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LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ventev Mobile is making fast wireless charging more stylish, convenient, and versatile with its Spring 2019 lineup, which features new, multi-device wireless charging accessories for the home, office, and car. Ventev will unveil the new products, including the wireless watchdock duo, a wireless charger that fuels the Apple Watch and a smartphone at the same time, at CES 2019 in Las Vegas.
"Consumers love wireless charging, but they usually have more than one device," said Scott Franklin, Director of Marketing at Ventev Mobile. "They're looking for accessories that let them charge everything in one place, and they want that place to blend into their home's décor or car's interior without sacrificing convenience and power."
Ventev will demonstrate its new accessories at Pepcom Digital Experience! on January 7 from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Mirage Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
The wireless watchdock duo is designed for the ultimate Apple fan. This two-in-one wireless charger cradles the Apple Watch around its base, with a flat top that powers up a smartphone. By adding the Apple Watch's in-box charger to the base, both devices are charged at their fastest rates. The wireless watchdock duo comes bundled with a Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 3.0 wall charger and a USB-A→USB-C™ cable. MSRP $49.99.
The wireless chargepad duo delivers a total of 20 watts across two phones simultaneously, up to 10 watts to each device, allowing each phone to charge at its fastest possible rate. A soft, gray cloth cover makes sure this universal charger never looks out of place, whether it is on the nightstand, in the living room, or on the desk. MSRP $59.99.
The revamped wireless car kit makes an already great product even better. Its responsive and spring-loaded clips enable effortless one-handed docking, while being firm and secure to ensure phones stay in place over the bumpiest of roads. The wireless car kit now includes a soft cloth cradle. It mounts to your air vents so the phone doesn't block your windshield, while its unobtrusive clip ensures air flows properly. The kit comes bundled with the dock, vent clip, a premium chargesync USB-A→USB-C™ cable, and Quick Charge™ 3.0 car charger. MSRP $49.99.
Each Ventev wireless charging product is certified and universally compatible with any charging technology, including Qi and Fast Wireless Charging. In addition to these new wireless charging products, Ventev announced two new car chargers and two new wall chargers that allow users to take advantage of the latest charging technology.
The wallport q1270 and dashport q1270 both offer 27 watts of power and compatibility with Qualcomm® Quick Charge™ 4+, along with backward compatibility with previous Quick Charge generations and USB Power Delivery. With only five minutes of charging, users can gain five hours of battery life.
The wallport pd1180 and dashport pd1180 support USB Power Delivery featured on the newest Apple and Google devices, offering 18 watt charging profiles. It's a perfect all-in-one charging solution for users that carry a smartphone and tablet.
Ventev also has an extensive line of intelligently designed, ultra-durable tangle-free cables that are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The newest addition to the lineup is the chargesync helix cable. This springy, coiled cable is designed for convenience and organization in the car. The chargesync helix comes with Apple Lightning™ and USB-C™ connectors, and features a soft braided cable cover for a premium feel.
For more about the products Ventev launched at CES, visit ventev-ces.com.
About Ventev
Ventev Mobile (mobileaccessories.ventev.com), designs and manufactures mobile device accessories that fulfill consumers' unmet needs and enhance the mobile experience. Product offering includes universal power products with rapid-charging, Qualcomm® Quick Charge™, and USB Power Delivery functionality; tangle-free charge and sync cables; and screen protectors for smartphones and tablets. Ventev's high-performing, intelligent products help you navigate the ever-evolving wireless world.
Ventev products are available at ventev.com/mobile. Follow Ventev Mobile on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Media Resources
Ventev Mobile CES 2019 press kit


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Seahawks Insider Blog
UPDATED: Pete Carroll stands behind Seahawks' statement on Marshawn Lynch: "These accusations are bogus"
The Seahawks' public-relations department has released a team statement regarding Monday's news that star running Marshawn Lynch was under investigation by the Bellevue Police Department following allegations by a woman of assault in the Seattle suburb early Sunday.
The statement reads: "While we maintain the utmost respect for the investigative process, after speaking with Marshawn, we are comfortable these accusations are bogus."
Not untrue. Not unfounded.
After practice, coach Pete Carroll refused to elaborate. He stood behind "bogus" and said there was nothing more to address on the matter.
A spokesman for the Bellevue Police Department, officer Seth Tyler, told the News Tribune on Monday that an investigator would be "reaching out and talking to" Lynch. Officer Tyler would not speculate when the investigation might end, but said his department would be releasing a statement when it does.
One not-so-insignificant issue to consider here: The Seahawks are still in training-camp mode through this week. That means all players, Lynch included, are required to be in the team hotel by an appointed curfew/bed-check time each night. NFL teams post security personnel on the floors of team hotels after bed checks, so if anyone would leave or enter those floors during those overnight hours a team would know about it.
And only a team that feels certain a player was in its hotel during a night would issue a statement such as this morning's that uses the term "bogus" to characterize an accusation.
Just a thought.
Lynch was on the field practicing with the Seahawks' first-team offense again today. His last two practices have been his most substantial work of this preseason, since he reported late following a short contract holdout.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our great God is the giver of dreams and he has a Tailor-Made Dream just for you if you will simply take hold of it!
Through Faith • Hard Work • & Influence I truly believe my dreams will become my reality!
Let the size of your God determine the size of your dreams! Dreaming big honors him. It shows faith. It shows trust.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9


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In this blog post, I'll show you how you can turn your old tablet into a universal smart home remote. At the end of this blog post, you'll be able to control all your smart home devices by using Yeti.
Do you have an old tablet or iPad at home that you are no longer using? That was also my case, so I decided I could bring it to life again.
Having many smart home devices and controlling them using your phone is a good experience. Turning them on/off by voice commands it's cool when there isn't noise or you actually have Google Home or Alexa.
But what about guests who are willing to play with your home? Or what about when you forgot your phone into another room but you still want to turn on/off your lights?
Your old tablet can help you to face up to this situation. We are going to turn our old tablet into a smatr home remote control.
Creating a home control tablet
To create our home control tablet interface we will need:
- An old tablet (You can also use a new one)
- Yeti for Android tablets | Yeti for iPads
- Smart home devices to control (Check our list of compatible products)
Step 1: Clean and charge your tablet
Probably, your tablet has been in a drawer, so clean and full charge it can be a good starter point.
Step 2: Install Yeti
Go to the Store and look for Yeti Smart Home. Download and Install it.
- For Android tablets
- For iPads
- For Amazon fire tablet see this guide about how to install the PlayStore on it
Yeti is compatible with a wide range of Android, Apple and Amazon tablets. If yours doesn't seem to be compatible, let us now in the comments.
Step 3: Let Yeti scan your home
Once you have installed Yeti on your tablet, open the app and follow the steps so Yeti can find all your devices. In my case, I have Philips Hue Lights, Lifx and Yeelight and also a Sonos Speaker.
Home automation on tablet
After Yeti has found your devices, your tablet will become the main control center for your home. You can hang it on the wall or let it be in any room you wish.
Now it's time to control and organize your devices in Yeti!
Easy control for your devices
In the home screen, try to tap your devices. That's how you run what we call "a simple action". It can be turn on/off for lights and plugs or play/pause for speakers.
Now if you hold tap in the widget, you will access to the advanced device controller. For example, see the following image showing how the color light controller looks like:
Organize your devices by rooms
I have devices in the living room, kitchen and bedroom, so I can organize and control them easier.
Premium Features to empower you automated home
Yeti is a free to use app but it also has some premium features you will enable after you upgrade your Yeti account to premium. These features are: charms, routines, alexa...and many more. Click here to read more about the premium version of Yeti
Create routines to automate your devices based on time or location
You can create routines to automate when your devices turn on/off or even customize behaviour to turn on with an specific color or make your sonos play a song. You can also create routines based on location.
- I like to wake up at sunrise (around 8 am) and having my lights in the living room turned on
Use charms to create scenes and set ambiances with a tap
Using charms you are able to configure many devices at the same time instead of going one by one
- I'll place my tablet at the entrance, so I will create a charm saying "Leaving home". Then every time I leave home I will make sure all my devices turn off before leaving.
Leave Yeti in the background of your tablet and never kill the app. So we can make sure that the communication between Yeti and your devices has been successful.
Don't hang your tablet permanently on your wall unless you have a way to charge it.
What's next?
Now that you have upgraded your tablet into a smart home remote control
We are always improving Yeti and adding new features. We'll soon integrate new brands and we will include new triggers for routines apart from time. Stay tuned!
If you have a great table set up at home share it in the comments below! We want to know them!


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In this series of paper, I will try to show the clashes between the sovereigns of Turkey starting from the coup attempt to the fraudulent referendum that was held on 16th of April 2017. The series is planned to be three parts. First series will be on what I call a kamikaze type of coup attempt on 15th-16th of June 2016. Second series will be on the period that is between the coup and referendum. Last series will be about the fraudulent referendum that took place on 16th of April 2017 and the prospects for the coming days.
For those who are not familiar with recent Turkish politics, here is a timeline.
- February, 2015: Failing of peace process, rupture of the talks between PKK (Kurdistan Worker's Party) and the Erdoğan's government.
- 7th of June 2015: General Election, it took 80 MP's of pro-Kurdish party (HDP) to the parliament, Erdoğan's AKP (Justice and Development Part) lost the majority to form a government by its own. The party also gave two MP's as minister to the provisionary government.
- 20th of July 2015: Bombing in Suruç near Kobane (Syria border) causing more than 30 young leftist activists. A group called Dokumacılar having ties with Isil is held responsible. However, the opposition groups charged Turkish police having ties with the organizing of bombing.
- 26th of July 2015: Turkish warplanes started heavily bombing PKK's controlled areas in Southern Kurdistan, North of Iraq.
- 7th of July-1st of November 2015: Talks between the main opposition party (CHP-founder of which is Mustafa Kemal) and the AKP to form a coalition government produced no results, it ended with calling another general election.
- 10th of August 2015: The court decided to the capturing of well-known prosecutor of Ergenekon trial Zekeriya Öz who secretly escaped to the Germany after learning the decision.
- 1st of November 2015: General election took place. AKP got 51 percent of the votes reaching the majority to form a government by its own. The new cabinet included Erdoğan's son-in-law Berat Albayrak as the energy and natural resources minister.
- 24th of November 2015: A filo of Turkish Air Forces attacked a Russian warplane near Syrian border causing two Russian pilots to die. This was recorded as the first attack of a NATO member state to a Russian force since 1950s.
- 28th of November 2015: Assassination of the most prominent international Kurdish lawyer, human right activist Tahir Elçi in a demonstration in Diyarbakır/Amed. Hundreds of thousand people marched in his funeral.
- From September 2015 to the March of 2016: Heavy urban warfare (trench wars) between YDGH- youth wing of the PKK mainly in Kurdish towns near to the Syrian border and Turkish state. The Turkish police, the army and paramiliter groups including radical Islamists attacked with heavy weapons to the Kurdish towns and caused thousands of young militants of PKK to die, more than 500.000 Kurdish settlers left their homes according to the HDP.
- 11th of January: More than 1000 scholars and academics signed a petition that defined the state as a murderer. It was joined by prominent philosophers as Chomsky, Zizek and Butler, calling the government to end the war immediately in Kurdish towns.
- 13th March: Ankara car bombing attack causing more than 30 civilians. PKK linked group TAK claimed responsibility for the attack noting that they targeted the riot police, expressed sadness for the civilian deaths.
- From March-June: Under the influence of Erdoğan Turkish courts decides trustees should govern oppositional companies, newspapers and HDP owned municipalities. Gulenist supporters were under attack. Prime Minister A. Davutoğlu conflicted with Erdoğan causing his removal from the ministry after a note published in a blog called "Pelican Document". A Turkish columnist (Hilal Kaplan) who is close to Erdoğan and known for her provocative pro-polarizing columns said to write the note. Neo-ottomanist academics Davutoğlu's cabinet is replaced with Erdoğan's puppet Binali Yıldırım.
- Prime Minister A. Davutoğlu and General Commander in Chief Hulusi Akar held a meeting and condemned allegations of a move in the army in March.
- International newspapers started writing that the army is uneasy with Erdoğan and the government.
- July, 2016:
A well-known Turkish columnist of Kemalist newspaper Republican Can Dündar went abroad telling that he do not have life safety in Turkey. He was under investigation before he went to the Germany with the accusation of servicing state secrets, the news of weapon aid of Turkish intelligence to the Syrian opposition.
Newspapers started writing about that there is going to be a charge against the Gulenist officers in the army before the 15th of July coup attempt.
I wrote this one after three or four days of the coup. This will be the first series of the paper. According to the reactions, I will decide to publish or not the other series.
Smells like a Grotesque Clash: Old Turkey's Kamikaze Coup Attempt vs. Neo-Ottomanist Jihadist's Counter-Strike
The Event
On 15 July, after the evening and accelerating by the midnight, people in some parts of Turkey -mainly in Ankara and İstanbul- has seen an unusual militaristic mobility across the western part of the country. Jets flied around, tanks were on the roads and troops went onto the ground. The elements of the government as if they were ready for that kind of an attempt reacted immediately by mobilizing its police, "supporters" and all the available resources to repulse the attack-even the imams were ordered to recite sala from the mosques in Turkey until morning under the flying jet noises of supersonic. It emerged by midnight that it was mainly some elements of the army (mostly air and naval forces, very limited support from land forces command which is 65 percent of the Turkish army) which has long been a right wing Kemalist organization, a NATO ally, and seen itself as the defender of the "regime" was taking "non-hierarchically" the action with nearly no declared support from the civil dissidents even after the proclamation on Turkish State Channel (TRT) at midnight.
The group calling itself as the "Peace at Home Council" denounced the corrupt government and declared martial law by promising to make a seemingly liberal constitution. The proclamation had no direct attribution to Turkish identity but stating the importance of keeping the unity of country. It is also promised that there would not be any discrimination against any group, ethnicity and etc. The proclamation evokes the "address to the youth" text of the founder of Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal (the father of all Turks) that was written for calling the Turkish youth to defend the country against any possible internal as well as external attacks or enemies. It is kept being said that one third of top military officials (generals) along with lower status military people ranging ideologically from Kemalists to Gulenists that are united against the policies of the government and the parliamentary were taking part in the event which can be called as a kamikaze kind of coup.
Who involved in the event?
During that night, those who joined the kamikaze kind of coup attempt seemed to be successful by attacking top intelligence and police (which is supposedly close to the government side) stations killing nearly or more than hundred officials including both civil and armed ones. But, it seemed to be unsuccessful by not to have captured, killed or caused any government representatives to exit the country including the president Erdoğan.
The attempters could not able to move ordinary soldiers even to the streets because the pro-government police organization with the human shields had gun battles with the army across country and able to retreat the army back and detained most of them by the morning. However, the attempters kept strategic areas as airports, bridges like bosphorus and strategic road junctions for some hour and attempted to takeover and to attack some government buildings and so called civil companies servicing for national communication (TURKSAT and TELECOM) or natural gas pipe lines by airstrikes.
Indeed, ordinary soldiers were pushed to these places that there was a military exercise or terror attack. At the same time, highly professional militaristic commandos were in a mobility to attack strategic pro-government elements of the state including police organization, special units and even Turkish intelligence service (MİT). Furthermore, they attacked the hotel in Marmaris where President Erdoğan was hiding that is said to have escaped just 15 minutes before the attack had begun. When president Erdoğan has shown up via FaceTime in the CNN Turk, he immediately called his "supporters" and the people to the street to counter the coup attempt or what they choose to call at first the rebellion. Thousands of them went to the places where the tanks were located (boshphorus bridge and some military and civil places which has high importance). Ordinary people have not gone to the streets, but some of them have taken action against the military people.
All these clashes had occurred between 9 pm until early morning which caused hundreds to die including higher police officers, military people, and top ranked civil supporters of Erdoğan and obviously paramilitary Islamic elements and rightists who went to the streets with the call of Erdoğan including curious ordinary people. Those who went to the streets also called and marched for sharia law and for jihad in some places during that night. Although some fractions of the dominant class would happy to see that people from different identities both ethnically (mainly Turks and Kurds) and religiously (mainly Sunni and alawite people) in Turkey to clash with each other, it basically did not occur but some kind of outburst was reported against Syrian migrants, some Kurd and alawite neighborhoods. Also, we can say that it is once again seen that soldiers and ordinary people had no problem with each other despite a few of the soldiers were lynched and murdered by the paramilitary supporters of government which are doubted of having ties with the ongoing Syrian war. However, the single event mainly characterized the coming days after the event: the bombing of the parliament in Ankara.
The need for getting united against enemies?
The need to unite the nation against both internal and international so called enemies was the main impetus behind the clashes between kamikaze coup attempters and jihadists counter-strike. It is obvious that those who support status quo and alliance to the Western bloc have been defeated with the counter-strike. Now, the fractions of the bourgeoisie try to blackmail against each other, to frighten ordinary people and to take new positions via their international counterparts. While Turkey's Kamikaze coup attempt showed preliminary glimpses of an internal war in Turkey- mass killing, martial law-, the Ottomanist Jihadist counter-strike showed the possible ways to handle with the issue- lynch, call for sharia-. The fractions of the bourgeoisie had one thing to say in common: the parliamentary should work (although it is basically under the hegemony of the ruling party and Erdoğan) and this coup attempt was mainly against the parliament-that is against to the will of the people which is an illusion.
Is there a way out for ordinary people or how to understand the inter-clash among the fractions of the bourgeoisie on both national and international level?
Although nearly all parties and unions from different strata denounced the "coup attempt", mostly the leftists kept their critics against the dictatorship of the ruling party and Erdoğan who they blame for the ongoing crises in Turkey. After ten days, right and left nationalists and the Islamists seemed to have formed a weak opposition against the "coup" which is thought to be managed by Fethullah Gülen and its supporter-the USA. They prioritized the main enemy as Gulenists, PKK and the USA and had no words for allegedly ISIS's attacks in Turkey.
It is obvious that the newly formed nationalists group against coup try to divide mainly working classes as well as to marginalize dissident Kurds or Alawite's, radical leftists no matter they had openly declared to be against any militaristic intervention. It is also important to see that the bourgeoisie in Turkey and their counterparts is reluctant to confront the ISIS in Turkey and try to play ISIS against armed Kurds. However, with the deepening crisis both economically and politically; it can be expected that ordinary people in Turkey would face more clashes than the coup kind of attempts and counter-strikes. It now emerges with the declaration of state of emergency by government that thousands of civil servants including syndicalist and academics from left had been fired, soldiers were being tortured and workers living conditions are being threatened with a possible civil war. No matter what the conditions are, the developments in Syria and the rising tendencies among NATO members would necessarily open new ways to form allegiances between the oppressed of this world. The only way to counter global mass destruction is uniting and acting on a global level in a coordinated manner.
1 Esthetically but melancholically recited by imams from the mosques that informs believers coming of death of somebody which advise Muslims to pray for god and perform prayer before they die.
2 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, has once indicated that there should be "peace at home, peace in the world" which is the motto of mainstream nationalist in Turkey for international policy.
3 It is obvious that the government headed by the Erdoğan was in a hurry to get close with Israel and Russia before the days clashes began. There was a NATO summit in Warshow one week before. The red line of Turkey in Syria which is the Kurdish passing to the west of Euphrates had been realized. The next red line is the crossing of Menbic area of ISIS which is now being under attack by the organization headed mainly by PYD (Kurdish wing of the PKK) and supported by the coalition.
4 Furthermore, during the march for "democracy" on that night, there was an attack to the commemoration statue built for those died because of suicide attack of ISIS related groups in Ankara on the 10th of October 2015 causing more than hundred peace activists to die.


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Going Zooomr?
So while I've recently gotten severly addicted to Flickr, Zooomr is currently offering free pro accounts to bloggers. I figured that there were probably a couple of people out there who might be interested in trying out a new service, (especially those who's accounts have been NIPSA'd) so I thought I might write up a comparison for this blog. Check it out, Zooomr is launching v2.0 next week so it's a great time to give things over there a try.


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SECTION ZERO ULTRA-COOL COLLECTOR'S EDITION with SIGNED BOOKPLATE
SECTION ZERO ULTRA-COOL COLLECTOR'S EDITION with SIGNED BOOKPLATE
Who doesn't like books signed by their creators?
Special Bookplate signed by Karl Kesel and Tom Grummett!* Plus everything you get in the non-signed version of the book:
- Hardcover with Spot Varnish and additional Retina-Burning Green Color that cannot be made using normal printing inks— probably because it's radioactive!
- Over 150 pages of action-packed story!
- Introduction by Kurt Busiek! Yes— the Kurt Busiek!
- Behind-the-scenes sketches and commentary!
- Pin-ups by some of the most talented, most generous people in the comics industry: Ben Caldwell! Matthew Clark! Terry Dodson! Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez! Dave Gibbons! John Paul Leon! Kelley Jones! Jerry Ordway! Chris Samnee! Walt Simonson! (We know! We can't believe it, either!)
- List of Alleged Supporters of SECTION ZERO.
*The Kickstarter Bookplate is no longer available because it was exclusive to Kickstarter Backers. But you got to admit— the new bookplate's pretty cool, too.
Expected delivery: October 2018.


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Mossimo Women's Amelia Curve Tee / T-Shirt / Tshirt - Black
Give your casual wear a seasonal upgrade with Mossimo. Featuring 100% cotton construction, cropped body, curved back detail and foil chest print for maximum appeal. Looking good for gatherings or Saturday night movies has never been easier.
Available in women's sizing - see size chart for correct fit!
- Mossimo apparel
- For women
- Style: Amelia Curve Tee
- Colour: Black
- Sizing: Regular
- Short sleeve crew tee
- Slightly cropped body
- Curved back detail
- Foil chest print
- Materials: Cotton
- Machine washable
Formed in 1986 by a 20 year old university student, Mossimo has continued to emit a uniquely cool & youthful vibe - as popular today as ever before! This range of threads will get you motivated for some of this sweet gear - so grab some grassroots Southern Californian style while you can!


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- A hardline North Korean official with a bad reputation, Kim Yong Chol, is set to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York on Wednesday.
- It will be President Donald Trump's first indication of where North Korea really stands in coming talks.
- North Korea dispatched Kim to New York to meet Pompeo as part of a scramble to save the proposed June 12 summit in Singapore.
- He is known as someone with a tough negotiating stance who makes dark jokes that don't go over well.
- Meeting him should give Pompeo an unfiltered look at North Korea's stance — but could provoke an extreme reaction.
President Donald Trump will get his first an indication of where North Korea really stands in coming denuclearization talks on Wednesday, when a hardline official with a bad reputation is set to meet Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in New York City.
North Korea has dispatched Kim Yong Chol to New York to meet with Pompeo as part of a scramble to save the scheduled June 12 summit in Singapore between Kim Jong Un and Trump, a meeting that would be the first between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader.
Kim Yong Chol has worked for all three North Korean leaders and served in the country's intelligence service for 30 years. During this time he earned a formidable, dark reputation.
Kim is believed to be behind the 2014 cyberattack on Sony Pictures and the sinking of a South Korean navy ship known as the Cheonan in 2010 that ultimately killed 46 sailors. North Korea has denied involvement in both incidents. Nonetheless, the naval attack in particular has made him a hated figure in South Korea.
He introduced himself to a crowd at a South Korean concert in 2018 by saying, "Hi, I'm the man you blame for sinking the Cheonan," according to the Korea-analysis website 38 North.
"Kim Yong Chol can be quite sarcastic and exhibits what would be called snark," North Korea Leadership Watch wrote.
He is known as someone with a tough negotiating stance who makes dark jokes that don't go over well, yet he routinely represents North Korea in talks with the South.
In one diplomatic interaction, North Korea Leadership Watch said, he rejected South Korea's proposals and asked: "Do you have another briefcase with you? Maybe you have another briefcase of proposals."
What the hardliner's visit means for Trump
So far Trump has had little direct contact with North Korea, receiving its messages mainly through South Korean intermediaries.
South Korea, under President Moon Jae-in, a liberal elected on a platform of engaging with the North, has many reasons to soften Pyongyang's image and message in talks with Trump.
Not least among these reasons is that Trump has seemed willing to use military force, and renewed conflict in South Korea could cost untold thousands of lives there.
Eventually, Trump will have to hear North Korea's demands, and Kim Yong Chol is an unfiltered source of them.
"North Korea is sending a hardliner and it could indicate that North Korea is serious about the negotiation," Yun Sun, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center, told Business Insider.
"The traditional perception is that the people from Foreign Ministry are only channels to convey messages without being able to commit or agree to anything," Sun said.
"Given Kim's military background, this could be a sign that North Korea is dedicated to the summit and negotiation this time."
As Kim Yong Chol isn't expected to sugarcoat anything, this meeting with Pompeo could indicate just how viable future talks about denuclearization are.
Hearing North Korea's serious positions before the talks is a necessary step to make the summit happen.
Nonetheless, Kim Yong Chol's visit is a serious test for the Trump administration, whose appetite for North Korean snark remains questionable.


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Porsche Performance | From Race Car to Street Car
From its inaugural model, Porsche has been recognized as a leader in motorsports. The reason for the success is obvious. Porsche focuses on one thing: building sports cars. Irregardless of whether it is an SUV, sedan or a roadster, each model has the spirit of a race car.
Porsche race cars have achieved magnificent success in tracks around the world. Porsche is a notorious name in the motorsport world, from the early days when the Porsche 917 won the first 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche in 1970 until today where new models lead the pack at the big races. The Porsche 911 RSR is the latest in race cars that shows off the performance capability that comes from staying true to a vision.
The focus on performance is not limited to cars running on the race track. Porsche takes the knowledge acquired from successful race cars and applies it to its lineup. Every aspect of the design is focused on how it improves the performance of the car. The sculpted, athletic design is just a bonus.
For superior performance in an aesthetically pleasing package, visit Porsche Centre Calgary and test drive a Porsche that was designed to meet your needs. Regardless of which model you choose, the heart of a race car beats inside. It's time you experience 60 years of innovation.


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This game is amazing! There is so much to do, so much to level up and the best thing is that you can play with your friends. But there is one problem with the game – if you buy gold, you can make massive progress. Today we will talk about what actually is gold and when should you use it.
What is Gold?
Gold is the premium in-game currency that you can buy from the store, get it by completing certain tasks or use our gold generator. It is very valuable as you can do many things with it in the game that you just can't do without and if you have it, you can progress really fast.
When to use Gold?
Now, this is the important question. When to actually use the gold if you have it. The answer is: when there is no other options. Since gold is such a premium currency in the game, you should only use it when there are no other options. For example, you don't have enough builders to level up more buildings and you want to spend gold in order to finish building the current building. This would be a bad example of using gold as all you need to do is wait for the building to complete. There is always something to do in this game and that is why you should not spend gold to finish buildings.
You can use it to speed up building your base but use it wisely. Don't use gold to finish something that needs 10 minutes to complete. Use it when upgrading something big like the main building. Then you will get the most value out of that.
You should use gold when you need to buy something from the market. You will get more if you purchase something from the market if you use gold, you will always get an extra Sicario that will work for you or more resources so that is a good way to use gold as you will always get more.


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What's Happening in My Region
It's not about whether we can.
It's about whether we will.
Scroll through our photos to see what's going on all over Lane County during Child Abuse Prevention Month!
East Lane
South Lane
West Lane
In East Lane, we're celebrating our first (extremely successful) year of Roots of Empathy and recruiting babies, caregivers, and instructors for Year 2, which starts this September. In March, we were the third region to launch the Welcome Baby Box program, making two deliveries in the first month alone. The whole team is thrilled to be moving into the implementation stage of our Prevention Plan. Next, we're exploring expanding Safe Families for Children, a faith-based respite program for families in crisis, in East Lane.
Contact Coordinator Susan Hardy at firstname.lastname@example.com
The South Lane team, which launched 90by30's first prevention plan strategy - the Welcome Baby Box program, in 2017 - continues to lead the way with the debut of its second strategy: Roots of Empathy. The ROE pilot launched last fall in four second-grade classrooms in the South Lane School District. The South Lane team plans to expand the pilot to include all second grade classrooms in the 2019-20 academic year.
Contact Coordinator Rachel Nordquist at firstname.lastname@example.com
The West Lane 90by30 Regional Leadership Team is made up of more than a dozen volunteers who live in Florence, Mapleton, Swisshome, Dunes City and Deadwood. In 2018, team members implemented the Welcome Baby Box and Roots of Empathy. In 2019, the team will implement two more projects: 40 Developmental Assets, which identifies 40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed, and Safe Families for Children, which offers families short-term respite care while in a crisis situation.
Contact Coordinator Jeanne Shannon at firstname.lastname@example.com
North Lane
Pinwheels for prevention
A Roots of Empathy Baby Shower
Ice Cream Social
The Eugene regional leadership team faces the challenges - and advantages - of working where more than half the population of Lane County lives. After an extensive asset mapping and prevention planning process, five strategies were chosen to be implemented in a three-phase process. In 2019, the team is beginning the exciting work of implementation. This means building partnerships with community members, creating work groups for each strategy, and a lot of fundraising! With the large and diverse population of the region, issues of equity and inclusion are constantly a priority. The Eugene team is small but energetic – and always looking at new ways to grow.
Contact Co-Chairs Angela Albin and Caroline Madigan at email@example.com
The McKenzie Regional Leadership Team is made up of 12 volunteers who live in Walterville, Vida, Blue River, and McKenzie Bridge. The 2019 year has been an exciting year of implementing Roots of Empathy. We have also engaged the community with "Parent Cafés." We still have work to do in bringing the Welcome Baby Box to our region. This year has brought challenges in moving more quickly toward our goals. But just like we're ready to clear fallen trees from our highways, we're ready to power through the next challenge!
Contact the McKenzie Coordinator at firstname.lastname@example.com
North Lane is passionate about strengthening families in their rural region of Lane County. Through the Roots of Empathy program, Parent Café, and boosting community connections at their Farmer's Market booth, North Lane believes "a connected child is a protected child" and works to provide opportunities for local families to thrive.
Contact Coordinator Terah Van Dusen at firstname.lastname@example.com
The Springfield Regional Leadership Team of 90by30 is composed of community volunteers who live or work in Springfield and have a wide range of skills and experiences - everyone from educators to CASAs to business owners. The Springfield RLT has been working for the last few years on asset mapping in order to set the foundation for our current phase: Prevention Planning. Soon, the Springfield RLT will be selecting our prevention strategy and planning roll-out.
Contact Co-Chairs Caleb Fjarli and Kristin Rush at email@example.com


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A race is on to track down faxes sent by Seamus Heaney before they fade. The outdated technology was the preferred form of communication for the late Nobel laureate and will be a vital source for Fintan O'Toole, who has just been signed up to write an authorised biography of the Irish poet.
"My one terror is that his favourite communication mode was the fax, and faxes fade. So I'm going to have to find out who has faxes from him, and read them quickly. At the end, [Heaney's publisher] Faber had a fax machine that was kept just for Seamus," said O'Toole.
O'Toole, the award-winning Irish biographer, historian and journalist, approached Heaney's family directly with the idea for an authorised life of the poet. He plans to work from Heaney's extensive archives – "he wrote a huge amount of letters" – as well as interviewing those who knew him and digging deep into his poetry, from 1966's Death of a Naturalist to 2010's Human Chain, to create what he called a portrait of "the personal, the political and the poetic".
"Because Seamus died before his time, so many people who were part of his life are still very much around, so it's not like writing your usual historical biography," said O'Toole. Heaney died in 2013, aged 74. "The death of this beloved man seems to have left a breach in the language itself," said his fellow poet Don Paterson at the time. Carol Ann Duffy called him "irreplaceable".
The Irish Times columnist will also draw from Dennis O'Driscoll's 2008 book, Stepping Stones, a collection of interviews with Heaney about his life. "Obviously, some of [Heaney's] essays use autobiography, and he uses it in his poems. He had a brilliant solution to the memoir problem: he published Stepping Stones … He was very much involved in shaping that book. It was his way of writing an autobiography without writing one. It's interesting he chose to do it that way. He was very careful about the way he presented himself. So that's a starting point," said O'Toole.
Heaney's son, Michael said that the family had not been planning to commission a biography of the poet, but that they "were convinced by Fintan's proposal".
"We had Stepping Stones, so there was no urgency," he said. "We weren't opposed to the idea, but we'd not thought about it. Fintan seems like the perfect candidate – we felt he ticked all the boxes … My father's work can be read by anyone, but when you're writing about his life, having an awareness of where he came from and where we grew up really does help. So Fintan's being Irish was a huge factor."
Michael, who said that the family would be cooperating with the writing of the biography, added that his father had been a great admirer of O'Toole's work.
"He'd send me notes about something I'd written. He seemed to like my work," said O'Toole. "I wouldn't presume to describe myself as a friend of Heaney's. I'd met him on a number of occasions, and we'd done events together a couple of times. But he had an incredible gift for making people feel special – he'd talk to people and they'd feel a profound connection with him … Obviously, I admired him hugely. He was an extraordinary man and that ability he had to connect was the same in person as in the work. And the work means so much to so many people, because it comes in under the radar, it connects with people, and he himself embodied that."
O'Toole said that capturing that side of Heaney would be a challenge. "I'm aware that so many people loved him, that if I screw up the job, they'll hate me," he said.
He added that another challenge would be to avoid portraying him as a saint: "I've talked to the family and they don't want a hagiography – it would be a bad book. Because he had an extraordinary warmth, and was so loved, it distracts from the fact that the poems are actually quite dark. And that didn't come from nowhere. He was a psychologically complex person. The challenge of the book will be to do justice to the darkness as well."
Faber & Faber, which will publish the biography, said that a launch date had not yet been scheduled, and that O'Toole would be "engaging in years of original research, interlacing archive, oral and literary work, and correspondence" in its writing.
"Seamus Heaney was the head of our poetry household; the story of his literary life will be of real importance to us all. We are therefore thrilled that it should be Fintan O'Toole who has agreed to undertake a portrait of this most cherished author," said Faber poetry editor Matthew Hollis. "Fintan himself is a writer of principle and distinction, and a researcher of tireless fortitude. He will tell the story of Seamus's life and the great development of his art using original interviews, archive research and his uncanny instinct for reaching the true heart of any story. His life of Seamus Heaney promises to be a major portrait of the poet, of the man and of our times."


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Bryan Norris, the Humanitarian Artist and Remmy Kasongo, the Refugee Tailor
Some may call it fate or serendipitous luck, while others would say God had a role in bringing these two men together. However one wants to explain it, it's definitely an interesting, beautiful and somewhat odd pairing of a local boy who spent 30 years in New York City perfecting his craft as a clothing designer, and his unlikely partner, a Congolese man who escaped a war zone with his wife and family, and survived at a refugee camp for 16 years.
Lancaster-native Bryan Norris, a graduate of Penn Manor High, returned home to help his parents and to begin again—maybe slower, definitely away from the fast fashion industry his had become, and to find a way to do better. He didn't know what form that would take, but his accidental first meeting with Remmy Kasongo (at a local non-profit) led to what turned out to be truly a perfect pairing. Each man brought valuable skills to the table that the other did not have, and both desired a new start and a way to financially support themselves.
Many years before, Bryan had paired his favorite fabric (denim!) with an Indian fabric to create an over-the-shoulder carry-all bag. After meeting Remmy and trying to figure out a way that he could help, he reimagined his original design using an African Wax print (Kitenge) that Remmy had designed. Voilà—they had created a product that caught the attention of a buyer at the Brooklyn Museum, which led to placement in the museum's gift shop, which then led to buyers from Tokyo… and a business was born: Refugee Makers Project.
In a studio on Pearl Street in downtown Lancaster (Keystone Art+Culture) these two men work in an organized space filled with sunshine, fabrics, postcards, the butcher paper in which each finished product is wrapped, and a single sewing machine. They communicate through a unique combination of learned English and Swahili, hand signals, and trust. The results of this collaboration are products that are fun, unique, elegant, and truly universally appealing. In their studio, you'll find African prints sewn on to the yoke of a denim cowboy shirt, hung next to a black bomber jacket that reminds you of a '70s disco queen, updated with Remmy's Kitenge strategically sewn throughout.
The relationship between these two men is seen in every single design; each man brings to the process the skills they learned living thousands of miles and cultures apart, yet the pieces and ideals behind each creation are forever universally similar—the main idea being: bring your best, always your best. Their design aesthetic is practical, classic, and high fashion, blending the brilliant color and culture of Africa with classic American shapes and designs. Sewn into each piece they design and create is friendship, as they work together to not only improve their own lives, but also the lives of those in the community. Bryan speaks of his dreams to hire more refugees, to expand their business, and to create a community space within their workshop that provides a place for all to watch movies together, discuss books, and share ideas. He wants, "a hub of activity with a diverse crowd, connecting and creating."
The logo of Refuge Maker's Project is a star with a peace sign inside of it. How appropriate, as Remmy explains that, "Bryan is my star. God gave him to me." I can't help but think that God, fate… whatever you want to credit… gave these two men to each other, to guide, teach, and enrich each other's lives, both working towards something better and brighter. Now, these two stars are building a constellation in Lancaster's skies, two bright lights that will guide others to them and their purpose.


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Deposition Rule #1 for Florida Divorce
Posted By Posted by Stann Givens on Mar 11, 2011 6:30am PST || Mar 11, 2011
One of the best divorce lawyers in Tampa has scheduled your deposition in your Florida divorce or paternity case. The first thing that you do is start to worry about the entire process. The first rule of depositions is simple. The first rule is merely to calm down.
Just because your deposition has been scheduled does not mean that you need to worry about going through one of those traumatizing scenes that you see on television. Your expert Tampa divorce lawyer will be there to protect you from abuse by the attorney asking you the questions.
Together, you will get through your deposition and move on with your case.
Bottom line: The first rule of depositions in a Florida family law case is simple, but crucial.
Categories: Divorce, Child Support, Family Law, Child Custody, Domestic Violence, Property Division, Florida Board Certified, Uncontested Divorce, Taxes & Divorce, Paternity, Flat Fee Divorce, Modification, Timesharing, Enforcement, Divorce Alternatives, Equitable Distribution, Collaborative Divorce, Parent Coordinator, Military, Custody, Attorney's Fees, Alimony, Relocation, Contempt, Injunction, Guardian Ad Litem, Assets


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Alpe Adria Highlights
These worth seeing destinations are located in the neighbouring countries close to the Kinderhotel Ramsi ( 30 to 150 minutes by car). If you are going for a full-day excursion, just order a lunch package in our kitchen. We will also keep your dinner warm.
a picturesque lagoon amidst small islands
where the adventure begins
8 kilometres of fine golden sands
Shopping in Outlet Village
A town grown on salt
On the promenade of coastal splendour
1200 metres above sea in a beautiful valley
an important ski area and mountain resorts.
Venice is the only city of its type in the world


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"Let me help you be excited about the swim leg! Dive in with confidence that you can efficiently get to T1 without wasting precious heartbeats on pure anxiety! So much of the swim is about body position, sighting and strategy. Once I help you learn to swim more efficiently, your water training will be about getting faster not just getting by! Picture yourself hitting the bike transition FULL of bikes?"
- Learn better body position that will allow you to use your legs for propulsion rather than balance.
- Learn the subtle differences between "pool" swimming and open-water swimming.
- Become more comfortable and confident in the water.
- Learn proper sighting technique.
- Develop valuable shoulder strength and flexibility.
- Develop the core strength that helps generate power for swimmers.


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By Science Junkie – 01.29.15
In response to an online Raw Story article looking back on the craziest Christians of 2014, my friends Dave and Eileen wrote, Yikes!
Which is surely an appropriate way to sum up much of what we heard in 2014 and will be dealing with in the foreseeable future right here in "The Greatest Country on Earth," aka Dumfukistan (Thanks, Dave!). The religious-right madness is probably headed for a crescendo ere we shuffle off this mortal coil. (As usual, The Bard said it best.) Win or lose in their fanatical crusade, the ...Read More


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Christian Siriano Sample Sale
23 June 2016
WHAT: Christian Siriano Sample Sale
WHY: Clothing and footwear at a discount at the Christian Siriano Sample Sale.
Great items under $100, including shoes off the runway! Clothing sizes range 2-16.
WHEN: 6/23 – 6/30; Tue-Sat (11:30-7), Sun (noon-6)
WHERE: 252 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY
SUBMITTED BY: TheStylishCity.com
For the complete list of today's sales and sample sales check HERE
Check out today's New York sample sales
Daily Sales Email, or Subscribed to our RSS Feed? Don't miss a Sale!
Posted by Bindra at 05:35 AM
Calendar Pick , NYC Sample Sales & Retail Sales , Sample Sales NYC , Today's Sales , Women's Clothing , Women's Footwear |
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Elisa's Tart with Shortbread Crust
This is my go-to crust for all savory tarts as it is delicious, easy and is a perfect base to transform end of the week bits of cheeses, vegetables or meats into an elegant dish. I double this recipe when I am making a savory tart for a crowd and have used this crust for all sizes of pans and numbers of eaters including just me. Just pay attention to the proportion of flour to butter, salt and sugar and you will be fine.
- 3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
- Pinch kosher salt
- 8 oz. unsalted butter, cut in small cubes
- 1 Tbs. sugar
- Water if needed
- Pie or tart tin (I prefer the ones with a removable bottom)
- Add all ingredients except the water to a medium-sized mixing bowl.
- Combine using a pastry blender or your fingers until the texture of rough sand.
- Dribble cold water, if needed, until mixture barely holds together.
- Take two generous pieces of plastic wrap, crossing one over the other.
- Carefully pour the dough mixture over the center of the plastic wrap.
- Pull up the plastic, while consolidating the dough. Create a at disc about 1-1⁄2 inches thick and 6 inches across. (This will be larger if you have doubled the recipe).
- Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
- When ready to use, butter your pan (large tart or pie tin) generously. Take small pieces of the chilled dough and push into the pan. Smooth with your hands, as this is much too short a crust to roll out. Make sure that you create a relatively thin layer of crust, about 1/8"-1/4" is fine. Store any remaining dough wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator. It will last a few days more for your next foraging adventure.
Toppings for the Shortbread Crust
Amount of topping depends on the size of the shortbread crust made. Some suggestions:
For all tarts, include a custard:
- Beat 2 -3 eggs with some cream.
Tomato Tart:
- Slice beefsteak or quarter some smaller, very ripe tomatoes and heat slowly in a frying pan with julienned basil.
- Arrange over partially baked shortbread crust
Always grate or add cheese on top. In this case, grate parmesan and add a few spoonfuls of soft, fresh goat cheese over the topping. Then pour the custard over all.
- Bake in 350 for 20-30 minutes. Cool for a few minutes and serve.
Other ideas for tart fillings depending on what you have on hand:
- Leftover cooked asparagus, goat cheese and custard.
- Leftover cooked corn, custard, grated jack cheese and crema, creme fraiche or sour cream and custard.
- Leftover ham, cooked zucchini, grated gruyere cheese and custard.
- Leftover winter squash sliced thinly, topped with melted sage flavored butter, goat cheese and custard.


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Los Angeles continues on a steady employment growth path, which looks certain to continue. In fourth quarter 2016, the county's nonfarm employment increased by 65,300 jobs for a 1.5% annual growth. The educational and health services sector posted the largest gain with the
addition of 21,200 jobs while the financial and professional & business services sectors added a combined total of 11,500 jobs. The outlook for the U.S. and the local economy remains positive as we enter a new era of fiscal and monetary policy. The labor market will tighten and wage growth will begin as the unemployment rate continues to fall. According to the LA EDC, county employment is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 1.5% over the next five years.
Source : Cushman & Wakefield


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We care about what we put in our bodies, but what about what we put on them? Test your cosmetic safey knowledge.Begin Quiz
What is the most toxic beauty product used by women?
The correct answer is: With ingredients that have been linked to cancer, nerve damage and breathing problems, nail polish is the most toxic beauty product women use. Thanks to research and public attention, however, many non-toxic nail options are now available to decorate your digits.
Which is safer for your skin?
The correct answer is: Many experts consider physical sunscreens to be the safer choice. Chemical sunscreens contain ingredients that are absorbed directly by the skin when applied. Some of these have been shown to disrupt hormone function, though the health effects aren't known. Physical sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide, on the other hand, sit on top of the skin and reflect sunlight away.
Which of these is safe to use during pregnancy?
The correct answer is: Pregnant women shouldn't use retinoids (like Retin-A) for wrinkle reduction. Because these retinoids can be absorbed into the bloodstream and stored in fat cells, they could be toxic to a developing fetus. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide should also be avoided, since their safety during pregnancy hasn't been determined. Instead, try fruit acid-derived products to keep skin clear and natural antioxidants like green tea or coffeeberry extract to combat wrinkles.
Which common, but dangerous chemical found in everyday items such as plastic containers and canned goods is also an ingredient in some cosmetic and personal care items?
The correct answer is: The nasty chemical Bisphenol-A, or BPA, is most commonly found in plastic containers, canned goods and thermal receipts. There is some concern that BPA, which is also commonly used in cosmetics and their plastic packaging, could be linked to brain, behavior and other health effects.
Which common beauty product ingredient is derived from gluten?
The correct answer is: Vitamin E, found in many beauty products, is often derived from wheat sources that contain gluten. Sufferers of celiac disease and gluten intolerance could unknowingly be exposing their skin simply by applying makeup every day. This can amplify some of the unpleasant symptoms of the disease such as abdominal pain and intestinal issues.
What's one material commonly used to give your favorite red lipstick its perfect shade?
The correct answer is: Metals like lead and cadmium are sometimes used to create the pigments for your favorite lipstick shade. The metals are washed out before the colors are sold to cosmetic companies, but the process isn't perfect and sometimes trace bits are left behind.
True or false: It's okay to keep using a loofah that's been hanging in the shower to air dry.
The correct answer is: This is false. Loofahs are notorious for harboring bacteria and fungi -- a situation made worse by the wet, humid environment of your shower. This could lead to skin infections, including staph. The best thing to do is wash them in warm, soapy water and let them dry outside the shower.
What's the safest way to remove nail polish to minimize exposure to chemicals?
The correct answer is: By soaking a cotton ball thoroughly in nail polish remover and then pressing it onto the nail for a few minutes, you're helping to dissolve the polish more quickly. This minimizes your exposure to fumes and chemicals and ensures you aren't using more than you need.
Is it more hygienic to use applicators or your fingers to apply makeup?
The correct answer is: Assuming they're clean, applicators are the more sanitary way to apply makeup. But if you do insist on using your fingers, make sure you scrub your hands -- even your fingernails -- before and after to keep from spreading germs and illness.
What is the best way to clean mani-pedi tools?
The correct answer is: Contaminated at-home mani/pedi tools are a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. And because they can easily break the skin, the risk for infection is high. Dermatologists recommend cleaning your tools thoroughly with alcohol or hand-sanitizing wipes.
How often should you wash your makeup brushes?
The correct answer is: Makeup brushes and applicators should be washed at least once a month in warm, soapy water and set out to air dry. This helps to ensure you aren't transmitting bacteria and fungus to your skin.
How often should you replace your mascara?
The correct answer is: Cosmetics that have a high water content also have higher potential for harboring bacteria and fungus. It's a good idea to replace mascara every 3 months. For foundation, make sure to replace it every 6 months. And always keep your cosmetics in a cool, dry place to prevent the bacteria growth that can accompany high temperatures.
When you spray on your favorite perfume, how does the fragrance get absorbed into the body?
The correct answer is: According to Patricia Malemes of Agape and Zoe, "Fragrance enters your body through your skin, but also through your nose and lungs, so it has 3 points of entry -- and lungs give direct access to the bloodstream." And because the FDA doesn't require perfume companies to include every ingredient on the bottle, we can't always be sure what we're absorbing.
True or false: Flouride can cause teeth and skin discoloration.
The correct answer is: This is true. Everyone has heard that fluoride, often added to public drinking water and found in dental products, is good for your teeth. You may be surprised to know, however, that too much flouride can cause tooth discoloration in children as their permanent teeth are developing. In adults, it can cause skeletal fluorisis -- a weakening of the bones caused by excessive flouride intake.
Which of these is more effective for treating acne: thyme or benzoyl peroxide?
The correct answer is: According to a study done by Dr. Margarita Gomez-Escalada, after comparing several different herbs, an alcohol tincture containing thyme proved to be more effective in killing the bacteria that causes acne. In her study, she found that extracts of thyme were more effective than even benzoyl peroxide -- one of the most commonly used breakout treatments available.
Which easy-to-grow herb can be used as a safe and natural way to treat spider and varicose veins?
The correct answer is: In addition to being anti-viral and anti-bacterial, rosemary is also an inflammatory that can be used to treat cosmetic conditions like spider veins and varicose veins. You can work the herb into recipes, or mix up a topical application using rosemary oil.
This natural oil, commonly found in anti-aging serums, is Mother Nature's form of retinoic acid and has been shown to diminish scarring and wrinkling.
The correct answer is: Rosehip seed oil contains a natural form of retinoic acid, a common staple of anti-aging regimens -- but without the drying side effects of the synthetic version. In a clinical study, participants who applied the oil twice daily for eight weeks had 23% fewer fine wrinkles.
What ingredients should you look for when buying baby oil?
The correct answer is: It may be surprising to know that most baby oils are made up of fragrance and mineral oil. Mineral oil has been considered harmful by some in the holistic community because of its alleged ability to trap toxins inside the body. Try looking for essential oils instead, which are naturally derived.
Which type of rice helps to boost collagen production in the skin?
The correct answer is: Red Himalayan rice helps boost collagen production, leaving you with more youthful-looking skin. The extract of the rice also improves the skin's barrier function, which helps your skin stay hydrated.
According to the Natural Products Association, a product labeled "natural" should contain what percentage of natural ingredients?
The correct answer is: The Natural Products Association says a product must be made of 95% natural ingredients to be certified as "natural." To tell whether a product is certified, look for the NPA's Natural seal on the package.
You got out of 20 correct. You're a health wiz!
You got out of 20 correct. Learn more about Beauty and Personal Care to improve your score.
You got out of 20 correct. Learn more about Beauty and Personal Care to improve your score.


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Rode DeadCat VMPR Widescreen
Low Quantities
Please contact us to verify availability.
The DeadCat VMPR is a furry wind cover for the VideoMic Pro, designed for use in windy environments. Its artificial fur is specially designed so as to minimize wind noise while remaining acoustically transparent. The DeadCat VMPR is compatible with the VideoMic Pro featuring Rycote Lyre shockmounting. For VideoMic Pro models with band suspension please see DeadCat VMP.


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Dubai: The UAE's real estate market may be softening, but Abu Dhabi continues to generate a high level of interest from investors, according to analysts.
Buyers are still snapping up properties in the country's capital, particularly in developments with competitive offerings, ranging from discounts to investor-friendly payment terms.
The most sought-after are projects developing off-plan units. This trend was already evident in 2018 and could continue this year, which is expected to see contractors turn over more than 10,000 additional homes.
"Off-plan properties offered at attractive rates with flexible payment plans continued to generate interest with some developments achieving high demand levels," noted Asteco in its Q4 2018 Abu Dhabi Real Estate Report.
Just this month, Aldar Properties saw a number of its plots, worth Dh1.6 billion, snapped up by buyers in less than 24 hours. That high level of interest generated by the firm's Al Reemam project was deemed as a sign of improved investor sentiment.
"This market is starting to become mature and sophisticated, there's positive sentiment," said Aldar chief executive Talal Al Dhiyebi in a recent interview with Reuters, adding that the company will fully recognise the revenue and profit of its development over the course of the next two years or so.
The good news for homebuyers, as well as tenants, is that the market will likely continue to work in their favour, with the anticipated increase in property supply this year expected to continue putting pressure on prices.
"As more supply is expected to materialize in the coming year, residential vacancies are anticipated to increase further causing further rental declines," said JLL in its report. "The softening market conditions have forced vendors to decrease asking prices to attract the reduced level of demand."
Approximately 11,200 residential units are scheduled for completion this year. Most of these units are in the Investment Zones, including the Reem Island development, Al Raha Beach, Yas Island and Saadiyat Island, according to Asteco.
Sales prices of apartment units registered an average decline of nine per cent in 2018, with the highest decline recorded in Marina Square and Sun & Sky Towers on Al Reem Island. Sales prices for villas declined slightly by four per cent, with the most significant drop reported in Al Raha Gardens and Al Reef Villas.
Most recently, however, some villa landlords are becoming quite firm at the negotiating table. ValuStrat has analysed more than 5,400 unique rental listings for last year and found that as of December 2018, leasing rates registered a slight decline.
"On a quarterly basis, [rents] were stable in the second quarter and third quarter and saw a minor increase of 1.5 per cent in the fourth quarter," Haider Tuaima, head of real estate research at ValuStrat, told Gulf News.
"This shows that most villa landlords during that period were no longer willing to list at lower asking prices, particularly in most sought-after locations, such as Khalifa City, Al Reef and Raha Gardens, as this comes at a time when only 927 villas were supplied during that year. It remains to be seen whether this trend will continue in 2019."


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Everyday Presets - Mobile
Everyday Presets - Mobile
Brighten and color correct your everyday iPhone photos with these presets. This preset bundle consists of 8 different color correcting filters including 4 indoor variations and 4 outdoor variations. Lighting situations may vary and more adjustments may need to be made, but these eight options are made to help with each of the following scenarios.
Indoor - Brighten, Indoor - Backlit, Indoor - No Natural light, Indoor - Natural Light, Outdoor - Shade, Outdoor - Color Pop, Outdoor - Backlit, Outdoor - Grass
Downloading instructions-
First, you will need to download the free Adobe Lightroom CC Mobile App. You will then need to "sign up," (don't worry this is free.)
Download and open the file to your phone. (This can be to any one of your files). Once the file has been unzipped and downloaded, open the file and save each image to your camera roll. (The images will not be able to be viewed because of the file type and will be in your camera roll as a blank image.)
Open up the Lightroom CC Mobile App and create a new album. Under albums at the bottom, click the + sign on the far right to add an album. Title this "Everyday Presets." Once this album has been created you will add each of the photos you previously saved from the download to this album. You will do this by clicking the blue photo icon with the little plus sign on the bottom right of the app (you must be in the "Everyday Presets" album). Add all eight photos to this album and you should see them appear with the title DNG on the image.
Yay, now you have your presets!
Using the presets with your photos -
First you will need to add the photo or photos you wish to edit to your App. You an do this by clicking on "All Photos" and adding a photo using the blue image icon in the bottom right corner. (The same as when you added the original images with the presets). Once the images you want to edit are added to the App, you will need to go into the "Everyday Presets" album and click on the image you wish to use as the filter. Click on the three dots in the top right corner of your screen and then select. "Copy settings," and then click, "ok." Then you will need to back out of the album to go to your photo gallery in Lightroom. Select the photo you are wanting to edit, click the three dots in the top right corner and select, "Paste settings." You can continue doing this until you find the preset you wish to use on the image. You can also make your own tweaks to the photos after the preset has been pasted. Some popular adjustments that may need to be made is the warmth of the image (yellow slider), or the brightness of the image. To save the photo click save button on the top right corner, and select "Save to camera roll."


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From AK Garg, January 2018 -
I seriously recommend Ray. He is very professional and has an awesome team that walks you through every step of being a first home owner!
From Kim & Ben, February 2017 -
My wife and I would highly recommend Ray! From house search to closing he was there every step of the way! 8am or 8pm he was there to help us with any and all questions. He treated us like we were his only client. He was super professional, caring, and understanding of our needs! Thanks so much Ray, you made our first home buying experience great!
From Mansha & Nirmal, January 2017 -
I would highly recommend Ray Durling if you are looking for a property to purchase. Ray is one of the most professional, passionate and talented realtor you can ever find with great sense of humor. He knows the market and works tirelessly for his clients. If you are in the market for a home he is your go to person. I would work with him in a heartbeat. Ray comes with my highest recommendation. Thanks so much for everything Ray. It was real pleasure working with you.
From a fellow Realtor, August 2016 -
We met at your condo listing on Sanborn Street in Reading. My clients offer wasn't accepted, but I thought you did an amazing job for your sellers to help them maximize their sale price.
From Corina, August 2016 -
Ray assisted me in purchasing my first property, and I'm so glad he did. He made what can be a complicated process, very simple and stress-free. He quickly found answers to all my questions about properties. He was available around my crazy schedule and even drove to me a couple times. After our offer was accepted, he laid out a detailed schedule, and we were in constant contact all the way up until closing. I never had to worry about a thing with Ray on my team.
From Shelly & David, August 2016 -
Ray is the best Realtor I have ever worked with, I have bought and sold homes and his persistence and dedication is astounding. Home buying is a stressful process but Ray kept me calm with positive affirmations and a "we can do this" attitude. Having him by my side throughout every step put me at ease. He will fight to make your dreams a reality! Thank you Ray Durling for just being awesome. You rock "cookie man" ! Thank you.
From Victoria, July 2016 -
Ray is a wonderful selling agent! He is very pleasant to work with, responsive, honest, and dedicated. My husband and I are especially grateful for the many people Ray referred us to throughout the process. As a result, we sold our house quickly and are working with another great realtor out of state. Ray exceeded our expectations and we highly recommend him!
From Sharon, June 2016 -
I couldn't have had a better agent to sell my Reading condo than Ray Durling. He is an extremely experienced professional. He paid attention to every detail, was very accessible and responded quickly to all of my questions. He made the negotiation process painless, with a very successful outcome. I highly recommend this honest, ethical and caring man.
From Will, February 2016 -
The real estate business has many moving parts so you need to deal with someone who you know is knowledgeable and trustworthy. Ray is clearly both and demonstrated that throughout the process of selling our home in a timely and professional manner. He was able to walk us through any difficult conversations and communicated clearly with us when things needed to be negotiated or clarified.
I would recommend Ray Durling to anyone thinking about buying or selling a home.
From Tasha, February 2016 -
To be honest right from the start Ray made us feel so comfortable. It was as if he was already invested in us and our process before we decided to go with him, which made our decision to choose him that much easier.Ray was always available whether it was through email, text or a phone conversation. He also went above and beyond to be there for something if we couldn't be. An example is we were able to get the roof repaired in the new house before we closed and Ray went by to make sure the work was being done because we couldn't.Overall Ray was awesome and made our home buying experience great!
From Christina, January 2016 -
He is the best.
From Yash, January 2016 -
First time home buying can be stressful and having Ray was extremely helpful. He was extremely patient and would never push us into making a decision.Ray would always point out the good and bad in a house to help us make an informed decision. He was always available to answer questions and would always schedule a viewing on a house as soon as it was possible, so we would not miss out on an opportunity.I look forward to working with him again for our next home!
From Erin, December 2015 -
Ray was our buyer agent. He is attentive, professional, and has a great sense of humor. He put in all the time necessary to get the job done. Our purchase had many frustrating obstacles, and it would have fallen through if it wasn't for Ray's determination. We recommend him highly.


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Private Experiences with Food and Beverage
Perfect for corporate team building, bachelor/bachelorette parties, family outings, birthdays, anniversaries, and much more! Pick and choose what you'd like to offer during your guided experience in our hotshop. Only available for groups 4 to 20 guests, Monday – Saturday. Larger groups (20+) will require a small group rental.
Experiences with Lunches will require a one-gallery rental at $150/hour that includes tables/chairs/black linens/glass centerpieces.
Russo's Grab and Go Lunch Bag • $10 per person
Great for School Groups! Pick from: Roast Turkey, Boss Beef, Office Ham Sandwiches or Grilled Veggie Wrap. Served with bistro chips, a gourmet chocolate chunk cookie, lemonade and water. Tables and chairs are included. (If ordering under 20, add $16.95 delivery charge)
Russo's Premium Boxed Lunch • $12 per person
Delicious premium sandwiches served with fresh fruit and your choice of side salad and dessert. Select from 12 different sandwiches, 8 sides and 14 desserts! (If ordering under 20, add $16.95 delivery charge)
Pub Snack Mix: Sweet and savory blend of petite crackers, mixed nuts, mini-pretzels, etc… $3 per person.
Bistro Chips & Dip: $20 Small (15-20) / $33 Large (30-40) – House made chips with Asiago & Parmesan herb seasoning served with a French onion dip.
Tortilla Chips & Salsa $20 Small (15-20)/ $33 Large (30-40) – Thin & crispy tri-colored chips. Served with roasted corn and black bean salsa.
Turtle Corn $18 Small / $45 Small (15-20) / $83 Large (30-40) – Fresh caramel corn drizzled with white & dark chocolate and spiced pecans
Experiences with Appetizer Platters will require rental of tables/chairs/black linens.
These platters and dips from Russo's Gourmet Express are priced for 15+ guests. Third Degree will order, place, maintain, remove and clean up.
Signature Dips
Small serves 15 – 20 / Large serves 30 – 40
Spinach Artichoke $23 Small / $37 Large – with tomato rubbed fettuna
Mediterranean Hummus $31 Small / $54 Large – with pita points
Tomato Basil Bruschetta $33 Small / $48 Large – with savory biscotti
Crab Rangoon $35 Small / $55 Large – with crispy wonton chips
Southwest Layer $30 Small / $45 Large – with tri-colored tortilla chips
Buffalo Chicken $32 Small / $47 – with corn tortilla chip
Small serves 15 – 20 / Large serves 30 – 40
Fruit Fromage $50 Small / $85 Large
Includes cheddar, Swiss, pepper Jack, amber valley port derby, whipped sharp cheddar, smoked
Gouda, herb Boursin, almond apricot brie, grapes, apples, strawberries & pineapple. Served with
assorted crackling bread.
Savory Cheesecake & Smoked Sausage $45 Small / $75 Large
Multi-layered flavors of cheese mousses with chopped pecans. Includes Italian, spicy Andouille &
smoked summer sausages. Paired with cheddar, Swiss & smoked Gouda cheese. Served with
assorted crackling bread.
Grilled Vegetable $40 Small / $60 Large
An array of fire roasted vegetables including asparagus, red & yellow peppers, mushrooms, green
beans, potatoes, Malibu carrots & zucchini. Served cold with balsamic aioli dipping sauce.
Chef's Antipasto $55 Small / $90 Large
Tortellini marinated vegetable salad accompanied by salami, pastrami, prosciutto wrapped melon,
roasted tomato & mozzarella skewers, shaved Parmesan & provolone cheese, marinated mushrooms
with spinach & artichokes. Served with rustica bread slices.
Crudités & Dip $32 Small / $50 Large
Fresh in-season vegetables including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, zucchini, cucumbers,
tomatoes, green beans, baby corn & bell peppers. Served with Cajun dipping sauce.
Sesame Chicken Satay (2 dozen) $42 / (4 dozen) $73
Marinated sesame encrusted chicken strips. Served with Thai peanut sauce.
Southwest Grilled Shrimp regular (dozen) $22 / jumbo (dozen) $35
Grilled & chilled shrimp, marinated southwest style. Served with Russian dipping sauce.
(2 dozen minimum)
Bistro Sandwich Collection
Mini dollar roll sized sandwiches by the dozen
Smoked Beef Brisket with roasted tomato aioli on croissant- $30
Honey Glazed Ham with dijonnaise on pretzel roll- $29
House Roasted Beef with horseradish cream on a dollar brioche- $28
Chicken Salad with lettuce on croissant- $32
Albacore Tuna Salad with mild cheddar on croissant $33
Oven Roasted Turkey with smoky Russian in a multi-grain wheat $26
Open Faced Teriyaki Tenderloin with horseradish mousse on grilled fettuna $40
Mini Wraps & Rolls: 2 dozen minimum dozen
Santa Fe Chicken $25 – with chipotle drizzle in a tomato flat bread
Grilled Vegetable Wrap $20 – Colorful assortment of charbroiled vegetables. Wrapped with spiced Boursin cheese in a tomato flat bread.
Mixed Grilled Summer Rolls $25 – Teriyaki beef & chicken with glass noodles & Asian vegetables. Served with sweet chili & Thai sauce.
Rock Shrimp Roll $25 – Marinated gulf shrimp with toasted corn, fire roasted peppers, tomatoes & Jack cheese. Wrapped in a spinach flat bread with chipotle sauce.
Asian Vegetable Summer Roll $25 – Rice noodles, Asian vegetables, crisp cucumber & Thai peanut sauce
Triple Crown Sampler: Teriyaki tenderloin brochettes, southwest grilled shrimp, & grilled chicken breast served on a bed of chiffonade micro greens with a a smoky Russian dressing & Italian vinaigrette. • $12.00 per person.
Mini Dessert Collection – $22 per Dozen
Apple Berry Crisp • Key Lime Tart • Chocolate Opera Cake Square Classic Carrot Cake • S'more Brownie • Blackberry Meringue Tart • Peanut Butter Cup Tart St. Louis Gooey Butter Square • Strawberry Cheesecake • Tiramisu Parfait Chocolate Raspberry Verrine • Lemon Blueberry Tart • Mama Russo's Cannoli Mini Fresh Fruit Tartlet
Hand Dipped Cookies – $12 per Dozen
Chocolate Chip • Gooey Butter Honey-Walnut Oatmeal • White Chocolate Macadamia
Beverages are based per person by the hour, rounded up on the half hour.
NON-ALCOHOLIC BAR • $2.00 per person per hour. Assortment of Sodas and Juices. Water is always included.
BEER, WINE, SODA BAR • $8.00 per person per hour. Wine: Moscato, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir. Beer: Bud Light, Budweiser and one craft. Assortment of sodas, orange juice, grapefruit, pineapple and cranberry juice.
BOOZY COFFEE BAR • $5.00 per person per hour. Includes Bailey's & Kahlua + All the Fixins: Sugars, creamers, whipped cream and sprinkles.


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In my previous post on microfinance in Sri Lanka, I described the role of the animator, the person who goes into the rural villages to convince women to give up their traditions of working together and instead establish individual microbusinesses.
We saw how small borrowing groups are used to mitigate the risk of loan defaults, creating a mechanism for the women to monitor each other and to encourage each other to adopt the financial disciplines of saving, accounting, and repaying their loans.
In this post, we'll look at the second tactic used to establish microfinance in Sri Lanka. We refer to this as "corporatizing" the village, turning the entire village into a hierarchical structure that reports to the bank.
This effort has been led by the Sri Lankan Ministry of Economic Development, not the individual banks. The project for transforming villages into hierarchies is called Gemidiriya ("Village Strength"). Just as the women are gathered into small borrowing groups, the borrowing groups are gathered into clusters, and the clusters are gathered together to form the Village Savings and Credit Organization.
The small group is thus the building block for corporatizing the villages. Each group has a constitution designed and prescribed by the Gemidiriya project officers. The constitution sets out the aims of growth and development, and describes the potential for villagers to make a positive contribution, individually and collectively, towards the nation's development goals. The constitution also sets out the penalties for deviant behaviour, such as financial fines for missing group meetings and training sessions, or for not doing the accounting correctly for their microbusiness. The constitution is both an operations manual for how to run the group and an ideological tool for how to conduct oneself as a responsible entrepreneur.
The group's constitution establishes it as a "village society" with an elected president, secretary and treasurer. The treasurer keeps the group's cashbook under the guidance of the animator, recording all receipts of membership fees and loan repayments, and all cash outflows including expenses and loans to members. The cashbook serves as the focus of conversations and discussions during meetings, mobilizing the numbers it contains and connecting them to past behaviours and future possibilities. This gives the cashbook a significance that extends beyond the meetings into the lives of the women.
In addition to performing these economic rituals, the group members talk at the meetings about the social factors related to their finances: education for their kids, important upcoming ceremonies, rising prices. The network of relationships between group members ties their financial decisions to their social needs. The fundamental neoliberal assumption that individuals make free and independent economic decisions doesn't really apply here. Their decisions are always made in the context of the support and the expectations of friends and family. Microfinance, as a quintessentially individualizing tool for governing the poor, depends deeply and paradoxically on the social connectedness of one villager to another.
Collateral Damage
One or two members represent each group at the cluster level, and representatives of the clusters come together in the Village Savings and Credit Organization. This organization also participates in regional committees for finance and auditing.
In this way, the entire village is harnessed to the yoke of microfinance. The individual borrowers, who monitor and encourage each other in financial discipline, are assembled into a hierarchical form that enables the biopolitical governance of the village. This turns the entire village into a machine not just to generate economic activity, but to produce financial profits for the banks.
This disciplinary apparatus also works to convert the social and cultural capital of the women—the relationships of kinship and friendship—into "collateral" for their loans. The formal, hierarchical structure is like a skeleton enabling these relationships to serve as collateral. The structure allows the banks to monetize the women's social relationships and turn them into bank profits.
Tracking these profits depends on a system of record-keeping taught to the microborrowers, which provides data that can be assembled into accounting reports. This system is the final tactic by which microfinance has been established in Sri Lanka. We'll look at it in the next post.
Photos © 2012-2013 Wickramasinghe. (I mistakenly dated the photos as 2007 when this was first posted, having misread the timestamp information.)
Alawattage, C., Graham, C., & Wickramasinghe, D. (2018). Microaccountability and biopolitics: Microfinance in a Sri Lankan village. Accounting, Organizations and Society.


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Business Process as a Service (BPaaS)
Retirement Plan Providers, Recordkeepers and Third Party Administrators (TPAs) are challenged to keep pace with regulatory changes, system upgrades, manual processes and seasonal demand spikes. Reasons could be legacy applications, outdated processes or skill gaps, which are increasing inefficiencies, costs and risks. CORE BPaaS offering can help! BPaaS solutions from Congruent can help you outsource the services, technologies and integration points associated with managing record-keeping and retirement plan processes.
They provide streamlined, standardized and industry compliant comprehensive range of ready-to-use process solutions specifically designed for Retirement Plan Providers, Recordkeepers and Third Party Administrators (TPAs). A combination of cloud infrastructure combined with a consumption-based model will provide you better control over end-to-end record keeping and plan administration processes and expenses.
Key BPaaS offerings are:
1. End-to-end DC Recordkeeping
2. Census Data Management
3. Eligibility runs and Enrollments
4. Contributions Processing
5. Payroll Processing (includes census, eligibility, enrollment and contribution processes)
- Ability to accept files of multiple types and formats.
- High level of configuration
- Ability to choose the validations that are triggered
- Configure errors as hard or soft
- Customize error messages that are displayed
- Copy prior payrolls
- Mapper to map new templates instantly
6. Loans and Distributions Processing
7. Year End Processing
- The Year-end processing module allows recordkeepers to collect and validate the data required ahead of compliance testing.
- The system offers intuitive data collection and validation capabilities, along with an intelligent questionnaire.
8. Plan On-Boarding, Conversions and Takeovers
- Proprietary file processor tool
- Ability to accept files of multiple types and formats
- Ability to extract files in multiple types and formats as well
- Extensive validations and error reporting capabilities
9. Reports
For developing these BPaaS offerings, Congruent aligned its decade old extensive retirement plan administration experience, domain expertise, state-of-the art CORE recordkeeping and plan administration solutions, and a deep understanding of industry objectives and challenges.


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News: Mary Poppins
- at the Prince Edward Theatre in December 2004. This is the first time that the well-known nanny has made the transition from screen to stage. With direction by Richard Eyre and choreographed by Matthew Bourne.
More details in, London Theatre Guide
Related article: Allen Robertson, Times, Nov.03