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When the real controversies legitimate the fake ones
It's true: gay-rights groups, a progressive church and other liberal organizations have received not-so-special attention from the IRS in years past, as well as more recently. It's true that there's no clear evidence that IRS staffers were ideologically motivated when they gave special scrutiny to Tea Party groups. It's true that, by design, the IRS does its work largely independent of the White House—Obama couldn't fire the people at the Cincinnati office if he wanted to. And yes: "social welfare" nonprofits need more scrutiny and regulation, not less—assuming they should even exist.
Still. The IRS kerfuffle might not be as bad as some people are saying it is, but it's definitely bad. It's unacceptable for the agency to selectively enforce the law, intentionally or otherwise. The whole system's integrity relies on it being applied fairly. And now it's going to be even harder for the IRS to move forward with clarifying the vague rules for nonprofits that were a big part of the problem in the first place.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department is under fire for seizing a wide set of phone records from the Associated Press. It's not clear that the administration did anything it's not allowed to do; the question is whether it should have that much power over the press, especially given that it has other, less chilling options it could have pursued.
E. J. Dionne is right that these are very different situations; the political narrative of a "scandal week" for the Obama administration obscures more than it reveals. Some IRS staffers in Ohio made a bad judgment call as they tried to get through piles of applications. Back in Washington, Justice and the AP were at odds. Different actors, different issues at play, different consequences.
But the administration's opponents smell blood now, so this is the narrative we're stuck with: Can you believe all the Big Government overreach lately? Exhibit A! Exhibit B! And the fact that exhibits A and B are legitimate problems can lend the less legitimate exhibits C, D and so on a boost of credibility. It's no way to have a national debate.
Jon Stewart nails it below (also curses a lot):


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|Poppy Murphy Cabinet Bed
Instant Guest Bed
Our Poppy Murphy Cabinet Bed is a truly instant guest bed. Convert it from handsome cabinet to comfy bed in less than a minute. When all closed up it just takes 10 square feet of floor space.
Shown above in Skye finish, also available in Brushed Driftwood, Blizzard and White Bark finishes.
• Comes complete with Folding Trays
• Large Rolling Storage Drawer
• Higher Sleep Platform
• Built-in Dual Power/USB module
• Solid Hardwood Construction
• Shallow Sleep Enclosure
• Base packed inside Fully Assembled Cabinet
• Tri-Fold Premium Gel Memory Foam Queen Mattress
|Murphy Cabinet Bed Unpacking and Assembly
|Adjusting the levelers on the Base unit
|Opening and Closing the Murphy Cabinet
Shipped to you directly from the manufacturer via LTL Freight. Most orders ship out within 2 Business Days. The freight carrier will contact you to make a delivery appointment. Residential LTL deliveries are "Curbside Delivery" and include a lift gate on the back of the truck to allow heavy items to be unloaded at ground level. You are required to meet the delivery truck in front of the house, the driver will unload the item(s), but the customer is responsible for carrying item(s) into the house. Please arrange for help to bring heavy items inside. It's possible you may be able to arrange additional delivery services with your carrier, for an additional charge, at the time they contact you to set the date and time. IMPORTANT: On arrival, inspect the shipment immediately for obvious signs of damage and note any damage on the Bill Of Lading before signing.
To Determine Your Shipping Cost:
The Poppy Murphy Cabinet Bed comes width a limited 10 year warranty. The supplied mattress is covered by a limited 3 year warranty. The warranty applies only to the original purchaser and does not cover: (a) wear and tear; (b) damage caused by abuse or failure to follow care instructions.
Items must be returned in original packaging. Money back on returns notified within 7 days of delivery receipt. Buyer pays all shipping costs. Return authorization required. Subject to 20% restocking fee.
Reg Price: $1,889.00
Sale Price: $999.00
Reg Price: $2,299.00
Sale Price: $1,499.00
Reg Price: $2,399.00
Sale Price: $1,599.00

subset: commoncrawl


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John Cowan (1778?-1817)
James Dodson
Biographical Sketch
Little seems to be known about John Cowan's birth and early life but he is believed to have been born around the year 1778. It seems most probable that he studied theology under John M'Millan III., who was the instructor for the Reformed Presbytery in Scotland around the time of his presentation for the ministry. He appears in the records of the Reformed Presbytery first as a candidate for licensure. He was licensed at Douglas on 9th of March, 1803, and was eligible to receive calls. His competence may be seen in the fact that by 1804, he had received two calls--one to the congregation at Chirnside; the other to the congregation at Stranraer. At a meeting, on August 15, 1804, he chose the latter and was duly ordained there, November 21 of that year. From that time, his presence in the presbytery was regular and he was chosen moderator of the Reformed Presbytery in 1805/6. He remained the minister of Stranraer until his death which occurred on January 13, 1817. The Synod, in its notice of his death, recorded that "he had labored with great acceptance in his charge," and also that he been to the Synod " a most amicable and valuable member." His literary output was sparse but the specimens of his writings which survive display his theological acumen and pastoral demeanor.


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Things are perking up on Ebay. One of my favorite sellers has listed this near-pristine example of a German JOL diecut. These used to be ubiquitous but those days are gone - perhaps for good. With so many collectors chasing relatively few near-mint or better vintage items, examples such as these get absorbed in collections not to surface again for sometimes many years. As many of you know, competition is fierce, as it should be for this pleasing icon of long-ago Halloweens.
Mark B. Ledenbach's vintage Halloween collectibles blog.


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Originally Published April 20, 1993
Recently published December 30, 2009
Paperback, e-Book
Olympia Wingfield, an old maid at twenty-give, was saddled with raising her motherless nephews, although the lovely bluestocking preferred spending every spare minute pursuing her true passion—the study of ancient legends and unearthing clues to long-lost treasure. And then Mr. Jared Chillhurst arrives to tutor her three incorrigible charges. Tall and dark, with chiselled features and long, windswept black hair, he could have walked straight out of a legend of buried treasure and uncharted seas. Too late, Olympia discovers that the enigmatic Mr. Chillhurst is no lowly tutor but the future Earl of Flamecrest, descendant of a notorious buccaneer, and soon Olympia is swept up in a scandalous affair with a dangerous, desirable man who is haunted by old enemies and even older mystery.
Originally published April 1994


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The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of uniquely identifiable objects and ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity to various kind of devices, systems, and services and covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications. E.g. we can connect different things to monitor multiple parameters. For e.g. blood glucose meter to monitor sugar level, temperature sensor inside a refrigerator to monitor the temperature, automobiles with built-in sensors to monitor location and driving behavior, etc.
The entire ecosystem of an IoT solution includes various elements such as:
The number of devices which connect to the Internet is exponentially increasing. These billions of components produce, consume and process information in different environments such as logistic applications, factories and airports as well as in the work and everyday lives of people. The society need new, scalable, compatible and secure solutions for both the management of the ever broader, complex-networked Internet of Things, and also for the support of various business models. Hence there is a need for a model to assess the maturity of an IoT solution.
Maturity Level Parameters
To assess the maturity of an IoT solution, a number of parameters have been defined. To evaluate the maturity level of the IoT solution, it will be assessed on all the parameters.
The parameters can be divided into following evaluation categories:
Each parameter will have a minimum threshold value which needs to be achieved by a solution in order to be qualified compliant for the parameter. Few such parameters are Device Management, Data storage and retrieval, Integration with Connectivity Services Management Platforms, security, scalability etc.
Each solution will be rated on the defined parameters to assess the overall maturity of the solution and deviation from the minimum prescribed maturity level will be highlighted.
The overall maturity index can be calculated by averaging the value of each parameter to compare overall maturity of various solutions.
Tweets by @TechMahindra
For further information please write to email@example.com


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Sly Fox
Sly Fox
- 3 x 10ml
Choose Your Strength:
- 0mg
- 3mg
- 6mg
- 12mg
View Analytical Report
Product Information
Divine, Fresh Ginger Bread.
Freshly baked ginger bread, warm, chewy and fresh from the oven.
Perfect with a nice cup of tea.
Part of our premium Platinum Collection.
Expertly blended for Mirage by haute cuisine chefs in a velvety, vaporous 70/30 VG/PG ratio.
The finest E-Liquids we have ever tasted.
One of the few E-Liquid ranges in the world to be formulated specifically to be absent from Diacetyl, Acetyl Propionyl, and Acetoin - without compromising on flavour.
A connoisseur's delight.
Proudly Made in Sheffield.


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So……John Groce abandons Ohio U for Illinois! Disappointing for sure, but he leaves a MAC school for the allure of the Big Ten–and a new arena being built in Champaign–AND $1.4 mill a year! That's almost what he made in his entire 4 years in Athens!!
Who do the Bobcats go after as Groce's replacement?? It would have to be someone with a winning spirit–and record, and someone who wouldn't be lured away (again) by the big bucks; in other words, someone already independently wealthy. I'm thinkin' Phil Jackson! He doesn't need the money, he's got nothing left to prove…I think he'd be ideal! But that's me!


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B. R. Cohn Chardonnay 2008
Sangiacomo Vineyard (Carneros)
This is Cohn's reserve-style Chardonnay and it's easily their best since the 1990s. Made from two vineyards in the cool Carneros district of Sonoma, it's ripe in pineapple and green apple flavors enhanced with the toast of oak, the creaminess of lees and the buttery softness of malolactic fermentation. Easy to drink with opulent fare such as crab. - S.H.


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All Films.All Above Board.NOW INCLUDES TV SHOWS & TV LISTINGS
Joey is a young kangaroo whose parents are captured by hunters and placed in an amusement park. Befriended by Billy MacGregor (Jamie Croft), the young 'roo hides out in a treehouse until Billy makes the decision to travel to Sydney and rescue Joey's parents. The duo are helped by Linda Ross (Alex McKenna), the daughter of US Ambassador Ted Ross (Ed Begley Jr), as they journey from the outback to the big city.


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Enjoy a guided walk, watching a variety of bird life and other natural history delights at the Wairau Lagoons, 70 species of birds live in the lagoon area, including royal spoonbills, banded dotterels, pied stilts and many more. Come along, bring your binoculars, suitable shoes and clothing for the conditions and some food, water and sunscreen, a bird identification book if you have one.
There will be a special appearance from an iconic Marlborough raptor guest on site.
Bookings essential, contact firstname.lastname@example.com or call 03 572 9100.
This trip will is run on the 16 January & 9 February.
A DOC Summer Explorer Programme Event.


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College Credit while in High School (CCHS)
CCHS is an exciting way for high school juniors and seniors to take University courses at Duquesne and earn up to 30 college credits (that's one year!) while you are in high school.
At the time of application you must have:
- Completed your sophomore year of high school
- Obtained a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
You must complete a Duquesne University paper application for undergraduate admission.
- Include an official high school transcript
- Check the box marked CCHS
- Provide one letter of reference from your high school guidance counselor
- All CCHS application fees are waived
Cost and Credit Information:
- Students can take up to two courses each term and receive University credit for courses taken
- Tuition is $300.00 per credit for the 2018-19 academic year
- Most classes are 100 level courses worth 3 credits
CCHS students have full access to Duquesne's library and computer facilities.
Credits may be applied toward a Duquesne University degree or transferred to many public and private colleges and universities. If you decide to attend Duquesne University you must reapply for regular admission using the application form.


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Teaching My Kids About "Black Lives Matter" ... and Heaven and Hell and Anne Frank.Friday, July 8, 2016
Tonight, Roger went to a candle light vigil to honor the victims of this week's violence in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis, and Dallas. While he was gone, it was my job to try to carefully explain to my children what is happening right now in our nation. Maybe it's "too deep" to expose children to, but their parents are activist and we are raising them to be activist full of empathy and compassion too.
How in the world do you try to explain racism to young children?
How do you try to explain to them that their white skin gives them privilege?
When they're afraid, how do you help them explain that because they are white, they aren't even the main target of racism and violence?
And how do you make them feel safe?
It did not go well. I'm sure I said all the wrong things. I am certain there were a million different ways I could have explained it better…
Lucy sobbed. Teddy hid his face. London kept playing with plastic dinosaurs and eating Doritos…
"I don't understand why people hate, mommy," Lucy sobbed. "Why does it matter what skin color we have? Why does it matter what people look like? It only matters how we treat people! Who invented guns and knives?!" She shrieked. "They kill people! Why would you invent something that kills people?!"
"Power, I guess…" I mumbled. "I don't know."
I would try to reach for her and comfort her but she kept jumping off the couch and grabbing her nightgown and twisting it in her hands. Her eyes were slits and tears were just pouring down her face. "I don't want people to hurt! I don't want people to be sad! Put yourself in their shoes!"
And it was just so bad…
So bad.
I wanted to take all the words back and make their world pretty and safe and secure again.
I wanted to cry and hold Lucy and tell her that everything in this nation was perfect…
I didn't want them to be afraid.
"What can we do, Lucy?" I finally asked. "How can we make this better? How can we help people be safe?"
"I don't know. It's so bad. There's so much. I'm just a kid," she cried. "I want to be a missionary! I want to travel and give people the love of Jesus!"
And then my throat filled with fire and tears and emotion…
Teddy suddenly turns to me and asks very seriously, "How do you know when you've discovered to the love of God?"
I stared at him for a long moment. "You know know God loves you, Teddy?"
He nodded.
"Do you love Him?"
He nodded.
"Then you've discovered the love of God. It's very easy."
He smiled a little. "And we just love people because God loves us?"
I nodded. "That's how we change things. That's how we take away the darkness. That how we stop the violence. Love."
Friends, Lucy went to bed still in tears. She was still heartbroken but we agreed that at least we now know what our job is. We talked about loving the orphans, the widows, the poor and the lonely. We talked about grieving with those who are grieving, feeding those who are hungry, and giving water to those who are thirsty. We talked about loving all people regardless of who they are, what they look like, who they love, who they worship, or what color their skin is. We talked about loving people that don't love us…
And, somehow, we talked about ghosts and death and heaven and hell…
It was exhausting.
And all I want to know is…
Why I didn't go to the vigil and left Roger to cover all of this conversation with the kids.
My brain is burnt.
My heart is overwhelmed…
But I am sure as heck glad that conversation is over for now.
This week, I have to explain to Lucy who Anne Frank is…because she asked about that too. I didn't have the strength to tackle that one. I can't stand to think of the tears she will shed when she learns Anne's story.
Pray for me, folks.
Pray for me.
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UW McNair Scholars Program Opportunities
If you are interested in pursuing a Ph.D. after you graduate from the UW, the McNair Scholar's Program can help you achieve this goal!
The McNair Scholars Program, which prepares students for doctoral study, is a federal TRiO program funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The McNair Scholars Program offers many benefits. McNair Scholars receive academic and personal support from advisers and mentors, a research stipend to complete an original research project, assistance in applying to graduate schools, funding to travel to research conferences and to visit graduate schools, and resources to help prepare for the GRE, among many other benefits.
The eligibility criteria entails:
(1) Plan to pursue a graduate degree (especially a Ph.D.) after obtaining your bachelor's degree.
(2) Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
(3) Be a low-income student who is ALSO a first generation college student OR a member of a group that is underrepresented in graduate education (African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Hispanic/Latino, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander)
(4) Currently be enrolled as an undergraduate in a degree program at the UW
(5) Have completed 36 credits by the time of initial entry into the program
(6) Have at least one year remaining before graduation
(7) Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 for sophomores, 3.0 for juniors, and 3.2 for seniors
We invite you to set up an appointment to come in and meet with us to discuss how the McNair Scholars Program can help you achieve your academic and professional goals. We hope you will consider applying for the program. Applications are due Friday, April 15th by 5pm. The application can be found online: 2016 McNair Application
If you have any questions, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com and/or visit our website uwmcnair.
Todd Sperry, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
McNair Scholars & Early Identification Programs
Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity
171 Mary Gates Hall
Center for Experiential Learning and Diversity


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Founder Body Balance® Integrated Health
I trained at the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) London, founded by Patrick Holford, pioneer in optimum nutrition and health since the early 1980s. Since qualifying in 1990, I have helped thousands of people both in Belgium and internationally make more balanced nutritional and lifestyle choices.
In 2004, I created and founded Body Balance, initially a weight management programme that was based on the principle of integrated mind, body and emotional health. The focus of my approach shifted over the next few years to Live a Conscious Life which is not aimed specifically at people with health or weight problems, although people may have both, as well as other issues they wish to tackle.
My approach is holistic and at its heart is the principle of a high sense of self worth that liberates each person to live confidently, fearlessly and authentically.
Currently my services include small group programmes in Belgium, and one-on-one work both in Belgium and via skype.
I have plans to run retreats again in the near future, but for the moment I am focusing on my other projects.
Published author
Besides holistic health and healing, writing is my passion. I am a published journalist and author, having written many articles for a variety of magazines, including local Belgian English speaking publications, The Bulletin, Away magazine and BART (Business Aviation), and the UK Nutrition publication - ION Journal.
I have also written a book, 'Nurturing Superwoman', about women's nutritional health. I am currently writing my next book, Live a Conscious Life.
Educator and Public SpeakerOver the years I have given many workshops and retreats, writing all my own course material, including the 400-page Live a Conscious Life coaching manual, professionally laid out and in full colour.
As well as writing and teaching, I enjoy Public Speaking. Just wind me up and I can talk on anything to do with living consciously, optimum nutrition, and holistic health and healing. I usually finish a talk with a guided visualisation for deep relaxation. Most people seem to love it, finding it relaxes and energises them for the rest of their working day.


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Where did I come from…?
The Genealogy SIG welcomes all members of the Computer Club to join them in a quest to discover their family's history through records and stories. During our monthly meetings, we will discuss Genealogy skills and resources. In addition, small group discussions are coordinated to address specific Genealogy topics and issues. Come join us the first Wednesday of every month at 7 pm at Hidden Cypress, September thru May. So let's get started. We will help you discover where you came from and how to record it for future generations.
Scheduled events will be shared to those members on our Mailing List.
Subscription websites such as Ancestery.com, Family Tree Maker, Fold3, and Newspaper Archive are available at the Computer Club. There are numerous other Genealogy websites and journals available in the Computer Center.


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Latest News
Online Registration Now Open
The 2018 Hawaiian Airlines Molokai Hoe Race Committee would like to welcome to our new and improved MolokaiHoe.com website. After reviewing multiple requests to streamline the registration process this is the end product. Clubs / Crews can now create an account, register multiple crews, add paddlers, add escort boats / captains, submit documents online and pay for your fees all together or ala carte. Once your account is created, you can login and out to update information as it becomes available because we all know it takes some time to collect all that data. Our site is mobile friendly and documents can also be uploaded via your mobile devices. Please have a look around and let us know what you think. Comments can be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com. We hope you like what you see...View All News Articles


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Private Residence Investigation – Gilbert, AZ
We finished a paranormal investigation at a private residence in Gilbert, Arizona, on the night of December 3rd, 2010.
The investigation team was kept to four paranormal researchers due to the size of the residence and area of the claims, which were only in the central corridor of the home.
Claims were the sound of walking down the central hallway, loud banging noises in the dining room, very upset dogs, and heavy uneasy feelings in one of the rooms just off the hallway. The investigation was conducted at night and was kept short to accomodate family members of the client.
The investigation went very well. We discussed with the client that we research claims of the paranormal, we can not perform any clearings or removal of spirits or other entities.
In reviewing the evidence, we found no abnormal audio or video. The client was relieved we were unable to find anything. We informed them we would be interested in returning, and we have been invited back. We would probably save doing another investigation for if and when the client begins to feel uneasy in the space again or needs our assistance in some way.
Pending approval of the client, the investigation report may be made available at a future date.


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I lost a Christmas tree one year. Go ahead, shake your head and scold me, I can already hear you.." Yarger, I can understand losing the remote, but seriously a Christmas tree?" It wasn't like that though. In my defense, that tree never even saw the inside of our house....
Isn't life hard enough without starting harder traditions than your family passed on? Yes, but that's our nature in this family. As far as I can recall my mom and dad never rounded the kids up and went off in the woods to cut down our own Christmas tree. Now, that's not to say my siblings might not have done this with them, but by the time I started remembering things, I don't recall a single foray into the woods with my folks. I have some vague recollections of picking one up at St. Mary's or from the Boy Scouts, but you can't prove it by me, that I was ever involved in an actual tree hunt. Why then did Char and I start the tradition of bundling toddlers and all up and hiking through the tree farms to find the perfect tree that we all like and can agree upon? Because we are stupid, that's why.
|You can't see us, we are way, way, in the back
It was a few weeks before Christmas, and Char and I had heard about a good tree farm in Bristol NY. We bundled up Molly, who was a toddler then, and my brother Ace rode over with us to pick out a tree too.
|Dan, one year guarding his choice.
It turns out the tree farm was vastly overrated, and it took the better part of an hour before all of us found 2 trees that would pass muster. We could only fit one inside the van, so we tied the other to the top with whatever we could find inside and headed for home. We got about 1/4 mile away before the wind got underneath it and flipped it off the van and into the road. After a mad scramble to re-secure it, we gave it a second attempt with the same result, we were 28 miles away from home and were destined to lose the tree every quarter mile. It dawned on me that my dad's recently built house was only a few miles from there and he had a pickup, so we decided to leave the tree on the roadside and go ask dad to borrow his truck. This was not an easy decision, as my dad raised us all to be independent, and he likely taught Ben Franklin "Neither a borrower nor a lender be", but we had no choice, so off we went. He really didn't give us much of a hard time and in less than 10 minutes we were back standing in front of where we thought we had left the tree. I say "thought" because the area looked identical to where we had been....except there was no tree.
|Ace and I examining the scene, I'm the pretty one.
Now CSI was 10 years from being thought up but even Grissom would have been proud of our canvassing of the area and our identification of the pine needles that were strewn about. I think Ace even rubbed some deer dung between his fingers to test his working theory of the woodland animals needing a tree, but it was 2 days old so Bambi and pals were cleared. What was left were 2 perplexed, cold, brothers standing on the roadside missing one out of two trees, and of course when we checked, it was my tree that was missing. One of the only things worse than spending close to an hour combing a thin tree farm for a good Christmas tree, is to do it twice in one day. Those were the hardest 25 dollars that ever left my hands, but after we went home and after it was up and decorated, it became like every other tree we had brought home, beautiful and ours. I really didn't give it much more thought, that was, until 7 years later eating lunch at the end of that same road.....
It's a good story so far, isn't it? I agree, it lacks something, how about a surprise ending?
So that year I was on that road a lot. I sold food to the local restaurants and my mom's house was there, so a couple days a week I would find myself on Rte 64 in Bristol NY. A lot of weeks I would pick up food from Rumor's restaurant at Toomey's Corners and bring a cheeseburger to my mom and have lunch with her while I placed my morning orders.
|Old gas station at Toomey's Corners (Rumors is back left)
|Nolan in front of his handiwork one year
He said that particular Christmas, to his kids, was indistinguishable from the others that they had, because of that tree. He recovered from his injury and hadn't had a lean year since that one. He insisted on buying both my mom's and my lunches and we shook hands, and I departed with a new found friend and a great story to tell. You see, my Christmas had been indistinguishable from my others too, I had the extra 25 dollars, and the time, so it hadn't impacted me at all, until he told me his story. Then it impacted me, where it counts, in the heart, and not my wallet. So I did lose a Christmas tree one year, but I got back a little of my humanity. It was a good deal.


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So for all of us, though social media, I turned to my PLN and asked these outstanding educators from around the world to share their best advice for beginning this school year, whether it's our first one or our thirtieth one.
Best wishes to all of you as you start this exciting journey!
- One thing I would tell new teachers is to get to know their students. I realize knowing the subject is crucial, but knowing our students is setting the bar higher. ~Valerie Powell, Reading Coach K-12
- All here in this post! Twenty Tidbits for New Teachers ~Lisa Dabbs, consultant
- Build classroom community first and foremost. A book to read on the topic is Life in a Crowded Place. ~Ellen, interventionist
- Make friends with the school secretary. Bring her treats.
- You will have to decide when the job is done. Finding balance will be difficult, find a colleague in your school or close by who strives for balance and help each other. Be professionally generous, share, smile at the students, speak softly and calmly. Try a lesson without speaking (art is a good place to start), can you show and not tell or ask instead of instructing? Love for young people is required. Intentionally build rapport with every student, strike up casual conversations with those you don't know well (even k, connect). ~Shannon Wiebe, classroom teacher
- Subscribe to the Tech Chick Tips podcast and find similar ways to expand your PLN, connecting with teachers outside your building. ~Kim Harrison, computer resource specialist
- Advice for New Teachers Linky Party...many ideas and thoughts. ~Linda Dunnavant
- The Dynamic Duo for teachers Part I and Part II. ~@FlyontheCWall, 5th grade teacher
- Don't work like a dog. It will all get done and they will all turn out fine in the end. ~Barb Caley, NBCT, classroom teacher
- Organization spells the difference between chaos and making teaching look easy. ~Dr. Frank Buck, educational consultant
- Embrace the global community of teachers who will keep you positive! Don't be negative! ~@mrsdkrebs,7th-8th grade teacher
- You will want to do everything, and you should try, but you cannot, and that's okay. ~Joy Kirr, MS classroom teacher, 18th year
- If you do not know something do not hesitate to ask. Seek out someone you can talk too. You will make mistakes, just learn from them. ~Tina Roberts, 3rd grade classroom teacher
- You are not alone...so don't BE alone! Develop your Personal/Professional Learning Network (PLN) as soon as possible! It will prove to be an invaluable resource!! ~Karen McMillian, @McTeach, 7th grade classroom teacher
- This is a place to share & learn. The resources/ideas here extend beyond your school walls. ~@Mcoaty
- So you got the job. Now what? ~Pernille Ripp 5th grade classroom teacher
Thanks to all of you who contributed your wisdom. If there is another bit of advice that you would like to share, please leave it in a comment.photo credit: laffy4k via photo pin cc


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Company Name: CoreSite Realty Corporation
CoreSite Realty Corporation is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on strategically located data centers. The company operates approximately 16 data centers located in major data center markets in the United States.
Ticker Symbol: COR (New York Stock Exchange)
Company Website: www.coresite.com
Social Media:
Headquarters: Denver, CO


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To have time for family and friends on this holiday weekend we won't be doing the Friday with Friends the day after Thanksgiving.
Welcome to Friday With Friends!
We are SO excited to have you joining Linda, Mary Ellen, and I this week. Thank you so much for participating last week. It's always so fun to go through and see what everyone came to share.
Here are a few features from last week:
Most Clicked
Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms by Our Thrifty Ideas
Linda's Favorite
The Secret to Food Photography Lighting by Happy Food, Healthy Life
Mary Ellen's Favorite
Pumpkin Cheese ball by Crafts a la mode
Katie's Favorite
Italian Hummus by Fearlessly Creative Mammas
All of the features have been pinned! Thanks for sharing such great ideas. Now, on to the party!
Isn't one of the best parts of blogging all the wonderful friends you can make? And what do friends do — help each other out! This party is all about sharing your best content, visiting some other participants posts, and getting to know even more wonderful friends.
Before we get started, here's a few guidelines for Friday with Friends!
1) Please follow the hosts in whatever way you can:
Linda @ Food Storage Moms
Mary Ellen @ That's My Home
Katie @ Clarks Condensed
2) Please link up only two
3) Any posts go — did you share a delicious recipe this week? Link it up! Or perhaps you created a fun decoration or craft? That's great, too. This party is meant to help you share your talents with others!
4) Friday with Friends will run from Friday at 7:30 PM MST to Sunday at 7:30 PM MST. At the beginning of each party, we will share the three most clicked posts, and each of us will each pick our favorite post that was linked up, as well. All posts that are featured will be pinned to some great Pinterest boards!
5) By linking up, we have permission to post a photo and a link back to your site. We also use an email system to remind people of the parties. If you don't want to be a part of this, please note in the comments.
5) Have fun! Treat others links like you want yours treated — go visit a few, leave comments, and make new friends!
Thanks for stopping by!
'); // ]]>


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I am just appalled at the social justice indoctrination being fed to our kids! I saw this video and just had to share it here. You really do have to see all these videos for yourself to believe what's happening in our public schools now.
Here's another one about the informational texts. I've heard quite a bit about how informational texts will make up anywhere from 50-70% of assigned reading in high school, but I didn't really understand what an 'informational text' was until now. Check it out below:
The next video compares a Common Core-aligned math book approved in Utah and Vermont to Saxon's Algebra 2 book. Absolutely ridiculous. And if you're thinking, Oh, that's in Utah and Vermont. That would never happen in Alabama or Georgia or wherever, time will tell. But, sadly, it looks like our nation's kids may not be able to tell the time or much else of math:
It feels like a punch in the stomach, doesn't it?
I'll keep posting what I find about Common Core, and please comment or email if you find things, too.
Click here to read my post about Common Core in Alabama.
Don't know much about Common Core? Click here to learn more.
Click here to read my post about Common Core in Alabama.
Don't know much about Common Core? Click here to learn more.


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We want to provide you with the steps and tools needed to a fast closing.
Selling your Oahu home not only requires the dedication and experience of a trusted Oahu Realtor but a seller that is also on the same page when it comes to listing and marketing.
While we can provide all the external tools necessary to market your home there is a level of expectation you should be aware to help you sell your own home.
Here are the Hawaii real estate steps to the selling process and items you can do to sell your Oahu property quicker.
Find a Hawaii Realtor that Knows Your Neighborhood
We know the individual neighborhoods around Oahu such as Mililani homes, Aiea, Ewa Beach, Hawaii Kai, Honolulu, Makakilo, Waikele and Waipio Gentry. By knowing exactly how buyers view homes and offer prices we can know where to price your home and how to market.
Get a Cost Market Analysis (CMA) so You know How your Competition Stacks Up
We not only help price your home but offer local information on other homes in your area, if they have come down in price, what they sold for and any similarities between these and your home. All these factors help us determine the best price for your home but it is ultimately your decision as to where you want to price. We offer our suggestions based on years of experience and know-how in the Hawaii real estate market.
Stage and Prepare Your Oahu Home BEFORE Listing
Even though we can provide you with marketing strategies and tips to set up your home, it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain your home before each showing. We walk through your home taking notes, giving suggestions and pointing out any issue that may deter a potential buyer. Having new eyes on your home may offer insights about issues that you may have overlooked for years.
We recommend taking out extra furnishings and clutter. Many times homes have more actual furniture than is needed and cutting this in half can allow for more space throughout the home, more consistent flow and allow buyers to easily see the structure of the home without being distracted by personal belongings. Keep wall color neutral and only use color to accent pieces such as a red pillow or tasteful art.
Setting the stage for the environment can appeal to Hawaiian real estate buyers. For ideas consider touring a model home or showroom for what buyers are seeing. Check out open houses in your neighborhood to learn how what your perspective buyers are comparing your home to.
Be sure and do any minor repairs that may have been neglected; Leaky faucets, sticky doors, missing screens or other standard items. You don't want to give the impression to buyers that you couldn't repair minor fixes because it may also lead them to believe there are large issues that need addressing when they move in.
Carefully Examine every offer – A Low Ball offer May be the Right Buyer
It is our job and duty to present every offer that comes in regardless of the terms or price. Don't be offended if a less than perfect offer is submitted. You can always counter-offer back and forth until an agreement is made. We do our best to offer advice and negotiating strategies but again, the final decision is yours.
An Inspection will take place by a Professional of the Buyer's Choice
It is typically requested that a sell not be present for this inspection as it gives the buyer and inspector freedom to discuss any potential safety issues or hazards. Once the inspection is completed we will present the inspection report to you for approval, negotiations or rejection. Because every step of the transaction can be negotiated upon, don't feel as if you are stuck with any offer.
Between Inspection and Signing there is a Quiet Time
As your Oahu Realtor we will keep you informed of every step along the way and how the transaction is proceeding. This time is for buyers to finalize financing, obtain homeowners insurance and tie up any loose ends required by escrow. This is a great time for sellers to start packing and preparing for their next home.
Both Parties Sign the Final Closing Documents and Await Closing
When the buyer and seller sign the closing documents you don't have to hand over keys to the buyer right then. As your Hawaii Realtor we will do all this for you at the proper and legal time.
Deeds must be recorded and funds must be dispersed before keys can be handed to the buyer and this typically takes 1-3 days following the signing.
Hawaii Real Estate Specialists
Maureen and her team assists sellers and buyers in coming together over the right home and right price. With up to date listings, current market conditions and local information we are your full service source for all Oahu real estate.
We want your Hawaii real estate experience to be a stress-free and smooth transaction whether you are buying or selling Oahu Homes or properties. As your Oahu Realtor our goals are your goals and we make every effort to buy or sell your Oahu property on your terms and your price.
We service the entire island of Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands for buyers and sellers including but not limited to Aiea, Ewa Beach, Hawaii Kai, Honolulu, Makakilo, Mililani Mauka, Waikele and Waipio Gentry.
If you would like more information about our Oahu real estate service please don't hesitate to call us at (808) 864 – 3545 or fill out our online contact form. We look forward to speaking with you about your Hawaii real estate needs!


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User Client Issues in Mac OS X Update (June 2013)
KB Home | User Client Issues in Mac OS X Update (June 2013)
UPDATE: Apple have released a revised version of Java 2013–004 which resolves this issue. If you are seeing this issue, please ensure you have downloaded and installed the revised version, available here.
User Client in Mac OSX Issue
A recent software update for Mac OS X (released in June 2013) had caused issues with the PaperCut user client, resulting in gray screens or becoming unresponsive. This was identified as a priority issue, and our team have an immediate hotfix if the above revised version has not been successful in fixing the issue, as well as a long-term plan for future issues.
- Revised update - see link above.
- Hotfix - if you are still seeing issues, see instructions below.
- Future - we have made changes to the client so that similar issues caused by Mac system updates will be avoided. This is scheduled to be released with PaperCut 13.3.
If you are still seeing this issue, even after the revised Java update released by Apple has been installed from the link above, a manual workaround can be used to resolve the issues caused by the update. This involves replacing a file in the PCClient package in the Applications folder, and restarting the client. This file includes a configuration change to bypass the Mac look and feel (LAF), which is the cause of the problems, and use an alternative LAF. The process to use this file is below:
- Click here to download the hotfix
- Unzip the
- Open the Applications folder in Finder
- Right click PCClient and select
Show Package Contents
- Select Contents
- Rename
- Paste the downloaded
info.plistfile into this location
Once this file has been replaced, restart the PaperCut client by ending it in Activity Monitor and launching it again from the Applications section.
This hotfix will work for PaperCut installations 10.0 and above. If you have an earlier version of PaperCut, please contact us for a customized hotfix.
The issue described is brought on after the update "Java for OS X 2013-004" is applied and has been reported to affect other software. As mentioned before, this has now been fixed in a revised release made by Apple.
Keep an eye on our Release History for the release of version 13.3.
Categories: User Client Tool, Apple macOS
Keywords: Java, 2013–004, grey, gray, blank, unresponsive, lock, frozen
Share your findings and experience with other PaperCut users. Feel free to add comments and suggestions about this Knowledge Base article. Please don't use this for support requests.
Article last modified on March 03, 2015, at 06:01 AM
Printable View | Article History | Edit Article


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In 140 Characters or Less: Michael Baca gets his first career RBI as the Bees #BeatTheStreak, defeating Sugar Land 7-6 in 11 innings #BeesInTheHeartOfTexas
The Game Changed When…: Michael Baca brought in Michael Crouse with a single in the top of the 11th inning, notching his first professional career RBI. That would give New Britain the 7-6 lead, and they would hold on to that lead to snap their losing streak.
Pitchers of Record: W: Brandon Shimo (1-0) | L: Felipe Paulino (1-2)
Player(s) of the Game: Paul Kronenfeld (New Britain) – 3-5, 2B, 2 RBI, BB | Andy Wilkins (Sugar Land) – 2-4, 2B, BB
Next Game: Wednesday, May 10th, 8:05 P.M.
Tale of the Tape – New Britain Bees (5-13) vs. Sugar Land Skeeters (11-8)
Starting Pitchers – New Britain: Anthony Marzi (1-1, 4.84) | Sugar Land: Kyle Drabek (0 2, 9.00)
Home Tickets: CLICK HERE | Available at the New Britain Stadium Box Office | Call 860-826-BEES
Broadcast: The Bees' Official YouTube Channel (youtube.com/NewBritainBees) and Facebook Live (facebook.com/newbritainbees), starting at 7:50 P.M.
Bees Buzz: Brandon Shimo earned his first Atlantic League win in the game…Paul Kronenfeld notched his first Atlantic League RBI with a single in the 2nd inning to bring in Conor Bierfeldt…Jovan Rosa extended his consecutive games played for the Bees streak to 158…Jake McGuiggan now has 5 RBI in the series, and has reached base safely in 8 straight games…Jovan Rosa hit his first home run of the season, a solo shot in the 3rd inning…Jon Griffin had 3 hits in the game, the first time since April 23rd that a Bees player recorded that many hits in a single game (Steve Carrillo).


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Medium Bowl
Medium Bowl
This vintage pottery bowl is made by the Quichua Indians who live in the Amazon Rain Forest. Each fired pot is burnished with a river stone. After this process, natural colors are applied with brushes so fine that it is usually no more than a single strand of hair. Finally, a small piece of wood is heated to release the natural resin which is then applied to the painted pottery. Each bowl is unique and a true work of art.
Size - about 8" wide by 3.25" tall


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The taking on of a new complete, critical and complex service (CCC) by a new supplier for a BPO contract usually becomes the hardest and most expensive challenge the entering company faces during the whole duration of this kind of services contract.
This article discusses the lessons learned when transferring services negotiated as BPO contracts with the following characteristics:
- Complete, because the customer subcontracts the whole service, not participating directly in any processing it. That constitutes the externalization of a whole Business Area. It's customarily understood that BPO means the exclusive subcontract of the services related to IT technologies. The typology of services this article refers to, also includes the development of software for the system that supports the service, that is, evolutionary and corrective maintenance, but also the top of the services pyramid, constituted by the team that, using the system, provides the service.
- Critical, that's a subjective characteristic difficult to delimit, but that tries to identify those services that, when they fail to be available, generate big losses of every kind of nature: economic, health, ecology, etc.
- Complex, that one is also a subjective characteristic that refers to those services that require to achieve a high and difficult knowledge level.
During the assumption of a BPO, the supplier may face two types of starting situations that lead to completely different approachs.
- The service does not exist: the provider will have to execute a setup plan in order to start the service from scratch, with tasks like requirements specification, analysis, etc., to be executed with a lead time longer that when the service is already live. During this project the customer and the provider will define and will learn together the characteristics of the service. In this case the lead time will hardly constitute a critical factor.
- The service exists and it's being provided by another supplier: in this case, and mainly when working with government agencies, the provider will face the necessity of assuming the service through a transfer process from the previous provider in much smaller setup time than when the service does not exist. In this case the setup time will surely constitute the most critical factor.
This article will focus in the second case, the transferring between providers of services that are already ongoing.
When talking about a CCC service, a provider will usually plan a life cycle composed by three big phases: assumption, execution and delivery of the service. In spite of considering a BPO, the assumption phase should be considered as an independent project that will cover the period since the award of the contract and through the taking on of the service until the stabilization of the service provided.
Below it's been described the factors considered as key factors for success in this kind of projects:
Human Resources
They will be a key factor in order to form an outstanding team for the service, where main challenges will be:
- Retain the key human resources in outgoing team providing the service. Mainly in government agencies where, with typical 2-4 years cycles, public tenders are used to encourage provider change without detriment of service quality, with a transition period of just a few months (typically two months) it's essential that the new company hires key human resources of the outgoing company with the objective of:
- Ensure the continuity of the service.
- Ensure the correct training of the team.
Achieving the identification and hiring of the key personnel of the outgoing company in order to ensure the successful cutover of a CCC service is the hardest challenge that the new company in charge of the contract will face.
- The basic training for the members of the incoming team in the new service. Though this recommendation seems obvious in the organizations, sometimes it's not taken into account and can ruin a project/service of these characteristics.
- The learning rate of the team in a short period of time.
- The ability of the team for processing information in a short period of time.
- The ability of working under pressure during the phase of assumption of the service.
The organization of the team will be orientated from the start to achieve a clean transition of the service. For that, it will be necessary to assign transitorily some roles to resources much more qualified than the tasks to be executed. Since economically and professionally this initial assignment won't be sustainable in time, once stabilized the service, and the knowledge absorbed in the incoming supplier assets, it will be necessary to plan the transfer of the service to personnel more adequate to the reality of each task, considering additional training, overlapping, etc, in a time period longer than the one initially available.
The assumption of the service requires a training figure where the number of incidences could surpass the required thresholds. When possible, it's important to agree previously with Customer a period of stabilization of the services with less restrictive SLAs than the usual service performance.
Regarding the time element, the initial phase or assumption of the service will represent usually no more than the 16% of the revenue and typically a 10%. However, during this phase will happen the most relative and absolute costs of the project. In this phase there will be committed mainly two cost types:
- Costs of acquisition of infrastructure (IT or other), as it will have to be available for the time of the cutover.
- Costs of human resources, as it normally will be the phase of the project where there will be most people, most occupied and most qualified. This cost will include also those hiring costs of key personnel of the outing company.
The split of efforts that the project management will dedicate to the different knowledge areas that forms the project management is represented in the following figure:
The final conclusion of this article is that the success of this kind of projects, and therefore the effort and focus, will revolve around the human resources and the aspects related to their management, as it's the selection, organization, training and commitment.
Salvador Sanz (Madrid, Spain), Program Manager with over 20 years experience in the IT leading projects in many different areas (Methodology, Consulting, SQA, Software Development, Web Portal, ERP / CRM, POS). He holds an Engineering Master Degree for IT; PMP (PMI); ITIL Foundation; CMMi Foundation and ISTQB Certified Tester. You can connect him at Linkedin and firstname.lastname@example.com


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Enterprise Products Partners announced plans to expand natural gas pipeline and NGL infrastructure in the Eagle Ford Shale. The developments are in response to demand from operators in the region who are experiencing strong growth. The company estimates current crude oil production is 200,000- 250,000 bbls/d and may ultimately reach 750,000-850,000 bbls/d. Plans will be in service by the first quarter of 2013 and include:
- Additional 300 mmcfd train at the Yoakum cryogenic plant in Lavaca County, TX
- Adding 62 miles of pipeline loops (24 and 30 inch) and compression to add 300 mmcfd of gathering capability
- Y-grade pipeline from Yoakum, TX to Mont Belvieu will be expanded from a planned 20 inches to 24 inches.
The 300 mmcfd train at the Yoakum Plant is in addition to the 600 mmcfd under construction. That will bring total capacity up to 900 mmcfd at the opening of this train. In total, Enterprise Products processing capacity in South Texas will jump from 1.5 bcfd to 2.4 bcfd when the Yoakum plant is fully functional.
"Increased drilling activity in the prolific Eagle Ford Shale continues to create opportunities for Enterprise to leverage its integrated network of midstream assets to provide producers with flow assurance and market choice," said A.J. "Jim" Teague, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Enterprise's general partner. "Each new addition to our growing infrastructure footprint allows us to provide enhanced service options for customers in a more efficient, timely and cost-effective manner.
Read the entire news release at enterpriseproducts.com


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Calculating the correct re-building cost of your home can be difficult but it is essential that you insure for the full re-building cost to avoid potential problems when making insurance claims.
The market value has no direct relationship to the re-building cost.
We recommend that you use a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors to prepare a professional Rebuilding Cost Assessment for insurance purposes. If you would like to be referred to a local surveyor, please contact a member of our private clients team.
If you are unable to do this, you could use the The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). To access this calculator, click here


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categoriesWhite Wine (1) Wine (1)
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Poema Cava Extra Dry
A Macabeo from Penedès, Spain.
Colour: Sparkling and vibrant with pale lemon colour. Aromas: Aromas of honeysuckle, peaches and hin…
$12.99 $11.69
We deliver locally in Memphis area!
Check your zip code here.
Sorry, TN state law prohibits shipping.
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Pricing, availability, vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.


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The votes have been tallied and Metra today announced the news that school-age children across the region have been waiting for – the names of the winners of its 2018 Safety Poster and Essay Contest.
Each year, Metra invites students in grades K-12 throughout its six-county service area to submit poster designs and essays highlighting the importance of railroad safety. This year, Metra received more than 2,200 entries. Students created artwork and wrote essays around the theme "Eyes Up, Devices Down: Look, Listen, Live."
The contest, which is in its 12th year, enables students to use their creativity to take ownership of the safety message by creating posters and essays that are used by Metra in its safety campaigns. The winners were selected through a three-round judging process with the finalists judged by a panel of 29 that included government officials, representatives from safety and education advocacy groups, business and community leaders, law enforcement, media and railroad professionals.
"We are delighted to see how many students participated in this contest and they demonstrated it through artwork and essays the importance of staying safe near the railroad", said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. "The winners of this contest have done a great job of communicating this message."
First-, second- and third-place winners were chosen from each grade level in elementary school, middle school and high school. First-place poster and essay contest winners receive an iPad, while second- and third-place poster contest winners receive $250 and $100 gift cards, respectively.
A People's Choice Award winner will also be selected via voting on Metra's website. Members of the general public can select their favorite poster from this year's first-place winners. Voting for People's Choice will be available online through midnight Friday, June 8. The artist who garners the most votes will receive an additional $250 prize. The winner of the People's Choice Award will be announced at the June 13 meeting of the Metra Board of Directors. Those interested in voting can view the winning images here and then cast their vote here.
Metra also recognizes the school with the most entries submitted in the poster contest. This year's winner is Wauconda's Robert Crown Elementary with 785 entries. In honor of this achievement, the school will receive an IPad Pro for use in the classroom.
The following students were chosen as winners of the 2018 Safety Poster and Essay Contest:
Top Participating School
Robert Crown Elementary, Wauconda
First Place Essay
K-4 Division — Rumaysa Siddiqui, 4th Grade, Sunnydale Elementary, Streamwood
5-8 Division — Jad Farhat, 5th Grade, Elmer H. Franzen Intermediate School, Itasca
9-12 Division — Grace Roberts, 9th Grade, Lyons Township High School, Western Springs
First Place Poster
Kindergarten — Nathaniel Sihwan Chae, Christian Heritage Academy, Northfield
1st Grade — Jiin Kim, Henry Winkelman Elementary, Glenview
2nd Grade — Gia Choudhary, White Eagle Elementary, Naperville
3rd Grade — Kate Levenshteyn, Pritchett Elementary, Buffalo Grove
4th Grade — Habin Park, Glenview School of Arts, Glenview
5th Grade — Javier E. Aranda, Ridge Circle Elementary, Streamwood
6th Grade — Ksenia Baatz, The Avery Coonley School, Downers Grove
7th Grade — Yebin Park, Glenview School of Arts, Glenview
8th Grade — Aaliyah Merrick, St. Agnes Catholic School, Chicago Heights — TIE
8th Grade — Whitney Madler, Lincoln Middle School, Mount Prospect — TIE
9th Grade — Charles Choi, John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights
10th Grade — Hannah Bae, Adlai E. Stevenson High School, Lincolnshire
11th Grade — Kate Hoekstra, Lyons Township High School, LaGrange
12th Grade — Ivo Komornicki, Naperville Central High School, Naperville
Second Place Poster
Kindergarten — Jaya Wong, Madison School, Hinsdale
1st Grade — Claire Na, St. Mary School, Buffalo Grove
2nd Grade — Levi Boyle, Lincoln Elementary, Saint Charles
3rd Grade — Harry Kim, Maplebrook Elementary, Naperville
4th Grade — Rachel Redden, Glenview School of Arts, Glenview
5th Grade — Kyuri Moon, Ivy Hill Elementary, Buffalo Grove
6th Grade — Nikita Jurcenko, Geneva Middle School North, Geneva
7th Grade — Michael Choi, Thomas Middle School, Arlington Heights
8th Grade — Baeyoung Yoo, Northbrook Junior High, Northbrook
9th Grade — Ilhana Kisija, Niles North High School, Skokie
10th Grade — Lauren Toepper, Woodstock High School, Woodstock
11th Grade — Rachel Visick, Glenbard South High School, Wheaton
12th Grade — Maya Ben Dror, Highland Park High School
Third Place Poster
Kindergarten — Marko Schmid, John Laidlaw Elementary, Western Springs
1st Grade — Arlyne J. Aranda, Parkwood Elementary, Hanover Park
2nd Grade — Aaron S. Ahn, White Eagle Elementary, Naperville
3rd Grade — Hyunsoo B. Lee, Prairie Elementary, Buffalo Grove
4th Grade — Lilian Huang, Glenview School of Arts, Northbrook
5th Grade — Lena Esther Chae, Glen Grove Elementary, Glenview
6th Grade — David Aranda, Parkwood Elementary, Streamwood
7th Grade — Julia Levenshteyn, Aptakisic Junior High, Deerfield
8th Grade — Gabriel Delgado, Beecher Junior High, Beecher
9th Grade — Ysabelle Pinpin, Whitney M. Young High School, Chicago
10th Grade — Lindley Wiesner, Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
11th Grade — Sabreen Abdulla, Mather High School, Chicago
12th Grade — Stella Tsogtjargal, Gemini Junior High, Glenview
Honorable Mention Essay
K-4 Division — Nivedh Mhahesh, 2nd Grade, Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary, Aurora
K-4 Division — Kyra Jordan, 4th Grade, Homeschooled, Naperville
5-8 Division — Kevin Xue, 5th Grade, Monroe Elementary, Hinsdale
5-8 Division — Molly Kudlacz, 5th Grade, St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange
5-8 Division — Bridget Gannon, 5th Grade, St. Francis Xavier, LaGrange
9-12 Division— Simone Hoekstra, 9th Grade, Whitney Young High School
9-12 Division— Ryan Grunsten, 12th Grade, Fenwick High School
9-12 Division— Vito McCord, 12th Grade, Benito Juarez Community Academy
Honorable Mention Poster
Anna Y. Lee, Willow Grove Early Learning Center, Buffalo Grove
1st Grade
Wynston Sun, Lane Elementary, Hinsdale
Hyunseo Ahn, Meadowbrook Elementary, Northbrook
2nd Grade
Uliana Shvydkoy, Madison Elementary, Hinsdale
3rd Grade
Justin Zheng, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Palatine
Grace Ahn, Ivy Hill Elementary, Buffalo Grove
Dianne Park, Kildeer Elementary, Long Grove
4th Grade
Weronika Jaworska, Washington Elementary, Schiller Park
Alison Chung, Glenview School of Arts, Glenview
Lydia Kim, Shabonee Elementary, Northbrook
5th Grade
Kallie Wang, Skinner North, Chicago
Kaylee Ahn, Prairie Elementary, Naperville
Lucian Kim, Shabonee Elementary, Northbrook
6th Grade
Emily Mia Fernandez, Old Orchard Junior High, Skokie
Joshua Zheng, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Palatine
7th Grade
Olivia Ahn, Washington Elementary, Naperville
Paul Bae, Northbrook Junior High, Northbrook
8th Grade
Jonah Rivera, Westchester Middle School, Westchester
9th Grade
Simah Riaz, Homeschooled, Lombard
10th Grade
Huzaira Tayab, Mather High School, Chicago
Helenna Gu, Naperville North High School, Naperville
Joanne Kim, Glenbrook North High School, Northbrook
11th Grade
Iris Gan, Gevena High School, Geneva
Azareah Carson, Plainfield South High School, Plainfield
Yasmin Esteves, Mather High School, Chicago
12th Grade
Brittany Ruff, Woodstock High School, Woodstock
Cameron Duncan, Oak Park River Forest High School, Oak Park


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February 26, 2014 | Alan
ggplot2 is a data exploration and visualisation package written in R. Developed by Hadley Wickham, the principals of ggplot2 were defined in the Grammar of Graphics (Wilkinson, 2005) , which described the theoretical division of graphs into semantic components. This approach of handling elements of a graph separately and building the features up in a series of layers allows for unmatched versatility and control.
Learning Outcomes
This post covers the following:
- An explanation of the
- How to define a
- An understanding to the concept of the aesthetics inside the
- An understanding of layers and
- An understanding of applying
facets, statistics, and
scalesto a plot.
We introduce these concepts as we work through an example.
Data Source
In the following worked example, we are going to use the dataset CO2, which comes pre-packaged with R. The CO2 uptake of six grass plants from Quebec and six grass plants from Mississippi was measured at several levels of ambient CO2 concentration. To assess the effects of temperature, half of the plants of each type were chilled overnight before the experiment was conducted. The dataset contains the following columns:
Plant, which gives a unique identifier for each plant.
Typeis a factor, with levels Quebec and Mississippi giving the origin of the plant.
Treatmentis a factor, with levels non-chilled and chilled.
concis a numeric vector of ambient carbon dioxide concentrations (mL/L).
uptakeis a numeric vector of carbon dioxide uptake rates (umol/m2 sec).
Note that, for convenience, when we refer to "Quebec" and "Mississippi", we are referring to the results for the plants in those cities, not the cities themselves!
In the
ggplot2 library, there are two types of plot that can be produced:
We look at both in this blog post.
Setting up the environment
Load the relevant library and dataset. Check that column names align with the Data Source description:
## [1] "Plant" "Type" "Treatment" "conc" "uptake"
Introducing the qplot function
qplot(), an abbreviation of "quick plot", is a function belonging to the
ggplot2 library that is used for producing simple plots.
qplot() is similar to the plot function in the base package for R, but has slightly more functionality.
qplot() accepts
x and
y arguments, but also accepts "data", where "data"" is the data frame that houses the
x and
y coordinates. It is good practice to include the data argument, for example:
qplot(x, y, data = )
qplot() to plot the uptake of CO2 against concentration level for plants across all data:
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = CO2)
As we can see, there is a large spread of data for each concentration level but we can split data further inside the
qplot() function. To do this we use the shape and colour arguments to split data by
Treatment and
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = CO2, shape = CO2$Treatment, colour = CO2$Plant)
Notice the difference in shape of the coloured points that identify Treatment. The default style of
qplot() is a dot plot but by defining the
geom attribute of a
qplot() we can change the style. Applying "point" and "line" to
geom gives:
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = CO2, shape = CO2$Treatment, colour = CO2$Plant,
geom = c("point", "line"))
Let's also look at regional differences (
Type) for CO2 uptake. To do this we use the
facets argument to compare Quebec with Mississippi:
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = transform(CO2, fct = CO2$Type), shape = CO2$Treatment,
colour = CO2$Plant, geom = c("point", "line"), facets = ~fct)
Based on this plot, we can deduce the following:
- CO2 uptake looks like it has a logarithmic relationship when plotted against increasing concentration levels.
- Quebec has a higher CO2 uptake than Mississippi across all concentration levels.
- The variance in CO2 uptake is greater in Mississippi compared to Quebec.
You can find a complete list of arguments for the
qplot() function using the following syntax:
which gives:
qplot(x, y, data=, color=, shape=, fill=, size=, alpha=, geom=, method=, formula=, facets=, xlim=, ylim= xlab=, ylab=, main=, sub=)
xis a vector of x coordinates.
yis a vector of y coordinates.
datais the data frame housing
fillare used to split data by features – legends are drawn automatically when any of these arguments are called.
alphais used to define the transparency of overlapping elements – ranges from 0 (clear) to 1 (opaque).
geomis used to define the type to plot.
formulaare used to define regression lines and the model to use.
facetssplits the data into multiple graphs on one page.
ylimare used to define the x and y axis limits.
subare used for labelling purposes – the x axis, y axis, title, and subtitle respectively.
Note that if you get into the habit of using the data argument, you can save yourself some time typing since you no longer need to prefix variables with their source dataframe . The last plot can also be generated with this code
qplot(conc, uptake, data= CO2, shape = Treatment, colour = Plant, geom = c("point", "line"), facets = ~Type)
Introducing the ggplot function
The "gg" in
ggplot() is an abbreviation of The Grammar of Graphics, a book by Leland Wilkinson, the principals of which
ggplot2 is derived from. The Grammar of Graphics describes the method of breaking graphs into elements and building up each element in a series of layers to control visual representation.
ggplot2: elegant graphics for data analysis by Hadley Wickham summarises the Grammar of Graphics nicely:
"In brief, the grammar tells us that a statistical graphic is a mapping from data to aesthetic attributes (colour, shape, size) of geometric objects (points, lines, bars). The plot may also contain statistical transformations of the data and is drawn on a specific coordinates system."
ggplot is made up of two main components – a
ggplot() object and at least one
geom layer.
The ggplot() object
ggplot() object acts as a storage facility for the data. It is here where we define the data frame that houses the
x and
y coordinate values themselves and instructions on how to split the data. There are three ways to initialise a
ggplot() object:
p <- ggplot()
p <- ggplot(data_frame)
p <- ggplot(data_frame, aes(x, y, ))
Displaying the object
p generated in the code chunk above would result in
Error: No layers in plot. This is because you always need at least one layer for a
Mapping aesthetics to data
aes() aesthetic mapping function lives inside a
ggplot object and is where we specify the set of plot attributes that remain constant throughout the subsequent layers (unless overwritten – more on this later).
We can consider the relationship between the
aes() and
geoms components as follows:
- The
aes()function is the "how" – how data is stored, how data is split
geomsis the "what"—what the data looks like. These are geometrical objects stored in subsequent layers.
We use the + operator to construct. By appending layers we can connect the "how" (aesthetics) to the "what" (geometric objects). Adding geometric, scale, facet and statistic layers to a
ggplot() object is how to control virtually every visual aspect of the plot from the data contained in the object.
Adding a geometric object layer
A geometric object is used to define the style of the plot. Common geometric objects include:
geom_point()which is used to draw a dot plot
geom_line()used to draw a line plot
geom_bar()used to draw a bar chart.
A single plot can have numerous
geom layers, and it is also possible to overlay results from multiple data frames in one plot. Overwriting the aesthetic mapping that was defined in the
ggplot() object can be done inside a
geom object function (more on this later!).
Let's apply the material covered so far for
ggplot() to a worked example. To start this we:
- create a
- define the data frame and
ycoordinate values
- add a single layer.
Notice that we don't need the whole
title data_frame_name$column_name for our
x and
y values, because we are already directing to the CO2 data frame in the object definition:
p <- ggplot(CO2, aes(conc, uptake)) + geom_point()
Now, let's investigate changing the aesthetic map attributes and the effect this has on the appearance of a plot:
- define the data frame of interest
- set
ycoordinate values inside the
aes()function along with colouring by
p <- ggplot(CO2, aes(x = conc, y = log(uptake), colour = Type)) + geom_point()
As we can see, the data has now been split by column
Type, and a colour-coded legend has automatically been generated. Data can be further split by using the
shape and
fill arguments. Offline, you should explore the different outputs from changing attributes of the
aes() function and how this changes the content which is displayed.
Appending a facet layer to a
ggplot generates the same plot for different subsets of data. Let's reproduce the last plot in the
qplot example using
ggplot. To do this we:
- Define the
- insert the data frame,
- set the
ycoordinate values in the
- define the split by columns
- Append layers,
geom_line()to mirror the previous plot. Add a
facet_grid()to compare subsets of Type
p <- ggplot(CO2, aes(conc, uptake, colour = Plant, shape = Treatment)) + geom_point() +
Now we have our structure we can append a facet, add a
facet_grid() to compare subsets of Type:
q <- p
+ facet_grid(~Type) q
The advantage of
ggplot() over
qplot() is its extreme flexibility –
ggplot() was designed to handle much more complexity. The "shape" identifier for
Treatment in the previous plot requires very good eyesight! Use
facet_grid() to compare data further, let's look at a
facet arguments by columns
Treatment and
r <- p + facet_grid(Type ~ Treatment)
From this plot we can deduce that for each region, overall, non-chilled plants saw a higher CO2 uptake than chilled. Now let us strengthen our deductions of the data by looking at some cold hard facts – statistics time!
Exploratory data analysis can be done using the base packages in R, the results of which can be added to a
ggplot() in the guise of a
geom layer. Let's look at the relationship between
concentration of CO2 and
uptake of CO2. To do this we remove the aesthetic split by
Plant and the
geom_line() layer and use
stat_summary() to compute the mean of each concentration level:
p <- ggplot(CO2, aes(conc, uptake)) + geom_point() + facet_grid(Treatment ~
Type) + stat_summary(fun.y = mean, colour = "red", geom = "line")
Let's annotate this plot with the mean values we have overlaid onto the plot. To do this we must deduce what these mean values are. Use the
ddply() function in the
plyr package to get a new data frame of the mean values of each group. To reflect how the data is split in the plot, let's group our data by
Treatment, and
# group_means <- ddply(CO2, c('Type','Treatment', 'conc'),
# function(hi)mean(hi$uptake))
group_means <- ddply(CO2, .(Type, Treatment, conc), summarise, means = mean(uptake))
head(group_means, 10)
## Type Treatment conc means
## 1 Quebec nonchilled 95 15.27
## 2 Quebec nonchilled 175 30.03
## 3 Quebec nonchilled 250 37.40
## 4 Quebec nonchilled 350 40.37
## 5 Quebec nonchilled 500 39.60
## 6 Quebec nonchilled 675 41.50
## 7 Quebec nonchilled 1000 43.17
## 8 Quebec chilled 95 12.87
## 9 Quebec chilled 175 24.13
## 10 Quebec chilled 250 34.47
means column is the resulting mean of each group. Now use
geom_text() to annotate the
group_means$means onto our plot. As mentioned above, multiple data frames can be overlaid onto one plot. For this new layer, set a new aesthetic mapping inside the
geom_text() object. The text
label along with
x and
y coordinates must be set. The syntax for this is as follows:
p <- ggplot(CO2, aes(conc, uptake)) + geom_point() + facet_grid(Treatment ~
Type) + stat_summary(fun.y = mean, colour = "red", geom = c("line", "point")) +
geom_text(data = group_means, aes(x = conc + 50, y = means - 4, label = round(means,
0)), colour = "red", inherit.aes = FALSE, parse = FALSE)
Scales are used in
ggplot() to administer control on the axes.
scale covers everything from setting limits, through defining labels, to setting the granularity of the breaks in the data. For example, when setting limits, use:
scale_x_continuous()to change the x axis limits
scale_y_continuous()to change the y axis limits
The following code shows how to set y axis limits:
q <- p + scale_y_continuous(limits = c(0, 75))
Change the number of data points on the x axis:
r <- q + scale_x_continuous(breaks = seq(0, 1000, by = 100))
We can now make observations about the average behaviour for each concentration level across region and treatment condition:
- On average, plants in Quebec have a higher CO2 uptake than those in Mississippi for both chilled and non-chilled conditions.
- On average, plants under non-chilled conditions have a higher CO2 uptake than chilled for both regions.
- On average, plants in Quebec under non-chilled conditions have the highest CO2 uptake across all concentration levels.
- On average, plants in Mississippi under chilled conditions have the lowest CO2 uptake across all concentration levels.
What's Next?
You can find more about ggplot in the following posts:
- The application of
ggplot2to the construction of run charts can be found in Visualising Features of A&E Waiting Time Data Using Run Charts.
The Fundamentals of ggplot2 Explained ➜Tweet
Comments (7)
This was a great piece !
I found it very useful. I'm learning R for the first time.
I'm one of those learners that need to understand the essence (and logic behind) something in order to retain it …and avoid having to refer to a reference all the time.
Your expose was practical and succinct. Very useful.
Really appreciate it !
Indeed, you give very clear explanations and examples, thank you.
Hi, I am begineer, Request clarity in the following issue in using qplot function as described in your blog.
Rather than using
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = transform(CO2, fct = CO2$Type), shape = CO2$Treatment,colour = CO2$Plant, geom = c("point", "line"), facets = ~fct)
if i use
qplot(CO2$conc, CO2$uptake, data = CO2, shape = CO2$Treatment,colour = CO2$Plant, geom = c("point", "line"), facets = CO2$Type)
I get error as below
Error in formula.default(eval(parse(text = x, keep.source = FALSE)[[1L]])) :
invalid formula
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Nothing like a good random savaging from your $hostingProvider. Sorry about that. It's been a week of downtime because the tools that $hostingProvider has for diagnosing problems are about as useful as a stack of moldy Ouija boards. Logs? Oh you can ask for logs, but they will not come. Forum quality on $hostingProvider ranges from "Cargo Cult" nonsense to "plz hlp" because it's a cheap-ass neighborhood.
Me to support: "Site down. Apache looks utterly dead. Logs? WTF."
Support: "Huh. Lots of stuff wrong, too much to describe, really, and we're throttling traffic to that server because there are too many people on it. Why are you on that old server anyway?"
Me: "What?"
Support: "No problem, we'll just move your site. Oh, wait. You have to delete all your old databases first."
Me: "What?"
Support: "Bye now. Merry Christmas."
Took another call to support to get Apache high enough to crash. Actually the support folks are pretty good, it's the policies and configurations they're called on to support that are, shall we say, legacy. It says so, right there.
Another call or two to have them repair permissions. On stuff. No word on what actually changed or what permissions they had to fix, just, um, you know . . . stuff that needed permissions changing. Oh yes, all this time, the entire time the site was down, the little status widget in the corner of my site's administration page was cheerfully reassuring me that the site was 100% up and functional (while right next to that, a site preview page was declaring HORRIBLE ERROR and APACHE CATASTROPHE). Yay for modern technology.
So, I mucked with crap for a week, twisting knobs and pushing buttons and waiting for random pieces of web UI to agree with each other. Honestly, half of this time was looking at how to run the hell away from $hostingProvider by moving a few domains experimentally and discovering the roadblocks that $hostingProvider decided were necessary to prevent customer flight, go figure. Finally got things in order, restored the database, restored it again because $hostingProvider, and things seem to be working now. Hi there.
$hostingProvider will soon be an ex hosting provider. I've already moved a couple of domains, this one is next. It's fun.


text:
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Manto is an Hindi movie starring Nawazuddin Siddique and Rasika Duggal in prominent roles. It is a biographical drama directed by Nandita Das. If you are a representative of the production house, please share the details of the film with [email protected]


text:
We wanted to bring a few resources to your attention that might help some of you access the pay-walled articles we sometimes include in our newsletter Fodder. In recent months a number of legal, open source, non profit tools have been developed that give people access to otherwise subscription-only journal article. Two of these are:
Open Access Button https://openaccessbutton.org/ a tool that has a searchable database with copies of articles that comes into play when a user hits a paywall. (It will be integrated into existing interlibrary-loan arrangements in the US this year).
Unpaywall www.unpaywall.org is a simple browser extension free to install for Chrome and Firefox that allows access to a database of millions of author-uploaded PDFs. It can instantly deliver legal, open-access, full text as you browse.
Read more about the different alternatives in this overview article from The Chronicle of Higher Education.


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The underlying loan qualities are tokenized to provide an immutable record, allowing the addition and controls of other characteristics in the loan lifecycle.
Find out more about our solutions for Original Creditors, Investors, Warehouse Lenders, Underwriters and our network of industry partners.
Ethos: Connecting the Dots...
The structured credit market operating model has not fundamentally changed in decades.
Digital lending has only scratched the surface of modernizing the industry by enhancing the borrower experience, while the capital markets still largely rely on spreadsheets. Risk is still managed through manual processes and loan information remains siloed.
Distributed Ledger Technology and the tokenization of loans, with the right governance framework, security and standards can create significant new value in faster transactions, cost savings and the development of new structured credit products.


text:
Climates and Seasons
What Scientists Think
Sunlight is strongest (most direct) near the equator (tropics). The heated air rises and as it does, it cools. Cool air can't hold as much water as warm air, so low pressure (L) forms, creating clouds and thunderstorms.
This tropical rain belt runs along the equator and spreads out to about the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 north latitude) and Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 south latitude). But by the time it reaches about 30 degrees north and south latitude, it's cool enough to sink back to the surface. This creates high pressure (H), which means drier conditions. Most of the world's deserts are at these latitudes!
Many of our long-distant migrants, such as hummingbirds and monarchs, winter in the tropics or subtropics.
This circulation continues, moving away from the equator through the force of global winds.* Those of us living in temperate zones (from 30 to 60 degrees north and south latitudes) have varied precipitation (rain, snow, or both) in each of our four seasons. The poles, in turn, are very dry.
Try This!
Causes Wet and Dry Seasons?
(Right on the equator, there are two wet and two dry seasons as the rain belt passes over twice a year, once moving north and once moving south.)
Related Links


text:
Join Friends of Hemp (formerly Kentucky Hemp Research Foundation) and Kentucky Hemp Industries Association for a Hemp Holiday Market & Party at Rock House Brewing in Lexington for our Good Giving Challenge Fundraiser!
Attendees will be able to purchase local hemp products, drink hemp beer and support our mission of growing the industry through education and opportunity! Plus, live music by the Layed Back Country Pickers. Admission is free and the event is open to the public.
Become a Vendor
Your vendor fee will serve as a donation to Friends of Hemp and will be matched up to $10,000 by the Clark County Community Foundation. Vendors must bring their own table and materials.
Sign up to become a vendor by emailing: email@example.com
Vendor fees:
For Profit Companies: $30
Non-Profit Companies: $15
($5 discount for KYHIA members)
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Become a Friend of Hemp by sponsoring our Hemp Holiday Market & Party. All sponsors will be able to have a booth at the event, logo on marketing materials and name listed on friendsofhemp.org.
Your sponsorship is a tax-deductible donation to Friends of Hemp that is matched up to $10,000 by the Clark County Community Foundation.
> Choose Your Sponsorship Level:
- Platinum: $1,000
- Gold: $500
- Silver: $250
- Bronze: $100
> Donate at: https://www.bggives.org/friendsofhemp
> Donations benefit our goals for 2018 which are:
- developing Core Content for classrooms
- hosting our third-annual Hemp Foods Cook-Off
- collaborating with industry organizations to improve marketability of hemp
- hiring a part-time administrator
- fundraising to publish a "Hemp Grower's Guide"


text:
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- See more at: http://www.attcenter.com/about#sthash.5XwrwoKI.dpuf


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1. Not Joining More Clubs
You're probably sick of people telling you to join clubs because they seem like a lot of work, and I thought so too. I honestly wish I would have joined more. A club is where you meet your network. It is what you write on your resume to have employers view you as "skilled' without experience. This is how you stay too busy for toxic relationships. Being in a club is how you have cool, college experiences.
2. Waiting until my Senior Year to Intern.
This may or may not come as a surprise, but when you graduate from college, employers already want you to have years of experience for an entry level job. I know this sounds absurd, and believe me I was flabbergasted myself when I was looking for a job after graduation, but it's true. However, an internship will give you that experience and help you get a job right out of college. PLUS most jobs are found within people's network, so who you intern with could potentially hire you, or know of someone who would hire you. Interning is priceless and absolutely a must while in college.
3. Focusing on a Relationship
Unless your relationship is hassle-free and never makes you worry or stress-out, don't have one. Just end it or put it on hold until you graduate. It is really hard to slay an exam when you're significant other is fighting with you about your plans for the break afterward. Just trust me on this, there are plenty of ways to curve the loneliness that do not involve relationship-drama.
4. Getting a Car
It's super nice to have a car if it's paid off, or was a gift, or won't hurt you financially in any other way, but I was not in that situation. Having a car payment to worry about on top of student loans, and working, and rent, and food, and gas, and books, etc, was way too much stress for an 18 year old. Save your bills for when you graduate. Embrace public transportation or a bike. For real, I could've taken trips with the amount of money I spent monthly on a car that literally just took me to a job I worked to pay for the car.
5. Getting a Dog
I love my dog to death and he is amazing, but I wish I was getting him now in my life rather than when I was a student. It was hard finding sitting for him whenever I wanted to travel. My parent's had to watch him for months at a time when my life was too hectic to be home. So much money was spent on food, shots, veterinary care, etc. I know how hard it is to say no to a dog (hence why I have one), but get a fish until you graduate and a new puppy can be your gift to yourself for finding a job. Dogs also need a ton of exercise and studying at the dog park in January in the snow was not my most favorite memory of college.
6. Being a Hermit
I was super busy in college, and I used that as an excuse to not go out and do things and meet people. This made my life more difficult. If I missed class, it was hard to get the notes because I didn't know the people in my class. When people invited me out I said no and now my networking pool is much more shallow than I would like it to be. Meet as many people as possible and stay in touch with them!
7. Letting Family Drama Stress Me Out
Leave family at home. This is why it is critical to move out, even though it is so much cheaper to live at home through school. Even if your parents went to college, they will not understand you and your life and they will be so stressful. They don't try to be, and we love them, but this is the time where you're setting the foundation for the rest of your life. It is really hard to make sure you're on the right path in your life if you have to come home and hear your parent's plan for you every night.
8. Not Setting Goals
I wish I would have set more goals for myself in college and worked towards actually achieving them. I would have been more successful now had I had done so.


text:
Secret Garden Hat and Gansey
Secret Garden Hat and Gansey
Every little girl (and her doll) need a Glenfiddich Bartlett Secret Garden Gansey and the wonderful hat to go along with it! She will love to dress up her doll, and then dress herself up the same way! A perfect "photo op"! 4(5,6,6) skeins will make both the little girl's sweater and the doll's. The pattern fits doll, and girls sizes 4-5(6-6x,7-8,10-12).
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So after attending RailsConf a couple of weeks ago, I've been really inspired by the great people that were at the conference, and as a direct result of that, I've made two personal resolutions:
- Write more code
- Blog about the code that you write (or other tech-stuff in general)
So as not to confuse the core audience of this blog, I thought it would be best if I keep my coding/tech-related posts separate from this collection of ramblings. Of course, the core audience comprises of 10 people at best, but I digress.
Thus McLovin Does Ruby was born, and the inaugural post is about a new Ruby library called SuperModel.


text:
good morning
Sir,plz give me complete exams dates & syllabus of all upsc & psu exams..
good morning
Sir,plz give me complete exams dates & syllabus of all upsc & psu exams..
Related UPSC Questions:
- How to get dental government job through UPSC exams? What are the important dates for this year? What is the syllabus for it?
- Syllabus, important dates and reference books for GPSC and UPSC exams?
- Give the complete details about UPSC exams like age limits, syllabus and important dates.
- Which institute/coaching center should I prefer in Delhi for PSU exams and UPSC exams?
- Give all the details about UPSC exams in terms of Important dates, Syllabus, coaching institutes and their fees.
- Differentiate IES, UPSC and PSU. Which is the most beneficial option among the three?
- Important dates of government engineering exams.
- What is the syllabus of UPSC Railway Mechanical engineering exams? Also mention their dates.
- What is the syllabus for UPSC Dental Corps exam? What are the important dates for the same?
- Can I appear in IES and PSU exams while studying 3rd year engineering?
The date of notification of upsc exam 2013 is not released yet. The duration of exam of UPSC for IAS/IPS is as follows:
Date for filling up application: 5 March 2012 Approx February-March Month.
Date of Notification: 4 Feb 2012 Approx February Month.
Date of Examination:
For Prelims 20 May 2012 Approx May month.
For Mains 5 October 2012 Approx October Month.
dear friend,
as far as the upsc exam dates are concerned:
go to the commission's website "www.upsc.gov.in"
click on the tab"examinations"
you will find calendar for examinations 2012.there you will know the date of notification and the date of examination.
all the best.
The dates for all the exams conducted by upsc have been declared.
you can visit the site www.upsc.gov.in and see all the details for yourself.
The syllabus of upsc exams differ depending upon exam.
Generally it includes general knowledge,information on current affairs,history,11th,12th PCM etc..


text:
A global citizen science platform
to discover, share and identify wildlife
Grasshoppers are vegetarian insects, which can jump, walk and fly. Grasshoppers have a typical 3 - part insect body, which includes the head, thorax and abdomen. They also have 2 antennae, 2 pairs of wings and 6 legs.
Grasshoppers are observed in all kinds of habitats. Some examples of grasshoppers habitat are grasslands, rain forests, pastures, fields, swamps and tropics. Most surprisingly they are also found in deserts.
Spotted today at Sungei Buloh wetland reserve in a bush.
wow ..is big one..amazing...thanks for the sharing..:)
He was very large I would say about 8cm in length
by the way..i like its face..very funny..
may i know how big it is? here, so far, i only found the small one..about 3 cm around..
thanks Sally, I love his golden eyes :)
wow...nice posture..cool!
Lat: 1.45, Long: 103.72
Spotted on Nov 12, 2011
Submitted on Nov 12, 2011


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The Heights Ski & Country Club
Located an hour north of Toronto, The Heights Ski & Country Club has much to offer with its beautiful new clubhouse; stunning panoramic views of the Horseshoe Valley and Copeland Forest; and a wide array of alpine ski programs. A warm and inviting private club experience, The Heights is perfect for families who have a passion for ski and other outdoor programs.
our club
Founded in 1989, The Heights has 27 private runs ranging from green to double black diamond. With 4 chairlifts and a Magic carpet & a terrain park, our members experience the best ski conditions in the area without the hassle of long line-ups.
our ski programs
We pride ourselves in offering our members and their guests great outdoor programs for all ages and all levels. With an emphasis on development, safety and fun, we offer a wide array of ski programs for the recreational and racing ski families.
weddings & events
Whether you are hosting a private party, a wedding or team building exercise, The Heights invites you to discover our amazing facility, friendly staff and beautiful setting.


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A career in health care may present various opportunities - especially in the field of nursing. Before devoting their futures to the practice, many licensed practical nurse (LPN) candidates may first wish to uncover what an LPN salary offers.
The BLS estimates that as of May 2010, the 752,300 licensed practical nurses in the United States earned a mean annual salary of $40,380, which works out to a mean annual rate of $19.42.
Following completion of a practical nursing training program, and receiving licensure by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nurse, LPNs have the opportunity to work in a variety of industries.
In addition to the industry where an LPN works, the geographic location may also impact earnings.
States that employ the most LPNs include Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and North Dakota according to Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 Data.
Online RN to BSN Obtaining your bachelor's in nursing (BSN) has been made much more possible with the Internet. Online RN to BSN programs allow you to work at home, when you have time.


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What kinds of businesses does the council enforce health and safety legislation in?
Complaints and questions about health and safety in the workplace
Health and safety legislation protects the health, safety and welfare of people at work. It also safeguards others, mainly the public, who may be affected by how that work is carried out.
What does the council do?
Our Food, Health and Safety team work to ensure that commercial businesses comply with health and safety legislation.
We always aim to work in partnership with businesses in our area, however, we will take enforcement action where serious breaches of legislation are found and people's safety is put at risk.
Health and safety law enforcement is split between councils and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), dependent on the type and nature of the business.
The division of responsibility can be complex but in general we cover businesses such as:
- retail premises
- warehousing
- transport undertakings (distribution centres, etc.)
- hotels
- leisure complexes
- animal boarding / breeding establishments
- personal services (eg. body piercing)
- offices, and
- safety of sports grounds
- residential care homes
In residential care homes we enforce where there are issues that affect employees or the structure. Issues that affect residents are dealt with by the Care Quality Commission. If you are not sure if your business fits into any of these categories please check with us.
Accidents at work
Certain types of accidents and incidents in a workplace must be formally reported to the Health & Safety Executive.
Serious accidents and incidents need to be reported formally. A detailed explanation of what must be reported and how can be found on the HSE's accident reporting website.
Reported accidents are investigated by either the HSE or ourselves, depending on the type of workplace. Accidents can be reported either by calling 08453 009923 or online at the HSE's accident reporting website.
Complaints and questions
If you have any concerns or queries regarding health and safety or would like to make a complaint about conditions in a workplace, then please contact us.
Further information on health and safety topics can be found on the HSE's website.
Licence inspections
Our team perform inspections for businesses and premises that require a licence for certain activities. Further information can be found on these licences below: