in looking at people who hadn't been judges," says one official. But the two top nonjudicial candidates - Gov. Mario Cuomo (D) of New York and Education Secretary Richard Riley - announced they did not want to be considered. "So we narrowed it down to some political figures and some judges," the White House official says.
As various trial balloons were floated to the press and the Senate, the list shrank to two or three finalists. The president appeared to be leaning toward Secretary Babbitt, since he preferred a nonjudge and a nominee he knew well. On Sunday, June 6, top officials from the White House counsel's office "vetted" the interior secretary - an intensive grilling that is one of the final steps before nomination.
But a funny thing happened on Babbitt's road to the court: He discovered he was both too popular and too controversial to be nominated.
Environmentalists sent up a hue and cry about how they could not afford to lose Babbitt at the Interior Department. Congressmen told the president at a picnic last week that he would have a hard time finding an acceptable replacement. And Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, a top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, says he told Clinton that any politician would be a risky appointment.
All of those factors weighed heavily with the president, officials say. So Babbitt fell back in the court sweepstakes as appeals court judge Stephen Breyer of Boston gained favor. On Wednesday, June 9, top White House officials flew to Boston to vet the judge. They were impressed with the centrist jurist who had the support of Senate Democrats and Republicans.
Two days later, Mr. Breyer traveled with his family to Washington and spent an hour and a half with the president over lunch in the White House. Officials report the conversation went well, but apparently the president was not overly impressed with Breyer. There was another problem with the judge that emerged into public view the next day, but that White House officials and senators had known about for weeks: Breyer had not paid Social Security taxes for a domestic worker. No capital to spend on Breyer
Although both senators and White House aides stress that the lapse was not "disqualifying," it clearly did not help at a time when the president has little political capital to expend.
"I think Breyer would have been confirmed, but the administration thought, `Let's not go through this criticism when we have another candidate who's a woman and a Jewish-American,' " says Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D) of Arizona, a member of the Judiciary Committee.
The other candidate was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The feminist-crusader-turned-centrist-judge emerged as a dark horse contender as Babbitt and Breyer faded. On Tuesday and Wednesday, June 15-16, White House aides scoured all of the judge's writings. On Friday night, Clinton asked for an interview. But Ginsburg was attending a wedding in Vermont, and she couldn't come to the White House until 11:00 a.m. Sunday.
Aides report that this meeting was the "turning point." Clinton was struck by Ginsburg's "self-effacement," "strength of character," and above all, by the story of her struggle as a woman entering a male-dominated legal profession. "The president found the entire meeting quite moving," a senior official says.
Not long afterward, Clinton reached the decision that had Ginsburg making "courtesy calls" June 16 on senators who must approve her confirmation to the nation's highest court.


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Fashion For Good Museum – GROW Exhibition
Orange Fiber is part of Grow, the new exhibition of the Fashion For Good Museum in Amsterdam dedicated to biomaterials and innovations that are shaping the future of fashion.
Initially launched on April 6 with an exhibition of conventional biomaterials and pioneering brands and products such as the creations of Pangaia, FREITAG F-ABRIC, Bananatex and Bioglitz, on October 28 GROW evolved launching a new expo of exclusive fashion items designed by young Dutch talent with innovative materials inspired by Nature.
Fabrics from orange peel, circular vegan material from cork powder and coconuts and fibres from a banana plant have been transformed into fantastic fashion items designed by young Dutch talent Huong Nguyen, Frederieke Broekgaarden, Eva Sonneveld and Charlotte Bakkenes.
Established names Iris van Herpen and Karim Adduchi are also part of the exhibition and show their own creations made from biomaterials.
"Sevilla" is the name of the exclusive dress created by the talented fashion designer and illustrator Karim Adduchi with Orange Fiber fabrics.
Supported by a campaign photographed by Christian Mpamo, the exhibition can be seen from October 29, 2021 to April 2022 at the Fashion for Good Museum in Amsterdam by booking a ticket here.
The exhibition project represents only the most recent chapter in history that links Orange Fiber to Fashion For Good.
In 2018, in fact, our company was selected among the 15 startups that won the Fashion For Good – Plug & Play Accelerator, an innovative acceleration program dedicated to sustainable innovations in the fashion sector and supported by important partners such as Adidas, C&A, Galeries Lafayette, Kering, Target and Zalando.
More info here
Photography: Alina Krasieva

subset: commoncrawl


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An elderly San Francisco man who was reported missing after disappearing from his Mission District home last month has been found safe, police said today.
Roger Lopez, 74, was found at a shelter in the 500 block of Fifth Street, police Officer Albie Esparza said.
Police had been concerned about Lopez, who suffers from dementia, uses a walker and only speaks Spanish. He had last been seen leaving his home the morning of July 26.
Lopez has been returned home, Esparza said.


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Aleca Zamm Fools Them All (Paperback)
Email or call for price.
Email or call for price.
Other Books in Series
This is book number 3 in the Aleca Zamm series.
- #1: Aleca Zamm Is a Wonder (Paperback): $6.99
- #2: Aleca Zamm Is Ahead of Her Time (Paperback): $6.99
- #4: Aleca Zamm Travels Through Time (Paperback): $6.99
Aleca Zamm, an ordinary ten-year-old with an extraordinary talent, finds a new friend and has to rescue her Aunt Zephyr from a teleportation crisis in this hilarious third novel in the Aleca Zamm chapter book series.
Aleca Zamm knows she's not the only Wonder at school with a magical ability. Third grader Ford Kimble is a Wonder as well. Ford is able to see people as they used to be in the past and as they will be in the future. He can time travel! Well, sort of!
Aleca starts hanging out with Ford to discuss their magical abilities, which makes Aleca's best friend, Maria, jealous. Aleca even forgot the first meeting of the Secret Pals Club, Maria and Aleca's new idea for a club that performs secret good deeds for bullied kids!
Worse, Maria is onto Aleca's secret of being a Wonder. She definitely suspects something, but Aleca has sworn to Aunt Zephyr that she won't tell anyone about her magical ability. Plus, Aunt Zephyr's ability to teleport is starting to deteriorate along with her age, and Aunt Zephyr's about to throw in the towel on being a Wonder for good. Can Aleca and Ford figure out how to get Aunt Zephyr's magical powers back? And can Aleca save her friendship with Maria while still keeping her magical powers a secret?
About the Author
Ginger Rue is the author of the middle grade Tig Ripley and Aleca Zamm novels, as well as Brand-New Emily and Jump. She lives in Alabama.


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Happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Valentines day! I had such a sweet day with friends and family and always love this holiday. I don't find being single on Valentines lonely but instead look at it as an opportunity to show love to those around me, spend time with close family and friends, and get into some cheesy romance books and Hallmark movies! (: I hope your day was fabulous however you spent it.
It has been a while since I updated you about my life and I also have a few recent favorites to share with you. Let's get started y'all.
I came with the purpose to love on others but have never left a place feeling more full of love. I am ready to start counting down to next year. I will NEVER miss this night again!
Two // Movie Night!
Happy Death Day 2U since we had seen Happy Death Day last year together. My friend and I both agreed however, that the second one was pretty terrible. It was incredibly funny how bad we found the acting and the storyline was so confusing. I sometimes think it's almost more fun to see a terrible movie and make fun of it the whole time, than it is to see a good movie, haha!
Three // Track Shack Races
Four // Fyre Festival Documentary
Five // theSkimm
this free, daily email newsletter. It keeps me in the loop with world events and it is written in a quick and witty tone. Sign up here! It's totally free and totally fun. (:
Six // Meredith is Going to UCF!
Seven // Bright Statement Earrings
Eight // TJ Maxx Workout Clothing
Nine // Ashley Brooke
There are nine things I am diggin' lately or have been up to. I hope you enjoyed reading along. What have you been loving/ doing lately? I will talk to you soon friends!


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First Weeks in TY
by Denis Kononov
Our first weeks back have been informative and adventurous so far. We received talks from Mr. Willis and other staff about the year ahead of us and all of the activities we have to look forward to. We found out about the short courses that we do for four weeks and about the three long courses that we do over a period of nine weeks. We also met our new teachers and got our timetables, which we are gradually getting used to.
So far there have already been a few trips to different places. Over the course of two days (the 29th and 30thSept), we went surfing in Tramore, and tried different workshops such as: hip-hop dancing, percussion instruments and personal development.
On the second week, there has been a hockey trip to Amsterdam and a trip to Achill. The Achill trip included a variety of activities such as: surfing, coaststeering, cleaning a beach and a five-hour summit to sea walk. There has also been a small day trip for TY Art students to the National Craft Gallery where they studied and artist's work.
We have also been introduced to our first two short courses and our first long course. The organisation of the Christmas market has been started by discussing new ideas for a double period and we still have to choose the theme for our Expo and the charities we would like to support.
Overall, it has been a fun experience so far and there are still plenty of different things to do in the year of our TY.


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Last modified: 2022-10-22 by ian macdonald
Keywords: são tomé | thomas island | príncipe | prince island | coat of arms: 2+1+2 | coat of arms: bordure |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors
image by Ben Cahoon, July 2011
At last! 16 years after Principe became an autonomous
region adopted its flag. From local news sites I understand it was first flown
in late April this year (Apr 29, 1995, being the date of autonomy). It's
a vertical triband of green-white-blue with the national
coat of arms in the canton and in the middle in the white stripe I believe
its the parrot from the national coat of arms.
Paraskevas Renesis, 11 June 2011
The flag is real. Here is one of the
Valentin Poposki, 12 June 2011
news story dated 2011.05.03 says that «Príncipe
entoou pela primeira vez no último fim-de-semana, o seu hino e hasteou
a sua nova bandeira. Símbolos de uma região autónoma,
que se confirmou no ano passado com a aprovação do estatuto
político e administrativo.» (= «Príncipe sung for
the first time this weekend its anthem and hoisted its new flag. Symbols of an
autonomous region which got confirmed last year by the approval of its
political and administrative status.»)
António Martins, 19 June 2011
a photo of the Legislative Assembly building and 2 flags flying in front. It
seems to me that they are the national and the new regional flag.
Paraskevas Renesis, 12 June 2011
First reports online at http://www.egov.st/
were met with distrust: The domain name is
egov.st, not
something.gov.st. Anyone can register almost any domain
under the tld
.st (from a German company…) — the
government of the country reserves for itself only a few domains, and
principe.st is where I'd expect to see the flag.
António Martins, 30 June 2011
The controversial site with the flag has "resurfaced":
Same contents nothing new!
On a site at http://ribtonimages.com/gallery.html with photos of Peter Ribton we get a photo: http://www.ribtonimages.com/gallery.html?func=viewcategory&catid=32&startpage=5#category of the region's president Cassandra and in the background, out of focus unfortunately, part of (what it seems to be) the regional flag. Obviously the photographer is not very interested in flags. Very nice photo of the president though!
From the same portfolio we get another photo (2nd row 3rd photo) titled Saint Laurent festival: http://www.ribtonimages.com/gallery.html?func=viewcategory&catid=32&startpage=6#category where we can spot the regional flag in front of the regional assembly and the (pink) government building. I have little doubt that the green-white-blue vertical triband is the regional flag but we still need to see the whole "thing"!
Paraskevas Renesis, 5 December 2011
Flag also reported at
http://www.telanon.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Sundy.jpg from
Paraskevas Renesis, 26 February 2012
I know no reports on a flag of Principe Island.
António Martins, 08 August 1999
I have met today the brother of the Sao Tome defense
minister. I obtain from him first hand information on flag
use in his country. The man was, 17 years ago, the leader
of the Youth organization of Sao Tome, but in this era
this organization didn't have flag of their own. He was
president of the delegation of Youth people that traveled
to Principe Island but no flags different from the
national one were hoisted then.
Jaume Ollé, 03 July 2000
Michel Sicard, former Secretary general of the
Societé Française de
Vexillologie, said to me that in April of 1995, the
Island of Principe acquired an autonomous government. No
reports on flag.
Jordi Pérez, 01 October 1997.
In the 1981 revolt of the island against the Sao Tome power,
a rebel flag was hoisted, but is unknown to me.
Jaume Ollé, 09 November 1996
Durán [drn95] reports
the following for the pre-1975 flag of the
municipality headed by the city of São Tomé (not
for the whole island!): Flag gyronny (city
rank) of blue and white (in the usual variants of 2:3 and 1:1),
the arms over all. This is gules, five open cacao nuts set in saltire
(Durán says «in palo», «per pale»,
but the illustration shows per saltire, which is much more
logical…), shells or, seeds argent lined
sable; bordure argent with seven eschuteons azure, each with
five bezants argent per saltire. Mural crown or (overseas
province capital rank) of five towers (city rank), white
scroll reading in black capitals CIDADE DE SÃO
António Martins-Tuválkin, 08 August 1999
As for subnational flags in São Tomé and Príncipe,
before independence at least some of the local municipalities
had coats of arms and flags.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 08 August 1999


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The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron (originally published 1987) is a clever early chapter book about a boy and his younger brother, along with the crazy stories Julian makes up to explain the world around him.
When seven-year-old Julian does not know the answer to his three-year-old brother Huey's questions, he makes up stories! For example, he tells his brother that a catalog is a book to order cats from, and they are sent through the mail. His imagination is ripe and the stories crafted into his adventures are fun for the young reader. In the first chapter, I was concerned when the kids hid from Dad, afraid of the punishment, but the "beating" and "whipping" in store for the pudding-eating boys was just the right kind!
I was delighted to see such a clever and obviously enduring story (it's almost 30 years old) for the early chapter book crowd. Although my son reads at a high reading level, sometimes he just needs something short and sweet, about a boy just his age. He read this one quickly and found it quite funny. I look forward to checking out the sequels of Julian's crazy stories as well!


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We get a lot of questions from people about where they can learn computer programming online. We've compiled a list of online sources for learning programming or scripting. Most of these are free online tutorials. We have not used all of them personally. We do not endorse any particular resource here. We're just offering this listing as a reference for you. Maybe it will help someone and you'll remember us.
For BigWorld development Python, MySQL, XML and possibly some others may be used.
Links to online programming classes and tutorials
(in no particular order)
Official Python Docs::
Main Python Page http://www.python.org/doc/ choose your python version.
Python 2.7.6 Tutorial https://docs.python.org/2/tutorial/Â Currently using this version.
Unofficial Python Docs & Web Pages::
Python Wiki https://wiki.python.org/moin/
Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python http://inventwithpython.com/
A useful beginner's Python Tutorial http://sthurlow.com/python/
Useful for beginner's http://www.pythonforbeginners.com/
Learn Python The Hard way 3rd Edition http://learnpythonthehardway.org/ purchase link.
Free Html of Book, Good for resources and learning http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/
Wonderful web page for learning Python, MySQL, C++ and More http://www.tutorialspoint.com/python/index.htm
Wonderful web page for learning C, C++, C#, .Net, Visual Basic, Java, Ruby, PHP, Perl, Python and more http://programmersheaven.com/
Sign up Learn to code interactively http://www.codecademy.com/
Python Create Account and Learn http://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/
Python 3 Create Account and Learn https://www.coursera.org/course/programming1
Fun Ways to Learn Programing::
Programing riddle test and learn http://www.pythonchallenge.com/
Learn to program by playing a game http://codecombat.com/play/level/munchkin-masher#
* you do not need these source code resources below, unless you are advancing in your programing. *
These links are for source code. "'Always use caution when downloading."'
http://svn.python.org/Â http://hg.python.org/
This is a helpful guide for the source you download https://docs.python.org/devguide/
Python Tools https://www.pyxll.com/blog/tools-for-working-with-excel-and-python/
==Other Programming Languages==
C/C++ with Bill Weinman
Wiki code
Information Security
Heterogeneous Parallel Programming
Computer Architecture
iOS games for iCritters
DISCLAIMER: These links are provided for informational purposes only. Heaven's Blessings Tiny Zoo, LLC. and staff are not affiliated with any of the sites listed, we are not responsible for any content or functionality of any site listed here, and can not be held responsible for any damage done to your property, directly or implied. Please use the internet with caution.


text:
|355 Ratings | 312 Reviews
Tura Tourism And Travel Guide
Moderate Rain
April to June
1 to 2 Days
Shillong Airport (35 kms)
Guwahati Railway Station (200 kms)
The flourishing eco-tourism of Tura, Meghalaya, should come as no surprise to anyone. This charming little hamlet has seen an increasing number of tourists each year and continues to remain one of the most culturally thriving regions in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Being the administrative hub of the Garo tribes who call this place home, Tura is strongly rooted in its traditional values. A wide range of wildlife species that reside in the deep forests and mountainous regions of Tura, in addition to its magnificent natural wonders, makes this region even more richly diverse and scenically unique. Find out more about tourism in this splendid little town with the help of this travel guide.
How to Reach
By Air:
The nearest airport from Tura is the Shillong Airport located around 35 km away. The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam has better connectivity than Shillong Airport to major across cities across India though but is located much farther away at a distance of around 200 km. Public and private transportation to Tura is available from both airports. Travellers also have the option to avail the services of Pawan Hans Helicopter from both Guwahati and Shillong.
By Rail:
The nearest railway line from Tura is the Guwahati train station, about 200 km away, in Assam. Travellers can catch a bus or hire a private car to reach Tura from the railway station.
By Road:
National Highway 40 connects Tura to both Guwahati and Shillong. Daytime sumo services and overnight buses run from both cities to Tura; public buses are available daily from the Interstate Bus Terminus in Beltola, Guwahati and private buses are available from Machkowa in Guwahati. Taxis to Tura can be hired from Tourist Taxi Stand near Police Bazaar in Shillong, and from near the ASTC Complex in Guwahati.
Weather & Best Time to Visit
Summer (April-June):
The peak tourist season in Tura is during the summer months. The temperatures average between 16-30⁰C and the weather is warm and pleasant enough to thoroughly enjoy the outdoors. While rain may be expected at any time in a place like Meghalaya, summers are usually the driest time of the year in Tura.
Monsoon (June - September):
Monsoon months in Tura receive moderate to heavy rainfall, which can be an unfavourable time for most travellers to visit. The beauty of the town increases immensely during this time though, but chances of flooding in some of the major tourist spots in the region make this an unsuitable travel season.
Winter (October - March):
Winters in Tura are not as chilly as they are in northern India, and can actually be pleasant enough to enjoy a trip to this part of the state during the winter months. The average temperature ranges between 4-15⁰C and most of the tourist spots like the Siju caves and the wildlife sanctuaries remain open as well during the winters.
Things to Do
Trek to the Top of Tura Peak:
At a height of 872 metres, the Tura Peak overlooks the town of Tura. Earlier known as Dura, the name of the peak was changed after being constantly mispronounced as Tura by the British. The Tura Peak is a popular location among trek enthusiasts and an old foot trail on the mountain serves a very convenient purpose for the same. From the top of the peak, one can enjoy wonderful views of the Brahmaputra Valley and the golden plains of Bangladesh.
Explore the Siju Caves:
The Siju Caves are situated along the banks of the River Simsang and are known to be the third-longest cave line in the Indian subcontinent. The caves are so deep that a major portion of them remains unexplored by humans. The caves are also home to a large number of bats, which has given it the nickname of 'dabokhol', or the 'bat cave'. Visitors will also get to see stalagmite formations in the cave that have formed over the years.
Explore Local National Parks:
Situated just 2 km away from the town of Tura, Nokrek National Park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the year 2009 and is the first biosphere of its kind in northeast India. It is home to a wide range of species like the red panda, Asian elephant, marbled cat, tigers etc. The Balpakram National Park is situated at a height of about 3000 feet above sea level and covers an area of 220 sq. km., located at a distance of about 167 km from the town of Tura. The national park was established in the year 1987 and is now home to an extensive variety of flora and fauna.
Where to Eat
Tura is a traditionally remote region that has intentionally been kept away from commercialization. Travellers to this part of the district won't find many restaurants but can enjoy local cuisine at indigenous food stalls and tea shops. Guesthouses and homestays are run by the locals who often offer home-cooked meals to their visitors. Shillong is located just 35 km away; all different varieties of cafes and restaurants can be found just a short distance away in the capital city.


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Disclaimer: The nail polishes were provided for review.Carpe Noctem Cosmetics' Halloween Collection. "This is Halloween" and "Friday Night" are two of the most Halloween-y colors from the collection! They seriously scream "Halloween"!
To see some swatches and my review, click......
This is Halloween:
This is Halloween" is suppose to be a neon orange crelly (cream and jelly hybrid) with black and holographic hexagons. In my opinion though, this looks like rotten pumpkins, but in the best way possible! It's definitely a love it or hate it color and I love it! It reminds me of jack-o'-lanterns rotting on the porch after Halloween has passed!
|Again, sorry about the horrible lighting, curse you rainy days.
Next up is Fright Night and this one reminds me of vampires. The specks of red glitter suspended in a metallic gunmetal base look like drops of blood.
Once again, these polishes will be available on the 5th, so in the mean time, head on over to the shop (use FREESHIP15 for free shipping on US orders over $15) and take a look at what other pretty polishes there are.


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IRCTC Rail ticketing now made simpler just by SWIPE and SHUFFLE, SELECT and BOOK. Install the newly launched "IRCTC RAIL CONNECT" android app and book a railway ticket anywhere in India at your fingertips.
PhonePe Payment mode is now available at IRCTCT Rail Connnect Android app to provide the best experience of payment through PhonePe App UPI or PhonePe Wallet. Now avail additional Rs 50 Cashback on your next rail ticket worth Rs 50 or more. Valid on 1st two payments made to IRCTC App.
PhonePe- Get Rs 100 Free this 15th Aug
Offer valid from 15th august to 30th september, 2018
Steps to Avail PhonePe Rs 50 IRCTC Cashback Offer
- Download/Update IRCTC Rail Connect App
- & Download or Update PhonePe App
- Login/Register
- Goto Train> Search
- Proceed with IRCTC Booking
Minimum booking of Rs 50 is required
- Pay using PhonePe Payment method
- You will get Rs 50 cashback in your PhonePe wallet.
Terms & Conditions
What is the offer?
Get up to ₹100 Cashback. Flat ₹50 on first two transaction on IRCTC Android App on a minimum transaction value of ₹50 each.
What is offer Duration?
From 15th August, 2018 (00:00 Hours) to 30th September, 2018 (23:59 Hours)
What is a valid PhonePe payment?
How many times this offer can be availed?
Cashback is valid on first two transactions via PhonePe on IRCTC Android App platform during the offer period.
How do I avail the offer?
- On IRCTC Android App, make the product selection and proceed to pay.
- On the payment page, select "PhonePe" as the payment method.
- You will be redirected to the "Pay by PhonePe" screen; follow instructions specified (Click on Send OTP, Enter OTP, and Login).
- Pick the preferred payment option from the options shown (UPI, Debit Card or Credit Card, Wallet).
- Click on "Pay" to complete the transaction.
When do I get the cashback?
Cashback will be credited as PhonePe gift voucher balance within 24 hours of successful completion of the transaction.
What happens if I am eligible for more than one offer?
If you are eligible for more than one offer, the offer giving you the maximum Cashback is automatically picked up for you.
What happens in case of refund/cancellation of my order?
- In case of any cancellations, the cashback given on the transaction will continue to remain as gift voucher balance and non-withdrawable to your bank account. This can continue to be used on PhonePe (recharges, bill payments, etc.)
- Refunded amount less of cashback will be credited back to the source of funds used while making payment
What other conditions apply on the cashback amount?
- Cashback gift voucher can be used for recharges, bill payments and payments on PhonePe partner platforms/stores.
- Cashback gift voucher cannot be withdrawn to any linked bank account or transferred to other customers.
Other Terms & Conditions
- Payment to be made through BHIM UPI, Debit Card, Credit Card or Wallet within the PhonePe container after clicking the "PhonePe" option on IRCTC Android App checkout.
For users paying through BHIM UPI, cashback is valid on transactions initiated and completed on PhonePe using a PhonePe linked bank account
How do I check the eligibility of a purchase?
- This offer will be applicable on any orders placed on IRCTC Android App on a minimum transaction value of ₹50 each.


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Yearly Maintenance Contracts
Acclaimed Roofing and Guttering Cork offer Roofing Solutions we currently offer a service whereby we can be retained by a client to aid them with their roofing needs, either renewal of roofs or simply fixing a leak caused by other less skilled roofers.
Roof leaks can cause long-term building damage, immediate damage to building equipment and contents and can disrupt the residents or workers of a building.
With this in mind and knowing how much damage water can cause we offer a same day call out service to all our clients.
Our service includes providing regular maintenance and identifying potential failure in your roofing system, scheduling roof repair activities over the life of the roof.
Our roof management services Roof stability Reports, outlining maintenance schedules, leak history, repair history and any other relevant information about the roof.
General layout and wording of our Maintenance Contract
The contract provided by Acclaimed Roofing and Guttering Cork provides the following and maybe changes to suit the client:
- 2 site visits to inspect roof with visits to be conducted during Spring and Autumn. Two weeks notice will be given prior to conducting inspection.
- The inspection will include the following:
- Removal of gathered residues such as mud, debris, leaves etc.
- The outlets will be cleaned and unblocked to maintain the functionality of the existing waterproofing layer.
- The gutters will be cleaned and unblocked
- Defective fixings replaced
- An Electronic Integrity Test will be conducted where possible to check roof.
- Remedial Works as required.
- A written report in conjunction with an updated maintenance schedule will be provided within five working days of inspection. The report will consist of the following: maintenance items, conditions of roofing membrane and flashings, distressed locations, explanations for repairs and photographs.
- If possible a roof plan including drawings, deck type, specifications, warranty and the details of any changes made to the roof system should be provided to Mamp;S prior to commencement.
- 24 hr Emergency call out option available if annual contract is agreed.
- Roof maintenance will also ensure you have taken reasonable steps to prevent accidents and comply with the provision of the Health Safety Acts.
The key benefit of regular maintenance is that potential problem is discovered before they become an issue. It is never too late to implement. Good maintenance will enhance the lifespan of your roof which will ultimately be cost-efficient and improve operational reliability.
Following an extensive initial inspection, we will tailor the maintenance plan for your needs and confirm the annual cost.


text: Jaypee Greens presents Boulevard Court, the desirable and comfortable lifestyle within your budget. Amidst fresh green landscapes this community of 2BHK apartments has abundant wide open spaces, personal balconies, well-lit and spacious interiors giving you a feeling of openness. Coming up adjoining the renowned Yamuna Expressway and are a part of the Iconic Jaypee Greens Sports City,. State-of-the art sports and recreation facilities like basketball/badminton courts, cricket pitch, jogging track and special themed parks for relaxation along with enclosed arenas for the tiny tots , these residences offer the optimum combination of convenience and pleasure. Seek serenity in this fresh verdant vicinity with an affordable fine living…all at Jaypee Greens Boulevard Court at Jaypee Greens Sports City.


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Symlink to if-archive/art/if-artshow
Symlink to if-archive/games/zcode
Symlink to if-archive/games/zcode
int-fiction 1.0, a game frontend for Unix, by Alan Shutko. Shows you the IF games on your disk and selects the proper interpreter.
Symlink to if-archive/phoenix/games
Playing the Interactive Fiction Archive Games version 1.74 (March 2002), by Stephen Griffiths. [file is linked to info/playgame.FAQ]
copy of a Usenet posting asking for copies of Penguin/Polarware games that have been released for public distribution


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Home→Planning Tips
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-Party-Time Kid's Guide Style, by Steve Lawery, Kidsguide Magazine, quote from David Skale, owner, Auntie Roxie's Life of the Party
We plan more events in a month than most people plan in a lifetime!!
We've compiled some of our best tips for popular events…FOR FREE!!!
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Jane Addison is an ambitious young woman with big dreams of owning her own company someday. At twenty-eight, she arrives in New York to start a job at Fletcher and Benson, a prestigious talent agency. Eager to impress her new colleagues, Jane jumps right in as an assistant to Hailey West, one of the agents in the literary department.
Hailey is dedicated to the authors she represents, but her home life is chaotic and challenging. After her husband's tragic and untimely death, she was left widowed with three children to raise on her own.
Then there's Francine Rivers, the stern and accomplished head of the literary department. Also a single mom after her husband's affair with the nanny, she has overcome the resulting financial hardships, but only with unbearable sacrifice.
Compared to Hailey and Francine, drama agent Allie Moore's life seems much more carefree and uncomplicated. She relishes her success and loves working with the talented actors they represent—until a passionate relationship with one of her rising star clients threatens to derail her career.
Merriwether Jones is the CFO for the agency. She appears to have it all—beauty, success, and a perfect marriage until her husband's jealousy over her career threatens to blow everything up.
Even though she's a newcomer, Jane quickly realizes that there are damaging secrets hidden behind the doors of Fletcher and Benson. As one of the youngest employees, she has the least power, but is also the least willing to accept things as they have been for years. When she puts everything on the line to right these wrongs, the consequences will leave no one unscathed.
In this riveting novel, Danielle Steel tells the story of a group of remarkable women navigating the challenges of balancing their families, their personal lives and the high stakes of ambition at the top of their game.
352 Pages


text: OGA - Admin Posted December 14, 2005 Share Posted December 14, 2005 I (under my regular account) received the same email from Parks Canada today. We will be posting it on the OGA Site ASAP, as we host documents of that nature too. I would like to thank the Parks Canada main contact for Geocaching Policy developement and creation for her efforts to provide an update regarding the progress made and evaluation of the content of emails received. Parks Canada had indicated that there would only be a public comment made once the period for public input had completed. I'm glad that we've been granted a preview of the types of emails and content of them. There was a lot less emails generated over the past months than I would have expected. As I indicated in my reply to the Parks Canada rep, I can only think of three reasons why this would be. 1... Geocachers are not aware of the Policy and the opportunity to help shape the future of Geocaching within the Parks Canada areas. 2... The Geocaching community is indifferent to the issue 3... The activity of Geocaching has a minimal impact on the Park System since few people are actually Geocaching on Park Lands. I think I'll guess at #1. OGA - Admin {The opinions in this Forum posting may or may not reflect those of the OGA Executive and/or Membership of OGA. They are provided 'as is' by the Administrator alone} Link to comment


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Though I share stories about my son Tyler in blogs all the time, I haven't highlighted Fragile X syndrome (FXS) since 2014. As July is Fragile X awareness month I thought I would once again shine a light on the most common inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and autism. Since Tyler's diagnosis of FXS when he was two, my wife Jammie and I have become very involved in helping spread the word about Fragile X. We have been blessed to meet so many wonderful families on the same journey we are on and share our hopes and dreams as well as comfort one another in our discouragements and struggles. I have also been blessed though my travels with Mandt to meet many wonderful caregivers of individuals who live with FXS.
Fragile x can range from mild to profound impairments and is caused by a mutation to a single gene on the X chromosome. Behavior characteristics include things like ADD, ADHD, autism and autistic behaviors. Behaviors also often include hand-biting, flapping, sensory disorders and an increased risk for aggression. Though FXS is often more pronounced in males, females with FXS have similar issues with about one-third having significant intellectual disabilities. Though the before mentioned issues can be challenging there are also many wonderful characteristics associated with individuals who have FXS. They are very social and friendly, have excellent imitations skills, a strong long term memory, love to help others,are extremely empathetic and have an amazing sense of humor.
Like most disability groups, the Fragile X community continues to do research to help find ways to support individuals with FXS and hopefully one day find a cure. Most important is getting people informed about FXS and aware. While individuals with FXS have challenges, with the right supports and interventions, they have shown to be productive members of their families, schools, workplaces and communities. As officially recognized by congress since 2000, July 22nd is officially Fragile X Awareness day. Please take some time to go to the National Fragile X Foundation's website and learn more. www.fragilex.org
Tim Geels – Senior Vice President of Organizational Development


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This post is part of the worldwide PM FlashBlog initiative. For more information, visit this page.
Every other year I hop on a plane with my family and fly from Toronto to Seattle for Christmas. Between the restlessness of the children and my grumpiness over the lack of leg room, I eat my mini pretzels, wondering how much longer I will have to sit in that metal tube breathing other people's breath. Five hours is certainly too long.
What I seem to take for granted is that just a few years ago, the only way to make that trip would be by boat, taking a slight detour through the Strait of Magellan. That's where you have to look north to see South America. The trip would take months, and some would die along the way. Heck, some would be born along the way.
But what does that have to do with project management?
Before we could actually fly from coast to coast eating mini pretzels, something amazing was achieved. An unbelievable feat of engineering provided for a much shorter and smoother way of going from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
That project is called the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal not only changed the way people travelled, but also completely redefined commerce and facilitated trade. The world would not be the same today without it. I was blown away by the history of the construction of the Canal when I interviewed its current project manager for the Construction Industry Podcast.
That is the beauty of a project. It changes how we live. It adds value.
As project managers, we get to watch projects unfold, steering them according to our abilities and external conditions. In a world in which history is marked by milestones such as the pyramids, Roman architecture, works of art, technological breakthroughs such as plumbing and air flight, we realize that each of these were once projects.
Projects allowed us to create tools, which were used to build machines, which are now used to make parts for other machines, which are further used to make products and create services that make the world a different and better place.
But most of all, projects remind us that human efforts are not a zero sum. Projects show us that together we can add more than we take. An iPhone is better than a bucket full of iPhone parts. The Panama Canal has afforded us benefits far beyond what it cost to build it.
So what does project management mean to me? It's pretty simple.
Project management is what made the seemingly impossible task of joining two oceans a reality. Project management is what makes a metal tube full of mini pretzels, crammed legs, and whiny children, fly above the clouds from the CN Tower to the Space Needle.
Project management to me is the science of effectively changing the world. As project managers, we are agents of change. In a culture hungry for change and a better future, project managers are the ones who will eventually deliver it.
What about you? What does project management mean to you?
Subscribe to my PM for the Masses Podcast.


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Over the last few weeks I've noticed that one after another people are "coming out". They are taking a stand and showing that they are ready to stop hiding who they are and be themselves. Michael Sams and Jason Collins have recently come out, however we do know that they are not really the first professional athletes to be gay.
The Ugandan President signed into law today a bill that criminalizes homosexuality despite a message from President Obama urging the world to step forward into equality and not backwards.
This type of fear and hate is not limited to other countries. Just last week Arizona sent a new law to Governor
Ann Jan Brewer that would allow a business to turn away
customers based on sexual orientation. Many
are concerned that the protection of ones right to do business with who they
want, outweighs the rights of the individual to have access to the marketplace.
In an open letter to Governor Brewer, Out LGBT Activist and Actor George Takei stated he will boycott the state of Arizona if this measure goes through.
A look back shows us that LGBT families in Arizona do have a right to be fearful of hatred.
As a small business owner, I understand the value of a solid customer base. As a consumer, I also want to have access to the same goods and services that others have in my community. I also believe that if someone wants to buy my products, because I'm a small business, I'm going to sell to them. Let's say that someone buys one of my necklaces and then burns it because they hate witches. I'm ok with that. I've been paid. I really don't have the right to be concerned with what someone does with my product after it leaves my place of business.
Now, let's turn the tables a bit. The sandwich at Chick-fil-a is awesome. I would love to have it. It's crispy and tasty. It is also served with a side of hate, which is not quite as palatable for me. That means that I don't go there and shop. I don't eat there, I don't buy water there, and I don't visit there at all. I encourage others not to shop there and I am very clear to others exactly why I don't shop there.
While I understand the desire to have equality in the marketplace, I also am really confused by those who want to "make" a business do something for them. These recent issues with wedding cakes and bakery owner's refusing to make cakes for certain weddings. While a baker who said, I won't' make a cake for an interracial marriage might be frowned on by the community, one that says I won't make a cake for a gay marriage is applauded and supported for their freedom of religion.
While I lived in San Diego, I was always happy when I saw businesses post the rainbow flag on their doors. I knew that this merchant supported LGBT rights and I felt comfortable spending my money there. In less inclusive communities it is hard to know who is on the side of equality. That being said, I would vet my cake decorator by asking others who have used them and if I find one that doesn't want to make my cake; I'd move on. Why have that negative energy in the best day of my life?
I found a local restaurant using a microwave but charges $17 a plate. I don't go there any more.
I think the real issue here is what people thing about people when they see them. On a recent trip to Wilson, hubby and I had a really good discussion on this. What are people really worried about? Do they care that a "gay" cake is made at the same place a "straight" cake is made? What's the big deal?
So really what this all really boils down to is what we think when we look at people. So what do we see when we look at the following photos
Zach Wahls - Heterosexual child of Lesbian Moms
|Del Martin and Phyllis Lyons - By NickGorto
|Harvey Milk - By Daniel Nicoletta
Why does looking at these people equate to what they do in their bedroom. When I look at these pictures the last thing I think of is their bedroom. When I'm standing in line at the bank, or sitting in my car I don't look over at the couple in the car and immediately start thinking about them having sex. Why is it that the thought of a same sex couple immediately leads other to think of sex? Do seeing opposite sex couples do that as well? If so, who is really at fault here?
There are arguments against treating Gays and Lesbians equal ranging from biblical to natural. Some say "God Intended" some say "Nature Intended". Each one firmly believing they have the right answer. By far, the most ignorant argument is "I wouldn't know how to explain it to my kids."
Now some of you may say, no, no one really says that. Take my word for it. I have been approached by people in my own birth family that said those very words to me. Here's how you explain a gay couple to your children.
"Dave loves Steve like Daddy loves Mommy"
"Shannon has two Mommies and you have a Daddy and a Mommy."
I'll even help with a follow up question.
"Well, Shannon has two Mommies, because that's how their family is set up. Some families have one Mommy, some have two. Some have two Daddies some have one. Every family is different."
Study after study shows that children are not born with prejudice. Hate is taught. Stereotyping is something that is handed down to our children. From the media, from the world and from us. We teach them to be hateful people that believe that some families are not as good as other families. We teach them that it is OK "this time" to single out this group of people or that group of people.
We need to stop looking at the color of the skin, the religious choice or the gender of people to determine who they are. We are all earthlings and we should cherish our diversity.
|Japanese-American internees at Minidoka Internment Camp, Idaho
|Trail of Tears - By Wolfgang Sauber
I have a message to all those who are "coming out". Instead of making a big press conference about it or releasing some public statement, just show up at your event with your partner. People make a big deal out of things if you do. While I'm all for being an out Gay or Lesbian leader in our community, I think that if we just start showing up with our partner to events maybe it won't be such a big deal. Maybe if you get a cake from a great baker and you share their name in a tweet, that works too. Don't be so worried about getting a head of the game and managing the media that you forget that there are people out there who don't play football or have a great spin doctor to turn the media around when they start bashing them.
Maybe if we start here, we can try to teach those coming up that it isn't so bad to just be yourself.


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Virtual Reality has just recently appeared on the digital landscape and was bound to succeed, rapidly spreading to a wide and diverse list of industries, such as medicine, real estate, tourism, online retail and even gambling.
These days VR is no longer a virtual concept – it is a reality, and it's becoming a part of the routine for a constantly increasing number of people. Its development has had a great effect on the technological landscape so far and is seen by many as one of the crucial innovations of the 21st century.
Virtual reality's extremely wide range of application has made it a highly profitable tool for businesses, from local players to giants like Coca-Cola, Alibaba, and Volvo, which are actively engaging the technology.
But what exactly is the reason for VR's whopping success? Here are the three main factors that make VR stand out in the crowd of video trends:
- VR fascinates. It allows a consumer to evaluate the product before purchasing it better than any promotional video does. A recent study has shown that a great part of smartphone owners would like to benefit from VR while shopping online – to grasp the product's actual size and characteristics. This is where the immersive effect plays a great persuasive role by helping the customer drop any interfering factors.
- It is memorable. There are two reasons VR clips are so catchy: these videos transfer the user to a whole another place and our brains tend to remember things better if they are linked to a particular location. More so, experiencing virtual reality brings a lot of emotion, which makes us less rationale whilst making a purchase or other target action. Furthermore, VR provides the user with an experience otherwise unattainable, and it's appealing to think that anything is possible, even if it's in the virtual world.
- It's fresh: The VR technology is increasing its reach and like everything new and undiscovered – it raises a great interest among both consumers and businesses. Video advertising industry alone is a great example: having just entered the market, VR is already among the most effective promotional formats.
Why Use Virtual Reality In Marketing?
VR has entered the global marketing industry rapidly, with a loud bang, leaving many of its fans from the gaming industry to wonder why. The thing is, while VR is a lot of fun, it is an emotional and unique experience and most importantly – it is highly engaging. Nearly all VR sessions are generated via specifically designed headsets that fully absorb the user into the virtual world. And although VR is not so widely applied in retail yet, we have already seen some great examples and cases to follow.
When it comes to marketing, VR is the thing to connect brands with their audiences on a radically new level!
VR ad campaigns appeal to 3 parts of the human brain that are responsible for perception and reaction to the world around, which is highly effective, to say the least.
Having analyzed brands' campaigns with VR integration, one can easily distinguish some of their common features, such as:
- An explicit idea delivered in the form of storytelling.
- Thoughtful organization of the concepts.
- A memorable impact of a new experience.
- An interactive and captivating nature of the entire VR campaign.
Taking all that in consideration, virtual reality techniques combined with digital advertising strategies can substantially help to shape your brand's future marketing approach.
If you are intrigued with the possibilities of VR and its implementation in your marketing strategy, here are just a few more examples of the trend's constant evolution and growing popularity:
#1. Increasingly immersive experience
From the very beginning, VR has been associated with just two senses – vision and hearing, but as the time passed evolution urged digital experts to go beyond accepted limits and find ways to intensify the "feeling" even more. The works on developing gadgets with sensory experiences like touch and smell are active now, and we suppose they'll take it even further in the direction, perhaps far enough to resemble the famous Hollywood movie "Surrogates".
#2. Gaming is going to get a huge boost
Gaming industry is already winning from VR integration but the real hype is still a year or so away. Web developers are sweating blood to create photo-realistic 3D simulations and ultimately bring the gaming experience closer to a real-life one. When that happens – gamers may very well become addicted to the "dream" world for good.
#3. VR shopping in real-time
Virtual reality is about to go down into the E-commerce history revolutionizing it once and for all! Both marketers and customers can expect innovations in the industry. Online shopping fans are going to be one of the top winners, having the opportunity to try on clothes online already in the nearest future. Tech developers are even going as far as to prepare a technology that will allow the potential buyers to download and print out a 3D model to ensure that a product fits them well by all metrics! Add the option to transcend flavors and scents, and the killer E-commerce model is in your pocket!
Are the consumers ready for VR?
A technology like VR can help brands connect with people on a radically new level, but are we ready to fully step into the virtual world?
Consumers are usually open to new experiences, especially pleasant ones. Regarding this, VR can definitely turn into a great addition to any brand's marketing strategy!
However, you shouldn't forget that investment in the technology is not a given win and depends highly on the type of goal that a brand is striving to achieve with the help of VR.
Nowadays the best solution for companies to use virtual reality in their marketing strategy would be to create specific experiences fitting the brand's advertising objective and the consumer's subjective expectations. This means that the use of VR has to be relevant and to the place, or it may be taken as a gimmick by your consumers, and a gimmick in virtual reality can stick with you for a long time!
At the same time, AR is the ultimate leader in this "virtual" race since VR technology hasn't yet met the same acception rate – a fact that makes marketers think twice when deciding on its use.
Now, it is up to the brands to find ways how VR can meet it's extremely broad array of possible application, and integrate it into the online commerce in a safe and beneficial for the consumers way.


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|My walk to work on Tuesday!
|The Three Storied Pagoda through the trees
|Some say low-fi iPhone photo, I say Pointillism!
On Wednesday, we went up the street to Hashirimizu Park, which has beautiful sakura trees and is conveniently local. While I saw a lot of fun Tokyo pictures with the sakura and hanami parties (picnics), it was nice to go to a place that was less crowded and still totally gorgeous!
|Close-up at Work
This week, I got to enjoy the sakura all around base. The trees on base are also amazing and it's so cool to work in such pretty location. I ate outside twice this week and it was really a treat.
|Close-up from my Tuesday walk to work!
Finally, even though I thought the Sakura season was at an end, SMS and I walked along the canal in Hinodecho, Yokohama on Saturday. There was a Sakura festival going on with lots of street vendors lining both sides of the canal under the trees. My favorite viewing sites were on the bridges where some of the tree boughs gently curved towards the water.
Overall, it was a wonderful start to Spring and I'm so glad I got to appreciate the Sakura in so many different settings!
|Along the Hinodecho canal


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We come to the end of the brilliant season 2 of Legion. Go down the rabbit hole with us a we piece together, what is
Category: Legion
Legion Season 2 Episode 10 Review | Chapter 18
Legion, the world killer. That is all you need to know about this episode. Noah Hawley has crafted the best super hero show on TV.
Legion Season 2 Episode 9 Review | Chapter 17
This episode of Legion Melanie takes us on her little trip. Question is, who is is at the driver's seat? Lenny brakes her rusty cage,
Legion Season 2 Episode 8 Review | Chapter 16
On this episode of Legion Ptonomy is trapped in the mainframe of Admiral Fukuyama's head. David and Farouk are in a race to find his
Legion Season 2 Episode 7 Review | Chapter 15
On this episode of Legion it is on between David and Farouk. Is the delusion we have been following all season a distraction? The battle
Legion Season 2 Episode 6 Review | Chapter 14
Rich David, Poor David, Good David, Bad David, Suburban David, Tweaker David, Homeless David, and a curious version of Slave to Love by Brian Ferry.
Legion Season 2 Episode 5 Review | Chapter 13
This episode of Legion is one to remember and the point where this series has achieved greatness. Horrifying and moving, Marvel continues to have their
Legion Season 2 Episode 4 Review | Chapter 12
An AMAZING episode of Legion. Essentially the second part of last weeks episode we get a long overdue character study of Syd Barrett. Our hero
Legion Season 2 Episode 3 Review | Chapter 11
This episode of Legion David is still on the hunt for Farouk's body, and he goes to Farouk for some help. Lenny wants to be
Legion Season 2 Episode 2 Review | Chapter 10
This episode of Legion from FX David has to know why he needs to help the Shadow King, but does he ask the right questions?
Legion Season 2 Episode 1 Review | Chapter 9
The wonderful and weird Legion from Marvel and Fox is back! Trippy visuals, great music, dance numbers that are both creepy and fun. Aubrey F******
Nerdrotic Recap | Legion (2017) | Chapter 8 | FX
This Nerdrotic Podcast we recap Chapter 8, the Finale of Legion Season 1 David feels better, then doesn't. We get the origin story of a


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How And Why This One EdTech Startup Used Kickstarter For Crowdfounding
By Andrew Little, Tiny Factory
Founded in 2010, Tiny Factory initially began as a web application design and development agency. We had the opportunity to work with giants such as Nike, General Electric and Scholastic. Beginning as an agency allowed us to work in a broad scope of areas within different industries. It helped us narrow our strengths and focus on what niche of our industry we wanted to pursue. This helped us reach another goal, which was to enter the EdTech market and specifically language education.
We began our entrepreneurial endeavors in June of 2011. We released Bilingual Child which helped serve as an early introduction for English and Spanish. After receiving over 26,000 downloads and amazing support from users, we decided to expand further in the language education market with our follow-up game, Lingual. Lingual serves as an introduction to English, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Our decision to build on Lingual came just over a year ago and now has given us a year in development. Upon completion of roughly 75% of Lingual, we arrived at some financial crossroads. We needed to fund more development and design to meet the gameplay standards we were striving for.
Our options came down to 2 decisions in which we could pursue. The first of which was seeking Venture Capital. Venture Capitalism is often a prized opportunity and many times is the best option for a business to grow exponentially by experts in a skilled industry. However, an injection of money, business expertise and valuable connections will come at the cost of equity in your company. Ultimately we felt we were not willing to give up equity in our company at that juncture.
The Crowdfounding Solution
Our second option was to seek capital through crowdfunding.
Crowdfunding is a term used to describe the process by which entrepreneurs seek to raise small increment funds from potential supporters. Usually these potential supporters tend to be people who are either loyal customers, creative enthusiasts or gift basket fans (they like the pledge goal prizes).
Ultimately, crowdfunding meant more to us because we only needed a small financial amount to see the completion of our product. We also felt that our time was better spent on potential customers and supporters rather than searching for a VC. With that spent time, it gave us an opportunity to show our potential backers and current supporters that we cared about our product and the future of language learning.
However, just because anyone can use a crowdfunding platform to pursue their ideas, it does not make it any easier to achieve funding through this model. Preparing for our Kickstarter campaign took a tremendous amount of research and creative thought. It was far from being thrown together in a weekend. The process of analyzing past and present campaigns, breaking down the numbers and balancing an honest but driven sales pitch was a full time job in itself and still is.
Just as anything goes in business, we encountered obstacles during our Kickstarter research. We understood that EdTech has become an incredibly popular market in the Venture Capital world, but it had yet to command the crowdfunding arena. Kickstarter fans have often favored the projects that are tangible innovations. Makes sense, even I was amazed at the Pebble Watch and Lifx Bulb.
One Additional Hurdle
Our biggest hurdle was unfortunately out of our control and embedded in Apples App Review Guidelines. Kickstarter backers often want a piece of what they are contributing too. Lingual is a free app with in-app purchase content. Apples App Review Guidelines does not allow developers to gift in-app purchase content. While this did put us at a disadvantage, we were able to creatively think of great rewards and excel in the many other areas of our campaign.
We filmed a video that expressed our expertise and showed we cared about our product. We created pledge goals that we thought people learning foreign languages would be interested in and benefit from. Finally, we made some comical short videos to intrigue backers into the story behind Lingual.
Crowdfunding allowed us to better utilize our time and develop relationships with our customers. In any business, big or small, the most precious asset anyone can have is time. It's one of the few things that are ultimately finite. Why would we spend all our precious time seeking the right VC for us when we could spend that building relationships with potential customers?
We're still developing Lingual, our multi-language learning app. We need parents and educators to trust that we are creating a fundamental and informative process of learning, disguised as a game. The Kickstarter campaign allowed us to let our supporters see who we are and why we're developing a language education game. We hope our contribution to the surge in education technology has an impact on those searching for an introduction to language education.
Lingual is still on Kickstarter with 4 days remaining.
This is a guest post by Andrew Little of Tiny Factory; How–And Why–One EdTech Startup Used Kickstarter For Crowdfounding