text:
Time and time again, as our industry watches the news of an earthquake striking somewhere on the planet we're reminded of the large proportion of un-insured losses the population and economies have to cope with. This protection gap – the difference between total economic losses and insured losses – constitutes a huge problem both for low income countries as well as developed economies, where in spite of established insurance markets the un-insured losses often far exceed the amount of
insurance recoveries.
A state of underinsurance of homeowners and their lenders persists in most earthquake prone countries. Many countries have intervened on the supply side by establishing earthquake pooling schemes such as California's CEA or Turkey's TCIP but have found that take up rates are stubbornly low. Homeowners tend to be deterred by high deductibles, high premium rates and lack of risk perception, especially given the low frequency of severe Earthquakes in any given place. Also, homeowners might be counting on government handouts, even though it's rarely realistic to expect substantial help with rebuilding a damaged or destroyed home.
The protection gap that homeowners face in respect of their earthquake exposure is truly alarming. Risk transfer could and should play an essential role in relieving communities that already suffer in so many ways from the fallout of the earthquake and reduce the compounding impact from property damage, business interruption, infrastructure and travel disruption, mortgage defaults and resulting drops in house prices. Given that the case for risk transfer away from homeowners in disaster zones is so strong, are there really no examples where it has been implemented successfully?
In fact, while there is a large protection gap in most earthquake prone countries, New Zealand stands out from the crowd in respect of protection of homeowners. Like many other countries New Zealand's government has implemented a pooling scheme to protect homeowners from earthquake risk. The so called EQCover is an insurance product that is provided by the "EQC" - the government's agency to handle all aspects of seismic risk the country faces (research, resilience as well as risk transfer). The scope is limited to residential properties, both land and dwelling, and is capped at NZD 100,000 whereas the value in excess of the cap is covered by private insurers.
The 2010/2011 Canterbury Earthquakes resulted in damage to over 150,000 homes, about three quarters of Christchurch's housing stock, and around a fifth exceeded NZD 100,000 in damage. Practically all of these residential losses have been covered by insurance. Much attention has been given to the claims settlement process, which turned out to be costly, complex and in many cases significantly delayed. However, the operational shortcomings should not distract us from the important fact that 90% of affected homeowners benefited from insurance coverage. Homeowners have been able repair or rebuild their homes and the local economy fared better than many expected. Notably housing prices remained stable in spite of the shock1.
What distinguishes New Zealand from other countries is that earthquake insurance is a mandatory endorsement to the fire policy. Consequently, it's effectively mandatory for homeowners with mortgages and for all others the penetration follows the pick-up rate of fire insurance, which is typically very high in developed markets. A regulatory requirement for Fire insurance to cover earthquake risk would not be uncontroversial as it would represent an additional upfront cost to consumers. On the other hand it can be argued that the insurance would only make the existing cost of being exposed transparent and thus manageable. In the absence of a regulatory requirement, a requirement by mortgage lenders to carry earthquake insurance would be more limited in scope but would still have a significant impact, especially in developed markets where mortgage lending is the most common form of financing residential housing.
New Zealand has shown us that we can protect ourselves better from natural disasters like earthquake. The question is are we going to take meaningful action and follow the example they are setting?
1 ...
Category: Climate/natural disasters: Disaster risk, Earthquakes, Resilience


text:
A mammogram is a type of X-ray of the breast. Your doctor may order a screening mammogram as a routine check. Routine screenings are an important way to establish a baseline of what's normal. They can also be a tool for early diagnosis before you start showing symptoms of breast cancer.
Your doctor may also order a mammogram if you're symptomatic. That's called a diagnostic mammogram.
After the test, a radiologist reviews the images and submits a report to your doctor. The results are given a score of 0 to 6 under the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). These categories help communicate the results and let the radiologist know what to look for in follow-up visits.
Read on to see example mammogram images and to learn more about what the different findings mean.
Breasts contain fat, along with fibrous and glandular tissue. The more fibroglandular tissue you have, the denser your breasts are. The radiologist will classify your breast density using four categories:
- almost entirely fatty
- scattered areas of fibroglandular density
- heterogeneously dense
- extremely dense
When breasts are mostly fatty, the tissue on the mammogram is dark and transparent. That makes it easy to detect abnormalities, which generally show up as white.
Dense breast tissue appears solid white on a mammogram. Tumors and other masses also look white, so that makes it harder to detect abnormalities. Many women have dense breasts. Usually, but not always, your breasts get less dense as you age.
Some states require providers to notify women that they have dense breasts. If you receive such a notification, it doesn't mean you have cancer or will develop cancer, although you're at a slightly higher risk.
You can have dense breasts and still have a negative mammogram result. A negative result means nothing abnormal was detected. There were no distortions, calcifications, or lumps, and the breasts appear symmetrical. The BI-RADS score for this is 1.
Learn more: Does having dense breasts increase your risk for cancer? »
Deposits of calcium in the breast are called breast calcifications. They're common on mammograms, particularly if you're postmenopausal.
If you have calcifications, they'll show up as white spots on the images. Macrocalcifications look like large white dots or lines. They're usually not cancerous. Microcalcifications look like tiny white specks, usually clustered together. Most are noncancerous, but sometimes they can be an early indicator of cancer.
Your mammogram result may be negative with a BI-RADS score of 2. That means the information should be used for comparison each time you have a new mammogram.
You might also have a result of "probably benign," with a BI-RADS score of 3. In fact, there's a 98 percent chance that the finding is benign. But you might be asked to have a follow-up mammogram in six months to see if anything changes.
Cancer isn't the only reason you might have a lump in your breast. You can also develop fibrosis or cysts.
Fibrosis is when you have a lot of fibrous tissue. When you touch a fibrous area, it feels firm or rubbery.
Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that have a smooth, well-defined border. If a cyst grows large enough, it can stretch your breast tissue. When you feel a cyst, it's usually soft, tender, and moveable.
Fibrocystic changes are more likely to occur during your childbearing years. They might be more noticeable just before you have a period. Like calcifications, fibrocystic tissue may have a BI-RADS score of 2 or 3. Your doctor may want to order another mammogram or an ultrasound to investigate fibrocystic changes.
A cancerous breast tumor is usually irregularly shaped. Unlike a cyst, tumors are firm and they don't move. Most cancerous tumors are also painless.
If the radiologist sees a suspicious mass, they will give the mammogram a BI-RADS score of 4. That means it has an abnormality that doesn't appear to be cancer, but that could be. They'll probably ask you to have a biopsy done to be sure.
When the image is highly suggestive of a cancerous tumor, the BI-RADS score is 5. That means the radiologist believes there's a 95 percent chance that the tumor is cancerous. A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis.
A BI-RADS score of 6 is only used when the tumor was already proven to be cancerous. Mammograms with this score are used to monitor breast cancer treatment.
If you have breast implants, you should still have screening mammograms. Even with implants, mammography is an effective way to screen for breast cancer. It's harder to find abnormalities with implants, though. There's also a slight risk of implant rupture during a mammogram.
You should mention your implants when making your mammogram appointment. Ask if the radiologist has experience performing and reading mammograms of women with implants. Mention it again when you arrive for your mammogram. The healthcare professional may need to take a few extra images.
Talk to your doctor about your BI-RADS score. They can walk you through your results and makes recommendations for future tests or treatment.
|BI-RADS score
|What it means
|The results are inconclusive or the radiologist wants another image for comparison. You'll need another mammogram.
|No abnormalities were detected.
|Results may be negative for cancer, but will be used for comparison for future mammograms.
|Findings are probably benign. You may need a follow-up mammogram in 6 months.
|An abnormality was found, but doesn't appear cancerous. You may need a biopsy.
|A tumor was identified with a 95% chance of being cancerous. You'll need a biopsy.
|A cancerous tumor has been confirmed.
Mammograms are good at finding abnormalities before you can feel them. Early identification means treatment can begin sooner. Breast cancer is easier to treat before it spreads outside the breast.
However, mammograms can have false-negative results, meaning they miss some cancers. They may also produce false-positive results, which can lead to unnecessary biopsies or other procedures.
Overall, the accuracy rate is 85 to 90 percent.
Getting called back after a mammogram doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. It does mean something needs clarification.
Sometimes, a mammogram will have a BI-RADS score of 0. It means you need additional imaging because the mammogram simply wasn't clear enough to get a good reading.
A 0 score can also mean that the radiologist wants to look for changes by comparing older results to the current ones. This might be necessary if your previous mammograms were performed at a different facility and weren't available to the radiologist. If that's the case, you can request a record transfer.
Here are some of the reasons you might be called back:
- The images were of poor quality.
- The radiologist is waiting for prior mammogram results for comparison.
- The radiologist wants to get a closer look at breast calcifications, fibrocystic tissue, or other suspicious mass.
If cancer is suspected, your doctor will order additional testing, such as ultrasound, MRI, or tissue biopsy.
If you have any questions at all about your mammogram results, talk to the doctor who ordered them. If your mammogram report references dense breasts, calcifications, or fibrocystic tissue, ask your doctor what that means and how it affects you. Be sure to mention if you have symptoms or known risk factors for breast cancer, such as family history of the disease.
Screening guidelines change as technology evolves and as we learn more about the benefits and risks of mammography. Currently, the American Cancer Society recommends the following screening schedule for average-risk women:
- Age 40–44 years: You may choose to begin annual mammograms.
- Age 45–54 years: You should have annual mammograms.
- 55 years and older: You should have mammograms every one or two years.
As long as you're healthy and have a life expectancy of 10 years or more, you should continue breast cancer screening. Your doctor may recommend a different screening schedule or additional testing if you're at particularly high risk of breast cancer.
If you discover changes to your breasts, don't wait for your next screening mammogram. Talk to your doctor right away.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Graduate Students 2018-19
PhD Students
Jade Basford. Literature. Major Professor: TBD Degree Expected: 2021.
Jade began her French studies at Eastern Kentucky University. She then completed an MA in French at the University of Kentucky in 2016. She spent the following year teaching English in Gif-sur-Yvette, a small town in France. Her research interests include 19th century literature and theories of personal identity and personhood.
Karine Belizar, Literature. Major Professor: TBD Degree Expected: 2021.
Born in Saint Martin of Haitian descent, Karine holds an MA in Arts, Lettres et Civilisations mention Langues, Littératures Interculturelles et Éthique du Divers from Université des Antilles (Martinique 2015); and an MA in Foreign Languages and Literatures in French Studies from the University of Delaware (May 2017). For her first Master's thesis she worked on "Les Enjeux de la Langue dans la Littérature Caribéenne. Le cas de Sea Grapes, Another Life et Omeros de Derek Walcott" (UA 2015). For her second Master's thesis she worked on "Henri Christophe, Une Figure Tragique dans la Littérature Contemporaine Francophone/ Anglophone/ Hispanophone" (UD 2017). She is a member of Pi Delta Phi. Her main field of interest is vernacular language and identity construct in Caribbean and francophone literatures.
Piper Black, Literature. Minor: Comparative Literature. Major Professor: Rosemary Peters-Hill. Degree Expected: 2020.
A native of Illinois, Piper graduated from Eastern Illinois University in December of 2013 with bachelor's degrees in French and journalism as well as a minor in entrepreneurship. She then completed her MA in French from the University of Maine in 2016 with her thesis entitled "Ireland in the Writings of Georges Dor, Jacques Ferron, and Louis Gauthier." Her academic interests include 19th century and comparative literatures.
Sylvestre Mekem Douanla, Literature. Major Professor: Pius Ngandu. Degree expected: May 2019.
Sylvestre holds a BA and MA from the University of Yaoundé (Cameroon) in Francophone literature. He completed another MA (Teaching French as a Foreign Language) at University of Cape Town (South Africa) in 2011. After designing a syllabus that has been implemented at UCT, he taught at Alliance Française of Johannesburg. His research interests are French and Francophone literature, postcolonial and migration studies.
Ann Francois, Literature. Major Professor: Adelaide Russo. Degree expected: May 2019.
Ann is from Brussels, Belgium. Ann first moved to Louisiana in 2004 with CODOFIL as a French Immersion Teacher. She taught French immersion and French as a second language for 15 years in Belgium, Switzerland, and Louisiana. At the same time she completed an MA degree in Romance Languages at University of New Orleans. Her interests are 20th and 21st century: France and Francophone literacy, with a special focus on Belgian and Francophone comic books and graphic novels, as well as French and Francophone art and cinema.
Anoosheh Ghaderi, Literature, Major Professor: TBD, Degree Expected: Spring 2022
Anoosheh holds a BA degree in French Translation from Allameh Tabatabaei University. Native of Iran, she is interested in the Francophone immigrant literature and cinema, post-colonial studies as well as gender and feminist studies. she completed her fist MA in French studies at the University of Tehran in 2014. For her master dissertation, she focused on the cinema of French feminist director Agnes Varda and studied her influence on Iranian director Tahmineh Milani. She sought a 2d MA majoring in French Studies and minoring in Cinema Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her secondary interests consist of psychoanalysis, comics and graphic novels, autobiography, memory and Trauma studies, religious and queer studies. She published a chapter entitled "The Notion of Comics in Iran" within a contribution with University of Giessen in 2014.
Farida Guechoud-Orwin, Literature, Major Professor: TBD, Degree Expected: Spring 2022
Born in Algeria, of Amazigh (Berber) origin. Farida holds a Mastersin Philosophy of science from the University of Algiers and Second Master degree in Theories of Science from University Paris 8. She has taught philosophy to high school students for seven year. Since arriving in the United States, she has taught Arabic and French in Chicago, Boston and Baton Rouge, where she worked for the public schools. In her research, she examines theories of language and literature in the history of philosophy, including Aristotle on Greek literature, Al-Farabi on Islamic literature, and now Rousseau of French literature.
Ashley Holt, Literature, Major Professor: TBD, Degree Expected: Spring 2022
A Florida native, Ashley holds a BA and MA in French Literature from Florida State University. After earning her MA in 2011, she spent the next several years living and working in Washington, DC and Catania, Sicily, where she was a contributing writer to The Greenwood Encyclopedia of the Daily Life of Women. Her research interests are in Medieval and Renaissance Franco-Italian literature.
Jeanne Jegousso, Literature. Minors: Anthropology, Comparative Literature. Major Professors: Pius Ngandu, Adelaide Russo. Degree expected: May 2019.
Jeanne received her BA from François Rabelais University in Tours, France with a dual major in French Literature and Teaching French as a Second Language and a minor in Visual Arts and Theater. She then taught French for one year at Bucknell University (Lewisburg, Pennsylvania). Jeanne completed her MA in French studies at LSU in 2014 where she created "LSU in Guadeloupe", a new study abroad program. She was the President of the Graduate Student Caucus of Modern Languages in 2017. She is the co-founder of the Library of Glissant Studies.
In her doctoral dissertation, she develops a study of modern literature through the lens of Édouard Glissant's concept of dépassement. To demonstrate this concept in a literary context, she analyzes novels written by Alfred Alexandre, Ananda Devi, Ali Zamir, and Édouard Glissant. By transcending languages and literary genres, these modern texts call for a new critical and theoretical approach to Francophone studies, which can only be achieved through the elaboration of dépassement. Her academic interests include: French and Francophone literature, Caribbean and Oceanic studies, Postcolonial studies, Folkore, Cultural Anthropology.
Tomas Martin, Literature. Minor: Comparative Literature. Major professor: Alexandre Leupin. Degree expected: May 2020.
Tomás was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and grew up in the New York City area. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts with a BA in English Literature in 1994. Through Middlebury College, he earned an MA in French at the University of Paris-Nanterre in 1996. Having studied medieval literature briefly with the late Karl Uitti at Princeton University, Tomás earned an MA and an MPhil in French at Yale University in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Between 2004 and 2014, he lived in Harlem, New York, where he taught French language at Columbia University and the Trevor Day School. Tomás and his wife, Paula, now call New Orleans their adoptive city. His interests are in medieval literature, Edouard Glissant, linguistic and cultural creolization, and narrative theory. His dissertation concerns the transformability of genre and language in the 14th Century Venice Four Franco-Italian Chanson de Roland.
Phuong Nguyen, Linguistics. Major Professor: TBA. Degree expected: May 2022.
Phuong comes from Vietnam, an Asian country. She received a Master degree in French linguistics in France in 2011. After graduation, she came back to Vietnam to teach French for Vietnamese students in the National University of Vietnam. At this time, her interest is in linguistics and sociolinguistics.
Mathilde Pointiere, Literature. Major Professor: Alexandre Leupin. Degree expected: May 2020.
Mathilde received her BA in English literature, linguistics and civilization from the University of Poitiers. She completed her MA in French literature at the University of Oregon in 2015. She took a year off from school to teach at the Alliance Française in Portland, Oregon. Her research interestsare medieval and Renaissance literature.
Darina Pugacheva, Literature. Major Professor: Kate Jensen. Degree expected: Spring 2019.
Darina Pugacheva is a graduate of Yaroslavl Pedagogical University in Russia, and holds an MA in French and Translation from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. In her dissertation entitled "If They Won't Tell You, the Hair Will": Hair Narrative in Contemporary Women's Writing she studies the representations of women's hair and hair narrative in the writing of Anglophone and Francophone female authors from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Nigeria and the United States. Her research interests also include literary translation and translation theories.
Arnaud Tcheutou, Literature. Major Professor: Pius Ngandu. Degree expected: May 2019.
Arnaud Tcheutou completed his Bachelor's and his Master's degree in Black African Literature at the University of Douala in Cameroon. He is currently working on a PhD in Francophone Literature. Research interests: African Literary theory, African oral literature, feminism, and literary texts of Ancient Egypt.
MA Students
Edouard d'Espalungue. Literature. Major Professor: TBD Degree Expected: 2021.
Edouard d'Espalungue received his BS in Economics from Aix-Marseille University in France and completed his MA in International Business at Queen's University in Canada. He previously worked for KPMG in the Deal Advisory practice. He is currently the Vice President of the French Graduate Student Association and a SG Senator representing Graduate Students. His research interests include French literature and the Industrial Revolution.
Rachelle Mosing, Literature. Major Professor: TBA. Degree expected: May 2019.
Rachelle is from the Lafayette area, in the heart of Cajun country. She received a B.A. in both French and International Studies, as well as a minor in Arabic from LSU. After graduation, she moved to Chateauroux, France to teach English as part of the government program, TAPIF. At this time, her interest is in Francophone literature of Africa and the Middle East.


text: Fantabulous Outsmart Waste Have you ever thought of what nice things you could make out of garbage? This website shows you how to help the world by sending them your Ruffles and Tang packets, among others, to be recycled. What a cool idea! Visit www.terracycle.com.br or www.terracycle.co.uk Advertisements Share this:FacebookTwitterPrintTumblrPinterestLike this:Like Loading... Related


text:
With these herb scissors from RSVP, cutting tricky fresh herbs is a snap. You can easily chiffonade basil, mince chives, and snip scallions into tasty miso-soup-size rings. Since the scissors have several blades, you can cut an entire stalk of herbs in only a few scissor strokes.
The kicker is the awesome price: at around $10, the tool is totally accessible in addition to being useful. You can check out the herb scissors as well as some customer reviews at their page on Amazon.


text:
Ahead of Mother's Day we've put together come thoughts on Mum love from the G&S team.....
Not to try and make myself sound tough, but I'm not a crier. That's not to say I don't get sad - as I get older there seem to be more and more things to be sad about - but I have to really squeeze for an actual tear to come out. Remember that classic Christmas rom-com, The Holiday, when Cameron Diaz has to listen to sad songs to try and make herself cry after a break up... that's me. So when, a week after giving birth to my son, and it was time for my Mum to leave and I burst into floods of uncontrollable tears, I had a sense of something going on that was more than just hormones.
Alicia & Monty, Photo by Harriet Croft Photography
During that first whirlwind week of Motherhood, my Mum was an absolute lifesaver, and I think that 30 years down the line through those salty tears I finally understood this unconditional Mum-love that people far more emotionally aware than me always talked about. I guess part of me was surprised at how much I had relied on her that first week and how good she had been.
My Mum isn't a traditional mother hen type that coos over babies and throws on a pinny to whip up a stew (or so I thought). She's a fashion editor with a busy schedule who's just blown in from the shows - she takes her homelife seriously too but stay-at-home gran she is not. So I think I was taken aback a bit when she put aside a whole week to care for me and my baby. She gently encouraged me when I was in toe-curling pain during those first few feeds, she rustled up warming stews and puddings, and came in and took Monty in the early hours when I was desperate for a few hours shut-eye. She'd nipped down to London for a couple of hours one afternoon to give my husband and I some alone time as a family but was back by the evening to help with the witching hour.
After the arrival of Monty I soon realised that really that is what being a Mum is all about. It is that unconditional desire to make that little or even grown up person feel safe and feel loved and that reassurance that everything is going to be OK. As the weeks drew into months of sleepness nights with our little night owl, I soon learned that no matter how grumpy and tired I was, no matter how frustrated at how badly he slept, that feeling of love for him simply doesn't wane.
One of the things I was most worried about pre kids was the mundane monotony of it all. And sometimes now when we are reading the same Bing Bunny book for the 200th night in the row after the same bed time schedule that we have night after night I'm amazed at how I haven't got bored, and actually I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd do anything to keep this little monkey happy and I always will.. almost enough to bring a tear to my eye... almost.
I'm only just beginning my journey as a mother- Edith turns 8 months next week – and it already feels like she's been here all my life! I have huge respect for all mums out there. It is a challenging road with so many do's and don'ts, making it hard sometimes to navigate your own way.
Steph's daughter Edith and her Mum Nicola
I'm from a large family - 6 kids! Yes I know, how did my mum do it?! Set the practical part of being a mum to one side, it's all the emotion and constant worry of your children that terrifies me. Knowing that you can never switch OFF. Mum hasn't always been the most punctual or practical mum but she's always been there for us 100%, listening to each of us from our heartbreaks to work challenges, she's often on the phone to one of us for an hour at a time, giving us her advice and support. With 6 kids this can take up most her day! It's the constant emotional support and the belief that each of us is unique that I'm so grateful for. She is a best friend to all of us and something that I love about mum is that she is totally accepting of who we are - never wanting to change us.
I realise more and more that being a mum isn't valued enough in society despite it being the hardest of all jobs. Bringing children into this world is no easy task. As Edith and I muddle our way through the next months and years I hope I can pass on the love and support my mum has given me.


text:
When you first launch Teradata Studio, it presents a dialog box to create an initial connection. Is there a way to suppress this dialog box?
@tsalonia, Once you create the first connection profile, it will not display again. It pops this up as a convenience since there isn't much you can do without a database connection profile.


text:
Final Fantasy Type-0 localization is in the works/
Finally! Final Fantasy Type-0, the latest Final Fantasy game to hit the PSP, may soon see a release out of Japan.
The Final Fantasy Type-0 Ultimania Guide just hit retail today and contains an interview with Type-0 direction Hajime Tataba and he mentions that the development team is working on an overseas version of the game.
This is great but not surpising news as Final Fantasy is still a pretty big name and would be a perfect final game for Sony's aging handheld. I've tried the Japanese demo of the game is it seems pretty solid. Hopefully this game gets a release date before or shortly after the PSVita's release set for February 22 early next year.
Source [Andriasang]


text:
Connect With Us
Self Health Empowerment Movement
- a non-profit, non-stock organization(NGO) whose mission is to spread health empowering education to the people and whose strategy is to focus on the consciousness level because it is at this level that the root cause of all problems of society originate.
(SEC Reg. No. CN201425486)
(BPI Acct. No. 9061-0085-59)
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
July 8-12th: Garden-to-Table Cooking
July 15-19th: Storybook Adventures
July 22-26th: Animal Safari
July 29-Aug 2nd: Nature Crafts
July 8-12th: Animal Safari
July 15-19th: Nature Crafts
July 22-26th: Rock Hunt!
July 29-Aug 2nd: Storybook Adventures
Aug 5-9th: Animal Safari
Aug 12-16th: Nature Crafts
Aug 19-23rd: Garden-to-Table Cooking
Aug 26-30th: Storybook Adventures
July 8-12th: Geocache Seattle!
July 15-19th: Garden-to-Table Cooking
July 22-26th: Survival Skills - Rule of 3
July 29-Aug 2nd: Sealab 2019
July 8-12th: Survival Skills - Rule of 3
July 15-19th: Sealab 2019
July 22-26th: Geocache Seattle!
July 29-Aug 2nd: Garden-to-Table Cooking
Aug 5-9th: Survival Skills - Rule of 3
Aug 12-16th: Geocache Seattle!
Aug 19-23rd: Geocache Seattle!
Aug 26-30th: Garden-to-Table Cooking


text:
Your Manifestors
No doubt you are creating the reality you are in, but how? How do we create this situation? Here are your manifestors: Beliefs, Feelings, interpretations, perceptions, choices, and actions. That's all you have to change, Simple, yes. Easy, not so much...
Let me break it down:
Beliefs: What do you believe about what you are trying to create and how it should be? How is the situation you're in going against those beliefs?
Feelings: What feelings represent for you in the situation? Are you managing them?
Interpretations: How are you interpreting those feelings? What meaning are you assigning to them?
Perceptions: What does it look like to you through these beliefs and feelings and interpretations? What are you seeing and telling yourself? What is the story you are creating?
Choices: You are choosing constantly from these feelings and perceptions: Do you know what you're choosing?
Actions: Through the actions you take you have results that you create. When you change your actions, you change your reality. Start by changing one belief, one premise that you are operating under, and you change what you are creating in the world.


text:
- This event has passed.
ISC West 2018
2018/04/11 - 2018/04/13
The International Security Conference & Exposition – also known as ISC West – is the largest event in the U.S. for the physical security industry, covering Access Control, Alarms & Monitoring, Biometrics, IP Security, Video Surveillance / CCTV, Networked Security Products and more. At ISC West, you'll discover the newest security products & security technology, network with colleagues & security professionals, and gain valuable security industry training & knowledge to keep you ahead through SIA Education@ISC.


text:
Idfy Prove utilizes the Ethereum blockchain to create a strong evidence for your log entries and data, so that you can have a high level of confidence in the proofs that you create.
By using Idfy Prove, you can create and validate secure evidence trails for e.g. critical system events or other data for which you want to establish a high level of confidence and non-repudiation.


text:
The lack of qualified professionals to do medical translations is concerning, article shows.
According to an article published on Emergency Physicians, the number of Nationally Certified Medical Interpreters is only 3,000 in a universe of almost 30 million LEP patients. That means only 1 interpreter for every 10,000 patients, states Olivia Norrmén-Smith and Raviraj Patel in "Lost in Translation? Here is the map".
Even though some Hospitals may have their own internal qualification and allocation processes for interpreters, according to the article, "residents nonetheless reported great difficulty in accessing qualified in-person interpretation through approved channels."This is concerning, once the quality of healthcare of these patients relies on a good communication skill. Misunderstandings may lead to errors that could be even fatal in the worst case scenario.
Olivia explains that the difficulties in obtaining a good certified professional, in many cases, leads to the use of unqualified interpreters or even family members. "Residents reported feeling "frustrated" and "powerless" or doing more guesswork, testing, and omitting conversations", concludes.
Read the full article HERE.


text:
The scientists have successfully developed a speech reorganization system that can convert speech to text on cell phones. The scientists have explained it as a result of machine learning.
The scientists have developed this method by keeping the cost and time consuming transcribing recordings in mind. Besides the scientists were focused on building a machine to learn language more like the way humans do. Thus, the researchers have developed such system that can break the barriers of limited speech recognition system.
According to the scientists, currently people use to train up speech recognizers that are much organized. They get a statement and then told what's said. And you do this for a large body of data. However through this new method, the computer pores through thousands or even more than millions of audio files and their transcriptions and learns which acoustic features write to which typed words.
The scientists have also added that there are 7000 languages and less than 2 percent have
Content Source: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/12/161207140728.htm
Image: http://www.slideshare.net/diptimayasarangi/speech-recognition-system-seminar
Enhance Your Skills With Our Experts


text:
Take a Minute with Joe and Jon
Take a Minute is a beautiful experiment where Jon and Joe open a studio or space and rapidly create pieces of design using two colors and a single screen. One of them starts with a base layer and then the other builds on top. It's improv design. There's no brief or clear destination in mind. The objective is to create. Fast. I love that they're doing this.
Stay tuned for the next TAM at either of their instagram accounts linked in the caption above.


text: I cannot believe that the temperature is this high! I'm guessing that it's because of the ozone layer. Anyways, this was mentioned in one of the newspapers today. Our tarsheed average has reached its maximum! Any minute now there might be no electricity. I don't blame anyone for using this much power (mostly for airconditioning of course.) I mean, who wouldn't when the temparature is this high?! However, I do encourage that we start using less power, so that we won't be at risk of having no power at all.


text:
I've checked in some makefile and configure changes to how add-ons work.
I've nominally tested things, but there are probably some loose ends.
Please keep an eye out for new oddities in your builds.
I have not yet updated maint.texi; if anyone wants to lend a hand with
that, it would be more than welcome. For maintaining and using add-ons,
these are the differences:
* Add-ons no longer need to be unpacked inside the libc source tree. An
add-on directory can be located anywhere. In the --enable-add-ons option
you can list absolute directory names, or names relative to the source
directory (I expect this will be the most common,
e.g. ../glibc-ports-2.4), or names relative to the build directory.
For those maintaining and distributing add-on tarballs, they can now
contain a subdirectory called glibc-foobar-VERSION or whatever, in the
normal convention.
* An add-on is not automatically added as a subdir in the libc build.
To unconditionally add subdirs, an add-on's configure fragment must
set the libc_add_on_subdirs variable to a list of subdirectories.
This list can include . as a member to treat the add-on directory as a
libc build subdir, as in the old style; libidn/configure.in does this.
Build subdirs (still) may instead be included via sysdeps/.../Subdirs files.
(This is how nptl works.)
* An add-on need not have a configure fragment. An add-on that contains a
sysdeps/ directory tree does not need also have a configure fragment if
it has nothing to do. Its sysdeps/ directories will still contribute to
the search list, and any sysdeps/.../configure fragments will be run.
For --enable-add-ons=yes, it will look for any subdirectories that
contain either a sysdeps directory or a configure fragment.
Each add-on is automatically searched for sysdeps/*/preconfigure fragments.
This matches what the ports add-on's configure fragment used to do.
These fragments are intended only to canonicalize $machine and $base_machine,
so that the sysdeps search list will work. This is now implicit so that
add-on ports can contain nothing but the sysdeps/ directories for the port.
* configure fragment must set libc_add_on_canonical. If an add-on has a
configure fragment, it must set the variable libc_add_on_canonical to
empty or to something. This is the canonical name of the add-on, that's
used as a possible subdirectory in the sysdeps tree of other add-ons;
e.g. "linuxthreads", regardless of what the name of the add-on directory is.
* For each add-on that supplies sysdeps directories, its top-level
directory is automatically added to the -I list (immediately after
sysdeps directories). This is so that #include <sysdeps/...> in add-on
code can work to find other code in the add-on.
Note that this means that an add-on <sysdeps/foo.c> can no longer use
#include <sysdeps/foo.c> to get the main source tree's file by the same
name. Instead, it can be done with some machinations using #include_next.
There are several examples of this in nptl that I changed.
* sysdeps/generic directories in add-ons are no longer used.
The -I switch for the top-level add-on directory means that
headers can go there instead of in a sysdeps/generic subdirectory,
and still be found by compilations in whichever build subdir.
I've probably forgotten something else I should mention.
|Free forum by Nabble
|Edit this page


text:
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Paris yesterday for the start of the COP21 UN Conference on climate change summit. During his two-day stay in Paris, Xi will meet with other heads of state, deliver a speech on Monday and try to breath in all the air he can before arriving back in Beijing on Sunday.
With Xi leaving the capital yesterday, Beijing issued its highest smog alert of the year, upgrading the yellow warning which has been in place for the past few days to orange, second only to red, you don't want to know what red looks like.
Under the orange weather alert mechanism, industrial plants are required to reduce or shut down production; construction sites should stop the transportation of materials and waste while heavy-duty trucks are banned from the roads.
The upgraded smog alert comes as China announces it has achieved the pollution reduction targets for major pollutants outlined in its 12th Five Year Plan six months ahead of schedule. It also comes after reports that China is burning 17% more coal than it says it is.
Cities in the northeast of China frequently experience high levels of air pollution during winter due to the concentration of heavy industry and coal-fired power plants in the region. Today the AQI in some parts of Beijing has soared to 500, its highest possible level. At levels higher than 300, residents are encouraged to remain indoors.
Beijing's stunning World Trade Centre #COP21 pic.twitter.com/Q0OOUZdax0
— Tom Phillips (@tomphillipsin) November 30, 2015
Beijing takes up fight against global warming by blocking out sun. pic.twitter.com/SSoUfaWwNz
— Chris Buckley 储百亮 (@ChuBailiang) November 30, 2015
However, the problem isn't confined to the northeast. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that in 2014 only eight of the country's 74 largest cities had passed the government's basic air quality standards.
According to the ministry, 23 cities across China have been seriously affected by the heavy pollution. They expect a cold front to come in on Wednesday and help clean up the air, but here's what it looked like last night.
Nanjing, Jiangsu province.
Lu'an, Anhui province.
Lu'an, Anhui province.
Lu'an, Anhui province.
Lu'an, Anhui province.
Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.
Lianyungang, Jiangsu province.
Meanwhile in Paris…
For the climate's sake, maybe they should think about holding the conference in Beijing next time.
[Images via NetEase]


text:
But does the Vikings game matter even more? I believe it does.
The Steelers (or at least the team's fans) thought this season should have been a cakewalk. The team returned nearly all of its starters. The schedule was much easier. And Coach Tomlin would keep the crew focused.
But after six games, this Steeler team hasn't played like a Super Bowl contender. Maybe that's a little harsh seeing as though the team is 4-2. But the Steelers schedule thus far has been a joke. Football Outsiders ranks it as the second easiest schedule in the league.
The four teams they beat have a combined record of 4-19.
Tennessee (0-6)
San Diego (2-3)
Detroit (1-5)
Cleveland (1-5)
Tennessee, Detroit, and Cleveland are probably three of the five worst teams in the league. And the Steelers only beat one of them by double digits. Although they've outplayed each of their opponents, little mistakes have kept the Steelers from closing the deal in losses and blowout wins against lesser competition.
The Steelers have no wins against teams with a winning record. The two losses were to Cincinatti (4-2) and Chicago (3-2). Granted they were on the road, but neither of those teams are juggernauts. They are not teams a Super Bowl contender would lose to.
Nonetheless, at 4-2, the Steelers are in fine shape to position themselves for a playoff run. But, the joke part of the schedule is over. Of the last 10 games, 7 of them are against legitimate playoff contenders. The team needs to start playing better to keep itself in contention.
Which brings us to why this game is so important. If the Steelers want to show the world that they are still an elite team, this is the time to do it. At home. Against the 6-0 Vikings. A win would put the team in great shape at 5-2 going into the bye. Confidence would be high. Polamalu will have time to rest. And the early collapses will be forgotten. A loss would leave the team at 4-3, with no quality wins. And a tough schedule left to face. It's only a one game difference, but it seems a lot bigger than that.
It's easy to forget, but at this time last year, Mike Tomlin had no signature wins. He got enough last season for an entire career. But it's time to get the first one in 2009.
I'm avoiding predictions - the team lost the last two games I predicted - but the Steelers are 4.5 point favorites. Time to remind America, and the purple, Wrangler-loving quarterback, that the black and gold are still World Champions.


text:
Pinkamena Diane Pie, or "Pinkie Pie" for short, is an earth pony with a pink body, blue eyes and magenta mane and tail. She is one of the eight original 2003 Ponies (called G3) and one of the Core Seven friends as leader in the G3.5 incarnation of the toyline. She maintains most of her appearance, but with her mane and tail color (usually, her body used to be pink, and her mane & tail a lighter shade) and cutie mark (originally 3 balloons with curved strings) changed slightly; her new cutie mark matches Surprise's, a pegasus pony from the 1980s series, but the balloons are colored blue and yellow instead of purple. Born as Pinkamena Diane Pie, Pinkie Pie is a baker/confectioner at the Sugarcube Corner and a party planner, but is very funny, talkative, a bit air-headed, and quite random at times. She also enjoys singing and playing pranks, sometimes with Rainbow Dash's help, but will not play any on Fluttershy due to her sensitive nature. In "Swarm of the Century", she makes a musician out of herself regardless of some other ponies' concerns about the Parasprites. Her behavior is frequently random and chaotic at times and she has been known to break the fourth wall. There is seldom a day without Pinkie's smile. She possesses the "Pinkie Sense," an ability to predict events in the immediate future through twitches of various body parts, as well as a photographic or Eidetic memory. When she becomes sad enough, her mane and tail go from curly to completely straight and her pink coloration loses its brightness, matching her appearance during her unhappy youth on a rock farm before she earned her cutie mark. While she usually hops around, Pinkie is exceptionally quick when running, able to keep pace with and chase down a hurrying, airborne Rainbow Dash. She represents the Element of Laughter. She has a toothless pet alligator named Gummy.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


text:
POP Feedback Week 4 28/09/18
Would you welcome Headlice Checks done once a term at school by school staff? (It goes without saying that the staff would be discreet and confidential if they found any lice or eggs)
We had 70 positive and grateful replies - all saying things on the lines of "yes please" and "we think this is a great idea!"
We then had 12 negative replies:
- I don't feel that the problem with Headlice is the finding of them; it is more the treatment to remove them. Some parents cannot be bothered with this, so I feel you may be wasting staff's time.
- I check my own child's hair as we wash it twice a week. I'm not sure it is right for school to 'check' children's hair, but do think if they suspect or see lice during normal lessons they should tell parents. I'm sure school staff could be better used to aid children's learning, and parents should take responsibility for their own child's health and cleanliness.
- I personally think this is the responsibility of the parents, and can't see it having any impact only being done once a term.
- No. This is parent's responsibility.
- No. I feel that should be left to parents.
- No – I feel teachers have enough to do and it's a parental responsibility!
- Which staff? Staff are employed to educate and/or support children with their learning. As a school with tight budgets & attainment targets, we question how this can be practical? It's a parents/carers responsibility.
- I believe that this is very much the role of a parent. I would not wish for my child to be subject to a termly headlice check at school.
- Absolutely NOT!
- No!
- I check my children regularly, so don't feel as this is an issue.
- We check at home.
And 6 replies with queries:
- No – I check my children are checked on a regular basis. However, if a teacher suspected headlice, I believe they should be able to check that child and inform the parent discreetly.
- Yes – would be happy for this if done in a controlled manner!! (My primary school once had an epidemic when the head combed every child's head with the same comb!!)
- Yes – but what is your action if/when lice or eggs are found? Tell parents? Send children home until treated etc ………. What if it's the same children each check?
- Is this really the teacher's job? Happy either way but this should be completed by parents (unfortunately I appreciate this is not the case).
- Yes, this would be wonderful. To what extent would 'discoveries' be confidential? In the past my child has had head lice on two occasions. I informed the school immediately and assumed other parents would be informed so that they could check/take evasive action, but nothing ever came. I ended up going around at pick up letting all the parents know myself.
- I do not feel this is the role of a teacher and parents should take responsibility to check their child. However if this is what will happen I am happy for my children to be checked.
So - in response to this data, here is a copy of the nit check letter sent out, along with information on how to completely eradicate Head Lice from our school.


text:
The speaker of Vanuatu's parliament Marcellino Pipite says he will appeal the Supreme Court decision upholding the opposition's application for a vote of no confidence against the Sato Kilman-led Government.
The court yesterday ordered parliament to reconvene next Tuesday to hear the motion, declaring that last week's decision by Mr Pipite to rule out the motion of no confidence was in breach of the applicants' constitutional right to have debated their motion of no confidence.
The Daily Post reports that Justice Dudley Aru's ruling also declares that the new speaker's move to close parliament last week was unlawful.
Mr Pipite, who was installed as speaker by the Kilman government last week in one if its first moves since removing the government of Joe Natuman, is quoted on Radio Vanuatu News this morning as saying he will appeal.


text:
Why Your Online Reputation Matters
Even though the Internet has become a source of knowledge, power, and entertainment over the past few years, many people have not yet realized how much of a necessity it is, nor realized its potential to be an excellent tool for marketing. As a result, people are left to wonder why their online reputation matters so much.
Businesses Look At You
Now, some companies conduct business strictly through online resources. With this in mind, it's no shock that businesses will research you when deciding something about you.
For example, if you were asked to interview for a job, it is very likely that a business has already looked through your social media profiles or simply Googled you to discover more information. Using the Internet as a tool to research someone is very common and a very important reason why your online reputation matters so much.
Increases Your Visibility
By increasing your online reputation, you gain the ability for important companies, businesses, and people to see you. Gaining a better reputation allows you to be on the first page of search results, talked about in blog posts, and much more.
Of course, if you were to have a negative reputation, these things might still occur, but you would not be getting the kind of attention that you want, both for yourself and for your career. This is why positively increasing your reputation online is so important.
Builds Trust
Creating a positive online reputation allows you to build trust. Whether you're trying to come off as trustworthy to your clients and consumers, businesses on the edge of partnering with you, or potential big time companies and people, having a good online reputation allows for them to feel secure in your hands.
Even better, though, is what happens after gaining their trust. Building a positive online reputation allows you to seem more trustworthy, which allows you to make more decisions and move up in your career field. Having a positive online reputation and using the right tools to get ahead are what you need to be successful.
Makes You Marketable
Whether you own your own company or you're looking for a company to call home, having an excellent online reputation allows for you to market yourself. If you have your own company, you can market your products through your social media profiles instead of just ads, which allows you to save money.
If you're looking for a business or company to join, having an online reputation allows bigger and better companies to see you, convincing them that you're the right pick and that you already have the marketability to be successful.
Having an excellent online reputation is necessary in order to be successful on the Internet today. Without it, you're looking at working your way up the hard way, dealing with companies that will take advantage of you and people that don't think your worth it. This is why your online reputation matters.


text:
Letters of Distinction. Lives of Excellence.
Director of Recruitment
Anthony Garofalo
Beta Iota Class
Fill out our Rush Interest Form
About Delt's Recruitment
Delts recruit men who are determined to make a difference on their campus and in their community. Joining the newly established, intimate chapter of Delta Tau Delta at Virginia Tech will provide a unique opportunity to shape the fraternity's future and guide the chapter in becoming one of the most distinguished on campus.
Formal Recruitment: The Hokie Delts mainly recruit during the Virginia Tech Interfraternity Council's formal recruitment period that takes place for about two weeks near the beginning of both fall and spring semesters. During this period, we host rush events where potential new members can come meet brothers. Potential new members may attend as many or as few events as they would like.
Closed Recruitment: At the end of the two week formal recruitment period is a closed rush event where recruits may attend only if invited. This is a more formal event in which the prospective new members will learn more about the Iota Zeta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta from pledging to brotherhood. Closed Rush also gives the fraternity one last look at to whom we would like to give a bid (an invitation to join the fraternity).
Bid Handout and Acceptance: After closed recruitment, we will extend bids to the men we wish to join our brotherhood. The recruit is given 48 hours to accept or decline the bid.
365 Recruitment: In addition to the formal recruitment period, Delts recruit men throughout the entire year, hence "365 Recruitment." This means that at any point in the year we may extend a bid to whoever we'd like. Therefore, we invite prospective members to some of our smaller brotherhood events throughout the semester so they can meet brothers and potentially be invited to join the fraternity.
Take a look at the Rush Schedule and come out and meet some of the brothers of Delta Tau Delta. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me via phone or email, and fill out the form to sign up for our email list.


text:
Fernando Alonso confirms F1 departure with emotional statement
FERNANDO ALONSO has confirmed he will leave Formula One at the end of the season.
Fernando Alonso will not race in Formula One in 2019
McLaren were keen to keep the two-time World Champion in their ranks but he has now decided to leave F1 ahead of the 2019 campaign.
However, the 37-year-old is expected to stay within motorsport, although there has yet to be any confirmation of his next move.
It is widely expected he will move to the United States to race in the IndyCar series in order to complete the 'Triple Crown'.
"After 17 wonderful years in this amazing sport, it's time for me to make a change and move on," Alonso said in a statement.
"I have enjoyed every single minute of those incredible seasons and I cannot thank enough the people who have contributed to make them all so special.
"There are still several grands prix to go this season, and I will take part in them with more commitment and passion than ever.
"Let's see what the future brings; new exciting challenges are around the corner. I'm having one of the happiest times ever in my life but I need to go on exploring new adventures.
"I want to thank everyone at McLaren. My heart is with the team forever. I know they will come back stronger and better in the future and it could be the right moment for me to be back in the series; that would make me really happy. I have built so many great relationships with many fantastic people at McLaren, and they have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and race in other categories. I feel I am a more complete driver now than ever.
"I made this decision some months ago and it was a firm one. Nevertheless, I would like to sincerely thank Chase Carey and Liberty Media for the efforts made to change my mind and everyone who has contacted me during this time.
"Finally, I would also like to thank my former teams, team-mates, competitors, colleagues, partners, journalists and everyone I have worked with in my F1 career. And, especially, my fans all over the world. I am quite sure our paths will cross again in the future."
Meanwhile, McLaren chief executive officer Zak Brown added: "Fernando is not only an outstanding ambassador for McLaren but also for Formula 1. His 17 years in the sport, as arguably the pre-eminent driver of his generation and undoubtedly an F1 great, have added another layer to Formula 1's rich history.
"There is a time for everyone to make a change and Fernando has decided the end of this season to be his. We respect his decision, even if we believe he is in the finest form of his career. Our open dialogue with Fernando has meant we could plan for this eventuality.
"While evaluating his future during the past months, Fernando's competitiveness has been undimmed.
"He has continued to perform at the highest level throughout, as we know he will do in the remaining nine races of this year's championship.
"I know that the entire team joins me in paying tribute to Fernando's enormous contribution to McLaren; he is a legend both for the championship and for the team.
"Fernando is an important part of our story and will join an illustrious line of McLaren drivers. On behalf of Shaikh Mohammed, Mansour and our entire board, we wish Fernando every success in the future."


text:
12. 01. 2004
LifeGem Human Carbon "Diamonds"
LifeGems are diamonds made from the carbon contained in human ashes. With 8 ounces of "cremains", enough carbon can be extracted to make a synthetic diamond. The process takes several months. LifeGems can be made in sizes from .25 carats (about $2500) to a full carat ($14,000) and come in round, radiant, or princess cuts. Pet LifeGems are available as well.
"I think more people are looking for more-personal ways to remember somebody," says Dean VandenBiesen, LifeGem's vice president of operations. "Rather than having ongoing mourning for someone's loss, people are wanting to celebrate a life. The LifeGem is just another way to do that, versus having a weeping, somber occasion."
From USA Today.
Posted by Mia
Email this | Comments (0)


text:
Booz Allen Commercial delivers advanced cyber defenses to the Fortune 500 and Global 2000. We are technical practitioners and cyber-focused management consultants with unparalleled experience – we know how cyber-attacks happen and how to defend against them.
Our strategy and technology consultants have empowered our international clients with the knowledge and experience they need to build their own local resources and capabilities.
In facing challenges of modernization, our Middle East and North Africa clients have complex requirements that benefit from our proven experience in guiding major programs and projects for governments and private-sector organizations. The services we offer in UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan, and other regional countries build on our consulting legacy.
Our clients call upon us to work on their hardest problems—delivering effective health care, protecting warfighters and their families, keeping our national infrastructure secure, bringing into focus the traditional boundaries between consumer products and manufacturing as those boundaries blur.
Booz Allen was founded on the notion that we could help companies succeed by bringing them expert, candid advice and an outside perspective on their business. The analysis and perspective generated by that talent can be found in the case studies and thought leadership produced by our people.
Explore our featured teams and missions. Search openings and find out how you can support our meaningful missions.
Continue your mission with us. Get advice from our recruiting team, and browse our FAQs.
Seeking an internship or entry-level position? Learn about the impact you can make on our team.
Find out more about our application process, explore our benefits, and review our FAQs.
Learn more about Booz Allen's diverse culture and environment of inclusion that fosters respect and opportunity for all employees.
Our 26,300 engineers, scientists, software developers, technologists, and consultants live to solve problems that matter. We're proud of the diversity throughout our organization, from our most junior ranks to our board of directors and leadership team.
Booz Allen takes pride in a culture that encourages and rewards the many dimensions of leadership—innovative thinking, active collaboration, and personal service. We're particularly proud of the diversity of our Leadership Team and Board of Directors, among the most diverse in corporate America today.
As chief counsel for Booz Allen, I help the firm negotiate transactions, develop solutions to complex legal questions, provide training on substantive legal topics, keep abreast of legislative and administrative changes that affect the organization, resolve disputes, and adapt to ever-changing compliance requirements. In an environment that's as innovative and complex as Booz Allen's—with new offerings and programs—my focus is continuously evolving.
From my perspective, motivating people is about finding the right intersection between organizational requirements and individual interests, skills, and talents. Once that's found, motivation and employee engagement naturally follow.
Josh Petty is the firm's chief counsel. In this role, Josh works collaboratively across the firm with various stakeholders and is responsible for leading various legal initiatives, providing management with legal advice, playing a major part in managing the legal department, and collaborating with outside counsel on certain complex legal matters.
Josh's areas of legal expertise include commercial and government contracting, compliance programs, crisis management, corporate investigations, data protection, technology transactions, intellectual property, dispute resolution, and risk assessments.
Before joining Booz Allen, Josh was a managing director at Accenture where he held several senior positions in the company's legal group. Josh co-led a team of approximately 70 lawyers, numerous outside counsel, and contractor resources that handled thousands of client transactions annually, representing over $9 billion in annual revenue across all of the company's North America operations. Josh also served as Accenture's global government compliance officer and implemented several compliance initiatives including enhanced policies, procedures, and training materials for the company's global government compliance program.
Before joining Accenture, Josh worked for Lockheed Martin Mission Systems.
Josh earned his B.B.A. in finance from The George Washington University, his M.S. in international business from Johns Hopkins University, and his J.D. from John Marshall School of Law.
What excites you most about working as corporate counsel? In-house counsel benefit from the unique position of being imbedded with company leadership, understanding the company culture, and appreciating the relevant business context, which is a particularly important factor in providing the best possible legal advice. I love solving problems and advancing the business, so whether it's negotiating a client contract or resolving a dispute, I enjoy advising my internal clients—the firm's leaders—on how to navigate complex situations. I enjoy being a businessman who happens to be a lawyer.
That seems more like something that a strategist would say rather than an attorney. That's how I describe myself: a businessman who happens to be a lawyer. I am honored to participate in several leadership teams across the firm and when I participate with these teams I don't want to be viewed solely as a lawyer. I want to be an integrated part of a business. I have been fortunate to work with great people, great companies, and great brands. Helping the company reach new levels of success while advancing the careers of my colleagues is something that is particularly meaningful to me.
Why do you work at Booz Allen? Our people, purpose, and values are why I work for Booz Allen. I am drawn to Booz Allen for its broader mission. Because we support our clients with important mission-critical initiatives, there's a higher, broader purpose, without question. I am passionate about the firm's purpose: empower people to change the world.
Do you have any tips for younger professionals? Network (including finding several mentors), ask questions, and find your passion. And don't specialize too early. One of the secrets to happiness is establishing and maintaining good relationships. Another secret is finding a role that you are passionate about—do not follow a path unless it creates passion. Ultimately, many people measure satisfaction by the amount of time spent doing meaningful things with inspiring people. That can be both personal and professional.
Booz Allen's people-focused culture is a cornerstone of our history and how we're able to create an amazing workplace. Learn more by exploring our current openings.


text:
Plainfield Equipment stocks Pro-Tech Snow Boxes! Pro-Tech Sno Pushers have the superior design and construction you need to get those snow removal jobs done with ease. Come on in to learn more, or call us at 317-839-2448
The pullback Sno Pusher relieves the challenges and frustration of clearing snow away from hard-to-reach places. This versatile model can operate as a Rubber Edge Sno Pusher but with one quicj change of position, address tight areas that a standard containment plow cannot.
In addition, the Pullback Sno Pusher can save customers time and money by lessening the need to shovel or operate smaller equipment in tight areas.
Pullback models are designed with a space between the top mounted edge and the moldboard of the Snow Pusher unit, allowing hte operator to see through the opening to know how close they are to obstacles.
The original Sno Pusher. Considered by many to be the most popular containment plow or snow pusher in North America, the Rubber Edge Sno Pusher revolutionized the industry when it was first introduced in 1993.
This model features Pro-Tech Rubber, which is not only extremely durable but also versatile and allows contractors to tackle multiple types of surfaces.
Our Rubber, is formulated to have the correct combination of hardness, stiffness and flexibility- which combined with our Sno Pusher design, provides the optimum snow clearing performance for rubber edged units.
The new and improved Steel Edge Sno Pusher effectively attacks all types of surfaces, especially those that are unever or even covered in hard backed snow. The Sno Pusher's ability to scrape hard pack snow and ice can even reduce salt usage for some customers. Also, unlike a sectional snow pusher or other steel edge containment plows that have complicated trip edges, the Steel Edge Sno Pusher has minimal moving parts and uses a corrosion resistant poly urethane hinge instead of springs, bosses and levers.
The Steel Edge Sno Pusher has no stacking or speed limitations so push that pedal, drive into that pile of snow and get the job done better and faster.
The Pro-Tech Pusher is the first containment plow designed specifically for clearing snow away from sports turf fields.
This lightweight but durable unit smoothly glides over turf and field covers. Customers can now keep their sports fields operational at all times during the winter.
The Turf Pusher takes seconds to connect, saving time and minimizing labor associated with hydraulics and couplers. Multiple connection types are also available (Toro, Bobcat, John Deere, etc.).
Unlike conventional plows and brooms, the Turf Pusher has no moving parts, which minimizes or can even eliminate the time spent repairing equipment. The Turf Pusher uses fully welded construction that ensures strength and extreme durabiliyy. That also reduces corrosion from the inside out.


text:
It is common for families to use more than early childhood service and for children to be attending two or more.
So why does this happen?
How is a child affected by this?
And what can early childhood teachers do to help smooth the transitions and reduce any problems and negative effects?
Early childhood teachers, service providers and parents share their views, answers and strategies below.
To keep reading, login with your member's username and password
Here's how our membership plans work
- Individual Members can view all the individual member-only articles and our library of Research Journals.
- Full Early Childhood Service Members (staff and managers) can view everything including individual member articles, ECE research journals, and management and business (Go to the Join Us page for more details)
- Research Library subscribers have access only to our online library of Research Journals (this includes all past and current journal issues).
If you are not yet a member you are welcome to apply now - it takes only a few minutes to apply Go to the JOIN US page


text:
Earlier this week, The Huntington announced "COLLECTION/S: WCCW/five at The Huntington," an exhibition that will be on view in the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art from Nov. 18, 2017, through Feb. 12, 2018. Part of the second year of /five—The Huntington's five-year contemporary arts initiative focused on creative … Continue reading
Category Archives: Botanical
Five Lessons Learned in the California Garden
As you stroll through the Frances and Sidney Brody California Garden, you may find it hard to believe that, just a few years ago, the same space was used primarily as a walkway and parking lot. The new garden opened in 2015 as part of the Steven S. Koblik Education … Continue reading
Big Bonsai? Not Really
For Kyoto-based landscape designer Takuhiro Yamada, the tea garden he designed in The Huntington's Japanese Garden is a work in progress. Each year, he returns to check on its development and chooses a few areas where he can help infuse the plants, shrubs, and trees with a design aesthetic that … Continue reading
Recent Lectures: Feb. 23–April 12, 2017
Home to gorgeous gardens, spectacular art, and stunning rare books and manuscripts, The Huntington also offers an impressive slate of lectures and conferences on topics and themes related to its collections. Below are audio recordings of 10 recent lectures. Potosí, Silver, and the Coming of the Modern World (April 12, … Continue reading
Women Making Art
In 2016, The Huntington launched /five, a five-year contemporary arts initiative focused on creative collaboration. The plan? Each year, a different arts or cultural organization is selected to bring in artists to create works in response to The Huntington's library, art, and botanical collections in new and unforeseen ways. The … Continue reading
Autism Awareness at The Huntington
Children with autism react to sensory stimuli in very different ways. Some children on the autism spectrum are overly sensitive, while others are just the opposite. The Huntington offers a range of environments to suit any child's needs. "The Huntington can be a wonderful place for someone with autism because … Continue reading
Two Gifts from Master Bonsai Artists
One of the most iconic images of California is the coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia). With its rugged trunk, twisting branches, and broad canopy, it adds both power and grace to our native landscape. We're fortunate to have more than 200 coast live oaks on The Huntington property. We also … Continue reading
Caring for Camellias
The eastern side of the North Vista contains some of The Huntington's oldest and most precious cultivars of camellia. William Hertrich, Henry Huntington's superintendent of the gardens from 1903 to 1948, had a passion for the flowering plant and took advantage of San Marino's mild winter temperatures to plant many … Continue reading
Fairy Hunting at The Huntington
The next time you walk through the faux-bois trellises along the western edge of The Huntington's Rose Garden, see if you can find a small door, carved in miniature at the base of a tree trunk, with a pathway to it resembling a fallen leaf. The door is easy to … Continue reading
Breathing New Life into Trees
Huntington arborist Daniel Goyette first investigated the two-story-high coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia) near the Boone Gallery to address concerns that its growth had slowed. Soil was built up around one side of it, and it appeared to be listing. On closer inspection, the tree doctor determined that the tree was … Continue reading


text:
Another big-ticket combination is on cards. Janatha Garage fame director Kortala Siva reportedly locked his dates with Mahesh Babu for their next film. The buzz is that the duo will launch the movie on November 9.
The message-oriented film under Siva's direction will be Mahesh's 23rd film and the second in their combination after Srimanthudu. The shooting will start from January next year. DVV Entertainments will be bankrolling the movie, which will hit the screens in the second half of 2017.
More from the world of Entertainment:
The news is that the actor will be playing the role of a Chief Minister in the movie.
There were also rumours that the movie will have many big-ticket stars along with Mahesh. In fact, Nagarjuna's name is also mentioned in this regard. However, director Siva laid all rumours to rest by dismissing any such idea.
"There are no fancy combos in my next film nor is it a multi-starrer. I request all of you to ignore all the speculations," the director had said.
Meanwhile, the actor is said to be already busy shooting his next film in the direction of AR Murugadoss, which will release in summer next year. The action entertainer is being shot simultaneously in three languages — Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. Rakul Preet Singh is the female lead and Mahesh will be essaying the role of an intelligence officer. The movie is being made on a huge budget of Rs 100 crore.
Mahesh Babu is also reportedly busy signing projects. After big directors like Murugadoss and Siva, the actor is rumoured to have teamed up with Trivikram Srinivas for his 25th movie.


text:
Super Therm®
Super Therm®: Heat Reflective Thermal Ceramic Insulation Paint
Super Therm® is a ceramic, water-based, heat reflective insulation paint designed to block heat load, moisture penetration, and air infiltration from reaching a surface. The net effect can significantly reduce energy costs making it an ideal solution for many applications. You can use Super Therm® to insulate and reduce heat for: metal warehouse/storage buildings, shingle, EPDM, and metal roofs, HVAC housings, air intakes, shipping containers, quonset huts, sheds, refrigerated trucks, animal trailers, condensation reduction, and more…
Air Intake Uncoated – 160.9°F Coated with Super Therm – 90.2°F
(For project information related to these photos that were taken with an infrared camera, click the SERVICES tab on the menu at the top of the page and scroll down to the Coating Projects And Case Studies section.)
Super Therm® contains 4 unique ceramics to block as much as 95% of the three radiation sources from the sun (99% of Ultra Violet Radiation (UV), 92% of Visual Light, 99.5% of Infrared).
It absorbs almost no solar or convective heat. A minimal application thickness of 1/100th inch (10 mils dft) effectively blocks heat transfer and repels it from the surface. Super Therm® is a flexible insulation coating with low permeability that can greatly extend the useful life of a roof by reducing expansion and contraction (material fatigue) of the substrates. When applied to metal surface, it prevents condensation, corrosion, and surface deterioration as well as keeping it cool while in direct sunlight.
Have Any Questions? Call Us!
Major corporations around the world have applied Super Therm® to the exterior roofs and walls of their plants to insulate, weatherize, and reflect heat off of them. It has a proven 20+ year history of lowering energy use (HVAC) inside a structure by up to 70%. This results in substantial savings on monthly energy costs. Using Super Therm® on refrigerated trucks can also result in significant cost savings. Qualified as a 20 year roof coating by ENERGY STAR, Super Therm® is the most effective and longest lasting ceramic insulation coating on the market. We are authorized distributors for Super Therm® and ship it throughout the US.
"Just wanted to let you know that the Super Therm coating is 100% successful. The outdoor temperature has been around 80 to 84 degrees and I am working in the workshop in complete comfort without any air conditioning!! Thank you for all your help in making sure it was applied correctly, and you can be sure I am letting everyone know what a great product you have. All the best, Brian."
Super Therm Benefits
- Energy savings of 20-70% depending on use and application. Greater savings can be seen with cooler buildings and freezers.
- Environmentally Friendly – Super Therm is certified environmentally safe and eco-effective by MBDC LLC (Cradle to Cradle certification – Gold Certificate) and is approved by the USDA for use in and around food preparation areas.
- UL, FM, ABS and USDA approved
- Low VOC water based coating, 21 grams/liter
- The only ceramic coating rated as an insulator by BOCA (U.S. Building Code).
- Reflects 68% of sound waves that contact it.
- Creates a moisture-resistant barrier to resist condensation, mold and mildew (ASTM D 7088;9/10 per Buckman Laboratories)
- ICC approved, CRCC Listing – selected Energy Star® with only a 0.6% drop in three years (less than 1% loss of reflectivity on the same roof area after three years weathering)
- Energy Star qualified as a 20 year roof coating.
- Class A fire rating. In case of fire, Super Therm will help to prevent spread of, and will not contribute to, the burn.
- Approved Water barrier under ASTM testing D6904 and D7088.
Super Therm Uses
Commercial, Industrial, and Residential:
- Reduces energy costs and increases comfort by coating roofing and interior or exterior walls to keep heat in during winter or heat out during the summer
- Reduces risk of condensation and corrosion on HVAC systems and cold water pipes
- Insulate air conditioning unit outer casings to prevent reductions in efficiency due to heat build up inside the housing
- Insulates oil and gas storage tanks to prevent evaporation and heat build-up
- Insulates freezers or refrigeration units to protect goods and reduce costs
- Reduces fuel consumption with refrigerated trucks
- Protects goods by insulating long haul trailers designed to carry perishables
- Provides a fire-resistant coating for substrates. Super Therm has a "0″ fire and smoke spread and will not contribute to flame
- Insulates concrete decking around swimming pools to provide a cool sitting and walking surface
Need more information? We look forward to helping you get the best results for your project.
Super Therm: Proof that Super Therm Outperforms Traditional Insulation
The ASTM C-236 Heat Transfer (Guarded Hot Box) test was performed with Super Therm to determine the BTU/in./sq.ft/hour/F and conductivity performance of Super Therm so that a comparison could be made with traditional insulation. Since this test, many facts have come to light concerning the test methods and procedures used by the traditional insulation industry to demonstrate insulation (R) rating.
These results are astounding! Super Therm is 296% more effective than traditional insulation under identical conditions and shown to be stable all day in field studies by Sony, UPS and others.
* Tested by Owens Corning Insulation for Mechanical Systems 2002.
Super Therm FAQ
1. What is the difference between Super Therm® and other white reflective roof coatings?
Many other reflective coatings on the market reflect only visible light (40% of heat load) and become relatively ineffective when they get dirty in as little as 1 -2 years. Super Therm® reflects 95% of ALL heat energy including infrared, ultra violet, and visible light. The ceramic composition of Super Therm® blocks the transfer of remaining heat from loading on to the building substrate therefore requiring considerably less energy to keep the building cool. Super Therm® has been thoroughly tested and only loses .6% (less than 1%) of its reflectivity after 3 years of weathering.
2. How can Super Therm® extend the life of a roof aside from just coating it?
Since Super Therm® can dramatically decrease the temperature of a roof substrate, there will be significantly less expansion and contraction of roof materials when the substrate cools down. This will substantially reduce substrate "fatigue" which over time causes cracks and ultimately failure.
3. Can Super Therm® be used for flat roofing?
Super Therm® creates an energy efficient flat roof when used in a multi-layer system with Super-Base (HS) and Mastic Sealing Tape. Use Enamo Grip or SP Seal Coat as a top coat. Super Therm® can be applied directly over foam.
4. What is the value of Super Therm® when used inside of buildings?
Super Therm® has been tested to have an Insulation Equivalent value compared to traditional insulation. Super Therm® has a tested emissivity of .91 which is the ability of the coating film to throw the interior convective heat off the wall and back into room to main interior heat. Super Therm® also blocks moisture load and airflow through walls/ceilings to allow heat to be lost or gained and block the airflow that carries warm air through structures. Airflow and moisture load can represent 30% of insulation failure. Super Therm® does breathe and will allow gasses and trapped moisture vapors to transmit for healthy and safe environments.
5. Is Super Therm® rated or certified R-19 like 6-8" of traditional insulation?
No. In calculating an "R" value, a minimum thickness is required and since a coating of Super Therm® is only about 10 mils (1/100th inch) thick, a traditional "R" value for Super Therm® cannot be calculated. Also, Super Therm® is not designed to absorb and load heat which is a requirement for a material to have an "R" value. While Super Therm® handles heat transfer differently than traditional insulation such as fiberglass, spray foam, polyisocyanurate, or polystyrene, the overall heat loss/gain or energy savings would be comparable to that of using traditional R-19 insulation.
6. What is the basis for the Insulation Equivalent value?
The Insulation Equivalent value is based on the ASTM C-236 hotbox, BTU conduction test, Merrimac testing performed on shipping containers, and tests by VTEC Laboratories. Florida Energy Office specialists performed these separate tests in three different parts of the United States. ASTM BTU reduction testing results: dropping BTU "Heat Load" from 367.20 BTU down to 3.99 BTU into substrate.
7. Are there any current formulas and related ASTM testing to correctly test the effects of a ceramic coating used as insulation?
No. All current testing procedures in recognized laboratories are based on substrates and materials that offer a required minimum of thickness of 1 inch and assess only conductive heat transfer. The dry thickness of Super Therm® is 8 dry mils or 8/1000 inch. The current formulas and equations are not adapted to such thin levels of insulation materials and do not consider radiational or convective heat transfer, moisture migration, air movement or surface emissivity. "Heat Load" is the key to heat absorption and then transfer. If heat load is reduced, then the amount of heat "available" for transfer is reduced and therefore affects conduction of heat which is the only measurement std utl measure.
8. Can Super Therm® be applied to metal? Wood? Other surfaces?
Super Therm® can be applied to a variety of surfaces on its own or with Super Base (HS) or SP Primer as a base coat for sealing.
Surfaces include:
1. Aged or Peppered Steel and Aluminum – apply directly
2. Wood – prime with Super Base (HS)
3. Rusty surfaces – prime with Rust Grip®
4. Very dark surfaces – prime with Super Base (HS)
5. Tar – prime with Super Base (HS)
6. Polyurethane foam – prime with Super Base (HS)
7. Concrete – prime with Rust Grip® or Super Base (HS).
8. Damaged concrete – clean and strengthen the concrete with SP Interlock and Rust Grip® before application
9. Wet surfaces – apply top coat of Enamo Grip or SP Seal Coat
10. How is Super Therm® sold?
Super Therm® is sold in 5 gallon and 1 gallon cans.
Super Therm® Documentation
Unique Home insulated exclusively with Super Therm®!
Field Testing – Actual Energy Savings
Super Therm® Certifications-Lab Tests
Super Therm® Brochure
For the most updated Super Therm Tech Data Sheet, Application Instructions, and SDS Sheet, please contact us.
Have Any Questions?
Call us at 917-836-7816 for more information about our products or services


text:
World through my eyes
In my earlier post about Jakarta, I had mentioned about the National Museum of Indonesia. The building which houses this museum is called as Gedung Gajah because of an elephant statue in the front courtyard of the building. Hence it is often called as Gajah Museum as well. Gajah (गजः) is elephant in Sanskrit. It […]
Goa is always fun and fascinating. It charms you everytime. So has been my second trip to Majorda beach in South Goa, albeit a short one. This time around, it was to test drive ZICA from Tata Motors on the streets of South Goa from Majorda to Verna, in an event put together by Indiblogger […]READ MORE
Migratory birds are treat to be shot (through camera of course). They are here, in many parts of the peninsular India. This is the most awaited time to visit the bird sanctuaries around. Painted storks are big and beautiful. Its also delightful to see that how amazingly easy they catch there prey- fish indeed. This […]READ MORE
It was heartening to see the couple of painted storks back in the lake. It was bit pleasantly surprising also, because winters this year seem to be arriving bit late as its already mid-October and maximum temperature is still hovering around 35o celsius. So sight of migratory birds in the lake (Sanjay Lake, East Delhi), […]READ MORE
There is no better way to celebrate a nation's golden jubilee but to go back to where it all began – the Singapore River. Taking place from Friday, 23rd October to Sunday, 25th October, the Singapore River Festival 2015 will offer visitors to the three quays at the Singapore River (Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, and Robertson Quay) […]READ MORE
Flight to moon! An alert camera, a good window seat, excellent weather and a powerful zoom may sometimes give you some interesting situations to click upon, while on flight. Here was my chance in crystal clear blue sky to capture a flight to moon. Really!! Sorry!, I couldn't get the landing photo, as my zoom […]READ MORE
Indian Ocean on fire, hundreds of kilometres south-west of Indian coast, deep inside the sea and close to Maldives. Don't know about others, but I have no qualms in accepting that setting sun brings a feeling of longing in me, for some unfulfilled desires and expectations. Hence it has always been my favourite, wherever I […]READ MORE
Trishul peak and Indian Tricolour, what a perfect match- both in awe of each other. Something of a rare sight this is, as seen from Kausani in Uttarakhand, one of my favourite places and among the best ones in India to have a sight of full glory of Nanda Devi ranges of Himalayas. So, unfurled […]READ MORE
I love Kairali (Wellness Resort near Palakkad in Kerala) , not just for its Ayurvedic treatment and wellness qualities but also for its overall aura. Place is beautiful and so are surroundings. Some charm that actually makes you feel rejuvenated. One of the reasons is reflected in photos here:READ MORE


text:
Search Blog
Follow Me on Social Media
to my personal journal through my viewfinder. A place where I leave the world behind and try to find the spirit of what I am seeing.
Feel free to look around at all the posts and pages. If you'd like to borrow a photo(s) for your non-commercial blog or website, be my guest. Please, do not alter the photo(s) and be sure to link back to this blog with a prominent photo credit(s). Thank you and I'm thrilled you dropped in!
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Top 3 Views
September 2019 M T W T F S S « Jul 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Best of Views Infinitum
Disney Blogs
Favorite Blogs
Photo Essays
Follow Me on Tweeter
- PHOTO GALLERY: @LCSDAthletics @lpoolfootball at @CNSAthletics fr. 9/13/19 in @NYSPHSAA #section3football #cns… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… : 11 hours ago
- RT @Defenders: "The mind-boggling reality...is that this extraordinary place — & the living things that depend on it — would be sacrificed… : 1 day ago
- J.P. Cote @jpside wants to boost #SyrCrunch careers like he revived his own syracuse.com/sports/2019/09… via @syrhockey https://t.co/Qh87EN3YOL : 1 day ago
- Just a note that I will be doing a #SyrCrunch countdown for the Home Opener starting next week. twitter.com/TheAHL/status/… : 1 day ago
- I say have more Town Halls on the following issues: Health Care, Foreign Policy & Trade, Gun Control & Crime, Fisca… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… : 1 day ago


text: ERSB, together with OCHA Regional Office in Nairobi and OCHA Madagascar, concluded a series of trainings facilitated by Laurent de Pierrefeu, UNDAC member from France, on Information Management and Emergency Operation Center/OSOCC for Malagasy authorities in Antananarivo. It was two weeks of intense work, together with committed and passionate staff from several Ministries and departments involved in disaster management. We look forward to go back again for a second round of trainings at provincial level!


text:
I Need A Local Mobile Mechanic Near Me!
No problem! Simply pick up the phone and call us at 703-779-2090 right now! We are mobile mechanics in Langley and we can work on any make and model of vehicle – both cars and trucks! It doesn't matter what age, if we don't need to utilize heavy machinery, then we can probably carry out the repair immediately at your location. Why wait around in a workshop and pay workshop prices when we can bring our workshop to you? Or why pay those tow charges to get your vehicle to the workshop if you're unable to drive it?
We'd be happy to provide you with a rough estimate of pricing over the phone. Just let us know the age, make and model of your vehicle, and also the problems that you're experiencing.
If you would like us to send a mobile auto mechanic to you, then we will charge you a small call-out fee, which will cover the cost of our travel and the time it takes to carry out a full, in-person inspection and diagnosis. If you would then like for us to continue with the work, we will reduce the final bill by the amount of the call-out charge – meaning that you will only pay for the actual repair time and the cost of parts. It's both simple and convenient.
So the next time you find yourself saying "I need a local mobile mechanic near me!", simply call the phone number below, and we'd be happy to send one of our Langley, VA mobile mechanics to your location!
Call us today at 703-779-2090 and ask for your free estimate!
Always check the licensing and certification credentials of any mobile mechanic BEFORE you let them work on your vehicle! Your life may depend on it!
Langley is an unincorporated community in the census-designated place of McLean in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Langley is often used as a metonym for the CIA. The land which makes up Langley today once belonged to Thomas Lee, former Crown Governor of the Colony of Virginia from 1749 to 1750. Lee's land was named Langley in honor of Langley Hall, which was part of the Lee home estate in Shropshire, England. In 1839, 700 acres (283 ha) of land was purchased by Benjamin Mackall from the Lee family, while keeping the name.
The community was essentially absorbed into McLean many years ago, although there is still a Langley High School.[2] In addition to being a bedroom community for Washington, D.C., the area is the site of the headquarters for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center of the Federal Highway Administration, and the Claude Moore Colonial Farm of the National Park Service.
Here is an article that may help you choose a mobile mechanic wisely!
How to Select and Hire a mobile mechanic Safely
There are lots of accounts of car owners who ended up in the hands of untrained or questionable mobile mechanic. If ever you fall victim to these types of mobile mechanic, you may possibly find yourself having to spend an absurdly steep amount of money above the quote you originally received and at times for non-existent repairs. Worse still, you may even be entrusting your vehicle with an inexperienced person who has neither the knowledge nor the skills needed to take on auto repairs on any car. This will not only cost you a lot stress for spending money and not getting any repairs done but will also put your life together with the lives of other drivers in danger.
Incidents involving such mobile mechanic are actually much more frequent than you may think and the primary reason for this is that most states merely need a business license for one to operate because mobile mechanic. The absence of a standard certification system makes things very easy for a lot of unprofessional and unqualified people to operate as automotive mechanics. Still, a portion of the blame goes to the car owners the majority of who take their cars to an auto mechanic without verifying whether or not the auto mechanic is a qualified mobile mechanic. In most cases with a little research, finding and hiring a reliable auto mechanic should not be exceedingly very difficult.
If you are looking for a trustworthy professional mobile mechanic, below is a checklist of some things to look out for and those you should certainly avoid so that you can find the right professional to handle your repairs.
Ask for Recommendations from Family members or Friends
This is one of the best and easiest ways to find a reliable mobile mechanic or any other local professional. Chances are one of your good friends or trusted relatives know a competent auto mechanic in your locale. Obviously, you will still want to make sure the referred auto mechanic but this can save you a whole lot of headache and even help you find a professional you can trust with your car within a short period of time. If this is not an option for you however, you can take your search online.
Check Online Reviews
A simple Google inquiry for mobile mechanics registered in your city is going to give your more than sufficient outcomes. Look for online ratings from the companies' business website. Paying attention to what other past customers have to express with regards to a company gives you a notion of the auto mechanic's reliability. You can also check Angie's list or the Better Business Bureau for listed mobile mechanic near you. Nevertheless, always keep in mind that online customer reviews could sometime be false as they may be dishonest testimonials offered by family members, associates, and even the auto mechanics' rivals. Pick about three or four auto mechanics so that you are able to narrow down your search and simplify the process.
Ask for Recommendations
Any credible auto mechanic should also gladly give you a list of customers they have assisted in the past without hesitation. You can contact the references and ask they how long they have used the services of the mobile mechanic, what services they got, and also the quality of service they received. In case the references are inaccessible and/or sound suspicious, trust your impulses and proceed with your search.
Inquire about Quotes
Requesting for estimates from your selected mobile mechanics gives you an advantage when looking for a reputable professional. You will know the average rate of repairs within the industry and be in a position to know what is reasonable. Right after an initial inspection, any ethical and competent professional auto mechanic ought to have the ability to give you a vague estimate of the cost of the repairs. Obviously, every single auto mechanic may charge you differently for repairs but the charge should certainly range inside of what other car mechanics charge in the neighborhood. If the mobile mechanic bargains or hesitates to provide you a written price quote upon request, trust your intuitions and carry on with your search.
Service warranties
Before choosing a mobile mechanic, it is really important to review your vehicles manufacturer's warranty thoroughly. Often times, taking your vehicle to be serviced by an auto mechanic may void the producer's service warranty. If your vehicle warranty is already ended, ask the mobile mechanic if they give service warranties for maintenance and repairs and if they do, ensure to obtain a signed warranty form before carrying out any kind of repairs.
Licensing and ASE Certification
Although there is no prevailing law that governs auto mechanics, any professional is required to have a business license to operate. Any reputable auto mechanic ought to be in a position to provide documents of licensing or certification with no difficulty. You should also contract a mobile mechanic who is ASE Certified so that you can be sure that they are competent and serious automotive experts. Only a serious professional will incessantly seek to stay updated on the latest technology in their niche.
Do they Accept Credit Cards?
Another method to differentiate professionals from unscrupulous individuals is to find out whether they accept credit card transactions or not. Most genuine businesses accept credit cards. Although this does not suggest that every auto mechanics who do decline credit card settlements are bad, it is generally better to be safe than sorry.
What exactly to Watch out for
Unreasonably Low Estimates
Auto repair services can be really pricey and without a doubt, it always makes sense to look for an auto mechanic who will offer you the best arrangement. Even so, never be entraped to go for an auto mechanic purely due to the fact that they offer you the most affordable price quote. In fact it is smart to stay clear of anyone who offers you an unreasonably low estimate for maintenance and repairs because this is a method the majority of inexperienced and dishonest auto mechanics employ so as to charm naive car owners.
Hopefully these pointers will help you to find a reliable mobile mechanic in Langley the next time your vehicle breakdown or simply won't start! Don't pick a mobile mechanic purely because of price. The qualifications and licensing of a mobile mechanic is of utmost importance, if you don't want to put the lives of yourself and your family at risk!