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Ross Video Appoints Kyle Luther U.S. National Sales Manager
Canada's Ross Video has appointed Kyle Luther as the U.S. national sales manager. In his new role, Luther manages the U.S. sales team while developing and executing targeted sales initiatives. He also spearheads strategic relationships and implements customer focused plans.
Luther has worked in the professional broadcast industry for the past 16 years, and has been a top performer for Ross Video's northeast sales region. Prior to joining Ross Video, he was vice president of sales and marketing for a leading systems integration company based in the U.S.
"We are very pleased to have Kyle lead an outstanding group of U.S. regional sales managers," said Darren Budrow, director of sales at Ross Video. "Kyle's industry background, passion for Ross products, and sales professionalism will play a key role in the success of the sales team."
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A Thai Airways plane carrying more than 280 people skidded off the runway while landing at Bangkok's main airport, injuring 14 passengers, according to the airline.
After the accident, workers on a crane blacked out the Thai Airways logo on the tail and body of the aircraft, as part of an effort to protect its image, an official said.
It was the second mishap in less than two weeks for Thailand's national carrier.
The Airbus A330-300 that departed from Guangzhou, China, experienced a "glitch" in its wheelbase while landing at Suvarnabhumi airport late on Sunday, the airline said.
Photos taken after the incident showed deep furrows from skid marks in a grassy area off the runway leading to the stalled aircraft, resting with its nose down and emergency slides inflated.
"After touchdown at Suvarnabhumi airport, the landing gear malfunctioned and caused the aircraft to skid off the runway. Sparks were noticed from the vicinity of the right landing gear near the engine; the matter is under investigation," the president of Thai Airways, Sorajak Kasemsuvan, said in a statement on Monday.
Most of the injuries occurred as passengers evacuated the aircraft, it added.
"The captain took control of the aircraft until it came to a complete stop and passengers were evacuated from the aircraft emergency exits," Kasemsuvan said.
The aircraft was carrying 288 passengers and 14 crew members. The airline said on its Twitter account that the 14 injured passengers were sent to hospitals. Officials said the runway at Suvarnabhumi will be temporarily closed.
A Thai Airways official, Smud Poom-on, said that blurring the logo after an accident was a recommendation from Star Alliance known as the "crisis communication rule", meant to protect the image of both the airline and other members of Star Alliance.
The incident occurred less than two weeks after 20 passengers were injured when a Thai Airways Airbus A380 hit severe turbulence as it was descending to Hong Kong's airport.

subset: commoncrawl


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My house is never dull. Ever. I never know what's going to break next, who is going to be bleeding next, who is going to be crying next, who is going to say they're hungry next, or what animal is going to walk past my house next.
Deer – happening a lot this "winter".
Kangaroos – totally normal.
Strange birds.
A polar bear swims by every so often.
Hmmm…. maybe I should add "or who is going to stick their tongue out at me next" to that list at the beginning of the post…
Stray kittens (being kept company by three stuffed cats).
Obviously I don't really live in a zoo, even though it often feels like it. The deer and cat are very real though. The boys (and Nick) have taken to calling the kitten Gnocchi (after the kitten in Curious George), but when the boys say it, it sounds more like "milky", which is weird. Gnocchi has snuck into our garage and basement (they're connected) several times, and the boys and Lily get quite excited when it appears by our back door.
After I confirm with the neighbor that it's not their cat, I plan to find little Gnocchi a home (I'm quite allergic to cats, so it can't stay here!). After I find him/her a home, I'll work on finding one for the deer…


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Bathing as a whole must be a safe experience for all who need to use the bathroom. These days, there is a lot of talk about creating a wholly sanitary environment. How the bathroom is actually designed and built is going to have an impact on that. But let it be known that the bathroom must also be able to minimise the potential for slipping and falling particularly amongst the elderly.


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It's been a while since I last posted a Linked post and I thought it was about time to ramble about some stuff, receive an award and list all the cool blog posts that I have managed to read. Though, I must admit, I haven't been able to catch up with all the blogs I follow but I should by tonight. Also, still haven't watched any movies which is pretty frightening and obviously makes me sad: when I have time, I don't seem to be in the right mood. Typical.
- In all seriousness, I don't know where to begin – it's been two weeks and while a lot has happened, I feel like nothing has happened.
- Celebrity related things have been exciting.. I missed Jerome Flynn by like two days but I got to see Adam Rothenberg and an Irish actress Charlene McKenna. Fun fact: all three play in Ripper Street which means I need to watch that show because apparently the universe is telling me something.
- There is not much to do around here except work and I do that five times a week which means being on my feet from nine to seven almost every day. I don't mind it though, I'm pretty much used to it by now but I still feel exhausted in the evenings.
- It be great if I could go somewhere after work but my work is my home and that kind of spoils the joy of "going home".
- This part of Ireland I'm living in is gorgeous though! Surrounded by mountains, little rivers, streams, lakes and countless number of sheep; I can't wait for my sunny days off to take a lot more pictures.
- Sad part of the mountains is the fact that there is no cell reception almost at all here. The most bars I get, and that's a miracle, is three! Not that I have people to call, it's just nice to have that possibility.. which I don't.
- Luckily there are many other interns who are in the same situation so I'm not suffering all by myself here.
- I did suffer when the vending machine ate my coin though – and here I was thinking that kind of thing only happened in movies.
- On a plus side, I did get a free full body massage yesterday, so there are some pretty awesome benefits to this place after all.
- I miss watching movies though.
- While not watching movies, I do watch a lot of shows and since I did some well planned preparation, I do have couple of shows I plan to re-watch for the purpose of writing a review. So, if all fails on the movie front, I'll be posting a lot about TV-shows even though the feedback isn't that great.
- That makes me wonder, why wasn't anyone interested in commenting The Fall post.. is it the lack of interest towards TV-shows in general or just that people aren't familiar with it. Or, is it the writing? Be honest now because I need to improve myself and my writing skills during this summer.
- Even though The Graham Norton Show didn't have the best couch this weekend, I still considered it as one of my highlights of the week – especially during the lunch break on Saturday. It just saves my whole day!
- While Game of Thrones has finished off its third season, I've yet to see the last episode. I'm sure I'll dislike it though, I mean, it's pretty impossible to follow to The Rains of Castamere – why didn't they end with episode 9, it feels like the season should've ended with THAT.
- That episode was as sad as the fact that I didn't have coffee for five mornings in a row! And I need my coffee! Trust me, this is not a sarcastic comparison, me without coffee is just .. the saddest thing ever. I blame the stupid coffee here, it tastes like rust water or something. I'm not kidding, I'm just glad I brought my own coffee which I'll only drink on special occasions – my days off.
It's always nice to receive awards and getting a super sweet one is even better! Defiant Success was generous enough to grant me this tasty award this weekend and I couldn't pass the opportunity to thank her – THANK YOU!
Here's the list of rules:
- Thank the Super Sweet Blogger that nominated you.
- Answer 5 Super Sweet questions.
- Include the Super Sweet Blogging Award in your blog post.
- Nominate a baker's dozen (13) of other deserving bloggers.
- Notify your Super Sweet nominees on their blogs.
Answers part:
- Cookies or cake? Cookies.
- Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate AND vanilla, now that's a combo.
- Favorite sweet treat? Ice cream for sure.
- When do you crave sweet things the most? All day every day?
- Sweet nickname? Honey, though I'm not a big fan of honey.
Nomination part:
Now, I'm gonna do this a bit differently because I like to break the rules. The 13 I nominate are the first 13 bloggers who read this post… surprise! You won!
Well, this was awkward… but now on to the best part of this post!
We Need To Talk About Kevin has found another fan, Terry Malloy's Pigeon Coop loved it.
Remember last week's Game of Thrones episode The Rains of Castamere? Refresh your thoughts by reading Cinematic Corner's review.
Ryan Gosling in Only God Forgives impressed Love & Squalor, so did Star Trek Into Darkness.
I've been itching to see This Is the End so badly, especially after Lights Camera Action and I Love That Film reviewed it.
The Drama Llama shares her love for Ellen DeGeneres.
Despite my hopes, the feelings towards The Internship seem to be a mixture of everything: Fogs' Movie Reviews and Rorschach Reviews kind of liked it, The Matinee thought it was average, Dan The Man pretty much hated it.
I had no idea what The Purge was about and now after reading about it on And So it Beings…, French Toast Sunday and Reviews from a Bed, I can't stop thinking about it!
It's fun to see reviews of movies that are not current, like The Station Agent (2003) reviewed by Myfilmviews and Marie Antoinette (2006) by Dan the Man.
Despite Movie Waffler not liking Spike Island, I think I'll still give it a go.
Last but not least, congratulations to Rorschach Reviews for his first birthday!
There was pretty much no chance of me not singing Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke feat. T.I. and Pharell after their performance on The Graham Norton Show. It's been on mind ever since and I'm not even sorry for blasting it in the staff accommodation area late at night. Obviously it's not the newest song out there but I'm always behind when it comes to music. (That sounded a bit weird… never mind.)
I think the highlight portion as pretty much been all about the TV-shows because I've only been in a mood for those these past few weeks. Game of Thrones The Red Wedding was.. just.. I have no words. Having Teen Wolf back is another good thing: it's basically my guilty pleasure. Especially because I can tell that it's occasionally stupid and the CGI is horrible, and I still don't care! A show that isn't stupid and is made well is The Fall, I love that show! Can't wait for the season finale. Reality TV fix for this summer is definitely So You Think You Can Dance and its 10th season – it's my favorite reality show next to Project Runway (the only reality shows I watch for their whole season).0


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At a leadership development workshop, a participant had the realisation that when we see something 'As it is' (as if recorded by a machine), it is not simply a matter of us filtering out what we do not want to see, we also create what we want to see. Through the distorted filter of our fears and fantasies, we change and augment what is available thus creating our very own experience.
This process may not matter too much except that we then act upon what we have created in our head. We treat it as if it were real which leads to the creation of 'the next moment' and another bunch of assumptions (unique to us) about what happened.


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Chard Gonzalez Executive Artistic Director
Chard is a dance artist, educator and advocate. He received his BFA in Dance Performance at SUNY Purchase and his MA in Dance Studies at Laban Centre London. After a two-decade career as a professional dancer, he founded Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre in New Orleans where he was inspired by the spontaneity and authenticity of the artist community. Since its founding in 2009, CGDT has performed throughout Louisiana and in Houston, San Francisco and New York City. Upon bringing the company to Los Angeles, the company continues to create provocative experiences that enrich, enliven, and entertain audiences of all ages.
Harmony Negrin Dancer and Musician (2015-2016)
Harmony studied dance at Saint Mary's College where she performed with the College Dance Company. Among her many talents, Harmony is a professional harpist, office administrator and financial advisor. She currently works at a successful financial advising company and freelances as a dancer.
Kristina Cobarrubia Dancer (2015)
Kristina is the Director of Flamenco Arana. She comes from a Latin background, including a great-grandfather who came from Spain (hence the Arana name). She studied ballet and jazz, but once she found flamenco, she knew it was what she had been looking for all along, and she's been devoted to it ever since, almost 30 years. Kristina also has a B.A., Visual Arts (Media) from UCSD (Magna Cum Laude), and an essay of hers, "Madre de Baile," was published in Mamaphonic: Balancing Motherhood and Other Creative Acts, 2004.
Ana da Costa Dancer (2015)
Ana da Costa was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and received her ballet training from Centro de Danca Rio under the supervision of Angelica Fiorani. At the age of sixteen she started her professional career by joining The Young Ballet of France in Paris, France, touring several cities in Europe and Latin America. Two years later she joined Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro as a corps member, and became a first soloist. Ms. da Costa's repertoire includes leading roles in Giselle, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Paquita, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere and Coppelia.
Kyndall Footé Dancer (2015)
Kyndall trained at the California Ballet School from ages 3 to 16. She received Student of the year in 2007-2008. She joined California Ballet Company as an Apprentice in 2009 and became a Corps de Ballet member in 2011. One of the featured roles that she has had the opportunity of dancing was Lead Russian in the Nutcracker. Her favorite ballets from the California Ballet Repertoire are Dracula, Swan Lake, Giselle, Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella.
Elizabeth Kenyon Dancer (2015)
Elizabeth trained at the California Ballet School and Pacific Northwest Ballet School Summer Intensives. She has been a member of California Ballet Company since 2011 where her featured roles were "Dew Drop" in The Nutcracker and "The Bride" in Dracula. Elizabeth received an International Baccalaureate diploma from High School. She is attending Point Loma Nazarene University and currently studying abroad in Paris.
Lindsay Martin Dancer (2015)
Lindsay is a dancer and aerialist. She worked with Royal Caribbean Cruises where she performed in large-scale Broadway-style productions and other genres including: illusion shows, dinner theatre, Argentinean gaucho shows and aerial performances with the use of silks and halo harnesses. Linday is currently a business software training manager and a freelance performer.
Lily Morache Dancer (2015)
Lily trained at California Ballet School and danced in many performances as a Junior Company member including: Leaps & Bounds, All School Concert, ArtWalk Showcase, The Nutcracker, Dracula, Giselle, San Diego Fringe Festival and more. Lily is a student at Patrick Henry High School where she performs with the PHHS Dance Team.
Daneeta Loretta Jackson Filmmaker (2008-2011)
Daneeta and her husband Patrick began collaborating with Chard upon their simultaneous arrival in New Orleans in 2008. They worked on several projects using the software program Isadora to create interactive multi-media performances. Daneeta and Patrick co-founded Elektrik Zoo, a creative partnership that produces film, video, photography and writing.
Kesha McKey Dancer/Singer (2008 and 2014)
Kesha McKey is a choreographer, educator and professional performing artist in New Orleans. Kesha is a graduate of NOCCA, has received her Bachelor of Science from Xavier University of Louisiana and her Master of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is the founding Artistic Director and Choreographer of KM Dance Project. She is a featured performing artist and rehearsal director for local dance companies such as Lula Elzy Dance Theatre, Kumbuka African Drum and Dance Collective, Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre, Prophecy Dance Company, Exhibit Dance Collective, and with Ashé Cultural Arts Center.
Tara Brewer Dancer (2008)
Tara studied dance at the University of Louisiana Lafayette and the University of Southern Mississippi. She has performed with and choreographed for various theatre production companies throughout New Orleans including The National World War II Museum. Tara was also an original cast member and dance captain of "Jazz Jazz Jazz" and "Dancing in the Streets," the signature shows at Jazzland Theme Park. Other credits include the New Orleans Saintsations and featured singer in season one of HBO's Treme. Tara is the owner/director of The Dance Project in Slidell, Louisiana.
William Bryant Dancer (2008)
William Bryant studied musical theatre at Western Kentucky University. He performed many theatre throughout the Greater New Orleans area including: Southern Rep Theatre, Rivertown Theatres, Le Chat Noir, Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University and the NOLA Project. William earned a Master of Science in Health Care Administration and management at University of New Orleans. He is currently a training analyst with Ochsner Health System.
Jason Kirkpatrick Dancer (2008)
Jason studied film, theatre and communications at University of New Orleans. As a professional actor he has performed in many theatres throughout New Orleans. His appearances on television include Treme (2010), Bonnie and Clyde (2013), True Detective (2014) and NCIS: New Orleans (2015). And has made several appearances on the big screen including: The Jack of Spades (2010), The Campaign (2012), 2 Guns (2013), 99 Homes (2014) and Trumbo (2015). Jason has directed many successful shows such as Much Ado About Nothing, The Musical Adventures of Tom Sawyer, West Side Story, Macbeth, Urinetown: The Musical, A Streetcar Named Desire and many others.
Danielle Schieb Dancer (2008)
Danielle Harrell Scheib received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University. Her versatility as a dancer/singer has led her to perform in shows such as Oklahoma, Guys and Dolls, Carousel, La Cage Aux Folles, and Broadway's 42nd Street in Stuttgart, Germany. Television credits include MTV's Made, Rock and Jock, and Germany's most popular TV show "Wetten Das". Danielle has performed in Japan at Tokyo DisneySea's Christmas in New York and Tokyo Disneyland's Once Upon a Mouse, where she also appeared as Cinderella and Little Bo Peep. She has choreographed and performed in industrials for companies such as Stuart Enterprises and Little Tykes, and has taught at schools in Germany and across the U.S., including NYC'S Broadway Dance Center.
Christopher Forsyth Dancer/Assistant Choreographer (2009-2014)
Christopher Forsyth, native of Houma, LA, has restarted his performance career since becoming an educator. After receiving his BFA in Dance Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, Christopher traveled to New York City in 2002 and co-founded Pyrrhic Awakening, an acting improvisation troupe which also involved dance performances. After about four years of New York life, he traveled back to Louisiana to pursue his career in education. Christopher is currently a math teacher at South Terrebonne High in Bourg, LA and has taught creative movement classes at Stay and See Learning and Development Center in Houma, LA.
Reese Johanson Dancer (2009-2014)
Reese Johanson is a producer, visual and performing artist, writer, fundraiser for the arts, about town socialite and party girl and has been for over 20 years. She graduated from the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York where she trained in acting, dance and theater production. In New York, she performed Off-Off Broadway in numerous plays, theatrical performances, (dance, puppetry and performance art). She was a founding member and Assistant Artistic Director for the Oronoco Theater Company creating, producing and performing original works of theater. She wrote reams of poetry and performed them at public readings around the city. She starred in several low budget films, hosted a cable TV comedy show and was featured in comedy acts on public cable television stations.
Jarina Carvalho Dancer (2009-2011)
Jarina completed her training in classical ballet on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City. She joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem's Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble in 1998 and was promoted to the company of Dance Theatre of Harlem in 2000. While at DTH, Ms. Carvalho performed in The Four Temperaments, Apollo, Serenade, Concerto Barocco, Holberg Suite, South African Suite, "Meditation" from Thais, and Swan Lake. She later performed with New Orleans Ballet Theatre, Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble, and Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre. In 2009, she received a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences magna cum laude from University of New Orleans.
Peryn St Raymond Dancer (2010-2014)
Peryn began her dance training at the age of five under the instruction of Jacqueline Fry at New Orleans Dance Academy. During her years at NOCCA she attended several summer dance programs, including Hartford Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and The United States Scholar Athlete Games. After graduating from NOCCA, Peryn began pursuing a career in business. She graduated from the University of New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and started for an accounting firm. With her business career moving forward, Peryn eventually found new energy and inspiration that has brought her back to the stage.
Mary Carol Chenet Dancer (2010-2013)
MC began dancing with Ida Winter Clarke in Lake Charles, LA and was a member of Ballet Joyeux. While earning her Bachelors Degree in English from California State University of Long Beach, MC fell in love with modern dance and studied the techniques of Limon, Cunningham and Graham. She trained with Rebecca Wright of New York City Ballet and was a member of the Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre. She later studied with the Fort Worth City Ballet under the direction of Paul Mejia, where she was offered an apprenticeship. Since moving to New Orleans, she has performed with New Orleans Dance Collective, Barbara Hailey, Nicole Colbert, Monique Moss, Anne Burr Dance Theatre, Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre and Eddy Villalta's D'Project.
Jennifer Plauche Dancer (2010-2011)
Jennifer began her training in Metairie, LA where she studied various styles of dance. After high school, she continued her dance training at The University of Southern Mississippi where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and choreography. She was a four-year performer with the Repertory Dance Company and also choreographed two pieces of her own. In addition to training with the Southern Miss faculty, Jennifer has had the privilege to attend classes and intensives with those such as Misnomer Dance Theatre, STREB, and Nikolais Louis Dance Company. She is currently teaching in studios throughout the New Orleans area.
Maritza Mercado-Narcisse Dancer (2010)
Maritza has had the privilege of performing her work on the Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out stage, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and Piccolo Spoleto. She is a Louisiana Division of the Arts Fellow and has studied most recently with Susan Marshall, Doug Varone, Beppie Blankert & Milton Myers. She has been a New Orleans native since 1988 and has worked with a variety or NOLA based dance and theater artists including ArtSpot Productions, Moving Humans and Mondo Bizarro. She is "Mama" to Tyger, and Mateo; wife to J Hammons. Maritza directs her company, the Narcisse|Movement Project and teaches masterclasses at Dancing Grounds.
Shane Courville Musician/Composer (2010-2012)
Shane Courville was born and raised in South Louisiana. He began studying music in the 6th grade at Mire Elementary School. His trumpet became a passion which led him to study music at LSU then Loyola University New Orleans. Shane performed with many orchestras and bands as well as dabbled in composition. Inspired by the rich mystical tradition of Hindu and Buddhist chanting, Shane has developed a style of composition that brings about a contemplative aspect. Shane has taught music to elementary through high school students and has written many works for Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre in New Orleans, University of Florida, and other ensembles around the South and Chicago.
Eric Thielman Dancer (2011 and 2014)
Eric trained at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Virginia School of the Arts and University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Some teachers that have left an imprint on Eric include Maurice Curry, Lorraine Graves, Roni Koresh, Joe Lanteri, Brice Mousset, Milton Myers and Buddy Thompson. Eric performed with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Gateway Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, the Manhattan Movement Arts Center and toured with Susan Stroman's Tony Award winning Contact throughout the United States and Canada. Eric has also worked with the Joffrey Ballet School inManhattan, PBS, Sony Pictures Entertainment and the International Ballet Competition hosted in New York City.
Madison Alford Dancer (2012-2014)
Madison Alford, a cajun native of Lafayette was trained in classical ballet as a child. As a graduate of NOCCA's Dance Department, she first discovered her love for modern and improvisational dance in Chard's classes. After graduating, she spent 14 months doing volunteer work with French organization Heart's Home in Lviv, Ukraine. There, she danced with a new and forming company under the direction of Olha Petryk with a concentration in Trisha Brown technique and contact improvisation. Now, back in the USA, she is studying Anthropology at University of New Orleans, as well as continuing her work in dance and theatre improvisation.
Amanda Thomas Performer (2009)
Jana Mahoney Performer (2009)
Lauren Elliot Performer (2009)
Katherine Keator Performer (2009-2010)
Dr. Kate Kokontis Dramaturg (2012)
Cory Komasa Performer (2012)
Sunshine Breland Performer (2012)
Sarah David Visual Artist (2012)
Audra Rouse Model (2012)
Jarrell Hamilton Dancer (2012)
Meliah Henry Dancer (2012)
Kabrena Robinson Dancer (2012)
William Byram Dancer (2012)
Nikki Hooker Dancer (2012)
Casey Johnson Dancer (2012)
Katie Labadie Dancer (2012 and 2014)
Lyndsey Nuebel Dancer (2012)
Jessica Orlando Dancer (2012)
Brenna Serigne Dancer (2012)
Stephanie Sommers Dancer (2012)
Andrea Torres Dancer (2012)
Jessica Smith Dancer (2012)
Caroline Korndorffer Dancer (2012)
Destiny White Dancer (2012-2013)
Allison Hellmers Dancer (2013)
Madyson Barbain Dancer (2013)
Airielle Brooks Dancer (2013)
Demi Brown Dancer (2013)
Maci Burt Dancer (2013)
Alexa Cunningham Dancer (2013)
Aubrey Daboval Dancer (2013)
Lily Donegan Dancer (2013)
Caleb Dowden Dancer (2013)
Colette Duplantier Dancer (2013)
Imani Gaudin-County Dancer (2013)
Brooke Gueho Dancer (2013)
Sarah Meunier Dancer (2013)
Michaela Morris Dancer (2013)
Regan Phelps Dancer (2013)
Joy Robert Dancer (2013)
Jourdan Waddell Dancer (2013)
Morgan Ballard Dancer (2014)
Gretchen Erickson Dancer (2014)
Ariel Troxclair Dancer (2014)
Aurora Troxclair Dancer (2014)


text: CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC EXCHANGE: Shalom College will host students from Sakado High School in Saitama at the end of July (it will be the same students from Sakado whose company many of us enjoyed last year during the Japan Tour 2017). The students will be in Bundaberg for a period of one week during early Term 3. Students will be arriving on approximately July 23 and leave on August 4. Shalom College is seeking host families for the students for this period. You do not need to be a family of a student of Japanese to host. If you are interested in hosting one of the Japanese students, please email Mrs Wilson and collect a form ASAP. Forms must be returned by Wednesday May 16. An information evening will be held prior to their arrival. However, if you have any questions in regards to hosting, please don't hesitate to contact - email@example.com


text:
Anybody who thinks Washington's I-502 pot business is fun and games better just mellow out. CHS has obtained records from the state that document the first week of sales at Uncle Ike's, the first I-502 retailer to operate in Central Seattle within wafting distance of Capitol Hill. The totals are impressive.
According to the state liquor board, the 23rd and Union pot shop started things off with a bang, netting nearly $17,000 in marijuana sales on its September 30th launch day. The rest of the week didn't fade generating an average take of $13,736 per day.
Penciling that out over an entire year, Ike's could weigh in somewhere north of $5 million in sales over a full 365-day period.
The tax man is smiling, too. With a quarter of sales headed to Olympia, Ike's is generating $3,500 in excise tax per day.
Also well pleased are the I-502 growers and processors — based on state totals, those businesses are claiming around 49% of Washington's retail revenue to secure their product.
By the back of the envelope, that all adds up to something around a $2 million to $3 million business suddenly bursting into the real world at 23rd and Union. Real estate owner and entrepreneur Ian Eisenberg's other neighboring business, the Sea Suds car wash, has nothing on that, we'd wager. Also not included in the totals is revenue from the adjacent Ike's gear and pipe shop.
Both Uncle Ike's and Sea Suds are CHS advertisers.
The reporting period includes October 6th, the day neighboring Mount Calvary Christian Center held a huge rally calling for the marijuana store to be shut down.
One caveat: Eisenberg says the state's publicly reported totals vary slightly from the numbers Ike's is tracking but they're "very close." We'll take it!
While the totals for Ike's seem pretty incredible, they're not far off what the old state liquor stores in the area reportedly generated. Back in the period when the store locations were being auctioned off, CHS reported that the Broadway state liquor store generated some $2.9 million in gross sales. The auction winner for the 12th and Pine location shared a similar estimate in 2013.
UPDATE: Eisenberg points out that the IRS is also due to take a large — and potentially punitive — cut:
Section 280E has a huge impact on a provider's bottom line. Take, for example, a marijuana business with deductible expenses of $100,000. If the IRS does not allow the outlet to deduct these expenses, that outlet would see a rise in its tax bill of at least $22,000.
UPDATE x2: We've been asked where Ike's ranks among I-502 stores. It's early but, here's a look at the cleanest set of revenue totals we have so far — from October 1st through October 6th, Ike's ranks #4:


text:
Hello, this is the Computer Aided Dispatch system at
the public safety provider for DEMO ACCT.
The following is a patrol / activity report for your property.
Please click on the following link to view this document: Patrol Report
The above report will remain on our servers for future reference.
We recommend that if you believe this report to be of importance,
that you print a copy for your records, if not, then we ask you to
please consider our forests and environment before printing.
Every single day is Earth Day!
Innovating for a Safer Community
If you have any questions regarding the above information, report, or how we can better serve you,
please feel free to contact us at 951-878-8069 or you can email us at email@example.com
Thank you
Computer Aided Dispatch


text:
We are working to make our hotel, which was built in approximately the 1950s, more accessible to guests with disabilities. We strive to provide all of our guests the same opportunities to stay and enjoy their time at our hotel.
We currently offer the following amenities for guests with disabilities:
- Please note our reception is located at street level, with one step to enter. If you need assistance, please contact us at (805) 966-1126. There is also a low mounted doorbell on the wall outside of reception to obtain assistance.
- Please note the majority of our guest rooms are at street level. A few of the street level rooms have one step to enter. A couple of the guest rooms are at a second level with no elevator access. For more information about each room type, see the description under the "Rooms" tab.
- A bathtub seat is available upon request.
- Portable grab bars available upon request.
- All showers have handheld shower heads.
- For more information about the tub/shower facility in each room type, see the description under the "Rooms" tab.
- Service animals are allowed.
- Please note that parking is at street level. There is one accessible parking space, which is van-accessible.
For more information on the accessible features of the hotel, please contact us at (805) 966-1126 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
AICCSA 2016 : 13th ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications
Conference Series : ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications
|Link: http://www.aiccsa.net/AICCSA2016/
Call For Papers
13th ACS/IEEE International Conference
on Computer Systems and Applications (AICCSA 2016)
Nov 29th to Dec 2nd, 2016 - Royal Atlas and Spa, Agadir, Morocco
Conference URL: http://www.aiccsa.net/AICCSA2016/
Call for Papers.
The ACS/IEEE International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications (AICCSA) is the premier conference covering all contemporary areas in computer systems and applications and hence it is an international forum for leading researchers and practitioners in this important and rapidly changing disciplines. AICCSA 2016, to be held in the lovely and highly vibrant city of Agadir in Morocco.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to AICCSA'16, for different calls; submitted contributions could include theoretical, technical, experimental, conceptual, descriptive in nature or a survey. All submissions will be peer-reviewed on the basis of relevance, originality, importance and clarity. Topics of interest include but not limited to ones in the conference Tracks (click on each track for more details):
Track 1: IR, Big Data, Business Intelligence, & Knowledge Management
Track 1: IR, Big Data, Business Intelligence, & Knowledge Management
Track 2: Cloud, Parallel, Distributed and High Performance Computing
Track 3: Multimedia, Computer Vision and Image Processing
Track 4: Advances in Software Engineering
Track 5: Natural Language Processing and Applications
Track 6: Advances in AI, Agent Systems and Ambient Intelligence
Track 7: Advances in Networking and Sensor Networks
Track 8: Systems and Software Security
Track 9: Social and Mobile Computing
Track 10: Advances in Web Technologies, Semantics and Future Internet
Track 11: Digital Living including E-Learning, E-Government and E-Health
Paper Submission Due Date: June 15, 2016 (firm deadline)
Notification to authors: July 22, 2016
Camera-ready papers due: August 15, 2016
Author registration due: TBC
Early registration due: TBC
PhD Forum:
Paper submission deadline: June 16, 2016
Notifications: July 13, 2016
Camera ready deadline: July 28, 2016
Submission System and Conference Proceedings:
All submissions for regular papers, PhD Forum and Posters & Demo need to be submitted electronically via the conference official submission system. Authors need to select the right submission category for PhD Forum and Posters & Demo, or the appropriate Track for regular paper submission
All selected contributions will be included in the conference proceedings, and eligible papers will be published by the IEEE Computer Society and be submitted to IEEE Xplore for inclusion.
AICCSA 2016 Committees:
Steering Committee
Salim Hariri, University of Arizona, USA (Chair)
Salima Hassas, University of Lyon, France
Omar El Beqqali, USMBA-Fes, Morocc
Yaser Jaraweh, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
Nashaat Mansour, Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Honorary Co-Chairs
Omar HALLI, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
Ihya AIT ICHOU, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
General Co-Chairs
Chirine Ghedira Guegan, Lyon University, France;
Karim Afdel, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
Program Committee Co-Chairs
Elhadj Benkhelifa, Staffordshire University, UK.
Abdelhakim Senhaji Hafid, University of Montreal, Canada
Yaser Jararweh, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
Workshop and Tutorial Chairs
Mahmoud Al-Ayoub, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan
Ali Jaoua, University of Qatar, Qatar.
Publication Chairs
Youssif Al Nashif, Florida Polytechnic University, USA.
Cihan Tunc, University of Arizona, USA.
Publicity Chairs
Al-Sakib Khan Pathan, Islamic University in Madinah, KSA.
Sultan Aljahdali, Taif University - Saudi Arabia
Koutti Lahcen, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
Poster and demo Chairs
Hedi Karray, Ecole Nationale d'Ingénieurs de Tarbes, France
Habib Nfaoui, USMBA-Fes, Morocco
Ali yahyaouy, USMBA-Fes, Morocco
Industrial Ttrack Chairs
Abdellah Boulouz, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
Omar El Beqqali, USMBA-Fes, Morocco
Hassan Douzi, University Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco
PhD Symposium Chairs
Salima Hassas, Université claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
Alaa Sheta, Electronics Research Institute, Egypt
Web Chair
Nabil Makarem, Lebanese American University, Lebanon
Registration Chair
Cihan Tunc, University of Arizona, USA
Local Organising Committee
Boulouz Abdellah
Koutti Lahcen
Idbraim Soufiane
Ben Salah Mohamed
Massaq Abdellah
El Ansari Mohamed
Abouzahra Anas
Elboushaki Abdessamad
Hanane Rachida
Lahmyed Redouane


text: Susan Kerns is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Chicago Feminist Film Festival and an Assistant Professor of Cinema Art and Science at Columbia College Chicago. She is also a filmmaker and author. She is producing the documentary Last of the Lawsonomists, wrote Little Red, and has produced or directed numerous award-winning shorts. Her published writing can be found in Nip/Tuck: Television that Gets Under Your Skin, Comunicazioni Sociali, and the forthcoming Handbook of Contemporary Feminism. She holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.


text:
New Hampshire lawmakers easily defeated a bill on Wednesday that would have been the first step toward reversing the state's law that allows same-sex couples to marry.
The attempt to repeal a law that made gay marriages legal in the state, failed by a vote of 116-211 in the Republican-controlled legislature, drawing applause from many lawmakers in the historic statehouse in Concord.
Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, had promised to veto the bill if it reached his desk.
State lawmakers approved civil unions in 2007 and same-sex marriages in 2009, when both houses in the state legislature were controlled by Democrats.
Close to 2,000 gay and lesbian couples have been married in New Hampshire since the current law went into effect January 1, 2010. The new law would have replaced same-sex marriages with civil unions starting in 2013, but marriages that took place before the repeal would have remained valid.
That provision drew a rebuke from Jennifer Coffey, a Republican lawmaker who opposed the repeal.
"This body has set in motion a ping-pong ball on people's lives," Coffey said during the two-hour floor debate.
The bill's main sponsor was state Rep. David Bates, a Republican from Windham, who on Wednesday said that marriage equality would ruin society.
A poll taken in late January by the University of New Hampshire's survey center showed 59 percent of voters were against repealing gay marriage in New Hampshire, whose state motto is "live free or die."
Some 100 Republicans were among the legislators to vote against the bill.
"After the last election where Republicans gained control of both the House and the Senate, some thought that marriage equality was doomed. But many, many Republicans courageously stood up against repeal," said Lee Swislow, executive director of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), a legal rights organization based in Boston.
Ahead of the vote, more than 126,000 people signed an internet petition on the website Change.org, urging state lawmakers to leave the current law in place.
The campaign was started by Craig Stowell, a former Marine and Iraq War veteran from Claremont, New Hampshire, who is co-chair of Standing Up for New Hampshire Families.
"Today is a banner day for the freedom to marry," said Craig Stowell, whose brother, Calvin, is gay.
Among the backers of Bates' legislation was the Washington-based group National Organization for Marriage, which vowed after the vote to "hold legislators accountable."
"This is a sad day for New Hampshire families," Brian Brown, president of NOM, said in a statement.
With the defeat of the repeal attempt, New Hampshire remains one of six U.S. states plus the District of Columbia where same-sex marriage is legal. The others are Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont. Washington state and Maryland have approved gay marriage but the laws have not yet gone into effect.
New Jersey's legislature approved same sex marriage but Republican Governor Chris Christie vetoed it. California continues to hash out the constitutionality of same-sex marriage in the courts.


text: Sexual abuse is a widespread scourge. In many countries young and old people have been the victim of a person who did not want to keep within boundaries. For all these victims a scar, a wound will be present forever in their life. The South African writer Fanie Viljoen has written two books on this … Continue reading Inform children about sexual abuse with these two illustrated titles


text:
RushFit Workout Review
The Trick To Getting Ripped Like Georges St-Pierre
Who Is It For?It's for people who want to get a taste of what athlete-level conditioning is all about. The side effects will be cutting down, losing love handles and tightening up your body.
"No previous experience is necessary," says Owings. "It can help, but not always. If you come from a Functional Training background you will find a lot of the exercises familiar. If you come from a workout system that uses cardio machines and weights, you will be in for a surprise as to how little it takes to kick your own ass."
I wouldn't say that this is a beginner program. In other words, if you've never done any type of intense exercise in your life and you're 100 pounds overweight, you should take it easy to start. That's why they have a beginner mode in RUSHFIT.
However, outside of cases like that, this is a great workout for people who have been going to the gym and but have found themselves sleepwalking through their workouts. Yes, this is challenging — but it's a good type of challenging. You'll feel like a champ after you're done.
How Does It Compare To Other Products?In many ways, RUSHFIT is quite comparable to P90x: There's cardio, there's muscle building and there's lots to get you into shape, but neither program is really about bulking up. They are both about endurance and cutting. Where they differ a bit is the presentation. P90x is cordial, with a welcoming Tony Horton leading the exercises; Erik Owings and Georges St-Pierre skip the formalities and get straight to the point. There's also quite a few comparisons between RUSHFIT and Insanity. The difference there is that Insanity is more cardio-focused, while RUSHFIT is more about functional training, flexibility, cardio and some strength training.
There's definitely a coolness factor that you're working out with UFC champion Georges St-Pierre and his personal strength and conditioning coach. While Owings guides the workouts, GSP isn't just standing around and going through the motions; he's actually pushing himself pretty hard. Fight fans will get a kick of going through the DVDs with him. As for the other major difference, this program is only eight weeks. That's a month shorter than most of the programs, which are typically 90 days. However, Owings cautions that none of these workouts are just a hit-it-and-quit-it. These have to be permanent commitments.
"I would say that it is a lifetime program, that will start with eight weeks and it should adapt and evolve along with your fitness," says Owings. "We could have made it 28 days, which is usually how long it takes for people to integrate a new habit. We could have also made it much longer. In the end, eight weeks seems to be how long it takes for somebody to really make solid changes in not only their behavior, but also their looks."


text: Mistresses (television) A one-hour series on ABC, premiering on June 3, 2013 and ending Sep. 6, 2016. Based on a hit UK television series of the same name, it covers the scandalous lives of a sexy and sassy group of four girlfriends, each on her own path to self-discovery. They find support and guidance with each other as they brave their turbulent journeys and life's storms of excitement, secrecy, and betrayal, all the while bound by the complex relationships they've created. Stars Alyssa Milano (Savannah "Savi" Davis), Yunjin Kim (Karen Kim), Rochelle Aytes (April Malloy), Jes Macallan (Josslyn Carver), Brett Tucker (Harry Davis), Jason George (Dominic Taylor), Erik Stocklin (Sam Grey). From ABC Studios.


text:
Food and Drink
The Perfect Cup
Terra Kaffe's espresso machine elevates your morning ritual with the press of a...
Food and Drink
How to Make the Perfect Cup of Italian Coffee
Unpacking the history, allure, and ways to use the humble Moka pot.
I was biking uphill when the black dog gave chase. Was this one of the Corsican mutts I'd read about, afflicted with the Evil Eye and, perhaps, trying to give it to me? I reached for my water bottle, ready to give the beast a good squirt—or failing that, hurl the bottle into his jaws—but discovered he was just preternaturally friendly. Unshakable as a shadow, he loped along tirelessly under the hot Mediterranean sun, reappearing even after downhill sprints. Several kilometers later he vanished like one of Corsica's fabled bandits before I could invite him to lunch: a picnic at Plage de Palombaggia, a lovely crescent of sand on the island's southeast coast, where bread and charcuterie, cheese, fruit, soft drinks, and a frisky Corsican vin blanc were arrayed in the shade of a seaside grove. After eating, my fellow cyclists and I lazed on the beach, chatting and dozing, before getting back in the saddle again.
Such is the agreeable rhythm of Butterfield & Robinson's seven-day biking tour of Corsica and Sardinia (five days on the former, two on the latter), which I took in June. I'd approached the trip—rated as "moderate to challenging"—with trepidation, having managed to get in just one training ride after dusting the cobwebs off my bike. On the approach to Ajaccio, Corsica's capital (and Napoleon Bonaparte's birthplace), I'd goggled at the island's mountainous spine, which rises to nearly 9,000 feet. It was a relief to think we'd be cycling the less lofty, if still rugged, southern end of the island and getting around by bus, train, and boat, with plenty of opportunity for walking and swimming.
Corsica has been called the last overlooked Mediterranean destination. Except for July and August, the island is largely free of tourist hordes and traffic jams. This is due in part to its geography, in part to its attitude. Despite more than two centuries of French rule, the island remains less French than Corsican, as evidenced by the stubborn local separatists. Corsicans are hospitable yet proud and tough; they have survived a history rife with invaders, including Romans, Greeks, Saracen pirates, Vandals, and Spaniards. The Genoese, who ruled the island for four centuries, had a saying: "The Corsicans deserve the gallows, and they fear not to meet it." The natives considered it a compliment.
Founded in 1966, Toronto-based Butterfield & Robinson (B&R), began by offering student bike tours of Europe. In the 1980s it pioneered luxury biking and walking tours, catching the first wave of baby boomers who were both affluent and aerobically inclined. (Perhaps it took a Canadian company to synthesize Puritan abnegation and Gallic savoir-vivre.) Since then it has branched out to more exotic destinations, such as Morocco, India, and Vietnam. But the company's mainstay remains tours in France and Italy—in this case, a bit of each.
Our group of 14 Americans and Canadians (average age: late forties) could be described as fit but not fanatical about it. Successful in diverse fields—business, medicine, law—they understood the stress-vanquishing value of B&R's slogan, "Slow down to see the world." Half had already experienced the company's signature blend of exertion and indulgence, among them a woman who had survived cancer and a man coping with intermittent heart arrhythmia.
Like their clients, B&R guides tend to be well-traveled overachievers, with the added distinction of being able to bike the day's 18 to 36 miles two or three times over. Ours—Jason, an affable Yale doctoral student in Italian literature and medieval studies; and Saakje, a lively Canadian with a bachelor degree in animal biology—were no exception.
On our first day, Jason and Saakje began our orientation aboard the chartered bus that took us from the coast into the hills, past tumbling streams and austere stone houses clinging to craggy slopes. In Casalabriva, we met our grip-shift mounts: a choice of traditional, curved-handlebar touring bikes and mountain-bike-style hybrids, both made by Cannondale to B&R's specs. We had lunch on an arbor-shaded terrace, then kicked off the tour with a blissfully long, downhill run past hills cloaked in the lush vegetation known as maquis—a potpourri of fragrant foliages (rosemary, thyme, lavender, and sage among them)—the time-honored refuge of Corsican bandits and resistance fighters.
Our first stop was the mysterious megaliths of Filitosa, the island's most important prehistoric site, which was discovered in the mid-'40s. There we learned that Corsica has been inhabited since at least 6000 b.c. and that ancient Corsicans created some of Western Europe's first portraits in stone—granite menhirs sculpted with elementary human features. Most were sculpted before 1500 b.c., when the Corsicans were conquered by invading Torréens (named for the rude stone towers they erected). Accompanied by a Corsican guide, we walked among gnarled olive trees, menhirs, and Torréen ruins and peered at artifacts in the site's small museum. The day ended with a steep climb to the Grand Hôtel Miramar in Propriano.
Though it boasts fine views of Propriano's blue bay, the Miramar was the least impressive of the tour's three hotels. There was some grumbling among guests about noise from the road below; my only peeve was the shower's tendency to oscillate between scalding hot and icy cold. However, the pool terrace was a marvelous place for sunset cocktails, followed by a satisfying dinner featuring such dishes as cured salmon with a fig-and-dill coulis and veal with a duxelle of mushrooms, accompanied by copious amounts of Corsican wine.
The next morning set the pattern for the rest of the trip. Choosing from an ample buffet, we breakfasted in the hotel's palm-shaded garden while the guides passed out the day's itinerary—a breakdown of route segments, distances, and concise but thorough directions that fit into the plastic pouches atop our handlebar bags (as backup, we were given detailed maps highlighting the routes). "If you get lost or want to go off the route, don't worry—we will find you," said Jason. Expert route-sweepers, the guides would alternate between biking and driving the support van, a rolling dispensary of water, snacks, and first aid for bikes and riders. Anyone who wanted more road could have it; those in need of a break could hitch a ride with the van or relax at the pool and beach, which all of our hotels had.
The long slog from Propriano up to Sartène, which Jason had described as "a healthy climb," was challenging. (As another rider later demanded, "What would he consider an unhealthy climb? Everest on stilts?") We passed broad fields, a rock-strewn river, and the flailed, purplish-red trunks of harvested cork trees. As we pedaled (and pedaled) up the winding road, the climb became a kind of meditation—"like the spinning class at my gym, with scenery," one woman said. But at Sartène, which French writer Prosper Mérimée called "the most Corsican of all Corsican towns," there was time to roam narrow medieval streets and have a cold drink at a café terrace on the picture-perfect square.
That afternoon we rode twisting backroads past massive boulders and the Corsican equivalent of the coastal chaparral I know from the southern California hills near my home. Bees and butterflies flitted among the aromatic brush, while prickly pear and spiky agave cast shadows in the intense sunlight. Even a headwind would have been welcome in the heat, but the eucalyptus trees barely stirred. Relief finally came with a downhill coast to a peaceful beach, where we put on swimsuits and plunged into the turquoise sea. (The Mediterranean is at its most limpid around Corsica and Sardinia.)
The next morning, to save our legs for the choicest route, we received a motorized assist from a horn-happy bus driver who hurled Corsican imprecations as he barreled around mountain curves. He took us and our bicycles to the cyclopean stones of a Torréen castle dating from 2000 b.c., located in Cucuruzzu, an uninhabited area in the center-south of the island, about one mile due north of the town of Levie. (This is one of the advantages of touring with B&R: You get to see places such as this, which many guidebooks overlook.)
From there we set off on the most spectacular ride of the week. Quiet country lanes led up to the Fôret de l'Ospedale, a forest of tall pines rising from a tapestry of lacy ferns. After a break for Champagne mimosas we climbed to a mountain pass where serried granite ramparts towered above tree line. Descending past a placid lake, we arrived at a restaurant with views stretching to the sea, for an alfrescolunch of Corsican specialties—a minestronelike soup, sanglier (wild boar), sharp Brocciu cheese, and chestnut cake.
The day's ride ended with a long, exhilarating run to the Grand Hôtel de Cala Rossa, an appealing Relais & Châteaux set on a sheltered cove. My room resembled a soigné beach cabana, with paint-striped, wooden walls and fabrics in muted shades of blue and gold—typical of the hotel's appealing mix of elegance and indolence. At the beachfront bar we unwound over Gallic cocktails. That night, accompanied by the son-et-lumière show of a thunderstorm, most of us went into nearby Porto-Vecchio to feast at the friendly Le Lucullus, where seafood was presented with élan by the attentive staff. (I chose a salad with goat cheese and a dollop of live tapenade, followed by baked chapon fish in a Corsican tomato sauce served with remarkable potatoes cooked with lemon rind.)
On our last night at the Cala Rossa, after a tasting of Corsican wines on the tree-lined terrace, we enjoyed an animated dinner that almost cleaned out the hotel's lobster tank. In a group happily free of prickly personalities, a genuine spirit of camaraderie had developed, and road-weary muscles were hardly mentioned.
The next day we took a break from the bikes. A trio of motorboats whisked us down the southeast Corsican coast, past chalky cliffs and sentinel lighthouses, to see Bonifacio, an ancient bastion perched atop a soaring limestone promontory. A narrow channel led between rocky headlands to a natural harbor precisely matching Homer's description of the spot where the cannibalistic Laestrygonians staged a bloody ambush that almost ended the adventures of Odysseus. After docking amid the pleasure craft and fishing boats, we climbed up to the much-besieged citadel to stroll among buildings packed as tightly as the houses of the dead in the clifftop Cimetière Marin. There was time for lunch and shopping before we boarded the boats and motored the 10 miles across the strait to Sardinia.
Sardinia is larger and less wild than Corsica, with six and a half times the latter's quarter-million inhabitants. Like its northern neighbor, Sardinia was subject to repeated incursions by Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, and Arabs, among others. The Pisans and Genoese left a legacy of Romanesque architecture, while Spain's Aragonese introduced Gothic. But the island's most striking structures are those built by prehistoric shepherds and warriors: thousands of round stone dwellings known as nuraghi; walled fortresses; and mausoleums once containing fascinating bronze figurines.
Ruddy and relaxed, we arrived at the Cala di Volpe (member of Platinum Card Fine Hotels, Resorts and Spas), our most luxurious hotel, in Porto Cervo. A whimsical synthesis of vernacular Mediterranean architecture, this stylish pleasure dome was decreed by the Aga Khan in the early '60s, as part of the plan that turned Sardinia's northeastern shore into the posh playground known as the Costa 'Smeralda. Since then controlled development has preserved the coast's rugged beauty and kept it a perennial favorite of the very well-heeled.
When we got to the Cala di Volpe, 40 pieces of luggage were in the forecourt, signaling the arrival of a Saudi prince and his wife. Officers from the grand yachts anchored offshore were rubbing epauletted shoulders at the bar. I found the hotel rooms varied and pleasingly quirky. Mine had white plaster walls, a terra-cotta tile floor, dark timber ceiling beams, a trompe l'oeil armoire, and a four-poster bed with gilded flourishes.
Despite the occasional roar of figli di papà racing past in new sports cars purchased with daddy's money, the roads on our route the following morning were quiet enough. We rode through an open, pastoral landscape, then whizzed through the village of Arzachena, where we boarded a restored turn-of-the-century train that took us and our bikes on a 45-minute ride across hills dotted with olive trees and rocky outcroppings south of Lago di Liscia. Back in the saddle, we pedaled past vineyards and rolls of newly mown hay to Li Licci, a farmhouse in the Gallura area. In the basement, where coppa and salami hung from the ceiling and rounds of pecorino crowded wooden shelves, we observed as two women made ravioli and gnocchetti. Upstairs we feasted on roasted eggplant, prosciutto, cheese, olives, grilled eggplant and peppers, before departing for the town of Sant'Antonio di Gallura (a grueling ascent) and a tour of another Bronze Age tomb.
This was not a trip for weight-watchers—particularly Sardinia, where dinners were extended, multicourse affairs that began with a cornucopia of antipasti and ended with a cavalcade of desserts. For sheer romance, it was hard to top the splendid meal we enjoyed on the terrace of Il Pescatore in Porto Cervo, overlooking the sunset-tinted harbor, where we indulged in an abundant buffet of antipasti; salmon roulade stuffed with zucchini, pine nuts, onion, and sundried tomatoes and garnished with squash blossoms; and two Sardinian wines, red Cannonau di Sardegna and white Vermentino di Sardegna. The culinary high point was the Cala di Volpe's frescoed dining room, which turned out excellent vegetable risotto and baked daurade royale (gilthead) with Vernaccia wine and olives, and zabaglione whisked up to order in copper saucepans and served with fresh strawberries and vanilla gelato.
Most of us were geared up for the last day's optional ride, a loop from the coast into the hills, but we awoke to a window-rattling mistral wind that kept us off our bikes. Instead, we walked or van-shuttled into Porto Cervo, which boasts enough big-ticket designer shops to rival Rome's Via Condotti. Our festive farewell dinner was marked by a general sense of contentment. The tour recalled the halcyon days of summer camp, only with savvier counselors, ritzier cabins, and far better food. In the end, I had managed to keep pedaling, persevering even on seemingly endless hills where the lowest gear was my best friend. And I'd come to realize that even on a bike the old Irish toast—"May the road rise to meet you"—can be a benediction.
The Trip
The seven-day biking tour of Corsica and Sardinia is one of Butterfield & Robinson's most expensive European trips. For $4,975 (plus airfare and a $550 supplement for single travelers) you receive a bike, helmet, water bottle, and map; lodging; most meals (all breakfasts, four lunches, six dinners); all transportation from rendezvous to airport drop-off and baggage transport during the trip; all special events; private tours and local guides; all gratuities except for the B&R guides (for good service about $10 per day per guide). You can supply your own bicycle or saddle, but for most people B&R's equipment is more than adequate. Note: The 24-speed hybrid model is better than the 21-speed touring model for taking the steepest hills on the trip. An odometer would have been helpful (if you bring one, the guides will install it). By all means bring a gel-seat cover to soften the seat. The bikes are restored to mint condition between trips at B&R's Burgundy facility.
The Corsica and Sardinia tour is a well-designed blend of exercise and luxury. The guides handled logistics, individual needs, and miscellaneous glitches smoothly and unobtrusively. The B&R approach favors independence over regimentation. Briefing materials and route directions are thorough and helpful. Gung-ho cyclists might prefer a more intensive biking tour, but our group enjoyed the variety of a trip that included boat and train journeys as well as dollops of culture, from prehistoric-site visits to cooking demonstrations. If possible, try to get on a tour with fewer than B&R's 24-person group maximum.
Getting Ready
If you're reasonably fit, aerobic conditioning and a few training rides should get you up to speed. Stationary-bike sessions will help maximize your pedal power and minimize time spent in the van (akin to taking the ski lift down), but don't skimp on the roadwork.
When To Go
In the year 2000 the biking tour will be offered six times (late April to mid-October), skipping the high-traffic months of July and August.
Getting There
Butterfield & Robinson recommends purchasing an "open jaw" ticket, arriving in Ajaccio, Corsica, via Paris and flying home from Sardinia's Olbia airport via Rome. From New York you can fly nonstop to Nice on Delta/Air France, then on to Ajaccio from there. Several major carriers have code-sharing arrangements with the regional carriers that fly the connecting routes. (You can also arrive via train and ferry, preferably the fast NGV ferry from Nice.) It's a good idea to come a couple of days early, to recover from jet lag and explore parts of Corsica not on the tour, such as the northern town of Calvi. The night before the tour begins, B&R suggests staying in Porticcio and recommends two hotels, the Sofitel, which has a thalassotherapy spa, ocean views, and beach access; or the more expensive and quaint though quirky Le Maquis, which has a beautiful terrace and pool on the sea. (Rooms 41 and 42 have balconies with the best sea views.)
Butterfield & Robinson, 70 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5B 1X3; 800-678-1147; 416-864-1354; fax 416-864-0541; www.butterfieldandrobinson.com.


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One of the notable facts of living in Egypt is that one gets to see an endless parade of aspiring court intellectuals ply their miserable trade in the daily papers. In moments of crisis (to use an overused word), the idiot savants of sycophancy compete feverishly for inclusion in the court. Today's offering featured Osama Saraya in al-Ahram's opinion page blathering on about the infinite wisdom and foresight of "the political leadership" (obvious and pathetic code for the president). Saraya is wonderfully, unabashedly, unashamedly fifth-rate, a contemporary incarnation of those perfunctory, generic, Nasser-era sycophants whom no one ever read, and whose names have been rightfully consigned to the trashbin of history.
But since I'm benighted with this habit of tracking the emissions of the toadies, here goes: it seems Mr. Saraya wishes to discredit domestic advocates of political reform as a deviant, unrepresentative minority with no right to speak for "the silent majority". Now surely you're aware that this is the oldest and least creative argument in the bootlicking book. Apparently, Mr. Saraya just couldn't be bothered to avail himself of the more interesting techniques in the how-to-grovel manual. So he sufficed with the novice techniques at the beginning of the book.
He scrawls, "We see now a surge from some influential forces that want to benefit from the transitional moment so they set about pressuring the policies of change," (aside: how do you pressure policies?). But these nefarious forces will be stymied because "The silent and rational majority will move with a submerged and accumulated consciousness behind the leadership, which will in turn move to activate Egypt's organizational, economic and political capabilities with a thin thread whose pivot is reform, building institutions capable of development. The signs of this reform are the transition to the free market state, aggrandize the state of institutions, separation of powers with political reform that amplifies the state of law, with a contemporary, organized spirit. We have arrived at the era of political wisdom via struggle, the possessors of this wisdom realize the price of this transformation, and we will pay it, because we know the value of the future and what awaits us in it." Got all that?
It seems that putting up with such atrocious trash has become a fixed rite of Egyptian citizenship. But it needn't be this way. Here's a proposal: redirect a reasonable amount of state funds for better training at Abla Nazira's School for Snivelers and Spaniels. I'm quite concerned at the budgetary cutbacks they've experienced lately, it's obviously taking a toll. Rumor has it that all the money is going to the spanking new NDP Policies Secretariat with all their fancy computers and expensive software. If this is true, then this is just unacceptable. Sycophancy is a hallowed occupation with a long history here, and there's absolutely no reason it should go to seed like this. As Egyptian citizens, we ought to demand refurbishing Abla Nazira and outfitting it with the latest in toadying technology and know-how. The "best practices" approach is relevant here; refurbishers would do well to emulate the superior product of American house intellectuals. I want to see crisper metaphors, more ardent arguments, and for God's sake better writing. I certainly hope decision-makers will take note, and that we'll see improved results on the pages of the "national" newspapers soon. Thank you.


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The New Party Rules
Want to go traditional with your barbecue? That's cool too, just give it a fun, new twist by modernizing the classic grilled cheeseburger fare. First, start with really good meat. In addit
Designate an hour to get yourself party-ready. Choose an outfit that makes you feel stylish, yet comfortable enough to still work in the kitchen. It's best to avoid short skirts, so as not to reveal too much when bending over to get something out of th
'Tis the season for… yard sales! Look for serving platters, vintage glasses and create your own bric-a-brac collection of china. Also pick up candlesticks, vintage linens (make sure they are stain-free first) and funky objects that can add a touch of
Forget fancy. Summer is the time to kick back and not be too fussy. My most successful party, hands-down, is my annual good ol' fashioned keg party. Don't be mistaken, it's more grown-up than a college frat party, but it's still an opportunity for ever
Place cards make life easier. Without them, people wander around aimlessly, and the hostess always ends up dictating where they should sit anyway. Think about who would make the best dinner partners and spark the most interesting conversations. A fun s
Properly equip your guest bathroom. Put out fresh soap and clean hand towels, a scented candle, plenty of toilet tissue and a small flower arrangement. (And a discreetly placed plunger will help avoid any embarrassing situations!)


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Facility / Authority
What must industrial facilities do and what duties do which competent authorities have? To ensure that Thru.de provides reliable and credible information about pollutant releases, there are a number of specific tasks which both industrial facilities with reporting duties and the associated competent authorities must accomplish:
- Operators must forward data to the competent authorities in their federal state. This is done online with the BUBE-Online data collecting system. For more detailed information go to BUBE-Online.
- The competent federal state authorities review the data for accuracy and correctness. All the data collected in the respective federal state is compiled and forwarded to the Federal Environment Agency.
- The Federal Environment Agency reviews the data again and compiles a national data set. This data set is sent to the EU Commission, and it is also published on the Thru.de. Thru.de is accessible to everyone – as is the European PRTR and every other national PRTR (see also Links - PRTR international).
In Germany, this three-step reporting process occurs online with the support of the BUBE-Online data collecting system. Operators receive a personal login and password from their competent authority and enter their data online (see also Q&A - Question 7).
More detailed online help on reporting is to be found in the so-called expert wiki which contains many information and a detailed Q&A catalogue about reporting. If you are an operator with reporting requirements and do not know how to meet these requirements, please contact your competent authority.


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Aging Vietnamese women battles corrupt officials
December 10, 2012 § 1 Comment
By Vu Tien Hong/AP Writer/Hanoi Thursday, July 5, 2007
(Appeared in the Washington Post and the International Herald Tribune among others)
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) _ Most Vietnamese cower when a cop squeezes them for a bribe. Le Hien Duc, a gray-haired 75-year-old grandmother, fights back.
Four-foot-nine and weighing just 88 pounds, she'll take on anyone, from lowly bureaucrats to high-level officials. She e-mails, phones, tracks them down at their offices, confronts them at their homes.
"Corruption is definitely an evil, and it is ruining my beloved country," said Duc, a former elementary school teacher who works from dawn until dusk battling graft.
Corruption is perhaps the most vulnerable spot in the country's single-party Communist state—from the traffic cops who pull drivers over for US $3 bribes to the Transportation Ministry officials accused last year of gambling $13 million in public money on British soccer matches.
Corruption persists here in part because officials earning $50 official salaries consider it perfectly acceptable to charge kickbacks for virtually any kind of service, large or small.
As a result, the country routinely fares poorly in international corruption rankings. But in Vietnam, where people respect authority, few dare challenge the system. But many turn to Duc.
"Most of us tremble when we have to deal with police," said Doan Van Hung, a delivery man who recently sought Duc's help. "She is incredibly brave."
Hung's ordeal was typical—a policeman stopped him for speeding and threatened to seize his motorbike unless he paid a $3 bribe—more than a day's average wage.
Corruption among "road bullies," as the Vietnamese traffic police are known, is rampant. But most drivers simply pay up and leave.
Duc tracked down the officer who harassed Hung and filed a complaint with the Hanoi chief of police. The officer was promptly demoted.
The grandmother of eight intervened in another recent case involving school officials who had apparently been pocketing school lunch money for years by making cafeteria staff cut back on the kids' portions.
Local government investigators confirmed the scam. But when the evidence was brought before Hanoi education officials, they did nothing.
Frustrated parents had read about Duc in the newspapers and turned to her for help. She took the case straight to the top.
She said she called the office of the education minister, Nguyen Thien Nhan, about 30 times.
When her messages went unanswered, Duc managed to discover the minister's cell phone number and called him. He promised to have the department's internal investigator look into the case.
"She always knows whom to call," said Nguyen Tan Tien, chairman of the school parents' association.
In Vietnam, most grandmothers stay home and look after their grandchildren. Duc buries herself in the fight against graft.
"Someone must stop it, for the sake of justice," she said.
Duc has spent a lot of time investigating where government and party leaders live and work. If they won't meet her at their offices, she just shows up at their homes.
"Whenever we see her, we know there is a problem somewhere," said Pham Van Tai, an Education Ministry official. "She has pushed us a little too hard."
Duc runs her crusade from her narrow, three-story home in Hanoi, where her desk is covered with stacks of mail from people seeking help from all corners of Vietnam. She spends about two-thirds of her $80 monthly pension on the Internet, phone calls, photocopying and motorbike taxis.
Her work has made enemies.
Last month, people came to her house and told her to butt out of the school lunch money scam.
"Drop the case or start saving money for your coffin," they shouted.
Her children wish she would give up her work.
"She is too old and weak to protect herself," said Pham Minh Hai, Duc's daughter. "She should stay home and play with the kids."
But Duc has no intention of quitting. She says she is following the example of Ho Chi Minh, the revolutionary hero of Vietnam's government.
Like many others of her generation, Duc joined the revolution as a young woman. During Vietnam's war against French colonialists, she spent years in the jungle, decoding messages for the army.
"We gave our blood, sweat and tears," she said. "There is no excuse for anyone to abuse their authority. I cannot stand seeing corrupt officials bully people."
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Email marketing campaigns have long since relied on surveys for quick and direct information gathering. But in 2019, the use of these surveys can seem obsolete. Why? Across industries, the average survey response rate is 33%. But just because surveys don't yield the highest interaction rates doesn't mean they're not important. In fact, often this information gathered is some of the most important data a brand can use, thus showing the importance of email marketing surveys for brands and marketers across industries. Brands shouldn't be alarmed by the low engagement numbers. Of course, there are ways to optimize these campaigns for maximum impact. Brands can incentivize these initiatives to boost numbers. But even without these paid incentives, survey results are insightful. If a consumer is taking the time to complete a survey, they have something they want to say. And brands should we ready to hear this feedback with open arms.
What is an Email Marketing Survey?
An email marketing survey is an online platform that requires users to answer questions. These can range in length and duration, and there are some reasons a brand might want to roll out a survey. They could want to learn more about their customers, refine their strategy, and look for ideas to spark innovation and growth. 87% of consumers that take a survey want to have a say in a brand's future products and services. Therefore, this information gathered is critical to the future success of a brand as a whole. Surveys are expansive, offering brands a way to ask questions and get answers to topics that modern analytics services can't access. And surveys are quick! They don't require teams of investigators scouring the internet and going through cold call lists to get this information. Need more proof? Below are five reasons email marketers should turn to polls and surveys to drive business growth.
5 Reasons Marketers Should Start Using Email Marketing Surveys
1. Surveys Collect Essential Data for Marketers to Use to Better Communication
When it comes to email marketing campaigns, it's important that brands know how to communicate. Meaning they need to know what messaging makes the biggest impact, what collateral drives ROI, and what information makes customers want to interact. Not all consumers take kindly to promotional email blasts and generic newsletter content. That's where surveys come in. With email polls, brands can get a better understanding of who their audience is and what they want. It's no secret that consumers want to receive email content from brands. But how they receive this content is what matters. 81% of consumers want brands to take the time to get to know them, for instance. Making it easier for marketers to give consumers exactly what they want. And surveys open the door for these communications and this relationship-building that turns more leads into conversions.
2. Surveys Can Highlight the Customer Experience
The customer experience is key when it comes to digital marketing. In fact, customer experience will soon surpass product and price as a key brand differentiator. As a result, brands need to do more to facilitate smooth and seamless experiences across a wide variety of platforms, mediums, and channels. Brands need to understand how users engage with branded materials including blogs, websites, and applications. When they do, they can get a better idea as to how to tailor an experience that drives sales. Email marketing surveys open up these doors to understanding and illumination. Surveys can ask very targeted questions about how an individual uses a website, what information they're looking for and more. These surveys also facilitate open conversations, meaning brands can reach out to the source directly to gain insights without having to rely solely on cold statistics that might not be giving brands and marketers the complete picture. This example from Anthropologie shows the power surveys have in illuminating how a user interacts with a website and how brands can give consumers better overall experiences. Source: Really Good Emails
3. Surveys are a Great Platform for Content Creation
If brands are looking for new places to gain content inspiration, they should look to surveys. With surveys, brands can not only get a better idea of who their audience is and how to give them a better experience, they can also learn about their likes and dislikes to create content that drives action. Maybe audiences have a question about a specific product feature, or maybe they want to know more about a brand's core values and personality. To find out what is of interest to an audience, a brand can use email polls that get right to the heart of the matter. When brands roll out surveys asking consumers key questions, they can then use this content to create materials for content marketing promotion like blogs, articles, and more. Content is valuable, and this content comes in a few forms. It includes blogs and articles, case studies and reports, videos, social media imagery, and more. When brands take the time to invest in this direct research, they can be sure that their content creation capabilities will skyrocket. And not only that – this content will be immediately engaging to their audiences.
4. Surveys Give Audiences an Effective Way to Provide Product Feedback
Product feedback is key. It's these insights that help brands better understand how their products are performing and why. Of course, metrics and data accumulated through robust platforms offer insights into market perceptions and how the product functions. To understand the value a product has and what features are most engaging to audiences, brands need to go to the source. Email surveys allow brands to get this direct communication with ease and without any unnecessary dilution. Email marketing surveys are more impactful because they land right in consumer inboxes, instead of relying on audiences to click on a pop-up on an app or website, personalized emails drive more interaction and completion. Brands can now gather more information to base a subsequent product launch or update. Here's an email survey example from Unsplash. With it, marketers can see how surveys can be successfully used to improve products and services. Source: Really Good Emails
5. Surveys Open the Door to Optimized Segmentation
Email marketing is a more personal way for brands to connect with their audience. But even though this communication is more direct and sincere, there are ways to boost click-through rates and drive conversions. That's through personalization. 75% of consumers are more likely to buy from a brand that calls them out by name, recommends products based on past experiences and generally offers a more personalized experience. Therefore, these in-depth surveys allow brands to roll out more segmented email marketing campaigns that target specific users for very specific reasons. Email surveys highlight key consumer behaviors, vital audience demographic information and interest levels that help marketers put email subscribers into very specific categories. Therefore, the next time a campaign lands in user email inboxes, it is tailored to their specific preferences and brand experiences. It's not a surprise that consumers want personalized experiences. But these surveys illuminate how brands can provide this to their audience.
Wrap up – Why Brands Need to use Surveys in Their Email Campaigns
Marketers shouldn't forget about the powerful implications of survey results. Whether brands are trying to completely revamp their strategy, switch up their products or get a better sense of how they're performing overall, surveys can be extremely powerful. Five reasons brands should roll out email marketing surveys include:
- Their ability to facilitate more engaging communication
- Their potential to better the customer experience
- Their content creation capabilities
- Their feedback potential
- And the opportunities they offer to personalize email marketing campaigns better.
These are just a few of the ways that email surveys and email polls bridge that gap between brand and consumer, establishing more fruitful relationships and putting brands on the fast track to digital marketing success. Email surveys might seem like a tactic from the past. But these surveys have a way of providing brands with honest, organic and actionable insights that can radically transform a product, marketing, and development strategy for years to come. Are you looking for a change to your email marketing strategy? Why not try outsourcing!


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Some may class me as a fine art photographer. I'm not one for labels, but it is true that I favour a timeless approach to wedding photography. I have always been drawn to pictures that are romantic, beautiful and full of soul. Being truly alive is to feel things deeply, and I love photographs that reflect that philosophy.
As a film wedding photographer, I love to capture pictures using natural light as this gives a beautifully soft look, and the relaxed glamour of film suits weddings in the UK perfectly.
On the day itself, I favour an unobtrusive style. During your portraits and group shots, I can lend gentle direction that will help you to feel natural in front of the camera. For the remainder of the day, I am in the background, photographing you and your guests having the time of your lives.
Your wedding album will not be banished to the back of a cupboard, but looked at, touched, loved. It will become part of the fabric of your lives, a book you revisit to remember those you have loved and possibly lost, and to remember a day when they dressed up in their finery to celebrate your love. A Jenny Packham dress and Valentino shoes are fun for a day, but it is the pictures of your favourite faces that you will value the most as life flashes passed.
If you love the sound of this, get in touch and we can create some beautiful memories for you to keep forever.


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Home Possible Neighborhood Solution program by Freddie Mac offers community workers such as; military personnel, health care workers, teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers…..
1.) Flexible credit terms of 620 or higher
2.) Low down payment options
3.) Low closing cost
The Good Neighbor Next Door program (Offered by HUD)
1.) Substantial incentive for community workers such as; firefighters, teachers, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers, or others who comply with HUD's regulations for the program.
2.) Allows buyers to be eligible for single family homes located in revitalization areas that are listed exclusively for sale through the Good Neighbor Next Door Sales program.
3.) Allows many first-time buyers who qualify, to receive up to a 50% discount on homes in these revitalized areas. (could include burned areas from a fire & flooded terrain)
4.) Must live in the property for 3 years as a primary and sole residence.
5.) Low down payment & closing cost options.


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CBS has renewed dramas "Criminal Minds" and "Instinct" and comedies "Man With a Plan" and "Life in Pieces" for its 2018-19 schedule.
Also returning for another round is "Celebrity Big Brother."
There was no official word from CBS about the fate of a handful of other bubble series, including comedies including Kevin James starrer "Kevin Can Wait," "Superior Donuts," "9JKL," and "Living Biblically." Drama "Scorpion" has been shuttered after four seasons.
Monday comedy "Kevin Can Wait," from Sony Pictures TV, has seen a ratings drop in its second season. Sony would likely shop the series if CBS drops it because a cancellation after investing in two seasons is the cruelest cut for a studio.
The renewal for Alan Cumming drama "Instinct" was a vote of confidence in the CBS TV Studios midseason show that has been a modest performer to date for the Eye on Sunday nights. The enduring FBI profiler procedural "Criminal Minds" was never in much doubt for renewal, which will make it 14 seasons (and counting) for the ABC Studios/CBS TV Studios series.
The family ensembler "Life in Pieces," from 20th Century Fox TV, is heading into its fourth season. Matt LeBlanc starrer "Man With a Plan," from CBS TV Studios, will make it to season three.
CBS' remaining bubble comedies are seen as unlikely for renewal.
(Pictured: "Instinct")