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Today, Wednesday, December 6, 2017, Congress will vote on H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. Call your representative and let them know how you feel about this bill.
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act Vote
Utah Senate votes to repeal 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The Utah Senate on Wednesday called on Congress to repeal the 17th Amendment — so that state senators could again select U.S. senators.
It voted 20-6 to pass SJR2, and sent it to the House. It calls for Congress to repeal the 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which was ratified in 1913 to allow people to directly elect U.S. senators.
Source: ConstitutionAlly | Utah Senate votes to repeal 17th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Senate advances fast-track trade bill for Obama
But, will we ever know what's in it?
The Senate on Tuesday voted to advance President Obama's trade agenda, approving a measure to end debate on fast-track authority.
The 60-37 motion sets up a vote on final passage on Wednesday. If the Senate approves fast-track or trade promotion authority (TPA), it would then be sent to Obama's desk to become law.
Fast-track authority would allow Obama to send trade deals to Congress for up-or-down votes. The White House wants the authority to conclude negotiations on a sweeping trans-Pacific trade deal.
Source: Senate advances fast-track trade bill for Obama | TheHill


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Monday brings bad news to the India-based lovers of former Gawker Media blog Fleshbot. Porn is now banned in India. So are some racier corners of the online dating world, apparently.
The Indian government has ordered internet service providers to block 857 websites that host porny content. Among those are our friends Fleshbot and everybody's friends at Adult Friend Finder. (See the full list here.) Why would they do such a thing, especially since India's Supreme Court refused to ban adult content just one month ago? Because porn is so annoying.
"Free and open access to porn websites has been brought under check," a spokesman at the department of telecommunications told Reuters. "We don't want them to become a social nuisance."
The seemingly subjective selection of banned websites comes after years of increased internet censorship in India. After updating its Information Technology Act in 2011, the former British colony asked Facebook and Google to screen content. In 2012, India banned over 250 websites for "triggering panic" and told Twitter to axe the accounts of people reporting on unrest in the northeaster portion of the country. They were being a nuisance, too, it seems.
Do you know what's really a social nuisance? Government goons telling citizens what they are and are not allowed to look at. Yesterday, it was dissidents. Today, it's porn. Tomorrow, it's blogs.
Trust us: We know internet websites can be a nuisance sometimes. That's what makes them great.
[Reuters via Independent]
Contact the author at email@example.com.
Public PGP key
PGP fingerprint: 91CF B387 7B38 148C DDD6 38D2 6CBC 1E46 1DBF 22

subset: commoncrawl


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We will work for you every step of the way! Our combination of skill, experience, and technology ensures that we can sell your home for the highest possible price and in the shortest period of time. We have the tools to meet the demands of a highly competitive, modern market.
From our website, prospective buyers can get information immediately about your home. They can access the site 24 hours a day and view your property listing! Through our Personal Home Search, your listing will be sent by e-mail to every prospective buyer in our database, where your home meets their criteria. It will also be e-mailed automatically to future prospective buyers as well.
As soon as you list your home with Lifestyles, we will enter your home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) database. Other agents can immediately access your property information by computer. Your property will also be included in any printed MLS books. We regularly publish these in magazines and newspapers in the area and send out direct mail pieces to potential buyers.
When you think about it, there are several other homes for sale competing with your home. Lifestyles will help you price your home competitively to attract qualified buyers. The way we do this is by generating a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report, which will show you a range of prices being paid for homes in your area. You can complete the online form to get a feel for your home's market value.
Remember, we will be working for you every step of the way to make sure that you get the highest possible price for your home in the shortest period of time.
Fill out the form below for a free market evaluation from Lifestyles Real Estate.


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Writing law academic papers require specific approaches. Whether Law Essays, Law term papers, Law research papers, Law Dissertations or any other Law academic papers. It requires critical thinking and a lot of care not to make mistakes like grammatical errors that will lead to points getting deducted from your paper. Universityessaywritings.com is a reputable online academic writing company with extensive experience in writing law academic Papers at affordable rates without compromising quality. Proofreading of our writers generated Law academic papers by our editors is a main focus in our company as a way of ensuring high-quality papers that meet the high standards expected of academic papers written by Law students. Law essays, Law term papers, Law dissertations, Law research papers, etc. must have original content that is free of plagiarism and copyright infringement. That is exactly what we give at UniversityEssayWritings.com, simply because we understand its importance.
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Maritime Acts Pages – Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA)
Enacted on August 7, 1953, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) provides the Secretary of the Interior with jurisdiction over mineral, oil, and gas exploration and development of submerged lands in state coastal waters. Under the law, the Secretary has the power to regulate and grant leases to the highest qualified bidders deemed responsible enough to carry out offshore activities. The Act applies to all seabed and subsoil of the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS). It is overseen by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
The U.S. Submerged Lands Act, also passed in 1953, established government ownership of submerged land within three miles of a state's coast. It was followed by legislation to protect the environment and the air, and the Coastal Zone Management Act, a law that allows states to review federal actions affecting coastal land and water activities, and regulates the release of pollutants. These acts and the OCSLA were created to address the drilling of oil along the coast, where the ocean provided the best producing area for wells. This was discovered in the late 1800s in California and became an important issue into the mid-1900s when offshore exploration became prevalent in the Gulf of Mexico.
Amendment and Expansion of the Act
The OCSLA was amended with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which assigned the Department of the Interior jurisdiction over renewable energy and other alternate energy-related projects on the OCS. The OCSLA has also been amended to establish an oil spill liability fund. Coastal states also receive a portion of receipts from when mineral resources on the continental shelf are leased.
Another related piece of legislation is the Federal Oil & Gas Royalty Management Act, passed by Congress in 1982. It requires federal lands and the environment to be protected when oil and gas facilities are built. This also created the BOEM, an agency that was formed from the Reorganization of Minerals Management Service (MMS), which was designated to manage mineral leasing on the OCS. It was also tasked with overseeing offshore activities after the issuance of leases. The MMS was renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement in 2010, with a clearer focus on environmental and economic responsibility. In addition, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement was created to enforce regulations pertaining to safety and environmental issues.
Scope of the OCSLA
The oil/gas exploration program under the Act accounts for 16 percent of U.S. oil production. It also is responsible for five percent of natural gas produced domestically. Leases or permits for any project can be canceled if it jeopardizes marine life. The law also regulates the timing and location of leasing, accounting for marine productivity and environmental sensitivity of a particular area. In addition to a fund for compensating for oil spill pollution, amendments include a Fisherman's Contingency Fund, to compensate for damages to fishing gear by oil/gas exploration assets.


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Dr. rer. nat. Asta Partanen is one of the leading market experts on biocomposites in Europe, especially on Wood-Plastic Composites. Dr. Partanendid her PhD research on market opportunities of innovative wood composites (WPC and Thermowood) in the German-speaking area. She has been conducting market research and consulting for the development of new biocomposites and their applications and market launch for the last 15 years – for several years through her consulting company "Asta Eder Composites Consulting" located in Vienna (Austria) and since 2013 in the nova-Institute department "Technology & Markets". At nova-Institute, Dr. Partanen also works in the field of standardisation, certification and labelling of bio-based products.
She is the project leader of the upcoming, world's largest conference "Sixth WPC &NFC Conference Cologne". Additionally, she leads several customer research and consulting projects on biocomposites.
Other running projects:
- Open-Bio is the follow-up project to another FP7 research project called KBBPPS (Knowledge Based Bio-based Products' Pre-Standardization) and kicked off in November 2013. It comprises a broader consortium consisting of the KBBPPS group and a number of new partners, bringing in expanded expertise. Open-Bio builds on the results of KBBPPS, refining them and developing further knowledge on implementation of the standardization result in relation to market development. http://www.biobasedeconomy.eu/research/open-bio/
- InnProBio, the Forum for Bio-Based Innovation in Public Procurement, aims to develop a community of public procurement practitioners interested in innovative bio-based products and services. http://innprobio.innovation-procurement.org/home/
- Expert Group for Bio-based Products of European Commission
- Finnish Austrian Economy Forum; Austrian WPC Platform
- Conference Scientific Committee of the Conference Advancement in Fiber-Polymer Composites in Madison (US)
- Scientific Committee of the WPC Conference in France
Selected Publications
- Sijtsema, S., Onwezen, M., Reinders, M. J., Dagevos, H., Eder, A., Meeusen, M.:2015 Consumers' Perceptions of Bio-based Products – An Exploratory Study in 5 European Countries, Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, in review
- Carus, M., Eder, A., Beckmann, J.: 2014 Industry Report: GreenPremium Prices Along the Value Chain of Biobased Products. In: Industrial Biotechnology, Vol. 10, No. 2, April.
- Carus, M., Eder, A., Dammer, L., Korte, H., Scholz, L., Essel, R., Breitmayer, E. and Barth, M. 2015: Wood-Plastic Composites (WPC) and Natural Fibre Composites (NFC): European and Global Markets 2012 and Future Trends in Automotive and Construction.
- Eder, A., Haider, A. 2011: Marktchancen für Wood Polymer Composites im deutschsprachigen Raum, Holztechnologie, 52(2),44-49, 2011. (in German)
- Weinfurth, S., Eder, A. 2009 Consumer Perceptions of Innovative Wood-Polymer Composite Decking with a Focus on Environmental Aspects,Lenzinger Berichte 87, 168-178, ISSN 0024-0907
- Eder, A. Schwarzbauer, P. 2009: Perception of Austrian Furniture Costumers of Lightweight Materials, International Panel Products Symposium. The Bio Composites Centre, Proceeding of the International Panel Products Symposium 2009; International Panel Products Symposium, Nantes, Sept 16 -17 2008, ISBN: 978-1-84220-118-3
nova-Institut GmbH, 2015-12-01.
Asta Eder Composites Consulting
nova-Institut GmbH


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New York City voters who care about transit have two excellent choices on the ballot come November—but unfortunately, neither of them is running for mayor. Eliot Spitzer's last-minute entry into the race upends Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer's easy slide into the city comptroller's office, and makes the choice for straphanger voters especially difficult.
On the one hand, Scott Stringer has demonstrated an understanding, almost uniquely among New York City politicians, of the tremendous and globally unprecedented costs that the city pays to build new transit infrastructure. While Christine Quinn looks at the high cost of digging subways and throws up her hands and suggests we paint bus lanes instead, Mr. Stringer seems to understand that these costs are not something we necessarily have to live with.
"We need to get to the bottom of why the price tags for MTA projects are so astronomical compared to projects in other developed nations," he said in a speech delivered back when Joe Lhota was still fresh at the MTA. "The first phase of the Second Avenue Subway is costing $2.7 billion per mile of new tunnel" he said, with talking points clearly cribbed (dare we say, plagiarized?—ah well, we'll take it!) from blogger Alon Levy. "In comparison, London built the Jubilee subway line—a 9.9-mile route that crosses the Thames River four times—at a cost of $700 million per mile. Similar projects in Paris, Berlin and Tokyo cost between $370 million to $450 million per mile."
Meanwhile, Mr. Spitzer, the son of a real estate developer, is no slouch either when it comes to transit. Astute Observer readers who read our May cover story will recall that Eliot Spitzer was the only one of four New York governors since the 9/11 attacks to pay close attention to the skyrocketing costs at the World Trade Center site, and especially the Santiago Calatrava-designed PATH subway station.
"The best way to explain the cost of downtown was the opportunity cost," Mr. Spitzer told The Observer back in May. "What was not done because you had to do that? Do you do Calatrava, or do you do the rebuild of Penn Station? That's the way I forced us to think about it."
Mr. Spitzer's prostitution scandal broke before he and his Port Authority pick, Anthony Shorris, could do anything about it, and the Transportation Hub and other cost overruns at the World Trade Center site eventually did exactly what Mr. Spitzer and Mr. Shorris feared they would: they forced the Port to cut back on other projects, like a LaGuardia renovation and a new bus garage for the West Side.
Meanwhile, back among the major candidates for the mayor's office, Joe Lhota is the only would-be mayor to even suggest expanding the subway system. (He wants to extend the R train over from Bay Ridge to Staten Island, a proposal that may leave anyone who's ever sat on that painfully local train scratching their head.) The city has apparently become so afraid of new transit projects that not even in a mayor's race, where pie-in-the-sky ideas like free universal pre-K and single-payer city health insurance are routinely floated, will candidates suggest serious new ones.
The comptroller has no control over the state-run MTA. But the city has recently started giving money directly to transit—city taxpayers are on the hook for interest payments on the 7 train extension to Hudson Yards now that office buildings are going up more slowly than anticipated—and the comptroller's office would be in a good position to act as a watchdog over spiraling transit costs.
"I'm not in any way passing judgment on Scott by getting into the race," Mr. Spitzer told Politicker late last night. "The process of democracy is competitive, and it permits the public to choose among candidates, sometimes all of whom are superbly qualified."


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Earlier today I was reading the article 'Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in an action film – but can he cut it at 63?' on the Guardian's website.
I didn't read it because of the love child incident or because he has just come out of politics. I read it because, in my opinion, Arnie will always be one of the best action stars.
I don't see why Arnie shouldn't take on an action role. As an audience we're not stupid; we know he won't be the same Arnie as he was in Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator – in his Conan days he was more famous for being a bodybuilder than an actor. At 63, he is still in good shape and while he is a bit long in the tooth, he has aged well.
Age hasn't stopped other actors. Even though the film wasn't that well received, Sly Stallone was quite impressive in The Expendables and during filming would have been 63. Mickey Rourke was brilliant in 2008's The Wrestler though he was in his mid-50s during filming. Bruce Willis, John Malkovich and Morgan Freeman all packed quite a punch in 2010's RED though they would have been about 55, 56 and 73, respectively.
As long as he isn't doing anything too ridiculous – maybe stick to ranged weapons instead of hand-to-hand combat – I don't see why Arnie shouldn't take on an action role. It's what he's good at and I for one would pay to see him kick ass any day.
Image from Vectorportal.com


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Related Topics
Philadelphia Medicine
The first hospital, the first medical school, the first medical society, and abundant Civil War casualties, all combined to establish the most important medical center in the country. It's still the second largest industry in the city.
Philadelphia Legal Scene
The American legal profession grew up in this town, creating institutions and traditions that set the style for everyone else. Boston, New York and Washington have lots of influential lawyers, but Philadelphia shapes the legal profession.
Medical Economics
Some Philadelphia physicians are contributors to current national debates on the financing of medical care.
Academia in the Philadelphia Region
Higher education is a source of pride, progress, and aggravation.
Popular Passages
New topic 2013-02-05 15:24:06 description
|Milton S. Hershey
On several occasions, Richard A. Kern M.D. (1891-1982) told the story of his part in the founding of the Hershey School of Medicine. Dick Kern was a distinguished professor of Medicine at Temple University, well known for his contributions in the field of asthma and allergy, a past president of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, and a former Grand Master of Pennsylvania Freemasonry. The Milton S. Hershey School was considering the creation of a medical school and needed advice.
Milton Hershey had been a strict Mennonite, which is closely related to Quakerism, and had accumulated a huge fortune making chocolate candy. He left generous trusts to endow a theater and various other public services in the town of Hershey, but his ownership shares in the chocolate company had been left to the Hershey School for orphans. The value of the shares had far outgrown the ability of the school to employ them usefully, and they were considering a medical school. In 1963, as at present, everybody else was wondering how to get out from under the crushing cost of running a medical school. The sudden inquiry from a donor both willing and able to start a whole new medical school from scratch was an opportunity not likely to appear again soon. Kern carefully considered the options, including the danger of scaring off the naive potential donors with too high a price. Finally, he screwed up his courage and suggested a price to the trustees, of fifty million. The prompt answer was, done, you've got your medical school.
In due course, Kern found himself on the platform at the inaugural ceremonies of the school, sitting next to the guest of honor, that man who had made such an instant decision. Chatting amiably, Kern mentioned that he had always wondered how high the Hershey Foundation would have been willing to go. The answer was just as prompt as the original one. "Hundred-twenty."
Originally published: Tuesday, June 08, 2004; most-recently modified: Sunday, July 21, 2019
|Posted by: AdrianTaylor47 | Oct 5, 2006 8:16 AM
|Posted by: unclelarry | Oct 4, 2006 11:05 PM


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Now that the biggest things on our list have been accomplished its time to slowly , one , by one , work our way through the remaining list of 'To Do's'. We need to set up our mail forwarding service in Miami. This will be our new U.S. address where we will receive any correspondence . First thing we need to do is get rid of as much paper bills and such as we can. Setting up electronic bill pay for whatever isn't already set up that way. This shouldn't be too many things because Scott already has most of our bills set up that way. Also, we shouldn't have too many bills after we cancel out everything here.(Did anyone say whoohooo?) So the mail forwarding service will collect our mail and we will be allotted a weight amount that we pay monthly for. Anything over the allotted weight will be an extra charge. Then they send it to Boquete, possibly to Mailboxes Etc. We will gather our mail once a month.
I found an interesting solution to all the tons and tons of junk mail that we really want to stop receiving. If we keep getting junk mail we will end up actually paying for it! No thanks! There are services to rid you of all the tons of catalogs and credit card marketing junk. The one I have found is $35.00 for five years! So for five years they will continue to make sure you are off all the lists of mass mailing organizations. This sounds good to me. It will take about six weeks for it to actually kick in so it's a good idea for us to get this started asap. Of course I just realized that means I have to actually try to stop throwing it all in the trash as I remove it from the mailbox. I need to give the name of the catalogs that I wish to have my name and address removed from.
This is yet another part of our preparations to begin our new life. Next up, making sure we have enough original copies of personal documents like marriage licenses and Birth certificates. These things can be very important especially while applying for certain documentation at government offices. They just love documentation in Panama, so we have read. We have also read that poor Scott will be required to actually wear long pants when going into government offices! Gasp! He's not happy about having to bring pants with him , just when he thought he was finally going to be "Mr. Shorts"! Well, I suspect, he will mostly achieve that goal of nearly never having to actually be forced to wear those dreaded Dockers! It will hopefully be only very infrequently that we will be visiting government offices. After we retain our Pensionado Visa it should be a "shorts" only life for him.
There are still a few more 'to do's' on our list but that list is slowly getting smaller and smaller with each passing day. We're almost there, for sure! It wont be long now and these posts with start being about our new life in Boquete.


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Wedding Videographer in Venice.
Venice wedding videographer
I love being a Venice wedding videographer because it is one of the most romantic cities in the world.
I do this job because it makes me happy. Therefore since you are coming here to celebrate one of the happiest moment in your life. There is no better way to stay connected with you and make this day unique and unforgettable.
My mission and my wish, as Venice wedding videographer, is you to relive your wedding day, to relive the emotions you felt that day. Your video will be with you over the years, and to me it is very important to leave you a beautiful memory of that.
It is not only about video. My goal is also to capture your laughs and your words, then mix them with an original theme song tailored on you; all in an easy way, with discretion, to make you feel natural and relaxed.
Venice is breathless, and it will be an honor for me to capture the essence of your wedding. Starting with Piazza San Marco, surrounded by Palazzo Ducale and Basilica di San Marco; the famous Gran Canale and through the narrow backstreets, where it is like going through a labyrinth without the Minotaur and exciting to be like Theseus without an Aridne's thread. Venezia is full of old churches, with ancient bricks and marbles, and beautiful squares where you can taste the Venetian life.
I think Venezia has all the ingredients for your wedding to be magic and timeless.
I am sure you are investing an incredible amount of thought and care, by choosing the perfect place and details; as a Venice wedding videographer, I do the same to provide my clients the best memories of their special day.
Feel free to get in touch with me if you are looking for your Wedding Videographer.


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The album is the 56th edition of the Now! series in the United Kingdom. In 2009, she formed a dance band with her New York based co-producer and business partner, DJ Exacta. Heart Four Counties is a local radio station owned and operated by Global Radio as part of the Heart network. "Follow Me" is a single by Uncle Kracker. The album is the 30th edition of the South African Now! series. Now That's What I Call Music! 6 was released in 2002.
The album is Fatboy Slim's studio second DJ set, following Bondi Beach: New Years Eve '06, but before Dance Bitch Tim Kellett is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. The Frug was a dance craze from the mid-1960s, which included vigorous dance to pop music. Farrés wrote the music and original Spanish lyrics for the song which became a hit for Bobby Capó in 1947. Heart Essex is a local radio station owned and operated by Global Radio as part of the Heart network. Bliss was recorded in one week. Written by Hélène Muddiman. Her debut single, "Mama Do", was released in June 2009 and went straight to number one in the UK Singles Chart. The album was originally set for a November 2006 release in the UK, however it was later pushed back to the 4 December 2006. Nikki said:" My voice has aged since Follow Your Heart." Bliss Included bonus DVD featuring. Conor Paul Maynard is an English singer-songwriter and child actor from Brighton & Hove who is signed to EMI subsidiary, Parlophone.
Bimbo Jones is a UK dance music group, comprising producers Lee Dagger and Marc JB and vocalist Katherine Ellis. Stephenson was born in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. "What Took You So Long?" is a song by British recording artist Emma Bunton from her debut solo album, A Girl Like Me. It aired on the British terrestrial TV channel Channel 4 and was broadcast on Friday nights.


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The Birth of Energy
Fossil fuels, thermodynamics and the politics of work
Daggett, Cara New
CollectionToward an Open Monograph Ecosystem (TOME)
In The Birth of Energy Cara New Daggett traces the genealogy of contemporary notions of energy back to the nineteenth-century science of thermodynamics to challenge the underlying logic that informs today's uses of energy. These early resource-based concepts of power first emerged during the Industrial Revolution and were tightly bound to Western capitalist domination and the politics of industrialized work. As Daggett shows, thermodynamics was deployed as an imperial science to govern fossil fuel use, labor, and colonial expansion, in part through a hierarchical ordering of humans and nonhumans. By systematically excavating the historical connection between energy and work, Daggett argues that only by transforming the politics of work—most notably, the veneration of waged work—will we be able to confront the Anthropocene's energy problem. Substituting one source of energy for another will not ensure a habitable planet; rather, the concepts of energy and work themselves must be decoupled.
KeywordsPolitical Science; Public Policy/Environmental Policy; Nature; Environmental Conservation & Protection
PublisherDuke University Press
Publisher websitehttps://www.dukeupress.edu/
Publication date and placeDurham, NC, 2019
Political science & theory
The environment


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John Gilroy is Director of U.S. Public Lands with Pew Charitable Trusts. He has also been a consultant to various national foundations and organizations over the years. His work has focused on developing and promoting regional and national campaigns to protect wilderness on federal public lands, old growth forests, critical habitat and road-less areas in national forests. John also spent a year at the Rockefeller Family Fund as a program associate. From 1988 until 1992, he was the Executive Director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. His prior experience also includes work with the Center for Study of Responsive Law, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and the New York Public Interest Research Group.
John is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center (JD) and New York University (BA). He serves on the boards of NEO Philanthropy, the Alaska Wilderness League and the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation. He lives in Pittsford, New York.


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Author, Consultant, Handyman & Tour Guide
Home of the book
" Putting Wisdom to Work ~ Practical Mindfulness for Maximal Living "
A place where practical wisdom, business and life skills can be found and shared.
Cultivating wisdom is about releasing the wizard within to use intuition, experience, intention and expectations to create the best life for yourself and others. See how to use proven mindfulness techniques and personal policies for a richer, happier, more fulfilling personal experience
Develop wisdom skills and you'll make twice the personal growth progress in half the time!
Put wisdom to work and be able to:
• Tame the monkey mind of depression, anxiety & stress • Shape beliefs and intentions that bend reality
• Build a practice that nurtures a meaningful life • Use acceptance to let go of resistance
• Map a more direct path to fulfillment • Make life transitions with grace
>Stay positive, feel better, get stuff done, and have more fun! Book details >
Release your inner wizard! > Second Edition now available as Kindle & Paperback , PDFeBook & Signed Paperback .
Note: Please snag your copy directly through PDFeBook or Signed Paperback when possible.
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Toolbox: Companion Guides: free self-awareness activities | Blog, Interviews & Observations |
Personal Coaching, workshops, and guest interview topics | Santa Cruz Marketing Consulting: Business development & Coaching |
| Santa Cruz Handyman: Interior/exterior/office & home Upgrades & Repairs | Emergency Prep Checklist |
| Santa Cruz, CA Tour Guide, Things to do, Sightseeing & Travel Planning |
Santa Cruz Handyman
- Our homes are our castles, we want them nice, comfortable and functional. It's amazing how great some repairs, improvements and upgrades will make us feel! I affordably offer dependable, quality, conscientious interior/exterior repair, replace, handyman work, upgrades & general assistance. Feel free to
me with questions or for ideas.
Here is a list of services, some pictures and reviews >
3 ways to Order.
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Gettin' Social
FaceBook Page.
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Holiday Cottage, Auchtermuchty, Fife
Fife is a wonderful location for a Scottish holiday and this
comfortable cottage is in the heart of the kingdom. This is a great
location from which to explore Fife and its many attractions. There
are wonderful beaches and 100 golf courses within an hour's drive - St
Andrews, the home of golf, is only 30 minutes drive away.
holiday Cottage, Auchtermuchty, Fife, Scotland.
Press below for Scottish tourist information
Contact Scottish holiday home owners direct.


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Rare 1950s 24 Inch White Coca-Cola Button Advertising Sign. This is a very old sign. It does have scratches on it, some rust around the edges, and has some discoloration due to its age and it was most likely hung in a restaurant where smoking was allowed, at that time.. These pictures were taken outside in full sunlight!!!!
The item "Rare Vintage 1950s 24 Inch White Porcelain Coca-Cola Button Advertising Sign" is in sale since Tuesday, November 12, 2019. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Advertising\Soda\Coca-Cola\Signs". The seller is "magaag" and is located in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, Japan, Australia.


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When you're using your Mac, currently running applications appear in the Dock, but there are many processes running invisibly in the background. Some of these are processes you've initiated yourself—for example, by adding them to the Login Items list in System Preferences—but others are running because the OS or some installer set them up to run in the background, either continuously or on a schedule. Specifically, many of these processes are controlled by an OS X feature called launchd, which uses special configuration files to determine which processes should be run, and when.
Many of these processes are good, and some are even necessary. For example, some backup programs use them to make sure your scheduled backups run at the appropriate time(s). But I personally want to know when an app or an installer sets up a new background process. Partly because I like to know as much about what's going on with my Mac as possible, but also because as useful as the launchd system is, it can also be used for nefarious purposes: Someone with less-than-honorable intentions can use it to launch, or to keep running, malware or spyware.
How do you know when one of these background processes—in other words, a new launchd configuration file—is added? One solution is a clever utility called Automatic Launch Object Detection (ALOD for short), created by the Computer Incident Response Center Luxembourg (CIRCL). This utility monitors all the locations that launchd configuration files (and other types of background programs) are stored:
- ~/Library/LaunchAgents
- /Library/LaunchAgents
- /Library/LaunchDaemons
- /System/Library/LaunchAgents
- /System/Library/LaunchDaemons
- /Library/StartupItems
- /System/Library/StartupItems
When a change to the contents of one of these folders is detected, ALOD displays an alert similar to the one you see here, noting which folder has gained a new configuration file; it also offers to show you the newly added item(s). Click Yes, and ALOD opens the folder and selects the newly added file(s).
I call ALOD clever because it does its thing by using features built in to OS X: AppleScript and Folder Actions. The utility itself is a simple AppleScript that displays the aforementioned dialog and takes you to the appropriate folder. The ALOD installer confirms that OS X's Folder Actions feature is enabled, installs the AppleScript (called add – new item alert without timeout.scpt) in your personal Folder Action Scripts folder (in ~/Library/Scripts), and then attaches the script to the seven folders listed above. When the contents of one of those folders changes, OS X's Folder Actions feature passes information about that change to the ALOD script, which then presents you with the alert.
Of course, seeing a new launchd configuration file doesn't actually tell you what it's doing, but the names of these files usually offer solid hints as to their purposes—or at least their sources. For example, on my Mac, the file us.pandamonia.Bark-Helper.plist was added when I installed the Bark utility, and com.bombich.ccc.plist was installed by Carbon Copy Cloner, which just so happens to have the website URL bombich.com. You can also do a web search on the file's name to find more information. If it turns out you don't want a particular launchd configuration file, it's usually safe to delete it.
One other drawback to ALOD, which is a consequence of it using Folder Actions, is that it works only for the current user account. If another user installs or uses software that adds a launchd configuration file, you won't be notified. (That user can install ALOD in his or her own account, though, to get notifications.)
As should be obvious from the screenshots here, Automatic Launch Object Detection isn't a Gem because of a beautiful interface, or because it offers scads of features, but rather because it's a clever use of OS X's own technologies to let you better manage what's going on with your Mac.


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Which waterproof speakers are best?
A waterproof speaker is a great way to enjoy music almost anywhere without worrying about damaging your portable gadget. Whether you're camping or enjoying an afternoon by the pool, a waterproof speaker can add atmosphere to any situation. But not all are created equal. The level of water resistance varies from one speaker to the next, as does their sound quality and battery life.
To learn more about the types of waterproof speakers available, continue reading our shopping guide. Our favorite speaker by JBL is a great option for a fully waterproof device.
What to know before you buy a waterproof speaker
When comparing waterproof speakers, you should look at their water resistance, portability, and battery life.
- Water resistance is the primary feature of a waterproof speaker (beyond playing music, of course). Waterproof speakers are typically rated from IPX1 to IPX7 — the greater the number, the more exposure to water the electronics of the speaker can handle. Speakers with an IPX7 rating can be used in the pool and may even be submersible. Speakers with IPX1 or IPX2 ratings can only handle a small amount of water.
- Portability is important if you plan to pack your speaker in a bag or backpack. If you plan to use your speaker around your home or in your backyard, this may be less of a concern.
- Battery life should be weighted similarly to portability. If you plan to take your speaker on long trips and adventures, a long battery life is a must. But if you simply plan to use your speaker on your patio or in the shower, you will never be too far from an outlet or fresh batteries.
What to look for in a quality waterproof speaker
In addition to the water resistance and portability of a speaker, you should also consider factors like its sound quality, connectivity, and additional features.
Waterproof speakers are generally not known for incredible sound quality, but that doesn't mean you should write off this characteristic. Take note of the quality of the built-in amplifier and bass capability of a waterproof speaker if you are concerned about filling a space with your favorite music.
Do you prefer to connect to your speakers via Bluetooth or auxiliary cable? This is another factor to keep in mind. If you're unsure, many speakers support both methods. If you hope to use your speaker for phone calls, look for a model with Bluetooth-call capability.
Some models may also be mountable, often either with hooks or suction cups. This can be useful if you plan to listen to music in the shower or want to hang your speaker up in your tent while camping.
Another feature to consider is whether a speaker can continue playing music while charging. If not, you may have to wait a few hours before you can bring the music back.
How much you can expect to spend on a waterproof speaker
Waterproof speakers for $20 to $50 are usually small in size and have runtimes of as many as 12 hours and moderate water resistance. For $50 or more, you can purchase high-quality speakers with impressive sound and waterproof ratings of IPX7 or greater.
Waterproof speaker FAQ
Can I play waterproof speakers underwater?
A. If you have an IPX7-rated speaker you can, but it probably won't sound clear due to the distortion from the water.
Why am I having trouble connecting my device to my speaker via Bluetooth?
A. There may be other wireless devices in the vicinity that are disrupting the signal.
What are the best waterproof speakers to buy?
Top waterproof speaker
JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker
Our take: This powerful speaker comes from a trusted brand and is available in a range of colors.
What we like: With an IPX7 rating, there's no need to worry about water or moisture damaging this little speaker. Key features include the high-quality sound and 12-hour battery life.
What we dislike: The performance of this speaker tapers off at high volumes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Top waterproof speaker for the money
INSMY Portable Wireless Speaker
Our take: As long as you don't put it directly beneath the showerhead, this is an excellent compact speaker for a low price.
What we like: With a suction cup for wall mounting, this is a versatile little speaker that can be brought anywhere.
What we dislike: The low-battery alert interrupts your music.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Worth checking out
Bose Portable Bluetooth Waterproof Speaker
Our take: The 8-hour battery life is difficult to beat, making these speakers a great option for long trips.
What we like: The lightweight design and silicone strap make this one of the more durable and portable options available. An excellent option for camping.
What we dislike: This speaker struggles with louder volumes.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Peter McPherson writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
Copyright 2021 BestReviews, a Nexstar company. All rights reserved.


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Drive your workplace safety program to a new, more powerful level by earning your Advanced Safety Certificate (ASC).The National Safety Council's Advanced Safety Certificate Program (ASC) is a nationally recognized safety curriculum based on proven best practices. Participants will develop the skills necessary to think critically about safety, create comprehensive safety plans and execute on those plans. This certificate qualifies for the Workplace Safety Scholarship Program. Each recipient receives a certificate and plaque certifying his or her completion of the Advanced Safety Certificate.
The National Safety Council's Advanced Safety Certificate is earned by successfully completing Principles of Occupational Safety and Health, and 5.2 additional Continuing Educational Units (CEUs) from the following courses within a five-year period:
Required Coursework: Principles of Occupational Safety and Health (required)
Four-Day Course Offerings:
One-Day Courses
"I recently completed the Advanced Safety Certificate for the second time in my safety career. Not just that, but many of the other courses at the Utah Safety Council. I would strongly recommend to anyone who is responsible for safety in any organization to attend all the classes they can. It will help to establish a solid base to work on and provide the employer knowledge that is needed to start or sustain a successful program. With the change that is continually upon our organizations it is vital to stay on top of the knowledge which is available. Safety training is an investment not a lost cost. The network of safety professionals I have made is invaluable with helping to improve my own safety programs."
Leon Paskett
Safety Specialist
Triumph Gear Systems
"The Advanced Safety Certificate is great to have, but the classes that we had taken have really educated me on safety as a whole. I took the four day classes and each one has taught me what it really means to be a safety professional. Each course had given us goals to take back to our companies and work on with what we had learned in each class. By working on one of these particular goals, we here at Major Drilling had identified a great risk to our crews that had never been identified before and that made everything worth it right there. Having a Safety Management System class made us look at our current system and really improve on an already great system. Having instruction from an Industrial Hygienist at one of the classes taught me things that I thought I knew and didn't. This class was a great boost of knowledge of requirements, how to safely comply using the right equipment and how to use the right equipment. Major Drilling is currently working on a program to send all our Safety Department personnel to earn their ASC and we have two of five that have completed it including myself. We here at Major Drilling America highly recommend any one in the Safety Industry to get the Safety Councils Advanced Safety Certificate, not only for the Certificate but the knowledge gained from the courses. The benefits of the courses are worth more than the cost of the program, hands down!"
Chance Densley CDS
Field Safety Manager
Major Drilling America
"The benefit for the individual and the company is being able to implement the information in the program. I believe this program has the standards to run an effective safety program. I was extremely pleased because my safety management understanding was increased but I could also go back and compare each element (module) with what my company is doing. The training and information in this program provides practical tools as well as a blueprint to develop and execute a top notch safety program. Safety always impacts the bottom line."
Ginger Shell
Rocky Mountain Power
"I have found the training and education from the Utah Safety Council to be "top notch" and very worth the cost and time especially the classes included in the "Advance Safety Certificate". This program helped Harmons take a good Safety Program and make it even better. With training and support from the Utah Safety Council Harmons has been able to reduce it's MOD Rating from 1.35 to .95 over the last three years and are looking forward to driving this number even lower. With the lower MOD Rating Harmons has been able to save thousands on its Worker's Compensation Premium."
Kyle Holdaway
Director of Risk Management
Harmons Grocery


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Clogged Pipe Services In Santa Barbara
Clogged Pipes
For plumbing solutions, Santa Barbara County residents call Carroll Plumbing at (805) 687-2677 or click here to email us.
Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance Inc
Pipes or drains can become clogged with cooking grease, rocks, roots, or soap scum accumulated over time. These stubborn clogs often don't respond to traditional cleaning methods such as a cable snake or chemicals? In these cases, only a high-pressure hydro jetting will do the trick. Hydro-jetting might just be the right solution for your stubborn clogged pipes and clogged drains. Carroll Plumbing & Maintenance Inc can remove years of material build-up even in hard to reach corners of your pipeline. If you have a clogged pipe, give us a call at (805) 687-2677 or click here to send us a message.
We Install & Service
- Clogged Drains
- Blocked Pipes
- Hydro Jetting
- Clogged Shower Drains
- Clogged Toilets
- Rooter Services
- Slow Drains
- Drain Cleaning
- Sewer Lines


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Valley Roundup - March 7th, 2014
Joining us today are Carolyn Sackariason of the Aspen Daily News, Michael Miracle of Aspen Sojourner magazine and Andy Stone of the Aspen Times.
This week, the community processes the murder of a lifetime local. Homicide is rare here and it is especially difficult when the victim is so well know.
Also this week, Aspen Valley Hospital parts ways with a longtime surgeon and signs up with a new surgical team.
And, a new Limelight in Snowmass is off the table…maybe.
One of NPR's top international correspondents visited the valley this week. Phillip Reeves gave audiences the backstory to Ukraine, Russia and Crimea. Reeves sat down for interview with us and you'll hear it just ahead on this week's Valley Roundup.
Topics and links on this week's program 3-7-2014:
Phillip Reeves Interview:
From NPR:
From Aspen Public Radio:
Media Roundtable with Carolyn Sackariason, Michael Miracle, Andy Stone
Nancy Pfister Murder:
From Aspen Public Radio:
From Aspen Daily News:
From Aspen Times:
Aspen Valley Hospital Signs with Surgical Group
From Aspen Daily News:
No Limelight in Snowmass?
From Aspen Daily News:


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24th November, 2017
Taxback International, the leading VAT recovery specialists, will today announce plans to further strengthen its hold in the Irish marketplace by growing its already substantial business by creating 80 new positions at their Kilkenny headquarters. The global company, which is part of the Taxback Group, who employ over 1,200 people globally say it is recruiting across a number of departments to deal with increased demand from Irish and global clients.
Catherine Quirke, Chief Commercial Officer of Taxback International, who will be speaking at the announcement today, said she is thrilled to be recruiting for these exciting new roles in Kilkenny, "Vat recovery is becoming an increasingly important service to businesses worldwide as companies look to increase their bottom line, which is why demand for our service is growing at a rapid pace. It is incredible to see our growth over the last few years. Our reputation in the industry is unparalleled and our corporate strategy has focused our reach into global territories, resulting in the success we have seen to-date. It's a truly exciting time for everyone in the company."
Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD said "I am delighted to join the Taxback International team today to celebrate the announcement of 80 new jobs in their Kilkenny headquarters. Taxback International joins a prominent list of leading companies who have carved out a competitive position in the global marketplace and their phenomenal global sales success illustrates the potential of Ireland's Fintech sector to create jobs. A key priority of the Government, through our Regional Action Plans for Jobs, is to create jobs across all the regions of Ireland".
Taxback International say recruitment is already underway and is focusing on roles from graduates to senior- level executives in the areas of sales and marketing to accelerate the global reach of the business, as well as R&D roles to support their exciting product development roadmap.
Brendan Ahearne, HR Director of Taxback International went on to comment, "We have an excellent team at Taxback – like-minded, talented, hardworking individuals who are the force driving this company forward. The pool of talent in Ireland is second to none so we are in a very fortunate position being based in Kilkenny – we don't have to look too hard to find the right people."
The Taxback Group has been named a Great Place To Work for the 2nd year running indicative of the commitment and engagement of the individuals as part of their growing success.
Not only is Taxback International's Irish workforce growing but their global team, situated in a variety of countries, has also expanded significantly in recent years.Ms. Quirke spoke of the expansion and of future plans for the business, "Within the last 12 months alone we have opened new sales offices in Australia, China, Japan, UK and US, and relocated to four larger processing and operations locations in Europe."
Julie Sinnamon, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, added, "Ireland is a hub for fintech innovation and as a key sector, Enterprise Ireland is focused on supporting fintech companies with global ambition to grow their businesses in international markets while creating employment at home. I am delighted to see Taxback International's continued progress over the last few years giving rise to further investment & additional jobs which is a great boost for Kilkenny as well as the wider region".
Ms. Quirke concluded, "This announcement is a testament to our continued commitment to Kilkenny and Ireland as a place to do business.Taxback International is an Irish company making a significant international impact. From a modest team of just seven Business Development Managers based in Kilkenny, we have won global deals with some of the largest companies in the world like ITW, Electrolux, Honeywell, Mondelez and Bloomberg. All the pieces are in place: the people, the technology, and the knowhow. Our goal now is to capitalize on this success by continuing our rapid global expansion and be seen as the true global industry leaders in our market".
Note to the Editor
Taxback International & the Taxback GroupThe Taxback Group was founded by Terry Clune in 1996 and currently employs over 1,200 people globally. Taxback International operate in the Fintech sector and are a global provider of VAT recovery services, working with companies of all sizes to maximise their VAT reclaim opportunities in both local and foreign tax jurisdictions.Taxback International's success stems from being the global leaders in this field. Together with our ongoing investment in technology and a team of global experts capable of handling VAT refunds from any country in the world – for any business, from national SMEs to fortune 500 companies.Taxback International have built highly sophisticated data integration, data capture and automated work flow solutions and packaged them into an industry leading client interface.
For further information, please contact:


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FROM HOSPITAL TO HOSPITALITY: Interior Design for Senior LivingJune 6, 2017
Interior design for senior living has changed significantly in the last several decades. While many people associate senior living with the sterile environments of the mid-century nursing home, the reality is that today's senior living facilities are more closely linked with hospitality design than with hospital design.
Food Service and Dining
In particular, food service and dining design has shifted towards hospitality, providing a sense of activity and destination for residents. Food service functions are moving out of the kitchen and into the serving lines, fostering connections between the staff and the residents. These dynamic and interactive food service spaces are enhanced with unique ceiling forms, multi-level lighting, and a wide range of finish materials. In large dining areas, creative dividers, thoughtful furniture arrangements, and decorative lighting fixtures reduce the perceived scale.
"Creating smaller spaces within a larger dining room helps to make the dining experience feel more intimate," says Stacy Hollinger, IIDA, a partner at RLPS Architects. Less obvious in effective dining design is the attention to detail for floor transitions, chair dimensions and construction, and table sizes. Interior designer Deborah Kimmet, IIDA explains "When clients ask for a round table for eight, I respond by asking how the residents will reach the salt and pepper, or how will they converse with the person across the table? It's just not practical in a senior environment." She recommends that dining tables be forty two inches square, providing enough space for comfortable dining, yet not so much that residents can't connect with others during their meal.
Residences that Feel Like Home
While common spaces have shifted towards hospitality, residence design remains strongly linked to the feeling of 'home.' Maintaining a sense of ownership is key when designing senior living residences. "Bringing the outdoors in and applying the design concept of 'neighborhoods' has been very successful for residents in our communities," says Hollinger. At Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, Virginia, each skilled nursing household was designed to have a unique appearance. Using colorful exterior siding and stained wood doors, the design emulates an entrance to a house – providing residents the comfort and sense of ownership associated with 'home.'
Keeping it Personal
Personalization is another important design consideration when designing senior residences. "Whether it be a memory box or hanging space outside of a resident entrance, or shelving within a rehab room, it's important to let residents personalize their space," Kimmet notes. Within the skilled care residences at Samaritan Summit Village in Watertown, New York, window seats with open shelves enable residents to personalize their room. The window seats also provide residents with an outdoor connection, something critical both for senior and healing environments.
On a larger scale, each households at Bridgewater Retirement Community has a distinctive decorative style selected by the residents living there and staff members working in that household. For example, one of the households reflects the "green thumbs" of its inhabitants with lots of plants thriving inside and on the household's screened porch. The finishes, furniture, and textiles within skilled care residences are often soft, neutral tones, proving a timeless design. Far removed from the hospital-style nursing homes of the past, today's senior living residents have never felt more at home.
Jessie Santini, IIDA, LEED AP BD+C is an interior design with 13 years of commercial experience. She recently earned a Master of Science in Interior Architecture (MSIA) from Chatham University and exhibits a high degree of professionalism and respect for health, safety and welfare aspects of interior design.
This article initially appeared in the AIA Knowledge Net, Design for Aging Knowledge Group Blueprints Newsletter.
Blog Editor: Jodi Kreider, LEED AP
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Even though the overall suspension rate has declined over the past three years at Evanston Township High School, those related to drugs and dangerous weapons have rebounded this year.
A report presented to the District 202 School Board last week gave a detailed analysis of suspensions for the 2012-2013 school year.
The good news was that the total number of suspensions had declined from 1,262 in 2010-2011, to 1,097 in 2011-2012, to 971 in the year just ended.
The bad news was that suspensions due to drug offenses had increased from 65 last year to 103 this year, while dangerous weapons suspensions rose from 7 last year to 34 this year.
Both categories had experienced a decline last year from the year before, when drug-related suspensions were 105 and weapons offenses were 10.
When categorized by race, the 103 drug suspensions involved 63 from black students, 25 from Hispanic, 11 from white, 2 from American Indian or Alaska Native, and 2 from multi-racial.
The dangerous weapons category found 14 from blacks, 11 from whites, 8 from Hispanic, and 1 from multi-racial.
Overall, some 351 of the school's 3,155 students received one or more suspensions this year. Of this number, 231, or 66 percent, were black; 53, or 15 percent, were white; and 52, or 15 percent, were Hispanic.
For the student body as a whole, 43 percent are white, 32 percent are black, and 15 percent are Hispanic.
Superintendent Eric Witherspoon pointed out that some 88 percent of the school's students received no suspensions at all.


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Providing Goods and Services to People with Disabilities
ASC Networks Inc. (ASC) is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities.
Assistive Devices
Personal assistive devices are often used by persons with disabilities to help them with daily living. They are usually devices that people carry with them and may consist of any auxiliary aids such as communication aids, cognitive aids, personal mobility aids and or medical aids.
Assistive devices may include but are not limited to:
- Manual and motorized wheelchairs, scooters, canes, crutches, walkers
- Hearing aids and personal TTYs
- Magnifiers
- Computers and adaptive technology
As part of ASC's commitment to enhancing the accessibility of its web site and web-based software solutions for people with disabilities, ASC follows the W3C – Web Accessibility Initiatives (WAI) to support:
- Screen reader
- Screen magnification
- Optical character recognition
ASC will make reasonable efforts to ensure that its team can support the various devices made available by its customers, subject to reasonable limitations.
We will ensure that our employees are trained and familiar with various assistive devices used by customers with disabilities while accessing our product or services.
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability. Feedback options are available on the ASC web site, within ASC's web-based software and typically in any and all email correspondence.
Office and Service Animal Accessibility
ASC welcomes people with disabilities and their service animals. Service animals are allowed on the parts of our premises that are open to the public. ASC also provides wheelchair access to its office.
Support Persons
A person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises.
- Fees will not be charged for the support person
Notice of Temporary Disruption
ASC will provide notice to its customers and employees when there is a temporary disruption of facilities or services (planned or unexpected). Where a service disruption is unavoidable ASC shall:
- Post a note at the location
- Provide advance notice, where possible, to all building occupants and/or affected participants using email distribution lists or telephone
All service disruption notices will include:
- Name of the service / event impacted
- Expected duration of disruption
- Any alternate means of accessing the facility or service
- Who to contact for assistance
- Any other relevant information for accessing the facility or service
ASC will provide training materials to its employees, volunteers, contractors and others who deal with the public or other third parties on our behalf. Training materials will consist of the following:
- Purpose of the ASC Customer Service -- Access and Disability Policy
- Communicating and Interacting with Customers with Disabilities
- Serving Customers with Disabilities
Staff will be trained on servicing customers with disabilities within two (2) weeks after being hired. Staff will also be trained when changes are made to ASC's Customer Access and Disability Support policy and training plan.
ASC is committed to receiving and responding to feedback from persons with disabilities, regarding how we provide services to them for accessibility. If a person with a disability has concerns or feedback regarding the services provided by ASC, they should bring such feedback forward to the following applicable individuals / area:
ASC Support
235 Terence Matthews Crescent
Kanata, On K2M 2B3
ASC Client Services
235 Terence Matthews Crescent
Kanata, On K2M 2B3
Key email addresses:
Feedback may be submitted in person, by telephone, in writing and/or via e-mail. All efforts will be made to have any necessary documentation that follows provided in a format that takes into account the person's disability.


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A challenging ride out in North Wales
The route has yet to be finalised, however we will be seeking out the challenging and technical lanes so expect a physically demanding day.
Due to the nature of this ride, enduro, or light trail bikes with good tyres are essential.
The route will be no more than 100 miles with a lunch stop along the way.
Max eight riders (including ride leader) ! Any more and we will require an additional ride leader.
The route info will be shared with those attending the ride.
All information contained on this website is for the exclusive use of the TrailRiders Association and copyright protection is claimed.
Trail Riders Association is a non-profit organisation.


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Inevitably when somebody with more than a passing interest in programming develops an interest in crypto, there is an overwhelming urge to write cryptocode. Sometimes it is just the desire to implement something documented in a textbook or website. Sometimes it is the desire to implement a personal crypto design. And sometimes is is because there is a design need for crypto with no apparent ready solutions. All of these are valid desires / needs, however there are a few (well recognized) principles of cryptocoding that need to articulated.
Design your own Crypto
The first of these is sometimes referred to as Schneiers Law "any person can invent a security system so clever that she or he can't think of how to break it." This is not to state that any one person cannot design a good crypto algorithm, but that really good crypto algorithms are written by groups of people, and validated by much larger groups of well educated and intelligent people. In simple terms, good crypto is conceived by people who are well versed in the crypto state of art, and iteratively built on that. The concept is then successively attacked, and refined by an increasingly larger audience of crypto-experts. At some point the product may be deemed sufficient not because it has been proved to 'completely secure', but that a sufficiently capable group of people have determined that it is 'secure enough'. Bottom line – There is nothing fundamentally wrong with designing your own crypto algorithm, but without years of education and experience as a cryptoanalyst, it is unlikely to be anywhere as good as current crypto algorithms. In addition good crypto is the product of teams and groups who try to attack and compromise it in order to improve it.
Writing your own Crypto
The second of these is sometimes referred to as "never roll your own crypto". Even if we are implementing well documented, well defined, best practice algorithms – writing crypto code is fraught with risks that do not exist for general coding. These risks are based on the types of attacks that have been successful in the past. For example, timing attacks have been used to map out paths through the crypto code, buffer attacks have been used to extract keys from the crypto code, or weak entropy / keying. Of course this is primarily applicable in a production context or anytime the cryptocode is used to protect something of value. If this is being done for demonstration or educational purposes, these risks can often be recognized and ignored (unless dealing with those risks are part of the lesson goals). Bottom line – writing crypto code is hard, and writing high quality, secure / interoperable crypo code is much harder.
Kerckhoff's Principle
Kerckhoff's Principle states "A cryptosystem should be secure even if everything about the system, except the key, is public knowledge." Essentially this says that in a good cryptosystem, all parts of the system can be public knowledge (except the key) and not impair the effectiveness of the cryptosystem. Another perspective on this is that any cryptosystem that relies on maintaining the secrecy of the algorithm is less secure that one that only relies on a secret key.
Bruce Schneier stated "Kerckhoffs's principle applies beyond codes and ciphers to security systems in general: every secret creates a potential failure point. Secrecy, in other words, is a prime cause of brittleness—and therefore something likely to make a system prone to catastrophic collapse. Conversely, openness provides ductility."
When Kerckhoff's principle is paired with Schneiers Law, which states (paraphrased) that more eyes makes better crypto, the result is that better code results from public and open development. Fortunately that is the approach used for most modern crypto, which is a very fortunate circumstance for the aspiring cryptocoder / cryptographer. It allows us to learn cryptosystems from the best cryptosystems available.
If you are interested in the best crypto documentation that United States Government publishes, review the FIPS and NIST Special Publications listed in the references below. For example, if you are interested in the best way to generate / test public-private keys, look at FIPS 186-4. The quality if the Pseudo Random numbers used in crypto is critical to security, and if you are interested in how this is done, look at NIST Special Publications 800-90a (revision 1), 90B, and 90C.
Bottom Line
For years I have espousing the principals of "never write your own crypto" because it was clear that crypto is hard, and high quality cryptocode is only written by teams of well qualified cryptocoders. With the Snowden revelations over the last few years, it has also become obvious to me that "never write your own crypto" is also what a state player like the NSA would also encourage in order to more easily access communications through shared vulnerabilities in cryptosuites like OpenSSL. As a result I have modified my recommendation to state "In order to be a better cryptocoder / cryptographer, you should write your cryptocode and develop your own cryptosystems (for learning purposes), but should only use well qualified cryptocode in production or critical systems. "
It is critically important that every systems engineer and cryptocoder develop an in depth understanding of crypto algorithms and cryptosystems, and the most effective method to accomplish this is by writing, testing and evaluating cryptocode / cryptosystems.
So my stronger recommendation is that everybody who can program and who has an interest in crypto should write crytocode and learn cryptocode and design cryptosystems, and from that we will have a much stronger foundation of understanding of Security Systems Engineering.


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Long time coming
Lord Saville's report into a massacre in Northern Ireland makes difficult but necessary reading
AFTER 12 years, more than 900 witnesses and £195m ($288m), the findings of Lord Saville, a High Court judge charged by the British government with establishing the truth about what happened on January 30th 1972 in the Bogside area of Londonderry, have finally been made public. His main conclusion—that British paratroopers had no justification for killing any of the 13 men who died, some shot from behind, on what has come to be known as Bloody Sunday—will have a profound effect on relations between the British government and Irish nationalists. That effect will be entirely positive.
Relations have already improved immeasurably in recent years, but the inquiry's conclusions, painful though they are for the authorities and the army, have removed an historic and deeply held nationalist grievance. They amounted to an exorcism of ghosts at large for almost four decades, removing at a stroke a significant Anglo-Irish irritant. Since 1972 the rapid-response report into the matter by Lord Widgery, then the Lord Chief Justice, which confined its criticism to saying that the behaviour of some members of the Parachute Regiment "bordered on the reckless", had been widely dismissed as a whitewash, in Whitehall as well as in Northern Ireland.
Relatives of the dead campaigned fruitlessly for a full inquiry until, in 1998, a new British prime minister, Tony Blair, asked Lord Saville to conduct a fresh investigation into the killings. A number of family members described themselves as "consumed" by the issue, not just because they had lost husbands, sons and brothers, but also because Lord Widgery had branded some of the dead as gunmen and bombers. The Saville report is an implicit reprimand to Lord Widgery. It exonerates those killed on Bloody Sunday and, in effect, accuses soldiers of the Parachute Regiment of killing innocents and then lying when they appeared before both inquiries to explain what happened.
The report was received rapturously by the relatives of the victims, but their response was more an outpouring of relief and elation than crowing over an old enemy. Brian Cowen, the Irish prime minister, made clear that old grievances were not being reopened. Rather, he said, "it is about the healing of the gaping wounds of injustice left behind by the terrible events."
The carefully orchestrated publication of the report was an emotional event in both the centre of Londonderry, where the relatives gathered, and in the House of Commons, where David Cameron, the prime minister, announced its findings. Some MPs professed themselves moved by pleas from both sides of the communitarian divide for wider justice. Nationalists and republicans, who had been nervous about Mr Cameron's professed leanings towards the unionist cause, said they were impressed by his speed in endorsing Lord Saville's stark conclusions.
Unionist opinion was divided. After the report was made public, leaders of the three main Protestant churches met relatives of the Bloody Sunday victims at a memorial in the Bogside. There, using rhetoric of a type rarely heard in Northern Ireland, they declared: "A cloud that has been hanging over this city for almost four decades has begun to lift…We dare to believe that this can be a decisive turning-point in reaching out to one another."
Many Protestants, however, complained that the misdeeds of the British army had been broadcast to the world while the IRA had virtually escaped criticism. Most of the relatives of IRA victims, they said, are suffering in silence without public recognition or prime ministerial apologies. For those who lost friends and family to these killers, the extensive investigation of controversial incidents involving the army contrasts sourly with the lack of attention paid to their own tragedies.
Of the 3,700 who died in the Troubles, 1,800 were killed by the IRA, and around a thousand by extreme Protestant groups. The army killed 300. About 250,000 regular soldiers served in Northern Ireland over more than 30 years: the vast majority never fired a shot. Meanwhile terrorists, mostly IRA stalwarts, killed 1,000 members of the security forces, half of them regular troops and half locally recruited soldiers and police.
Those events belong to a time that has well and truly ended. Today, thanks to the peace process, both the army and the IRA have quit the streets of Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland. But the broader questions of how to deal with the past, and whether a truth commission or a peace and reconciliation process would help to lay it finally to rest, are yet to be answered.
Since the first IRA ceasefire in 1994 there have been any number of discussions, conferences and documents seeking to draw up a balance-sheet of the Troubles. None has come close to commanding widespread support, and some have produced much anger. One suggestion, to give £12,000 to the relatives of everyone—terrorist or not—who was killed, caused a furious uproar.
An enormous investigation along Bloody Sunday lines will not be mounted again because the time it took and the costs it ran up were prohibitive. Some lower-profile inquiries are under way now, but with rules that impose strict limits on the scope of the proceedings.
The Saville inquiry, meanwhile, has left significant loose ends. A notable one is whether prosecutions should be brought against those soldiers whom the judge came close to accusing of unlawful killing and perjury.
The idea of plunging into new legal thickets is daunting, especially since it might well prove hard to convert Lord Saville's findings into convictions against individuals. And few want to pursue soldiers, even if they were guilty of serious wrongdoing, when virtually all IRA members convicted of terrorist offences were long ago set free as part of the peace process. Unionists are opposed to prosecutions. Most nationalists are too, considering that, with the pronouncements of the judge and the prime minister, truth has been told and honour satisfied.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "Long time coming"
From the June 19th 2010 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contentsExplore the edition
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Boynton Beach dentist, Dr. Jamie Alexander, offers nitrous oxide to patients who want to feel relaxed and happy during certain dental procedures. But, what is nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is both safe and easy to administer while you are in the dental chair. And, recovery time is immediate, so you don't have to wait long after your procedure before safely driving home.
Nitrous oxide is a sedative agent that is mixed with oxygen. Dr. Alexander can easily control the flow of the nitrous oxide and oxygen mixture, as you inhale it through a small mask fit over your nose. He will ensure you receive just enough to feel euphoria as you breathe normally. You may feel a tingling sensation in your arms and legs or feel light headed. We allow our patients recovery time breathing pure oxygen mixed with air to speed recovery. As soon, as the mask is then removed, the effects wear off.
"Once the gas is inhaled, it enters the bloodstream through the lungs and reaches the brain quickly. Because it alters nerve impulses, it affects movement, behavior, and emotions. I carefully observe each patient's reactions to make sure they do not get too much," says Dr. Alexander. "One of the effects is slower breathing, and this is not ideal for some people, so I learn everything I can about the patient's health history and advise them accordingly. As a dentist with training in substance abuse recovery, I want patients to know that nitrous oxide is not a recreational drug. It is safe to be used for anxiety in recovery as there are no addictive properties. I should mention, it should not be inhaled, except under a doctor's supervision. As with most drugs, the more you use it and the more intensely you use it, its effects on the nervous system build and can be life-threatening."
If going to a Boynton Beach dentist, who offers nitrous oxide, is important to you, feel free to give us a call. Dr. Alexander will be happy to meet with you, review your health history, and discuss whether nitrous oxide sedation is right for you.


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By Amber Stamper
Assistant Professor of Language, Literature, and Communication at Elizabeth City State University, NC
Fascination with the "historical Jesus" has occupied scholars for well over two centuries, and myriad portraits of Jesus have emerged to line the bookshelves of religious historians and theologians alike: "Jesus as social revolutionary," "Jesus as political radical," "Jesus as Jewish Messiah," "Jesus as wisdom teacher," "Jesus as feminist/liberal/socialist/conservative." Each new publication is ever hopeful of shedding light on the "real life" of a man who surely has earned the title of most controversial figure ever to walk the earth.
However, with so many cooks in the kitchen—scholars and laymen of diverse religious (or secular) and cultural backgrounds have all weighed in—the fruits of such scholarship have unfortunately been all too often a source more of division than of reconciliation or noble contribution to a united search for accuracy and truth (the response to and controversy surrounding Islamic writer Reza Aslan's Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth earlier this year serves as a prime example). So, as with every new addition to this body of "historical Jesus" writing, with the publication of one of the most recent works on the historical Jesus—Rabbi David Zaslow's Jesus: First Century Rabbi (Paraclete Press $23.99)—we must ask: What do we have new here? What more can we learn? What can this particular author's particular perspective add to this discourse?
Though the addition of a Jewish point of view and the attempt to understand Jesus in the context of 1st century Judaism is hardly novel (the works of Jewish scholars Heinrich Graetz, Abraham Geiger, Claude Montefiore, Joseph Klausner, Geza Vermes, Jacob Neusner, and Paula Frederiksen are all exemplars), Zaslow's goals and approach to his topic are wonderfully refreshing and positive. His hope is not only to contextualize Jesus's life and ministry in terms of Judaism but to find ways to use the life of Jesus to reconcile historical and all-too-often bitter divisions that have grown between contemporary Jews and Christians. His target audience—comprised of both Jews and Christians—is asked to come to his work with an open mind and the hope of dispelling misrepresentations of the other's faith and with a commitment to avoiding criticism or attempts to change each other.
One cannot help but be enamored by such a lofty ideal, and, as a Christian reader, I was especially motivated to embrace Zaslow's goal by one particular chapter devoted to Anti-Semitism, in which he describes how even in the writings of some of Christianity's most beloved early church fathers—Origen, Ambrose, John Chrysostom, Jerome, and Augustine, among others—elements of prejudice against Jews existed. At its best moments, this book did achieve its goal. Having grown up in an evangelical church and continuing to worship within this tradition to this day, I was happily led to realize gaps in my Sunday School knowledge of Jewish history and tradition: Zaslow's explication of the Jewish sacrificial system was among the best I have read; his highlighting of the similarities between Jesus's Our Father prayer, the Beatitudes, and Jewish sources including the Talmud, Siddur, Baba Kamma, and Old Testament was enlightening; and his fascinating description of the "Hebrew mindset," which avoids dualistic distinctions that often characterize Christian theology and apologetics, including rigid categorizations of past-present-future, physical-spiritual, and animate-inanimate were incredibly helpful as well.
At each of these moments, I felt that, both intellectually and spiritually, Zaslow's words had opened up my faith in a way that—without threatening it—had simultaneously expanded and strengthened it. Perhaps Zaslow's greatest accomplishment with Jesus is that this book will certainly inspire its readers to ask more questions, to delve more deeply into Jewish history and tradition, and to do more research into the culture and religion of Jesus.
However, I must also confess that my reading experience was not entirely smooth sailing. I bucked at Zaslow's attempt to deal with both Judaism and Christianity as monolithic religious systems, often breezing past denominational and theological differences within each faith which seemed, at times, significant (for example, Catholic versus Protestant understandings of salvation). And while Zaslow repeats at several moments that practitioners of a religion should be the ones responsible for defining their faith's meaning and terms, I found myself wishing that he had perhaps brought a Christian co-author on board to most accurately represent contemporary Christian viewpoints on Jesus's Judaism. Furthermore, there were a few moments where the similarities Zaslow asks his readers to see between Judaism and Christianity required me to suspend my disbelief too far (that Christ is to Christians as the Torah is to Jews, that the Christian Trinity of Father-Son-Holy Spirit parallels the Jewish trinity of God, Torah, and Israel), and I never was quite able to get C.S. Lewis's trilemma of Jesus as liar, lunatic, or lord out of my head, never feeling entirely resolved about accepting Jesus as wholly man for Jews but wholly divine for Christians, despite Zaslow's effort to suggest that it's possible to embrace both scenarios simultaneously.
Undoubtedly, only the most theologically liberal of Christians will escape these pages without some chafing: among Zaslow's assertions are that all Christian missionary efforts to Jews are misguided and should be halted, that Jesus's claims to be the Messiah or Christ should not necessarily be interpreted as unique, that Paul may not really have been a committed Jew but may have been just "pretending" to be one so as to gain conversions to Christianity, and that the notions of exclusive salvation and replacement theology of any stripe should be rejected. Zaslow is an evangelist of his cause and ultimately makes clear what the version of Christianity he believes is both most faithful to the historical Jesus looks like as well as what he imagines the ideal nature of Jewish-Christian relationships to be.
But as I so often tell my students: beliefs worth holding on to are ones that are put through fire and come out sound on the other side. And while Zaslow's Jesus does challenge both fundamental principles and key theological elements of Christianity, it also passionately, devotedly, and lovingly extends an olive branch to Christians. The hope that by highlighting the similarities and common origins of our faiths will draw us closer together into better relationships with shared goals is both welcome and noble. It is certainly a delightful addition to the often-heated discourse surrounding the "historical Jesus," and I would heartily recommend this book to scholars or practitioners of Judaism and Christianity alike. There is something here for everyone to think on, study deeper, and be inspired and changed by.
Read an excerpt from Jesus: First Century Rabbi at the Patheos Book Club here.
Amber M. Stamper holds a Ph.D. in English (Rhetoric and Composition) and is an Assistant Professor of Language, Literature, and Communication at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. Her research and publications center on religious rhetoric and communication, especially issues of Christian evangelism and the digital church.


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CARSON – Coming off of the worst season in franchise history, change was a necessity for the Galaxy.
The Galaxy managed just 32 points and failed to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
"Hopefully this season will be better than last season," defender Ashley Cole said. "New team, new season and hopefully we have a new start and put the Galaxy where they should be.
"After a difficult season last season, maybe some of the faces here … maybe it was time for them to move on. Whether it was the Galaxy's idea or the players' idea, they wanted to move on. It happens. I think every team goes through a patch like that and you know we had a lot of young players last year, now we've brought in kind a little bit more experience, older players, so hopefully in the long run, this season we will come together as a team."
The Galaxy opens the new season Sunday at home against the Portland Timbers.
With all of the changes in the locker room, having Cole back and this year wearing the captain's armband from the start of the season, is a good foundation for the Galaxy.
"He was an important guy for us to bring back this year," Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said. "His spirit is infectious and his willingness to communicate with guys in the locker room and what he brings, he just loves to play the game.
"Last year he was a little hesitant (about being captain), this year it was something he really wanted to be part of, so I always think it is best when players want it for one, but also, I can tell within the group how much respect he has."
Cole's contract with the Galaxy expired after last season and as the disappointing year came to an end, rumors started circulating of interest of several English clubs vying for his services.
"I think I kind of owe the Galaxy," Cole said. "Of course, who doesn't love to be here and play. Again this is a chance for me to keep going and keep playing and not a bad city to leave."
This will be Cole's third year with the Galaxy after joining the club in 2016.
As he was unfamiliar with the ins and outs of MLS, the same can be said about two of the club's new acquisitions surrounding Cole on the back line. In an effort to shore up its defense, the Galaxy went out and signed a pair of international defenders (Rolf Feltscher and Jorgen Skjelvik).
"There are players that don't know it (the league), like I did when I first came," Cole said. "It will be down to me and the other guys who understand MLS to educate these guys that it is a difficult league, you're traveling a lot, just be prepared to be ready for a fight. Of course we have to tell them what happened last season, they have to understand that this club shouldn't be doing that, shouldn't be where we were and hopefully this season is a chance for us to make up for last season."
While the defense was certainly an area of needed improvement for the Galaxy, so was the offensive attack. The club went into last season without much forward depth and eventually midfielder Romain Alessandrini ended up leading the club in goals (13).
Enter forward Ola Kamara. The Galaxy traded local favorite Gyasi Zardes to the Columbus Crew for Kamara. In just two years, Kamara has scored 34 goals in 59 league games.
Having a proven goal scorer up top gives the Galaxy a dynamic attacking core with Alessandrin, Giovani dos Santos, Emmanuel Boateng and eventually Sebastian Lletget going forward.
"I think we're stronger than last year," Alessandrini said. "Hopefully we can have a better season … we can't do worse.
Coach: Sigi Schmid (first full year, replaced Curt Onalfo in July); Last season: 8-18-8, 32 points; last in MLS)
Postseason: None
Key players lost: Gyasi Zardes, Brian Rowe, Jermaine Jones, Jack McBean, Clement Diop
Top returners: Romain Alessandrini, Emmanuel Boateng, Ashley Cole, Jonathan dos Santos, Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget, Dave Romney, Daniel Steres, Baggio Husidic, Bradford Jamieson IV
Top newcomers: David Bingham, Servando Carrasco, Rolf Feltscher, Tomas Hilliard-Arce, Ola Kamara, Perry Kitchen, Emrah Klimenta, Chris Pontius, Jorgen Skjelvik
Outlook: Things didn't go according to any script that the Galaxy might have had entering 2017, their first year after the departure of Bruce Arena. New coach Curt Onalfo was out by the summer and the club never recovered, eventually spiraling to the bottom of the league. After an off-season of change, things can only get better. Right? The Galaxy finally has a proven goal scorer (Ola Kamara) but not much proven depth around at the position. Schmid addressed that earlier this week. "We're a little thin up top," he said. "We've got some options, obviously Bradford Jamieson (concussion) having been out hurts us there. (Ariel) Lassiter maybe an option there, (Chris) Pontius is an option and at times last year, we played Gio (Giovani dos Santos) there, so we'll see." Overall, the club is deeper than last year's with the acquisition of players like Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen and the return from injury of Sebastian Lletget. New goalkeeper David Bingham steps into the position, hoping to bring some stability to what was an inconsistent spot last season.
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