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Third Time Lucky (Good Customer Service)
By AndrewR
5 comments
Being a plantsman, I source many of my plants from small, specialist nurseries. This means many of them travel by post or courier service to reach me, adding a risk to acquiring them. Usually, everything goes without a hitch, but an order placed earlier this year didn't go quite according to plan.
I have been dealing with Potterton's Nursery for several years without any problems. They deal in bulbs, alpines, and other small plants. I knew something was not right when Parcelforce sent me a letter, telling me they had a package for me sitting in their Basingstoke depot. They had tried to deliver it (they claimed) and then taken it to the nearest sub Post Office, from where I was supposed to collect it. However, as they had not left a card telling me this, I did not know it was there, and it had been returned to them after six weeks. They also claimed it was undeliverable because the address was wrong! I arranged for the re-delivery, and unpacked eight very sorry looking pots.
Potterton's were horrified when they saw the picture, and immediately promised to send replacements. A few days later, another package arrived, but it only contained five pots. Each had a label like this.
Whoops! Wrong order!! To be fair to them, Potterton's had already rung up to tell me they had made a mistake, and to keep the 'free' plants.
Today, another package. What was inside this time?
Third time lucky.
Thank you Potterton's. No quibble, no hastle. Good customer service. I will be using them again.
- 25 Mar, 2015
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Thanks for this blog, the plants are a good size and a fair price, what about their postage rates Andrew?
25 Mar, 2015
DD - about the average. The plants come in small pots filled with soil which bumps up the weight. Each pot has newspaper taped over the soil to prevent it tipping out in transit, and if the plant is not a 'cushion' type, another pot is taped upside down over it to give protection. The box they are sent in is packed with scrumpled newspaper so everything travels securely and arrives in good condition (carrier permitting of course).
25 Mar, 2015
Thanks for this, always looking to buy online where possible....
25 Mar, 2015
Update: I left the eight pots from the original order on the patio. Six are now showing healthy growth from the contents - the other two contain autumn flowering bulbs, so I wouldn't expect to see anything at this time of year.
6 May, 2015
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Soldier's Wife Takes on Mission to Help Feed Kansas City Troops
Posted on February 22, 2013
by kfinley
Story by Jennifer Archdekin
Missouri National Gaurd
Thanks to volunteers at the Kansas City National Guard armory, military service members now have an additional resource available to them when it comes to feeding their families.
Recently an on-site food pantry opened its doors to local Guardsmen, as well as all active military personnel and veterans, regardless of their branch of service.
The Family Readiness Group leader for the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Tracy Belt, manages the pantry.
"There was a need," said Belt. "We just needed to have it for people to take advantage of it."
According to Belt, the Harvesters-sponsored food pantry was able to move in 1,600 pounds of food to their shelves in January. She said they don't require any financial information, just a few basic questions, and will serve the troops regardless of their income.
read more here

subset: commoncrawl


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« November 2001 |
| January 2002 »
Well, not quite the last monthly post ... forgot to say one thing:
Have an outrageous, bodacious, fabulous new year, everyone!
Posted at 08:11 AM in Good Stuff | Permalink
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Well, it's that time of the month again, so the flavors get retired. I'll make a habit of adding them in the last monthly post so I can easily find them again.
This month's nominees are:
Breast Cancer Site
Eddie Izzard
Holiday Lights
Inkline Tattoo Studio
Learning Swedish
Martha Stewart
Penis Puppetry
Posted at 03:17 PM in Web/Tech | Permalink
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Francis Strand, an American living in Sweden, writes about his third anniversary as an ex-patriate, and gets interesting comments on the topic too.
He says "I wonder if part of my being happy has to do with not knowing the language, that when I really start to use Swedish relatively exclusively, I'll lose part of myself."
I agree that language is a big part of your identity. Bertolt Brecht, who had fled from Nazi Germany to the United States, writes in his California diary:
"I've been trying for some time now to express myself in the local language. I have noticed that in discussions, I don't say what I want to say, but what I can say. And as you can imagine, those are two very different things."
As for myself, I am glad that I already spoke passable English when I moved to California in 1990. I didn't have any German friends in the first few years, and I noticed that my German did deteriorate, and that I had to struggle to properly construct a German sentence when I would talk to my family on the telephone.
Did I feel like I'd lost something? I don't remember. I was so thrilled with all the new things I encountered, I don't think I had that feeling. And of course I was in love. I certainly felt like I was a different person, and I still remember waking up one morning and realizing that I had dreamt in English.
Looking back now, 12 years later, I'm grateful for how much I've gained. Learning to live in another language made me smarter, I think, like my brain gained another dimension. You look at life through the filter of another language, and it takes on new colors. You have different ways of saying things, different codes of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, different aspects of life that are emphasized - and you even sound different. I know that my voice uses different registers, different melodies for the two languages. (My answer machine has messages in German and English because I'd noticed that some of my American friends didn't recognize my German voice.)
I did pick up the same habits, though - clever puns and silly word games will always be favorites in either language. And what I miss most these days, is that there is no one person who can share all my jokes. There is the US subset that knows my US puns, and there is the German circle that understands my German word games. Tough to find somebody I can laugh with in "stereo". But hey, if that's my biggest problem, I'll be happy to stick with it.
Posted at 01:09 PM in It's All About Me | Permalink
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Oh, and I hope that the President is going to make this speech real soon. Methinks it would make for a good New Year's Day address.
Posted at 03:33 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink
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And wuddaya know, I came up with a New Year's Resolution. Just in time.
I hadn't really wanted to make one, since I have never been very good at sticking with them (consistency not being one of my main virtues), but it popped right into my head: I'll start meditating again. I danced around my apartment for a while, looking forward to the new year, and then it occurred to me that I didn't actually have to wait for the new year to start. Oh duh!
I started by familiarizing myself with the Prayer of St. Francis again, and now I got one extra credit for the upcoming year already.
And if you're good, maybe I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
Posted at 02:18 PM in Good Stuff | Permalink
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Just talked to my friend Greg and told him about the place where he can keep tabs on me, namely my blog, and he said what was needed was a place to list all the good things that happen to you - you know, if you're having a bad day, instead of concentrating on all the nasty stuff, you can accentuate the positive, look up your blog, and see that your life is not so bad.
I thought it was a great idea - I know it sounds really corny, but you know what? it does work! - and set up a new blog for him and me to share immediately.
No, sorry, you can't see this one, it's private. Go get your own blog!
Posted at 02:22 PM in Weblogs | Permalink
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So there I was last night, watching West Side Story, with the Sharks going "THEY started it!" and the Jets going "THEY started it!". and when it was all over, several dead bodies and a bunch of broken hearts later, I switched to CNN.
Just in time to hear the Indian Prime Minister say "THEY started it!" and the Pakistani Foreign Minister saying "THEY started it!"
I wish that were just a movie too.
And the Israelis and the Palestinians are so busy retaliating they don't even have time to think about who started what. (Not that it matters all that much any more, either.)
God Bless Us, Every One.
Posted at 02:43 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink
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Funny-looking reindeer, that.
Posted at 06:39 PM in Pictures | Permalink
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Christmas Day, and the snow is disappearing. Probably so the Three Wise Men have an easier time traveling to the manger. I called my family and a few friends, and now I am cooking dinner (fish sticks, of all gourmet meals), blogging away happily, and listening to a rockin' version of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer on KFOG.
I love sitting in Munich and listening to my favorite San Francisco Bay Area radio station over the internet! I can't even imagine being without email and the web anymore.
Posted at 10:32 AM in Chitchat | Permalink
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It's Christmas Eve, and Munich all around me is dressed in white. It didn't snow today, but it is cold, and there is enough left over from the last few days of precipitation. The day was bright blue and sunny, and now the church bells are ringing through the dark, to call the faithful to Christmas Mass.
I'm not leaving the house today - I have the heat turned up high, am drinking tea, eating gingerbread, and reading. The friendly folks of Amazon, who receive a fair portion of my paycheck, just sent me several books by Connie Willis, one of my favorite science fiction authors. One is a collection of short stories called "Miracle and Other Christmas Stories"; I read it in the subway over the last few days.
She mentions Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol", and it occurred to me that I'd never read it; I only know several of the movie adaptations. So I went to the bookstore and bought it, and I think I will read it tomorrow, on Christmas Day.
Posted at 12:45 PM in Chitchat | Permalink
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Using Quick Search
The Quick Search feature is a content search that allows the user to search for specific content on a page or within meta tags in order to easily navigate to pages that may need updates or to be reviewed. If a global change needs to be made, the Global Find and Replace option should be used, which is limited to Level 10 administrators only. Quick Search cannot be used for coding or regex searches, and it will only review files on the Staging Server.
Using the Quick Search
Quick Search can be found at the top of the pages screens. Simply type the content to be searched
for into the search box and click on the search icon or press Enter.
By utilizing the Advanced Search option, it is possible to easily incorporate multiple criteria into the search without having to know the syntax, as well as to limit the search locations. Additionally, the Last Search option can be recalled and researched.
- To include additional search criteria without having to know the appropriate syntax to enter into the Quick Search, simply click on the Advanced Search option.
- Enter in the criteria to be searched making sure to make AND/OR selections appropriately.
- Page Path: Define the path where the expected content is to be found. A wildcard can be used to search folders within the defined path.
- Title: This will search the meta tags for the page titles.
- Keywords: This will search the meta tags for pages' keywords.
- Description: This will search the meta tags for the pages' descriptions.
- Other Meta: If other meta information is defined on pages being searched, this will search in those meta tags.
- Content: This will search the actual page content.
- Limit Search To Current Folder and Below: This will exclude any folders above the folder in which the user is currently located.
- Only Pages I Can Access: This will limit the search to any pages that are accessible to the user.
Search results in all cases are displayed when search is completed. There are two options from this screen.
- Navigate to the parent folder by clicking on the folder icon under the Folder column.
- Go to the page preview by clicking on the preview icon under the Preview column.
The results can be sorted by using the drop-down list found at the top, left-hand side of the screen. The default setting is Relevancy, which refers to the number of times the content being searched is found on the page. Additional sort options include:
- Path Asc (Path Ascending)
- Path Desc (Path Descending)
- Last Saved Asc (Last Saved Ascending)
- Last Saved Desc (Last Saved Descending)
It is possible to type in the syntax utilized by the Advanced Search directly into the Quick Search. When using the Advanced Search, the syntax will appear in the Quick Search field once the "Search" button is clicked. Additionally, the Apache Lucene website includes details on the syntax and boolean characters supported by the system.
Indexing is the process by which content is added to the search. Once the Quick Search functionality is turned on at the Account level, the site(s) can be indexed by Level 10 admins.
In order to utilize the Quick Search functionality, the search functionality must be turned on at the site level, and the index must be built for the first time. The steps to do this will be the same as the ones to be taken when a site index needs to be rebuilt.
When a site is indexed initially, it will be indexed going forward automatically. Even if the search functionality is turned off, the indexing will still occur. The only time that indexing is not completed automatically is when the content is loaded via an FTP upload, which requires a Level 10 admin to rebuild the index.
Building and Rebuilding the Index
- To initially build or rebuild the index, first go to the "Setup" tab.
- In the "Setup" tab, navigate to "Sites," and locate the site to be indexed.
- Click on the "Edit" (wrench) button.
- To initially build the index, click on "Build Index."
- To rebuild the index, click on "Re-Build Index."
- This is also where the Quick Search can be turned on and off for the site by clicking on the checkbox next to "Search On."
It is possible to exclude specific folders and pages from being indexed. Simply select
"Exclude From Search" in the Access menu of the folder or page to be excluded.
Keep in mind that this will not remove any content that has already been indexed from
the search results, unless the option to apply recursively is available and selected,
and it only excludes that folder or page, but not subfolders.
Additional Information and Reminders
Indexing will only index saved content. Any content that is currently being updated will not be indexed until it is saved. However, once the data is saved, it will be available for searching within approximately 10 seconds.
Quick Search will search through content and meta tags on the Staging Server. The search functionality will not search:
- Files on the Production Server, including binary files
- Resources
- Assets
- Recycle Bin
- Coding
When a file or page is deleted or recycled, the content will automatically be removed from the indexing.
The search results may include pages to which the user may not have access.
Using Quick Search
If the Quick Search functionality is turned on, it is possible to search the staging server for content. This search allows the user to find content in order to easily navigate to a desired page.
Enter the desired search term(s) into the Quick Search field found in the Content > Pages window and click the magnifying glass.
The Advanced Search option includes specific delimiters and Boolean options that may be used. These include
Page Path, Title, Keywords, Description, Other Meta, and Content. The search parameters
may also be used to limit access to the current folder level and below and to the
current user.


text: This little wooden rubber band gun is modeled after the classic Walther PPK handgun made famous by James Bond. This rubber band gun's small size makes it ideal for kids (and adults). It semi-automatically fires 5 rubber bands at up to 20 feet. It doesn't shoot very hard nor is it very accurate but it's easy to use, small, and durable. Made from solid hardwood (available in White Oak or in Walnut) this rubber band gun has no plastic pieces, only wood.


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Crystal Gayle Concert at Alameda Fair
|Crystal Gayle has a performance at the Alameda Fair on July 3.
|Betty and Allen usually go to one concert at the Alameda Fair each year but this year the line-up is so good that we go to two of them: LeAnn Rimes on June 26 and Crystal Gayle on July 3.
|Crystal Gayle has been in the business for over 45 years, she is well-known for her great voice and ...
|...her long hair that is all the way to her ankle. See the humorous post Allen made on his Facebook page:
|Crystal Gayle and Jay Patten sing a duet.
|Another shot of Crystal Gayle singing with Jay Patten.
|Crystal Gayle singing with Peggy Sue.
|Loving sister act.
|Crystal Gayle sings her signature song: "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue".
|Crystal Gayle thanks the audience.
It was a good show.


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Please help me to google!
I have a bunch of more interviews. I will put any of them up if you can find any of the zines' homepage (url), cover (frontpage) of the particular issue and/or logo for the zine. Some of the zines are unfortunately long time dead. This is a list of interviews I have, waiting to be uploaded:
Also if you have any other interviews or articles, contact!
The New Heavy Metal Revue
Number Six, Feb 1982
Contains a total of three pages with Cirith Ungol. One page with an interview with Tim Baker.
The New Heavy Metal Revue was a metal magazine that was run by Brian Slagel of Metal Blade even before the first Metal Blade record was released.


text:
Garment Production
We are a small independent label and the majority of our garments are printed to order. We have the materials and equipment necessary to create each garment on demand and aim to have your product dispatched within 3 working days but like most mail order labels on occasions it may take a little longer, so please take this into consideration when purchasing. If you are ordering something for a present, holiday or even for a night out and want to be sure you will get it in time, please feel free to contact me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Printing & Ink
All products are screen printed by hand in our Liverpool based studio. We only use Water based textile inks manufactured by Permaset and are available in a wide range of colours including metallic and fluorescent colours which ensures your creativity is unlimited. They are highly durable to wash, rub and dry-clean, together with intense pigment colour for excellent coverage, opacity and colour brightness.
Garment Care
Wash at 30°. Iron inside out.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Our online store is powered by Big Cartel and checkout is designed to be a seamless experience. We accept Paypal and credit card payments via Stripe.
We try to keep all our postage charges to a minimum and all orders are sent 1st Class Royal Mail. All products are shipped in strong opaque mailing bags to ensure they arrive in excellent condition.
UK – Postage Cost
Postage for t-shirts within the UK costs £2.50 and £1 for every additional item. Postage for Sweatshirts within the UK costs £3.50 and £1 for every additional item. We try to post everything within 3 working days of purchase and your garments may take up to 3 working days to arrive.
World – Postage Cost
For any other country the charges are £3.50 for the first T-shirt and £1.00 for each additional item. Sweatshirts cost £5.50 and £1.00 for each additional item. We try to post everything within 3 working days of purchase and your garments may take up to 10 working days to arrive.
We gladly accept returns and exchanges. Please contact us with your issue before sending the return. Only unworn, unwashed merchandise is eligible to return unless defective. Once your item arrives back, we will refund your payment less shipping costs or post out your replacement garment.


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The airline has asked employees to 'volunteer' over the festive period
Workers aged 20 to 24 are limited to part-time employment opportunities
If you've just been fired, you might want to take a leaf out of former Groupon CEO Andrew Mason's book (or keep this in mind for any later, unfortunate possibility).
Mason's 'thanks for the memories' note has been held up as a model for all such future notes because of the sense of accountability it communicates, the fact that he refuses to apportion blame to others, and for its humour.
The company that Mason founded, Groupon, has been in trouble for some time now. Its value has fallen dramatically from more than $13 billion to less than $3 billion; its share price has been stalling at around one quarter of its listing price; and the demand for the daily deals that Groupon's business model relies upon also seem to have frozen.
One of the highlights of the notes is its surprising frankness, and the way in which Mason spoofs all those politicians and high profile CEOs who have spun the tired line of wanting to spend more time with their families. "After four and a half intense and wonderful years as CEO of Groupon, I've decided that I'd like to spend more time with my family. Just kidding - I was fired today," he quipped in the note.
Other highlights include:
I'd LOVE to work for this man! An excellent example of leadership to the end.


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We've set ambitious sustainability targets and have made great progress. We're ranked among the top fast-moving consumer goods companies in terms of our environmental footprint, starting from the way we source tobacco leaf to how we manufacture and distribute cigarettes. We have gained the recognition of stakeholders for the tangible progress in tackling complex socio-economic challenges in tobacco growing communities.
But that's not all. We're now putting our core product at the center of our sustainability efforts by doing something dramatic – replacing cigarettes with less harmful alternatives to smoking – to one day eliminate the harm caused by smoking cigarettes. Our sustainability efforts touch on every aspect of our value chain – from the farmers who grow tobacco right through to the 150 million consumers who choose our products.
We invite you to read more about the scope and scale of our sustainability programs and our commitment to a smoke-free world in our Sustainability Report.
We don't own the tobacco farms that supply our tobacco leaf each year, but the farmers who run them are a crucial part of our economic, environmental, and social footprint. We're working directly with them and our suppliers to promote sustainable farming.
That's why we've developed a comprehensive program called Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Through GAP, we're striving to improve the lives of 2.5 million people who rely on farm work.
We want farm workers to be treated fairly and enjoy safe working and living conditions.
What steps are we taking to reduce the environmental footprint of tobacco farming around the world?
In a world with a changing climate, respecting the environment is something all our employees and partners can get behind. We buy 400,000 metric tons of tobacco annually and operate 46 production facilities, and we have to be mindful of our impact on the environment. Minimizing this impact is a top priority for us through carbon-footprint reduction,
water stewardship, waste minimization, good agricultural practices, and forest protection. We also work to understand and adapt to the potential business impact of environmental threats, such as climate change and water scarcity.
PMI has been recognized as a 'Climate A-Lister' for the 4th year running by CDP.
How are we reducing the environmental footprint of our operations globally?
Our policies and programs in areas such as product development and marketing, workplace integrity, and supply chain, have long been addressing a wide range of labor rights and human rights.
We're now embarking on a more systematic, rights-based approach in accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
It's not just luxury goods that are counterfeited or smuggled and sold illegally. In fact, cigarettes are among the most illegally trafficked goods in the world. We're working with public and
private partners worldwide to tackle the illegal trade in cigarettes, which has serious consequences for global economies, communities, and businesses, including ours.
We advocate for effective solutions to fight the illegal cigarette trade in the EU and beyond.
PMI's global initiative aimed at fighting illegal trade worldwide
Giving back creates shared value that benefits the communities around the world where we operate. Our goals are twofold: help empower local communities and tackle global problems.
What we do at the community level depends on local needs. The programs we support include access to quality education or vocational training,
income-generation initiatives, and the promotion of women's leadership roles in society. We also help address natural or man-made disasters and other emergencies. At the global level, we're working with strategic partners to fight human trafficking, protect migrant workers, and generate economic opportunity for women.
We promote access to education and educational opportunities for the underprivileged with a focus on tobacco farmers and their families.
Our disaster and emergency relief support helps communities around the world rebuild after a crisis.
If you want to be informed about Philip Morris International's latest news, please fill in the form below.


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A perennial problem for researchers is how to deal with the reams of verbatim customer comments that a useful survey produces. We can sort, group and code; but ultimately the only real way to get to grips with them is to read them.
By and large this is a good thing, but when it comes to presentation it's much less clear what to do. We might select a few "juicy" quotes to illustrate a particular point. We might even play audio clips or use "VoxPops", which are certainly compelling. But there's no clear way to present a visual summary of customer (or employee) comments.
I think we should consider tools like the image above, a "Wordle" of all the posts from this blog, as a way to point the audience towards the benefits of reading the comments for themselves.


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Anglers will once again take over the town beach at Silver Lake for Wilmington's 32nd annual Fishing Derby.
According to Debbie Cipriani, director of the Wilmington Recreation Department, each summer the town takes advantage of its natural resources, allowing participants of all skill levels the opportunity to catch a fish.
"The Recreation Department�s annual Fishing Derby is a wonderful way to have three generations standing side by side, participating in the same program. I enjoy seeing the excitement in a child�s face when they have caught their first fish, or when someone is bringing up a fish to be weighed in," said Cipriani.
Jim Buckley, a Wilmington resident, is volunteering to help run the derby. His involvement goes back a number of years.
"We started offering this activity back in 1983. It's fun watching younger children when they catch a fish and weigh them in. It might be a little sunfish or a two-ounce fish, but to see the excitement on their faces is priceless.
"It is also great to see parents enjoying an outdoor event with their children. It�s cute, because some kids bring their little Disney fishing rods to the event. Some of the kids get skittish with the worms, so we help them put the worm on the hook. We also teach them how to cast and untangle their lines."
Registration will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the derby will run from 9 a.m. to noon. Prizes will be awarded for the heaviest bass and the heaviest fish other than a bass. A casting contest will also be held. All fish caught must be weighed by noon. The derby is open to all anglers, whether they live in Wilmington or not.
The cost is $2 for anglers 17 and under, and $4 for adults 18 and up. Bait will be available for purchase and there will be shore fishing only; no boats are allowed.
"You don�t need an official fishing license to fish on that day," said Buckley. "No iPads or iPods allowed at this event. It's an old-fashioned outdoor activity and a good opportunity to make memories."
"One of my favorite hobbies is fishing. I do fly fishing, saltwater and freshwater. I enjoy sharing this outdoor sport with others," said Buckley.
The Recreation Department is looking for adult volunteers for the derby. If interested, call 978-658-4270 to register with the Recreation Department.
Gone fishin'
Anglers will once again take over the town beach at Silver Lake for Wilmington's 32nd annual Fishing Derby.


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source Former world player of the year Rivaldo repaid Uzbekistan outfit Kuruvchi's faith in his continued prowess on Wednesday by scoring for them in their 2-2 draw away at Iranian side Saipa in their AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg match. The 36-year-old playmaker, FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999, netted Kuruvchi's second to give them a 2-1 lead which was only cancelled out by an unfortunate goal in the 39th minute by Kianoush Rahmati, which took a wicked deflection off a Uzbek defender. However, Kuruvchi coach Mirdjalal Kasimov felt his side had been robbed of victory. Chilean striker Jose Luis Villanueva, who had got the Uzbeks off the mark, thought he had grabbed the winner in the 55th minute when his fierce effort hit a post and went into the arms of the Saipa goalkeeper. However, the referee waved aside Villanueva's claims that the ball had crossed the line. "The goalkeeper definitely reached behind him to gather the ball and our fans seemed quite certain that it was in, and they were in a position to see that it had," said Kasimov. Japanese sides had mixed results on Wednesday, although defending champions Urawa Reds won't be too disappointed with a 3-2 defeat against Kuwaiti outfit Al Qadsia. The Reds can thank Brazilian Edmilson for keeping them in the tie as he netted twice in a thriller in Kuwait. Gamba Osaka will feel well satisified with a stunning 2-1 away win over tough Syrian outfit Al Karama. It was all the more creditable as they came from behind to win after going behind after just seven minutes. They had to bide their time to achieve victory, but two goals in the last 20 minutes from Satoshi Yamaguchi and Masato Yamazaki saw them to a crucial victory. Earlier, Japanese rivals Kashima Antlers had battled to a 1-1 draw with Adelaide United at home. Adelaide captain Travis Dodd broke the deadlock with a header in the 38th minute when Kashima defender Toru Araiba deflected a cross toward him. But the J-League champions levelled the score in injury time when Atsuto Uchida's long cross from the right hit Adelaide defender Robert Cornthwaite's leg in the area and bounced off the left post into the net. "It was really a tough match against a team full of quality players," Kashima coach Oswaldo Oliveira said. "We need to prepare for the second leg with care." Kashima will travel Down Under to face the A-League stalwarts next Wednesday.
Mixed bag for Japanese clubs
Posted by Ali Mahrus
Labels: AFC Champions League


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Not more trains, but change in view needed
When Dinesh Trivedi begins his Railway Budget speech on March 14, he will do so in a difficult year - sky rocketing inflation rates and slowing economy. Most will hope that there is no fare hike announced. Ajay Mittal writes.india Updated: Mar 14, 2012 22:06 IST
When Dinesh Trivedi begins his Railway Budget speech on March 14, he will do so in a difficult year - sky rocketing inflation rates and slowing economy. Most will hope that there is no fare hike announced. It is precisely this impact of the rail budget on travellers that has turned the budget into a political tool, shifting focus away from the important aspect of core infrastructure improvement, public-private partnerships (PPP), rail freight movement and its general integral relevance to the Indian economy at large.
Let us appreciate that the railways even today remains the lifeline of the Indian economy and is the logistics backbone of core sectors such as power, ports, iron and steel, mining, cement and agriculture. While without Railways, one cannot possibly imagine the India that we see today, it is also true that it currently accounts for only about 30% of the overall Indian freight traffic, a far cry from 90% that it used to move in 1951. This major downward trend was a result of the years of neglect in this core sector - India has added only 10,000 km of new track infrastructure post independence, while China has added thrice that much since 2007 alone.
In order to arrest this undesired downward trend which indirectly stifles the growth of the economy, it is pertinent that the sector addresses the issues afresh. What the Railways needs desperately is not just another budget but a drastic change in perspective. It needs to think about how it can garner all help and support from the private sector through PPP. A turnaround can surely be achieved by focusing the efforts towards expanding the network and enhancing efficiencies. The Railways needs to infuse much needed funds towards such core infrastructure- and efficiency-related projects and put the onus of investing in wagons, rolling stock and terminals on the private operators.
However, all of this costs money and it is no secret that the Railways' financial position has been under considerable stress off late. This financial pressure is one reason why the railway minister said that he wants a third of his department's investment requirements (Rs 750,000 crore) for the 13th Five-Year Plan to be funded through PPPs alone. But how will the model work when the first attempt with private container train operator policy in 2006 has turned into a colossal failure with most private container rail operator not making money because of unfavourable and protectionist policies?
Fundamentally, the Indian Railways should most importantly be able to identify and part with its multiple conflicting roles of a policymaker, licensor, operator and a regulator. The Railways needs to bring each of these roles under a separate body and draw clear distinctions with regard to the jurisdiction, powers and functioning of each authority.
Today I dare say that the Railways has not only missed a key opportunity but has been found wanting in understanding the criticality of the sector and more importantly the far-reaching impact that the ministry's actions create. So, when Trivedi delivers the Rail Budget, for once we all hope that it focuses on policy, organisation realignment and privatisation initiatives and that our parliamentarians debate more on these issues rather than the number of new train services that have been announced for their respective states.
(The author is group chairman & MD, Arshiya International.)
First Published: Mar 13, 2012 21:44 IST


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A Machine That Speeds Up Evolution
Ganging Up on HIV
Tissues that Build Themselves
Wal-Mart to Sell Electronic Health Record Systems by Emily Singer
A Plan to Create Life but Not as We Know It by Emily Singer
A Machine That Speeds Up Evolution
Ganging Up on HIV
Tissues that Build Themselves
Wal-Mart to Sell Electronic Health Record Systems by Emily Singer
A Plan to Create Life but Not as We Know It by Emily Singer
Bad Language
Running Nose
Save Gas
Rich Players
TV Channels
Indoor Surfing
Four-legged Jeans
Drive Under Water
Quick Toaster
Manila Futurists
Foresight may be the oldest term for the field. In a 1932 BBC broadcast the visionary author H.G. Wells called for the establishment of "Departments and Professors of Foresight," presaging the development of modern academic futures studies by approximately 40 years.[2]
Futurology is a term common in encyclopedias, though it used almost exclusively by nonpractitioners today, at least in the English-speaking world. Futurology is defined as the "study of the future."[3] The term was coined by German professor Ossip K. Flechtheim[4] in the mid-1940s, who proposed it as a new branch of knowledge that would include a new science of probability. This term may have fallen from favor in recent decades because modern practitioners stress the importance of alternative and plural futures, rather than one monolithic future, and the limitations of prediction and probability, versus the creation of possible and preferable futures.
Three factors usually distinguish futures studies from the research conducted by other disciplines (although all disciplines overlap, to differing degrees). First, futures studies often examines not only possible but also probable, preferable, and "wild card" futures. Second, futures studies typically attempts to gain a holistic or systemic view based on insights from a range of different disciplines. Third, futures studies challenges and unpacks the assumptions behind dominant and contending views of the future. The future thus is not empty but fraught with hidden assumptions.
Futures studies does not generally include the work of economists who forecast movements of interest rates over the next business cycle, or of managers or investors with short-term time horizons. Most strategic planning, which develops operational plans for preferred futures with time horizons of one to three years, is also not considered futures. But plans and strategies with longer time horizons that specifically attempt to anticipate and be robust to possible future events, are part of a major subdiscipline of futures studies called strategic foresight.
The futures field also excludes those who make future predictions through professed supernatural means. At the same time, it does seek to understand the models such groups use and the interpretations they give to these models.
Futures practitioners use a wide range of models and methods (theory and practice), many of which come from other academic disciplines (including economics, sociology, geography, history, engineering, mathematics, psychology, technology, tourism, physics, biology, astronomy, and aspects of theology (specifically, the range of future beliefs)).
Future Studies takes as one of its important attributes (epistemological starting points) the on-going effort to analyze images of the future. This effort includes collecting quantitative and qualitative data about the possibility, probability, and desirability of change. The plurality of the term "futures" in futurology denotes the rich variety of images of the future (alternative futures), including the subset of preferable futures (normative futures), that can be studied.
Practitioners of the discipline previously concentrated on extrapolating present technological, economic or social trends, or on attempting to predict future trends, but more recently they have started to examine social systems and uncertainties and to build scenarios, question the worldviews behind such scenarios via the causal layered analysis method (and others) create preferred visions of the future, and use backcasting to derive alternative implementation strategies. Apart from extrapolation and scenarios, many dozens of methods and techniques are used in futures research (see below).
Future Studies also includes normative or preferred futures, but a major contribution involves connecting both extrapolated (exploratory) and normative research to help individuals and organisations to build better social futures amid a (presumed) landscape of shifting social changes. Practitioners use varying proportions of inspiration and research. Futures studies only rarely uses the scientific method in the sense of controlled, repeatable and falsifiable experiments with highly standardized methodologies, given that environmental conditions for repeating a predictive scheme are usually quite hard to control for. However, many futurists are informed by scientific techniques.
Some historians project patterns observed in past civilizations upon present-day society to anticipate what will happen in the future. Oswald Spengler's "Decline of the West" argued, for instance, that western society, like imperial Rome, had reached a stage of cultural maturity that would inexorably lead to decline, in measurable ways.
Future Studies is often summarized as being concerned with "three P's and a W," or possible, probable, and preferable futures, plus wildcards, which are low probability but high impact events (positive or negative), should they occur. Many futurists, however, do not use the wild card approach. Rather, they use a methodology called Emerging Issues Analysis. It searches for the seeds of change, issues that are likely to move from unknown to the known, from low impact to high impact.
Estimates of probability are involved with two of the four central concerns of foresight professionals (discerning and classifying both probable and wildcard events), while considering the range of possible futures, recognizing the plurality of existing images of the future (alternative futures), characterizing and attempting to resolve normative disagreements on the future, and envisioning and creating preferred futures are other major areas of scholarship.
Most estimates of probability in futurology are normative and qualitative, though significant progress on statistical and quantitative methods (technology and information growth curves, cliometrics, predictive psychology, prediction markets, etc.) has been made in recent decades.
Several authors have become recognized as futurists. They research trends (particularly in technology) and write accounts of their observations, conclusions, and predictions. In earlier eras, many of the futurists were attached to academic institutions.
For example John McHale, the futurist who wrote the book The Future of the Future, and published a Futures Directory, directed his own Centre For Integrative Studies which was a Think Tank within the university setting. Other early era futurists followed a cycle of publishing their conclusions and then beginning research on the next book. More recently they have started consulting groups or earn money as speakers. Alvin Toffler, John Naisbitt and Patrick Dixon exemplify this class.
Many business gurus present themselves as pragmatic futurists rather than as theoretical futurists. One prominent international "business futurist", Frank Feather, coined the phrase "Thinking Globally, Acting Locally" in 1979.
Some futurists share features in common with the writers of science fiction, and indeed some science-fiction writers, such as Arthur C. Clarke, have acquired a certain reputation as futurists. Some writers, though, show less interest in technological or social developments and use the future only as a backdrop to their stories. For example, in the introduction to The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin wrote of prediction as the business of prophets, clairvoyants, and futurists, not of writers: "a novelist's business is lying".
Education in the field of future studies has taken place for some time. Beginning in the United States of America in the 1960s, it has since developed in many different countries. Futures education can encourage the use of concepts, tools and processes that allow students to think long-term, consequentially, and imaginatively. It generally helps students to:
Thorough documentation of the history of futures education exists, for example in the work of Richard A. Slaughter (2004).[17]
While future studies remains a relatively new academic tradition, numerous tertiary institutions around the world teach it. These vary from small programs, or universities with just one or two classes, to programs that incorporate futurology into other degrees, (for example in planning, business, environmental studies, economics, development studies, science and technology studies). Various formal Masters-level programs exist on six continents. Finally, doctoral dissertations around the world have incorporated futurology. A recent survey documented approximately 50 cases of futures studies at the tertiary level.[18]
As of 2003, over 40 tertiary education establishments around the world were delivering one or more courses in futures studies. The World Futures Studies Federation has a comprehensive survey of global futures programs and courses. The Acceleration Studies Foundation maintains an annotated list of primary and secondary graduate future studies programs.
Futurists uses scenarios - alternative possible futures - as an important tool. To some extent, people can determine what they consider probable or desirable using qualitative and quantitative methods. By looking at a variety of possibilities one comes closer to shaping the future, rather than merely predicting it. Shaping alternative futures starts by establishing a number of scenarios. Setting up scenarios takes place as a process with many stages. One of those stages involves the study of trends. A trend persists long-term and long-range; it affects many societal groups, grows slowly and appears to have a profound basis. In contrast, a fad operates the short term, shows the vagaries of fashion, affects particular societal groups, and spreads quickly but superficially.
Sample predicted futures range from predicted ecological catastrophes, through a utopian future where the poorest human being lives in what present-day observers would regard as wealth and comfort, through the transformation of humanity into a posthuman life-form, to the destruction of all life on Earth in, say, a nanotechnological disaster.
Futurists have a decidedly mixed reputation and a patchy track record at successful prediction. For reasons of convenience, they often extrapolate present technical and societal trends and assume they will develop at the same rate into the future; but technical progress and social upheavals, in reality, take place in fits and starts and in different areas at different rates.
Many 1950s futurists predicted commonplace space tourism by the year 2000, but ignored the possibilities of ubiquitous, cheap computers, while Marxist expectations of utopia have failed to materialise to date. On the other hand, many forecasts have portrayed the future with some degree of accuracy. Current futurists often present multiple scenarios that help their audience envision what "may" occur instead of merely "predicting the future". They claim that understanding potential scenarios helps individuals and organizations prepare with flexibility.
Many corporations use futurists as part of their risk management strategy, for horizon scanning and emerging issues analysis, and to identify wild cards - low probability, potentially high-impact risks.[5] Every successful and unsuccessful business engages in futuring to some degree - for example in research and development, innovation and market research, anticipating competitor behavior and so on.
Being a futurist sure sounds like a fun job. Observe the world at large, amass predictions and inspire awe at one's visionary talents.
But is there a future in it?
According to the Association of Professional Futurists, prospects are starting to look quite promising. As companies and government agencies grapple with the seemingly scorching rate of technological innovation and change, more are engaging the services of self-described futurists for advice on how to adapt.
"It used to be there were a few superstars," said Andy Hines, a founder of the 3-year-old association. "What you're starting to see now is a lot of lunch-pail sorts of futurists."
Today, a number of corporations and agencies, including British Telecom, IBM, the FBI and even Hallmark, have futurists on staff. Scores of other firms employ them as consultants.
Trouble is, when you employ a futurist, it's not always evident what to expect. Anyone can declare himself or herself a futurist. For people who make a living at it, the vagueness of the job title can be disconcerting.
"Some people who do futures work don't want to tell others they are futurists," said Jennifer Jarrat, APF chair and a partner at Leading Futurists LLC.
Perhaps with good reason. People who make sweeping statements about the future can see their words come back to haunt them. Such was the fate of millennium-bug alarmists when Jan. 1, 2000, calmly arrived. Or of Ken Olson, founder of Digital Equipment, best known for saying in 1977, "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
Jarrat thinks futurists would be well-served by instituting a certification process that establishes one as a professional. It might include an exam or education- and work-related requirements. But certification is still in the discussion stage. Hines is betting it will be in place by 2009.
Some futurists welcome "professionalization" because it could make people in high places take their views more seriously.
"Making future forecasting more of a formal field could be a great step toward moving some of the techniques into public policy," said Howard Rheingold, a futurist and author. "I'm not saying it's possible to predict the future, but grappling with what's happening today and where it's going is an important priority that seems to be ignored on the policy level."
Today, much discussion about the future is concentrated among futurists themselves, who are active in launching organizations. Besides the APF, other futurist-oriented groups include the World Future Society, the World Futures Studies Federation and the World Future Council.
Futurists also enjoy convening meetings. The APF, for example, had a recent annual meeting in Las Vegas, a venue Hines saw as appropriate for discussing the blurring boundaries between the real and virtual worlds.
At night, meeting attendees engaged in what Hines described as an ethnography exercise. This consisted of piling into a stretch Hummer and cruising around the strip discussing emerging social trends.
For those wanting to train as futurists in a more conventional setting, academic options are limited. The University of Houston Clear Lake and the University of Hawaii at Manoa run two of the better-known programs offering master's degrees in futures studies and alternative futures, respectively.
In many ways, techniques employed by futurists don't fit into traditional academic disciplines. Futurists, Jarrat says, aren't as dependent on numerical data as other forecasting professionals such as insurance industry actuaries or stock market analysts. Although she incorporates demographics or economic data in her research, Jarrat says her conclusions tend to be "more qualitative than numerical."
In an age of relentless technological progress, such an approach has an advantage. While computers are quite adept at making numerical forecasts, for the foreseeable future it will still take a human to interpret what the numbers mean, said Ian Pearson, futurist at British Telecom.
"Computers are hopeless at handling subjective information," he said.


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Spoiler Warning!
This article contains information that could be considered too revealing according to our spoiler policy. Proceed with caution. You can't unsee it!Reason Netflix released the whole season the same day.
Black Mirror's 'Nosedive' Could Be Your Guide To De-Pinteresting Your Life
Lisa Schmeiser is not a crackpot. She just thinks this episode illustrates that the primary peril of social media is not how it warps your social interactions, but how it muffles your sense of style.
Back when I was watching the first season of The Girlfriend Experience, I got to the final two episodes and thought, "My God, this is a savage indictment of how modern society commodifies different flavors of female identity." And I thought about pitching Tara and Sarah on a piece explaining how this show's central thesis is that call girls are essentially mommybloggers without the nagging concerns of either pageviews or children. Both jobs essentially come down to taking money in order to play-act a very specific female role. The point was that different performative roles come with different price tags, and there's neither genuine intimacy nor authenticity in either profitable venture.
I'm glad I waited, because this episode of Black Mirror is far more savage than anything The Girlfriend Experience did -- and ten times funnier, as to be expected when Mike Schur and Rashida Jones are involved. (They wrote the teleplay.) Google is mum on which one of them spent forty-eight hours in front of Instagram, A Clockwork Orange-style, but the signs are everywhere, from latte art to weddings with perfectly-iced cakes. Honestly, the only things missing were a slice of avocado toast and a shot of a girl wearing an enormous shaker-knit sweater and Hunter Boots while standing pigeon-toed in a pile of crimson leaves.
Although "Nosedive" is ostensibly making a point about how social media metrics are stifling authentic social interaction, the real message I got in this episode is that we really need an aesthetic revolt. The relentless good taste on display in "Nosedive" is so very specific to the most popular -- and commoditized -- types of Instagram feeds and Pinterest boards. Think of it as Kinfolk for beginners: light-washed interiors with spare, clean lines and plain wood surfaces, as if suggesting that whomever decorated the space had just lived through the Great Depression, only with elan and a strategic reserve of soy candles in mason jars. And the clothes! Everyone is dressed like a preppy Instagrammer who spends a week posting pictures showing how she styles every color of Vineyard Vines button-down she has in her closet.
What this episode shows us is not that social interaction is distorted when it's performed for an audience. ...Okay, fine, it shows us that too, but the real thing the episode shows us is that aesthetics are distorted for the same reasons. As a result, every meal is blandly virtuous, but nothing really satiates. Every interior is carefully staged, yet never genuinely delights the eye or tells a real story about who lives there. Every outfit is beautifully tailored and says nothing about the person wearing it. And through it all thrums a low-grade current of conspicuous consumption: nothing is beloved, nothing is old, nothing is deeply personal. Everything is new and meant to be seen by others, not to give pleasure to the person who bought it and uses it.
The one area where "Nosedive" differs from real life is that men are equally subject to the tyranny of taste; in real life, the people who commodify their very existence on social media tend to trend heavily female. And the fact is that they're attracting money formerly spent on women's magazine advertising -- it's no coincidence that fashion advertising pages have declined as Instagram personalities get paid six figures to change clothing at Fashion Week. Social media is where we go to see how people get paid to sell definitions of womanhood to consumers.
It's as it ever was: back in the print days, there were Sassy girls and a branded clothing line. Vogue has a sewing pattern collection at McCall's. But the thing about social media as a sales conduit is that so much of the popular stuff has no specific point of view. As a result, it is duller than a spelt salad.
Scroll through Instagram or Pinterest sometimes, check out the most-trafficked feeds and boards, and you'll see the same aesthetic neutering -- an abundance of serif fonts, white backgrounds, tasteful nosegays next to a cup of latte (with a leaf drawn in the foam on top), delicate jewelry. It's all so exceedingly neutral. It's all so boring. It bleaches out any semblance of independent thinking or personality -- so it's a very safe, very corporate form of female expression.
If this episode of Black Mirror does nothing else for you, let it be your guide in breaking the shackles of Instagram conformity. All you have to do is look at the decor and dresses, then do exactly the opposite. Nobody is grading you on your conspicuous consumption. Yet.


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U.S. Smithsonian Channel Headed to Canada
The deal with Canadian indie broadcaster Blue Ant Media marks the American TV service's first foray into the international market.
TORONTO – The U.S.-based Smithsonian Channel is headed to Canada.
The Showtime Networks and Smithsonian Institution-owned TV channel is making its first international foray as part of an agreement with indie Canadian broadcaster Blue Ant Media.
Smithsonian Channel Canada will launch as a high definition service this fall, using cross-platform content from the American network that is exclusive to its Canadian licensee.
PHOTOS: 33 Power Canadians in Hollywood
Migrating the Smithsonian Channel north will require regulatory approval as Blue Ant will rebrand one of its existing channels, eqhd, to launch a Canadianized offering.
The deal also marks a U.S. deal for Blue Ant Media CEO Michael MacMillan, who previously ran Alliance Atlantis Communications before it was sold off in parts to then Canwest Global Communications Corp. and Goldman Sachs in 2009.
"We are excited to bring our entertaining brand of storytelling to a new international audience," Tom Hayden, general manager of Smithsonian Networks, said in a statement Monday.


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As if we need another reason not to work, here is one more... Researchers found that the stress triggered by 45 mins of computer work caused women to consume 230 more calories at their next meal, compared to women who simply relaxed. The RX to dodge excess pounds: take regular breaks while working. However, if you find that you are too busy to take that time out for yourself, I recommend shaklee's stress relief complex. The stress relief complex:
• Promotes a calm, relaxed state without causing drowsiness*
• Allows you to be more alert and able to concentrate during times of stress*
• Helps blunt cortisol, a stress-response hormone that can affect long-term health*
• Enhances the body's ability to adapt to everyday stress*
Click here to get yours today!
To your health,
Designer Hippie Mom
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
End of the Road - I have gone back and forth with deciding what to exactly do with this little space of mine. And after much serious thought I have decided that this will pr...
2 years ago


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Digging Equipment
Drilling Equipment
Hydrovac Trucks
** Check out our new Video in the sidebar to the right!**
Sub-Terrain Directional Drilling Ltd. has over 100 years of combined experience in underground infrastructure services including hydrovac and telecommunication services provided to our customers across Canada. Our knowledge of various ground conditions and infrastructure instills confidence in our customers. Our state of the art equipment, quality products and professional workmanship have helped us to build strong relationships throughout the industry. Our professional staff are experienced, fully licensed, and committed to safety-first practices and customer satisfaction. At Sub-Terrain we take pride in our business and customers.
Serving Toronto, the GTA, Ontario and parts of Canada, our knowledge of various ground conditions in Ontario together with infrastructure ensures confidence within our customers. We are committed to safety first practices in all of our work and for the public. We take pride in our business resulting in successful operations.
For estimating inquiries, please contact us at email@example.com


text: The Nexus 7 (2013) LTE version tablet is among the list of Nexus devices to receive the latest Android 4.4.2 update from Google. The update, which covers some bug fixes and security improvements for the Nexus devices, is available for users to install directly on their tablet via OTA. For users who are already on stock Android 4.4.1, the update size is 1.67 MB whereas for those of you who are still on stock Android 4.4, a 52.78 MB update will take you straight to Android 4.4.2. If you are yet to receive the update via OTA, you can manually install it by following either of the two methods mentioned below. The methods do take into consideration both the types of users discussed above.


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Feed wheat values are significantly improved this week as the value of the pound falls to a three-year low against the value of the euro as Brexit plans finally begin to take shape.
As a result, UK grain values have firmed over the last ten days or so and ex-farm values are rallying towards the benchmark £130/T ex-farm for collection before the end of the year. Further forward, values are edging towards £135/T ex-farm for June 2017 collection.
Further problems at Hull's bio-ethanol plant Vivergo this week has slowed buyer interest for short term feed wheat purchases and there is therefore a significant difference in values between spot prices, and prices for collection in December.
If you are looking to make a sale in the region of £130/T ex-farm, some patience regarding movement will be required!
As for feed barley, a distinct lack of buyer interest has results in values being largely unchanged despite the increase to wheat values - £110/T ex-farm continues to look like a realistic value for November collection.
Elsewhere, last week brought the release of the US quarterly stocks report (figures given are the figures as of 1st September) from the US Department of Agriculture, (figures given are the figures as of 1st September), and the results were mixed.
US maize stocks are estimated at 44.1 million tonnes – this is pretty much in line with last year's figure and is marginally lower than what the trade was expecting.
For wheat, stocks are estimated at 68.8 million tonnes, a 10% increase on last year's figure.
This is the highest US wheat stock level since 1998 and is much higher than initial trade estimates.
A "sluggish pace of exports last season and a good 2016 harvest" are said to be responsible for the large figure for estimated wheat stocks and the US market has traded accordingly with the bearish news.
However, with the recent weakening of sterling the UK wheat market has been unaffected by the news – it has more pressing issues of its own to contend with!
Meanwhile, forecasts for a wet Australian spring are starting to cause concern regarding both crop quality and quantity.
According to AHDB "a wetter than average spring is forecast across key growing regions in Australia and although it is early days yet, this will certainly be something to watch as October progresses".


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Hotel Atlas Zimmer
The hotel offers comfortable accommodation in clean rooms at affordable prices. You can choose from 19 double and 7 triple rooms with a total capacity of 63 beds, including four extra beds. There is also a disabled room. The rooms and suites have a private bathroom with shower and toilet, comfortable furniture, satellite TV, and free wireless Internet access.


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DIY Chevron Streamer
Hi Flights of Fancy bloggies!
My name is Aimee, and I have been with the Betsywhite team since March. I started out as an intern, and have been quite excited to transition into more of a part-time role as a designer and I help out with whatever needs to be done here in the studio. I am a recent graduate of SCAD here in Atlanta, and I love being part of the Betsywhite team. I am thrilled to be introducing an idea I've had for a while, and will hopefully be the first of many posts to come in the DIY series.
Remember this post that Candice did a couple weeks ago? It inspired me to put my own twist on the traditional streamers for a holiday party and create your own chevron streamer!
Here's a list of the tools you will need (shown below): a pencil, bone folder, ruler, scissors, stencil paper (I used Matte Stencil Film by Grafix from Dick Blick), a sheet of graph paper and crepe paper streamers (color of your choice).
Step 1: Draw your chevrons. This is where the graph paper becomes super handy. Instead of griding out your paper by hand, you can use the squares to measure how long and how high you would like your chevrons to be. I measured six squares across and four squares tall for the size of each chevron. I measured this based on the size of the streamer so that I could utilize as much of the streamer as possible.
Step 2: Cut out your stencil design using either a scissors or an Exacto knife (to ensure straight edges). I cut out the chevron from my stencil paper to use as a template.
Step 3: Now that you have your chevron template and your roll of crepe paper, decide how long you want your streamer to be and cut your crepe paper to that length. Using an accordion-style fold, fold the crepe paper to the same length as the chevron template – keep folding back and forth until you've used the entire length. You want the folds to meet the ends of each side of the stencil to ensure a neat streamer.
Step 4: Once you have the desired length, secure the template to the streamer (I used small binder clips at each end of my folded streamer). Using your stencil as a guide, cut the folded crepe paper into the chevron shape. Cut only the middle portion of the streamer and not the ends (where the binder clips are). Keep the folds of the streamer so that once you cut it, it will unfold to the length that you measured.
Step 5: Once you have finished cutting your streamer, hang and enjoy! Multiple colors twisted together or hung vertically can make for a fun installation and add a festive touch to any holiday party!
– aimee


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Beautiful R&B singer Ciara has worked hard to shed the extra weight she gained while pregnant. After shedding 60 pounds in four months Ciara took to her Instagram account to proudly show off her figure.
"After Delivering My Son I Feel Like There's Nothing I Can't Do. I Feel Like I Can Conquer The World," she wrote. "I feel so proud to say that 4 months after delivering a 9 lbs. 10 oz. baby, I can finally rock My Calvin's!"
Good Looking Ciara!


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The "Colossal Carnival" comes to town, and Betty Boop is all set to take little Junior to the big show. Alas, a thunderstorm forces the pair back indoors, whereupon Junior bursts into tears. Fortunately, Betty's resourceful neighbor Professor Grampy puts on his thinking cap and figures out a way to stage an elaborate indoor carnival. Using such household items as a washing machine, a seltzer, bottle, a fan and a kitchen table, Grampy comes up with all sorts of swell rides and sideshow attractions. But the best is reserved for last, as Grampy concocts a way to convert a high-rise apartment into a roller coaster (with the help of Max Fleischer's patented "stereoscopic" process). Song: "We'll Have a Bushel of Fun".
Add this movie to your queue to receive more information about
Grampy's Indoor Outing and we will let you know when it becomes available.


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Underwater robots are used for continuous oceanic surveillance. They are designed to work in challenging environments where the safety and accessibility of divers is compromised. Underwater robots have several applications in the fields of maritime security, underwater archaeology, and marine biology. They also play an important role in the development of the Offshore industry.
Analysts forecast the Global Underwater Robots market to grow at a CAGR of 6.92 percent over the period 2014-2019.
The Global Underwater Robotics market can be categorized into the following segments: Surface and Underwater Examination, Defense and Security, Commercial, and Scientific Research.
Global Underwater Robots Market 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions; it also covers the Global Underwater Robots market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.
Purchase a copy of the report at http://www.sandlerresearch.org/purchase?rname=31638 .
Key Regions
- Americas
- Key Vendors
- Atlas Maridan
- Bluefin Robotics
- Deep Ocean Engineering
Other Prominent Vendors
- ECA Hytec
- International Submarine Engineering
- Inuktun Services
- MacArtney Group
- Schilling Robotics
- Soil Machine Dynamics
Market Driver
- Inaccessible Environmental Conditions
Market Challenge
- High Initial Investment
Market Trend
- Advanced Perpetual Robotics
Key Questions Answered in this Report
- What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be?
- What are the key market trends?
- What is driving this market?
- What are the challenges to market growth?
- Who are the key vendors in this market space?
- What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?
Have any Query on the Report get your Queries Resolved at http://www.sandlerresearch.org/inquire-before-buying?rname=31638 .
About US:
Sandlerresearch.org (http://www.sandlerresearch.org/) is an online market research store for research reports on multiple industries. These reports provide market analysis, trends and opportunities and forecast about industries that helps to make a right decision for the business.


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Amadeus (aka Superhuman)
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Plumber's Tape is not a tape at all. It thin strips of "puttylike" material which is used to ensure a good watertight seal on threaded pipes. When trying to seal non-threaded fixtures plumber's putty should be used instead.
Plumber's tape is made of a carbon and fluoride compound called polytetrafluroethylene, PTFE for short. PTFE is also used to coat non-stick cookware. Carbon compounds are generally strong and stable which make them safe to use in the home environment. PTFE doesn't corrode or rust and this makes it ideal for keeping pipes sealed for a long time.
Another name for plumber's tape is Teflon tape and we all know that nonstick cookware is called Teflon as well. Teflon has a lot of other uses but these two are the most commonly used and recognized in the home. Teflon was invented by the fine folks at DuPont, and we owe them all a big thank you for many easily flipped pancakes and such.
The reason that plumber's tape is used is to ensure a good seal. Nothing will ruin your weekend like a leaky pipe so whether you're installing new pipes or trying to figure out where the water is coming from, plumber's tape is a good starting place.
Plumber's tape is pretty easy to use. Take the two pieces of pipe, clean any crud off the pipe's threads, put a strip of tape around the threads, and screw the pipes together. Make sure that the tape is running the same direction that the pipes will be turned to tighten, otherwise the tape can come loose and the seal will not be perfect. Oh yeah, I forgot – make sure the water's turned off before you start unscrewing water carrying pipes. We're trying to prevent water damage not increase it.
Plumbers tape can be used in a lot of different home improvement projects such as installing a tankless hot water heater.
The natural color of this non tape tape is white but it can be found in different colors. The colors are used to designate what is going through the pipe. I've been talking about water but it is also used to seal gas pipes and any other type of pipe that contains a liquid of gas that you'd prefer stay in the pipe.
In the good old days before the fine folks at DuPont invented Teflon this messy putty called plumber's dope was used to seal threaded pipes. Plumber's tape is much easier and less messy than the old stuff. I don't mind messy projects but I prefer them to be as easy as possible.
Plumber's tape is pretty cheap. You can get a roll for about 2 dollars. It is also easy to find just check out the plumbing section of any home improvement or hardware store. Although all households do not keep it on hand, it's so cheap there's really no reason (except for never doing home repairs) not to have a roll on hand for when it's needed. If you have a roll in your toolbox when you decide to replace this pipe or repair that pipe you won't have to remember to buy some.
That's pretty much all you need to know, and maybe some that you didn't need to know, about plumber's tape. It's easy to use, cheap, and will save a lot of money in water damage repair because your pipes will not be as leaky as they might be without it.


text: I have an iPhone so naturally all of my contacts receive iMessages from me via my phone number. Majority of these contacts do not have my email address. While my iPhone is properly syncing with the Messages Beta App on Lion every time I respond to an iMessage it comes from my email address and my contacts ask who this is. Is there a way to fix this? Does Apple plan to address this for the final version?


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All News Releases By Date
MEDIA ADVISORY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Administrator of the Office of Research and Development, Paul Anastas, Delivers the Fifth Borlaug Lecture at N.C. State University
Release Date: 10/01/2010
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293, firstname.lastname@example.com
Raleigh, NC - On October 4, 2010, Dr. Paul Anastas will present the 2010 Borlaug Lecture - "Sustainability Through Innovation" - at North Carolina State University. Paul Anastas, Ph.D. is the Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science Advisor to the Agency. He is known widely as the "Father of Green Chemistry" for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally-toxic, environmentally-friendly chemicals. During his visit, Anastas will also engage in a roundtable discussion with students and faculty.
The Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug Distinguished Lecture on Global Service to Society and Environment is sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Natural Resources. Known as the "Father of the Green Revolution," Borlaug was instrumental in developing crop varieties that helped feed millions around the world. The first person to deliver the lecture that later bore his name, Borlaug passed away last year.
What: Fifth Borlaug Lecture, N.C State
Where: the N.C. State Talley Student Center Ballroom, Raleigh, NC
When: October 4, 2010 at 3:30pm
Who: Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development, Paul Anastas.
Search this collection of releases | or search all news releases
View selected historical press releases from 1970 to 1998 in the EPA History website.


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Sunday, July 29, 2012
A hummingbird just zoomed over our deck and sampled the butterfly plant. By the time I got the camera and got back to the deck, he'd zipped off in search of more palatable flowers.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 4:24 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 27, 2012
At 4:37 pm it was 97.4°, with a heat index temperature of 117°. Nice and warm.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 6:14 PM 0 comments
Sunday, July 22, 2012
First off, Historicon is big. Very large. I've been to larger events, but not larger gaming events. Three thousand people, over 200 game tables, over 65 vendors.
My schedule was:
- Rescue on Venus, by GASLIGHT. I arrived late due to traffic, and mostly spectated on this one. This was supposed to be a three-sided battle, with Amazons and French Foreign Legion each trying to rescue their own hostage from the lizardmen. Unbeknownst to the gamemaster, the Amazons and lizardmen made a deal, which meant the lizardmen only had to fight the Legion. The lizardmen failed to concentrate, however, attacking one section at a time instead of all at once; as a consequence they took heavy casualties from rifle and machine gun fire. Weight of numbers told, though, and the Legion was driven off. Best moment: the Legion steam tank fired a shot which knocked over the lizardman T Rex, but the mighty lizard struggled to its feet and charged the tank, destroying it in a burst of steam.
- Mars by GASLIGHT: a large action with 21 players controlling over 60 units, with a mix of HG Wells, Burroughs, and Victorian adventurers. Description at Battle Honors.
- Close Action: a fictitious naval battle between the USN and RN in 1821, with elite squadrons on both sides. One player per ship, for maximum uncertainty as to where everyone else's ships are going to try to move to--you have to maneuver realistically to avoid collisions. Description at Battle Honors.
- Look Sarge, It's the Russians: a Napoleonic battle with the Russians holding a village which our French forces needed to capture. The game rules were Look Sarge, No Charts, which is intended to have all necessary play information on the pieces, with no extra paper on the table. I commanded the French right flank, which advanced on the Russians, engaged in a little desultory combat, and both sides retreated. We rallied, advanced again, attempted to charge, recoiled, and retreated. My only consolation was that I was facing Russians who were just as fainthearted as my forces. Apparently our brigades had come to a private understanding, leaving the center and left to slug it out. It looked like the Russians would repulse our attacks, but by the end of the game, repeated assaults had gained us a foothold in the village, and our cavalry had broken the uhlans on the left.
- Battle of Barfleur: using Victory Under Sail rules, with each player controlling about eight ships. I commanded the lead squadron of the Anglo-Dutch fleet, with the French fleet and their fireships upwind of us. Whether by cunning or happenstance, the French got a good concentration of fire on a couple of my ships and cut up their rigging, and then took advantage of their greater speed by sweeping around the front of my line and attacking from both sides. The French won the scenario, although the game master said the score was closer than for the other two times he'd run the game that weekend. There are some oddities to the rules but if I were playing fleet actions, I'd seriously consider using Victory Under Sail. This game was one of the last two to finish, and we packed up at 2pm Sunday.
So a good time, and I'm definitely planning to go again next year.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 10:25 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Historicon schedule
Friday night: Rescue on Venus (by GASLIGHT)
Saturday morning: Mars by GASLIGHT
Saturday morning: Mars by GASLIGHT
Saturday afternoon: probably Close Action
Saturday evening: Look, Sarge, It's the Russians (rules: Look Sarge No Charts)
Sunday Morning: Battle of Barfleur (rules: Victory under Sail)
Saturday evening: Look, Sarge, It's the Russians (rules: Look Sarge No Charts)
Sunday Morning: Battle of Barfleur (rules: Victory under Sail)
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 11:53 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
On this day
In 1203, the Fourth Crusade captures Constantinople, which is about the same as if the Americans in World War 2 had assaulted and captured London.
In 1453, the French defeat the English at the battle of Castillon, the last battle of the Hundred Years War.
In 1918, Bolsheviks murder Tsar Nicholas II and his family.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 10:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: On this day
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Nola's Hummingbird Cake
We first had this cake from Gwen's aunt Nola, although the notes she provided say it was originally an American recipe.
2 cups plain flour
1.25 c sugar
0.25 tsp salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp cinnamon
2 eggs
1 c vegetable oil
0.5 tsp vanilla
9oz crushed pineapple, undrained
1 large banana
1 mango, kiwi, other fruit
ream cheese frosting
Preheat oven to 320° F
Combine first five items in large bowl.
Using a wooden spoon, mix in eggs and oil, then vanilla, pineapple and its juice, and chopped banna.
Pour into a greased 10" cake tin and bake 45 minutes; or use two 8" tins and bake 30 minutes.
Allow to cool in tin for 10 minutes before removing.
Put on cream cheese frosting and decorate with mango or kiwifruit.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 8:48 PM 0 comments
Labels: Food
Had a solo game of GASLIGHT last night, starring Major Garnet Wooley as he and his associates take on the goblin fusiliers of the lost continent of Mu. The After Action Report is posted at Battle Honors.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 8:43 PM 0 comments
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Billions of revolts
Americans revolt billions of times per day:
It's not civil disobedience that I'm talking about. It's the opposite: Civil disobedience is meant to be noticed. It is a price paid in the hope of creating social change. What I'm talking about is not based on hope; in fact, it has given up much hope on social change. It thinks the government is a colossal amoeba twitching mindlessly in response to tiny pinpricks of pain from an endless army of micro-brained interest groups. The point is not to teach the amoeba nor to guide it, but simply to stay away from the lethal stupidity of its pseudopods.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 9:49 PM 0 comments
Labels: Freedom, Government
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Last of the Dinosaurs
Until today, we had a Sony Trinitron CRT television. For those of you who don't speak Latin, a CRT is a cathode ray tube--what we had back in the dark ages of television, before flat screens. This beast was 20.7" deep for a 24" diagonal screen, and weighed in about 700 pounds--or possibly only 40, but that 40 wasn't exactly well balanced or easy for one guy to manhandle.
We spent this afternoon rearranging the office, and realized that since Diana watches movies on the laptop, and I almost never watch movies at all, then why not get rid of this thing and clear up a lot of space? So I wrestled it out the door and into the van; Diana will see if there's a thrift store or museum willing to take it.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 10:09 PM 0 comments
Labels: House
Saturday, July 7, 2012
FantaSci X
Every year, the Chesapeake Central Library hosts FantaSci, a free, one day convention of geekness. Last year I attended several writing panels; this year I spent most of the time looking around, although Tony Ruggiero did a good job moderating the panel on Originality.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 9:58 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 6, 2012
Losers in Space
Some of John Barnes' books are brilliant (One for the Morning Glory, Gaudeamus), some leave me cold (Kaleidoscope Century). Losers in Space is in the middle.
In the future, entertainment is all-important. Most people are mere proles, living on a mere $2 million or so; but if you're either an extremely gifted specialist (such as scientist or teacher), or a celebrity, you can make billions. One way to become a celebrity is to commit a sensational crime--if it entertains enough people, then the criminal owns the intellectual property rights to that crime and can't be convicted. Our characters, high school misfits who will have to face the real world on graduation, set out to stow away on a trip to Mars. Unfortunately, one member of the group has a few more lethal crimes in mind...
This book isn't a mystery, because you know who the criminal is going to be before you even know what the crime is going to be. It's a book with a Message, but the author doesn't hit you with it until the end of the book, and in any event, it's not a message that most people can do anything about. The characters seemed inconsistent: the heroine is obsessed with maintaining her celebrity rating, until she isn't; the criminal plans everything out carefully, except for leaving one huge glaring loose end. And the book is about a ballistic trip to Mars, which means it takes a while. And a while longer. And we're sitting here watching the plants grow. And some more time.
If you are a Barnes fan, check it out from the library; if you aren't, you should certainly not start with this.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 9:17 PM 0 comments
Labels: Now reading
Thursday, July 5, 2012
On Goals
Ever look at something like football, or Angry Birds, and wonder why they're so popular? I suspect one reason is that they have multiple levels of goals. Take football--real football, i.e. as played in the U.S.:
- Immediate goal is "Get a first down"
- Second tier goal is "get a touchdown"
- Third level is "win the game"
- Top level goal is "win the season".
And each of those gives you a payoff, an emotional thrill. And the reason that thrill is there is not because there's inherently something satisfying about moving a leather ball ten yards that way, or crossing a little white line on the grass, or seeing numbers on the scoreboard; it's purely because that was your goal. You set a goal, you accomplish it, you get that thrill--and the harder you have to work for it, the more you get it.
And the corollary is that if you don't set goals, you won't get that thrill. At work, someone probably sets those goals for you, but at home, you have to do it yourself. Ever get to a Sunday evening and think "Where did the weekend go?" What did you do for those couple of days? "We just hung out", or more accurately, "Nothing". And the result was, you were bored.
I've been in sales, one form or another, for over twenty four years, and I've heard a lot of sales training. One aspect of sales training is time management, and one of the aphorisms I've heard often is "You make time for what's important." This is a lie. "Quit smoking" is important. "Work out at least three times a week" is important. If you're in sales, "make more sales calls" is important. But people, by and large, don't do these things. This is because you don't do what is important; you do what gives you positive feedback. And not feedback months down the line, when you win the championship or get your annual bonus. You need immediate feedback. Instant gratification works. Get the first down, feel the thrill, do it again.
Sometimes you'll still find yourself thinking "the day is gone, and for what?" I had a day like that yesterday. But write down what you want to accomplish, and then cross through the items as you do them. At the end of the day, you can say "I took out the kayak, I put in the supports, I went out on the water for an hour, I sprayed the plants, I rearranged the closet, I threw out those two pieces of junk. I didn't accomplish everything on the list, but I did pretty good."
Make a list of what you need to do.
Cross them off as you do them.
Simple as that.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 10:23 PM 0 comments
Labels: Goals
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Declaration of Independence
An excerpt:
We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed;that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed.But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 12:01 AM 0 comments
Labels: Freedom, History, On this day, Quotes
Sunday, July 1, 2012
After Action Report on the Battle of Guadalcanal, with six players plus Ryan as host and gamemaster. We thought the enemy ships were at least ten miles away, right up until they came racing out of the night on a collision course...
Posted by Chris DeBoe at 10:58 PM 0 comments
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text:
Lotus Lodge
Lotus Lodge specialises in providing care for adults with
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and other complex neurological
conditions that requires continuing nursing care intervention.
It is operated by Venus Healthcare Group.
The home is set in a suburban area of Wanstead, East London
(Redbridge Council) within close proximity to the local high
street with a selection of shops and restaurants, as well as
various leisure activities. There are good transport links with
a bus stop just outside the home and Wanstead London
Underground Station being very close by.
"Lotus Lodge has a recreation room facility situated at the rear
of the home for art therapy and other meaningful activities"
Lotus Lodge has 7 spacious bedrooms all of which are en-suite
with shower facilities as well as a separate bathing room with
a fully integrated track hoist. For the safety and comfort of all
of our residents, each room has a profiling bed with pressure
relieving mattress and detachable cot side.
The home is fully wheelchair compliant and has an indoor
disability lift as well as the kitchen providing dual height
countertops. The home offers a safe and secure environment
with a full range of facilities including a lounge diner and a
pleasant private landscaped garden. The home provides for
specialist furnishings that have been identified as part of the
assessment of needs of individual residents.
In Safe Hands
The main focus within Lotus Lodge is on empowerment and
independence where trained staff and Managers work with
the individuals to maximise their potential.
"Staff will assist, support and educate Service Users to help
them cope with the long term effects of brain injury"
As part of the rehabilitation program, they will liaise and work
together with various Health Care professionals and
appropriate specialists to provide a high standard of care.
Lotus Lodge is managed by a highly competent Registered
Nurse who has extensive experience working in a health care
setting. All additional nurses and support workers are
carefully selected to compliment the values and ethos of
Venus Healthcare. We try where possible to recruit staff from
the local community.
The Service
Lotus Lodge offers a network of rehabilitation and care
services to people with Acquired Brain Injury of all severities,
and other complex neurological conditions that require 24
hour residential care related to the following:
- Cardiovascular Accident (Stroke)
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Cerebral Palsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Early Onset of Dementia
- Parkinson's Disease
Our services are tailor made to meet individual needs.
Everyone who receives our support will have choice and
control over whatever support we provide.
Property Address
47 Blake Hall Road, Wanstead, London E11 2QW
Email Address
Contact Name
Linda Sadik RGN
Contact Number
0845 519 9405
Fax Number
020 8530 4499


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Viral restaurants create the truffle burger of your brunch dreams
But you'll need to get in line now to score one.
Black Tap and The Bagel Storeare floating the crazy notion that, just maybe, you should check them out even when you're not looking for a sugar high.
The two blew up around the same time last winter, with Black Tap's giant milkshakes still commanding nearly two-hour waits at all times of day and the Rainbow Bagel showing no signs of ceding its status as Instagram's most coveted breakfast food.
RELATED: The new Beatrice Inn is for all (meat-loving) New Yorkers
But Black Tap's burgers are pretty decent, too, and Scott Rossillo has been hand-rolling all kinds of bagels for over 20 years in Brooklyn. This weekend, they're teaming up for a collaboration Bagel Burger for the brunch of your psychedelic dreams: a Pat LaFreida beef patty with bacon, eggs, cheese and truffle mayo on a black-and-white swirled truffle oil bagel.
The Bagel Burger is $19 (it also comes with a side of homemade fries) and only available Sept. 10 and 11 in very limited quantities: 50 per day at Black Tap Meatpacking, and just 25 per day at Black Tap SoHo. Remember to factor in brunch now starting at 8 a.m. when setting your alarm.


text:
1. Upon up or download Google Earth
2. Go to 44°14′ N 7°46′ E
3. Look at the big bunny!
This is part of an art project in Prata Nevoso, Italy to give the illusion of feeling small! Sounds like fun, unless like Anya from Buffy the Vampire Slayer you are scared of bunnies, especially big fluffy ones!


text:
Police officers visited Indiana massage parlors repeatedly and allowed workers — all Chinese immigrants — to fondle them in exchange for cash, all in a fight against prostitution and human trafficking. On Wednesday, 30 officers raided two businesses in Carmel and Zionsville, arresting six people — four alleged prostitutes and two alleged pimps, says the Indianapolis Star.
How do you detect victims of human trafficking? That was the focus of a training put on Thursday by Abby Kuzma of the Indiana Attorney General's Office.
She was in Elkhart working with people representing 15 different agencies.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Two teenage girls from Central Indiana are home safe after an FBI spokesperson in Chicago said they were "possible victims of human trafficking."
The case stretches from Chicago, Illinois to Muncie and Yorktown.
After completing medical school, Kathleen Welch had no idea she would travel the world as an advocate of human trafficking.
The human rights advocate and global health consultant spoke at Indiana State University, Tuesday, about her career and her endeavors with helping human trafficking victims.


text:
FARGO, N.D. – On Saturday, Phase II of the World Team Trials were held in Fargo, for the non-Olympic weight classes. The event had a very heavy King University flavor as the Tornado had six women's wrestlers in the competition, five alone at 55 kilograms. Sarah Hildebrandt turned in the best performance, winning the challenge tournament, before falling in the championship bout to take second at 55 kilograms.
Hildebrandt opened with a narrow 4-1 decision over teammate Samantha Klingel after earning a bye in the first round. The junior then defeated Michaela Hutchison 11-3 in the semifinals of the challenge tournament. In the finals of the challenge tournament, Hildebrandt faced Jessica Medina, a former World Team member. Hildebrandt took a tough fought 4-1 decision over Medina to earn a spot in the championship bout against Helen Maroulis, who is ranked third in the world. However, Maroulis was able to make her fifth World Team by defeating Hildebrandt in the best two-of-three match final. Maroulis took the first bout on a pin before topping Hildebrandt 11-0 on a tech fall in the second bout.
After falling to Hildebrandt, Klingel fell to teammate Haley Augello 7-4 in the losers bracket. Augello then took an 8-6 win over Tamara Tillman, advancing to the semifinals of the losers bracket. However, she fell to Jacarra Winchester, who finished third in the challenge tournament, on a 9-0 decision.
Hanna Grisewood and Megan Black also competed for the Tornado with Grisewood dropping her first bout to Klingel on a 4-2 decision. Grisewood then advanced to the quarterfinals of the challenge tournament by pinning Tarkyia Mensah in 3:54. However, she faced Black in the quarterfinals after she took a 12-0 tech fall win over Rachel Archer. Black topped Grisewood on an 8-0 decision before falling in the tournament challenge semifinals to Huchison.
Katie Germain also competed at 60 kilograms for the Tornado, dropping both matches.