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Advances in Consumer Research Volume 16, 1989 Pages 127-129
John A. McCarty, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
This paper is a discussion of issues raised in a session on cross-cultural factors in consumer behavior. The current discussion focusses on the two papers in the session that attempted to discover the level of cross-cultural generalizability that particular constructs in consumer behavior have. While these papers have enormous merit in pointing out the need to recognize that our current work may be culturally bound, the present author proposes that an alternative path for future work will be to develop general, pancultural models of consumer behavior.
The papers in this session have all dealt with some aspect of the relationship between culture and consumer behavior. Two of these consider the extent to which certain theoretical constructs are applicable cross-culturally while the third paper proposes a model of acculturation. The current discussion will focus on issues related to the two papers that attempt to determine the cross-cultural applicability of constructs and to general issues about the nature and purpose of cross-cultural investigations raised by these two papers. This does not in any way imply that these papers have more or less merit than the paper on acculturation, rather, these two raise similar issues and the nature of these papers is considerably distinct from the third.
The paper in this session by Alden, Hoyer, and Wecgasara was an effort to determine the extent to which the involvement construct in consumer behavior is appropriate across cultures. The authors discovered that across three different cultures, the involvement construct appeared to be appropriate and that higher levels of involvement lead to a greater use of affective and cognitive decision making strategies. The three cultures investigated were West Germany, Thailand, and the United States.
The Cote and Tanshhaj paper attempted to determine the extent to which behavioral intention models are culturally bound. These authors argued that behavioral intention models may be culturally bound since three constructs that intention relies upon, time orientation, locus of control, and the ability to think probablistically, differ across cultures. Therefore, questioning an individual about future intentions may not make as much sense in some cultures as in others, and the relationship between intentions and behavior may vary considerably across cultures. They tested this in three cultures, Jordan, Thailand, and the United States, and discovered that discrepancies between intention and behavior for academic related behaviors were related differences in time orientation, locus of control, and probabilistic thinking across the cultures. The study found little support for their hypotheses in the case of food and soft drinks, however.
While the findings of these two papers were quite different, one discovered that a construct fit across cultures while the second questioned the applicability of a construct across cultures, they took a similar approach. That is, both papers suggested the-need to test our theoretical constructs cross-culturally and each did so with a particular construct.
The approach of these papers raises several important questions about the completeness of current theories in consumer behavior in terms of their generalizability to different cultural settings. The approach of these papers also raises questions about the purposes of cross-cultural research. The next section will address the purposes of cross-cultural research.
The two empirical papers in this session suggest, either explicitly or implicitly, that one purpose of cross-cultural research is to test the cultural bounds of constructs that are a part of current consumer behavior theory. That is, as was stated verbally during the paper session, all theories in consumer behavior will ultimately need to be tested cross-culturally. Whether or not past theories must meet the cross-culture test would seem to be open for debate since many theories adequately explain the phenomena under the conditions they were designed.
It would be useful to consider what others have viewed as the purposes of cross-cultural research. Strodbeck (1964) proposed several reasons for cross-cultural research which were further discussed by Triandis and his associates (1972). These purposes are not mutually exclusive and any given study may relate to more than one purpose. One reason for using different cultures would be when there is not enough variation in one culture to adequately test the importance of a construct. Since cultures can vary tremendously, using several cultures can provide the needed variation to understand the phenomena of interest. Testing a phenomena in different and varied ecological environments is a second purpose of cross-cultural research. That is, different cultures provide different environments and, therefore, a phenomena can be tested under these different conditions. The third reason for using cross-cultural research relates to the interest in the cultures per se. Cross-cultural studies can be conducted to determine how various cultural groups differ in their "cutting the pie of experience." In this case it is the differences or similarities of cultures that is of interest to the researcher, while the first two reasons discussed simply use culture as a way of gaining a greater understanding of a phenomena of interest. A fourth purpose of cross-cultural research is to test general laws of behavior. This would be particularly important, for example, if one desires to how whether some phenomena is innate or learned.
The reasons for cross-cultural research as discussed by Strodbeck and Triandis refer primarily to theoretical research. An additional applied reason for this kind of research is apparent from the tremendous increase in the international marketing of products. To market products effectively in different cultures, we need to understand those cultures and differences in various cultures.
Given these reasons for cross-cultural research, at first glance, it seems entirely reasonable that models and theories of consumer behavior should be tested under different ecological environments and cross-cultural work would aid in our understanding the generalizability of our theories of consumption. It should be noted, however, that most of the past work in consumer behavior was designed to understand consumption in the United States; most theories of consumption were not proposed as general laws of behavior in that it is generally assumed that consumption is a learned phenomena and therefore most likely culturally bound. It is unlikely that most theories of consumer behavior will stand up to an exhaustive cross-cultural testing. If a particular theory of consumption is found to indeed be culturally bound, this does not invalidate the theory in terms of its original purpose, to understand and/or predict some consumption phenomena within this culture. While the two empirical papers in this session are quite useful in reminding us that our past work in consumer behavior has been culturally bound, it would seem that the most productive path for future consumer behavior lies somewhere else than showing that our previous theories are inadequate for understanding consumption in many cultures. An approach that attempts to develop pancultural models of consumer behavior is a more fruitful path for future work.
Perhaps the most constructive path for future work in consumer behavior is to develop general pancultural models, rather than testing previously developed theories. This building of general models is an approach to cross-cultural research suggested by Triandis and his associates (1972). Given the vast differences in cultures, it might first appear very difficult to find constructs that are applicable in every culture. Triandis suggests, however, that while the components of a cross-cultural model should be general enough to apply to all cultures, the individual components can be operationalized within separate cultures. This approach goes far in solving the eticemic problem in the study of culture. The emic approach, as most often exemplified by anthropological ethnographies, is the study of a single culture using constructs appropriate in that culture. Cross-cultural comparisons are difficult under these conditions. The etic approach is a search for general laws and, therefore, needs variables that can apply to all cultures. Too often, however, the constructs have developed in one culture and assumed to fit in other cultures, leading to an approach that Triandis calls the pseudoetic approach. If, however, the components of general etic models are tailored to individual cultures, then these general laws can take advantage of the important aspects of both the etic and emic approaches to culture.
If we should in the future develop general laws of consumer behavior that will be applicable across cultures, where is a proper starting point? It would seem that behavior or action on the part of individuals would indeed be a primary focus of cross-cultural investigations, as it has been in the social sciences and consumer behavior for a long time. Social scientists from anthropology, psychology, and sociology agreed that action was a construct that could bring together the work in their respective disciplines (Parsons and Shils, 1954). Furthermore, Triandis and his associates (1972) have stated that action and the antecedents and consequences of action represent universal constructs. Of course, specific actions and the antecedents of action may differ tremendously across culture.
Therefore, future work in cross-cultural consumer behavior should focus on developing models that relate pancultural constructs to consumption action or behavior. Compared to previous work in consumer behavior that has dealt primarily with consumption in the culture of the United States, these future models will differ in two significant ways.
First, they will necessarily be general in their purest form; more specific statements of relationships can be gained through operationalization within cultures. For example, Triandis (1977) has proposed a model of behavior that includes a behavior antecedent component that incorporates social factors. Social factors probably play some role in behavior in all cultures. The specifics that comprise the social factor will differ across cultures. In some cultures norms may be an important aspect, in other cultures the self-concept may be important. Furthermore, the specific norms, etc. may differ across cultures. The important point is that the specifics are incorporated within the framework of a general theory.
A second way in which future models will likely differ is that they will contain constructs that we have largely ignored in our work in consumer behavior within this culture. Theories we have developed thus far have emphasized the extreme individualism and internal locus of control inherent in this culture (as pointed out in the Cote and Tanshhaj paper). They have also tended to focus on the cognitive behavior of individuals involved in consumption. Other variables will need to be considered. For example, in the model of behavior developed by Triandis, a habit component is included as an antecedent of behavior as well as intention. Habit is a construct that has been largely ignored in consumer behavior, however, in other cultures consumption may be a consequence of habit. as well as related variables such as tradition, etc. Future cross-cultural models will need to cast a much wider net in the development of the antecedents of consumer behavior.
Parsons, Talcott and Edward Shils (1954), Toward a General Theory of Action, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Strodbeck, Fred (1964), "Considerations of Metamethod in Cross-Cultural Studies," American Anthropologist, 66, 223-229.
Triandis, Harry (1977), Interpersonal Behavior, Monterey, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
Triandis, Harry, Vasso Vassiliou, George Vassiliou, Yasumasa Tanaka, and A. Shanmugam (1972), The Analysis of Subjective Culture, New York, John Wiley.


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Sadness at Dolores' sudden death in London
President of Ireland leads tributes to Cranberries lead singer after sudden unexplained death in London
The President of Ireland Michael D Higgins led tributes to the former lead singer of The Cranberries Dolores O'Riordan who died suddenly in London on Monday, aged just 46.
She leaves behind three children Taylor, Molly and Dakota. Ms O'Riordan, from Limerick, had been in London for a short recording sessions.
The Met Police said they were called to a hotel in Park Lane shortly after 9.00 am on Monday morning, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a statement issued late Monday her publicist said no further details were available at the time and that her grieving family had requested privacy.
"Family members are devastated to hear the breaking news and have requested privacy at this very difficult time."
Ms O'Riordan, a native of Ballybricken, shot to global fame in her early 20s during the 1990s as lead singer of The Cranberries. Hits like , Linger and Dreams helped them sell more than 40 million records worldwide.
The group released five original albums before stopping in 2003 and resuming in 2009. During that break Ms O'Riordan released two solo albums.
The Cranberries released the acoustic album in 2017 and had been due to tour Europe and North America but the tour was cut short because O'Riordan was suffering from back problems.
Canon Liam McNamara, who presided over her marriage to Don Burton in 1994 at Holycross, knew her as she was growing up in Ballybricken in Limerick. He said he was shocked to hear of her death and that everybody who knew her had loved her.
"My heart goes out to the family. Dolores was their pride and joy. We all loved her very, very much. She got on well all the way through her life. I was very disappointed to hear today that she has left us so early in life. "Her family did so much for her and supported her all the way through."
That marriage ended in 2014. Ms O'Riordan went public some years ago about her fight with depression which she said was especially difficult for her after her father Terence died in 2011 after a long battle with cancer.
"There have been times when I've struggled. The death of my father and mother-in-law was very hard. Looking back, I think depression, whatever the cause, is one of the worst things to go through," she told reporters.
"Then again, I've also had a lot of joy in my life, especially with my children. You get ups as well as downs. Sure isn't that what life's all about?"
In another interview she said the best thing about her life was being a mother: "The best time in my life was the years spent at home with my family. I love being a mum. My kids don't see me as a famous person, or have any kind of expectation; I'm just their mum."
In 2014, the same year her marriage ended, Ms O'Riordan was accused of assaulting three police officers and a flight attendant during a flight from New York to Ireland. She pleaded guilty and was fined 6,000 euros ($6,600).
She last posted a picture of herself with her cat on Twitter on 4 January with the caption: 'Bye bye Gio. We're off to Ireland.' Her band had recently played in South America, and she tweeted pictures of fans in Lima, Peru in December.

subset: commoncrawl


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Barry Jackson
UM defensive line takes enormous jump
What happens when you take a defensive line that struggled last year to stop the run, didn't make enough disruptive plays and lost its premier pass-rusher (Al Quadin-Muhammad) just a week before the season?
That would seemingly be a harbinger for disaster, but that has hardly been the case with the University of Miami.
Through three games, albeit against the weakest part of their schedule, Hurricanes defensive linemen have been exemplary, a big reason why Miami leads the nation in tackles for loss and sacks per game.
The numbers are staggering:
• UM already has 40 tackles for loss, compared with 66 all of last season. They have 13 sacks, compared with 26 last year.
• They're allowing 1.6 yards per carry, which ranks second in the nation behind only Houston, compared with 5.4 last season, which ranked 118th of 128 FBS programs.
• They're permitting 65 rushing yards per game, compared with 210 last season, which was 107th.
And they're doing it with largely the same personnel on their defensive line, minus an NFL prospect in Muhammad, who was tossed from the team for his role in a luxury car scandal.
The enormous caveat, of course, is that UM's defensive line hasn't been tested by a formidable Atlantic Coast Conference opponent yet.
Over the next two weeks, the Hurricanes face a Georgia Tech team that ranks 36th in rushing yards per game (217) and a Florida State team that ranks 21st (244).
The early signs have been encouraging, and a byproduct not only of individual improvement, but also the coaching of coordinator Manny Diaz and highly-regarded defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski, who developed four first-round defensive linemen at Missouri.
Kuligowski has "taught us a lot to help us out," defensive tackle Kendrick Norton said Wednesday. And "we have the freedom to attack more and just go. That's been a big help, just being able to go and not have to worry about a lot of different things."
Diaz said he is pleased with all five defensive tackles --- starters Richard McIntosh Jr. and Norton, as well as reserves Gerald Willis, Courtel Jenkins and Anthony Moten, though "as coaches, we all believe they have a ton more improvement left in them."
Kuligowski smartly moved McIntosh from end to tackle last spring because "he looks like a tackle."
Norton already has 4.5 tackles for loss, and McIntosh and Willis 3.5 apiece, even though Willis was suspended for the opener.
With starters McIntosh and Norton, "you can tell the job the strength staff had done with them over the summer," Diaz said. "It had made a big impact with the way they have played. We always felt like the other guys weren't far behind. The key is at that position, if you rotate a lot of guys, because that's hard duty in there, your better players play better because they can be fresher. In a 4-3 defense, your tackle play is where it all begins."
At defensive end, Chad Thomas' improvement has been dramatic. He has 15 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in three games, compared with 25 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 16 games under the former staff.
One key: He's in significantly better shape.
"The big thing with his body, and he's an example for the entire team," Diaz said, "is his conditioning level and the way he got into shape, and that goes into everything, that goes into the work of our nutrition staff, the work of the strength staff.
"It sounds so obvious but you can't play your best if you're not in great shape. Ultimately, fatigue makes cowards of us all. You will start to pace yourself and when you pace yourself you will not be playing at the physical best of the gifts you have been blessed with. The fact he's in better shape and can go harder gives you an extra confidence."
And, Diaz said: "When you are stronger, you are more confident. He knows he's stronger; those are numbers that are measurable. He was able to take all those things on the field and be able to play better. You are going to play better defensive end in year three of your college career regardless of scheme, coach, anything else. It's a position that just takes a while to learn the ropes. In no way does he have the game whipped. But you are seeing the natural maturation of a football player."
With AQM booted from the team, UM also is getting good work from defense end Demetrius Jackson, who has started all three games and has five tackles for loss and two sacks.
"We need [Jackson] to be stout vs. the run," Diaz said. "He still has a ways to go as a pass rusher. Some of the sacks he's had have been in situations where he was unblocked. One thing I'm impressed with, with Demetrius, in the first month of the season is his effort. He's making a lot of plays where he's coming in out of the stack. We're making a tackle two yards down field and he's coming in and getting an extra pop on the ball carrier."
Defensive end Trent Harris, who has been playing with a cast over his injured hand, is expected to contribute more as his injury heals.
"We are getting Trent more into the lineup," Diaz said. "He's been wearing this crazy cast on his hand; it's hard to play with a pillow on your hand."
Freshmen ends Joe Jackson (two sacks) and Pat Bethel also have given UM some quality snaps, and Scott Patchan is working his way back from a torn ACL.
So the early signs suggest a significantly improved defensive line, but the next two games will provide a more telling gauge.
Georgia Tech "is a game that always favors players that have played against this team before and we don't have a ton of those guys," Diaz said, referring to the d-line and UM's three freshmen linebackers. "They've got to respond the way we've coached them to over the last two weeks."
Please follow me on Twitter to see my links immediately: @flasportsbuzz


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Pack up and head out! Destination: Hood River, Oregon. Tucked away in the Columbia River Gorge right near Mt. Hood, Hood River is home to a wealth of natural wonders, outdoor recreation, historic landmarks, arts and culture, and delicious food and drinks. Whether you're traveling to the area for business or for pleasure, there's a lot to do and a lot to see. To ensure that you make the most out of your stay in Hood River, check out these tips on some of the best places to eat, drink, stay, and play. Continue Reading
Hood River's Economy and Where to Work
Nestled in the mountains along the northern Oregon state line, the city of Hood River is home to a population of 6,710. With a very diverse community made up of almost an even split between males and females, the median household income comes in at just around $31,580. Private companies make up about 76 percent of the workforce, while a remaining 15 percent are government employees, in addition to the last 9 percent being self-employed. While many may think of Hood River as just a popular tourist destination, this small city has a lot more to offer. One of the most talented group of custom painters groups are nestled in the outskirts of Hood River. Custom car painters, home painters and others come to check out their work. Continue Reading
Our Epic Trip Driving From Texas to Oregon
30 hours, five states, and three natural wonders—that's what it took to drive all the way from San Antonio, Texas to Hood River, Oregon. Of course, no one really enjoys spending that many hours in a car, so the thought of driving for that long and for that far can be quite daunting; however, like a wise man once said, "the joy is in the journey." After packing up and stocking up on plenty of travel-size snacks, the road trip was underway. A little special thanks to the folks at Lone Star Carpet Care who took care of a little toilet overflow accident the day before we left for our trip. They saved my bacon. Continue Reading
Where to Kayak near Hood River, Oregon
The Northwestern region of the United States has always been known as a playground for adventure-seekers of all ages, and Hood River, Oregon is no exception. The lure of snow-covered mountains paired with countless amounts of rivers and lakes provides the perfect stage for an extensive line-up for recreational sports including snow-skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking, fishing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding, rafting, and of course, kayaking. Whether you're a seasoned kayaker or you've never stepped foot in a kayak, there's plenty of different options and locations that are great for every skill level. Continue Reading
The History of Hood River, Oregon
Nestled between Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams inside the Gorge along the Oregon-Washington state line rests a hidden hideaway filled with snowy cliffs and cascading waterfalls. Founded over 211 years ago, Hood River, Oregon was first discovered by Lewis and Clark in 1805. They discovered the area that sits right near the Barlow Road, a road which pioneers traveled on to head up to the Oregon Trail and over Mt. Hood to what's known as the Columbia River Gorge Highway. The two expeditioners quickly set up camp, nicknaming the site "Waucoma," which means "place of big trees." The campsite went on to earn many different names since its beginning. It was once known as "Labeasche River," named after Francis Labiche, a French-Canadian waterman. Other historical sources have reported it as "Dog River," but that name was quickly shot down by Mrs. Mary Coe, who was the wife of a well-known pioneer and landowner in the region, Nathaniel Coe. Mrs. Coe was finally successful in presenting the town with its final name, Hood River, which was fitting based on its close proximity to Mt. Hood. Continue Reading


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Important dates for your diary!
The 2019 Festival will be held on the 13th July. We are very please to have Marian Anderson and her band for both of these Festivals.
Further information will be published here as it become available – so watch this space!
You can also tune in to Twitter or Facebook for updates on programmes, dates and musicians!


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In a time not so long ago, there was #ADM – Analogue Dance Music.
"I got together with good friends of Southern Hospitality and two of my personal favourite DJs and people – J-Squared and Hudson – to compile and mix the first in this series of mixes celebrating the sound of #ADM. So many personal favourites of ours on this mix from some anthems from well known names to lesser known gems from the lesser known! We hope you play, share and most of all enjoy!"
Download link with full artwork: #ADM (Analogue Dance Music) – Mixed by J-Squared, Hudson and Rob Pursey
#ADM (Analogue Dance Music) by Southern Hospitality on Mixcloud


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Has Pearl Thusi found herself 'The One'?
Well this is interesting! A love story from someone who had once stopped believing in love. If the gathered information is anything to go by, then Pearl might've found herself "The One" already.
The post immediately got everyone's attention and before you knew it, we all wanted to know who the mystery lucky guy is.
She recently took a trip to the U.S. and has been hanging out with the friends she made while living there for her stint on Quantico. She also posted this picture with a caption that could be interpreted in many ways.
But this may not be the mystery man in question as Pearl stated why she's keeping things under wraps. She wants to enjoy this one without the pressure of the public eye.
Main picture credit: Bona Magazine
Entertainment | Celebrity Gossip & News


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Virtually every manual task in Excel can be automated with VBA, which increases your productivity and saves enormous amounts of time. This unique book-and-DVD package prepares you to get more out of Excel by using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate many routine or labor-intensive Excel tasks. Microsoft Excel MVP and author Tom Urtis walks through a series of lessons and illustrations, while the accompanying DVD provides demos and screencasts to complement each lesson.Introduces you to programming with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), macro composition, and the programming environmentExplains events programming, embedded controls, user forms, message boxes, input boxes, looping, and moreShows you how to control other Office applications from Excel, such as Word, Outlook, Access, and PowerPointIncludes enhanced coverage of each lesson on the DVD, which also offers detailed examplesProvides ideas for applying VBA to everyday tasks in a way that's both practical and fun
Use this book-and-DVD package to get the total learning experience of VBA for Excel
- Format: Häftad
- Upplaga: 1
- Språk: Engelska
- Antal sidor: 480
- Utgivningsdatum: 2011-05-31
- Del i serien: Wrox Programmer to Programmer
- Förlag: Wiley


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Nov 27 (Reuters) - Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd said on Tuesday its generic version of Mylan NV's EpiPen will have a wholesale price of $300.
The Israeli drugmaker also said its version of the emergency allergy shot was now available in limited supply in the United States. (Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva)


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Big Black Delta new single 'Huggin & Kissin' is to be released on ONELOVE March 14th. Named after massive unidentified black airships from UFO folklore, Big Black Delta are emerging less dramatically.
Huggin & Kissin reactions…
'like a Depeche Mode and Phoenix collaboration written by Bret Easton Ellis' DJ Mag 'meticulous one-man machine computerized pop' Filter Magazine 'sonic hugeness…cosmic electronica' Guardian New Band of the Day 'nuanced tech-pop' Pitchfork Best New Music 'head in the clouds, heart in the Regan years – '80s-enriched bombast, pulsating electro-buzz Vocoder wizardry and teen-soap song titles abound' SPIN 'epic, autotuned assisted synth-rock that's like a combination of Hot Chip and Franz Ferdinand and is hookier than a load of Velcro dumped in a bramble bush' Time Out 'Big Black Delta combine 1980s analogue synth-pop signifiers with contemporary digital production' Uncut


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Meizu M7 Note Release Date, Price, Specs, Features, Rumors, Concept, Design, First Looks, Live Image, News and Hands on Review. The Meizu M7 Note will be a mid-range phone with a competitive price. As Meizu senses will be one of the best to bring the dual camera to the mid-range. Meizu has just made his next move. After many rumors and leaks, the Meizu M7 Note is finally ready. That line of phones that compete to break the glass ceiling. That separates them from the flagships.
Meizu has been confirmed one by one what we already thought. We knew about him so the new terminal has not deviated too much from the script. Let us see what it offers us. Recently we saw a Smartphone has given something to talk about because of its distinguishing mark. It stood out in the rumors, and it has stood out in its official presentation. It would not be the only thing would lead. Because Meizu has hinted that, the device will carry a dual camera.
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Meizu M7 Note Release Date:
We know that Meizu M7 Note would have USB 2.0 type C port. For the time being, Meizu has not communicated anything. That regarding its international launch date for each of the variants. It will arrive in China soon. Before going through the international market and reaching each country. That already has distribution. The local launch expected on second quarter of 2018.
Meizu M7 Note Full Specifications & Features:
The Chinese manufacturer puts in front of us a Smartphone. Meizu M7 Note will have with 5.5 inches IPS LCD display. It is with FullHD resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels. The figures are well known in the middle line. That leaves us 400 pixels per inch of density. The display also has a 2.5D curved glass. It is a good sharpness without being outstanding. As for the brain of the terminal, Meizu has chosen to assemble a Qualcomm processor. Specifically the Snapdragon 845 will offer us among other things. A maximum clock speed is 2GHz. The chip, built at 14 nanometers. It will put the Adreno 530 GPU like as LG V40. It would have LTE category connectivity. Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging technology system included in this device. The battery capacity is 4100 mAh for the devices.
The Meizu M7 Note lands with two options for RAM 3 for internal storage. We will have a model with 4 GB and 6 GB of RAM. For internal memory, we can choose 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB of storage. Apparently the pairs will be 4/16 and 4/32. A superior model would be with 6/64. Obviously, will be the most expensive. We arrived at the cameras, this time up to three. A dual rear camera would be 12 MP and 5 megapixels. The camera is with a Sony IMX362 sensor and auto focus. A Samsung 2L7 will have pixels of 1.4 microns. The camera is able to focus in only 0.03 seconds. The lenses 6P have an aperture f / 1.9. So we can expect bright photographs in many scenarios.
We cannot forget the third camera, which is the front one. We will get 16 megapixels for both selfies and video calls. The front camera of 16 MP would be with an aperture f /2.0. It is to produce pleased goes directly to social networks. With the boom of ephemeral publications, a sensor of this capacity. That allows for quality cuts will undoubtedly be very useful. The Meizu M7 Note will come in three different colors (black, blue and gold). Its metal body has fairly refined finishes. The manufacturer calls stereoscopic edging. Anyway, the new Meizu has Android 8.0 inside always under flyme. That could be with a fingerprint reader to raise the level of security. It is to let us enter the mobile payments market.
Meizu M7 Note Price in USA, UK, UAE, Australia, Canada, Germany, Malaysia, India:
The price will be vigilant. Usually the local price usually announced region. It does not take longer to go on sale after each announcement. Given that, Meizu M7 Note is a classic profile medium range. Knowing the manufacturer's previous movements its price should not be too much of $400. For 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB price may be $ 280 and 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB price may be $ 310 and 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB the price expected $ 350. When you step on Europe, but as we say, wait for the official confirmation.


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Your Internet should do more for your business than connect you to the web. That's why we offer Business Internet and SmartWiFi , to provide you with the opportunity to choose an Internet solution that matches your business needs. With Boston being one of the nation's tech hotspots (pun intended), conferences on topics like security and cloud computing are aplenty. Our goal for TechConnect was to do something a bit different- we wanted to explore fringe technologies and focus on where tech could be going as opposed to where it currently is. For this reason, we focused on topics like machine learning and virtual reality. Here's a fun insider fact for you – when we started planning the conference about ten months ago we knew we wanted to focus on emerging technologies, but the original theme name was Not Yo Mamma's Tech Conference. However, as we reached out to potential speakers and moderators (including our own professors) we found ourselves explaining our ask with the phrase fringe technologies, a slightly more professional version of Not Yo Mamma's Tech Conference.
Different scenes need different extras. When a scene is about to be filmed, the director and/or producers of the movie or television show ask the extras casting agency to find people with a highly specific look, age, sex or talent — whatever is needed to make the scene feel real.
The family had four first-rate resources in the four older sons, Nathan, James, Amschel and Salomon. Four each their father (or more probably their mother) found and selected the major opportunity best fitted for his talent and character, the opportunity where the individual 'resources' could make its greatest contribution.
I keep track of the amount of cards I make, instead of each sold. I found it almost impossible to keep a count when selling at fairs. I always know how much money I start with in the cash box, and at the end of the day count the difference for the profit. My Dome reflects: money spent for all expenses, those receipts are saved for records, money made, and a list of the items I make for sale.
This was a great article and thanks for sharing! I decided to go for NYR Organics and I'm so happy I did!! I feel good about sharing producta that are organic and toxin free. Especially with all the GMOs and talk about how many chemicals are in our foods and skin care products, i feel i am doing my part in making a change too!
Straight up this is some pretty cute but pretty expensive boutique-style children's clothing. And Matilda Jane is another company I can't get an easy answer from regarding start-up costs. I do find that disappointing when a company doesn't lay it all out there for potential sellers, but I guess they want to get you working from the start.


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I love effortless learning. I try to learn that way as often as possible. Who am I kidding? I try to do everything as effortlessly as possible. The shower curtain in my kids' bathroom is a giant world map because when I saw it for sale at Walmart I thought, "Wow- if they're going to be sitting there anyway and they could stare at a map that whole time..." Effortless learning. Today, we were watching the football game. It was the San Francisco 49er's at the Seahawks. Good game too, by the way. The score stayed tied enough of the time to keep me interested. Oh yeah, and the Hawks won. :-) Lane asked, "Why would anyone name a football team something dumb like the 49er's?" Sean said, "They're from San Francisco. You know, like the California Gold Rush." Tatton asked what the name 49er's had to do with the Gold Rush, so I told him to go look it up. A couple of minutes later he said, "Ohh- I get it! 1849. Okay." The beautiful thing is, it didn't end there. Once we had reason to crack open those history books, the domino effect began.
Tatton read aloud about the events of 1849 from Don't Know Much About American History (by Kenneth C. Davis). His eyed were glowing with excitement as he exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! You guys think the economy is bad now! In 1849, there were so many thousands of people flocking to California that their supply & demand was ridiculous! Flour was $800 a barrel, sugar was $400 a barrel, eggs were $3 a piece, and shovels were $100. (This was at a time when skilled workers were making $2 a day!) Hey, guess what? Jeans were invented because a man noticed that miners needed sturdier pants & he invented Levi Strauss. Oh my gosh! Levi's were the first jeans ever invented and I'm wearing a pair of Levi's right now!"
He went on, "Hey guys! Chinatown came about because the Gold Rush brought so many Chinese people across the Pacific to America since there was a war going on over there & lots of people were out of work in China. But life in California, which the Chinese people called "Gold Mountain" wasn't much better than it had been in China. White people who couldn't find gold looked for someone to blame. They often unfairly blamed the Chinese & they were forced to live apart from everyone else & pay extra taxes. They had no rights. Many went home, but those who stayed created "Chinatowns" where they settled. I wonder if we would have Chinese take-out if there hadn't been a Gold Rush in 1849?"
Then he asked Lane this question: "Hey Lane- was the Underground Railroad the first subway system?" Thankfully, Tatton was too excited to allow Lane much time to answer since Lane didn't look like he loved being put on the spot with that question. Tatton answered his own question, "Nope! It sounds like it would be, but it was really a network of houses & other safe places for slaves who were running away to freedom in the northern states & Canada! The California Gold Rush heightened the debate over slavery because so many settlers moved to California so quickly that it had enough people to apply for statehood. The Oregon Territory was considered free, so southerners wanted California to be a slave state. But California's state constitution forbade slavery."
"In the Compromise of 1850, California entered into the Union as a free state. The Compromise also included The Fugitive Slave Law, which made it legal for slave owners to go after & capture runaway slaves who had escaped North. That was the most controversial part of the Compromise. There were people who helped the slaves run away. These people were called 'Conductors.' The most famous 'conductor' of the railroad was Harriet Tubman. $40,000 was offered for her capture! Mom, do you know when Harriet Tubman was born? It has a question mark here for her year of birth."
I remembered that I actually had a Time For Kids Biography called Harriet Tubman A Woman of Courage (by Renee Skelton) on the bookshelf. So, we got it out & started reading about her life. It said that she died in 1913 at the age of 93, so I had the kids do the math & we decided that she must have been born around 1820. We talked about her life being raised as a slave & how good we all have it in comparison. Especially striking were the pictures of the quilts used for code. The kids couldn't believe that it was against the law to teach a slave to read & write. Here we were with 5 books spread in front of us by this point, digging through the written word about people who never had that right. They were ingenious enough to find a way to communicate by sewing patterns into quilts that they would hang out windows or across fences without stirring suspicion though. My kiddos that are all about secret agents & spies thought that was amazing.
By this time, the game was a blood pressure spiking tie at 17 to 17 with only a few minutes left. We had casually covered History, Geography, Civil Rights, done some math and a ton of reading, (with Brooke throwing in synonyms for EVERYTHING due to her new found BFF the Thesaurus- more on that in a future blog) all while noshing on pizza and watching a good ol' Sunday football game. I LOVE days like this. Effortless learning & quality time. That's the stuff.
Don't Know Much About American History, Kenneth C. Davis, 2003
Don't Know Much About The 50 States, Kenneth C. Davis, 2001
National Geographic Our Fifty States, Mark H. Bockenhauer and Stephen F. Cunha, 2004
Building A Nation, Scott Foresman, 2008
Explore and Learn Volume 6 Atlas of the World, The Southwestern Company, 2005
Explore and Learn Volume 4 People in Place and Time, The Southwestern Company, 2005
The California Gold Rush An Interactive History Adventure, Elizabeth Raum, 2008
and of course, Brooke's friend: Webster's New English Language Thesaurus


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We love to cuddle our dogs. We kiss them. We allow them to share our bed. They sleep on the couch. And there are funny moments when we find them sleeping inside our closet. Given how our furry friends have invaded our private spaces, proper dog-grooming is important.
Dogs can be susceptible to diseases. We don't want them to be unwilling carriers of bacteria and viruses. These top dog-grooming techniques will be helpful to keep our pets in tiptop shape.
Regular bath with the right shampoo and conditioner
Going to the pet salon may not always be a practical idea. But a regular bath using the right shampoo and conditioner for your pet dog is already a salon treat for them. Never use human products on dogs. Our hair and skin is different than theirs. Make sure that you buy bath products formulated for puppies and dogs.
They have different skin needs than humans. Often, human products can cause damage and irritation to dog's skin. Worse, some pets accidentally ingest human shampoo and it causes a problem to their digestive system. Ask your veterinarian for recommendations. They will know which products are suited for the breed of your dog.
Brush dog coat regularly
Your dog's coat is their crowning glory. Keep their hair shiny and tangle-free. Invest on a good set of brush suitable for your dog's breed.
● For short-hair breeds, like Labradors, use a short toothed comb and a curry comb, especially during bathing
● For medium-length breeds with undercoat, like the Husky, use a double or single comb to reach the dead undercoat. Dematting combs and slicker brushes are also useful
● For doodle-type dogs, use a pin brush and a slicker or straight comb
● For long-haired breeds like Shelties, Maltese, use a double rake, straight comb or slicker, if they have an undercoat
● And for wire-haired breeds like the Brussels Griffon, use a slicker brush, wide-toothed flea comb for the face. Dematting and straight combs are useful too
Practice double rinse
Bathing our pet dogs require time. If one is in a hurry, you might be tempted to quickly rinse off your dog. However, incomplete rinsing will leave soap suds and other chemicals in your dog's coat and it will dry on their skin. Days later, you will wonder and worry why your pet is always itching.
Chances are, their skin got irritated by residues from shampoo and conditioner. Make sure you double rinse. This is especially true for dogs with thick undercoat.
Trim regularly
Hair can grow in between the paws of your pet. This attracts mud, dirt and other particles in your home. Likewise, nails can also grow and it will be irritating to feel the scratch when your dog tries to climb on you. Worse, your sofa or wall will get unsightly scratches.
To avoid this, trim the hair and their nails regularly. On an average, trimming should be done every three weeks or monthly. If you hear a "clacking" sound on the floor, your pet's nails are due for a much needed trim.
Use baby powder
This is probably the only human product suitable for your pet. Only use baby powder because it is usually hypoallergenic. Since dogs have sensitive skin, baby powder is safer than regular adult powder.
Baby powder is the easiest formula to remove tangled dog hair. If you have long-haired pets, sprinkle baby powder on their coat and brush it easily. Your dog's coat will have a nice shine. Plus, they smell so good! It will be hard to resist cuddling them.
Grooming your pets should not be expensive. There are easy and affordable ways to keep your dogs looking great.


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30 EUR Introductory week offer
As an introductory campaign for our first season we would like to invite you for a full week of Ashtanga Yoga classes for only 30 Euros. In addition to the weekdays you get to attend any of the Saturday classes too. Click "class schedule" on the menu bar. Your 6 days intro week can start at any weekday.
Sign up to your one week of introductory classes for 30 Euros: Please mention at least:
1) Your name
2) Your e-mail address
3) Which day you'd like to start


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Taken from the Mool Mantar, the first and most important composition contained within the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs. It is said to be the first composition uttered by Guru Nanak Dev upon enlightenment, and is the basis of the entire theology of Sikhism.
All plated jewellery does lose a bit of it's colour over time. However, if maintained properly, this is mimized to a large extent! We recommend always storing your Eina Ahluwalia jewellery in the branded cloth pouch and signature box that it comes in. Also, remember to always wear your jewellery AFTER spraying on any perfume as the alcohol content in the perfume erodes any sort of plating. It is also recommended to keep your jewellery away from water. Eina Ahluwalia offers free re-plating service for life for all jewellery purchased at www.einaahluwalia.com or our online/retail partners. If you see any of your EA jewellery discolor over time, mail us with a picture at firstname.lastname@example.com and our team will guide you through the process!
100% Handcrafted by our team of Master Craftsmen in India.
I am the Spirit-Soul A speck of the Infinite Reality A drop of Supreme Conciousness Whatever is in the Universe, is present in me Aham Brahmasmi One of the 4 Mahakavyas of the Upanishads
Also included in packaging : Concept card with a note about the collection, care card & a note from the designer. Any personalised messages can also be included. Jewellery comes in a travel-friendly fabric pouch & our keepsake pinewood box.
AHAlife is committed to help you live a conscious and inspired life.
Many of the items you discover here are exclusive to AHAlife, which is what makes our community of designers and artisans so special.
If you find one of our products anywhere else for less than it's being sold on our site, we will match it.
Our dedicated Support Team is here to help. Reach out any time at:


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- Washington Newsletter
- U.S. Wars & Militarism
Washington Newsletter: Militarism
Militarism permeates our society. Our nation's budget is skewed towards the Pentagon, and local economies depend increasingly on military industries as contractors reap the benefits. Our government gives surplus military equipment to local police forces and then wrings its hands when police officers see their own communities as the enemy.
Download The Newsletter
People are at the heart of escaping the militarism trap in our country—both our action and our care for all our neighbors, without exception. In 1967, Martin Luther King, Jr. called for a shift from a "thing-oriented" to a "person-oriented" society, saying "When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered." We must continue to name and oppose militarism where it appears—in our communities as well as in our public policies—and keep working for the alternatives that recognize the Light that is in us all.


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Realtors: Catch Attic Mold BEFORE the Home Inspection
Home > During a Sale > Realtors: Catch Attic Mold BEFORE the Home Inspection
Clues to inform you of attic mold BEFORE the home inspection
All too often we have realtors calling us in a bind—a home they were this close to selling was flagged for attic mold during the inspection. Rather than a quick close, they're now wildly scrambling for a solution so they don't lose the sale.
In our experience, the attic is the most common mold blind spot for home sellers, probably because it's among the least trafficked sections in the home—it's too bad that it's also among the most problematic when it comes to mold.
When selling a home, you want to catch any and every problem before the home inspection occurs. Letting an issue slip by only to be discovered by the inspector late in the selling process is a great way to lose a sale at the last minute. As a realtor or a homeowner, it's your job to find these hidden faults so that—when it's finally time for the inspection—the home passes with flying colors.
Easy-to-identify signs that there is definitely a moisture problem in your attic
There are a few things you can look for when performing your own pre-inspection which are easy tells that you have an attic moisture problem, and perhaps even an attic mold problem. If any of the following are spotted, don't ignore it:
- Dark black staining on wood surfaces — If the wood in your attic shows any black discoloration, the problem has moved beyond moisture; you have mold that should be removed.
- Attic feels excessively hot or stuffy — Attics should feel breezy if they are properly ventilated. When an attic is stuffy, that indicates you have a ventilation problem, which often results in mold problems.
- Frost buildup on the underside of the roof sheathing in winter — When it's cold enough outside, water that has made its way to the underside of your roof can freeze. This makes it especially easy to spot.
- Wet insulation in the attic — Not only is this a sign that you may (or soon will) have a mold problem, but when insulation gets damp or wet its ability to insulate becomes significantly diminished, costing you extra money to heat/cool your home.
- Water dripping from smoke detectors, light fixtures, bath fans — This is a sure sign that the floor (or attic) above you has a level of moisture that needs to be addressed.
- The smell of mildew in the attic — Trust your nose. A musty or moldy smell in the attic means there's a moisture problem somewhere.
How improper attic ventilation leads to attic moisture and mold
The average household of four generates 3-4 gallons of water vapor per day. That water has to go somewhere, and if it's not being properly ventilated to the outdoors, some of that moisture is most likely going to gather in the attic. There are several issues that can cause attic mold, but much of the time, a house's problem stems from a bathroom fan or the dryer vent running right into the attic when it should instead be directly connected to the exterior of the home. Even if the attic itself has proper ventilation, it is not acceptable to vent directly from the home into the attic.
And it's not just a warm weather problem. In the cold Chicago winter, the heated air from inside your living space naturally rises into the attic. When this warm air comes into contact with the cold attic sheathing (underside of your roof), condensation occurs. Once the weather heats up, this moisture is primed to turn into a mold problem.
Effective ventilation systems can either be active, requiring an electrically powered ventilator, or they can be passive systems that let the wind do the ventilating work, such as a combination of soffit vents for intaking cool outside air and ridge vents for exhausting the hot attic air.
Any home inspector worth their salt will check a house's attic ventilation system. To pass an inspection, and to ensure that an attic stays cool and dry, make sure there's a proper system in place that's unblocked by insulation.
Knowing the proper signs of attic mold, and how to prevent it to begin with, can save you a major headache during the sale of your home.


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After losing the first game of a double-header to San Diego State 7-6 on Tuesday, the University of Utah baseball team came back to capture a 7-5 win in the nightcap to earn a split in the first two games of a four-game series this week.
Utah began the day scoring five runs in the first inning of the first game, but was held scoreless the rest of the way as the Aztecs fought back to improve their Western Athletic Conference record to 8-1 with the one-run victory.In the second game, Utah knocked out San Diego State's Rick Navarro in the second inning scoring three earned runs in the first and two more in the second. Navarro was the WAC earned run leader entering the game, with a 1.13 ERA. Senior second baseman Shaun Peters highlighted the scoring in the first as he hit a triple knocking in two runs. Sophomore shortstop Robert Castellano added a solo home run in the second, his second of the year.
But the Aztecs once again fought their way back into the game. San Diego State had men on first and second with one out when center fielder Derek Vinyard stroked a single to left field.
Aztec shortstop Steve Dietz attempted to score from second but Ute left fielder Brett Alvey made a perfect throw and freshman catcher Adam Sessions blocked the plate and tagged Dietz out at the plate for the second out. Aztec right fielder Bill Dunckel then singled to load the bases. But Utah reliever Bret Cornell got the Aztec designated hitter Brad Gennaro to pop out and the Utes came away with the win against the second-place team in the WAC.
The two teams resume the series Wednesday in a double-header beginning at noon at Derks Field.


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New Entry: The Euhumanists
The Euhumanists are a highly advanced utopian society of humans that have grown beyond the confines of Earth, living amongst the stars in a massive spacefaring habitat.
The vessel contains an artificial biosphere, with its population separated into civilians and crew sections such as engineering, medical and security. Aboard the E.V. Soleri, an emergency disabled many of the ship's systems, triggering a collapse of their habitat, after which the crew descended into a primitive tribal state divided by civil war and cannibalism.
Source: Habitat by Simon Roy
Alien: Offworld Colony Simulator
Spotted in official Alien social media, email and web promos for Alien Day 2018, I've noted the use of crew insignia and the Weyland-Yutani Corp logo for their Offworld Colony Simulator.
The insignia for captain, navigator, and engineer are used for a "Career Placement Test" where your role in the RPG is determined. The Weyland-Yutani Corp logo appears in relation to the RPG, locked up with the game's title.
Animated Instagram Post: Career Placement Test
Source: Alien Day, Twentieth Century Fox
Tyrell Corp Cap
Spotted on eBay: A listing for an original Tyrell Corp cap, made by The Thinking Cap Company in 1982. In the film Blade Runner, this logo appeared in only one scene, where it could be briefly viewed on Dr. Eldon Tyrell's robe.
The advertisement and order form for this cap appeared in Starlog Magazine, where it could be purchased for in one of a variety of colors, for $8.95 plus shipping and handling.
Updated Entry: Pizza Hut
Additional Resources for the Pizza Hut entry have been updated with a link to this interview with Ed Eyth by The Design Sketchbook blog, that shares concept art for the 2015 Pizza Hut dehydrated pizza packaging.
New Entry: Adam 1
The Adam 1 Terran Resettlement Program was a failed attempt by Martian colonists to re-establish a human settlement on the planet Earth, after the homeworld's human inhabitants were wiped out.
Source: "Homeward Bound" by Simon Roy
Astral Dreams
Category: Space Travel, Tourism, Entertainment
Source: "Impossible Planet." Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams (S01 · E08).
Lunar Industries
Category: Energy, Service Station
Source: Mute · Netflix
Unused Concept for 2015 Jacket
In this Back to the Future Part II concept art for Marty McFly's 2015 jacket, by John Bell, we see a redesigned Nike logo that was not used in the film. There is also a Sony logo, presumably relating to the speakers that were built into this version of the jacket.
Source: Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History
From concept art for Back to the Future Part II, a futuristic service station robot featuring a redesigned Texaco logotype, by Ed Eyth.
Source: Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History.
Brown Research
Unused Back to the Future Part II concept art depicting Doc Brown's futuristic mobile lab, which was in early drafts of the script. Logotype and vehicle design by Michael Scheffe.
Source: Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History
The Work of Wren McDonald
Following illustrator and comics creator Wren McDonald, I've taken note of the variety of ways he has used marks in his science fiction-themed work. Some examples I'll share include the personal logo for SP4RX the hacker (worn on the arm of his jacket), the ubiquitous logos that appear in depictions of cyberpunk environments, and the eye symbol worn by soldiers in his comic Dirt Dart. These are just a few, and I'm hoping to add the more significant instances to the Speculative Identities Research at some point in the future.
In the meantime, to see more of Wren's work visit the following links.
Wren McDonald's Website · Tumblr · Instagram
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1946 – territorial disputes with Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, German Democratic Republic, Bulgaria and others.
1948-1949 – Berlin Blockade - dispute with USSR over access to West Berlin
1948-1960 – Malayan Emergency - armed conflict against the Communist forces of the Malayan National Liberation Army
1950-1953 – Korean War - war with North Korea
1951-1954 – Abadan Crisis - dispute with Iran over expropriated oil assets
1956-1957 – Suez Crisis - armed conflict with Egypt, and dispute with most of international community
1958 – First Cod War - fishing dispute with Iceland
1962-1966 – Konfrontasi - war with Indonesia
1972-1973 – Second Cod War - fishing dispute with Iceland
1975-1976 – Third Cod War - fishing dispute with Iceland
1980 – with Australia over nuclear testing by the United Kingdom in lands claimed by some Aboriginal groups to be sacred.
1982 – Falklands War - war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands
1983 – dispute with the United States over its invasion of Grenada, of which Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the monarch.
1984 – dispute with Libya after a policewoman is shot dead in London by a gunman from within the Libyan embassy.
1988 – further dispute with Libya over the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over the Scottish town of Lockerbie
1991 – Gulf War with Iraq
1995 – under UN mandate, military involvement in Yugoslavia (specifically Bosnia)
1997 - Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule. Britain secures guarantees for a "special status" that would continue capitalism and British properties.
1999 – involvement in NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia over Kosovo
2001 – UN-sponsored war against, and subsequent occupation of, Afghanistan
2003 – Collaborate with US and others in war and occupation of, Iraq
2007 – (ongoing) diplomatic dispute with Russia over the death of Alexander Litvinenko
2009 – (ongoing) Dispute with Iran over its alleged nuclear weapons programme and Iranian condemnation of the British government
2011 - (ongoing) under UN mandate, UK Armed Forces participated in enforcing the Libyan No-Fly Zone as part of Operation Ellamy
- Spain claims the British overseas territory of Gibraltar.
- Mauritius claims the entire Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory, including the island of Diego Garcia used as a joint UK/US military base since the 1950s when the inhabitants were forcibly removed, Blenheim Reef, Speakers Bank and all the other features.
- Dispute over territorial waters and continental shelf rights around Rockall.There is a territorial claim in Antarctica, the British Antarctic Territory, which overlaps with areas claimed by Chile and Argentina.
- Conflicting claims over the Falkland Islands, controlled by Britain but claimed by Argentina. The dispute escalated into the Falklands War in 1982 over the islands' sovereignty, in which Argentina was decisively defeated.
Commonwealth of Nations & Ireland
The UK has varied relationships with the countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations which originated from the British Empire. Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the head of the Commonwealth and is head of state of 16 of its 54 member states. Those that retain the Queen as head of state are called Commonwealth Realms. Over time several countries have been suspended from the Commonwealth for various reasons. Zimbabwe was suspended because of the authoritarian rule of its President[13] and so too was Pakistan, but it has since returned. Countries which become republics are still eligible for membership of the Commonwealth so long as they are deemed democratic. Commonwealth nations such as Malaysia enjoyed no export duties in trade with the UK before the UK concentrated their economic relationship with EU member states.
The UK was once a dominant colonial power in many countries on the continent of Africa and its multinationals remain large investors in sub-Saharan Africa. Nowadays the UK, as lead member of the Commonwealth of Nations, seeks to influence Africa through its foreign policies. Current UK disputes are with Zimbabwe over human rights violations. Tony Blair set up the Africa Commission and urged rich countries to cease demanding developing countries repay their large debts.
Australia – United Kingdom relations are close, marked by shared history, culture, institutions and language, extensive people-to-people links, aligned security interests, and vibrant trade and investment cooperation. The long-standing relationship between the United Kingdom and Australia formally began in 1901 when the six British Crown colonies in Australia federated, and the Commonwealth of Australia was formed as a Dominion of the British Empire. Australia fought alongside Britain in World War I, notably at Gallipoli, and again in World War II. Andrew Fisher, Australian prime minister from 1914 to 1916, declared that Australia would defend the United Kingdom "to the last man and the last shilling." Until 1949, the United Kingdom and Australia shared a common nationality code. The final constitutional ties between United Kingdom and Australia ended in 1986 with the passing of the Australia Act 1986.
The two countries are related through common history, the Commonwealth of Nations and their sharing of the same Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II as their Monarch. As one of the first English colonies, the initial permanent European settlement took place in the early seventeenth century by English settlers. Barbados thereafter remained as a territory of the United Kingdom until it negotiated independence in 1966. In recent years, increasing numbers of British nationals have purchased secondary homes in Barbados, and the islands ranked as the Caribbean regions' fourth largest export market of the United Kingdom. The British High Commission was established in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1966 and there is also a Barbadian High Commission in London.
London and Ottawa enjoy cooperative and intimate contact, which has grown deeper over the years; the two countries are related through history, the Commonwealth of Nations, and their sharing of the same Head of State and monarch. Both countries fought together in both World Wars, the Korean War, and more recently cooperate in the coalition in the War in Afghanistan. Both are founding members of NATO, and also belong to the G7 (and the G8). Canada has been referred to as the "linchpin of the English-speaking world", by Winston Churchill, as it connects the three anglo countries. America, Britain, and Canada were the first countries to share the knowledge of the atom bomb together, as the three all worked on the Manhattan Project together.
The UK maintains two sovereign area military bases on the island of Cyprus. The UK is also a signatory to a treaty with Greece and Turkey concerning the independence of Cyprus, the Treaty of Guarantee, which maintains that Britain is a "guarantor power" of the island's independence.
Both countries are members of the European Union.
India has a high commission in London and two consulates-general in Birmingham and Edinburgh. The United Kingdom has a high commission in New Delhi and three deputy high commissions in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Since 1947, relations between the two countries have been mostly friendly and there are many areas in which both India and the UK seek stronger ties for mutual benefit.
Despite a long history of conflict from English Tudor plantation in Ireland to the Irish War of independence, the UK presently works closely with the government of the Republic of Ireland in areas concerning the peace process in Northern Ireland as well as on many security issues. In 1949 the Irish Houses of Parliament passed the Republic of Ireland Act, making the Republic of Ireland officially fully independent; the country withdrew from the Commonwealth. Under the Ireland Act 1949 Irish citizens are treated as though they are Commonwealth citizens and not aliens for the purposes of law. Until 1998, the Republic of Ireland claimed Northern Ireland, but this was rescinded under the Belfast Agreement through an amendment of the Irish Constitution, which now states an aspiration to peaceful unity. There is an ongoing dispute that also involves Denmark and Iceland, over the status of the ocean floor surrounding Rockall. However, this is for the most part a trivial issue rarely makes it onto British-Irish meeting agendas.
The United Kingdom has a high commission in Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia has a high commission in London. Both countries are full members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Both the UK and Malaysia are part of the Five Powers Defence Arrangements.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim of Kedah paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in July 1974. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak paid a state visit to the United Kingdom in November 1993. HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom paid state visits to Malaysia in October 1989, and in September 1998.
In the 1950s and 1960s, serious consideration was given in both countries to the idea of a political union between the United Kingdom and Malta. However, this plan for "Integration with Britain" foundered, and Malta gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. British Monarch Queen Elizabeth II remained Queen of Malta until the country became a Republic in 1974. There is a small Maltese community in the United Kingdom. In addition, the British overseas territory of Gibraltar has been influenced by significant 18th and 19th Century immigration from Malta (see "History of the Maltese in Gibraltar").
Both countries are members of the European Union.
Nauru was part of the British Western Pacific Territories from September 1914 and June 1921. The British Government had ceased to exercise any direct role in the governance of Nauru by 1968, when the island achieved its independence. The Nauruan government maintains an Hon. Consul, Martin W I Weston. The British High Commission in Suva is responsible for the United Kingdom's bilateral relations with Nauru.
New Zealand
Up to about the 1960s, New Zealand also had extremely close economic relations with the United Kingdom, especially considering the distance at which trade took place. As an example, in 1955, Britain took 65.3 percent of New Zealand's exports, and only during the following decades did this dominant position begin to decline as the United Kingdom oriented itself more towards the European Union, with the share of exports going to Britain having fallen to only 6.2 percent in 2000.Historically, some industries, such as dairying, a major economic factor in the former colony, had even more dominant trade links, with 80-100% of all cheese and butter exports going to Britain from around 1890 to 1940. This strong bond also supported the mutual feelings for each other in other areas.
Nigeria, formerly a colony, gained independence from Britain in 1960.
Pakistan was a colony of Britain from 1 November 1858 to 13 August 1947 as part of the Indian Empire. Both UK and Pakistan are active members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom share Queen Elizabeth as their head of state. They have had relations since 1975 when Papua New Guinea gained independence from Australia.
Singapore and the United Kingdom share a friendly relationship since Singapore became independent from the United Kingdom in 1959. Singapore retained the Privy Council as the final court of appeal up till 1989 (fully abolished in 1994) due to political reasons.
United States
The United Kingdom and the United States are close military allies. The two countries share cultural similarities, as well as military research and intelligence facilities. The UK has purchased military technology from the USA such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and Trident nuclear missiles, and the US has purchased equipment from Britain (e.g. Harrier Jump Jet). The USA also maintains a large number of military personnel in the UK. In recent years, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the President of the United States have often been close friends, for example Tony Blair and Bill Clinton and later with George W. Bush and in the 1980s the often like-minded Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. Present British policy is that the relationship with the United States represents Britain's "most important bilateral relationship".
The UK has had good relations with the rest of Europe since the Second World War. It became a member of the European Economic Community in 1973, which eventually evolved into the European Union through the Maastricht Treaty twenty years later. Although the UK does not use the Euro and is not a member of the Eurozone, it still plays a leading role in the day to day workings of the EU.
Britain has a century-long alliance with France, through the Entente Cordiale, which was reconfirmed through the November 2010 Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty – setting up a joint expeditionary force, aircraft carrier sharing and nuclear collaboration – as well as extremely close cooperation with France over the 2011 Libyan Uprising and Libyan no-fly zone.


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Victoria Beckham's OBE Outfit Is Not What We Would Have Predicted
Today, Victoria Beckham collected her OBE from Prince William at Buckingham Palace—bravo! Naturally, all eyes were on what the designer wore for the occasion. VB kept it simple and surprisingly ultra-casual, wearing a midnight blue knitted dress with long sleeves, a crew neckline and the skirt skimming the ankle—being the savviest of savvy brand ambassadors, of course, this was from her upcoming collection. She chose not to wear a hat, instead choosing to wear her hair in a low, loose bun, and she kept her accessories to a minimum.
VB chose a pair of elegant burgundy court shoes and a box-shaped top-handle handbag from her own label with a burgundy-and-cream silk scarf looped around the handle. It seems like her choice of bag is a nod to royal style, as it resembles the Queen's signature structured top-handle black leather bags, don't you think?
Scroll below to see what Victoria Beckham wore to her OBE ceremony.
Getty Images
Rex Features
For more Victoria Beckham style tips, see the 18 tricks anyone can copy.
Opening Image: Rex Features


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Recalling what I have said earlier about the stimulus package – that it should be at least 10% of the GDP – it seems that finally the cow has come home! With the announcements of RM60 billion package (about 9% of GDP), and admissions that we are finally facing massive economic challenges – with GDP almost 0% or negative 1%; exports has crumbled by 30% or more (both in terms of volume and value (due to low price of commodities)); investments has come to standstill; and so on.
What is appalling to me is that ALL these issues were so clear by end of last year (four months ago); and if you recall, most of the issues, I have raised it in my writings- and if the government has seek advice of many economists, they would have come up with the same conclusions (or even more – because they may have access to data and information that I don't have). And if you recall, the Government (such as Finance Minister 2), were making statements denying that we will face these problems. Such are the testimonies to our economic and financial management.
Off course now you will hear all the critics that such Stimulus is insufficient, a little bit too late, etc; while of course pro-government media and parties will hail that such move are commendable. The devils are in the details, as some would say; and that is the real issue that we should analyze. First, it is important to note that only RM15 billion out of the total amount will be in "hard cash" forms, while others are actually "indirect" cash. The stimulus also comes with a term "special projects" – which are dubious and what their uses will be can be anyone's guess! And to me, the real challenge would be, whether they will spend it accordingly to drive the economy to fill the slack that has occurred – will be the real test and measure. For now, it seems that the rhetoric of it, surpass any real intelligent action that I can observe.
Economic actions are always never worked alone on its own. It is the result of an aggregate of collective actions by all economic agents – the Governments, companies, investors, traders, merchants, businessmen, and the consumers. All must act together in unison and in the same direction to allow any effective measures to be successful. It requires clear message and direction, so that correct anticipations, leads to proper actions. As you can see today, the Obama economic team are all over the media and communication channels; to bring home a unified message for their economic stimulus to work. And even that is no guarantee for the success. What more if the message is murky; filled with rhetoric and absence of any real feat?
To bring this point across, let us take many "small" issues that are at hand: the toll hike, for example: why in the world that they would announce an increase (and subsequently called it off) at this moment in time? Similarly, why someone would became the "sole" supplier or "special" fish containers that the fish wholesalers refuse to use; and instead use the reason to hike up the prices of fish. The effects of such announcements, gave reasons for people to increase the prices – and after that, despite the cancellations or reversal of policies, still the price didn't come down.
I am sure that in months ahead, the message that they will send to people will even murkier and confused. For that reason, my hypothesis is that the stimulus will not be able to ward off the recession that we are already in. Hence, brace yourself for tough and long economic predicaments ahead.


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|Zukes, Cukes.Squash, Peppers and Eggplant all thriving
What's in the box
No Boxes the week of July 4th
As usual, the farm will close for the week of the 4th and Leo and I will go on holiday. Nothing like a wee break to put some magic back in the routine.
|Beans corn and beans and corn
So while we wait, we might as well go on a trip. This will give all of you who have more than one box malingering at your house, to get them in along with vases, herb jars and canning jars.
Canning Jars
|Grapes contemplating their jelliness
Leo has positively forbidden me to buy any more canning jars. In the last 3 years I have purchased some 36 cases of jars. Last year 6 cases came back, and one of our lovely lovely beautiful and stunning CSA members sent me a whole new case! So basically jam season is just starting, you want it? Send home the jars. Pints and half pints are especially useful.
Thanks to one of the very best Senior Ops at the District we were gifted several cases of quarts, so we will have spaghetti sauce, tomatoes willing.
Have a glorious 4th. When I see you next, there will be corn! Yeah! We'll see you July 11th.


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What's the Difference In between an Offender as well as an Employment Background Check
You could be perplexed if you are adopting a work, and also your potential company has actually chosen that they want to run a background examine you. You must never take this directly, as it is common for numerous companies today. You can be certain that if they are asking you if you would give them approval to run one on you that they are doing the same for each single person they are talking to. Lawbreaker checks are not as comprehensive and also background checks, yet rather, can be a little part of them.
A criminal background by itself is quite basic. It should be a document of any offenses of which you have actually been founded guilty. If you served time and/or had parole, this need to turn up. The same can be stated if you were on probation. Though various kinds of criminal checks bring up various things, a lot of that are done for work only raise felonies, and also misdemeanors are usually left off the document, though you can not be sure of that. It remains in your best passion to tell your company what they are visiting discover, if anything, so they recognize you are being sincere.
There are a few points that should not show up on a criminal background check. You ought to not be reported for apprehensions that click site have not caused a conviction. That means if you were a suspect in a burglary, however found to be innocent, that must not be noted. That would certainly be an arrest document, and even after that, those are not always all inclusive also. That would indicate you were being punished for something of which you were innocent.
Entirely background checks, on the other hand, are a lot more inclusive. This suggests these checks could raise anything that you have given permission for via a written paper. A company may intend to examine your academic records, your previous work history, your credit rating, as well as your criminal history. Those are all points they may need to recognize before they hire you. Some will certainly not, or will only ask for a few of them. The legislations differ, so recognize before you go exactly what your civil liberties may be.
When it involves both types of checks, they can be located via various sources. Among the simplest is the on-line criminal background checks You could even go there on your very own to see if you have anything that comes up in your previous. Blunders can take place, so it never harms to ensure yours is precise prior to you start a task search of your personal.


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The most quoted number for the cost of the Ontario Liberals moving two natural gas power plants away from urban locations in order to win a few more seats is $1.1 billion dollars.
If you look at the Auditor General reports that the number is based on you can see that the much of the 1.1 billion dollar cost would still be needed even if the plants would built in their new locations in the first place, as the NDP and Conservatives claim they would have done if they where in government at the time.
This cost breakdown uses the Auditor General's numbers. The units are in millions of dollars in net present value. The total is different because I also include the addition profit the companies are likely to make at the new locations, which presumably they would not have made if the new locations where selected during the bidding process.
|Cost of
different location
|Cost from move
|Missassauga to Lambton
|To Greenfield
|To Greenfield's lender
|To Greenfield's suppliers
|Legal fees
|Line loss
|Saving from delayed opening
|Reduced gas delivery
|Finance savings
|Oakville to Napanee
|Gas turbines
|Sunk costs
|Legal fees
|Gas delivery
|Gas and hydro connections
|Additional gas for modified turbines
|Transmission upgrades
|Line loss
|Replacement power
|Lower power cost
|Saving from delayed opening
|Construction savings
|Site cheaper
|Grand Total
Some interesting observations can be made. The Lambton location is just as good as the Mississauga location because the addition line loss is made up for by lower gas delivery charges. It also explains why moving the Oakville plant cost more even though it wasn't under construction yet. Moving the plant was actually cheaper, but the costs of the new location was much higher.
With these substantial costs to putting the plant in Napanee you can understand why the Liberal government made decision they did. I wouldn't be surprised if the NDP or Conservatives had been in office, they would have tried to put the plant in Oakville.
The decision to move the plants was, of course, political and done to try and win a few extra seats, but parties make decision like that all the time. This was just an unusually blatant example. The same thing happened during the Scarborough—Guildwood by-election where all three major parties came out in support the Scarborough subway over the LRT despite its higher cost and shorter length.
The gas plant costs plus other scandals have given the Liberals a reputation for wastefulness. If you say they wasted $2 billion over 10 years of government that amounts to 0.1% of total government spending of about 2 trillion over that period. Very few households could say they waste so little money and any corporation would be proud of such a small percentage. Some commenters on the Toronto Star website seem to think the Liberal's waste could pay for an entire transit network for the GTA. 200 million per year would pay for less then one tenth of the expected cost.
On the other hand the possible cover up of emails relating to the gas plant decision can not be justified. While it is not definitive emails where purposely hidden from the committee's requests they have admitted they deleted emails. The federal Conservatives had a similar problem during its minority government and was found in contempt because of it. The modern practice of not admitting to the genuine justification for a policy (because they are made to appeal low knowledge voters, therefore the justification doesn't stand up the scrutiny) clashes with the absolute power of parliament to demand the documents that contain the justification which can be wielded under a minority government.


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Fire brings my cake. There are eight candles on it. Do my children really think that I am only eight years old? How do they think I could be eight and still be their dad? What I am is 28. At my age, it feels really good to be 28.
Later, after dinner, at about 9:00 PM, a whole bunch of us took a walk. After we reached pavement, we spotted this woman, walking toward us with two dogs. When the dogs saw Muzzy, they could not believe that a cat could be so big. One of them had to sniff Muzzy's rather public privates, to see if he actually was a cat, or just a pretender.


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After a brief hiatus – talk to me about computers breaking down, I dare you – and a complete lack of scheduling coordination, we are BACK!
New, amazingly helpful writerly tips and techniques for YOU!
It may have something to do with Allison and Jenny and me all appearing together at the Florida Writer's Association conference in 1 1/2 weeks, but somehow the train got back on the tracks and WOTWF is making new shows again.
Helpful shows – about stuff you need to know!
For those of you who missed us… actually, for those of YOU, singular – thank you. We missed you, too. Singular you. Our fan.
But these videos, while helpful, are also FUN TO WATCH!
For the rest of you, WHAT'S THE DEAL??? Video haters? Come on, these things are fun and you might learn something. (I said might. You might not.)
Can you really say you know all there is to know about creating a proper setting??? Wouldn't it be a good idea to hear a few other authors talk about it?
Actually, I'll give you a guarantee. You WILL learn something because even if there is no new information to be gained – and there is – you'll learn that you already knew whatever we were talking about, which gives you the satisfaction of confirming you're a well educated writer type. So there.
This is good stuff. Really. Probably.
You should check out these videos. I'm in them, for no other reason.
Also, come see us – me, but us – at the Florida Writer's Association conference October 19-23 in Orlando (Altamonte Springs). More than likely the hurricane will be gone by then.
If there's a topic you want discussed on WOTWF, let me know! And be sure to tell me what you think about the videos. Like them or not, we appreciate feedback. At least I do. If you wanna send it confidentially, use the contact me button. I can handle your harsh criticisms. Probably.
I posted 9 new videos AND
A story about a moose, PLUS some stuff about being an introvert or extrovert AND a chat about the hurricane.
I'm not saying it's all grade A prime. I'm saying it's short and fun and educational. Mostly. Go to our Writers Off Task With Friends channel on YouTube to see the ones I didn't post here, plus old ones you missed. There are lots of great interviews with authors and they also shed insight into the writerly world. Stuff you need! Probably.
Hey, we're trying!


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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told the UNP candidates contesting for the February 10 local government election that this poll is of importance for the government if it is to return to power in the year 2020.
The Prime Minister had come up with these sentiments while addressing the candidates at UNP Headquarters in Sirikotha last morning. A candidate who attended the meeting which was held by the Prime Minister said the latter stressed the importance of winning the local government poll citing that a victory will help the present government to return to power.
"He told us to work hard and win the elections while stressing that a victory for the government at the local government is important if it is to return to power in 2020," this candidate said.
Also he said the Prime Minister informed them that the intention of the government is to allow the local government bodies to play a role in development.


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European commercial real estate investment reached €58bn in the first half of 2013, up 12% compared to the same period in 2012, according to the Jones Lang LaSalle Global Capital Flows Q2 2013 report.
This increase reflects the sustained attraction of commercial real estate in the largest European cities but also a substantial improvement across Southern Europe, where activity increased 34% in comparison with H1 2012.
Driving this was the doubling of non-domestic investment, with acquisitions by Allianz and AXA in Italy, Qatari investments in hotels in Italy and Spain, and most notably the €150m acquisition of the Generalitat office portfolio in Spain by AXA, marking the first foreign acquisition since the Spanish sovereign crisis.
The high volume of bids for prime assets across Southern Europe demonstrates the improving sentiment across the region. The prime yield in Madrid also moved in 30 basis points which is the first move since Spain's sovereign debt crisis.
Ireland has been the first peripheral market to stage a recovery. Volumes in H1 2013 have reached €533m, against a full year 2012 recorded total of €673m. The success of Green Property, the first Irish REIT in raising €310m against a target of €200m plus an increase in available stock highlights the return in confidence across the country.
Richard Bloxam, Head of European Capital Markets at Jones Lang LaSalle explained: "The largest markets of the UK, France and Germany remain attractive to global real estate investors, however, as we anticipated volumes are beginning to increase in Southern Europe reflecting the rising appetite from investors over the last nine months. Current investor sentiment would suggest that activity will accelerate as the bid/ask spread begins to narrow."
Retail and portfolios
H1 2013 also marked an uptick in retail volumes year on year, primarily due to the increased availability of stock. The joint venture between SES Spar European Shopping Centres and Allianz Real Estate in a portfolio of seven shopping centres in major cities in Austria, Slovenia and Italy also reaffirms the returning confidence and increasing interest in country and cross-border portfolios, with investors looking to gain scale quickly. Additional notable deals include the sale of BelAir, Brussels to a joint venture between Hannover Leasing and an Asian institution for over €300m, the South Korean acquisition of "Gallileo" offices in Frankfurt for €262m and Silesia City Center being acquired by an international investor consortium led by Allianz for €412m.
Robert Stassen, Head of European Capital Market Research added: "At the half-way stage, Europe is on track for €125bn, mirroring full year volumes recorded in 2012. Although a lack of prime opportunities has constrained activity in some markets, this has been counterbalanced by growth elsewhere. We feel that investment sentiment is improving which together with better availability of debt, has given investors the confidence to increasingly invest outside the prime locations. This should translate in solid reported investment volumes in the second half of the year and could mean that there is further upside to our full year forecast.