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Weekly Musing 5-31-15
Saul Anuzis
What if the Republican Party Can't Decide?
This is the most interesting possibility in the Republican primary – and one that too many analysts gloss over. Sometimes the factions within a party are simply too different or too obstinate in their demands and thus fail to close ranks around a candidate before Iowa. This happened in the 1988 Democratic Primary, the 2004 Democratic Primary and the 2008 Republican Primary.
.. In the run-up to the 1988 Democratic caucus, the party failed to coalesce around a candidate. Colorado Sen. Gary Hart led in the polls, but an extramarital affair knocked him out of contention. New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, a party favorite, declined to run. This left the party elites with a lackluster field, and they failed to come to a consensus before Iowa. The party eventually got behind Massachusetts Gov. Mike Dukakis, but that was only after he won a number of primaries. This is important because the electorate shaped the party's choices. If the party elites had wanted support another candidate – say, Illinois Sen. Paul Simon – they would have a tough time promoting their candidate over Dukakis, Dick Gephardt or some other candidate with greater momentum.
In 2004, the Democrats were again in disarray. Even though the Democratic establishment believed Vermont Gov. Howard Dean – the frontrunner for a large swath of the pre-Iowa period – was too politically liberal and personally aggressive to win the general election, it was unable to unite behind a more mainstream candidate before Iowa. Dean eventually faltered and Kerry gained momentum, but the story is similar to 1988 – the party was unable to unite behind a candidate early and thus exercised less influence over the party rank-and-file.
The most recent party failure was Arizona Sen. John McCain's ascent to the Republican nomination in 2008. While McCain won some early endorsements, he certainly did not win the invisible primary. McCain – a self-described maverick – made enemies within his party by breaking from conservative orthodoxy on campaign finance reform, immigration and other issues. McCain's enemies had a real incentive to find a broadly appealing McCain alternative, but they didn't. Former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson momentarily appeared to be a conservative consensus candidate, but Thompson proved to be a lackluster campaigner. So the party, unable to settle on a consensus choice, ended up being stuck with a nominee that some factions strongly disliked.
So in 2016, it is entirely conceivable that the Republican Party elite will simply fail to come to a consensus. That could turn out fine for Republicans – the eventual nominee might be a decent candidate who would have been a plausible party favorite in a less crowded field (e.g. Walker, Rubio, Bush or John Kasich).
Five Leaders In 2016 Republican White House Race, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds
|There are five leaders – or no leaders – as Republican voters look at likely GOP candidates in the 2016 White House race, with no candidate above 10 percent and 20 percent undecided, according to a Quinnipiac University National poll released today.
|Leading the pack with 10 percent each are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds.
|Rounding out the top 10 for televised debates are U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky at 7 percent, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 6 percent, Donald Trump at 5 percent, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie at 4 percent and Carly Fiorina and Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 2 percent each.
|Trump tops the "no way" list as 21 percent of Republican voters say they would definitely not support him. Bush is next with 17 percent, with Christie at 15 percent.
|Hillary Clinton dominates among Democratic voters nationwide, with 57 percent, compared to 60 percent April 23. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont has 15 percent with Vice President Joseph Biden at 9 percent. No other candidate tops 1 percent with 14 percent undecided.
How to Fix an Unfair Presidential Debate System
Clearly, any effort to limit the field will generate complaints and criticism. But any approach that limits the field so early in the race, at least five months before the first contest involving voters, seems inherently unfair. And using national polls to select participants in early debates seems odd when the first few actual tests of strength involve small, retail politics states such as Iowa and New Hampshire.
After all, we are talking about the first debate or the first couple of debates, not the fifth. Each candidate can rightly argue he or she deserves to be in the first few debates, since those televised events will be the first time many Republican voters will have the opportunity to evaluate and compare the candidates.
The obvious answer is to divide the field in half, randomly assigning individual hopefuls to one of the two debates. Of course, not everyone will like the group he or she is in, and the makeup of each group would determine the particular dynamic of that debate.
After a couple of debates, the hosts of additional debates will have just cause to limit the number of debaters. But doing so in the first couple of debates is inherently unfair and could end up damaging the party's image. You'd think that that would be something the RNC would want to avoid.
Have Democrats Pulled Too Far Left?
The Democratic Party is now a pre-Bill Clinton party, the result of Mr. Obama's own ideological predilections and the coalition he has built. Liberals will argue that the Democratic Party has benefited from this movement to the left and cite the election victories of Mr. Obama as evidence of it. The nation has become more liberal, they say, and the Democratic Party has wisely moved with it.
In some respects, like gay rights, the nation is more liberal than it was two decades ago. On the other hand, it is more conservative today than it was in the mid-1990s. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that Republicans have opened substantial leads over Democrats on dealing with terrorism, foreign policy and taxes. They're competitive on the economy, and a good deal more competitive than in the past on traditional liberal issues like immigration and health care. Self-identified conservatives significantly outnumber self-identified liberals.
One can also plausibly argue that the Republican Party is the governing party in America. After two enormous losses by Democrats in the 2010 and 2014 midterm elections, Republicans control the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are currently 31 Republican governors compared with 18 for Democrats. Republicans control 68 of 98 state legislative chambers and the most state legislative seats since the 1920s. Nearly half of Americans now live in states under total Republican control. The Obama years have been politically good for Mr. Obama; they have been disastrous for his party. That is a problematic legacy for a man who envisioned himself as a Franklin Delano Roosevelt-like transformational political figure.
Those who insist that the Democratic Party's march to the left carries no political risks might consider the fate of the British Labour Party earlier this month. Ed Miliband, its leader, ran hard to the left. The result? The Conservative Party under David Cameron won its first outright majority in Parliament since 1992. Before the election, the former Labour prime minister Tony Blair warned his party against letting the election become one in which "a traditional left-wing party competes with a traditional right-wing party, with the traditional result."
Mr. Clinton acted on a lesson Democrats learned the hard way, and moved his party more to the center on fiscal policy, welfare, crime, the culture and foreign policy. Progressive figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Mayor Bill de Blasio are the politicians who electrify the Democratic base.
For demographic reasons, many Democrats believe that they are riding a tide of presidential inevitability. They may want to rethink that. They are placing a very risky bet that there are virtually no limits to how far left they can go.
An economist calculated it would take the average adult 3 years to read all the federal government's regulations
In a video posted to YouTube last fall, Patrick McLaughlin almost gets buried in federal regulations, physically. McLaughlin is a young economist at the Mercatus Center, a free-market think tank at George Mason University, and he begins his video by piling up all the volumes of the Code of Federal Regulations issued in 1950. They make a short stack, barely a foot tall. As McLaughlin moves ahead in time—to 1970, 1990, 2013—regulations mount, and the stack of volumes grows into a tower that comes close to toppling on him.
"Too many regulations" is a familiar complaint, especially from the free-market right, but once you see them all in once place it's hard to imagine anyone really wants it this way. As of mid-2013, there were 235 volumes in the Code of Federal regulations, each of which is around 750 pages long. McLaughlin calculated it would take the average adult three years to read the whole thing, or 58 times longer than it would take to read all five books in the sprawling "Game of Thrones" saga.
The reading load may take a real toll on the economy. Not long ago researchers estimated that mounting regulations have slowed economic growth by an average of 2 percent per year over the past half-century. And even if you're a believer in a strong federal hand, there's something scary about a government that runs by rules too dense for one individual ever to understand.
The Costs of a $15 Minimum Wage
Their intentions are good. Full-time employment at the current federal minimum of $7.25 an hour provides an income of just $14,500 a year. For an adult supporting one child, that's well below the poverty line of $15,930.
The problem is that a higher legal minimum wage is at odds with the prevailing supply of and demand for labor. If you set the minimum too high, you will get a shortage of jobs. Forbidding employers from paying $9 or $12 an hour means that many of their workers won't get $13 or $15 an hour. They will get zero per hour, because those jobs will disappear.
Some businesses will reduce staffing or hours. Some will scrub expansions they had planned. Some will install machines to handle tasks previously assigned to humans. Some will shut down.
Not all employers will take steps that will curb employment, but many will. Raising the minimum wage collides with one of the basic laws of economics: the higher the cost of something the lower the demand. In the employment realm, the effects may not be immediate, but they are inexorable.
An editorial in The New York Times wished away unwanted responses. It promised that the change will yield "savings from lower labor turnover and higher labor productivity." Higher pay can "be offset by modestly higher prices" and by "paying executives and shareholders less."
But if giving raises paid for itself, companies wouldn't need to be forced to do it. Raising prices means fewer customers will buy what these companies are selling, which reduces the number of employees they need. Executives and shareholders who get paid less can turn to companies that can pay more because they don't rely on low-wage labor.
Some of these consequences have already occurred in Seattle. One pizzeria owner, employing 12 people, told NPR her choice was to go back to working 60 to 80 hours a week or close. She's closing.
"Even Seattle's best-known chef, Tom Douglas, says he may have to close some of his 15 restaurants," it reported. If a famous restaurateur can't make it work, how will obscure ones fare?
Why China Just Spent $2.3 Billion On America's Hottest Startups
Many of the investments are bizarre on the surface, smacking of dumb money rushing in late in the cycle and driving up valuations for everyone. Why would an e-commerce giant spend tens of millions of dollars on a startup like Peel that's outside of its core business, not to mention its core country?
In a word: smartphones. The three BAT companies each monopolize a sphere of China's desktop-style online behavior, but they risk falling behind in mobile. This is a problem in a country where tens of millions of people skip PCs entirely. Hence the landgrab–the Big Three don't much care where the innovations on this new intertwined platform come from or, it seems, how much they have to shell out to secure them.
"In the online world, everybody has their own domain, but in mobile, everyone's competing on everyone else's turf," says Jay Eum, cofounder of TransLink Capital, the venture capital firm that introduced Alibaba to Peel and has invested in two other Alibaba-backed startups, Quixey and Tango.
Remembering 1941: how the Baltic states are confronting their deportation trauma on film
Baltic states have been eager to shake off their Soviet bloc past as they rush for European Union integration. But this legacy has become impossible to ignore as fears around Russia's territorial ambitions are reignited. With independence fragile, the urgency of memory is underpinning a spate of films from the region that bear witness to some of the worst traumas of the former Soviet occupation and the 1941 deportations under Stalin which saw some 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians sent in cattle-cars to Siberia.
In the Crosswind is the feature debut of 27-year-old Tallinn-born director Martti Helde. It tells the story of deportee Erna Tamm. Separated from her husband, her undelivered letters to him form a poetic voice-over narration. Frozen tableaux capture moments so traumatic — from the aftermath of a rape by a kolkhoz chairman in a grubby toilet stall to prisoners before a firing squad — that they are seared on to time's fabric, marking a life that has lost continuity and sense.
"When we started to make the film we couldn't have imagined, or wished, that it would be released in the time of the Ukrainian crisis," Helde told us. As well as the escalating political tensions heightening its contemporary bite, the film's fresh approach of experimental innovation has enabled it to achieve festival award recognition and a commercial release in France. It's wider attention than is often afforded the small Baltic film industries, and constitutes a higher profile than Audrius Juzenas's The Excursionist, Lithuania's ably crafted but more conventional 2013 drama on the deportations. "This unusual form has allowed the film to be noticed, travel and reach so many audiences who have become aware of our history," said Helde.
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subset: commoncrawl


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In a study at UCLA, teenagers had their brains scanned while viewing pictures they had submitted. The more likes their photos had received, the more the reward circuitry in their brain lit up like a firework, much in the way that same area responds to chocolate, sex, and hard drugs. For people, attention (validation's slutty sibling) can easily turn into pleasure-seeking behavior and, eventually, full-blown addiction. To our poor, stupid monkey brains, this is completely tribal. We see how many likes and comments and shares our posts get compared to those of other people, and we measure ourselves against them. If we have more, we are the king of the jungle. That social media stimulates this primal, addictive part of the brain is no coincidence. Companies like Facebook have never been coy about creating "obsession loops" that keep their users hitting refresh like it's the button that releases the morphine.
Admit it. You want to click those so badly.
However, unlike drugs or cigarettes, there doesn't seem to be anything inherently harmful from getting some internet thumbs-ups, so why aren't we all walking along like smiley happy people, having discovered a whole new way for us to feel good about ourselves? Because internet affirmation is an empty high, a whole lot of baby formula with not a lot of cocaine. According to Dr. Larry Rosen, professor of psychology at California State University at Dominguez Hills, real-life empathy is six times more effective at making people believe they are being supported. And our monkey brain is still advanced enough that it can tell the difference -- so even a retweet storm will often leave us feeling hollow and emotionally malnourished. But on the flip side, a lack of likes hits just as hard as any real-life rejection. Not getting an instant positive click from a friend can quickly lead to feelings of resentment and anger. Many a Kimber-on-Kimber fight has broken out because of a poolside pic that was left unliked.
Like this one from Kimber's J.J. Abrams period.


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In many graphics applications it is often necessary to know the distance between two points or pixels, such as collision detection in games. Here, we are just interested in calculating the distance between pixels in 2D. However, it is not that much more complicated to extend this to 3D and we will be covering this at a later date. Anyway, back to our 2D example.
We can determine the distance from one known pixel co-ordinate to another using some simple trigonometry. In the figure below we would like to calculate the distance from point a to point b. These could be any two pixels on the screen with co-ordinates (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) respectively.
The distance from a to b is calculated using Pythagoras' theorem, as long as the co-ordinates of the two points are known. First we need to know the vertical difference between the points (y2-y1) and the horizontal difference (x2-x1) as show below.
Pythagoras' theorem states that the distance between a and b is given by d2 = (y2-y1)2+(x2-x1)2 where d is the distance between points a and b. As an example, if we have two points with co-ordinates as given in the figure below then we can find the distance between them as follows.
d2 = (76-18)2+(184-44)2
d2 = 582+1402
d2 = 3364+19600 = 22964
d = √(22964) = 151.54
So the approximate distance between the two points is 151.54, or 151 rounded to the nearest pixel! This is a simple example but all the more advanced topics in graphics theory is built on simple calculations such a this.
NOTE: The above formula works fine even if the x, y co-ordinates for point a are greater than point b. In this case you will get a negative value when you calculate y2-y1 and x2-x1. This does not matter as the negative value disappears when it is squared.


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Studies indicate that people with diabetes are twice as likely to suffer from hearing loss, according to the American Diabetes Association. This statistic is unexpected for people who picture hearing loss as a problem associated with getting old or noise damage. Nearly 500,000 of the1.9 million people diagnosed with diabetes in 2010 were below the age of 44. Some form of hearing loss most likely affects at least 250,000 of the younger people who have this disease.
The thing is that diabetes is just one of several diseases that can cost a person their hearing. The aging process is a major aspect both in disease and loss of hearing but what is the relationship between these conditions and ear health? These conditions that cause loss of hearing should be taken into consideration.
What the connection is between diabetes and hearing loss is not clear but clinical evidence appears to indicate there is one. A condition that suggests a person might develop type 2 diabetes, called prediabetes, causes people to lose their hearing 30 percent faster than people who don't have it.
While scientists don't have a definitive answer as to why this occurs, there are some theories. It is possible that damage to the blood vessels that feed the inner ear may be triggered by high glucose levels. Diabetes is known to impact circulation, so that is a realistic assumption.
Hearing loss is a symptom of this infectious disease. Because of infection, the membranes that cover the spine and brain swell up and that defines meningitis. Studies show that 30 percent of people will lose their hearing in part or in full if they develop this condition. Among the American youth, this infection is the second leading cause of hearing loss.
Meningitis has the potential to harm the fragile nerves that permit the inner ear to send signals to the brain. The brain has no means to interpret sound without these signals.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella label that covers conditions that impact the heart or blood vessels. This category contains these well-known diseases:
- Peripheral artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Atherosclerosis
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Stroke
Usually, cardiovascular diseases tend to be associated with age-related hearing loss. The inner ear is vulnerable to injury. When there is an alteration of the blood flow, it may not get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to thrive, and damage to the inner ear then leads to hearing loss.
Chronic Kidney Disease
A 2012 study published in The Laryngoscope found that people with this condition also had an increased risk of hearing loss. A separate study found that chance to be as high as 43 percent. However, this connection may be a coincidence. There are lots of the same risk factors with kidney disease and other ailments associated with high blood pressure.
Another theory is that the toxins that collect in the blood as a result of kidney failure could be the culprit. These toxins may damage the nerves in the inner ear, closing the connection it has with the brain.
The connection between hearing loss and dementia is a two-way street. A person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease seems to be increased by cognitive deterioration. Brain shrinkage and atrophy are the causes of dementia. Trouble hearing can accelerate that process.
The other side of the coin is true, as well. Somebody who has dementia even though there is normal hearing will show a decline in their hearing as injury to the brain increases.
Mumps is a viral infection which can cause children to lose their hearing early in life. The reduction in hearing could be only in one ear or it might affect both ears. The reason this occurs is the virus damages the cochlea in the inner ear. It's the component of the ear that sends signals to the brain. The good thing is mumps is pretty scarce these days due to vaccinations. Not everyone who gets the mumps will experience hearing loss.
Chronic Ear Infections
Treatment gets rid of the random ear infection so it's not very risky for the majority of people. For some, however, repeated infections take a toll on the tiny components that are needed for hearing like the eardrum or the small bones in the middle ear. This type of hearing loss is called conductive, and it means that sound cannot reach the inner ear with enough force, so no signals are transmitted to the brain. Infections can also cause a sensorineural hearing loss, which means nerve damage.
Many of the diseases that can cause hearing loss can be avoided by prevention. Throughout your life protecting your hearing will be possible if you exercise regularly, get the right amount of sleep, and have a healthy diet. You should also get regular hearing exams to make sure your ears stay healthy.


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Ultimately, what Bell is doing is gas-lighting British Jews, dismissing their profound fears about the hatred directed to their community, and lending credibility to those bigots who view the entire row as a conspiracy to bring down their beloved leader.
Indy's Robert Fisk crosses the line to antisemitism
If populism, in both right-wing and left-wing manifestations, often promotes the idea that 'the 'system is rigged' by the few to the detriment of the many, antisemitism can be defined as the […]
UKMW prompts Indy to correct article on Ilhan Omar tweet
A Feb. 14 article in the Independent on reactions to antisemitic tweets by Congresswoman Ilhan Omar devoted several paragraphs to a defence of Omar by the fringe Jewish group IfNotNow, whilst omitting any reference to the near universal criticism by large mainstream US Jewish groups.
Guardian misleads on 'Israel Lobby' article
So, if the pro-Israel lobby is so limited in its spending, if the Zionist "tentacles" are so relatively short, how do we explain to antisemites why the US public is generally so pro-Israel? Could it be that Americans simply recognise and support other democracies and free societies, especially when under constant attack by non-democratic, despotic and sometimes Islamist neighbours?
Guardian condemns antisemitism against Soros, but legitimises it against Adelson
The Guardian's insistence that one or two wealthy Jews are behind Trump's pro-Israel policies is facile and myopic at best, and, at worst, promotes exactly the kind of antisemitic dog whistles about the 'injurious' influence of Jewish power that, when directed at George Soros, their editors and contributors have ardently denounced.
Guardian says Malaysian PM known for his "outspokenness", omits what else he's known for
A Guardian article, about warnings by Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahatir Mohamad, that Australia's decision to consider moving its embassy to Jerusalem said about the 92-year old leader that he's known for his outspokenness. However, what the Guardian didn't tell you is that he's also well known for expressing classic antisemitic rhetoric.
British journalist promotes "taboo busting" article literally justifying antisemitism
British Jews, according to an op-ed endorsed by Sarah Helm, have too much power in Britain, and are using this power to subvert democracy with a well-coordinated smear campaign alleging that Jeremy Corbyn is antisemitic – a charge they know to be untrue.
Guardian condemns "antisemitic tropes" targeting George Soros. Pot, Kettle, Black.
The Guardian simply has no credibility on the issue of anti-Jewish racism, and we seriously doubt that the editor responsible for the piece condemning attacks on Soros was motivated by a genuine anger towards antisemitic expressions. As Guardian journalist Michael White tweeted, on an unrelated controversy, "we all cherry pick our outrage sometimes".
UKMW prompts Daily Mail to remove word "tentacles" in reference to pro-Israel group in UK
Following our complaints to Daily Mail editors, we received a reply from the journalist who wrote the piece, apologising for using the word "tentacles" to describe the influence of a pro-Israel group in the UK. He explained that he was unfamiliar with its antisemitic associations and informed us that the word would be removed from the op-ed.
UK study: those with strong anti-Israel views are dramatically more antisemitic than the general population
As much as anti-Israel activists – and their allies in the media, NGOs and Parliament – like to deny it, this new report by CST and JPR persuasively demonstrates what most Jews in the UK know intuitively: that there is in fact a strong correlation between obsessive criticism Israel and hostility towards Jews.
Ross Kemp fails to challenge 'extreme' anti-Israel conspiracy theory on Sky 1
Kemp's failure, on Sky 1, to challenge Jwehan's absurd causation for drug addiction in the West Bank represents another example of the media's role in legitimising anti-Israel conspiracy theories – fantasies which has the effect of preventing Palestinians from engaging in genuine self-reflection over their own role in perpetuating very real social, economic and political problems.
The London Magazine promotes Ben Ehrenreich's ode to Palestinian terrorists.
As readers of The London Magazine will learn in the latest issue of the publication, the American writer Ben Ehrenreich thinks "that the word 'terrorism' forms this very powerful narrative function in silencing Palestinian voices and giving the sole authority to Israelis."
No to antisemitic discourse in British Parliament!
At present there is no approval process for booking rooms in Parliament. This is clearly unsatisfactory. I hope people will write to their MPs to support the implementation of such a process — so that extremist meetings like that hosted by Tonge will never again be held in Parliament.
UK Media Watch interview with Dave Rich, author of 'The Left's Jewish Problem'.
"When you look at the events at UCL…the intention of the protestors was the same as in the 1970s when Jewish Societies were banned: to declare Zionism outside the boundaries of the democratic community of a Students' Union. This inevitably places most Jewish students outside that boundary and restricts their rights and activities in comparison to other students on campus."
Elder of Zion-style antisemitism in 21st Century Britain?
h/t Sussex Friends of Israel Britain's Labour's Party has expelled Gerry Downing, an extreme left activist who had recently been reinstated, after it was revealed that he expressed sympathy for the 9/11 […]
Sky News fails to challenge lie that Israel plans to destroy al-Aqsa Mosque
Yesterday in London, there was another hateful anti-Israel demo outside the Israel embassy. Sky News had a segment on both the demo and the broader issue concerning recent Arab terror attacks in Israel. […]
Asghar Bukhari defends conspiracy theory by citing source popular with those who see 'Zionist footprints'
Asghar Bukhari, a founding member and spokesperson for the "extremist" and "antisemitic" Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK (MPACUK), recently claimed on Facebook that Zionists broke into his home to steal a shoe, in order to drive him crazy.
George Galloway 'reveals' the secret location of UK Media Watch
Evidently, we've been getting under George Galloway's skin. The Respect Party MP from Bradford West must be fuming over our posts documenting his adoption of antisemitic narratives and embrace of antisemites, and our […]
Again at the Guardian, the suggestion that Jews or Israel control Western foreign policy
Before turning to the latest example of a Guardian contributor accusing Jews or Israel of controlling Western foreign policy, here's a brief review of such problematic language over the past few years […]
Guardian returns Gilad Atzmon's antisemitic book to its online shelves
Within 24 hours of our post in October 2011, noting that the Guardian's online bookshop was selling Gilad Atzmon's grossly antisemitic book, The Wandering Who?, they removed the title from their virtual shelves. However, at some […]


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Pollution insurance market booms after regulators clamp down | Insurance Business
Environmental liability exposures have evolved and expanded far beyond the coverage provided in standard property or general liability policies. Claims stemming from environmental hazards tend to be extremely costly and complex, which has driven underwriters to wash their hands of pollutant risks, leaving a gap for specialized environmental insurance products.
The environmental liability insurance market in Canada is growing, according to Beazley Canada environmental underwriter Miles Foxworth. It has progressed from being a niche market targeted primarily at the oil and gas industry and chemical manufacturers, to a more mainstream market as heightened environmental regulation forces up liability exposures.
"People are definitely buying more pollution insurance coverage, which is largely due to heightened regulation combined with stricter financing requirements from banks and investors," Foxworth told Insurance Business. "If a company is refinancing or trying to get a loan for a property, a bank won't want to take on any pollution exposure and so will require the company to have pollution coverage in place before offering any funding.
"Likewise, if someone is interested in purchasing a property or a plot of land, they want to make sure the liability for the pollution has been taken care of before they move forward acquiring the site. It's the same for big property developers, who want to make sure a site is covered before starting a project, and for contractors, who oftentimes can't get on to a job site until pollution coverage is in place."
Despite these requirements, there remains a serious lack of education around what environmental exposures actually are and how far the liability can fall, according to Foxworth. He described education as the "consistent number one challenge" in the environmental space.
For example, not all property owners understand that they're responsible for contamination on their plot of land, even if that contamination existed before they became the owner. Likewise, if a developer is digging a plot of land and accidentally hits a waste pipe, the developer is responsible for that clean-up.
"One thing insurance brokers can do – based on successes we've had at Beazley – is educate clients by using real-world claim examples," said Foxworth. "Here's a milk transporter with similar exposures to you. No, they don't handle anything hazardous and yet they've had pollution claims and exits of a million dollars. Real-world claim examples seem to have the biggest impact in opening people's eyes to the exposures and encouraging the purchase of coverage.
"Continuous education and communication are also important. There might be some clients who have bought pollution coverage for years but haven't submitted any real claims because they don't understand the scope of the coverage. As clients become more aware of what's covered, they will start to take advantage of those policies and claims will increase."


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Performance parameters have been presented that can be used to compare the focusing performance of different optical systems, including the effect of pupil filters. These were originally given for the paraxial case and recently extended to the high-aperture scalar regime. We generalize these parameters to the full vectorial case for an aplanatic optical system illuminated by a plane-polarized wave. The behavior of different optical systems is compared.
© 2008 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
Colin J. R. Sheppard
Opt. Lett. 32(12) 1653-1655 (2007)
Colin J. R. Sheppard and Elijah Y. S. Yew
Opt. Lett. 33(5) 497-499 (2008)
Colin J. R. Sheppard, Silvia Ledesma, Juan Campos, and Juan C. Escalera
Opt. Lett. 32(12) 1713-1715 (2007)


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by louis gander
11/07/2009 / Salvation
Are we so blind in our own little world -
can't see our own ship's demise -
and feel deep down an emptiness
with insignificant eyes?
Yet do we love life's dangers,
and into the tempests lean -
with all our focused attention on
this world's corrupted scene?
Are we so deaf in our own little world,
when waters send warning tears -
that we can't discern the crashing waves
with insignificant ears?
And do we love life's dangers
which envies of sins enjoy -
with all of our selfish actions,
with insignificant noise?
Are we so wrapped in our own little world,
balled up as some yarn and strings -
yet hanging from a single thread,
with insignificant things?
Oh, the storms that God allows
as we tighten ourselves in our chains -
we cannot break free from the greed and lust
with insignificant brains.
When temptations storms keep tossing
our ships on the mighty sea,
are we so lost in our own little world -
we can only think about "me"?
When waters keep breaking and crashing
our ships on the angry waves -
will cries be heard in Heaven to
this Jesus who truely saves?
Would God send His Son with His infinite love,
with such insignificant goals -
then have Him die on an old rugged cross
for insignificant souls?
Certainly not! We're meaningful -
we faithful sons and daughters.
Grace is sufficient against all storms.
Let Jesus calm Life's waters.
Galatians 3:26 (NASB) For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Copyright 2020 by louis gander.
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text: wanksy 0 Posted April 29, 2015 (edited) Festival season in the UK is starting soon & I have a pair of prescription glasses I no longer use and planning on changing it to a presc specs instead. It would look exactly like this: http://probusnyc.com/collections/thom-browne-sunglasses/products/thom-browne-tb-701a-t-sunglasses Any thought? Also, does anyone know a good place to get presc specs in the UK? don't mind if it's a bit pricey. Edited April 29, 2015 by wanksy 0 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Our Story
Stylish, colourful maternity activewear for happy, healthy mums
Cadenshae was created by Adam and Nikki, parents to 4 young kids, after Nikki realised there was a massive gap in the market for functional, stylish clothes for breastfeeding mothers. After the birth of their first daughter Caden in 2013, both parents were working as personal trainers when Nikki couldn't find any clothes that she could wear to work, work out in and also breastfeed her baby in. Keeping active, being healthy and feeling good was really important to both Adam and Nikki, so when Nikki felt she was being limited by her clothing, they set out to create a range that would not only help Nikki on her own breastfeeding journey but would also solve a problem for mothers worldwide. They first launched Cadenshae in 2015, just days after the birth of their second born girl Ryan. Since then Cadenshae has grown to be a global brand helping mums all around the world.
The freedom to feed your baby when and where they need it
Cadenshae's awesome range of colourful, stylish maternity activewear and sportswear allows you to be active and live your day-to-day life as a busy mum, whilst giving you the freedom to feed your baby when and where they need it. And let's face it, they often need it in the most public of places, at the most unpredictable of times. Wearing clothes that allow you to care for your baby, but also enable you to go walking with friends, join in with that yoga class or take part in mums and bubs gym classes just make your life so much easier. Better still, Cadenshae's nursing activewear is styled just like your pre-baby wardrobe.
As a mum, you deserve to look and feel your best!
At this time in your life you deserve to look great and feel special, and most of all, to wear clothes that allow you to be the best mum you can be. That's the ethos behind Cadenshae's maternity activewear range. Check it out and buy online now.Shop Now
"By starting Cadenshae, we wanted to provide mums with nursing activewear that inspires them to exercise and be happy, healthy, fit mums. Cadenshae achieves this by offering a range of colourful, stylish and functional nursing activewear that makes you want to move!"


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I have been practicing mindfulness lately and as I have been doing it, I have noticed things that I thought I enjoyed actually make me miserable. These include: Eating more than one piece of candy. Watching lots of YouTube videos. Procrastinating cleaning my house. Sitting and doing nothing. Not cooking for dinner. Binge watching Netflix… Continue reading some thoughts recently
Month: November 2018
Remembering others in hard times
There have been times when I think about all the hard things that are happening and I feel like I'm alone and abnormal and that so many other people have it better than I do. Of course, that's not true. Life is universally hard. We all go through very difficult things: childbirth is hard, death… Continue reading Remembering others in hard times
Keeping Calm
Today was an interesting day: when I came out of the shower, there was a strong smell in the air and my daughter was crying. I quickly found her along with half of a bottle of barbecue sauce on the kitchen counter. She was crying because she was covered in barbecue sauce and she kept… Continue reading Keeping Calm


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The 'Sitting Right With You' campaign features imagery of a yellow sofa accompanied by challenging messages to get people thinking differently about what domestic abuse is and encouraging victims to take that first step and ask for help.
One in three women and one in six men experience some form of domestic abuse, but it isn't only physical violence. Controlling what someone wears, their money, where they go, who they talk to is just as damaging and is abuse.
Messages including 'he checks my phone all the time', 'she has control over my bank accounts', and 'I can go out with friends when he says it's ok', encourage people to think and look differently about what makes a healthy relationship.
When people think of abuse, they imagine a kick or a punch, but often it's more complicated than that. Is it ok that someone's partner constantly belittles them, isolates them from family and friends, or threatens to take their children away?
Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: "Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families –tragically sometimes taking a life. With this campaign we want to empower people to take a hard look at their own or a loved one's relationship and, if it doesn't sit right with you, make that first step to get advice and support."
Assistant Chief Constable at GMP, Debbie Ford, said: "We work hard all year round tackling domestic abuse and raising awareness of the help that people can access for themselves or someone that they know. By challenging people's perceptions of domestic abuse and encouraging people to talk about it, like this campaign does, we hope to end the fear of domestic abuse.
"Over the last month we have renewed our commitment to tackling domestic abuse with Operation Scratch - a month of action aimed at finding people wanted for domestic abuse offences, educating people on coercive and controlling behaviour and encouraging people to come forward. As a result of this we arrested over 700 people over four weeks. This, along with the work that we do with partners, shows how seriously we take these horrific offences."
Lisa Clover, Centre Coordinator, Wythenshawe Safespots, said: "I'm really pleased to see such an innovative, eye catching campaign which pushes people to think about their own situations. This campaign will get people talking about domestic abuse, challenging people to reflect and recognise the signs of an unhealthy relationship. It is great to see the campaign is aimed at no particular gender, ethnicity, sexuality or background reinforcing that domestic abuse can happen to anyone."
The yellow sofa will be travelling around Greater Manchester over the next few weeks, encouraging local people to talk about domestic abuse and get help and support if they need it.
Follow the conversation at #SittingRightWithYou or visit www.sittingrightwithyou.co.uk to find out more.
If you or someone you care about has been affected by domestic abuse, contact the Greater Manchester domestic abuse helpline on 0161 636 7525.
© 1998 - 2020 Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. All rights reserved.


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Using the Project Manager
Using this community site
Version numbering
Video introduction to the editors
Video tutorials for artists
Welcome to your new project wiki
What is Torque?
What Is Torque Script
What to download
What's missing on this template site?
Where to get help
Wiki Side
World Editor
WorldCreator to Torque3D
Xbox 360 Controller Setup
Your First Project
Zero to Game


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Sophie Schemkermayr
FMP Title: Scaled Up – From Small to Big
Destination: AUB – BA (Hons) Model Making
What did you like about the course?
You get two years to explore and find out what you are good at on this course. It has enabled my to see art as a career, which I'd never thought of before – just drawing and painting changed my whole view on arts and what I originally thought it was.
What did you like about the AUB?
The campus is small and specialised so everything is so close – you can just pop into different areas and seek advice while you're working on your projects. The course also feels like one big family as well!


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Thanksgiving is a MASSIVE celebration in America – but so is Black Friday! After the Americans have spent the day with their family reflecting on their blessings, the next day they need to go out and buy more to be grateful for. Crazy sales and discounts are on in every store and we want to join the party!
To celebrate Black Friday, we're giving you 75% off your application fee! That's 75% off the usual $199 application fee – here's some reasons why you should sign up for Summer Camp USA:
The hardest job you'll ever love
Going to camp is a great time to test your ability to live away from home because you pretty much head straight to another family! Your food is cooked for you, which is usually deliciously American, and you don't have to worry about finding accommodation or even paying rent. You just have to work on being the best counsellor you can be.
The sweet life of a Camp Counsellor
A typical day in the life of a counsellor includes endless outdoor activities, enthusiastic little campers and honestly, just lots of fun. Whether you're at the waterfront, arts and crafts, tennis or some real-life American baseball – no two days are ever the same. The evenings are usually filled with talents shows, movie nights and even the odd smores session. It's all go, go, go!
Don't forget about all the travel!
On your visa, you are given 30 days to travel after camp. You can use this time to travel through the 50 states, each of which have their own character, cuisine and culture. They're all so different – they're like mini countries. You may start in the bright lights of NYC, head to the museums in Washington, meet some horses in Nashville and then blow what's left of your money in Vegas! Depending on where your camp is you may get to use your days off to go exploring as well.
Sign up and save BIG
The American camp directors have already started hiring people! We currently have loads people placed and ready to go for the June-September 2018 season. If you love the outdoors, children and fried chicken then you definitely need to get on our program. The sooner you sign up, the sooner our 1000's of summer camps can see your profile – these camps place counsellors from IEP every single year. Sign up now to score yourself the sweetest Christmas present – an endless summer filled with adventure!
Use the code 'blackfriday' and receive 75% off your application fee! This code expires on Sunday 26th November at midnight.


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Go To
Florida Job Source
Add Your Resume
12808 Gran Bay Pkwy, West
Jacksonville, FL 32258
Employees: 700
CEO: David Brown
Stock Symbol : WWWW
Career Site
Web.com is a leading provider of online marketing services for small businesses, offering a full suite of solutions that make it fast, easy and cost-effective to attract and convert new customers on the web. Web.com offers a full range of web services, including website design and publishing, online marketing and advertising, search engine optimization, lead generation and e-commerce solutions for every stage of the small business lifecycle. More than 15 million websites have been created with Web.com tools and services.
Hosting services start as low as $8.95 per month.
The company was formerly known as Interland, Inc. Since 1995, Web.com has been helping individuals and small businesses leverage the power of the Internet to build a web presence. and founded in 1995.
The company reported 275,000 web hosting customers at the end of 2009.
In 2009, the company reported revenue of $106.5 million, down from $120.1 million a year ago, and net income of $2.6 million.
- Health, dental and vision insurance
- Competitive 401K plan
- Life insurance
- College Tuition Assistance
- Paid sick and vacation time off
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Free Marta cards
- Short- and long-term disability
- Flexible spending accounts
- Employee Assistance Program
- Discounted health club membership
- Business-casual dress
- Bonus Program
- Performance Management/Reviews
Updated February 9, 2010


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From the very beginning of your life you have learned to accept challenges that would come to your way but what would you do when life itself has become the toughest challenge to you? It sounds little scary, but it is true when the curse of cancer would force one to fight for one's own life then it is only you who could hold their hand very tightly to win their battle for sure. You might be wondering that being a very simple human being with common capacity how you would help these cancer strugglers to defeat their disease with full of courage and strength? Living a good life is not all about living a long life. Instead of that life with full of happiness, satisfaction and lots of unforgettable memories would really complete your life in its true sense. And when it comes to the cancer patients then you could easily be a part of their journey by bringing the best smile of satisfaction on your face. You may think that how your smile and beauty would bring a relief to their pain? But it is absolutely possible with the phenomenal effort of Hiddenhollowbeads. In this platform you would get the best quality beads accessories to make you look stunning in any function or special moments. Yes, the Cancer awareness Bracelets are absolutely ready to give you the best look ever for sure in extremely reasonable budget.
While buying these beads item you have to remember that the more you would buy these products the more you could help the cancer strugglers. So, you should definitely open your arm to buy these cancer awareness bracelet kits or any other products as much as possible. Now to buy these items for any of your personal purposes you have to explore all the varieties of Hiddenhollowbeads and here you would get to experience all types of shades, sizes and shapes of these wide ranges of cancer awareness beads products in a very affordable budget. Instead of spending lots of money on any particular jewelry item it is always wise to buy the best quality metalized plastic beads or silver coated beads to give a traditional and royal look to any of your jewelry item. And since these beads are made of high quality fiber therefore it is low in price but exclusive in look. Along with these facilities these metalized plastic beads are not at all heavy in weight. So, it would be very easy for you to try any classic or contemporary design with these beads to get an appropriate look for any special occasion.
So, if you really love to experiment with your look then these cancer awareness beads would be the best items for you to explore your different look with a distinct appeal in a very limited budget. Here your one time investment in any beads product would help you to get multiple jewelry items by reusing these beads again and again.


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by MICHELLE DEE and WOO
Do you have holiday pet peeves? Aside from the term "pet peeve" itself, I mean? I'm sure we all do, and here we have decided to take note of a few for you. Perhaps you are one of the offenders. Please, take our advice, and correct your behaviors. We have a PhD In Christmas, after all.
1. Save the bow if you must, but wrapping paper is meant to be ripped open. Don't sit there and have a 20 minute conversation with everyone waiting while you try to pry off the scotch tape. Seriously Grandma, this one is for you. Stop denying it now!
2. Always bring the hostess a gift, but not cheese balls/logs. If everyone brings cheese balls the rest will go spoiled before the first one is ever used. I think we all can relate to spoiled cheesy balls. Oh yes you can, go take a shower! How about your bring Wine instead. Wine is better with age, and your family is more acceptable when you're sloshed.
3. The War on Christmas. Go ahead and say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. But don't be a D-Bag, if you say it to anyone of an alternate faith it must be immediately be followed with their appropriate greeting. If your cousin brings her Kwanzaa celebrating boyfriend, offer him a 40 oz. and a high five. When your Irish Catholic uncle shows up, be sure to have a tumbler of Scotch at the ready. Have a plate of bagels at the ready for the Jewish office-mate you invited over.
4. Get a standard box for your gift or use a gift bag for the harder to wrap ones. Don't be the Twat-minded dipshit in the corner calling out "it's not really an alarm clock open the box, hahahahaha." You cheap, cheap asshat.
5. Christmas Sweaters. It's a sweater, with a battery pack inside of it, and it's playing Christmas music and has flashing lights all over it. We grew tired of the Christmas music 2.674 days after Thanksgiving. You are wearing a garment that is wired for sound and lights, and you don't think this is tacky? We hope you catch on fire, you blinky fuck!
6. Christmas decorations as gifts. Thanks for getting me this novelty piece of shit you thought of at the last second while picking up your prescriptions at Walgreens. I'll cherish it, I really will. But not until next year, when I re-gift it to someone I hate.
7. Portraits as gifts. If I only interact with you on Thanksgiving and Christmas, why would I want a photo of you? Or, worse yet, why would I want photos of your hell-spawn children? Seriously, save these for your mom.
8. The kids table should be for kids. You're kid is 15, has black hair, black clothes, is Emo as can be, and wants nothing to do with you. Things like putting him with the 4 and 6 year olds on Holidays are what lead to this. Once your kids are 13, put them with the grown-ups. Besides, we don't want our 5 year olds thinking nose and eye brow rings are something to aspire to.
9. Inconsistent outdoor lighting. The Santa and Sleigh on the roof of the stable which holds your nativity is tacky enough. But when you have blinking lights on one side of your house, rainbows of colours in the middle, and all blue and white on the other end, you really need to get bitch-slapped. I don't want to look at a house that looks like God vomited stained-glass window onto it.
10. Mistletoe and family events. Don't hang mistletoe at family events, unless you live in a double wide in the backwoods of Alabama. Your kids probably want to smooch up on their cousins as it is, remove the temptation.
11. Think when choosing a Santa to pass out the gifts. Make sure the gift passer-outer knows the extended members of the family. It's not cute to make it the 4 year-old who doesn't know who Second Cousin Connie's Boyfriends Brothers Girlfriend is. While we're all smiling and feigning our holiday joy, we really want to get this over with.
12. Dinner conversation should not involve medical history. We don't want to know about your hernia Uncle Dave-Bob. Grandma Ramona, we don't want to know anything that has to do with your colostomy bag. The food isn't as great as you think it is anyway, let alone with images of your hershey-sack in our minds.


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No one likes to put screw holes in their fine woodwork. In many cases this can be avoided by using our clamps. These solid wood clamps will work with round posts to ensure proper and secure mounting of our gates. Post sizes must be 3 3/4" or smaller in width. Sold separately from gates.
PLEASE NOTE: You will always need two clamps per side of the gate.


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About Select Traveler Club
This program was designed to reward our most loyal sleep travelers — those of you who stay with us on a regular basis. We truly appreciate your loyalty, and want to make each of your stays even more rewarding!
As a Select Traveler, you will receive:
- Free Nights – Present your card at check-out to receive one reward credit for each night you've stayed. Stay 8 nights and your 9th night is free at the Select Inn of your choice!
- Special Rates – $$ off published rates at participating locations.
- Special Late Hour Reservation Privileges – As a Select Traveler, your room will be held until 8:00 PM upon request. If you plan to arrive after 8:00 PM, simply call to guarantee your room to your Select Traveler number–no need to give out your credit card number over the phone.
- Check Cashing Privileges – We'll be happy to cash your personal check up to $30.00, subject to cash availability.
- Family Benefits – Spouse and children stay free in Club Member's room.
- Special Offers & More – As a Club Member, you'll be eligible to receive additional offers and discounts available only to Select Travelers. Also, we set aside a limited number of rooms especially for Select Travelers during special events and convention periods.
Select Senior Club
Senior Club member.
If you're 55 years of age or over we invite you to enjoy the exclusive advantages of the Select Premium Rooms Club. Club members receive a 25% discount on any premium room, or a 15% discount on any regular room. These are discounts off our already low room rates! You have a choice… relax in a regular guest room or a specially appointed Premium Room equipped with:
- Main level locations for easy access.
- In-room coffee makers.
- Large button phones with volume control.
- Large display alarm clocks.
- Closed captioned 25″ TV.
Select Business Card Program
As a Select Business Cardholder you will receive the best in service, value, and convenience, plus these special cardholder benefits.
Business Discount-
- Your Select Business Card entitles you to a 10% discount off any room type.
Express Reservations-
- Access reservations through our toll-free number (1-800-641-1000) or direct to one of our hotels. A limited number of rooms are set aside for Select Business Cardholders during peak occupancy periods.
Direct Billing-
- An itemized invoice will be sent to your company each month.
Express Check-In-
- Registration is simple when you make your reservation in advance. We will hold your room until 8:00 PM or you can guarantee it to your Select Business Card.
Emergency Check Cashing-
- This privilege is extended to our Select Business Cardholders whenever possible.
How Do I join?
To receive your personalized Select Traveler or Select Senior Club membership card and be eligible to receive information on additional offers…
- Follow the above directions to become a member online, or..
- Contact us by email and ask that an application be sent to you. Or…
- Pick up an application at your nearest Select Inn.
- Complete the application and turn it in at the front desk or send it to us at our expense. That's all there is to it! You'll soon be enjoying an even greater value when you stay at Select Inn!


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August 7 2018
French Influence
1276 N Shorecliff Ln Mequon [map]
5 Bdrm / 6 Full & 2 Half Bath
Karine Sewart
First Weber
This five-bedroom, 9000+ square foot home was just listed in eastern Mequon by Karine Sewart of First Weber.
The location is 1.5 acres on Shorecliff Lane in eastern Mequon. This is just north of Mequon Road and not far from the Mequon Road/Port Road intersection.
We adore this one. It's a new construction, built in 2015. Many of the homes in this part of Mequon are newly built and this might be our favorite of the bunch. The style looks very French and the exterior was made with "imported Bulgarian limestone", according to the listing. Inside, there's a huge great room-kitchen, which looks amazing (picture below). Also, we love all the fun spaces in this home - like the upstairs crafts room and the basement "rec room".
Tons of photos and more details via the 'link to listing' below.


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Facility Management
Royal is one of the first real estate companies in New Cairo who started providing integrated property facility services. In that sense, our work is not limited to just delivering (selling) units. Meanwhile, we always follow up with our customers to find comprehensive solutions for their problems to win their satisfaction and credibility as we promised. That's why we made upgrades in our facility management system regarding the following property facility services:


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Happy New Year 2020!
Happy New Year and New Decade!
We love to take a minute after the holidays and festivities settle, to reflect on all the wonderful things we accomplished in 2019. It was such an amazing year for us here at Cape Cod Celebrations and once again we cannot express how grateful we are for the support and love we receive from friends, family and vendors in the industry.
Here is a look back at some of the fabulous things that happened in 2019!
Back in 2017 we started a "Cape Cod Couples Tell All" series with Scott and Leonora and continued it last year with Annie and Brian. This year we are kicking it back in to gear with Courtney & Caleb who were married April 18, 2015 at Chatham Bars Inn - 4 years ago!
Cape Cod
1. What made you choose Cape Cod for your wedding?
Beautiful setting and a special connection to the venue, itself.
2. Why would you tell future brides and grooms to get married on Cape Cod?
Cape Cod is absolutely gorgeous and serene at any time of year. Even in the heart of winter, you cannot beat the breathtaking views of the ocean and the cool crisp air. We were married in early spring to avoid the summer crowds and the weather on our wedding day was absolutely perfect, 60 degrees and sunny with the bluest sky. We couldn't have asked for more.
Your Wedding!
1. In three words, how would you describe your wedding?
Whimsical, entertaining, intimate.
2. Was your wedding exactly what you had envisioned?
Perfect! Exceeded our expectations.
3. What was your biggest concern in planning your wedding?
Trying to keep the day true to our identities.
4. What was your favorite part of the planning process? What was the most difficult part?The food tasting! And getting to know all of our vendors well. Really can't think of any difficulties. A true testament to how easy Jamie made the process for us! She did most of the hard work!
5. What was your favorite part of the wedding?
The ceremony, the food, the ambiance, the food, the reception, the food. Did I mention the food? Honestly, everything from start to finish. Being able to relax on our wedding day knowing Jamie was handling everything behind the scenes. We were able to truly enjoy the day with nothing on our minds but each other.
6. Looking back, would you change anything about your wedding? If so, what and why?
Not a thing!
7. Who was your favorite vendor?
CBI! They executed the most amazing menu for the day.
8. What do you think your guests would say their favorite part of your wedding was?
Overall, how unique it was. Specifically, the food, the photo booth, and all the dancing at the reception.
9. How would you title your wedding? (e.g. The wedding with the best food and dancing!)
Best wedding ever!
Wedding Planner
1. Why did you decide to hire a wedding planner?
To make the process easier and less time-consuming and to get guidance on local vendors.
2. How did having a planner contribute to the success of your wedding?
It contributed immensely! We needed Jamie's firsthand knowledge of the venue and her experience with all of the vendors. She was able to guide us in the right direction based on our personal style and vision. Also, just offering the simple tip of how to stand with each other during our ceremony was so helpful!
3. For upcoming brides, why do you think it is important for them to consider hiring a planner?
It'll save so much time during the process as you'll have to devote less energy to researching venues and vendors.
4. What was it like working with a planner? What was your overall experience like?
Wonderful! We had the best time working with Jamie! She truly respected our vision for the day and guided us in the right direction to make sure our wedding felt unique and personal. She "got" us.
5. Why would you recommend Cape Cod Celebrations over other companies?
You'll get such an individualized experience, Jamie will truly make you feel like you're her only client.
Wedding Advice
1. What advice would you give other brides about planning a wedding?
Get as much help as you can, otherwise it can be so overwhelming. Just remember the day is ultimately about you and your partner and as long as you are staying true to yourselves, your wedding will be perfect!
2. What was most helpful to you in the planning process?
Jamie's knowledge and attentiveness.
3. What do you wish you would have known before planning your wedding?
How easy it could be with help!
The Future
1. What do you think will be the next big trend for weddings? What do you think weddings will be like 20 years from now?
I think weddings will become more personalized over time. You'll see more weddings reflecting what couples want to do and less what they feel like they have to do. There won't be as much of a wedding "script" and couples will feel more free to design their day based on their own personal identities.
2. How's married life!?
It is amazing! We've had such a blissful 4-years of marriage and have been back to the Cape for 2 anniversaries/baby moons since our wedding and really got to relive the magical moments of our wedding day on both occasions. We feel so lucky to have had such a special and personalized wedding and owe so much to Jamie for making it all happen!
Wedding Planner - Jamie at Cape Cod Celebrations
Photographer - Organic Photography
Florist - Lilacs
Venue - Chatham Bars Inn Beach House Grill
Hair & Makeup - Lisa George
Band - Murray Hill Talent
Rentals - Be Our Guest (now Peak Event Services)
Stationery - Lucky Luxe
We were recently asked to share our thoughts on the "unplugged ceremony" for a recent blog post from our friend Christine of Salty Broad Studios. Talking about social media and the wedding ceremony and getting ready for the first weddings of the season in a couple of months got us thinking it's no better time to talk about social media on the wedding day. Here are tips for maneuvering the "etiquette of digital" when you are a guest at your friend or family member's wedding.
1. Pick Up THE CUES:
2. Remember FOMO IS REAL:
Consider guests who may not be able to attend the wedding due to any number of reasons. Some couples are up against room maximums or budget constraints and may not be able to invite everyone they would like to their wedding day. Keeping details like venue and time under wraps, is a good way to help your friends out and be sensitive to those who may not be able to attend.
3. Wedding Planning has it covered:
Keep in mind the wedding couple have most likely been planning for a long time. Many couples put a lot of thought into who will be their photographer and videographer for the day of. The professionals do their best to capture all of the moments the couple wants on the day of as beautifully as possible. Look out for the professional vendors especially during the wedding ceremony, it's sometimes hard to work around your cellular device in the ceremony aisle or grand exit!
Love live streaming every moment of your day? Maybe take a minute and step away from the device and take in all of the details the wedding couple has created for your guest experience. Also, your friends may want to be the first ones to share live moments of the wedding day or pick and choose which moments from the wedding they want to share. #latergram is a thing and we're all about it!
5. Make it nice:
The lighting is off, the picture is blurry? Keep those images for yourself. Be just as selective as you would be on your wedding day when choosing images to share, the wedding couple will thank you for it!
Still not sure?
Cape Cod Cocktail Hour
Your cocktail hour at your wedding is the kick off to your celebration, so we want to take some time today to discuss this hour of fun and how you can best use the time and the space during these 60 (or 90) minutes.
how long should it be?
Most cocktail hours are an hour, obviously, but from time to time, if the time line allows, we recommend extended cocktail hours with a max of an hour and a half. Extended cocktail hours work best when you plan to take all of your photos after your ceremony and when your cocktail hour is immediately following. This allows for more time for photos and almost guarantees that you and your wedding party can join the tail end of cocktail hour. Last year we also had cocktail hours that took place before the ceremony (gasp!) where the couple mingled with the guests before saying "I Do".
DEcor & Signage
Enhancing your cocktail hour with fun signage, furniture and decor is always a great idea! Here is a short list of items that you could incorporate in to your cocktail hour:
Photos - Do we Have to Miss Cocktail Hour?
If you are dead set on getting to your cocktail hour, we recommend one of two options for your time line. Either plan to do a first look and take all of your photos before the ceremony, or plan to allow for a 1.5 hour cocktail "hour". With the first look, you not only get the chance to see your fiancé privately before the day gets crazy, but you also get to have all of your photos done before the ceremony, which means more cocktail hour for you! If you want to keep the surprise factor until you walk down the aisle, then plan to have an hour and a half cocktail hour so that you can take photos for the first hour and join the last 30 minutes of cocktails. On the fence about a first look, check our our blog post about "First Look VS Down the Aisle" to help you decide.
Earlier this month we explored exciting surprises to add to your wedding plans and leave your guests saying, "wow." If you missed it, check out the blog here!
In wedding planning we focus on the guest experience but, some of our favorite surprises are the personal surprises between bride & groom. We love when the couple takes a little extra time to find an extra special way to say I love you on the wedding day.
Here are some ideas that might inspire you to surprise your other half!
Something that "Blings"
Something Edible
Something Sentimental
There are so many directions a couple can follow to add a sentimental surprise to their wedding day. Pass heartfelt letters to each other, take a moment alone during the wedding. We loved the story of the groom who flew in his bride's childhood friend who wouldn't have been able to make the wedding. One groom who travels often for work monogrammed their favorite quote into a keepsake for his bride to have whenever he was away.
Something Fun!
Hire a skywriter over your cocktail hour. Perform his or her favorite song at the wedding. Bring in your college mascots. Or pimp out your room for the evening of the wedding with all of your favorite drinks and snacks. Show off your personality. A little extra effort will mean so much to your soon to be wife or husband!
Everyone is looking for ways to wow their guests at their wedding, so we have come up with a few fun ideas that may add an element of fun and surprise to your day! Have a special surprise you are planning? Share it with us!
Who doesn't like fireworks?!? Fireworks are a great way to end a very special day and it is always a great element of surprise. The tricky thing about fireworks on Cape Cod is the time of year and location, not to mention the cost. We typically work with Atlas, based in NH, and they can set off displays from barges or the beach depending on the requirements of the town.
Everyone also loves delicious and fun food! Why not surprise your guests with a sneaky treat during the wedding? We have seen ice cream trucks drive up at the end of the wedding while guests are leaving - Choco Taco anyone? - and Ben and Jerry's come with an ice cream sundae bar. Yum!
Want to keep the fun during the wedding? Rent a cotton candy machine or snow cone maker for your guests to enjoy - just check with your caterer or venue first to make sure they can man it for you!
Late night snacks for the dance floor are always a hit - but have fun with it! Change it up with donuts, mini milk shakes and cookies, mini ice cream cones or go savory with cones of fries, tater tots or mini lobster rolls! Your guests will thank you!
Beverages are also a fun way to add an element of surprise to your day! At cocktail hour, consider a specialty bar where guests can make their own version of your favorite alcohol - think prosecco bar, gin bar or whiskey bar. If you love beer, feature a beer bar of local favorites - we have so many great breweries on Cape Cod! Or after dinner, open up a coffee bar where guests can add in their favorite liquor.
Other Ideas!
Once the dance floor opens there are great ways to surprise your guests with more fun! If you or your groom love cigars, consider hiring a cigar roller to come to the event and roll fresh cigars for everyone to enjoy or take home. After kicking off the next big step in your future, think about a twist and feature a tarot card reader for your guests to see what their future may have in store!
For your after party, think of fun ways to surprise your guests with pops of WOW like a light up dance floor, gambling tables or karaoke! Think of ways to make your after party a totally different feel than the wedding so walking into the space will be like they just entered a whole new party.
There are so many other new and fun ideas of ways to surprise your guests, just think outside the box and bring in elements that you may not have even considered for your wedding day!
One of the best things about planning a wedding is putting together an event that really reflects you and your soon-to-be other half! A tented wedding can be the perfect way to show off your style and tailor the details of your big day to you and your beau. You may have your childhood home, the place you first met, or the place you used to summer vacation that stays with you both and you cannot think of another place that would have all the pieces you love and mean so much to you both...so, let's have a tented wedding!! We have put together a few tips to making sure that tent in the backyard is really the way to go.
1. Space-
Creating a venue for your guests can be a lot of fun and comfort is key. The bigger your guest list, the more space you will need. Don't stop at just square footage but also consider the geography of your space. Is it flat? What's underground? A tenting company can come to your site and give you an idea of what can be safely be done at your location.
2. Power-
Lights, band or DJ, cooking, restrooms, all of these items require a power source. If there is not power near your venue, generators are available through most tent companies but keep your budget in mind. Many weddings can be done on the power from a home or structure on property but, if it's an older home or you have a 10 piece band, it may not be sufficient.
3. Restrooms-
Your wedding is a 5 or 6 hour event with the bar open and drinks flowing. If there is a house on site, it may be equipped for your event. Many times, you will have to bring facilities in. We usually recommend portable bathrooms for parties over 50 people. Anyone remember, Meet the Parents?
4. Police-
Many towns and villages (on Cape Cod especially) have strict sound ordinances. Give your local police station a call and inquire about their sounds rules. Better to know that to get a visit on your wedding day! If you are near the water, you may also want to consider the town across the water from you. Sounds travels!
5. Neighbors-
No matter the time of day, those who live near you can also bring a halt to your event. Before you get too far into your wedding plans, check in with your neighbor. They'll appreciate that you considered them!
6. Parking-
Some of the most beautiful locations are down tight roads or on highly populated streets. Whether you shuttle from a nearby location, or provide a valet, keep in mind roads should remain clear.
7. Weather-
Whether you are having all of the parts of your wedding in the same location or just cocktail & reception, weather is a factor. Have a Plan B & sometimes even a Plan C for where your guests will go if it's raining or windy. And rain isn't the only things to consider, the heat and sun can affect your guests as well.
8. General Impact-
If you are using your neighbor's or even a rental home's manicured lawn, keep in mind there are tables, chairs, dance floor & tent being built on those beautiful grounds. They can have an impact. Always make sure the owners of your site understand the scope of your event.
9. Budget-
Tented weddings can allow for incredible freedom in your wedding planning. You can get creative and really customize your wedding to your vision. While there may be ways to save by purchasing your own alcohol and creating your decor, etc., remember you are creating your venue from scratch. The cost can add up quickly if you haven't created a budget for yourself.
10. Insurance-
A private, tented location can be very intimate and comfortable. You and your guests create some amazing memories in this relaxed, outdoor atmosphere. Lots of pieces go into making a great tented wedding, make sure you're covered for the unforeseen. Peace of mind is worth it!
-written by our Senior Planner Stephanie
Let's talk about getting married!
You are newly engaged! You have a new accessory that you cannot stop staring at. You've told your family, friends, Facebook… you are on cloud nine! This is one of the most exciting times of your life. You are taking the next steps with that person who's the one. Now what's on your checklist? First step, picking a date, booking your venue, then booking your wedding planner :)
Full steam ahead with wedding planning! It's so easy to get lost in the whirlwind of the amazing experience of being engaged and planning what some consider the best day of their lives. We want it to be the best day of your lives but, take a beat. Take a breath. Remember that marriage is a commitment for hopefully the rest of your lives together.
While more and more weddings are non-traditional (not in a church), it's easy to get swept up in the planning and skip a step that can solidify WHY you are getting married in the first place. Premarital counseling may seem like a thing of the past for many, but you are planning a huge life event, and we recommend at least having a conversation with your fiance about life and where it will take you. These questions may help you ease into the conversation...
Take a weekend... Take a trip together... Have the conversation… Then back to the world of planning… We'll see you there!
- written by our Senior Planner Stephanie
Cape Cod Wedding - The First Dance
Some couples look forward to it, and some couples just want it to be over, but the first dance is a really beautiful moment for the couple and for the guests at any wedding. When it comes to planning your first dance we have a couple of recommendations to get it done and get it done right, even if you are deathly afraid of dancing in front of a crowd!
We normally recommend that the first dance is done right after cocktail hour once guests are seating in the tent. If you choose to do introductions of your bridal party or just the bride and groom, right after that announcement is the perfect time to share your dance with everyone and then enjoy your dinner. Some couples choose to save the first dance for after dinner, which is also acceptable.
Just because your first dance song is six minutes long doesn't mean that the band or DJ has to play the whole song for you. Talk with your band and/or DJ and let them know how long you want the song to be and when a good time would be to fade it out. If you do want to dance to the whole song, think about inviting your bridal party or other guests to the dance floor half way through the song so that you don't lose everyone's attention.
Song Selection
When you start thinking about your first dance song, compile a list of songs that remind you of each other or songs that have really played a role in your relationship. Then sit down and play all of the songs you came up with and do a "First Dance Test". If you can't really dance to the song then it makes it easier to take that one off the list and move on to another one. Now, not all dance songs have to be slow songs! I have seen many couples dance to songs that are more upbeat like Hall and Oates "You Make My Dreams Come True".
Dance Lessons
While I think dance lessons are a great idea for couples to get down the basics for their first dance, I am not an advocate for a choreographed first dance. The main reason for this is that when you are sharing your first dance with your new spouse, you want to be focusing on him/her and the moment you are in, instead of thinking about the dance steps and what one you may forget. If you want to do a fun, choreographed song, save it for later in the night and have it be a surprise with less pressure!
Cape Cod Wedding Favors
A lot of my clients get hung up on favor ideas, so I thought I would share with you some ideas that I typically share with my clients. Now there are a ton more ideas out there that you can definitely consider, but the following suggestions are ones that I know have gone over well at weddings.
First, some basic favor requirements.
Make it Edible
Edible favors are my person favorite. There are lots of ideas that you can do here locally or from your home town. We have done a lot of chocolates from the Chatham Candy Manor or other local candy shops and we have also seen some really unique edible ideas from our client's home town like maple syrup and hot sauce! Another fun and popular edible idea is a candy station! Let your guests choose from multiple candies - whether they are your favorites or just fit your color scheme, guests love filling their bags with candy! With these edible options, your guests will either eat it there that night or will be so happy when they get home to snack on it before bed!
Keep Their Beer Cold!
Koozies are also another very popular favor. You can find all sorts of clever sayings on etsy or pinterest like - "To have and to hold and to keep your beer cold" or "Let Love Brew". If you're not big beer drinkers or are going to be serving beers in pint glasses then I probably would not recommend this. Typically these are handed out at the bar with beers and are also in a basket for guests to take them.
Double as the Escort Card
One great way to ensure your guests get their favor is to attach it to their escort card! In order to find where they are seated they will have to pick up their name with their favor attached. We have see these attached to compasses, starfish, jars of cape cod bath salts, keys and more!
If a favor really isn't your thing, then consider doing a donation of some sort to a cause that means a lot to you and your fiancee. You may have had a friend or relative pass who you would like to honor with a donation. I recommend putting this information on the menu or thank you card at the tables so that your guests know you made this donation on their behalf. Another cool donation type favor I have seen was the replacement of their guest's carbon footprint to get to their wedding, which was a really unique idea and also helps the planet!
Plan. Relax. Enjoy.
At Cape Cod Celebrations, your vision is our brand. Learn more about how we can help you pull together your beautiful Cape Cod Wedding.
February 2020


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Moving business forward with SAP S/4HANA
Today's business thrives on evolution, from products to services, to the technology that drives both. And if your business isn't moving forward, it might as well be moving in reverse. This means your organization must carefully and critically evaluate the technology you depend on. If the technology that supports your operations is either: Legacy Dependent […]
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