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Aprilia Caponord Rally
NTB Racing in Hamilton, the centre of Aprilia excellence in the Waikato!
Possibly the largest range of Aprilia's in NZ!
Always a number of demonstrators available, please call for availability.
Superb workshop, experienced mechanics, get the best from your Aprilia!
Aprilia introduces a new version of the already popular and super technological Caponord 1200 that breaks down the boundaries of paved roads to become even more transversal and suitable for any trip.
Caponord Rally originates from the technical expertise of Aprilia, who reconfirmed its leadership in 2014 as a unique and victorious Italian brand, taking both world championship titles in the World Superbike, increasing the number of wreaths in the Manufacturer from Noale's collection to 54. A challenge that doubles in 2015 with Aprilia's commitment to both MotoGP and WSBK.
New spoked rims with 19" on the front, new hard panniers, new engine guards, supplementary LED lights. The new Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is more eclectic, more protective, more comfortable, super equipped. The high performance of the twin-cylinder is a perfect match for the exceptional chassis features typical of all Aprilia bikes as well as the technological content such as ADD, the patented semi-active suspension system that automatically adapts calibration based on road surface and riding style.
Interaction between the rider and his or her mount is further guaranteed by the A-MP system which interfaces with the smartphone world, an area where Aprilia and the Piaggio Group are on the absolute cutting edge.
After introducing the Caponord 1200, the perfect crossover for any type of road use, at the top of its category for technical content and chassis quality, Aprilia offers a version capable of pushing beyond the limits of paved roads, where travel turns into adventure. Introducing the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally, a splendid representative of the global bike, just as suited for daily commutes as for fun and long range touring, not only on asphalt.
Caponord Rally originates from the technical expertise of Aprilia, who reconfirmed its leadership in 2014 as a unique and victorious Italian brand, taking both world championship titles in the World Superbike championship, increasing the number of wreaths in the Manufacturer from Noale's collection to 54. A challenge that doubles in 2015 with Aprilia's commitment to both MotoGP and WSBK.
The names "Caponord" and "Rally" are evocative for Aprilia: the first was introduced in 2001 with the ETV 1000 Caponord, patriarch of an advanced interpretation of the street enduro concept, boasting distinctive elements such as the dual beam chassis in aluminium and the 998 cc 98 HP twin cylinder engine, both clearly sports derivations. Aprilia has historically associated the term "Rally" with the most adventurous and offroad models (including the 2002 ETV 1000 Caponord Rally Raid), bikes dedicated to travel in its purest and most savage connotation, ready to take on any type of terrain.
Then, like now, Aprilia's motorcycle technology was top shelf: the proverbial ability to build exceptional chassis is joined by exclusive expertise in electronics, thanks to the experience gained in top level racings, which has always been at the centre of research and development of Aprilia solutions which are then used in factory models. Ride-by-Wire, ABS, ATC, ACC and ADD are the active electronic control systems for safety and riding pleasure that Aprilia has fine tuned for the Caponord 1200 Rally, combined with a modern and technological V2 powerplant with top notch torque and power characteristics as well as a standard-setting chassis architecture.
In introducing the new Caponord 1200 Rally, Aprilia's main focus was to offer an exceptional package of standard equipment. The Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally standard equipment includes:
Electronic Ride-by-Wire accelerator with triple maps (Sport, Touring and Rain) that can be selected by the rider
Two-channel ABS (can be disabled)
ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) adjustable to three levels (can be switched off)
ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping), a system capable of "reading" the road, recognising the rider's riding style and automatically adjusting the suspension set up
ACC (Aprilia Cruise Control)
Pair of new panniers covered in aluminium
Adjustable oversized windshield
Hand guards
Tubular side guards and engine guard
Pair of supplementary LED lights
Spoked wheels with 120/70R19 (front) and 170/60R17 (rear) tyres
The bike
Aprilia introduces the definitive bike, perfect for any occasion, the new point of reference for form and function, where the personality so typical of Italian design is combined with a sleek body. Like every Aprilia, its sportiness shines through clearly in the main stylistic traits, immediately noticeable in the triple headlight, by now the distinctive mark on all late model Aprilia bikes. The overall shapes were drafted during the numerous wind tunnel sessions which led to finding a perfect balance between a highly compact form, optimum aerodynamic penetration and excellent protection from the wind. Guaranteeing maximum comfort for rider and passenger are the new oversized windshield which can be easily adjusted in height, the hand guards and the particular profiles of the sides, designed for minimum protrusion but protective at the same time. The adventurous style of the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is completed by the new metallic tubular side guards and the brand new guard under the engine. The pair of supplementary LED lights is also new, contributing to an increase in riding safety, especially in low visibility conditions.
One of the most important aspects for a bike dedicated to accompanying riders on the longest and most demanding trips is the riding position. Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally provides riders of any height with an erect and relaxed position, the result of specific ergonomics studies in search of a dominant position that would not be tiring during long trips with perfect control over the bike and a sporty ride on road and in light offroad riding, even upright. The saddle has a particularly comfortable cushion and is just 840 mm off the ground, giving the rider total control over the vehicle when stopped. A lowered saddle is also available as an accessory to further reduce the distance from the ground. The passenger accommodations were also given particular attention: the portion of the saddle, large and flat, is separate from the rider's seat and shaped in such a way that prevents sliding forward, guaranteeing optimum comfort in any riding situation, while the ergonomic grab handles provide a firm and comfortable grip. "Rotational" technology allowed a thin walled nylon tank to be realised with great freedom of shape, favouring a reduction in weight. This way the lateral dimensions were reduced to a minimum and cater to the perfect leg position for the rider. The 24 litre capacity guarantees long range travel with a full tank.
The design of the Caponord 1200 is completed by its new side panniers, elegantly covered in aluminium and each with a 33 litre cargo capacity. Once mounted, the lateral dimensions are very contained; this result also contributes to the adoption of an exhaust system with a low mounted silencer. The panniers practically adhere to the profile of the tail fairing (total dimensions are only 920 mm) and do not create a nuisance for the passenger, making for an easy climb on board and a comfortable ride. If the panniers are not fitted, the silencer is height adjustable, giving the vehicle a more aggressive look and increasing ground clearance in turns.
Chassis architecture
The layout of the frame is a mixed structure, made up of a trellis in high resistance steel tubes connected to a pair of die cast aluminium plates. This exclusive and well tested configuration allows a perfect balance of weights to be achieved, as well as optimum torsional and longitudinal rigidity values, characteristics that give the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally standard-setting qualities for handling and stability at high speed. The new steel rear subframe ensures extreme solidity for trips with a full load, while the lateral positioning of the shock absorber, which connects the frame to the aluminium swingarm, is useful for providing the right amount of space for the exhaust manifold, leaving the unit far from heat sources in a position which favours any adjustments that may be required. The new spoked wheels – with 19 inches on the front – shod with versatile tyres suited for any terrain that bring any destination within reach, no matter what type of road surface you need to tackle.
Making the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally even more versatile is the sophisticated ADD semi-active suspension system (covered by four patents), capable of detecting the rider's riding style, the amount of cargo loaded and the road surface conditions to adapt the set up automatically and in real time. This is an exclusive patented by Aprilia and based on its extensive experience in the field of electronic solutions that the brand from Noale has gained by winning top level competitions like the Superbike championship where Aprilia has been crowned world champion seven times in five years and the current title holder in both the manufacturer and rider championships.
On the front the Brembo braking system provides a pair of floating 320 mm steel discs and monoblock callipers with 4 pistons and radial connection. The rear mounts a single piston floating calliper that grips a 240 mm disc. An advanced two-channel ABS system which can be disengaged completes the standard equipment.
The use of a 19" front wheel required a general revamping of the chassis with changes made to the offset and new suspension calibrations compared to the Aprilia Caponord 1200. This means that the new Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is extremely precise in turns, holding the line perfectly, and extremely stable at high speeds.
The Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is powered by the latest evolution of the Aprilia V-twin already successfully installed in the Caponord 1200. The Italian V-twin cylinder boasts extremely advanced construction technology and a careful study of internal fluid dynamics aimed at improving combustion, decreasing friction and maximising performance.
The 1200cc Caponord Rally engine benefits from a series of improvements and refinements in terms of settings, timing and electronic control. The natural developments of this twin which have taken place over time allow more progressive and responsive power output to be obtained even at low engine speeds (to the advantage of comfort) as well as enhancing riding pleasure thanks to high torque values, at the same time improving fuel economy.
The general specifications of the Caponord 1200 Rally engine are:
Twin cylinder 90° V;
Performance: max power 125 HP at 8,000 rpm; max torque 11.7 kgm at 6,800 rpm;
Triple map Ride-by-Wire technology (Sport, Touring, Rain);
Highly oversquare bore/stroke ratio which is highlighted by the sport attitude and increases the amount of power generated from a low RPM;
Double overhead camshafts driven by a mixed chain/gear valve timing system and four valves per cylinder;
Twin spark ignition for fluid and full power output;
Speed density type electronic fuel injection with two throttle bodies and double multi-hole injectors for each throttle body;
Stick-coils integrated in spark plug boots;
Three-way catalytic converter with double oxygen sensor;
Hydraulically operated clutch;
New resonator at the exhaust to improve the torque curve, especially in the engine mid-range.
A child of the experience Aprilia has gained in racing, which has resulted in an amazing 54 world titles in just a few years, the ultra compact twin cylinder from Noale is a work of Italian art even from an aesthetics point of view. Credit for this goes to the great efforts of the engineers in imagining an ultra modern engine where the data transportation system travels through a CAN line which has the benefit of decreasing the amount of electrical cables needed. The 690W current generator is capable of powering the various electrical accessories in the rich options catalogue without any problems.
Aprilia was the first to believe in Ride-by-Wire, the electronic accelerator and the result of a sophisticated technology introduced for the first time in the sport motorcycle world in 2002 with RS Cube and on factory bikes as early as 2007 with the Shiver 750. The efficacy and reliability of this system have been taken to new heights on the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally. The RbW system dialogues perfectly with the engine ECU, managing the power in the best possible way at each point of the power output arc in order to have jerk-free manageability at low RPM, extreme responsiveness at medium RPM and exemplary spurts at high RPM. An efficient engine also provides the indisputable advantage of optimising fuel economy.
The triple mapping (Rain, Touring and Sport) that the rider can even select while riding, lets you have a bike with three distinct personalities, capable of instantly adapting to any possible condition and preference. All the rider needs to do is close the throttle and press a button to choose the desired setting.
SPORT: maximum performance with responsive and direct power output, to satisfy a sporty riding style.
TOURING: the maximum power expressed is the same as the Sport mapping, but output becomes more fluid and suitable for daily riding or touring.
RAIN: power is limited to 100 HP in order to guarantee maximum control and safety in conditions of poor grip.
ABS and traction control (ATC) (which can both be disabled) are included as standard equipment on the Caponord 1200 Rally. The two channel ABS system is specifically calibrated for the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally version. The particularly fine calibration allows the rider to make the most of chassis potential in sport riding, without ever being invasive, even in the most intense braking operations, whilst still guaranteeing maximum safety on slippery surfaces. ATC (Aprilia Traction Control) is the exclusive patented traction control system derived from the Aprilia Performance Ride Control (aPRC) system on the extraordinary RSV4, designed and fine tuned by Aprilia to get maximum grip out of any type of surface, able to provide the rider with great riding confidence, simultaneously increasing safety. The 3 control settings, specifically calibrated for the demands of the Aprilia Caponord 1200, can be adjusted based on different riding styles and asphalt conditions:
Level 1: for a pure sport riding experience, intended for good fun.
Level 2: suitable for the city and touring and in general to manage the engine's performance on any route.
Level 3: ideal for safety taking on difficult situations such as low grip surfaces, staying in complete control.
ADD (Aprilia Dynamic Damping) is dynamic semi-active suspension system developed by Aprilia and protected by four patents, the reference point in motorcycling on a global level where technology, efficiency and reliability are concerned. Once again Aprilia has proven to be on the cutting edge of electronics applied to bikes thanks to a latest generation suspension system that manages to increase safety, comfort and riding pleasure.
The ADD system measures the energy transmitted by bumps on the road surface to the bike and adjusts the hydraulic fork calibration and shock absorber in real time to minimise accelerations on the frame and consequently optimise comfort. To achieve maximum performance at any fork and shock absorber operating frequency, ADD uses a patented "comfort oriented" algorithm which combines the principles of the well known skyhook and acceleration driven damping algorithms.
In addition to comfort, rideability is also enhanced and safety is increased thanks to further software strategies which are tied directly to the rider's actions. In fact, the system recognises the riding phases (acceleration, throttle release, braking, constant gas) and adjusts the basic fork and shock absorber settings thanks to yet another patent which allows specific hydraulic calibration curves to be defined within the adjustment range.
The high precision of the system is entrusted to a selection of sensors which are derived from the automotive world and which, in addition to guaranteeing absolute reliability, allow the fork and shock absorber extension speed to be measured with maximum accuracy. In this field Aprilia has patented a unique solution for measuring the fork extension speed: using a pressure sensor.
In the electromechanical calibration suspension systems already available on the market, the rider presses a button on the handlebar to activate an electric motor which changes the suspension set-up. In the Aprilia ADD dynamic semi-active suspension system, on the other hand, all the rider has to do is ride without any concerns of selecting one setting or another.
At the rear a built in piggy back shock absorber is used, electrically adjustable in spring preload to 4 predefined positions, indicated by specific icons on the digital instrument panel: rider only, rider with passenger, only rider with panniers and rider and passenger with panniers. Aprilia system patented exclusive and then the automatic preload control mode for the spring. Once this option is selected the system is able to detect the bike's load by itself (weight of the fuel, rider, passenger, luggage, etc.) and automatically adjust preload to the optimum value for correct balancing of the bike. The ability of ADD to perfectly copy even the smallest imperfection of the road surface, thereby guaranteeing the best possible tyre grip, also allows the Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally to achieve exceptional braking distances, unheard of on the competition's bikes.
Aprilia Cruise Control allows the desired speed to be set and maintained even on uphills and downhills, without touching the throttle control. The system disengages automatically if the rider touches any of the brake/clutch Cruise Control commands and is very useful on long motorway routes because it helps save fuel and makes the ride less tiring.
The instrument panel that equips the Caponord 1200 Rally is fully digital: The full LCD combines the speedometer, rev counter, total and two trip odometers, fuel level and coolant temperature. There is also a selected mapping indicator (S,T,R) as well as the shock absorber electric spring preload indicator. The engaged gear is also indicated, as well as the ATC level adjustment and heated hand grip operation (available as a separate option).
The range of indicator lights on the side includes the fuel reserve warning light and the ABS, ATC and ACC activation/deactivation indicators.
Available colour schemes
The Aprilia Caponord 1200 Rally is available in one of three completely new matt colour variations: giallo Dune, grigio Safari and verde Army.
Aprilia Multimedia Platform connects your smartphone to your vehicle
In 2012 the Piaggio Group was the first manufacturer in the world to create a system which allowed the vehicle to be connected to a smartphone (and consequently to the web), thereby transforming it into an additional tool capable of providing an exceptional amount of added information compared to what is already provided by the factory instrumentation. This innovative application, currently the only one of its kind in the motorcycle world, is also available for any late model Aprilia bike. The link between the vehicle and the Internet is called A-MP, Aprilia Multimedia Platform, making travel safer and more convenient. This is a window to the future which lays the foundation for a new way of looking at communication on two wheels.
Once the free app has been downloaded, the Bluetooth pairing of the smartphone to the vehicle allows the various options to be viewed and easily modified to the rider's preference: speedometer, rev counter, but also instantaneous engine power and torque, lean angle, longitudinal acceleration, instant and average fuel consumption, average speed and battery voltage are just some of the features that can be accessed.
A-MP stores all the travel information and allows it to be studied in depth at a later time on your computer or, new for the MY15 release, directly on the smartphone's display. It also contains the operating and service manual for your vehicle.
The touring and adventure vocation of the Caponord 1200 Rally is emphasised by a full range of accessories which Aprilia has developed specifically for this model to enhance the technical characteristics, functionality, aesthetics and riding pleasure.
Approved Arrow Exhaust: titanium slip-on silencer with bottom in carbon; sporty look, impressive sound and maximum performance on the road.
52 litre top box kit with aluminium finish: this spacious top box can hold two flip up helmets. The body is made in fibreglass reinforced technopolymers; the cover is in aluminium.
Internal bag kit for top box and panniers: the internal bags are made to have the same shape as the panniers and the top box that hold them. They are fitted with handles and shoulder straps for easy carrying.
Light luggage rack: in laser cut anodized black aluminium, this is the ideal base to secure small bags.
Offroad footpegs kit: the serrated surface of these pegs provides maximum grip even in offroad conditions.
Rear brake foot lever pedal: this is made up of a wider contact surface and is fitted with a clutch cover guard. Ideal for offroad use.
Oversize base for side stand: this guarantees a more stability for the side stand, especially on soft surfaces.
Engine oil cap: made in anodized black billet aluminium.
Frame/swingarm pin cover kit: this kit has two caps elegantly made in billet aluminium which cover the holes on the frame where the swingarm pin is.
Clutch cover guard: this is made in sturdy laser cut stainless steel.
LED turn indicators: these guarantee a higher brightness level and consume less energy.
Aluminium mirrors: these are approved for street use and made from billet aluminium with scratch-resistant finish.
Billet brake and clutch levers: made from a single block of aluminium, these allow the rider to adjust the distance from the handlebar, improving ergonomics.
Brake fluid and clutch oil reservoir covers made form billet aluminium, these add that technical and sophisticated style that is so popular among demanding bikers.
Heated hand grips: this is an extremely useful accessory for those who love riding even in the most extreme temperatures. They can be adjusted to three settings which are shown on the instrument panel display.
Saddlebag: this is positioned on the passenger portion of the saddle and uses a nylon base fitted with side pockets that the backpack hooks onto. • Once the backpack is removed, the base can be left mounted on the bike without compromising passenger comfort.
Tank bag: Extensible bag with practical pockets and a carry handle, fits onto the specific tank cover with quick release clips and an adjustable fastener. Includes rain hood.
Satellite antitheft kit: this is able to track the position of the bike so it can be found in case of theft.
A-MP installation kit: this is made up of the Bluetooth control unit and the relative connecting cables.
Bracket and holder for the most common smartphones.
Installation-ready bracket for a GPS navigator.
Electronic inertia antitheft kit: this can be easily installed on the vehicle as the dedicated wiring harness is installation-ready. Its features include: built-in engine lock and motion sensor.
Indoor vehicle cover: this is custom cut with painstaking attention to detail. It protects from dust, scratches and small bumps.
Tyre repair kit: specific spray to instantly repair and inflate tyres.

subset: commoncrawl


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Attention parents of preschool age children
KINDERGARTEN PRE-REGISTRATIONWe are excited to inform you, if your child will be 5 years old on or before August 31, 2020, it is the time for kindergarten pre-registration.
Pre-registration at Kernersville Elementary School will be on Thursday, February 20, 2020 from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary for the pre-registration and your child does not need to accompany you to the school on this date. At the pre-registration, you will choose an appointment time to bring your child in for the kindergarten screening.You may choose KES as your school of choice even if you do not live in the residential area for KES. It is very important that you register now so that you may obtain a choice card to choose which elementary school in Zone 2 you prefer your child to attend which we hope is KES! Please fill out the form below and return it to Kernersville Elementary School as soon as possible. You will be instructed on which school you need to contact to pre-register if it is other than KES, but will designate KES as your first choice at registration time.Please bring the following to kindergarten pre-registration:
1. Official birth certificate (no photo copies). We will make a copy for our records.
2. Immunization record.3. Proof of residence (current utility bill, copy of rental, lease, etc.). This is requireddue to zone guidelines. We cannot accept driver's licenses or junk mail as proof ofresidence.Please complete the Pre-Registration Form and return it to the school office.
Last Modified on January 8, 2020


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Book your free trial session. It's easy!
Book your free trial session. It's easy!
Complete de form below.
You will receive a confirmation of your session via email.
Get ready and enjoy your Spanish session with me!
Free trial session (30 minutes)
In this session:
▪ We will introduce ourselves.
▪ We will analyse your needs, learning style and why you need or want to learn / improve your Spanish.
▪ I will asses your Spanish level. ✓
▪ We will speak about my methodology.
▪ You will be able to ask me any questions you may have. ☝


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On Friday, June 9, under the direction of National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master Jimmy Heath, the Queens Jazz Orchestra will perform a loving musical tribute to Jazz icon and friend, Sonny Rollins.
The Queens Jazz Orchestra, led by Queens resident Jimmy Heath, will perform special arrangements of Sonny Rollin's classic compositions, including "Oleo" and "St. Thomas" and selections from his albums "Tenor Madness" and "Saxophone Colossus." Jimmy Heath will also provide a special commentary about Sonny at the end of the show. Making up the Queens Jazz Orchestra is Jimmy Heath as Leader/Tenor Sax; Antonio Hart and Mark Gross on Alto/Soprano Sax; Bobby LaVell and Sam Dillon on Tenor Sax; Gary Smulyan on Bari Sax; John Mosca, Steve Davis, and Jason Jackson on Trombone; Douglas Purveyance on Bass Trombone; Frank Greene, Michael Mossman, Greg Gisbert and Diego Urcola on Trumpet; Jeb Patton on Piano; David Wong on Bass; and Evan Sherman on Drums.
The two legends have been close friends since 1950, so it was an easy choice for Mr. Heath to dedicate a show to his dear friend. According to Mr. Heath, Sonny Rollins has an "unmatched ability to play extended solos and to play spontaneously." Mr. Heath recalls Mr. Rollins developing a captive audience right away, and Mr. Heath believes he and John Coltrane were the greatest tenor saxophonists of their generation.
Mr. Heath fondly recalls Mr. Rollins sending him postcards from the road, describing the countries where he was performing and the different talents he performed with. The two continue to speak on a weekly basis, and Mr. Heath felt compelled to dedicate a show to his dear friend of so many years. Due to illness, Mr. Rollins is no longer able to perform like he once did, and "he is greatly missed in the Jazz world, so we wanted to share his music and his genius," says Mr. Heath.
During his long career, Jimmy Heath has performed on more than 100 record albums including seven with The Heath Brothers and twelve as a leader. Jimmy has also written more than 125 compositions, many of which have become jazz standards and have been recorded by other artists including Art Farmer, Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Ahmad Jamal, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie J.J Johnson and Dexter Gordon. Jimmy has also composed extended works – seven suites and two string quartets – and he premiered his first symphonic work, "Three Ears," in 1988.
An N.E.A. Jazz Master and legendary tenor saxophonist, Sonny Rollins has had a seventy-year career as one of the most vital saxophonists in Jazz. He is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians in the United States. He has recorded at least sixty albums as leader, and many of his compositions have become Jazz standards.
You will not want to miss this tribute to a Jazz legend, by a Jazz legend!
Admission is $42/$32 Members/$20 Students with Table Package options for $125/$100 Members (reserved table for two with wine and snacks) and the event is open to all ages. You can access details by visiting http://www.flushingtownhall.org/ or by calling (718) 463-7700 x222.
This season, Flushing Town Hall is opening its doors to teenagers – for FREE. Under the new "Teen Access Program", all 13- to 19-year-old boys and girls (whether a member or not) will be welcomed to attend any performance for free. The program is designed to appeal to students and help foster a greater love in the arts and culture.
Flushing Town Hall is accessible by car, bus, train and foot – located a short distance from the 7 train – at 137-35 Northern Blvd., in Flushing, Queens.


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The Hush Post|11:15 am| 2-min-read
The Supreme Court on Monday said it had quashed the FIR against BJP MP Anurag Thakur and others in a case by "mistake". The case related to alleged encroachment of land for the construction of the Dharamshala cricket stadium.
The counsel appearing for former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh D K Thakur brought the lapse to the notice of the bench of justices A K Sikri and SA Nazeer. The next date of hearing is fixed for November 29.
"You are saying that you cannot argue. If you cannot argue, then do not argue. We will pass the order. We are saying that it was a mistake," the Bench categorically told Singh's counsel.
Virbhadra's counsel pleaded the court to recall the November 2 order of the top court.
However Anurag's counsel senior advocate P S Patwalia argued there was no need to recall the order as the main FIR stood quashed.
After Patwalia concluded his arguments, Singh's counsel told the bench that the FIR was quashed by the apex court without hearing them.
There were two cases against Thakur, one related to irregularities in granting land on lease, the other regarding alleged encroachment
On November 2, the top court had quashed two FIRs against Anurag Thakur, his father Prem Kumar Dhumal and others. The matter is related to two separate cases. One case related to alleged irregularities in granting land on lease for the construction of the Dharamshala cricket stadium. The other case was regarding alleged encroachment of government land. Staff quarters of the Education Department of the state are located in the portion of land in question. The 'mistaken' quashing was related to the encroachment case.
Patliwala argued that the education secretary had granted a no-objection certificate for transfer of land and the same had the approval of the state education minister.
Anurag Thakur, Dhumal and the HPCA had challenged the orders of the HP High Court refusing to quash the FIRs.


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Friday, 2 March 2007
Of postmodernism Jameson says 'the end of the bourgeois ego, or monad, no doubt brings with it the end of the psychopathologies of that ego—what I have called the waning of affect' [Postmodernism, 15] But what would the world look like if, the bourgeois ego having been dissolved, its attendant psychopathologies somehow, spectrally, remained? Bourgeois bogeymen haunting a postmodern wasteland.
Posted by Adam Roberts Project at 01:37
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Cleans your floors and gives your home an amazing citrus smell. What is wonderful is that the smell doesn't linger for too much either. Perfect for those sensitive to smells.


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Photo via RiverdaleRiverFest.org
On Saturday, head over to the Artisan Market at Fort Greene Park, which showcases local artists selling their expertly crafted artwork and wares. Then, take a quick trip up Lafayette to The Shelton, at 775 Lafayette Avenue, for an Open House from 3-5.
On Sunday, start your day at the Riverdale RiverFest, the annual community festival celebrating the Hudson River. Music, arts and crafts, events and boat rides will be going on all day at the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Make sure to drop by Fieldston Lofts afterwards to view these beautiful Riverdale homes. The Open House will be from 1-3.


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The Benaki Museum (Pireos) presents a solo exhibition by Soloup (Antonis Nikolopoulos) which is based on his new graphic novel The Collector: Six stories about a bad wolf, through to March 17, 2019.
It is a modern fairy tale about the sense of alienation children experience after their parents' divorce. The exhibition includes original material from the artist's graphic novel (storyboards, drafts, pencil sketches, black and white and color pages) and is divided into two sections. The first, features a monologue performed by the protagonist Dionysis, who after his divorce, finds himself unexpectedly alienated from his daughter Fotini. In the second, we find the famous Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale seen in a different light, which is based on a variant as recorded by the Grimm brothers.
Soloup (Antonis Nikolopoulos) is a political cartoonist and comic book author. He has a Ph.D. from the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication at the University of the Aegean and has studied Political Sciences at Panteion University. He has published 14 comic book albums, the essay "The Greek Comics" and the graphic novel "Aivali" (Kedros) which has been awarded "Best Comics 2015" and "Best Screenplay" at the Greek Comics Awards and with the "Coup de Coeur 2016" at the 17th Rendezvous du Carnet De Voyage Festival (Clermont Ferrand / France) and has been translated into French (Steinkis), Turkish (Istos), and is currently being translated into other languages.
Parallel Events
Saturday 09/02/2019, (10:00 – 18:00)
Graphic novels: Demanding narratives of a mature comedic form
In collaboration with the Department of Cultural Technology of the University of the Aegean, academics, journalists, comic book authors, publishers and representatives of the new graphic novel scene in Greece, offer their own perspective on this particular comic book form.
Sunday 03/03/2019, (10:00 – 18:00)
International Workshop: The perspective of co-parenting. Dealing with parental alienation for the best interest of the child
In this workshop, experts from Greece and abroad will discuss the Parental Alienation Syndrome and the possibility of co-parenting after a divorce.
Sunday 17/02/2019 (11:00 – 13:00)
Creative writing workshop: In the footsteps of Little Red Riding Hood: Rewriting the fairy tale
The philologist Keli Daskala discusses the famous fairy tale's literary adaptations and invites us to imagine new versions while subverting stereotypes and roles. (The workshop is aimed at children from 10 years and older and adults).
Guided Tours by Soloup
Saturday February 2 & March 9, at 11:00
Where: Benaki Museum (138 Piraeus st.)
When: Until March 17, 2019
Information: Monday to Thursday from 10.00 to 14.00, tel.: 210 3671067-69.


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Companies face a mountain of obstacles throughout the course of their business. For many organizations, payroll seems to be especially challenging. The practice requires knowledge and research into current and constantly changing government guidelines and regulations. Payroll can be an overwhelming process, particularly when the people completing the procedure don't have the necessary expertise. Errors are common and expected. Let's take a look at some of the top payroll tax mistakes among organizations and how company leaders can avoid them:
Misclassification of workers
Organizations that identify all of their workers as regular employees could have a serious payroll situation on their hands. People fall into two categories when it comes to their position within a company: employee or independent contractor. There are many differences between the two, the largest being independent contractors are not obligated to receive the health benefits and same rate of pay as regular workers.
Some of the elements that differentiate an independent contractor are their employment of their own workers, the ability to have more than one client, the power to set their own hours and complete tasks in their own way, and many others, according to the Small Business Administration. In addition, employees and independent contractors receive separate tax documentation. Employees should get a W-2, while independent contractors are given Form 1099. Failure to provide these forms or misclassification of workers overall could lead to expensive penalties for businesses.
"Poor record-keeping could have serious repercussions for companies."
Inaccurate employee information
Workers' addresses, phone numbers and other data are always subject to change. While these simple alterations may not seem like a big deal, having incorrect information in their payroll system could cause problems for businesses, according to All Business. It's important for these materials to always be current in a company's system to ensure each employee is paid accurately. One small error could cause organizations to redo their payroll procedure.
Payroll teams should develop a process for updating employee information and make workers aware of how crucial this data is to their compensation. With this system in place, businesses can avoid problems that will waste time and money.
Handling payroll in-house
Company leaders completing the payroll process would love to believe they have all the knowledge necessary to finish the procedure accurately and in a timely manner. However, this is often not the case. Tax regulations and requirements can change between payroll periods, which obligates teams to spend valuable time learning how these alterations affect their procedures. Important information may fall through the cracks, resulting in costly fines due to late or incorrect payroll filings.
While handling payroll in-house may seem like the cost-efficient thing to do, businesses can actually save money in the long run by outsourcing this practice. Working with a third-party payroll tax provider will ensure all documents meet local, state and federal criteria and provide organizations with a group of professionals with limitless expertise in the matter.
Payroll is a critical responsibility for companies, no matter what their size. It's easy to make errors during this practice, as regulations and employee information always have the ability to change with a moment's notice. Understanding some of the most common mistakes can help organizations avoid falling into similar traps. Payroll teams should make sure they're aware of employee classifications, a process for updating worker information and the benefits of outsourcing this procedure.


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Don't ask: Do.
Don't apologize for what you're not doing or what you meant to do; it just makes it worse for the patient. Either do it or don't: keep your feelings of guilt to yourself. Feeling guilty? Send a just because e-card, treat, heart emoji, etc.
Do ask, "How are you doing? I know what is happening with your treatment, but how are you holding up?"; What night is better for me to bring you a healthy dinner, Monday or Wednesday; Do you need a meal train; can I give you a ride to the doctor; how about I come over to keep you company for an hour or join you to binge your latest HBO show; can I take your kid(s) out for a few hours?
Do randomly show up on his/her doorstep with loads of supplements, or healthy food, or a plant, and most importantly, compassion and empathy—grocery bags full of it are most needed.
If you haven't been in touch with a "friend" in a long time even though you know she's suffering, don't randomly text to ask if she knows about a certain breed of cat you're adopting when you know she's an animal rescue lover. Even through her fibro fog your friend remembers that you told her you gave up your tabby to a kill shelter, "felt bad" about it, meant to go check on her but didn't… MRROW! "Bye, Felicia!"
Love, empathy, checking in, doing, offering, being each others' village. You'll be surprised how much your friend also has to give even with life kicking her neurological arse…especially this friend!
{Fibro fog = typos. If you find one I'll bring you a slice of flourless chocolate cake from La Boulangerie.}


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When it comes to hobbies, photography is one of the top all-time
When it comes to photography it is also important to remember that this hobby is not something that is cheap and that can be done easily. While it is true that you can simply use you phone now a day to take high quality photographs, a proper camera can never be substituted by a phone if you are a real photographer and someone with a passion for photography. This is why photography is an expensive hobby and why many people cannot afford to be a part of it. It takes care and dedication and all your equipment has to be looked after and properly cared for with the proper tools. For instance the cmos sensor socket is something that is very sensitive and require to be kept in a proper heat free dry environment when in storage to ensure that the camera can operate properly once you take it out of storage. Additionally, the parts and pieces of a camera need regular service and replacement if you wish to be taking photographs at a professional level. Of course you have to also consider the huge cost of the equipment like the lenses that can set you back quite a bit if you buy the proper quality products.
However, it is important to remember that photography is one of the most rewarding hobbies not just emotionally but financially as well as there are a multitude of competitions where you can submit your photographs and win great gifts.
However, the experience itself is also one of great reward all in itself and the pleasure of the pictures you capture is something that you can enjoy for a long time with friends and family alike for a long, long time.


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One Proud Mama!
10 comments
- AnonymousJune 5, 2013 at 11:07 AM
Congrats girlie, not to mention congrats to him! All 3 of mine are babygirl graduated last year, now one down 2 to go on marriage! lolReplyDeleteReplies
Sounds like you've got this down pat! I'll have to ask you how to handle the empty nest syndrome when I get there.Delete
Congrats Stacie. He looks a lot like youReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Nicole. Yeah, he does look like me ;)Delete
Yay! Congrats to your son and to you too for all the love and hard work you've instilled in him.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Simone! We are very happy he's done so well.Delete
Congratulations to you both. It is exciting, isn't it? I wish my three youngsters were closer to graduating. By the time they're ready to graduated my granddaughter will be in middle school! LOLReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Petula! Wow, you've got a long time yet. Don't worry though, it goes by so fast.Delete
Congrats to him! College and high school were the best days of my life! I'm sure he will make the most of them!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Britton! I'm sure he will do an awesome job.Delete


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To God Be the Glory
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We can make your vision come to life
Design consultation: The first step of this process involves a consultation with our designer to discuss your likes and dislikes. He will begin to draw the piece as you talk in addition to collecting measurements and supplementary information for your custom piece.
Design approval: Prior to beginning production, we will provide you with a refined drawing, computer rendering (a three dimensional computer generated final design), or a wax model of your piece for your approval.
Manufacturing: Our team will create a wax model of the piece, cast it in the metal of your choice, set stones if required, and finally finish, polish, and apply any cosmetic finishes to the final product.
Contact us today at 937-898-8670
for more information about designing your
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No project is too big or too small. Our state-of-the-art equipment can help you achieve your vision for all types of jewelry including rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, and more.


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This Is the Manicure You Should Get, Based on Your Astrological Sign
11 Beauty Products That Are Secretly Aging You
These products aren't doing you any favors
Many of us turn to makeup and skin care to help brighten dull skin, even out skin tone, smooth fine lines and reduce signs of aging. But you may be surprised to know that some beauty products are actually causing the problem. This is especially true if you aren't using the right products for your skin type. "If you're using the wrong products, it can lead to dehydrated, dull skin and breakouts, which only make signs of aging more noticeable," celebrity esthetician Shani Darden says. It's important to find out what products work best for you to ensure skin is smooth, hydrated and even toned, she adds.
Instead of running to Sephora to grab the latest and greatest celebrity-inspired foundation or revolutionary anti-aging serum, make an appointment with a specialist who can tell you what ingredients will best suit the needs of your skin and which ones may aggravate already frustrating conditions like fine lines, oiliness and breakouts. To give you a head start, we asked experts to reveal which products could be making you look and feel older than you'd like.
Image via Imaxtree


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Innovation Across the Food System: A Q&A with Ecolab CEO Doug Baker
Ecolab as a partner of Techstars Farm to Fork wasn't obvious to many people. However, once you dig a bit deeper, you realize the integral role they play across the food system. When you combine this with the organization's willingness to mentor, engage and work with founders, it becomes an obvious partnership. When I first met Doug Baker, CEO of Ecolab, and described to him my vision for the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator, it just clicked. I was immediately confident that Techstars + Ecolab would be a mutually beneficial partnership helping everyone accelerate efforts to drive Food Tech innovation.
Over the last two years I have been blown away by the level of commitment Doug and our Ecolab mentors have shown the entrepreneurs that have been a part of our program. They have a tremendous vision and drive to continue to innovate in order to build sustainable food and water systems.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Doug, who has been Ecolab's CEO since 2004, to talk about corporate innovation, Ecolab's role in the food system, our Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator in partnership with Cargill and Ecolab, and much more.
It was a great opportunity to hear Doug's thoughts on how our program's themes of robotics, employee safety and compliance, and data play into the future of the food system. Towards the end of our talk, I also asked Doug one of my favorite questions — if you were going to found a company, what would your startup do? His answer reflects Ecolab's recent commitments while echoing how important robotics and data will be to the future of our planet.
The entire video is worth watching, but I've also put together an outline of my questions so you can easily find specific subjects within the video:
0:22 How does Ecolab play in the food value chain?
1:21 How does Ecolab think about innovation internally and externally — why do a program like Techstars Farm to Fork?
3:53 How does Ecolab think about three of the areas of the Techstars Farm to Fork year 3 thesis: Robotics, Employee Safety, Compliance & Efficiency, and Data?
6:14 Digging deeper into robotics and the role they play in the food value chain
8:51 What are the current barriers preventing robotics from playing an even larger role?
10:40 If Doug was going to start a company today, what type of company would he be interested in launching?
11:52 How does Ecolab engage both with startups that go through Techstars Farm to Fork, and with startups in general?
Again, a big thanks to Doug for the great conversation and shared insights on this video, but also for your support and participation in the Farm to Fork program!
And finally, a quick reminder that applications for year 3 of Techstars Farm to Fork are due on April 5, 2020.
2020 Farm to Fork Thesis
Over the last two years of Techstars Farm to Fork, in partnership with Cargill and Ecolab, my team and I have had the privilege to meet with more than 1500 founders, work with thought leaders and investors in cities all over the world, and invest in 19 amazing teams tackling major issues in the food system.
And believe me, challenges in the food system seem to become more and more pronounced every day. We need to become ever more innovative if we are to safely feed the world's growing population.These challenges have serious implications for the planet and everyone on it. Rather than letting these issues bring me down, I let them fuel our work and drive my excitement for the opportunity to work with founders that are tackling some of the globe's biggest challenges.
On that note, here are some themes across the food system that I am watching closely in 2020:
Robotics & Automation
From farms to restaurants, it is consistently becoming more difficult for operators to find and retain employees. In the food space robots can fill this labor void, increase automation and drive efficiency. Additionally, the further adoption of smart robots will drive consistency in the ability to capture and record data. This in turn will have a positive effect on the food safety and traceability movements.
Employee Safety, Compliance & Efficiency
As I implied above, labor is top of mind for any operator in the food chain. I am specifically interested in entrepreneurs that are solving big issues in the areas of compliance and employee safety and driving efficiency across broader work forces. These innovations do not need to be specific to food & ag for us to be interested. But innovators in this space should be thinking about the food supply chain if they aren't already.
Food Safety
This has been a common theme throughout the first two years of our accelerator. We continue to be interested in companies working to make the food we eat safer. From diagnostics and testing to prevention to shelf life extension, there are a variety of ways to make an impact in food safety and we want to help these entrepreneurs go faster.
Biotech is a new focus for us in 2020. For the first two years of the program, we were largely focused on the digital transformation of the food system. This year we will expand into an arena that is new to our program but is a segment that has exploded over the last several years. While there have been many leaps made by food-focused biotech startups over the last few years there is room for more. We are interested in the more obvious areas of biotech & food: proteins, lipids, food enhancements, etc. However, I am even more interested in the suppliers that will help drive the already exploding food-biotech industry forward sustainably, safely and efficiently. If you equate the biotech movement to the gold rush, I want to invest in Levi's, not just the miners.
"Messy Middle"
"Farm to Fork" is broad. In 2020, I want to drill down and focus on what I refer to as the "messy middle," essentially everything that lives between the farm and the retailer. The "middle" is historically fragmented but now with many players and interests converging, new cost and complexity are entering the system. Innovations could include developing logistical efficiency, creating new ways to finance the supply chain, or making manufacturing more sustainable. I am excited to meet with founders working on efficiency, sustainability, and traceability in the "messy middle."
Every startup pitches a data play these days! In food it is no different. If you are a data company we are interested if you have a unique way to collect data, democratize data, or leverage data to create differentiated products; or if you are collecting/utilizing data for edge computing. Raw data is quickly becoming commoditized in the space. We are specifically interested in companies that are coming up with unique ways to productize data.
The Rest
While these are six core areas of our 2020 thesis, it is impossible for me to cram everything of interest into one short document. I anticipate several investments will be vertical agnostic platforms that have a market opportunity in food and I will certainly invest in phenomenal entrepreneurs disrupting things in categories that don't fall into one of these core areas. Just to list a few additional themes I am watching:
- Water Tech
- B2B2C – Adding Value to Customers
- Trading/Fintech Innovation
- Pest & Rodent Control
- Packaging Innovation, with an emphasis on the role of plastics
- Animal Wellbeing
One of the benefits of investing in food tech is that many of the startups have a natural positive impact on the planet. We will continue to lean in with and intentionally invest in impact & sustainability focused founders.
Entrepreneurship is borderless. We have worked with diverse founders from all over the world that are solving global challenges, and we will continue to look for companies that are innovating across the globe and solving problems for diverse regions.
We're looking for world changers, teams that can affect that future of our food system. I am excited to get to work with the next class of Techstars Farm to Fork Founders. If you are tackling these challenges or know someone who is, let us know about it by applying today!
Cooking Up the Next Class at Techstars Farm to Fork
The 2019 Techstars Farm to Fork class is composed of an incredibly diverse set of amazing people and ideas. Founders will be joining us in Saint Paul, Minnesota from all over the world including companies from Australia, Canada, India, Israel and the United States!
Agri-food, food tech, farm to fork – as more and more people take notice of this vertical more names for it are created. Regardless of how you refer to the space, our focus for the program continues to be tech-enabled startups, software, hardware & IoT, that want to solve big problems in the food world. This year's class truly represents technology that will impact the industry from farms all the way to the fork.
Our mentors from Cargill, Ecolab, and our broader startup community look forward to diving in to help these founders build big companies that will change the world. Personally, I am excited to work with these founders, not just for the next three months, but for the rest of their entrepreneurial careers. They are passionate, hardworking and smart.
Please join us in welcoming the Techstars Farm to Fork Class of 2019!
Transparent Kitchen (Ottawa, CA)
Transparent Kitchen is transforming the future of dining and sustainability by helping restaurants use data to create personalized experiences for their customers. Their first product turns a restaurant's PDF menu into an interactive digital experience to optimize a customer's experience and help the restaurant better understand how to act on predictive insights into their customer base.
Trackter (Atlanta, GA)
Trackter is a total fresh produce supply chain management solution. They allow companies to connect buyers, shippers, and logistics partners in a system that automates communications between these stakeholders in order to reduce phone calls, emails, and repetitive data entry – to ultimately enable all parties to generate higher profit margins.
Purpics (Austin, TX)
Founded on the idea "pictures with purpose," PurPics connects brands to everyday consumers over a cause. The platform drives 10x higher engagement for brands, enabling businesses to better engage and understand the next generation of consumers. For users, PurPics empowers them to promote the brands they love to raise funds for the causes they care about.
Phood (Boston, MA)
Commercial food waste prevention through AI. Phood is helping food service establishments understand, evaluate, and control their food waste with the power of machine vision.
Otrafy (Vancouver, CA)
Otrafy is a supply-chain management platform that runs on a track and trace model with a focus on data sharing and product history. They provide digital integration between farm, manufacturing and retail supply chain for ongoing tracking of relevant production information.
Imago AI (Gurgaon, India)
ImagoAI is building a new standard of food quality. It helps companies increase their revenue by providing superior food quality and reducing food wastage in the supply chain. It's artificial intelligence platform analyse food quality parameters in real time at production grade speed and also detect foreign object contamination.
Food For All (Boston, MA)
Food For All believes that food should be tasted, not wasted. With their app, consumers can find and enjoy meals from restaurants for at least 50% of their original cost. For restaurants, this means an extra revenue stream and a great story surrounding the prevention of food waste.
EcoPlant (Kibbutz Gevim, Israel)
EcoPlant provides Industrial IoT energy efficiency as a service. EcoPlant has developed a SaaS solution that connects to air compressors' controllers and pipeline sensors to continuously monitor, control, and optimize the entire system. Using predictive AI algorithms, EcoPlant conducts ongoing energy surveys and dynamically controls each compressor, as well as the entire system, to significantly reduce energy waste and optimize maintenance.
ConverSight.ai (Indianapolis, IN)
ConverSight.ai is providing business insights through natural interaction and conversation. The platform creates and aggregates actionable data to help business leaders to make informed decisions without having to manually create reports or spend money on developing additional digital infrastructure.
Contain (Reno, NV)
Contain Inc is a fintech platform dedicated to indoor growers, those farming in warehouses, greenhouses and container farms. Our platform solves indoor growers' largest issue, finding funding, through data-driven leasing and insurance products.
Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator – 2018 Results & 2019 Vision
2018 – The Results
Our first Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator Class, in partnership with Cargill and Ecolab, completed our first program this past October.
Applications poured in from 40+ countries resulting in the selection of nine amazing companies from all over the world. More than 100 mentors participated over the course of the program and over 40 venture capital firms met with the companies during 13 weeks of Techstars Farm to Fork.
The nine companies that attended the program represented an incredible breadth of concepts: from restaurant tech to supply chain to manufacturing and digital solutions for farms. Our corporate partners Cargill & Ecolab were both highly engaged in the program, providing invaluable access to subject matter experts and industry executives. This engagement led to POC's, investment, and ongoing talks with seven of the companies that went through the program, and two of the nine companies are staying in the St. Paul area to further build their businesses and brands within the twin cities ecosystem.
We are excited to continue to support and work with the 2018 class as they move onto the next phase of their entrepreneurial journey. Check out this documentary on the first class of Techstars Farm to Fork to learn more about their journey.
Looking to 2019
We are thrilled for year two of Techstars Farm to Fork and have already begun meeting companies that are interested in our 2019 class. Applications open January 7th!
In year two of program, we are excited to work with companies building tech enabled businesses, software, or hardware focused on solving global problems in the food world. This includes US-based businesses as well as businesses from other developed nations and emerging markets.
We have a broad scope in focus: on farm, supply chain and logistics, processing and manufacturing, water tech and restaurants, and even companies building platforms for large enterprises! Ultimately, we want to work with great entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds that are working on world-changing ideas. While not a complete list, here are four broad areas of focus for our 2019 Techstars Farm to Fork program:
Robotics and Automation
Labor shortages, safety and the state of technology have all created an environment ripe for robotics and automation across the entire food value chain. Manufacturing, cleaning, pest control, warehouse management, supply chain, restaurants and food production are all arenas where we are interested in exploring solutions.
Food is the largest industry on the planet, estimated at about 10% of the world's GDP. There are a variety of platforms that may not be "food" specific but can be leveraged by enterprises in food, like Cargill, Ecolab, and their food industry partners. If you are building a tech platform and food companies are an interesting market, you could be a good fit. A few specific examples:
- Workforce Management
- Employee Safety
- Data Acquisition
- Computer Vision/ML
- Predictive Modeling
Food Safety, Quality Assurance, and Security
Food safety is a worldwide issue and continues to be a focus for our program. We are interested in digital solutions anywhere in the food value chain from real time pathogen and allergen detection to predictive risk assessments. We continue to be interested in the traceability of food throughout the supply chain, including real-time sensing and monitoring. The utilization of different computer vision and imaging technologies for things like QA, safety checks, and the monitoring of food could have a major impact on food safety and security. We are also interested in the management and reduction of food waste as it impacts food safety, quality, and security.
Water Tech
Water tech is a new area of interest for us in 2019. The food industry uses approximately 70% of the fresh water consumed on an annual basis, so this focus is a natural fit for our program. Specifically, we are interested in technologies that help ensure access to sufficient clean water for those that need it. This could include, but is not limited to, a variety of concepts, including non-invasive contamination monitoring and detection, new methods of conservation, and smart water usage.
Join us for 2019
From farms to restaurants and retailers, we want to help entrepreneurs build technology with the potential to have a significant impact on the food world. These four buckets are just a starting point, and this is not an all-inclusive list. Check out last year's thesis, as there are more concepts there that continue to interest us. We will inevitably be blown away by unique concepts we haven't thought of, so if you have a great team and a big vision we want to hear from you.
Request office hours, one-on-one time with program staff to share details of what you're working on and learn more about the accelerator. Or, if you're ready, start your application on January 7th!
Announcing the 2018 Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator Class
We are thrilled to announce Techstars Class 136 – the 2018 Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator Class. Today, in St. Paul, Minn., these companies begin their work solving real problems across the entire food value chain, from food safety to supply chain management and restaurant efficiencies to the upcycling of food waste. The companies join the Techstars worldwide network, which includes more than 1,200 companies across the globe.
In December, we announced our partnership with Cargill and Ecolab. Our goal is to build a world-class Techstars mentorship-driven Accelerator program focused on helping entrepreneurs solve some of the world's biggest food challenges. The last six months have been a whirlwind of travel, scouting and meeting with hundreds of exceptional entrepreneurs from across the globe.
The entrepreneurs powering these companies traveled to St. Paul from several states across the U.S., India, Canada and Brazil. While in Minnesota, the companies will have access to more than a hundred mentors, including business leaders and subject matter experts from Cargill, Ecolab and our amazing entrepreneurial community.
Techstars is the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, and I am excited to jump in to help this outstanding group take their businesses to the next level.
The Techstars Farm to Fork 2018 Class:
Global Applications for the Techstars Worldwide Network are Now Open!
There's an often-repeated stat that 90 percent of startups fail. Not sure the source is, but no doubt that it scares entrepreneurs. At Techstars, we see the reverse in our accelerator portfolio – 90 percent of our startups are active or have successfully exited. Which statistic reflects your business? If you're ready to succeed, take the next step and apply now to the Techstars worldwide network with more than 10,000 mentors, partners, investors and founders.
At Techstars, we are on a mission to help entrepreneurs succeed. Our mentorship-driven accelerator programs invest in founders to help them do more faster. Over the past 10 years we have helped over 1,274 companies grow and raise over $4.4 billion in funding, with a market cap of $11.4 billion. Now, we are excited to start the search for the next wave of companies to join our worldwide network!
We are reaching new regions and verticals around the world with our newest mentorship-driven accelerator programs. Applications are opening for five new programs:
- Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- MetLife Digital Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- Rakuten Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator
- Techstars Impact Accelerator
- Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator
- Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, in Partnership with The Nature Conservancy
Take the next step in your journey and apply to join the Techstars worldwide network with more than 10,000 mentors, partners, investors and founders.
This is more than a three month program, the Techstars worldwide network is for life. Listen to stories about our founders from Techstars alumni companies like SendGrid, ClassPass, and DigitalOcean.
Application deadline is April 8, 2018 for most programs. We will be announcing details for information sessions and online events where you can connect with Techstars founders and team, as well as mentors who have the experience and proven track record to help you succeed. Be on the lookout for more details soon!
When you apply, you can choose from any of the following locations and verticals:
- Barclays Accelerator, Powered by Techstars in Tel Aviv
- Cedars-Sinai Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- MetLife Digital Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- Rakuten Accelerator, Powered by Techstars
- Stanley+Techstars Additive Manufacturing Accelerator
- Techstars Atlanta, in partnership with Cox Enterprises
- Techstars Chicago Accelerator
- Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator
- Techstars Kansas City Accelerator
- Techstars London Accelerator
- Techstars Los Angeles Accelerator
- Techstars Mobility Accelerator
- Techstars New York City Accelerator
- Techstars Retail Accelerator, in partnership with Target
- Techstars Sustainability Accelerator, in Partnership with The Nature Conservancy
For tips and resources on the application process, check out our Application Toolkit.
Future of Food Panel Series Part 1: Future of Agriculture
Local Boston startups have been developing new tools to advance current agriculture practices including seed innovation, hydroponics, satellite imagery and robotics. Join Branchfood and members of Boston's agriculture technology sector to discuss the latest products on the market, how to launch and grow a successful business and how technology innovation is driving change in agriculture. At this event you'll get to connect with commercial agriculture technology leaders, advisors, entrepreneurs, and get to check out the latest products and technologies at our showcase.
2. Registration link
Interested in Office Hours? Register here: https://f2fboston1.youcanbook.me
Planting the Seed for Techstars Farm to Fork
'Farm to Fork' – almost everyone has an immediate reaction or assumption when they hear this phrase. We are excited to partner with Cargill and Ecolab and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what we are thinking about for the first Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator.
Broadly speaking, the digital side of the food value chain is of most interest to us. This could be companies building smart devices, working with big data, artificial intelligence or creating a new software solution. Challenges to food are not limited by geography nor rural or urban settings.
The space is incredibly broad and there is no way we could put together an exhaustive list of opportunities that may catch our eye, but here are a few specific areas of interest to get us started:
Farm Productivity
Two easy questions to ask when defining this bucket: Does it make a farmer's life better, more sustainable or more productive? How can we help farmers do more with less? From weather and climate to animal health and productivity to computer vision, this bucket alone is big. Here are a few more areas of interest:
- Automation
- Smart Water Usage
- Ag Finance
- Payment Systems
- Yield Management/Prediction
- Risk Management
- Animal Health / Animal Productivity
- Weather/Climate Systems
- Drones
- Storage
- Robotics
- Credit
- Computer Vision
Food & Safety
A very popular topic in 2017, food & safety will continue to be a hot topic into the foreseeable future. When we think about food safety, we think about it across the entire value chain. This includes the safety of employees working in the space, the safety of the end consumer – anyone that eats, pest control and animal health and safety. Big data, machine vision, blockchain, and new software systems are all tools entrepreneurs are using to tackle these problems and we are excited to see what's out there. For us food safety goes beyond just "safe food."
Food Retail & Restaurants
How and where consumers find and eat their food is changing. Is technology going to have the same effect on brick and mortar grocers or restaurants that it has had on traditional retailers? We have already seen several trends begin to take off that are driven by technology including food with a story, farm to consumer, food ecommerce, and food delivery all of which are interesting. Beyond these how entrepreneurs tackle prepackaged foods, restaurant management and health and nutrition could all be interesting. I am excited to see how entrepreneurs are innovating in this space.
Food Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Another really large bucket, it's everything between the farm and the fork! I have always loved companies tackling real problems in areas that may be a bit less "sexy." From machinery to the financial tools that make the supply chain run, there is a ton of potential here. Here are a few themes in this space that are interesting:
- Traceability
- Sustainable Supply Chain
- Transparency
- Blockchain
- Cold Chain
- Last Mile
- AI/Robotics
- Quality Contro
- Energy Consumption
- Computer Vision
- Predictive Modeling
- Futures and Automated Trading
- Fraud Prevention
- Smart Devices/IoT
Waste Management
Roughly one-third of all food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted. This is almost one trillion dollars worth of food each year which equates to about one billion tonnes of food. One Billion! About 2/3rd of this waste comes from industrialized countries and the other 1/3rd occurs in developing countries. The problem doesn't stop with food; water waste is also a major issue. Tackling these problems will be a major path to feeding and providing sustainable, safe water for the world's growing population.
Are you working on a solution for the areas mentioned above? Applications are open, apply today!
Feel free to send me an email to connect – email@example.com. We will also be on the road over the next few months. Look out for us in NYC, Miami, San Francisco, Memphis, Kansas City, Omaha, Austin, Boston, and maybe a few others! Stay tuned to Techstars social media for updates.
Announcing Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator in Minneapolis–Saint Paul
Techstars, the worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed, is excited to announce the launch of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator. It's our first program focused on the tech/digital side of food and agriculture and I'm thrilled to be on board as the managing director. As the name implies, we're looking for the best entrepreneurs across the entire food value chain, from AgTech, manufacturing and supply chains, to food safety, waste reduction and traceability.
Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator will be based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, and Cargill and Ecolab will be partners for this program.
Ecolab is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2016 sales of $13 billion and 48,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use, and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world.
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 155,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work.
Personally, I have been an entrepreneur and investor for most of my career. I've bootstrapped, raised venture capital, taken three companies to exit and have had at least one fail along the way. Entrepreneurship is my passion. I can't think of a better platform to help fellow entrepreneurs succeed than this new program combining the Techstars worldwide network with these two powerhouse organizations in food and agriculture.
Our new mentorship-driven accelerator program will be located in the center of the food and ag tech world, The Twin Cities, where there are more than 25 billion dollar plus food and ag tech companies employing nearly 100,000 people focused on food and ag space. The program will run in Q3 2018; applications will be open on January 8, 2018.
Opportunity for Disruption
The food value chain continues to grow as an area of focus for entrepreneurs and tech investors. Why? Because the time is right for disruption! Globally, food spoilage is rampant; food safety is a growing concern, yet we don't have the solutions to create more land or enough fresh water needed to feed the growing population. Now is the time to change the way things get done. Great entrepreneurs tackle big problems and the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator is thinking huge.
The Perfect Vertical for the Techstars Process
While there is growing interest in using technology to disrupt the space, food and ag entrepreneurs lack the attention and resources that benefit other verticals. But big players are now ready to move. Cargill and Ecolab are working with Techstars to see the global challenges and possible solutions through the eyes of entrepreneurs. They want to work closely with these innovators and help develop technologies that take advantage of opportunities and solve big problems.
Entrepreneurs shouldn't go it alone! Both Cargill and Ecolab have broad knowledge and deep industry expertise — we leverage their resources to help entrepreneurs navigate a path from idea to impact? The Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator is the perfect platform to connect these global giants in food processing, food safety and agriculture with innovators who have ideas and technical knowledge.
Everyone wins. Because at Techstars and with our partners, we share a give-first mentality, we're going to help entrepreneurs do more faster.
A Food and Ag Hub That's Ready for Innovation
Choosing the Twin Cities location was strategic. Minnesota was built by food and agriculture innovators over 150 years ago along the banks of the Mississippi and it continues to be a thriving, supportive place to build a company. Today we house many of the largest food and ag companies in the world, a renowned land grant university and an ecosystem full of top talent that specializes in this vertical. Our history is food and agriculture and with programs like this food and ag tech will play a big part in the region's future.
As the managing director of the Techstars Farm to Fork Accelerator program, I'm excited to work with Cargill, Ecolab, Techstars and the best entrepreneurs in the world to disrupt food and agriculture.


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Live Oak Pools world headquarters is located in Havana Florida. The name does not come from the city of Live Oak, but rather from Live Oak trees. The president, owner and only employee (right now) is me, Dan Vander Berg. I moved here a few years ago because I really liked the area and all the magnificent Live Oak trees that grow here.
I believe pools are a great investment for enjoying the water. I know my knowledge and experience can help pool owners get the most out of their investment. Let me provide a high level of quality service to you.
Thank you,
I've been in the pool business for the majority of my life. I started swimming earlier than I can remember, and I began swimming competitively when I was 10 years old. My mom tells me my first pool was the Pacific Ocean. My first pool related employment was lifeguarding. I began building, cleaning and repairing pools between my junior and senior year in college. I cleaned pools part time my senior year of college, and then progressed to full time work with pools after graduating. I've been in some type a pool industry related job over thirty years now.
The majority of my time has been spent building and repairing concrete or plaster pools. I have seen that there are advantages and disadvantages to each type of pool (vinyl, fiberglass, and concrete). I believe I excel at knowing what type of pool would be best for a particular customer based on what they want and expect from a pool, and although I have a Commercial pool builders license, I don't build any single type of pool myself. I can offer a customer an unbiased opinion to help them decide what will work best. Because of my experience fixing pools, I also believe I am good at explaining what to do or not do to when building, to avoid unpleasant and expensive problems later.
All pools use similar equipment and, of course water is basically the same in all pools. I have seen over and over how water, which is not properly balanced and sanitized, can lead to a number of expensive problems. Anyone who has been in the pool business has seen how problems of this kind can take the fun out of owning or using a swimming pool. I have trained many pool owners, pool operators, pool maintenance and pool repair people. By spending a little money on good education, pool owners can save a lot of money on costly repairs that can be directly attributed to a lack of knowledge of pool water chemistry. This is especially true of commercial pools.
Content copyright 2017. Live Oak Pools, Inc. All rights reserved.