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Before the Auction: Selling for the Holidays continued ...
Too Much (Eye) Candy Will Spoil Their Appetite
Many sellers like to roll out a barrage of excess yuletide glitter and glee in their listings--to the point that it becomes enough to gag an elf. Overdo it and your bidders will grab the next Polar Express out of there. Fight the temptation to roll out the biggest, brightest, blinking-est holiday listing--it's typically very slow to load and will succeed only in detracting from the great item you're auctioning. If you like, throw in a simple holiday image or a nice holiday font, but leave the animated GIFs and blaring Muzak out, giving more attention to the picture and description of your item instead. (P.S. Big hint here: Be sure your listing includes a good picture and detailed description of your item.)
Yellow Snow
Though there's a joyous sound in the air, a flat note might be heard if a winning bidder takes the next sleigh ride out without paying up. Though most auction-goers know the routine and frustration of dealing with deadbeat bidders, the holiday season doesn't offer as much time to sort such matters out. If you feel it's necessary, clearly state in your listing description when you expect to receive payment from the winning bidder. Most honest bidders will understand the need to close transactions quickly during the holiday season. If a bidder does stiff you, just move on to the next highest bidder or relist the item, knowing there's a lump of coal coming in that bad bidder's stocking (or feedback profile).
North Pole or Bust
State your shipping terms clearly in your auction's description so bidders know whether they can expect to receive their winnings in time for the holiday. During this time of year, make special shipping methods available to your bidders (Fed Ex Overnight, UPS Second Day, or USPS Express Mail). If bidders are willing to pay the extra charge, accommodate them with the special delivery services your usual carrier provides. Sometimes offering fast shipping options could determine whether a bidder will bid on your item or shop elsewhere. And, more than any other time of year, be sure you and your buyer agree to the shipping method and delivery expectation before the package leaves your hands.
Damage Claims and Postholiday Returns
With all those packages being shipped, it's a given that damage will strike something, somewhere. Encourage the buyer to pay for insurance and clearly state that you will not be responsible if the buyer waives the extra protection.
Then, whether you open a virtual returns desk or not, be sure to clearly state your return policy in your item description. During this time of year, many bidders are prone to impulse bidding and buying--some may change their minds after the item is in hand. To protect yourself from those who may bid today and refund tomorrow, make it clear up front what your policy will be if the buyer changes his or her mind.
Postholiday Sales
And lastly, consider this: Hasn't there been a holiday when you didn't get everything you were wishing for? The same goes for many auction-goers out there today, and there will be hordes of them looking to fill that empty spot on their wish list. After the holidays pass, sellers can typically find a resurgence of bidders still looking for the stuff they really wanted this year, as well as some postholiday bargains. Unless you need a holiday break yourself, keep those listings coming and, if you're looking to unload a bunch of stuff you want to get rid of before the new year, list items with low opening bids and no reserves. Let the bidders do the rest.
Dennis Prince is the author of Vendio's Official Guide to Online Buying and Selling and Online Auctions at eBay: Bid With Confidence, Sell With Success. He has been an active buyer and seller at various online auction sites since 1995. Send him email at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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'Local News' Microfiche
Woman Cannot Park At Station
Local commuter Mo Ning arrived at St Neots station at 9.32 this morning, and was amazed to find there were no parking spaces. "The car park was completely full," said Miss Ning, who drove to the station after 9.30 to avoid the high parking charges before this [Read More]
Council Cannot Find Site For New Traffic Lights
St Neots Town Council faced a dilemma yesterday as they failed to find a suitable site for some new traffic lights. "I don't know what we can do," said Cllr Pete Gregory yesterday. "We haven't installed any lights for at least three months now. [Read More]

subset: commoncrawl


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Subscribe To Man Of Steel Teaser Trailer Details Arrive Ahead Of Comic Con Panel Updates
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Zack Snyder's Man of Steel expects to be a big player in Hall H on Saturday, sandwiched between the equally massive The Hobbit and Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim. Superman fans are eagerly awaiting the first bit of footage from the 2014 tentpole, which they expect to see during the Warner Bros. panel.
But new details posted on ComingSoon.net about a Man of Steel teaser trailer suggest you might be able to see footage from Snyder's film even if you didn't make it to Comic-Con this year. According to the site, a clip submitted to the Alberta Film Ratings runs 1 minute and 27 seconds, and received a G rating. ComingSoon speculates that it will be online soon.
Speaking the other day to the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, Snyder elaborated on the clip and the casting of Henry Cavill in the Superman role, stating:
"We had about 500 guys initially. We did this massive auditioning madness. It got down to the usual suspects in a pretty quick order. Henry Cavill was actually the first one we physically tested on film. We actually tested him in the Christopher Reeves Superman suit. And that was a big deal. That's a hard suit to pull off. Trust me. If you're just standing there in that suit, it's dodgy. It felt like we just bought it a costume shop. Plus, there's no mask. I've been around a few superhero costumes, and it's weird because when you're in the Superman costume it's just you from the neck up. And somebody just combed your hair. But Henry came out of the trailer when we were shooting a test and everybody thought, 'Okay, that's Superman.' He was awesome and did a great job."
We're really hoping to see two things in a Man of Steel trailer: Superman flying, and Superman hitting someone. Probably Michael Shannon, who has been cast as General Zod in Snyder's film. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend as we bring you the best Comic Con coverage throughout the week. We'll be in Hall H for the Warner panel, and will bring you up-to-the-minute details on whatever Man of Steel footage screens. Before it screens, tell us: What would you like to see? And Warner? If you are reading? Please show it to the online audience, soon. Thanks!


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Route 196's very cozy interior
Drink, dine, relax
Get your booze and refreshments here!
This music lover's mecca has been around for quite a while. In fact, Route 196 celebrated its first anniversary just this month. They scrapped the usual P100-P150 gate charge and offered a kick ass line-up, which consisted of The Spaceflower Show, The Dawn, Juan Pablo Dream, Paramita, Sinosikat? and Radioactive Sago Project. It was mayhem at standing-room mode as people—music aficionados and musicians alike—danced and swayed to the beats and grooves of some of the finest bands the country has today. After that night, all the more did I stand firmly on my claim that Route 196 does know how to give the best parties in the metro.
Route's Roots
Team Route 196 during their 1st Anniversary
(Geth, Monica, Eric, Allan and JP)
Route 196 is currently owned by five friends who have varying backgrounds but who all possess the love for badminton. They met through a badminton session and later on, started hanging out after work in a bar called Border Grill. Soon enough, the owner of Border Grill sold the bar and the five friends placed a bid but lost. The bar had new owners and was named Inihaw Republic. But as fate would have it, the owners sold it after a while and this time, current owners Monica Barretto, Geth Savellano, Eric Enriquez , JP Balboa and Allan Madrilejos finally won the coveted abode. They stayed with the name Inihaw Republic but then re-launched in mid-2007 with the tag Route 196, simply derived from its address, 196 Katipunan Extension.
Tripping on Food and Art
Though it has been known as a gig place, Route 196 is more than just about music.
Here's the part where I go gaga about their food. Did I mention they have the best pizzas this side of the world? A must-try is their Margherita Pizza (P190), it's a simple recipe of mozzarella, fresh basil, tomatoes, anchovies and thin crust dough but the secret must've been in the fact that it's baked using a brick oven. It's so flavorful but not overwhelming to the palate, and healthy too!
The famous Margherita Pizza of Route 196
Another favorite is the Tinapa Roll (P120), which are flakes of tinapa wrapped lumpia-style, which can be dipped in vinegar. I imagine eating this with garlic rice but it can well be pulutan for the night because it goes so well with beer. The Chili Cheese Sticks (P110) is a divine dish too!
Melt-in-your mouth Chili Cheese Sticks
It's cheese which is mildly spiced, wrapped in flautas and complemented with salsa. Mmm, the cheese literally melts in your mouth especially when you eat it right about the time the waiter serves it. JP's favorite, the Pepper-seared Tuna with Wasabi Mayo (P145) is a unique dish that's sure to satisfy the more adventurous palate.
Tuna, pepper, wasabi and mayo—great burst of flavors!
The Herbed Chicken (P155), which is slow-roasted half chicken infused with herbs is my best bet when I'm in the mood for meat but feeling fat for red meat. This fills me up but I don't tire of the flavor unlike other herbed chicken roasts, which sometimes taste more like leaves instead of chicken after some bites.
The Herbed Chicken is a perfect blend of herbs and roast flavor
Route 196 has a slew of yummy dishes worth the trip to Katipunan (if you're South reprazent). Feel free to sample new dishes at every visit because surely, you won't be disappointed. Their beers are dirt cheap, by the way! It's priced at P35/beer but you can get 3 bottles for P100 if you're with the barkada or if you want to indulge in a drinking spree. That happens every night and all night, too! More dishes will spice up the menu soon because Geth is currently cooking up a storm in the kitchen. There are plans of offering dishes with a Mediterranean flavor and other house specialties will be launched in the coming months. I'm drooling with anticipation already!
Aside from food and music, Route 196 also delves into the artsy side of things. Monica, resident photographer of the group, spearheads their art exhibits. She brought Lomo Manila in to set up a lomo wall in the bar. More art exhibits are in store in the coming months. There are plans of featuring performance art groups and adding performance poetry/drama to the repertoire. Route 196 recognizes Filipino talent and gives it a chance to strut its stuff by holding such events.
The Route Less Traveled
Things are bound get more exciting as they cook up more and more unconventional gigs, exhibits and performances. The owners simply tread on the road less traveled. JP proudly states, "Route 196 is the only place where Hannah Romawac of Session Road plays solo acoustic. We'll probably be one of the first bars to hold a beatbox convention featuring the best of Beatbox Manila. Watch out for it!" He also adds that every month, they will feature vocalists of different bands singing the songs they want sans a full band set-up. Those to watch out for are Drip's Beng Calma, Swissy, Paramita's Ria Bautista, Sandwich's Raimund Marasigan and Up dharma Down's Armi Millare to name some. Truly, there is no other joint that gives you that kind of musical experience.
Route 196's vision is simple: to offer a bar that doesn't alienate people, a comfy little nook that lets you come as you are and lets you drop your inhibitions because hey, pretenses are passé. Truly, Route 196 has managed to do that in only a year's time. It's quite a feat and for that, I remain a loyal patron. Believe it, I won't come all the way to Katipunan for nothing.
Photos by Monica Barretto.


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By Dave DeLuca
The OSU Solar Vehicle Team got its first taste of international competition last month. On Jan. 15, the tight-knit group drove their pride and joy, The Phoenix, through a 45-lap qualifying race in the United Arab Emirates. The solar car earned a spot in a three-day, 1,200-kilometer cross country road challenge. When the competition was over, OSU had come in 12th overall.
The final lap took place on Jan. 18, and coincided with the beginning of the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. A who's-who of world leaders was in attendance, including the president of Egypt, the prime minister of the UAE, and our own Al Gore.
The trip was as educational for the students as it was competitive. According to faculty advisor David O'Gorman, "This experience has taught the members of the team everything from logistics to the importance of reliable design and the real-world application of engineering principles."
The team was on a tight schedule and had little time for sightseeing, but took home plenty of special memories from the exotic land. O'Gorman provided a beautiful example: "The team had a chance to see everything from herds of camels to oasis towns, to a trip around a royal palace. We even had an amazing opportunity to meet some camel herders."
What's next for these young engineers? For one thing, a new car will be designed to meet increasingly rigorous race requirements. The new version may even include the ability to carry passengers. I wonder if they would be willing to bring me along on their next trip if I promised not to backseat drive.
Follow the team at www.facebook.com/osusvt. Donations can be made through the OSU Foundation at www.osufoundation.org.


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This has been one crazy week. So far, we've had three visits from the police, a total program attendance hovering near the 250 mark, a huge glitch in our inventory process, and I've been out for two days. Yes, I took two days of vacation to clean my apartment and put together my new four poster bed from Ikea. Hey, it's a big bed!
In the midst of the craziness, it's nice to remember the small happy moments.
One of my little storytime girls showed up at the library yesterday morning, dressed in pastel leotard, tights, and tiara with her hair in a neat little bun. I asked if she was going to ballet, but no, mom said she was on her way to a princess tea party! Apparently the rest of her costume was in the car. I took a second look at her, and then hastily scooped Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty by James Mayhew off the shelf. "I think you'll like this." She took one look at the cover - did I mention she looks a bit like Ella Bella? and then her whole face lit up, she shyly took it out of my hands and, clutching it tightly, trotted happily off to the circulation desk. Ella Bella never fails and I love handing it to the shy little girls in pink!
One of my twelve year olds has had his card blocked with fines for a while. I finally sat him down and instructed him to fill out the read off your fines form - NOW. We got his card unblocked and he went off to use the computer...then wandered back. "uh...is that Dragonbreath book on the shelf?" Score! I collected him for our teen (well, middle school) book club in early October and on the books I showed was Dragonbreath - he actually remembered the title and wanted to read it enough to ask about it almost three weeks later! This from a kid who says he "doesn't read at all".
Back to cleaning!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Happy library moments
2 comments:
- James Mayhew said...
I can't tell you how much it means to me to read about that little girl. It reminds me of exactly why I create the books. Thank you sincerely!
- October 30, 2010 at 1:50 AM
- Jennifer said...
We're looking forward to seeing Swan Lake when it comes out here in the US! Ella Bella is such a lovely way to show little ones the magic and beauty of ballet!
- October 30, 2010 at 8:25 AM
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TOWERGATE: Trump Accuses Obama Of Wiretapping Him. Here's Everything You Need To Know.
On Saturday morning, President Trump found his cellphone and immediately determined to bring to light a national controversy: the Obama administration wiretapping of Trump Tower. At least, that's what he tweeted about:
Within the next couple of hours, he tweeted out another devastating accusation:
This tweetstorm raises a few questions: first, did the Obama administration have Trump's wires tapped in Trump Tower? Second, did President Obama himself have Donald Trump's wires tapped in Trump Tower? Third, does Trump know what the hell he's talking about? Fourth, if not, does it matter? Finally, how will this little conflagration play out politically?
Here are some answers.
1. The Obama Administration Did Monitor Communications Of People/Sources Surrounding Trump. The New York Times reported months ago that the intelligence community had recordings of several of Trump's associates; the Times speculated that such recordings could have been gathered because the Obama intelligence apparatus was wiretapping Russians and caught Trump officials on the other end. As Andrew McCarthy writes at National Review:
To summarize, reporting indicates that, prior to June 2016, the Obama Justice Department and FBI considered a criminal investigation of Trump associates, and perhaps Trump himself, based on concerns about connections to Russian financial institutions. Preliminary poking around indicated that there was nothing criminal involved. Rather than shut the case down, though, the Obama Justice Department converted it into a national-security investigation under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). FISA allows the government, if it gets court permission, to conduct electronic surveillance (which could include wiretapping, monitoring of e-mail, and the like) against those it alleges are "agents of a foreign power." FISA applications and the evidence garnered from them are classified – i.e., we would not know about any of this unless someone had leaked classified information to the media, a felony.
According to multiple reports, during the 2016 campaign, the Obama administration allegedly submitted two requests with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) targeting Trump or those associated with him. The first, submitted in June 2016, was reportedly a request to monitor several of Trump's associates. The request was denied. The Obama administration then allegedly submitted a second FISA request in October focused on the computer server in Trump Tower, which they suspected had some connections to Russian banks. That request was granted, but nothing was found. According to some reports, the wiretaps of Trump Tower continued nonetheless.
Here was Heat Street's reporting on the issue:
Two separate sources with links to the counter-intelligence community have confirmed to Heat Street that the FBI sought, and was granted, a FISA court warrant in October, giving counter-intelligence permission to examine the activities of 'U.S. persons' in Donald Trump's campaign with ties to Russia. Contrary to earlier reporting in the New York Times, which cited FBI sources as saying that the agency did not believe that the private server in Donald Trump's Trump Tower which was connected to a Russian bank had any nefarious purpose, the FBI's counter-intelligence arm, sources say, re-drew an earlier FISA court request around possible financial and banking offenses related to the server. The first request, which, sources say, named Trump, was denied back in June, but the second was drawn more narrowly and was granted in October after evidence was presented of a server, possibly related to the Trump campaign, and its alleged links to two banks; SVB Bank and Russia's Alfa Bank.
So to pretend the Obama administration did nothing at all questionable here is bizarre.
We also don't know that the Obama administration had Trump's wires tapped. In fact, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper appeared on the morning shows on Sunday and stated that no FISA court order was issued to tap Trump or his campaign. But as we've seen, the issue is a bit more complex than that.
2. There's No Evidence Obama Himself Had Trump's Wires Tapped. But It's Not Impossible. Figures in the Obama administration immediately denied there were any direct orders to the DOJ to pursue a Trump wiretap. "A cardinal rule of the Obama administration was that no White House official ever interfered with any independent investigation led by the Department of Justice," said Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis. "As part of that practice, neither President Obama nor any White House official ever ordered surveillance on any US citizen. Any suggestion otherwise is simply false." This is plausible. McCarthy points out that FISA courts are responsible for ordering surveillance. And McCarthy also states, "it is specious to claim that, if the White House asks to see FISA court applications and orders, this would be a form of political interference in the law-enforcement mission of the FBI and Justice Department."
Beyond that, there's no reason to believe that Obama himself would order the DOJ to do or not do anything – there's a reason the DOJ has become the repository for political hacks who know where their bread is buttered over the past two decades. The Obama White House invoked executive privilege in 2012 in order to avoid making emails involving Attorney General Eric Holder available to Congress, in the middle of a contempt vote. It's likely true that the Obama White House didn't order the DOJ to pursue wiretaps against Trump personally. But the high dudgeon from the Obama White House here is way overblown. Presidents rarely have to ask their appointees to do their bidding.
3. Trump Hasn't Presented Any New Evidence. Trump hasn't presented any evidence for his claims. White House press secretary Sean Spicer essentially tweeted that Trump was shooting from the hip: "President Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016. Neither the White House nor the President will comment further until such oversight is conducted." In other words, Trump made an unsupported accusation and wants Congress to pursue it for him. There's no risk to Trump in doing this – it means that if Congress refuses to investigate, he can call them weaklings; if they investigate and find anything, he'll claim proof; if they investigate and find nothing, he'll rail against them and call them weaklings.
4. Yes, It Matters That Trump Tweets His Theories Without Evidence. But This Problem Doesn't Start With Trump. This will raise serious questions about the behavior of the Obama administration in the run-up to the election. It will also raise questions about whether the Obama administration's FISA requests were legitimate or political hits. If they were legitimate, then Trump actually has some troubles here – it's possible that all the Trump-Russia smoke has some fire to it. If not, then Obama's administration could have been engaging in seriously undemocratic behavior, far surpassing Watergate. Either way, Trump's tweets do nothing to quell the chaos surrounding the presidency or ease concerns about the honesty of the federal government. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) hits the nail on the head:
The President today made some very serious allegations, and the informed citizens that a republic requires deserve more information. If there were wiretaps of then-candidate Trump's organization or campaign, then it was either with FISA Court authorization or without such authorization. If without, the President should explain what sort of wiretap it was and how he knows this. It is possible that he was illegally tapped. On the other hand, if it was with a legal FISA Court order, then an application for surveillance exists that the Court found credible. The President should ask that this full application regarding surveillance of foreign operatives or operations be made available, ideally to the full public, and at a bare minimum to the US Senate. We are in the midst of a civilization-warping crisis of public trust, and the President's allegations today demand the thorough and dispassionate attention of serious patriots. A quest for the full truth, rather than knee-jerk partisanship, must be our guide if we are going to rebuild civic trust and health.
The media are pretending now that Trump's tweet undermines confidence in government. But if confidence in government hadn't already been compromised, Trump wouldn't be president. And as we've seen, the Obama administration's weaponization of the bureaucracy means that Americans are suspicious that all means are in play for politically motivated actors.
5. Trump's Supporters Will Point To Obama's Malfeasance, Obama's Supporters Will Point To Trump's Twitter Diarrhea, Both Will Be Right. So, how will this shake out? Trump's supporters will accuse the media of fibbing for claiming that the Obama administration never did anything to the Trump team during the campaign – and they'll be right. There are multiple media reports that the Obama administration asked for FISA wiretaps and got at least one of them; we don't know the extent of those wiretaps or what they found. We also don't know who in the Obama administration requested such FISA wiretaps or why. Meanwhile, Obama's supporters will accuse Trump of making things up based on shoddy evidence – and they'll be right too, in all likelihood, since even Trump's team is running from providing evidence of his accusations. Here, for example, is CNN's Jake Tapper:
And so the two sides will slap each other, accusing each other (rightly) of ignoring the larger issues at play. Just another day in 2017.


text: Falls are number 1 priority for Ontario Ministry of Labour Inspectors will also be looking at noise control for 2017-18 By Amanda Silliker 05/05/2017| www.cos-mag.com Falls were the main cause of workplace fatalities in the construction sector in Ontario last year, which is why the Ministry of Labour is making falls its top priority for 2017-18."Working at heights without proper fall protection and training is simply not acceptable and we will prosecute those to the full extent of the law," said Peter Augruso, assistant deputy minister at the Ministry of Labour, speaking at the Partners in Prevention conference in Mississauga, Ont. on May 2.Last year, the ministry issued 465 stop work orders to construction companies during its fall hazards blitz. The industrial sector was hit with 162 stop work orders related to work at heights. In this sector, safe ladders were a major issue."In this day and age we should not have to still be dealing with this," Augruso said. "Employers must make sure ladders are working properly."Across all sectors, falls are the number 2 reason for occupational fatalities in Ontario, said George Gritziotis, chief prevention officer, who also spoke at the conference.While Augruso said the ministry was "overjoyed" that 300,000 workers have completed the mandatory work at heights training program, the province still issued 9,958 orders to the construction and industrial sectors during its fall hazards blitz. "That's scary to me. There's a whole bunch more that need training," he said. To that end, the government has extended the deadline for work at heights training from April 1 to Oct. 1 of this year. Related articles:Tower climbers face many hazards that are exacerbated during night workLadder liesInspections at Saskatchewan construction sites raise safety concernsThe Ministry of Labour will also be focusing on noise this year across all sectors, in an effort to reduce the number of illnesses caused by occupational disease."Noise is the number 1 occupational illness and it's the easiest to prevent by wearing the proper PPE, ensuring folks are having their earplugs inserted. It's not that difficult," Augruso said. A new noise regulation came into force July 1, 2016, for all provincially regulated workers. It extended noise protection requirements to all Ontario workplaces that were not previously covered under the noise regulation, such as schools, fire services, amusement parks and health-care facilities. Related articles:Tinnitus too common among noise-exposed workersLoud noise may raise risk for workplace injuries: ReportErgonomics and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) are two other Ministry of Labour priority areas that extend across all sectors for 2017-18. A range of initiatives will be taking place that vary across the sectors, including: new and young workers in the industrial sector; occupational disease in mining; machine guarding in the industrial sector; struck by hazards in construction; and workplace violence in health care.Click here for the complete list. Amanda Silliker is the editor of Canadian Occupational Safety. © Copyright Canadian Occupational Safety, HAB Press. All rights reserved. See More Articles in Legal ▶ Related Articles WorkSafeBC focusing on slips, trips and falls in manufacturing WorkSafeNB issues advisory on safe snow removal Videos You May Like Ontario's Ministry of Labour priorities Inspectors looking at falls from heights, young workers Safety Tip — Maintaining fall protection equipment Inspect this PPE before every job at height Add Comment * Title * Name * Email Anonymous * Comment Submit


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Frequent Links
13th Light Bomber Squadron
|13th Light Bomber Squadron
The unofficial Squadron Badge of 13th Light Bomber Squadron
|1941 - 1946[1]
|23x15px Greece
|23x15px Greece
|Royal Hellenic Air Force
|Bomber squadron
|Part of
|Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
This page is a soft redirect.13 Squadron]].
The 13th Light Bomber Squadron (Greek: 13 Μοίρα Ελαφρού Βομβαρδισμού, 13 MΕΒ), was one of the three World War II aircraft squadrons in service with the Royal Hellenic Air Force, exiled in the Middle East, that fought under the auspices of the British Royal Air Force. It was the first Greek military unit founded after the German invasion and conquest of Greece in April-May 1941.
After the failed Italian attack against Greece (October 28-November 13, 1940), the Greek forces counterattacked and penetrated deep into Italian held Albanian territory. However, with the German intervention in April 1941, Greece capitulated.
By April 15, 1941, the Royal Hellenic Air Force was virtually eliminated by the numerically and technically superior German Luftwaffe. Part of the Greek air force personnel managed to escape to Egypt together with five Avro Anson aircraft.[2] These aircraft formed the 13th Light Bomber Squadron during the summer of 1941, which was thus the first Greek military unit formed in the Middle East.[3] During the following months two additional Greek squadrons were founded, the 335th and 336th Pursuit Squadrons.[4]
Middle East
Its first commander was Squadron Leader Spyros Dakopoulos and its initial personnel was mainly provided from the former 13th Naval Cooperation and 32nd Bomber Squadrons to be finally manned by volunteers recruited from the then large Greek resident communities in Egypt.[5] Its first mission was assigned on July 14, 1941.[6]
At December 1941 the Squadron was equipped with Bristol Blenheims Mk IV and based at Dekheila Airfield.[3] The following months it was reequipped with Blenheims Mk V, which were used primarily for maritime patrol missions.[2] Convoy escort and anti-submarine patrols were the main missions of the Squadron during 1942. In various occasions enemy submarines were spotted in the Eastern Mediterranean and bombed.
From early 1943 the Squadron operated with Martin Baltimores. Apart from anti-submarine patrols and convoy escorts, the Squadron also executed reconnaissance and bombing missions in the occupied Greek islands. At November 12, the fortified German positions at the port of Souda, in Crete, were bombed. In general, the 13th Sqr based in the Middle East counted a total of 1,600 missions with over 4,550 flying hours.[7]
Italy and Greece
In May 14, 1944, the Squadron was transferred to southern Italy, where operations included bombing of enemy positions in Yugoslavia and Albania, as part of the Allied Balkan Air Force. During this period it executed a total of 1,400 operations that included bombing train stations, bridges, ammunition and fuel depots.[8]
In November 14, while the Axis troops were retreating from Greece, the aircraft of the Squadron landed in Hassani Airfield (later the Hellenikon Air Base and Ellinikon International Airport), near Athens. Although mainland Greece was liberated, Crete and other islands were still under German occupation. Alongside the Spitfire fighters of the two other Greek Squadrons, 335th and 336th, which had also arrived in Greece, the 13th was engaged in bombing missions against the remaining German garrisons in the Aegean islands and Crete (April-May 1945).[9] The Squadron was disbanded on April 19, 1946.[1]
- ^ a b Air pictorial: journal of the Air League. Air League of the British Empire, Vol 43. 1981. p. 472.
- ^ a b Lake, Jon (1998). Blenheim squadrons of World War 2 (1. publ. in Great Britain ed.). London: Osprey Publ. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-85532-723-8.
- ^ a b The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 26
- ^ The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 25
- ^ Military History Magazine, vol.144/2008, pp. 62–68
- ^ The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 27
- ^ The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 28
- ^ The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 29
- ^ The Desert Squadrons, (2008) p. 106
- Οι Μοίρες της Ερήμου (The Desert Squadrons) (PDF) (in Greek). Athens: Πανελλήνιος Σύνδεσμος Βετεράνων Αεροπορίας. 2004. pp. 26–50.
- Περιοδικό Στρατιωτική Ιστορία (Military History Magazine), Εκδόσεις Περισκόπιο: Μέρμηγκας, Γεώργιος, Δημήτριος Π. Καγκελάρης, 'Ενας έφεδρος αρχισμηνίας πολυβολητής στην Ελληνική Βασιλική Αεροπορία, vol.144/2008, pp. 62–68. (in Greek)
External links
- The Baltimore at the 13th Hellenic Squadron, Michail Solanakis.


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Corporate Partnership
A partnership with the Geelong Supercats enables your brand a 360 activation platform that works to connect your business with our fans and Arena attendees. Activation occurs beyond just game nights and signage as it may be fully integrated into community events, digital advertising, media broadcasts, and hospitality to create unique ways of reaching potential clients. The Supercats relationship can help create a differentiated marketing approach to your traditional advertising by helping you break away from the clutter. As a corporate partner, you will be a part of every experience inside The Geelong Arena and Arena Annex.
Partnership Packages
Show Court – North & South Ends(NEW)
Annex Signage (New)
Game Night Sponsorship & Activation


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I need to start a GUI application [Lotus Symphony] on a workspace different from the currently used one. [ex.: there are 4 workspaces on a GNOME desktop.]
Q: How do I do this?
p.s.: It's needed because Lotus Symphony's first start after a reboot is very, very slow, but after it's been used once, it starts very quickly. I think it caches itself. That's why I want to start it at every boot on a different workspace, so it will be fast later if I need to use it.


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Pinstripe Peony Watercolor Wedding Invitation Suite
Pinstripe Peony Watercolor Wedding Invitation Suite
This fresh spring wedding invitation has a romantic watercolor peony with bold black script, gold pinstripes, bright shimmer envelopes and a shiny gold foil envelope liner. All text is customizable. This suite includes:
- 5x7" Main Invitation
- 3.5x5" RSVP Card
- Pool Blue Mailing Envelope + Shiny Gold Foil Liner
- Soft Peach RSVP Envelope+ Wave Pattern Liner + Printed Mailing Address
An additional insert card can be created to match this suite if needed, for hotel/reception information. Turnaround time is three weeks from date of purchase. You will receive a proof to approve before printing will commence, and the order includes two rounds of edits to make ensure correct text. Fonts cannot be changed. If you would like to change the flower, font, and layout please contact me for a custom quote!
All cards are professionally printed on thick card stock. Coordinating reception and ceremony items can be created if needed as well. If you have questions please send me a message!


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Make Your Life Easy – How To Save While You Learn To Play A Piano
Many people find piano lessons quite expensive and because of this, a lot of would-be pianists pass the opportunity to become one of the best in the music industry. Playing the piano is a skill that can developed through time. Don't believe what other people say unless you've tried it yourself. There is a way to make your life easy and here is how to save while you learn to play a piano. When you're already considering the cost of piano lessons, you have to know your […]More info


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Schedule a Free Estimate Online
or Call 973-635-7900
Scope of work: Exterior Carpentry, Decks
Location: New Providence, NJ
Timeline: 2 days
In only a handful of days our team of carpenters had replaced this home's damaged deck stairs with brand new pressure treated stairs.
The existing stairs of this New Providence, NJ home had rotted treads and stringers.
Our team at Monk's removed the damaged stairs and built new stairs.
The new deck stairs were built out of pressure treated lumber. Pressure treated lumber is a great choice for exterior projects because it is a moisture resistant material.
Our team of carpenters built the new stairs in the same style as the existing deck.
In only a few days this exterior carpentry project was complete.
Another great project completed by our team at Monk's Home Improvements!
To see other deck projects by our team take a look at our Deck Gallery.
If you would like to see more projects by us, check out this azek deck or this deck refinishing project.
If you are considering a deck project for your home we would like the opportunity to tell you why we think we are the best deck contractor in New Providence, NJ.
Schedule a Free Estimate Online
or Call 973-635-7900


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Sara Brooke is a horror and suspense novelist living in South Florida. A lifelong avid reader of all things scary, Sara's childhood dream was to write horror books that force readers to sleep with their lights on. Her first novel, Still Lake, was released Spring 2012. Sara's influences and favorite authors include Bentley Little, John Saul, William Blackstone, and Joe McKinney.
As part of a neat little twist to my Women in Horror Month coverage this year, I'm going to feature fun little interviews with a few women horror writers and I think readers will get a kick out of them.
The next feature is for Sara Brooke, author of such books as Still Lake, Ghost Swim, and Kransen House, among others.
Check out our fun interview!
1. First scary movie you watched
SB: I can't remember the name of it, but it was a movie from the seventies about a family that moves into a haunted house and all sorts of bad things happen (people fall from the roof, a child drowns, and the grandmother refuses to leave the attic). If you can remember the name of it, please do let me know! I would love to watch it again with a glass of wine.
(Note: Even though we couldn't quite figure out which movie Sara is referring to, a staple of the genre in the "haunted house" category is, of course, The Amityville Horror (1979). Let's just say there's a reason it's on several "scariest horror movies of all time" lists)
2. First scary book you read
SB: The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe. It was a picture book that I read once and then hid away because it scared me so much. The idea of a dead sister in the house…all cold and gray was too much for my eight-year-old mind to take. To this day, that story terrifies me.
3. First scary Halloween costume you wore
SB: My mother dressed me up as Cyndi Lauper for Halloween when I was in grade school. Trust me…it was scary. It took weeks to wash out the hairspray.
4. First scary thing you wrote
SB: "The Plaza." It never got published and remains one of my first short stories about a haunted condominium where the residents sacrificed new tenants to a beast that lived in the supply closet.
5. First scary character you had a crush on
SB: Michael Jackson. Ha! Just kidding (though I did have a HUGE crush on him). I've always been a fan of Dracula. He can fly, has cool black hair, and a sexy voice.
Sara's latest release is The Awakening, which came out in November 2014.
Here's a description:
Everything she knows . . .
Renda Bloodmane is a quiet librarian, who lives a quiet life, in a small quiet town in Florida. Her days consist of going to work (which she loves) and watching old Hollywood movies with her dog Jane (which she also loves). Her life is just fine, if a tad on the dull side. So, when her best friend from college, Bobbie Trillo, invites her to visit her family in Georgia, Renda decides a vacation is in order. Bobbie has moved back in with her mother and brother after her parents' divorce. Things aren't going well for her mother, and Bobbie needs Renda's friendship and support.
Everything she believes . . .
Renda soon discovers that there is a lot more going on in the Trillo household than meets the eye. The moment she sets foot in the Trillo home, Renda starts seeing ghosts everywhere she turns. But one very unique ghost stands out from the rest. A sinfully attractive man named Cole, who died more than one hundred years ago, begins to haunt Renda's every thought. He warns her there is evil in the house and it's attacking Bobbie's mother. Only Renda can stop the demon from taking over and destroying the entire family.
Will never be the same . . .
Renda can't believe she's seeing dead people. She can't believe she's attracted to a dead man. And most of all, she can't believe that she's the chosen one who has to fight a centuries-old powerful demon. But there is more to Renda Bloodmane than even she realizes. Her quiet, ordered life is about to change and there's nothing she can do to stop it.
Further Reading:
Here are a few interviews Sara has done that you can read through:
I hope you've all enjoyed this chat with Sara. If you've never had occasion to read her work before, I hope you'll give it a try and if you've been a longtime fan, then I hope you enjoyed our little exchange 🙂


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After a ninety minute train ride, a four hour bus ride (courtesy of BoltBus...only $14 one way!), and a ten minute Circulator ride, I made it to the Google Geo Teachers Institute in Washington, D.C.
It was so much fun.
From top left in clockwise direction: Capitol building, Washington Monument, Nat Geo bulding, Amy Chua (Tiger Mom! Roar!) speaking at the National Book Festival, and the sign that greeted all of the participants on the first day of the institute.
The main reason I wanted to go was because a friend of mine had introduced me to Google Lit Trips a couple of years ago (post here) and I had heard that the founder, Jerome Burg, had presented at the last Google Geo conference. I really loved that a fellow English teacher created such an effective and powerful resource using Google Earth. The second I walked into the National Geographic building for the first day of the conference, I met Jerome Burg! I got a chance to chat with him, as well as with other fantastic presenters the whole entire weekend. It was very cool.
Note: If you want to check out everything I learned at the conference, you can look at Rebekka's Livebinder (really nice compilation of all the resources we used over the weekend). You can also take a look at my notes for Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google SketchUp.
Besides all of the wonderful tools we were learning about, the best part of the institute was meeting enthusiastic and amazingly creative educators and individuals who were really passionate about putting their best tech foot forward for their kids. I loved it. Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable. It was great to sit at any random table and have a conversation that ranged from talk about cables for your multimedia projector to the state of the budget in a particular school district. As a teacher, any kind of support is more than welcome, so this past weekend was a gift.
At the end of the first day, we took a bus over to the Library of Congress. The staff of the Geography and Map Division were great about showing us some of their most interesting maps. They were so quietly knowledgeable about all of the maps and globes in their division. It was a rare opportunity to see how powerful maps could be to a nation's identity (see Waldseemuller Map).
Good times.
Once I got back home, I started playing around with Google Earth and created a path depicting the pilgrims' journey to the cathedral in The Canterbury Tales. I just showed it to my kids yesterday and they were impressed (thank you, Mr. Google). I've come to the conclusion that this school year, I'm going to have a "no fear" attitude and just try to integrate different tech tools whenever I see an opportunity for my students to go deeper into a text or get a visual of a difficult idea or concept. My laptop, school multimedia projector, and extra long VGA cable are ready for this year!


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Mercruiser use their Quicksilver brand of Oils, Grease and Lubricants to service Mercruiser engines and Mercruiser Sterndrives. The Quicksilver brand is the genuine OEM range of oils and lubricants for Mercruiser to ensure the correct servicing of your Mercruiser Engine or Sterndrive.
If you need to order multiple items from our shop, we will reduce the postage costs when processing your order, or call us on 01326 370060. We will send any amount of Mercruiser or Mariner/ Mercury parts out to you for £7.00 in total via TNT. Please note we are only able to despatch within the UK.
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Designer in China- The View from My Room.
I would love to paint you a picture of how beautiful it is here. But, sadly, this is pretty much what it looks like in Wuxi. I'd say Shanghai is different, & it is, but only that there are more people & the buildings are taller. That icky smoggy sky is just that, pollution. I haven't seen but a few glimpses of the sun since I've been here. Sometimes it's a glowing red ball you see if you look up, otherwise you wouldn't even know it's there. I miss the sun.
All of the pollution & smoking (OMG they smoke everywhere here!!!) has made me sick. I've spent the weekend coughing & being generally gross in my room. I did do some laundry in the bathtub:) Traveling is interesting. I'm not sure I'll ever be up for such a long trip without any friends or my sweet man again. I'm not actually sure this type of travel is my thing. I know that's not a popular thing to say. I'm just not a eat the head of an animal type of adventurer. I've stuck with mostly vegetables so far.
I hope your weekend is lovely!


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Katherine Bailey on Books
Book Reviews, Literary Essays
Reviews: Past Books
Persuasion by Jane Austen
You could not shock her more than she shocks me;
Beside her Joyce seems innocent as grass.
It makes me uncomfortable to see
An English spinster of the middle class
Describe the amorous effects of "brass,"
Reveal so frankly and with such sobriety
The economic basis of society.
-W.H. Auden –
Biographers tell us that Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) was diffident about her writing, a modest lady untainted by ambition who hid her scrawled pages when anyone came into the room. In a preface to Persuasion Jane Austen's brother Henry Austen wrote: "Short and easy will be the task of her biographer. A life of usefulness, literature and religion was not by any means a life of event."
Without a doubt Pride and Prejudice is Austen's sunniest and most popular novel. She herself referred to it as "light, bright and sparkling." So precise and accurate is the characterization in Pride and Prejudice that in it readers witness and confront their own anguish and their own dreams. Like Shakespeare's characters, both central and minor, Austen's people are absolutely consistent in mode of speech and consciousness, and each is intensely different from the others. Arguably, no peripheral character in fiction is as authentically appealing as Mr. Bennet, father of Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia and husband to the egregiously foolish Mrs. Bennet – a man whom Austen has imbued with her own signature sense of irony. His dry wit and self-possession in the face of his wife's ridiculous hysteria is relentless. Bennet's detached attitude punctuated by bursts of sarcastic humor is one of the novel's many achievements. Austen captures Mr. Bennet and at the same time notes the value of playing the cards one is dealt: "To his wife he was very little otherwise indebted, than as her ignorance and folly had contributed to his amusement. This is not the sort of happiness which a man would in general wish to owe his wife; but where other powers of entertainment are wanting, the true philosopher will derive benefit from such as are given."
As much as I love Pride and Prejudice, my favorite among the six novels is Persuasion, a work that along with Northanger Abbey was published posthumously. While replete with the deep irony, scathing wit, the droll and finely drawn characters of Austen's other novels, it is underpinned with a decidedly greater maturity and wisdom. Her assured narrative voice anchors and sustains the novel to its very final word. And Austen's unique and enviable prose cadence, that pleasurable and deliberate ordering of her words and phrases, is present in Persuasion as in the earlier works.
Like all successful fiction writers, Austen wrote about what she knew. Yet it's important to understand that while her narratives flowed directly from her experience, her experience was somewhat narrow and limited. Much of her fiction, to be sure, flowed equally from her vibrant imagination. Imagine a smooth flow of narrative deriving from her own confined reality, but a flow that is interrupted by jets of alternate possibilities originating in her imagination. Austen's genius was that used observed moments from her life, but then repositioned and recharged them.
In a much-repeated anecdote, Jane Austen once wrote a letter to her niece Anna – a youngster who aspired to become a novelist – giving advice that has become famous in the annals of literary history: "Three or four families in a country village is the very thing to work on." We know that the restricted scope such as she suggested – a small group of people interacting with one another over time – worked miraculously for Jane.
The three families at center stage in Persuasion are the Elliots, the Musgroves, and the Wentworth-Crofts. While like the other novels it is about the maturing through trial of a young woman, Persuasion does not open with the spotlight on 26-year-old Anne Elliot. Instead the first pages are devoted to her father and his obsessive vanity about his lineage as a baronet and his contempt for those he considers beneath him. Austen's talent for satire reaches a pinnacle in her depiction of Sir Walter Elliot, a pompous man who blatantly values his own looks while obsessing over the horror of "unattractive persons." A true connoisseur of human folly, Austen goes after her target: "Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did…He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy…"
Before the end of the first chapter it is established that Anne is from a privileged class but is not appreciated. She is a "nobody;" "only Anne," to her family. Yet Anne is unmistakably Austen's protagonist. It is through her ears, eyes and mind that we are made to care about what is happening as the author launches her story. While other characters don't seem to be very aware of her, she is very much aware of everyone else, and she perceives what is happening to them when they are ignorant of it themselves. Lady Russell, a close friend to Anne's deceased mother, acts as Anne's godmother, and it is she alone who appears to apprehend Anne's worth. Anne's sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, are monsters of selfishness who ignore her shamefully or use her shamelessly.
The high social rank of the Elliot family has failed to guarantee its financial stability. Sir Walter's haughty refusal to economize has resulted in an accumulation of debt, and now the family must retrench. In order to live at less expense, they must let Kellynch, their Somerset manor house and estate. The subtext to all this is that Anne's economic position is uncertain and that all she has, in fact, is her worth in the marriage market.
At first Sir Walter refuses to consider letting his home to an admiral, believing navy men to be persons beneath him, persons of obscure birth and unmerited distinction. Nonetheless, he reluctantly agrees to rent Kellynch to the Crofts, a retire admiral and his wife.
Perhaps because she limits her scope to three or four families, Jane Austen's use of coincidence is usually credible. Consequently, when Mrs. Croft's brother turns out to be navel Captain Frederick Wentworth, the man to whom Anne was engaged at age 19, readers accept that fact as plausible. We learn that Anne had loved Wentworth intensely, considering him brilliant, fearless, warm and witty. Lady Russell, however, counseled Anne to refuse Wentworth on the grounds that he was, "…a young man who had nothing but himself to recommend him and no hopes of attaining influence, but in the chances of a most uncertain profession, and no connections to secure even his farther rise in that profession."
Lady Russell's sway was powerful, and out of deference to the older woman's purported wisdom and authority, Anne obeyed her. To be sure, "Persuasion" the title of the book, speaks to Lady Russell's ability to change Anne's young mind and to the consequences of the "persuasion."
Shortly after Anne's breakup with Wentworth, Lady Russell proves to be a woman of limited vision who expects Anne to "settle" in terms of marriage. She expresses the wish that Anne marry the mediocre Charles Musgrove (whom Anne's younger sister, Mary, eventually weds). Lady Russell advocates for him because of his property and its proximity to Kellynch, his "general importance, good character and appearance." The word "love" is not in her vocabulary.
When Anne learns that Mrs. Croft is Wentworth's sister, she dreads the inevitable moment when they will meet for the first time since their engagement was dissolved. Meanwhile with her father and sister, Elizabeth, moved to a flat in Bath, Anne has gone to stay with her younger sister, Mary, who is married to the aforementioned Charles Musgrove and has two young sons. Austen's rendering of Mary, a peripheral but important character, is masterful. Deficient in understanding and temper, possessing "no resources for solitude," Mary apparently inherited from her father the Elliot self-important gene. She is a self-dramatizing young woman who thinks highly of the importance of her own feelings. Austen lets us in on the joke of her selfishness, but her function as a character is not simply comic. She serves as a perfect foil to showcase Anne's restraint, patience and gentleness – even what Austen refers to as "her forced cheerfulness."
In the course of her stay with Mary and Charles, Anne goes frequently to Uppercross, the neighboring manor house to visit Mary's in-laws. Charles's sisters, Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove are typically provincial young women. Both are hearty and high-spirited, and both are self-centered egotists who barely listen to any concerns but their own. Neither seems to care about the necessity of letting Kellynch, leaving Anne homeless. Anne's first visit to the Musgroves after moving to Mary's home is an eye-opener, a lesson "in the art of knowing our own nothingness beyond our own circle." Louisa and Henrietta, who have made Captain Wentworth's acquaintance, make every effort to impress him. They immerse themselves in the Navel Lists, a publication filled with information about British ships and who currently sails on them. In spite of this, never once does the discerning reader worry that Louisa or Henrietta will undermine the Anne-Wentworth relationship.
Anne and Wentworth meet for the first time in some seven years when he joins the Musgrove women and Anne for a country walk. They struggle to keep feelings in check, and for both of these self-disciplined characters, composure trumps overt agitation. Readers become aware of the oblique communication that immediately begins flowing between Anne and Wentworth. No matter the topic he initiates and good-naturedly prolongs with the others, Anne is lurking at the edges of Frederick's perception.
In contrast to the Musgroves, the Crofts exude a rare generosity of spirit. Neither Admiral Croft nor Wentworth's sister is pretentious or proud, but both are honest and frank. Unlike Mrs. Musgrove, Mrs. Croft is not a shrinking violet. Her husband's invariable soulmate, Mrs.Croft comments: "…nothing can exceed the accommodations of a man of war…when you come to a frigate, of course, you are more confined – though any reasonable woman may be perfectly happy in one of them, and I can safely say that the happiest part of my life has been spent on board ship…while we were together there was nothing to be feared."
Not surprisingly, Anne and Wentworth are often thrown together at the same social gatherings either at the Musgrove's or the Croft's. Austen relates the mutual agony they endure at a gathering at the Musgroves: "They had no conversation together, no intercourse but what the commonest civility required. Once so much to each other! Now nothing! There had been a time, when of all of the large party now filling the drawing-room at Uppercross, they would have found it most difficult to cease to speak to one another…there could have been no two hearts so open, no tastes so similar, no feelings so in unison, no countenances so beloved."
It becomes evident to him that that Anne's "mistake" in rejecting him has conferred on her the role of maiden aunt, a condition that decidedly does not agree with her. It becomes apparent to her that resentment lingers in Wentworth. Yet subtlety but surely Austen encourages us to hope for a reconciliation between Anne and her captain. They are, to be sure, reassessing each other – listening attentively to each other's general conversation, observing each other's actions, and scrutinizing even the smallest gestures.
It's impossible to overstate the role of the navy in Persuasion's plot. At the close of the eighteenth century the navy was one of the few institutions through which Englishmen of humble birth could utilize a combination of merit and luck to gain financial footing and social privilege. Trade, at that time, was still considered vulgar. The navy afforded Frederick Wentworth the opportunity to earn "rewards" (money gained from capturing enemy ships during war and selling their booty). During the years of separation from Anne he has proved Lady Russell wrong, becoming not only financially solvent but also gaining confidence, and earning respect as a navel commander. Frederick is an esteemed member of the sea-faring community who stays in touch with other navel officers between tours of duty.
Residing in the resort town of Lyme Regis are two officer friends of Wentworth's, the Captains Harville and Benwick. Frederick soon leads a contingent of various Musgroves – a group that includes Anne – on a pleasure trip to Lyme to visit his friends.
In an intensely dramatic scene – certainly one of the novel's most memorable – Louisa Musgrove is gravely injured while the group is walking the beach at Lyme. Austen has established Louisa as a silly girl, infatuated with the handsome Captain Wentworth. So we are not completely surprised when, in attempt to impress him, she jumps from the Cobb wall. The nearly fatal blow to her head yields a great deal of blood and renders her unconscious.
The event captures our attention on two levels. Naturally, we focus on Louisa's condition and treatment, and we are also engaged by the dynamics between Anne and Wentworth. Anne's reaction to the mishap demonstrates "all the strength and zeal and thought" of which she is capable in a crisis. Her superior judgment in sending the appropriate person for a doctor, and her actions aimed at keeping the victim alive impress Wentworth. Indeed, the disastrous fall is the spark that re-ignites Wentworth's passion. At this moment he recognizes that his love for Anne has never waned. Readers feel gratified because Austen's powerless heroine has taken charge. Suddenly Anne becomes the center of the group to which she has for so long been marginal.
During the time the story is set in Lyme, Austen weaves into her work the thread of a subplot when a Mr. Eliot – a distant cousin to Anne and heir to her father's estate – makes an appearance. Anne recognizes this young man whom the meddling Lady Russell will later try to persuade her to marry. Anne wisely sees through his pretentions and is convinced that a union with him would be nothing less than a repeat of her mother's mistake in marrying Sir Walter Eliot.
As the plot unfolds, the action shifts to the Somerset resort town of Bath. Sometimes described as a "golden city" because of the prevalence of resplendent stones in its buildings, Bath occupies an ancient Roman site. According to writer and critic, Carol Shields, "The city glowed of newness, with history, with harmonious architecture, with the positive and curative effects of its hot springs, with optimism and with gentility."
Shields points out that dinners, dances, card parties and chance encounters in the shopping streets brought drama to every day life. Sir Walter has beckoned Anne to join him and Elizabeth in their flat, and, predictably, Anne finds Bath uncongenial, "with its sharp social distinctions and fine gradations of who stays where and who appears with whom." Her father and sister, of course, relish life at Bath. The town is fertile ground for a connoisseur of human folly such as Austen.
But because Wentworth – along with the captains Harville and Benwick – turns up in Bath, Anne's spirits lift. By this time, Wentworth is clearly besotted with Anne and vice versa. Still, readers cannot breathe easily since misunderstandings concerning Anne's affection for young Mr. Elliot punctuate events. Also in Bath is Lady Russell, whose petty behavior persists. For example, she tries to keep Wentworth's presence in Bath a secret from Anne. Standing in the same room with Anne and looking out a window into rooms in a building across the street, rather than acknowledge that she sees Wentworth, she pretends that she is observing the "drawing-room curtains." Austen's rendering of Lady Russell, a minor but decidedly pivotal character is another instance of the novel's mastery.
When Anne and Frederick meet, we observe thrilling moments of a new and affecting intensity between them. The occasions are les dramatic than the accident at Lyme, but they are nonetheless telling. Anne is quietly eloquent and companionable in her conversations with him, while Frederick appreciates her every word. Anne, encouraged by the indicators in his demeanor, asserts herself to restore their relationship. Austen remarks that Anne, with bright eyes and glowing cheeks, has regained the power to speak, act, and be joyful.
In another of the novel's unforgettable scenes, Anne says what she wants to say on the subject of constancy. She communicates by indirection in a conversation with Captain Harville, saying in a courteous and deferential manner, that a woman's feelings are more tender than a man's, more capable of enduring. The conversation takes place in a room full of people including Wentworth who, sitting nearby at a table writing a letter, hears every word. He picks up his pen again and writes to Anne, pleading his love and assuring her that his love has not diminished even after eight years. Anne reads the letter, and what follows is a sequence of glances given, received, of understandings reached not directly but through a look, a gesture, and the unspoken subtext of al that has been said aloud.
The plot's happy resolution is quintessential Jane Austen – the lovers are re-united and a wedding takes place. But unlike the heroines in Austen's earlier books, Anne does not receive a landed estate or a titled husband. She will never be mistress of Kellynch, and Wentworth's profession does entail the threat of absence and loss.
Though a tenor of regret as well as an undertow of discouragement resonate through the first portions of the novel, the work is, on the whole, affirming and uplifting. The opportunity to become acquainted with Anne is life-enhancing. Readers encounter in her true decency – that is, a concern for the happiness of others. And because the narrative is filtered through the heroine's consciousness (to a greater degree than in any of Austen's previous books), we get to know an exemplary human being – one of ready sympathies, discriminating responses, careful judgments, and flashes of amused self-awareness.
In any consideration of serious fiction, readers must ask what truths the work illuminates. In other words, what are the thematic underpinnings to the narrative? In some ways Persuasion is a variation on well-established insights from Austen's earlier novels – humans are resilient; pretentiousness, pomposity, and sentimentality are deplorable; and position in society or wealth does not indicate human worth. Among the Austen books, Persuasion is distinctive for the light it sheds on the sensual power of deferred love, and on the notion that advice is as good or as bad as the event decides.


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Ai Weiwei Article 73 criminal procedure law detention Hunan incitement Liu Xiaoyuan li wangyang National people's congress residential surveillance sina weibo subversion two sessions Wang Lihong weibo Zhu Chengzhi
China Inaugurates Legal Semi-Secret DetentionZhu Chengzhi may have become the first to be detained under new amendments to China's Criminal Procedure Law. Amid fierce criticism, the changes passed through the National People's Congress by a vote of 2,639 to 160 in March last year, and came into effect on New Year's Day. The new Article 73 allows some prisoners to be held in an undisclosed location for up to six months without access to a lawyer, but does require that families be notified of their detention.
January 10, 2013


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14 décembre 2006
Everything Starts by a Dream
That night, it was in summer, beyond tears and blood.
It was near the sun, it was shining since a while. This while I dreamed it, near to you, I kissed you, I caressed you. It was a simple summer morning.
I dreamed of somebody, while I was alone.
A cute girl who loved me.
I entered in this dream in a fraction of a second. I was laying down in the yellow grass, I looked around, and I saw that I was alone.
I woke up. Then I saw her, with her big dark eyes, so close to me that the light of summer couldn't contract her pupils. These made her eyes black. The desire was read in her eyes, and while kissing her I saw you close them.
I moved back, I took to her by the hand and we ran in a field. A green field , gigantic, where the grass major green extended as far as the eye can see.
Then we ran, together, in the field, where we made this dream.
Suddenly, her eyes fade to blue, water blue. A blue inwich I jumped.
In water, we swam, I saw her blond eyes, I come closer to her and I kissed her.
We thrown something, someone ran after us, then we fled. We were in a strange bunker, inwich we were hide. I talked strangely, with a strange voice, another than mine, but mine. She laughed, with a little laugh that I love. I want her to laugh to make me as happy as there.
After, I were in a room, a classroom, I did an Exam. I thank in my head: "Hurry Up!! I want to see her once more before... It's so easy! All I have to do is wake up, I willl see her immediatly..."
Then I walked up alone.
This eyes, this hairs, I often dreamt about, but never like it's reallity. Always like other dreams, not like this. This was so real!! I thank that it was a premonitory dream.
This eyes, this hairs, I could recognize them for thousands.
I saw this blue eyes like water once more. I saw this dark pupils inwich I fall everytime I kiss her. I saw this fairs and brown hairs, inwich I put my thingers while kissing her.
It was yours.
I saw the girl of my dream, It's my little pearl of big sun, my own summer, my own winter, my own romance, my own love. I'm yours now.
I love you, Charline.
Photo 1: http://tam-gdzie-rodza-sie-sny.blog.pl/
Photo 2: http://tam-gdzie-rodza-sie-sny.blog.pl/
Photo 3: Photo de Charline (édité par moi :D )


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Submitted by Lance Roberts vai STA Wealth Management,
Jim Clifton Strikes Again - 5.6% Unemployment Is A Lie
I recently published a piece analyzing Jim Clifton's, CEO of Gallup, comments regarding the potential overestimation of employment by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) due to the birth/death adjustment utilized. To wit:
"We are behind in starting new firms per capita, and this is our single most serious economic problem. Yet it seems like a secret. You never see it mentioned in the media, nor hear from a politician that, for the first time in 35 years, American business deaths now outnumber business births.
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that the total number of new business startups and business closures per year -- the birth and death rates of American companies -- have crossed for the first time since the measurement began. I am referring to employer businesses, those with one or more employees, the real engines of economic growth. Four hundred thousand new businesses are being born annually nationwide, while 470,000 per year are dying.
This is an extremely important point as it suggests that employment, as presented by the BLS, has been significantly overstated over the past six years. If we take the differential as stated by Gallup and compare that to the annual birth/death adjustment used by the BLS we find that jobs have been overstated by 3,678,000 or more than 613,000 annually.
How does this compare to the cumulative number of jobs as reported by the BLS since 2009? It is quite substantial."
Now, Jim Clifton is back stating that not only is BLS wrong in its assumptions about employment activity, but also that the 5.6% unemployment number is "extremely misleading."
"The official unemployment rate, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, is extremely misleading.
Right now, we're hearing much celebrating from the media, the White House and Wall Street about how unemployment is 'down' to 5.6%. The cheerleading for this number is deafening. The media loves a comeback story, the White House wants to score political points and Wall Street would like you to stay in the market.
None of them will tell you this: If you, a family member or anyone is unemployed and has subsequently given up on finding a job -- if you are so hopelessly out of work that you've stopped looking over the past four weeks -- the Department of Labor doesn't count you as unemployed. That's right. While you are as unemployed as one can possibly be, and tragically may never find work again, you are not counted in the figure we see relentlessly in the news -- currently 5.6%. Right now, as many as 30 million Americans are either out of work or severely underemployed. Trust me, the vast majority of them aren't throwing parties to toast 'falling' unemployment."
Of course, Jim is once again correct. Many arguments of low labor force participation rates have focused on the retirement of the baby-boomer generation. Therefore, to exclude that argument, even though those over the age of 65 that are currently employed is at the highest level on record, we can look solely at the group of individuals that should be actively employed (16-54 years of age.) The following chart, which is the labor force participation rate of solely 16-54-year-olds, shows the real problem with the BLS's employment figures.
Considering that only 46% of that age group are currently employed suggests that an unemployment rate of just 5.6% is highly misleading.
Of course, you already knew that didn't you?
Dividend Cuts To Impact Personal Incomes
Political Calculations brought out a very interesting point recently discussing the rise in dividend cuts due to the deteriorating economic backdrop. To wit:
"Going by the number of publicly-traded companies that acted to cut their dividends in January 2015, the U.S. economy didn't just experience recessionary conditions during the month. Instead, it outright contracted."
"Or perhaps a better description of what happened is that the U.S. oil industry's efforts to push its luck as far as it could has run out of good luck to push.
By that, we're referring to the consequences of falling oil prices, which are forcing an increasing number of companies tied to oil extraction activities in the United States to take the dramatic step of slashing their dividends. With 57 U.S. companies taking that action in January 2015, the number of companies taking that action in a single month is consistent only with previous months in which the U.S. economy either experienced contraction or in response to major dividend tax rate hikes.
January 2015 saw no major tax rate hikes on dividends, so contraction it is."
Importantly, another impact of the decline in dividend payout will be a reduction of the amount of dividend income that makes up part of the personal income and spending reports. The chart below shows the monthly net change of a few components of the personal income figure. Notice that in the most recent month personal interest income is negative due to the plunge in interest rates and dividend income was marginally positive.
Considering that the decline in oil prices is supposed to good for the consumer, even though personal spending declined in the most recently reported period, the decline in dividends will certainly have a negative effect on those depending on those dividends. As I showed recently, the current detachment between spending and the stock market will likely be corrected rather harshly at some point.
2nd Most Overvalued Market In History
I recently gave a presentation at the 2015 World Economic Conference (see full slide deck here) in which I discussed varying aspects of the market that should have investors fairly concerned. High yield spreads on the decline, extreme deviations from the long-term mean, and margin debt levels should all be at the top of the list.
One point I did not include, but should have, was noted recently by my dear friend Doug Short.
"The peak in 2000 marked an unprecedented 147% overshooting of the trend — nearly double the overshoot in 1929. The index had been above trend for two decades, with one exception: it dipped about 13% below trend briefly in March of 2009. But at the beginning of February 2015, it is 91% above trend, down from 95% above trend the month before. In sharp contrast, the major troughs of the past saw declines in excess of 50% below the trend. If the current S&P 500 were sitting squarely on the regression, it would be around the 1060 level. If the index should decline over the next few years to a level comparable to previous major bottoms, it would fall to the low 500 range."
"Incidentally, the standard deviation for prices above and below trend is 40.6%. Here is a close-up of the regression values with the regression itself shown as the zero line. I've highlighted the standard deviations. We can see that the early 20th century real price peaks occurred at around the second deviation. Troughs prior to 2009 have been more than a standard deviation below trend. The peak in 2000 was well north of 3 deviations, and the 2007 peak was above the two deviations -- as is our current level."
As I stated during my presentation, we can certainly "hope" that the markets will continue to march endlessly higher. However, "hope" has never been an effective portfolio management strategy.


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Duplicate Content For Dummies
Duplicate content is content that appears on the Internet in more than one place (URL). This is a problem because when there are more than one piece of identical content on the Internet, it is difficult for search engines to decide which version is more relevant to a given search query. To provide the best search experience, search engines will rarely show multiple, duplicate pieces of content and thus, are forced to choose which version is most likely to be the original (or best).
hree of the biggest issues with duplicate content include:
1. Search engines don't know which version(s) to include/exclude from their indices
2. Search engines don't know whether to direct the link metrics (trust, authority, anchor text, link juice, etc.) to one page, or keep it separated between multiple versions
3. Search engines don't know which version(s) to rank for query results
When duplicate content is present, site owners suffer rankings and traffic losses and search engines provide less relevant results.
SEO Best Practice
Whenever content on a site can be found at multiple URLs, it should be canonicalized for search engines. This can be accomplished using a 301 redirect to the correct URL, using the rel=canonical or in some cases using the Parameter handling tool in Google Webmaster Central.
301 Redirect
In many cases the best way to combat duplicate content is to set up a 301 redirect from the ""duplicate"" page to the original content page. When multiple pages with the potential to rank well are combined into a single page, they not only no longer compete with one another, but create a stronger relevancy and popularity signal overall. This will positively impact their ability to rank well in the search engines.
Another option for dealing with duplicate content is to utilize the rel=canonical tag. The rel=canonical passes the same amount of link juice (ranking power) as a 301 redirect, and often takes up much less development time to implement.
The tag is part of the HTML head of a web page. This meta tag isn't new, but like nofollow, simply uses a new rel parameter. For example: This tag tells Bing and Google that the given page should be treated as though it were a copy of the URL www.example.com/canonical-version-of-page/ and that all of the links and content metrics the engines apply should actually be credited toward the provided URL.
noindex, follow
The meta robots tag with the values ""noindex, follow"" can be implemented on pages that shouldn't be included in a search engine's index. This allows the search engine bots to crawl the links on the specified page, but keeps them from including them in their index. This works particularly well with pagination issues.
Parameter Handling in Google Webmaster Tools
Google Webmaster Tools allows you to set the preferred domain of your site and handle various URL parameters differently. The main drawback to these methods is that they only work for Google. Any change you make here will not affect Bing or any other search engines settings.
Set Preferred Domain
This should be set for all sites. It is a simple way to tell Google whether a given site should be shown with or without a www in the search engine result pages.
Additional Methods for Removing Duplicate Content
1. Maintain consistency when linking internally throughout a website. For example, if a webmaster determines that the canonical version of a domain is www.example.com/, then all internal links should go to http://www.example.com/example.html rather than http://example.com/page.html. (notice the absence of www)
2. When syndicating content make sure the syndicating website adds a link back to the original content. See Dealing With Duplicate Content for more information.
3. Minimize similar content. Rather than having one page about raincoats for boys (for example), and another page for raincoats for girls that share 95% of the same content, consider expanding those pages to include distinct, relevant content for each URL. Alternatively, a webmaster could combine the two pages into a single page that is highly relevant for childrens' raincoats.
4. Remove duplicate content from search engine's indices by noindexing with meta robots, or through removal via Webmaster Tools (Google and Bing)


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Whether you're running a Verizon outlet in Philadelphia, a Jimmy John's in Sioux Falls, or a Storm Guard Restoration Service on the stormy Florida coast, a point-of-sale (POS) system is going to be an essential tool for your franchise. Franchises are entrepreneurial by nature and POS systems earn unique benefits for busy franchisees by filling unique requirements, in addition to the benefits that modern cloud-based POS systems bring organically. Here are the basic elements a franchisee might need in their POS system:
- Reporting functions to capture and disseminate sales data from each location.
- Cost-efficient ways to optimize a franchisee's operations across multiple locations.
- A user-friendly experience platform to make training easier and more effective.
- A credit card processing system that is compliant with EMV standards (that's for Europay, Mastercard and Visa, the new chip card standards that started affecting merchants in 2015).
- A scalable design for franchisees working with multiple locations or diverse business models.
- More technically advanced franchisees might consider adding video surveillance with on-board analytics to analyze traffic patterns, identify questionable transactions, and other advanced applications.
Let's look at five cloud-based, EMV-compliant point-of-sale systems that make excellent choices for franchisees.
1. Best general POS system for new franchisees: Square
Square is ideal for quick-service restaurants or cafes, or for franchisees whose transactions are relatively simple. Square, unlike most POS providers, doesn't charge a monthly service fee, and its powerful but easy-to-navigate platform can handle payments, digital receipts, open tickets, inventory, reports, and more. It's particularly well-suited for small businesses that can use it as a mobile POS on a smartphone or loaded onto a tablet at the counter—Square is also compatible with both Apple and Android, unlike some of its competitors. With no charge for downloads or updates, Square is also an extraordinarily cost-effective POS solution for franchisees, who only need to buy a $49 EMV card reader to get started. Once you're up and running, Square charges 2.75 percent per swipe, dip or tap and 3.5 percent plus 15 cents per keyed-in transaction. Other features allow franchises to manage other applications like payroll, employee management, invoicing, and customer engagement.
2. Another robust web-based POS choice: ERPLY
New York City-based ERPLY is a web-based franchise POS system that also caters to retail and quick-service businesses. The company has a well-tested POS platform, given that it supports more than 100,000 customers ranging from franchises to small businesses. ERPLY is interesting in that the company offers an offline option, meaning that franchisees can conduct sales transactions without a live Internet feed, and then sync their data once they are reconnected. ERPLY is also a good choice for rapidly growing businesses, as its scalable retail platform can accommodate small chains with less than 10 stores as well as enterprise clients with more than 500 stores. The company also offers customization of the user interface and customer-facing applications to meet the needs of clients. ERPLY starts at $200 per month but also includes a 14-day free trial.
3. Best choice for restaurants: Breadcrumb
Well-established Breadcrumb has advantages for restaurant franchisees in that it was designed and built by professionals in the restaurant industry, but also has the significant backing of its owner, Groupon, which acquired the company in 2012. The company offers features that are particularly attractive to restaurant staff including an offline mode, menu customization, and the ability to split, transfer, and merge checks. Other features include Breadcrumb Live, which allows franchisees to track sales, guest counts, and sale items in real time from any smartphone, and a kitchen display system intended to improve communications between the front of the house and the kitchen/bar. Breadcrumb is a little pricier than other options, starting at $99 per month for a single terminal license plus 10 cents per transaction, as well as up-front costs of about $2,000.
4. The popular, affordable choice: ShopKeep
ShopKeep captures many reviewers' #1 rating and is an excellent POS solution for retail, restaurants, quick service locations, and small- to medium-sized businesses. ShopKeep is unique in that it was designed by a merchant who was frustrated by archaic POS systems, leading him to create a sleek, innovative iPad-based platform. The company serves a remarkable diversity of customers including coffee shops, boutiques, bakeries, specialty retail, and liquor stores, among many others. The platform starts at $69 per month, with variable payment fees.
5. A best solution for bigger franchises: Revel Systems
Revel Systems is a robust and well-established iPad POS that remains popular among a diverse array of franchises. The company's sweet spot is larger, multiple location franchises operating in the restaurant and retail sectors, although the platform's scalability makes it useful for a variety of business models. For franchisees that value customization in order to differentiate themselves from the competition, Revel offers a higher degree of customization, allowing franchisees to innovate by adding new POS functions ranging from touch screen kiosks to delivery and inventory management. It's also an ideal platform for franchises with security issues, as it's the only IPad POS solution currently that offers secure Ethernet connections versus wi-fi or cloud only solutions. Pricing varies as Revel Systems offers industry-specific software packages for a monthly subscription fee, broken down per terminal. It's an excellent value for large businesses, as it can handle multiple locations and up to half a million stock keeping units (SKUs). It is not ideal for mom and pop operations, as the platform's customization options and complexity require quite a bit of time and effort to install.


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BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) is an electro-physiological test procedure to measure the responses of brain waves stimulated by a clicking sound to identify the central auditory or hearing pathways of the brainstem.
The brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) aids is an objective test in evaluating the hearing threshold. It also helps in diagnosing retrocochlear lesions in children with suspected hearing loss or pathological speech development.
This procedure involves the study of electrical activities and responses of the brain to the sound and is beneficial for measuring the hearing ability of both adults and children.
The ear consists of three different parts including the outer, middle and inner ear. The outer ear involves the visible part called auricle or pinna and external auditory canal. The middle ear is formed by the eardrum or tympanic membrane and tympanic cavity containing three small bones named hammer, anvil and stirrup or collectively known as ossicles. The inner ear contains cochlea and vestibular system or organ of balance. The sound waves reach the outer ear and vibrate the eardrum. The vibration gets transmitted to middle ear and from there to inner ear. In the inner ear an important structure called cochlea converts the sound waves into electrical signals and sends to the brain. The brain decodes and interprets these signals and perceive as music, message, loud or quiet speech.
In BERA electrodes are placed to the skin of the head and behind the ear which measure the receiving sound waves in the form of electrical signals capacity of the brain. A special head phone also can be used through which clicking sounds can be sent to the inner ear. Any impairment in the transmission of the signals indicates a problem associated with hearing.
The advantages of the BERA (Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry) test include early diagnosis of hearing impairment, identification of causes of hearing impairment.


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The Basel Life Science Week conference is an international event that brings together researchers, investors, and policy makers from industry, academia, and not-for-profit institutions. Each year, representatives from more than 45 countries participate in advancing our current understanding and applying knowledge to progress the life sciences fields.
One of the new themes for the 2016 program was developing standards for the implementation of Precision Medicine, with focus groups in bio-sample management, and digital data standardization and storage. Forums on human health (Aging and Infectious Diseases); advanced technologies for drug discovery (Stem Cells, Peptide Therapeutics, Protein Production, Drug Discovery Sciences, Next Generation Sequencing), and focused sessions on molecular disease mechanisms (GPCR, Kinases) took place once again.
The Digital Health & Care and the Translational Medicine Forums addressed how to advance clinical applications of discovery, which could synthesize the latest developments in these fields.
The MipTec Exhibition on Drug Discovery brought together over 100 vendors to showcase cutting edge technologies that could help advance R&D in the life sciences. In 2016, the Product Innovation Award was expanded to recognize outstanding achievement in the development of these technologies. The Innovation-Avenue, a platform for start-ups in life sciences, has been extended to enable more start-ups to participate. The program committee put together a dynamic evening for companies to network broadly with the larger community of researchers.
Richard Barker, GHPI Advisory Board Member and Precision Medicine Expert, presented at the conference. Afterwards, he had this to share:
"For the last few years I've been grappling with a mystery–why is there a persistent failure in turning our great advances in bioscience into lasting and affordable patient benefit?
My thinking and research has led me to write a book for OUP: Bioscience–Lost in Translation? How Precision Medicine Closes the Innovation Gap. My book gives offers one of the main ways this problem could be tackled.
This is, of course, far from being an academic curiosity–it's a vital imperative if we are to use the growing list of precision medicine tools to advance the cause of increasing healthy lifespan in the face of economic pressure on our health systems. I'm now working on this topic with governments and NGOs around the world."
The book has gained positive feedback from leaders in the field on both sides of the Atlantic. You can find it here:
OUP (https://global.oup.com/
academic/product/bioscience— lost-in-translation- 9780198737780?cc=gb&lang=en&)


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Autopsy: No foul play in couple's death in townhome | News
PARK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WZZM) -- An autopsy performed on two people found dead in inside their Holland-area townhome confirmed that there were no obvious signs of foul play, police said.
Teri Hills, 27, and Amber Janowiak, 30, were found dead inside their bedroom Saturday at the Amberwood Townhomes complex.
An autopsy performed Monday by Ottawa County Chief Medical Examiner David Start did not find signs of foul play nor did it conclude a cause of death, according to an sheriff's department news release.
A toxicology report now is pending as the investigation continues.
Police say the couple's deaths does not appear suspicious.


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Keeping a Family Together
Children and young people have the right to expect their Government to support them if they and their parents/carers apply to live the same country together. Also, if a child or young person has a parent/carer who lives in another country and they want to visit them, they have the right to visit.
Primary Contacts:
Additional Contacts:


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The city of Springfield deserves a big laurel for looking forward and working to put a foundation in place to foster a better downtown.
The council's consideration of creating a new position to handle economic development and the Mars Theatre is to be applauded.
Getting the right person in this position will be worth every penny spent.
A person concentrating full-time on the theatre and downtown development is bound to pay dividends for Springfield.
We hope to see the city follow through with this plan.
County Commission Chairman Wendall Kessler and commissioners get a laurel this week for their plan to go after some King America cash. Kessler was paying attention and took notice of people getting settlement money from the Screven County plant related to damages from the 2011 fish kill.
Kessler brought it to the attention of the board and the group has hired attorneys (see page 3) to go after King America for damages to Effingham County.
Kessler would like to see any damages recovered be used to make improvements to the landing at Steel Bridge.
It may be ages before the county sees any funds, if ever, but we agree that trying is the right move to make.
The attorneys, by the way, won't be paid unless there is success.
A laurel to the Rincon Police Department and the graduates of the recent Citizens Police Academy.
The residents and the police staff are to be commended for giving up one evening each week over eight weeks for the betterment of the police department and the community.
It took a commitment of time and effort from both the police and the residents.
The benefits of these classes may not be observable to some, but they serve to increase understanding and that is always a good thing.
We're not quite sure whether to give a dart or a laurel in the situation involving a pit bull named Kno. Kno it appears is finally going to be out of Effingham County and no longer an issue here.
If all goes as expected, Kno is heading to a rescue center in upstate New York.
After mauling a 5-year-old Effingham boy, the dog has been living in limbo on the county dime at the animal shelter.
Whether you thought Kno should have been euthanized immediately following the July 2012 attack, or allowed to be adopted, the fact the dog has been living in a cage for almost a year was certainly not fair to the dog - or the county.
We're just glad to see this finally come to an end.


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I'm sorry about my last post, and my arguing in the art forum.
I had a bad day, and I was easily annoyed by anything in NG :(
I didn't meant to do anything bad or anything. But really, my art isn't the best in the world...
Trying to make a new drawing style to myself, but I will draw some manga-ish eyes to my characters :)
In computer art I use GIMP 2.6.8, what is ALMOST like Photoshop, but only free.
I try to make some literature in my pictures too...
But I should forget drawing with pens and pencil for a while, but I will draw something with them, when I'm bored.
But won't submit them to NG.
Because people don't my art when it's completely made without help (of a computer).
People like computer art more, so even if I want to draw with pen, I should only show my computer art/ make my pen art complished with computer (coloring, better lining/ graphics...)
So here is one new picture of mine :] :