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After posting the second-best, single-season winning percentage over the past 18 years, Detroit Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer won the American League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.
Los Angeles left-hander Clayton Kershaw captured his second National League Cy Young Award in three years, joining Sandy Koufax as the only Dodgers to win the award multiple times.
In a vote of Baseball Writers Association of America members, Scherzer received 28 of 30 first-place votes for the AL honor. Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish finished in second place, and Seattle Mariners right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma came in third.
The other first-place votes went to Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez, who wound up in fourth place, and Chicago White Sox left-hander Chris Sale, who took fifth place.
Kershaw got 29 of 30 first-place votes for the NL award. St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Adam Wainwright took second, receiving the other first-place vote, and Miami Marlins rookie Jose Fernandez came in third.
Scherzer, 29, went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA, leading the league in wins and walks-and-hits-per-inning-pitched ratio. He ranked second with 240 strikeouts. Scherzer earned his first All-Star appearance this year, and he helped lead the Tigers to the AL Central title.
Since 1995, only left-hander Cliff Lee, who went 22-3 for the Cleveland Indians in 2008, had a better single-season winning percentage than Scherzer's .875 mark this year.
Darvish topped the AL with 277 strikeouts, and his rate of 11.89 K's per nine innings was baseball's top total since left-hander Randy Johnson whiffed 13.41 batters per nine innings in 2001 for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Darvish, 27, finished 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA, and he led the league in fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.22).
Iwakuma, 32, went 14-6 with a 2.66 ERA.
Sanchez, 28, led the AL with a 2.57 ERA while going 14-8.
Sale, 21, finished 11-14 with a 3.07 ERA.
Kershaw dominated the National League pitching leaderboards. He finished first in ERA (1.83), strikeouts (232) and walks-and-hits-per-inning-pitched ratio (0.92). Kershaw came in second in innings pitched (236), and he tied for third with 16 wins.
Kershaw, 25, was the NL Cy Young winner in 2011, and he finished second in 2012 to R.A. Dickey, then of the New York Mets.
Wainwright, 32, tied for the league lead in victories, finishing 19-9 with a 2.94 ERA. He, Kershaw and Washington Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann tied for the NL lead with two shutouts, and Wainwright finished on top with five complete games.
Fernandez, 21, earned NL Rookie of the Year honors after going 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA in 28 starts.


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0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
it was made by S-rof from Denmark.how about yours?
i got this one from a video game blog. the faces we make when playing video games are FASCINATING to me. and the new york times: but i've had it for far too long.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Peer-reviewed scholarly articles in English can be found at the "Peer-reviewed articles" page and in the respective archive.
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- Book reviews are currently not published.
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You can't party tonight and kiss 2013 goodbye without some music.
One way we can we keep it going all night long til the breakabreaka dawn is to work on this together.
Some tracks from my playlist:
Pryda, "Layers"
John Newman, "Love Me Again" (Also "Feel the Love" by Rudimental ft. John Newman)
Rihanna, "Pour It Up"
Ben Pearce, "What I Might Do," (this track samples an Anthony Hamilton song, the original is also good.)
Disclosure, "F For You"
MIA, "Double Bubble Trouble"
Your turn! Please keep the upbeat grooves going below.
Image via Sandra Cunningham/Shutterstock


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Broker's comments:
SOLARIS is a 27m high performance motor yacht built by Pershing in 2006. She can accommodate up to 12 guests in 5 staterooms. The Master stateroom includes a wardrobe, an ensuite shower-room and the latest audio-visual equipment. There is a VIP stateroom forward, 2 twin cabins located mid-ship, and an extra cabin with 2 bunk beds, all with ensuite shower-rooms and both twins with Pullman berths.
She cruises at 38knots and is able to reach a top speed of 44knots! With her sporty silhouette, SOLARIS features a comfortable and light modern interior. The saloon and dining area open plan,wooden floors and white soft furnishing creating a clean minimalistic ambiance.
Last refitted in 2013 and soft goods re-done in 2015, SOLARIS also offers amazing deck spaces. The aft deck is generous with alfresco dining and a large sun pad. Her impressive custom sun deck has a unique and exceedingly practical feature: an expansive, private area that converts into a dinette for al-fresco dining. On the foredeck there is an additional al fresco option perfect for lunch or evening cocktails. Aft the extended swim platform is ideal for all water sport activities and the garage is filled with a large range of water toys. On the foredeck, there is an additional al-fresco settee and an extra sun pad makes this area perfect for lunch or evening cocktails.
SOLARIS' impressive leisure and entertainment facilities make her the ideal yacht for socialising, entertaining and a successful charter yacht. Currently based in Greece, meticulously maintained by her professional full-time crew of 5, she is now offered for sale at EUR 2,600,000 and is VAT paid!
SOLARIS received a new Karim Rashid salon and new interior.
Large deck spaces are furnished for casual lounging and comfortable al fresco dining.
The impressive sun deck has an unusual and exceedingly practical feature: a huge, private Sun Deck that converts into a dinette for al-fresco dining.
Up to 10 guests are accommodated in 4 staterooms, with a really impressive king master stateroom. The remaining staterooms are configured as a VIP queen and two twins, and each of them is finished with an equal level of quality and luxury. All staterooms have ensuite bathroom facilities, Satellite and Apple TV/CD/DVD.
Communications and navigational equipment:
During the refit between 2013 and 2016, the following upgrades were installed:
2x Raymarine 15" touch-screen displays with iPad integration
HD Color Radar
HD Thermal Night Vision Camera
New MTU screens
Other options include:
NAVTEX Meteorological system
Smoke and Heat detectors
SART Transponders
Cruising and security cameras (networked)
Mechanical, propulsion and engine room equipment:
2x 2,435hp MTU 16V2000 M93 (1480 Hrs logged)
Arneson ASD-16 surface drives
New Interceptors (flaps removed, easier planning, higher top speed)
New Kohler 27kW day generator
1 Kohler 20kW Generator (1005 Hrs logged)
5kW Inverter for Silent Operation
New Stern-thruster
A/C throughout
Entertainment equipment:
New TV's, servers and satellite installed during refit.
Video and Audio library with 2,500 movies & 30,000 songs
iPod Docking station
Multi-zone Bose sound system
Wii and Playstation game consoles
Wi-Fi with redundant Internet Connectivity
Satellite TV
Intercom in all Staterooms, Salon, Kitchen
55" TV Salon / home theater
42" TV Master / home theater
27" TV Twin cabins (x2)
Apple TVs / CD / DVD players in Salon and all Staterooms
Smart-yacht systems, control of all functions through iPads
Deck equipment:
SOLARIS has a unique sundeck configuration among all Pershing 90s, with convertible sundeck/dinette with a minimal bimini for shade, creating an extra space for the owner and guests.
Also new teak was laid on both sundeck and main deck.
New underwater LED lights
Tenders and toys:
New SeaDoo GTX 260iS Jetski - 260Hp for 3 people
Zodiac ProJet 350 Tender
Top-of-the-line SeaBob Cayago F7
Flyboatd + Floatboard
New jet-powered Stand-Up Paddleboard
Waterskis, Wakeboard, Kneeboard, Inflatable Donuts, Couch, Banana
Selection of fishing gear and rods
Beach toys (chaise-longs, umbrellas, coolers)
Snorkeling gear (including children)
SCUBA gear
Refit works – Over €750k spent
Over the previous 3 years, the following refit tasks have been performed:
Engine room / Mechanical / Bridge
MTU main engines: new injectors, ring gear, valves, housing, covers, high-pressure hoses, vibration dampers, displays, starboard exhaust, sump tank, coolant pump.
New Kohler 27kW day generator, complete overhaul of 20kW night Kohler generator
New Watermaker
New Stern Thruster, complete overhaul of Bow Thruster
Garage door, Gangway and Swimming Ladders new hydraulics and high-pressure hoses
Arneson new high-pressure hoses, pins, steering & trim, hydraulic cylinder, boots
Overhaul of main windlass
MTU main engines new displays
New Raymarine displays & electronics
New HD radar, HD FLIR Night vision
New HD SeaTel satellite antenna & controller
Exterior & Toys
DuPont Superstructure and Stern Hull Paintjob
Teak replaced (12mm), Sundeck and Maindeck
Sundeck & bow new biminis
Garage modification to allow for large jet ski
Underwater LED lights
LED lights superstructure and main deck
New Main Cockpit door
New upholstery, all exterior
New Seadoo 260 GTX iS Limited
New top-of-the-line Seabob, Jet-powered SUP
New jet-powered Flyboard and Floatboard
Tender Zodiac complete overhaul
"Smarthouse" installation, full control of all boat functions from iPads
All new soft goods, upholstery, leather
New dinette tables, bow and sundeck
Much larger salon sofa with integrated LED lighting and storage
New tempered glass stern dinette table and interior dinning table
Samsung smart TVs all-around
Kitchen complete refit (shelves, cabinets, kitchen, microwave, dishwasher)
New wooden floor, main deck
Annual Maintenance Works
Solaris has been meticulously maintained to the highest standards by her professional crew of 5. In addition to the Refit work, each year the following annual maintenance works have been performed:
Annual Malta Commercial Code Compliance
Lifting of the boat out of the water
Annual anti-fouling with Sterling
Rolla Propellers annual wax and polish
Annual inspection – Commercial Malta Code
Annual Arneson service
Annual Bio-cleaning of interior and AC
MTU main engines annual service
Kohler generators annual service
Watermaker annual service
A/C systems annual service
Fuel, Black and Grey Water tanks cleaning
Fire extinguishers, Life Rafts, Safety equipment
All toys annual service: Zodiac Projet, Seadoo JetSki, Seabob
Denison Yachting is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Yachtzoo.
Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. A yacht buyer should instruct his yacht broker, or his boat surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.


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**Buy a few for your salon and use your salon's name!**
30 oz. Stainless Steel Travel Mug, powder-coated in matte black, features double-wall vacuum insulation with a clear lid. The mug has a narrower bottom to fit most standard beverage cup holders (cars, strollers, etc). It is 2X heat & cold resistant compared to a normal travel mug and is BPA and lead free. Not recommended for dishwashers, hand wash only. Seamless construction so there is no leak point. There is not a non-slip base on this mug.
Our travel mugs are custom engraved to order and produced in a small, family-owned workshop in Nevada. Please allow 7-9 business days to complete. Customizations are available for an additional fee.
Length: 4 inches | Height: 7 3/4 inches | Width: 4 inches
Customizations Available
If you need artwork customizations, or have special requests, contact us.
Highest Quality
High quality products, and top notch decorative techniques used for every order.
Payment Options
We accept PayPal, eCheck, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express.
Flat Rate Shipping
Flat Rate shipping worldwide.
30-Days Returns
Return or exchange items purchased within 30 days.


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The most inspiring thing I've read lately about the oceans is "10 Solutions to Save the Ocean," a series of short, upbeat, and to-the-point essays in the latest issue of Conservation magazine.
The most inspiring thing I've read lately about the oceans is "10 Solutions to Save the Ocean," a series of short, upbeat, and to-the-point essays in the latest issue of Conservation magazine.
Featuring such oceans luminaries as Daniel Pauly of the University of British Columbia's Sea Around Us Project and Carl Safina of the Blue Ocean Institute, the essays neatly capture the major threats facing the planet's marine life. And they honestly describe the relatively simple solutions that can diffuse those threats—assuming that politicians, the fishing industry, and seafood companies can muster the will.
Consider this idea: alter harvesting laws that encourage fishers to go after the biggest fish. Based on assumptions that protecting small, juvenile fish is the best way to protect a fish population, fishing regulations often set a size limit under which fish cannot be caught. But marine scientists now realize that the bigger fish are the most effective breeders, and current regulations are leading to schools of fish of ever-declining age, size, and sexual maturity, which could cause fishery yields to dropby as much as 50 percent within only a few generations.
Among the other low-hanging fruit: give microloans to women in poor coastal communities, make fishers take responsibility for bycatch through tradeable permits, eliminate fuel subsidies to fishing fleets, establish international ocean zoning, and mandate simple modifications to fishing gear that dramatically reduce unwanted catches of turtles, sharks, seabirds, and other species (but which aren't used because they cost a bit more and aren't required).
For a detailed assessment of these and other threats to ocean life, check out Worldwatch's latest release in parnership with Greenpeace International's oceans campaign, Oceans in Peril: Protecting Marine Biodiversity, released on Tuesday.


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Senior Safety
Assuring Senior Safety on Multiple Levels.
Comfort Keepers® helps assure the safety of each senior client through Interactive Caregiving™, recommendations on making the senior's home safe and secure and advanced monitoring and alerting technology solutions through SafetyChoice®.
Through Interactive Caregiving, our Comfort Keepers® promote the physical, mental, emotional and nutritional health of seniors. Enhancing their health and well-being, this care reduces seniors' risk of illness and falls. Comfort Keepers offers advanced technology solutions, such as a Personal Emergency Response System, a fall detector, a medication management system and other monitoring devices, all designed to assure the safety of seniors, even between caregivers' visits.
Our Comfort Keepers help seniors' families by offering guidance on how to make a home safer for seniors and to accommodate the physical changes that naturally come with aging. Comfort Keepers has years of experience in creating and maintaining safe homes for seniors, and after our evaluation, we may recommend hand rails, a safer furniture arrangement and much more.


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Ghana's inaugural $3.28 sovereign bond, issued in 2007, was a huge hit with foreign investors from across the globe eager to invest in the commodity-rich West African nation and encouraged by its sustained macroeconomic stability.
Fast forward to today, however, and Ghana, which held elections in December, is in the news for serious fiscal slippage. Fitch Ratings revised its outlook to negative on B-plus-rated Ghana, citing the severe deterioration in the country's fiscal deficit to 12.1%, the funding of that deficit through high-interest borrowing on the local market, and the escalation of government debt to 47% of GDP from 31% in 2008.
"Ghana has a history of sharply increasing the budget deficit during election years," said Carmen Altenkirch, the primary analyst covering Ghana at Fitch Ratings. "They had a very successful bond issue in 2007, but then in 2008, the budget deficit rose really high, only to be pulled back again the following year. We saw the same trend in 2012, so that in itself is concerning. But what's more concerning is that they are funding the deficit in excess of rates of 20% in an environment where the inflation rate is 10%."
Of course, one of the main reasons Ghana can afford to run such large deficits is because nominal GDP continues to grow at the rapid rate of 20%. Ghana's oil and gold exports continue to bolster the economy, Altenkirch said. Both oil and gold production are optimally managed by the government, and exports of gold, cocoa and oil, which together make up 83% of exports, will help in eventually reducing the deficit and bringing the debt level back in line.
"In general, Ghana conducts macroeconomic policy very prudently," Altenkirch said. "It has a favorable investment climate and a long history of political stability, so the fact the country keeps getting into trouble with the deficit is a concern for us, and it would be better over all if they managed the public finances better in order to avoid the adjustment costs they're experiencing now."
While there's little doubt that Ghanian authorities have their work cut out for them, Ghana's current fiscal slip translates to nothing more than a minor blip in the trajectory of a nation that has tremendous potential for many investors.
Kevin Daly, a portfolio manager on the emerging-markets fixed-income team at Aberdeen Asset Management in London, is bullish on Ghana. An investor in the country's 2007 sovereign bond, which he bought during the 2008 market downturn and then sold when it began to trade at lofty prices, he believes the country's fiscal problems are just a one-off and will be corrected in due course.
"I was in Ghana last November, and I have no issues or concerns to pick on aside from the fiscal slippage," he said. "Yes, the country's debt is now 47% of GDP, so one could argue that the debt trajectory is going the wrong way, but Ghana's oil and gas production is going to increase, which should offset the rising debt, and the new government should be pretty sensible in terms of policy."
Ghana's government is committed to reducing the twin fiscal and current account deficits and will also reduce public-sector wages, which were greatly increased in the run-up to the elections to appease the population, said Larry Seruma, principal at Nile Capital Management in New York, who has just returned from Ghana.
"The Ghanian currency, the cedi, depreciated by 20% in 2012, but the three-year bond yields have also fell dramatically to 16%, so that has stabilized the currency and greatly helped the current account deficit," he said.
Even so, Ghana is a fortunate nation because oil output remains the single largest driver of the economy and a highly profitable safety net for the country. In 2012, Ghana's oil production averaged 80,000 barrels a day, but by the end of December, that number had gone up to 110,000. The country aims to reach full production capacity of 120,000 barrels a day this year, which should be no problem, Seruma said, and revenues will boost government finances significantly.
Markets are expecting Ghana to issue bonds again this year— not a bad idea, Altenkirch said, since domestic funding costs are so high. But "going into the Eurobond market means funds raised need to be used well and for targeted projects," he said.


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Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:6 Value:10
Weight: 100 (Honorable Vote)
Date: 05/08/2019 12:45:52 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.237.130)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=620836
Overall Rating: 9
Mount:9 Ease of Use:7 Value:10
Weight: 20 (Notable Vote)
Date: 10/14/2002 04:14:48 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.241.11)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=140225
Overall Rating: 7
Optics:7 Mount:6 Ease of Use:7 Value:5
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date: 07/17/2002 04:56:30 pm PST
By: Staruser
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=112365
>This scope does not come close to a Starmaster or Obsession Telescope in Quality of construction or optical performance.
Or price...
What do you expect for about half the price? A StarMaster 18 inch is $6395 without options, and an Obsession 18 inch is $5295 without options (prices based on what is listed on their respective web sites). Discovery 17.5 inch lists for $3395 without options.
I don't think the StarMaster and Obsession are twice as good as the Discovery optically - any optical difference is barely noticeable, and most people probably could not notice ANY difference.
The differences in quality of construction and ease of use are more noticeable, and probably what somebody considering these telescopes should consider most when determining if the extra cost for the StarMaster and Obsession is justified.
Don't get me wrong, the StarMaster and Obsessions are nicer (and better) telescopes, but that doesn't make the Discovery a bad telescope, particularly if the price is considered.
Honestly have you ever looked through a Discovery 17.5". I really doubt it because unless you eyes have some integrated optical testing sensors in them it would be near impossible to tell the difference between 1/4 -1/10RMS @5280Angstroms visually. However, it is a trivial matter to analyze a given optical system per a star test. I will agree with you on the quality of the construction but totally disagree with the optical performance. It is a sad to think that most amateur astronomers assume that when a given mirror has some special wavefront test conducted that it deems it superior, without checking it themselves. I have made 9 mirrors from 8" to 18" and believe that Discovery mirrors are as good as most others ie Nova.
>This scope does not come close to a Starmaster or Obsession Telescope in Quality of construction or optical performance.
Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:9 Ease of Use:8 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date: 04/23/2002 07:39:55 am PST
By: rleyland
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=84560
Overall Rating: 9
Optics:10 Mount:10 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 9 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 03/16/2002 02:03:53 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.212.33)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=75344
Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Mount:7 Ease of Use:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date: 07/26/2002 05:14:20 am PST
By: jjb4469
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=115898
Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 08/25/2001 11:08:37 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.16.164)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40353
Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 08/20/2001 05:50:15 pm PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.24.50)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40352
Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 06/24/2001 11:50:46 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.105.137)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40351
Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 04/15/2001 06:26:23 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.17.105)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40350
©2019 by Excelsis Consulting. All Rights Reserved. E-mail webmaster to report abuse, problems, or comments.


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white makes it all right
For some reason, all I'm craving is pure white.
I think the lack of color appeals to me because it's universally clean and calm.
What I wouldn't give to pour a bucket of thick, white paint all over my house & start over again!
Other Stories
16 comments:
Couldnt agree more!! xxReplyDelete
Snap! I just discovered these mugs that fit the bill too... :)ReplyDelete
I love the non-random pendant light and the joinery in the bedroom! Lovely Post!ReplyDelete
I always think white photographs beautifully but I think in person, at night and under artificial light, all white might fall a little flat...ReplyDelete
Still beautiful though!
totally agree!! I would love to have an all white room!!ReplyDelete
Really love the cushiony bench chair in the kitchen! Adds a huge amount of luxury to the entire space:) Thanks for sharing the pictures!ReplyDelete
So true! I can't get enough of those white Scandinavian rooms. Dreamy, ethereal, like a fairy tale.ReplyDelete
Love those parquet floors! And the oblong firebox.ReplyDelete
i couldn't agree more - love all these images.ReplyDelete
Me too. I'm restraining myself from cracking open any paint cans until after Christmas. But it will definitely be a white new year in my place for 2010!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousDecember 07, 2009
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.ReplyDelete
I'm loving these white pictures! Such inspiration. If I didn't have such terrible OCD and a husband, I'd have white rooms throughout the house! Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
These photos are beautiful! Almost makes me regret painting my whole house gray a few years ago. Oh well, it's just paint, can always be redone!ReplyDelete
So gorgeous. It is so clean feeling.ReplyDelete
wowww youre so artistikkk..ReplyDelete
visit and follow please.
nice to meet u^
Thank you for your comments, I love hearing from you!
Questions, comments or sponsorship inquires, please contact me via the 'contact' link.


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NEW YORK: Today a panel featuring a compelling mix of exciting start-ups and the world's most successful listed consumer companies, discussed the rapidly growing sphere of low carbon innovation, suggesting ways big and small businesses alike can embrace it.
David Pogue, Global Director of Sustainability, CBRE opened the panel, which took place at CBRE's NY headquarters during Climate Week NYC 2013, by pointing out progress made in the last decade, specifically in the real estate sector where back in 2000 the first EPA energy star was issued for an office building—today 200,000 buildings participate. At last year's summit, CBRE launched a four-year, US$1 million commitment to fund sustainability R&D in commercial real estate worldwide. This week CBRE was recognized for its climate change transparency with its inclusion in CDP's S&P 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index.
Dan Perez, Founder and CEO of Marblar, then announced Simon Barker as the winner of EarthHack, a crowdsourcing contest launched with The Climate Group earlier in the year with the support of IKEA and Philips. Simon co-created Radfan, a low-power fan which redistributes heat from radiators. Explaining how Radfan is saving its 2,000 customers money and energy, Simon also shared that the company is looking for 'people in charge of a lot of houses' such as social housing providers in the UK, to both expand businesses and help people.
Setting the tone for the subsequent panel, Chris Librie, Senior Director of Sustainability Programs, Hewlett-Packard, started: "It is clear to us that development without innovation is not sustainable. HP has developed new server technology, which we are currently using to run HP.com from, which uses the equivalent energy of just 12 60 watt lightbulbs. It is a fundamental quantum change."
Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer, IKEA, also highlighted the operational efficiency of greening business when he asked: "Is flat-packing a sofa innovation? If you can quadruple the amount of sofas shipped it probably is." Then talking about IKEA's sustainability strategy he said innovation challenges any existing gaps, adding: "If we don't do that in our businesses, then we are all screwed."
Hannah Jones, VP of Sustainable Business and Innovation for Nike said the 'epiphany' came for Nike in the early 1990s, when the company needed to innovate without effecting business in order to remove harmful sulfur hexaflouride gas from its shoe air bags. Ten years of R&D later, Nike replaced the gas with nitrogen, forcing it to innovate in ways which also improved product performance. She said: "We have reduced our carbon footprint by 18% from a decade ago and are now aiming for 20%. Every innovator loves a challenge." Hannah also said business culture is 'critical' to sustainable innovation, which can be a problem in larger companies: "Innovators have to be given permission to fail 100 times. That doesn't work in mainstream commercial business. Innovation sits in the shadows between the silos—sustainability forces you to look at the shadows and turn them into amazing opportunities."
Adding to Hannah's comments, Bill Weihl, Sustainability Guru at Facebook, said as well as taking risks, innovators must also be rewarded. He highlighted how Facebook is 'vertically integrated' which frees people to think about innovation across the organization, stating: "We embarked on a disruptive approach to our system: to stop leasing data centers and commodity servers and design them ourselves, to reduce costs and energy consumed. Big innovators like Google have done the same. We didn't hire lots of people, we worked with partners like HP, and two and half years ago, open-sourced it to build a collaborative ecosystem for a new class of design and data centers, so we can leverage all the smart people, so everyone can benefit—and it helps business."
Answering a question about mobilizing change, Hannah Jones suggested: "You have to push ego out of the way. We know we are winning when someone take our ideas to scale. One of the big things we debate at Nike is sustainability verus performance. We will never compromise performance and sustainability. It has to be a win-win. And it is a win when athletes win gold in our shoes. Sustainability is a win for market, for the company, for teams... That way other trade-offs become easier to navigate."
In the next panel, which focused on partnerships around low carbon innovation, offering the corporate perspective, Kyung Ah Park, Managing Director & Head of Environmental Markets Group, Goldman Sachs said the bank has reached US$30 billion in capital investment for clean energy, and that despite volatility have also decided to commit another US$40 billion over the coming decade. Harry Verhaar, Senior Director of Strategic Sustainability Initiatives at Philips said that while big corporates are doing more in sustainability, it is "easier to ask forgiveness afterwards than permission before" when it comes to initiating partnerships on innovative projects. Yesterday at the Opening Ceremony, Harry annnounced a Philips and Ecofys report on the economic and social benefits of energy efficieny, and mentioned that in the first half 2013, 25% of Philips' turnover was LED-based.
Eben Bayer, CEO, Ecovative and winner of the Dutch Postcode Lottery's Green Challenge prize in 2008 for his sustainable Styrofoam replacement. Greensulate™, mentioned that his start-up has partnered with institutions you "wouldn't think are innovative" but that are "more than ready to embrace and scale innovative technology quickly". Andrew Shapiro, Founder, Broadscale reiterated the importance of powerful partnerships, when he said: "a critical component of Elon Musk's success with Tesla was Daimler, Panasonic and Toyota, who all invested as well as formed strategic partnerships." Eben Bayer echoed this, concluding that successful collaboration is about "finding the thing to bring to the table in exchange for the big companies to bring it to scale."
As our Director of Corporate Relationships, Ben Ferrari, mentioned earlier in the panel, post-EarthHack The Climate Group will continue to work with our partners on driving low carbon innovation across business, however big or small.
We are hosting a live Twitter Q&A with Harry Verhaar, Senior Director of Strategic Sustainability Initiatives at Philips, tomorrow at 10am EST (3pm BST). Read more and ask questions using #CWNYC.
Watch the full or edited video of the live Google+ Hangout
By Clare Saxon


text:
Checking In On… the WCCPosted by rtmsf on February 16th, 2012
Michael Vernetti is the West Coast Conference correspondent for RTC.
Readers' Take
Looking Back
Gonzaga roars back into contention, Saint Mary's faces the specter of repeated collapse and BYU tells anyone who listening, "Don't count us out." It was quite a week in the WCC.
- The Gonzaga-Saint Mary's game last Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center on the Gonzaga campus was almost a reverse of their earlier encounter in Moraga in January, an 83-62 Saint Mary's win. The Zags were the aggressors and the Gaels seemed unable to counter with their usual efficiency and defensive poise. The Zags triumphed, 73-59, behind their all-freshman backcourt of Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr., who hit a combined 7-9 from behind the three-point arc and finished with 39 points. The Gaels' stellar back court of Matthew Dellavedova and Stephen Holt countered with just 20 points, all of them from Dellavedova as Holt threw up an 0-fer on the big stage.
- The stat that probably registered most vividly in Randy Bennett's mind, however, was the Zags' 40-26 rebounding edge, a stunner that countered a Gaels' strength and contrasted with a 36-33 edge of their own in the previous contest.
- While all this was taking place in Spokane, BYU had the night off and worked up a head of steam for a Saturday encounter with lowly Pepperdinein the Marriott Center. The result, an 86-48 rout, seemed to position BYU for a stretch run to move them back into contention for a double-bye in the WCC tournament beginning March 1.
- Saint Mary's bounced back from the Gonzaga loss – its first in WCC play – to handle Santa Clara, 82-67, while the Zags continued on a high note with a 78-59 smackdown of Loyola Marymount, which failed in its effort to move into position for a top-three finish. The Gaels, however, stumbled again last night against a hot-shooting Loyola Marymount team, losing 75-60, and falling into a virtual tie for first place with two losses (the Zags have played two fewer games than Saint Mary's).
Power Rankings
- Saint Mary's (23-4, 12-2) is hearing footsteps for the first time in a season that was going swimmingly until Max Good's LMU Lions dropped by McKeon Pavilion last night. Not only did the Gaels lose the game, but starting guard Stephen Holt left the game with a knee injury of uncertain severity and emerging post man Brad Waldow re-injured a bruised rib and had to sit for large segments of the game. Bennett's boys could not have had a worse send-off for their Saturday BracketBusters game with Murray State in Murray, KY.
- Gonzaga (20-4, 10-2) got its mojo back with last week's convincing home wins over Saint Mary's and LMU, but has some work to do before getting ready for another NCAA tournament run. Read the rest of this entry »


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This is a view of the Gardens and Swimming Pool from Hotel Lido in Estoril, Portugal.
The Hotel Lido in Estoril, Portugal is a beautiful 3 stars unit with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay in the Estoril Coast. Located very close to the biggest Casino in Europe and the beautiful Tamariz Beach, it allows any visitor to enjoy the exclusive day and night life available here.


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Photographing Pemaquid Lighthouse is one of the most rewarding experiences a photograher can have. I love this shot of the lighthouse reflected in a tidal pool amontg the galcial rocks.
Image Size: 13" X 19"
All of our artwork is available matted and framed. Please call for more info.
Landmark Galleries, Inc. has an in-house custom framing facility with hundreds of options of mattes and frames.
Please call us for pricing and options. Please note that extra shipping charges will apply for framed and matted artwork.
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What Is the Volunteer Program?
Body Positive is a peer-based agency. This means that many of our programs and services are run by people who are living with or directly affected by HIV/AIDS, people who understand the situation first-hand. Body Positive is proud to have dedicated volunteers who give generously of their time and energy to answer the telephone Helpline, facilitate support groups, help out with social events, and assist with the magazine. These are only a few of the ways in which BP volunteers can contribute.
Who Is It For?
The volunteer program is for anyone who is interested in donating his or her time and energy to a good cause. Since volunteer positions vary so much, the agency can accommodate almost anyone who would like to volunteer. Our volunteers have different schedules and different needs. Some are interested in day activities, others in evenings. If you are interested, we can work with you to figure out a role and a schedule that works best for you, while best meeting the needs of the agency. At present, we are particularly interested in recruiting new volunteers for our Helpline. The ideal volunteers would be comfortable speaking on the phone and be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. All volunteers also go through additional training.
What Can Volunteers Do?
People can volunteer in many capacities at Body Positive. Some people may come into the office once or twice a week for a four-hour Helpline shift. Some volunteers facilitate a weekly support group in the evenings. Others prefer to assist at our monthly socials, which take place on Friday evenings. Some volunteers enjoy the social interaction of representing the agency at public events, or coming into the office to help out at crunch time. Others like to write or take pictures for the magazine. There are a variety of opportunities.
Who Are the Volunteers?
Our volunteers are a diverse bunch. They come from all over the city, and from the surrounding areas as well. They are men and women of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds. They are actors, professionals, parents, and friends. Some are people who are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Whoever they are, volunteers are the heart of Body Positive. And they all have at least one thing in common: they care.
Why Should You Be a Volunteer?
People volunteer for different reasons. For some, it is their own connection to HIV/AIDS. For others, they are simply interested in giving of their time to a worthy cause. Some people enjoy meeting others, for others it is an opportunity to learn about a different world. Sometimes, it just makes people feel good. Whatever your reason, if you have something to give, Body Positive is happy to have you. We will make an effort to make the best possible match.
Volunteers receive valuable training and supervision in the areas in which they work. They also have opportunities to attend social events and parties, represent BP at various events, and meet great people!
How Do I Get Involved?
If you are interested in being a Body Positive volunteer, or in simply getting more information, you may call (212) 566-7333, and ask to speak with Tim Wearne, our Coordinator of Volunteer and Client Support Services. He can answer any questions you may have, and send you a volunteer application to fill out. Once that is complete, you will be invited in for an interview, and have an opportunity to see the office and hear more about the work that we do, and what you can do to help. We can work together to find a way to best match your skills and interests with the needs of the agency. We look forward to hearing from you!
Dana S. Levin, M.A., is Director of Volunteer and Client Support Services at Body Positive.


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Stunning views of Stillhouse Hollow Lake and the Texas Hills highlight The Ridge, an upscale neighborhood with lots ranging in size from a half acre up. No homeowner association and minimal signs of the hustle and bustle of a typical subdivisions make this neighborhood unique in the greater Fort Hood area. The executive neighborhood pairs the tranquility of the Texas countryside with easy access to shopping and schools, with the hiking, biking and jogging trails of Dana Peak Park practically right out your front door. From the gorgeous sunrise over Stillhouse Hollow Lake to the richly painted sunsets, these lots teem with potential. Over 100 lots are available. This .6-acre elevated lot offers gorgeous views and an abundance of trees. Schools are Skipcha Elementary, Nolan Middle, and Harker Heights High! Come visit the site of your future dream home today.
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Nikon rolls out Coolpix S640, S570 and touch screen S70
This morning's announcement from Nikon welcomes three more style-oriented S series compacts to their roster. The Coolpix S70, Coolpix S640, and Coolpix S570 bring style updates and resolution boosts to the existing lineup.
Nikon Coolpix S70
The Coolpix S70 follows in the footsteps of the touch screen S60, this time sporting a large 3.5 inch OLED touch panel. Like the S60, the Coolpix S70 does away with buttons on the back panel and camera functions are operated through touch interface.
This model will offer a new shutter release through touch interface in addition to the shutter button on top of the camera body. It also boosts sensor resolution from 10.0 megapixels up to 12.1.
The Nikon Coolpix S70 also adds 720p HD video recording to the existing model. The 5x Nikkor lens will offer a wider focal range as well with an equivalent of 28-140mm. The 5-Way VR Image Stabilization includes preferred optical stabilization. The S70 is the priciest Coolpix in this group and will retail for $399.95. It will make its official debut in September 2009.
Nikon Coolpix S640
In the Nikon Coolpix S640, Nikon claims improved auto focus and shutter lag speeds. They list a fast startup time of 0.7 seconds. The 12.2 megapixel CCD sensor is accompanied by the same 5x, 28-140mm equivalent Nikkor lens found on the other two new Coolpix models.
The Coolpix S640 bears quite a resemblance to the S630, but eschews the rectangular buttons of the previous model for circular controls. The S640 is equipped with a standard set of specs including 4-Way VR Image Stabilization (with optical stabilization only), a 2.7 inch LCD, and 640×480 movie recording with sound at 30 fps. At 3.9 ounces, it's the lightest Coolpix in this generation.
The Coolpix S640 will become available in September with an MSRP of $249.95.
Nikon Coolpix S570
While the S640 will bear the honor of lightest camera in today's announcement, the slimmest will be the Coolpix S570 at 0.8 inches. It steps ahead of the existing S560 in terms of sensor resolution but keeps many of the same features including a sub $200 price tag.
The 12.0 megapixel S570 offers a 2.7 inch, 230,000 dot LCD and a 5x Nikkor lens at a very attractive price. The Coolpix S560's four-way direction pad control layout has been replaced with a round controller. The new model will also add a red color option to the lineup, but much remains the same stylistically with the S560.
Other features include 640×480 movie recording with sound at 30 fps, up to ISO 3200 sensitivity for low-light shooting, and 4-Way VR Image Stabilization with electronic stabilization only. The Coolpix S570 also debuts in September at $199.95. All of these models can be viewed at Nikon's website.