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Arnold Palmer Invitational: Adam Scott equals 36-hole record
- From the section Golf
Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill, Florida: second-round leaderboard
- -14:
- A Scott (Aus)
- -7:
- JB Holmes (US), C Hadley (US), F Molinari (It)
- -6:
- K Bradley (US), J Donaldson (Wal), J Kokrak (US), B Snedeker (US), M Hoffman (US)
- -5:
- F Jacobson (Swe), M Every (US), R Ishikawa (Jpn), I Poulter (Eng), J Merrick (US), C Howard II (US)
- Selected others:
- -4 P Harrington (Ire); -2 R Knox (Sco); -1 M Laird (Sco); +1 G McDowell (NI); +2 P Casey (Eng). Missed cut: +3 D Lynn (Eng); +6 J Rose (Eng); +7 L Westwood (Eng); +8 M Fitzpatrick (Eng, amateur); +9 D Clarke (NI)
Adam Scott extended his lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida to seven shots at the halfway point.
The Masters champion equalled the Bay Hill course record when he carded a 10-under-par 62 in the opening round.
And Friday's 68 - including six birdies - tied the 36-hole record shared by Tom Watson and Andy Bean in 1981.
Jamie Donaldson of Wales and England's Ian Poulter stayed in contention with scores of 71 and finished at six under and five under respectively.
However, US Open winner Justin Rose endured a poor day, shooting 79, and missed the cut, as did amateur Matthew Fitzpatrick following an 81.
Americans JB Holmes and Cheeson Hadden, along with Italy's Francesco Molinari, are joint second on seven under.
Victory for world number two Scott, meanwhile, would put pressure on number one Tiger Woods, who is absent from this tournament with a back injury.
But if neither men played again before Scott's April Masters' defence in Augusta, the Australian would be top of the rankings ahead of the first major of the year.
"I think it was a pretty good way to back up a low round," said Scott. "It's not easy to do that, especially around a tough course.
"I would say I struck the ball much better than yesterday, but just didn't quite make the putts. But it's tough to do that all the time around a track like this.
"I've got to take in the attitude of starting over again and trying to play a really hard 36 holes. And hopefully if I can keep striking the ball like I am.
"I'll give myself enough chances for birdie and hopefully more birdies than bogeys."


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About a year ago, I wrote a piece called 31 Discoveries of a First Time Father. It was my observations after having 31 days of fatherly experience under my belt. Last week, kiddo turned 18 months old and I thought I would give an update to that post.
Here are my observations:
1. We're still in charge of this little human being and it's still a huge responsibility. I wonder when this changes. Maybe when he's 18? Maybe never?
2. The two hour night shifts are long gone. He still gets up in the middle of the night, but after giving him a bottle of milk, he calmly goes back to sleep in his crib.
3. But don't take sleep for granted. Take the extra hour of sleep when you can.
4. The wife really did go through a lot, but there's a lot of reward for her. Kiddo is calmest when he is with her. There aren't many times he sits on my lap quiet and still, on her he'll do that and even give her a hug.
5. Going out seems easier. This is one of the biggest changes. Maybe we're more experienced? Or did the kiddo calm down? We still bring a crapload of stuff like diapers, water, milk, baby wipes, a stroller, etc. But for some reason everything seems lighter.
6. Not everyone is going to agree with me, but when we need to rest we put a screen in front of him. Over time, we found that he's learned a few words from his shows as well. Personally, I think it's a win-win situation. We rest, he learns.
7. At least we think he learns. It's possible that we've tricked ourselves into thinking he is saying real words.
"OMG he said Bird! He's a genius."
8. The days go by fast. Kiddo started walking on the evening of Halloween. At first, he lacked the confidence to go all out and had to be nudged to walk. Now, he runs everywhere!
9. Kiddo runs E V E R Y W H E R E. The other night while everyone was sitting down enjoying the dinner conversation, I was stuck following him around making sure he wouldn't ram into furniture.
10. He still tests my patience. Why is it so hard to sit down and enjoy a nice quiet dinner in the restaurant? Does he really need to run around like a drunken robot?
11. I still thank God for relatives who want to hold him.
12. A dependable yaya is still a Godsend. But we try not to depend on her too much. During weekends, if we can avoid it, the yaya stays home, while we bring him out. It's good training for us. Salute to all the parents without a yaya.
13. Kiddo is at an age when he can genuinely have fun. When we're hanging out, I try to make him laugh, wrestling him to the ground, tickling his ribs, dribbling his tiny basketball. Those tiny laughs are getting louder.
14. His needs have expanded exponentially. He developed a technique to let us know what he wants by pointing and shouting, "Baaaawwwllll! Baaaawwwllll!"
15. There are days when the wife and I have our challenges, but it's all a good healthy part of marriage. We like to call it friendly arguments. Just stay grateful. And communicate.
16. As mentioned, he laughs!!!! Not yet at jokes, but we'll get there eventually.
17. The truth is I don't know why he laughs. He'll laugh at the most unfunny thing. Like a weird sound or an exaggerated move. But when he does, you can be sure we'll repeat it till it loses its funny.
18. Call me a coward, but honestly, I've been avoiding the poop. Diaper changing duties have been delegated to Mommy and yaya. It really really stinks.
19. The wife still doesn't have the same sense of humor as I do, but she's coming around. She found this extremely funny.
20. Sometimes he wakes up with a giant smile on his face. Other times he wakes us by crying as loud as he can. He's a person with his own ups and downs.
21. I'm projecting here but he seems to enjoy putting the basketball in a hoop. That's all we did last night. Over and over and over again. Practice makes perfect? Future basketball star?
22. His Mommy will likely disagree with me, but he doesn't seem small and fragile at all. He's at an age when all I want to do is give him a hearty hug. Unfortunately, whenever I do, he squeals like a pig running away during Easter.
23. Our day to day schedule is still an outline, but thankfully, the kiddo seems to be much more receptive to what we want to do. One night we were invited to a dinner party, we didn't think we were going to stay long because we brought him along. To our surprise, we were there till midnight because he was having fun playing with the older kids.
24. A few months back, we started letting him sleep in his crib. The first night was agony. He cried for almost two hours, but eventually he tired and started sleeping soundly. The next night was more of the same, but only cried for almost an hour. Since then, sleeping has gotten so much easier.
25. Movie night is a struggle. Putting the kiddo to sleep, having the energy to stay up another two hours, and possibly waking up tired can be challenging. But when it pushes through and it's a good fun movie, celebration. Latest movie recommendation, Why Him?
26. There's always that one person that can calm kiddo down. And that's the wife.
27. He's still not old enough to crash the pickup, but he is old enough to smash cellphones. The life expectancy of my stuff decreased by 25%.
28. Feeding him hasn't been a problem. Way back, we started with this thing called Baby Weaning. You put food in front of the kiddo and he tries to eat it himself. The first few weeks were messy and funny, but over time, he developed the necessary coordination to eat his food.
29. I didn't expect to be talking so much about the mundane parts of raising a kid. When did he poop? Did he take a nap? What time did he wake up? What time did he sleep? But we'll cherish them anyway.
30. We still have no idea what we're doing, but we're doing our best.
31. Everything changed and continues to change. We're expecting another little kiddo. Happy days.

subset: commoncrawl


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Honey is sourced naturally either from any apiary's honeycomb or by the experts who traverse in the wilderness of the forest. It is undoubtedly a great substitute for sugar. Nature has never endowed mankind with a sweeter gift than honey. As scripted in the Ayurveda, honey is the world's oldest concoction which tastes very sweet and has medicinal importance.
Honey a loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, carbohydrates, mineral, amino acids, proteins, vitamins, flavonoids, natural antibiotic which processes anti-inflammatory properties (that helps in fighting ageing, bacteria, ulcers and gastronomical disorders) and healing properties. It certainly boosts the overall health and well-being. Honey also helps in maintaining glycogen levels in human body.
Honey is a natural cough suppressant which relieves from coughs & throat irritation whether its acute or chronic in nature. Made by the alchemy of bees collecting nectar, resins and pollen from flowers, raw honey carries many impurities and is not for consumption, unless it is filtered and processed.
Colour, thickness and granulation of honey still have been the yardsticks of its purity, which actually scientifically incorrect. Depending on what flowers the honey was extracted by the bees define the colour of the honey, whereas its thickness will vary if the water content of honey was lower in the first place when it was collected by the honey bees. One of the biggest eye opener is granulation, which is not a deciding factor of the authenticity of the honey, but a natural process of crystallisation which can be liquefied by placing the bottle out in the sun or in hot water.
Well most of the brands ensure that the honey they retain carry best and uncompromised natural properties and general benefits, which only if consumed a tablespoon on a daily basis can bring you benefits such as:
- Weight management
- Source of energy and carbohydrates
- Sugar substitute and Food supplement
- Aid in digestion
- Fighting cough and cold
- Flawless Skin
- Good in curing ulcers and combating infections.
There are several brands in the markets that offers gigantic ranges of honey. We have reviewed the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, which caters consumers with best quality at affordable rates, eventually helping you to make better and informed choices.
10. Fab India
Tenth in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands Fabindia. This avant grande brand was incepted in the year 1976 in Delhi, which offers diverse rich crafted products inspired by the Indian traditions and cultures.
This wholesale export brand has over 196 stores across India and its products are natural, craft-based, contemporary, and affordable. Traditional techniques backed with hand-based processes are the key USPs of Fabindia. The brand naturally sources its organic honey which are 100% pure and delicious to taste.
Fabindia's offers different variants of such as Rudraprayag honey, Litchi honey, Egyptian clover honey, Multi flower honey, Wildforest honey, Jamun honey, Honey Tulsi. Each of its honey has a plethora of nutritional benefits.
9. Baidyanath
Baidyanath was founded in the year 1917 in the Kolkata, which has been offering Ayurvedic pharmacy solutions in India ever since.
The parent company of this brand is Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Ltd., which stands as one of the oldest company in the field of medicine. Backed with modern research and manufacturing techniques Baidyanath.
It's honey is fully enriched with nutritional values and natural taste. Opting out on herbal and Ayurvedic processes the brands has gained a lot of reputation in the country.
8. Organica
Eighth in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands Organica honey. Over the recent years this brand has gained a lot of reputation, not only in India but abroad as well with the high-grade product quality it has been offering.
Its rich wild honey is sourced and gathered by their expert honey collectors by travelling deep into the Uttaranchal forests. The entire range of its honey is chemical free and healthy to consume. The brand offers different flavours of honey such as Wild forest honey, Tulsi infused honey, Cloves infused honey, Ginger infused honey, Cinnamon infused honey.
7. Under the Mango
Seventh in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands Under the Mango Tree. The brand is typically a social enterprise that promotes beekeeping to enhance agricultural productivity, in the meanwhile the brand generates a livelihood in rural areas near forest zones in India.
Its honey exhibits unique flavours and is collected from natural sources of nectar. This gourmet brand offers other organic food products as well. Each of its honey is clearly labelled with its floral source and packaged in plain simple kegs. With the most diverse assortment of single flora honey in the marketplace, organic is gain popularity in huge pace.
The brand's honey is rich in colour, natural sweetness, and taste as well. Sans any addictive and chemical substances like fructose corn syrup, processed sugars or other sweeteners. The brand offers a range of honey variants such as Desert Bloom honey, Eucalyptus honey, Himalayan Flora, Jamun Organic honey, Sweet Clover, Tulsi honey.
Its honey directly sourced from beekeepers, which offers a host of health benefits with medicinal values. Its pure and pristine honey comes in varying quantities and is available for online purchase though its official websites or e-commerce websites.
6. Al Shifa
Sixth in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands Al Shifa. Its a premium product of Arabs' Sunbullah group, which offers different food categories.
The brand for over 30 years, have gathered the finest honey from the heart of the world's most famous forests and brought into you in its purest form, just as it was created in nature. Al Shifa is synonymous to 100% natural honey and is quality certified by the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO). The brand serves more than 35 nations including India which are sourced from the best locations around the globe.
Al Shifa acacia honey, natural, black forest honey are some of its most demanded variants which can be bought online through e-commerce websites.
5. Himalaya
Next brand in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands one of the most coveted herbal brand Himalaya. The brand offers authentic luxury in taste and colour of honey, which is sourced from nature's untouched goodness.
Himalaya experts collects honey with utmost precision, filter it using advanced scientific processes, under strict hygienic conditions. With no added sugar and preservatives, its honey is uncontaminated and pure at its heights. Its honey acts as a delicious sweetener for savoring your palates.
4. Forever Bee
Fourth in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets, stands Forever Bee.
The brand offers a great tasting sweet dark honey carries lodes of goodness and nutrient. Its honey does not have formation of sugar content, which actually mark the genuineness of the honey. Forever Bee's natural syrup honey exhibits attributes which can be of both food and medicine purpose.
3. Hitkari
Hitkari is a 15 years old pharmacy brand which stands tall with pride even now. The brand offers unsurpassed quality products, which perfectly fuses the richest of the extracted honey with wholesome taste.
Its honey is available in different quantities ranging from 1 kg, 500g, 200g, 100g, 50g and 25g, according to ones's requirement of consumption.
2. Patanjali
The brand needs no introduction, as its often chose as the best synonymous label with Ayurveda and herbal products in India.
Patanjali's demand the Indian markets is surging due to its promotion in Swadeshi products & ancient Ayurvedic ideology. Just like all of its products, its honey is also one of the most affordable, easily available and fair in quality than its competitor brands.
Patanjali Honey has ingredients like minerals, vitamins, fructose and natural nutritious elements, which forms mild and enriching sweet concoction. Patanajali as a brand is very economical and free, this FMCG company has more than 4700 retail outlets in India.
1. Dabur
Dabur Honey country's bestselling honey brand, stands first in the list of Top 10 best Honey brands available in Indian markets.
Its honey is a great source of energy which aids digestion, relieves cough, ensuring a glowing skin and minimizing throat irritation and fitness by and large. Dabur is the largest and the most oldest branded honey brand in India, which has been sourced selectively from the Himalayas, the Nilgiris and the Sundarbans forests.
Its collection process follows stringent quality and ensures every check where raw honey is filtered and cleaned of impurities such as dust, pollen, wax at its state of art facilities. It entire processing is untouched by hands and the brand ensure to reach the consumers in best hygienic conditions.
Dabur honey confirms with all national and international norms for quality certifications, naming a few like CERS, ASCHO and HACCP.


text:
Item specifics
- Brand Name: PUMA
- Gender: Men
- Upper Material: Leather
- Closure Type: Lace-Up
- Feature: Balanced
- Applicable Place: Hard Court
- Outsole Material: Rubber
- Fit: Fits true to size, take your normal size
- Level Of Practice: Beginner
- Release Date: Spring2017
- Unit Type: Pair
- Package Weight: 0.8kg (1.76lb.)
- Package Size: 30cm x 20cm x 15cm (11.81in x 7.87in x 5.91in)
Product Description
Packaging Details
- Unit Type: Pair
- Package Weight: 0.8kg (1.76lb.)
- Package Size: 30cm x 20cm x 15cm (11.81in x 7.87in x 5.91in)
Normally we don''t send original box to avoid tax and pass the custom more quickly. But if you need box,please leave a message at your order."send with box"in you order. We will send the shoe with box to you within 1-2 days. Thanks for your attention.
About Taxes:
Import taxes rate are made by your customs. It''s vary from different country,so all prices of our products do not include any taxes,you need to pay it on your side when necessary.
About Declared Value:
We will send the shoes as a "gift" with declared value of $18. If you have special request,please remark in your order. Thanks!


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Respect is incredibly important to Men: in our worst moments we measure our worth as human beings by the respect we receive. In our best, respect is a resource we can use to help ourselves, our friends, and our families become happier, healthier and more secure. Without it, we have a hard time feeling loved or wanted.
Respect is not something you are just given. You are not due Respect just for the achievement of drawing air. You have to earn it. Respect comes through actions: people see acts that reflect a person of strong character and charisma, and they admire it. They respond to it with trust, closeness, and honesty.
A lot of people have learned very ineffective ways of earning Respect. They seem to believe that bullying, intimidation, bad behaviour, and acting with entitlement will somehow bring respect. In truth it does the opposite. People might give a spoiled brat what they want in the short term just to be rid of them, but they will see them as untrustworthy children, and in time, cut them out of their lives.
Likewise, people often mistake status with respect. Fashionable clothes, money, beauty, power, or fame over others do not automatically entitle you with respect. Having those things make it easier to gain Respect if you use them well. If you do not, then at best they can get you a few different forms of fear or lust, which might get you what you want, until people have the choice to avoid you.
Here I am going to offer a few things you can do that, done well, commands the respect of others.
Respect Yourself, First
Many people have little respect for themselves. They do not hold themselves in high regard, and accordingly do whatever they are told or feel pressured to do, even when it makes them unhappy or is bad for them.
When you respect yourself enough to have the courage to say "no" when people want more from you that you are willing to give, people will accept that you have boundaries. Contrary to our common belief, most people understand when you say "no" and will not be hurt by it.
When you respect yourself enough to refuse to be pressured, people see you as being stronger than the group. Most people see strength when you refuse to follow the group; there are very few people who will call you a "stick in the mud", unless they have an ulterior motive or you do so in a way that hurts their feelings.
When you buck a self-destructive trend, you will be happier and healthier for it, and people will understand that you care about yourself – because you are worth caring about. Conversely, a person who does all sorts of things to harm themselves because it is "fun" or popular is hard to care about.
Work on Developing Character
The Ancient philosophers didn't believe that behaving well meant that you were a good person. Ethics and morals to our ancestors wasn't just about choosing good acts: it was about being a person with inner strength and excellence. They based their ethics on doing what reflected a good Character.
Character is my ultimate focus in The Wild Man Project. I want to help men develop a character that will make them happier, more directed, and emotionally stronger. This is why I write so much about Integrity, Temperance, and Leadership. Because these are all powerful elements in a good Character for a man. If I wanted to give you some absolutely basic advice about building character it would be these:
- Try to see things as challenges rather than obstacles.
- Understand what your strengths are and work on making them shine.
- Pick a career that plays to your strengths and devote energy to being excellent in it.
- Hone your health, time management, and communication skills so that nothing slows that career down.
- Acknowledge that you control how events affect you, so nothing is good or bad until you make it so.
- Accordingly, choose an attitude that helps you to be happy rather than to be miserable.
- Have a mission: choose a way you want to make the world a better place and chase it relentlessly.
- Learn to bring Creativity into everything you do.
- Find passion and energy.
- Refuse to let Fear hold you back.
Those few things, lead to all other kinds of changes and developments to your character. They help you build ambition and joy, along with a sense of fair play and honour.
When you focus on your character you are focusing on enriching the very things we choose to respect in people: trustworthiness, strength, calm, happiness, community involvement, and direction.
Carry Yourself with Dignity
Being Respectable means, among other things, making sure you create good impressions with the people you would like to respect you. There are many different parts to this, but they all boil down to a basic principle: "if you want to be Respected, show that you respect yourself and others by looking and acting the part."
This means taking care of your appearance, dressing appropriate to the company you are in, cultivating good manners, dealing with other people in a mature and adult manner. Knowing how to stand up straight and give a powerful and memorable handshake are a part of that.
I believe learning Assertive is a powerful part of that. I think I will very soon write an Assertiveness 101 entry, because of how hard it is to get good resources on Assertiveness. In fact, it is so important, that many Universities offer courses on it as part of Communications degrees.
Act Respectfully
Western culture has always had a wonderful code of mature and respectful behaviour. We have formalized ways of sharing company (etiquette), differences of opinion (debate), meals (dining etiquette), love and sex (courtly romance), and even our thoughts in written form (literary convention).
Somewhere along the lines, however, we decided that all of these rules were somehow destroying the choices we made in our life. That rudeness and childishness were somehow synonymous with being freer and happier. In its extreme, this current in our society tells us that we have every right to do as we please, without caring at all for how other people feel or think.
There is something to that, with several very big conditions: if we constantly assume or worry about what other people think and feel about us, we end up being afraid to do the things we want. Or worse, we take our own self-doubt and project it onto other people, which makes the world seem a dark and terrible place full of people who don't like us. It also makes it very easy to forget that we can't know other people's minds, and assuming we do leads to a lot of problems.
That being said, formality, respectful behaviour, and good manners are still important to our culture. Even those of us who were raised in the cynical, self-serving years of the 80s and 90s still respond to those good manners – sometimes in spite of ourselves. When someone shakes your hand, uses a formal title to address you, you feel respected. We like being treated in that manner.
And that is the real point. When we behave with good grace and fine etiquette we make people feel respected, and they always reflect that back on us. Disrespect does the same thing: when someone behaves like a selfish brat, they are showing us disrespect, and we lose any we might have had for them.
This also means understanding that in certain environments, like work and school, their is a hierarchy. You can always expect a basic level of dignity, but realize that Respect doesn't flow equally. The people above you on the ladder expect you show them deference and greater Respect than people on the same rung as yourself. You also can't expect everyone in the hierarchy to treat you with the highest Respects until you earn them.
Jettison Toxic People
The people we keep company with reflect on us for a good reason. However strong-willed we might think we are, we unconsciously pick up the values and attitudes of the people we interact with. We can lose sight of our goals and our self-respect if we spend too much time around toxic companions. Also keep in mind that people who are always disrespectful around you really don't respect you. That means that they are willing to take advantage of you in subtle or not-so-subtle ways.
The best thing you can do to ensure you get Respect and keep respecting yourself is to break off relationships with people who treat you and those around you with genuine disrespect.
Keep Your Cool
When things start getting difficult and stressful it is easy to lose your head and either run away, or panic and behave in ways that doesn't help the situation. This is especially true if you are emotionally attached to the situation.
When it comes right down to it, Respect is a way we behave to someone we believe we can trust and that we admire. When we give genuine respect we say: "I believe in you: I expect you to make the decisions that you think are best for all involved in a rational manner. Even if I don't agree with hat decisions, I have faith that you meant well by it; I won't treat you as lesser for making it."
If you behave in an over-emotional, entitled, childish, or just plain crazy manner in a rough spot, you prove that people can't trust your decisions, because you don't make them in a rational and even-handed manner. Maturity, deliberation, and calm exemplify everything we want to see in a person we respect.
Keep Learning
Always push yourself to develop further and accomplish more. An open, active, and curious mind is one of the most appealing things one can see in another human being. The more knowledge and the broader interests we have the more people can see our value and passions – and the more they can count on us in a range of situations.
One other thing to keep in mind about Respect regarding Men in particular: there is no greater aphrodisiac than Respect. For Men, being Respected makes us feel needed and wanted. It is one of the tree conditions we need to form a lasting, loving bond. For Women, the inner strength, assertiveness, courage, dignity, and self-possessed aura of a man who commands Respect are some of the sexiest qualities in the world.


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ITTC Project
Extensible Hybrid Software Defined Radio (SDR) Architecture
Project Award Date: 06-23-2008
ITTC researchers will document the requirements for a versatile Software Defined Radio (SDR) platform that has the capability of encompassing military, commercial, emergency services, and consumer applications. They will develop an extensible architecture that spans the scale from inexpensive, expendable, single-channel radios to high-performance, multi-application, multi-channel communication systems. Using modeling and simulation, researchers will verify that the system architecture can be implemented using existing hardware technology.
Faculty Investigator(s): Joseph Evans (PI)
Project Sponsors
Primary Sponsor(s): Acadia Optronics


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On Friday, UPAF's President and CEO, Deanna Tillisch, was honored as one of the Milwaukee Business Journal's "Women of Influence."
Mark Kass, of the Milwaukee Business Journal, covered the event.
"It was quite a day Friday as nearly 900 Milwaukee-area business executives packed the Wisconsin Center to honor the Milwaukee Business Journal's 2016 Women of Influence winners. Check out the attached slideshow to see the community coming together to honor this group of winners having a major impact on our community."
To read the full article, and see photos from the event, click on the link below.
Get involved with local arts news. Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and you'll always have local performing arts information at your fingertips.


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Convince yourself your idea is worth selling: The business model canvas
Join us this week at Entrepreneurship 101 as Dianne Carmichael, Managing Director, MaRS Health, moderates a panel of entrepreneurs from the healthcare industry. Learn from top health entrepreneurs—and join us for a networking event afterwards.
Last week at Entrepreneurship 101, Mark Zimmerman, CIO and Senior Advisor, ICT at MaRS Discovery District presented our session on the business model canvas. He detailed why the business model canvas is crucial for convincing yourself that your idea is worth selling.
The key to creating a successful product is thinking through the customer problem. Mark explained that often thinking through your idea in a structured way is far more valuable than the answers you come up with. The business model canvas is a tool that shows you how to create not only a product that people value but one that will bring in a profit.
The key reason businesses fail
The customer rarely buys what the company thinks it's selling. – Peter Drucker
Mark said your business will fail if you don't spend enough time thinking about who you are building your product for. The business model canvas gives you the chance to figure out who you're selling to and what their pain points are in the current market. By looking at current pain points for customers, you'll be able to determine what gains your product can offer.
A key takeaway from Mark's talk was understanding that your business model canvas is a map of your business and that it changes and evolves over time.
Watch excerpts from the presentation
Missed the lecture? In the videos below, hear some of the in-depth perspectives Mark provided in his lecture.
Dissecting the Business Model Canvas
Examining Nespresso's Business Model
Entrepreneurship 101 course resources
And search "Entrepreneurship 101" on iTunes U.


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by Linda
(Colorado Springs, CO, USA)
In 1974 I was attending college at The University of Minnesota-Mankato. Ten miles north of Mankato was Gustavus Adolphus College. I began dating a boy from that college. There was a group of students who ran around together. One of the student's name was Annie. As it turned out, Annie was dating John Denver. As it happened, when John came to Minneapolis for a concert, a number of us received reserved seating in the front row of the auditorium. After the concert, John would have a party for Annie's friends. I can still remember sitting at a round table with John while we were both having a drink. He was of course friendly and enjoyed socializing. This is a memory I will never forget.
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On Growing Together
April 25, 2014
Have you ever adopted a hobby or pastime because of a significant other? With my first boyfriend I ended up watching a lot of hockey, consuming red meat, going mini-putting, and listening to country music when we were together. And once we had broken up, I quickly abandoned all traces of our shared hobbies, because, well, they just weren't me. And, I wonder, if we had stayed together, would they have become me eventually.
I've written before about the overlap of interests that develops in a long-term relationship. There's a balance of still being your own person, but also allowing yourself to grow along with another person. Sometimes you simply climb onboard for your partner's happiness - a happy compromise of some kind - and other times, their love for something opens the door to your own love for that same thing (i.e. Patricio developing a man crush on Colin Firth after repeated exposure to Pride & Prejudice).
Ten or so years ago, when I was still in the youth program at church, our leaders asked me and the other girls my age, to make a list of attributes we wanted in a future husband. I sort of rolled my eyes at the time, because I was fifteen, and that's what fifteen-year-olds do sometimes. But I made the list, and it went a little something like this: "Kind. Honest. Righteous." and then "Has good taste in music. Has good fashion sense. Is artistic. Can Cook. Good tastes in movies. Funny." And, sure, they were mostly a little shallow and specific and unimportant in comparison to "Kind. Honest. Righteous." But they seem meaningful to me now, because it was all of our many mutual interests - art, God, movies, music, animal rights - that lead me to befriend Patricio, and then to fall madly in love with him (because it also turned out he is one of the kindest and most honest people I know, with a great love for God - and I might as well add: A fantastic cook).
Anyway. We have spent our lives together so far honing those shared interests, inviting in something new the other has to share, becoming involved in the other's passions - and then sometimes disagreeing and standing our ground and knowing that sometimes it's okay to not agree on everything - growing and learning together.
And, I've found, within this safe environment - where I've been able to freely pursue my interests, to speak my mind, and be inspired by his passions - that I've never felt more like myself, or like I am becoming the person I was meant to be; that I always wanted to be. And I can only hope that I've made him feel the same way, too.
P.S. These photographs were from a quick trip to a local skatepark on a blissfully sunny day. After a long, hard winter, it was nice to see Patricio out on his board again. This is one of those aforementioned pastimes that I've learned to love through him.
2 comments :
I love this post Robin! It is such a special thing to have similar interests and hobbies, and also, to be open to what your spouse loves too, even if it isn't something you'd have thought you liked. That is how I feel about video games now being married to Stephen lol. But I love being interested in something he enjoys, and he does the same for me...although, I can't think of any interests of mine right now besides watching TV. But even then he will talk to me about the shows I watch and what I like about them etc. and before I know it he is just as into it as I am! :-) thanks again for sharing this!ReplyDelete
Thank you, Joelle! I'm glad that you feel the same way too in your marriage - it's been such a great experience to learn and grow with the person I love!ReplyDelete


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No words... Only pain, suffering, fear ... Everything has to be rebuilt again, in a very difficult time for my Italy ... My husband, who is part of civil defense and maybe my son (if the authorities give permission) are preparing to bring essential goods into Romagna ... They are going to leave for Romagna at the end of this week or at least next week, to relieve the other teams back from the Romagna land. ... Among the various boxes I've added some full of kits and fabrics and embroidery yarns ... They will give theme to all the women in the tents because they can distract a moment and have something to do ...
Pray for my Italy and for us ...
Italy: Magnitude 5.8 earthquake in northeastModena, 29 May . At least three people died in a magnitude 5.8 earthquake Tuesday in the province of Modena in the northeastern Italian Emilia-Romagna region which struck at 9am. The tragedy follows the deaths of four workers ten days ago when the roof of a ceramics factory collapsed during the magnitude 6 earthquake which killed a total of 7 people, left over 5,000 homeless and historic buildings in ruins.
Tuesday's earthquake victims were killed when factory buildings collapsed in San Felice and in Mirandola,
Many of the most beautiful buildings in northern Italy are also the most vulnerable to earthquakes
The two quakes struck one of the most productive regions in Italy at a particularly crucial moment, as the country faces enormous pressure to grow its economy to stave off the continent's debt crisis. Italy's economic growth has been stagnant for at least a decade, and the national economy is forecast to contract by 1.2 percent this year.
The area encompassing the cities of Modena, Mantua and Bologna is prized for its super car production, churning out Ferraris, Maseratis and Lamborghinis; its world-famous Parmesan cheese, and less well-known but critical to the economy: machinery companies.
Tremors were felt across swathes of northern Italy including the lagoon city of Venice and in Milan.
The Parmigiano industry is on its knee
The Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano forms, aligned in the long shelves for seasoning, are the Emilia Romagna's economy symbol. Now, after the earthquake on Saturday night, seem to have become the symbol of the disaster, especially in the provinces of Modena and Ferrara. One of the products that best represent Italy in the world has suffered serious damage: stores, farms, stables, barns and greenhouses collapsed, with estimated damages exceeding 200 million euros. Nearly 10% of Italian production of Parmesan cheese and 2% of that of Grana Padano cheese damaged by the earthquake. A tragedy that has undermined not only agriculture, because in Emilia Romagna there are other important industries as Ferrari and Lamborghini cars. In areas hardest hit by the earthquake, two thousand companies were forced to close. To pay a higher price was the pottery factory St. Augustine completely destroyed by the earthquake with 2 workers died. In all, the factory had 750 workers.


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To be a scientist, through and through, is to cherish What Is when What Is reveals something unexpected. At least, that is what it is to me. It is not unlike my relationships with my gods: alongside the experience of divine communion there is the opportunity to glimpse.
Look at what is happening. Just look.
My divine dance partner stepped aside. What Is glided seamlessly into awareness, and the divine stood back patiently and watched What Is along with me.
So many times in high school and college I imagined what I would say to others, fantasizing conversations in which I made my points and won the day. It was always so riveting in my head, to me and all around. All those times. I was reliving all those times, except in a different realm.
I bargain with the divine. I say that not expecting understanding, and I don't say it to preach. It's just something that can happen with theistic gods because of how theistic gods are perceived, as agents and wills working with or against. Joseph Campbell experienced this too, the feeling of being helped along, the feeling of some other guiding wills alongside his. Just a feeling. It's fine to feel feelings. It's often fine to feel feelings all the way to their final consequences if one wants.
Faced with challenges, I sometimes find myself asking, "What do you want?" It is also fine to think thoughts, and to think thoughts as questions directed at forces which follow you because you are you— because you have a mind that says that they are they.
"I need help. What would tempt you to bend the rules just a little this time? Please. You know what's on the line just as much as I do. You know…"
There was no immediate answer, only more thoughts.
Gods care about what we do, at least in our heads. Studies have consistently shown this. The perceived moral desires of gods shape the thoughts of theists, and for those who balk too much at that word, gray area polygnostic freaks like me. So as in high school, and in college, and sometimes recently, the pretend began.
I imagined temptations, great temptations that I would have to refuse. I imagined getting down to business, being an obedient devotee, cracking open files and debugging like a champion with no distractions. I imagined being better in my relationships, and in my correspondence which suffers when my mind suffers even slightly. In each of these imaginings there was more than one person, more than just me, and I was winning the day by making sure this other was satisfied.
Then scientist-me took over. "Look! Look at what is happening!"
How often had it happened in the past? How often before now had I been unaware? The connection was made, "I've been here before, and now I'm here with you (god)." Except this time the imaginings seemed far less egotistical. They looked like growth, and maturity. They looked like me at my best, the me that my gods want to see actualized.
I stopped to write down the data in my virtual notebook. Notes from the field: gray area unapologetic polygnostic freak edition.
Answers eventually came, answers that weren't my imaginings… or would *you* call them imaginings? That is fine if you would, but they didn't feel of my will, so I will call them something different.
Will I heed them? No telling yet, but if I do it might be interesting.


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Since completing a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management in 2002, I have been working for various sectors within the environmental industry in Western Australia including:
- Mining;
- Oil and Gas;
- Infrastructure;
- Environmental Consulting; and
- Local and State Government.
I have experience in all phases of project management including:
- Phase 1: Exploration;
- Phase 2: Feasibility;
- Phase 3: Front End Engineering and Design (FEED);
- Phase 4: Construction; and
- Phase 5: Commissioning and Operations.
I provide contract support for the following environmental services:
- Environmental Management Systems (EMS);
- Tendering;
- Contractor Management;
- Engineering Design Review;
- Environmental Approvals and Compliance;
- Environmental Planning and Risk Management;
- Environmental Reporting;
- Incident Management;
- Environmental Inspecting and Auditing;
- Monitoring and Other Field Services;
- Training and Competency Assessments; and
- Community Engagement.
For further information on any services please contact me.


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http://truthbasketball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/natl.png 90 81 truthbasketball http://truthbasketball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/truthlogopng-300x138.png truthbasketball2015-06-02 20:39:532016-04-08 09:40:44National Gear-Up Tourney Results: Boys 15U (Bronze Champions)
National Gear-Up Tourney Results: Boys 15U (Bronze Champions)
The Truth 15U team celebrated a bronze bracket championship at the National Gear-Up Tourney. After going 0-2 in pool play, the boys rallied on Sunday and went 3-0 to win the bronze bracket.
Pool Play
Loss: Wisconsin Ballers (63) vs. Truth (59)
Loss: Indy Hoosiers (61) vs. Truth (56)
Bracket Play
Win: Truth (65) vs. Primetime 2018 – Silver (25)
Win: Truth (55) vs. Club Elite Hounds (38)
Win: Truth (57) vs. Always 100 (31)


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Williams Investment Company is always seeking applicants with talent and a desire to learn and grow. We realize that by developing our associates, providing them with the right opportunities, hands-on support and work tools, they will prosper and improve their own future. We provide our associates with opportunities to grow and advance into bigger and better jobs with us.
We measure our success by the contributions our associates make when they elevate guest service, and the quality of each guests stay, one guest at a time. Our associates are the key element in helping us to achieve some of the highest brand awards year after year. We remain serious about our associates personal growth here at Williams Investment Company as we will always provide individual associate feedback, training and encouragement to develop acquired skills.
You may email us your resume at
Williams Investment Company
1221 West Fourth Street
Adel, Georgia 31620
Office (229) 896-4511
Fax (229) 896-4710


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Creating your perfect day
Why our couples love us
Two planners for every wedding
Unlimited meetings, phone calls, and emails
Available for advice and recommendations anytime
Planning resources and tips provided throughout
Vendor communication so you can sit back and relax
Day of Coordinators start working with you right away
"Adrienne was amazing. Her calmness was so appreciated. Planning a wedding is a lot of work and knowing that we had Adrienne behind us made life so much easier. She offered simple solutions and took care of all the details. It was such a relief to be able to relax and enjoy the wedding."
"Adrienne was easily accessible and replied to phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. She provided us with good advice and recommendations of vendors. She did a great job following up with all of the vendors prior to the wedding. Adrienne and her staff really made me feel relaxed and comfortable and allowed us to enjoy our special day!"


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Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. - A federal judge hearing a constitutional challenge to a Kansas law requiring doctors, teachers and others to report underage sex between consenting youths said the state presented no credible evidence that underage sex is always harmful.
U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten stopped short of issuing a decision from the bench, but he repeatedly interrupted Thursday's closing arguments by Assistant Attorney General Steve Alexander to challenge his assertions.
"Motives are irrelevant - I want to deal with facts," Marten said. "Where is the clear, credible evidence that underage sex is always injurious? If you tell me because it is illegal - I reject that," Marten said.
The lawsuit filed by The Center for Reproductive Rights, a New York advocacy group, stems from a 2003 opinion issued by Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline's opinion requiring health care providers and others to tell authorities about consensual sex by underage youths. Story


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Auto EC Test Software (XX067) is an application used to perform echo cancellation compliance testing automatically.
per ITU G.168 specification. ITU G.168 spec refers to characteristics of Line Echo Cancellers (LEC). Line Echo Cancellers
are either high density standalone devices, i.e. many T1s or E1s in a landline network. Or they may be embedded in
Gateways (between an IP and TDM networks or between Wireless and TDM networks) as shown below
AutoECTest uses GL's T1 E1 hardware platforms and can be used in TDM, Wireless, and VoIP configurations. Some
typical scenarios are discussed below-
Landline to Landline In such calling scenarios, two LECs are involved in each call. Each LEC cancels echo
at its tail circuit. It possible that the delay in each tail circuit could be as great as 128 ms.
Wireless to Landline Only one tail is involved in wireless to landline calls, and therefore only one LEC is
required at the landline end.
VoIP to Landline Only one tail is involved in VoIP to landline calls. The LEC is usually in a Gateway.
Auto EC Test Viewer (AEC001) supplements AutoEC Test software using which the EC test results are analyzed and
graphically viewed.
Screen Shot of AutoECTest for E1
Screen Shot of AutoECTest for T1
The Auto EC Test Software uses GLs T1 E1 Analyzer products and the customers LEC hardware to perform
Automated Echo Canceller testing in accordance with ITU-T Specifications G.168. In the last 10 to 12 years, ITU G.168
has under gone many revisions with greater and greater detail and specificity. AutoECTest software has been updated
Rin and Sin files (stimulus and echo) are prepared and generated in real-time by Auto EC Test software in accordance
with user inputs.
There are two solutions for different scenarios:
Theory of operation
Real-Time Approach - Sin is created real-time from the Rout by the Windows Client Server (WCS)
Software to perform real-time functions.
All four port captures (Rin, Rout, Sin, and Sout),a nd the echo path simulation are realized by the WCS scripts. It is
applicable to TDM, VoIP, and VoATM Networks. In this design, users are permitted to set:
Test # 1 to 16B of G. 168 (03/2009), G.168(01/2007), G.168 (08/2004), G.168 (06/2002), and G.168 (04/2000) (Test
14 is optional)
The software applies the Rin and captures the Sout (the output of the Echo Canceller). Sin may be generated in
real-time by WCS and double talk signals may be mixed with the echo for some tests. During the application of Rin and
Sin, the Echo Canceller is manually or automatically controlled for
Rout and Sout files are captured and automatically assessed. Graphical and tabular data is provided for all
tests for easy interpretation. Objective test results are displayed and user can easily identify passed or failed tests.
Users can zoom-in on any test result to further investigate. The detailed graphical analysis of tests is also a click away
to gauge overall performance of the echo canceller.
Using AutoECTest Software (Basic setup without customer's EC hardware)
The AutoECTest Software (xx067) is intended to work with GL hardware (T1 or E1 dual cards) and the customers
EC hardware. But it can also be used to test development EC software, that is, the customer's EC hardware is not
required. For more information, please click here
Test Cases supported
GL's Semi-Automated and Scripted Echo Canceller Testing Suite provides support for the basic set of G.168
(2000/2002/2004/2007/2009) compliance tests. Click here for more
For the G.168 version 03/2009, the Test cases are as shown in the figure below.
Screen Shot of Setting EC test parameters per G.168 -
version 03/2009
For the G.168 – version 01/2007, the Test cases are as shown in the figure below.
Screen Shot of Setting EC test parameters per G.168 -
version 01/2007
For the G.168 – version 08/2004, the Test cases are as shown in the figure below.
Screen Shot of Setting EC test parameters per G.168 -
version 08/2004
For the G.168 – version 06/2002, the Test cases are as shown in the figure below.
Screen Shot of Setting EC test parameters per G.168 -
version 06/2002
For the G.168 – version 04/2000, the Test is from Test1~Test10B as shown in the figure below.
Screen Shot of Setting EC test parameters per G.168 -
version 04/2000
This program allows you to set the parameters for each test per ITU-T G.168. These parameters include: CSS level,
NLP options (on/off), Noise level, Hybrid models (m1 ~ m7 or m1~m8), ERL, and Delay, etc. The parameters can be saved
into a file. A preset configuration file can be read in for establishing the test cases to be run. The settings for the test
cases are as depicted in the screenshot below.
Screen Shot of Setting up Test parameters per G.168
in AutoECTest
AutoECTest performs a full analysis (with detailed displays) that results in a "Pass" or "Fail.
The graphs below depict the result analysis per G.168. For the Pass cases, both the convergence time and the
residual should meet the requirements of G.168
For the Fail cases, either one (convergence or residual) or both (convergence and residual) does not meet the
requirements of G.168.
Screen Shot of AutoECTest Results
Screen Shot of AutoECTest Results in Text and Excel Form
AutoEC Test results can be analyzed and graphically viewed in the GL's AutoECTest Viewer (Automatic Echo
Canceller Test Viewer) application AutoECTestViewer can view the results from either T1 or E1 version of AutoECTest.
AutoECTest Test software has been designed to automatically test EC (echo cancellers) compliance with
ITU-T G.168 Specification, G.168 (03/2009), G.168 (01/2007), G.168 (08/2004), G.168 (06/2002), and G.168 (04/2000)
There are three (3) core functions of AutoEC Test applications:
Core functionalities 2 & 3 distinguish AutoECTest Viewer from AutoEC Test application.
The MAT file contains a complex data structure, which has one record for each test case. For each test case, the
corresponding record contains the test parameters (such as Test name, CSS level, ERL, delay, filter type, and so on),
analysis results (such as pass/fail flag, residual values and locations, G.168 requirements, and so on), and pointers to
the Sout file names and locations.
If the Sout files are available and stored in the location specified, then, the offline analysis function is activated.
In addition, the graphical presentation of the AutoECTest results is repeatable.
If the Sout files are not available, then, AutoEC Viewer can only generate the AutoECTest result reports in both
text and CSV formats. The screen below depicts the passed test cases:
Analysis of Test Cases using AutoECTest Viewer
For offline analysis and graphical presentation of the AutoECTest application, the raw Sout PCM data files should
be necessarily stored in the location mentioned. Users may create this directory manually, and copy the raw Sout PCM
data files to this directory.
'Failed' is defined as that the Sout results fail to meet one or more G.168 (03/2009), G.168(01/2007), G.168 (08/2004),
G.168 (06/2002), and G.168 (04/2000) requirements. The screen depicts the failed test cases.
For example, the G.168 (03/2009), G.168(01/2007), G.168 (08/2004), G.168 (06/2002), and G.168 (04/2000)
requirements for Test 2B Part A include the convergence requirements, the residual requirement and the peak value
The five G.168 requirements for Test 2B Part A are:
Every requirement is met for a "Pass" test case, otherwise, test cases are declared as "Failed".
AutoECTest Viewer Results
Graphical Presentation
The graphical presentation of the Sout file for any test case can be viewed with the Sout file located in the
specified "Raw PCM Sout File Location" directory.
Offline analysis of AutoECTest results is performed on the Sout PCM data. Normally, the AutoECTest result
MAT file contains the final results. "Analysis All" option allows the users to re-analyze all Sout files.
Analyzing Sout files are computational extensive as Sout files are large. For example, Test 2A or Test 2B, the
test duration is 3 minutes, which is 180 seconds by 8000 samples/second. It is of 1440000 samples, and is
calculated using double precision so the size of the data files remains around 2.88Mbytes.
After the offline analysis (individual test case analysis or all test case analysis), the result data structure values
will be changed accordingly. Generally, the new values should be the same to the old values, but marginally
differences may exist.
Save Results
"Overall result summary" option displays the complete summary of the EC Test results.
The AutoECTest results can be exported as a *.csv file. The CSV file can be imported into Excel for further processing.
The AutoECTest results can also be saved as a *.txt file. The text file screen depicts the condensed information of the
AutoECTest results. Further a simple script can be written to parse and process those data.
Back to Echo Canceller Testing Solutions
Main Page


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|That's HMS Terpsichore in the middle of this dance.
The wind's blowing bottom to top....
Sadly, Gary, who's running our 100 Days Black Powder campaign, is busy discovering the joys of parenthood, specifically the bit where your kids give you their viruses, so at about an hour's notice I got to run some Sails of Glory.
We went for a pretty basic 2 on 2 from the starter box, the French (Rich and Dan) having the Courageuse and the Genereux, and the British (Carl and Dale) HMS Vanguard and HMS Terpsichore. Dale rapidly proved he should be let nowhere near anything involving sailing and the wind, as the Terpsichore found herself in irons, bow into the wind, then collided with the Vanguard, and then in rather rapid succession was broadsided, then simultaneously boarded and raked stem to stern by the French. Meanwhile, Carl managed to survive the collision (having the bigger ship!), and by dint of some smarter manoeuvring and being the only Captain never to get caught bow-to-wind, managed to sail to safety back off the British edge of the table.
Initial impressions? Great fun. I'd reckon a second game would be ample to get comfortable with the rules. You do, though, need a fair amount of peripheral table space for the ship logs/counter storage. Every time I found myself thinking 'I wonder if the rules cover...' I found out they did. :D I'd have liked more than 30 mins and a couple of YouTube gameplay videos worth of preparation, and the folks on the Anchorage forum are dead right on two points:
- it's not worth it unless you play the advanced rules (special damage, crew actions etc)
- the rulebook layout is NOT conducive to playing the advanced rules :D
The forum has a downloadable reference sheet [you'll need a forum login] with turn order and page numbers, and this is utterly invaluable and makes the advanced rules much easier to follow, as log as you read it through a couple of times, and then follow it step by step! As you can guess, we didn't for the first few turns :D


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A cacophony of high pitched barks and whimpers greeted us as we stepped into the SOSD's Shelter a few weeks back. The friendlier dogs were jumping while others (those on rehabilitation) were wary as we walked past. (We were told not to stick our fingers into the cages or stand too close to the gates.) The family was there that morning to understand a bit more of the work that SOSD does as we recently became a fosterer to a puppy which we picked up from SOSD.
They say that the eyes are windows to the souls and I can't agree more. A walk through the shelter and you can sense the struggles and confusion some of these dogs have gone through.
As we walked from pen to pen and peered into their eyes, each dog seems to have a story to tell.
Maddox (above) has a fantastic temperament. Rescued from AVA last year, Maddox has proven to be really gentle and friendly and he is now a regular fixture of SOSD's outreach team. The team also brings him to schools to show the children just how friendly and gentle street dogs can be. Having done so much for educating the public and to give a "voice" on behalf of his other friends in the shelter, ironically he has remained, till this day, not adopted.
Beancurd (above left) was rescued in from AVA when she was just 3 months old and has since been waiting for a home.
Hers is a bittersweet story: she was one of the few lucky ones that escaped unscathed when she was quarantined with a dog that later came down with the Pavorvirus. Though lively and loving, the irony is that she was the only one left of the whole batch to have yet found a home. There were a few times where was nearly adopted, but it has not quite worked out.
Hers is a bittersweet story: she was one of the few lucky ones that escaped unscathed when she was quarantined with a dog that later came down with the Pavorvirus. Though lively and loving, the irony is that she was the only one left of the whole batch to have yet found a home. There were a few times where was nearly adopted, but it has not quite worked out.
And essentially that's what SOSD aims to do – to give these dogs a second chance in life by rescuing these street dogs and educating the public. This is where a few of SOSD's teams come into the picture with its re-homing team and the outreach team.
This tour we registered for started with a talk by Tony and Ashlee (below) who were our shelter tour guides that morning. Tours typically start at 1130am and because SOSD is managed by volunteers, so email confirmation may only be sent out 2 – 3 days prior to the tour.
Above pic: Tony with Ashlee
While waiting, we saw volunteers taking the dogs out and walking them. Tony shared that the dogs are walked 4 times a week by volunteers who head to the shelters on weekdays too.
Above: Moomi with her 'handler' for that morning. She is part of the Ubin Trap and Neuter project which you can more about here.) After the talk, we were brought into the shelter.
Above: Inside Unit 15/16 (There are another 2 units 13/14 which we visited for a short while too)
The operating expenses to run a shelter are very high and the highest the shelter has ever incurred in a month is $30,000! That was for medical cost and includes vaccination and sterilization. Because of these high costs, money is spent carefully and repairs made, only when necessary.
(Above pic: painting work done only on the lower half of the gate which comes into contact with the dogs to manage expenses)
I could also tell that Dumpling was really surprised at how "basic" the shelter is. At its best, the shelter is "functional" but of course that can't be compared to the comfort that of a permanent / foster home. The shelter tour brought across a message that is certainly more concrete in the little one's mind – Adopt, Don't Shop.
What I was happy to see was a dog run that is outside the shelter where the puppies and dogs have a chance to roam and run a bit. Additionally, it is also a 'neutral' meeting ground for a potential fosterer / adopter to meet and observe the new addition to the family.
Above: SOSD's dog run
It was an hour well spent for us and definitely for the kiddo. In fact, she was sharing with me that if there's a chance, she would talk about the shelter visit and our fostering experience for her school's "Show and Tell".
As SOSD is a registered charity (founded in July 2011, it is funded solely by donations. Here's some numbers and ways you can help:
(Information provided by SOSD Singapore)
SOSD does not attend to ad-hoc visits as based on my understanding; they are often busy over the weekends with adoption drives. If you should be keen to register your interest for the next shelter tour on 26 July, you can click here.
To understand more about the work and events that SOSD does, you can follow their Facebook page.
Disclaimer: This is neither a sponsored post nor were we compensated for it. All opinions expressed are entirely ours though the dogs that you see on their website and at the adoption drives can be yours. :) You can visit the adoption page here.
If you have enjoyed this post, please follow me on my Facebook Page where I share my parenting thoughts, food photos (be prepared for tons of them!), early shout outs for giveaways and interact with you, my readers! You can also follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!


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Terrell Heights is perfectly situated in-town neighborhood. Lush landscape, mature trees and plenty of small parks dot the neighborhood giving it an established and peaceful feeling. It was one essentially suburban, some sixty-plus years ago. But today, as San Antonio has grown, Terrell Heights is an intown oasis in the middle of a burgeoning city that is one of the fastest growing and most exciting in America.
Located in northeast San Antonio, Terrell Heights is surrounded by among the most desirable neighborhoods in the city including Northwood, Oak Park, Alamo Heights and Terrell Hills. To the west, nearby destination shopping and dining in Alamo Heights and Lincoln Heights is sought out by people from across the city. The entire area is also anchored by one of the best public school districts in the country.
Just south of Terrell Heights, exciting things are beginning to happen along Austin Highway after years of neglect turned this once-famed corridor into a trouble-spot. Today, new retail and residential development are unfolding and the character of the street is looking up at a quick pace. The design standards put in place for new construction along Austin Highway are thanks in great part to efforts of the Terrell Heights Neighborhood Association whose leaders were instrumental in drafting the Overlay Design District Ordinance.
Of course, sometimes the best amenities are in your own backyard. Terrell Heights boasts two small parks within the neighborhood complete with a playground, playing field, and community garden, as well as numerous other smaller green spaces.
Within just a few minutes walk, bike ride of car sprint of Terrell Heights are so many urban amenities, including:
San Antonio Botanical Garden Center
Alamo Heights Independent School District
University of the Incarnate Word
Athletic & Recreational
San Antonio International Airport
Cristus Santa Rosa – Alamo Heights


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I was in a training course this past weekend, called "Power and Contribution". It is one of the Landmark Education training courses that looks at what each person's unique contribution is, and designs a step-by-step action plan, measures, and strategies to realize the person's vision on a global level.
On my flight home, I became aware that there were hundreds of passengers on board with me, and I knew none of them. I could not help but sense the impossibility of having a vision that could impact 7 billion people's lives…"ME? Who am I kidding? Who is going to listen to what I have to say? I am just a Nanny."
"I am really not the one," I said to myself. I felt this uneasiness, and suddenly I had a flash back of a little girl standing in a murky room.
I was six years old, standing in a room filled up with boxes of old newspaper, and magazines that my father had purposely put away. My attention was caught on a magazine article with a picture of a well groomed handsome man. I heard my father and other adults mention his name during many gatherings in the house, but they would never explain what happened to him when I asked. Imagine how nervous and excited I was. I thought I had found the answer to my wonder. Not knowing what I would discover, I started to read about him.
The man was an attorney who defended someone that was imprisoned due to political opposition. He was warned many times concerning his and his family's safety. One afternoon, while he was arrested in his office, his mother and twin daughters were brutally killed. His wife and his older daughter were severely injured. The man was not permitted to attend his own mother's funeral. He was then sentenced to jail for 30 years, and was not allowed to have any visitors.
I could not believe what I read.
I was sickened.
How could the world let this happen to a man who stood for human rights? To a little six-year-old, the world was no longer a safe place for self-expression and for seeking truth.
Suddenly, I realized what my life is for. The seed was planted the day I read that article. It was a dream of a six-year-old girl that all she wanted is for people to be free to speak and free to be, that people are known and honored for their passion and self-expression, that people are profoundly related and connected regardless how different we appear to be.
Could this be something too big to dream? No. Could it be too big to make happen? It would if I was a little six-year-old girl.
Someone once said to me, "What if being a leader is answering the knock from the Eternal? Like you are stepping out to answer it, and being led by what makes your heart sing?"
I am willing to be the one that follows what makes my heart sing!!
Now, it's your turn to answer the knock…. What makes your heart sing?


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Oi camaras!
This Saturday 20th of June at 2:45pm we'll do a capoeira show for a fund-raising event nearby Science and Technology Museum.
Zhanjiabanng Originality Street: Entrance 1 – Dong Xiu Road and Jin Yan Road; Entrance 2 – Jin Xiu Road and Jin Yan Road
5 Minutes from Line 2 Metro Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Station Exit 6
It will be for kids, similar to the show that we did last year at Pinnacle's Huashan.
Now the event should be bigger so we need to be as many as possible! after the show we'll have our usual class at 5pm.


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Recently, Museum geologist, Paddy Howe and some friends went fossil hunting on the blue lias ledges between Lyme Regis and Charmouth.
Two pairs of eyes are better than one when you're staring at the bottom of a rockpool.
You can see how essential wellington boots are to fossil hunting.
Paddy spots something in the rock. Could it be a dinosaur?
Probably not! Although not unknown, land-living dinosaur fossils are unusual in the blue lias which was laid down at the bottom of an ancient sea. A fish-lizard or ichthyosaur is more likely.
The next stage in the process is to recover the specimen and see what it is.
What do you need for the recovery process? Well, obviously, a group of friends and on-lookers but also a hefty hammer and chisel.
Having removed a section of the blue lias wide enough and deep enough to, hopefully, contain the specimen, it is carried back to the FossilWorkshop to be cleaned up and identified.
What Paddy had spotted was the paddle of a small incomplete ichthyosaur. Now would you have believed that from the picture of the rockpool? A detail of the paddle is shown below.
You can see more fossil finds on the beach here.
Thanks to Museum Education Officer, Chris Andrew for the pictures.
You can book to go on a fossil walk with Paddy and Chris here.


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Italy's highest court Friday rejected a claim by a man in Brescia that his child was being damaged because his former partner is now living with a woman. The court called the belief that being brought up by a gay couple is damaging to children "mere prejudice."
The child had witnessed violence, despite that his father has never been denied the opportunity to participate in the life of his son, anyway he never agreed to follow a course of parenting education as required by social services.
The Court stated that the basis of complaints "are not called scientific certainty or data of experience," but rather that what is claimed, that a child can not grow in a balanced way in a homosexual family, is a "mere prejudice."
But in the country the judgment has been criticized by many. CEI (Church organization) questioned that a child may continue to have an affective continuity with an homosexual mother.
According to Maurizio Gasparri, President of the Senate (PDL), the judgment is "a very dangerous precedent" and the Judges of the Supreme Core would "also violated the Constitution".
"No to child adoption by homosexual couples. Yes to equal rights and duties for a stable partnership without distinction between heterosexual and homosexual," writes on Twitter Gianfranco Fini (FLI), who will run in the next election in the list of Mario Monti.
In the same list there will be also Alessio De Giorgi, owner of Gay.it and of the famous "Mama Mia" in Torre del Lago too, a disco where each summer mister gay and miss drag queen are elected.
He married in 2002 at the French consulate in Via Giulia, in Rome, and it was the first same sex marriage in Italy, regulated by Pacs.
"The Cassation Court today reaffirmed what we've been saying for a long time," Flavio Romani, president of the group Arcigay, said.
"Love is what makes children grow, and not the sexual orientation of their parents."
The positions are many and really different, so it is very difficult to determine the majority opinion.
There is often the perception that behind certain exclamations there isn't a real and deep reflection. And you? What do you think?
Leave us a comment and let us know why you think it would be right or wrong to give the possibility to same sex families, or single-parent, to adopt a child, following all the assessment procedures provided by the law.


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Tagged: National MS Society
Get Movin' and Walk
If you're like me, this is about the time of the season that you're itching to get out of the house, spend more time with friends, and maybe get in a little exercise while you're at it. The great thing about living in the Creative Corridor, is that you have access to a few malls that are nice enough to let local charitable organizations use them for some of their annual fundraisers.
Since there are so many worthwhile organizations that have mall walk fundraisers coming up in the next few months, I thought I would break down the upcoming walks for those who are in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area.
Muscular Dystrophy Association | MDA Muscle Walk | February 9th @ Coral Ridge Mall | 8 AM – 10 AM
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation | Walk to Cure | February 23rd @ Westdale Mall | 8 AM / 10 AM Walk
Catherine McAuley Center | Movin' For McAuley | March 9th @ Westdale Mall | 9 AM / 10 AM Walk
March of Dimes | March for Babies | April 28th @ Rockwell Collins | 8 AM / 9 AM Walk
National Multiple Sclerosis Society | Walk MS | May 18th @ Kirkwood Community College | TBA
These are just the ones on my radar for the Spring. Please let me know if I missed your favorite! I hope you have a chance to attend one (or more!). These are all great causes and hold a special place in my heart, so I know I'll be at most, if not all, of these walks. Interested in getting a team together, but not sure how to get the word out? Have a team, but want help spreading the word? Leave a comment on the blog or my Facebook page and I'll do what I can to help!
See you at the mall!
World MS Day 2012
Happy World MS Day! Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system (source).
MS is a disease that I am very familiar with. When I was in high school, my mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. I had never really heard of MS before so I wasn't sure what to think. She made the point to reassure my sister and I that she would not die from the disease, but it would slowly degenerate her mind and body. Knowing that she wouldn't die made me feel a little better, but I still didn't know what it meant to live with this disease. It wasn't until I returned from 4 years away at college, that I would come to understand how it affected her body. When I moved home, her energy levels were low, she often repeated herself, and she didn't remember things well. Watching her go from the high energy person to someone who easily fatigued was hard for me to grasp, especially since she looked fine.
The difference between MS and other diseases is that no two people have the same experience. It looks very different from person to person. MS can cause various symptoms, such as blurry vision, numbness, loss of balance, poor coordination, extreme fatigue, and problems with memory and concentration, along with paralysis and blindness. These problems can come and go, otherwise known as flare-ups (source).
Watching my mom's disease worsen continues to be heart breaking. While you can't really tell that she has MS when you look at her, as you listen to her speak sometimes and walk, you can see how it has affected her in both mind and body.
MS occurs in more women than men, but anyone can be diagnosed with it. Children as young as 2 years old have developed the disease. While it is not fatal, as the diagnosis progresses throughout their lifetime, many develop limited productivity.
World MS Day was established in 2009 as a global awareness campaign to provide information regarding MS and the 2 million plus people living with MS. Progress is being made to treating and understanding MS, but there is no cure yet. However, there are FDA-approved medications that have been shown to "modify" or slow down the course of MS, and there are various therapeutic and technological advances that aid in managing symptoms (source). Learn how you can spread the word about the 1000 faces of MS on the World MS Day website, Twitter, or Facebook.
If you are living with MS, living with someone who has MS, or know someone who has MS, please take the time and create a postcard on the World MS Day 2012 website. Take a look at mine. Maybe it will inspire you to share your story and join the 1000 faces of MS.
Are you or anyone you know living with Multiple Sclerosis? What is your story?


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I cook – a LOT. Because of this, I often have strange odds and ends of meals and ingredients hanging out in the fridge. I remedy this by turning leftovers into omelettes, hashes, salads, pasta sauces or random skillet type meals throughout the week.
Sometimes the results are good, sometimes not. But SOMETIMES, the resulting dish is greater than the sum of its leftover parts, SOMETIMES it is incredible!
Yesterday, was one of those times. I was poking around the fridge looking for something to eat for breakfast and noticed that I had some smoked salmon that I really needed to use. I also had some fresh dill (the remnants of a bunch used for a red snapper dish last week) that was wilting fast. I figured I would make an omelette – I added some cream cheese for texture and flavor and ended up with one of the best omelettes I have EVER had. This is the perfect brunch food – Smoky, salty and creamy with a fresh burst from the dill and a slight tang from the cheese. It was SO good, that I felt the need to have one again today (so I could post about it of course!).
Omelette with Smoked Salmon, Fresh Dill and Cream Cheese
- 3 Eggs
- 2 Oz Smoked Salmon
- 2 TBSP Cream Cheese
- 1-2 sprigs – Fresh Dill
- Preheat small, nonstick pan (or omelette pan if you have one)
- Crack eggs into bowl (remove 1 or 2 yolks to lighten the recipe)
- For the fluffiest omelette, add a few drops of water, then whisk together well.
- Prepare omelette filling – Flake 2 oz of Smoked Salmon, tear washed and dried dill into small pieces and have cream cheese ready.
- Add butter, olive oil, or nonstick spray to pan (I like to use an olive oil mister) – making sure the pan is well coated to avoid sticking.
- Add eggs to hot pan. Use rubber spatula to gently move the eggs around – tilting pan so that the runny eggs fill empty spaces created as you gently push the set eggs out of the way.
- When the eggs are almost set (but the top is still a little runny) sprinkle with dill and add cream cheese (small dollops of cheese dropped randomly across the top of the eggs is the best way to do this). To lighten – use 1 Tbsp of cream cheese instead of 2.
- Just as the omelette sets and the cream cheese begins to melt, add the salmon to the top of the eggs. It is best to do this at the very end because the longer the salmon is heated, the firmer it will get – not a BAD thing, but the texture is nicer if you add the salmon at the very end!
- Fold Omelette gently in half using spatula and pan to help, turn Omelette out onto plate.
- Enjoy!


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Welcome to Leek High School. This is a school with a long tradition of serving the communities of Leek and the Moorlands.
We are a small high school and proud to be so. It is easy for large schools to become impersonal and for youngsters to get lost. We pride ourselves on really knowing all of our students and offering first class support to every one of them. The quality of the care we give our youngsters has been recognised by Ofsted who described it as "outstanding" and at a national level – we were awarded Extended School of the Year 2010, a great accolade and one we are extraordinarily proud of. Being a small school could have its drawbacks but as Ofsted described our curriculum as outstanding we seem to be enjoying the best of both worlds at the moment.
It is easy for schools to make claims about their achievement, but accolades from outside are not so easily come by. We invited the local authority to assess the conduct of our youngsters and we were pleased, though not surprised, when they found behaviour was good with the potential to be outstanding; saying 'Students attitudes to learning were consistently positive.'
We were however pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from the Rt Hon David Laws, Minster of State for Schools, who wrote 'It gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the excellent GCSE performance of your students.'
Our students enjoy a broad education at Leek High. During the current academic year youngsters visited (or will visit) Italy, Iceland and New York, there have been trips to Germany, Austria and perhaps most remarkably, Poland for a day trip. The last of these proved to have the greatest impact. For the Sixth Formers who went to Auschwitz, it was a life changing event. In school we are constantly amazed by the skills our youngsters exhibit; they sing and dance in front of packed houses at the annual house performing arts contest, they lead sporting events for youngsters from the first schools, enter car races, raise money for charity and produce work for the annual technology exhibition of an amazing quality. We are proud of them. We value the input of everybody connected with the school. Staff, students, parents and Governors were asked to help us develop the Vision Statement you see below. For us it is not an empty document but one of the ways we measure our success.
We hope you can support us in our commitment to the vision and work with us to ensure that it meets the high expectations it sets out. The Ofsted report published in December 2011 clearly indicates we are on the right path highlighting as they do the 'excellent pastoral care' and students making 'good progress through a combination of good and sometimes outstanding teaching'. Inspectors noted that 'relationships between staff and students are excellent' and that the 'very caring ethos of working with students and their families permeates all elements of the schools work'. It is our intention to help every one of our students fulfil his or her potential.


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For those patients whose insurance was not available at the time of call-intake, we have seen roughly 30-40% return of valid insurance through the IE system. The system is easy to use. Once the basic demographic information is available, a single click and date selection returns the results. The fact that this is integrated directly into our billing software is a true advantage over having to switch system interfaces or wade through phone system menus.
The crew SMS notifications and the color changes for units that remain on scene too long are great visual indicators. We have been able to adjust our staffing and truck times accordingly. This has increased our use of peak trucks and decreased our idle times. I have emailed our primary contact often and they always route the questions to the right people right away. The MedaPoint team works hard to meet our requests.


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4 August 2011
NEW: Kuš! special issue "3 X 3"
For this issue we planned to make an experiment: 9 contemporary Latvian artists from the fields of photography, design, sculpture, painting, and other art forms Arnis Balčus, Ivars Drulle, Dace Džeriņa, Ernests Kļaviņš, Romans Korovins, Kate Krolle, Daiga Krūze, Krišs Salmanis and Evita Vasiļjeva where invited by us and took up the challenge to create comics. Most of them made a comics for the very first time. The result: 3x3 unconventional stories on 9 pages each collected in one rather experimental comics book. The beautiful design of the book was done by Zigmunds Lapsa.
Some sample pics:
Format: A5 (approx. 6" x 8"), 100 pages, full-color, stiched binding, french flips, English and Latvian, released in July 2011.
The book is now available for the special introduction price of 3x3 dollars including shipping in our webshop, and soon also in Latvian bookstores for 3.30 Lats.
The project was generously supported by the Latvian State Culture Capital Foundation VKKF.
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Color filters on Supersampler/Actionsampler4 30 Share Tweet
With a little tape and colored filters, make your Supersampler/Actionsampler images even more colorful no matter the subject!
A Supersampler or Actionsampler is great!
But always having the same colors in every picture?
"No, but there must be some other option, " I thought to myself.
By chance I had another (unfortunately) broken Colorsplash lying around at home, of which I have just stolen the color filters. Alternatively, other transparent colored films should work reasonably as well with just a little bit of cutting!
Hold the color filters in front of the lens/lenses with a few simple strips of tape. Regardless whether you place a different filter over just one or more lenses, the results are awesome!
Two overlapping filters over a lens is also an experiment worth trying!
However, you should make sure that the sun shines on your lomographic experiments! ;-)
written by bettmensch on 2011-06-07 #gear #tutorials #tipster #supersampler #actionsampler #color-filters


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OsCommerce website, logo, and banner design
Budget $100-500 USD
We need an EXPERIENCED OsCommerce graphic designer as we need help redesigning our site. Below is what we need:
1. Complete OsCommerce website redesign (looks, buttons, etc)
2. Company Logo (optional)
3. Banner design (optional)
If we satisfied with the design, there will be more coming, just ask HAUTU, our excellent GAF php/oscommerce developer.
1. Please provide samples/references or your bid will NOT be considered.
2. We will provide actual website after we review your bid and references
3. We will pay after we are satisfied with the actual design running in our development server, yes we have our own development server.
Awarded to:
My bid is for total psd layout of pages,(no HTML) logo, buttons, banners. and [login to view URL]:)
34 freelancers are bidding on average $374 for this job
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