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All You Need To Know About Locksmits – Locksmithing in modern times has gone past a profession for fun and aspiring magicians, it is now a profession that cuts across all fields of life as locksmithing professionals now work for varied employers like hospitals, schools, and colleges as against in the past when locksmith's major employers are homeowners with one lock problem or the other.
This statistics is according to a research carried out by the Bureau of Labor. Gone are the days when locksmiths closed their workshops early to be with their family at dinner time, nowadays, locksmiths are those superheroes that safe the day in the dead of the night when you have a lockout situation in your apartment or with your car. Locksmithing, as it stands, is a profession with a rich and interesting story that will get anyone interested in knowing the roots of the now lucrative profession agog.
Locksmit professionals in the 21st century don't just rake in mouth-watering amount of money from helping with lock problems alone, those ones deeply rooted in how the profession came to be are making a huge chunk of money off it as they create a separate blog or website for relating the history of locksmithing while leveraging on that to also educate the public on topics like history of keys, padlocks, locksmithing tools etc. Killing two birds with one stone has never been this easy and profitable.
Around 4000 years ago when the level of civilization was still at the rock bottom, in that era, gigantic temples were being built, mathematics was a hot cake and the people of Babylon alongside ancient Egyptians had the initiative to start working as locksmiths. The result of their effort was one that could not be kicked under the carpet as they came up with devices made of wood, ones which required some level of stress to get it unlocked and have access to the goods they are being used to protect. These locks were popular around 704BC and one of such locks was recently excavated by a group of archaeologists Khorsabad, near Nineveh.
While these developments were ongoing in Egypt and Babylon, the Romans, on the other hand, had no need for these newly invented devices as security and stability was already covered by their goddess Securitas, while another god, Janus, reigned over the affairs of locks and gates, this was the way the Romans agreed upon to keep bad people away from entering their most sacred places where goods and other personal valuables were being kept.
Years down the line, the Romans subscribed to the idea of using metal and wooden locks like their Egyptian counterpart but the 18th century was the era the production of metal locks had a boom, this was made possible by the increased knowledge in metallurgy, one which saw to the creation of metal locks and keys that outdid the previous security designs. The advent of lock and keys in a way made locksmiths less special as when the production of those security devices reached their peak, locksmiths were robbed of some of their mystique forcing them to specialize more in order to stay relevant to the everyday people.
Locksmits changed tactics when the sales of metal locks were booming, they successfully made the drastic change by widening the scope of their provided services to include lock repairs and key replication. The newly added services saw to the expansion in locksmithing tools as new inputs such as plug spinners, blank keys, key gauges etc. got included in the locksmithing toolsets to see to effectiveness in the newly added services.
The locksmithing profession is not one that is rigid, it is one that allows for flexibility as professionals can choose to either have a residential, commercial or automotive focus. Due to security reasons and the danger being posed by impostors, locksmiths who wish to make a living through their lock picking and replacement skills are required to get certified by any locksmithing professional body that is within their vicinity. One of such groups is the Associated Locksmiths of America, founded in 1956.
The locksmits extension of services changed forever changed the criteria that are to be met to be a true locksmith. For instance, to not fall out of business and lose tons of previous and potential customers, many locksmithing workshops focus on every aspect of security like on-site security assessment for apartment and business owners. Some even take it up a notch by helping clients with the installation of intercom systems to help manage the security of their properties.
With the advancement of technology, the locksmithing business has been given a push and that has resulted in taking the profession to boundaries unimagined. A great example of this great combination is the advent of digital locks that is gradually taking the front seat and pushing physical keys to the back bench. With these new locks, an apartment owner only needs to memorize a short combination of numbers in order to have access to their vehicle or apartment. Locks have advanced to the point where all you'll ever need to access your automobile or residence is a remote control. One would think these newly discovered digital boundaries will push locksmiths to the side, we were all wrong as the business has continued to evolve to match the technological advancements and bring food to the tables of those who have heavily invested in the business for personal gains.
Locksmits and Locks
Locks are now produced in great numbers, all thanks to molding blocks with the ability to make lots of locks in a matter of hours, these locks are taken to stores all over the place, and these stores put them on display for ordinary people like your friendly neighbor to have a taste of locksmithing. The locksmithing experience bit comes in handy as just about anyone in the country can get a lock from the store, take it home to have them installed all by themselves, a feat which has been made possible for many via the do-it-yourself guides that are scattered all over the internet. This approach has its own disadvantage as only locksmithing professionals can install locks in a way that it'll provide optimal security and total peace of mind for the owners of the property the lock was installed on. Locksmiths should always ensure that they enlighten their clients about the kind of services their workshop offers as flexibility is one of the foolproof ways to stay winning in the locksmithing business.
For locksmithing enthusiasts who just completed their lock picking training in a workshop or in an accredited locksmithing center, looking to kick-start your career as a professional locksmith is the next course of action. There are two general options you can opt for here, you can either decide to get the needed capital to establish your own locksmithing business or work with an already established locksmithing business. Both options are viable but they are not without their strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a look at some of the weaknesses for the aforementioned options.
Locksmits – Own your locksmithing business
This is what every new locksmith seem to aim for as it affords them the freedom to carve their own niche and be flexible with working hours alongside the leverage to grow the business to whatever size it is the locksmith wants through hard work and dedication. Starting and owning your own locksmithing business might look rosy from afar but it is prone to failure if you are one without a solid business plan to help grow the business over time and ensure its survival. When considering the viability of a locksmithing business, there is need to carry out a research on your niche, locksmithing services that are lacking in your community, number of already existing firms' i.e. your competition and how you intend to beat them at their own game. The research should not be limited to the earlier highlighted areas alone, it should also include how you intend to pay for extensive marketing and channels to help put your brand out there for all to see and patronize such as a standard website, newspaper etc. Your consideration should also highlight how you intend to pay for all of your locksmithing necessities such as tools, heavy equipment, vans, and licensure.
Niches in the locksmithing business include specialization in vehicles, residential/offices, the opening of safes and dealing with keys. Other areas of specialization in locksmithing includes the number of hours you choose to keep your workshop open to receive clients with varying degree of lock problem i.e. offering round the clock locksmithing service that is available to serve 24/7/366. Some other locksmiths who specialize in residential and office locksmithing focus on security as a whole including the installation of alarms for homes and businesses. Locksmithing supplies are essentials for every of the highlighted areas of specialization but some supplies are niche specific, for example, an automotive locksmith will have the need for a handheld scope more than other locksmiths in other areas of specialization. The common locksmithing supplies that cut across all niches includes blank keys and rekeying kits. Rekeying tools consists of key gauges, space/depth keys, plug followers and lock lubricants. Other general locksmithing supplies include drill bits, lock bits, practice locks and key extractors.
Locksmits – Join an already established locksmith in their operations
Working for an already established locksmith affords you the privilege to know exactly what you are getting into before delving into in on your own. Going down this path ensures that there is less risk for the recently trained locksmith to undertake as he is not in any way funding the business with his own money, instead, he is working to build up his experience and a network of clients which seems like the most interesting aspect of this as you can decide to open up your own locksmithing business once you feel you've made just the right connections to kick-start your own business and not make it sink before it even starts as a business without patronage is one that is dead on arrival. Not every locksmithing skill can entitle you to own your own locksmithing business, for instance, if you are not that skilled in picking locks but you are skilled enough in carpentry works and customer relations, you might want to consider contributing to the existence of an already established locksmithing firm instead of starting up on own based on the skills you possess.
This is advised as the earlier mentioned skills i.e. customer relations and carpentry cannot sustain a full-fledged locksmithing business. Several new locksmiths prefer teaming up with other people such as hardware stores, door manufacturers and other organizations that might be in need of full-time locksmits, this is their own way of building up experience. Years down the lane, the now experienced locksmits can branch out to establish their very own business.
Locksmits – Licensure
Most states require locksmiths to be duly licensed, never forget that as a locksmith and in America, you can get all the required information pertaining getting your license on Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA)'s website. Not only that, you also get exposed to several doors of opportunities as the website also contains information needed to help further your career as a locksmit alongside locksmithing conventions where you can meet with veterans in the field and share ideas. No matter the community where you have chosen to work as a locksmith, joining Associated Locksmiths of America (ALOA) is an ideal decision as it is loaded with lots of goodies.
Locksmits – Build up on your skills
Regardless of whether you have decided to put up with another person in order to help them with moving things around and getting things done or you have decided to start your own locksmithing firm from the ground level up, there is the need for you to build up your locksmithing career profile by gaining expertise. This can be easily achieved by racking up accredited credentials like the certified master locksmith, road service locksmith, certified master safecracker, forensic locksmith and safe technician.


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Structural Steel Coating
Pacific Building Services is an Australian company, which commenced its operations more than 3 decades ago. Our success and reputation for professional, responsive services and proven leading edge solutions is primarily due to our philosophy of working with our customers and suppliers to provide quality products and services utilizing the latest technologies throughout Australia.
We maintain a close working relationship with a growing network of strategic suppliers to provide fast reliable services and sound technical assistance when required.
Pacific Building Services has the equipment and expertise to apply sophisticated coatings properly, and we can supplement the effort of other steel fabricators who land a job that requires coating capabilities that they don't have. It is often most cost effective when Pacific Building Services also fabricates the members requiring special coating systems to avoid added shipping expenses between plants.
Pacific Building Services Employees and sub-contractors follow strict safety standards in accordance with our Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Management Procedures. We use a range of Elevated Work platforms and access equipments. Our Personnel are fully licensed for all the tasks we undertake. All our employees are site safety induced and have induction cards.
Please contact us if you'd like to request additional information, clarification, or and for an estimate Click here regarding this service or any other services Pacific Building Services offers.

subset: commoncrawl


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New Leadership For Indiana National Guard
The Indiana National Guard held a change of command ceremony was held Saturday, May 30, at the Indiana War Memorial in Indianapolis. Long-time Major General Martin Umbarger officially retired after serving 45 years in the military. He passed the reins of the Guard to the new top commander, … Read More


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Film Badrinath Ki Dulhania Remained top on Box Office
Film "Badrinath Ki Dulhania" is the third film of young Bollywood pair Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan and it achieved box office success after earning more than 100 crore rupees from ... Continue Reading →
Murder Threat to Mahesh and Alia Bhatt for Not Giving Bhatta
Mumbai, Bollywood leading director, Mahesh Bhatt received a call from the unknown person and asked to give bhatta of Rs.50 lac. If he would not pay bhatta, then his daughter, Alia Bhatt ... Continue Reading →
Alia Bhatt Unhappy about questions on her love life
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt said that questions should not be raised about her love life. According to Indian media, actress Alia Bhatt was present in a ceremony for promotion of her ... Continue Reading →
Alia Says Fawad Khan Reluctant to Shoot Bold Scenes and Retained Traditional Values
Mumbai, The leading and popular Bollywood film actress, Alia Bhatt said that Fawad Khan was reluctant to shoot the bold scenes during the shooting of the movie and he respected his ... Continue Reading →
Watch Ranveer & Ranbir Kapoor Dance in Party by Karan Johar
There was rumor that there is cold war between Ranveer Singh and Ranbir Kapoor but it goes vanished when both the artists danced with each other in the party managed by the leading ... Continue Reading →
First look of SRK & Alia 'Dear Zindagi'
Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt are going to perform in the newly releasing movie, 'Dear Zindagi and the first look of the movie has been revealed. Both the artists took to the Twitter ... Continue Reading →
Sonam or Alia Next heroine of Shahrukh Khan
Every Bollywood girl is anxious to work with Shahrukh Khan. Director Ananad L Rai is going to start a new film whose hero will be Shahrukh Khan. One heroine of the film has been selected ... Continue Reading →
Fawad Khan Desires to Perform in Remake of Bollywood Movie 'Guide'
Mumbai, Pakistani leading actor, Fawad Khan said that he wanted to perform in the remake of the Boolywood movie, 'Guide', which was made in 1965. According to the report, that he ... Continue Reading →
Alia Bhatt admits her love for Sidharth Malhotra
Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has accepted her love for actor Sidharth Malhotra. The news of relationship between Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra were revolving since long while both ... Continue Reading →
Alia Bhatt wish to act as heroine of Salman Khan
Bollywood emerging actress Alia Bhatt is anxious to become the heroine of Salman Khan. In her tweet message, Alia Bhatt said that she thinks herself incomplete without performing with ... Continue Reading →


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By Darrell Wacker
VANDALIA — Nearly 200 runners took to the streets of Vandalia Saturday morning for the2nd Annual 41 HOPE Blake LaForce 5K Memorial Run/Walk. The race honors the memory of former Butler Aviator Blake LaForce who survived leukemia with a bone marrow transplant only to succumb to complications from a nervous system infection.
The 41 HOPE 5K raises money for the Blake LaForce #41 Memorial Fund, a VISIONS Endowment Fund, of the Vandalia and Dayton Foundations. The #41 Fund provides two annual college scholarships, one for a boy and one for a girl student athlete, as well for enhancing the student athlete's experience, at Vandalia-Butler High School.
"We had almost 200 runners and walkers, almost the same number of each," said Mark LaForce, Blake's father and founder of the memorial fund. "With the Vandalia-Butler community's continued support the 41 HOPE 5K is growing steadily and is a memorable time."
The overall winner of the 5K run was Kyle Wertz with a time of 19:08. The top female runner was Sarah Glendenning in a time of 22:20. Complete results can be found by clicking the links below.
The race was sponsored by Beau Townsend Ford, Ken Spicer, Tom and Roberta Smigel, and Bob and Theresa Lonsbury as silver level sponsors; Andy McDermott, Digital Cowboy Computers, Heidelberg Distributing, Jenkins & Bevan Insurance, Mauro Orthodontics, and the Neely Dental Team as bronze sponsors; and Basic Drugs, Bloom, Crossroads Coins, Dick Fahrney, Furst Florist and Greenhouses, Heeter Plumbing, Larry & Mary Jo Mumford, Lorain HS Steelmen, Class of '69, McDonalds, Outback Steak House, SAMS Club, Spieles Insurance Agency, Steve Drongowski, Pure Couture Prom, Butler Kickline, Don Lynam, S & R Digital Photography, Vandalia Animal Clinic, Vandalia Optometry, and the Vandalia Recreation Center.
"Many thanks go to the Butler Kickline/Vandalia Dance Ensemble girls and parents for spearheading the 41 HOPE 5K and our Committee for supporting the Blake LaForce #41 Memorial Fund to benefit Butler Aviator student athletes while keeping Blake's legacy alive," said LaForce. "Thank you to all of the participants, the many local and regional sponsors, Vandalia-Butler City Schools, Athletic Director Roger Bowen, football coaches Greg Bush and staff, the Board of Education, the City of Vandalia, Vandalia Fire Dept / EMT, Kohls, Dr. Jim Klosterman's family and staff for volunteering, the Vandalia Drummer, and, WDTN Channel 2 News."


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Nativeways Travel & Tour Company Now Open for Business
Published July 31, 2017
MANDAN, NORTH DAKOTA – A newly established non-profit organization, based in Mandan, North Dakota has begun providing American Indian tours. Nativeways Travel & Tours provides tourists and other guests with an authentic exposure to the fascinating world of American Indians through language, art, food, history and nature.
Nativeways is offering several guided tours in the Bismarck-Mandan area and beyond this summer. The tours are provided by Native American guides including Dakota Goodhouse and Patt Mabin. Goodhouse, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, has extensive experience working as an interpretive guide with the North Dakota State Historical Society and the Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation.
Mabin, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, enjoys sharing the rich history and traditions of the indigenous people of the Great Plains.
Nativeways summer schedule includes the following tours from now through mid-September:
North Dakota State Museum & Heritage Center – Monday – Friday, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Chief Looking's Indian Village – Tuesdays, 11:00 a.m. Double Ditch Indian Village – Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m. Fort McKeen at Fort Lincoln State Park – Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. Turtle Mountain Keplinfest (Belcourt) – August 4-5, 2 full days UTTC International Powwow – September 8-10, various times
Additionally, step-on guides are available for chartered tour buses or other groups traveling through the area who are interested in Native American guided tours of area attractions.
Nativeways founders and initial Board of Directors include enrolled members of North Dakota's tribal nations including: Scott Davis, (Standing Rock), Calvin Grinnell (Three Affiliated Tribes), Stacey LaCompte (Standing Rock), Mike Mabin (Turtle Mountain), Brek Maxon (Three Affiliated Tribes), Robert Shepherd (Sisseton Wahpeton), and Les Thomas (Turtle Mountain).
The tour company is working in collaboration with the ND Native Tourism Alliance, ND Tourism Office, ND Indian Affairs, ND Heritage Center, Fort Abraham Lincoln Foundation, Five Nations Art, tribal colleges, and other partners to expand its services and identify other possible tours and attractions to offer in the future. To learn more visit http://www.nativewaystravel.com.
About Nativeways: NativeWays Travel & Tours is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating and advancing Native American culture through guided tours, educational activities, cultural performances & demonstrations, and other tourism-related experiences


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A man has been convicted of causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a policeman was so badly injured he had to have his leg amputated.
Hayden Brown, 25, of Suffolk Road, Maidenhead, was found guilty by a jury at Reading Crown Court on Friday following a five day trial to three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He had pleaded guilty to two counts of driving over the legal alcohol limit and without insurance.
The conviction follows a road traffic collision which happened on September 2, 2018 on Norden Road, Maidenhead.
At around 5.30am two Thames Valley Police officers PC Tom Dorman and PC Norman Lam carried out a routine stop check on a vehicle.
Both officers were out of their own car when a silver Ford Focus, driven by Brown at excessive speed spun of control along Norden Road. The car collided with both the officers first, causing them to be pushed against the car they had been checking. This car was then struck along with the police car.
PC Dorman was so badly hurt his leg had to be amputated. He also suffered a depressed skull fracture through his sinus. He continues to receive medical treatment but has resumed his career and is now an Acting Sergeant.
PC Lam sustained several puncture wounds and severe bruising to his legs, fractured ribs, a dislocated shoulder as well as contusions to his arms. He is undergoing treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
A 19-year-old woman who was a passenger in the car that Brown was driving suffered 24 broken bones and internal injuries which required several operations.
Brown fled the scene of the collision but was arrested on the same day. A breathalyser test revealed nearly twice the legal limit for alcohol in his system.
He was charged on February 28 and will be sentenced on December 9.
Inspector Andy Storey of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: "Brown was driving at excessive speed under the influence of alcohol.
"His reckless actions of getting behind the wheel while under the influence, driving at speed and ultimately losing complete control of the vehicle had a devastating impact on three people and it is extremely lucky that no-one died."


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As a socially responsible community organization, it is important that we do our part to help manage any risk in the spreading of this virus. In response to COVID-19 our scheduling centre is CLOSED, and all Habitat extended services (i.e. donation collection, donation drop-off, home salvage & Handyman) have been suspended until further notice. We thank you for your support and look forward to welcoming our full team back and to returning to serve the Halton-Mississauga community as soon as it is safe to do so.
Getting Ready to Start a Kitchen Renovation?
Are you getting ready to start a kitchen renovation, and unsure what to do about the removal of your kitchen? Would you like to make money from the removal of your kitchen? The Kitchen Salvage Program through Habitat for Humanity has a team of expertly trained volunteers to help you through this process, free of charge, and receive a tax receipt for your kitchen donation! *SALVAGE OFFER BASED ON KITCHEN VALUE*
Would you like us to remove your kitchen for you, free of charge?
Is your cabinetry already disassembled and ready for pickup?
What We Accept
While we do take donations of almost all parts of the kitchen, these are the main parts we accept:
- Kitchen Cabinets (Upper, Lower or Islands)
- Countertops
- Appliances (fridge, stove, dishwashers, etc.)
- Vanities
- Fireplaces
- Furniture (including couches)
...and more!
"I was so impressed with Chris, Bridget and the team that I felt compelled to let you know how wonderful they are. They arrived on time and very quickly had my entire kitchen demolished. I wanted to say how impressed I was with the care they took with my floors and the rest of the house and how organized and efficient they were. It does the heart good to see people care so deeply about what they do. Thank you very much!" - Brenda
"It was really great meeting your crew yesterday and I'm so happy you were able to take so many items. Please pass along our admiration and gratitude to your crew for the amazing work you are doing as volunteers!" - Mary
"Just wanted to thank you and your team for the awesome work done during the removal of our donated kitchen. Your team took lots of care, were helpful, informative and respectful of our home during the entire process. We have already told all our friends, family and our neighbour. We will reach out to you again if we want to donate our appliances." - Joanne
"The salvage crew led by Chris Bava did an amazing job, very fast, friendly and clean. I very much appreciated it. I tried to give each one of them a $10 tip, but they refused to accept the tip. They said that my donation was a great gift in itself. I was very impressed with their generous attitude." - Dilip
"The team was great and I have been telling anyone that I know of that is doing a kitchen renovation to contact their habitat location." - Lyndsey
"I was totally pleased with the process. Glad to be able to help someone else." - Doris
"Crew was great, neat and really quick and careful not to do any damage to walls furniture removing cabinets." - Dave
"Fantastic organization. The professionalism of the crew and the care they took in my home, unbelievable. I would recommend this to everyone I know. Very pleased that the donated materials didn't go to waste; that it went to a good cause." - Richard
"I found your volunteer team to be superior in their professionalism, care and quality of work, when compared to the various other contractors I've hired. They brought all the tools they needed with them (I've had contractors show up who rely on me to provide them with a ladder for example.) They were extremely polite and overall exceeded my expectations. I wish all the paid contractors I've hired were so good."
"We try to donate in many areas. The salvage program is one area where we feel we can make a difference. We include it in all of our homeowner info startups (before construction). Appreciate what you do." - Dave
"Excellent program. Keep up the good work! It is so good to see things being reused and recycled instead of taken to the dump." - Lucy
"Noel was our contact and leader for the whole process. He was wonderful to work with. His crew were all very friendly, quick and clean. We appreciated the chance to mutually benefit both ourselves but also Habitat. I would recommend to everyone." - Heather
Program Benefits
Donating your kitchen to the Kitchen Salvage Program will benefit you and your family greatly. While there are many great reasons to use our kitchen donations program, here's what we think are the main benefits:
Saving money on disposal fees.
A charitable tax receipt, which in turn can be used for greater disposable income.
Donations going towards helping families in need.
While having your own personal kitchen donated to Habitat For Humanity, there are also many benefits to doing the same for your clients. Some of them include:
Save money on disposable fees.
Offering clients a charitable tax receipt for their kitchen donation.
Offer clients opportunity to create more room in their renovation budget because of the charitable tax receipt.
Offer clients a green solution, making less of an environmental impact.
Heightened awareness of corporate social responsibility.
Gain exposure for your company through In-Store recognition.
Would you like us to remove your kitchen for you, free of charge?
Is your cabinetry already disassembled and ready for pickup?
Tax Receipt Information
We issue tax receipts if a total donation exceeds $100. We tax receipt all items of value that are donated. The value is based on a Standard Pricing Guide that we follow, which is based on the highest value we believe we can sell your donations in our ReStores. That value is assessed by one of our staff who is trained in such appraisal of donations. From there, the accounting department works on issuing the Tax Receipt which you can expect to see within 3 MONTHS of donation date. If any questions or concerns arise after receiving the tax receipt, please feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there any cost to the Kitchen Salvage program?
A: The program is completely FREE! We take everything down for free, and we don't leave you with any disposal costs. You will also receive a Charitable Tax Receipt for all your donated items.
Q: How long does the average salvage take?
A: The average kitchen salvages takes around 2-3 hours.
Q: How much will I get for my tax receipt?
A: We cannot give an estimate as to what your tax receipt will reflect. The amount will be calculated once all items are brought to the store for pricing. We try to sell items donated for as much as we believe we can sell them for. If there is any concern once your receipt is given, please feel free to contact us.
Q: How long until I can be scheduled for a Kitchen Salvage?
A: On average we can accommodate a salvage within 1-3 weeks of first contact. Times may vary.
Q: What other items does Habitat accept/remove?
A: We accept donations of many househould items. For example: windows, doors, furniture, appliances, etc. Just ask and we will let you know.
Q: What does the whole process look like?
A: Step 1 – Collection of Donor info (Address and Pictures of donated items) Step 2 – Set up an In Person Assessment at donor convenience. Here we will answer any questions and give a final answer on date to salvage and what we can take. Step 3 – Deconstruction/Salvage.
Q: Who takes out my items?
A: As we are a charity, we are supported by 90% volunteers. All Kitchen Salvage Crew Members are volunteers that have been a part of this program for many years. There will also be a staff member on site to load items in the truck.
Q: Who can I contact with questions?
A: If you have any other questions about our Kitchen Donations Program, contact Christopher Bava, Salvage Operations Manager, at 905-828- 0987 ext.437 or email .
Q: Are you covered by insurance?
A: Yes we are. We have Commercial General Liability coverage for up to $5 Million.
Contact Us!
Do you have questions about our Salvage program that we haven't answered here?
Email OR call 905-637-4446 ext.238
Would you like us to remove your kitchen for you, free of charge?
Is your cabinetry already disassembled and ready for pickup?


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Stay relevant (but not with lady snack chips)
How to stay relevant: Ally Bank is using a strategy called "customer journey mapping" as it undergoes what Diane Morais said is nothing less than a transformation. The mapping effort ties together longtime industry trends like breaking down silos, eliminating friction from the banking experience and mining data for actionable insight. On the data front, Morais, president of consumer and commercial bank products for the online-only bank, said one of the goals is to have more relevant conversations with customers when they call in. Using advanced analysis of the customer data it already has, Ally created a set of archetypal "personas," which are useful for guiding employees in how to interact with a particular type of customer. Ally also created multidisciplinary teams — groups of business leaders, marketing experts, technologists and other specialists from various departments at the bank — to manage different aspects of the customer journey. They are tasked with making sure onboarding, navigating the mobile app, applying for a loan and other interactions are frictionless for customers. "We are going through an important transformation from what we consider the old way of delivering technology and solutions to using an agile framework and creating much more integrated teams," Morais said.
Been there, done that?: Some say the banking industry has avoided the #MeToo spotlight because it has mastered the art of mandatory arbitration, but Ellen Alemany, the chairman and chief executive of CIT Group, believes it is really because banks already had their day of reckoning two decades ago, in the wake of the "boom-boom room" scandal. The industry was terrific about "sensitivity training, making sure you have proper codes of conduct, actually having public firings if someone has demonstrated inappropriate behavior," Alemany said. "I think it's really positive that people are feeling they can come out and talk about things right now. But I think as an industry, in financial services, we took a lot of steps."
Not so fast: In recent weeks, Bank of America, Citigroup and Wells Fargo have become the first banks to publish "adjusted" gender pay gap numbers — meaning they've chosen a forgiving way of measuring the disparity between men and women. All used a statistical model that considers factors like job function, geographic location and tenure. Critics say the approach sidesteps the question of whether women are disproportionately stuck at lower-level jobs. "Congratulations to the companies for being concerned about gender equity and attempting to be more transparent," said Mary Blair-Loy, founding director of Center for Research on Gender in the Professions at the University of California San Diego. "However, what they've released is so incomplete, there's no way for objective outsiders to assess the usefulness of these numbers."
The exceptions vs. the rule: KeyCorp has had Beth Mooney as chairman and CEO since 2011 and Wells Fargo now has Elizabeth Duke as chairman — but these women are rare exceptions in such roles for the banking industry, said Theodora Lau, director of market innovation for AARP. Women occupy less than 2% of bank CEOs positions and less than 20% of board seats worldwide. Tackling the issue is daunting, but financial institutions need to focus on introducing more diversity in the boardroom and in senior leadership, Lau said. As it is, bank do not reflect the communities they serve. "Boosting gender equality is not simply a women's issue, but rather, it's one that benefits men and women alike," she said.
Final act: "We cannot tolerate pervasive and persistent misconduct at any bank and the consumers harmed by Wells Fargo expect that robust and comprehensive reforms will be put in place to make certain that the abuses do not occur again," Janet Yellen said on her last day as Federal Reserve chair this week. "The enforcement action we are taking today will ensure that Wells Fargo will not expand until it is able to do so safely and with the protections needed to manage all of its risks and protect its customers." The Fed voted unanimously to levy an unprecedented enforcement action against Wells restricting its future growth, and Wells simultaneously said it would replace four members of its board of directors. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., praised Yellen for removing the directors, though the order does not actually require Wells to do so, and neither Yellen nor the Fed took credit for their ouster.
For months, I have repeatedly pressed Janet Yellen to hold Wells Fargo accountable for its fake accounts scam and push out responsible Board Members. Today she did it – in her last act as Fed Chair. pic.twitter.com/ebIkhu8R0a
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) February 3, 2018
More please: Kabbage customers have been asking for larger lines of credit, so the online lender is increasing its maximum to $250,000, pushing deeper into territory traditional banks consider their own. Kathryn Petralia, president and co-founder of Kabbage, said it is also considering ways to use the data it has on customers to make their lives easier. For example, the company might start offering advice about, and access to, services needed to run a business, such as insurance, payroll, enterprise resource management programs or customer relationship management software. "That could help businesses focus more on the things they really love to do and the things they're really good at," Petralia said. "We want the chefs to be able to cook and we don't want them to have to worry about the other parts of their business."
Welcome to the Twittersphere: Santander's Ana Botin posted her first tweet on Wednesday, saying, in a mix of English and Spanish, that she decided to go on Twitter "to express what's on my mind and to find out what others are thinking." Besides banking, Botin, the executive chairman of the Spanish banking giant, said she might tweet about other interests she has, like education, entrepreneurship, technology, yoga and tea.
Role call
Former Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen joined the Brookings Institution this week. It is a move that feels very familiar, as her immediate predecessor, Ben Bernanke, and former Fed Vice Chair Don Kohn both did the same when they left the Fed. Nellie Liang, a longtime official in the Fed's Office of Financial Stability Policy and Research, also joined Brookings last year after retiring from the central bank. Be sure to check out our quick overview of Yellen's impact on the Fed, banking and the economy.
Beyond banking
Crunch time: Just because a company has a female CEO doesn't mean it does a good job of reaching women as customers. Just ask Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi Co., the parent company of Doritos. The snack maker sent the Internet into a tizzy this week with its lady-friendly chips concept, which would eliminate the problems of loud crunching and finger-licking, and come in bags small enough to fit in a purse. "Because women love to carry a snack in their purse," Nooyi said in her regrettable interview on the Freakonomics podcast. Doritos quickly distanced itself from the idea. In a very interesting essay about companies treating women as outliers, Heidi N. Moore is forgiving of Nooyi, but not of the systemic issues that lead to so many similar business missteps. "Nooyi, a millionaire CEO, probably doesn't have much in common with the average Doritos consumer, male or female," Moore said. "She probably gets her theories from researchers, who start with their own presumptions. One way to fix this is to hire more women at every level in corporate America and put them in charge of products."
Uneven playing fields: The Winter Olympic Games are a study of the gender disparities in sports. Female athletes compete on shorter hills in ski jumping and go shorter distances in speed skating (12.5 laps for women versus 25 laps for men). They also use shorter bobsleds (the event is for two women versus four men). The bobsled competition in particular shows how the impact of such disparities can play out for years after they go away. The four-person event has been open to both genders since 2014, and women have yet to participate in it. Gender stereotypes portray women as weaker than men, and research shows that one culprit behind the gender imbalance in specific sports is people's perception of those activities as male- or female-appropriate. Though those perceptions shift slowly, some sports, like snowboarding, are seen as gender neutral now. What will it take for other sports to get there? Well, it seems, for women to compete on an even playing field with men, they must, just as a very first step, be allowed.
To hit them on the head, hit them in the wallet: The latest issue of the Canadian magazine Maclean's has a cover asking men to pay 26% more than women to buy a copy (complete with two bar codes to facilitate ringing up the different prices for each gender at the cash register). The magazine explores the gender pay gap in a series of articles, declaring that pay equity, after years of stasis, is having its moment as the next beat in the #MeToo movement.
Have you seen a news item you think we should include here? Send us an email.


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Research Centers
Computing Systems for Data-Driven Science
The Center for Computing Systems for Data-Driven Science aims to explore the design, analysis and application of massive-scale computing systems for processing data, in the most general sense. The goal is to address the underlying systems aspects of Big Data—including data processing, storage and retrieval—which are central to some of the key research and societal challenges of the 21st Century.
The Cybersecurity Center is dedicated to developing the capacity for keeping data secure and private throughout its lifetime, a core focus of Columbia's Data Science Institute. The Center will bring together and build upon the research of the departments of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and the work of the Columbia Business School, among others. By way of example, in the past year, Columbia startups such as CellRox have been launched based on technology related to digital security. The Center will be housed on the Morningside campus.
Data, Media & Society
The Center for Data, Media & Society (formerly Center for New Media) is interested in the human in data. It is comprised of students and faculty who are engaged in both creative as well as research practices grounded in data. We study the ways in which we can use data to understand human behavior, and we address questions about how data and data processing are shaping how we work, how we live, and what it means to be person in a networked, digitized world.
Financial and Business Analytics
The Financial and Business Analytics Center is a community of over 40 affiliated faculty researchers from nine departments across the Schools of Art & Science, Business and Engineering sharing a common goal: to develop analytical and computational tools to manage risk and to support decisions using the growing volume and variety of data available on the Internet and elsewhere.
Foundations of Data Science
To support and amplify the study of five specific markets – Cybersecurity, Financial Analytics, Health Analytics, New Media and Smart Cities, which all lie at the center of New York City's innovation economy, the Institute also will conduct core research on problems that cut across the data sciences and engineering. The research will focus on formal and mathematical models for data processing, as well as on issues concerning the engineering of large-scale data processing systems.
Health Analytics
The Health Analytics Center builds upon the work of teams of Columbia researchers drawn from the fields of medicine, biology, public health, informatics, computer science, applied mathematics, and statistics. The mission of the center is to improve the health of individuals and the healthcare system through data-driven methods and understanding of health processes. The Health Analytics Center is located at the Columbia University Medical Center.
Sense, Collect and Move Data
The Sense, Collect and Move Data research center brings together researchers working in the physical aspects of sensing, generating, collecting, storing, transporting and processing large data sets. These capabilities constitute one of the foundational technologies that enable myriad data applications with benefits that scale from human beings to society.
Smart Cities
Research conducted by the Smart Cities Center develops and monitors sustainable urban infrastructure and buildings, improves the power supply through smart grid technology, detects and counteracts problems with aging urban infrastructure, calculates and communicates optimal transportation routes under congested traffic conditions, and deploys ubiquitous sensing devices to facilitate everyday activities in a crowded urban environment. The Center is housed on the Morningside campus.


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To view a large easy to read calendar click on the link below.
Monthly Calendar
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Adirondack Mountain Club
Copyright ©2003 - 2020 Susquehanna Chapter of Adirondack Mountain Club
Contact person for this
web site is
Currie Marr,
reachable by email:
cmarr (at) stny.rr.com
Photos by Julie Smith - Led by Rod and Sally Hebbard, 18 turned out on a beautiful day to walk private property on Franklin Mountain. Afterwards many ate their lunch and enjoyed the cookies and ice cream served by the Hebbards. Click photos twice for maximum enlargement.


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11/9/2011 5 Comments
Hanley Extended Family - Quincy
A couple of years ago, my sister-in-law and her siblings surprised her parents with a picture of all their grandchildren. Their parents were having a house built so we crashed the construction site and took some pictures. Well fast forward a couple of years and everyone, especially me, wanted it updated. Their reason: new baby in the family. My reason: I feel like I have grown a lot as a photographer since then. The baby was being christened this past Sunday and the party was at the same house so we thought that it would be a great opportunity to get a new picture. Sunday was a gorgeous day, not a cloud in the sky with temperatures in the mid-60's (not bad at all for November!).
After taking the group ones, each individual family got their own turn to get a picture done:
It was a lot of fun and everyone was really good sports. I was even able to get a bunch of candid shots:
For the rest of the pictures, please click here.
Kathleen Goldman
11/8/2011 10:59:52 pm
Suzanne, Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life to come take our pictures. They are beautiful and priceless. I agree with your comment in your blog... you have become a wonderful photographer over the past few years.
11/8/2011 11:06:53 pm
They look amazing Sue! Thank you so much. I might even have Christmas cards this year because of them! Wouldn't that be a something. Thanks again...
Suzanne (emotional memories)
11/9/2011 04:09:37 am
Thanks ladies!! For the compliments and for asking me to take them, I really enjoyed it!!
11/12/2011 08:19:32 am
It's so funny! With the cousin group picture I'm thinking, how come Kath & Dwayne are in it if it's just the cousins? Then I realized it was Michael & Kelly when I enlarged it! Amazing! Great job as usual Sue!
Suzanne (emotional memories)
11/12/2011 08:58:20 am
I know, isn't it amazing? Thanks Kerri!
Leave a Reply.


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Monday, June 22, 2009
What Really Happened to Alien
4 comments:
- Ivo Serenthà said...
Sallie good, excellent directing, the man-dog is the best that can exist between us and animals.
I too have a dog is a black chow-chow, very good, too good!
A hug,
- June 22, 2009 at 2:20 PM
- ♥ Sallie said...
Thanks, Marlow!
- June 22, 2009 at 3:14 PM
- Ivo Serenthà said...
Nice marriage without gravity, like getting drunk without drinking!
A good evening for you shortly, I'm going to sleep
Hello Sallie,
- June 23, 2009 at 1:40 PM
- Idle Hands said...
Sallie, tell Dawn it's Christie from work, how come I don't see her email anywhere on here? Tell her mine is email@example.com and to hit me up!
PS - I'm a big fan of this video. Thumbs up! Very funny. BYE!
- June 25, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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In Science we are still working on life cycle unit and students are to create a habitat in a shoe box (Diorama) and in Health and Career we are working on "Decision Making" skills. Reading logs sheet should be in the agenda book and if you need another sheet please let me know...so students are able to write down how many minutes they are reading everyday for the month of November. Remember students can read all kinds of books (can be information books as long as they can read it!). Parents please initial the sheet if your child has read that day.
Remember our library time (Wednesdays) will have your child take out 2 books for take home reading ....2 other books will be in their desk to read during silent reading. If students are needing more reading materials they can return their books earlier, and sign out new books to read. Please make sure all library books are returned (4 books in all) so there are no over-due books. Students can't take out new materials if there are books that are over-due!
Dates to Remember
Picture retakes-November 16th
This Week;
Monday, Nov.13-No School
Tuesday, Nov. 14-Fine Arts
Wednesday, Nov.15-Library Exchange
Thursday, Nov.16-Fine Arts & Picture retakes
Friday, Nov.17-Computers & P.E.
Let's have a great week!
As always if you have any questions or concerns please contact me by phoning the school or email me through this blog.


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The lies are simply shameless
14 February, 2019
• IS there any aspect of our public life which is not in a crisis caused directly by this disgusting and wretched government?
They have ruined the social security system, shat on the disabled, dismantled public transport in vast swathes of the country, are hell-bent on privatising the NHS whilst starving it of cash, virtually dismantled the probation service, overseen the near-destruction of the prison service with its cockroaches, both in insect and G4S forms presiding over the largest spike in inmate suicides ever, made student debt ever more onerous.
On and on it goes, the immiseration of the already destitute, the condemnation of thousands to live like rats on our streets, starvation level benefits all the while forever allowing the parasite disguised as gas, electricity, water, rail to gorge themselves with ever higher prices.
And all overseen by a cabinet of utterly incompetent, utterly conscienceless, moral bankrupts. And that's even before we get to the biggest, entirely Tory imposed, crisis of them all, Brexit. What a fiasco.
Somers Town


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It's a perennial plot favorite: the little guy who takes on the system -- and wins, even if he has to bust the system to do it. So it goes in Paul Haggis' The Next Three Days, which is straight-up pulp, though hampered by its attempts to be "weighty."
In it, John Brennan (Russell Crowe) is a mild-mannered community-college professor who plans to break his wife, Lara (Elizabeth Banks), out of jail.
Wait -- abducting someone from prison is a crime, too! Yes, but he believes she's innocent. Wouldn't you do the same for your lovey-dovey spouse, locked away for years from your saucer-eyed child? It's the legal system that's wrong; this is just a correction, the kind of fix that only one super-crafty dude can make.
Thus, most of the movie concerns John learning the mechanics of successful jailbreaks -- he gets a crash course from a pro (Liam Neeson) -- and scoping out the scene of his un-crime. In this, local viewers can play along, because John lives in Pittsburgh, and poor Lara is locked up in the Allegheny County Jail (inexplicably described in the film as "the largest prison in the world").
Frankly, the aerial shots of Pittsburgh are one of the highlights of the film. The plot is a pulpy mess -- big chunks of the thriller are scaled back at the expense of domestic brooding on the part of John, Lara and their near-somnambulant son. If I'm paying $10, I want to see some satisfying crime-action junk, not a Lifetime movie about how sad it is that mommy is in jail. I can see why Haggis -- who gave us the emotion-and-crime banger-upper Crash -- would choose to split the difference, but it doesn't work successfully here. (The film is a remake of a 2008 French film, Anything For Her.)
Neeson's ex-con character warns John that there will be huge psychological costs to a successful life-on-the-run: Can he become the person who could walk away from his parents, his kid, whatever it takes to stay free? This aspect, fully explored, could have made a meaty drama: We're so cued to cheer for the hero to bust out of jail, yet never consider the real consequences of that action, or the never-really-free life that follows. (At no point does the film address the moral muddle of committing lots of very serious crimes in order to redress another.)
But, after posing the question early on and flirting with it, Haggis capitulates, dragging out every Hollywood-style outcome -- and high-speed chase -- viewers want. Except maybe Pittsburghers: We're always sad when a nice young family leaves town. Starts Fri., Nov. 19.


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Tesla Blogs List.
The Best Tesla Blogs from thousands of Tesla blogs on the web using search and social metrics. Subscribe to these websites because they are actively working to educate, inspire, and empower their readers with frequent updates and high-quality information.
These blogs are ranked based on following criteria
- Google reputation and Google search ranking
- Influence and popularity on Facebook, twitter and other social media sites
- Quality and consistency of posts.
- Feedspot's editorial team and expert review
Best 10 Tesla Bloggers
CONGRATULATIONS to every blogger that has made this Top Tesla Blogs list! This is the most comprehensive list of best Tesla blogs on the internet and I'm honoured to have you as part of this! I personally give you a high-five and want to thank you for your contribution to this world.
If your blog is one of the Top 10 Tesla blogs, you have the honour of displaying the following badge on your site. Use the below code to display this badge proudly on your blog. You deserve it!:

Submit Your Blog
Tesla Blogs
1. Tesla News
About Blog Tesla is accelerating the world's transition to sustainable energy, offering the safest, quickest electric cars on the road and integrated energy solutions. Tesla products work together to power your home and charge your electric car with clean energy, day and night. Follow this blog to read the latest updates and watch videos from Tesla.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Jul 2006
Website tesla.com/blog
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 2,704,360.
2. Tesla Motors Club
The World About Blog Tesla Motors Club is an online community for EV enthusiasts to discuss and learn about Tesla Motors and electric cars in general.
Frequency about 8 posts per week.
Since Dec 2006
Website teslamotorsclub.com
Facebook fans 2,840. Twitter followers 79,637.
3. Teslarati.com | Tesla News, Tips, Rumors, and Reviews
California About Blog The leading source for Tesla news, rumors and reviews. Also covering the latest developments in the world of SpaceX, Elon Musk and the premium EV market.
Frequency about 24 posts per week.
Since Mar 2013
Also in Electric Vehicle Blogs
Website teslarati.com
Facebook fans 14,078. Twitter followers 43,281.
4. EVANNEX Aftermarket Tesla Accessories | Tesla News
Deerfield Beach, FL About Blog EVANNEX offers aftermarket Tesla accessories, Center Console Insert, parts, gifts, and gear; designed by Tesla owners for Tesla owners. Follow this blog to get News about Tesla Motors, the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and more.
Frequency about 7 posts per week.
Since Mar 2013
Website evannex.com/blogs/news
Facebook fans 2,722. Twitter followers 9,116.
5. Reddit | Tesla, Inc
San Francisco, CA About Blog The original Reddit community of enthusiasts and fans of the Tesla Inc. mission. Tesla vertically integrates products in energy generation (solar), storage (batteries), and use (electric vehicles), to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.
Frequency about 2 posts per week.
Website reddit.com/r/teslamotors
Facebook fans 1,189,293. Twitter followers 558,084.
6. Ride the Lightning | Tesla Motors Unofficial Podcast
About Blog Tesla Motors enthusiasts looking for a show about the latest news and analysis on the all-electric high-performance vehicle company need look no further. Ride the Lightning: Tesla Motors Unofficial Podcast is a weekly show made for Tesla fans and owners by Tesla community veteran Ryan McCaffrey. Each week we'll cover everything happening with the Model S, Model X, Model 3, Gigafactory, and more!
Frequency about 3 posts per month.
Since Aug 2015
Website teslapodcast.libsyn.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers n/a.
7. TESLA OWNER | Life in the green fast lane
San Francisco Bay Area About Blog TESLA OWNER blog shares resources and articles on all the Tesla model's, Superchargers, Energy and much more.
Frequency about 1 post per month.
Since Mar 2009
Website teslaowner.wordpress.com
Facebook fans n/a. Twitter followers 1,791.
The post Top 10 Tesla Blogs and Websites To Follow in 2018 appeared first on Feedspot Blog.


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Posts Tagged 'Sentencing Council'
Mental health and Fair Trial
Since 2015 the Human Rights group JUSTICE has produced a remarkable series of reports on different aspects of the justice system. (I declare an interest; I am a member of the JUSTICE Council.)
Their report Mental Health and Fair Trial was published in November 2017. in it, it outlined the precarious position vulnerable people may be in when confronted by the criminal justice system.
Since the JUSTICE reports are written by specialist sub-groups with specific knowledge of the issues raised, the recommendations they propose are aimed at dealing with practical challenges faced by those working in criminal justice. The available evidence suggests that people in the criminal justice system are far more likely to suffer from mental health problems than the general population.
The report argues that 'argues that from first contact with the police through to sentence, there remain fundamental problems with the English justice system's response to mental health. Left unaddressed the fair trial rights of many defendants may be undermined.'
The report makes over 50 recommendations for change grouped into the following broad categories.
1. The investigative stage – Mental health experts, not police officers, should be identifying people with vulnerability as a result of mental ill health or learning disability and those identified should have access to proper support.
2. Decision as to charge or prosecution – A specialist prosecutor should be appointed for each Crown Prosecution Service area who must make the charging decision in cases of vulnerability, assisted by up-to-date guidance and assessments.
3. Pre-trial and trial hearings – Trial processes can be bewildering and incomprehensible for those with mental ill health and learning disabilities. Magistrates' courts, youth courts and the Crown Court should have a dedicated mental health judge with enhanced case management powers and responsibility for a case progression protocol.
4. Legal capacity tests – A capacity based test of fitness to plead and fitness to stand trial, placed on a statutory footing should be available in all courts and the "insanity" defence should be amended to a defence of 'not criminally responsible by reason of a recognised medical condition'.
5. Disposal and sentencing – A Sentencing Guideline on mental health and vulnerability should be created and a broader range of disposals made available to sentencers to meet the needs of the case.
Although the report was launched with strong support from the Lord Chief Justice, it is not known whether the Government or other agencies mentioned in the report have actively taken forward these recommendations. But they deserve careful consideration.
The report is available at https://justice.org.uk/mental-health-fair-trial/
Stricter guidance for sentencing offenders who plead guilty
One of the issues that the criminal justice system faces is to decide what incentives should be offered to those who are being prosecuted through the courts to plead guilty.
Legislation has for many years provided that sentencing discounts for early guilty pleas should be applied. (Criminal Justice Act 2003, s 144). Gudidance on how the power should be exercised was published in 2007.
It will do this by maintaining the current level of reduction (one third) for those who plead at the first stage of court proceedings, but giving a lower reduction than that available currently for a guilty plea entered any later in proceedings.
The stage at which an offender can benefit from the maximum one-third reduction will be much more tightly defined.
Under the Council's proposals, to qualify for the maximum reduction, an offender must plead guilty the first time they are asked for their plea in court.
For offenders who plead guilty after that first stage the maximum reduction they can be given will be reduced to one-fifth, compared to one-quarter under the current process. Reductions then drop further the closer to the trial date the plea is entered.
It should be stressed that the reduction is expressed as a maximum – judges can deviate from the guidance in particular cases. Special considerations apply to murder cases.
The object of the proposed reforms is to try to ensure that more cases are dealt with by guilty plea, thereby reducing the resources required for trials.
The final guidance will be published following completion of the consultation, which runs until the middle of May 2016.
For further details see https://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/consultations/reduction-in-sentence-for-a-guilty-plea-guideline-consultation/
More criminal trials to be heard in the magistrates' court
Early in 2016, there was an announcement that more criminal cases would be dealt with in the magistrates' courts, rather than being sent to the Crown Court.
The source for this announcement was not a new piece of legislation, redrawing the boundaries between cases heard in these two courts. Rather, it was the announcement that, from 1 March 2016, the Sentencing Council was issuing 'definitive guidance' on how cases triable either way – i.e. summarily (in the Magistrates' Court) or on indictment (in the Crown Court) were to be allocated.
One of the key recommendations of the Leveson Review of Efficiency in Criminal Proceedings was
"Magistrates' Courts must be encouraged to be far more robust in their application of the allocation guideline which mandates [emphasis added] that either way offences should be tried summarily unless it is likely that the court'ssentencing powers will be insufficient. The word "likely" does not mean "possible" and permits the court to take account of potential mitigation and guilty plea, so can encompass cases where the discount for a guilty plea is the feature that brings the case into the Magistrates' jurisdiction. It is important to underline that,provided the option to commit for sentence is publicly identified, the decision to retain jurisdiction does notfetter discretion to commit for sentence even after requesting a pre-sentence report".
1. In general, either way offences should be tried summarily unless:• the outcome would clearly be a sentence in excess of the court's powers for the offence(s) concerned after taking into account personal mitigation and any potential reduction for a guilty plea; or• for reasons of unusual legal, procedural or factual complexity, the case should be tried in the Crown Court. This exception may apply in cases where a very substantial fine is the likely sentence.Other circumstances where this exception will apply are likely to be rare and case specific; the court will rely on the submissions of the parties to identify relevant cases.2. In cases with no factual or legal complications the court should bear in mind its power to commit for sentence after a trial and may retain jurisdiction notwithstanding that the likely sentence might exceed its powers.3. Cases may be tried summarily even where the defendant is subject to a Crown Court Suspended Sentence Order or Community Order.4. All parties should be asked by the court to make representations as to whether the case is suitable for summary trial. The court should refer to definitive guidelines (if any) to assess the likely sentence for the offence in the light of the facts alleged by the prosecution case, taking into account all aspects of the case including those advanced by the defence, including any personal mitigation to which the defence wish to refer.Where the court decides that the case is suitable to be dealt with in the magistrates' court, it must warn the defendant that all sentencing options remain open and, if the defendant consents to summary trial and is convicted by the court or pleads guilty, the defendant may be committed to the Crown Court for sentence.
The guideline aims to bring about a change in culture and will inevitably provide some challenges, but the Council is confident from the responses to the consultation that the guideline will be welcomed by sentencers and will play a role in ensuring that justice is delivered fairly, swiftly and efficiently in more cases.
Increasing sentencing powers of magistrates
In the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act, 2012, provision was made (section 85) to give magistrates greater flexibility in the fines that they may impose. Offences are divided into 5 levels – the least serious are level 1 offences, the most serious level 5. Up to now, the maximum fine for level 5 offences has generally been £5000 (although there are special circumstances where the maximum is set at a higher level). Regulations have now been made and brought into force (15 March 2015) whereby, for offences which attract a level 5 sentence, magistrates now have power to impose fines without any cap being imposed.
This will mean that in cases where magistrates want to impose higher fines for level 5 offences, they will no longer have to send cases to the Crown Court for sentence.
Magistrates who want to impose a prison sentence of more than 6 months still have to commit such cases to the Crown Court for sentencing.
The fact that magistrates in future will have increased sentencing powers will not mean that they will automatically be increasing their sentences; indeed this is likely to happen in only a small number of the most serious cases.
The Sentencing Council gives detailed guidance on the appropriate amount of fines to be imposed within each level . These relate both to the seriousness of the offence and the means available to the defendant. See


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Bank Security has been carried out since the first days of PMV Security. One of the banks using such service is Vid Public. Through 10 years of operation, we have been serving about 10 banks with nearly 30 security positions.
A Bank is usually situated at a place where has dense population and favorable transportation. This is very difficult for the guards to protect the Bank from any snatch. Thief and snatch may arise at any time, so the Bank is vulnerable if no precautions are made. Any malefactor can act as a customer to mingle with the Bank and take the advantage of negligence of people to thieve and run away. besides
The Bank Security highly demands guard criteria. The guards must have good looking, excellent professional skills and courteous serving style. Beside necessary devices, the guards are provided with communication and interpersonal skills. All guards sent to a Bank should be interested in their career. Braveness, enthusiasm, self-motivation and cleverness are indispensable for the guards. however
Working at a Bank does not mean preventing stealers only, but greeting customers politely. Customers of the Bank feel not only secure about the presence of guards, but also satisfied with the kindness of the guards. All guards of PMV Security have been implementing this request well and we have received a lot of compliments from the customers of the Bank. and so
If you need Bank Security, please contact us for more details: for example
Phat Minh Vuong Security Services Co., Ltd
Address: 40/18, Tran Nao St., Binh An Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 08 -3740 7026 ; Hotline: 0975 98 99 61
We has the honor of serving you.


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FORMER detainees and campaigners have told of the terrible conditions Swindon man Kevin Taylor is likely to be experiencing in Bicutan detention centre.
FRANK Bohlert, 63, spent nearly 10 months in Bicutan before he was released in June 2018.
He had been accused, but not charged, of cruelty against his Filipino wife.
Mr Bohlert, from Aberdeen, told the Advertiser that conditions inside the centre were poor.
Kevin Taylor and wife Charlene
"It's worse than a normal jail," he said. "There is no automatic bed allocation and having to sleep on a filthy concrete floor without mattress and with rats all around you is normal."
His step-brother, Graeme Simpson, 63, said: "It's not a nice place to be. I believe it was a horrendous situation for him."
C J Nash runs a blog, Boxed Voices, collecting the stories of those who have found themselves stuck in the Manilla detention centre. He said some had been held at the centre for up to eight years.
"Conditions are horrific, the food is unidentifiable slop," he added. "Overcrowded conditions, people sleeping on the floor with rats running over them."
Some detainees had given up, Mr Nash said. One man had hanged himself, according to reports.
Gerald Taylor, Kevin's father, said: "He was better off in jail, because he was getting fed and he had accommodation. Here, he's got nothing like that."
Since being held at Bicutan, Kevin's health had deteriorated. He suffers from poor mental health, scabies and is blind in one eye."The conditions Kevin's in are worse than a third world country," Mr Taylor said.
The Philippines Embassy was approached for comment.


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In its recently-issued report, the National Transportation Safety Board has called for all new passenger and commercial vehicles to be outfitted with collision avoidance systems. Although some observers say that the feature could add thousands to the cost of the car, the agency did not seem to be too concerned with that criticism. The chairman of the NTSB said that customers shouldn't have to pay extra for such a vital piece of safety equipment.
When asked for comment, an industry trade and advocacy group said that the choice to buy a car with such equipment should stay with the consumer. However, the NTSB says that the equipment could prevent or reduce the severity of rear-end collisions. These collisions kill an estimated 1,700 people and injure approximately 500,000 more annually, according to the federal agency. The NTSB has repeatedly recommended that such technology be standard.
According to its report, the NTSB said that the severity of over 80 percent of rear-end collisions could be reduced if frontal collision warning systems were implemented. Such a system could both alert a driver that a crash is imminent and potentially help to slow the vehicle down. In some cases, the car could actually brake on its own.
Many car accidents are caused by a driver who is texting while driving, inattentive or otherwise negligent. In many cases, injured victims are faced with both high medical expenses to cover their treatment and a loss of income when not able to work. An attorney for such a victim can examine evidence relating to the incident, including accident investigation reports and the testimony of witnesses, in order to determine whether the filing of a personal injury lawsuit against the driver is an appropriate method of seeking compensation for the client's damages.


text: Mediterranean Main Course Brown Rice Risotto With Fresh Green Peas Healthy ….and so good!!! Brown Rice Risotto With Aubergines Kale & Red Lentils Soup Bramley Vegan Apple pie Extremely light, healthy and so delicious 🙂 Kale & Chickpeas Lasagna Kale, chickpeas & curry…an amazing match 🙂 I love it ! 😉 Healthy Vegan Pumpkin Pie Simply refined and exquisite palates experts 😉 Rice Pumpkin Pie This is an easy rice and pumpkin pie flavor easy suitable for children 🙂 Gluten Free Vegan Browny So…incredibly good 🙂 Thai Pumpkin Soup Thai soup…Thai food…love it 🙂


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Recently there is just this urge inside of me to clear my stuff. All the things that are cluttering my room and cupboards, I just feel like clearing it ALL away. And I've found people that I can give to who would gladly accept it. So that my stuff has a new lease of life. =) I'm a good collector. You would NOT be able to guess how long I've had those stuff with me...
I guess it's the same for my life. Need to rid of things that block my vision, block my destiny, hinder me from moving on. Need to rid my mind of wondering futile thoughts that keep me lying awake at night (of which I thank God that eversince Pst Mike came - it stopped).
The new phase:
Romans 12:2 (New King James Version)
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."


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The traditional lead-up event to the Tour de France, the Crit�rium du Dauphin��begins tonight (Australian time) with LIVE streaming coverage on SBS's Cycling Central website – www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral.�There will also be LIVE coverage of the race on Eurosport Australia.
The week-along event will see the top contenders for next month's Tour de France, such as�Chris Froome, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali,�battle it out on the roads of France. It will be interesting to see how Chris Froome performs after Sky confirmed last week that 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins will not be in Sky's team for the Tour de France, meaning the pressure is on Froome to perform.
Streaming times for the Crit�rium du Dauphin��on Cycling Central are as follows:


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The arch-Leaver's arguments at the Brexit Committee today will sound oddly familiar to Remainersby Alex Dean / January 24, 2018 / Leave a comment
Brexit Secretary David Davis did not have a good morning. The man with one of the most difficult jobs in British politics appeared before the Brexit Select Committee, where he was subjected to a grilling from its chair, Hilary Benn, and its MPs.
As ever, the transcript of the exchange does not make for easy reading. Davis will have hated every minute of the interrogation. But it was also surprising in one specific way: Jacob Rees-Mogg set upon Davis, and in doing so, made quite a good point entirely by accident.
Chair of the powerful pro-Brexit European Research Group, Rees-Mogg pressed Davis on the likely transitional deal that Britain will enter into after formal exit in 2019. The assumption is that this will take place on the EU's terms: Britain will accept new EU rules and regulations, but having left, it will have no say in what they are.
For Rees-Mogg, this sort of thing represents an unacceptable loss of sovereignty. He challenged Davis: "If on 30th March 2019, the UK is subject to the jurisdiction of the ECJ, takes new rules related to the single market and is paying into the European budget, are we not a vassal state?"
Davis replied: "If that were going to be the case in perpetuity, my answer would probably be yes, but the answer for a short time, no."
To this, Rees-Mogg shot back: "It's hard to think of any precedent in the world where an independent nation has taken the judgments of a foreign court as its superior and immediate law without having any judge on that court."
He asked Davis to "be honest about it. We are de facto staying in the EU for two more years," so "why aren't we just extending Article 50?"
What to make of all this? The short answer—and you won't find me saying this often—is that Rees-Mogg is right, though he meant his Article 50 point rhetorically. Strip away the ironic tone and he's not far off the mark.
Turn first to the "vassal state" remarks. A transition in which Britain is forced to accept new EU laws without any say in making them would indeed render it a "lackey" of the EU, even if for a short period. On this much, Remainers will be in firm agreement with Rees-Mogg.
His conclusion—that Britain might as well extend…


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Many years ago (Grade 10 or 11) in Youth Group we were talking about faith statements. As a part of the discussion we were asked what we remembered from things such as the 10 Commandments, the Apostle's Creed and the UCCan New Creed. From what I remember, it is good we were not being graded on what we remembered.
However, I know what I remebered most clearly. It was that the line "We are not alone" was at the beginning and the end of the UCCan Creed. I think that tells me something.
As a teen (and well into my twenties) I often felt alone. PArt of it was a feeling of not really fitting in. Part of it was, in retrospect, a feeling of not being comfortable in my own skin. But I often felt alone {remember that feeling alone/isolated often has nothing to do with how many people are around}.
Now at one point in my teens I thought this was a good thing. In Grade 9 Language Arts we used Simon & Garfunkel's I am a Rock as one of our poetry pieces. ANd I, who was going through the worst year of my school-bullying life, decided that it would make a good model for life--try to be the rock, the island. It was safer. I'd be happier. But looking back I see that I was trying to convince myself. And that I was not really successful.
And the point of all this? Well we are drawn to faith because there is something in our faith that speaks to our deepest hopes or fears or anxieties or wounds (or all of the above). 25 years later I think that "we are not alone" stuck with me because it is what I deeply needed to hear. And I think I still need to hear it. For me, the reminder of the God who is always with us "in life, in death, in life beyond death" is not just pop theology. It is a theological at-one-ment statement.
So maybe the key to faith is finding what we most need to hear at that point in our lives. Ask what our deepest fear/anxiety/woundedness/empty space is and then ask how we find GOd responding. It isn't as simple and esy as claiming that there is one answer that works for all people, one way we are made at one with God. But to me it is more realistic and a whole lot less arrogant.
Or maybe I am chasing the wind....


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[VIDEO] Airbnb / Hotel Tonight Transaction + Reclaiming Your Customers
Welcome to Mathlete Mondays. This week we're going to talk about some big recent news in the hospitality industry. Last Thursday, it was announced that Airbnb will be buying Hotel Tonight, with sources indicating a purchase price of nearly $400M in cash and stock. At first this sounds like a HUGE amount, yet it's just a drop in the bucket when you consider Airbnb is worth more than $31 billion dollars- yes, with a B.
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What Does This Mean?
With the transaction, Airbnb gains access to 25,000 hotels in 1,700 cities across 40 countries- with the majority represented by boutique and independent hotels.
Many industry advocates have indicated their belief that this transaction may be a win for the hospitality industry, as it allows Airbnb to advance its effort to become an end-to-end travel provider and better compete against the Expedia and Booking duopoly. And I think you can make a great case for this position given that Airbnb's commission and fee structure initially appears so much lower at 8-20% rather than the 15-30% charged by the major OTAs. Additionally, Airbnb's curated approach stands in stark contrast to the commoditized offering by Expedia and Booking.
What little negative feedback I have seen revolves around the question of whether Airbnb will allow shared accommodations listings on the Hotel Tonight platform, leading to increased competition for participating hotels.
I believe there's something larger at play here. We need to take a closer look, and assess what this transaction truly means for the hotel industry- not just for today, but three to five years down the line.
Based on a recent report from Skift, only three of Hotel Tonight's executives will be leaving the organization, indicating that Airbnb is looking at this as an opportunity to better learn the hotel space rather than just a quick way to gain customers. Additionally, Airbnb usually prefers to grow new divisions internally rather than acquiring new businesses, so they must have seen something pretty compelling with Hotel Tonight.
And if you go another level deeper- and this is important- you'll see that current HT CEO Sam Shank will be reporting to Airbnb's President of Homes Greg Greeley, the creator of Amazon Prime, who they hired last year.
Now call me Chicken Little, but with this transaction, I truly believe Airbnb is positioning itself to become an absolute hospitality industry juggernaut. As they continue to advance their effort to become an end-to-end industry provider, hotels will initially rejoice as a new, lower cost channel comes along that can drive real volume. But what happens when Airbnb launches their own line of hotels, as they are doing with apartments today? Or…remember I told you to pay attention to Greg Greeley? When they start a subscription model business for accommodations where guests play a flat annual fee to access accommodations across the world?
In both scenarios, hotels will find themselves fighting for the same customer against a smarter, more agile, better funded competitor.
Think I'm crazy yet? Airbnb recently touted a study that indicated 90% of guests who first used Airbnb to book a hotel room then returned for second trip would wind up booking a home instead of a hotel the next time around. And let's not forget that there's already bad blood between the hotel industry and Airbnb, and their founding team is just slightly competitive…
Fighting Back
So what can we do about it? We need to gain clarity about our industry's unique selling proposition, and we need to stop dedicating all of our time and energy to the same old battles. Instead, we need to start changing the battle field.
The hotel industry's competitive advantage has always been its ability to provide high caliber service. And yet, we've always thought of service as the thing that takes place within our walls once a customer has arrived on property. I can't tell you how many times I've heard "we're in the business of serving customers, not building technology" throughout my career. As an industry we've failed to realize that in the modern era, we can serve our customers BY building technology.
In order to compete with the likes of Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com, and Google, we need to start reclaiming the interaction with our guests during the buying process. Otherwise, we'll be relegated to the rule of unnamed service provider. Think about the last time you bought something on Amazon. Do you actually remember who the seller was, or just that you had to press one button to buy the item and it arrived at your doorstep within 48 hours? I hate to say it, but the hotel industry is headed down this path.
To reverse the tide, we need to start connecting with our customers on a personalized basis in order to show that we truly understand their needs and desires. Let me be clear here- when I refer to personalization I'm not talking about updating the email to say Mrs. Jones rather than Valued Guest, although if you haven't done this yet shame on you… I'm really not even referring to personalized pricing, as I think far too much thought is given to pricing in relation to how we'll actually reach our customers.
Instead, I'm referring to the development of persona-based marketing strategies. Improving our marketing starts by completing a 360-degree evaluation of our current customer base. We need to dig deeper than segmentation reports, corporate production, and channel mix, and start to evaluate multi-dimensional data that will allow us to determine cause and effect. For example, which channels are booking our highest rated customers, and how does the lead time vary for each?
Once we have a feel for who is booking our hotels and how they are doing so, we can categorize our best guests into classifications represented by "sample customers." I'd encourage you to actually draw out each sample customer, along with the process they go through when booking accommodations. Make sure you consider all channels they may interact with throughout their journey, and provide an honest assessment of your branding efforts at every touchpoint.
Once you've completed this exercise, post your personas somewhere prominent where everyone on your sales, marketing, and revenue management team can see them. More importantly- every time you sit down to talk strategy, make sure you refer back to these personas and determine how your efforts will impact each group.
By forcing yourself to be crystal clear on who your best customers are (and who they aren't), as well as the way in which they engage with your hotel, you provide yourself the best chance to outcompete the big dogs in the arenas that really matter, while ignoring the ones that don't.
It's not too late to level the playing field, but we need to move quickly. At Focal, we're helping hoteliers do so by assisting them in identifying their most profitable customers and improving their OUTBOUND sales and marketing efforts. Give us a call today, and we'll show you how we do so.
Thanks for tuning in to this week's Mathlete Monday episode. If you enjoyed it, please take a few seconds to share it with your network. And as always, if you're interested in additional episodes, please head over to focalrevenue.com/content.
I'll catch up with you soon. In the meantime, good luck outrunning the competition!
Data & Insights- Skift.com
Music- Bensound.com


text: My "Anxiety" installations begin with my own anxiety- the anxiety that makes me lose my breath, grasp for words, and feel that sudden uneasiness of an imminent event. In my paintings and installations I produce work that evokes this psychological quality in physical and environmental space. These spaces function as limits or boundaries of the physical realm. I see anxiety as a limitation, bounding me. The enclosed spaces that I either work within or represent function as limitations and confines as well. The forms I fill these spaces with are metaphorical in nature. I consume a space with a repetitive process of breathing into each paper bag, referencing an escape to anxiety through hyperventilation. Securing each bag to walls, ceilings, floors, and any other properties of the space, creating a place as I slowly envelop it. This piece constructs a surreal place that remains strangely comforting, in its scale and theatrics.


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Extra Flat 10% Instant Discount on Prepaid Orders. Max Discount Rs. 3000/- T&C Apply*
Offer Applicable On All Banks Credit/Debit Cards & Netbanking.Use "Promotions & Offers" @ Payment Gateway.
I am a Ladies Ankle length Pant, Material: Cotton with Spandex, Normal Fit, Free Size, Very in-fashion and Ideal for all Climates, Can be teamed with Tops and Kurtas from Hip Length to Calf Length, Care Instructions: Mild Wash
I'm in Fawn / Skin / Beige color and can be worn in any season
I am Authentic and Hand Embroidered and may have slight dissimilarities like design or motif placement or pulled yarn which are a natural outcome of the human involvement in the process. These minor variations of Stitches/Motifs ensure a unique product which add to its charm.