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International Dairy Queen Inc.'s chief operating officer, Jean Champagne, understands his franchisees' point of view.
He comes from a large extended family of franchisees.
The COO's Canadian parents ran a store in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for 18 years. His brother owned one in Welland, Ontario, for 13. His aunt and uncle were Dairy Queen franchisees for more than 30 years, and one of his cousins still operates units in Montreal.
If that wasn't enough, Champagne, who is now 52 years old, spent much of his formative years during the 1970s working for his parents and at his brother's store.
So it's not surprising that his father's words of wisdom that he received after his first big promotion with International Dairy Queen—"Remember where you came from"—are still important to the way he does business today. In fact, as he climbed the corporate ladder, many of his family gatherings began with conversations that involved Dairy Queen issues.
"There was discussion for about two minutes, and then my mother would shut it down," he says. His mom insisted on keeping family time and DQ matters separate. He used her sage advice, along with much of what his dad taught him, to get where he is today.
Champagne holds one of the top executive positions at International Dairy Queen (IDQ), which includes Dairy Queen and Orange Julius concepts outside of the U.S., including Canada, Asia, and the Middle East. He reports directly to the company's president and CEO, John Gainor.
Under Champagne's watch, the global division is expanding ahead of schedule. He and his team plan to open their 500th location in China within the first two months of this year. That's more than two years ahead of the previously publicized plan. Moreover, IDQ is targeted to expand to 1,000 locations outside of North America in 2012 (currently there are 935 stores), and management has set ambitious long-range goals for the concept after that target is reached.
"Our plan is to double that number" to 2,000 outlets by 2015, Champagne says. And he has a clear vision on how to get there: keeping his operators happy.
"What's good for the franchisee is good for the franchisor," he says in a way that makes it clear it's not his first time proclaiming the strategy. And to ensure operators follow the parameters set by IDQ corporate, Champagne says he works hard to show them positive returns on investment. Demonstrating the numbers in black and white clearly and simply points out how intended goals work for both parties.
Being owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. doesn't hurt either. The internationally known company and its CEO, Warren E. Buffett, who is reportedly the second wealthiest man on the planet, also helped IDQ reach targeted expansion plans ahead of schedule.
"It was a great boost of confidence in our brand," Champagne says of Berkshire Hathaway's 1998 acquisition of the quick serve. "And our franchisees were very pleased."
Champagne works hard to keep his franchisees that way. As a rule, he makes sure to explain how spending money will benefit both the company and franchisees when he approaches operators with new promotional ideas, menu items, or remodeling requests.
"It's not about telling, it's about selling," the COO says. "And it's about listening." Nevertheless, convincing people to do something that they don't want to do is one of the hardest aspects of his job, he admits. But it's easier to do so when he understands his franchisees' concerns.
Just like his two-minute discussions at family get-togethers, it's all about relationships for Champagne.
He points out that effective communication and developing trusted partners is especially important since IDQ competes for investment funds from franchisees around the globe. Those operators often run multiple concepts and only pick the most successful franchisors to work with.
The goal is to "make them love us more than other brands," Champagne says. "The only way you can do that is by showing them their return on investments."
His method, and a little of Buffett's Midwestern charm, seem to be working in China, where the company has experienced strong growth and increasing popularity among consumers.
"We are the No. 1 ice cream brand in China," Champagne says proudly.
A Chinese press event last year helped solidify that position and tie the Buffett name to the company. While there, Buffett allowed a child to sit on his lap as media captured the sweet image that Champagne says was completely unscripted. Buffett is also known to devour DQ sweet treats in public to encourage consumer confidence.
But the real proof is in the pudding, or in this case the soft-serve ice cream Dairy Queen is best known for.
In fact, Dairy Queen's frozen sweet is so beloved it was copied by Chinese imitators. Champagne says that at one point he knew of five fake Dairy Queen stores that were operating in China.
"They were stealing our trademarks and recipes and they had done a pretty darn good job," he says. The Chinese government acted swiftly to shut down the illegal copycats once Champagne's staff discovered and reported the fake shops. But they had to navigate proper channels to get them shut down, and the process was costly and time consuming.
There's little companies can do to prevent imitators, Champagne says, but the Chinese government is under a great deal of pressure to protect intellectual property in the country.
Still, most of the copying was done in second- and third-tier cities, rather than the larger, more populated metropolitan areas. Unfortunately, that's also where IDQ happens to be concentrating its expansion, he says.
In the past, Dairy Queen's primary growth was in Shanghai, Champagne says. "Now we're seeing great success is in second- and third-tier cities because there's less competition in those regions and people have disposable income there. They are growing at almost the same rate as major cities.
"Rent and labor is a little cheaper," he says, but that's balanced with the higher costs of supplying product in less-populated areas.
Throughout China, the soft-serve quick serve's greatest competitor—by far—is KFC, which has more than 3,000 stores in the country. But like many successful leaders, Champagne learns from his competition, even those six times his size.
"Sometimes you have to take your hat off and admit they're doing a wonderful job," he says of Yum! Brands' fried chicken concept. "They have great site procurements. And they're good operators.
"They have great product quality and competitive innovation," he says. Specifically, he points to KFC's meal deals, which are smaller than those in North America and marketed to Chinese families. They're smartly promoted meal bundles that include tiny treat options for kids.
"One of the things we learned," he says, "was the importance of the mini blizzard, and it was a huge success." The promotion was subsequently brought to the U.S., where it experienced equal popularity.
Moreover, Champagne realized that KFC was appealing to local tastes with such options as spicy chicken. That particular menu item wasn't readily available from other U.S. chains in China, and the move gave KFC an undoubted edge in the market.
When IDQ expanded into China in 1992, leaders assumed Chinese diners would like the standard menu items—frozen soft-serve ice cream and chocolate-coated Dilly Bars.
"That's not really true," Champagne says. "They weren't big chocolate lovers."
With that and KFC's success in mind, DQ launched menu items that were unique to the Chinese market. To date, the most successful Chinese menu item is the Green Tea Blizzard, a result of carefully studying local markets and listening to his franchisees there.
Green Tea Blizzards were so popular in the country, they were rolled out in other places such as Indonesia and the Philippines. In addition, other local menu items like the red-bean and almond-flavored shakes were introduced to rave reviews.
Those kinds of local innovations, Champagne says, were the product of not only listening, but also "being in the market."
Champagne visits international locations often to learn from the operators, taste what they're offering, give feedback, and meet the front-line employees. When he visits stores he follows his dad's advice to speak to cooks on duty and shake their hands. Then he challenges them to a friendly competition to see who makes the best ice cream swirls. The COO says he usually wins.
Face-to-face interactions are so valuable to Champagne he's even planning an international tour with his full executive team. It will include stops in Saudi Arabia and Shanghai. Next on the slate is opening a store in India. Contracts are already set to be inked for that deal, he says.
While Champagne oversees expansion outside the U.S., he points out that "the international group is still very small" compared with domestic operations. Of the 6,200 global stores, 4,600 are in the U.S. And because of the size alone, U.S. policy greatly affects worldwide systems.
"The U.S. operations drive the majority of the global strategy," he says. Part of that strategy is reenergizing the 72-year-old concept's image, especially at older locations that may be unchanged since they opened.
"It's part of being the age that we are," Champagne says, referring to outdated stores. "When you think back 72 years ago, there were things we did then that we wouldn't do today. So we're on a strong campaign for our franchisees to modernize their locations."
This is particularly hard in bad economic times, and especially at the older locations that are operated by third-generation franchisees, he says. The sweet upside? Dairy Queen is a trusted brand for many in the over-50 demographic.
For example, it has helped him glide though some of his many trips at airport security checkpoints. Once some of the older guards hear what his job is, he says, they enjoy chatting about their own childhood favorite frozen treats.
And what does he say when one of those folks he meets in airports, or the many he runs into at trade meetings, cocktail parties, or even his own family functions, asks for the scoop about being a Dairy Queen franchisee?
He has a pragmatic answer that he quickly rattles off: "I say, 'it's a great business, but do your due diligence.'"


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April 12, 2012
To be or not to be: No question about it, Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' wraps up season for K-State Theatre
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
For their final production of the semester, Kansas State University theater students will perform a tale of greed, revenge, insanity, self-reflection and rage.
One of William Shakespeare's most popular and oft quoted plays, "Hamlet" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 19-21 and April 26-28, with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 29. All performances will be in Nichols Theater.
Two months have passed since the death of King Hamlet, and upon his return from studying abroad, young Prince Hamlet has found that his mother has already locked herself in matrimony with his uncle, the very man who murdered his father. In this classic tragedy, Hamlet ponders the ever-daunting question, "To be or not to be?"
Tickets for "Hamlet" cost $8 to $14, with a variety of discounts available for university students, seniors and military families. They can be purchased at the McCain Auditorium box office from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by calling 785-532-6428 during box office hours. Tickets also may be purchased at the Little Theatre box office in the K-State Student Union from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday or online at http://www.k-state.edu/theatre. Groups of 10 or more may receive a discount rate. For more information or assistance in planning a theater party, contact Marci Maullar at 785-532-6878.
Guest artist Lee Soroko, a professor at the University of Miami, is the choreographer for fight sequences portrayed in "Hamlet." Soroko spent two weeks in residence at K-State to work with the actors. He taught workshops in fight terminology, safety and various skills necessary to create realistic fights -- specifically sword fights -- for the production.
A member of the Society of American Fight Directors, Soroko is a certified teacher and advanced actor combatant. Soroko earned his master of fine arts from the Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Texas. He is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers, and Actors' Equity Association.
The production features a K-State department of English faculty member in a key role. Michael Donnelly, associate professor, plays Polonius.
K-State theater faculty, artistic staff and faculty designers for the production of "Hamlet" include Charlotte MacFarland, associate professor of theater, director; Dana Pinkston, associate professor of theater, costume design; Kathy Voecks, associate professor of theater and resident scenic designer, scenic design; and John Uthoff, associate professor of theater, lighting design.
K-State students in the cast for "Hamlet" include:
Eric Dilley, senior in theater, Dwight, as Reynaldo and Guildenstern; Eric Brown, junior in political science, Liberal, as Horatio.
From Manhattan: Mathew Ellis, junior in theater and journalism and mass communications, as Osric and Francisco; Cara Hillstock, sophomore in English and theater, as Messenger, Player Five and Cornelius; Sean Matthews, senior in journalism and mass communications, as Player King and Courtier; and Ben Windholz, sophomore in communication studies, as Barnardo, Sailor and Lucianus.
Elise Poehling, freshman in theater and music, as Ophelia, and Nahshon Ruffin, senior in theater, as Rosencrantz, both from Overland Park; Joseph Boos, sophomore in theater, Salina, as Laertes; Michael Allen, freshman in theater, Shawnee, as Marcellus and Priest.
From Topeka: Dillon Artzer, master's student in theater, as Claudius; Amanda Garvey, sophomore in theater, as Queen Gertrude; Griffin Letch, senior in vocal performance, as Ghost and Gravedigger; Kyle Myers, senior in theater, as Hamlet; and Erika Williams, junior in theater, as Courtier and Player Queen.
From out of state: Alexandra Gaines, sophomore in theater, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., as Voltimand and Player Four.

subset: commoncrawl


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Here you'll find books and health materials in Ndebele. Translated editions of Hesperian Health Guides' books are locally printed and distributed by partners. Contact information for these partners, where to find books, and the status of translation projects are listed here.
If you have translated or adapted Hesperian materials in Ndebele not listed on this page, or if you would like to support translation projects in Ndebele, please reach out to us at [email protected].


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Winter Olympians are often overlooked and underpaid compared to other athletes, but a handful of Sochi stars could score sponsorship gold.
Crowd-pleasing performers with good looks and compelling life stories can capture the lucrative deals that elude many others.
Figure skater Gracie Gold, hockey player T.J. Oshie and snowboarder Sage Kotsenburg fit the bill and are well placed to negotiate rich endorsement contracts after the Olympics, according to sports sponsorship experts.
Gold is America's rising star of figure skating, helping her team win a bronze medal in Sochi. She's well known among sponsors for her talent, personality and looks, and has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Big brands, such as Nike (NKE), Visa (V), Cover Girl, United Airlines and Procter & Gamble (PG), have already done deals with the 18-year old, and more could follow if she performs well in the women's short program Wednesday.
"She has the looks, the personality and, of course, the perfect name," said Robert Tuchman, a sports sponsorship consultant and president of Goviva.
Related: These 6 Sochi stars are set for sponsorship gold
Tuchman says most winter Olympians don't get many commercial opportunities because their events tend to generate less global interest than the Summer Games.
And most winter athletes wear helmets when they compete, making them less recognizable to the crowds and less attractive to potential sponsors. Luckily for Gold, figure skating doesn't require headgear.
Medal winners at the beginning of their careers, such as Gold, are particularly bankable.
"The key is, if she has a strong showing, companies will want to get behind her now because she'll be in the Olympics again at least one or two times," said Tuchman.
Gold could negotiate individual endorsements worth at least $500,000, said Tuchman, rising to $1 million if she does well Wednesday.
Related: Olympians pursue startup ventures on the side
Companies looking for good prospects may also turn their attention to Oshie, who captivated audiences with his winning goal during the U.S.-Russia hockey game.
"He has undoubtedly created the most personal brand value of anyone at Sochi so far," said Brand Finance communications director Robert Haigh.
"Beyond his pure sporting achievement -- which contrasts with a U.S. Olympic team that has been slightly underwhelming so far -- he's settled in a relationship and is a good looking chap."
Related: Sochi is the most expensive Olympics yet
Oshie's wholesome image is especially desirable for sponsors keen to avoid athletes who may spell trouble down the track.
Kotsenburg is also likely to turn his gold medal winning performance into more cash, on top of deals he's already signed with Nike, Monster Beverage (MNST) and GoPro.
His youthful attitude appeals to sponsors targeting millenials, said Tim Crow, CEO of the London sports sponsorship agency Synergy.
But athletes shouldn't go on a spending spree just yet, said Crow. Many winners from previous Games were surprised to be overlooked.
"Interest is up, buzz is up, emotions are up and this could lead to endorsements for the people involved, but it's dangerous to overgeneralize," he said.


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Which sect is most derided? The Boo/disseds.
Religion Puns
Famous 1930s Muslim comedy duo? Afghani Stan and Ali.
Which Old Testament prophet took forever to make a point? 'I say …uhhh…'.
Old Testament movies? Three words: I 'Heart' Maccabees!
When Jesus finished his Sherman on the Mount, the people said 'Tanks a lot!'
Who in the Old Testament prophesized about loam? A mos.
Was Lao-Tzu once a stockbroker? Yes, he was the founder of Dowism.
How do magicians impress a Jewish audience? They pull a rabbi out of the hat!
Did Jesus' closest followers loudly proclaim the Good News? Not at all – even when combined they were only 12 decibels (disciples).
Did you hear that scientists have cloned the mother of Jesus? They're calling her the Version Mary!
Which prophet never made his own food? Habbukuk.
Elijah would have made a good Frodo.
Which fringe religion's main ritual is to 'toss the salad' of stray felines? The roamin'-cat-hole-lick church!
They often fall asleep in their synagogues in the land of Torah Bora.
Do they throw bread and wine all over the floor during the Catholic littergy?
Popular snack in Israel? Jew Jewbs!
Why is Hell the best place to host a business convention? Because – there's so much sinnergy!
The assassin was charged with finishing off the singer from Coldplay. But when it came time to do the deed, he intentionally shot wide off the mark. "Oh, what the heck," he said, "it is Chris miss after all!"
Some Indian tribesmen are so calm and Stoic that they refuse to be hurried – even during the high holy holidays of Judaism for example. You should never Rush a Shona.
Inflexibility? Well, I knew one imam in particular who was so strict, no one was allowed to even discuss theology with him. He would just take the Koran and Ramadan our throats!
Why does Paul Martin's cabinet always put on chanukah shirts before entering parliament? Because they're a minorah-tee government!
Jesus could often be a difficult customer in restaurants. In fact his servers would often complain about Him behind His back. He was known for turning waiter into whine.
Basketball in the Middle East? That's I-slam dunk!
Why do some people in Israel have to rush home before sundown? Because they practice Jew-day-ism.
Does the Supreme Being wear a lot of 'bling'? Yes – He's quite Goddy.
After the tumultuous switch to communism from their millenia of ancestral traditions, the people of China were left in a state of Confucius.
How do Hindus conjugate verbs? 'Swim, Swum, Swami'!
Why did the evangelical Christian pummel the livestock purchaser over the head? Because he was a buy bull thumper!
How does the Buddha pick up at bars? "Hey baby – looking for a Gautama?"
Most kickboxers practice Shin-toe-ism.
The Hindu god who can open up the doors to heaven is known as Lakshmith.
Whenever Pun Gent Rhain gets together with the Prime Minister of Israel and the prime god of Hinduism, they make some beautiful music. Together they're known as Sharon, Louis, and Brahma.
When their favourite rabbi was caught stealing a loaf of bread, everyone was quite sin agog.
"I'm Catholic – we don't have sects!"
When two webmasters get married in church, is that a dot-communion?
Turbantine: the solvent used to wash Sikh headgear.
Which Christian sect permits fellatio? The Wanglickans.
When the imam saw that his favourite shawarma place was serving pork falafels, he was incensed. "This place," he screamed, "is going to halal in a hambasket!"


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DOTHAN, Ala. – A tortoise set on fire during a live Facebook video is doing well and will be sent to a wildlife sanctuary, according to police in Alabama.
The Dothan Police Department began looking into what happened to 'Leonardo' Wednesday night after receiving multiple complaints . Ultimately, officers found and arrested the 19-year-old who begged for likes on his video before setting the animal on fire.
The department said Leonardo was doing well as of Thursday morning. Alabama Game and Fish are involved in the case, and they are taking care of transporting the reptile to Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary in Enterprise. He will undergo rehabilitation there and ultimately be released into the wild.
By the way, the Alabama Game Wardens office has identified Leonardo as a gopher tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus), which are listed a "threatened" in the endangered Species Act. They are protected in the state of Alabama.
Police said 19-year-old James Terrance Allen was charged with aggravated animal cruelty, which is a felony, following the incident Wednesday. An investigator with the Dothan Police Department tells us the Alabama Game Wardens also plan to charge Allen in the crime, but that charge will be a misdemeanor.
This is the original post from the Dothan Police Department:


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Ahmed Ali/AP
I believe this kid was one of the youngsters arrested. If I can find more info about him I will post it later. I worry about what happened to him.
Associated Press
This is one of the better-known photos of the events around the Cabinet sit-in, a photo of one of the several women who were badly brutalized by the military police, who appear to love to wield their long batons in a sadistic manner.
Asmaa Waguih/Reuters
Dia/Associated Press
One of the many wounded revolutionaries, helped by a kufiya-clad comrade.
Ali al-Malky
Rana Khazbak
This is a photo Sheikh Emad Eddin Effat, secretary general of Dar al-Iftaa, the body that issues Islamic fatwas (edicts), and one of the most famous martyrs of the protests, killed by a bullet to the chest on December 16. According to al-Masry al-Youm, Effat was considered one of Al-Azhar's moderate and progressive sheikhs. Effat's final fatwa forbade voting for parliamentary candidates affiliated with the Mubarak regime and former members of the dissolved National Democratic Party, who are known colloquially as the feloul. Effat based his ruling on the fact that regime remnants aspire to subvert Egypt's post-revolutionary future through bribery and patronage.


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June 5-6, 2010 -- WMR quoted by Fidel Castro
Havana. June 4, 2010
Reflections of FidelThe empire and lies
(Taken from CubaDebate)
I was left with no alternative other than to write two "Reflections" on Iran and Korea, which explain the imminent danger of war with the use of nuclear weapons. I have also expressed the opinion that one of them could be overcome if China decided to veto the resolution that the United States is promoting in the United Nations Security Council. The other is dependent on factors that escape any possibility of control, due to the fanatical conduct of the state of Israel, converted by the United States into its current condition as a strong nuclear power, which does not accept any control whatsoever on the part of the superpower.
In June 1953, when the first United States intervention to crush the Islamic Revolution in defense of its own interests and those of its close ally the United Kingdom took place, which resulted in Mohammed Reza Pahlevi assuming power, Israel was a small state that had not yet seized almost all of Palestinian territory, part of Syria and more than a small part of neighboring Jordan, defended up until then by the Arab Legion, of which not a trace remained.
Today the hundreds of rockets with nuclear warheads, supported by the most modern aircraft supplied by the United States, are threatening the security of all the states of the region, Arab and non-Arab, Muslim and non-Muslim, that are in the reach of the wide radius of action of Israeli missiles, which could fall within a few meters of their objectives.
Last Sunday, May 30, when I wrote the Reflection "The Empire and drugs," the brutal attack on the flotilla transporting provisions, medicines and other items for the one and a half million Palestinians besieged in a small fragment of what was their own homeland for thousands of years, had not yet taken place.
The vast majority of people invest their time in and struggle to confront the necessities that life imposes upon them, including food, the right to recreation and study, and other vital problems of their closest family members; they do not have time to search for information about what is happening on the planet. They can be found anywhere, with noble expressions on their face, trusting that others will take charge of finding solutions to the problems overwhelming them. They are capable of rejoicing and laughing. Thus, they bring happiness to those of us who have the privilege of observing with equanimity the realities threatening us all.
The extremely strange fabrication that North Korea had sunk the South Korean Cheonan corvette – designed with cutting-edge technology, endowed with a wide-ranging sonar system and underwater acoustic sensors – in waters opposite its coast, blamed North Korea for the appalling act that cost the lives of 40 South Korean marines and inflicted dozens of injuries.
It was not easy for me to unravel the problem. On the one hand, there was no explanation as to how it was possible for any government, however much authority it enjoys, to utilize command mechanisms to give orders to torpedo an ensign ship. On the other hand, I did not believe for one second the version that it was Kim Jong II who gave that order.
I lacked the elements needed to reach a conclusion, but I was sure that China would veto a draft resolution in the Security Council to sanction North Korea. On the other hand, I was in no doubt whatsoever that the United States is unable to avoid the use of nuclear weapons on the part of the incontrollable government of Israel.
Late in the evening of June 1 the veil over what really happened began to lift.
At 10:30 p.m. I listened to the content of an acute analysis by the journalist Walter Martínez, who produces the sterling "Dossier" program on Venezuelan television. He came to the conclusion that the United States had made each part of Korea believe what each side was affirming about the other, with the objective of solving the problem of the return of the territory occupied by the Okinawa base, as demanded by the new Japanese leader, reflecting the wishes of the country. His party gained enormous backing in the elections due to that promise of his to secure the [U.S.] withdrawal from the military base installed there which, for more than 65 years, has been a dagger thrust in the heart of Japan, now a developed and rich country.
Via Global Research the really amazing details of what happened have come out, thanks to an article by Wayne Madsen, an investigative journalist working in Washington DC, who circulated information from intelligence sources on the Wayne Madsen Report website.
Those sources, he affirmed, "…suspect that the March attack on the South Korean Navy anti-submarine warfare (ASW) corvette, the Cheonan, was a false flag attack designed to appear as coming from North Korea."
"One of the main purposes for increasing tensions on the Korean peninsula was to apply pressure on Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to reverse course on moving the U.S. Marine Corps base off Okinawa. Hatoyama has admitted that the tensions over the sinking of the Cheonan played a large part in his decision to allow the U.S. Marines to remain on Okinawa. Hatoyama's decision has resulted in a split in the ruling center-left coalition government, a development welcome in Washington, with Mizuho Fukushima, the Social Democratic Party leader threatening to bolt the coalition over the Okinawa reversal.
"The Cheonan was sunk near Baengnyeong Island, a westernmost spot that is far from the South Korean coast, but opposite the North Korean coast. The island is heavily militarized and within artillery fire range of North Korean coastal defenses, which lie across a narrow channel.
"The Cheonan, an ASW corvette, was decked out with state-of-the-art sonar, plus it was operating in waters with extensive hydrophone sonar arrays and acoustic underwater sensors. There is no South Korean sonar or audio evidence of a torpedo, submarine or mini-sub in the area. Since there is next to no shipping in the channel, the sea was silent at the time of the sinking.
"However, Baengnyeong Island hosts a joint U.S-South Korea military intelligence base and the U.S. Navy SEALS operate out of the base. In addition, four U.S. Navy ships were in the area, part of the joint U.S-South Korean Exercise Foal Eagle, during the sinking of the Cheonan. An investigation of the suspect torpedo's metallic and chemical fingerprints show it to be of German manufacture. There are suspicions that the U.S. Navy SEALS maintains a sampling of European torpedoes for sake of plausible deniability for false flag attacks. Also, Berlin does not sell torpedoes to North Korea, however, Germany does maintain a close joint submarine and submarine weapons development program with Israel.
"The presence of the USNS Salvor, one of the participants in Foal Eagle, so close to Baengnyeong Island during the sinking of the South Korean corvette also raises questions.
"The Salvor, a civilian Navy salvage ship, which participated in mine laying activities for the Thai Marines in the Gulf of Thailand in 2006, was present near the time of the blast with a complement of 12 deep sea divers.
"Beijing, satisfied with North Korea's Kim Jong Il's claim of innocence after a hurried train trip from Pyongyang to Beijing, suspects the U.S. Navy's role in the Cheonan's sinking, with particular suspicion on the role of the Salvor. The suspicions are as follows:
"1. The Salvor engaged in a seabed mine-installation operation, in other words, attaching horizontally fired anti-submarine mines on the sea floor in the channel.
"2. The Salvor was doing routine inspection and maintenance on seabed mines, and put them into an electronic active mode (hair trigger release) as part of the inspection program.
"3. A SEALS diver attached a magnetic mine to the Cheonan, as part of a covert program aimed at influencing public opinion in South Korea, Japan and China.
"The Korean peninsula tensions have conveniently overshadowed all other agenda items on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visits to Beijing and Seoul."
Thus, in an amazingly easy way, the United States managed to solve an important problem: to liquidate the National Unity government of the Democratic Party of Yukio Hatoyama, but at an extremely high cost:
1- It deeply offended its South Korea allies.
2- It highlighted the skill and rapidity with which its adversary Kim Jong Il acted.
3- It emphasized the prestige of the Chinese power, whose president, with full moral authority, moved personally and sent China's principal leaders to converse with Emperor Akihito, the Prime Minister and other eminent Japanese figures.
Political leaders and world opinion have proof of the cynicism and total lack of scruples that characterize the imperial policy of the United States.
Fidel Castro Ruz
June 3, 2010,
11:16 a.m.
Translated by Granma International


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Elyssa Mae
Regular price
Minimum Order: 50 pcs
Type of Printing: Digital Flat Press
Package Includes:
- 3 Pages Card (approx. 7.25 x 4.75 inches and 5 x 4 inches)
- 1 Pocket Fold (approx. 7.5 x 5 inches)
- 1 Belly Band/Belt or Embellishment
We can change the wordings, colors or font styles to suit events. This design can also be used into other style or size of invitation the client wants.
We have a wide range of designs to choose from. Please browse our albums for a great find that will fit your theme and color motif. Thank you!


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No benefit seen for progesterone drug for first-time mothers with a short cervix
A formulation of the hormone progesterone, shown to be effective in women at risk for another preterm birth because they had a prior preterm birth, was not found to be effective in preventing preterm birth for women in their first pregnancy who have a short cervix, according to a National Institutes of Health network study.
Each year, 1 in 8 infants is born preterm in the United States. Preterm birth increases an infant's risk of death and survivors' risk of short- and long-term complications such as breathing and vision problems, learning disabilities and cerebral palsy.
In February 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17P), a synthetic form of progesterone, to reduce the chances of preterm birth in women pregnant with a single fetus who had delivered a single infant early in a previous pregnancy.
Like preterm delivery in a previous pregnancy, a short cervix in the second trimester is a known risk factor for preterm birth. The cervix is part of the neck of the uterus, which becomes shorter as labor approaches.
For the current study, the researchers assessed whether 17P given to first-time mothers found to have a short cervix would prevent delivery before 37 weeks of gestation. In this study, short cervical length was defined as a cervical length at or below the 10th percentile (30 millimeters or less).
The study was published online and in print in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
More than 600 women participated in the study. The women were assigned at random to receive either 17P or a placebo. The researchers found that rates of preterm birth were about the same among women who received a weekly injection of 17P and those who received a placebo.
"There are many pathways that lead to preterm birth. Studying each at risk group alone allows us to identify which treatments are effective in specific situations. While 17 P has been shown to be effective at reducing preterm birth in one group of at risk women, it was not effective to prevent preterm birth in women in their first pregnancy whose cervix is at or less than the 10th percentile," said study co-author Catherine Y. Spong, M.D., Associate Director for Extramural Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the institute that funded the study. "This study shows the need to test 17 P among the different categories of women at risk for preterm delivery, rather than assuming that because it was shown to be effective in one group, that it would be effective in another.''
First author William A. Grobman, M.D., M.B.A., of Northwestern University Chicago, collaborated with Dr. Spong and researchers at 15 other institutions: the Ohio State University, Columbus; University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; Case Western Reserve University–MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland; University of Alabama at Birmingham; Brown University, Providence, R.I.; Wayne State University, Detroit; Columbia University, New York City; University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City; Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Pittsburgh; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston; and The George Washington University Biostatistics Center, Washington, D.C.
The research was conducted through the Maternal–Fetal Medicine Units Network, a group of 14 affiliated hospitals supported by funding from the NICHD.
About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): The NICHD sponsors research on development, before and after birth; maternal, child, and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit the Institute's website at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.


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Monsters and Manipulations in The Magical Forest Is The First Episode of Pizza Morgana
TEL-AVIV, Israel – July 21, 2009 – Corbomite Games, one of the leading game studios focused on episodic adventure games, today announced they will be releasing Pizza Morgana – Episode 1: Monsters and Manipulations in The Magical Forest, on August 16th, 2009. Pizza Morgana is a new comedy title like nothing you've seen before. It lets you play the charming tale of a young girl who is accidentally teleported into a magical dimension filled with monsters, vampires, faeries, and daemons, which all just happen to be employed as pizza delivery guys.
"We've worked hard to bring this creative, and unique episodic adventure to life," said Oded Sharon, CEO of Corbomite Games. "Comedy is at the core of Pizza Morgana, where the worlds of pizza delivery, daemons, and faeries collide with hilarious consequences. We're sure fans of the Pizza Morgana series, and especially girls will find the outrageous situations and interactions incredibly fun."
Pizza Morgana: Episode One – Monsters and Manipulations in The Magical Forest allows you to play through the events that lead to Jackie's teleportation into the world of TerraMagia. The episode also introduces Abbie Positive, the pizza delivery vampire that acts as Jackie's guide through the magical world, and a Watcher, who is like a robotic hybrid cop that enforces TerraMagian laws. For more information on Pizza Morgana, please visit: http://pizza-morgana.com
Monsters and Manipulations in The Magical Forest also features voice acting by famous Hollywood actors, Mia Alon as Jackie, Claudia Christian as Abbie Positive – the sarcastic delivery vampire, and Robin Atkin Downes as the Watcher. Among their many onscreen and in-game appearances, both Claudia Christian and Robin Atkin Downes are Babylon 5 alumni, and veteran voice recording actors in the game industry.
"The cast did a brilliant job," said Sharon. "I was literally brought to tears from laughter during the dialog recording session, and the end result is hilarious. The addition of the voices of professional actors to this game makes a huge difference, and brings out the fun experience I envisioned when I first began working on this game over a year and a half ago."
About the Voice Actors
Claudia Christian is an American actress, writer, singer, musician, and director. She is most famous for her role as Commander Susan Ivanova on the science fiction television series Babylon 5.
For more information about Claudia Christian Please Visit:http://claudiachristian.net
Robin Atkin Downes is a los Angeles based actor, producer, director, voice-over artist, and musician. His voice can be heard on hundreds of video games, as well as animated shows and commercials. His recent television appearances include Entourage, CSI Miami, The Starter Wife and Babylon 5.
For more information about Robin Atkin Downes:http://robinatkindownes.com/
Mia Alon is a popular Israeli voice actress who gave her voice to many characters in animated series and movies in their Hebrew versions, including; Fosters home for Imaginary friends, Poke'mon, Juniper Lee, Bridge to Terabithia, Open Season, Garfield and many others. She also takes part in directing and translating series', and is well known for her American-Israeli adaptation skills. For more information please visit: http://www.voice123.com/miaalon
About Corbomite Games
Founded in 2006, Corbomite Games is a game development studio focused on episodic adventure games aimed at the casual game and girl games markets. Corbomite employs an ace team of industry veterans, including comics creator and mini-celebrity, Uri Fink. A team of talented writers, artists and software engineers with years of experience in computer and role-playing games, round out the team.
Corbomite Games currently has two episodic comedy adventure game series in production, Zbang, and Pizza Morgana. The studio is led by Oded Sharon, an experienced game maker with a passion for adventure games and MMOs. For more information, please visit:
Contact information:
Corbomite Games
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Pop Stencil Mini, Fortnite 69
Pop Stencils
Pop Stencil (Mini) Fortnite 69
Our Fortnite 69 Pop Stencil will help improve consistency, speed and help create the "Wow" factor.
Pop Stencils are high quality, reusable time and time again, perfect for face and body painting and also airbrushing.
Designed and Created by Lisa Good with Face and Body Painters in mind, suitable for the novice to the professional.
Sponge or Finger Dauber should be slightly damp when tapping the paint onto the stencil.
To clean the stencil, simply wipe with clean cloth or sponge.
Stencil Size: (Mini. Size) 80mm x 60mm
Thickness, 190mm Mylar


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- January 22, 2022
- By TLMSADMNLCS2024
This beautiful selection of porcelain and ceramic wood effect tiles is an important addition to our original wood look tile collection. As we've found a few more amazing looking tile designs, we had to include them as well, possibly making the combination of the two collections the most comprehensive resource on the web for wood effect tiles
We were very careful to select only the nicest, most realistic wood grain designs. As a main difference from real wood planks, these faux wood tiles can also be used successfully on floors and walls, requiring the same type of installation for either application. Most of this style of tile is produced by Italian manufacturers, as they are the best in the business. The main difference between porcelain and ceramic tile is the quality and the price, with the porcelain one being a bit higher in both. Read on for brand names and ideas.
- 01 Blending Tile Floors With Other Tile Features
- 02 Contractor Roundtable: Subfloor Prep
- 03 The Amazing Story of Fiber in the Carpet Industry
- The Style Board by Shaw Floors Kickoff Home Renovations
- Showcasing New and Notable Products at NeoCon 2017
- Engineered Floors recently broke ground on a new carpet tile manufacturing facility in Dalton, Ga.
- Energyst Solutions will distribute Pallmann's complete range of wood flooring products throughout
Fixing a squeaky floor under Wood
Over the next 56 years, the Mori family successfully built Island Flooring into the largest union flooring contractor in the state of Hawaii. From small independent hotels, the company expanded its scope to include a wide range of major hospitality chains including the Four Seasons, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Outrigger. Island Flooring also entered the healthcare market, which required developing highly technical expertise in products such as commercial sheet vinyl and rubber flooring. The company performed work on several high-profile projects such as the Hawaii Convention Center and the new main branch of the state's largest bank, First Hawaiian Bank.
By 2014, Island Flooring had more than 60 employees, including 45 installers. After more than five decades in the business, Raymond and Carol decided it was time to retire


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Author: Kevin Cullen
Edition: 1
Number Of Pages: 496
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Release Date: 2013-02-11
This unforgettable narrative follows the astonishing career and epic manhunt for Whitey Bulger―a gangster whose life was more sensational than fiction.
Raised in a South Boston housing project, James "Whitey" Bulger became the most wanted fugitive of his generation. In this riveting story, rich with family ties and intrigue, award-winning Boston Globe reporters Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy follow Whitey's extraordinary criminal career―from teenage thievery to bank robberies to the building of his underworld empire and a string of brutal murders.It was after a nine-year stint in Alcatraz and other prisons that Whitey reunited with his brother William "Billy" Bulger, who was soon to become one of Massachusetts's most powerful politicians. He also became reacquainted with John Connolly, who had grown up around the corner from the Bulgers and was now―with Billy's help―a rising star at the FBI.
Once Whitey emerged triumphant from the bloody Boston gang wars, Connolly recruited him as an informant against the Mafia. Their clandestine relationship made Whitey untouchable; the FBI overlooked gambling, drugs, and even homicide to protect their source. Among the close-knit Irish community in South Boston, nothing was more important than honor and loyalty, and nothing was worse than being a rat. Whitey is charged with the deaths of nineteen people killed over turf, for business, and even for being informants; yet to this day he denies he ever gave up his friends or landed anyone in jail.
Based on exclusive access and previously undisclosed documents, Cullen and Murphy explore the truth of the Whitey Bulger story. They reveal for the first time the extent of his two parallel family lives with different women, as well as his lifelong paranoia stemming in part from his experience in the CIA's MKULTRA program. They describe his support of the IRA and his hitherto-unknown role in the Boston busing crisis, and they show a keen understanding of his mindset while on the lam and behind bars. The result is the first full portrait of this legendary criminal figure―a gripping story of wiseguys and cops, horrendous government malfeasance, and a sixteen-year manhunt that climaxed in Whitey's dramatic capture in Santa Monica in June 2011.
16 pages of photographsEAN: 9780393087727


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Space Copenhagen
Space Copenhagen – established in 2005 by Signe Bindslev Henriksen and Peter Bundgaard Rützou, both graduated The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture – is known for defying habits and employing a sincere personal vision to their design.
The projects SPACE Copenhagen has turned their hands to include everything from interior design, to furniture and refined objects for everyday use as well as artistic installations and art direction.
These diverse areas are especially reflective of their ability to transcend many roles and apply their emotional method of working to a number of projects or products.
Interior design for some of the world's most influential restaurants like the world's best restaurant NOMA, Geranium, owned by Bóchuse D'or winner Rasmus Kofoed and newcomer Geist, run by Michelin star chef Bo Bech, are together with objects for Georg Jensen, Fredericia Furniture and Mater.


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FG to review revenue sharing formula
August 6, 2019868 views0 comments
The federal government has said it will set up a committee in the coming weeks to review the revenue sharing formula for federal, states and local governments due to the current economic realities.
Elias Mbam, the chairman, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, shortly after he received an award of excellence from the Nigeria Civil Service Union.
He said that with the new sharing formula, states and local governments are expected to get more money as the plan is to expand and increase the scope of revenue collection.
According to the current revenue allocation formula, the federal government gets 52.68 percent, state, 26.72 percent and local government 20.60 percent.
Also, 13 percent of oil and gas federally collected revenue is returned to the oil producing states as derivation revenue to compensate for ecological disasters arising from oil production.
The formula was designed during former president Olusegun Obasanjo's administration.
However, the RMAFC in 2013 saw the need to review the formula for balanced development of the country, hence it embarked on a nationwide consultation and met with notable figures on the issue.
In December 2014, the commission came out with a proposed new revenue formula but for some reasons, it never saw the light of day.
Five years on, the RMAFC chairman said the commission plans to constitute a standing committee by next week to review the revenue sharing formula.
Mbam said the commission would also push for the diversification of the nation's revenue for a more sustainable growth and economic development.
"My agenda is to expand the sources of revenue for the federation. I will like to expand the cake that we are sharing so that people will get reasonable quantity.
"I intend to do this through diversification in areas outside oil and gas, and that includes solid minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.
"So, we will encourage states and let them know what is available outside oil and gas so they can develop those aspects of the economy to their own benefit,'' he said.


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Oftentimes, in the standard algebraic topology books (May, Switzer, Whithead, for instance), there are tricky little proofs that depend on proving that two maps are homotopic. This is comparable to the way we build homotopies, lifts, etc. combinatorially in simplicial homotopy theory, but for some reason I never really acquired the skill-set (maybe the intuition?) to come up with these homotopies in the topological case. I'm just mystified how these little formulas are pulled out of thin air.
Am I missing a key technique that's often taught early-on in an algebraic topology course? Is it tricky even with practice? Have there been any papers that focus on systematic ways of generating these things?
I also noticed that in May's book, he oftentimes writes out explicit formulas for his homotopies, sometimes in a way that obscures the issue at hand (for instance, there is a homotopy that is described by an explicit formula, but it's nothing more than an explicit "representative of the natural homotopy" between the identity map and the constant map on a contractible based space.) How often can these seemingly arbitrary formulas be replaced with more canonical descriptions? (This last question is a soft question to people with experience in topology)


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Public Library Information
Area Public Libraries
Here are some direct links to area library websites.
Are you looking to get a public library card?
The Madison Public Library has a website with information on how to get a public library card.
Do you need directions to an school or public library? Click the link below to view a map of libraries in the area.


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While my NYCeWheels KickPed is a terrific scooter and well worth it's current $260 price tag, I've been wondering how well a less expensive scooter would perform. While many scooters are sized for kids and have tiny wheels, the Razor A5 is rated for riders up to 220 pounds and it features large, 200mm wheels. This scooter is currently selling for well under $100 on Amazon, so I figured "what the hell" and ordered one for myself.
The warning sticker on the A5 amused me.
At full extension, the A5's handlebar height is the same as my K ickPed's. Note, I have the "short rider" version of the KickPed, recommended for riders 5'7" and under. Riders above 5'10" or so are probably going to be too cramped on an A5.
The A5 bars are narrow and the grips are tiny. Too narrow and tiny for my tastes, but I have some ideas about that.
The Razor's deck is smaller than the KickPed's. This could be problematic for folks with big feet.
The Razor A5 is smaller and lighter than the KickPed and it folds smaller. The folding handlebars let it become a really thin package, but in day to day use, I found myself lowering the stem and folding the scooter, but not folding the bars.
The aluminum Razor A5 has hard polyurethane wheels and it has a harsher, louder ride than the KickPed. In terms of speed and kicking effort, the two scooters seem about the same to me.
The narrow bars made the A5's handling too twitchy for my tastes. I found a Youtube video of a guy who added 18" wide bars to his Razor. I thought this looked like a good idea. While he used aluminum for his bars, I decided to try using an oak dowel instead. The oak is inexpensive (I got a 36" long 7/8" diameter dowel for under $5 at my local hardware store) and I figured the wood would provide some natural vibration damping. Wood, after all, is nature's original carbon fiber.
I removed the stock bars. The oak dowel was a snug fit into the aluminum collar, so I cut two nine inch lengths off the dowel, sanded them smooth and finished them with Danish Oil and then gently pounded each one into the collar. I drilled pilot holes and secured the dowels with brass screws.
The A5 still folds into a fairly compact package, but it's not as quite as small as before.
While the wood bars looked great with just the Danish Oil finish, I did add grips and a bell and a light for practical reasons.
This is still a pretty handsome scooter cockpit.
Another view of the fold. The Razor folds pretty quickly. There is one toggle for the hinge and one quick release to lower the bars.
Out of the box, the Razor A5 is rather noisy. Most of the noise comes from metal on metal interfaces at the hinge. I applied a bit of Velox cloth rim tape to a couple of the surfaces and now my A5 is much quieter.
The rear fender of the A5 serves as a brake and it seems quite effective. With the larger, harder wheels the fender braking on the A5 is quicker than the fender braking on my rubber-tired KickPed. While I added a hand brake to my KickPed, in the month or so I've used it, I haven't found it to be a "must have". I have no plans to add a hand brake to the A5.
The deck of the A5 is just big enough for my size 9 feet (with a little bit of creative footwork when I switch off which foot is kicking). The ride of the A5 is harsher than that of the steel-framed, wood-decked KickPed.
It's obviously unfair to expect a sub-$100 scooter to perform like a machine costing several times as much and I have to say I'm impressed with how good the A5 actually is. The build-quality and finish of the scooter is very nice and with these few adjustments and modifications, it's a very fun, solid feeling scooter.
I am toying with the idea of sawing the deck in half and extending the length of the scooter by several inches. I'd have to bridge the two halves with either strong wood or metal, but the added foot space would be welcome and the longer wheelbase could improve the comfort of the ride. I'm not sure that I'll do this, I want to ride the A5 a bit more before I decide.
I feel the stock A5 is well worth its selling price. And as a platform for tinkering, it's first rate. My main complaint with my KickPed has been that it really didn't need any changes!


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80-100lb Rubber Coated Hexagonal Dumbbell Set
Develop strength, power, and train your core while also shaping and toning your body. The Rubber Hex Dumbbell Set will help tone muscle groups and improve core strength by enhancing traditional aerobic exercises and fitness routines with a variety of dumbbells. It features a total of 550lbs of weight ranging from 5lbs - 50lbs pairs of dumbbells. Making it the perfect set get started on your fitness routines.
Rubber Hex Dumbbells are ideal for a variety of exercise at home, at the gym or on the go. The wide variety of included dumbbells will always allow to push your workout to the next level. They feature hexagonal shaped heads that stop dumbbells from rolling away and a rubber coating that helps to protect your floor and equipment. The Rubber Hex Dumbbells also feature exceptional grip and comfort with their contoured grip handles and triple style knurlings.
This set is perfect for anyone looking to start using dumbbells in their exercise routines, or anyone looking to expand their exercise equipment. Take advantage of this low-priced package and get started on your fitness routine today!
- Rubber hex dumbbells sport heavy duty rubber heads that minimize noise, reduce floor damage and reduce the wear on your dumbbells.
- Comfort grip handles with triple knurlings.
Handle Detail
Exceptional grip and comfort. An up close look at the contoured grip handles and triple style knurlings featured on the RubBer hex Dumbbells.
Caution- heavy contents may require team lift for safety.


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ACOP Timed
Folsom, CA
2 Mile, 5 Mile, 8 Mile, Kids Races, Relay
Volunteer and Site Coordinator
Maya participated in her first A Change of Pace event at the age of 3 months. From there she followed her siblings in participating in a multitude of events from runs to kids' triathlons. While growing up with parents who ran a sports marketing firm, she had no choice but to attend most events her entire youth life. Now as an adult, she has returned (by her own choice) and now serves as the volunteer and site coordinator. In addition, she has also been instrumental in the 2024 design and transitioning of our new website. We are fortunate to have her tackle one of the more critical areas that are considered the backbone of any event, volunteers. Maya resides in Davis and In her spare time she spends time as a dog trainer while simultaneously assisting other local nonprofit organizations such as the Yolo County SPCA and Cancer Champions.
Alec, a graduate of the University of Oregon, oversees course and volunteer management on event day. He also helps coordinate infrastructure set up and tear down, equipment management and assists with race timing.
Dave brings an impressive 36 years of event production, marketing, advertising, and graphic design experience to the team. Dave has not only been a decorated athlete, but he also understands how good teamwork can lead to a successful outcome. Having 4 active kids has allowed him to stay involved in youth sports as well as being active within the community. As the Executive Director of A Change of Pace, he still enjoys his role as the logistics coordinator for all Foundation and outside client events. In addition, he oversees course design & safety, city & police relations, graphic design, advertising, marketing, and creative concepts. Dave resides in Davis with his wife Jen and has 4 very cool kids, all of which has worked at A Change of Pace at one point or another.
Treasurer, Assistant Race Director & Head Timer
Jeannine not only oversees the day-to-day operations; she handles one of the most critical elements within the organization; the registration and timing department. Aside from overseeing the computerized timing department and client/participant relations, she handles our social media and website changes and medal/award design. Her guidance and organizational skills have become a huge value to the organization as she provides much of the input on special projects such as the Tour De Fit.
Board Member
Jennifer has over twenty years of experience in the marketing field, including positions as the Marketing Director for Chevys Fresh Mex restaurants and Real Mex restaurants. Jennifer also has extensive experience developing community programs geared towards children, having served on the Board of Directors for the Davis Schools Foundation as well as the Patwin PTA. Jennifer has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Pepperdine University, and is also a certified personal trainer. A runner herself, Jennifer has completed numerous triathlons and over 50 marathons, including top age-group finishes in high profile events such as the Boston Marathon and the Rock N Roll Marathon. Jennifer owns FIT House in Davis and enjoys inspiring her clients to reach their fitness goals.


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Please contact one of the senior members if you are interested in carrying out a Bachelor or a Master degree project in our group.
DESIREE releted projects:
Examples of previous degree projects:
- Studies of fullerenes in DESIREE.
- Spontaneous decay of molecular anions.
- Modelling electronic and vibrational excitations in PAHs, HPAHs, and fullerenes.
- Monte Carlo simulations of charge exchange processes in keV ion-PAH collisions.
- Classical over-the-barrier model for ionization of poly-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in keV collisions with atomic ions.
- Fragmentation studies of complex molecular ions.
- Collisions between singly charged PAH molecules and neutral atoms.
Henrik Cederquist
Henning Schmidt
Henning Zettergren
Sven Mannervik
Mark Stockett
ANTIMATTER related projects
There are always opportunities to do a project on simulations of various processes in antihydrogen experiments. Some numerical and programming skills are necessary. Read here, and contact Svante Jonsell for further details.
Projects in Computational Atomic Physics
Do you want to follow the electron dynamics on the attosecond time scale? Or work with many-body methods to understand various quantum systems: heavy elements, fragile excited states or man-made artificial atoms? We can offer several types of programming and simulation projects connected to today's experimental questions.
Contact Eva Lindroth
Projects in quantum molecular dynamics
Are you interested in performing theoretical calculations and study the quantum nature of molecular scattering processes? We study reactions that can be measured in experiments such as DESIREE and the projects include running quantum chemistry program packages, programming and developing methods for theoretical descriptions of reactive scattering processes.
Contact Åsa Larson


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One scene from PAPRIKA (2006) I find particularly interesting from an animator's point of view is about two characters with opposing goals that share one single body. While the superficially realistic animation of many Madhouse films is sometimes mistaken for rotoscoped live-action reference material, here the animators' mastery of expressing weight and forces within an acting scene are fairly obvious. It is in fact a very sophisticated example of how to successfully apply all the basic animation principles.
many simultaneously interconnected movements in different speeds; squash and stretch on the heads. |
Analyzing Animation
When I analyze an animation sequence, I ask myself what the objective of a each shot is, i.e. what story point (or "beat" in McKee's language) we learn from a shot, and how this is visually communicated through animation (= movement).
[NSFW] Animation Analysis of a Scene from PAPRIKA (Kon, 2006) from Oswald Iten on Vimeo.
What we can learn from analyzing the work of master animators, storyboarders and layouters for our own work are answers to questions like:
- Which movement is best suited for the story point we want to get across?
- Which shot size is necessary to communicate this movement?
- How do we make sure that the audience gets the story point and is not distracted?
- When do we need to hold a movement?
- What body part leads a movement and to what effect?
- How can we use counter-movements to emphasize strength and energy?
- How do we organically time struggle and bursts of energy?
- When does it make sense to switch from "twos" to "ones" or "threes"?
If anyone knows the names of the animators who worked on this sequence, please let me know, I would like to list them here.
[Update 2016-12-23] Thanks to reader "ibcf", we now know that the animators were: Ei Inoue and Toshiyuki Inoue!


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April 14, 2024
Are you fed up with your stained, worn-out carpets? Then, you've come to the right spot. In Rostrevor and surrounding areas,Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide is one of the best carpet restoration firms. You can stop wasting a significant amount of money on a new carpet by simply fixing and restretching it. Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide has been delivering an efficient solution to all carpet problems for over a decade. We are well-known for providing the most cost-effective carpet repair and restretching services in both residential and commercial areas.
Carpets are a popular choice for their cozy feel, warmth, and visual appeal in homes and businesses. However, carpets can experience various issues over time. Being aware of these common carpet problems allows homeowners and business owners to address them promptly, preserving the longevity and beauty of their carpets.
Burns and holes can occur due to contact with hot objects, cigarettes, or accidents involving sharp items. These damages not only affect the carpet's look but also compromise its functionality and safety.
While pets bring joy, they can unintentionally damage carpets. Frequent scratching, digging, or accidents can lead to torn fibres that require attention.
Improper installation, heavy furniture, or constant foot traffic can cause wrinkles and bulges in carpets. These issues not only detract from the carpet's appearance but also create tripping hazards.
Over time, carpets show signs of wear and tear, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. Flattened fibers, matting, and an aged appearance become noticeable, especially in commercial spaces.
Exposure to sunlight and certain cleaning agents can result in fading and discolouration of carpets. Uneven fading creates an unattractive, patchy look.
Is your carpet suffering from any of the issues mentioned above? You can hire carpet restoration Rostrevor experts from Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide. Our professionals would use the best techniques and tools to fix all the problems.
Damaged seams, ripples and tears not only affect the beauty of the carpet but also pose a threat to human health. Elderly people and toddlers can't make balance while walking on an uneven surface. That's why fall injuries are common in residences and offices where property owners don't pay attention to carpet repair. Fractures, internal injuries and sprains can occur because of tripping and falls.
Worried? Well, there is no need to panic! You can get in touch with our team and book our carpet repair service. Professionals would use techniques like stretching, patching and sewing to fix all the tears, peaks and damaged seams. In this way, you will be able to move freely on the carpet.
Carpet repair service is necessary for everyone. But, some places require this service more than others:
Have you been planning to fix the holes in carpets at home without taking professional help? Do you refrain from booking professional services because of the fee associated with them? Well, carpet damage is a serious matter and you should seek help from experts. Here is how professional services could help you:
Do you know professionals can offer you lots of benefits? If you are unaware, then read the below points to know the benefits of hiring experts:
Professionals have a comprehensive range of carpet repair tools. They can assess the problem and use the most relevant tool to fix it. They are trained and know how to use the tools in the best way.
Burns, holes, ripples and many other problems could hamper the beauty of your carpet. But, professionals can renovate the carpet by doing perfect repair work. Because of their impeccable techniques, you would get the finest results.
If you don't want to spend your weekend repairing carpets, then you should hire experts. Within a few hours, your carpets would be repaired.
Professionals know the major reasons that cause carpet damage. They can help you with some useful suggestions to reduce the damage in future.
There are a few tasks that you can wrap up on your end to ensure smooth repair work for your carpet. Here is a list of those practices:
For carpet repair and restretching, we have the best technicians. We are the most dependable carpet repair Rostrevor service provider, with decades of experience and cutting-edge technology.
In addition, we have technicians who are trained, licenced, and professional to repair your carpets.
Xtreme Carpet Repair is a carpet repair business with a long history of successfully dealing with carpet repairs and re-stretching. We are a group of trained technicians who repair and restretch carpets with the most up-to-date equipment and advanced technology. So, if you need high-quality carpet repair and stretching, we're just a phone call away! Call us right now for a no-obligation quote on any carpet issues. Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide is a leading carpet repair company in Adelaide and the surrounding areas.
Wrinkles are the most common cause of permanent carpet damage. Carpet wrinkles that go unattended will finally cause you to purchase a new carpet. Having the assistance of experts like us is an intelligent way to deal with this. We can easily remove wrinkles from carpets. Our professionals also ensure that your carpets are protected from potential damage.
Carpet holes, large or small, are known to cause permanent damage. With solutions like carpet patching, our experts can effectively fix gaps. We can also patch holes in your carpets according to your specifications. Our customised solutions assist you in dealing with a variety of carpet holes safely and professionally.
Carpet burns that aren't treated cause more carpet damage in the long run. And before you know it, you're in the market for a new carpet. There's nothing wrong with getting a new carpet, but burns aren't the best excuse. Our innovative technologies will help you heal these burns. You can reach out to us at any time or take advantage of our carpet burn emergency repair services.
Carpet seams are regular in commercial and residential properties. They become tripping hazards and carriers of trapped or unknown soil when left unattended for an extended period. Rostrevor Carpet re-stretching is extremely efficient at removing carpet seams. In addition, we can work with seams and other irregularities.
Carpets that have been torn need urgent treatment and professional assistance. Without it, the damage will continue to worsen with each passing day. This is a challenge that both industrial and residential properties face regularly. Tripping hazards can also be caused by torn carpets. We have time-saving and cost-effective repairs for all types of broken carpets at Carpet Repair Rostrevor .
Pets are notorious for scratching carpets in various ways, whether a scratch or a large tear. Residential buildings are more prone to these types of losses. Our carpet repair Rostrevor service is an excellent option for dealing with these issues. We can repair and restore your carpet to its original state in n
Excess water on the carpet causes carpet damage. By allowing the flood and wastewater to sit on the carpet for an extended period, the carpet may be permanently damaged. Wet carpet restoration is needed to prevent carpet damage. We provide a water damage restoration service that includes cleaning and drying the carpet.
In Rostrevor , we can also dispose of your damaged carpets. Call Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide if you need carpet repair services from a specialist company that guarantees customer satisfaction. We will fix it no matter what kind of carpet fabric you have.
This form of carpet repair does not necessitate a large number of people. We send only one person who is capable of performing the task. The entire procedure is done in under two hours. Cleaning carpets is only possible after the restretching process has been completed.
Re-stretching a carpet involves the following steps:
Carpet repair is a complicated task that requires the use of several kinds of tools and products. In our company, we have provided all the tools to our professionals. Tools like carpet trimmers, seam rollers, seaming irons; loop pile cutters, kickers, stretchers, carpet knives, cookie cutters and sewing kits are used in carpet repair.
Besides these tools, some adhesives are also used. Types of adhesives include latex, hot melt, and pressure-sensitive adhesives. Each type of adhesive has different properties that make it suitable for specific types of carpet damage. Different types of fabrics are also used in carpet repairs, such as synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester or natural fabrics like wool.
Re-stretching your carpets regularly is important to keep your carpets clean and your loved ones healthy for a long time. If you see a carpet or a loose carpet bunching up, there's a fair chance someone has been injured. You will keep your carpets healthy by opting for carpet restretching instead of putting it off any longer. In addition, carpet repair Rostrevor and restretching give your carpets an energy boost.
Buying a carpet is expensive. Even getting them installed on the floor could be costly. Carpet repair service gives you an amazing chance of preventing the need for carpet replacement.
If there are stains, tears or burn marks on your carpet, then you better repair it before choosing the option of replacement. With the help of reliable methods such as patch repair, seam repair and restretching, it has become possible for experts to repair the carpet. Loose threads and frayed ends can also be repaired.
Yes, sometimes the carpets become too old and badly damaged. In that case, you may opt for carpet replacement. The best thing is to consult with experts. You can contact us and ask our team to conduct an inspection of your carpet. Then, we will give you an honest review of your carpet. We will suggest repair techniques that can remove all the problems and increase the life of your luxurious carpets.
At Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide, you can expect reliable and transparent pricing from our teams. We try to provide affordable services with lower profit margins because our goal is to reach the maximum number of customers in Adelaide. Here is an estimation of our packages:
Size | Size Estimation |
Small Spaces (700-1000 sq. feet) | Approx. $175 |
Medium Spaces (1000-1500 sq. feet) | Ranges from $250 to $450 |
Large Spaces (1500-3000 sq. feet) | Starts from $475 |
Do you need customised packages for your residential or commercial premises? Let us know about your unique requirements. Rest assured, our experienced technicians are dedicated to delivering exceptional results tailored to your specific needs and budget. Call us and schedule an inspection for reliable and cost-effective solutions.
At Xtreme Carpet Repair, we provide carpet repair to residences and businesses at affordable prices. Instead of charging hourly, we would charge for the whole package. The price of service would depend on various factors such as carpet size, number of carpets, the intensity of damage, etc. You can give us a call and share the details with us. Based on your requirements, we would send you a quote!
Businesses have to spend lots of money for maintaining elegant interiors. After all, they have to attract new customers and provide a wonderful ambience to their employees. But, what if the carpets are torn, frayed or burnt? This type of damage could affect the first impression of the business. Moreover, the safety of the employees would be at risk.
If you want to keep the carpet maintained for many years, then you should book our service at least once a year. Our company would send experts to inspect the carpet. They would suggest you a suitable carpet repair service. Moreover, the service is not expensive. To know more details about our repair service, feel free to call us.
If you need premium-class carpet repair service for your home, then you can reach out to us. We are an experienced company that has several years of experience in the industry. We have an inventory of modern tools. Our professionals make use of them to fix almost all kinds of problems. From patching to stretching, we will use multiple techniques to ensure that your family members don't find it difficult to walk on the carpet.
Do you need your carpets re-stretched right away? Don't be concerned. At Carpet Repair Rostrevor , we have solutions for all of your issues. Anywhere in Rostrevor , our team is ready to provide timely and reliable emergency carpet repairs and re-stretching. So, if an emergency arises, you know who to contact.
Maintaining carpets in optimal condition begins with embracing effective maintenance practices. Here are a few tips to prevent carpet issues that you should follow regularly:-
Q1. How can I avail carpet restretching services?
Ans: You can avail carpet restretching services by contacting Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide. We will come to your home and assess the situation, and then give you a quote for the service.
Q2. How much does carpet repair cost?
Ans: The cost of carpet repair varies depending on the size of the repair, the type of carpet, and the severity of the damage. However, in general, carpet repair is a relatively affordable option.
Q3. What is the most common way to repair a burn in my carpet?
Ans: The most common way to repair a burn in your carpet is through carpet patching.
Q4. How long does it take to repair a carpet?
Ans: The time it takes to repair a carpet depends on the size of the repair and the severity of the damage. However, most carpet repairs can be completed within a few hours.
Q5. How can I contact you?
Ans: You can contact Xtreme Carpet Repair Adelaide by phone, email, or through our website. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions and schedule your repair


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Langkawi MTB Race 2012. Olympus OMD EM5, 45mm f/1.8. |
Two: Mud and 2.2" tires don't mix on the Specialized Epic's rear;
Three: Don't race when sick.
As a result of points One and Two (above), I got a few tire tips from the pros and I'll be switching the Ikon 2.2 (front/rear) to the Schwalbe Racing Ralph 2.1 on the rear, and the Schwalbe Rocket Ron 2.25 on the front for the coming wet months.
Me on the urban xc section on Day 1. Photo courtesy Cycling Malaysia. |
Bury Stander signing my bike. Olympus OMD EM5, 20mm f/1.7. |