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09 Dez What is the best form of arguments from design?
The goal of this essay is to find the best way to formulate an argument from design to the existence of God. In order to do that, I compare three epistemic approaches to the question "How do we detect design?": the Reidian Perceptual Model (RPM), Inference to the Best Explanation (IBE) and Bayes's theorem (BT). RPM turns out to be astonishingly robust but is vulnerable to objections from disagreement and fails to meet all criteria of sense perception. IBE is a more general, less formalized and ultimately weaker version of BT, wherefore only the latter should be chosen among the inferential models. A closer look at BT shows that it fills the gaps of RPM. Therefore, I present a fourth model which is a synthesis of RPM and BT and test it with the question "Do living beings exhibit divine design?".
1. Introduction
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse…[1]
So-called "Design arguments" are teleological arguments that seek to show from the existence of some contingent thing that God designed it and thus a fortiori God exists. They can be classified into Global Design Arguments (GDA) and Local Design Arguments (LDA)[2]. The former are roughly synonymous with Cosmological Design Arguments, most notably the Fine-Tuning Argument, whereas the latter deal mainly with living things (therefore sometimes called "Organismic Design Arguments", ODA). For epistemic reasons, the following discussion is restricted to ODA.
Let me make a quick point concerning the relevance of the matter under discussion. The apostle Paul wrote that people are "without excuse" regarding their failure to acknowledge God properly, because what we can know of God is "manifest" in us. Paul's assertion is that "the things that are made" deliver such evidence. If that is true, evidence for God is virtually all around us and failure to recognize God through nature a serious issue (as indeed Paul goes on to argue). If it is false, atheists can be a lot more relaxed.
But the above verses from Romans serve us also to delineate the interesting epistemic ways how to detect design.
Apparently, Paul construes nature as evidence that purportedly enables people to "see" God's invisible attributes. That sounds much like a perceptual claim. However – and that's why I chose the King James Version here
We may therefore construe Romans 1:19-20 as making the following two claims[4]:
(1) Design in nature can be detected in a way analogous to sense perception.
(2) Design in nature can be understood via an inference that the average person can make[5].
Let's evaluate those two claims in turn.
2. Evaluating different reconstructions of design detection
In what follows, I shall examine three approaches to the question how we detect design: (1) the Reidian Perceptual Model (RPM) and two inferential approaches, namely (2) Inference to the Best Explanation (IBE) and (3) Bayes's theorem (BT). William Dembski's Eliminative Design Inference, though a major contribution in this field, is intentionally ignored. While his design-detection criterion of complexity seems intuitively graspable, the other two (contingency and specification) require some advanced knowledge of the laws of nature and classical statistics. That prevents its being available to everybody and hence makes it unsuitable as a reconstruction of design detection in the Pauline sense.
2.1 The perceptual model (RPM)
Perhaps design is something that we just perceive without making any inferences to it. A glimpse of this view can be found in the famous passage of William Paley's Natural Theology:
…we perceive (what we could not discover in the stone) that its several parts are framed and put together for a purpose.[6]
Alvin Plantinga reflects this view:
I encounter something that looks designed and form the belief that it is designed: perhaps this isn't a matter of argument at all (anymore than in the case of perception or other minds)
The key idea is that we detect design in a way analogous to sense perception and the perception of other minds. Let me therefore quickly present the underlying Reidian theory of perception, which I shall henceforth call RPM (Reidian Perceptual Model):
When I grasp an ivory ball in my hand, I feel a certain sensation of touch. In the sensation there is nothing external, nothing corporeal. The sensation is neither round nor hard; it is an act of feeling of the mind, from which I cannot, by reasoning, infer the existence of any body. But, by the constitution of my nature, the sensation carries along with it the conception and belief of a round hard body really existing in my hand.[8]
Reid holds that our perceptual beliefs are non-inferential, but triggered by our sensory experiences. More specifically, resisting to have the perceptual belief in question is
…not in my power…My belief is carried along by perception, as irresistibly as my body by the earth.[9]
The same goes for the perception of other people as living creatures.
As to design, Reid assumes that it is primarily a mental property and only secondarily a material one[10]. On that presupposition, design detection cannot be based on past experiences. We may have seen a potter form a vase and therefore correctly infer a potter-designer when we find a vase out in the forest. But we have never seen the mental quality "design" in the potter's mind. Furthermore, Reid holds, even in our own case we often do not know mental qualities directly, but through signs and effects. Taking a relevant example, I may become aware of my pottery qualities only when I exercise them.
In summary, according to the Reidian theory, we detect certain qualities with certainty through our innate mental faculties: physical qualities through our sense perception; mental qualities of other people, including design, through our "design-detecting faculty". Of course, all those require signs and effects whose occurrence is being perceived through the common gateway, viz. sense perception.
It seems reasonable prima facie to believe that design is being detected in this way. In everyday life, we do not hesitate to ascribe design when we find a watch in the meadow, see a heart written into the sand, or encounter a fireplace deep in the forest. Still, there are objections to it.
Objection 1: Missing account of design marks
As said above, the presented model hinges on the detection of signs or effects which unavoidably lead to the formation of a perceptual or design belief. It should therefore be possible to give an account of those signs in the case of design. Reid himself loosely mentions some criteria like contrivance, intent or beauty, but apparently does not try to delineate them sharply. Contemporary accounts like Dembski's Eliminative Design Inference or Behe's Irreducible Complexity cannot be integrated in the RPM because they are highly inferential. Complexity alone won't do: when I look at my laptop's case, it is precisely its sleek and minimalistic (hence uncomplex) look that reinforces my belief that it was designed. Purpose alone won't do either: if I found a strange apparatus in a cave, I wouldn't doubt its human origin even if I had no clue what its purpose is. Maybe a combination of complexity and purpose is the key, but that needs to be elaborated.
Do we need to find an exhaustive definition at all? Even Dembski concedes that at its very bottom, detecting design is something we cannot rationally reconstruct:
[I]dentifying suitable patterns and side information for eliminating chance requires of [the inferer] S insight…. What's needed is insight, and insight admits no hard and fast rules…. We have such insights all the time, and use them to identify patterns and side information that eliminate chance. But the logic of discovery by which we identify such patterns and side information is largely a mystery.[11]
Claiming a mystery, however, is an unsatisfying philosophical move; rather, it should be attempted to give a comprehensive account of design marks that are instantly available to everybody[12]. As long as this gap persists, the objection should be regarded as a mild undercutting defeater[13].
Objection 2: Cases too complicated for design perception
Timothy McGrew objects that there are cases too complicated for a quick (perceptual) design detection[14]. He concedes that the "analogy with visual perception is very attractive" and that it "is a poor handyman who needs the help of philosophy to distinguish the lawnmower from the lawn"[15]. He then gives some examples in which he thinks a design detection is not readily, i.e. perceptually made. I will now consider whether those examples pertain to the design argument, and even if they do, whether a satisfying reply from the perceptual standpoint can be given.
The first example is Spenser's Amoretti. McGrew asks if Spenser deliberately ordered the sonnets so as to reflect the liturgical year or if their spacing is a coincidence. Indeed, this is not easy to judge. But I doubt that it is relevant for the purposes of the design argument. As McGrew admits, Spenser undoubtedly "designed" the Amoretti. The design argument hinges on the question whether living things have been designed as a whole, not if the order and relations within the things was so intended to the last minute detail. For example, we need not decide if the flexibility of the elephant's proboscis compensates for the rigidity of his neck[16] (and so is designed in this respect) or if the two features just coexist. The only crucial thing is to show that the elephant as a whole is a product of design.
Second, McGrew puts forward the example of the fossil of a feathered dinosaur and asks whether the feathers are part of the dinosaur or the product of some hoax. This example, however, is question-begging. The latter explanation undoubtedly contains design and the former possibly does so. McGrew, however, seems to presuppose that the feathers being an integral part of the animal means that the whole animal is a product of chance and/or natural law. But this is to use as the conclusion as a premise.
His third example is a criminalistic one: "Shall we classify the untimely demise of Birdy Edwards as a homicide or as an accidental death?"[17] I think this example, too, misses the point, because it is about an event. The design argument deals with things made of matter, not with the reconstruction of past events. So if we confine the evidence relevant for the design argument to material things, this example becomes irrelevant.
Hitherto, McGrew has not shown that there are counterexamples disabling a perceptual view of design detection. But we can go even further and show that the proponent of the perceptual model has a good answer to cases in which it seems impossible to perceive design. Take the prime number pattern from the movie Contact. The sequence of numbers is per se certainly not identifiable as design. But once its character as a prime number string is identified, it is instantly perceived as design. So the Reidian does not need to insist that all instances of design are being perceived at once (for indeed many aren't), only that the basic marks of design are. It may take some pains to discover them, but once they're discovered, no more inference is needed to establish a detection of design.
However, if we grant this, an extreme perceptual view of design beliefs as "basic"[18] becomes implausible. Remember that Plantinga claims
…the belief that something or other is a product of design is not formed by way of inference, but in the basic way…[19]
Precluding inferences completely does not work in the Contact case nor in many other relevant settings. As objections 3 and 4 will show, the RPM needs to be complemented by an inferential element.
Objection 3: Disagreements about the occurrence of design
What if people strongly disagree whether a certain phenomenon exhibits design or not, as is most notably the case with living things?
Indeed, people so design-hostile as Charles Darwin, Richard Dawkins and Francis Crick admitted that the appearance of design pressed hard on them:
[I]n the course of that conversation I said to Mr. Darwin, with reference to some of his own remarkable works on the Fertilisation of Orchids, and upon The Earthworms, and various other observations he made of the wonderful contrivances for certain purposes in nature—I said it was impossible to look at these without seeing that they were the effect and the expression of Mind. I shall never forget Mr. Darwin's answer. He looked at me very hard and said, "Well, that often comes over me with overwhelming force; but at other times," and he shook his head vaguely, adding, "it seems to go away."[20]
Biologists must constantly keep in mind that what they see was not designed, but rather evolved.[21]
Biology is the study of complicated things that have the appearance of having been designed with a purpose.[22]
The Reidian model fits neatly with those accounts, especially the aspect of the design impression "forcing itself" on one. It seems plausible to explain the strong disagreements with philosophical preconceptions. But this explanation is nothing RPM can yield. Why is design detection in some cases so vulnerable to prejudices, while sense perception, to which it is analogous according to Reid, seems resilient to such usurpations? As we will see, inferences are the answer to this riddle.
Objection 4: Dissimilarity to sense perception
It was insinuated in objection 3 but now becomes obvious: beliefs formed by sense perception and beliefs formed by design perception are more dissimilar than the RPM suggests. Reid claims that we perceive design in quite the same way in which we perceive a stone in our hand. But this is not so.
When I touch a stone, my touch-sensitive nerves are instantly triggered and through neuronal pathways cause a perceptual mental experience in me. There is no intermediate between the object (the stone) and my sense experience than just those biological pathways. In design perception, it also is a perceptual mental experience that the thing at hand causes. Now Reid (and as it seems, also Plantinga) argues that this perceptual experience is of such a kind that it immediately, en passant, causes a design belief. But if this were true, it would be as hard to disbelieve design as it is to disbelieve the tactile perception of a stone. (Of course I can disbelieve that the thing in my hand is a stone, but I cannot disbelieve that something is in my hand, unless I'm a radical skeptic of the Matrix kind). This seems highly implausible: There is, for instance, no reason to doubt that Richard Dawkins does believe that living things are the products of blind natural processes.
It seems that design beliefs are much more vulnerable than ordinary perceptual beliefs. A good explanation for that is that design beliefs contain an inferential element. Daniel von Wachter reflects this by arguing that perceptual beliefs and inferential beliefs are criticized in different ways:
Miller's perceptual belief that there is a cow because he has seen it can be criticised by suggesting that his eyes do not work properly: by pointing out that there is an elk which one can easily mistake for a cow, or that he is under the influence of drugs, or that there is an evil demon who manipulates his mind. Jones' inferential belief that there was a cow in his garden because he has seen the hoof marks can be criticised by suggesting a better explanation for the data: by pointing out that an elk's hoof marks look similar, or that Smith had said that he intended to deceive Jones by producing marks in the garden.[23]
Now, Reid's intriguing picture of an innate "design-detector" seems in danger. But we need not abandon it. I claim that this mental capacity consists in having a mental picture of how a designer works. We have this mental picture because we are ourselves "designers". By knowing which reasons and methods a designer might have to contrive something, we detect design so easily – in most cases. So it is because we have learned (inferentially!) from ourselves and other human beings how designers work that we detect design so routinely. This account preserves the Reidian "congenitality" of the design-detector while including inferences.
In summary, it seems we need to include inferences to explain our mental "design-detector" as well as to explain uncertainties or disagreements in some putative design cases. Let's therefore explore two models of inference-making.
2.2 Inference to the Best Explanation
An inference to the best explanation (IBE) rests upon an act of "abduction" that C.S. Peirce describes as follows:
The surprising fact C is observed;
But if A were true, C would be a matter of course,
Hence, there is reason to suspect that A is true.[24]
Now, this first step of abduction can merely generate some hypotheses A1…An which seem plausible. Which one is judged best will depend on other factors such as simplicity, explanatory power, analogy, aesthetics, and detailedness of explanation[25].
One advantage of IBE is that it comes in degrees. In contrast to Dembski's Eliminative Design Inference, the design hypothesis need not be so mighty as to rule out all other possibilities. It just needs to be the most plausible one. This contrast also pertains to a comparison between IBE and RPM, for RPM consists in a "digital" detection of design. Second, IBE involves considerations of causal adequacy. To use an example of McGrew: left with the choice to ascribe the Winged Victory of Samothrace to a desert sandstorm or a newborn infant we would wonder if a third alternative hasn't been overlooked.
All in all, IBE seems to go well with our intuitions concerning design. Could it be that putative perceptual design detections are really inferences to the best explanation at hyper-speed, as Sherlock Holmes describes it:
From long habit the train of thoughts ran so swiftly through my mind that I arrived at the conclusion without being conscious of intermediate steps.[26]
This might be the case if we construe a design detection as follows:
- We know by experience from ourselves and other people what designers can do and what reasons and methods they employ.
- We detect marks of design directly in a way we recognize other people.
- The detection of design is basically an inference.
- When things strongly exhibit design, the design hypothesis is unhesitatingly chosen as the true explanation because of 1. and 2.
- In other, less clear cases, competing hypotheses are also considered. A design detection can then occur as a "false positive" or be missing as a "false negative".
Still, two serious objections against IBE have been levelled. First, the initial abductive step may falsely ignore the true hypothesis; we then end up choosing the "best of a bad lot". An IBE proponent may reply here that it is a matter of intellectual virtue of the individual examiner to avoid exclusion of hypotheses out of negligence or aversion. But surely, no one can consider infinitely many hypotheses; we need to restrict ourselves, and the crucial question is how. IBE gives no criteria for sorting out hypotheses.
Second, some of the criteria for ranking rival hypotheses are debatable, especially the criterion of aesthetics. The beauty of an explanation does not necessarily entail its truth, nor does its simplicity. The fact that some scientists like Lavoisier or Darwin used simplicity and analogy as methodological guides to adjudicate between hypotheses is not a good argument either, for some aspects of their theories are simply untrue. McGrew sums this problem up as follows:
[I]f IBE is to stand on its own as a methodology, then we need an account of the link between lovely and likely theories that does more than appeal to the practice of scientists or the aesthetic attractions of notions like simplicity.[27]
A last disadvantage of IBE as a model for design detection might arise from its being an inferential model. Alvin Plantinga points out that none of the criticisms applying to inferentially formed beliefs pertain to perceptually formed beliefs[28]. If that is true, and if immunity against criticism indeed raises the justification of a belief, then perceptually formed beliefs are generally more reliable than inferentially formed ones. However, as I pointed out in section 2.1 (Objection 4), the RPM should not be construed as a strong analogy to sense perception; therefore, from this objection against IBE does not follow too much profit for RPM.
The upshot is that IBE has great initial plausibility and might even be merged with RPM into a powerful model that explains design detections (or the absence thereof) in all kinds of cases. It still has serious problems regarding the choice of hypotheses and the adjudication between hypotheses. There is, however, a model which mends the weaknesses of IBE.
2.3 Bayes's theorem
Suppose you encounter some phenomenon (which in a moment we shall call evidence). You form some hypotheses as to how the phenomenon can be explained. Your concern is to find the best explanation for the phenomenon. Alternatively, you have some hypotheses and seek to identify the one that best fits the evidential data.
Bayes's theorem is a simple yet powerful mathematical tool that helps you in both cases. It consists of the term
with h being the hypothesis, e being the evidence and k our background knowledge.
- P(h/e&k) represents the posterior probability of h ("probability of h given e and k")
- P(e/h&k) is also called the likelihood of e ("probability of e given h and k")
- P(h/k) is the prior probability of h ("probability of h being true given k")
- P(e/k) is the prior probability or expectedness of e ("probability of e given k")
As k figures in all sub-terms, I will omit it henceforth, at least formally. It continues to play a natural role in our discussion of competing hypotheses (see section 3).
Bayes's theorem has three advantages over IBE:
i) It gives all logically possible hypotheses a "fair chance", adjudicating between them via a quantified comparison of probabilites (not possible with IBE).
ii) It captures our intuition that a hypothesis's low prior probability should lower its posterior probability.
iii) It accounts for the predictive power of a hypothesis: if an event with low expectedness is being predicted by it, that raises the posterior probability of the hypothesis.
The points ii) and iii) help to quantify the quality of a hypothesis, something not possible with IBE, which must rely on subjective assessments.
However, one problem of Bayesianism arises precisely out of these two points. How to assign numerical values to propositions such as "The prior probability of God's existence is…" or "The expectedness of there being a universe is…"? Subjective Bayesians hold that one can just pick subjective values, which is a violation of objectivity and might leave people far apart in their final judgment about a hypothesis.
A better approach is Realistic Bayesianism[29], which starts with a precise determination of the probabilistic interrelationships of available hypotheses and then inserts intervals of values to eschew the unrealistic expectation of determining exact values.
What if even such fuzzy value assignments seem impossible? We need not worry about that as soon as we have a partition, that is an exhaustive set of mutually excluding hypotheses (whose probabilities add up to one). We can then compare their posterior probabilities without assigning concrete numbers. True, the assignment of prior probabilities needed to compare posterior probabilities remains irremediably debatable; but as the pertinent criteria such as simplicity etc. are here being applied to sub-terms of a larger calculation, we can expect more accurate judgments. Another advantage is that the denominator can be omitted, for it figures in the calculations of all hypotheses.
Thus construed, BT is an attractive approach for comparing the probabilities of different explanations. How does it fare compared to the perceptual model? Timothy McGrew puts forward seven criteria for assessing the quality of a rational reconstruction of the design argument[30]:
- Integration into a larger epistemic framework
- Topic Neutrality
- Objectivity
- Sensitivity to relevant parameters
- Relevance of captured parameters
- Accessibility of information needed for the reconstruction
- Explanatory Power especially concerning disagreements
On criterion I, the RPM seems to do better. Reid's theory of design as a mental quality corresponds to many day-by-day experiences we make. Inferences seem to be the domain of criminologists and scientists (notwithstanding the Reidian reply that marks of design are perceived instantly once they're discovered). The RPM becomes even stronger in a theistic framework. If God put the mental capacity to discern design from not-design in us (as Rom 1:19-20 could be read), this reinforces the integration of the model. BT is rooted in probability calculus, which also represents an epistemic framework, however less intuitive.
As far as topic neutrality is concerned, BT clearly seems to win the day. Design perception is applicable to design cases only; BT can be used for scientific theories, for discerning between motives and much more.
Objectivity also speaks in favor of BT, though only slightly. The area of interest here, namely design in living things, is ridden with disagreement. An externalization of such disagreement seems impossible with RPM; either people see design, or they don't, no debate possible. Here it must surrender to BT, which still suffers from irremediable subjectivity, but at least the mathematical framework is agreed upon.
As to sensitivity, both seem to be sufficiently sensitive. If design is indeed a mental quality, it is readily perceived whenever at hand; BT accounts for parameters like the prior probabilities and thus accommodates for example for the awkwardness of some hypothesis or the unexpectedness of a phenomenon. Both track down relevant parameters as well, for the very same reasons.
Accessibility seems to be the domain of the RPM, but only at first glance. True, perceptual information is most readily accessible; but what about those that see the animal and still have no impression of design? Nothing can be mended there, because there are no premises that could be modified. BT offers moderate accessibility with the possibility of discussing the criteria picked for example to assess the prior probability of a hypothesis.
Lastly, the explanatory power of BT seems greater than that of RPM. As said before, RPM cannot by itself explain the disagreements concerning design detection. Disagreements on a BT account, conversely, can be tracked to disagreements in the assessment of the likelihood and/or prior probability. There seems to be more room for rational dispute than with PM.
Apparently, each model has its advantages and drawbacks. Therefore, as insinuated in section 2.2, I will now attempt a synthesis of RPM and BT.
2.4 The BIBOP model: a new synthesis
BIBOP stands for "Bayesian inference based on perception". It assumes that design detections are not perceptions simpliciter, but Bayesian inferences based on the perception of design marks. It resembles the model proposed as a fusion of design perception and IBE, now with the advantages of BT:
- We know by experience from ourselves and other people what designers can do and what reasons and methods they employ. We also know roughly the scope of natural processes.
- We detect marks of design directly in a way we recognize other people.
- The detection of design (or non-design, for that matter) is basically an inference.
- When we see a thing T and think about its origin, three classes of hypotheses are available in our minds: HD (design), HC (chance) and HN (necessity through natural law). These hypotheses constitute a partition.
- When things strongly exhibit design, we instantly assign P(T/HC) = 0 and P(T/HN) = 0 because of 1., thus leading to P(HC/T) = 0 and P(HN/T) = 0. Necessarily then, P(T/HD) = 1 because of 4. (and buttressed by 2.). This explains why the impression of "design perception" is so strong to us.
- In other, less clear cases, or in cases where for other reasons HC and HN get much credit, P(T/HC) > 0 and/or P(T/HN) > 0. In those cases, the underlying inferential character of the belief formed becomes obvious. A design detection can then occur as a "false positive" or be missing as a "false negative", which powerfully explains disagreements.
Let's now test whether in a concrete case – the question of design in living things – the BIBOP model can indeed prove itself.
3. The BIBOP model put to the test
The hypotheses I will consider as explanations for the existence of living things are the following:
- HT: The hypothesis of theism. This replaces the generic design hypothesis. HT includes all the aspects of HD, but goes further, thus lowering its prior probability but increasing its explanatory power. In total, I believe HT to be more powerful. Anyway, it is the ultimate goal of any design argument.
- HE: The hypothesis of Darwinian/synthetic evolution. It replaces the generic chance hypothesis from above. The synthetic evolutionary theory heavily relies on chance (random genetic mutations) but includes natural law to such a degree that it is a far more plausible hypothesis than raw chance.
- HN: The hypothesis of natural law. This idea has been proposed mainly by Michael Denton[31]. He claims that the evolution of life, even of human beings is "encoded" in the laws of nature and hence a matter of necessity once the natural laws are implemented in the universe.
It is important to note that these hypotheses are mutually exclusive and that they constitute a partition, i.e. their probabilities add up to one.
Now let's check the BIBOP model with those hypotheses:
1'. (taken for granted)
2'. Do we indeed detect marks of design in living things? I can't see any reason to deny this. Remember, even fierce proponents of HE admit that they can hardly resist the impression of design in living things; surely this is due to some marks they see. Although it is beyond the scope of this essay to give a full account of design marks, we can name a few that occur in living things and are recognizable without a MSc in molecular biology: complexity; purposiveness; playfulness; beauty.
3'. (taken for granted)
4'. In our present examination, HT, HE and HN (though in most people's minds only HT and HE) are available.
5'. Considering the vast amount of beauty, complexity and purposiveness in nature, a person with HE or HN will naturally assign P (T/HT) » 1. Hence, P (T/HE) and P (T/HN) » 0. Such a person "cannot help" but believe that living things were designed by a very powerful, good God.
6'. If P(HE) or P(HN) > 0, all depends just on how great this probability is. At any rate, we can explain strong disagreements at this level. If someone fiercely believes in Darwinian evolution out of an atheistic bias, he will a priori assign P (T/HE) » 1.
So far, the BIBOP model has done a good job in explaining how people come to hold their beliefs in designed (or evolved) living things. Of course, more hypotheses than the three proposed ones can be cited. The main thing is that they form a partition.
Let me still anticipatively reply to an objection that may be raised against 5'. Does not the cruelty and mercilessness we so often seem to observe in the animal kingdom speak against a good God as designer? This objection is substantial, but not unanswerable. For one, the beauty of nature is overwhelming and in my view far outweighs the seemingly cruel aspects. Second, what are the alternatives to a good God? An evil God seems absurd, considering all the beauty. A better option seems to be a good God which is less than all-powerful and has partially "lost control" over his creation. But that still calls out for an explanation where the evil bits come from. I believe that such an explanation can be given, even without dispensing with God's omnipotence; it is not the aim of this essay to do this. Another possibility is the one chosen by the ID movement: suspending judgment on the designer's identity. But that leaves us with an unnecessarily tentative hypothesis. It misses the chance to explain some observed features of living things with the designer's motives and is open to the criticism of Elliott Sober who justly complains that ID makes no independently testable predictions as to which kinds of living things the designer would make[32]. All I would like to emphasize here is that theological objections against the theistic hypothesis can in principle be deflected.
In summary, the advantages of BIBOP remain:
- no complicated inferential arguments for how to detect design marks needed
- applicable to clear as well as opaque cases
- accounts for disagreements
- shifts the onus away from the design proponent and thus confers justification to the belief that living things have been designed, assigning to HE the strength of an undercutting defeater instead of that of a rebutting defeater
4. Prospects and Perspectives
As said before, BIBOP helps maintain that any theist is rational in holding his belief in divine design of living things. If one wishes to gut further and show that it is irrational to hold ØHT, one needs to do two things:
- show that P (T/HE/N) is indeed very low
- show that P (T/HT) is high (compared to P (T/HE) but also to P (T/HD)).
Both can be done, and, as I believe, those projects will turn out to be nothing else than the anatomizing of intuitions we all have: that complex living things don't arise either by chance or natural law and that the theistic God has good reasons to make a world like ours. If these arguments succeed, we will have gone full circle from our starting point: people are "without excuse" in denying God's designerhood in the face of the evidence, because the double power of perception and inference speak in favor of it.
[1] Romans 1:19-20 (KJV)
[2] (O'Connor 2003), p. 65
[3] The Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament (see http://www.nestle-aland.com/en/read-na28-online/text/bibeltext/lesen/stelle/55/, visited on Nov 1, 2017) renders Rom 1:20 with both the verbs kathorao (meaning to behold fully, to clearly see) and noieo (meaning to exercise the mind, to comprehend). While the KJV reflects that, the ESV speaks of "clear perception", which omits the inferential nature of noieo.
[4] I am aware that Rom 1:19-20 was not intended as a design argument. Paul's aim is to show that all people are rightfully under God's wrath because their failure to worship God properly is inexcusable. Still, he makes a connection between nature and God as Creator. This connection might be construed in one of the following two ways: (1) People know of God independent of and prior to their perception of nature – maybe through a sensus divinitatis – with the observation of nature providing strong support to their "God-sense" (2) People know of God primarily through the observation of nature. Either way, nature provides at least strong support for the belief that the theistic God exists.
[5] I added "the average person" because some design inferences may be too mathematical to be doable "on the spot". William Dembski's Eliminative Design Inference (Dembski 1998) is an example.
[6] (Paley 1809), pp. 1–2 [Emphasis added]
[7] (Plantinga 2011) (Kindle Locations 3570-3571).
[8] (Reid 1872a), p. 450
[9] (Reid 1872b), p.183-184
[10] (Reid 1872a), p. 503
[11] (Dembski 1998), p. 148
[12] I consider it as important to find such a universally accepted account. The judgment whether living things are the products of design or not should be open for everyone, not just scientists.
[13] A term I borrow from (Plantinga 2011) (Kindle Locations 2410-2411).
[14] (McGrew 2005), p. 253
[15] ibd.
[16] One of Paley's less convincing "design" examples.
[17] ibd.
[18] As (Plantinga 2011) puts it. Von Wachter reads Plantinga as being neutral about whether a basic belief is supported by perception or not. (Von Wachter 2014), p. 59
[19] (Plantinga 2011) (Kindle Location 3572)
[20] (Argyll 1885), cited in: (Ratzsch 2003), p. 124
[21] (Crick 1988), p 138
[22] (Dawkins 1986), p. 1
[23] (Von Wachter 2014), p. 60
[24] (Peirce 1935), p.189. (Cited in (McGrew 2005), p. 273)
[25] The lists and terms differ among authors such as Swinburne, Thagard or Lipton.
[26] (Doyle 1905)
[27] (McGrew 2005). p. 282
[28] (Plantinga 2011) (Kindle Locations 3655-3659)
[29] (McGrew 2005), p. 288
[30](McGrew 2005), p. 256-61
[31] (Denton 1998)
[32](Sober 2003), p. 36
Argyll, George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of. 1885. "What Is Science?" Good Words, no. April:236–45.
Crick, Francis. 1988. What Mad Pursuit. London: Penguin.
Dawkins, Richard. 1986. The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe without Design by Unknown. Unknown edition. W. W. Norton & Company.
Dembski, William A. 1998. The Design Inference: Eliminating Chance through Small Probabilities. New. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press.
Denton, Michael. 1998. Nature's Destiny: How the Laws of Biology Reveal Purpose in the Universe. Original ed. edition. New York: Free Press.
Doyle, A.C. 1905. "A Study in Scarlet." In The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Garden City, New Jersey: Doubleday.
McGrew, Timothy. 2005. "Toward a Rational Reconstruction of Design Inferences." Philosophia Christi 7 (2):253–98.
O'Connor, Robert. 2003. "The Design Inference. Old Wine in New Wineskins." In God and Design. The Teleological Argument and Modern Science. Routledge.
Paley, William. 1809. Natural Theology: Or, Evidences of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity. 12th ed. J. Faulder.
Peirce, C.S. 1935. Collected Papers. Edited by C. Hartshorne and P. Weiss. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Plantinga, Alvin. 2011. Where the Conflict Really Lies: Science, Religion, and Naturalism. 1st ed. Oxford University Press.
Ratzsch, Del. 2003. "Perceiving Design." In God and Design. The Teleological Argument and Modern Science. Routledge.
Reid, Thomas. 1872a. "Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man." In The Works of Thomas Reid, 7th ed. Vol. I. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart.
———. 1872b. "Inquiry into the Human Mind." In The Works of Thomas Reid, 7th ed. Vol. I. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart.
Sober, Elliott. 2003. "The Design Argument." In God and Design. The Telelogical Argument and Modern Science. Routledge.
Von Wachter, Daniel. 2014. "Defending Design Arguments Against Plantinga." Philosophia Reformata 79:54–65.


text:
ACT for Liberty
Boiling ideas to create a free, open and inclusive society.
What does freedom mean to us today? Do we take it for granted, or is it a continuous fight to protect it? What do you do for freedom? ACT for Liberty investigates what threatens our freedom today and challenges young Europeans to come up with fresh ideas and creative solutions. Online ánd in real-life events.
You can play the Boiling Frog Game online. Alone or together with a group. Go to www.actforliberty.eu/game
We made a special programme guild + materials for teachers or moderators to play the game during a session with a group including the 'make your 'call to action' poster. More information you can find here: https://actforliberty.eu/moderators
With the 'call to action poster' workshop we challenge you to think about possible solutions to keep our Freedom and draw your ideas in one of the poster templates that are related to the topic. Check out the posters that already are made: https://actforliberty.eu/calltoaction

subset: commoncrawl


text:
This chapter is based on Ferrer-i-Carbonell and Van Praag (2002) and Van Praag and Ferrer-i-Carbonell (2002).
It is well known that in all western economies health costs are soaring. Medical technology is improving and provides us with new therapies. The costs of those new therapies are considerable. In view of this tendency there is a need for cost-benefit analysis, or some other evaluation method, such as cost-effectiveness. What are the costs of a therapy and what is the resulting benefit? If we knew that the therapy would cost $10,000 per year but that the benefit would have a value of $20,000, there would be a case for making the therapy available, and—most essential in that respect—for including the therapy in the health-insurance policy. It is fairly easy to assess the cost of a therapy but it is more difficult to assess the benefits. When the individual works in a paid job, one of the benefits of a therapy will consist in the productivity gain of the individual, and this can be measured in money terms. This is a good measure for choosing between becoming registered disabled, and hence becoming eligible for a disability benefit, or applying the therapy, where we assume that the therapy will reduce or even remove the work disability. However, for individuals who are not part of the workforce, for example the retired, this would have dismal consequences. Even if they are cured, they will not be 'productive' any more. It demonstrates that the benefit of a therapy consists of more components; there is also a component which we may describe as enhancing of the quality of life per year and/or increasing the life expectancy. The latter benefit is also called intangible benefits. In fact, those benefits are mainly perceptible as health improvements. The problem is how to assign to them monetary values. In this chapter we will make an attempt to do that. First, we will explain the novel method we propose and present some empirical results. Then we will have a look at the solutions presented in the health-economics literature and make the link with our ideas. Finally, we will make a comparative evaluation.
As shown in Chapter 2 , we can employ the utility function for estimating trade-offs between income and other variables that play a role in our evaluation of well-being. In Chapter 2 we considered the example of family size.


text:
The Ether Reaper is a scythe weapon, and was added in Update 10.0.
This weapon can be sold for 5,000.
|Manufacturing Requirements
|Time: 12 hrs
|Rush: 50
|Market Price: 230
|Blueprints Price:50,000
This weapon deals primarily Slash damage.
- Comes with one polarity slot.
- Tied with the Reaper Prime for the second highest base damage, behind Hate.
- Low Puncture and Impact damage – less effective against health and shields.
- Stance slot has a polarity, does not match the Conclave-only Shadow Harvest stance.
Weapon LoadoutsEdit
- See Category:Ether Reaper Build to see how players mod this weapon.
- See Category:Ether Reaper Guides for guides on how to use this weapon effectively.
- For more general help with weapons, you may wish to browse Category:Weapon Guides.
- Can be equipped with the Spearmint Scythe skin.
- Statistically, this weapon has the attack speed of the Reaper Prime and the proc chance of the Hate at the cost of doing the least damage out of all four scythes.
- Though implied by the description, this weapon lacks the Ether Sword's guaranteed radiation proc on slam attacks.
- The default color scheme of Nekros is the same as the Ether Reaper's default color scheme.
- Both the name and the shaft of the Ether Reaper are similar to the Reaper Prime, a stand-alone primed scythe.
- Nekros is shown wielding the weapon in his ingame icon.
- Equipping this with Valkyr's Bonds will cause the right tube of the syandana to bug out while switching to the Ether Reaper.
Ether Reaper Skins
Patch HistoryEdit
Update 17.2
- Ether Reaper can now be used in PvP.
- Introduced.
Last updated: Hotfix 22.19.1
See alsoEdit
- Reaper Prime, a similar scythe.
- Hate, the Stalker's signature scythe.
- Anku, another Tenno crafted scythe.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


text:
Contact a representative(541) 687-4799
Contact a representative(541) 687-4799
Alliance Insurance Events
Navigating the highly regulated world of commercial insurance takes tenacity, adaptability, foresight, and most-importantly, experience. Alliance Insurance Group was founded by an elite team of risk management professionals with extensive experience working with one of the country's largest national firms. We never settle for less than the best for our clients, and always take every opportunity to learn and improve our services. Even now, representing 40 experts and more than $70 million in premiums, Alliance Advocates make it a priority to attend regional and national events like ALFA's Conference & Expo and RIMS' Annual Conference & Exhibition to cultivate a lifetime of learning and to continuously refine our craft.
Latest News
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See the latest news and events from Alliance Insurance Group
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Alliance July Legal Update and News Report
Please enjoy this July edition of the Alliance Legal Update and News Report focused on issues and solutions affecting our Senior Living Industry
- May
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text: [Federal Register Volume 77, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 8886-8887] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-3553] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2012-N-0001] Food and Drug Administration Clinical Trial Requirements, Regulations, Compliance, and Good Clinical Practice AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice of public workshop. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Detroit District Office, in co-sponsorship with the Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA) is announcing a public workshop. The public workshop on FDA's clinical trial requirements is designed to aid the clinical research professional's understanding of the mission, responsibilities, and authority of FDA and to facilitate interaction with FDA representatives. The program will focus on the relationships among FDA and clinical trial staff, investigators, and institutional review boards (IRB). Individual FDA representatives will discuss the informed consent process and informed consent documents; regulations relating to drugs, devices, and biologics; as well as inspections of clinical investigators, IRB, and research sponsors. Date and Time: The public workshop will be held on May 9 and 10, 2012, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. [[Page 8887]] Location: The public workshop will be held at the Marriott Ann Arbor Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, 1275 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti, MI 48197, 800-606-7044. Contact: Society of Clinical Research Associates (SoCRA), 530 West Butler Ave., Suite 109, Chalfont, PA 18914, 1-800-762-7292 or 215-822- 8644, FAX: 215-822-8633, email: [email protected], Web site: http://www.SoCRA.org. (FDA has verified the Web site addresses throughout this document, but we are not responsible for any subsequent changes to the Web sites after this document publishes in the Federal Register.); or Nancy Bellamy, Food and Drug Administration, Detroit District Office, 300 River Pl., Suite 5900, Detroit, MI 48207, 313-393-8143, Fax: 313- 393-8139, email: [email protected]. Accommodations: Attendees are responsible for their own accommodations. Please mention SoCRA to receive the hotel room rate of $119 plus applicable taxes (available until April 17, 2012 or until the SoCRA room block is filled). Cost of Registration ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SoCRA member............................................... $575 SoCRA nonmember (includes membership)...................... 650 Federal Government member.................................. 450 Federal Government nonmember............................... 525 FDA Employee............................................... * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * (Free) Fee Waived. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact SoCRA (see Contact) at least 21 days in advance. Extended periods of question and answer and discussion have been included in the program schedule. SoCRA designates this educational activity for a maximum of 13.3 Continuing Education Credits for SoCRA CE and Nurse CNE. SoCRA designates this live activity for a maximum of 13.3 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. CME for Physicians: SoCRA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. CNE for Nurses: SoCRA is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA), an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation (ANCC). ANCC/PSNA Provider Reference Number: 205-3-A-09. Registration Instructions: To register, please submit a registration form with your name, affiliation, mailing address, telephone, fax number, and email, along with a check or money order payable to ``SoCRA''. Mail to: SoCRA (see Contact for address). To register via the Internet, go to http://www.socra.org/html/FDA_Conference.htm. Payment by major credit card is accepted (Visa/ MasterCard/AMEX only). For more information on the meeting registration, or for questions on the workshop, contact SoCRA (see Contact). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The public workshop helps fulfill the Department of Health and Human Services' and FDA's important mission to protect the public health. The workshop will provide those engaged in FDA-regulated (human) clinical trials with information on a number of topics concerning FDA requirements related to informed consent, clinical investigation requirements, IRB inspections, electronic record requirements, and investigator initiated research. Topics for discussion include the following: (1) What FDA Expects in a Pharmaceutical Clinical Trial; (2) Adverse Event Reporting--Science, Regulation, Error, and Safety; (3) Part 11 Compliance--Electronic Signatures; (4) Informed Consent Regulations; (5) IRB Regulations and FDA Inspections; (6) Keeping Informed and Working Together; (7) FDA Conduct of Clinical Investigator Inspections; (8) Meetings With FDA: Why, When, and How; (9) Investigator Initiated Research; (10) Medical Device Aspects of Clinical Research; (11) Working With FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; (12) The Inspection is Over--What Happens Next? Possible FDA Compliance Actions; (13) Ethical Issues in Subject Enrollment; (14) Medical Device Aspects of Clinical Research; (15) Are We There Yet? An Overview of the FDA GCP Program. FDA has made education of the drug and device manufacturing community a high priority to help ensure the quality of FDA-regulated drugs and devices. The public workshop helps to achieve objectives set forth in section 406 of the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 (21 U.S.C. 393) which includes working closely with stakeholders and maximizing the availability and clarity of information to stakeholders and the public. The public workshop also is consistent with the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121) as outreach activities by Government Agencies to small businesses. Dated: February 9, 2012. Leslie Kux, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Policy. [FR Doc. 2012-3553 Filed 2-14-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4160-01-P


text:
I'm obsessed with scarves. This winter I'll be wearing scarves with almost every outfit! Can't wait for the weather to get colder. I'm excited for the outfits I will be wearing this winter!
Here are some amazing inspirations for scarves, I love so many of them! In another post I'll show you a lot of the ones I own like I showed you in the first picture taken from this outfit post.
Hope all of you have a gorgeous day!
(Source for all pictures)


text:
Following the proposal of a payments regulator to be established independent of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central bank has put forward a public objection. The regulator would have a chairperson chosen with input from the RBI, but the central bank objects to having the regulator outside of its control and not led by its governor, Reuters reported.
"Regulation of the payment system by the central bank is the dominant international model for stability consideration," the central bank said in a note on Friday (Oct. 19). "The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) must remain with the Reserve Bank and headed by the governor, Reserve Bank of India."
The news comes as the bank has not backed down on a requirement that global payments companies store data locally. As such, WhatsApp, Facebook's messaging app that is trying to make inroads in the digital payments market in India, has created a system to store payment data locally in India.
Reuters, citing a statement from WhatsApp, reported the company confirmed it built the system in response to India's payment data guidelines. India has required companies to store data locally on Indian consumers. According to the report, WhatsApp has a user base that is higher than 200 million in India, and has been trying to break into the payment market in the country.
While WhatsApp began testing payments in the country earlier this year with around one million users, it has delayed its formal launch, partly due to a need for clarity on the part of Indian regulators as to how the data is supposed to be stored.
The move to launch a payment app in India makes sense, given that Credit Suisse predicts it will be a $1 trillion market by 2023, reported Quartz. WhatsApp has been slow in launching its payment app in the country because it first needed the nod from the government. In June, Bloomberg reported that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) asked WhatsApp, along with partner banks, to provide additional details about the system.
The September 2020 Leveraging The Digital Banking Shift Study, PYMNTS examines consumers' growing use of online and mobile tools to open and manage accounts as well as the factors that are paramount in building and maintaining trust in the current economic environment. The report is based on a survey of nearly 2,200 account-holding U.S. consumers.


text:
Shakeri, F. and Ghaemi, E.A. and Kochkaksaraei, M.B. (2014) Staphylococcus aureus typing by digestion of protein A coding gene using Bsp143I. Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 7 (6). ISSN 20083645 (ISSN)
- Published Version
Download (274kB) | Preview
Background: Protein A is the virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus rolling in its pathogenesis, and its gene is used for typing. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) with different enzymes has been used for this action. Objectives: In this study, we used Bsp143I enzyme for digestion of the gene, coding protein A (spa gene) in S. aureus. The bacteria were isolated from patients and healthy carriers in Gorgan, north of Iran. Patients and Methods: DNAs of 128 S. aureus subjects (53 from healthy carriers and 75 from patients) were extracted and amplified using specific primers of the spa gene. The product was digested by Bsp143I enzyme and its pattern was assessed by gel electrophoresis. Results: There were seven spa types among the tested S. aureus samples, among which six types differed in the repeated X region of the spa gene, but the seventh type had a deletion on one of BSP143I restriction sites. The frequency of spa types among isolated S. aureus samples as well as healthy carriers was six and five, respectively. S. aureus isolated from wounds showed the most diverse spa types (five) among clinical samples. Types 1, 2 and 4 were observed in all clinical samples, while only one case of type 3 was identified among patients, whereas this type constituted over 32% of the isolates among carriers. We found seven and four spa types among methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) isolates, respectively. Conclusions: Our results showed that typing the spa gene using PCR-RFLP using Bsp143I was an acceptable method for typing S. aureus. Furthermore, this survey showed that the types in healthy carriers and MSSA were more variable than patient and MRSA isolates, respectively. We used the Bsp143I enzyme, which was not used in any previous studies on the spa gene. The results of this study suggested that we can use PCR-RFLP of spa gene by Bsp143I for molecular typing and sequencing of S. aureus, instead of relatively expensive methods. This method is relatively rapid and inexpensive, and can be accomplished in centers with conventional molecular facilities. © 2014, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences.
|Item Type:
|Additional Information:
|Unmapped bibliographic data: C7 - e10320 [EPrints field already has value set] LA - English [Field not mapped to EPrints] J2 - Jundishapur J. Microbiol. [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Department of Biology, Payame Noor University, Gorgan, Iran [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Department of Microbiology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran [Field not mapped to EPrints] AD - Danesh Clinical Laboratory, Gorgan, Iran [Field not mapped to EPrints] DB - Scopus [Field not mapped to EPrints]
|Uncontrolled Keywords:
|Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcal protein A, Staphylococcus aureus, bacterial DNA, enzyme Bsp143I, restriction endonuclease, staphylococcus protein A, unclassified drug, article, bacterial gene, bacterial virulence, bacterium identification, bacterium isolation, DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, gene amplification, gene deletion, gene frequency, hospital infection, human, Iran, major clinical study, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, nonhuman, polymerase chain reaction, protein degradation, restriction fragment length polymorphism, Spa gene
|مقالات نمایه شده محققین دانشگاه در سایت ,Web of Science ,Scopus
موارد کلی
|معاونت تحقیقات و فناوری
|Depositing User:
|Date Deposited:
|14 Apr 2015 09:49
|Last Modified:
|26 Feb 2018 05:29
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text:
Stellar named Snap-on affiliate of the year
Stellar Industrial Supply announced that it received the Affiliate-of-the-Year Award from Snap-on Industrial Brands.
The award recognizes Stellar Industrial Supply for its commitment in time, resources, planning, as well as its demonstrated ability to execute and grow with Snap-on Industrial Brands year over year to increase revenues.
"The Affiliate-of-the-Year Award recognizes Stellar Industrial Supply as an outstanding partner at all levels, particularly their expertise in delivering great solutions and great value for our customers," said Michael Carr, vice president U.S. Distribution and Canada, Snap-on.
Tacoma, Washington-based Stellar is a privately held, ISO/AS9120-certified premier industrial supplier. Its specialists, sales force and customer experience managers serve small, medium and large manufacturers, federal, state and local municipalities, and commercial construction companies across the United States. Stellar's growth strategy is focused on developing strong customer partnerships.
"The Stellar Industrial Supply vision is 'Ideal Customer-Supplier Partnerships,' and when we say that we mean it with equal importance for both our customers and supplier partners alike. Our engagement with Snap-on Industrial Brands is a prime example of our vision in action," said John Wiborg, Stellar Industrial Supply president and CEO.
Stellar supports that vision with its Documented Cost Savings Program (DCS), where Stellar works with supplier partners to bring innovative solutions to customers that maximize production and enhance overall profitability. In 2017, Stellar combined with partners to save more than $17.5 million in customer-approved documented cost savings. For example, 3M and Stellar saved customers more than $5.3 million, and work with Sandvik Coromant saved more than $3.1 million.
Since inception in 2010, the DCS program has generated more than $88 million in customer-approved documented cost savings.
"With Snap-on Industrial Brands, Stellar can confidently go to our customer partners and help them improve their financial and operating picture by offering solutions that help reduce costs and optimize production. We are extremely honored to be recognized in this way by a world class organization like Snap-on," said Wiborg.


text:
The couple are expecting their first child together
McFly star Danny Jones has just wrapped his role as a coach on The Voice Kids and now he's got his own child on the way!
Yep, the singer has announced that wife Georgia is pregnant with their first baby and, even though the tot isn't due until January, Danny thinks he's already figured out the sex.
Harry Judd's pregnant wife Izzy reveals fertility heartbreak after miscarriage
'I think we're having a boy,' says Danny, 31. 'I'm going to be a mess at the birth – when I find out if we have a son or a daughter, when I meet him or her.
'I'd love to know but we've decided we want to have that big surprise.'
The music star says he and model Georgia, 30, had 'casually' started trying to start a family late last year but were quite surprised when they discovered they were expecting five months later after conceiving the little one during a trip to Coachella.
'At first we were shocked when it happened,' Danny tells Hello! magazine. 'As we'd been casually trying, but so many people have such a hard graft starting a family that we didn't really expect it to happen quickly.'
Danny is the third member of McFly to become a father after bandmates Tom Fletcher and Harry Judd so there'll be no shortage of new dad advice for him.
The singer has also recently gained experience with children from being a coach on The Voice Kids, something that Georgia says she was really touched by.
'When I see how he is with children on The Voice Kids, how amazing he is with them, he is going to be a great dad,' she reveals. 'But then I knew that already.'
Meanwhile Danny says: 'I hope I am going to be a really chilled dad and have loads of patience.'
Since announcing the news the couple have received lots of sweet messages from fans and famous pals alike, with Giovanna Fletcher Tweeting: 'Huge congratulations to @thegeorgiaedit and @itsDannyJones!! I can't wait to meet your little bubba!! The McFamily is growing!!'
Danny's McFly buddy Dougie Poynter wrote: 'Congrats to @itsDannyJones and Georgia on their baby news! This one is going to be interesting…'
Congrats Danny and Georgia on this lovely news!


text:
Important Cultural Property
Buddhist Divinities
Selected by Shinkaku
|Selected by Shinkaku
|Heian period, 12th century
|Materials and techniques
|Two handscrolls, ink on paper
|Scroll 1: 32.0×1122.0, Scroll 2: 32.0×569.0
As the rituals of esoteric Buddhism became diversified and worship for specific divinities became prevalent, iconograph of Buddhist divinities also became diverse. During the late Heian period to the early Kamakura period, there was a movement to streamline and compile these varieties of iconography. This two-volume collection of iconographic drawings of divinities is an anthology resulting from such a movement. Shinkaku who wrote the introduction was a famous researcher on paintings of Buddhist divinities as well as the editor of "Besson zakki", the famous iconographic collection of the time. Formerly owned by Tōji temple, Kyoto.


text:
|Compact version
|Monday, 21 September 2020
Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 12-08-22
Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 161/12 22.8.12
[01] Eroglu alleges that they are very strong in the negotiations because of their "state" and that the illegal Turkish settlers will not be sent awayIllegal Bayrak television (21.08.12, online) broadcast that the Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu has alleged that they are very strong at the negotiating table because of their so-called state and that they would not have been so strong if they were a community. In statements yesterday during a visit in occupied Famagusta to the association of the "fighters" of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Eroglu said he knew many of the "fighters" since 1974 because he was a doctor then and added: "Thanks God we have established our state in the geography created by those days".
Noting that they should defend their "state", Eroglu alleged: "Thanks to our state, we are very strong at the negotiating table. If we were a community we would not have been so strong. Thanks to our state, we have the opportunity to bargain at the negotiating table".
Pointing out to the importance of the guarantees of Turkey, Eroglu said that it was not possible for him to sign an agreement which "zeroes" the Turkish Cypriots.
Asked by the members of the association how the EU term presidency of the Republic of Cyprus influenced the negotiations, Eroglu said that this was "an expected situation" and therefore they implemented a strategy which was determined "in consultation with motherland Turkey".
He noted that confidence building measures are discussed at the technical committees and reiterated the allegation that it is meaningless to negotiate with President Christofias since the latter announced that he would not run again for President in the forthcoming elections.
Moreover, Eroglu reiterated the Turkish view that a time limit should be put in the negotiations, and argued that the UN Secretary-General had also announce that the negotiations should not be open-ended. Alleging that the Greek Cypriot side does not want a solution, Eroglu argued: "Of course we want an agreement, but we do not want an agreement regardless of how this agreement will be".
Referring to the illegal Turkish settlers, Eroglu argued that it is out of the question for them to send away "the citizens from Turkey".
[02] Nadir is arrested after being found guilty of theft; Reactions in the press continue; Nur Nadir: "My husband is like Mandela"Under the title "After the decision, he was arrested", Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (22.08.12) reports that Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir was arrested yesterday by the British police in London after he had been found guilty on three counts of theft. Noting that Nadir faces 13 counts, the paper writes that he was found not guilty on the one of them and that the decision on the other nine is expected to be announced today. The paper reports that Nadir will remain under arrest until the final verdict of the court is announced.
According to the paper, Nadir accepted to go to London on his own will and to be tried in order to prove that he was innocent. Turkish daily Hurriyet newspaper reported that Nadir could stay in prison for 4-5 years.
Afrika writes that the decision of the jury about Nadir caused a great sorrow in the Turkish Cypriot community and that they wish Nadir to be sentenced to a pecuniary punishment and not to be imprisoned. Afrika reports also that Nadir was surprised by the decision of the jury and that the case had repercussions all over the world.
Moreover, writing in his daily column in Turkish Cypriot daily Haberdar (22.08.12), Rasih Resat argues that Nadir was tried by the British public opinion and not by the British justice. He says that Nadir is a hero for the Turkish Cypriots.
Meanwhile, Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis newspaper (22.08.12) reports that Asil Nadir's spouse, Nur Nadir, in statements to Turkish journalists after the decision of the court was announced, compared her husband to South African leader Nelson Mandela. Referring to what Asil Nadir is going through, she said: "He experienced things similar to those experienced by Nelson Mandela in South Africa and Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey?"
When she was reminded of the accusation that Asil Nadir stole money, Nur Nadir replied: "Did he really? In order to see what Asil did with his wealth look at Cyprus and his investments there". Noting that her spouse expected to be acquitted, Nur Nadir said: "As soon as he was acquitted from here, Asil would continue his investments in the media in Turkey which remained unfinished?"
Havadis publishes also some titles used by the British and Turkish press on the issue:
Financial Times: Nadir is found guilty on three counts of theft in Polly Peck saga
Daily Mail: Guilty! Now runaway Nadir faces jail at last
Akit and Aksam: Asil Nadir was found guilty of theft
Aydinlik: Asil Nadir was condemned
Hurriyet: The Brits did not forgive Asil Nadir, he might stay in prison four years
Milliyet: Shock: Asil Nadir is guilty of embezzlement
Radikal: Asil Nadir is a swindler
Star: The Brits did not have mercy for Asil Nadir
[03] Ozersay says his movement is open for everybody living in the occupied area of CyprusTurkish Cypriot daily Halkin Sesi newspaper (22.08.12) reports that Kudret Ozersay, leader of the "We Are Getting Together" Movement and former special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, has said that the National Unity Party (UBP) self-styled government is not the sole responsible for the situation in the occupied area of Cyprus. In an exclusive interview with Halkin Sesi, Ozersay noted that the actual problem is the political and social corruption and argued that "time for social change has come".
He said that the politicians use the public funds carelessly for preserving their own "posts" and that everything has been turned into a "show". Ozersay argued that holding "elections", without a social change first, would bring no result.
Referring to the "We Are Getting Together" Movement, Ozersay said that it is based on "multiculturalism" and it is not a movement only for the Turkish Cypriots. "For us a TRNC citizen is a TRNC citizen. We make no discriminations", he noted adding that even the settlers from Turkey are "TRNC citizens" and a part of the community. He said that the movement is open for everyone who "sees his future in this country even if he is not a citizen."
Referring to his resignation from the post of the special representative of the Turkish Cypriot leader, Ozersay noted that if Eroglu had not asked him to choose between his duties in the negotiating team and the "We Are Getting Together" Movement, he would not have resigned. He argued that his resignation did not cause interruption of the negotiations. "In any case, the negotiating process was heading nowhere", he said.
[04] The PKK denied the responsibility for the terrorist bombing attack in Turkey's Gaziantep; Turkish and Turkish Cypriot officials condemned the attackTurkish daily Today's Zaman (21.08.12) reported that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) said on Tuesday that they were not responsible for a car bomb that killed nine people in the southeastern town of Gaziantep, near Turkey's border with Syria, late on Monday. "Our fighters have nothing to do with this explosion," F?rat News, a website close to the terrorist organization, cited the PKK as saying in a statement.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the explosion, which officials said was caused by a remote-controlled car bomb, but south-eastern Turkey has seen frequent attacks by the PKK, designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and European Union.
Turkey has accused neighboring Syria of supporting the PKK, which launched a separatist insurgency in the region 28 years ago, since when more than 40,000 persons have been killed.
Gaziantep is around 50 kilometers (30 miles) from the Syrian border. Turkey has opened a centre in the town to receive international aid as it copes with an influx of almost 70,000 Syrian refugees fleeing fighting across the border.
Meanwhile, according to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (22.08.12), Turkish government officials have said that there is a possibility the defiant Syrian regime to be behind the recent attack in Gaziantep, despite a lack of evidence currently at hand.
"It's known that the (Kurdistan Workers' Party) PKK is working closely with the Syrian intelligence agency Mukhabarat. [Syrian President Bashar] al-Assad intends to see the PKK as its friend under the [idea that] 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,'" ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Chairman Huseyin Celik told daily Hurriyet in an article published yesterday. "The attack aimed to sabotage the social structure of Gaziantep, where half the population is Kurdish and lives in peace", Celik said. "While the PKK had the capability to handle such an attack on its own the organization could have also had support", he added.
Celik touched on the idea that the Syrian regime was in collaboration with the PKK in their fight against Turkey, but admitted that the idea was no more than a hypothesis. "We don't have accurate information yet. However, even though it's just an estimation, such a connection is conceivable" Celik said.
Meanwhile, Ankara Anatolia news agency (21.08.12) reported that the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdullah Gul, Turkey's EU Minister Egemen Bagis, Turkey's Deputy Besir Atalay and other Turkish politicians issued statements condemning the deadly blast in Gaziantep.
Also, according to Turkish Cypriot daily Vatan (22.08.12), several Turkish Cypriot "officials" and NGO's in occupied Cyprus sent messages of condolences and condemned the terrorist attack in Gaziantep.
According to the paper, the Turkish Cypriot leader Eroglu and the so-called prime minister Kucuk sent messages of condolences to the Turkish Premier Erdogan and the Turkish President Gul.
Also, the "Alliance of Independence" in the occupied area of Cyprus which is composed by 33 NGO's as well as the "Religious commissary trade union" and the "War veterans association" issued separate written statements to condemn the attack.
[05] Turkey and US working group to meet over SyriaTurkish daily Today's Zaman (21.08.12) reported that, according to the Anatolia news agency, Turkish and US diplomats, military and intelligence officials will gather for the first time for talks on Syria on Wednesday. The meetings will take place at the Foreign Ministry in Ankara and will be closed to the press.
The gathering will be the first meeting of a working group announced during a visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Istanbul on August 11. Speaking after talks with her Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu, Clinton said the US-Turkish working group will be set up to plan a joint response to the Syrian crisis. "Our intelligence services, our military have very important responsibilities and roles to play so we are going to be setting up a working group to do exactly that," Clinton said in Istanbul.
The US delegation will be headed by Elizabeth Jones, a former Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. The Turkish team will be led by a senior Foreign Ministry official, Anatolia said, without naming the official.
[06] Turkish Cypriots consider the increasing rate of crimes as their most important problemTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.08.12) reports that according to the results of "Standard Eurobarometer 77", a survey held by KADEM research company in the occupied area of Cyprus on behalf of the European Commission, the Turkish Cypriots consider the increasing rate of crimes as their most important problem, followed by unemployment and the economy.
According to the results of the survey, 48% of the respondents noted that they are concerned about the increasing number of crimes, 45% about unemployment and 35% about the deterioration of the economic situation.
Asked about their expectations for next year, 56% of the Turkish Cypriots said they were concerned that the economy will get worse.
41% of the Turkish Cypriots said they were satisfied with their lives, 40% said they were not very satisfied, 12% that they were not satisfied at all and only 7% said they were satisfied. During the Eurobarometer last year, 60% of the Turkish Cypriots had said that they were satisfied with their lives.
Asked about the situation of their households, 43% of the respondents said it was rather good, 34% rather bad, 16% very bad and only 6% very good.
KADEM used a sample of 500 persons older than 15 and the method of face to face interviews.
[07] More than one thousand shops in the occupied area of Cyprus took down the shutters because of the economic crisisTurkish Cypriot daily Kibris (22.08.12) reports on statements by the chairman of the "Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Tradesmen and Craftsmen" (KTEZO), Hurrem Tulga who has stated that because of the economic conditions, more than a thousand of working places in the occupied area of Cyprus took down the shutters during last year.
Underlining that all the sectors in the occupied area are collapsing, Tulga said that 1.700 cheques of shopkeepers were invalid during the previous year whereas 90% of the trade cases in the courts are related to tradesmen and producers.
Tulga accused the so-called authorities for the above mentioned situation and stressed the need for early elections to take place in the occupied area of Cyprus. He called the so-called assembly to convene in a extraordinary meeting and to give the start signal for early elections.
[08] A new hospital to be built in the occupied area of Cyprus by TurkeyUnder the front page title: "Gigantic state hospital to the TRNC", Turkish Cypriot daily Star Kibris newspaper (22.08.12) reports that that "Turkish Embassy Aid Delegation" in the occupied area of Cyprus is planning to built a giant state hospital.
As the paper writes, allegations say that the project and the budget of the hospital which is planned to be built near the "International Cyprus University" (UKU), are already prepared. According to information acquired from reliable resources, the tender for the hospital which is planned to be built, will open in Turkey and all the investors from the "TRNC" who would like to participate to the tender should go to Turkey.
As the paper writes, the hospital to be built will be able to hospitalize a wide range of patients and patients from foreign countries.
[09] The occupancy rate of the hotels in the occupied area of Cyprus has been increased during the Bayram FeastAccording to illegal Bayrak television (21.08.12) the "chairman" of the "Cyprus Turkish Hoteliers' Union" Mehmet Dolmac? has confirmed the increase in hotel occupancy rates in the "TRNC", during the period of the Ramadan Feast. "There has been a significant increase in the occupancy rates of hotels in the TRNC", he said.
Dolmac? pointed out that 13 five-star hotels and 20 small hotels in the "TRNC" have reached 100 % occupancy rate during the Ramadan Bayram holiday.
He said the rest of the hotels have also seen a significant increase in their occupancy rates. Noting that tourism statistics of the whole summer season have been satisfactory, Dolmac? said that the launching of charter flights for European tourists has been a major factor.
He also noted that the results of a satisfaction survey conducted with tourists will be announced in October. Early results of the survey address the Turkish Cypriot's hospitality as the most important point of satisfaction.
"Yet environmental problems remain as a matter of complaint", he said.
[10] Tension and confusion at the Agios Dometios crossing point because of the last day of Bayram FeastTurkish Cypriot daily Afrika (22.08.12) reports that yesterday, the last day of the three-day holidays of the Turkish Cypriots who celebrated the Ramazan Feast, a conflux has been created at the Agios Dometios crossing point since a crowd of Turkish Cypriots wanted to visit the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus to pass their day.
The paper underlines the tension being created at the Agios Dometios crossing point because of the long queues of the cars and points out that a lot of citizens stressed the need for the opening of more crossing points.
The paper refers also to the proposal which was made in the past by the "mayor" of the occupied part of Lefkosia, Cemal Bulutoglulari for the opening of more crossing points, and wonders when this will be realized.
[11] Agia Trias Basilica church lacks of careUnder the title "Who will be interested in?", Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (22.08.12) reports on the situation of the historical church of Agia Trias Basilica which is located in the occupied Agia Trias village in occupied Karpasia and writes that the church is vanished and that the mosaics of the church are lacking of proper care.
The paper writes that the Agia Trias Basicila was built during the 5th century and underlines that it is a place of attraction for many tourists. The paper however, writes that despite of this, the "state" does not show the necessary interest.
The residents of the occupied Agia Trias village call the "authorities" to show the necessary interest for the church.
AK http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio
Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article


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Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Story Below!! A small part of Tekamah Volunteer Fire Departments equipment, Here they are in Fourth of July Parade mode.
3 comments:
- Ralph said...
I thought this was a positive post but the spammer before me wants you to eliminate depression. You might want to think about word verification.
- September 28, 2005 7:43 PM
- Cliff said...
I think I have this figured out. The spam always appears on the newest blog about 5 to 10 minutes after you put it up. I'm thinking that if I'd put yesterday's date on the blog,,, I could fool the spammers and avoid having to go to verification or doing what I've been doing,,, going back after a half hour and delete the little buggers.
- September 28, 2005 7:50 PM
- void said...
Thanx for stopping by and your comments. I just noticed you have my friends JD and the Idgster blogrolled - I'll have to get you on mine!
- September 29, 2005 9:11 AM
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19 February 2018
On January 9 2018 Barcelona Commercial Court Number 5 upheld the patent infringement action filed by Société des Produits Nestlé against Fast Eurocafé, SA on the basis of European Patent (EP) 1.472.156/Spanish Patent 2.260.626 (the '156 patent) and EP 1.808.382/Spanish Patent 2.407.963 (the '382 patent).
Nestlé is the holder of the '156 and '382 patents, which protect the capsules of the well-known Nescafé Dolce Gusto system.
Since May 2015 Fast Eurocafé has imported, offered and sold capsules for a beverage compatible with the Nescafé Dolce Gusto system.
In January 2016 Nestlé filed a patent infringement action with a preliminary injunction motion against Fast Eurocafé based on the abovementioned patents. At that time, two different versions of the capsules had been launched in the market by Fast Eurocafé:
Nestlé's main argument was that both the V1 and V2 capsules infringed the '156 and '382 patents, which protect:
"a capsule designed to be extracted by injection of a fluid under pressure in an extraction device, containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage, comprising a closed chamber containing the said substance and a means allowing he said capsule to be opened at the time of its use and for allowing the said beverage to flow out characterized in that opening is achieved by a relative engagement of the opening means with a retaining wall of the closed chamber and in that the relative engagement is performed under the effect of the rise in pressure of the fluid in the chamber."(1)
Fast Eurocafé opposed the appeal, arguing that:
In its defence, Fast Eurocafé interpreted the scope of protection of Claim 1 in both patents restrictively, holding that:
In its January 9 2018 decision, Barcelona Commercial Court Number 5 declared that claims must be interpreted according to their descriptions. Therefore:
Having determined the scope of protection of both patents, the court declared them valid. With regard to their infringement, after an extensive analysis of both parties' evidence, the court concluded that:
The decision has been appealed.
For further information on this topic please contact Ana-Laura Morales at Grau & Angulo by telephone (+34 93 202 34 56) or email (email@example.com).The Grau & Angulo website can be accessed at www.ga-ip.com.
(1) Extract from the '156 patent – the '382 patent is worded similarly.
The materials contained on this website are for general information purposes only and are subject to the disclaimer.
ILO is a premium online legal update service for major companies and law firms worldwide. In-house corporate counsel and other users of legal services, as well as law firm partners, qualify for a free subscription.


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Including your target keyword within your page title positively correlated with higher search rankings. It's an unhealthy practice to decide for yourself what the data should be telling you. Basic SEO can kick start your marketing and push your website in the right direction but It's easy to become bamboozled. In the digital era, simple SEO just doesn't cut it anymore and with the current competitive market you need an omni-channel approach. In evaluating the worth of these inbound links, some search engines consider the rank of the website providing the link to your website. The biggest difference between the two approaches is the level of formality and experimentation.
How I improved my keywords in one day
Target links from websites with high DAs, since the higher the DA, the more relevant and reliable a source is. Links from high-DA sites communicate to Google that your site is also a highly relevant and authoritative source on a topic. You can get great equipment from tool hire . The fastest-growing area of social media networking involves posting videos, especially on YouTube. Search engines do not look favorably upon websites that contain a lot of broken links and thus give them a bad ranking. Not only are generic keyword lists the opposite of unique, engaging content, they will also hurt your business' credibility in the eyes of your clientele, making it appear to be little better than a run-of-the-mill email spammer in the Internet food chain. Advertising offers an excellent venue to increase brand awareness.
Never changing keywords will eventually destroy you
Link to page relevance is if the link is relevant on the page; that is to say if the link makes contextual sense on the page itself. Good, obedient spiders conform to Robots Exclusion Protocol (REP). If you execute your keyword research properly, you'll end up with a long list of search terms you want to be found for. Make sure to search for those terms in Google yourself. What results are there already? Who will be your online competitors for these search terms? What can you do to stand out from these results? 4 Simple Steps to SEO SuccessMany quality open source software packages are worth exploring. This scenario is highly plausible for revenue reasons.
Actionable tips on webmaster tools and Twitter
Gaz Hall, a Freelance SEO Consultant, commented: "The best way to figure out what keywords you want to focus on is to look at the keywords your competitors are focusing on." Many domain name owners are selling their domain names. Be willing to be wrong (if you are). Google Analytics provides a tool that shows the visible content of a web page in different browsers and screen resolutions. The reason social is such a natural extension of search is that it adds both relevancy and authority. Think about this: According to Nielsen research, 92% of consumers worldwide trust recommendations from friends and family more than any form of advertising. This is up from 74% in 2007.
How do you feel about hits now?
It's not enough to just know your keywords. You must use them in the right way to fully develop long-term SEO value. The best tactics include assigning one keyword to each page on your website and optimizing that page using on-site SEO best practices. That way you always publish SEO friendly posts and page content. Often it's hard for businesses to know who to trust with their SEO and we sadly do see websites that have been damaged by bad SEO work. Covering hot new topics and industry news is an excellent way to get to the top of the SERPs fast. Everybody wants to know the latest and greatest. Maybe the project reeks of data drama (i.e., are we seeing too much dark traffic in analytics?). It's psychological; our brains love lists. If you create some cool list, there is a big chance that people will click on it and later share it.
Self-publishing Parasite SEO based purely on metrics
Mental exercises have a positive impact on the information search process. Many small business owners balk at video marketing because they think that their business isn't "video worthy". But if lawyers and instant coffee brands can have a YouTube channel there's no reason you can't either. Even better than the traffic you get from video websites are the high-quality backlinks from high PageRank authority websites. If consumers visualize a picture in their imaginations, the effect may be greater than actually viewing a visual. Consumers whosee commercials featuring one or two benefits learn about a brand's characteristics. Google Analytics and Google Webmaster Tools are both free programs offered by Google that will allow you to keep track of your visitors and website.


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Returns period
You have 15 days for returns since the moment you receive it.
Return method
If you want to return a product please follow this steps:
- Print the return form. You can download it from here.
- Insert the product into its original box and protect the shoebox with and extra safety box, is a good idea to use the same box in wicth you received it.
- Fill this form and put it inside the safety box.
- Send it to:
Street Puntarenas, 12
Pol. Ind. El Tablero
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- As soon as we receive it we'll check the product status and if everything is ok we will refund your money back.
Shipping agency
You can choose the delivery service of your choice.
Return costs
All shipping costs must be paid by the sender. If there are additional costs due to customs and taxes these will subtracted from the total refund.
Returns due to wrong ítem or defect
In the case you received the wrong item or it presents a defect, please contact us and we will handle the delivery service and return cost.
Is store return
You can also return the product in any of our physical store. This service has no cost.
For exchanges please follow the return instruction and then place a new order.


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Why? WHY? This is why:
Just wait till you hear him talk about Kanye and R Kelly in his standup "Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening." If I keep watching it my neighbors are probably going to file a noise complaint for my hysterical giggling.
And then there's Aziz on Parks and Recreation:
In fact, I would have thrown my television out the window after seeing that fucking "Dear John" preview for the 5,000th fucking time in 30 minutes if I wasn't watching Aziz Ansari clips right now. I'm just saying. That preview makes my insides hurt. I'm upset I even linked to it just now.
I mean, there's no need to follow the link. Just turn on your TV. Wait 5 minutes.
Thank you Aziz, for saving my television. Although I think my boyfriend is getting a little tired of me mimicking the R Kelly bit. Because about every 20 minutes, I start belting out this:
"They said, Robert! They said, Roooobert! You've only been doing your show for 20 minutes and it's already getting too freeeeaky tonight!
Do you wanna know what I told em? I said LA do you wanna know what I told em? I said LA do you wanna know what I told em?I said, I'm a GROWN! ASS! MAN!"
Ha! LOVE. HIM.


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Cloud Aline Chess Bordeaux Plaid Sneaker Boot
Jump into Fall with the Aline Boot by Cloud. The wool lining will keep you warm and cozy while the sleek leather, contrast stitching, and plaid detail add a stylish twist to this comfortable bootie.
- Leather upper
- Wool lining
- Functional zipper


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PROOF OF THE PUDDIN' - Flying High'/'Color Wheel' (RCA Victor 47-9332) September 1967
I've had an obscure psych 45 by Proof Of The Puddin' for some time and it's recently stirred up some interest when I compiled both sides on a couple of freebie comps. Keith Bickerton liked the 45 so much he did some research on the group and here are his findings.
I recently received news that Ken Ridler died 22/09/15.