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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 136
Location: France, Bordeaux
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:18 pm
Post subject: Easiest apple crumble ever...
I decided to make an apple crumble the other day and just winged it, eventhough I had perfectly good recipes available (I do tend to collect cookbooks, especially those dedicated to pastry, cake, desserts...).
So here it goes :
Start the oven, thermostat on 6.
Peel, cut and cube 3 apples (the Golden variety, sweet, firm and juicy). Pour them in a baking dish (I used a standard porcelaine one). Skip the buttering the dish step !
Mix some brown sugar with a pack of vanilla sugar and cinnamon (no apple should ever get cooked without cinnamon, in my book !), sprinkle on the apples.
Now, for the topping, shred a cake ! I used a yaourt cake I had made 3 days before, and reduced about a third to crumbs.
Add a few dots of butter on top of the crumbs, everything gets into the oven and comes out only when the top gets golden-brownish.
Let cool just enough to be edible without 3rd degree burning of the mouth. For an extra bit of flavour, serve with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.
Golden syrup on the apple adds a nice flavour, but beware the overdose of sugar !
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Joined: 08 Apr 2007
Posts: 8
Location: New Zealand
Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 11:11 pm
Post subject: fantastic idea
What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing it. I often end up throwing out the "ends" of cakes that have started to go a little stale but this is the perfect use for them. Of course most of the cakes in my household are chocolate but chocolate and apple go very well together!
I imagine that you could freeze any ends of cake until you had a crumble desire and whizz the frozen cake in a food processor.
I am going to give this a shot next time I get my hands on some rhubarb for a rhubarb and apple chocolate crumble dessert! teeheehee sounds very much like my new comfort food!
For all the best Dark Chocolate recipes, tips, information and news visit
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 136
Location: France, Bordeaux
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 11:45 am
Post subject:
I did try it with store-bought gingerbread, but the result was not too great. Instead of the crunchy, fragrant crust I had hoped, I got a kind of sticky-soft cover. But the idea of a chocolate cake-crumb... Worth a try ! Maybe with a mix of apple and pears, pears and chocolate do so very well go together !
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Joined: 14 Oct 2005
Posts: 827
Location: Oakland, CA
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:53 pm
Post subject:
Maybe try toasting the gingerbread (or whatever) before you use it on top of the crumble.
L'appetit vient en mangeant. -Rabelais
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Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 296
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:21 pm
Post subject:
I wonder if English gingerbread (which is denser and harder than pain d'epice) might make a crunchier crumble topping? Of course, if you have to make it yourself (I've never seen it for sale in France, though perhaps I haven't looked hard enough) then that rather spoils the idea of a super-easy crumble! In which case Donna's idea is probably much better...
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Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts USA
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 7:59 am
Post subject: Crumbles
I use granola for my toppings, sometimes mixed with crushed/chopped nuts and butter. The flavored ones are especially great (apple ginger, etc)...
I also throw some dried fruit in along with the cut up fresh fruit, seasonings and butter. You can use frozen berries, too.
Most often I also put in chopped crystalized ginger and lemon peel (I always keep some on hand in the freezer). Once in a while I will add something like cointreau or poire william or calvados as well...
"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
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Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 1196
Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 8:25 am
Post subject:
robinorig, how do your store lemon peel in the freezer?
Do you grate it, or peel strips or ... well, how? And then what do you store it in to keep in the freezer?
Sounds like a great ingredient to have on hand all the time.
Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness
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Richard Leader
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 77
Location: London, UK
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:32 am
Post subject:
One way to ensure that the topping is crunchy is to bake it first before it goes onto the fruit...
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Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Posts: 136
Location: France, Bordeaux
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:16 am
Post subject:
Well the basic idea was to go the laziest possible way ! So toasting the topping "complicates" the process !!! But it's worth a try anyway, and I think I'll give it a whirl ! Now how much to toast ... Maybe I will just make some gingerbread just to see how it comes out ! With some of my great-uncle homemade honey...
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Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts USA
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:14 pm
Post subject: re: Crumble and Lemon Peel
I usually put both strips and finely shredded zest in ziploc bags in the freezer. I peel every single lemon whether I'm using the peel or not and put it in the bag and keep adding to it. It keeps for a long long time.
I also do the same with Limes and Oranges. That way, it's always on hand.
BTW, I love the small microplane for very fine zest, I've only seen it available at Williams-Sonoma. I no longer have to chop up the zest.
"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
Last edited by robinorig on Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:24 am; edited 1 time in total
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Joined: 29 Sep 2004
Posts: 1196
Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia
Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2007 11:39 pm
Post subject:
Thanks robinorig, that's a great idea - I'll do the same from now on. So many times I have wished I had some zest for something or other.
I love Microplane and Cuisipro graters. I have 3 sizes and the small nutmeg grater/keeper that I bought at Williams-Sonoma a couple of years ago.
Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness
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Joined: 24 Dec 2004
Posts: 27
Location: Arlington, Massachusetts USA
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:28 am
Post subject:
I love microplanes, too... I have 4 of them, all different. They're great tools!
BTW, I usually label the bags of frozen peels w/a sharpie permanent marker... sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a lemon or orange peel after it's been frozen for a while!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."
- Albert Einstein
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Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 87
Location: in the kitchen with a large bar of chocolate
Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2007 4:00 pm
Post subject: craig's gran's apple crumble
i have to say that i stand by the
apple crumble recipe
my friend
gave me. it's his
gran's recipe
and it makes just one perfect serving, but, can be easily expanded to feed a crowd.
garnished with a wee bit of cream, custard or a dollop of ice cream (a large dollop....) it is apple-y delicious, comforting and seems to make any day a little bit better.
nothing brings primates together like a good snack!
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Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 41
Location: Washington DC
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 9:39 pm
Post subject:
I love it when I just wing it in the kitchen and things turn out good - thanks for sharing.
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Joined: 20 Jun 2007
Posts: 18
Location: Washington, DC
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:45 pm
Post subject:
Monkey, thank you so much for posting this single serving recipe. I live by myself and am always craving a little treat, but it seems so unreasonable to make an entire pie or cake for myself. I suppose I could always give the rest away, but I don't trust myself not to eat it all! Either way, thanks for this, it was a very pleasant surprise!
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The Source
Did the lockdown drill meet its goals? Submit your feedback
November 14, 2012
Now that we have successfully concluded the November 14 campus-wide lockdown drill, we are legally required to assess whether the test met its goals.
Please take a moment to help us with the assessment by providing feedback.
As a thank you for completing the survey, you will be entered in a drawing to win one of three gift cards redeemable at the Lewis & Clark bookstore.
Survey closes on Friday, November 30.
Please contact Director of Campus Safety Tim O'Dwyer (x7860) with questions or comments.

subset: commoncrawl


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Made In Wisconsin: Purple Door Ice Cream
Sought after frozen flavors began in Bay View kitchen
A Bay View mother of two followed her middle school dream to create one of Milwaukee's hottest brands that's Made In Wisconsin.
Made in Wisconsin, Lauren Schultz visualized her ice cream shop early on. Through soccer cleats and skinned knees, Schultz knew her future lay in frozen treats.
"I just loved it as a kid," she said of her ice cream dream. "What kid doesn't like ice cream?"
As for the name, "Purple was my favorite color at the time," she said.
Schultz did not start her business right away. Teaching and starting a family set her on a different path until she began making ice cream in her Bay View kitchen.
Her ice cream became so popular that she quit her day job and began to plan for her own business.
"It was scary," she said. "It was 'it's now or never.'"
She unabashedly began serving ice cream in a region filled with frozen custard stands. With 13 percent butter fat and no eggs, her odd yet enticing flavors -- like pumpkin spice, chai with pink peppercorn and cinnamon -- began to get noticed.
After 18 months, Purple Door Ice Cream can now be found in 40 grocery stores and restaurants. She owns the business with her husband Steve, and the two have not forgotten their local roots as they expand.
"We use local coffee roasters, we work with Penzey Spices and the Spice House," she said. "The community of Milwaukee really embraces small local businesses and we've seen that from every aspect of what we've been trying to do."
Schultz said that business has been steady enough for her to take on two part-time employees, and last week she and Steve began to take weekends off.
Purple Door Ice Cream - Made In Wisconsin.
If you would like to nominate a business for our Made In Wisconsin series, please fill out the form below:


text:
UnNews:Star Wars: 3D and beyond
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
10 October 2010
LOS ANGELES, California -- This time it's official: the Star Wars saga will be released in a brand new 3D version in 2012. George Lucas' fans and bankers are ecstatic about this expected news which will give a new boost to a franchise that seemed overtired after the disappointing episodes I, II and III, however still available in cassettes VHS, DVD, Laserdiscs, Video CD and Blu-ray in every store and internet website near your home in every country including U.S.S.R.
This is a new level in the world-acclaimed opportunism of George Lucas who manages once again to make big money with 30-year old movies, investing the least amount of effort possible. And it's only the beginning. The 3D version of Star Wars is just a step in a slow process that should allow the fans to spend between 100 and 200 dollars every year to watch movies which they already know the plot in detail (And then on DVD, and so forth, and so on,)[1].
Thus, in 2014, the saga will be released for the first time in a black & white version. Indeed, when it was released into theaters in 1977, Star Wars had unfortunately taken advantage of color. But this flaw is soon to be fixed. Note that only the last three episodes (released as the first three) will be out in black & white in 2014. Fans will have to wait until 2021 to watch the other three episodes (also called the second first three, the prequel or the crappy ones). But that doesn't mean that viewers will be lacking in more opportunities to break their piggy banks to fill the producers' pockets. In 2016, George Lucas has promised that the original trilogy will be aired for the very first time in its silent version. This idea relies on the premise of the story itself that announces the action takes place "a very long time ago in a galaxy far away". And "a long time ago", movies were silent so it's kind of a tribute and a way to avoid the pitfalls of anachronisms.
But beware; despite this "back to the past" concept, George Lucas is above all a technology addict. So for 2019, he announced that the 2014 black & white version of Star Wars will be released in a colorized version. The following year, the silent release will come out with brand new audio tracks (mono in 2015, stereo in 2017, Dolby Digital 5.1 in 2023, with a special THX compliant quality edition in June of each year). Nevertheless, the big event will occur in 2027. For the 50th anniversary of the 1st movie, there will be a very special release of the silent black & white Star Wars saga, colorized and with sound! It's rumored that this version will include an extra scene of 1 sec length in which fans could hear a laser beam making a DZIIIING sound. Although we're not sure if this scene will be embedded in the theatrical movie or will be part of the Blu-ray-or-whatever-will-replace-it version of the movie due to 2029.
This article is based on the Désencyclopédian text Désinformation:Saga Star Wars, George Lucas met les petits plats dans l'écran, made freely available to French-speaking wildebeest gnus under the GFDL.
In 2032, George Lucas will push the limits of his "back to the past" concept, releasing all 6 episodes in a single movie totally black and mute, in tribute to days when cinema didn't even exist. There is possibility of an extended edition release of the black and mute version with 3 hours of previously deleted scenes. However, being a man of suspense, George Lucas has refused to confirm that the black and mute Star Wars will eventually come later in the century in silent black & white, silent colorized, sounded black & white and sounded colorized versions. "These are only conjectures, we will do what the fans and bankroll management requires", he said.
In this regard, George Lucas has denied any rumors implying that he neglected the fans. The best proof of the assertion is that in 2043, a special edition of Star Wars will be released in sign language for the benefit of all the early fans that became deaf and bedridden with time. Thank you for thinking of them Mr. Lucas.
- ↑ By the way, Darth Vader is the father of Luke Skywalker who is the brother of Princess Leia, who never gets naked in any of the 6 movies (well, unless you count the fact that you see her as a newborn baby at some point, perv)
- "George Lucas to release Star Wars in 3D". BBC, September 29, 2010


text:
Don't Miss
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- AHL approves sale and relocation of Portland Pirates to Springfield Hockey, LLC
- Dumont named Bowdoin head coach
- ECHL coming to Portland?
- Pirates leaving town with little warning
- Pirates leaving Maine for Springfield, Mass.
- Several UMaine recruits selected in USHL draft
- Pirates eliminated from AHL postseason
- Peters shuts out Pirates as Bears even series, 2-2
- Pirates take series lead on Flick's 3OT winner
Pirates vs. Worcester Sharks (12/20/14)
- Updated: December 21, 2014


text:
American Crossroads spends big
The Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads had its best fundraising month of the year in July, pulling in $7.1 million — with $5 million coming from just four donors and their companies.
But the super PAC spent even more: $9.1 million — with almost all of it going toward ads attacking President Barack Obama, according to a report filed Monday night with the Federal Election Commission. American Crossroads finished last month with a healthy $29.5 million in the bank.
It received $2 million from Texas investor Robert Rowling and a company he founded called TRT Holdings that owns Omni Hotels and Gold's Gym. Rowling, who bundled at least $100,000 for former President George W. Bush, was among the first donors to American Crossroads in 2010.
The super PAC also reported $1 million donations in July from New York hedge funder Robert Leroy Mercer, Weaver Holdings of Indiana, and Stephens, Inc., of Little Rock, Ark.
American Crossroads has been far surpassed by its nonprofit affiliate, Crossroads GPS, which does not disclose its donors — or even basic information on its finances — but has boasted of spending $86 million since the beginning of 2011 on ads attacking Obama and other Democrats.
By contrast, in that time, American Crossroads has reported raising $47.3 million. Both groups have spread the wealth among other conservative groups and, in July, American Crossroads donated $100,000 to the Republican State Leadership Committee, a nonprofit group that had been run by Crossroads co-founder Ed Gillespie, who has since joined Mitt Romney's campaign.


text:
Optimization Consulting, Inc.
B-407377,B-407377.2: Dec 28, 2012
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
(202) 512-8278
Kenneth E. Patton
(202) 512-8205
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
Optimization Consulting, Inc., of Washington, D.C., protests the exclusion of its proposal from the competitive range under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9133L-12-R-0024, issued by the Department of the Army for psychological health support services for the National Guard Bureau. Optimization challenges the agency's evaluation of its price and technical proposals.
We deny the protest.
The decision issued on the date below was subject to a GAO Protective Order. This redacted version has been approved for public release.
Matter of: Optimization Consulting, Inc.
File: B-407377; B-407377.2
Date: December 28, 2012
Theodore P. Watson, Esq., and Idris S. Keith, Esq., Watson & Associates, LLC, for the protester.
Capt. Nicholes Dembinski, Department of the Army, for the agency.
Pedro E. Briones, Esq., and Guy R. Pietrovito, Esq., Office of the General Counsel, GAO, participated in the preparation of the decision.
An agency reasonably excluded the protesters proposal from the competitive range where the proposal was not among the most highly-rated, given that the protesters significantly higher-priced proposal offered no technical advantages.
Optimization Consulting, Inc., of Washington, D.C., protests the exclusion of its proposal from the competitive range under request for proposals (RFP) No. W9133L-12-R-0024, issued by the Department of the Army for psychological health support services for the National Guard Bureau. Optimization challenges the agencys evaluation of its price and technical proposals.
We deny the protest.
The RFP, issued as a small business set-aside, provided for the award of multiple, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts, with fixed-price, labor hour, and cost reimbursement items, for mental health support services for a 3-year base period and a 2-year option period. RFP at 2-3. A detailed performance work statement (PWS) was provided that described the required services. In this respect, the contractor will provide a broad range of mental health services, including, among other things, counseling, case management, and guidance to support the Army and Air National Guards (ARNG and ANG, respectively) deployment readiness and reservists post-deployment readjustment to civilian life. See RFP amend. 3, PWS at 2-4. The contractor will be required to provide a director of psychological health (DPH) at identified National Guard Bureau locations. Id. at 3.
Offerors were informed that award would be made on a best-value basis considering the following factors, listed in descending order of importance: mission capability, past performance, small business participation, and price. RFP at 132-33. The RFP stated that the non-price evaluation factors, when combined, were more important than the price factor. Id. The mission capability factor included the following two subfactors, which were of equal importance: overall capability, and representative tasks for ANG and ARNG DPH support.[1] Id. at 133-36. Offerors were instructed to submit separate mission capability, past performance, small business participation, and price proposals. RFP amend. 2, at 61-62.
With respect to the overall capability subfactor, offerors were required to describe their corporate experience and resources, as well as provide plans for continuous quality improvement and quality control. See id. at 63-64. Corporate experience was to include recent, comparable experiences in providing the types of services required, including, among other things, management and behavioral health experience. See id. In this regard, the RFP stated that the agency would place particular emphasis on whether an offeror demonstrated experience in a similar field and with contracts of similar size and scope, as well as whether the offeror provided a continuous quality improvement plan to identify and mitigate potential deficiencies on an on-going basis. See RFP at 134.
The offerors description of its corporate resources was to include a description of its relationships with health benefits and insurance providers, as well as the offerors affiliate counselor network and approach to data tracking and reporting. See RFP amend. 2, at 64. Offerors continuous quality improvement plans were required to include specific methods for ensuring consistent, quality performance in all areas, including affiliate performance. Id. Offerors quality control plans were required to include procedures for ensuring contract compliance and correcting deficiencies, among other things. See id. at 65. Offerors were also informed that the agency would evaluate more favorably a quality control plan that offered effective mechanisms for addressing and identifying additional success measures. See RFP at 134.
Under the representative tasks subfactor, offerors were required to propose a task execution approach, key personnel, and transition/staffing plan for performing the two sample tasks. RFP amend. 2, at 65, 80-124. Offerors were required to describe their technical and management approach to completing the tasks, including their approach to service member training, as well as procedure for critical incident management and intervention, and traumatic event management response. Id. at 65. Offerors were also required to propose key personnel, such as the DPH, and provide resumes and narratives describing the education, experience, and qualifications of proposed key personnel. See id.; RFP amend. 3, append. B, Personnel Requirements. In this regard, offerors were instructed to describe their transition/staffing plan for filling and maintaining key personnel positions, orientation methods, timeframes, maintenance and improvement of their affiliate network, and case transfers, among other things. See RFP amend. 2, at 65-66.
The RFP stated that the agency would evaluate the offerors technical and management approaches to successfully performing two task orders, as well as offerors understanding of the tasks through their identification and mitigation of performance risks. See RFP at 135. Particular emphasis would be placed on the efficiency of the offerors organizational structure. Id. Key personnel resumes, education, qualifications, and experience would be evaluated against the PWS requirements. See id. Offerors transition/staffing plans would be evaluated with particular emphasis on the seamless transition of responsibilities and services. See id. The agency would also evaluate the offerors hiring plan and procedures, retention strategies, and skill mix, as well as the offerors recruitment and retention methods, and success in that regard performing similar contracts. See id. at 136.
With respect to price, offerors were informed that the agency would evaluate their total contract life price, which would be based upon the proposed prices for the two sample tasks, the fixed-price contract line items (CLIN), and the ceiling (or maximum) hourly rates for seven required labor categories.[2] Id. at 139-40; see RFP amend. 2, at 73-74; see also RFP amend. 5 at 2-3. For evaluation purposes, not-to-exceed values were provided for the cost reimbursement CLINs.[3] See id.
Offerors were instructed to submit prices and labor rates using a price model (on Microsoft Excel spreadsheets) provided with the RFP, and which was intended to facilitate the agencys evaluation of the offerors sample task pricing and ceiling labor rates. RFP at 71-72; RFP amend. 5, at 2-3, 5-14. Thus for each sample task, offerors were required to submit pricing detail worksheets identifying their proposed hours and rates for the required CLINs and labor categories. See id. Offerors were also required to insert ceiling rates by performance year for all required labor categories on a third worksheet.[4] See id. Offerors total prices for each sample task and the total contract life price would be calculated based upon the formulas programmed into the price models spreadsheets. See id.; RFP at 139. Offerors were informed that their total contract life prices would be evaluated for reasonableness and realism. RFP at 139-40.
The agency received 10 proposals, including Optimizations.[5] See Contracting Officers (CO) Statement at 1-2. As relevant here, Optimizations total contract life price was $196,662,108, which included $30,592,683 for the ANG sample task, and $22,089,093 for the ARNG task. AR, Tab 19, Optimizations Initial Price Proposal, at 1, 5, 9. Optimizations ceiling labor rates ranged from [DELETED] to [DELETED], including [DELETED] for the DPH labor category. Id. at 8.
After receiving initial proposals, the agency amended the solicitation three times to correct formula errors in the pricing model spreadsheets, and requested revised price proposals from the offerors. COs Statement at 1; see RFP amends. 5-7. As amended, the RFP advised offerors that the agency would evaluate the total contract life price, including for each option period, based only on the offerors price model. See RFP amend. 5, at 2. It also advised offerors that any explanatory pricing notes must be submitted by offerors in a separate document (that is, not as part of the pricing model spreadsheets), should be limited to explaining details not readily discernible from the price model, and must not contain qualifications or options which could result in a change of price or lack of clarity.[6] Id. at 4.
Technical proposals were evaluated by the agencys source selection evaluation board (SSEB). Supp. AR at 6. The protesters proposal was evaluated as marginal under the mission capability factor and both of its subfactors (overall capability and representative tasks). Supp. AR, encl. 1, Overall Capability Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 1; encl. 2, Representative Tasks Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 1. The SSEBs assessment was that Optimizations proposal did not clearly meet, and did not demonstrate an adequate approach to and understanding of, the requirements.[7] See id. The SSEB found, among other things, that although Optimizations mission capability proposal offered a number of strengths, those strengths did not offset the proposals high number of weaknesses. See id. The SSEB also found that the risk of unsuccessful performance for Optimization was high. See id.
For example, the evaluators found that Optimization had no other behavioral health experience other than its performance of the ANG DPH pilot project, and expressed concerns over Optimizations limited corporate experience and capability to manage a national scope of integrated services. See Supp. AR, encl. 1, Overall Capability Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 1. In this respect, the evaluators also found that Optimizations description of medical support service for ARNG was too short to discern Optimizations capabilities and that its task execution approach was ANG-centric. See id.; encl. 2, Representative Tasks Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 2. The SSEB also found that Optimization did not effectively address its plan for ARNG transition, including case transitions. Supp. AR, encl. 2, Representative Tasks Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 1. Moreover, the SSEB found that Optimizations proposed directors did not meet minimum qualifications. Id. at 2. The evaluators also felt that Optimizations continuous quality improvement plan was a textbook description that lacked performance indicators tailored to the requirement. See Supp. AR, encl. 1, Overall Capability Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 2. The evaluators also expressed concern with the small size of Optimizations provider network, and concern that Optimizations data tracking and reporting methods lacked substance. See id.
Revised price proposals were evaluated by the agencys price evaluation team (PET). See AR, Tab 27, PET Report; see also Tab 28, SSAC Report, at 2-3, 105. Optimizations final revised price proposal stated three different total contract life prices.[8] See AR, Tab 26, Optimizations Final Revised Price Proposal, at 14, 18. Specifically, Optimizations price model provided a total contract life price of $265,619,222, calculated using the spreadsheets mathematical formulas with the task order and ceiling rate prices inserted by Optimization. See id. at 7-14. Optimizations revised price model included $35,250,048 and $30,924,896 for the ANG and ARNG tasks, respectively, with ceiling labor rates ranging from [DELETED] to [DELETED], including [DELETED] for the DPH labor category. However, directly below Optimizations proposed $266 million total contract life price, in what was otherwise intended to be a blank space in the price model spreadsheet, Optimization inserted a total contract life price of $199,444,167. Id. at 14. Elsewhere, under the heading Notes, Optimization stated that it offer[s] a price as stated below based on the AGN [sic] and ARNG pricing details . . . $199,464,082. Id. at 15-18. The notes identified a total price of $108,655,606 for the ANG task and $90,808,476 for the ARNG task. Id. These task prices were different from the prices calculated using the spreadsheet.[9]
The offerors proposed prices were compared to each other and to the independent government cost estimate (IGCE) for the procurement. AR, Tab 27, PET Report, at 3. The PET also conducted a statistical analysis of the proposed labor rates for each performance year. Id. at 5. The PET found that, although Optimization completed all aspects of the price model as required, it had added EAP costs to the fixed price for DPH services and included additional notes which the PET could not interpret. Id. at 10. The PET also found that Optimizations $266 million total contract life price, as well as its labor rates, were not fair and reasonable compared to other prices, and that its labor rates were excessive. See id. The PET concluded that Optimizations extremely high price and labor rates, although not unrealistic, may have reflected a lack of understanding of the requirement. Id.
The technical and price evaluations were reviewed by the SSAC, which concluded that only the most highly-rated offers should be included in the competitive range for the purpose of conducting discussions. AR, Tab 28, SSAC Report, at 132. The SSAC agreed with the SSEB that Optimizations proposal was not among the mostly highly-rated proposals. Id. at 131-32. In this regard, the SSAC noted that Optimization proposed the highest total contract life price ($265,619,111), which was [DELETED] percent above the offerors average price and [DELETED] percent above the IGCE. See id. Although the SSAC also noted Optimizations proposal of other total prices, $199,464,082 in its explanatory notes, and $199,444,167 on its worksheet, it recognized that the PET had verified the propriety of all formulas in Optimizations price model spreadsheet and found that Optimizations $266 million price should be considered as Optimizations total contract life price, as it was calculated on the same basis as all other offerors.[10] See id. The SSAC determined that, in any event considering Optimizations proposed price of $199 million or $266 million, there was no advantageous aspect of Optimizations proposal, nor any likely revision, that would put the protesters proposal in line for contract award. See id. at 132.
Four offers were included in the competitive range as the most highly rated offers.[11] AR, Tab 29, Competitive Range Determination, at 182-83; COs Statement at 2. Optimizations proposal was not included, AR, Tab 30, Notice of Exclusion from Competitive Range at 2, and this protest followed.
Optimization complains that the agency did not evaluate its price in accordance with the solicitation, arguing that flaws in the RFPs price model resulted in the protesters total price being miscalculated.[12] See Protest at 6-7. In this regard, the protester contends that, despite the numerous RFP amendments and revisions to the price model, the model contained ongoing and unresolved flaws. See id. The protester contends that it proposed a revised price of $199,464,082 and that Optimizations explanatory notes simply corrected, and explained, the errors in the RFPs spreadsheet.[13] See Protest at 7. Optimization maintains that, given the spreadsheets numerous errors, the PETs confusion over Optimizations price, and the agencys late amendment of the RFP, the agency should have engaged in communications or discussions to clarify any questions it had about Optimizations price. See Comments at 2-6.
The Army responds that the protesters price proposal was reasonably evaluated, given Optimizations failure to follow the RFPs instructions for the preparation of price proposals and its submission of multiple total prices. See AR at 15-16. In this regard, the agency states that offerors were clearly informed by the RFP that the total contract life price as calculated by the price model would be the only price evaluated. Id. at 18, citing RFP amend. 5, at 3-4. The agency also denies that the price model, as finally amended, contained flaws. Id. at 16-17. The Army notes that Optimization increased its ceiling labor rates in its final revised proposal by as much as 40 percent for some labor categories, which, according to the agency, accounts for the difference between Optimizations initial price proposal and its final revised $266 million proposal. Id. at 18-19.
Our Office will review an agencys evaluation and exclusion of a proposal from the competitive range for reasonableness and consistency with the solicitation criteria and applicable statutes and regulations. Cylab Inc., B-402716, July 13, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 163 at 4. Contracting agencies are not required to retain in the competitive range proposals that are not among the most highly rated or that the agency otherwise reasonably concludes have no realistic prospect of being selected for award. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) § 15.306(c)(1); General Atomics Aeronautical Sys., Inc., B-311004, B-311004.2, Mar. 28, 2008, 2008 CPD ¶ 105 at 5. In this regard, a protesters mere disagreement with an agencys evaluation and competitive range judgment does not establish that the agency acted unreasonably. CMC & Maint., Inc., B-290152, June 24, 2002, 2002 CPD ¶ 107 at 2.
Here, we find that the agency reasonably evaluated Optimizations price proposal in a manner consistent with the RFP.[14] As the agency points out, the RFP explicitly advised that the agency would evaluate a total contract life price for each proposal, including for each option period and representative task, based only on the offerors price model.[15] Although Optimization insists that the price model contained formula errors, the protester has not identified any such errors or shown how its final revised $266 million price was miscalculated. In this respect, the protester also fails to explain how its revised total price increased only to $199,464,082 (or $199,444,167) from its initial proposed price of $196,662,108, even though it increased all of its labor rates, some of them significantly, while proposing largely the same labor hours.[16] Compare AR, Tab 19, Optimizations Initial Price Proposal, at 2-4, 6-8 with Tab 26, Optimizations Final Price Proposal, at 8-9, 11-13. Nor does the protester rebut--or even address--the Armys arguments in this regard.
We also disagree that the agency was required to clarify Optimizations multiple price offers. Where, as here, the agency establishes a competitive range to conduct discussions, the agency may conduct communications with an offeror to facilitate the agencys understanding and evaluation of the offerors proposal or for the purpose of exploring whether a proposal should be included in the competitive range. See FAR § 15.306(b)(2). Such communications, however, cannot be used to cure proposal deficiencies or material omissions, materially alter the technical or cost elements of the proposal, and/or otherwise revise the proposal.[17] Id.; Battelle Meml Inst., B-299533, May 14, 2007, 2007 CPD ¶ 94 at 4.
Optimization also raises a number of challenges to the agencys evaluation of its proposal under the mission capability factor and to the SSEBs conclusion that the proposals weaknesses were not offset by its strengths. See Supp. Protest at 1-2; Supp. Comments at 3. The protester contends that the agencys evaluation is conclusory and unsupported, for example, with regard to Optimizations corporate experience.[18] See Supp. Comments at 5. We have considered all of Optimizations arguments, and although we only discuss some of them, we find that they largely reflect the protesters disagreement with the agencys technical evaluation, and offer no basis to sustain the protest.
An agencys evaluation of technical proposals is primarily the responsibility of the contracting agency, since the agency is responsible for defining its needs and identifying the best method of accommodating them, and it must bear the burden of any difficulties resulting from a defective evaluation. Wyle Labs., Inc., B-311123, Apr. 29, 2008, 2009 CPD ¶ 96 at 5-6. In reviewing protests of an agency's evaluation, our Office does not reevaluate proposals, rather, we review the evaluation to determine if was reasonable, consistent with the solicitations evaluation scheme, as well as procurement statutes and regulations, and adequately documented. Wackenhut Servs., Inc., B-400240, B-400240.2, Sept. 10, 2008, 2008 CPD ¶ 184 at 6; Cherry Road Techs.; Elec. Data Sys. Corp., B-296915 et al., Oct. 24, 2005, 2005 CPD ¶ 197 at 6.
We find that the agency evaluated the relative merits of Optimizations proposal reasonably and that agency evaluators assessed strengths, weaknesses, and ratings in a fair and impartial manner consistent with the RFP. The contemporaneous evaluation record here consists of hundreds of pages, including evaluators consensus ratings, as well as a lengthy and detailed SSAC report and competitive range determination. Although the protester may disagree with the agencys evaluation of its mission capability proposal, the record demonstrates that the SSEB and the CO considered all of the information submitted by offerors and available to the agency, and issued a well-reasoned and rational evaluation report and competitive range determination that extensively highlighted key discriminators between Optimizations and other offerors proposals.[19] Optimizations disagreement with the agencys conclusions regarding weaknesses in its proposal does not establish that the agencys judgment concerning the merits of the protesters proposal was unreasonable. See Savannah River Alliance, LLC, B-311126 et al., Apr. 25, 2008, 2008 CPD ¶ 88 at 7 (protest of evaluation ratings based on protesters selective identification of, and disagreement with, evaluation assessments denied where detailed evaluation record shows that agency assessed ratings based on proposals merits and fairly highlighted key discriminators in that regard).
In sum, Optimization has not shown that the agencys evaluation of its price and mission capability proposals was unreasonable or inconsistent with the RFP, and the protesters disagreement with the agencys judgment does not establish that the agency acted unreasonably. See Citywide Managing Servs. of Port Washington, Inc., B-281287.12, B-281287.13, Nov. 15, 2000, 2001 CPD ¶ 6 at 10-11. Accordingly, we find reasonable the agencys judgment that Optimizations proposal was not among the most highly-rated offers, and the exclusion of the protesters proposal from the competitive range on this basis.
The protest is denied.
Susan A. Poling
General Counsel
[1] The RFP provided two sample tasks for DPH services for the ANG and ARNG. Detailed performance requirements and estimated annual workload data were provided for each task. See RFP amend. 2, at 80-124.
[2] The RFP identified seven separate CLINs: transition-in (CLIN 1--fixed-price); psychological health support services (CLIN 2--fixed-price); travel (CLIN 3--cost); emergency affiliate providers (EAP) (CLIN 4--labor hour); promotional materials (CLIN 5--cost); contractor manpower reporting (CLIN 6--fixed-price); and transition-out (CLIN 7--fixed-price). RFP at 3-8; RFP amend. 2, at 2.
[3] The following not-to-exceed (plug) numbers were provided for the two cost reimbursement CLINs (CLINs 3 and 5): $1,000,000 and $50,000 for the ANG sample task, respectively; and $1,500,000 and $50,000 for the ARNG task, respectively. RFP amend. 4, at 5, 9; RFP amend. 7, at 3, 5.
[4] As amended the RFP stated that the labor hours for emergency affiliate providers (EAP) (CLIN 3) would be calculated based on the rate in the ceiling rate worksheet.
[5] Optimization was apparently the incumbent for a pilot project for the ANG, which did not include all of the requirements solicited here and was significantly smaller in magnitude than the requirement. See COs Statement at 6; Supp. Comments at 4; Agency Report (AR), Source Selection Advisory Council (SSAC) Report, at 132.
[6] The solicitation amendments provided more detailed instructions for completing the price models; however, the final instructions were largely similar to the earlier instructions. Compare RFP amend. 5, at 3-4 with RFP amend. 2, at 71-72.
[7] A marginal rating reflected a proposal that did not clearly meet the requirements, had not demonstrated an adequate approach and understanding of the requirements, with one or more weaknesses that were not offset by strengths, and had a high risk of unsuccessful performance. See RFP at 137.
[8] The record shows that Optimizations final revised price model was submitted late. The agency states, however, that it nevertheless evaluated it in the interest of determining whether it made Optimizations terms more favorable to the government. COs Statement at 7.
[9] Optimizations initial price proposal did not include any notes. AR, Tab 19, Optimizations Initial Price Proposal; see AR at 12.
[10] The SSAC also concluded that, even if the agency evaluated all offerors prices based on a similar construct as that used by Optimization for its additional proposed overall prices, Optimizations evaluated total price would still be the highest. AR, Tab 28, SSAC Report, at 132.
[11] The four proposals included in the competitive range all received substantially higher technical ratings and ranged in total contract life price from $131 million to $201 million. See AR, Tab 28, SSAC Report, at 132-33.
[12] Optimization also complains that offerors were given less than 24 hours to respond to the final solicitation amendment. See Comments at 3. This complaint, which was not raised within 10 days of when revised price proposals were to be submitted or raised in Optimizations protest, is untimely, and is dismissed.
[13] Nowhere in Optimizations price proposal, including in the notes section or the email transmitting the proposal to the agency, did Optimization state that the price model spreadsheet contained flaws. AR, Tab 26, Optimizations Final Revised Price Proposal, at 1-18.
[14] Although Optimization contends that the agencys price evaluation was conclusory and inadequately documented, see Protesters Comments at 7-8, we find that the price evaluation is reasonable and adequately documented.
[15] To the extent that the protester complains that the agency required offerors to use a predetermined pricing formula (the price model), see Comments at 7, this protest argument, which was first raised in the protesters comments, is untimely.
[16] As cited above, Optimizations rate for the DPH labor category increased from [DELETED] to [DELETED], although the number of hours for that category remained the same. See AR, Tab 19, Optimizations Initial Price Proposal, at 2-4, 6-8; Tab 26, Optimizations Final Revised Price Proposal, at 8-9, 11-13.
[17] It is an offerors responsibility to submit a well-written proposal, with adequately detailed information which clearly demonstrates compliance with the solicitation requirements and allows a meaningful review by the procuring agency. See, e.g., International Med. Corps, B-403688, Dec. 6, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 292 at 7. Agencies are not required to infer information from an inadequately detailed proposal or information that the protester elected not to provide. See, e.g., James Constr., B-402429, Apr. 21, 2010, 2010 CPD ¶ 98 at 5 (agency not required to piece together general statements and disparate parts of protesters proposal to determine the protesters intent).
[18] Optimization does not protest the agencys evaluation under the past performance or small business participation factors.
[19] For example, while Optimization believes that it has sufficient corporate experience as the incumbent on the ANG pilot project to merit a higher mission capability rating, and asserts that its evaluation was conclusory in that regard, see Supp Comments at 2, the record shows that the agency conducted an extensive assessment, including a detailed comparison of the protesters corporate experience to those of the four offerors proposed for the competitive range. See AR, Tab 28, SSAC Report, at 56, 118, 131-32, 139-40, 151-52, 162-64, 177-78. As discussed above, notwithstanding Optimizations experience on the ANG pilot project (for which the agency in fact assessed a number of strengths), the agency questioned Optimizations capability to manage a national scope of integrated services, based on its ANG-centric task execution approach and its short description of ARNG medical support services, among other things. See Supp. AR, encl. 1, Overall Capability Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 1; encl. 2, Representative Tasks Subfactor Consensus Evaluation, at 2. We find such considerations consistent with the stated evaluation criteria, well documented, and reasonable. See id.; RFP at 134; amend. 2, at 63-64.
Sep 23, 2020
Candor Solutions, LLC
We dismiss the protest because the protester's allegations are untimely.
Sep 22, 2020
Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA, Inc.
We deny the protest.
Sep 17, 2020
Sep 16, 2020
Sumaria Systems, Inc.
We deny the protest.
We deny the protest.
Sep 15, 2020
CenturyLink QGS
We deny the protest.
Patronus Systems, Inc.
We sustain the protest.
Sep 11, 2020
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Born In Shiraz, Iran, in 1942
Kambiz Derambakhsh, studied fine arts in Tehran fine arts faulty and has been publishing his cartoons and caricatures in many well-known local and international newspapers and magazines for more than 55 years.
Honors and Awards: Grand Prizes and gold medals of Japan, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Turkey, Brazil, Yugoslavia exhibitions and some other honors and awards.
Kambiz has also sat as a juror for a number of international cartoons exhibitions.
He organized as many as 50 individual and collective exhibitions in Iran and abroad
He has taught the art of caricature in, including in Tehran University.
Many arts centers, arts galleries, and cultural/arts museums throughout the world have bought his works for exhibition , Basel Caricature Museum in Switzerland, Gabrovo House of Cartoons in Bulgaria, Tehran Contemporary Arts Museum.Academy of Arts, National Library, Saba House, Iranian Graphics Syndicate, Avignon Museum, Warsaw cartoon Museum, Frankfurt Municipality and etc.….
Kambiz Derambakhsh has published many books on illustration and caricature in Iran and abroad. Among many it may be recalled: No Comments in Iran , Diaries of Angels, in Iran , Kambiz's Book in Italy, Contemporary Satirists Book in Iran, and Italy, Laughing Olympics, Had Davinci Seen Me, Scratch Symphony, Don't Thumb the Hard working Ants and some books in progress.
نمایشگاه " کامبیز درم بخش " با عنوان " پانتومیم روی کاغذ " آذر
Overview and HistoryTehran is the capital of Iran and the largest city in the Middle East, with a population of fifteen million people living under the peaks of the Alborz mountain range.Although archaeological evidence places human activity around Tehran back into the years 6000BC, the city was not mentioned in any writings until much later, in the thirteenth century. It's a relatively new city by Iranian standards.But Tehran was a well-known village in the ninth century. It grew rapidly when its neighboring city, Rhages, was destroyed by Mongolian raiders. Many people fled to Tehran.In the seventeenth century Tehran became home to the rulers of the Safavid Dynasty. This is the period when the wall around the city was first constructed. Tehran became the capital of Iran in 1795 and amazingly fast growth followed over the next two hundred years.The recent history of Tehran saw construction of apartment complexes and wide avenues in place of the old Persian gardens, to the detriment of the city's cultural history.The city at present is laid out in two general parts. Northern Tehran is more cosmopolitan and expensive, southern Tehran is cheaper and gets the name "downtown."Getting ThereMehrabad airport is the original one which is currently in the process of being replaced by Imam Khomeini International Airport. The new one is farther away from the city but it now receives all the international traffic, so allow an extra hour to get there or back.TransportationTehran driving can be a wild free-for-all like some South American cities, so get ready for shared taxis, confusing bus routes and a brand new shiny metro system to make it all better. To be fair, there is a great highway system here.The metro has four lines, tickets cost 2000IR, and they have segregated cars. The women-only carriages are the last two at the end, FYI.Taxis come in two flavors, shared and private. Private taxis are more expensive but easier to manage for the visiting traveler. Tehran has a mean rush hour starting at seven AM and lasting until 8PM in its evening version. Solution? Motorcycle taxis! They cut through the traffic and any spare nerves you might have left.People and CultureMore than sixty percent of Tehranis were born outside of the city, making it as ethnically and linguistically diverse as the country itself. Tehran is the most secular and liberal city in Iran and as such it attracts students from all over the country.Things to do, RecommendationsTake the metro to the Tehran Bazaar at the stop "Panzda Gordad". There you can find anything and everything -- shoes, clothes, food, gold, machines and more. Just for the sight of it alone you should take a trip there.If you like being outside, go to Darband and drink tea in a traditional setting. Tehranis love a good picnic and there are plenty of parks to enjoy. Try Mellat park on a friday (fridays are public holidays), or maybe Park Daneshjou, Saaii or Jamshidieh.Remember to go upstairs and have a look around, always always always! The Azadi Tower should fit the bill; it was constructed to commemorate the 2500th anniversary of the Persian Empire.Tehran is also full of museums such as:the Contemporary Art Museumthe Abghine Musuem (glass works)the 19th century Golestan Royal Palace museumthe museum of carpets (!!!)Reza Abbasi Museum of extraordinary miniaturesand most stunning of all,the Crown Jewels Museum which holds the largest pink diamond in the world and many other jaw-dropping jewels.Text by Steve Smith.


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USD School of Law Announces 2014 Summer Study Abroad Programs
University of San Diego (USD) School of Law Dean Stephen C. Ferruolo today announced the school's 2014 Summer Study Abroad Programs in Barcelona, Florence, London and Paris.
"Globalization of the legal profession has led us to reinvigorate and refocus our summer study abroad programs to provide valuable training for attorneys who will function in the international marketplace," said Dean Ferruolo. "USD School of Law is strongly committed to providing programs that enhance the educational opportunities for our students, as well as those from other leading U.S. and international law schools."
Fully integrated with the school's regular international and comparative law course offerings, USD's law summer study abroad programs provide a strong curricular focus. Each program offers a tailored selection of courses tied to an overall academic theme reflecting the academic, legal, economic, and cultural dynamics of that city and region.
USD's 2014 Summer Study Abroad Programs
Barcelona, Spain
Established in 1996, the Barcelona program focuses on European Union law and comparative law. Next summer students will engage leading experts such as Dale Carpenter from the University of Minnesota School of Law on comparative constitutional law.
Florence, Italy
Established in 1996, the Florence program focuses on art, technology and intellectual property law. Next summer students will engage leading experts such as Jane Ginsburg from Columbia Law School on international copyright law.
London, England
Established in 1979, the London program focuses on international business. Next summer students will engage leading experts such as Fred McChesney from University of Miami School of Law on international business transactions.
Paris, France
Established in 1973, the Paris program focuses on public international law and human rights. Next summer students will engage leading experts such as Paul Stephan from the University of Virginia School of Law on public international law.
More information about USD School of Law's Summer Study Abroad Program is available online.
USD's Semester Exchange Programs
In addition to and not duplicative of the summer study abroad programs, USD School of Law also offers eight exchange programs that allow students to spend an entire semester at an international law school. These programs provide USD law students a more continuous and extensive academic and cultural experience in a high-quality, academic environment that allows students to interact with top international faculty and exceptional students.
USD law students are able to explore a summer study abroad program, a semester exchange program, or both. More information about USD's Semester Exchange Programs are available online.
Price Family Grant for International Fellows
Thanks to a multi-year gift from the Tom and Gwen Price Family Foundation, USD's Price Family International Fellows Program provides financial support to USD law students participating in the school's international exchange and study abroad programs.
In the summer of 2013, the Price Family Grant provided assistance to USD law students for the following international internship opportunities:
Law and Development Associates, Accra, Ghana
Law and Development Associates is a multi-disciplinary consulting company that specializes in improving the fundamental human rights of Ghanaians through legal reform. Student interns drafted solutions for the Office of the President, Ministry of Justice, and the Attorney General's Department; researched the forestry and wildlife policies and laws of Ghana to ensure compliance with environmental commitments; and worked with the Ministry of Health to analyze health insurance and health related education in Ghana.
Office of the United States Trade Representative, Beijing, China
The Office of the United States Trade Representative is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiation with other countries. Working under the Minister Counselor for Trade Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, student interns researched, analyzed, and wrote briefing materials and reports, planned logistics for senior official visits, and drafted official correspondence.
Korean Commercial Arbitration Board, Seoul, Korea
The Korean Commercial Arbitration Board (KCAB) is an internationally recognized non-profit arbitration institution that works to assist international parties in resolving disputes encountered in the course of their commercial activities. Interns worked in the International Arbitration department and the Promotion and Planning department at KCAB where they conducted research on arbitration related issues, organized and planned seminars and conferences, and assisted with the planning of the Foreign Direct Investment Moot Asia-Pacific Regional Rounds.
Reprieve UK, London, England, United Kingdom
Working with prisoners' families, NGOs, government officials, individual lawyers and human rights defenders, Reprieve UK assists prisoners facing the death penalty and prisoners held beyond the rule of law or rendered to secret prisons. Interns conducted factual and legal research, drafted correspondence and legal documents, and worked with lawyers and investigators to find, develop and drive forward cases involving secret prisons, extraordinary rendition, and extrajudicial killings and assassinations.
About the University of San Diego School of Law
Recognized for the excellence of its faculty, curriculum and clinical programs, the University of San Diego (USD) School of Law enrolls approximately 900 Juris Doctor and graduate law students from throughout the United States and around the world. The law school is best known for its offerings in the areas of business and corporate law, constitutional law, intellectual property, international and comparative law, public interest law, and taxation.
USD School of Law is one of the 81 law schools elected to the Order of the Coif, a national honor society for law school graduates. The law school's faculty is a strong group of outstanding scholars and teachers with national and international reputations and currently ranks 23rd worldwide in all-time faculty downloads on the Social Sciences Research Network (SSRN). The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools. Founded in 1954, the law school is part of the University of San Diego, a private, nonprofit, independent, Roman Catholic university chartered in 1949.
About the University of San Diego
The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity's urgent challenges. With more than 9,000 students from 69 countries and 50 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. The university's eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. USD's Envisioning 2024 strategic plan capitalizes on the university's recent progress and aligns new strategic goals with current strengths to help shape a vision for the future as the university looks ahead to its 75th anniversary in the year 2024.


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Thunderstorm Hazards - Flash Floods
Except for heat related fatalities, more deaths occur from flooding than any other hazard. Why? Most people fail to realize the power of water. For example, six inches of fast-moving flood water can knock you off your feet.
While the number of fatalities can vary dramatically with weather conditions from year to year, the national 30-year average for flood deaths is 88. That compares with a 30-year average of 41 deaths for lightning, 68 for tornadoes and 45 for hurricanes.
National Weather Service data also shows:
- Nearly half of all flash flood fatalities are vehicle-related,
- The majority of victims are males, and
- Flood deaths affect all age groups.
Most flash floods are caused by slow moving thunderstorms, thunderstorms that move repeatedly over the same area or heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes. These floods can develop within minutes or hours depending on the intensity and duration of the rain, the topography, soil conditions and ground cover.
Flash floods can roll boulders, tear out trees, destroy buildings and bridges, and scour out new channels. Rapidly rising water can reach heights of 30 feet or more. Furthermore, flash flood-producing rains can also trigger catastrophic mud slides.
Occasionally, floating debris or ice can accumulate at a natural or man-made obstruction and restrict the flow of water. Water held back by the ice jam or debris dam can cause flooding upstream. Subsequent flash flooding can occur downstream if the obstruction should suddenly release.
Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. Why? The main reason is people underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these deaths, many are preventable, but foolish people drive around the barriers in place that warn you the road is flooded.
Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, Turn Around Don't Drown! You will not know the depth of the water nor will you know the condition of the road under the water.
Of the three deaths which occurred as a result of the Fort Worth tornado, March 28, 2000, one death was due to flooding. The man who drowned was a passenger in a car with his girlfriend, the driver. They approached a low spot with water flowing over the road due to very heavy rain. Flooding was a common occurrence at this location with heavy rains and the danger was well marked.
As the driver drove her car into the water she became frightened as the water rose higher and higher around her vehicle. She backed out to higher ground. The passenger said the water was NOT too deep and he would prove it by walking across to the other side. He never made it.
Follow these safety rules.
- Monitor the NOAA Weather Radio, or your favorite news source for vital weather-related information.
- If flooding occurs, get to higher ground. Get out of areas subject to flooding. This includes dips, low spots, canyons, washes etc.
- Avoid already flooded and high velocity flow areas. Do not attempt to cross flowing streams. If you enter a flowing stream and the water gets above you knee, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN.
- If driving be aware that the road bed may not be intact under flood waters. Turn around and go another way. NEVER drive through flooded roadways! If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately and seek higher ground. Rapidly rising water may engulf the vehicle and sweep you and your occupants away.
- Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams and washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
- Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.
We say "Follow these safety rules" and most folks say "Yeah, yeah, whatever. It's not going to happen to me." A simple Internet search of flash flood victims (and some seen from inside the vehicle) will show you the reason to just TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN. Learn more about flash flooding.


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Mapbox maps not updated from OpenStreetMap recently?
I've noticed that around here (east London, UK), the background maps using tiles from Mapbox have not been updated to incorporate changes from the underlying OpenStreetMap.org data. This is likely to become more of a problem due to the amount of ongoing redevelopment of the area around Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, as the Strava maps become increasingly outdated and inaccurate.
e.g. London Marathon Community track, enclosed by OSM way https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/500928305 (last edit affecting geometry in changeset https://www.openstreetmap.org/changeset/55267707 ) over 7 months ago is still not visible in the background maps used by Strava. There Strava heatmap data shows the presence of a running track fairly unequivocally https://www.strava.com/heatmap#18.52/-0.01574/51.53681/hot/run


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Ebisu Muscats (Pachislot) by EXCITE
Today, we will be introducing a pachislot machine of "Ebisu Muscats".
Ebisu Muscats is an idol group established in 2008 as part of the TV program, consisting "happy, funny and sexy girls".
This pachislot machine is the first in the industry to use live-action video throughout the game!!
Players get to enjoy original movies of the girls unique only to this machine!!
Manufacturer made this machine with the theme of "feel good", so that it is quite easy to understand and play.
This machine has already made its debut to parlors.
Let's look for a girl that you like!!


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Maximizing Food Flavor by Speeding Up the Maillard ReactionMonday, June 4th, 2012
Is there a way to speed up the browning of onions? (Photo: Frying onion from Bigstock)
An idea that struck me once was to add baking soda to browning onions. I chopped an onion, melted butter in a frying pan, and added the onions together with a pinch of baking soda. And voilí (as Louis-Camille Maillard himself would have said): the color of the onions changed faster than without the baking soda. The taste of the browned onions was remarkably sweet and caramel-like, and compared with conventionally browned onions, they were softer–almost a little mushy. By the addition of baking soda, I had changed the outcome of an otherwise trivial and everyday chemical reaction, and the result seemed interesting from a gastronomic perspective!
The idea of the baking soda addition was not taken out of the blue but based on (more…)


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At The Plate – The Cubs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and that's all they would need in this one, they tacked on two more to take a 4-0 and that's how it ended. Logan Watkins had a good day from the leadoff spot going 2-for-4 with his fourth home run of the season, two RBI's, and one run scored. Dave Sappelt was 2-for-3 with a walk, and an RBI, he also had a caught stealing, he's now hitting .308 since his demotion to Iowa. Josh Vitters had a solid day as it was good to see him back in the lineup, he was 2-for-3 with a walk, and a run scored.
On The Mound – Chris Rusin was outstanding in this one to earn his third win of the season against four losses, despite a solid 3.88 ERA. Rusin went six scoreless innings giving up six hits while walking two and striking out four. Yoanner Negrin was solid per usual going two scoreless innings giving up one hit while striking out two. Eduardo Sanchez made his organizational debut and was good going one scoreless inning while walking one and striking out two.
At The Plate – The Smokies couldn't get much going offensively but they didn't need to in order to get the win, they only managed four hits and two runs in the 2-0 victory. Arismendy Alcantara was 1-for-2 with two walks (Cubs Way!), sixth home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Rafael Lopez, Tim Torres, and Jonathan Mota were the other Smokies to record hits and with Torres' being an RBI double.
On The Mound – Kyle Hendricks was outstanding, and really has been all year, quite an impressive start. Hendricks worked seven scoreless innings giving up three hits while walking one and striking out seven to earn his fourth win of the season and lower his ERA to 2.44, wow. Brian Schlitter doesn't give up runs, ever, or at least it seems that way. Schlitter worked a scoreless inning in relief giving up two hits; his ERA is now 0.90 on the season. Marcus Hatley worked a scoreless ninth inning for his second save of the season giving up one hit while walking one and striking out one.
At The Plate – Daytona pounded out twelve hits but could only manage to score four times as they lost 8-4 to Jupiter, the Cubs were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Wes Darvill was 1-for-3 with two walks, a double, and a run scored, he's having a rough go of it, only hitting .167 on the season. John Andreoli continues to have a solid season, he was 3-for-5 with his sixth (!) triple of the season, and two runs scored. Jorge Soler was 1-for-3 with a walk, his tenth double of the season, an RBI, and a run scored. Dustin Geiger is making a case for a promotion with his play, he was 2-for-3 with an RBI, his 40th of the season, he's played in 44 games. Tim Saunders was 2-for-4 with his thirteenth stolen base of the season in the loss.
On The Mound – Zach Cates didn't have his best stuff in this one, he worked five innings giving up four runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out four. Jeffrey Lorick, who very rarely gives up anything, worked one inning giving up one run on one hit while walking three. Sheldon McDonald was also touched up; he worked two innings giving up three runs, one earned, on two hits while walking one.
At The Plate – Long, odd night in Peoria that resulted in the Cougars losing 9-8 in fourteen innings. Here's the odd part, the score was 8-8 after four, the Cougars couldn't score over the next ten innings and the Chiefs only scored once for the win. Pin-Chieh Chen had a solid night at the top of the lineup going 1-for-5 with two walks, two RBI's, and three runs scored. Albert Almora has returned to Kane County swinging the bat, he was 4-for-7 in this one with two doubles, an RBI, and a run scored, he's 7-for-11 since returning from injury. Jeimer Candelario had a productive night going 2-for-7 with his sixteenth double of the season, and four RBI's, he's got his average on the rise, it's now at .267 on the season and he is hitting .333 over his last ten games. Dan Vogelbach was 1-for-6 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the loss.
On The Mound – Rough start for Dillon Maples, his worst one since returning to the Kane County rotation, his offense bailed him out so he did not factor in the decision. Maples worked 3.2 innings giving up eight runs, five earned, on six hits while walking three and striking out four. Lendy Castillo was about as good as you could be, he worked 5.1 scoreless innings out of the pen giving up five hits while walking two and striking out nine. Jeffry Antigua was also solid out of the pen going two scoreless innings while striking out four. Justin Amlung did everything he could to keep this one going but ended up suffering his second loss of the season. Amlung worked 2.1 innings giving up one run on one hit while striking out three.


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Mustang MonthlyHow To Interior Electrical
How To: Replace a Turn Signal Switch
When signals don't work or fail to cancel, it's time for a new Scott Drake reproduction from Mustangs Plus
Turn signal switches have a busy job, especially if you do a lot of around town driving. If your Mustang still has its original turn signal switch, it has been cycled hundreds of thousands of times in a half century. We're going to replace the original turn signal switch in Carol Marini's '68 Mustang hardtop, which has been driven more than 800,000 miles in 45 years. Carol's steering column and switch are the same as found in '69s with the same replacement procedure. Though the steering wheel is different in appearance, it comes apart the same way. Turn signal switches stop working due to corroded and dirty contacts. They stop canceling when plastic detents get brittle and break off. Switch replacement is simple and takes approximately one hour.


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Materials2 pieces of unbleached cotton, size: 36 x 49 cm
2 pieces of felt, size: size: 36 x 49 cm
2 leather straps, size: 2,5 x 57 cm
Black fabric paint ( I used Dylon paint) & paint brush
Fold the 2 bottom corners in a triangle and make sure that the seams match in the center (see picture). Make a seam around 3 cm from the tip of the triangle.
4. Fold the bag inside out and stitch the 2 leather straps 4 cm from the top.
5. Stitch the ends of the leather straps onto the fabric with a seam in a squared shape. (If the leather is not too thick you can just use any sewing machine with an ordinary needle)
6. Take the 2 felt pieces and make a seam along both sides. Slide the felt bag over the cotton bag until the edges at the top match.
7. Make a seam all around the top edge. Make sure the straps are pushed down so they don't interfere with the seam.
8. Make a seam along the bottom edge of the felt bag. Make sure that the cotton bag is pushed far inside the felt bag so it doesn't interfere with the seam. Close the bottom except for the center.
10. Pull the felt bag inside out over the cotton bag. Close the gap in the bottom of the felt bag. Then push the felt bag inside the cotton bag. Finally make a seam along the top edge so the felt lining stays nicely inside. You are done!


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50 Cent Rejects (Slovenians Miss Iris Mulej) (50 Dont Dance)
50 Cent in Slovenia. Good Lookin Miss Iris Mulej Tried To Dance W/ 50, But Got Rejected. He Walks Away. We Know Dude Dont Dance, But Daymn
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Take a trip to the exotic
Alluring aromas, colourful souks and a curious city, journey to Marrakech for a world of contrast.
Alluring aromas, colourful souks and a curious city, journey to Marrakech for a world of contrast.
Feel the heat of the streets as you roam through markets, wander through botanical gems and explore Morocco's captivating city. Discover sensational architecture, vibrant colours and delicious cuisine at every corner.
The beautifully mysterious city of Marrakech will entice your senses. Book flights to Marrakech and venture to the jungle of souks in Medina. Find vibrant scarves, scented spices, tropical teapots and charming trinkets. On your holidays to Marrakech, make your way to Djemaa El-Fna square and sip on herbal teas from the traditional healers. Listen to the compelling calls to prayer from the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque. Stroll through the stunning Majorelle Garden and visit the boutique for Majorelle slippers embroidered with Yves Saint Laurent. Explore the areas outside of the Medina, like the glamorous French-feeling Guéliz in the Ville Nouvelle. For adventure outside the city, see the spectacular views of the sublime Atlas Mountains, or visit a Berber camp.
BA Star Rating
TripAdvisor rating
1967 reviews
BA Star Rating
TripAdvisor rating
2426 reviews
BA Star Rating
TripAdvisor rating
2061 reviews
Exchange pounds into Dirham (MAD) before you get to Morocco, and take cash with you into Marrakech. There are very few cash points that accept foreign cards in the Medina. Most are located around the Djemaa el-Fna. Shops will seldom accept card payments. The Dirham is a closed currency, so you will not be able to change back to sterling on departure. So get yourself a bargain in one of the souks.
Find a British Airways flight for less, we'll refund the difference.
Fly with British Airways and enjoy award-winning service, excellent value for money and no hidden charges:


text:
What to Look for in a Garage Floor Coating Product?
Coating your garage floor is one of the cheapest, easiest, and most convenient home improvement projects you can take on with the best benefits. Since most Houston garage floors are made of poured concrete, they eventually look weathered, dirty, and stained over time – especially in an area that sees a lot of chemicals and…
What Our Clients Are Saying...
Andy Erich
13:29 12 Feb 20
Russell and his crew did a great job with our covered back patio. Our project was delayed and discouraging at the start where we had a very difficult time with the City of Houton to get our permit approved. We weren't aware at the time, but our side-street is a designated thoroughfare, which prevented us from building within a certain distance from it. Russell helped us navigate the process, and was extremely helpful building the variance request signs in our yard to get the final approval. Once the permit was given, they were quick to get started and build our porch. Russell kept us up to date on the progress, and his crew took care of our property and didn't leave a mess at the end of a work-day. We now have a covered, screen-in area we can enjoy bug-free. And the screens are motorized to roll up/down if we wish. Highly recommended. Thanks, Russell!read more
15:43 07 Feb 20
We had Aleck give us a quote for a 10X12 pergola and patio extension. All-Tex and Aleck were very responsive and professional from the start. Aleck understood exactly what we wanted and was willing to work with our budget. All-Tex's price was one of the best and most detailed compared to 3 other quotes we received. The only reason we didn't end up going with them was due to a sprinkler project we needed to complete, and a different company was able to do both. We would definitely use All-Tex for future projects! We will be recommending All-Tex and Aleck to our family, friends and co-workers!read more
Bryan Lethcoe
22:55 05 Nov 19
Completed a significant scope of work with All-Tex - roof, gutters, hardiplank siding, pergola, front / back porch concrete refinish. Basically redid our entire exterior (except windows and doors - performed by others). Aleck was very communicative and handled any and all issued quickly and to our complete satisfaction. He responded immediately to questions, unlike other contractors. I compared pricing with multiple contractors, and All-Tex was at the lowest in all areas without having to negotiate - we received a fair price for a good job. In hindsight I should have asked All-Tex to replace the windows and doors as well. His crew would have done a better job, with fewer issues, than the company I hired.read more
Parke D. Snavely, III
18:42 11 Oct 19
We worked with All-Tex on a six-week full exterior renovation of our home - replacing and extending our covered patio and deck, replacing roofing material, adding Hardie siding, installing new windows, painting, and replacing our concrete driveway and front walk. Russell visited with us a couple of times to understand our needs to discuss options, and provided initial estimates. He followed up periodically to ensure that our requirements were being met. Pedro oversaw the work crews and sub-contractors and was extremely diligent in ensuring that the work was being done to our satisfaction. We found the overall quality of the work to be quite good and were very satisfied with the final results. This was a big job and fairly expensive, but while we might have been able to save a little had we subbed out all of the work piecemeal, we found the coordination, planning and work quality provided by All-Tex to be a reasonable value.read more
Johnathan Roberts
19:13 10 Oct 19
Just wanted to give my feedback we had with All Tex, Russell with All Tex came out a couple of times to discuss with me what I wanted when adding a back patio that will be attached to the back of our house. From A-Z we are very happy with the way the patio came out, very good communication, affordable price, quality spot on. I recommend All Tex to a co-worker for a back Patio she stated they did an amazing job, looks like it was made onto the house when it was built new. I have attached pictures...read more
Gil Abenojar
23:14 30 Aug 19
Extended patio was built by a professional builder All-Tex. I am very pleased with their work and so short a time.
Michael Carrillo
00:51 17 Aug 19
All-Tex did a great job on my new patio cover. Aleck and his crew built us a beautiful addition for our home. We couldn't be happier!read more
Lynn M. Kelly
12:15 11 Jul 19
We could not be happier with our new carport. Not only is it functional it adds to the curb appeal of our home and doesn't detract from it like so many others you see. We started getting compliments from our neighbors before they even finished installing it. We can't say enough good things about All-Tex and would highly recommend them to any and everyone!read more
Archie Chapman
12:08 25 Jun 19
Excellent job of removing old patio cover that was not directly attached to home, and integrating new, seamless patio addition that will allow year round all weather use. Included relocation of electrical outlet and installation of ceiling fan (purchased separately), Price quoted, was price paid. As the rear of my house and roof design had many angles, I was amazed that they were able to design and mold into the home as if it was originally built in in the initial construction process. I provided pictures of the old patio, construction process and final product. Excellent design, workers and overall process.read more
Basil Sebastien
15:53 17 Apr 19
Awesome job, super professional and was done sooner than expected!
Ron Gerhards
19:01 27 Feb 19
I've had a lot of contract work done, add-ons, windows, etc.., and these guys are by far the best. Very professional, cleaned up everyday, and finished the job in less than 10 days. It was a big job too, 27'x27' porte cochere and 12'x22' cover for the side of the garage. Everything matched the home and looked like it belonged there. AND they came in $10,000 less than the best estimates from other contractors. I highly recommend these people.read more
Mauryce Jackson
21:28 28 Oct 18
My screened in deck is more than I expected. I love it!!!! I am so pleased with the final product. Russell gave me an estimate on his first visit and the final pricing did not change. Russell was always responsive, quickly returning emails and phone calls. Before this All-Tex repaired my garage floor and painted it. My garage floor was disintegrating/deteriorating and now it looks brand new. Thank you, All-Tex. I have worked with several contractors in the past 5 years and I must say this was one of my best experiences.read more
Sunil Chaudhary
19:37 20 Sep 18
Recently Alltex built patio/porch in my backyard attached to the house. When we started the project had some idea but Aleck came to see and gave us ideas what will look good given the space we had and we agreed to the project after just first meeting. All team including Aleck, Romero and Jose were very professional, answered all my questions promptly and built porch beyond my expectations. Everything was done on time and without any hassles and budget which was in the written quote. My family is very happy and we will highly recommend Alltex for any projects. Whole team is awesome and Aleck was on top of everything promised and delivered very well. We are very happy customer and will use them without hesitation for any future projects.read more
Danielle Smith
14:40 05 Sep 18
Customer service was impeccable! I love my pergola and the quality is unbeatable. Great company and will definitely use them again.read more
Bobbie Leas
03:24 19 May 18
Excellent service, these people have gone above and beyond to help with my project. Russell, my sales contact, was outstanding in everyway possible to help me. The workman were courteous and you couldn't even tell they were here when they left. Highly recommend All Tex to anyone.read more
Shelby Cason
18:40 14 May 18
Aleck and his team did an AMAZING job redoing our back patio! They were fast, efficient, and friendly! They took our dream and turned it into a reality! We're so excited to spend this summer hanging out on our beautiful back porch.read more
Aundrea Schultz
20:56 09 May 18
Guys did a great job replacing the siding and painting the whole house. Everything was picked up and clean when they left. Very much appreciated. It looks like a new house!read more
Daryl Bailey
01:07 06 May 18
Had All-Tex install an aluminum pergola. They did a great job. Were in and out in one day. All the guys know what they're doing. Would recommend All-Tex for any home construction projects. My only concern is the longevity of an aluminium versus wood pergola but that was my choice. Thanks All-Tex!!read more
Terri Hadaway
00:49 04 May 18
I highly recommend All Tex Home Improvement Services. I recently had a patio cover installed on my house. The All Tex crew arrived at 12:noon and worked quickly and efficiently. When the work was finished they cleaned up the area better than most. Thanks for a great job!read more
Kay Jones
17:30 14 Apr 18
Very pleased with their work. Great crew. Always working to please. Alex is very helpful and easy to work with.
Mary Hammon
00:46 12 Apr 18
We had all new windows put in and a deck built. Both are awesome. Windows were installed in half a day (9) and they look amazing! Had the deck built in two days with another day to stain. Everything looks absolutely perfect. I knew it would because AllTex had previously done my roof, Hardie plank siding, trim and gutters years ago. Every job has exceeded my expectations and the crews have always been so nice. I almost have a new house, lol. But if I need anything else done, I will call them back for sure! Thanks so much Aleck!!read more
Michael Bourgeois
02:18 07 Apr 18
Very quick service with a reasonable price. They even removed and remounted sunshades at no additional cost.
Lisa Echeverry
19:57 23 Mar 18
All-Tex has been our choice for various projects and they are always professional and timely with their excellent work.
Brian Newman
22:56 26 Feb 18
I'm very satisfied with my extended porch and patio. Russell was very prompt and clear with his quote and the job was completed on time with no surprises. I couldn't ask for more.read more
Janice Devers
19:22 25 Jan 18
Reasonably priced, responsive, on time, completed the job as agreed to. What more would one want. Would highly recommend.read more
Randall Spain
13:01 01 Dec 17
Friendly staff. Everything was explained ahead of time. Hreat installation team. Covered everything up and kept the work area clean. I'll use them again for other projects.read more
Balaji Ganapathi
21:39 28 Nov 17
I highly recommend this company for any kind of home remodeling projects. We worked primarily with Aleck early this year and we have had a fantastic experience with him and his crew who went above and beyond in delivering us a phenomenal custom backyard kitchen with pergola and flooring. His team, handpicked by Aleck, were true professionals and came with considerable experienced and advice. We made a few design changes during the project and Aleck was very respectful and accommodating to our needs which left us very satisfied and we expect to use his team again in the future. We are very picky customers and went through several quotes from other contractors before deciding on Aleck as he came through my Boss' recommendation and had the most transparent pricing along with a very high quality design using the best materials. e love Aleck & his team, truly happy customers here when we look at our backyard everyday.read more
Kathleen D
15:12 01 Sep 17
I highly recommend All-Tex. I had a wonderful experience working with Aleck. A year before this project I hired another fairly large contractor in the Houston area to do the siding and roof at my home in League City, and it was a nightmare. I was very gun-shy about the process when my mother's house in Humble needed a new roof and windows. I vetted contractors by reading plenty of online reviews and got estimates from the 5 contractors with the best online reviews. All-Tex came in with the best value (not the cheapest, but definitely the least expensive for the same quality materials). Once we signed the contract the job went as smooth as I could have hoped. They scheduled everything in a timely manner, turned out an excellent work product and even helped my mother take care of the heavier items when preparing the home area for the work. The team was excellent, respectful and did a great job! I highly recommend and will definitely use them again if a need arises!read more
Dean D
18:21 15 Aug 17
This is the second time I hired All-Tex to work on my house. I had all of my failed wood siding and fascia replaced with Hardiplank. As with the first job, pricing was great. And considering the excellent quality of the work, it was a good value. The crew respectful of my property, and left the premises neat and clean, at the end of every day. I think estimators can make or break a construction business, and Russell A. is a good one. His pricing and direction drives the value, in my opinion. Coordinating with Russell and the office was a breeze...All nice people! This is a contractor I was happy to pay.read more
Thomas Cohen
17:18 10 Aug 17
All-Tex and their roofer Scott Baumgardner did a terrific job putting on a new roof for us. Scott and his crew clearly knew their job and they went about their work in a diligent workman-like fashion explaining the process to me in as much detail as I wanted to hear. It was a very smooth process and the roof now looks great and was done at a fair price. With all of the roofer horror stories out there its good to know at least somebody can do the job right. I highly recommend Scott for your roofing needs.read more
Mark Henshaw
21:37 21 Jul 17
Fair pricing, excellent employees and work product, very organized, good cleanup during and after the job as well as outstanding communication and coordination. In short, one of THE best experiences I have ever had with a contractor.read more
D'Ann Ederhoff
16:46 21 Jul 17
I had All Tex build a patio cover and countertop with a built in grill. They also stamped my concrete. Everything looks beautiful and I love the finished product. They were timely and professional and very patient in answering any questions or concerns. Russel was my point of contact throughout the project and he couldn't have been nicer or more professional. I would highly recommend him and All Tex to anyone who needs work done on their property.read more
Mike McMillan
18:41 10 Jul 17
I had woodpecker damage on the roof fascia and some rotted siding. The All-Tex crew arrived on time and did an excellent job, replacing the wooden fascia with Hardiboard, even finding some roof flashing problems that they fixed. They were done in four days and cleaned up afterwards. Very professional. I've used All-Tex two other times in the past 30 years, and have never been disappointed.read more
Freddilee Howell
18:58 05 Jul 17
Russell Ahmann helped me make good decisions about my recent home improvements with All-Tex Home Improvements, and I cannot be more pleased with my new breezeway fencing and gate!read more
21:05 30 Jun 17
Good price and great finished product. They said they'd finish in 2 days but it rained the second and third days. The boss guy still showed up both rain days to see if he could finish between the rain drops (great commitment to task!) Once done all materials were cleaned up and boss guy made sure we were FULLY satisfied with the work. Somebody buy that man a beer! Highly recommend.read more
Stefen Gray
17:10 28 Jun 17
Our sales rep Aleck was amazing from start to finish! We had a strick deadline with a wedding in 10 days, the patio they built for us will have a lot of family time under it! We can't say enough about the workers, very polite, cleaned up after each days work. I look forward to more projects in the future!read more
Sharon Bounds
22:39 18 May 17
All-Tex Home Improvement Services built my dream patio! The work was very professionally done. Great company to do business with.read more
Vicki DEEB
12:13 18 May 17
Scott Baumgardner at All-Tex put a new roof on my home and it is beautiful. They also painted the exterior and did a great job. I've used All-Tex a few times over the years and would highly recommend them.read more
Steve Hutchison
16:25 03 May 17
We were very pleased with the end result of our project. We will use All-Tex for future home improvement projects.
Nate Esser
22:41 17 Mar 17
I had a fantastic experience with AllTex. Russell took care of us from beginning to end. we love our patio and would highly recommend these folks. The guys that worked were incredibly nice and respectful of our yard and space. Thanks AllTex.read more
Tony Pham
13:42 09 Mar 17
I had them replace vinyl siding with Hardie plank siding. They gave a reasonable estimate, were timely, and the job turned out great. Some minor issues were fixed and I had no trouble with the contractors at all. I definitely would recommend them.read more
Charles Lewis
01:46 02 Feb 17
Great experience from start to finished. Salesman was professional and honest. Installers were in and out quickly. They cleaned up after project. We are completely satisfied. I referred my best friend.read more


text:
Joseph Bobrow Roshi
"Awakening to Delusion" by Joseph Bobrow Roshi
Nov 08, 2011
Why do we suffer?
Why do we cause others to suffer?
What can we do about it?
Why do we suffer? From a Buddhist perspective, it is due to greed, hatred and delusion, the three poisons. These create suffering, these are our suffering. But we need to add a word to the Buddhist formula: unbridled. It is unbridled greed, hatred, and delusion that amp up suffering exponentially. The secret sauce in this toxic mix is self-deception. The road to hell is paved with the finest intentions; we think our motivations are pure and our stuff does not smell. "When will we ever learn?" Pete Seeger asked. This is my question, this is all of our question. It seems impossible for us to realize that our individual good is intimately woven together with the collective good. That what benefits me most deeply benefits others; and when the other thrives, I blossom. Take three parts narrow self-interest, throw in a hearty dose of self-deception, harness unbridled greed as propellant, and voila! Bring down our planet while smelling like a rose!
The antidote in Classical Buddhism is mustering up the four awakened qualities: loving kindness, compassion, joy in the joy of others, and equanimity. These are preceded by the word boundless. So, boundless compassion. Boundless and Unbridled. They seem alike but they are not. Jessie Colin Young sang "Just one key unlocks them both, it's there at your command. Come on people now, smile on your brother, everybody come together and love one another right now." We must spring free from our self-absorption, our self-deception, right now, and see, as my old teacher Robert Aitken Roshi would often say, that "we are all in this together and time is short." Our boats rise and fall in concert.
But first we must awaken to delusion, face our own short sightedness and self-serving thinking and behavior masquerading as righteousness. We must see, or at least entertain the possibility, that we are ignorant of what is really going on, and ignorant of the impacts of our actions. This is the most gnarly element: for us to awaken from delusion, we must be willing to face our own pig-headed, willful ignorance and the deleteripous ripples it has generated. Let me finish by quoting the great 1950's philosopher Neil Sedaka: "Waking Up Is Hard To Do."
So let's have at it.
SOURCE: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/comment/926036#comment-926036


text:
- newly installed server on a W2K8R2 and set groupname and password, rest default.
- newly installed viewer on a W7x64 and set groupname and password, rest default.
- server has public ip and no outgoing ports blocked
- client is behind nat firewall, rule added wan udp 5500 forward to internal viewer ip
- started server, confirmed firewall rule popup
- started client, can see server in list
- click Setup P2P - icon is flashing and on server appears "Initializing connection...", but I never get a connection
checked Firewall and I see blocked i.e. Source (myServer public IP):5570 to Target (myFirewall public IP):26038
I can change that, but at next connection it takes different ports.
I read in manual I should just forward udp port 5500 to nat viewer client, but seems not to use that.
Could also not find any setting to set anywhere for port in ini file etc. ?
any tipps ? thanks