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Lynchburg Salvation Army falls short of Red Kettle goal, but community support helps minimize projected loss
Media Contact:
Tammy Shank
Director of Development
2211 Park Ave, Lynchburg, VA
Lynchburg, VA (December 28, 2017) – The Salvation Army of Greater Lynchburg's 2017 Red Kettle Campaign finished the year raising $237,438. This is more than $12,000 short of the original goal of $250,000. "We are so appreciative of the community's support," stated Capt. Trey Jones. "We had anticipated falling more than $25k short of the goal, but donations on the last two days of the campaign helped us minimize our projected loss."
The Lynchburg Salvation Army is also seeing a drop in overall financial donations made in addition to the Red Kettle Campaign this year. Many of these donations come in during the month of December through online and mailed gifts. Currently, the Lynchburg Salvation Army is estimating a decline in contributions of approximately 30 percent of what was received this time last year.
Last year, The Salvation Army provided more than 32,000 hot meals, 12,000 nights of lodging, and financial assistance to more than 6,000 people. In addition, more than 18,000 gifts were given to children and the elderly through numerous community programs provided by the Lynchburg Salvation Army.
If you would like more information on how to help The Salvation Army of Greater Lynchburg by making a tax-deductible donation or information on the services they provide, please call 434-845-5939 or visit www.salvationarmylynchburg.org. The Salvation Army of Greater Lynchburg serves Lynchburg, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Campbell and Nelson counties and has been a part of the Greater Lynchburg community for more than 112 years.
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About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar The Salvation Army spends is used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.


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How well can Startups manage the cyber security of their systems?
Day by day, technology keeps evolving with new tools, models, processes being developed. Worthy of mention is the advances made in cloud and distributed systems which are aimed at building applications with components distributed over heterogeneous cloud, a concept known as multi-cloud. This provides cloud consumers with the opportunity to maximize the benefits of individual cloud providers through the selection and the best mix of cloud service providers (CSP) offerings based on performance, cost, availability etc. Multi-clouds approach helps to find and determine the right cloud provider based on the requirements and needs of the customer. However, the development of this concept has further exploded multi-cloud security beyond that which traditional IT security tools can handle. This has brought about the need for the development of tools, methods and models tailored for the multi-cloud environment.
Technological developments have also greatly affected and transformed the way of doing business. Businesses are continually being refined and redefined in order to utilize the modern technological tools and processes. One important mention about emerging and constantly developing business models is that of Startups. Startups are small scaled business models with focus on key expertise and know-how. Several startups may also come together to integrate their solutions and build bigger solutions. However, the small scale nature of the business also means that they may have to manage and handle several other functions outside their core expertise so as to cut costs and manage their funds effectively.
Startups involved in applications development which utilizes cloud resources particularly as it regards multi-clouds are not left out in this regard as they also have to deal with the security of their applications running in the cloud amongst other functions. Security management of multi-cloud applications can be an arduous task for Startups to perform as it involves identifying and selecting the right security controls needed to ensure adequate protection of their applications. This process is very complex and can give a lot of headaches to Startups. However, this complexity can be simplified by following an approach tailored for selecting security controls in multi-cloud application such as that presented by MUSA. The MUSA approach involves application decomposition, threat identification & risk analysis, business requirements capture, identification of cloud security requirements and selection of security controls.
Furthermore, multi-cloud security demands an approach which extends beyond traditional firewalls as new threats are being discovered regularly and as such the multi-cloud environment should be security-aware by having capabilities to detect and prevent attacks. This clearly is in line with the MUSA framework which is aimed at providing tools for ensuring security in multi-cloud environments through security-by-design approach by fostering applications development in such a way that they are integrated with threat identification mechanisms as well as self-protecting mechanisms thereby ensuring the protection of the multi-cloud applications. This definitely is a very huge and challenging task for Startups. The tools that would be provided by MUSA will take away the cumbersome tasks of security management by Startups through the integration of multi-cloud security tools into their application and thereby providing the needed security controls required. This will also allow Startups to focus more on their core expertise.
Author: Samuel Olaiya Afolaranmi, Research Assistant at Tampere University of Technology (email@example.com)

subset: commoncrawl


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p a x
December 15th marked one year since the miscarriage of our son, David. Throughout the day I struggled to pin point exactly what and how I was feeling.
There is a sadness there, of course. The details of that day are still a vivid memory for me, some parts of it being more painful than others.
There is a sadness, and yet there is so much joy in our home right now. Simon is our "rainbow baby". And while I'm not crazy about the term, I do acknowledge that there is something very special about the baby you have after experiencing a loss. I keep thinking that Simon wouldn't be here if we had not lost David… and I'm so grateful for this beautiful baby boy. However, I still miss the baby I never met, the child I never got to hold.
So on December 15th of this year there was an ache, a sadness, but also gratitude for the healing that has taken place in my heart since then, and for the gift of my son, Simon, who I believe was given to us for a very important reason.
Over the past year, I've met so many women who have experienced child loss of some kind. I've been connected to women who had miscarriages similar to mine, women who lost their babies even later in the pregnancy, and women who have had multiple losses. This is not a cross any of us would have chosen for ourselves, and I think we all recognize how a loss like this changes you forever. Everyone's experience is different, everyone's journey towards healing is different… but we share that same ache and longing.
A year ago I was hurting physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I was grieving. At times I was so angry at God that I couldn't participate in Mass without crying. I think part of me was also afraid of what this meant for our family's future.
A year later, the ache is still there. But the pain is soothed by the joy and blessing of our son. In no way is Simon a "replacement" or a reason to forget the baby we lost. I think Simon is a reminder that God hears the ache of our hearts and He answers in His own perfect timing (which makes Simon's name extra meaningful!).
I know there are many families right now for whom the pain is still very raw. There are couples still waiting for their rainbow, and others who are struggling to find peace within the ache. Our journeys, our stories may be very different. But please know that I am thinking of you and praying for you, especially during this Advent and Christmas season.
God hears and God answers. And His timing is always perfect.


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Deluxe 6D Black+White 5 Seats Full Car Seat Covers Cushion Interior Accessories. MaterialMicrofiber Leather Color:Black & White FitmentUniversal fit for 5 seat car Package Included Front seat cover2 Back seat cover1 Features: 1, Comfortable, non-slip backing 2, Easy to install and clean, and durable to use.
Attention This product only for the car who have 5seats to use, does not support the car which conjoined twin seat headresr and back of chair. Please check if this product is suitable for your car before ordering NOTE: Please allow 2-3cm differs due to manual measurement, thanks. Due to the difference between different monitors, the picture may not reflect the actual color of the item.
All items will be checked before packing. All items are new and of high quality. The item "Deluxe 6D Black+White 5 Seats Full Car Seat Covers Cushion Interior Accessories" is in sale since Tuesday, October 30, 2018. This item is in the category "eBay Motors\Parts & Accessories\Car & Truck Parts\Exterior\Mouldings & Trim".
The seller is "autopartgoodprice12" and is located in CN. This item can be shipped worldwide.


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'Santa Claus' flees Stuart police after alleged robbery near downtown
STUART — This "Santa Claus" may get coal in his stocking this year after accusations of being naughty and not nice.
Sean Francis Budge, 24, was arrested late Monday after witnesses told Stuart police he wore a Santa Claus hat after robbing a woman of her glasses and speeding away on a motorcycle, according to affidavits released Tuesday.
More: Sheriff's Office says accused drug seller busted after deals in East Stuart with informant
The case began about 11:17 p.m. Monday when an officer went to The Crafted Keg in the 500 block of South Colorado Avenue near downtown Stuart.
A woman there said a man identified as Budge took her prescription glasses off her head and left on his motorcycle. The woman and two others reported Budge left while sporting a Santa Claus hat.
Meanwhile, an officer reported spotting a motorcycle traveling about 70 mph on U.S. 1 south near the Treasure Coast Square mall.
More: Medical worker jailed after alleged crimes 'could have a crippling effect on patient care'
The officer tried to stop the motorcycle, but the driver didn't pull over. The officer reported the motorcycle rider wore a jacket and a Santa hat, and reached 80 mph on the Roosevelt Bridge.
The motorcycle eventually made its way back to The Crafted Keg, stopping in the median in front of the establishment.
More: Pilot in fatal plane crash at Audi Stuart Air Show wasn't to perform 'acrobatic maneuvers,' witness told NTSB
Budge, of the 4400 block of Southwest Idlewild Street in Port St. Lucie, was arrested on charges of robbery by sudden snatching, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and resisting without violence.


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Doug Weight reaches 1,000-point mark in 5-4 loss to Phoenix
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Shane Doan and Olli Jokinen each scored and the Phoenix Coyotes held on to beat the New York Islanders 5-4 Friday night.
Doug Weight had a pair of assists for the Islanders to become the eighth American-born player to reach the 1,000-point mark. Zbynek Michalek had a goal and an assist, and Viktor Tikhonov and Joakim Lindstrom each added unassisted goals for the Coyotes, who won for the third time in four games.
Richard Park scored twice, Josh Bailey scored his first NHL goal and Sean Bergenheim also tallied for the Islanders, who have lost three of four.
Michalek snapped a 1-all tie on a shot from the point with 10 seconds left in the first period.
Doan made it 3-1 at 15:05 of the second when he shot the puck between the legs of Islanders right wing Tim Jackman and over Rick DiPietro's glove.
DiPietro, making just his fifth start of the season and first since December 26, made 28 saves for the Islanders. New York's No. 1 goalie returned from a 27-game absence a week ago and played two games before being sidelined with a groin injury.
Jokinen's goal on a long rebound into the low slot extended Phoenix's lead to 4-2 with 16:50 remaining.
Bailey beat Mikael Tellqvist on a one-timer from between the hashes 31 seconds later to pull the Islanders to 4-2.
Lindstrom stole the puck from the Islanders' defence at the New York blue-line and beat DiPietro on the breakaway with 6:27 to go for his fourth goal in 12 games.
Weight fed Park on a long outlet pass to make it 5-3 with 3:05 left. Park struck again with 28 seconds to go on a one-timer from the bottom of the left circle after DiPietro had gone to the bench for an extra attacker.
Tikhonov opened the scoring when he gained control of the puck in the right faceoff circle, skated to the front of the net and backhanded a shot between DiPietro's pads just 1:46 into the game.
Bergenheim tied the game at 1 at 9:20 of the first on a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle.
Notes: Weight has 16 goals and 46 assists in 58 career games against the Winnipeg/Phoenix franchise, his third-highest total against any single team. ... Doan and Jokinen have scored in the same game three times this season. ... Guerin has assists in four straight games and has scored in five in a row overall. ... Michalek was playing in his 300th career game. ... Steven Reinprecht's assist on Doan's goal was the 200th of his career. ... DiPietro had missed the past three games with a strained groin. ... Jackman caught Tellqvist across the mask with his stick after a whistle in the first period and was booed lustily the rest of the game every time he touched the puck.


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Disclaimer: uReport is provided for and driven by the community. uReport content may be posted by third parties unaffiliated with the City. The City makes no warranty as to the accuracy and completeness of third party content and takes no responsibility and disclaims all liability for third party content. Reports submitted by the community are addressed on the basis of priority and available resources.
Your current search parameters. Click on one of the labels to delete that parameter from your search.Department: Public Works, 309-494-8800 Status: "closed" Substatus: Invalid Issue Type: Request Received Via: Walk in
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concerned about streets and sidewalks on Western Ave., infrastructure is in total disarray. If the City can spend money on Washington St. but are reluctant to spend $ west of MacArthur.
on Park Street in Averyville there are railroad tracks that were supposed to be removed to make way for a walking trail, it's been 2 years & nothing has been done, please let her know status
behind Shop Rite Grocery on Western and Lincoln, drain at the rear of the store is clogged and after it rains it turns into a lake, kids are playing in it, there are mosquitos, it's dirty and unhealthy


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Photo Slideshow by Julia Pelish
Vacay.ca Visuals Editor
CALGARY, ALBERTA — The 100th Calgary Stampede was a blur of action, featuring soaring entertainment acts, high-intensity rodeo action and loads of midway fun. In the end, it was a record-smashing 10 days of activity that included only one day of rain. The most successful rodeo champions hauled in $100,000 in their ultimate competitions while fans of the "Century" Grandstand Show were treated to some of the best entertainment acts in the world, including members of Cirque du Soleil, as well as a dramatic production headlined by country music star and local boy Paul Brandt. In the video above are some of the highlights of Vacay.ca's visit to the Stampede.
Now, share your favourite moments of this Stampede or past ones. Leave a comment below, or email email@example.com and we'll publish your thoughts, or, better yet, send us your favourite travel photo of the Stampede and you can win a prize! Email your hi-resolution JPEG image to firstname.lastname@example.com, along with a short description of the photo.


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I believe we're all in search of inspiration. We look for it in books we read, movies we watch and in the lives of those rare people we are fortunate to meet. With many notable exceptions, we often accept their exploits, while dismissing the possibility we could do something others would see as inspiring.
I have met many people who have ridden across America. However, I had not met anyone who had written a book about their experience and the "why" behind their decision. In 2014, Tracy Draper fulfilled her more than eight year dream of making the epic ride and afterward described her experience in her book, Live It. I met her at the Horrible Hundred this November and had a chance to talk about her story.
The idea was given to her by a friend who had successfully made the trip. What stuck with Tracy was the statement her friend made that "if I can do it, anyone can" since she was not particularly athletic. When she first dreamed of making the trip, Tracy was in her 40's and was hardly an experienced cyclist. As she took the sport more seriously the idea of the trip crystallized into an inspiring goal.
Not everyone has the burning desire to ride from the Pacific to the Atlantic. Still, we all have those quiet dreams we would love to knock off "one day." Some refer to their dreams as their "bucket list." Tracy turns this notion on its head and urges us to create our "live it" list and work to make each entry come true. Why put these goals off towards what we may believe is the end of our lives? She urges us to dream big today and take action to accomplish those dreams while they are still possible for us.
If bicycling across America is something you would put on your "live it" list, Tracy's book is a terrific place to start. She encourages readers to think about their purpose or why. Tracy and her team chose to raise money for Hope for the Warriors and successfully raised tens of thousands of dollars. She also describes how she selected her team and all the support, planning and equipment required. Tracy shares her ups and downs, the tremendous highs as well as the unexpected and unplanned adventures they encountered. The goodness of the people they met was heartwarming. Her daily log of each segment during their five week trip gives a real perspective of what each was like.
She has included fantastic inspiring quotes throughout. One of my favorites:
"You have to dream before your dreams can come true" (A.P.J. Abdul Kalam)
Tracy lives in Mount Dora where she trains cyclists and athletes. She said the ride gave her the desire to continue dreaming. I hope you share that desire as well. To get a signed copy of her book, go to her website www.TrainingWithTracy.net


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A startup based out of Alameda, California has recently made major advances in battery technology — advances that could change the world economy in a big way.
Sila Nanotechnolgies has raised the bar significantly in the world of batteries. They're projecting 10-15% increases in the amount of energy companies will be able to pack into a cell by the mid 2020s, with a possible 40% increase if everything goes as planned.
Working with silicon-based anode materials, Sila has increased the energy density (increasing overall capacity and longevity) in a big way with the help of nanoparticles. In a recent partnership with BMW, Sila Nanotechnologies plans to drive the electronic car market into the future.
In the past, only small advancements have been made in li-ion battery tech. But CTO Glen Yushin has burst through the limits set by previous manufacturing processes.
"Silicon can bond with 25 times more lithium than graphite"
The use of silicon does not comes without side effects, however, as an increase in volume is correlated directly with an increase in li-ion accommodation. Meaning that the more ions the battery collects, the more the materials used for the battery itself are likely to over-stress (especially during charging). Read more about the High-Performance batteries here.
Focusing on anode nanoparticles, Sila Tech has developed a method for altering the internal structure of li-ions, preventing battery electrolyte seepage. This highly complex process has brought forth improvements of 20% over battery tech on the market today.
The process used in the production of silicon-based nano-batteries has proven to be low cost, safe, and broadly applicable. Similar technology could enter the marketplace for consumers in as little as five years, and could likely be utilized by companies abroad shortly after.
How does this affect vaping?
"Nano-batteries" could find their way into the vape industry, potentially changing the vape device forever. One the of the biggest downfalls of the li-ion style devices has been capacity and longevity. Li-Ion-powered box mods work really well on a full charge, but tend to let users down after an hour of use. And the charging times (0%-100%), leave much room for improvement.
Now imagine the same battery pack-powered devices lasting up to 40% longer on a full-charge! For example, take the Innokin Kroma-A. It has an average sized 2000mah battery pack (lithium ion). Vaped on a full charge, with a dual clapton build (we'll say .2ohms) at 76 watts; that battery pack would last about six minutes (using a five puffs/second average) until it was completely empty.
With the help of Sila Nanotechnologies however, the same setup above could last 10-40% longer. That's 120+ puffs instead of 70. And with the help of rapid charger technologies, users could get their device back up to 100% in half the time!
The emerging battery tech could help solve the electronic car conundrum as well; with the range of all vehicles extended further than ever have before, drivers would be more likely to consider fuel-less options as a means of transportation. And the best part is, because silicon and nanoparticles have been used to increase energy density, batteries will likely get much smaller in size!


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By the end of this project, you will be able to apply data analysis to predict career longevity for NBA Rookie using python. Determining whether a player's career will flourish or not became a science based on the player's stats. Throughout the project, you will be able to analyze players' stats and build your own binary classification model using Scikit-learn to predict if the NBA rookie will last for 5 years in the league if provided with some stats such as Games played, assists, steals and turnovers …. etc. Note: This course works best for learners who are based in the North America region. We're currently working on providing the same experience in other regions.
Data Science
Python Programming


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Xu Han and his team have developed a cryopreservation medium that eliminates the need for liquid nitrogen. Image: Amy Parris / CryoCrate
Cubic Crystals Preserve Organs
Nov 15, 2017
by Eric Butterman ASME.org
When it comes to research, you don't often hear about the cost of shipping cells and tissue, not to mention the related safety requirements to follow. Xan Hu, assistant research professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Missouri, believes his team can improve those factors with nanoscale cubic crystal technology.
As CryoCrate CEO Tim Wheeler explains, to cryopreserve cells many researchers need them to be cooled to -200 °C, which requires liquid nitrogen. The CryoCrate method allows researchers to preserve cells at much higher temperatures (even to -20 °C), he says, adding that they don't require the use of liquid nitrogen and have the potential to save costs.
Hu explains that cryopreservation of cells for shipping relies on hexagonal ice crystals while the method of nanoscale cubic crystals can potentially add advantages to the process.
"It uses a cocktail of biological polymers and other additions to effectively force water into a cubic state," Wheeler says. "The media is not allowing water to form nucleation centers crystals because of being really tightly packed."
It also may mean not having to go to liquid nitrogen for storage, says Hu, who also is CryoCrate's president and graduated with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky. "You can still use it with what we've done, but you don't have to."
Get the Research Going
One hope is that cryopreservation will become an activity for clinical therapy, Wheeler says. "Historically they took cells and tissues, varieties of both, that have been preserved to do additional research or share them," he says. "Within the constellation of cells and tissue types are those that can't even be cryopreserved."
Cornea tissue in particular is well-suited for the CryoCrate method, he says, because it doesn't require a large supply of blood, which means that the tissue isn't susceptible to cryogenic temperatures like other tissue might be.
According to the company website, the cryopreservation media allows for cryopreservation of primary neurons and blood cells, which it says traditionally can't be cryopreserved. The site also states that you don't need BSA, FBS, or serum replacements because of the CryoCrate product.
"For cornea surgery, imagine having the burden of cold crate management, considering extraction to transplantation," Wheeler says. "How do you get cells from the United States to a country far away in good fashion? Researchers who want to work together can use this mechanism literally and figuratively on ice. Research has enough barriers and we're hoping we can play a little part in making medical breakthroughs easier." Eric Butterman is an independent writer.
Cryopreservation is a key platform activity here but also soon hopefully for clinical therapy.Tim Wheeler, CEO, CryoCrate


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The Challenge...
Concrete is the most widely used manmade material in the world.
It comes with two big environmental challenges:
The production of concrete is responsible for 6% of global CO₂ emissions.
If it was ranked as a country, the concrete industry would be the 3rd largest emitter in the world.
With over 1 billion tons/year, concrete from construction & demolition is the
world's single largest waste stream.
This number is set to double decade after decade.
Our Solution
A scalable containerized technology
Setting up a
value chain
Our partners
capture carbon emissions from concrete production
from the atmosphere.
The CO₂ is permanently turned into calcite stone inside the pores of the demolished concrete aggregate.
The CO₂ treatment positively alters the properties of the demolished concrete.
This carbonated aggregate is used instead of mined aggregates for fresh concrete.
Through the carbonated aggregate, less cement is used in concrete production.
Start of technology development at ETH Zurich
Founding team complete
Successful reactor test at pre-commercial scale
Commercial scale reactor deployment in Bern, Switzerland
CO₂ is captured from biogas upgrading facility of the bern wastewater treatment plant (arabern).
CO₂ is turned into stone inside the pores of the demolished concrete which is recycled at the Kästli concrete plant close to Bern, Switzerland.
The carbonated aggregate is used as a replacement for mined gravel for the production of fresh concrete.
Neustark enables concrete producers to save costs and increase sales under green building standards.
Are you a concrete producer or recycler and interested to deploy the Neustark solution?
Johannes Tiefenthaler and Valentin Gutknecht founded Neustark with a vision. Whilst building up a restorative business and proving the world that sustainable impact needs a business case, people working at Neustark strive at helping all colleagues and stakeholder to unfold their full potential.


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Golden Globes 2018 Red Carpet
Today's my first day back at work after being sick and having two sick days so hopefully it will be an easy day back! I spent my last evening of my little break watching the Golden Globes and as usual have rounded up some of the looks I loved from the red carpet. As I'm sure many of you are already aware of, a majority of the stars – both men and women – wore black last night to show their solidarity for the victims of sexual assault and the promotion of awareness for gender and racial inequalities. It was a sea of black and there were so many fabulous looks. In no particular order, here are some of the looks I loved!
First up, Reese Witherspoon looked beautiful in this classic one-shouldered black gown. I loved the foldover detail on the gown to give it some texture and some contrast.
Eva Longoria looked beautiful showing off her baby bump in this long sleeved, plunging gown. The satin trim in the deep-v like the foldover detail in Reese Witherspoon's dress gives a nice contrast.
I love Susan Kelechi Watson's jumpsuit! It looks perfect on her and the all-over sequins don't even look over the top at all. It's such a fun but classy look.
Alexis Bledel looked great in this white and black Oscar de la Renta jumpsuit with the leaf details and sequin sash. It's a look I would wear for sure!
Catherine Zeta Jones continues to defy age with this sheer number featuring strategically placed floral appliques. She looked stunning in this Zuhair Murad gown!
Diane Kruger's look is a gown I missed on the red carpet, but when her movie won for foreign film I saw her come on stage and immediately searched for a photo of the dress. I love it! It's beautifully flowy and the criss cross bodice looks great on her. I especially love the sheer dotted cape!
I really liked Heidi Klum's high-low feathered black gown. Fun and chic!
Kendall Jenner wore a similar style but more dramatic with a full on ball gown skirt. I'm not sure why she was at the Golden Globes but I loved her dress!
Margot Robbie's Gucci dress is one I can't decide whether I love or hate?! But the silver flowers and bow are making me love it!
Last but not least, Nicole Kidman, looked gorgeous in her black gown. I love the lace work and beading on the top and the fluttery sleeves. The fluttery sleeves actually went all the way into the back of the dress but I don't have a photo of that.
Were there any looks you really loved?


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MultiMeter Arduino nano and OLED i2c 0.96″
Hi, every electronics needs a multimeter, you can buy it or make it yourself at home. Today I will show you how to make a multimeter with arduino nano and an oled display at home.
- Voltmeter 0 to 25 Volt!!!!!
- Analog Read Value
- Voltage Drop Diode
- Continuity circuit
- Capacitor Measurement
- Signal PWM Generator
Analog pins can measure a voltage not exceeding the supply voltage, but you can increase the measured voltage by using a voltage divider. I used 7.5K and 30K ohms resistors, With a 5 volt microcontroller supply voltage (NOT ARDUINO, Arduino has a voltage stabilizer connected to the Vin pin) maximum voltage we can connect 25 volts. LINK TO CALCULATOR VOLTAGE DIVIDER


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04 October 2007
Beyond Bizlex: Facebook's Worst Nightmare, All Over Again
First, I should disclose something that I put in the original draft but didn't make the final edition - as the readers of this blog know, I'm married to Dr. Leigh Ann Simmons. She's quoted in the piece. She's been instrumental in pointing to the peer-reviewed research on the issues of breastfeeding promotion and anorexia sites.
Facebook is the kind of communications tool that people point to when they want to show how communications technology can bring out the very best in all of us. That's one of the reasons I'm still so disappointed in the obvious disconnect they've continued to essentially ignore. The company that facilitates so many discussions simply refuses to meaningfully engage in the discussion about itself.
I'll let the moms express their righteous outrage at Facebook for their obvious mistake on breastfeeding pictures - they do it better than I could. I'll let the science on pro-anorexia sites speak for itself. The issue for communications professionals, quite simply, is this: Facebook has failed to apply common-sense context to its policies on content. And when mistakes are pointed out, Facebook basically refuses to acknowledge them.
Of course it's difficult to develop policies that restrict or allow content. Of course you won't always have the resources to catch everything right away. But it's impossible to write perfect rules for this. You have to be able to step back, be an adult, and apply context and common sense to the rules you write. Facebook actually has really well thought-out terms of service - they just obviously misapplied those terms in the situations brought to their attention. At least some, and possibly all, of the breastfeeding pictures they banned clearly don't violate their terms of service. The pro-anorexia groups on their network are clearly harmful, as the science suggests - not simply "controversial." This violates the terms of service.
And then, after I submit the column, I see this. I should never - NEVER - read that the Attorney General of the State of New York informed Facebook of a sexual predator on its network and Facebook failed to deal with it immediately. When I read that, and place this news in the context of their previous decisions, the claim that Facebook takes this "very seriously" rings absolutely hollow. This simply reinforces the idea that the company doesn't fix its mistakes. Now the Attorney General of New Jersey is issuing subpoenas to Facebook as well about sexual predators. I understand it's hard to keep track of 35 million people, but sadly, Facebook's track record now means they won't get the benefit of the doubt from me.
And I won't deny my personal opinions on this. It's stupid, spiteful, and harmful to send the message Facebook sent when it banned those breastfeeding pictures. It's inexcusable to help sick girls share tips on what narcotics to take to get skinnier. It's ridiculous to restrict pictures of male cartoon characters with nipples because some idiot "tagged" them as "obscene." And when the New York Attorney General's office tells you there's a sexual predator on your network, DAMMIT, you drop what you're doing, reschedule the meeting with the VC firm, and you deal with it.
It's long past time for Facebook to reach out to its members and to the media to have a meaningful discussion about all of this. It's long past time for them to do the things that crisis communications experts agree are the right things to do here - acknowledge the mistakes, apologize, implement a remedy, and explain how the mistakes will never happen again.
Seriously, guys - stop acting like a bunch of frat boys who use shame as a weapon against young women, and MAN UP. Or at least speak up and tell me why I'm wrong in a meaningful way - this does not mean re-stating your terms of service, because you only show everyone how you didn't follow your own rules. Because if you don't start acting like adults, state Attorneys General and eventually members of Congress will start making more of your decisions for you.
As I climb down from my soapbox, I just want to say I'm really pleased that leaders in this field have also spoken out on this, such as Susan Getgood on her blog, and Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson on their podcast (show notes here). The personal messages of support I've received from colleagues at other firms have been thoughtful and gratifying.
6 comments:
Here, here! Worth saying and well said. Thanks.
- October 5, 2007 at 9:01 AM
- PunditMom said...
It's great that you're writing about this, as well. For better or worse, I think it helps when it's not just women bringing attention to issues like this.
- October 5, 2007 at 9:59 AM
- Julie Marsh said...
What PunditMom said. It's all well and good for women to lead publicity efforts on issues like these, but it carries a bigger wallop when men take a leadership role.
- October 5, 2007 at 1:25 PM
I applaud David for taking a stand on this, and supporting the women who first raised the issue so well. And I agree that Facebook is making a serious business mis-step here.
But (steps on soapbox) I am also disturbed at the idea that somehow a man's voice will carry more weight than a woman's. As a lifelong feminist I want to see women's leadership acknowledged, especially about issues for which we can rightfully claim "ownership."
Fundamentally that is the far more severe societal problem of which the Facebook mess is simply a symptom. (steps off)
- October 5, 2007 at 2:11 PM
- David said...
Thanks Susan. FWIW, I don't see myself as a champion here. You're absolutley right that I'm joining a discussion that others have led long before I ever came around.
And while I really appreciate that people want to give me attaboy's, the real leaders are the women who have spoken up on this for years.
Can a man more effectively call out other men and tell them to start acting more responsibly? I have no clue. But I'm not trying to be the "credible third party" here. I'm just looking at stuff in front of me and voicing my opinion: REAL men treat women with more RESPECT than Facebook has lately.
Which is, I think, what all the women have been saying as well.
- October 5, 2007 at 2:31 PM
- Lawyer Mama said...
Oh. my. god.
I'm standing up to cheer hear, David. The more people (male or female) who are discussing the Facebook fiasco and its inconsistent (and somewhat dangerous) policies, the better.
- October 5, 2007 at 9:10 PM


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Regal Princess Scores 100 Points on USPH Inspection
Princess cruise ship Regal Princess scored perfect 100 points on a recent unannounced USPH public health inspection. The latest Princess cruise ship is considered one of the cleanest vessels in the cruise industry. The ship has scored perfect 100 pints on all US Public Health inspections since she set sail in 2014.
The USPH inspection is conducted by the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program, twice a year when the ships are in the US ports, in order to determine the sanitation standards on board. During the inspections, all areas of the cruise ship are inspected including food handling, medical facilities, water systems, water quality, dining rooms, and common areas of the ship.
CDC website has yet to release the results of the latest inspection, however Princess released the news on their Twitter account. This is fourth time Regal Princess to score perfect 100 points on USPH inspection. Previous inspections were held on December 10, 2014. April 12, 2015, and February 24, 2016. We like to congratulate to all Regal Princess crew for their hard work and long hours, making this beautiful vessel one of the cleanest ships in the fleet.


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If you've never checked your credit history before, you probably are in the dark about a number of details regarding your personal finance history. A credit history isn't just a story that tells how you've used your money in the past; it's also a roadmap that explains how things are likely to go in the future. If you have poor credit history, chances are you will not be able to borrow money according to your terms. When you do receive a loan, it may be more expensive than you would like to pay. Finally, a poor credit history may take you out of the running when it comes time to compete for a new job or a new house. In these situations, personal credit history is often the differentiator between otherwise similar individuals.
If you have been using credit for some time, it's negative items on your credit report that are dragging your credit history down. You can see these by accessing your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com, a free resource made available by the government. Here you will see a record of times you messed up. Perhaps you forgot to pay a water bill for a couple of months. Perhaps you applied for several loans in a short period of time, making you look desperate for money. Whatever the case, it's these negative items that you must remove if you are to improve your standing.
We'll use a simple example to explain: a credit account sent to collections because you failed to pay it back. Companies send accounts to collections for a couple of purposes. They may have a deal with the collections company to pay them if they recover a certain amount of the debt. Or the original debt-holder may have sold your debt to collections, and the collector simply wants to recover more money from you than the price they paid for your debt.
To get a collections charge off of your credit report, you have several options. First, you've got to understand what you're working with. Check your credit history and take note of the negative items listed there. You have a number of options from this point.
If you want to improve your credit score fast, you should first consider 1) paying the debt, and/or 2) disputing the negative item. When you dispute, the credit reporting agency is obligated by law to verify the debt, bringing together every record of the debt from every organization that has had a hand in its recording. This is time-consuming, and it might just not be worth it, so this may cause your item to disappear with no more effort on your part. On the other hand, if the debt is high enough, disputing the item may remind the debt-holder that you exist, and that you know about the debt. This may cause them to renew the hunt for you and your money.
You could also wait for seven years for the item to leave your credit history. You may not have time for this, but if you do, it's a good way to absolutely scrub your history of negative items. However, in the meantime your credit will be worse than it would otherwise be.


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There is no doubt that children and young people with additional support needs (ASN) are not properly supported in our schools and early years settings. UNISON believes strategies to improve this situation should not focus on one disability: all children with additional support needs should be able to access appropriate support.
Scotland does not need more targets and outcome measures. What it needs is effective action. UNISON believes that rather than new legislation and target setting there should to be a substantial investment in staff to both identify additional support needs and staff to meet those needs once they have been identified. This must include funding for staff training and their ongoing professional development. Recent revelations round health targets show that legislation by itself does not guarantee results.


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The sesquicentennial celebration doesn't officially kick off with a bang (and we mean "bang" literally, since there's going to be about an hour of early-morning cannon fire), but the Civil War is going to dominate this weekend. And that's saying a lot because there is a ton of stuff going on.
So if you've got American history on the brain, we suggest seeing the Encampment of Confederate Re-enactors at Fort Moultrie, the Living History Programs with Confederate and Civilian Re-enactors at Fort Sumter (unless the federal government shuts the park down, of course), the From Unity to Divided Nation: Fort Sumter Light Display, Sesquicentennial Events at Patriots Point, the Palmetto Guards Living History Event at Morris Island, Battery Pringle Tours, the Southern Belles and Yankee Shells walk, or maybe just a nice, relaxing Sesquicentennial Harbor Cruise.
But that's not all folks. There's two art openings at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park: Post Civil War Charleston 1865: A Photographic Retrospective and Civil/Uncivil: The Art of Leo Twiggs. Virginia's Barter Theatre brings their musical Civil War Voices to the Memminger and Actors' Theatre of South Carolina presents Mary Chesnut's Road to Fort Sumter. There's screenings of The Civil War: The Cause and Glory.
And then there's the lectures. Like Before The Storm: South Carolina and Charleston on the Eve of War, The Road to War: Gender, Honor and Emotions, The Road to War: Slavery, Economics and State Rights, "To Purge This Land With Blood?": The Question of John Brown's Raid, and Dr. Leo Twiggs will speak about his City Gallery Exhibit, while Rick Rhodes and Robert Rosen will talk on Post Civil War Charleston 1865.
And again, the sesquicentennial doesn't even really happen until Tuesday.
Now that that's out of the way, we can get to all the other good stuff.
Like the Charleston Farmers Market. It opens on Saturday. And how we've missed it.
It's an exciting weekend for sports. Not only will the Family Circle Cup finish up (and they'll have their exhibition Game, Set, Rock! Tennis. Amplified), but the Charleston Battery open their season.
Break out that nautical striped shirt for Kulture Klash. It's got a water theme.
Buy some crafts at the Spring Arts and Crafts Show or at Holy City Artist and Fleas, or make your own at the Charleston Craft Bee.
The 3 on 3 Long Form Improv Tournament starts at Theatre 99. City Paper was in the competition last year and, well … it didn't go very well. You can also see The Have Nots! and Blast Off?
I envy the guy or girl in the Charleston Bed Race that gets to sit on the bed. Easiest competition ever for them. Though I suppose it's not the smoothest ride in the world.
Mary Whyte is the guest of honor at Friday's Blue Bicycle Books Author's Luncheon Series, and Jessica James will sign copies of her historical-fiction works at Boone Hall Plantation.
Let's hope no one at the Charleston International Festival of Choirs loses their voice. Plus Chamber Music Charleston hosts its finale.
You can spend another weekend at the Festival of Houses and Gardens, or maybe mix it up at the Kiawah Art and House Tour.
Get your earplugs ready for the JB Charleston Air Expo.
Saturday is the honest-to-goodness Dora Day (we misspoke last week). It's every child's dream, before they start getting into Justin Bieber. So milk it while you can. Or you can take them to Pinocchio.
Man, I want to go to Pet Fest. There's nothing more fun than hanging out with other people's dogs, especially in an environment where it wouldn't be super creepy. (Or cats, I suppose, if you're into that.)
There's another Bulls Island Auto Tour, plus a Boat Tour to Cape Romain's Historic Lighthouse Island.
It's the third Tri-County Lawn Mower Exchange on Saturday. And yes, there are people who think that's pretty cool.
If you're feeling charitable this weekend, why not stop by BBQ4Baseball, The Coastal Cupboard's Shop and Give Back Event, the Child Abuse Prevention Month Weekly Workouts, the Flip Flop Ball and Silent Auction, Jaiden's Place Pajama Rama, Throw Cancer a Curve, or Run for Adela.
Live a Ricky Bobby fantasy out at the NASCAR Neighborhood Rally.
Enjoy some Blues by the Sea, or take in a showing of Fool's Lear or Proof.
And if you know anything about calendars, then you know that this Sunday is the second of the month, and therefore a Second Sunday on King Street. I've heard that American Apparel isn't doing so hot nationally. Maybe you should stop there and stock up on basic tees.


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When women or men suffer from domestic violence they usually don't report it right away. One of the reasons why is because their attacker threatens to kill them and their family, so the woman or man has no choice but to stay with the abuser to keep everyone around them safe. By reading some stories online about women talking about their abuse and why they stayed, most of the reasons why was isolation, money, love, family shame and fear, a woman named Nicole claims "He warned me that If I left him, he would hunt me down. He was going to shoot me. He was going to paralyze me. He was going to throw acid on my face" (Huffingtonpost) this shows how horrifying it can be to make the choice to leave, with threats like these there isn't a clue as to when the abuser could finally break and kill their victim. Domestic Violence is an issue everywhere in the world, but most of the time people don't see the signs when it's actually happening to someone they know.
In one of my interviews I asked my mother, who has been an Oakland resident for 29 years, about why she thinks domestic violence is an issue, and she said that if in the homes of the abuser the child sees what the father is doing to their mother they might copy the actions of the father and possibly hit someone at school or anywhere else. This leads to violence to schools also, the children can get into lots of fights in school which can lead to suspension. In another interview I did I also asked my neighbor, she has lived in Oakland for 30 years and she knows people who have been through domestic violence, she says that women should always report their case even if they love that person. If a man really loved his spouse then he wouldn't hurt her in any way. It doesn't always involve hitting it can also be being put down and screaming. Whether that's telling a woman that she looks hideous in a dress to telling her that she's useless and probably telling her to die that's a few of the common signs that they're going to be in a rough relationship.


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The butterfly, of course, is from Once Upon a Princess, and so is the patterned paper cut. The red, yellow, and floral papers are all from the Die Cuts With a View Citrus Stack. I just got this stack yesterday, and I love it! The colors are so sunny and warm...something I could really use right now! I haven't added a sentiment yet, because I'm not sure what I'll use this card for. I did add some Stickles and a few gems, and I was all done! I hope you like my little card. Thanks for visiting! :o)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Citrus Butterfly Card
Bitten by the Bug 2 is having a Butterfly Challenge this week, and I am so excited to join it. We are supposed to use the butterfly from Once Upon a Princess on a project. Here's what I created:
5 comments:
Oh so pretty, Lisa! Love your colors! Gotta go find that stack Thanks for playing along with BBTB2. xxDReplyDelete
So pretty! Love how it seems to be fluttering off the page!ReplyDelete
Love the colors! I have that cart and need to put it to use. Thanks for the inspiration.ReplyDelete
Great colors to design your cute card. Thanks for joining us at BBTB2,ReplyDelete
What fun and happy colors! I just love this! Thanks for joining us this week at BBTB2.ReplyDelete
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Apple has just released a Java for OS X 2012-003 security update and this one takes care of the Flashback malware issue.
This Java security update removes the most common variants of the Flashback malware.
This update also configures the Java web plug-in to disable the automatic execution of Java applets. Users may re-enable automatic execution of Java applets using the Java Preferences application. If the Java web plug-in detects that no applets have been run for an extended period of time it will again disable Java applets.
This update is recommended for all Mac users with Java installed.
For details about this update see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5242
You really should update immediately if you have Java running on your Mac.


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Camping Gear Products (www.campinggearproducts.com) is a one-stop-shop for all things outdoorsy. Based online as a budding up and coming eCommerce company, CGP strives to be a fun online shopping experience. After all, shopping online shouldn't be a boring or stressful thing, especially when you're planning for a trip!
First and foremost, Camping Gear Products sells many styles of backpacks, but they are not limited to only hiking, camping, and traveling gear but also cooking gear and outdoor furniture/necessities.
If you are looking for the ultimate trip gear and necessities, you've got it all right there at your fingertips with Camping Gear Products. Or you could just be looking for that special new backpack for your next mountain climb. Camping Gear even carries bug repellant, along with grills to cook while out in the wild. They truly want to be the first and only stop you will have to make for all of your outdoorsy needs.
Why Camping Gear Products backpacks?
If you are someone who loves camping, rock climbing, traveling, or just being outdoors, we have a backpack specifically made with you (and others like you) in mind! Our store, Camping Gear Products, sells all types and different sizes of backpacks, and we are not talking about those bookbags you purchase for school, we're talking about those elaborate, tactical, hiking and camping backpacks. The durable ones that look like they will save your lives? Those, and they will.
This is why the backpack is so important, it's almost the "heart" of your camping or hiking trip. You'll use your backpack to store everything you're bringing with you as you go – while you stay active. Most importantly of all, backpacks contain your food, drink, and emergency kits. Camping Gear knows how important your backpacks are when you live this lifestyle, and they've promised to build them with all of the different needs in mind.
Different Sizes
There is one quality of CGP backpacks that stand out amongst many of its competitors, they carry different sizes of backpacks. Typically, you have a "one-size fits all" bag, no matter the brand. Camping Gear provides different sizes for different people, who have different dreams in life!
Perhaps one of the best qualities of CGP backpacks is the fact they are water-resistant. Many of our experiences aren't complete until we swim in (at least, that's what we'll tell our family what happened) a lake or body of water nearby, during our adventure. Since we keep our valuable items in these backpacks during our trips, it would be a huge disappointment to get our only food or our emergency kits soaked.
As I briefly mentioned before, the designers of these backpacks and the entire Camping Gear brand really had each and every detail in mind as they thought of the needs within the bags. Carrying the bags for long periods of time, up steep mountains and hills, through rain, snow, sleet, and hail – you'll almost feel like you are carrying nothing at all. Super light-weight material and a super stylish look combined? You'll be the talk of the trip because you'll be the one to bring it ALL and everyone will be asking you for what you brought!
An Outdoor Lover's Dream
Camping Gear Products provides pretty much anything you are going to need while being outdoors, while on a trip hiking or camping, and even for those who are planning and preparing for doomsday.
Start with your backpack, then build your way up by filling in your bag with all of the supplies you are going to need. You'll never have to find another source for your outdoor or camping/hiking needs again!


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Arranging Your Finances Before a Mortgage
If you're considering buying a home for the first time, you're probably already aware that this will be one of the single biggest financial commitments of your life. Buying a home is a big monetary step for many people, and involves a detailed process of budgeting and ensuring your finances are properly organized ahead of time.
At City Creek Mortgage, we can help you with every step along the road toward finding a great mortgage and using it to purchase the home of your dreams. This includes assisting you with all your basic budgeting and financial areas, from your future expectations to your recent history that will determine many important details, such as the mortgage rates you qualify for. With that in mind, let's go over three important budgeting areas to assess well in advance of any mortgage or home purchase.
Budgeting Monthly
The most common budgeting format for Americans is a monthly one, and while it's totally fine if you utilize some other method normally, you should strongly consider making a change within the realm of your mortgage. Mortgage payments are made monthly, and as these will be some of your most significant expenses, it makes sense to align your entire budgeting system this way.
In today's modern age, making a trackable budget is simple and easy. There are numerous apps, software programs or even simple spreadsheets that allow you to track income and expenses, including detailing all the specific sources and their relevant numbers. The entire budgeting process for your mortgage will feel a lot simpler once you have a basic handle on your monthly figures and what you can or can't afford on top of them.
Credit Report
Once you've set your basic budget and have a baseline for your finances, it's time to get a copy of your credit report. This is information is collected by three major credit reporting agencies. The data is what lenders look at closely when it comes to assessing your credit worthiness.
Using your financial history, particularly your repayment of debt in a timely manner, a credit score will give a single number that reflects your overall likelihood of repaying back a loan. You can obtain your credit score for free at least once a year without dinging the score at all, so take advantage of this.
Down Payment Considerations
Finally, consider the funds you might have available to put down on a down payment. This isn't necessarily required for every purchase, but having one can not only speed up the process but also lower your total amount of interest paid over the life of the loan. Your down payment total may also play a big role in whether or not you're required to carry private mortgage insurance.
For more on arranging your finances ahead of a mortgage, or to learn about any of our mortgage loan services, speak to the pros at City Creek Mortgage today.


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On July 1, 2021, Novant Health UVA Health System became part of UVA Health.
Learn more »
Novant Health UVA Health System is responding to Coronavirus in our communities. Protect yourself and others. Learn more »
Manassas, Va., Jan. 6 – On Jan. 1, Novant Health and the University of Virginia Health System closed on the formation of a new regional partnership for Virginia. The name of the new health system is Novant Health UVA Health System.
Under the agreement, Novant Health's Virginia operations – including Novant Health Haymarket Medical Center, Novant Health Prince William Medical Center, Novant Health Caton Merchant House, Novant Health Cancer Center and Novant Health physician clinics – will join UVA Culpeper Hospital to form the regional health system.
The Novant Health UVA Health System facility names are now:
Melissa Robson, president of Novant Health's Northern Virginia market, will serve as CEO for the regional health system. Greg Napps will remain as the CEO of Culpeper Medical Center, Bebe Holt will remain as president of Prince William Medical Center and Don Sedgley will remain as president of Haymarket Medical Center.
The partnership brings strong benefits to Northern Virginia communities, said leaders from the two health systems.
"We believe this partnership will enable us to provide remarkable care in an efficient manner," Robson said. "The partnership means that patients in Northern Virginia will be able to connect with UVA Health System's strong subspecialty care and clinical trials, while benefiting from Novant Health's experience with increasing access to care when and where patients need it."
"Through our partnership with Novant Health, we will provide patients throughout Northern Virginia with an integrated, specialized and high-quality network of care close to home," said Dr. Richard P. Shannon, executive vice president for health affairs, UVA Health System.
Novant Health physician practices in the Northern Virginia area will also become part of the regional health system. For example, Novant Health Bull Run Family Medicine will become Novant Health UVA Health System Bull Run Family Medicine.
Novant Health has 60 percent ownership and UVA Health System has 40 percent ownership of the joint operating company that will oversee the regional health system. Under the agreement, each of the hospitals in the regional health system will continue to directly employ all existing staff. UVA and Novant Health will honor existing commitments made to their respective entities prior to this agreement. For Culpeper Medical Center, this includes investing $45 million in the hospital and related health care enhancements.


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This was sent by Yenbro and previously posted over at CNB. That said, its worth a cross post.
Home › Uncategorized › Woman Misses Her Flight At Hong Kong International Airport
4chan aots as seen on tv attack of the show auto tune autotune barack obama beyonce boobs boost mobile cosplay embarrassment extreme sports facebook fail freestyle g4 tech tv g4tv hip hop hip hop humor honorable pursuits internet meme interview skills japan japanese television kanye kanye west kermit kevin pereira lost in translation mashup meme michael jackson mj munn muppets old school olivia munn pedobear sesame street single serving star trek star wars swine flu tumblr


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The chairman of the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patents, Ramiz Hasanov, told journalists that work on the durable life standard would be finalized this month.
"We conduct daily inspections of the quality of food and other goods, but it is difficult to control the quality of imported goods," Hasanov said.
He said that Azerbaijan had not yet introduced a standard for halal food, food deemed permissible under Islamic law.
"We have approached all Muslim countries, but there are some problems. The halal mark on any food is just a mark and has no significance," Hasanov said.
He said that quality problems had arisen with bakeries and sanctions were imposed on more than 100 bakeries last year.
Hasanov said a great deal of work had been done to coordinate Azerbaijani and European standards. "We are trying to have our standards recognized in Europe. There is a presidential order on this issue. We adopted 162 standards last year. Azerbaijan exports jams and juice to Europe now."


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Graduates Keep Struggling With Private Student Loans
Student loans have become an increasingly large portion of the debt burden that Americans face. During the past six years, consumers have paid down their outstanding balances on most forms of debt, including mortgages, credit cards and auto loans, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
But student loan balances have continued to increase. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau noted earlier this year that outstanding student debt would shortly hit the $1.2 trillion mark.
Most of the loans that students take are federal government loans, with various features that can include subsidies for interest payments while you're in school, fixed interest rates throughout the life of your loan, and opportunities for deferments, forbearance, and even outright loan forgiveness under certain circumstances.
But even though private student loans represent a small portion of the overall loan market -- about 14 percent, according to figures from the CFPB -- the lenders that offer private loans have gotten a number of complaints from borrowers citing various problems.
Let's take a look at the CFPB report that goes through types of trouble borrowers have had recently with their student lenders to find some key conclusions.
1. Lenders Want Your Business.
For the most part, few borrowers cited any problems with actually getting a private student loan. Just 4 percent of the complaints to the CFPB had to do with obtaining loans, strongly suggesting that most of those who need financing aren't having banks turn them away.
Lenders have good reasons to prefer student loans. Unlike most other forms of debt, student loans give creditors protection against discharge in bankruptcy, meaning that borrowers often have to repay their student debt even if they go bankrupt and have other debts wiped out.
2. Competition Is Limited.
Looking at which lenders got the most complaints, Sallie Mae (SLM) was the winner by far, with nearly 800 complaints representing almost 40 percent of the total complaints received during the report's six-month scope. That's more than four times what the No. 2 lender received. Wells Fargo (WFC) and Discover Financial (DFS) also had more than 100 complaints each.
These numbers reflect just how concentrated the market is for private student loans. Only a small number of lenders control a large portion of the industry's overall market share, according to the report.
3. Repayment Problems Are Paramount.
The largest group of borrowers' complaints focused on the inability to get their lenders to agree to modifications of their loan terms. Unlike federal loans, many of which have built-in safeguards aimed at helping those in need avoid complete default, private loan borrowers often lack the right to reduce monthly payments when they're under financial stress. Moreover, some borrowers argue that their lenders haven't given them more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates, once they've built up a more favorable credit history than they had when they first took out their loans.
In addition, some complaints focused on payment processing that created additional fees.
For instance, when borrowers paid only a portion of the amount due on their loans, some lenders divided up the underpaid amount equally across each individual outstanding loan, resulting in far more fees than if the lender had used the payment to cover as many minimum payments as possible.
Even borrowers who were able to repay their loans on time, in full, and according to their original terms had some troubles. Difficulty in having payments on multiple loans accurately applied to each required payment resulted in many complaints. In particular, when borrowers made payments that were above the minimum required monthly amount, lenders sometimes failed to apply the extra amount in the way that was most advantageous to the borrower.
Moreover, promises from lenders that co-signers would be taken off loans after a certain number of payments weren't always kept, with modifications to policies having been made in some cases even after students got the loan.
Be Careful With Private Loans
These problems are just a few of the reasons why private student loans should generally be your last resort when it comes to financing a college education. With unattractive terms that usually make these loans more costly, the complaints about private lenders merely add insult to the injury of having to go into debt for education in the first place.
You can follow Motley Fool contributor Dan Caplinger on Twitter @DanCaplinger or on Google Plus. He owns warrants on Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool recommends Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Wells Fargo.


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RACV Royal Pines Resort
RACV Royal Pines Resort is situated at the heart of the Gold Coast, midway between the magnificent beaches and the rainforests of the Hinterland.
As one of Queensland's largest resorts, RACV Royal Pines Resort offers a great range of family friendly facilities including a children's playground, swimming pool and waterslide, tennis courts, a 27 hole championship golf course and driving range and a school holiday kids club program.
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Luxury accommodation rooms, 7 restaurants and bars, extensive meeting facilities and the luxurious One Spa ensure both business and pleasure are a breeze.
Visit www.royalpinesresort.com.au for further details.
Benefits apply to Auto Club members including RACV, RACQ and NRMA


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By now it's not news to anyone that our oceans harbor swirling garbage patches of mostly plastic particles working their way—literally—up and through the food chain. Scary? Yes. But here's something worse: Your favorite German beer has 'em too. And bugs. And human skin. No wonder you're supposed to quaff it from an opaque ceramic stein.
A new study of 24 popular German beer brands discovered traces of the plastic, which could have come from machinery, been in the bottles prior to filling, or simply been present in the water. As it breaks down into smaller and smaller particulates, plastic can float right through water treatment facilities. Examining the beers under a microscope also revealed large and small scales of the human epidermis (skin) which likely flaked off the arms of the brewers as they toiled away. Bits of glass and an "almost complete" bug were also found.
Does this mean you should eschew brews of the German persuasion this Oktoberfest? Thankfully, no. While the study demonstrates that microplastic pollution is prevalent enough to have infested every aspect of our lives, there are not enough contaminants present to cause any harm. Which is more than this London lass can say, after allegedly finding a rotting wishbone in her Bud Light.
Bottoms up!


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Sterling Silver WOLF teardrop pendant, Norman Seaweed
- Nation: Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl) First Nations
- Artist: Seaweed, Norman (Norm)
- Type: Jewellery
...AND.... FREE shipping to Canada and the US
Have a look at this gorgeous piece of Silver jewelry
Sterling Silver WOLF teardrop pendant
by the Kwagiulth First Nation Artist Norman (Norm) Seaweed. The details on this piece are just incredible. This truly is highest Quality!!! Monogramed at the back. The lines on this pendant are so clean, the expression of the wolf, just wonderful - really a piece to impress.
Measurements: 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" (5.5 x 4 cm), Chain is not included
Weight: 10 gr
Meaning: The Wolf represents loyalty, strong family ties, good communication, education, understanding and intelligence. Of all land animals, the Wolf has the strongest supernatural powers and is the most accomplished hunter. The Wolf is a very social and communicative creature; he uses body movement, touch and sound.
Note: Overseas shipping costs $49 CAD added at check-out. If you prefer invoice in USD, please contact me


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Russel Wallace : Alfred Russell Wallace (sic)
for the New Century (S591: 1900)
The first duty of Spiritualists is, not only to protest with voice and pen against these national crimes, but to render them impossible in the future by the regeneration of our social system, which, in its awful contrasts of luxury and starvation, of vicious idleness and the grinding toil of millions, is the real cause of them. We must claim for all that perfect equality of opportunity, which is the only safe foundation of a really civilised society.
If you will continually keep this duty before you, asking yourselves how you can best further this great Cause, your spirit-guides will, I feel sure, impress you how you should act so that the New Century may witness the birth, and perhaps even the maturity of a truly moral and spiritual civilisation.
Your friend and well-wisher,
Alfred R. Wallace.


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Logo Light
A project design for your logo identity.
- CS3 CS4 CS5 CS5.5 CS6 Compatible Project
- Full HD resolution (1920×1080) also resized to (1280×720)
- 100% After Effects Project.
- Just replace your logo and hit render.
- No plugins required.
- Optical Flare is pre-rendered.
- 1 Logo placeholder.
- Easy color change with color control.
- Tutotial with voice over included.
- The original time sequence is 16sec
- The audio used in the example is "Trailer Intro Ident" which are available for purchase here: http://audiojungle.net/item/trailer-intro-ident/540173
- Licence Information click HERE "Regular Licence" "Extended Licence"


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Spun from sumptuous cashmere with ribbed hems, this classic scarf will go with everything from sweaters to tailoring. Loop it around your neck on long weekend walks.
Fit & Style
·Comes with cashmere comb
·Ribbed hems
This garment has been crafted with 100% traceable cashmere, responsibly sourced from farms in Inner Mongolia where herd sizes are strictly managed and the farming community is respected.Learn more here.
· Colour: Red
· Composition: 100% Cashmere
· Length: Not Applicable
· Wash Care: Handwash in cool water
· Product Key: 01303350972
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Thank You Vogue Korea!
Thank You Vogue Korea!
Natalia Vodianova was shot by Paolo Roversi for the August 2010 cover of Vogue Korea. It's the magazine's 14th year anniversary.
In the same issue, the lovely folks at Vogue wrote an article about me and blogging.
Between you and me, I don't see myself sitting in between these two iconic women anytime soon but it's a cute photograph nonetheless.
Thank you so much Vogue Korea. I love you!
And special thanks to my reader Joanna from Seoul for sending me this photo.


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HyperV Technologies Corp. has been selected by NASA to negotiate a contract for a Phase 1 SBIR project. The purpose of the project is to develop and construct a long-record-length, fiber-coupled, fast imaging diagnostic device to record X-ray back-lit material flows and X-ray emission events in rocket engine exhaust plumes. X-ray imaging is invaluable for studying the dynamics of extreme exhaust flow events which can be back-lit by X-rays or which produce X-ray emissions. Imaging of material flows in detonation fronts and during combustion has many important aerospace, industrial and defense applications.
During this Phase 1 SBIR, HyperV Technology Corp. will partner with the University of Alabama at Huntsville (UAH) Propulsion Research Center (PRC) which has a particular interest in this technology given that X-rays are immune to smoke and fire and can image through protective housings and casings. The HyperV X-ray diagnostic capability allows non-invasive imaging of rocket propellant and exhaust plumes inside the rocket-motor while it is being tested. High time resolution imaging of these X-ray emission or X-ray back-lit events over long record lengths can provide critical insight into the dynamics at work inside the extreme environment of a functioning rocket motor. For events which are not necessarily repeatable from shot to shot, or dynamic events in devices which are too large to accumulate event evolution over many shots, the development of a deep record length imaging system for X-ray collection would provide a huge advantage over existing single shot and burst shot imaging systems.
About HyperV Technologies Corp:
HyperV Technologies Corp. is a privately held Chantilly, Virginia based research and development company incorporated in 2004. HyperV is an industry leader in the development of high velocity, high density plasma gun technology for use in fusion energy development, high energy density physics research, spacecraft propulsion and industrial applications. For more information on HyperV Technologies Corp. please visit us on the web at www.hyperv.com or via social media at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/HyperV-Technologies-Corp/332898126806674 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HyperVTechCo or contact: Chris Faranetta at 1(703) 378-4882.


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Research Chemical
4 MEC [ 10grams ]
4 Methylethcathinone is a cathinone derivative identified in several designer, recreational drugs that are sold as "legal high" replacements for controlled stimulants such as methamphetamineand 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine. The hydrochloride formulation of this compound is intended for use as a standard for the forensic analysis of samples that may contain 4-methylethcathinone.
Where to Buy 4-MEC Online
Where to Buy 4-MEC Online is a research chemical that bears a chemical resemblance to mephedrone. Because of its similarity to mephedrone, it is think to be a stimulant and entactogen drug of the phenethylamine, amphetamine, and cathinone chemical classes. Buy 4-MEC Online
4-MEC works as a psychoactive substance which is know to generate empathogenic effects in the human berings. Effect-wise, the drug is similar in nature to Mephedrone and many even consider this to be a replacement of the same. 4-MEC has been available in the market since 2010 only.
Mephedrone is know to be more pricey and hence, the demand of 4-MEC has increased manifold over the last few years. This medicine has especially found widespread popularity in several European countries including Ireland and the United Kingdom, apart from the Australian content.
What does 4-MEC do?
4-MEC is also know as 4-Methylethinone and it is sort of a recreational medicine. The medicine is legally available in various countries and as mention earlier, many consider it to be a cheap alternative to mephedrone.
By altering the functions of the brain, 4-MEC basically affects the brain. A person using this medicine can experience mood changes on a frequent basis and may see different behaviors for a short time frame.
This medicine is actually considered to be an alternative to ecstasy. If you use a small dosage of 4MEC, it generally wipes all the anxiety out and gives you a calm mood. The user generally loses his awareness of the surroundings after taking 4-MEC. The user starts relaxing and the actions get reduce as well.
The Basic functions of 4-MEC
A user gets a pleasurable feeling of euphoria as the medicine is know to make a user ecstatic. Please understand that this medicine should be take with proper care all the time. Any sort of overdosage can result in disastrous effects. Some of the effects of overdosage that have been report are burning sensation, insufflations, deep diaphragmatic breathing etc. In case you want to avoid the burning sensation, it is better to consume 4-MEC orally.
What is the recommend dosage of 4-MEC?
Please note that 4MEC is not as strong as mephedrone. You should start with a small dosage of such as 100mg and it will probably make you crave for another. It is important to understand that the effects may differ from one person to another and if you don't take proper safety measures, the results can definitely end up not being pleasant. It is always better to consume only moderate amounts of this medicine.
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Past is good for future growth
Is Pontiac a model community? Valecia Crisafulli told an audience Wednesday morning at the First United Methodist Church that it is such a town.
Crisafulli was the keynote speaker during the Illinois Main Street Conference, being held in Pontiac this week. Her address — "Main Street: Past, Present, Future" — focused on smaller communities.
Among her first comments to the audience of nearly 100 people was pointing out that Pontiac is a model for other Main Street programs in Illinois.
She said that it's important not to dwell on the past, but it is important to move through the past and present to get to the future.
"I think you need to know the past in order to understand the present and future," she said. "This group coming together is a testament to what has happened in the past."
Crisafulli focused on the future of small towns and rural areas, spotlighting the fact that the top trend, which she cited in recent census data, that Americans are moving into major cities and away from rural and suburban areas. She said that is the number-one thing influencing the future of Main Street programs.
"Last April is the first time the growth in American cities outpaced the growth of the suburbs and rural areas (in some time)," Crisafulli said.
She said the population in the country is undergoing a huge shift, noting that baby boomers and the millennial generation are the ones deciding to move to cities, and they comprise the majority of the U.S. population.
Crisafulli said that cities appeal to the two groups for the same reasons. These include the four factors of wanting to find a place to visit, live, work and play.
"These groups are looking for music," Crisafulli said. "The music scene is hugely important. This is appealing not only to the younger generation, but the older.
"Being able to live in an area where you have arts and culture and things from the symphony to the blues is at your disposal is part of the city lifestyle."
Other factors Crisafulli talked about were outdoor dining experiences at restaurants and walking and biking abilities in the communities.
"Empty nesters and millennial are looking to get away from the car and the dependency of the car," she said. "People are deliberately moving to towns that have that walkability. You need great places to hang out and spaces that draw people."
So, what does this mean for small towns and rural areas?
Crisafulli asked the crowd if Americans are moving back to central cities because of the appeal of that lifestyle because they love it so much and what it means for everybody else.
"I think there is a lot of hope and potential here, but it's an 'if and only if' proposition," she said. "I think small towns and rural areas and suburban communities can reposition to capture the portions of these markets that they are able to capture. They won't be able to capture them all. Some people will only want the large cities."
Crisafulli said the key concept to drawing people to communities is to invent places where people want to visit, live, work and play.
"These are simple concepts," she said. "If we create real spaces where people want to visit, how many people will visit?
"Look at Pontiac. How many people come visit the great spaces here? I love that Pontiac has built on Route 66," she added. "The important thing is to be the real town, take your amenities and create and invent this future around places people will want to visit, work and play. It's a very simple four-point approach."
Crisafulli reminded the audience that the next National Main Street Conference will be in Detroit in May, adding that she thinks it would be one of the most exciting conferences ever.
"This is the mirror image of New Orleans in many ways," Crisafulli said. "Detroit didn't have Katrina, but everybody in this room knows the kind of catastrophic events that Detroit has been facing.
"I was there last May and I was so excited about the progress and the opportunities and the hope and the entrepreneurial spirit going on there. I want to encourage all of you to get to Detroit next year because I think it's going to be a signature event. It's an event not to be missed."
Crisafulli was the first state coordinator of Illinois Main Street and is a retired executive director of the National Main Street Center. She lives in Madison, Ind., which is one of the three national Main Street pilot communities.


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Carterton School parent Jayne Bryant has spent years tracking through the difficult and complex pathway of special education. Her son Liam, who's now seven, suffers from epilepsy and is on…Read More
"James and I have the same dopey sense of humour," says Te Atatu Intermediate School Principal Noelle Fletcher as she and Arohanui School principal James Le Marquand attempt to explain…Read More
Clearly, the Ministry of Education is lost for ideas (if not words) in response to a SENCO survey that shows special education is woefully under-resourced in New Zealand schools and…Read More
Specialist education staff at the Ministry of Education, who work with some of New Zealand's most vulnerable children, have settled their collective agreement after making a commitment to "work to…Read More
Charter schools Legislation to allow publicly-funded private charter schools to be run by people with no teaching experience and to employ unqualified and unregistered teachers will be introduced to Parliament…Read More
[g1_row type="default" color="none" background_repeat="repeat" background_position="center top" background_attachment="static" background_scroll="none" padding_bottom="3rem" padding_top="4.5rem"] [g1_1of1] Skill 'em – Finland A free public education system with small schools, small classes, and rigorous teacher selection and…Read More
The government's preoccupation with charter schools, performance pay, national standards, league tables and public-private partnerships is part of a global movement known as GERM (global education reform movement). It's based…Read More


text: Presented by Richard Mangiameli When we started working, one of the biggest surprises of our young adult life was the difference between our gross and net paycheck! We were introduced to the world of Income Tax withholdings. Forty or so years later, we get the next biggest surprise – not having enough money to retire with! Again, the difference between our gross and net retirement paycheck. Retirees are concerned about their retirement income being under siege with expenses, mandatory medical spending, lifestyle and outliving their money. This is an area where you, as an insurance professional, can protect your clients and help them with product solutions. A clear view of the current trends in the retirement landscape will take you a long way toward finding the product to provide the solution. For example, the big focus today is the need for guaranteed income for life, without the fear of losing control. With fewer company pension plans and increasing life expectancy, retirees face a growing gap between income they can count on and expenses they expect to face. Fixed Index Annuities can offer predictability, no direct downside market risk, and the potential for guaranteed income for life – an attractive benefit to clients searching for ways to leverage assets and build a more stable future. After the 2008 market crash, many people found their financial foundation was not as sturdy as they once thought. With the risk of longevity, medical expenses and inflation affecting retirement income calculation, many are looking for ways to supplement their income, accumulate assets and cover basic living expenses in the future. The opportunity to have upside potential, with no downside risk, provides your clients with peace of mind for long-term financial security, asset accumulation and can provide guaranteed income for life. Fixed Index Annuities with an Income Rider can offer the "peace of mind" benefits that retirees are looking for today. If you need to know more about how the Fixed Index Annuities with Income Riders work, call Richard Mangiameli, LUTCF, FSS, at 800-397-9999.


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Phil just spent some time with our van on its own. He had almost 2 weeks to work on more of the furniture and the essentials we'll need for getting out on the road.
Phil finished the back doors.
Now we have a lot of new shelves above the kitchen but unfortunately Phil didn't have the time to stain the them. So the outsides will get some green in when we're back in August.
And here is our big closet next to the oven and above another shelf :-). Just the door of the closet needs to be stained. Some nice work for Kristin in August while Phil does all the electrical ….
Pull out table and pull out cutting board. We're trying to use every available space and maximize the usage of the van 🙂
Beside the shelves, Phil built a step next to our bed so it's easier for us to get in and out of bed. And of course those steps are storage as well. Originally we wanted to have the bunk bed on that side of the bed, but we had another good idea and will first go without any bunk bed! Maybe we will decide after a while to build it, but then on the other side of the bed. So these shelves are for our clothes and they will also get some doors and paint in August.
Now the next time we can work on our small home is in August when we return to the US. Tomorrow we are going on a 12 days trip to our German neighbor – Denmark! We want to enjoy a last trip before a lot of no-sleep-time is coming into our life in May. But we are super excited that soon our little girl is joining the world and our big adventure.
7 weeks and 5 days to go…..


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New Delhi [India], Mar. 9 : The police has not yet been able to establish any connection of the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast with the ISIS.
"No connections have yet been established with the ISIS," Bhopal IG (Law and Order) Makrand Devaskar said on Thursday.
Earlier, Daljeet Chaudhary, the UP Additional Director General (ADG) of Police also said they had no evidence of any ISIS link, regarding the Lucknow terror stand-off, in which security forces gunned down a terrorist in an operation that lasted for nearly 10 hours in the thickly-populated Thakurganj area of Lucknow.
Devaskar also said they cannot establish a linkage between the two incidents as far as the current probe is concerned, however, two of the accused of the train blast were residents of Uttar Pradesh.
Earlier in the day, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team reached Shujalpur to probe the train blast.
At least nine people were injured after the explosion took place in the train on Tuesday. The police arrested the three terrorists named mastermind Atif Muzaffar and Md. Danish - both residents of Kanpur, UP - and Syed Meer Hussain..
Source: ANI


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Asian Studies
Welcome to the Asian Studies Program at Ohio University
The Asian Studies program at Ohio University is an interdisciplinary program that strives to provide students with a strong grounding in core disciplines that constitute Asian Studies (including political science, history, anthropology, geography, linguistics) while giving them the opportunity to form their course of study around their professional and academic goals.
Students in the Asian Studies program can concentrate in three areas of study:
- East Asia
- Southeast Asia
- Transnational Asia
While the first two specializations are designed for area studies students, the Transnational Asia specialization is designed for students to pursue a thematic field of study that involves Asian transnational and regional issues. Based on the research interests and specialties of the Asian Studies faculty, three thematic fields are developed under the Transnational Asia specialization, namely: Arts, Popular Culture and the Media; Gender, Ethnicity and Religion; and Globalization, Conflict and Social Change.
COVID-19 Response
Yamada House is open normal hours but CIS Faculty directors and staff members have flexplace work schedules.Direct all inquiries/questions/concerns to email@example.com. For the most up to date information regarding OHIO's response to COVID-19, consult www.ohio.edu/coronavirus.
Asian Studies Crowdfunding Campaign
Please consider a gift to the Asian Studies Program in honor of its rich history, its future potential, and in support of current and future students. Click here to find out more and to donate.


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According to the National Retail Federation (NRF) report, the average spending event per person for the Winter Holidays is closely ranked second, right after Back to College event.
Also, it has predicted that online and other non-store sales are expected to increase by 10 to 12 percent in 2018. On the other hand, the retail industry is only going to increase between 3.8 to 4.4 percent. Even though holiday shoppers are showing no signs of holding back but you can clearly see the shift in mode of shopping.
Online sales is going to be the future of shopping, at least in the coming future. And holiday shoppers are going to ensure that this happens.
With this possibility in mind, are you ready to deal with the ever growing number of holiday shoppers during the holiday season?
Can Your Website Withstand The Pressure?
The foremost question that you should ask yourself is that is your website is ready to bear the sudden surge of online holiday shoppers? Right from your site speed to website maintenance, you have to be absolutely sure that your site will be able take the load effortlessly and simultaneously deliver an optimum holiday shopping experience. You don't want your website to go down while the holiday shoppers are queuing up to order your products. If the situation warrants, talk to your hosting service provider in advance and let them know how much traffic you are anticipating this season.
Back in 2017, Lowes.com suffered the embarrassment of dysfunctional website on the eve of Black Friday. Not to mention the PR crisis they had to face on social media.
Deck Up The Website
It is that time of the year when everyone is feeling excited and is prepared to spend some moolah. Be it a Brick-and-mortar store or an online eCommerce store, there is going to be an onslaught of holiday shoppers who are gearing up for the festivities.
But if your website wears the plane Jane look, it will not only dampen your visitor's spirit but will drive them off from your website. Less visitors means less conversion and less conversion means less business.
Why come across as a shoddy owner when you can easily make quick changes on the website and give it a complete new look.
Add some acorns, twigs, stars, pumpkin pies and what not to your website to give that welcoming effect to your website.
While you focus your efforts on the website, don't forget the mobile experience of users. 30% of mobile shoppers abandon a transaction if the experience is not optimized for mobile. The website should be able to engage its mobile visitors as easily as the desktop visitors.
Generate Excitement
The only motive behind your visitors to visit your website is because they are expecting holiday discounts, offers, free shipping etc. Your website should be screaming offers and freebies and you should leave no stone unturned to make it clear on the website. Also, not just your website but all of your marketing channels should be talking about this.
You can further spike the curiosity of the holiday shoppers by giving them an exclusive sneak peek into the products before the actual sale date. By doing this you will capture their interest even before they have made up their mind to make a purchase. Throw away some clues to your early bird customers and keep them engaged. Let them keep checking your website up till the day of sale. Make sure they know that they have made the right decision by coming early to your website and are now going to benefit from an exclusive deal.
Holiday Specific Content
You not only have to revamp your website's aesthetics but also create holiday specific content for your holiday shoppers. For example, you can give away a Holiday Gifting Ideas playbook or send a beautifully designed printable greeting card.
Apart from the website, you can encourage your social media fans to participate in holiday inspired campaigns. Let your fans generate buzz about your brand on social media in lieu of winning attractive discounts/deals on your website. This is also a very good time for you to revamp your old content, update product descriptions, plan for keywords etc.
Security Check
Have you made sure that your website uses encryption for sending sensitive data. In a more technical jargon, is your website SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) compliant?
For beginners, SSL certificate secures the data transaction happening between the customers and the store front. For example, if someone comes to your store and sees the SSL certification on website URL, they feel assured that they are not dealing with an impostor.
Irrespective of which browser people use, this certificate is clearly displayed against your website url.
Return and Fulfillment Policies
Make sure your website policies are up to date and it doesn't carry any outdated information. Your return policy should be as simple and transparent as possible. The last thing you want is people calling/emailing you because they couldn't understand your return policy.
Also, if you are going to change your fulfillment criteria, make sure you convey it well in advance on the website. Speak to your logistics partners and double check if they have changed their procedures from last year which might effect your policies.
If you have taken care of all the above aspects on your website in advance, your holiday shoppers are going to have a wonderful experience. Apart from this, you will now able to focus more on areas of growing business. There are other minor areas which will require attention like optimizing the font size, compressing the images or updating the products. Since these issues are anyways addressed round the year, we have not discussed them in detail. Apart from these if you think we have missed out on any other key areas, do let us know.