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Zirx, perhaps the second-most hyped startup in the we'll park your car nook of the tech industry (see: Luxe), announced today that it plans to shut down its consumer business at the end of the month.
The BMW-backed company, however, isn't going away completely. Zirx writes that it "made the tough choice to close our consumer valet parking service on February 29th, so we can focus all our energy on our enterprise business." That enterprise business, apparently, "is growing, successful and requires more and more resources from us," the company wrote.
Zirx has raised more than $36 million to date.
So there you have it: Yet another (consumer-focused) on-demand service bites the dust.
The company's announcement, in full:
We started ZIRX with an aim to make car ownership and parking way better. Over the past year, we've parked hundreds of thousands of cars and have also built a successful enterprise business that's growing quickly. We've learned a lot, but three things in particular stand out:
Consumer on-demand parking, while one of those novel, amazing experiences for customers, is a very difficult business to scale. And, an even harder business to scale to great profitability.
Our enterprise business is growing, successful and requires more and more resources from us.
Without unlimited resources, it's really, really hard to build both a great consumer (B2C) and a great enterprise (B2B) business at the same time.
For these reasons, we've made the tough choice to close our consumer valet parking service on February 29th, so we can focus all our energy on our enterprise business.
We're excited about our new direction and are entering the next phase of ZIRX with a great team, supportive investors, and a laser focus.
To our customers:
Our entire team sincerely thanks you for your business and for taking a chance on us as we reimagined what parking could be. We hope we made your lives easier, one park at a time, and that you'll be able to find an alternate solution quickly.
ZIRX will operate as normal until the end of the month. Monday, February 29th, is the last day you can use ZIRX and monthly passes will automatically end at 9pm PT that night.
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.


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Skip to Content
UW Bothell is in District 1 and we are currently represented by Senator Rosemary McAuliffe and Representatives Luis Moscoso and Derek Stanford.
ASUWB meeting with 1st District Legislators (August, 2014)
The Senator has over 30 years dedicated to the education community and has worked hard to better Washington's public schools and prepare students for life surrounded by new and emerging technology. She is a staunch advocate for students, teachers, and parent involvement in their child's educational career.
Phone: 360-786-7600
Email: email@example.com
The representative has a PhD in Statistics from the University of Washington and currently is the Director of Analytics at a telecom company. He has run small businesses providing consulting and he was the Principal Investigator on two research projects. The Representative also was the Director of Analytics a company specializing in fraud detection in the mortgage industry.
Business & Financial Services
Phone: 360-786-7928
Email: email@example.com
Luis was born in Dubuque, Iowa and is a first generation Peruvian-American. He has worked with teens, youth, and others to develop communities in Snohomish County. He founded the communities of color coalition, and currently organizes with the Snohomish County Citizen's Committee for Human Rights. He has passed legislation aimed at keeping at-risk youth out of gangs by focusing on prevention and intervention tactics in schools and community centers. The Representative is the first person of color to represent the 1st legislative District.
Phone: 360-786-7900
Email: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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San Jose High senior Jordan Fricke knows of one class that's had a revolving door of three long-term substitute teachers so far this fall. Berkeley High School teacher Hasmig Minassian has seen a librarian supervise four classes because no one else was available. Logan Mengotto's father said his son didn't have a teacher in two classes the first week at Hercules High School.
Public schools throughout the Bay Area and the state are grappling with a spike in teacher absences and vacancies as schools have reopened, coupled with a shortage of substitutes, leading them to increase pay for subs, offer signing bonuses for new hires and ask other school and district staff members to take over classes.
The teacher shortage was already a problem, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Some teachers retired rather than return to in-person classes and more young teachers — normally prime candidates to be substitutes as they look for full-time work — have been snapped up by the dozens in districts struggling to fill vacant full-time positions. Some districts say their pool of substitutes has shrunk by as much as two-thirds.
The problems have already prompted a new provision in AB167, signed last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom, doubling the time a long-term substitute can spend in class to 60 days. Still, districts think the Bay Area is being forced to take unusual steps.
"Teachers are voluntarily giving up their prep periods to teach classes for absent colleagues," said Berkeley Unified Superintendent Brent Stephens. "We've resorted to putting uncovered classes in the library or career center where students can study independently. Neither of these are acceptable remedies for the situation. They're stopgaps."
Stephens said his district has increased substitute pay from $195 to $225 per day. The district has 147 subs in its pool this school year, 21 fewer than before the pandemic. And it is able to fill 58% of sub requests this year compared to 69% in 2018.
From Alameda to Santa Clara to Contra Costa County, officials in seven districts all said they're struggling to staff classes.
Palo Alto Unified Deputy Superintendent Trent Bahadursingh said his district last month also increased pay for substitutes, from $160 to $180 a day in the hopes of attracting more help. Still, the district has 111 substitutes this year, about a third of what it had before the pandemic.
"What a lot of us are addressing are the guidelines regarding vaccinations," he said. "In terms of vaccination requirements or daily testing, when those first came out, everyone had to scramble to identify which substitute pools are qualified in terms of meeting the requirements. As those continue to change, it has an impact on the availability of people."
Oakland Unified School District is also seeing a shortage of substitutes, which Director of Talent Development, Recruitment and Retention Sarah Glasband attributed to increased teacher absences as more people call out sick. At the start of the 2020 school year, the district had 10 teacher vacancies. This year, Glasband said, there were 25. Though the district has about the same number of subs this year, district communications director John Sasaki said "they aren't taking as many assignments."
Tim Hughes, a regional vice president for TNTP, which helps school districts across the country train and recruit teachers, said the pandemic has exacerbated the demand for educators.
"All of our programs and district partners are asking us for more teachers," he said. "Many systems rely on recruiting teachers outside their geographic areas and folks have concerns about moving across the country during a pandemic. Fewer teachers are moving and people are being cautious about their health and safety."
Bay Area teachers have long struggled with the region's high cost of living and housing prices. But during the pandemic, some teachers say they've seen colleagues move out of the Bay Area or change careers entirely.
"I couldn't do my job and live in this neighborhood if it wasn't for my husband," said Amber Marienthal, a fourth grade teacher at Allen at Steinbeck Elementary School in San Jose. "It's becoming a job that people can't do and live here."
Marienthal said the substitute shortage has gotten so severe at San Jose Unified School District that counselors and other staff members are being brought in to temporarily fill substitute positions.
"I think a lot of people feel unfairly put upon," Marienthal said. "We as teachers have been warned not to take time off unless you need to because you'll be burdening your colleagues."
San Jose Unified School District's specialized personnel are on call four days a month to cover for any school that needs a substitute, said spokesperson Jennifer Maddox. Normally, the district has 240 to 250 substitutes available every day. This year, it has about 120, according to Maddox.
Counselors and administrators are also covering for substitutes at Fremont Unified School District, according to Superintendent CJ Cammack, who said filling positions in math, science and special education has proven especially difficult. The school district started the 2018-2019 school year with 406 subs and is now down to 379.
Not all districts lack substitutes. Mount Diablo Unified School District in Contra Costa County actually has about 100 more subs this year compared to the 2018-2019 school year. But the district has had 100 to 120 teacher absences per day this year, with an average of 42 jobs that aren't being covered by subs on a daily basis, according to Director of Human Resources Ryan Sheehy. That's twice as high as it was in 2018.
West Contra Costa Unified School District has seen a similar spike in uncovered jobs.
Blake Mengotto said his son Logan, an 11th grader at Hercules High, didn't have teachers for either his 4th and 6th periods during the first week of classes.
"When you talk about the higher subjects, you're significantly stunting students when you push back a week and that has a big impact," Mengotto said.
Meanwhile, some teachers are feeling overwhelmed as they are continually being asked to plug the gaps.
"You'll get an email almost every day saying 'We have five classes that are uncovered. Can anyone cover on their prep period?" said Minassian, a 9th grade teacher at Berkeley High. "There is space built into a teacher's day to rest and if you take that time to cover for a class, it's going to have a long-term impact on your burnout and being able to rest your body and voice. We're going to cover for our colleagues but it doesn't come without a cost."
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The Police Service of Northern Ireland raided two premises on International Women's Day searching for abortion pills that are illegal in the region.
No pills were found during the searches last week, including one at a workshop belonging to the Belfast pro-choice campaigner Helen Crickard. Crickard said she felt "violated and humiliated" over the raids in South Belfast.
The PSNI confirmed on Monday that the raids had taken place. Det Supt Bobby Singleton stressed that abortion was a "sensitive issue that divides opinion within society". He added that where an offence has been committed, the PSNI had a duty to bring offenders to justice.
Unlike the rest of the UK, doctors cannot prescribe abortion pills in Northern Ireland.
Last year, three women handed themselves in to police in Derry, stating they had procured and taken illegal abortion pills and requested that they be prosecuted in protest at Northern Ireland's restrictive abortion laws. Since then, pro-choice campaigners have continued to challenge the PSNI to arrest them after they admitted purchasing abortion pills for other women in Northern Ireland.
Also in 2016, a 21-year-old woman was given a suspended prison sentence for buying drugs online to induce a miscarriage. She had been reported by her flatmates after they found out she had taken the abortion pills.
A mother is facing prosecution for procuring abortion pills for her then underage daughter.
Women in Northern Ireland who want to terminate a pregnancy can either travel to England or Wales for an abortion at a cost of about £1,000-£2,000. Northern Ireland residents are not eligible for the procedure on the NHS and have to pay for private treatment, as well as the cost of the flight and hotels.
Alternatively, women at an early stage of pregnancy can buy mifepristone and misoprostol pills online, for about £60; the pills are considered safe and reliable in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. As well as buying the pills on the internet, pro-choice campaigners have also flown the drugs into Northern Ireland via drones.


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The Departure of WellPoint CEO Angela Braly
The basics of the story, as reported by the Anna Wilde Matthews in the Wall Street Journal,
Under pressure from investors unhappy with the health insurer's performance and direction, WellPoint Inc. Chief Executive Angela Braly resigned Tuesday, and the company's board said it would begin a search for a permanent replacement.
The abrupt shift came as the board's leadership had been meeting with major investors in the wake of a disappointing second-quarter earnings report that sharpened concerns about Ms. Braly and the company's strategy
Note that while this change was seemingly dramatic,
In its statement, the board signaled that WellPoint's direction might not change dramatically. Ms. Ward said that the board 'continues to believe that time will prove the wisdom of potentially transformative actions taken under Angela's leadership…But now is the right time for a leadership change.' She also said the board believes 'the remaining executive team is dynamic and strong, with great potential to drive WellPoint's future success.'
In addition, the Indianapolis Star suggested that Ms Braly would be richly rewarded for her departure:
Details about her exit package were not released Tuesday, but under her contract, she is entitled to at least $7.7 million if terminated without cause.
Furthermore, recall how much the board apparently thought of Ms Braly's leadership in the immediate past, as evidenced by the compensation she received. In 2011, her total compensation was a mere $13.2 million (see this article in the Indianapolis Star), just slightly less than that in 2010, $13.4 million (see this post). Such compensation, of course is gargantuan compared to that received by mere mortals such as primary care physicians (actually, conservatively it is at least 66, and probably more like 100 times that of primary care physician, and over 250 times the median US family income) Such compensation, and the likelihood of a rich severance package, suggests that either the board applauded Ms Braly's leadership right up until now, or perhaps that Ms Braly, despite being a hired employee, actually had more power than the board, sufficient to virtually set her own pay.
Was Financialization the Reason She Had to Go?
So why get rid of her now? Aside from references to recent issues with only short-term revenue, there were few hints in the media. The WSJ article did note
a series of stumbles over the past few years, including an unexpected earnings hit last year tied largely to problems with a Medicare plan in California. In 2010, the company scaled back a proposed rate increase in California that had become a lightning rod in the policy debate over a health overhaul, leading to a loss.
A Forbes post suggested that one problem was Ms Braly supported President Obama's health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, or ACA):
Many blame Braly and her team for putting The Affordable Care Act over the top in Congress after Wellpoint's Anthem Blue Cross plan in California two years ago raised rates nearly 40 percent on individual policyholders before the increase was tamed. Many at the time say that provided President Obama and Sebelius political momentum and ammunition to tell the story of excessive rate increases by the loathed insurance industry.
However, no media report so far has raised the issue of the ethics of past WellPoint behavior. In fact, as we have discussed, (most recently here), the company has made a lengthy series of ethical missteps, to put it kindly. (The complete list appears in an appendix at the end of this post.) These problems have been going on for quite a while, and if they were not a concern before, there is no hint that they became a concern within the company recently.
So, one explanation for the sudden leadership change is the dominance of financialization of for-profit health care insurance (and likely of all health care organizations.) The notion, pushed by a few economists in the 1980s, that the only thing that should matter to corporate leadership is short-term financial results may be that powerful (see this post). Of course, that is profoundly troubling for health care organizations, since it dismisses the importance of any long-term results, especially of results that affect patients' and the public's health, and the importance of values like honesty.
Corporate Leadership as Our New Royalty and Nobility
Another explanation, which need not contradict the one above, was suggested by Charles Ferguson in Predator Nation. He wrote that the leadership of big financial corporations, which became the dominant organizations in the US and, indeed, in the world,
became corporate royalty, with all the absurd arrogance, disconnections from reality, ego poisoning, and cults of personality thereby implied.
If the leadership of big financial firms became royalty, then the leadership of big health care organizations became nobility. The issues above only would affect nobility slightly less. In that sense, the departure of Ms Braly likely resulted from personal and political battles among royalty. The good thing is that in this somewhat more enlightened age, the results are merely abdication, probably with a huge severance payment. In the old days, the results would likely have been imprisonment in the castle dungeon, if not beheading.
Nonetheless, the notion that top corporate leaders, including leaders of for-profit and non-profit health care corporations, are becoming the new royalty and nobility should be profoundly disturbing in the US, which was founded after a revolution against royalty's excess power. They should be no less disturbing in other countries which have overthrown their former royal leaders, or instituted constitutional monarchies in which the royals and nobles have little political or real power.
Obviously, the growing power and decreasing accountability of hired managers of large health care organizations has become a major reason, if not the major reason for health care dysfunction. True health care reform would decrease the size and scope of health care organizations, and make their leaders accountable to ownership, when appropriate, and to the community at large for patients' and the public health.
Appendix: WellPoint's Ethical Misadventures
- settled a RICO (racketeer influenced corrupt organization) law-suit in California over its alleged systematic attempts to withhold payments from physicians (see 2005 post here).
- subsidiary New York Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield misplaced a computer disc containing confidential information on 75,000 policy-holders (see 2007 story here).
- California Anthem Blue Cross subsidiary cancelled individual insurance policies after their owners made large claims (a practices sometimes called rescission). The company was ordered to pay a million dollar fine in early 2007 for this (see post here). A state agency charged that some of these cancellations by another WellPoint subsidiary were improper (see post here). WellPoint was alleged to have pushed physicians to look for patients' medical problems that would allow rescission (see post here). It turned out that California never collected the 2007 fine noted above, allegedly because the state agency feared that WellPoint had become too powerful to take on (see post here). But in 2008, WellPoint agreed to pay more fines for its rescission practices (see post here). In 2009, WellPoint executives were defiant about their continued intention to make rescission in hearings before the US congress (see post here).
- California Blue Cross subsidiary allegedly attempted to get physicians to sign contracts whose confidentiality provisions would have prevented them from consulting lawyers about the contracts (see 2007 post here).
- formerly acclaimed CFO was fired for unclear reasons, and then allegations from numerous women of what now might be called Tiger Woods-like activities surfaced (see post here).
- announced that its investment portfolio was hardly immune from the losses prevalent in late 2008 (see post here).
- was sanctioned by the US government in early 2009 for erroneously denying coverage to senior patients who subscribed to its Medicare drug plans (see 2009 post here).
- settled charges that it had used a questionable data-base (built by Ingenix, a subsidiary of ostensible WellPoint competitor UnitedHealth) to determine fees paid to physicians for out-of-network care (see 2009 post here).
- violated state law more than 700 times over a three-year period by failing to pay medical claims on time and misrepresenting policy provisions to customers, according to the California health insurance commissioner (see 2010 post here).
- exposed confidential data from about 470,000 patients (see 2010 post here) and settled the resulting lawsuit in 2011 (see post here).
- fired a top executive who publicly apologized for the company's excessively high charges (see 2010 post here).
- California Anthem subsidiary was fined for systematically failing to make fair and timely payments to doctors and hospitals (see 2010 post here).
- management was accused of hiding the company's political contributions from the company's own stock-holders (see 2012 posts here and here).
- settled charges that its Anthem subsidiary cheated former policy-holders out of money owed when that company was converted from a mutual insurance company (see 2012 post here)


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MIGHTY is actively working on Corporate Social Responsibility in order to win the trust of communities.
Our C.S.R. program – giving back to society.
C.S.R. stands for Corporate Social Responsibility. We do not simply pursue our own profit, but each and every day we set and undertake a theme that we will consistently implement corporate activities with our careful consideration to not only our customers and employees but also such stakeholders who are associated in some way with us as shareholders, friends in local communities, personnel in business partners and so forth. On that basis, we are playing full part not only in compliance with international rules and standards but also in environmental preservation by giving our full attention.
Quality Policy
Through the continuous improvement of quolity management system, MIGHTY Corporation will produce affective products all the members participation to get trust and the satisfaction of the customer.
Environmental Policy
Basic philosophy
At MIGHTY corporation, we consider that environmental protection is one of the most important and imperative issues in the world. We belong to the electric wire manufacturing industry and are mainly producing conductors for electric cables. Throughout all our business operations, we always make sure that practices which respect the environment – prevention of pollution, efficient use of resources and effective emergency measures – are carried out.
Basic Policy
- We operate our environmental management activities according to the areas below.
(1) We apprehend noises and quivers caused by our manufacturing processes, and improve the situation whenever necessary.
(2) Being conscious that we are a resource-consumer, we make sure that we save, reuse and recycle those resources with as little waste production as possible.
- We operate our environmental management activities in accordance with the environmental law of Japan and the acts of Osaka prefecture and Daito city.
- When local residents or our customers submit opinions, demands or requests on environmental issues, we consider them carefully and where possible, try to fit these ideas into our environmental management activities.
- To put all the activities above into practice, we have an environmental management system, in which we organize operative procedures and define responsibilities.
- To maintain the efficient function of our environmental management system, we regularly reassess our slogans and goals from within the bounds of our technological and economical capabilities.
- We issue every department with a copy of our environmental policy to ensure that every one who works for us knows about it thoroughly.
- The environmental policy is accessible to the public through our home page and brochures.


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While Islam emphasizes confirmity to the direction of the Qur'an and Sunnah, one finds in the same sources a parallel emphasis on rational inquiry exercise of personal opinion and judgement. This essay looks into the evidence in suppport of this statement and the extent to which Islam validates the freedom to formulate and express an opinion. It also examines the methodology and criteria that ascertain the validity of personal opinion and distinguish the acceptable ra'y from which is not tolerated. This essay also highlights how the detailed classifications of ra'y by the Ulama reflects a concern for latitude and tolerance on the one hand, balanced on the other by respect for authority and values which are deemed essential to Islam.
The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Vol. 7 (1990), pp 39-64.
IIUM Law Journal, Vol.3, no. 1 (1993), pp 23-37.
This article develops the concept of fitnah and its bearing on freedom of expression. It puts together information from the unconsolidated source materials of the Shariah in a manner reflecting the interest and style of a modern student of comparative law. It also develops the theme that modern interpretations of seditious speech and conduct have done much to restrict the scope and susbtance of the freedom of expression.......... Download the full article in pdf attachment (below)
The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Vol. 10, no. 2 (1993), pp 17-41.


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The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory (INL) today announced the public release of a joint INL/Nuclear Power Industry Strategic Plan for Light Water Reactor (LWR) Research and Development.
More evidence that the nuclear energy renaissance is coming is indicated in this announcement. What I thought was a discrepancy between two statements in the press release, one stating that the first strategy is to efficiently construct and operate dozens of new nuclear power plants, starting in the next several years and that to do this (these) strategies will require significant investment in research and development. The Plan actually states:
"A consensus has emerged (between DOE and NRC) that we are probably adequately prepared for modest growth in nuclear energy, but poorly prepared for large scale expansion."
which clarifies there actual stance. This announcement appears to be nothing more than a continuation of R&D on LWRs which the government had nearly dropped and now feels necessary to continue, and makes the case that the nuclear industry
requires the active engagement and leadership of the Federal Government in a number of strategic areas where industry cannot succeed on its own.
This amounts to another subsidy of the nuclear industry, which may or may not be justified (see pages 3-6 of the Plan for their justification). Their justification relies highly on the fact that only the government has the facilities to conduct the research. But is it fair for the government to pay for the research? The governmenent needs to maintain its role of watchdog over the industry, but to this extent? In any event, I remain convinced that nuclear energy will play a major role in development of a reduced CO2 emissions power industry.
The press release in part :
The plan sets forth two strategies that must be employed for nuclear energy to play a substantial role in meeting future U.S. energy needs. The first strategy is to efficiently construct and operate dozens of new nuclear power plants, starting in the next several years. The second is to maximize the contribution from our existing nuclear power fleet by extending the operating licenses. Implementing both of these strategies will require significant investment in research and development.
"Recent analysis by EPRI shows that all low-emission electricity technologies will be required to satisfy anticipated goals for reduced CO2 emissions - energy efficiency, renewable energy, nuclear energy, and clean coal with CO2 capture and sequestration" "Industry recognizes that LWR technology is mature and that industry should carry a large portion of the responsibility in maintaining this technology. However, this plan demonstrates that the magnitude of the challenges facing this nation require the active engagement and leadership of the Federal Government in achieving the stretch goals identified in the report."
-- Chris Larsen, vice president and chief nuclear officer for EPRI
The proposed industry/government cost-shared R&D effort set forth in the plan is focused on 10 objectives, six of which are considered to be of the highest priority. These high-priority objectives include:
- Sustaining the high performance of nuclear plant materials
- Transitioning to state-of-the-art digital instrumentation and controls
- Making further advances in nuclear fuel reliability and lifetime
- Implementing broad-spectrum workforce development
- Implementing broad-spectrum infrastructure improvements and design for sustainability; and
- Addressing electricity infrastructure-wide problems
View the plan. ( 1.1MB PDF)


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Dolphins and other delights!
After a few days of semi gloomy skies, sunshine returned to Lagunatown. The sun actually made an appearance at Monday's sunrise. The air quality was so good this evening you could see the mountains and also Catalina Island, something we haven't seen for a while. At around 5 p.m. this afternoon McWeather and others witnessed a huge pod of dolphins about a quarter mile offshore; must have been at least 50 of them spotted at once; quite the beautiful sight, very comforting. Sunday and Monday saw a little pulse from tropical storm Greg, now a remnant low. We really didn't get much even though he made it up to category 2. His forward movement was only a little north of straight west, plus he moved too fast, about 22-25 mph, overtaking much of his swell making potential. Seems like every storm has a new excuse not to send us much energy our way. Now we have tropical storm Hilary waiting in the wings south of mainland Mexico, so hopefully this one will come through. Laguna's ocean temps finally scratched and clawed their way back up to near 70 degrees over the past weekend but the westerlies blew a bit stiffly today, Monday so I'm calling for a drop down to 65 or so for Tuesday.
Time to check out some more of the El Nino summer of '92 when we used to get Baja swells. Being an El Nino year, June of '92 was pretty much free of gloom. Only the first few days of the month were gray. For a whole week after that it was sunny and close to 80 degrees on the beach with water temps hovering around 70. Tropical storm Agatha got things going with a nice three day 3-5 ft. pulse at Brooks Street. Then came Blas, but he moved straight north into the Gulf of California. Soon after, Category 1 Celia sent us a healthy 3-6 ft. swell. A big Southern Hemi closed out the month of June. July started out a bit slow but by the eighth day our surf and weather were affected by Category 3 Hurricane Darby with a third of an inch of rain falling during an afternoon thunderstorm. The water temp was now up to 73 degrees. Next week we'll examine more of the wonderful summer of '92. Aloha!
Dennis McTighe served as a meteorologist at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii from 1969 to 1972, and was an NOAA forecaster and earned a degree in Earth Sciences from UC San Diego and has been keeping daily weather records since 1958.


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Denver Capital of Colorado is a U.S. State in the South Platte River valley that overlooks the High Plains and the Rocky Mountains. The town is a fantastic destination and globally famous for the Red Rocks and Broncos. The place is renowned for its, interesting night live, adventurous outdoor activities, fabulous skiing and a vibrantly colorful art scene. The 16th street Mile, Denver Art Museum, or the forest Friday art walk are much talked about activity areas that can keep the tourist busy for hours. As you head for the streets in your car, be careful and carry your license.
Main reason for teenage mishappenings according to health stats are life threatening accidents on the road. Deadly and serious accidents are caused on the roads because of rash and negligent driving by the automobile drivers. Teenagers need to understand that is imperative to drive cautiously on the roads. Parents should be irresponsible and enrol their children in a driving school for proper training before they apply for license.
Driving school in Denver
Parents need to select the Driving school in Denver carefully so that their teenager gets a license from registered and licensed driving school after appropriate and all-inclusive driver's education. These driving schools are serious about their training and they make sure the knowledge imparted is used for practical purposes. The student gains confidence and learns safe driving habits after proper learning. Time bound driving lessons and a registered driving test makes sure that the student gets the license.
Large numbers of teenagers have mastered defensive and safe driving and also behind-the-wheel training. The students taking their training successfully learn requirements needed for becoming a good driver and may be able to avoid a dangerous collision. Accidents are mainly caused by an inappropriate knowledge of traffic rules, rash driving and common mistakes made on the road. You need to keep a few pointers in mind before you hire a driving school in Denver:
- One of the most important investments in life is to find a good driving school for a budding teenager. It is not necessary that inexpensive school is the only thing which can be the best for your child one, quality and price do matter. There are many driving schools less expensive than the others but they offer excellent training. Proper research is needed to find the best driving school and for your teenager.
- Check out the condition of the vehicles used for training purposes. The vehicles need to be in proper condition and follow all safety rules. The teaching instructors need to be qualified and registered with the licensing authorities. Many schools hire substandard teachers to save money and proper research can help you trace out such fraudulent organisations. It is better to check of the reputation of the driving school before enrolling the student for driving classes.


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"Hey guys, you seen Mike? I'm looking for Mike."
For Ebert, my surprisingly not terribly controversial review of Jurassic Fallen World; also Never Steady, Never Still, with a real stunner of a performance from Shirley Henderson; and the less-than-industrial-strength doc Spiral. For the Times, the somber Araby, and The Catcher Was A Spy, which, to be honest, I thought would have made a first-rate Spielberg picture. The approach of the actual filmmakers is, as it happens, low-key to perhaps a fault.


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All About You lyrics - April Start
All About You Song Lyrics
I was on my own,
I was doin' just fine,
When you came in my life.
I was into you,
You were feelin' me too,
It was all a good time.
You turned me upside-down,
Turned my world around,
Everything was alright.
Now I'm having doubts,
What's it all about?
I'm losin' my mind.
Too blind to see it,
Too in love to believe it,
What you're doin' to me.
When it's all about you,
What about me?
Don't I deserve to be happy?
Spent all of my time
Givin' you mine,
That's not the way that it should be.
When it's all about you
You forget about me,
You can't change what you can't see
When it's all about you, ohh.
When it's all about you, ohh.
When it's all about
Ev'rything you say,
Ev'rything you do
Has gotta be about you.
You drive a fancy car,
Like you're some big star
Now I've got a clear view.
So you say it like this,
But you do it like that -
You've got me confused.
Lookin' at yourself,
Like you're somethin' else -
I got nothin' to lose.
Come on, give me your best shot,
Give me ev'rything you've got,
It's never gonna be good enough for me.
I'm lookin' at you,
You're lookin' at me.
I'm walkin' away,
But you don't see.
What ya got
Is all ya need
The best things in life
Aren't always free.
All you wanted was yourself,
Don't care about me or no one else.
Didn't matter to you,
Don't matter to me,
That's how it's gotta be.
When it's all about you, ohh.
When it's all about you, ohh.
When it's all about you, ohh.
When it's all about you, ohh, ohh.
[Thanks to email@example.com for lyrics]
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We have an elderly relative who, in the coming years, we expect have to keep a closer eye on. It's not like we don't have almost daily contact with them already, but having an early heads up of any mobility issues would be beneficial & give a degree of peace of mind.
Having a wifi-enabled camera installed is one option, but would be pretty intrusive, and I don't want to have to watch it to figure out if there are any problems.
What I realised I needed was a Passive Infrared (PIR) movement sensor which could ping a service in the Cloud & alert me for anything out of the ordinary.
There are such solutions sold by a bunch of companies, but cost upwards of £100 and tend to have a subscription charge.
I started to think I'd roll my own solution using a development board and PIR sensor, but I remembered I actually have an old battery-powered PIR which activates a mains adapter (the idea is you'd maybe have a lamp in the socket for home security).
The adapter I have is from a company called Timeguard, but it's about 15 years old and is obsolete.. they don't have any current products of this type, but you can find similar ones on Amazon easily enough.
What I like about this, is that I can concentrate on the IoT piece, and let the adapter + sensor do their thing without worrying about the electronics.
All I needed to do next was take a small ESP8266 board I had lying around and code it up to connect to the local wifi & call a URL.. which in my case will be an Azure Logic App. Logic Apps are great.. you can get them up and running very easily, at minimal cost, and without writing any code!
At first, the code for the ESP8266 just used the examples from the Arduino IDE. In very little time I had it connected to Wi-Fi and ready to make a HTTP call to wherever I wanted. However, I soon discovered the examples only worked with non-HTTPS sites (Logic Apps are HTTPS-only).
After a bunch of Googling, I found this library from gojimmypi on GitHub, which allows you to make HTTPS calls.
After switching to that & rewriting portions of the code, the board called the Logic App URL without issues and I received a 202 response (Accepted), and I could see the call in History;
Now we're cooking! The motion sensor will activate the power adapter, which boots up the ESP8266 board, connects to wifi & calls Azure. The adapter will stay powered for 15s to 15min.. so having it set to 15 minutes means we're not repeatedly powering the board & calling Azure (and incurring a load of cost).
The Logic App can do whatever we want to record the event.. update a table, or write a small text file with a timestamp.
Now we have that, we can have a secondary Logic App running on a schedule to monitor the events & alert us by email (or whatever) if it falls outside what we typically expect. For example, at 9am check that there's been motion detected in the last 3 hours. If there hasn't, send me an email so I can give the relative a quick call to check they're ok.
With Azure, it's always good to keep an eye on costs. In this case, lets look at the worst case scenario where we have a very active elderly relative who trips the motion sensor every 15 minutes from 7am to 11pm.. so that's 16hrs x 4 = 64 possible calls a day.
Logic Apps cost you per Action block, and cost a bit more for Standard + Premium actions. In our case we have 1 trigger block and 1 standard block to write to a Storage Account (table or file).
The Azure cost calculator can then be used to figure out the monthly cost..
That's a maximum of 21 pence (GBP) a month if it triggers every 15 min (which it won't).. not bad!
We'll also have the 'event monitor' Logic App, but that won't run as often.. maybe every 4 hours starting at 9am, finishing at 9pm.. so that's 4 times a day, with a few more action blocks in it to figure out what to do.. so maybe 10-15 blocks, 5 of which might be 'Standard'…
As you can see, the monthly costs are minimal, and helps illustrate how useful Azure can be for something like this!
It took a few hours to put this all together & I'm pretty happy with the solution. We can put the battery-powered PIR sensor in somewhere like the kitchen, or hallway and be safe in the knowledge we'd get an alert if there wasn't the level of activity we'd typically expect to see.
If you're interested in the ESP8266 source, here it is;


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Q loves her skateboard.
She is still only four, for another couple of months at least, but she can kind of rock it out.
She still needs to hold a hand when crossing the street...
...but she certainly has a few tricks under her helmet when on four wheels.
She's kind of a natural. And I love that about her.
Although inevitably, as on so many other occasions, I end up carrying the board, pads and helmet while she runs off to the playground for a half hour of feeling like an actual four-year-old.
So it goes.
And I love it. I do. Time as mommy of a four-year-old is ticking away.


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Our mortgage brokering service is free of charge to our clients and acts as introducers to the leading lending institutions for properties for sale in Gibraltar & Spain.
There are a number of banks and building societies from which you can borrow money from to finance the purchase. Generally speaking, the maximum amount any lender will lend is 90% of the purchase price for owner-occupiers and 75% on buy-to-lets in Gibraltar.
The amount you can borrow to buy properties for sale in Gibraltar and Spain though, will depend on such factors as your age, earnings, and the amount you want to borrow, taking into consideration the value of the Gibraltar or Spanish real estate you intend to purchase.
Your mortgage is likely to be your biggest financial commitment. It is therefore important that you know what your choices are before you sign on the dotted line.
To open doors to the best mortgage offers just call us or email us to arrange a meeting with one of our mortgage brokers for Gibraltar real estate.
Types of Mortgages
Capital and interest
The most common type of mortgage is the capital and interest mortgage. This offers the greatest simplicity, with your monthly repayments covering both the capital and interest on the loan, so that at the end of the term you have nothing more to pay.
Interest only (Endowment or Pension Plan)
The monthly repayments cover the interest but not the capital of your home loan and the full amount of the loan is repaid by placing additional funds in long-term investments.
Unlike a repayment mortgage, the amount of debt does not reduce over time and there is no guarantee that your chosen investment will cover the cost at the end of the term. However, you can normally top up your investments if you think this will be the case. There are several options to repay the capital of your home loan.
With this repayment option, you pay the interest on your home loan to the lender, plus additional payments to an insurance company to fund a savings plan. This aims to generate sufficient funds to pay off the capital at the end of the mortgage term. Unlike a repayment mortgage, the amount of debt doesn't reduce over time and there is no guarantee that your endowment policy will cover the cost at the end of the term.
You can keep your policy if you move house or remortgage your current property and its life assurance aspect ensures that the loan is paid off should you die before the end of the term. However, the performance of your endowment is determined by the strength of the investment and you may have to review the policy to ensure that sufficient funds are available to cover the loan at the end of the agreed term.
Pension plan
With this option, you are required to pay the interest on your home loan to the lending institution, plus additional payments to a personal pension fund intended to provide a tax free lump sum to pay off the home loan amount.
The lump sum is payable on retirement and your loan term may be more than 25 years, depending on your age now and when you plan to retire.
Variable rate mortgage
This simple home loan sets the interest rate according to the lenders variable rate.
There are normally no early repayment charges on variable rate loans, which is worth considering if you are thinking of paying off your mortgage early. However, budgeting for the future can be difficult, with unpredictable interest rate movements, and your repayments could rise rapidly if rates go up.
Base rate tracker mortgage
A base rate mortgage tracks an independently set interest rate, such as The Bank of England Base Rate. The benefit of a tracker mortgage is that you are guaranteed that any falls in interest rates will be passed on to you, usually from the beginning of the month after the rate change. However, any rises in interest rates will also be passed on to you.
Fixed rate mortgage on the properties for sale in Gibraltar
The interest payments are fixed at a specified level for the first few years, allowing you to budget more effectively at the start of your mortgage. When the fixed rate period ends, your interest rate will change to a variable rate or you can choose another of the lending institution's mortgage rates for the remainder of the mortgage term.


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World Run, Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our mission is to bring communities together to run for health equity. World Health Run envisions a world where running is a manifestation of health equity within and among communities, worldwide. World Health Run values community, collaboration, commitment, health, education, and empowerment.
website: www.worldhealthrun.org/
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Linda Johnson Rice, chairman and CEO of Johnson Publishing Communications and Fashion Fair Cosmetics, has joined Tesla's board of directors. Daughter of John H. Johnson, publisher of EBONY magazine, Rice currently serves as CEO of Ebony Media Operations and Chairman Emeritus of EBONY Media Holdings, the parent company for the EBONY and Jet brands.
Rice's career at JPC began in 1980 when she was named vice president, a position she held until 1987. She then served as president and chief operating officer until 2002 at which time she was named CEO.
In addition to her decades-long work with EBONY, Rice serves on several boards including Bausch & Lomb, Continental Bank, Quaker Oats, Dial Corporation, MoneyGram and Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Trustee at the Art Institute of Chicago, President of the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors, Council Member of The Smithsonian?s National Museum of African American History and Culture, Rice received a business degree from Northwestern University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management.


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If you need to have your roof repaired, then odds are you'll want to know what's involved.
Here at Victors Roofing, we've fine-tuned a roof repair process that focuses on ensuring that all of our customers' needs are met in as convenient a way possible.
Our Roof Repair Process
Our extensive experience with roof repairs throughout the Canton, MI area over the years has allowed us to finetune our process to the benefit of our customers. The following is what you can expect from our roof repair process:
- Scheduling an appointment – When you call us to schedule a roof repair service, we will send one of our highly qualified technicians to your home at your earliest convenience.
- Performing a thorough inspection – Not only will we take a look at the problem area, we will perform a thorough inspection of your roofing system to make sure there aren't any other issues that need to be taken care of. We will do this inspection free of charge.
- Going over a video review – We will do a video review with you concerning the issues that we found so that you can better understand what needs to be repaired and how we are going to fix it.
- Speaking with your neighbors – We don't want your neighbors to be annoyed by our presence, which is why we will give them a heads up for you that we will be doing work on your roof. Nobody likes to be taken by surprise by any type of construction. As a courtesy, we will let them know.
- Performing the roof repair – Our technicians are highly trained and experienced, and they have all the tools necessary to perform whatever repairs are needed the right way the first time around. We are also fully licensed and insured to do all roof-related work.
- Cleaning the worksite – Once we have finished the repair work, we will clean up any mess we make to ensure that the worksite is left the way we found it.
Throughout the entire process, as well as following completion of the repairs, we will make sure that your project manager is available to address any questions or concerns you might have about your roof. If you're in need of roof repair in the Canton, MI area, then be sure to contact us at Victors Roofing today in order to schedule an appointment or to request a free estimate.


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Upon your arrival in Chongqing you will be transferred to your hotel for check in. You may enjoy your time in the hotel for refreshment, or explore the city at your leisure. Chongqing is the largest municipality in the western part of China with its cultural heritage and tourist attractions. Besides the wonderful scenery of the Three Gorges, you may also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Dazu Grottoes, or the 2-hectare Panda House in the Chongqing zoo which is an undoubted highlight for visitors.
Overnight: Superior Room, Chongqing InterContinental
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. You are free to explore the city at your leisure. After check out transfer from the hotel to Chongqing pier, where you will embark the Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer to being your Yangzi River cruise journey.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Start your morning with an early bird tea or coffee and a traditional Tai Chi lesson, led by our certified Tai Chi Master and work up an appetite for the buffet breakfast.
This morning, choose between a visit to an intriguing, secret project, hidden in the mountains of Fuling - The 816 Underground Project or the White Crane Ridge Underwater Project and a local market tour.
The 816 Underground Project is the world's largest artificial military cave. Over 50 years ago, more than 60,000 constructors, came to Jianzishan, an uninhabited place among mountains and forest, to start work on a top-secret construction project of a monumental scale. The work continued for 17 years and was nearly completed when the government decided to suspend it, before any nuclear material could be produced. Now as the secrets of military caves are revealed, you will be able to look at the true face of 816 project hidden for 50 years.
Alternatively, you can choose to visit to the White Crane Ridge Underwater Project and local market tour. The Project will take you some 130 feet under water to admire the river bed and the intricate ancient rock carvings left there many years ago. Learn about the Yangtze river, it's flora and fauna, while enjoying this fascinating Project. Your next stop will be the local market, where you will gain insight into the region's rich culinary culture. This is a daily market where farmers meet to buy and sell a variety of goods, ranging from fruit and vegetables to fish and meat, and of course a whole array of pickles - which Fuling is famous for.
Return to Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer for a lunch buffet in the Dynasty Dining Room, followed by demonstrations such Chinese foot reflexology and traditional Chinese medicine in the Tang Theatre.
Learn about beautiful pearls in this afternoon's lecture, Pearls of the World. This is followed by the Captain's welcome reception, complete with complimentary canapé's.
Tonight, you have a chance to attend an epic open air live action show*, dramatizing the lives and battles of feudal lords and their armies from the ancient Han dynasty. Based on the famous 14th-century novel 'The Romance of the Three Kingdoms', the story is part historical, part legend, and part mythical. The show includes battles on horseback, light and aquatic special effects, 3D holographic projection and fireworks, with the Yangtze River as the background, and a 180-degree all-swivel auditorium.
For those who choose to disembark at Zhongxian County for the Three Kingdoms Open Air Show, a late buffet dinner will be available upon their return. Guests who decide to remain onboard can indulge in an a la carte dinner before guests reconvene for karaoke and a live band performance.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Today is all about the striking Three Gorges; Qutang, Wu and Xiling.
Enjoy a tea or coffee and practice your Tai Chi before the commentary on the Qutang Gorge begins on the Explorer Deck.
A breakfast buffet is served before guests return to Deck 6 as we pass through the Wu Gorge. Through the commentary, discover the myths and facts that make each gorge unique as we pass through them.
Experience a unique ride along the Shennong Stream on a sampan - a traditional longboat rowed by expert Tujia boatmen. As we gently float through this stunning riverine gorge flanked by verdant forest, you'll see evidence of early settlements in the form of hanging coffins stowed high within the limestone cliffs.
Before returning we will visit a traditional trackers village, where you will have a chance to get a fascinating glimpse of the traditional, rural Chinese community. You'll find mud huts as homes, basic kitchens where the meat is dried on hooks and coffins in the bedroom. And, while there are satellite dishes, villagers still pride their heritage.
This evening we have prepared a special farewell dinner, 'A Taste of China', followed by Three Gorges Project lecture and a live band performance.
Overnight: Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer
Arrive at the Three Gorges Dam Project site and embark on a tour of the area (this tour will serve as a general introduction to theproject site, which, currently, is the world's largest engineering project). The dam is the largest dam on earth, and is 1.2 miles in length. Once in operation, the dam will generate enough clean energy to reduce China's reliance of highly polluting coal by up to 50 million tons annually. After the viewing of the dam, you will then be taken to an exclusive visit to the exhibition centre where a large size scale model and other interesting models are available for enjoyment.
After the tour, you will be transferred by private vehicle to the train station to take the train in first class seat to Wuhan. You can enjoy your time in the hotel for refreshment and leisure.
Overnight: Superior Room, Marco Polo Hotel Wuhan
Breakfast will be served at the hotel followed by check out. You will be transferred from hotel to the Airport by private vehicle for your departure flight.


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Revenue of EUR 413 million in line with expectations
Further successful expansion of customer and sector diversification
9% revenue growth without top-2 clients*
Revenue share from exponential technologies** raised from 20% to 25%
Net income up strongly by 27% to EUR 19.98 million
Guidance for FY 2019: revenue growth of 20% without top-2 clients leads to total revenue of EUR 420 million. Adjusted EBITDA: EUR 35 million; EBT: EUR 18 million
Dividend proposal of EUR 0.30
Stuttgart, 26 February 2019 – GFT Technologies SE (GFT) today published its preliminary results for the financial year 2018. Revenue developed in line with expectations to reach EUR 413 million. One important success is the Group's ongoing diversification of its client base: revenue without its top-2 clients rose by 9%. Strong demand for IT solutions with exponential technologies helped lift their share of total revenue from 20% to 25%. In addition, there were significant improvements in key earnings figures: adjusted EBITDA rose by 12%, EBT by 41% and net income by 27%. Cash flow from operating activities also improved.
Marika Lulay, CEO of GFT Technologies SE, states: "Our performance in 2018 shows that we are continuing to successfully drive the diversification of our client portfolio and our other strategic realignments. Despite a volatile market environment, the almost incessant momentum of the digitalisation trend during the financial year offered us numerous opportunities. With our know-how, we were able to systematically seize these opportunities."
For its financial year 2019, GFT anticipates a slight increase in revenue to around EUR 420 million with growth of over 20% without its top-2 clients. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to reach EUR 35 million and EBT EUR 18 million.
Revenue trend in 2018 as a whole
In the past financial year, the GFT Group generated revenue of EUR 412.83 million (2017: EUR 418.81 million), corresponding to a year-on-year difference of -1% (-3% organic). Without the top-2 clients, revenue grew by 9%. Business with clients in the retail banking sector continued to make good progress and led to revenue growth of 3% to EUR 228.88 million in the Continental Europe segment (2017: EUR 222.48 million); 2% without the top-2 clients. In the Americas & UK segment a significant expansion of the business was achieved, driven by diversification, yet the budget restrictions of the top-2 clients in investment banking continued to dampen the revenue trend of this segment as expected. Consequently, revenue fell by 6% to EUR 183.44 million (2017: EUR 195.40 million). Without the top-2 clients, revenue rose by 22% (organic 11%).
The diversification of the GFT Group's clients and industries made further successful progress in the past financial year. Adjusted for the revenue contributions of the top-2 clients, the GFT Group achieved revenue growth with new and existing clients of 9%. Business in the insurance sector was bolstered by the acquisition of the Canadian IT specialist V-NEO in the second half of the year. The acquired company contributed EUR 8.6 million to revenue and helped lift the proportion of total revenue generated by insurance industry clients to 6% (2017: 3%). In 2018, the Group also continued to expand its business with industrial clients. The strong demand for IT solutions with exponential technologies led to an increase in its revenue share from 20% to 25%.
Earnings trend in 2018 as a whole
Compared to the previous year, there was a significant improvement in all key earnings figures in the 2018 financial year. Adjusted EBITDA rose by 12% to EUR 39.68 million (2017: EUR 35.37 million). EBT increased by 41% to EUR 22.64 million (2017: EUR 16.08 million). Net income rose strongly by 27% to EUR 19.98 million (2017: EUR 15.76 million). Key factors for this year-on-year improvement included cost reductions in the Americas & UK segment, positive margin contributions from solutions with exponential technologies and the absence of negative special items such as restructuring and impairment charges.
Revenue and earnings trend in the fourth quarter of 2018
In the fourth quarter of 2018, the GFT Group generated revenue of EUR 103.76 million – corresponding to year-on-year growth of 1% (Q4/2017: EUR 102.29 million). Without the top-2 clients, revenue growth continued to be strong at 19%. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, adjusted EBITDA rose sharply by 99% to EUR 10.89 million (Q4/2017: EUR 5.46 million) due to the absence of special items. There was an opposing effect from increased expenses for sales and the expansion of technology expertise, as well as from project delays and the underutilisation of capacity in the fourth quarter.
GFT intends to propose a dividend of EUR 0.30 for the financial year at the Annual General Meeting. At 40%, the ratio of dividend payout to net income is at the upper end of the 20 to 40% range set by the company.
As of 31 December 2018, GFT had a total of 4,875 employees and thus 3% more than in the previous year (31 December 2017: 4,740). In the Americas & UK segment, the takeover of the Canadian IT specialist V-NEO led to an increase of 22% to 1,417 full-time employees (2017: 1,164). In the Continental Europe segment, the number of full-time employees fell by 3% to 3,345 (2017: 3,455). In the reporting period, there were 113 employees engaged in corporate functions. The figures stated here are full-time equivalents.
Additional key data
Cash flow from operating activities improved year on year to EUR 44.83 million (2017: EUR 23.70 million), due to the absence of special items,. As of 31 December 2018, there was a slight decline in cash and cash equivalents to EUR 61.57 million (31 December 2017: EUR 72.24 million), due mainly to payments for company acquisitions. At year-end 2018, the equity ratio stood at 34% (31 December 2017: 31%).
Outlook 2019
Outside of the top-2 clients, the general sector trends regarding the digitalisation of business processes and the increased use of exponential technologies like data analytics and cloud computing remain intact. This is partially overshadowed by investment uncertainty against the background of Brexit and a potential economic downturn.
Marika Lulay, CEO of GFT Technologies SE, states: "In order to create real added value for our clients and employees, we need to build digital bridges. GFT's role is to facilitate a successful transition between the present and the future. The main focus of our new Global Business Development function is therefore to promote scalable IT solutions which enhance productivity and innovation. With our courageous approach and highly professional teams, we will therefore continue to systematically exploit our cross-industry market potential in the financial year 2019."
The growth trend without the top-2 clients is still strong in 2019 and will lead to revenue growth of over 20% with this client group – whereas the GFT Group anticipates a stronger than expected revenue decline of around 30% in the business with its top-2 clients. As a consequence, earnings are expected to be burdened by short-term underutilisation of capacity, restructuring charges and increased sales expenses for further client diversification. For its financial year 2019, the GFT Group expects revenue growth of 2% to EUR 420 million (2018: EUR 412.83 million), adjusted EBITDA of EUR 35 million (2018: EUR 39.68 million) and EBT of EUR 18 million (2018: EUR 22.64 million). The successful diversification of clients and industries will be continued in the financial year 2019. Whereas the anticipated revenue share of the top-2 clients will decline to below 30%, GFT expects its insurance business to increase to a 10% share of total revenue. The revenue share of exponential technologies is expected to rise further from 25% to 30% across the Group.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing volatile business trend of the top 2 clients, the medium-term forecast for 2022 has been suspended. The solid balance sheet structure will be maintained and the Group's dividend policy will remain unchanged with a dividend ratio of 20 - 40% of consolidated net income.
* GFT's top-2 clients are Deutsche Bank and Barclays.
** GFT defines exponential technologies as DLT/blockchain, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud and DevOps
As previously announced, the company will publish its final figures for the financial year 2018 on 29 March 2019.
Detailed financial figures can be found in the Investor Relations section of the GFT website at www.gft.com/ir.
"Our performance in 2018 shows that we are continuing to successfully drive the diversification of our client portfolio and our other strategic realignments. Despite a volatile market environment, the almost incessant momentum of the digitalisation trend during the financial year offered us numerous opportunities."
Key figures (IFRS, unaudited)
(Deviations possible due to rounding differences)
|In EUR million
|EBITDA adjusted *)
|Net income
|Earnings per share in EUR
|Cashflow from operating activities
(full-time) as of 31 December
*) adjusted for special items from M&A activities
Press release: Preliminary and unaudited figures for the financial year 2018
GFT posts significant increase in net income for FY 2018


text: (PHOTOGRAPHS BY WINFIELD ROSS) Vaillancourt Folk art gives us the rare opportunity to watch a new Form of Folk art—born in America—blossom and grow. We gave you a First look at chocolate-mould Santas thirty years ago. Today they are more popular than ever. Watching a new folk art tradition blossom and grow is a rare treat, one for which longtime Early American Life readers have had a front-row seat. We might even have had a role in its creation. For thirty years chocolate-mould Santas, crafted by Vaillancourt Folk art, have decorated holiday displays across the country (and now around the world). The special Santas combine several historical traditions—chocolate moulds, Belsnickels, and even the colorful decorations of Central and Eastern Europe—with the gifted artistry of Judi Vaillancourt. The concept seems simple—pour a plaster-like moulding compound into a mould and paint the resulting stark-white figure. The key is Judi's artistry, which captures the spirit and tradition of 19th-Century Christmases. The moulds are the essential element, the link to history. Used for making chocolate to display in candy stores, they came in different sizes and varieties, all meant to astound the viewer—and make him hungry for chocolate. Candystore keepers in Europe believed a towering holiday gnome of milk chocolate—sometimes four feet tall—would catch your eye and wallet, making you want to buy more diminutive sweet treats for your loved ones. Chocolate being evanescent (especially with hungry children around), Judi saw an opportunity to capture the enchantment of the holidays in a more permanent form by casting figures in a special plaster. Then, mixing her own artistic sensibilities with traditional European (and ethnic american) folk art painting, she decorated the otherwise white castings in the holiday's finest imaginings. Every figure made by the Vaillancourts starts in a historic mould, some of which are individually worth tens of thousands of dollars. To ensure variety the Vaillancourts have amassed one of the most extensive collections of moulds (not necessarily all for chocolate) in the world. Within their studio they created a small museum to display these antiques, some paired with Judi's original castings, and they have collected original European catalogues showing the moulds available at the time. Early American Life readers were first introduced to the Vaillancourts in a June 1984 article detailing the restoration of their post-and-beam Massachusetts house. That Christmas we showed the house again. Here the dining room was decorated with greenery, fresh fruit, and candlelight. The marbled floor, patterned after one at Van Cortlandt Manor in New York's Hudson Valley, is Judi's handiwork. FAMILY BUSINESS Today Vaillancourt Folk art is a traditional cottage industry, exactly like those of our European forebears who made the first holiday ornaments. It remains family-owned and run, operated like a Renaissance artist's studio—the lead artist (Judi) does the design, skilled craftspeople handle the preparation and much of the gilding and painting, then Judi adds her own hand to detailing, finishing, and approving each piece. When Judi started out, husband Gary turned his back on becoming a wealthy entrepreneur in the then high-flying software industry to help, handling the business aspects of the fledgling family enterprise. Looking back today, he would never go back— his fortune might be smaller, but his life is definitely fuller, rewarding in a different way. Of course, history can only be known in retrospect—that's what makes it history. When Judi and Gary began, they didn't know what lay ahead. neither did we. But Judi's work had caught our eye in 1984, and we featured it in our December 1984 issue (after we had profiled their house restoration that June), publishing her work for the first time. It was enough to inspire Judi to offer a few pieces at a local crafts show—and, of course, she immediately sold out. Okay, it wasn't such a big deal. She made only three pieces. But it was enough to make her think that people actually liked her art. When she kept selling out, it became obvious that people loved her work—so much so that Judi was hard pressed to keep up with demand. Together with Gary she organized her studio as an actual business and hired some help—at first family members pitched in, then members of the nearby community. In studio fashion, they made thousands of chalkware Santas. Their work became popular enough to catch the eye of importers. NEW DIRECTION In the 1990s when newly opened trade with China blossomed, more than a billion hands were ready to make anything americans could—only in much greater quantities and at much lower cost. Like many a folk artist who sold his work only to see it measured to the last millimeter and mass-produced by the millions, the Vaillancourts saw their folk art Santas undercut—they could not even buy plaster for the price of one of the imported pieces. Gary saw the end coming quickly but didn't give up. he knew he had one thing that no asian factory could duplicate—Judi's creativity and collectors who would appreciate it. Instead of trying to compete in volume, the Vaillancourts decided to go back to their roots, making the most decorative, imaginative, and highest quality artwork that Judi could design and create. That philosophy remains the core of their business. although each piece holds to tradition and is cast in an antique mould, each one is decorated entirely by hand with Judi's designs and supervision. Some pieces are unique—the only one with a particular design and decoration. Sometimes several are made to the same design. The largest productions are limited editions made for major retailers and museums such as Colonial Williamsburg and Old Sturbridge Village, and even those quantities are measured in dozens. Every piece bears the stamp of Judi's creativity, and all designs are her originals. no matter the quantity in which they are made, each piece is still crafted with the same care. Because each is a one-of-a-kind, handmade original, it cannot be replaced exactly if an accident happens. But it can be fixed—the Vaillancourts have a "hospital," actually a service they offer to repair damaged pieces, especially those with sentimental value given for special occasions. They repair broken arms, severed heads, chips, and paint damage with the same artistry that originally went into the piece. Today Vaillancourt Folk art operates out of an old mill in Sutton, Massachusetts, where they still cast and paint each piece. They also hold annual collectors' workshops where Judi's devoted followers get to see not only how pieces are made but also paint one themselves. A small multipurpose space serves as workshop, lecture hall, and once a year as the setting for a "A Christmas Carol," a retelling of the Charles Dickens classic by his great-great-grandson, Gerald Charles Dickens. The Vaillancourts devote another part of their business to their own retail store, through which they sell their own limited edition pieces (they also sell on the Web) as well as folk art from other artisans. In part of their store, it's always Christmas. After thirty years in business, the logical question is whether they can continue for another thirty. The answer is a resounding "Yes." Son Luke is now part of the business, handling the technical side, including the Web. And every piece that they offer shows that there is no end to Judi's ideas. Read more at Early American Life » Download PDF » Rosch, T. (Ed.). (Christmas 2014). A Thirty-Year Tradition. Early American Life, 38-43.


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Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs Estate – 1947 Built by Architect E. Stewart Williams
December 1, 2010
The 1947 Palm Springs Estate of Frank Sinatra designed by E. Stewart Williams. Rent it here and have a party with all of your friends for only $2600 a night!
One Response to "Frank Sinatra's Palm Springs Estate – 1947 Built by Architect E. Stewart Williams"
December 3, 2010 at 5:08 pm
Marvelous site, you really need an RSS feed button or maybe you have one and I can't locate it. I did check "send me site updates" and I hope that works to bring me back to your site.
Isn't Sinatra's place both sort of wonderful and sort of horrible simultaneously? The breezeway with its painted pipe supports reminds me of my old high school yet some of the vistas are striking.
Curious choices by the curators as well. The pottery used to accessorize the kitchen is both the wrong vintage and the wrong taste for Mr. Sinatra, as is the bottle of Jack.


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Crostini are great not only as appetizer for bigger meals but for breakfast too. For example, you won't need anything else for a breakfast with these crostinis besides a cup of tea or coffee.
- SERVES: 10 Servings
- PREP: 10 mins
- COOK: 5 mins
- READY IN: 15 mins
- 10 slices baguette
- 10 quail eggs
- 70-100 grams mozzarella cheese shredded
- 10 slices prosciutto or bacon
- 5-7 cherry tomatoes
- fresh basil for ganish
- salt and pepper
- 1-2 chillies (optional)
- Make your bread crusty by drizzling it with olive oil and placing on a pre-heat grill pan for a minute or two.
- Fry the quail eggs in a little bit of olive oil.
- On each slice of bread add a slice of prosciutto or bacon, a quail egg, couple of slices of tomatoes and chilies then sprinkle with some shredded mozzarella cheese. Season with freshly ground pepper and salt. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and enjoy!
PS: right now have a little problem with my wife, always had in mind how to create better romantic atmosphere, spanish fly come up in my mind but then I realized what is in spanish fly?


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Rafael Nadal Will Bid To Emulate Andre Agassi at the World Tour FinalsNovember 22, 2010
Rafael Nadal plays his first match at the World Tour Finals today versus Andy Roddick, where he will bid to become just the second male tennis player since the Open Era to complete the Career Super Slam.
Surprisingly, the only tennis player who has ever accomplished this rare feat is someone who supposedly hated tennis.
For a person who has won all four Grand Slams, an Olympic singles gold medal, the Davis Cup and the season-ending championships, it is hard to find the exact moment where he despised his sport with a "secret passion."
Since 1999, when Agassi finally added his final piece to the puzzle with his French Open victory, he has been the only player to have won everything that matters in the game.
Rafael Nadal will now try to emulate the former tennis great by adding the WTF title to his résumé.
However, there is a great difference in how Agassi achieved the Career Super Slam and how Nadal may achieve his: The former's record was more of a slow process as the latter's seems to be in a hurry.
The Americans first trophy actually came at the season-ending championships in 1990. Through the next nine years, he managed to capture Wimbledon in 1992, the US Open in 1994, the Australian Open in 1995, the Olympic Gold in 1996 and finally Roland Garros in 1999.
Nadal, on the other hand, captured all but one of the big trophies in a span of just five years. The French Open in 2005, Wimbledon and an Olympic Gold in 2008, the Australian Open in 2009 and the US Open in 2010. If the Spaniard wins the WTF this year, he will better Agassi's record by a colossal four years.
This is not the only difference the two legends have though. Maybe the greater difference they have is in their character: Agassi abhorred tennis, did not take it seriously at Nadal's age and loved being in the spotlight; on the other hand, the Power House from Mallorca cannot get enough of tennis and it is his second love, trailing only his family. He loves competing and winning trophies and, maybe most crucial of all, he loves training and learning.
Obviously, as Nadal has also stated, winning this tournament will be one of his hardest exploits. The Energizer Bully has only won one indoor tournament in his career and that was way back in Madrid in 2005, from a staggering 43 career titles. This could be even harder for Nadal than conquering the US Open. Nevertheless, he managed to win there, where the New York cement supposedly hindered his game, so who would bet against him now?
His match tonight against another American Andy Roddick will be his first for a month. He will have to be fired up and ready to go from the off if he wants to win this tournament as much as he says he would.
Even if he will not be there, this Sunday digging his teeth into the trophy, it will still have been a magnificent year for the clay loving Spaniard: Winning three of the four slams and three consecutive Masters Titles on clay. And just think, this time last year we were thinking if Nadal would ever reach these heights again.
If he can stay healthy and keep his body in check, he will have plenty of years to come back and claim the only major title to have eluded him thus far.
Hopefully, he will complete the feat sooner rather than later, because if he waits too long, he will have another similarity with Andre Agassi: that of a bald head!


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January, Around the Block, blocks!!
Friday, January 29, 2016
One Block Wonder January Link Up
January, Around the Block, blocks!!
4 comments:
Love the bag you made this month featuring the January block! I've only made one block so far. And this design is my favorite too. Hoping to get a top made, have all the pieces cut. Live just kind of gets in the way sometimes.ReplyDelete
Super bag, the colours are so good together. I didn't do a block this month, just have too much to finish off, and had a trip to hospital with really high blood pressure, so might be going a bit.. and depending on the Dr. this week, maybe a lot slower. Sharon, your fabrics are great.ReplyDeleteReplies
Nancy, hope you will be feeling better quickly. Slow can be a good thing. hugsDelete
Thanks Sharon, I am hoping it was a one-off, they couldn't find any reason why it happened, but it has made me slow down, and in the mornings, plan for doing just ONE thing that day.I liked the bag too, but when I clicked on it, it didn't open.Delete
Thanks for stopping by!! I would love to hear from you, so please leave a comment, idea, or question!!
This post was originally posted on UpstairsHobbyRoom.blogspot.ca . If you are reading this post anywhere else, it is without my permission.


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Some stills from a session with The Bap Notes at "Live on Broadway" on 19th/Broadway in Sacramento. Chill vibes, shades of blue, touch of soul, and a whole lotta Bap. Thanks to my man Rod Nice for inviting me out.
Conjunto LiberacionEvents, Music
What better way to enjoy a tuesday evening, better yet a Taco Tuesday, even better, Cinco de Mayo but with $1 tacos, cold beers and live salsa music provided by Conjunto Liberacion at Maria's Cantina in the Wood. The classic salsa compositions had me shooting for a vintage look, hopefully it translates.
View the gallery HERE.
38.678516 -121.773297


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Testimonials //
Both my boys loved the programs at digikidz. They made stop-motion films and wrote, directed, filmed and starred in their own movies. They built robots and designed computer games that they could play at home. We loved seeing what they had worked on each day. Both my boys are creative but in different ways and this program catered to both. One child is very artistic and loves to draw and the other is more interested in building and designing. These camps let them both engage in their interests and have a lot of fun doing it. I highly recommend this camp to parents looking for a good quality camp that is interesting, challenging and fun for their children.
- Heather, Oakville
2010 - present
2010 - present
More Testimonials Will be Coming Soon!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank digiKidz for running such an excellent computer camp. My son has now attended digiKidz three summers in a row and has learned something new each year. He participated in a variety of activities and learned many new techniques using top of the line equipment.
Being able to take home a USB stick with all of his creations was very much appreciated.
I would highly recommend this camp for any child who wants to improve their technology skills and have a good time.
- Wendy, Oakville


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Special thanks to our sponsors! Your support ensures the success of our event and helps the American Cancer Society to finish the fight against cancer.
To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Jenny at +1 (713) 706-5664 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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For more than 100 years, The American Cancer Society has been leading the fight to end cancer. With your support, we have helped usher in an era where more people survive cancer than ever before. By translating our research findings into action, we've seen a 20% decline in US cancer death rates since the early 1990s.
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Ours is a world rife with board games and, though their ubiquity has waned slightly due to the colossal popularity of anything played on a screen, the "analog" classics still hold their own in our decidedly digital world. As a leisure pursuit, playing board games stretches across human cultural history, so it is only fitting that several luxury brands have crafted special editions of enduring games that remind us of the elevated position they once held. Whether handmade using rare woods or dazzling crystal, these chess sets, backgammon boards and even Cluedo are as pleasing to the eye as they are stimulating to the competitive spirit.
Persepolis backgammon set by Hermès
Combining school and luck, backgammon can be traced back to ancient Persia and Egypt and is one of the oldest, continuously played board games. Hermès has created what might be among the finest backgammon sets available. Made of Java palissander wood and taurillon leather with pawns of swift calfskin, the Persepolis board is a delight for the hand as well as the eye.
Harcourt Chess Game by Baccarat
Chess is emblematic of skill and power, so it comes as little surprise that the House of Baccarat marked its 250-year anniversary in 2014 with a crystal and Plexiglas chess set called "Harcourt". Created in collaboration with Japanese design firm Nendo, with pieces hand-cut in the style of Baccarat's signature "Harcourt No 3" glasses, this board has a commanding presence. If the ever-valuable crystal pieces manufactured by Baccarat for more than two centuries are any indication, the Harcourt will be an investment that endures.
Games Compendium: Monopoly & Cluedo by Linley
There are few modern board games as iconic — and still as popular — as Monopoly and Cluedo. Whether buying property on Park Avenue or solving Dr Black's murder, Linley's exquisite leather games compendium is sure to provide ample distraction for those with a penchant for business, crime or a combination thereof.
Bridge Playing Cards and Holder by Hermès
Though the game of bridge may conjure images of "ladies of a certain age" whiling away retirement in dim parlours, the game is in fact one that requires skill, intelligence and daring. This timeless cards deck and holder from Hermès is a fitting companion for any serious fan of the game. Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are both well-known bridge players and it wouldn't be too fanciful to imagine them playing with Hermès' luxurious cards deck and taurillon clemence leather holder. With silver gilded edges and a signature Hermès rope print on the opposite side, these cards will make your next bridge hand all the more attractive.
Design duo Susan Zelouf and Michael Bell create award-winning, handcrafted furniture with a team of artisans. Their work features, as Zelouf puts it, "practical, elegant pieces that are built to endure". In this vein, their games table, which features hidden boards for chess, checkers and backgammon, is hand-made from a variety of rare woods.
Having an all-in-one games box has come in handy on more than a few free evenings, and one can think of no better choice than Loro Piana's My Fiches Box. Crafted from light lime wood and lined with a wool felt interior, it features two decks of cards and 300 gambling chips in six colours; restraint not included.
Also made of lime wood, this box contains a full set of hand-stitched leather-covered tiles, which feature hand-applied number spots in a variety of colours. The box itself is lined in sumptuous felt padding.
Snakes and Ladders board by William & Son
Invented in India as a means of illustrating the traditional Hindu concepts of Karma and Kama, or destiny and desire, Snakes and Ladders is a classic board game whose popularity has been steadfast for more than a thousand years. William & Son, founded in 1999 by William Asprey, a seventh generation member of the Asprey family, and known for its created and curated collection of fine leather goods, jewelry and shotguns, has produced an exquisite board handcrafted in fine leathers. The game is sure to provide an endlessly enjoyable exploration of the depths of the human psyche.
Backgammon's deceptively simple game board and rules belie the skill, strategy and luck of the dice that underpin the game. Asprey's backgammon set, handmade in English saddle leather and available in three sizes and six colours, is a celebration of this most civilised game.


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This utility vest from Target is my new favorite - so cute! I am so impressed with this new brand so far, the quality seems great for the price.
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Booties ----> http://shopstyle.it/l/f3vB
Select booties are only $30 (reg $149) here ----> http://amzn.to/2vPsuEO


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An interactive projection will amaze your visitors
If Walls Could Tell Stories ... Make them Entertaining and Interactive, Please.
A plain white wall can be very inspiring. What do you see? The pitch for your new business model? A textbook example of clever climate action? Or an interactive ping pong match? We, for one, see countless possibilities to visualize all this and more for your target audience –with a symbiosis of analog and digital storytelling in 2D and 3D and your corporate design. Content springs to life at a touch – that's fun for your customers and clients and a good opportunity for you to become creative. We firmly believe: there's a little bit of Bob Ross in each and everyone of us.
Certainly not a wallflower with all these features:
Digital meets analog: and in Full‑HD or Ultra‑HD at that – just an aside. In any case, the printed wall shows your content crystal-clear. Videos, images, animated content or texts turn the printed surface into a playground for your target group.
Illusion at its best: We adapt your content, e. g. one of your products, to the printed wall down to the last pixel. This technique is called Projection Mapping and of its own would make a great subject matter for an interactive wall
As boundless as your imagination: each of our projectors covers an area of about 2 X 1 meters. And we can put together any desired number of them – if you want, also in combination with an interactive display case, multi-touch screens, or analog fixtures/elements.
Attention‑seeker: our projection surface knows how to use its charms. It is large, and it glows. Moreover, it is also capable of making the derivative of the square root of X seem like a really interesting subject. Well, that's stage hogs for you ...
Add-ons: If in your opinion your nice white wall gets too messy, we can shift the projection to integrated monitors – seamlessly and with many more features.
Creates the perfect illusion for your visitors through analog print and digital projection.
Your content catches the eye already from a distance. Interactivity on a wall attracts visitors.
Particularly suitable for presentation in front of group audiences or for individual exploration.
Get straight to the point of your story and show visitors the way.
Interactive Projection Details
The way to your own custom-made interactive projection in 5 easy steps
- You contact us – by phone, email or chat.
- We give you free and non-binding advice and offer helpful suggestions concerning your project.
- You receive a detailed offer and a project schedule from us.
- We conceive and develop the projection and feed your digital content (images, texts, videos, documents) into the CMS.
- We set up the installation at your desired location, test its functionality and train your staff or booth personnel.
Free advice
Sie interessieren sich für interaktive Technologien oder Multitouch-Lösungen? Wir beraten Sie gerne, kostenlos und unverbindlich. (+49 30 55144669)
With Garamantis we were lucky to win a professional partner for our Retail Experience Lab. Their technologies and solutions are very innovative and creative, and never cease to thrill our clients. Within no time, together we have developed a concept for the interactive wall. The realization went swiftly, and the ongoing support is extremely service‑ as well as customer‑oriented.
Our partner Garamantis collaborated with us expediently, pragmatically, and with a lot of enthusiasm and love for the project. The extensive wall projection with its storytelling features has become one of the exhibition's highlights. Visitors marvel at the effects of the numerous interactive stations inside the exhibition, which operate and fulfill their duties absolutely reliably.
The "Initiative Mittelstand" ("Initiative for MSE") awards the Innovation Prize IT 2018 to particularly innovative IT solutions of high benefit to medium-sized enterprises. In the category "communication", the expert jury rates the interactive Projection Mapping by Garamantis with "BEST OF 2018". The rated product has convinced the jury and is within the top flights among this year's Innovation Prize IT participants.


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September 9, 2010 (CAP PR Wire) — Microgaming (www.microgaming.com), the world's largest provider of online gaming software, announces that the Microgaming powered Mega Moolah progressive jackpot has been hit, with the lucky winner scooping a massive $4.1million, paid out in a single payment.
Microgaming confirms that the jackpot was hit on the 29th August by a lucky Spin Palace Casino player, and is the largest Microgaming powered progressive jackpot win for 2010. This follows in the footsteps of the biggest ever recorded online jackpot win which was paid out in a single payment of €6.37m, in May 2009.
Roger Raatgever CEO said, "I am delighted that the Mega Moolah progressive jackpot has been hit again and can confirm that it was won by a player on the Spin Palace Casino. At Microgaming we are very proud that unlike some other casino jackpots, Mega Moolah guarantees a single cash payout, in full, to the lucky winner, ensuring the player receives all of the publicised cash payout."
Mega Moolah is available through all Microgaming-powered casinos, and the new jackpot level currently stands at 1.5million*. The level across all Microgaming jackpots currently stands at 3.2million*
* Winning amount shown on the progressive ticker is paid out in the currency in which the winner has played the game. Therefore, if played in the UK – 1,000,000 is paid in £s, however if in Spain, this would be 1,000,000 Euros.
For further information please contact:
Duncan Skehens / Laura Moss/ Karen Mignon
Lansons Communications
020 7490 8828
firstname.lastname@example.com / email@example.com / firstname.lastname@example.com
About Microgaming (www.microgaming.com)
Since the company developed the first true online Casino software over a decade ago, it has led the industry in providing innovative, reliable gaming solutions. Thanks to an unrivalled R&D programme, that averages 60 games per year and a unique 'partnership' approach to working with operators;
Microgaming software powers over 160 market-leading online gaming sites.
The company's front and back-end software supports multi-player, multi-language games – over 450 of them, all uniquely branded and provides platforms for land-based and wireless gaming. Microgaming powers the world's largest Progressive Jackpot Network and has paid out over €265million. In May 2009 it created the biggest ever online jackpot winner with a single payment win of €6.37m.
As a founding member of eCOGRA, Microgaming is at the forefront of an initiative focused on setting the highest standards in the gaming industry, and leads in the areas of fair gaming, responsible operator conduct and player protection. Microgaming has been awarded eCOGRA's Certified Software Seal following a rigorous onsite assessment to ensure that the development, implementation and maintenance of the software is representative of industry best practice standards Microgaming licensees are therefore eligible to apply for the eCOGRA Safe & Fair Seal.