text:
|InterJournal Complex Systems, 403
Status: Submitted
|Manuscript Number: [403]
Submission Date: 520
Revised On: 802
|The Development of a Generic Innovation Network Simulation Platform
Subject(s): CX.4
Category: Article
The paper reports on the development of a simulation platform for computational experiments in order to investigate the dynamics of technological collaborations and the emergence of persistent innovation networks. It describes a simulation platform that supports the implementation of an abstract model of an innovation network and its first application to the Biotechnology sector. We start by motivating our approach from a methodological perspective by introducing simulation techniques as a tool for theory development. The basic components of the platform are then discussed and filled in by applying them to the Biotech case study. The paper concludes with some methodological considerations placing the analysis in a position between a purely deductive theoretical and a purely inductive empirical approach.
|Retrieve Manuscript
|Retrieve Previous Revision's Abstract
|Submit referee report/comment


text:
As your own experience should have already revealed - large, rapid rudder movements create drag which slows a boat's forward motion. Small, gradual rudder movements do not create so much drag and therefore allows the maximum possible forward momentum gathered from the previous leg to be carried into the next leg of the race. This gives you a serious tactical advantage because you don't waste precious seconds accelerating up to full boat speed. Study the way that consistent race winners round marks and you'll begin to notice this so-called tactical mark rounding technique.
|static images wanted
Rather than sailing directly to the mark and slamming the rudder over for a sharp turn, sail wide of the mark and begin a gradual turn (try 10 degree rudder) well before your boat is abeam of the mark. Just how much before and just how much rudder angle is really a function of boat speed and boat design so practice starting that gradual turn at one boat length before and then increase the distance for higher boat speeds. Your aim is either:
- to be on a direct course to the next mark if it is a reach mark or
- to be on a close-hauled course if the next mark is to windward
As a practical matter there will be other boats trying to round the mark at the same time as you and the reason you need to practice the tactical rounding is to ensure that you not over shoot the mark and open up a door for another boat to sail between your boat and the mark. The notable exception is when rule 18 requires you to give mark room to another boat. Then, you must allow them room at the mark.
So you see it becomes a balancing act between making a wide enough turn to maintain as much forward momentum as possible while still closing the door on any opportunistic competitor over whom your boat has right-of-way. If you started your gradual turn in the ACC boat at one boat length before and one boat length abeam of the mark then the chances are you sailed too deep (overshoot) and you'll want to start the turn sooner and/or wider the next time. It is a very different technique when sailing a melges because the melges accelerates so much faster than the ACC but also can turn on a much tighter radius than the bigger ACC.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Rock 'n Roll Wedding Cake Toppers
I have been having success with my Acoustic Guitar Wedding Cake Topper and decided to jazz it up with color beads to match people's wedding themes. This led me to develop a design for an Electric Guitar Cake Topper. I have many color beads available…click the above link and see the inset photo in the listing for details!


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Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description
Adding eclectic character to the kitchen stovetop, this polished-aluminum coffee pot features a unique octagon shape that was first designed in Italy in 1933. The unit makes six 2-ounce espresso cups of coffee in just four to five minutes and is extremely simple to use. Just fill the lower chamber with water and the top filter with fine-ground coffee. Then place the pot on the stove and heat until the water boils. Through a pressurizing process, espresso moves to the upper chamber of the pot, ready to be served. Other highlights include a flip-up top with an easy-grip knob, a stay-cool black plastic handle, and a side-pour spout. When finished using the unit, wash it by hand with warm soapy water and rinse clean. Made in Italy, the espresso maker measures 4-1/4 inches wide by 8 inches tall.
Product Description
Aluminum, stovetop espresso maker produces 6 demitasse cups of rich, authentic Italian espresso in just 4-5 minutes.
Product Features
Product Details
Customer Reviews
Review 1:About 12 years ago I was in Milan, and a friend gave me one of these to take home. I have used it nearly every day since (I don't take it out of town), so that should give you an idea of how sturdy it is. It is the best coffee maker I have ever owned. To compare, I also have a high-tech espresso machine with frother; a state-of-the-art automatic drip coffeemaker; a French Press; and a different style of stovetop maker, which, surprisingly, makes a different brew. But I ALWAYS go back to my Bialetti Moka 6-cup for the best espresso and lattes. You even will get a crema effect with this simple pot. For lattes, I simply fill half a coffee mug with milk, heat it in the microwave until it's hot, and then top it off with espresso. It's low-maintenance -- every once in a while I replace the internal rubber gasket, which costs a buck or so, depending upon where you buy it. If you like your coffee like the Italians and the Cubans, then you will like the brew this serves. I am loyal to this simple little pot, and hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Review 2:
This coffee maker rocks. It makes coffee more quickly than a conventional electric coffee maker - in fact, it takes longer to boil water in a teapot than to make a pot of coffee w/ the Bialetti. You can make exactly how much coffee you want (need?), adn adjust the flavor. It is easy to make espresso-like coffee, and the flavor is strong and exquisite. The cleanup is quick and easy, except you have to wait for it to cool down. Plus there's no need for filters. And it's great for camping.
Review 3:
I was having to decide between this apparatus and a much more expensive machine. I wondered if I could get a great cup of coffee from a $20 device. So, curious as I was, I bought it. Now, some of the reviews have complained of foul taste but if you read the instructions like I do, you will note that Bialetti strongly recommends that you brew a pot or two to get those flavors out and get practice on how to use the Moka Express. Well, several cups later I am very pleased with the results. I do suggest that you use freshly ground coffees (that is grind it immediately before use). You can also use it for tea! How's that for versital! I found out that this pot has been around since 1933. If people are still buying them, they must be pretty darn good!
Review 4:
This is the perfect addition to the coffee lover's kitchen. This machine delivers all the flavor and aroma of espresso without the expense and bulk of a cappuccino machine. I highly recommend this product whether you are in a dorm in college or sharing a home with your spouse. Well made from a reputable company, and all the class and style that comes with its practical Italian design. You will not be disappointed with your purchase. Enjoy!
Review 5:
I bought the Bialetti six cup stovetop espresso maker and the tuttocrema frother about two years ago and use them frequently to make cappuccinos. When I was living in Germany, my hostess would make me a cappuccino with such a stovetop maker every morning and so I bought one when I returned to the states. She also had an expensive automatic machine, but I actually preferred when she used the stove-top maker. The six cup is enough to make two very large cappuccinos and if I want to make just one for me, I fill up the water and grounds only half way. So far it has worked wonderfully. The frother takes some practice, but I think the key is to make sure the milk is hot but not scalding and not to over-froth. If the milk is too hot it doesn't hold froth.
Review 6:
5 trips to Starbucks and this little baby is paid for!! It makes great espresso, and is easy to use.. especially if you read the reviews/tips left on here by other users, it takes alot of the guess work out for you!! My first couple pots were bitter (like it warns they may be) but after that it made perfect coffee everytime!
Review 7:
have had my 6-cup bialetti for about 2 years and it is a gem. Incredibly easy to use. Friends and family voluntarily compliment the espresso and cappucinos I serve them and then stare in amazement at the little pot it came from.
Have learned it gets a bit musty if you let it sit unused for while; it's easily cooked out with one pot of just water. I'm getting another one to have on hand in case something happens to this one.
Review 8:
The Bialetti needs to be primed with 2 or 3 batches of coffee before first use to prevent any aluminum flavor. Perhaps the author's taste buds have been spoiled by Sanka and too many trips to Starbucks to appreciate the fine compromise between drip coffee and espresso that the Bialetti offers the educated user.
Review 9:
Whoa! You want espresso.... this little pot makes great espresso. I've had a $300 fancy espresso maker and it was a pain to use. It ended up in the cupboard and finally I gave it away. But this little guy is a jewel. It makes the best coffee plus it looks good sitting out on the stove. For the price you can get one in every size!!
Review 10:
I use a Francis Francis X5 (pricey!!) at home and a Saeco Classico at work and let me tell you, the Bialetti Moka Express rivals both of those. Although you don't quite get the same crema, it doesn't seem to matter much in the end. What you get is strong espresso that isn't bitter like what you get when you use a french press. As the coffee brews, it percolates into the upper chamber which is great because it doesn't burn. I bought two of these as gifts for Christmas and both recipients were very impressed by the end result. It's a must have for any espresso aficianados, or those who want a strong cup of coffee on vacation. No wonder 9 out of 10 Italian families own at least one!
For more information visit the link below:


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May 08, 2014 09:00 AM
May 10, 2014 05:00 PM
|G-R06/7, English Faculty, University of Cambridge
|Contact Name
|Theresa Biberauer
|Add event to calendar
After the success of the two previous CamCoS conferences, we are happy to announce that CamCoS 3 is going to take place on 8–10 May 2014.
The first half day will feature talks by Cambridge-based researchers, followed by a full-day general session on comparative generative syntax. The final day of the conference will feature a themed session with invited speakers on the topic of variation in the morphophonological, morphosyntactic and morphosemantic domains.
In relation to the themed session, the central question we would like to address is to what extent it is possible to provide a formal account of cross-linguistic variation in the domain of morphology. More specifically, to the extent that there is a deeper basis to the classic morpho- logical types proposed by 19th and early 20th century philologists and anthropologist-linguists (principally, the Schlegels, Humboldt, Schleicher and Sapir), can they be captured in a princi- pled and explanatory manner? In other words, is it possible to think of morphology in parametric terms?
- Iris Berent (Northeastern University)
- Phil Branigan (Memorial University)
- Dunstan Brown (University of York)
- Nigel Duffield (Konan University)
- Daniel Harbour (Queen Mary, University of London)
- Martina Wiltschko (University of British Columbia)


text:
By Genre
Best, Bible
Verses, Classic,
English, Famous,
Remember when a Valentine
Was just a name that you just drew
And you could give that Paper Heart
To someone you barely knew.
Or you maybe gave your Heart
To everybody in your Class
Drawn and cut, with Your Words
That were so much Fun to pass.
And too, those little Candy Hearts
That you used to pass around
Searching Colors and the Words
Until that Perfect One was found.
And remember that Special One
Who made your Heart skip a beat
Who you gave that Special Card
Who gave your Heart a Special Treat.
And remember how easy it was
To tell a Classmate, "I Love You!"
Not just three meaningless words
Cause everyone knew they were True.
Oh, for those Days of Innocence
When everything seemed to be Just Fine
And you weren't afraid to ask aloud,
"Will you please be my Valentine?"
Written By Del "Abe" Jones
Share this page on your favorite social
us on Facebook!


text:
Works Cited
Monday, March 31, 2014
Girls: The Rise of the Anti-heroine and Viewership
4 comments:
I am fascinated with this blog. I had no idea that the demographic was that high for this show and that it is mainly men. I love the show and watch it on the reg, but I never it was so heavily watched by men. I personally think that show is hilarious and every single girl on the show has their own unique personality which is awesome. They all speak, act, dress, and like different things and it really adds versatility to the show. I would maybe explore a little more in HBO as a whole as to why the demographic is so high. There could be so many factors out there, maybe HBO is male dominated (I don't know the statistics) or maybe the show is before or after their favorite HBO show. Also more older people have HBO because they can afford it so this may be the cause. Nonetheless, your reasoning is very clear and I certainly agree with you that older males may watch it for the unconventional nudity and that they can get a feel for the culture their kids are growing up in. Great show, great post.ReplyDelete
Wow the facts about the older male demographic is incredibly surprising...no matter what reasons given it just blows my mind. I can see reasons for just about any demographic to tune in but to have that one be so prominent is very surprising. I really enjoyed this blog but I do wish it was more centered around either the anti-heroin or your ideas being the audience that is tuning in. Both are really cool angles to take on this ground breaking show and I would love to see you delve into one even more.ReplyDelete
I really enjoyed reading your blog post and I am a big fan of this show. As mentioned above, I've never known that older men tuned into this show, and I'm impressed with your justified reasoning as to why older men watch the series just so that they can understand their kids 'generation'/culture, along with tapping into the unconventional roles this show takes on both gender and sexuality is very interesting. I like how Girls both goes against gender norms--having a feminist framework, simultaneously reinforcing stereotypes as well. Overall, Great post!ReplyDelete
Great post! I'm a big fan of Girls and really enjoy how the characters break societal norms--making it very enjoyable to watch. I found it very shocking that a good sized demographic of Girls' viewers were older men. It is fascinating to wonder if these older men watch it because they are curious as to what 20 somethings life is nowadays or if it is because of the nudity (ew, I hope not). Very interesting topic to write about--I really enjoyed reading it!ReplyDelete


text:
to Shutter Shack
Welcome to the Shutter Shack.com retail store homepage.
Our knowledgeable Design Consultants will guide you through the
ordering process with care. Then our expert installers, who have
treated over 10,000 homes in the NY area, will carefully complete
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Shack's high quality work.
Shutter Shack retail offers a variety of products as well as being
a Preferred Hunter Douglas Dealer.
call today to have our Design Consultants help make your "house
a home"
rolling security shutters answer the requirements for privacy, security,
sun and light control, insulation, ventilation, and storm protection.
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and motorized with manual override.
Shack Table Pads are made with the highest standards. Unlike
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protect your table from temperatures up to 350 degrees. The pads
can be contoured exactly to your table dimensions.
shades protect your furnishings by reducing UV rays. Solar radiation
caused by skylights also impedes the operation of Air Conditioning.
We have many different products, which can be fabricated into skylight
Shutter Shack's Porch Shades provide cooling comfort and added
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or even a bath or den. We even have an exterior porch shade for
outdoor areas.
Shack has many more products that may not be listed above. Please
call us for more information if you don't see the product
you desire listed above


text:
Makeup and Hair styling services
Bridal Makeup | $125
Bridal Hair styling | $125
Bridesmaids/Moms/Guests Makeup | $85
Bridesmaids/Moms/Guests Hair styling | $85-95
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Choice of up-do, half up, all down hairstyle, braids
Touch up kit
trial | $85
All Make-up applications include skin prep & prime, detailed eye shadow look, custom faux eyelashes, brow shaping, blush, contour & highlight and lip color.
Travel fee and minimum booking may apply.
$150 Deposit and signed agreement required to secure your date.
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engagement, maternity, family, boudoir photos, head shots, birthday, bridal shower, baby shower
Makeup application | $75-95
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Makeup lesson
Individual or group makeup lessons are available for those who want to learn how to do everyday or special occasion makeup.
Together we will discover how to beautifully enhance your face shape and features.
I can teach your own gorgeous look with a personalized makeup lesson.


text:
Bag of Rice Crashes to N8,000 in Ebonyi State
A 50kg bag of rice is now selling for N8,000 in Ebonyi state, eastern Nigeria.This contrasts markedly with the over N20,000 price tag for imported rice.
The cheering news was reported by spokesman of Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okoroafor in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday..
Okoroafor is the Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN.
He spoke at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers.
"We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,".
He said that the Anchor Borrowers Programme for the promotion of Agriculture will make the country begin exportation of rice by 2017.
"We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier.
He further said: "What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths.
"Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign."
"Remember that the status of our farmers is now better due to the support they are receiving as a result of government's policy. Our currency is weak because we engaged in needless importation of all kinds of food stuffs, including tooth picks; the government is determined to stop this."
The Branch Controller, CBN, Yenagoa, Mr. Oke Nwajah, said the state was blessed with rich wet soil that supported rice cultivation.
He therefore, urged the farmers to take pride in farming, adding that the Anchor Borrowers Programme was an intervention to reduce their burden.


text:
We do not give importance to our garage security very often. It is assumed to be the store house for your vehicle and accessories required for its maintenance. The trust is it can serve as a loophole in the entire safety of your house. A burglar finds it easier to enter a garage and steal things; causing monetary loss to the owner.
Moreover, an open garage and a pull over truck don't seem to be an alarming situation to the passerby. Criminals can easily get away just by using master key. So, securing and safekeeping garage plans should be our utmost priority.
Kindly fine below a brief discussion about garage defense and safekeeping
• The first generation automatic doors were very venerable for theft. They all had the same security code which made the task of thieves easier. So, a matching transmitter in the wrong hands will be a great loss for the owner.
• In the second generation garage doors, the security system was tighter. But this didn't last long as with the help of code grabber the thieves were able to break into the safety doors. The code grabber not only memorizes your code but the thieves to get into your garage.
• To overcome the above drawbacks the modern automatic doors were featured with rolling code technology. It helped in generating a new code each time the garage owner presses the remote. The new codes minimize of codes by thieves.
• Always try to keep them in remote in a safer place, out of the reach of outside. Many people have the habit of keeping the remote in the car. This will increase the accessibility to outsiders and ultimately make the garage safety vulnerable.
• Burglar alarm system will be handy to keep the thieves out of the buy. The door joining the garage and your house be made up of hardwood and your valuable in the house. Thieves also have a dislike for strong doors.
• Sometimes the grab handle in your garage can help the criminals to trip the security system. With the help of grab handle, one can open the garage door manually. The safety release mechanism can be easily disengaged by a coat hanger.
• It is always advisable not to confront the thieves because they may shoot you. On the contrary either you can alert the nearby police patrolling team or press an alarm button that will alert your neighbors.
• Insert a peephole in the door joining the garage and you and your house. By doing this you can have can a quick look at the secret events in your garage without putting your life at risk.
• Try to cover up your garage windows to minimize the visual ail for thieves. The criminals should have the least idea about the whereabouts of the car and things in the garage.
• Last but not the least the maintenance of the mechanical pasts in the garage should be done regularly. You should check all the joints of the doors, hinges, and connecting parts. The better the maintenance the efficient your security system will be.
With the advent of many modern day surveillance gadgets monitoring has become easier. Hence the defense and safekeeping of your garage are in your hands.
How reassuring are garage defense and safekeeping
We do not give importance to our garage security very often. It is assumed to be the store house for your vehicle and accessories required for its maintenance. The trust is it can serve as a loophole in the entire safety of your house. A burglar finds it easier to enter a garage and steal things; causing monetary loss to the owner.


text:
Wind: Monthly and Annual Average Wind GIS Data at One-Degree Resolution of the World from NASA/SSE (1983-1993)
- Author(s)
- NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center
- Description
- This polygon shapefile contains data for wind speed at 50 m above the surface of the Earth (m/s) These data are 10-year monthly and annual averages ranging from July 1983 to June 1993. The source data was downloaded from the Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy (SSE) website as text files. The tabular data was then converted to the shapefile format. This is the 5th release of these data.These data provide investors and other stakeholders with reliable, verifiable and accessible information on the solar resource potential for the data domain.
- Publisher
- NASA Langley Atmospheric Sciences Data Center
- Place(s)
- Earth and Earth (Planet)
- Subject(s)
- Wind power, Climatology, Meteorology and Atmosphere, and Utilities and Communication
- Year
- 1983 and 1993
- Held by
- Stanford
- More details at
- http://purl.stanford.edu/wp386wc6721
- Use and reproduction
- This item is in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use.
- Copyright
- This work is in the Public Domain, meaning that it is not subject to copyright.
|Click on map to inspect values


text:
Sure, TCU made the grade against Jackson State in its opener. But what about a test against a Southeastern Conference school ... on the road?
Pffft, not a problem.
In most ways, the No. 23 Horned Frogs dominated for the second consecutive week with a 28-7 takedown of Arkansas. To do it in front of a sell-out crowd of 73,668 at Razorback Stadium, however, was impressive. The seven total points allowed through two games are the fewest for TCU since holding Grambling State and Kansas to six the first two weeks of 2012.
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B — Not a ton of flash but it wasn't necessary in what became a battle at the line of scrimmage. TCU's offensive line led the way to 361 yards, including 195 yards rushing. Darius Anderson had a 106 yards, including a 14-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter. Kenny Hill completed 21 of 31 passes for 166 yards and an interception and also rushed for 35 yards. He spread it around, too, completing passes to eight receivers. Desmon White and KaVontae Turpin led the Frogs with five catches each. A fumble by center Patrick Morris on a snap at the Arkansas 3 squandered a scoring chance on TCU's first drive of the second half.
A+ — Seventeen Horned Frogs recorded tackles, including a team-high eight by Ridwan Issahaku, who had one of three sacks and two of the six tackles for loss by TCU. Ben Banogu and Innis Gaines each forced fumbles. The defense was more dominant than the final statistics indicate. After the Razorbacks gained 137 yards in the first quarter, they were held to 130 the final three quarters, including just 10 in the second quarter.
Special teams
A — The kickoff coverage team iced the game after the Frogs took a 21-7 lead with 2:18 to play. Innis Gaines forced a fumble that Sammy Douglas recovered at the Arkansas 13. Sewo Olonilua scored from there out of the Wildcat formation to give the Frogs a commanding 28-7 lead. Jonathan Song converted his four point-after attempts. Turpin returned two kickoffs for a combined 60 yards, including a long of 37 yards
Extra credit
Defensive end Ben Banogu's sack and forced fumble on Arkansas' first series of the game forced a punt and set a tone TCU maintained the rest of the day. He had seven tackles and a sack in each game.
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST


text:
Truly lonely this place is flatter than it seems1 comments Published by keith on 4.27.2007 at 15:05
The Chris Hansen soundboard is exactly how I feel today.
I've had a weird-ass headache for 2 days now - it feels like a fucked up contact lens, but I'm not even wearing them today. I'm wicked-get-out tired - instead of lunch I took a nap in my car. The Carpenters have come up on the iPod - I say "Goodbye to Love" indeed. Tonight is Modest Mouse, and I'm so not feeling it right now. I know about 5 minutes before they go on I'll be in full on AI crying girl mode, but right now I just want to sleep for days.
Actually, the MM set lists look white hot - can I tell you a secret? I've barely listened to the new record once. They're not especially concentrating on new material this time around, so Issac Brock can still be my Sanjaya.
Hinges rusting, they swing louder than anything0 comments Published by keith on 4.25.2007 at 17:23
Calmly crashing, I pace faster than anyone0 comments Published by keith on at 15:14
- In continuing with my love for all things fourfour, I just spent hours catching up on the Celebreality blog. Including reading every I Love New York recap in one sitting.
- In continuing with my love of unknown Lollapalooza bands, I checked out Jeepster by Bang Bang Bang via their myspace. Will I try to see them live? THE ANSWER IS I MAY ACTUALLY ACTIVELY AVOID THEM.
- In continuing with my love of words on skin, last week I got a new one on my leg...and my man fucked it up. For reals - in the tattoo chair I hear "I need to talk to you in a minute", and it sounded as bad as it sounds. "Feellng". In case you were wondering, when a tattoo artist messes up that critically, what they immediately do is start tattooing hydrogen peroxide over the error, to break up the ink. My faith is strong [we won't know for sure until the scab falls off, but it looks like a promising fix], and I'm supposed to check in with him tonight, but because I am ass full of busy through Saturday I'm not going to get to him until tomorrow.
- In continuing with my love of web-logging, I rescued most of the lost one yesterday. I may or may not bother with trying to complete the salvage and just let the wayback machine be my archive.
Truly sorry, I see clearly0 comments Published by keith on 4.24.2007 at 14:41
Dear Rich,
This is my new desktop image. PS, I love you.
You're on, you're wrong, Ohio0 comments Published by keith on at 13:22
Today, it all about the big ass music festivals.
- I was reminded of a dream I had last night about the Pitchfork Music Festival. GZA performing Liquid Swords. Really? I wasn't dreaming that?
- Coachella released set times today, and I officially decided I am way jealous that I'm not going this year. I spent an hour pretending about what I would see if I were going.
- I am, however, attending Lollapalooza in August, and have started checking out some of those lesser known bands.
Andover, by Bound Stems, from Appreciation Night
Western Biographic by Bound Stems, from Appreciation Night
There's roots there's pipes, there's drainage leaks0 comments Published by keith on 4.23.2007 at 13:46
Today, my two favorite women are Jerri "I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO SAY" Blank
and Trudy "I DID SOMETHING" Wiegel
Yesterday was not a good day, so I made a tape. It was only the second time, and I know where my mistakes are. This is totally the last demonstration file, I assure you. If I ever do this again it'll sound nice.
If anyone out there can answer an Audacity question - is there a way to level the volume of the entire file once it's all put together?
You know what would be awesome? If I had the time today to write all about making tapes the way Nick Hornby does. That would be awesome. As it stands, I don't even have time to give you the track list.
PS- There's a lot going on underneath0 comments Published by keith on 4.20.2007 at 11:54
I've got a million things to look at in my link dump, but this morning I noticed that upcoming.org finally got it's Yahoo! makeover, and is now upcoming.yahoo.com. I got to log in with my Yahoo ID and merge my account. It's like WEB 2.0 WAR - everywhere now I can log in via Yahoo or Google - who will win and buy all the websites! It is like monopoly!
While I was there, I updated all of my events, since there's a whole bunch of stuff I'm not even going to pretend to try and get to anymore. I just left the stuff I actually have tickets for. I was really on the fence about going to the big Kristin Hersh show tomorrow night, but now that it's stringless my decision has been made to just stay home. Maybe try and fix the old web-log, so I don't just throw away 5 years of web-logging. On Sunday I have an actual date, because you know, when it pours it rains. It was totally tempting to create an event for that - you know, put it on my calendar, as if I might forget.
Dropped off a note that said "I'm giving this note back"0 comments Published by keith on 4.18.2007 at 15:15
There's no key quote here. It's all good.
I was pretty sure the internet was broken today, until a number of websites referred me to...to...
I'm not really sure WHAT this is. I can't even begin. Added bonus, it's already been pulled from YouTube, so you know it's white hot.
On the way he took a nap0 comments Published by keith on 4.17.2007 at 14:09
So last week was the big Lollapalooza line up announcement, and while I was slightly underwhelmed, I'm still going. The big dilemma for me has been whether Pitchfork might be better or not, because Pitchfork has Grizzly Bear, Sonic Youth performing Daydream Nation and hipsters. Lollapalooza has Daft Punk and
Well, not much else, really. But anyway, it's a weekend in Chicago and there's more than enough for me to pull together a list of things I must see
- Daft Punk
- Interpol
- Lupe Fiasco
- TV on the Radio
- Yo La Tengo
- Modest Mouse
- Amy Winehouse
- LCD Soundsystem
- Blonde Redhead
- Pete Yorn
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
- !!!
- The Polyphonic Spree
- Peter Bjorn and John
- Silversun Pickups
- The Rapture
- Roky Erikson and the Explosives
- Cold War Kids
- Fields
Took a bus straight to Baltimore1 comments Published by keith on 4.16.2007 at 14:09
So last night was the big indie pop show at the Somerville Theater. The Books played with Greg Davis.
Honestly, I need to start off with The Books. I had never actually heard their music, just of them. You know, recommended highly by trustworthy people. And they weren't horrible by any means - just kind of - OK. Are they better on record maybe? I was expecting this complete hipster-gasm from the show and all I got was some OK tunes and some OK films and it was all very nice, acoustic guitar and cello. It just wasn't what they had been built up to me to be. The crowd loved it though.
However the real star of the night for me was opener Greg Davis. I can't remember the last time music made me feel almost physically ill.
He started out pretty unassuming, and honestly, I thought it was just going to be some shitty new-age samply shit, what with his sitting on the stage without shoes and fancy percussion instruments. What we wound up getting was a sound sculpture that held right up among artists like Animal Collective, Michael Gira's Body Lovers or even John Cage. And like Third Eye Foundation, you just sit in awe that one person is making all this noise. The transition between the two pieces was the audio equivalent of being on a Scrambler that's been running hot for 15 minutes, and it's finally slowing down, and now you really feel sick.
The merch table was way too crowded, maybe because The Books were selling oven mitts. I wasn't able to get to Greg to compliment him on his set or buy a record. Would I go see The Books again? THE ANSWER IS NO, BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY WERE BAD, BECAUSE IT JUST REALLY WASN'T MY THING.
No I don't like this change of pace0 comments Published by keith on 4.13.2007 at 12:41
Well now, that was fun.
So sometime yesterday morning while I was working on some - comment keywords - I broke my database, corrupted a table, whatever. The point of the story is that I'm real tired of php, SQL, CSS and fuck it. I'm just going to let Blogger do the job.
Originally, I published with Blogger for a long time, onto a domain hosted by Geocities. Unfortunately, that domain name was a little too close to my own, and I wasn't all into being Googled.
Next, I took a domain from a line in a Interpol song. Also published by Blogger, hosted on Geocities. Also, there were issues with capital letters back then.
I outgrew Blogger then in two ways - comments and tagging posts. Back then Blogger was not comment or trackback friendly AT ALL. Additionally, I liked the idea of categories, and made the decision to jump to Wordpress. Why Wordpress over Movable Type? It installed on my server easier. I bought a new domain, hosted by iPower which not only allowed server-side scripting for these state of the art web-logging tools, but 3 times as much disk space for 1/3 the cost. Multiple weblogs on one page. Mmm.
Of course, that all meant that I now had to administer the web-log, which got real old real fast. With this latest crash and all the advances Blogger had made in the past few years I just decided it's easier to come back to Blogger and publish here. When I first started on the sickoffood domain, I commented to Joshua from Crabwalk that in continuing naming websites after American Music Club songs from Everclear, my next one would be:
The Dead Part of You. And so it is - just with a 'blogspot' instead of a dot-com.
I'm keeping sickoffood.com for now - files, podcasts, whatever. Playing around to try and get back into the old database. I'll probably turn the redirect off at the end of this month, so update your bookmarks now [as "The Dead Part of You", please]. This has seriously been the worst week ever.
Download American Music Club's Everclear, free 'n' legal.


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Mamiya 7
Urban Ranger: Empty Places
Shrine with Origami Cranes
Colourful collections of origami cranes are often found in Shinto shrines around Japan. The Japanese word for crane is tsuru. The crane is a symbol long life, happiness, peace and good luck. In Japanese folklore, the crane was thought to live for a thousand years, which is why it's a symbol of longevity.
The Tokyo Skytree
I wanted a shot of the Tokyo Skytree. But I wanted a shot that would include both the sky and a real tree. In the park on the opposite side of the Sumida River near the Sumida River Boat Terminal — where you can board a water bus — I found an angle I liked. The real tree dominates the frame, making the Tokyo Skytree look very small. In reality, the structure is 634 m tall. That's taller than the CN Tower. In fact, it's the second tallest free standing structure in the world.
Wash & Fold Laundromat
Flowers and doggy
The joy and pleasure of street photography is in finding little scenes that are usually overlooked by passersby. This urban micro-setting captured my attention while wondering the streets of Tokyo, Japan in May. The cluster of flower pots and the cute, diminutive statue of a dog, arranged on one side of the concrete dividing wall evoked in me a curiosity about the person who created it. Did he or she have a cherished pet, now passed away, for which the statue is a tribute? Or are the flowers simply a way to brighten the entry to a rather dull, urban dwelling?


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Attack on Karim Morani, Mahesh Bhatt: One more person arrested in the case
One more person has been arrested in connection with the plot to kill filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and the firing outside Bollywood producer Karim Morani's residence.entertainment Updated: Nov 22, 2014 22:21 IST
One more person has been arrested in connection with the plot to kill filmmaker
and the firing outside Bollywood producer Karim Morani's residence here in August, taking the number of arrests made in the twin cases to 14.
The accused, Ravi Singh, was apprehended yesterday for his alleged role in arranging six firearms for the gang members, deputy commissioner of police (Crime) Mohan Dahikar said.
Singh played a key role in procuring firearms which were found in possession of the other accused, who are all members of a gang led by a fugitive underworld don, Ravi Pujari, arrested in both cases, police said.
Singh, who works as a watchman in Nalasopara, a distant Mumbai suburb, had accompanied Ishrat Shaikh, one of the arrested gangsters, to Madhya Pradesh to buy the six pistols and 30-odd live cartridges from an arms supplier, who was paid Rs 80,000, police added.
In a three-day operation beginning November 15, police busted two modules, which were operating at the behest of foreign-based Pujari, and apprehended 13 of his men.
Some of the 13 accused held last week, had fired three bullets in the air outside the residence of Morani on August 23, police said.
The others were about to target Bhatt outside his office in suburban Khar on November 15 when police acted swiftly and nabbed them along with firearms.
First Published: Nov 22, 2014 21:59 IST


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Why 'My First Bike'?
'My First Bike!' is one of the most fulfilling team-building experiences. Teams work together to assemble children's bicycles. In this highly structured, fun-filled and emotionally charged learning experience; teams learn to identify, polish and refine their team-working skills. At the end of the activity; the bicycles teams construct are distributed to the underprivileged children.
The high-energy, high-impact 'My First Bike!' experience will build, fortify and strengthen your team fabric. The experience will touch their hearts – while putting smiles on faces of the children receiving your generous donation in the form of their first bicycle. Together, your team will create a memorable day filled with a deeper sense of satisfaction, collaboration, harmony and achievement.
Receiving the first bicycle is one of the fondest childhood memories for kids. But for the many disadvantaged families throughout Pakistan, it is tough to afford the cost of food and rent, let alone luxuries like toys and bicycles. Although bicycling can help children build coordination and self-esteem, and provides a wonderful source of exercise, many kids are forced to go without this cherished childhood pastime.
Team Possibilities aims to distribute 100,000 bicycles to the deprived children through 'My First Bike!' initiative. Based on a powerful bled of team building with Service-Learning, this distinctive program will inspire and motivate corporate Pakistan to not only build stronger teams but also give a reason to the poor kids to smile.
Distribution Of Bikes
Key Objectives
For most of the children involved in 'My First Bike', typically ages 7-9, this will be their first bicycle! We partner with charities such as Possibilities Foundation and The Citizen Foundation (TCF) to reach out to the deprived children all over Pakistan. We're also happy to partner with a local charity of your choice.
You can also choose to distribute the bicycles among the deserving children of your non-management staff and factory/plant worker.
My First Bike!' is designed to achieve three core objectives:
Developing a sense of purpose, passion and performance in teams
Sharpening team-work skills Building a sense of connection and bond
Opening minds to serving the community
Fostering open communication and trust in teams
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Contact us | Partnerships & Alliances | Careers | Blog


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J&K: Prosecution sanction issued against ex-minister Vakil
The state law department today accorded sanction for prosecution of former minister Abdul Gani Vakil for levelling "malicious and defamatory" charges against his own party colleague and state irrigation and public health engineering minister Taj Mohiuddin.india Updated: Jul 19, 2012 18:54 IST
Hindustan Times
The state law department on Thursday accorded sanction for prosecution of former minister Abdul Gani Vakil for levelling "malicious and defamatory" charges against his own party colleague and state irrigation and public health engineering minister Taj Mohiuddin.
"After being satisfied with the material available, I accord sanction for prosecution of ex-minister Abdul Gani Vakil for making false, malicious and defamatory allegations in various local newspapers against Taj Mohiuddin," said GH Tantray, secretary, state law department.
However, Vakil told the Hindustan Times he did not receive the law department's notification.
This is first time ever in the state that any minister has invoked clauses of Section 198-B of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which provides Protection to President and ministers in case of false allegations of corruption, against his own colleague.
A public wrangling between Mohiuddin and Vakil surfaced in January this year when latter accused the minister of failing to stop "scams and financial mismanagement in departments coming under him".
"You had chosen to maintain a criminal silence which speaks of your irresponsive attitude and lack of will to fight corrupt practices rampant in your department," wrote Vakil in a letter to Mohiuddin. The letter was leaked to the media. Vakil also wrote to Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the matter.
"I approached to the chief minister's office in February to take action in the wake of false allegations by Vakil. It's after six months of investigations that all the allegations were found baseless," Mohiuddin told the Hindustan Times.
"You cannot accuse a minister of corruption, when the charges are completely false and malicious," said Mohiuddin.
The Congress minister with a cabinet berth in the Omar Abdullah's government, said, "I had to take legal course. Otherwise, credibility of the government was at stake. No one should go public with such wild allegations. I cannot allow this."
"I have not made any defamatory remark against the minister," said Vakil, adding, "I will come up with a formal response only I see the notification."
The state Congress is divided into three lobbies --- one headed by Sonia loyalist Saif-ud-Din Soz, another by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and third by Taj Mohiuddin. All nurtures the ambition of becoming chief minister of the state. The prosecuted Congress leader, Vakil, is very close to Azad, who continues to influence state politics from New Delhi.
First Published: Jul 19, 2012 18:49 IST


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Teen Wolf exclusive first look: Dylan O'Brien's officially back in season 6
Teen Wolf exclusive first look: Dylan O'Brien's officially back in season 6
It's official: EW can exclusively reveal that Dylan O'Brien will appear in Teen Wolf's sixth season. Despite suffering injuries while filming Maze Runner: The Death Cure, the actor will still play a crucial role when the show returns this fall. Furthermore, Teen Wolf showrunner Jeff Davis assures EW that Stiles' role might be more important than ever.
"Stiles is a big part of the season because a lot of this season's mystery revolves around him," Davis says. "We're going to see just what Stiles' friendship means to Scott, Lydia, and Malia. We're going to see why exactly he's Scott's best friend, what it means that he's Malia's human anchor, and what his will-they-or-won't-they relationship is with Lydia."
EW has an exclusive first look at O'Brien in the first episode of season 6 (below), in which many fans will take note of a hand brace. However, as the photo was taken before O'Brien left to work on the third Maze Runner film, Davis says it was a completely separate injury. "That is a Dylan O'Brien injury that was written into the show," Davis says. "You'll see what happens with that in the first episode."
But looking past the first episode, Davis says that putting Stiles at the center of the season 6 mystery had always been the plan. So despite the fact that the below photo was taken before O'Brien's accident, Davis' season-long plan didn't change post-accident. "When we were going into discussing this season, knowing that Dylan O'Brien had a big movie he was going off to do, we wanted to make sure that Stiles was going to be a very important part of Teen Wolf 6A," Davis says. "So a lot of this story is about Stiles."
Although Davis wouldn't spoil exactly why everyone is going to have to re-analyze their relationship with Stiles this year, Teen Wolf star Tyler Posey elaborates a bit, telling EW: "Everybody has a lot of reflecting to do. It's beautiful. It's so cool what we do. You fall in love with Stiles every episode. It really makes you think of all the cool s–t that we've done with Stiles and Scott over the past few years, so it's a really reminiscent season."
As for the friendship between Scott and Stiles — which was put to the test in season 5 — Posey adds, "They're very in love with each other."
Image Credit: MTV
Teen Wolf is set to return this fall on MTV.
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Post-Season Predictions: Final Update
I assumed that Cleveland would once again prove me wrong when they went up 3 games to 1 against the Cubs. However, the Cubs came back and made me look good. I had Chicago winning in 6 so picking the winner and being off by only one game looks good on paper. I only picked two series incorrectly during the entire post season (Wild Card games included). Both losses occurred when I went against Cleveland (versus Toronto and Boston).
Game 7 reflections and other random thoughts:
I don't remember a game when players went from being potential goats to evening-up the ledger almost immediately. Want an example? Baez's makes two terrible errors and then he subsequently homers. Want another one? Ross throws the ball away then hits a home run in his next at bat. The last time I saw things balance out so quickly for someone was the episode of Seinfield where he throws a $20 out the window and by the end of the episode gets a $20 back.
There is always a lot of talk about using the best relief pitchers in the highest leverage situations rather than simply to get the final three outs of a game. Francona demonstrated this with his use of Miller once he joined Cleveland via trade during the regular season. He continued this throughout the post season and was joined by Maddon when the Cubs deployed Chapman in new and interesting ways. Although there was a lot of positives to this strategy, both managers appeared to overly rely on this strategy and appeared to deploy the big guns when it seemed ill advised or even unnecessary. Unfortunately for both teams a combination of wear, tear, fatigue, and batter familiarity finally caught up with the bullpen studs. They became more hittable at the most crucial times in game 7. Although the results from using top bullpen arms in high leverage situations (regardless of inning) paid dividends multiple times, it will be interesting to see whether teams emulate this approach next season or whether it becomes a strictly post season (or even just Cleveland and to a lesser extent Cub) phenomenon.
Does Chapman resign with the Cubs or does someone internally (or more likely, externally) take the closer role? The Cubs are going to have to pay up if they want to keep Chapman. 2017 will be his age 29 season. His ERA+ in his last three seasons have been 185, 244, and 273, he has a career 1.88 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), and a .99 WHIP. If not Chapman, then who will be the premier bullpen arm the club signs? The top two free agent options with 'closer experience' include 29 year old Kenley Jansen (ERA+ of 213 and a FIP of 1.44 in 2016 and a career mark of 13.9 strikeouts per 9 innings) and almost 32 year old Mark Melancon (257 ERA+ and FIP of 2.42 in 2016 and a career average of 8.2 strikeouts per 9 innings). Both will cost a ton to sign. It will be interesting to see the direction Theo and company decide to take.
What will the Cubs starting line-up look like next year? They are extremely deep throughout the roster and it will be interesting to see if they make any significant moves. Will they re-sign Fowler who has elected free agency? Will Schwarber end up in the outfield full time, will he get anytime at catcher, or do they sell high and trade him to an AL team that can DH him? Where does World Series MVP, Ben Zobrist, play if Baez is at second, Russell is at short, and the outfield becomes Schwarber, Soler, and Heyward? These are all interesting questions and problems most teams would love to have.


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Lender Processing Services, Inc. (NYSE: LPS), a leading provider of integrated technology, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries, reports the following "first look" at September 2011 month-end mortgage performance statistics derived from its loan-level database of nearly 40 million mortgage loans.
|Total U.S. loan delinquency rate (loans 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure):
|Month-over-month change in delinquency rate:
|Year-over-year change in delinquency rate:
|Total U.S. foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate:
|Month-over-month change in foreclosure presale inventory rate:
|Year-over-year change in foreclosure presale inventory rate:
|Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: (A)
|Number of properties that are 90 or more days delinquent, but not in foreclosure:
|Number of properties in foreclosure pre-sale inventory: (B)
|Number of properties that are 30 or more days delinquent or in foreclosure: (A+B)
|States with highest percentage of non-current* loans:
|States with the lowest percentage of non-current* loans:
*Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a percent of active loans in that state.
(1) Totals are extrapolated based on LPS Applied Analytics' loan-level database of mortgage assets
(2) All whole numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand
The company will provide a more in-depth review of this data in its monthly Mortgage Monitor report, which includes an analysis of data supplemented by in-depth charts and graphs that reflect trend and point-in-time observations. The Mortgage Monitor report will be available on LPS' Web site, http://www.lpsvcs.com/NEWSROOM/INDUSTRYDATA/Pages/default.aspx, on October 27, 2011.
For more information about gaining access to LPS' loan-level database, please send an e-mail to email@example.com.
About Lender Processing Services
Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) is a leading provider of integrated technology, services and mortgage performance data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries. LPS offers solutions that span the mortgage continuum, including lead generation, origination, servicing, workflow automation (Desktop®), portfolio retention and default, augmented by the company's award-winning customer support and professional services. Approximately 50 percent of all U.S. mortgages by dollar volume are serviced using LPS' Mortgage Servicing Package (MSP). LPS also offers proprietary mortgage and real estate data and analytics for the mortgage and capital markets industries. For more information about LPS, visit www.lpsvcs.com.
CONTACT: Media, Michelle Kersch, +1-904-854-5043, email@example.com, or Investor, LPS Investor Relations, +1-904-854-5086, firstname.lastname@example.com
Web Site: http://www.lpsvcs.com
Tagged with: (NYSE: LPS) • Business • Credit score • Delinquent • Economy • Fannie Mae • FHA Loan • FICO • Financial • Foreclosure • Foreclosures • Freddie Mac • Home Sales • Industry • Lender • Lender Processing Services • Loan • Loan Broker • Markets • Mortgage loan • Mortgage Loans • Mortgage Rate • Real estate • REO • short sales
Filed under: Real Estate


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Plenty of things have been happening here, although nothing really all that newsworthy. Still, in the interest of keeping track of my life, I am writing it down.
I found a painter who has time to paint our living room and the entire hallway, top to bottom. He said he would start on Monday.... this caused a bit of frenzied decision making last weekend. Which shade of not quite white should we choose? At the moment, our living room walls are a dirty shade of unbleached bread flour white. The hallway is a very light shade of grey with smudges of greasy fingers along the wall up the stairs and scuffs and dents. Some places are shiny from all the scrubbing away of smudges. Not a pretty sight. I always think that I am not that fussy when it comes to choosing the right shade of paint but faced by 14 different shades of light grey, I felt completely overwhelmed. I was also shocked about the price of paint! I peaked into the living room this morning, I think I can live with our choice.
I got a quote for fixing the windows that need fixing urgently.
Annie was supposed to go on a Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition last weekend. The moors and hills were still snow covered, the forecast was for torrential rain, the temperatures hovering only marginally above freezing. I think it is unreasonable to expect anyone hiking and camping in these conditions, unless they were really keen. Annie wasn't. That's unusual because she is very adventurous and not usually bothered by the weather. She is also only 14. Her last expedition saw temperatures around -8 degrees in the night and she barely slept despite having adequate equipment and clothing. I had contacted the Scout leader the previous weekend to say that Annie would not be participating in this planned trek. I asked if it might be possible to move the expeditions to later in Spring as it had been particularly cold and snowy and the countryside had not recovered yet. The answer was no and that this would mean no DoE qualification for Annie this year. This is nonsense of course, there are plenty of opportunities to plan and undertake DoE expeditions, privately also. I confirmed twice more that Annie was ok with that and that she would not participate. Two other parents also made the same decision. I was surprised that at no point were any of the parents acknowledged. The leader kept sending updates for route cards etc until Friday night at 8pm. Apparently the route needed adapting due to atrocious weather. It had moved from the Leapmoor area south of Glasgow up to Aberfoyle and back. By that time I was so wound up, that I nearly cried but we did not waver in our decision. At 9 pm we got an email saying that the expedition was now cancelled because three young people had pulled out and that there were not enough youngsters now to meet the required minimum numbers. My upset turned into anger, it wasn't just a last minute decision to withdraw the kids, he had known for almost a week. He then went on to moan about the effort it all took him to reorganise the route to adapt for weather conditions and finished by saying that there would be no further expeditions until the new school year. What a dickhead. Communication skills of a dead parrot and a reluctance to work with youngsters and parents, not good attributes for a scout leader. I am so glad we stood firm. Richard happened to be out in the expedition area with his bike club by sheer coincidence and said the conditions were really hostile. I was absolutely delighted that the heavy rain and wind didn't stop once all Saturday and well into the night, it made me feel a bit better about making a fuss.
I also found out that the last (accompanied) expedition was not just miserable because of the subzero temperatures. One of Annie's friends broke the silence to her mum and said that the leader was really unpleasant on this previous trip and that the girls in particular were humiliated and ridiculed on more than one occasion. We are talking about a second dickhead scout leader here btw. He thought for example that it was hilarious when the drinking water in their bottles froze. They were not allowed a camp fire and were sent to their tents at 5 pm. No wonder the night was so long. It is not the first time that we had to deal with this kind of behaviour. Sam in fact left scouts because he felt it was inappropriate to be treated with so much disrespect. I am torn between appreciating the effort and time that goes into organising scouting activities (and the effort it must take to keep 15 teenagers under control) and the urge to demand loudly that scout leaders be compassionate, supportive and inspirational rather than disparaging and irascible. What should I do? On the whole, Annie really loves scouts.
For mothers day, Annie made waffles with bacon and maple syrup for our breakfast (just as well she wasn't camping). It was a nice treat. James and Alistair made me cards. Alistair composed a poem, which states that I sometimes cook, always wear the same coat and always likes to give him hugs. James drew a landscape with giant bumble bees (the queen bumble is wearing a crown), and a parrot. He drew the family but ran out of space and missed out Sam and Annie. Alistair ran out of time, there is the essential people (mum, dad, James and himself) and the legs of another not-specified sibling. I am not sure what to make of these family impressions. I may have to reflect on that for a bit. Sam told me on Saturday, when I picked him up from dishwashing, that he had a present for me. I was rather excited. It turns out it is eternal love. I guess that's good enough for me. For dinner, I made salt and pepper prawns. It was a bit of a faff but quite enjoyable. I accidentally bought king prawns that had their shells on and were not deveined. Deep frying is not something I often do but it was worth it.
I am not sure if you are aware of the UCU strike actions against the planned changes to the pension plans of university employees that are members of the USS pension scheme? The strike action is huge, this is the third week of strike. I think this goes beyond the USS pension scheme and is also about the gradual erosion of many other pension schemes. Some of these may not have strong unions behind them. I am participating by working to contract (this is called action short of strike) because this is an action I am relatively comfortable with. Probably due to my upbringing, I am profoundly uncomfortable with strike action. If you are familiar with academia, you'll know that working to contract is pretty much unheard of. There is no paid overtime and every single professional (academic and non-academic) I know works very long hours. In fact, the best time of day to catch a bloke I am working with is from 10:30 pm onwards. So this is what we do, communicate after 10:30 pm to get our course organised because there are too many meetings and other commitments during the day. Anyway, I am supporting the strike action within the artificial limited boundaries my own mind has erected. Yesterday I joined the picket line. It was like a really big thing for me, I worry about the repercussions and consequences a lot but I owe it to my colleagues that give up two weeks of pay to fight for my pension (which has been worth less and less since I first joined the pension scheme). I am pleased with the huge support the action has from student bodies. It is good to see that education is seen as more than a financial transaction by a reasonable number of students. A show of hand unanimously rejected a proposed agreement at a members meeting this morning. I don't think it is a decision that people take lightly because it means more strike action. I have vowed to myself to participate in at least one full day of strike in the coming weeks and to make a donation to the strike fund. Wish me luck that I find the courage to do it.
James is out for a whole day of outdoor adventures with school. He packet his own bag following the instructions on the kit list. Only he packed both spare kit and the kit he was going to wear, and a bag of crisps. I thought this was quite funny. I unpacked one set for him to wear, which he thought was a bit puzzling.
My regular yoga teacher is back after a prolonged period of absence due to sickness. I had forgotten how hard it is to remain in downward dog for several minutes! My triceps are still tingling.
I bought a notebook today in the hope to keep track of my achievements and failures. Maybe it is easier to stay on course if I take a moment or two every day to reflect and take notes.
That's my Tuesday mixed bag of news. I think it reflects some of the conflicting Christinas quite well. Thanks for stopping by. x


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Dental Staff
All professionals at Galleria Dental maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the medical field. Read on to learn more about our staff's experience and training.
Dr. Sendor
Dr. Sendor has received several degrees which include; Bachelors of Science with honors from the University of Southern Illinois - Carbondale, Masters of Biomedical Science with certification in Health Professions Education from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine in North Chicago Illinois, Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Illinois at Chicago - College of Dentistry. Dr Sendor received special recognition for his exemplary work in the field of periodontics and was an honorary recipient of the Dr. Gerals L. Wine award due to outstanding patient interaction / relations. Dr Sendor is a member of the American Dental Association, Illinois State Dental Association and Chicago Dental Society. Dr Sendor focuses on comprehensive care in order to assure the greatest successes for all patient's oral health. Additionally his inter-professional networking allows him to work hand in hand with various other specialist to address more complex treatment planning situations and patient needs.


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If you are planning a trip to Iran, it is important that you learn about the Iran foreign entry requirements before arriving in the country. Without the proper documentation, you may not be allowed to enter.
All U.S. citizens are required to have a valid passport and visa when traveling to Iran, and you will be fingerprinted upon arrival. According to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs website, even with the appropriate travel documents, you may not be allowed to enter the country.
Additional information about these requirements is included below. However, entry requirements are subject to change. For the most up to date information, contact the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan.
There are additional requirements for individuals with dual U.S.-Iranian citizenship. For more information, visit the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs website.
According to the Iran foreign entry requirements, all U.S. citizens are required to have a passport with at least six months validity remaining to enter Iran. If you do not have a passport or your current passport is damaged or does not have the requisite validity, you must obtain a new one before arriving.
U.S. citizens must obtain a visa from the Iranian Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan before arriving in Iran. (NOTE: Visas are not required for travel to Kish Island.)
When you apply for a visa, you will be required to provide a variety of forms and supporting documents, so your application can be processed. The exact requirements vary based on the purpose of your trip. However, below are some items that are commonly required to secure a visa to satisfy the Iran foreign entry requirements.
Visa Requirements
This list is not meant to be all-inclusive and visa requirements are subject to change. For the most up to date visa information, contact the Iran Interests Section of the Embassy of Pakistan.
U.S. citizens are fingerprinted upon arriving in Iran.
Passport and Visa Service
Identifying the application requirements that apply to your particular situation can often be the most difficult part of the process. However, it is also the most important because even a small mistake can delay the issuance of the travel documents you need to satisfy the Iran foreign entry requirements.
When you need help securing your travel documents, a professional passport and visa expediting service like "company name" can provide the assistance you're looking for.
Passport and visa companies are authorized by the U.S. Department of State as well as foreign embassies and consulates to submit applications on behalf of their clients. They are also experts in the application process, and they can help make sure you get your application right the first time.
When you work with a professional service, you will receive detailed instructions about the information you need to submit with your application, so it can be processed efficiently, and you can obtain the travel documents you need to meet the Iran foreign entry requirements.
Furthermore, if you have questions at any time, representatives are available to quickly get you the answers you need.
After you have completed your application, send it to the passport and visa company, and they will take care of the rest. Upon receipt of your application, a representative will review it to ensure it is complete and accurate.
Then they will submit it to the appropriate authorities for processing. When your passport and/or visa is issued, it will be mailed to you, so you can leave for your trip as scheduled with the documents necessary to satisfy the Iran foreign entry requirements.


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Hi there penguins!
Club Penguin has finally updated their support banners! Let's check out what the new support banners are looking like for the new upcoming party; the Medieval Party!
In search of Club Penguin Cheats, Tutorials, Trackers, Sneak Peeks, Soundtracks and More for 2015!? Here at Everything Club Penguin, we've got it all! This month, we bring you some adventurous Club Penguin cheats, tutorials, sneak peeks, soundtracks and more for 2015!


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We love those online gossips which are about Nepal and Nepali especially when any Bollywood members use to be connected with us. We start to love them who loves Nepal and who follow our tradition or so on even only in 'reel life'. That's why without being a Shahrukh' fan I cant help myself to write this post about him. 😉 …Read More »
Tag Archives: bollywood
PK | Official reveal of Amir Khan's character in PK.
Finally this year's most awaited Amir Khan's movie PK official teaser is out now. After watching this teaser literary you would know what the PK is. In the movie we can see Amir as an Alien from another planet who is now on our earth and trying to adjust over here. According to an Alien's character Rajkumar Hirani presented Amir as a …Read More »


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Catching A Falling Knife?
With the smart device revolution going on and 3G technology becoming as necessary as oxygen to the consumer, it's hard to believe one of the biggest chip makers would be getting hammered. However, today with the NASDAQ up 1.58%, QCOM sold off 3.06% and was a great short all day, closing on its lows.
So when is it safe to catch a falling knife? Maybe tomorrow? After the close the company raised its dividend 12% to 19 cents a share and announced a new $3 billion stock buyback program. After market the stock is up 2.59% to $36.42.
The question remains if this will be enough of a boost to bring in buyer's to form support? Will QCOM finally start to participate in this tech rally that today saw SNDK rise 11.94% and WDC up 4.79%?
True confirmation that it has reached a bottom will be found if it closes above it's 2/18 highs of $39.94. Now it's going to be volatile and may still have room to go down, so be careful on the long side.If this level fails to provide support, the next level QCOM would likely find support is the low of $32.67 made on 3/6/2009.


text: The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon Strong's Number: 02872 Browse Lexicon Original WordWord Originrwbbjfrom an unused root meaning to pile up; properly, accumulatedTransliterated WordTDNT EntryTabbuwrTWOT - 790aPhonetic SpellingParts of Speechtab-boor' Noun Masculine Definition centre, midst, navel, highest part King James Word Usage - Total: 2middle 1, midst 1 KJV Verse Count Judges1Ezekiel1Total2The Hebrew lexicon is Brown, Driver, Briggs, Gesenius Lexicon; this is keyed to the "Theological Word Book of the Old Testament." These files are considered public domain.Bibliography Information Brown, Driver, Briggs and Gesenius. "Hebrew Lexicon entry for Tabbuwr". "The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon". .


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Dragons v Cowboys
WIN Jubilee Stadium
Saturday July 5 – 5:35 PM (AEST)
Benji Marshall is beginning to find his feet back in the NRL. His last two years were below par at best, and his recent stint in Rugby was an utter failure, so there was a lot of pressure on him to deliver when he signed with the St George-Illawarra Dragons back in May. But after a slow start, his performance against the Sharks a month ago showed signs that goods things were around the corner. It's bad news for the North Queensland Cowboys , who not only struggle to win away from home, but also struggle without skipper Johnathan Thurston.
Against Melbourne on Monday night, the Dragons put on their best performance of the season. They were dominant all over the park, and gave the Storm little opportunities. Marshall may have been wearing the No.7, but it was Gareth Widdop who directed the team around the field. He continued to pop up at the right place at the right time, and hand off the ball that either put someone into space or over the try line. If Widdop and Marshall can continue to gel, Big Red V supporters might just have a reason to dream. With both Josh Dugan and Trent Merrin heading into Origin camp, coach Paul 'Mary' McGregor has been forced to make some changes. Peter Mata'utia replaces Dugan at centre in jersey No.14, with Reg Gasnier's No.3 jersey being retired for this match. Dylan Farrell and Dan Hunt have both been named on an extended bench.
It's a tall order for the Cowboys on Saturday night. So far in 2014, they have not won away from home. Add to that their poor record without Thurston, and it looks like it might be a long night for the visitors. Last week against the Rabbitohs they were so clinical. JT may have been steering the ship, but the forwards dominated the middle in every aspect. They were solid in defence, and constantly delivered quick play-the- balls to put the Bunnies on the back foot. If they are any chance of walking away with this one, they need to perform like that again. Mid-season signing Tautau Moga will make his club debut in the centres, with Matthew Wright shifting to fullback and Michael Morgan moving to halfback to cover for JT. Ashton Sims will start in the front row for James Tamou, who is on Origin duty. Sam Hoare and Ben Spina both have been named on an extended bench.
Straight away the home-ground advantage puts the Dragons on the front foot. They obviously love to play at WIN Jubilee, always lifting when they run out onto the iconic field. Origin is bad timing for the Cowboys, who need to find a way to win away from home, if they want be playing finals footy in September.
LIVE on FoxSports 1


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TOUGH TASK AHEAD: Prime Minister Theresa May
LET'S FACE it, we live in a class system and that will never change.
Prime Minister Theresa May's disparity racial audit may come as a sigh of relief but the problems it is trying to tackle are a long way off from being finally eradicated.
Many of my BAME friends and colleagues who are born in this country should feel as British as their white friends and counterparts but in actual fact they feel quite the opposite.
They are simply not treated the same. There has always been a two tier system; them and us.
Have things changed or moved in the right direction? Not at all as I have spent years fighting for racial disparity to be challenged in all aspects.
Racial inequality has been going on for years in this country.
People with ethnic surnames have been excluded from getting jobs and young black men are languishing in the criminal justice system.
It's not just a BAME based problem but extends to the white working class. The issue around disparity revolves around a failure in this country to accept or believe that inequality exists and that there are people in society who have to fight to ensure that their voice is heard and to be given an opportunity to be successful.
I was once told by a manager of radio station in a corridor that I should be pleased to be working at the station as "most black people clean the streets".
It was shocking to hear that but it also woke up to prepare for what was lurking ahead. From that moment I knew I had to work harder. I was knocked back from jobs due to not fitting in. I knew I had an African surname and felt I did not fit in with the status quo.
Many highlight their mistreatment and inequalities based on being badly treated by the police with stop and search enforcement's. Now I must stress I have never been stopped and searched but have heard stories from friends who have been repeatedly stopped.
They often cite stories of being mocked or felt uneasy about walking down the street in fear of being pulled up or interrogated for no apparent reason. This has been happening for years; it goes back to the Sus Law used during Margaret Thatcher's time in office.
The problem around inequality in Britain has existed for years.
It originates from placing people into boxes; stems back to the being at school in the playground; the fear of being left out and not having any friends for being different.
The media have to act and are somewhat responsible for the output aired on various channels.
From Eastenders to late news programmes BAME people are often placed in boxes, that's the problem which has spread this virus.
Also the placement of talent on and off screen. Role models are required.
David Lammy has called for affirmative action but we seem to have an obsession with class.
Once that has been challenged we can move along to deal with the problems currently in place.
But we should applaud Theresa May for allowing us to at least have this conversation.
The Voice is celebrating its 35th birthday this year. Share your Voice memories, comments and birthday wishes on social media, using the following hash tag: #Voice35Years
Read every story in our hardcopy newspaper for free by downloading the app.


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August/September 2005
Grilled Steak and Onion Salad
Dress up a simple summer salad with smoky flavors from the grill.
Why This Recipe Works
We recommend a strong-flavored strip or rib eye steak for our Grilled Steak and Onion Salad recipe. They're not the cheapest steaks out there, but we found their intense flavor and meaty texture were worth every penny. We grilled the steaks over a hot, single-level fire for a rich char and juicy interior. Giving the steaks at least a five-minute rest before slicing allowed the juices to redistribute through the meat. A simple, garlicky vinaigrette prepared with olive oil and sweet balsamic vinegar was enriched by the juices exuded from the steak once the salad was plated. Sharp-tasting, peppery arugula salad greens balanced the richness of the meat and blue cheese.


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15 Seconds of Fame captures your appearance on BTN
Smile, Big Ten fans, you're on TV. And video proof is on its way to your phone.
Starting with Thursday's Buffalo at Minnesota showdown at TCF Bank Field (7 p.m., BTN), for the first time ever, fans who appear on Big Ten Network game telecasts can have their TV moment sent directly to their phone thanks to a free app called 15 Seconds of Fame (15SOF).
Fans simply download the app through iTunes or Google Play, take a "selfie" when they sign up, and check in to the game that they are at. If they are filmed by BTN's cameras and appear on TV, 15SOF will automatically send the clip right to the user's phone through their app account. Once the clip arrives, it can be shared instantly across social channels. 15SOF is even able to deliver clips to fans if they register for the app after they appeared on camera.
"During our first trials at the University of Michigan, we quickly realized that the college game day setting was a sweet spot for us," said Brett Joshpe, CEO of 15SOF. "College sports fans are immersed in both the game experience and mobile social engagement, including sending each other memorable moments and highlights from the event. Now they can receive the ultimate commemoration of the day – video of themselves – that can be shared with their entire network."
15SOF will record and process every BTN football feed this season, and the app's unique technology will sort, edit and deliver the clips to fans.
BTN is the first network to partner with 15SOF, and with more than 40 football games on the schedule for 2017, Big Ten fans at stadiums around the country will have ample opportunity to turn the game experience into a digital memory that will last a lifetime. The app will also be available for college basketball fans who appear on BTN game coverage this winter.
15OSF beta tested the app at Michigan in 2015 and the school will continue to provide fans at Michigan Stadium with their videoboard moments this season. Wolverine fans can add television to their sharable video moments when BTN arrives on campus for the Michigan-Air Force game on Saturday, September 16 at noon Eastern.
15SOF also has partnerships throughout the NCAA and professional sports, including an agreement to deliver all video clips of fans who appear on TV during Major League Baseball games.


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On the afternoon of July 1, 2018, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the opening of the 11th National Scout Jamboree. She welcomed scouts and distinguished guests from 17 countries to the festivities, and encouraged the participating scouts to be brave when faced with new people and new experiences. She also expressed hope that the participants will learn teamwork and help each other, and make friends from other countries.
In her remarks, President Tsai said Taiwan's scout association has been waiting for seven years to hold a national jamboree again, and that she was delighted to take part in the opening ceremony. She noted that scouts and guests from 17 countries were on hand, and as the President of Taiwan and President of Taiwan's General Association of Scouts, offered a warm welcome to all the scouts from around the world.
President Tsai noted that since the jamboree theme was "Scouting to Success," it was fitting to hold the event at "成功嶺", which means "Success Ridge" in English. For Taiwanese this is a very special place, she said, where generations of college students have a collective memory of the military training they received there. That added a special meaning as the participants gathered on "Success Ridge" for scout training, international exchanges, and friendship, the president said.
The president also pointed out that this was a jamboree of many firsts. It was the first to be held in a military camp, and the first to integrate technology into the curriculum. There were also innovative activities on cultural diversity and caring for all life. She then said she was sure the jamboree would be a rewarding experience for everyone.
President Tsai remarked that scouting activities are important for youth development and education, and that the jamboree was about to begin. So she shared three ideas that she wanted the participating scouts to remember:
First, she urged them to be brave when faced with new people and new experiences. For some of the participants, this was their first time abroad, and the first time to live in a camp. She encouraged them to embrace the challenge, and have the courage to try new things, and gain new experiences when faced with new and different situations for the first time.
Second, she hoped they would learn teamwork, and to help each other. In camp, everyone has a different role to play, she said, and different responsibilities. So she encouraged them to do their duty, cooperate with each other, and learn not only how to take care of themselves, but also how to take care of others.
Third, she urged everyone to make friends from other countries. Scouting builds bridges between nations, she said, expressing hope that they would make the most of this opportunity to get to know people from different countries. She also encouraged the scouts from Taiwan to show our foreign friends why our country is such a special place.
President Tsai pointed out that this jamboree was one of the biggest scouting events Taiwan has ever seen, and then acknowledged Taiwan's own scout association for their hard work to make the event possible. She thanked the Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Interior, and local governments and scouts all over the country, especially the local Taichung City Government, which contributed a tremendous amount of time and energy. She also thanked the many unsung heroes who have contributed in many ways, for many years, to the continuous growth of scouting in Taiwan.
Finally, President Tsai noted that, "Heroes come from far and wide, and gather on Success Ridge to pursue high ideals." Likewise, she said, scouts had gathered there to pursue high ideals. She expressed hope that in a few days, everyone would go home with memories of the jamboree and Success Ridge that will last a lifetime.


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Akiko started new calligraphy classes at the Hutt Minoh Friendship House in Lower Hutt, Wellington, in April 2013. Now there are classes at 3 levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Childrens class. Akiko visits Wellington for Saturday and Sunday once a month.
If you are interesting to learning calligraphy and you can come to Minoh House, please contact Miss Rosemary Mclennan, Chairperson of the Hutt Minoh Friendship Committee. 38 Normandale, Lower Hutt. Tel: (04) 586 4180 (home). Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Or, if you are living elsewear and you want to learn calligraphy with Akiko, she will come to your place to teach. One condition is that students will have to share the cost of Akikos airfair or transportation every month in addition to the lessen cost. It is best to be a group with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 10 students. Please contact Akiko.
Tomica Sounders, 20 years old, has been accepted by the Nihon Shodou Geijyutu Senmon Gakkou (Japanese Calligraphy Art Technical School) in Japan. She passed an inspection, and received a scholarship for two years. Tomica attended an Entrance Ceremony at the School on the 10th April with Akiko in Itou in Shizuoka-Prefecture. When she finishes her two-year course she will be the first New Zealand-born Master Calligrapher.
On the 10th January Tomica was interviewed on TV3, click here to watch it (link opens in a new window).
Tim and Akiko have had a very lovely start to 2013!
Tim's recovery is coming along very well, and he is now starting to talk fluently. He has difficulty moving though, and there's still a long way to go.
However, he has now started to paint with his left hand again! Tim & Akiko's collaborated works are being finished one by one, and we are now accepting commissions again. Please contact Akiko for more information.
Akiko recently participated in a three-day Summer School Workshop at Waimea College on the 16th to 18th of January. There were six professional tutors covering art journaling, creative writing, jewellery making, up-cycle sewing, painting, and Akiko's Japanese Calligraphy.
Five students attended Akiko's class; four from Nelson and one who came all the way from from Brisbane, Australia! Classes started at 10am every morning and finished at 4pm, with lunch and and tea breaks.
The first day commenced with introductions and basic brushworks. The second day was a little more difficult, and on the last day they were wrote their favorite words in the morning and made a stamp bearing their name in the afternoon. Finally, they let out a shout of joy as they stamped their work with their name stamp. Well done everyone!
The small calligraphy school of Japanese Grand Master Calligrapher Akiko Crowther has had a bumper result in the Kakizome Competition, with every entry winning a top
prize in a tough field.
Out of a total of 7,794 entries, the school's 10 students won five bronze medals, two silver medals, and three highest honors awards.
Mrs. Crowther said she was proud of all her students, and had not expected them to do so well.
After her husband, Tim, suffered a stroke last year, Mrs. Crowther had to close their Yu Yu Gallery and School, and move the lessons to their house.
Now that Mr. Crowther was starting to recover and the class was doing so well, things were starting to improve, she said.
"When I received this news, it looked like God and Buddha were saying, 'Don't worry, Akiko, hold up!'. So Tim and I could not stop the tears of joy," she said.
As for her students' performance, that was largely a result of them following her mantra of "practice, practice, practice", she said.
Student Rintaro Yoda, nine, who won a highest honor award for his entry, has been learning calligraphy at the school for four years.
He said he enjoyed calligraphy because it was "writing with your whole body, instead of just your hand".
Mrs. Crowther said Yoda had a lot of concentration.
Carys Gwynne, seven, also won a highest honors award. She said she loved "everything" about the art.
Akiko has started general caligraphy classes for both adults and children at their house, and she is also doing personal lessons.
Not a Nelson redident? No problem - Akiko is starting lessons via correspondence. One of Akiko's students lives in Auckland. Akiko send him monthly texts with all the required materials, and when he's finished he sends his work back to Akiko.
If you are interested in any of these lessons please contact Akiko for more information.
Tim's recovery is coming along very well. He can now walk with the aid of a walking stick, and sometimes he's able to walk around at home without one. He is also starting to speak simple sentences, and we even attended a friend's wedding party last October (photo on the right).
Thank you very much to our many friends, customers, and students who have supported and helped us through this difficult time.
In February on 2010 Tim suffered a serious stroke and was hospitalised for many weeks. Although he is now making positive steps towards recovery, we were forced to close the Yu Yu Gallery in April.
The Calligraphy School is still accepting students though, so if you are interested in lessons from New Zealand's only resident Japanese Grand Master Calligrapher please contact Akiko
Building on last year's great first-time Tokusen win by Yousif (see Webcam Lessons below), Akiko's young Nelson students achieved even bigger success in Tokyo in this year's Kakizome Calligraphy Competition. They won 2 Tokusen Highest Honour Awards, 2 Gold, 11 Silver and 8 Bronze Awards! Congratulations everyone - we are so proud of you all! See story in NELSON MAIL.
Now with over 25 young and adult students, Akiko's Calligraphy School is thriving, and the popularity of this graceful art is growing. Akiko's 2-hour Personal Lessons are also proving increasingly popular with international tourists and NZ visitors to Nelson, as a stimulating introduction to calligraphy and a very different holiday activity. Thanks to everyone who has tried it!
In July Akiko leads a small group of her students on her 'Four Treasures Tour' of Japan, visiting the artisan makers of calligraphy brushes, sumi ink, traditional inkstones, and handmade washi paper. The group will also study at a big calligraphy seminar in Izu. (Report to follow in August.)
Our 2008 Kakizome Highest Honour winner, Yousif Cahusac de Caux (9) now lives in Milton Keynes in England. Although his whole family was moving from NZ, Yousif passionately wanted to continue studying calligraphy with Akiko. So with the help of his father Derek, we set up a webcam system with Skype.
Now Yousif still enjoys his weekly lesson - even though Sensei and student are 18,755 kms apart!
From November to January we had the great pleasure of welcoming young Master Calligrapher Aska Fukami, from Ibaraki, who was visiting NZ on a 1 year working holiday and to study English. Aska stayed with us and we even celebrated her birthday on the beach, Kiwi-style. She was very popular with all our students and customers, and we all miss her sunny smile and shining personality.Thank you Aska!
Akiko was deeply honoured to be invited to create the calligraphy for the cover of a new DVD boxed set of the classic Japanese film masterpiece, Ningen No Joken - The Human Condition. Our sincere thanks toThe Criterion Collection, the prestigious online cinematheque based in New York City. For details, see COMMISSIONS
Will it be our former student and dear friend Petra Vitaskova - or one day, her beautiful new baby daughter Anna? We are sure she was born with a brush in her hand! Warmest congratulations and all our love to Petra and husband Jakub in Prague!


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Release from Alan Nash Erath County District Attorney
STEPHENVILLE (January 11, 2018) – On Tuesday, District Judge Jason Cashon sentenced Amanda Cantu, 36, to 10 years in prison for Abandoning or Endangering a Child.
A jury of seven women and five men heard evidence of a January 29, 2017, traffic stop involving a Jeep Cherokee operated by Cantu as she entered Stephenville on west Highway 377. Officer Andrew Honecker of the Stephenville Police Department detained Cantu due to an outstanding warrant.
As Officer Honecker investigated, he discovered a small quantity of methamphetamine in Cantu's purse. In the vehicle with Cantu were two of her children, a daughter age 14 and a son, age 11. Cantu was indicted for Endangering a Child, a state jail felony, based on her possession of Methamphetamine in the presence of a child under the age of 15.
Despite arguments from the defense concerning the amount of Methamphetamine in the car being small, the healthy appearance of the children, and the lack of evidence of impaired driving, the jury took just under thirty minutes to find Cantu guilty as charged in the indictment.
Due to her criminal history, which included two felony convictions out of Medina County, the range of punishment was enhanced to two to 10 years in prison. After just over two hours of deliberation, the same jury which convicted Cantu assessed the maximum ten-year sentence.
"The men and women who write our laws in Austin recognize that there is a problem of adults using methamphetamine and shirking their responsibilities as citizens and parents," Nash reported. "Accordingly, the law is written to empower jurors to find that a child under 15 is endangered when a person possesses or uses Methamphetamine in the child's presence. Methamphetamine use shatters families and leads to chronic joblessness, poor parenting, and generational addiction and criminality. Possessing or using Methamphetamine around kids is criminal, and this jury has made it clear our community is not going to put up with it."


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Why Aren't You Spending Funds on Mobile Advertising?
According to an article by Business Insider, increased spending on mobile, social media, and digital video will propel U.S. digital advertising revenue to nearly $50 billion this year, and up to $82.7 billion in 2018. This growth is charted to the right. More importantly, as reported by Forbes, these mobile ads are actually effective-- which may come as a surprise, as the widespread perception seems to be that these ads don't work.
A study by Medialets, reported by Forbes, found that mobile ads draw not only clicks (a portion of which are reasonably suspected to be accidental) but conversions. Medialets' CEO Eric Litman says, "Mobile ads actually do work. People will do almost everything on their phone that they do on their desktop." This is not to say there is some huge percentage of people who click on mobile ads-- but their click-through rates are much higher than the 0.1% to 0.2% rate for desktop web ads.
So what does this mean? The mobile ad market is projected to grow the fastest, with mobile advertising revenue expected to reach $32.6 billion in 2018 and reach a 5-year compounded annual growth rate of 49.7%. This "mobile ad market" includes mobile search ads, mobile web and in-app display ads, and video ads on mobile. Secondly, social media mobile ads are (unsurprisingly) projected to grow faster than other digital ad formats and traditional mediums. If your business is not spending money on mobile advertising in the new year, you're missing out on a critical area!
Happy New Year from Station Break, and happy advertising! Read more at Business Insider and Forbes.com.


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|Don Weempe P.E.
|Technical Sales
|R. W. Smith
|Technical Sales
|Ian Humphrey
|Project Manager
|Bryant Dunn
|Field Manager
|Jose Figueroa
|Business Development
|Casey Wright
|Office Manager
|Gloria Orta
Master Construction & Engineering, Inc.
201 W. Commerce Street
Dallas, TX 75208
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 226984
Dallas, TX 75222
Phone: 214-748-5611
Fax: 214-748-8577
For additional information you may fill out our online contact form below and we will answer your questions via email.
Master Construction & Engineering, Inc.
201 W. Commerce • Dallas, Texas 75208 • Phone: 214-748-5611 • Fax: 214-748-8577 • Email Master Construction
©2013 MASTER CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING, INC.. All Rights Reserved.
Master Construction is North Texas' leading independent concrete and asphalt construction firm.
Driven by in-house engineering expertise, we offer a broad spectrum of asphalt and concrete construction.
Our reputation for service, honesty, integrity, quality and value is second-to-none.