text:
A call for public financing: innovative finance is welcome, but not enough
Early childhood development, especially for the poor and disadvantaged, should be financed from public revenues, as are basic and secondary education. This article outlines the evidence that early childhood is currently underfinanced, and argues that innovative financing mechanisms should be seen as a useful supplement – and a way to stimulate more conventional financing – rather than becoming the main financing mechanism.
Financing for early childhood development (ECD) services has been inadequate to ensure access and quality for disadvantaged children who have the most to gain. Investments in pre-primary education in particular are startlingly low.
In developing countries, on average, 0.07% of gross national product is spent on pre-primary education compared to 0.5% in developed countries (UNESCO, 2015a). However, across the board, countries, both developed and developing, spend markedly less on pre-primary education when compared to primary education, as demonstrated in Figure 1.
Donor financing for pre-primary education (Figure 2) does not present a better picture; estimates suggest that investments in early childhood education account for only 2% of aid to basic education.
While the adoption of target 4.2 of the Strategic Development Goals (SGDs) indicates global priority for early childhood development, estimates suggest that spending on one year of high-quality pre-primary education alone must increase annually from USD 4.8 billion in 2012 to USD 31.2 billion annually on average between 2015 and 2030 to reach this target (UNESCO, 2015b).
With growing recognition of both the importance of early childhood development services and the insufficiency of existing financial support – from domestic resources, bilateral donor countries and multilateral development agencies – to achieve the SDGs, it is clear that new thinking is needed. There has consequently been increasing enthusiasm for use of a variety of innovative financing sources and mechanisms in early childhood.
This interest is welcome. However, it also carries risks – of diverting attention from the need for mainstream public financing and of relegating early childhood into a 'special financing' category.
The limitations of innovative finance
Innovative finance can increase total volume through innovative sources, but can also improve the efficacy of those investments through the use of innovative delivery mechanisms.
- Innovative sources of finance can come in the form of new taxes with proceeds earmarked for early childhood programmes, corporate social responsibility, consumer donations, and impact investors. For example, in Colombia, a national payroll tax supports services run by the Colombian Family Welfare Institute (ICBF), which include health services, childcare, preschool education, and parent education. In the Philippines, a tax on gaming corporations supports National Child Development Centers (NCDCs) which provide integrated services for children from birth to 4 years old (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, online).
- Innovative delivery mechanisms – which include results-based aid, results- based financing, conditional cash transfers, and impact investing – can incentivise innovative thinking about how to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of early childhood services. For example, in South Africa, social impact bonds are being used to fund the testing of various models in the Western Cape Province; the provincial Departments of Social Development and Health have committed to paying for outcomes. Linking financing to outcomes can be especially appropriate for mixed public– private systems, as are typical in early childhood development. Another example comes from Peru, where a results-based financing approach has been used to support 'Cuna Más,' which provides childcare and home visiting services across the country (MIDIS, 2015).
However, these innovations have their limitations. In this article, Emily Gustafsson-Wright and Sophie Gardiner discuss the current state of knowledge on impact bonds: while still at a nascent stage of development, they may ultimately not prove suitable for financing nationwide programming, especially where they require low- and middle-income countries to implement new and often complex legal frameworks. Likewise, the use of payroll tax revenue in Colombia has been challenged by weaknesses in the country's overall tax collection system, while macroeconomic fluctuations have reduced the predictability of revenue (Vargas-Baron, 2006).
The more fundamental drawback of focusing too strongly on innovative financing is that it relegates ECD to a 'special category', and detracts attention from securing long-term, sustainable investments from governments. Ultimately, ECD should not solely be associated with innovative financing but should be able to benefit from those traditional sources of finance that support investments in older children and adults.
A springboard to more mainstream financing
Innovative finance alone will not solve the problem of underinvestment. However, it may allow countries to jump-start investments and interest in early childhood services which can help secure long-term support from traditional sources of finance. For example, in the Philippines, there are hopes that the Early Childhood Care and Development Council – responsible for the NCDCs funded by the tax on gaming corporations – will secure financing from the central government once the current legislation on the gaming tax expires in
If countries want to ensure wide access, it is necessary to integrate ECD services into existing financing for other core education, health, nutrition, and protection services. For example, in the case of pre-primary education, funds must be allocated with the same priority and via mechanisms similar to those utilised for primary and secondary education. In Brazil, a unified fund, FUNDEB, supports financing of the entire basic education cycle, from crèches and preschools to secondary education. Through this fund, municipalities, who are responsible for crèches and preschools, pay into state-level funds which are then redistributed based on the number of enrolled students. In order to mitigate disparities in wealth, the federal government tops up the funds received by municipalities and states to guarantee that a certain minimum level of funding is available per child enrolled in crèches and preschools (Evans and Kosec, 2012).
In addition to mainstreaming financing of ECD services, countries must innovate in how they support the most disadvantaged. Through 'Chile Crece Contigo', an integrated system of social protection in Chile, a range of early childhood services is offered, which are differentiated based on family income. While certain services, such as education programmes on child stimulation and development, are offered universally through the internet and mass media, vulnerable children are given preferential access to the social protection system and are offered specific benefits such as home visits and poverty alleviation programmes (Berlinsky and Schady, 2015). Few countries do this well, but by targeting investments in vulnerable children, and making universally available certain early childhood services, Chile's system of social protection exemplifies the kind of innovation needed to reach the poorest.
As there is growing momentum towards meeting SDG target 4.2, we are at an exciting moment for ECD. In order to capitalise on this momentum, we need to ensure that financing for ECD is integrated into financing for core services, while leveraging innovative finance and putting in place measures which squarely focus on improving access and quality of services provided to disadvantaged children.
References can be found in the PDF version of this article.


text:
There has been a lot of confusion on what is causing rusty symptoms and constrictions on ginseng roots. Some growers assume it is all root lesion nematode damage, but some damage seems to occur where no root lesion nematodes can be found in soil tests.
Over the past six years, OMAFRA and the OGGA have been collaborating on numerous research trials with root assessments being conducted both after the seedling year and at final harvest. Many of these trials involved extensive testing of the soil ahead of time to determine the populations of plant parasitic nematodes. We have also conducted experiments in pots where there was more control over what was present in the soil. From these trials we now have a much clearer picture on what the damage from root lesion nematodes looks like compared to rusty roots.
Rusty symptoms on ginseng roots can be caused by many different factors. A similar symptom in humans would be hives, a rash on the skin caused by the body's reaction to something in the environment. In the case of both hives and rusty root, it isn't a pathogen that causes the symptom directly, but the body's/root's reaction to the pathogen. Once the rusty symptom develops on the skin, often the pathogen is long gone. The rust colouration is an accumulation of chemicals the ginseng produces to defend itself against invasion or in response to another environmental stress. The symptoms may be different depending on what is invading the root. Root lesion nematode damage contains rusty symptoms, and therefore, the damage can be considered a type of rusty root. The purpose of this article is really to help growers differentiate rusty root caused by root lesion nematodes from that of other unknown causes.
Root lesion nematodes have been shown previously to cause constrictions on the tap root with rusty vertical streaks within the constriction. Our research confirms that this is the case. We recently harvested seedling roots from a site with high populations of root lesion nematode and very few other diseases (Fig. 1 and 2).
Figure 1. Distinct constrictions on roots containing vertical rusty streaks are a characteristic symptom of root lesion nematode damage.
Figure 2. Close-up of a root with a constriction caused by root lesion nematode feeding at germination.
The symptoms appear as very distinct and narrow constrictions that resemble an hourglass shape with rusty colouration clearly confined to the constrictions. These symptoms match those identified in our previous fumigation experiment where root lesion nematodes were confirmed to be present (Fig. 3 and 4).
Figure 3. Characteristic symptoms of root lesion nematode.
Figure 4. Severe constrictions from root lesion nematode feeding can cause the tap root to be cut off entirely resulting in a short root with a point at the end and more lateral roots.
As the root continues to grow, the constrictions eventually disappear but the narrow band of vertical streaks is still often present (Fig. 5). Root lesion nematodes should not be confused with root knot nematodes, a different parasitic species that definitely attacks ginseng throughout the life of the garden, but results in distinct nodules on the roots (Fig. 6).
Figure 5. A band of vertical rusty streaks on a 3-yr old root left over from root lesion nematode damage in the seedling year. Note the lack of additional damage since the root lesion nematodes died off.
Figure 6. Root-knot nematode symptoms on ginseng roots.
We also have roots from several experiments where we are confident there were no root lesion nematodes. This includes a pot experiment in commercial growing mix where the mix was tested for parasitic nematodes and confirmed not to be present. These symptoms can look very similar to root lesion nematode damage (Fig. 7-9). There do appear to be a few distinct differences:
- Rusty symptoms occur outside of the constrictions on many roots and on some they occur on the whole root surface.
- The rust colour is more orange and often streaks within the rust are not all vertical and not always present. Deeper cracks can develop on the surface of the root.
- Constrictions that do occur are often a wider band and not the typical hourglass appearance.
Figure 7. A selection of rusty seedling roots from a field site where no root lesion nematodes were found in numerous soil tests throughout the life of the garden. Note that constrictions occur, but rusty symptoms are elsewhere on the roots and the constrictions are not as distinct.
Figure 8. Rusty root symptoms on seedlings in a greenhouse pot trial.
Figure 9. Severe rusty root symptoms on seedlings in a greenhouse pot trial.
In these cases the cause of the symptoms is not entirely known but they are likely caused by a reaction of the root to invasion by a fungus or bacteria in the soil. The symptoms are often also related to adverse weather conditions. We are still working on determining causes of this disease. Older roots with rusty root symptoms can look similar to seedlings with the same issue. This is because rusty root can continue to develop over time, whereas root lesion nematodes generally die off during the seedling year. The narrow bands present after root lesion nematode damage are absent in roots with general rusty root or they are accompanied by other rusty root symptoms (Fig. 10 and 11).
Figure 10. A 3-year old root with severe rusty root symptoms from a site with no root lesion nematodes. Note that there are vertical streaks present but they are accompanied by other rusty symptoms over the whole root.
Figure 11. A selection of 3-year old roots with rusty root. Note the absence of distinct bands.
Trying to differentiate the symptoms based on one root would be very difficult because some roots without nematodes present have distinct constrictions containing rust. Several roots are required to be more confident in diagnosing the cause. It is even more difficult to differentiate the symptoms in older roots, since roots that have nematode damage can develop other rusty root symptoms over time. Having nematode tests conducted prior to establishment of the garden provides much more confidence in the diagnosis. Our research is showing that most of the damage from nematodes occurs early in the seedling year. By the time the damage occurs, it is too late to do anything about it.
Having the nematode tests conducted prior to fumigation can help in determining the best way to control them including choice of fumigant, cover crops for nematode suppression and the type of straw and nurse crops you apply after seeding. Rye is a known host of root lesion nematodes, and growing a rye nurse crop in the fall of the seeding year could increase nematode populations prior to ginseng germination.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My guest in this episode is Holly McKhann of HouseFlipMasters.com. Holly has done over 200 fix and flips in Southern California. She began her career as a CPA, working for Ernst & Young, and also earned an MBA in finance. She jumped into real estate investing in 2008 as the market was still declining. After buying the first 100 houses at auctions, she turned her focus to networking for acquisitions and has acquired over 100 houses that way. She also holds long-term rentals in Southern California as well as a transitional living facility. Being a licensed, active realtor also brings Holly fulfillment as she helps people buy and sell their homes.
Share your thoughts with me on Twitter @mclaubscher and Instagram @cashflowninjapodcast
Click To Tweet: How To Get Realtors To Bring You Deals
If you have enjoyed our podcast, please share with friends and family
Please Subscribe, Rate, and Review on Itunes so more people can find us!
Interview Links: HouseFlipMasters.com Recommended Books: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Support Our Sponsors
ONNIT, use coupon code GETONNIT to receive 10% off your order
Fundrise, a great way to participate in commercial real estate investments.
Learn more @ www.cashflowninjawealth.com
Audible, download any audio book for FREE when you try Audible for 30 days
Killer Resources! Money Masters Playbook Cashflow Ninja Cashflow Investments Checklist Cashflow Ninja Cashflow Toolkit Thanks so much for joining me again this week. Have some feedback you'd like to share? Leave a note in the comment section below! If you enjoyed this episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post! Also, please leave an honest review for the Cashflow Ninja Podcast on iTunes. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show, and I read each and every one of them. And finally, don't forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates, please follow me on twitter @mclaubscher and instagram, @cashflowninjapodcast. Special thanks to for joining me this week. Until next time! Live a life of passion and purpose on YOUR terms, M.C. Laubscher


text:
Pedestrian killed crossing Fort Worth highway
The body of a man who was killed while crossing a Fort Worth highway wasn't found until hours after the accident by the same driver who hit him.
The accident happened Friday around 1:30 a.m. as a pedestrian tried to walk across Loop 820 and Quebec Street in northwest Forth Worth.
Police say a car hit the man but the driver wasn't sure what he hit. The driver said he thought he'd hit a deer. He says he stopped to take a look but couldn't see anything so went home.
It wasn't until the light of day that they realized a man was killed. His body was found in tall grass near the base of the embankment.
"It was dark so he could not see anything and couldn't see the damage to his vehicle either," said Forth Worth Police Officer Tamara Valle. "In the morning, him and his wife returned to the scene and that's when -- it was light out at this point -- they were able to see what they did hit."
Police say when the driver went back and discovered the body in the grass called police out to the scene. His car was impounded but has not been charged.
The case is being investigated as an accident.


text:
In end of April 2019, Maruti Suzuki ensured to educate its customers in advance in Odisha and West Bengal regions on the do's and dont's to avoid damage to vehicles during cyclone Fani. The Company reached out to its database of over 3 lakh customers through SMS and informed them about preventive measures on 30th April 2019, nearly a week before the cyclone's landfall. Maruti Suzuki actioned series of measures including distributing its team district-wise to quickly take care of any damages.
The Company's officials were assigned a district each and their mobile number was shared with the customers in that area for help and support. All the workshops in affected area resumed operations from next day of cyclone for servicing of vehicles to avoid discomfort to customers. Maruti Suzuki also tied up seven major vehicle towing agencies to provide seamless services to its customers and also spare parts were requisitioned on a fast track basis.
The current scenario in Odisha and West Bengal region is heart-breaking. We pray for the people and are committed to ensure full-fledged support to our customers in this time of severity. We have set up exclusive teams to coordinate, monitor and provide 24×7 support to customers at all service workshops in the region,
said Mr. Partho Banerjee, Executive Director, Service, Maruti Suzuki India.
Photo Caption: Maruti Suzuki workshops in cyclone affected areas in Odisha and West Bengal have resumed operations to service vehicles and avoid discomfort to customers. Maruti Suzuki has tied up with seven major vehicle towing agencies to provide seamless services to the impacted customers. Adequate supply of spare parts has been requisitioned on a fast track basis to attend to the cars. The Company had reached out to 3 lakh customers through SMS and informed them about preventive measures. This advance intimation, nearly a week before the cyclone's landfall, helped to reduce damage to cars.
You can add more to this story by commenting below.


text:
Microsoft Corp. plans to bolster SharePoint's Internet capabilities in the hopes of penetrating a Web content management market that it has, so far, been largely locked out of.
Microsoft is also creating two new versions of SharePoint 2010 aimed at Webmasters. These new offerings -- one, an on-premises server for small to medium-sized companies, the other, a Web version hosted in Microsoft's data centers -- will cost half the price of existing versions, according to Kirk Koenigsbauer, general manager for the Microsoft Office Business Platform. He declined to release exact prices.
Moreover, companies using either of these Web-oriented versions of SharePoint won't need to buy Client Access Licenses (CALs) for internal employees who manage or update SharePoint-based Web sites, said Koenigsbauer. The cost of SharePoint's CALs tends to greatly outweigh the cost of the SharePoint server license.
Wildly popular inside the corporate firewall for sharing files and for internal portals, SharePoint has made little headway as a back-end technology for Web sites or extranets.
According to an IDC survey in July of 262 American corporate IT users, just 8% of respondents said they were using SharePoint for their Web sites, compared to 36% using it for internal portals and 51% using it for collaborative team sites.
Slashing the price of SharePoint for the Web was an imperative, said Alan Pelz-Sharpe, an analyst with CMS Watch. Using SharePoint today for Web sites tends to be "shockingly expensive," he said. "The pricing was nuts. We've had customers tell us that they could have gone and bought Documentum for the price of [using SharePoint for the Web]."
There are other problems, according to IDC analyst Melissa Webster, including poor positioning of SharePoint for the Web, the fact that many Web sites are based on Java rather than Microsoft's .Net technology, and the number of small vendors offering cheap or free apps with capabilities that SharePoint can't match out-of-the-box.
Pelz-Sharpe is more succinct. "As a Web solution? It's pretty poor," he said. "SharePoint 2007 is a document management system that you can expose to the Web. It's not something we would recommend to a client."
Some sites use SharePoint
Granted, there are a number of Web sites already running today on SharePoint, some of them quite attractive and even flashy: HawaiianAir.com, Ferrari.com, Volvocars.com, the Chicago tourism site, ChooseChicago.com, and many others.
TopSharePoint.com has almost 600 examples.
The problem, said Michael Sampson, a New Zealand-based consultant and former analyst with Ferris Research, is that companies like Ferrari have "obviously spent carloads of money in order to make it [Ferrari.com] not look like SharePoint at all."
Another issue is its lack of native compliance with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). To ensure that SharePoint Web sites can work with software used by blind or visually-impaired visitors, said Sampson, requires "spending more money."
Koenigsbauer admits that getting SharePoint 2007-based sites to comply with WCAG required users to buy "partner-led" solutions. However, "in SharePoint 2010, we are doing a much better job and now fully support WCAG." He added that SharePoint 2010 also has "full XHTML compliance" to ensure Web pages don't break or look different under different Web browsers.
SharePoint 2010 also includes multi-lingual support, which Koenigsbauer said will let companies localize Web sites without extensive recoding. And SharePoint 2010 will include built-in support for rich media such as video, audio and Silverlight 3 in order to help make SharePoint Web sites more attractive and interactive.
Users will be able to edit Web content in Microsoft Word more easily, and have those changes updated with the formatting retained.
Finally, Microsoft is readying FAST Search for Internet Business to power Web site search. FAST is already used to power a number of Web sites such as BestBuy.com, Dell.com, NewYorkTimes.com and others. Some customers are already using FAST with SharePoint today, said Koenigsbauer, though he declined to offer up specific names.
Praise for SharePoint 2010
Pelz-Sharpe likes SharePoint 2010's new Web features. "There are a lot of improvements, I will give them credit there," he said.
He doesn't think SharePoint will make much headway against high-end Web content management systems such as Interwoven, Vignette and Day, though, he quickly added, "in fairness, Microsoft is not trying to go after that market."
Rather, SharePoint's target will be non-Web-centric companies, many of whom have let their Web sites or extranets languish since the dot-com crash, according to Koenigsberger. "A lot of these sites are still strictly HTML, not personalized, dynamic or even database-driven," he said. "We see a big move starting to happen now."
Sid Probstein, CTO of search and analytics firm, Attivio Inc., and a former technology executve at FAST, said that SharePoint faces formidable competition from the many open-source and SaaS tools such as Plone and Joomla.
"SharePoint might now make sense for a Microsoft shop, but there are so many free alternatives," he said.
Koenigsberger argued that the headache of maintaining various, non-integrated apps is ultimately more costly than SharePoint. "People get frustrated when they have so many point solutions that don't talk to each other," he said. "So we think the TCO [Total Cost of Ownership] value proposition is there for SharePoint."


text:
If you reside in Prague and want to travel with British Airways presently then you must keep the address of the British Airways Office of Prague and its other contact details in handy. Not only the contact information but also the British Airways flight booking, flight change, and cancellation processes will also be useful for you. This detailed guide brings all the essential information about the British Airways Prague Office that you should know to plan a lifetime memorable trip.
British Airways Prague Helpful Information
Here Are The Mention British Airways office Prague Address, helpdesk Number & Opening Hours:-
British Airways Prague Office Address
If you are an inhabitant Prague then you can visit the office of British Airways Prague in person.
Here is the address for you – Czech Republic
Working Hours Of British Airways Prague Assistant
You can reach or call at the British Airways service center during working hours:-
Office Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (Monday – Friday)
Closed on Weekends and Public Holidays
Contact Number of British Airways Prague Office
Users with busy schedules can reach the customer support team over the phone.
Contact the British Airways Prague Reservation Number at +420 239 000 299
Baggage Telephone Number:-
The Airport Name:- Václav Havel Airport Prague (Czech Republic)
If you have any queries that are listed below you can reach at the mentioned contact British Airways Prague:
|Visa on Arrival
|Flight Information
|Visa Information
|First Class and Business Class Seats Enquiries
|Unaccompanied Minor Service
|Economy Class Seats Enquiries
|Online Check-in
|Duty Free Allowance
|Missing Luggage
|Delayed Flights
|In-Flight Wifi
|In-Flight Meals
|Baggage Allowance
|In-Flight Entertainment
|Airport Wifi
|Immigration Services
|Airport Transfers
|Flying Blue Loyalty Programme
|Airport Self Service Kiosk Check-in
|Flight Ticket Rescheduling
|Airport Lounges
|Flight Ticket Cancellation
|Airport Facilities
|Flight Ticket Booking
|Airport Counter Check-in
You can reach the British Airways Official customer support at 1 (800) 247-9297
British Airways Official Site :- https://www.britishairways.com/
Facebook:- https://www.facebook.com/britishairways
Twitter:- https://twitter.com/british_airwaysNeed Help? Contact Airlines Offices:


text:
My laptop is on it's deathbed. I am trying *in vain* to salvage my files before it kicks the bucket. It's crashed so many times I am sure it's a goner. I am borrowing Antz laptop at the moment so I'll be on a short hiatus until I get a new laptop…considering the new Mac Air but I'd have to buy Mac software which is bumming me out. Every 4 years my computers seem to die. I have no idea what happened but if I lose my photos, I will be pissed! 🙁
Later Skaters!


text:
Swimming // Summer wouldn't be summer without swimming, would it? I've been going swimming almost every day during the past month. It's the perfect way to cool down after a long, hot day. I love to play water volleyball, swim laps, or just relax on the giant donut float I just purchased.
Summer School // This month, I'm taking a keyboarding class in summer school for high school credit, so I don't have to take the class in high school. It's not the most fun class - the curriculum is pretty boring, and I'm not exactly a great typist - but I get high school credit out of the way and one of my best friends is in the class with me. I only have three more days left, so wish me luck!
In other exciting news, I just became a brand rep for two amazing companies - Amy Grace Monograms and Fraternity Collection! I'm so excited to be working with both of them. You can use my code brookebutler16 for a discount at Fraternity Collection, and LIVETHEPREPLIFE2016 at Amy Grace Monograms. Happy shopping!
How has the first month of summer been for you?


text:
Marketing examines the issues that arise out of changing consumer behaviors and the operation of market forces. Specifically, it reviews current conceptual, theoretical, and managerial issues concerning new products, price, distribution, and promotion. This concentration also examines market research theories, brand management, service marketing, Internet marketing, and global marketing through analysis of consumer behaviors.
International Business
International Business is designed to ground students in the reality of globalization particularly in light of the increasing globalization of Korean firms. This concentration acquaints students with theories of economics, management, marketing, and trade, all from a global perspective. In order to orient students to the international business environment, classes take up case studies that exemplify global operations and trends.
The goal of management research is to understand psychological patterns and societal trends, so as to formulate and implement effective management strategies for a range of organizations. Many of the students in the School of Business aspire to be future global business leaders, whether as executives, CEO's, or management consultants; all classes in the Management concentration stress that such leaders, to succeed in the global marketplace, must establish a solid management framework. Key areas of specialization in this concentration include management strategies, organizational behaviors, human resource management, and venture capital management.
Financial Management gives students the analytical background they need to handle financial issues in a variety of environments.
Teaching both practical techniques and theoretical perspectives, this concentration prepares students for careers in multinational corporations, international financial institutions, and various national and international government agencies.
Investment explores the theoretical and practical aspects of investment as well as a range of corporate financial strategies. This concentration introduces portfolio theories and various asset pricing theories, including CAPM, APT, and option pricing theory It also covers term structure theory and bond portfolio management. The financial market's functions and activities are extrapolated by means of investment analysis of securities, bonds, futures, and options. Students' decision-making abilities are fostered by class debates and by discussion of case studies.
Insurance looks at the development and analysis of quantitative insurance models. Students use the analyses they produce to enhance their decision-making abilities, to learn how to measure and manage risk, and to deepen their understanding of business practices and governmental regulatory policies. Using tools drawn from mathematical programming, game theory, probability, and statistics, they become adept in various analytical practices, and familiar with the methodologies and principles that underlie them. Further, the Insurance concentration teaches problem-solving methods, the valuation of derivative securities, and risk management. In accord with the School's core values, it emphasizes finding the most effective way to fulfill the interests of both investors and the public.
Accounting provides useful information for investors, creditors, analysts, credit rating agencies, regulators, and other stakeholders of capital market and society. In the accounting concentration, future business and academic leaders study and master fundamental concepts, theories, and research methodologies of accounting. Classes in financial accounting cover topics related to accounting information and capital markets, financial statements analyses, asset revaluation, foreign currency translation, M&A, and corporate restructuring. Classes in management accounting cover strategic cost management and management compensation and examine theories of decision-making and information processing. Classes in internal control and auditing cover issues associated with internal and external audit, related party transactions, ownership structure, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, business ethics, and not-for-profit accounting. Classes in tax accounting cover strategic tax planning and corporate income taxes.
Operations Management deals with practical issues on satisfying customer needs. Specifically, it provides students with effective solutions on development, operations and delivery of products and services that customers want. It offers various courses such as supply chain management (SCM), service operations management, operations management, manufacturing strategy, logistics, strategic purchasing, technology innovation strategy, etc. These courses will help students pursue the career of business consultants, chief operations officers (COOs), SCM experts or finally, chief executive officers (CEOs).
Management Science is the scientific study of decision-making processes. It provides a framework for the analysis of a wide range of decision problems that arise out of economic policy or out of the management of private and public enterprises. The Management Science concentration teaches the development of computational tools including algorithms, computer programs, and applied mathematics, essential to the scientific analysis of decision-making. Students learn how to establish an appropriate analytical framework, and how to conduct the mathematical computations and statistical analyses that will lead to a solution of a given decision problem.
Much of a professional or manager's time is devoted to solving problems of one kind or another. Most of the problems encountered are unstructured, and a growing number pertain to the use of information technology (IT). A thorough grounding in the issues that surround IT is, therefore, vital to the survival of a modern business or businessperson. Courses in the Information Systems concentration analyze methods for tackling unstructured problems of all kinds, and provide specific guidance about commonly encountered types of problem-for instance, problems originating in the external environment, in the internal environment, in individual cognitive styles, and in knowledgebased systems. Some of the topics addressed in this concentration are the use of modern information technology by organizations, strategic use of information technology, planning and management of information systems, and the role of the Internet/Intranet.
Loading ...


text:
Re: about principal components analysis (PCA)
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg49694] Re: [mg49665] about principal components analysis (PCA)
- From: Sseziwa Mukasa <mukasa at jeol.com>
- Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 07:42:58 -0400 (EDT)
- References: <firstname.lastname@example.com> <firstname.lastname@example.com>
- Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
On Jul 27, 2004, at 7:00 AM, jz7 at duke.edu wrote: > Dear all, > > Would any one please recommend some website or other material which > talks > about PCA? Most basicly, why it's only a linear method? What exactly is > this method about? What's the limitation and advantage about it? etc. > > Thanks a lot! You can find an introduction to PCA here http://www.cs.otago.ac.nz/cosc453/student_tutorials/ principal_components.pdf Regards, Ssezi
- References:
- Functions of Functions
- From: email@example.com (Michael J Person)
- about principal components analysis (PCA)
- From: firstname.lastname@example.com
- Functions of Functions


text:
Free shipping
All our packages will be delivered by Swiss Post to your desired address without any additional charges.
We use cookies to make your experience better. To comply with the new e-Privacy directive, we need to ask for your consent to set the cookies. Learn more.
|Product features
|Fassungsvermögen: 0.4 l, Staubsauger Typ: Akkusauger, Nasswischfunktion: Nein, Ladezeit: 4 h, Max. Laufzeit: 25 min, Spannung: 24 V
All payment options and shipping as economy package are free of charge.
- Contact us
- Return & Exchange
- General terms and conditions
- Data protection
- Imprint


text:
5 Pull-Ups
10 Push-Ups
15 Squats
Compare to 12/7/09
(Post time to comments)
Seriously? This is what we get after today's?!????
Eat up on some good food, recover, sleep, n show up ready to crush it!
How's the leg, Kristian?
Not too bad. It's a little painful to sit and walk, but it's a lot better than I thought it would be.
I'll take it easy this week and see how it feels on Monday. Maybe I'll try going for a light jog sometime this weekend.
Maybe I should have let you and John work on it....nope, maybe not.
The offer still stands!
Yeah man, I got the towel ready. We'll get you squared away. Or I could just step on it like those Asian ladies do.
Interesting video series on CFJ "secrets of the elite". Although it was more about psychology of the elite. I sorta like the idea of never doing a wod twice like Rob Orlando talks about. I'm also interested to see who wins the games and what kind of training they did. I don't know if it will answer many questions though since there are so many variables (genetics, luck of the draw, etc).
I'm curious to see what these guys could do in mainstream athletics. How would they do at the NFL Combine, can they do a triathlon, what would their 3 Point Contest score look like, what's their high jump, and anything else that society holds in high regard as athletic achievement. I'll bet Rob Orlando could destroy some Rock Band, just because he CrossFits.
I read a point someone made once that I think I agree with. If these guys could be elite in a major sport they would be. After all, that's where the money is. Also, many of the professional athletes in CF are past their prime in their sport so they turn to CF. CF is also very young as a sport. Whereas, an elite nfl wr has excelled through hard work and genetics rising to the top at every level which gets progressively harder until he is proven to be at the top; we have yet to see cf'ers who have been culled through the same selection process or who have been attracted to it as a sport than can truly earn them a fantastic living.
Valid point. So then the comparison should be broader, Larry Fitzgerald versus Miko. Throw them through some football stuff and then some CF. I'd wager that Larry Fitzgerald would do pretty well in the CF arena. I also think that your point is correct, that Miko wouldn't be close to Fitz in the football skills.
Perhaps cf as a gpp program would make fitz even better as a football player but guys like that possess freaky genetic skills. Give him a little training on specific cf moves and I bet he's freaky at cf. Your average nfl rb prolly has a bench near 400, w a squat around 500 and a 40 time under 5 so there's isn't much doubt about the skill they possess.
I recall seeing an NFL'er doing CrossFit in 2008. If i recall he placed 96th. Granted, the position he played did not lend itself to being a svelte machine.
Yep. Offensive lineman. Not exactly a "skill" position...
I dunno J, knocking a 330lbs ox of a man dead square on his ass requires a good amount of skill. Pulling and being able to seal block on a linebacker that is much quicker than you, that's a big skill. Yes, they're not the total package like a LB or HB would be, but as a former QB, you really gotta appreciate those guys and what they do.
Lineman is arguably one of the most difficult skill positions in football. That's where the game is won and lost, in fractions of a second, choosing the right direction to move, protecting the QB, or clearing out a linebacker, those guys have it rough. Yeah they are big and fat, but they are also strong and fast, purpose built machines, fast feet, fast hands, quick thinkers. Knowing every blocking pattern, do i pull, do i release and go to the line backers, do i cut, probably the most underrated players on the field...
That being said, they aren't exactly "Cross Fit" fit...
Also my 15+8 was a PR I think...
Jason - 19+26 GR!
Evan - 18+9
Steve - 17+5 PR!
Tyler - 15+8 PR!
Sean - 15+2 PR!
Jess - 15
Keith - 14+6 PR!
Todd - 12
Matt - 10+5
Donte - 9+5
Mike T - 10 (Blue)
Vinu - 14+5 (B.Row)
Eric - 12+1 (B.Row, None-Tire PU)
Susan - 16+10 GR!
Mandi - 14 PR!
Lindsay - 13+5 (none-red, knee)
Kim - 12+15 (Red, knee)
Amee - 12+2 (Green, knee)
Julie - 11+5 (B.Row,Lt.G-knee)
Kelly - 12 (B.Row, Knee)
Rachel - 11 (B.Row, 7-8 reps PU,Red PU/ROM)
All updated T, thank you :)
T, I'm with you on the linemen. Sure, those guys may not have the gymnastics prowess that Spealler has, but I'll bet he's not able to push a horse backwards.
It's all about the hopper folks!
Football hits lots of the 10 areas of fitness no doubt, regardless of the position...well except for kicker and waterboy. In common areas, the NFL athlete can probably smoke a CF'er. Tell them to climb a 20ft rope 5x, bang out Diane, play footsy with full Cindy then book an 800m run....I'll put my vote with CF'ers.
Constantly Varying High Intensity Functional Movement is king in the 2 legged world. Besides has a CF'er shot himself in the leg or ran an illegal dogfighting club? Can't say I've heard about a CF'er pulling off one of those yet.
Note to self:
1) Don't let Steve find out about CFD's midnight 'Hound Pound'.
2) Wear longer shorts to hide scar.
There's no doubt the thing said about O linemen are true but they are not a skill position in the vernacular of football nor do they possess the skills to fill a skill position.
Yes, nfl'ers are specialists in their sport but most of them are absolutely freaky athletes. I would guess that a rb, wr, db, and many lb's who were given a few months of cf specific training would fall easily amongst the elite of cf.
My guess is that many of them are getting by on mostly the blessings of genetics anyway and given the benefit of gpp that cf can provide they would be even scarier.


text:
(video from july 2021 at Odysee)
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT JUDGMENT n.213 of November 11, 2021 – excerpt
(full IT version on web or download pdf)
The state of emergency and the limitations of constitutionally protected rights may not be further extended in time beyond December 30, 2021.
(english version by auto-translation, sorry)
11.3 – In this exceptional situation of health emergency, the legislator's discretion in designing measures to counteract the pandemic, balancing the protection of the interests and rights at stake, is wider than in ordinary conditions. In the light of this broader discretion, a measure such as the suspension of the execution of orders of release of property, even for non-residential use, appears at least not manifestly unreasonable. This Court has affirmed, with reference precisely to executive procedures (those referred to in art. 54-ter of d.l. no. 18 of 2020), that, in this situation of health emergency, "[t]he duty of social solidarity, in its horizontal dimension, can also lead, in particular circumstances, to the temporary sacrifice of some – the creditors proceeding in executivis – for the benefit of others more exposed, initially selected on the basis of a wide-mesh criterion"; and added that "the legislature wished to avoid that both the execution of the release of property and the executive procedures having as their object the principal residence could constitute a cause of aggravation of economic difficulties and a source of further concern for the debtors enforced" (judgment no. 128 of 2021).
11.4.- However, the sacrifice for landlords could only be temporary.
The emergency can justify, only in the presence of exceptional circumstances and for limited periods of time, the prevalence of the needs of the tenant to continue to dispose of the property, for residential purposes or for the exercise of a business, over those of the landlord. In the past, this Court, in assessing the constitutional legitimacy of provisions that had suspended the execution of evictions, even if only for certain categories of tenants, has pointed out that the legitimacy of such measures is linked to compliance with the dual condition of their exceptionality and temporariness (judgments no. 155 of 2004 and no. 310 of 2003).
15. – Finally, it is important to note that, if the exceptional nature of the epidemic caused by COVID-19 justifies, in the immediate future and for a limited period of time, the suspension of the execution of the measures for the release of property (also because, in particular, there has been, on the part of the legislator, a progressive adjustment of the balance of interests and rights at stake, on the other hand, however, this emergency measure is scheduled until December 31, 2021 and must be considered without possibility of further extension, having the compression of the right of property reached the maximum limit of tolerability, while considering its social function (art. 42, second paragraph, of the Italian Constitution).
The above judgment, while rejecting the exceptions of constitutional illegitimacy raised by the judge in question, the Court of Savona, with regard to Art. 103, paragraph 6, of Decree-Law no. 18 of 17/03/2020, converted, with amendments, into Law no. 27 of 24/04/2020; Art. 17 bis of Decree-Law no. 34 of 19/05/2020, converted, with amendments, into Law no. 77 of 17/07/2020 ; art. 13, paragraph 13, of Decree Law no. 183 of 31/12/2020, converted, with amendments, into Law no. 21 of 02/26/2021; and art. 40 quater of Decree Law no. 41 of 03/22/2021, converted, with amendments, into Law no. 69 of 05/21/2021, justifying the compression of the right to use the services provided by the company. 69, justifying the compression of the fundamental right of property by the presence of an exceptional situation of health emergency, which expanded "the discretion of the legislator in designing measures to counter the pandemic, balancing the protection of interests and rights at stake, is broader than under ordinary conditions"
And reiterating that that "duty of social solidarity, in its horizontal dimension, can also lead, in particular circumstances, to the temporary sacrifice of some – creditors proceeding in executivis – for the benefit of others more exposed, initially selected on the basis of a wide-mesh criterion";
However, it has stressed that the limitation of the landlord's right, whether commercial or private, is justifiable only if it is temporary.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
The Judges of the Constitutional Court have in fact referred to principles of law consolidated in many pronouncements of the Court itself, including n. 155 of 2004 and n. 310 of 2003.
The motivating part of the judgement contains the reaffirmation of the principle according to which the right to property, and likewise all constitutionally protected rights, cannot be frustrated indefinitely.
The Court affirms in fact that the state of emergency itself cannot be further extended beyond 30 December 2021.
The consequences of this statement unfold their effects on all constitutionally protected rights that have been limited to such an extent as to be almost cancelled, such as: the right to work art.4 Cost; the right to study art. 33 Cost; the right to self-determination art. 32 Cost; the right to free expression of thought art. 21 Cost; the right of free movement in the Italian territory art.16 Cost.
The heart of this sentence has a heart that beats for freedom.
Avv. Frida Chialastri


text:
Monday afternoon I called a dear friend. Just a simple check-in to see how she and her husband are doing during these strange times. We haven't seen each other since March, and we've had one other phone call since then.
After our first phone call, she began shopping at the same grocery store I do. I had shared how easy it was to do an online order, set a date for FREE pickup, and have your groceries brought out and loaded in your trunk. Monday she shared she had been copying my shopping routine.
We talked about the surprises you get sometimes. Those shopping for you may think they're picking the perfect substitute for an out-of-stock Continue reading


text:
Discover a world-class care environment that will bring out the best in you. Inspired by our identity as a teaching hospital, we're highly motivated professionals who are always looking to learn and grow. Find the collaboration, support and autonomy you need to excel, and join our team in providing care for people throughout our community, our state, and our region.
Learn more
At UNM Hospital, our benefits program reflects a commitment to the professionals who provide exceptional care. As a part of our team, we'll give you the support you need to do your best work and live your best life. Our offerings blend a core level of protection with a variety of optional benefit choices, giving you the flexibility to select the benefits that fit your needs. We also provide retirement savings plans to help you reach your goals for the future.


text:
This issue includes: New Guidelines to Enforce NYC Anti-Discrimination Law SRLP teams up with NYC Radical Teachers to address gender diversity in schools Community alert: stop the deportation of Jiffy Javanella February 2005 newsletter
SRLP February 2004 Newsletter
This issue includes: FIERCE and SRLP Team Up: Safe Hormone Access for Teens! Victory in case of Matter of Guido Challenging Policy Case of Jennifer Rodriguez February 2004 newsletter
SRLP August 2003 Newsletter
This issue includes: SRLP wins victory for trans parental rights Honoring Trans Activists: Maverick Zacchi Victory for Trans Teen in Foster Care Toilet Training video educates about bathroom access The Lady was No Victim (about Sylvia) SRLP ID Cards
Follow-up Letter About Legal Issues (Birth Certificate Policy)
Follow-up letter sent after meeting with the Bureau of Vital Statistics (February 2003) to discuss the need to change NYC's birth certificate gender change policy. February 25, 2003 Dr. Steven Schwartz, PhD. The City of New York Dept. of Health 125 Worth Street Room 144 New York, NY 10013-4090 Dear Dr. Schwartz: I am writing […]
Birth Certificate Sex Designation: An Overview of the Issues
A summary of the issues discussed at the meeting with the Office of Vital Statistics in February, 2003. Birth Certificate Sex Designation: An Overview of the Issues New York City's current policy regarding changing sex designation on birth certificates resulted from the recommendations of a 1965 committee appointed by the New York City Board of […]
Initial Letter to Department of Vital Stats
Initial letter sent to the NYC Department of Health in 2002, about changing NYC's birth certificate gender change policy The City of New York Dept. of Health 125 Worth Street Room 144 New York, NY 10013-4090 November 18, 2002 Dear Dr. Weisfuse: We are a coalition of organizations concerned with the civil rights of transgender […]


text:
About Us
Our Mission
Read Our Mission Statement
Our mission and ministry are done with Christ's people, in humble reliance upon the Holy Spirit's empowering.
Our History
Read Our Story
We began in 1989 as a teaching, counseling, and radio ministry in New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Bob's Testimony
Read Bob's Testimony
I was drawn to faith in Jesus Christ, partly through the radio ministry of Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago.
What We Believe
Read our Statement of Belief
We believe that all people were created to love and serve God our Creator (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Read Testimonials
Read what others say about the quality and character of Bob's ministry.
Pastoral Counseling
Read About Pastoral Counseling
We aim to serve and imitate Jesus, who calls each person by name and knows all about us.


text:
The culprit is the 3, but what it does do is it makes teams one dimensional. They're trying to beat you one way, ultimately.... We can do better of course in our schemes, but this a brand new team and it's not an every-man defense. It takes awhile to pick it up. - Associate Head Coach Mike Dunlap
As Quinn alluded to in yesterday's pregame UMBC article on the Rumble, the Red Storm's second half comebacks are beginning to look like a bad, bad habit.
The St. John's defense has struggled, putting the team into a early holes in wins against William & Mary and Lehigh. Despite the 2-0 record, the defensive results really have to give the Red Storm faithful pause.
What's going wrong?
Sebastian Pruiti of Hoopspeak (he also analyzes NBA x's and o's for sites including Basketball Prospectus, The Basketball Jones, along with being published by the New York Times and on SB Nation) has analyzed the Red Storm defensive issues, and I think he's on point.
Below the fold, some reflections on his findings, and how the defense gets better from here.
First, go and read Pruiti's analysis of St. John's defensive struggles. He illustrates the problems with a number of videos and photos of sequences from the first two St. John's games, pointing out three issues:
- Late rotations
- Gaps in the middle of the zone
- Over-gambling for steals
He's on point here. The players aren't reacting as quickly as they could to the ball movement, acting on their responsibility in defensive situations late, and closing out on shooters when they've already cocked back for another three point try.
One of Pruiti's videos:
Pruiti also points out that extending the zone has left gaps in the middle of the defense; and that when the players gamble for a steal and lose, it leaves the defense struggling to cover ground with four men, instead of five.
Compared to last year...
Last year's team struggled in the first eight games learning the zone. They had some good games in the Great Alaska Shootout. But until the Davidson game and the second half of the Northwestern game, the defense seemed incapable of controlling a game. (Note that last year, the Red Storm allowed over 37% shooting from outside the arc all year AND in BE play... so don't mistake last year for some sort of lock-down defense on outside shots.)
In early-season losses to St. Mary's and Fordham, the zone also left some gaping holes, leading St. Mary's Clint Steindl to his career-high 22 points, mostly on corner three-pointers. He was the recipient of slow rotation.
Fordham got to the spots they wanted to shoot from repeatedly against the Red Storm in the loss at Rose Hill. Even Columbia enjoyed some success from the outside.
There have always been gaps in the zone.
This year, though, St. John's is playing a faster pace in the early going than last year's first eight games - about 67.5 possessions/ game this year to 66.9 in last year's first 8 games. And St. John's is facing (allowing?) a higher percentage of three-point attempts - 51.3% of opponents' shots have come outside the arc this year, compared to 41% in the first eight games.
Add more possessions and more perimeter looks, and that's meant 9 more three point attempts.
And two more three-pointers made per game.
Luckily for St. John's, the two opponents shot 34.4% (William & Mary) and 30.8% (Lehigh), far less than the shooting percentage allowed in last year's first 8 games (39%) from beyond the arc.
Judging by yesterday's press conference, this is a big concern for the St. John's staff. Yes, the opponent is limited to outside shots. But those shots are worth a point more than the ones taken inside the arc. So hit enough threes, and St. John's needs many more twos and free throws to stay with opponents.
The Red Storm's defense inside the arc has also left a bit to be desired, allowing 54.5% from two-point territory, so the holes in the zone - and the defensive rebounding - have to improve as well.
Improvement on the horizon?
It's not an easy scheme to learn. The players have to react and anticipate to ball movement, have to trust that they're not leaving spaces open behind them, and have to know their assignments like it is second nature. That comes in time; and it's a very young team.
Last year, the defense improved with time and practice. Even if the defensive numbers weren't stingy, the team controlled a good number of games with extended pressure and energy, creating turnovers and points.
Improving on the gambling will be trickier. Nurideen Lindsey and D`Angelo Harrison don't come to St. John's with strong fundamental defensive reputations. They and Sir`Dominic Pointer are often the gambling culprits on the edges of the zone (though every player has had a high-risk, no-reward moment). They can get better; Dwight Hardy wasn't much of a defender before last season, and the staff made him adequate.
Once Harrison and Lindsey improve their gambling tendencies from "junk bonds" to "treasury bills", they'll create some excitement going the other way. It may not be perfect, but it'll be functional like Hardy last year; both players should have a lot of value on offense to offset their defensive mistakes. Though the Johnnies may want a defensive shot-blocker/ eraser on the back line for more help.
An addendum: the lack of bodies on the roster keeps the Red Storm from going all-out on defense. If the three missing recruits were in the fold, we would see players much less worried about saving themselves for the second half.
And while tomorrow's game against Maryland-Baltimore County may provide an easy, less stressful win, the Red Storm will have some bumps in the learning curve. Defense takes time, but the staff and players sound dedicated to improving on that side of the ball.
Follow the Rumble on Facebook | Follow Pico on Twitter


text:
As hard as it is to believe that I'm saying this, we're in the last three months of 2016. That means that a lot of people are starting to go into overdrive to try to accomplish the goals they set back in January and get as much done for their blog and business as possible before the end of the year. I've been there, and I can totally understand that feeling. I also know that it can lead to overwhelm, burn out, and just plain confusion when you have so many ideas of what you want to do and what you need to do.
In my last post, I talked about how to make sure you're actually following through with your goals, but one thing I skipped over was how you can get started when you feel like you have too many ideas or things you want to accomplish. So, in today's post, we're going to break down three things you can do when you're feeling overwhelmed with ideas so you can start taking action on all the things you want to accomplish with your blog or business before the end of the year.
Get everything all out on paper
The best place to start when you feel overwhelmed with everything you're thinking about is to just jot it all down on paper. When I wake up in the morning and am stressed about all the work I have ahead of me, I usually take a few minutes to make a master to do list of personal (read: around the house) tasks and client work so I can focus on getting everything done. That same thing works when it comes to having a lot of ideas for general things to do for your blog or business.
So, you'll want to get a piece of paper and a pencil. You won't want to go to your computer or phone, you'll likely get distracted. Turn off the tv and music, set aside your phone. Set a timer for 15 minutes, and then start writing. While you're working, you want to brainstorm things that you want to work on for your blog or business. Don't judge the ideas or think too much about it right now; instead, focus on just getting everything out onto paper.
If you need help to get going, I included a few questions in the workbook linked below to help get you thinking about some ideas rolling that should help with your brain dump.
Prioritize what you need to get done first
Once you have everything down on paper, the first thing to do is go through and start organizing all of your ideas and to-do's. This is a really important step because it turns all of that chaos you may feel that you have going on into a prioritized to-do list of what you want and need to accomplish in what order for your blog or business.
While you're working through your ideas here are a few things that you can keep in mind:
- What do you need to get done in the next couple of months? I don't know about y'all but there are always two different task lists that I seem to have: things I want to do, but I know aren't as big of a priority, and those things that I need to do to help keep my business and blog going. Obviously, that's where you want to start when you're prioritizing your tasks.
- What are your bigger picture goals for the next few years? Another thing worth considering is where you see yourself, your blog, or business in 3-5 years. I know it can be hard to think that far ahead, but it's important to try to have a least a little bit of an idea of your bigger picture goals because you want what you're working on throughout each year to help you get closer to those things.
As you keep these things in mind and focus on things you're excited to work on and know will help your business, you'll see that you're slowly but surely narrowing in what you really need to be focusing on and what can take more of a back burner role. That's obviously where our last step comes in to play!
Create a monthly action plan
I talked about this in my last post, but a great way to make sure that you're really taking action on your goals and ideas is to create some kind of monthly game plan that will help you stay on track. Having this kind of list will also help you stay organized and focused as you're working on your blog and business over the coming months.
For example, say one of the things you've been thinking about doing is to launch a product at the beginning of next year. There's a lot of work that goes into creating and launching, so you want to focus this last quarter on getting your ducks in a row. Here's what your monthly action plan could look like for October:
- Create a landing page to start collecting email addresses for those interested in your product
- Start brainstorming ideas of what you want to include in your product
- Consider your launch in terms of if you want to do webinars or a giveaway and think about the logistics of those things
Your monthly action plan can and should be a balance of your big ideas (like working toward your product launch if that's your thing) and the other things you need to do on a monthly basis for your business. So, don't forget to include things like writing to your email list or publishing a blog post. Then, as you go through the month, if you're feeling uncertain about what to work on next or feeling overwhelmed, you can always refer back to your action plan!
How do you deal with having too many ideas?
Do you have a strategy or tip that helps when you're feeling overwhelmed with all the things you want to do for your blog or business? I'd love to hear from you! Be sure to share in the comments. Also, don't forget to download the workbook by hitting that link below!
Too Many Ideas Worksheet
Get more help streamlining all of your ideas with this free workbook!


text:
Painting Sector Corvus Prime buildings
I get a lot of requests asking how I paint my own 3D printed terrain so I figured it was timed I did a quick tutorial. With the Sector Corvus Prime kickstarter currently running, it makes sense to use one of the modular buildings as an example. So I'm going to show you how to create a dingy, grunged up look perfect for the underhive and have it ready for the table in about 20 minutes.
Tools and Colours Used:
I generally use what comes to hand, so that means for me, a combination of cheap acrylic craft paints, crappy old brushes, miniature paints and parts of blister pack sponges. Today I'll be using a make-up brush for drybrushing (thanks Mrs Corvus!) some of the bigger parts.
Here are the colours I used on a lot of the Sector Corvus Prime buildings.
- Dark Brown
- Orange
- Dark Red
- Silver
- Brass/Gold
Step One:
After assembling the model and priming the whole thing black with a rattle can, I began by drybrushing on a dark brown over most of the model. I purposely tried to leave a lot of the primer showing through. You're not aiming for complete coverage of the brown.
Step Two:
With the brown complete, I moved on to orange, drybrushing the whole piece the same way. Again, leave some patches of brown and primer showing through. The make-up brush is great for light drybrushing and involves less 'scrubbing' than a conventional purpose-made dry brush.
Step Three:
The next part of the process is adding a metallic look to the model. I used a super-cheap brush with some Citadel Leadbelcher, drybrushing all over. I paid a little more attention to the rivets and edges.
Step Four:
I use a very small amount of base colour on the Sector Corvus Prime terrain. I chose a dark red for most of the Habplex buildings, and a dark green for the Industroplex.
Using the same cheap brush, I scrubbed and stippled dark red acrylic craft paint into the edge recesses where the panels meet. Also some of the panels have inset detail where I also added some red.
Step Five:
I finished off the building by adding in a few gold/brass accent details. I could have gone further and drybrushed the whole thing with a dusty colour to bring it all together, but I wanted to get this done quickly and ready to use.
The whole building was completed in under 15 minutes. To be honest, I saved a ton of time by not even bothering to let the parts dry between steps. You could do a number of buildings at the same time, moving along assembly-line style and that would give the coats time to dry in between steps.
I completed my first ever video tutorial for this and it can be found here.


text:
"Deep Water" by Izzy Rose GrangeRegular price $132.00
2 colour hand-pulled screen print (one layer with split fountain) on 300gsm Arches paper
Size: 570mm x 380mm
Edition: 12
Signed and number by artist
Still is a collection of deeply considered fine art musings and abstract seascapes distilled through the sketches, drawings and notebooks of two supremely talented creative printers.
Drawing on mixed styles and classic techniques, this combined show is a collection of muted tones and subtle imagery brought to life through screenprint, cyanotype and risograph work.
Inspired by the rolling colours and calm meditative influence of the sea, Still takes on the atmospheric greys, blues and greens of marine life to create an emotive response through abstract imagery, careful draughtsmanship and a highly informed creative process.
This poster is sold unframed securely packaged in a cardboard tube.
Please note colours may vary between computer screens.
Izzy Rose Grange is a Dublin based artist and printmaker. She holds a BA in Fine Art Printmaking from the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, and has been creating work experimenting with integration and interaction with the sea for a number of years. Her work mainly consists of dynamic compositions which create parity between shifting geometric structures and photographic representations of the sea. This work explores tension and emotion, and plays on the calm yet powerful presence of nature.
Instagram: @izzyrosegrange


text:
Qualifies Towards Free Ground Shipping (CONUS Only) For Most Orders Of $79 Or More
- Easily carried in vest or coat pocket, in belt pack, or shoulder bag
- ED lens optical system provides sharp, clear images with vivid, well-managed color
- 9-27x magnification range spans binoculars and spotting scopes
- "Birder-friendly" close focus distance: 10 ft. / 3m close focus satisfies birding field optic requirements
- Waterproof / Nitrogen filled -- Protected against wet weather, humid conditions, and other environmental challenges
The name Hummingbird reflects many of the qualities of hummingbirds: very small size, highly mobile (they can fly in most any direction at will), and capable of long-distance travel (many migrate between South and North America). The Celestron Hummingbird is a "micro" ED spotting scope, and like its namesake, the Hummingbird Micro Spotting Scope is as well suited to long-distance travel as it is to the backyard.
Ideally suited for travel – the Hummingbird will easily fit into a pocket, shoulder bag, or carry-on luggage. This spotting scope is perfect for traveling birders as a more travel-friendly alternative to a full-size spotting scope. The lowest magnification level can also serve as a substitute for a binocular.
The Waterproof / Nitrogen filled construction of the Hummingbird keep it protected against wet weather, humid conditions, and other environmental challenges. The durable armor works to keep the Hummingbird protected against bumps and jolts both during transport and in the field.
The Hummingbird is tripod / monopod / window mount adaptable providing a variety of options for viewing. This spotting scope can easily be secured to a stable platform for comfortable long-duration or long-distance viewing.
|Objective Lens Diameter
|56mm (2.2")
|Angular Field of View
|4.2° - 1.9°
|Linear Field of View (@1000 yds) / @1000 m)
|663 - 297 ft (73 - 32 m)
|Focal Length
|200mm (7.87")
|Exit Pupil
|6.2mm - 2mm (.24" - .07")
|Eye Relief
|15mm (.6")
|Close Focus
|9.8 ft (3 m)
|Twilight Factor
|22 - 39
|Relative Brightness
|38 - 4
|Lens Coatings
|Fully Multi-Coated
|Prism Glass (Type)
|Prism Coatings
|Phase Coated
|20.8 oz (590 g)
|Environmental Protection
|Nitrogen Filled
|Tripod Adaptable
|Carrying Case
|Padded woven nylon
|Camera Adaptable
|208mm x 127mm x 68mm (8.2" x 5.0" x 2.7")
|Included Accessories
|Carrying case with belt and shoulder straps | Eyepiece cover | Objective cover | Instruction manual


text:
Although we're a commercial flooring & matting company, we've gotten a lot of inquiries in the last few weeks from customers who want to know if they can use Grizzly Sanitize at home. The answer is…
Yes, you can!
Grizzly Sanitize is particularly well-suited for use in residential settings as well as commercial applications. Unlike open-tray plastic or moulded-rubber sanitizing mats on the market, Grizzly Sanitize has an appealing carpet-like appearance that doesn't look like something belonging in meat packing plant or a laboratory. Because Grizzly Sanitize is woven like carpet out of top-quality Econyl nylon, it actually holds the sanitizing solution within the fibres themselves like a sponge. The other guys use a shallow tray with standing sanitizer liquid that's prone to spills, splashing, and mess.
Grizzly Sanitize's sponge-style construction also means that your entrance floor doesn't need to be perfectly flat and level, too! Open tray sanitizer mats spill and allow the sanitizer solution to run out the sides if they're placed on irregular or un-level floors.
Want a sanitizing mat for your home but don't have sanitizing solution to fill it with? No problem! We've got you covered there too, with our Vital Oxide sanitizing solution. It's been officially approved by Health Canada to kill COVID-19, but it's so safe to handle that it's completely food-safe, even without rinsing. And Vital Oxide has been certified by the Carpet & Rug Institute to be safe for your installed floors too.
Not sure why you'd need a sanitizing mat for home? Click here to read our blog post about the dangers of secondary contact with infected surfaces.


text:
It's flown by so fast but here we are, voting on the fifteenth game to be played out of Backlog, the ongoing quest to rid my collection of unfinished games. The theme for this series is "Death is the only option," as each of the games you can select from have the word "Dead" in their titles.
This was the easiest theme ever to devise. Check out the games you can choose from and place your vote in the comments. Then, tune in to Destructoid's Justin.tv channel on Monday at 8pm Pacific as Backlog begins a whole new game!
Dead to Rights: Retribution
Developed by Volatile Games
Released on April 6th, 2010
Cops and dogs have long gone hand in hand. Turner & Hooch. Dooley & Lee. Hell, I'm pretty sure J. Edgar Hoover had a fling with Lassie at one point. The point is that Dead to Rights had a natural pairing and early promise but fizzled out in the last console generation. Namco tried this 2010 reboot of the franchise, which was met with less than an enthusiastic response.
Don't let that dissuade you, though. It's probably middle-of-the-road stuff but we too often think that something that's really average should be looked upon as being poor and that's just silly.
Dead Rising: Chop 'Till You Drop
Developed by TOSE Software
Released February 24th, 2009
Ah, sweet Dead Rising. It's too bad that I never found the time to play through this Wii title, as I generally prefer mission-oriented games to ones which feature an open world. Give me a goal and get me right into the action, that's what I always say. And this game is all about that.
Jonathan Holmes is a big defender of Chop Till You Drop. That's great because, if it really does suck as much as its sales figures might suggest, it'll be nice to rub that in his face later.
Deadly Creatures
Developed by Rainbow Studios
Released February 9th, 2009
There's nothing I would consider to be "normal" about Deadly Creatures. A star-studded voice cast in an action-adventure game set in and around a gas station? That's the kind of weird crap you hear getting awards at Cannes in the film industry.
Unique can be very good and I've been curious to check this game out ever since our own Chad Concelmo published a feature two years ago on the design lessons Deadly Creatures could teach the games industry.
Dead Space: Extraction
Developed by Visceral Games, Eurocom
Released on September 29th, 2009
The Dead Space series, from its initial announcement, has captivated me. That still didn't manage to get me to complete its Wii offering. Too bad, since it's a pretty good on-rails shooter and that's probably one of the most effective types of games for horror because of the reduced player agency.
I do recall that the game is exceedingly dark, though, with enemies often almost impossible to see. That's a real sticking point for me as someone derives more frustration than dramatic tension out of being unable to see one's environs.
Mystery Game
Finally, we have the Mystery Game. Don't make the mistake of choosing this for curiosity's sake, as people have clamored before to know what it was and groaned when they learned. The intent here is to select the Mystery Game if none of the other games appeal to you, so voting for it just because you want to know what it is is kind of a dick move.
If the Mystery Game is not chosen, it'll roll over into the next series where it will continue to be a mystery. It should be noted that the Mystery Game does not necessarily conform to the theme for this series' voting selections (and usually will not).
There we have it. Put your vote in the comments below and tune in tonight at 8pm Pacific for a whole new series of Backlog!


text:
This large building is divided into 5 separate units, each with their own entrances. There is central air and gas heat. There is off street parking available on the side and behind the building with a metro stop nearby.
Unit #2 – 2 large bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living room and kitchen. Permit for 4 people.
- Address: 314 N College Avenue, Oxford, OH 45056, USA
- Phone Number: 513-523-2611
- Deposit: $300 Per Tenant / Due at Lease Signing
- Units: 5
- Price: $8,400 Per Year / $2,100 Per Student Per Semester @ Two
Pet Policy:
Pets permitted with an additional nonrefundable pet deposit.


text:
Inaccurate or incomplete online product content can lead to poor customer experiences, making it difficult for customers to easily find relevant information on the items they're looking for. Organized product content can increase online sales and conversions through better product search and findability. While uploading and updating new SKUs can be an extensive and tedious task, there is a more efficient way to ensure that product content is up to date.
With the help of machine learning (ML) as the driving force, e-commerce marketers can create high-quality and engaging product content at scale, increase revenue and conversions, and improve customer experiences. ML can identify gaps in product listing classification, enrich product attributes, onboard new SKUs, and quickly implement recommended fixes. Additionally, it can also benchmark against competition and measure key KPIs to inform your future content strategy.
If you're looking to implement ML into your content strategy, read the full article here to learn more.


text:
Transit funding 101: no money, mo' problems
After digging through the numbers, municipal affairs blogger Matt Elliott has made a less-than-startling discovery: the more you spend on transit, the higher your ridership—which in turn can (in theory) ease gridlock and improve air quality. Not earth-shaking stuff, perhaps, but when the reigning municipal government is bent on cutting TTC service at all costs, it almost reads like a revelation. Elliott takes a close look at the Ridership Growth Strategy that council approved in 2004, which saw ridership steadily increase along with service—and this despite falling employment levels. And now the folks at city hall are crying poor, asking riders to pay a premium to ride ever-more-crowded vehicles. And have we mentioned there's a surplus just begging to be spent? Sigh. Read the entire story [Ford for Toronto] »


text:
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.Liza Malloy will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
It's all so perfect that at first, Lily wills herself to ignore the emerging red flags. As her worries about Dylan increase, she finds friendship and comfort in his brother and bandmate, Thomas. But Lily soon discovers that as much as Thomas cares for his brother, he's also fallen hard for her.
As Dylan spirals further out of control, Lily must decide what she really wants, and whom she is willing to hurt.
Read an Excerpt
I sensed Dylan behind me and turned quickly. He offered a mug of tea to me and I accepted. "Five guitars?"
"You'd be surprised how often strings break."
"I thought musicians were supposed to be superstitious. Don't you have a lucky guitar you have to use each time?"
He kissed the side of my head, inhaling the scent of my hair. I hoped it still smelled like vanilla and lavender and not like hotdogs and carnies. "And just when I hoped you'd stop generalizing about us musicians," he said. He ambled across the room and began opening each of the guitar cases.
"They're identical," I observed. He nodded.
I gestured to the piano. "Do you play?"
He sat at the bench. "What do you want to hear?"
"Surprise me."
Without pause, he started into a beautiful song. I'd heard it before and suspected it was Chopin, but couldn't be certain. His fingers moved effortlessly across the ivory keys, his eyes staring straight ahead, closing for long periods. There was something so peaceful about the way he played, and yet so unnerving all at the same time. Dylan was a rocker; he wasn't supposed to know classical music, let alone to feel it so deeply.
I stepped closer, set my tea on the table beside his, and slipped onto his lap facing him. He smiled, and his hands fell away from the keys only briefly before resuming the song. I smiled at his impressive trick, playing without any visual on the piano, and he leaned in for a kiss.
About the Author
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorLizaM
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorLizaM
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/AuthorLizaM
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorLizaMalloy
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18966268.Liza_Malloy
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Liza-Malloy/e/B07PY14X4D
Links to other books on Amazon:
Sixty Days for Love: http://amzn.com/B07PJL92PD
For Love and Italian: http://amzn.com/B07RDXBY6N
Forbidden Ink: http://amzn.com/B07V1Q3VC9
Barnes & Noble
Apple Books
a Rafflecopter giveaway


text:
Hi friends. It IS a good day to have a good day, right? I love a good inspirational quote paired with a really fabby bow made with great ribbons from Really Reasonable Ribbon.
I created the bow for this card using two of the white ribbon styles from the July Ribbon Club Assortment from Really Reasonable Ribbon using my Bow-it-All V2.0. It's fun to create a bow using one color and two different ribbons styles as opposed to two different colors of ribbon. You can find my video tutorial for this bow on YouTube HERE. You'll be surprised just how easy it is!
The July Ribbon Club assortment contains 9 styles and 17 yards of ribbon and trim.
This is a really great assortment as a base for your ribbon collection as black and white go with everything! Each monthly assortment is a fun color or holiday themed assortment of coordinating styles. JOIN TODAY and begin with this fantastic assortment. What a fun way to build your ribbon stash and experiment with lots of different ribbon styles.
White on white is not and easy color theme for me, but I will continue to work at it to see if I can improve. I have to tell you that I was itching to put a thin black border around each layer..... I still want to tear it apart and do that...... but I won't. Ha!
Thanks so much for stopping by today. For more information on the other products used on my card, please visit my Make Time to Craft Blog.
~ Bonnie ~


text:
Can witches make men's junk disappear? Find out as we read the text that kicked off the whole witch-burning craze in Renaissance Europe: The Malleus Maleficarum! Fair warning: This is a complete trainwreck of a book!
And don't forget to review us on iTunes, Stitcher, or social media to get yourself drawn as a comic book character!
Main Sources
Beusman, C. (2016). "Witches Allegedly Stole Penises and Kept Them as Pets in the Middle Ages." Broadly. Retrieved Nov 12, 2016, from: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/witches-allegedly-stole-penises-and-kept-them-as-pets-in-the-middle-ages?utm_source=vicefbus
Broedel, H. P. (2003). The Malleus Maleficarum and the Construction of Witchcraft: Theology and Popular Belief. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Kramer, H. (1487/1948). The Malleus Maleficarum of Heinrich Kramer and James Sprenger. Summers, M., Rev., trans. Retrieved Nov 6, 2016, from: http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/downloads/MalleusAcrobat.pdf
Maps, pics, references, and more at http://www.deadideas.net. Music and graphic design by Rachel Westhoff.