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Girl's Night
Posted on Mon Oct 22nd, 2018 @ 9:10pm by Lieutenant Commander Caressa Melanick & Commander Edra Crow & Lieutenant Commander Brielle Jayde & Lieutenant Edruj Daughter of Thrawn & Lieutenant JG Kayla Straut & Lieutenant JG Aemilia "Millie" Stepanova & Banks
Side Stories
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: Immaterial
Brielle knew that this had been coming for a while. All the guys were either on dad-duty or doing...whatever it was that they did. But tonight? It was girl's night, no boys invited. She wasn't sure who sent out the invite, but she offered to setup the holodeck. Unfortunately, she was a bit out of practice.
Between a toddler, an infant, she did find time for..fun..with her husband. But this was a night away from everything. He'd even agreed that she could do whatever she wanted, within reason. And yet, she was having trouble picking the program, and the other girls would be there soon. So she was standing there outside the door, looking through the programs.
Caressa had secretly sent out the invitations. Little did Brie know it didn't matter what program she picked, it was already set. The females on the crew were due for a well deserved night out. She asked Brie to reserve the holodeck but she wrote the program. It was set to the earths 1980's era, a group called the Chippendale's dancers was just what the good doctor ordered. A night of frivolity and arousing fun. Just to get out all those frustrations of leadership and to many male hormones floating around. The drink orders had been placed and she was just waiting on the group to show. She was enjoying the "eye candy" of the servers! She was dressed in a purple dress with crystals decorating the edges, stilettos to match. She was dressed to kill, well at least get some attention.
Millie stepped onto the holodeck, her emerald-green mini dress hugging tightly to her dancer-body...and she froze. She flushed a deep shade of red as one of the servers pressed a beverage into her hand.
Caressa stood and waved as the first guest arrived to indicate the area of the party. She had booked the VIP section with private servers and a pre-planned drink agenda to ensure the best possible experience. "Millie! Welcome! ::pointing to a seat at the VIP sofa::
Eying the panel a moment before Millie got there, Brie rolled her eyes. "Really, Caressa? Of all the programs..." she said to no one as she stepped inside. She was just in comfortable clothing, without and kids leftovers on them. But when she stepped inside, her eyes went wide at the servers as she followed into the VIP section. "Caressa..."
Edra arrived just in time to hear Brie. "Ahh, so this is her work, huh?" The Bajoran nodded and entered, her knee-high boots hitting the floor. She subtky adjusted her blue strapless dress so that it fit a bit more comfortably. It had been a while since she'd done anything like this. It had even been a while since she and Henry had had much alone time, which was probably why he made a passing comment as she was leaving. Even though she hadn't understood hit, his grin told her it was in her favor. "Hello, Ladies," she said with a smile.
Caressa welcomed Edra to the fray. "Ladies welcome, this night is all about us. I have taken the liberty to order drinks for us all." She waved the scantily clad robust young man over, he had on a black thong that did not leave room for any imagination.
The young man looked at a seated Edra and in a deep Australian accent asked " Ma'am would you like a pop my cherry or panty dropper?" holding the tray in a provocative way.
The look on her face gave away how unprepared she had been for a line like that.
Brie sat down and couldn't help but giggle at what was asked of Edra. "Better answer him, Edra."
"Um..." She was still recovering. It had been a long time since she had done anything close to this, and she was plainly out of practice. "I'll take this one," she said as she grabbed for one of the displayed drinks. She wondered if she even wanted to know which one it was.
Edruj was not sure that she was even going to go to the party when she recieved the invitation. However, she thought it would be a good way to get to know her fellow officers, or at the very least she would be able to use it as a case study. So she went to the holodeck and she wore a simple Klingon civilian outfit. She was unsure of what to expect, however, when she walked into the holodeck she was floored.
The tall Klingon female was unsure why there were naked human males dancing. She just did not understand. She found the table where everyone was sitting and took the last seat. "I do not understand what the point of this is."
Edra took a sip of her drink. "For us, it's to relax, have a good time, enjoy the food, drinks, and scenery. For Caressa, I'm pretty sure the point is to make our jaws drop."
Brie picked a drink, looking at it before taking a sip. "That last one is the one I'm sure will happen. Though, our husbands might enjoy it once we get home," she grinned over at Edra.
Well some of you have someone to drop your panties for, some of us don't. :: She winked at the girls:: " Time to get this party started. She waved at the DJ and and the song Ride My Pony came on. "Ladies if you remember an old earth movie called Magic Mike with Channing Tatum, your going to get to see it live.!" Caressa handed out old earth money to the girls. " Time to live it up! " She gave out a hoot and stood up waving her money at the dancers.
Millie quietly seated herself, holding her drink in her lap. She silently took everything in...not looking...entirely comfortable.
"Commander I fail to see the enjoyment here. We are all strong women, if you are interested in the male take him. There is no need to sit and watch from the sidelines." Edruj spoke and smiled broadly. She was also amazed to find that one of the servers had blood wine on their tray, so she indulged. "Caressa must have programmed this, remind me to thank her." The Klingon woman laughed. She thought that watching human males take off their clothes was not for her, but at the very least she would enjoy the company of her crew-mates.
Caressa looked over the group. Edruj looked like she might actually be having a bit of fun, but Millie. The counselor needed some serious fun. She pulled one of the servers over and instructed them to take her a drink. Everyone at this party was at least going to have one drink. Edra and Brie were chatting and having fun. Caressa took the opportunity to grab another drink, and tucking a twenty into a dancers thong.
"If only it were as easy as just 'taking a male'." Millie chuckled, managing a smile amidst her feeling totally out of her league. "If it were so easy, then humans wouldn't have such elaborate courtship routi---" The counselor let out a squeal of surprise as she turned, and found herself, well, eye-level with the lower torso of one of the scantily-clad dancers...who grinned as he extended a drink to her.
I would love to "take a man"! :;wrapping her arms around the neck of a dancer and seductively dancing:: The music changed and then a group of Klingon male dancers appeared on the stage. Caressa turned and winked at Edruj. "Something for everyone!"
Brielle shook her head at everyone else, sipping her drink. She sat back, rather enjoying the show. She wasn't sure if she was enjoying the show or watching the other girls more though.
Millie gingerly took the proffered drink, and quickly averted her gaze from the 'package' at eye level. She made attempts to find 'safe' places to look, but found herself...relatively surrounded by mostly-naked bodies. Her gaze averted to the floor as the 'safest place to look', and she flushed a shade of red that was nearly as dark as her drink.
The Klingon woman looked at the males on stage. While Klingon males gyrating on stage was unbecoming of a warrior, there was still something about it that grabbed Edruj. She let out a guttural growl, and took a large swig of her blood wine. "Come now counselor. Let me show you how to take a man." The Klingon woman took the Counselors hand. "First you must show them that they do not rule you, you are equals in battle and in bed."
Kayla slipped into the room a bit late, she has just finished work and wanted to get a shower before she came. Even though she didn't know what to expect from this girls night out, Kayla decided to give it a try for a bit and try to become less anti social. Once inside she felt the wave of body heat and the smell of drinks, it was almost to much but she pin pointed Millie and shot over there to take the sear next to her ignoring the man in front of her.
Millie gave a yelp of surprise, both at being pulled off her feet, and at the strength of the Klingon woman. Quickly, she grabbed Kayla's hand. "Help me..." she jokingly whimpered, dragging her fellow Russian along for the adventure.
Kayla anchored onto Millies hand and followed her friend as the Klingon dragged her around. "Coming!"
Edruj was not sure if these dancers were programmed to react as Klingons would. But she would find out soon enough. "First you approach and speak your intention. You are a woman and every bit as important as him." She stood behind one of the dancers and spun him about to face her. "jIH chavmoH wutlh SoH" (You are chosen to service me) The male dancer smiled and turned to resume dancing. Edruj spun the man around again and bit him on the cheek. To which he responded by headbutting her. The Science Officer had forgotten all about being a scientist, her Klingon was showing. She grabbed the male Klingon and hip checked him to the floor flat on his back. She came down hard sitting on the man's chest. "chaq wej puj Petach." (Perhaps not for you are weak Petach)
Edruj got off the man and began to walk back toward the table and her drink. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that the man watched her leave with the look of lust in his eyes. "You see ladies that is how you take a man. That one is mine now."
Millie flushed an even deeper shade of red, turning to Kayla with a look that resembled a desperate plea for help. "Well," she said, turning back to Edruj, "I'm...not entirely sure how that would translate over to...human courtship."
The Klingon woman laughed and gulped her blood wine. "Millie it translates easily. I may not be a counselor but I have studied humans for years during my time on Earth and in Starfleet. Your race is not as physical as mine, however, the psychology is the same. I have seen that most human females when courting wait for the man, or more accurately yield until he is interested. You should not, you should go to him tell him of your wants and at least in your speech and manner expect that he deliver. Of course if he does not deliver then my dear he has shown his weakness and you need to find another. When the dancers change back to human males, you show me what you can do. Eh?"
Millie sputtered. "I...well..." Her eyes glanced around the room at the servers wandering around the room as the Klingon dancers continued. "I don't know that there's any here that...are...quite what I'm looking for." She once again looked to Kayla for a rescue.
Watching whole scene in front of her, Brielle just laughed. "I'm glad my husband is only part Klingon. No biting...much." She sipped her drink with a grin.
Kayla sputtered and looked to Millie and then to the klingon woman and shurgged. "I... I uh I am not good in this situation"
Caressa waved again at the DJ and the dancers changed. The Klingon that Edruj had tossed came to her and and said something in Klingon. She was quite proud of herself it looked as if the girls were all having a great time. Tucking the occasional twenty into a dancers g-string. A new wave of drinks appeared. Caressa tossed back that double of tequila. "Come on girls its our night"
"Caressa, you are seriously giving me more drinks? Have you not seen me drunk before?" Brie picked up another drink anyways, not waiting for an answer.
Edra looked between the two women before settling on Brie. "Probably not. She wasn't here for your bachelorette party." She winked as she started another drink of unusual colors.
Edruj with a broad smile on her face nodded toward the dancers on stage. "Now Millie, go show us how it is done. Take the one you want." She twined the goatee of the Klingon that was now enamored with her as she spoke.
"Yes Millie! Let's see you take one!" Caressa chimed in.
*But I don't think I want ANY of them...* Millie thought to herself. She put her hands on her hips, looking out across the dance floor. She looked back over her shoulder at the other women, took a deep breath...and slowly headed out across the dance floor.
"Do not take baby steps. Show them, show them all that you are in control. They should worship you not the other way around. Make them believe that without you life is a mere spec of existence, not worth living. Then if you do not want them throw him back." Edruj shouted as she downed yet another cup of blood wine.
Edra took another drink of her own before helping to egg her on. "You got this, Millie! Show 'em who's boss!" Her grin widened, and she was glad she didn't have to go through this anymore.
Caressa just about spit out her drink when she heard Edruj's comment. She sat down in the lap of the dancer she grabbed. "You go girl! she yelled after Millie. She played with the dancers hair at the nape of his neck.
Brielle smiled and let out a laugh as some of the alcohol kicked in. She was having far to much fun watching, but her mind kept reminding her to keep her hands to herself. "Go Millie!"
Millie took a deep breath, slowly approaching one of the dancers--a younger gentleman, with dark hair and an olive complexion. She slipped an arm around his shoulders, and leaned in close to whisper in his ear.
"I'm *really* sorry about this..."
And in one quick move--a skill she'd learned in her training with Banks--she pulled him over her hip and flipped him to the floor.
Edruj's smile broadened. "Q'Pala! Now keep it going"
Wincing, Brie frowned. "Um, humans don't quite do things like that."
Before the dancer could protest, Millie sat astride the dancer's chest, grabbing both of his wrists and pinning them to each side of his head. "I'm *really* sorry for the rather abrupt introduction...but I'm Millie...and if I didn't take you down like this, I'm pretty sure the Klingon in our party would have done it herself."
The dancer craned his head, looking over to the VIP booth, before looking back at Millie. "So noted." He paused. "And am I correct in assuming you can't go back empty-handed?" He gave her a wink.
Millie shook her head.
He flashed her a smile. "Then if you promise to let me go, I'll play along."
Millie let out a sigh of relief/embarrassment and stood, releasing her captive.
Seeing the woman rise with a man caused Edruj to laugh. "See I told you, men must be conquered, it is known. Q'Pala" She raised her glass in toast.
"So...I..." Millie flushed, hearing the hearty Klingon cheer from the VIP section. "I'm sorry. I didn't get your name."
"Mourib," he said flashing yet another smile and offering the counselor his arm. "Though, for the evening, you can just call me yours."
Brielle stifled a laugh. "Well...didn't expect that to work..." She looked into her cup and giggled.
Banks entered the holodeck, wearing a blue silk oriental styled dress with gold design. Her new fangled blonde locks were curled and pinned up and she wore her cherry red lipstick, usually reserved for "special" occasions, enough that Chance gave her a second look when she was getting ready.
The program was about what she had expected. She hadn't intended to even show up but Chance had encouraged her to socialize and with him working a night shift and Kieran sleeping over with the girls and Marcus, she didn't have anything else better to do. When she spotted the group, specifically Millie and the holomale, she smirked and approached. "And what do we have here?"
Looking over as Banks walked in, Brie's eyes went wide. "Wasn't quite sure if you'd make it. You look amazing." Her eyes glanced to Millie and her holographic man. "You missed it."
"Missed what?" Millie asked, stepping up into the VIP booth on the arm of the dashing Mourib. She smiled--though a slightly embarrassed one--as Mourib gently released her arm and slipped his arm around her hips.
Edra couldn't help an eyebrow shooting up at the actions of the "conquered" man. "Your skills on the dance floor." She answered with a grin. "I didn't know you were such a fast learner, isn't she, Edruj?"
Banks sat down next to Brie with a quiet thanks for the compliment and grabbed a random drink from a passing server. "So other than Mr. Muscles over here what else have I missed?"
"A whole lot of barely clothed men, and quite a few drinks that Caressa decided to have for us. And they aren't the synthehol stuff either." Brie shrugged and took a sip of her own drink.
Millie flushed a deep red at Edra's comment. "I'm...not exactly a quick learner. I started training with Tricia when I was stationed on the ship the first time." She smiled at Banks. "The...training has paid off, I think."
"Appears that way." Banks took a long sip and turned to Caressa. "Is she going to be allowed to keep him for....future programming?"
Millie blinked. "Wait...what?" She flushed an even deeper shade of red. "What do you mean 'future programming'?"
Caressa nodded. " Yes, she can keep him for future endevors!" Winking back at Millie preoccupied with her own man.
"Q'Pala!" Edruj shouted. "Now you take what you have learned here and bring it away from the holodeck." She said as she gulped yet another tankard of blood wine. She began to sing and encouraged her friends to join in. "bach! chal wovmoH
SuvchoHpu' wo'
yay'a'! 'ey 'oH
yay'a'! 'ey 'oH
yay'a'! 'ey 'o-'oH
meHDaq luchu'
jIHDaq matu'
pa'! Doq jaghna'
After a few chorus repeats, Edra did her best to chime in, but she wasn't positive that she wasn't butchering the language.
Banks mumbled the words mostly under her breath, not being one for public singing.
Millie was grateful for the singing, as it was finally removing the attention from her. The holographic companion she'd found seemed...rather affectionate, though not overwhelmingly so. Still, she found it hard to entirely relax with the arm around her waist, and the occasional hand that brushed a curl away from her face.
Brie didn't start singing. Instead, she just sat and drank yet another drink. She was definitely starting to feel the drinks, and knew once she got back to her quarters, it'd be a fun night there as well. Her eyes caught Banks. "Not one for singing either," she asked, slurring just slightly.
Banks shook her head, finishing the drink in her hand. "Never been very good."
Caressa laughed and then look at her watch. "Oh dear, look at the time! Well ladies as they say all good things must come to an end. You may save any of the holo dream boats you would like to keep. Personally they are fun to play with but I like the real thing." She looked at Millie and winked.
Then the holodeck went dark and the arch appeared. Caressa waltzed to the door and greeted her guests each as they left.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Instagram has started revealing its most recent security highlight — the two factor authentication. The new component will permit clients to include and confirm a telephone number on which warnings will be sent when a log in is endeavored.
Tag Archives: Two-Step Authentication
Australian government portal MyGov asking users to avoid two-factor authentication
MyGov, an entity utilized for overseeing different Australian taxpayer driven organizations is requesting that clients turn off their two step authentication while voyaging abroad. Entrance's executive has been encouraging this move to the clients on twitter.
The only thorough password security guide you'll ever need
Very frequently, passwords are uncovered. Instagram, Pinterest, Yahoo, and even Google records were bargained, rendering a huge number of online records powerless against outsider hacks. What's more, that was just the latest security rupture. Passwords – particularly those not bolstered by two factor authentication check – are your last lines of barrier against prying eyes. […]
7 Deadly internet security mistakes
So, you've installed an antivirus application and feel that this will guarantee you online safety? Unfortunately, you need much more. With the cyber-threats constantly increasing you must remain on guard in order to be on the safe side.
How to secure your Dropbox account
Dropbox is a popular cloud based storage service used by many users worldwide with client software available for all platforms (Windows, Mac OS, Android OS, iOS). Using Dropbox, you will have a large space available for storing any types of files and exchange them with others. It is a service that will keep your files […]


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Several months ago, Amazon began to implement changes in how the two required AWS keys (public and private) are obtained. We're going to take another look at one of the most popular topics ever covered in this blog, so that new users won't get overly confused by out-of-date or conflicting information. A new video may also eventually follow suit.
There are two ways to get to the place where the AWS keys may be found. One is via the Amazon Associates Central Home Page. Click the blue Product Advertising API tab at the top of the page:
On the next page, under Resources, click Manage Your Account:
On the third page, click on Click here:
This takes you to the AWS Sign In/Log In page:
You can also access this page by going to http://aws.amazon.com/ and selecting the Sign Up button at the top (this is the second method BTW, instead of going through your associates page). If you are a new user, you may have to create an AWS account. You should be able to use the same login information you used for the Amazon Associates Central Home Page. Note that at any point if you are asked for payment information, you've probably taken a wrong turn somewhere. Back up until you think you can find where you might have made a misstep. You should not have to pay for AWS access.
Either way, once you are logged into Amazon Web Services, you should see a page that looks like this:
At the bottom of this page, under Access Keys, you can see your current AWS keys. Your public key will be shown as 'Access Key ID' (blurred out above), and the private key can be seen by clicking on the Show link under 'Secret Access Key'. Note that you can have two set of keys active at any time. You can deactivate a set of keys by clicking on the Make Inactive link under 'Status'.
For the most part, this is very similar to the method Amazon has used previously. However, there are indications that this may all change at some point in the future. It appears that eventually this page will be replaced by the Security Credentials page, which can be accessed by the link in the top yellow box of the page above. If you click on this link, it will take you here:
If you then open the section marked Access Keys (Access Key ID and Secret Access Key), it will drop down to reveal your currently active keys:
The only problem so far is that this screen does not show the private key; only the public one. It is assumed that at some point, the AWS Access Credentials page will be replaced by this one, and at that time, the private key (or a link to display it) will be made available.
The other options on this page are mainly for web or cloud developers who design applications that utilize the API; they are not required for users of Associate-O-Matic, and so their functions are not relevant to this discussion. It's possible that at some point, extra features may be made available, such as the ability to monitor your own API usage, etc. But until then, the only thing you need from this area (including the AWS Access Credentials page) is the public and private AWS keys.
Finally, in a related topic, some users have recently reported that Amazon is not approving their associate accounts because they do not have a website set up. Many times they are waiting for approval so they can get their information to insert into their AOM stores. It's a vicious Catch-22 scenario. One possible solution might be to set up a temporary site, such as a static page or even a blog. Possibly even a "coming soon" or "under construction" page that you could potentially put a few banner ads onto (not the generic parking page that some webhosts offer, such as GoDaddy). If this page could have some graphics, and maybe mention what kind of site is going to eventually be found here, that might be enough for Amazon to see what's planned for the domain name in question.
Then once you have the okay from them, you can get the associate ID and AWS keys to plug into AOM, and your new online store is up and running. It must be remembered that by far the biggest use of Amazon's API is to provide text links and banners for blogs, forums and the like. These sites can be set up and operational without needing an associate ID. Online stores like AOM, etc., are in the tiny minority of Amazon's overall traffic. So sometimes a policy that may not cause any problem for 95% (or more) of their affiliates can be a huge headache for the rest of us.


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Reprinted from The Nation by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers on February 28, 2018.
The following is an open letter from Lupe Gonzalo, Nely Rodriguez, Silvia Perez, and Julia de la Cruz of the CIW to their sisters in the Time's Up Movement.
"Dear Sisters,
"We will get right to the point, as there is no time to spare.
"We need your voice. We need your platform. We need your power. We need you to stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, and take action to end sexual violence in the fields.
"We write to you today from the groves and vegetable fields of the South, where some of the lowest-paid, least-protected workers in this country toil every day to harvest the food that feeds all of our families. We have endured sexual harassment and rape, as well as forced labor and dangerous, humiliating conditions at our jobs. As our sisters in California with the Alianza Nacional de Campesinas said: 'Countless farmworker women across our country suffer in silence because of the widespread sexual harassment and assault that they face at work.' Far too many of us have experienced these abuses personally in order to feed our children. …


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Due to multiple large, unexpected intake situations on top of an already busy summer, the Wisconsin Humane Society is currently in need of foster parents in the Green Bay, Door County, Milwaukee, Ozaukee and Racine areas.
They are in especially high need of homes that can temporarily care for dogs or puppies.
To get started, just log on to www.wihumane.org/foster and
1) Read through the requirements and guidelines
2) Watch a 15-minute orientation video
3) Fill out the application (provided upon completion of the orientation)
The link above also explains why animals need fostering, why foster care is important and what volunteers can expect.


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Image: Josh Neugass
60/40 Burgers
I've worked on making the very best ground beef I can. This recipe brings together a mix of 60% beef boneless short ribs and 40% applewood smoked bacon. The resulting burger has incredible flavor, a solid 20% to 25% fat content and takes an incredible sear.
- 6 pounds Boneless Beef Short Ribs
- 4 pounds Applewood Smoked Bacon
This recipe uses two ingredients:
Boneless beef short ribs and applewood smoked bacon.
- Place your grinder parts into the freezer for an hour before you start to grind your meat. You will want to use a course grind plate, a quarter inch hole is optimal. The course grind plate for the Kitchen aid works well.
- Cut your ribs and bacon into 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch pieces (or smaller) so they will feed easily into the grinder.
- Mix the beef and bacon in a large metal mixing bowl.
- Place the filled bowl in the freezer and mixing the meat occasionally untl it is uniformly firm and frosty - not quite frozen, but very cold.
- When the meat is chilled, assemble the grinder.
- Feed the beef and bacon into the grinder and collect in another bowl.
- At this point you will have a "pebble grind" on your mix. Separate out 1/3 the grind and place it back in the freezer. Do not compress the grind just let it remain loose.
- Run the remaining grind back through the grinder once more.
- Combine the double-ground meat back in to the pebble grind mix carefully, trying not to compress the grind any more than necessary.
- Refrigerate grind until ready to make patties.


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Local athletic directors struggle with pay-to-play
Carl Charles didn't become an athletic director for this. And he's not alone.
"My take on (pay-to-play) is athletics are an extension of the school day; families shouldn't have to pay for athletics," said Charles, the Ridgefield High School athletic director and varsity boys basketball coach.
"(Athletics are) a very important component in the overall educational process of a student. There are so many things that a student can learn from sports that you can't get in the classroom.
"It's just part of the school mission, I think, to provide a well-rounded experience for every student," Charles said. "Whether you're participating in a play or in extracurricular activities, it's huge."
Perhaps just as huge is the inherent burden placed on those in Charles' position since the recent advent -- mostly because of town budget constraints -- of pay-to-play.
Like many of his counterparts, Charles' stance on the practice boils down to this: it's necessary, but not ideal.
At Ridgefield High, it costs $225 to participate in a sport. Unlike other area schools, there is no cap in place to account for students playing on multiple teams, or for families with multiple children participating in sports.
While a fee waiver application can be submitted for students who qualify for the Ridgefield School District's "Free and Reduced Lunch Program," little other relief is available.
Charles is well aware of the mounting costs families are faced with these days.
"The problem I hear a lot is, `We're paying for our kid to play the sport. We pay to go in and see them play the sport. We join booster clubs that support sports. When all is said and done, we're paying a lot more than the $225 fee,' " Charles said.
"Then, if you have two or three kids in the family, you're really taking a beating. It adds up. You're buying the equipment that the school doesn't provide. There's a lot of hidden expenses that parents have to pick up the tab for."
Charles and Ridgefield principal Jeffrey Jaslow have attempted to lower, or even, eliminate pay-to-play. But the issue has mostly been taken out of their hands, they say.
"The principal and I have worked hard here to lower the fees," Charles said. "One thing that they haven't done is gone up. We certainly don't want to see it get any higher.
"A couple years ago, we had put in a three-year phase out for pay-to-play," he said. "It's just that our town budget got defeated and that was thrown out as a way to eliminate the fees.
"It's just something that we have to work toward. I don't know what the solution is going to be in the tough economy we're faced with right now."
On the other hand, some smaller schools, such as Shepaug Valley Regional High School, don't consider pay-to-play an option.
In fact, Shepaug Valley athletic director Matt Perachi called the idea a "death sentence" for his school's athletic programs.
"We're a small school and we depend on kids playing two or three sports to keep our athletic programs going," Perachi said.
"I know that kids would not pay-to-play their second or third favorite sports, and in that case, we wouldn't be able to fill out our rosters. It would essentially kill the program."
At Shepaug, the only pay-to-play sport is hockey, which the Spartans play as part of a co-op program with Litchfield.
In order to participate in the sport, Shepaug athletes must pay $600 to the team's booster club and then generate an additional $600 through fundraising. All the money goes directly to the booster club, which pays for equipment, ice time and officials.
Shepaug Valley High School pays for coaching salaries, transportation to away games and insurance for its hockey players.
Aside from Shepaug Valley, four other schools in the area -- Abbott Tech, Danbury, Immaculate and Joel Barlow -- do not require students to pay for participation in athletics.
"It's never really come up here," said Danbury athletic director Daniel Scavone.
Abbott Tech athletic director Jon Nadeau is hopeful that his school -- a vocational institution that has an athletic program funded by state taxpayer money -- never institutes pay-to-play.
"It does appear that (pay-to-play) is becoming the norm and not the exception anymore," Nadeau said. "At Abbott, we are hoping to stay away from it as long as possible.
"I feel that once a school adopts this policy, there is no turning back, and it will most likely always be the policy once it is implemented. Unfortunately, it has become a reality across the country, not just in our area."
Immaculate High athletic director Michael Bierwirth spoke of similar concerns at the Danbury parochial school, where pay-to-play isn't even entertained.
"It's an inconvenience to the parents," Bierwirth said. "And we need as many kids playing as possible."
Although Brookfield High has pay-to-play -- students pay a flat fee of $125 regardless of how many sports they participate in during the year -- athletic director Chris McDougal is certainly not a proponent of the system.
"I would absolutely love to get rid of it," McDougal said. "I don't think you should have to pay to participate in athletics. Athletics are the second half of education."


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The Islamic Society of Augusta joins other Muslim organizations in condemning a series of attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday that reportedly left more than 300 dead and more than 450 injured.
These savage attacks on Christian worshippers celebrating Easter Sunday and others in Sri Lanka are outrageous and despicable.
The Islamic Society of Augusta stands with our fellow citizens of all faiths in condemning such acts of violence wherever they take place, whomever they target, and whoever are the perpetrators. We join people around the world in saying, "Pray for Sri Lanka." The Islamic Society of Augusta believes that we can work together to combat hatred through building bridges between faith communities and by promoting interfaith dialogue. ISA welcomes visits to our "Islamic Community Center of Augusta" by individuals and is pleased to arrange visits to or by other faith groups to increase mutual understanding of our shared values.


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21-year-old Tommy from Newquay is the first to admit that he lacked the motivation to get a job and improve his opportunities before taking part in Game Changer and working with his Navigator, Emma:
"Before I started working with Game Changer I was unemployed and had no ambition to get a job, I was just living off the doll as my family always had done. In a short period of time, working with Emma has opened up so many opportunities for me and has given me the experiences, support and motivation to improve my life."
Before working with Game Changer, Tommy was spending his time gaming and whilst he enjoyed this in the beginning, as the years passed he watched his friends go on to get qualifications, jobs and experiences that he didn't have. He didn't have his English GCSE and he lacked confidence and experience in the work place. He wanted to catch up with his friends and have a better life.
The activities, connections and support that Game Changer and Emma offered Tommy opened doors for him – and opened his mind to what he could do. Since joining Game Changer Tommy has worked on projects with Software Cornwall – a fantastic tech community in Cornwall that Tommy didn't know existed before. He has completed a work experience placement at the Eden Project, further boosting his confidence and opening his eyes to the employment opportunities there are. He has started working with a Game Changer Functional Skills Consultant to get the English qualifications that he missed at school. He has a work experience placement at Headlands Hotel on the cards with a view to securing employment at the end of the placement. He says that "…thanks to Game Changer, I do have a next step."
Tommy has already taken many steps with Game Changer and his next one will continue his journey to gain employment – in line with his friends and his hopes.
Reflecting on their work together, Emma commented:
"It's been a real privilege to work with Tommy while he explores the right next step for him in terms of work or study. I've been so impressed with how he's come from not being sure about what to do next and lacking in confidence, to speaking in front of a large audience at Software Cornwall's Mission to Mars programme and then again in front of the CEO of the Big Lottery and her team. Tommy and I have laughed about him being a 'dark horse' and he certainly is a man of many, once hidden, talents, and bit by bit we're seeing them all!"
Sign Up to Game Changer Join Now!
01579 646005 / 0330 223 4158 | 26 Fore Street, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14 3JB
Game Changer is funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery, through the National Lottery Community Fund.


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Print1USA is able to offer high quality foils at a discounted price because that is all we do. We are strictly on line with no store front overhead to worry about. We pride ourselves on customer service. We may be small but offer big results!
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Mrs. BikeBike's 50th Birthday Bike Ride and BonfireWhenSeptember 14 2019WhereMeet at BikeBike at 6pm (map)DescriptionView Details
Mrs. BikeBike - aka - Nadia - is celebrating her 50th! year on Planet Earth and she wants to celebrate with a bike ride and bonfire/bbq with all her #yycbike friends.
The ride will follow the familiar-to-many format:
Meet at BikeBike at 6pm, group ride on the river pathways to Edworthy, burn all the wood once we're there and have a merry time.
If it is rainy and nasty out the ride is cancelled.
Call the shop on the day of you are unsure if we're going - or - just show up at the shop to offer bday wishes to the birthday girl.
Intergalactic Surly DayWhenSeptember 21 2019WhereMeet at Dandy Brewing at 5pm (map)DescriptionView Details
Surly is only now old enough to drink - go figure - and to celebrate their 21st birthday we're joining other Surly shops around the world in celebrating everything that makes Surly rad.
The Plan:
Meet at Dandy Brewing in Ramsay for drink specials and pre-ride meet-and-greet at 5pm. Once we're all indoctrinated into the gang we'll leave for a no drop ride to The Rise on St. Patrick's Island for a BBQ/firepit and perhaps some stoopid bike games.
Don't have a Surly bicycle? Come anyway - it'll be fun!!


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Today we had Martin Wolf giving a special lecture at IESE on "Development and Globalization after the Crisis". His daily column on the Financial Times is very good and interesting, I recommend it to everyone. It was nice to meet him in person, but it is a shame that I don't have the slides of his presentation to show. It was also very good.
In summary, he is still very worried with the recovery of developed economies in the future. The fiscal outlook looks bleak for US/Europe and that the recovery can only be sustained if the private sector can replace public spending.


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Developing a Visual Identity for Promoting Your Work
For anyone who works in a visually driven profession, every time you introduce yourself visually is a chance to put your best foot forward and impress a potential client. What do I mean by introducing yourself visually? There are lots of ways that you likely do just that every day: via social media, print or digital portfolios, and business cards. Your visual brand identity is the culmination of all of these things, and is an important opportunity to communicate something about your talents, style, and particular strengths as a designer.
Creating a visual identity is important for all working artists, whether or not you happen to be a graphic or web designer yourself. If you are, make sure that your own visual identity epitomizes the kind of work that you'd like to do for clients. If you work in a different arena, developing an identity is a great chance to collaborate with a classmate who does graphic design.
Here are a few things to keep in mind when developing your visual identity:
- Begin with a brainstorm. Think about key words and ideas that you want to say about yourself through your design, and keep these in mind as you're working. Is your work fun and playful, or bold and fearless? The most important element of a visual identity is consistency, and having too many ideas can make it fall apart. Spend time planning out your work, and refine these ideas until you're completely happy with the core idea of your visual identity.
- It's more than just a logo. Design communicates a lot, and every detail says something about who you are – from the color palette in the photography you incorporate on your social media profiles, to the typeface you choose for your business card. Make sure all of these details are cohesive and tell a singular story about your work.
- It's okay to stand out. If you're designing your own visual identity, you have a unique opportunity to be your own client. This can be a great chance to push boundaries, take risks, and do things a little differently. You can always scrap it and start again, and the best case scenario is that you create a memorable design that will help you stand out from the crowd.
- Communicate with color: Utilizing color is one of the easiest ways to create consistency across platforms, and between digital and print promotional materials. Choose a restrained color scheme that's flexible and adaptable, and creates a mood and feeling that says something about who you are as an artist or designer. Make sure the colors you choose are easy to replicate from platform to platform.
- Put it to work! Implement your new identity everywhere you can. Get business cards printed, revamp your website, and update your social media accounts. Once you've rolled out your new visual identity, it's a great time to attend a networking event and introduce your newly polished professional self to the world.


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What is the liver transplant waiting list?
If the results of your liver transplant assessment show that you are suitable for a liver transplant, you will be added to the liver transplant waiting list. Once you are added to the liver transplant waiting list, you will receive regular monitoring.
At this stage you will be given plenty of information and support. Most people are well enough to live at home while they wait. You'll give your contact details to your transplant coordinator so that they can get in touch with you when a potential liver becomes available. It's important that you keep in touch with your co-ordinator and make sure that you are contactable at all times. Some people even use a separate mobile phone just for this purpose so that they never miss that all important call. If your transplant coordinator is unable to contact you when a suitable liver becomes available, you could miss the chance of a transplant.
Equally you must keep in touch with your transplant co-ordinator and let them know if you have any unplanned hospital visits or there is a change in your condition. If in doubt, it is always best to let your transplant co-ordinator know.
Whilst you are on the waiting list, you may be called in because a potential liver has become available for you, but after further checking, it is not suitable, yet you find yourself halfway to the hospital or even already there. This does happen sometimes, and it can be an emotional and stressful time. Some people report having more than ten calls before the right liver was available for them. It is important that the transplant unit takes action as soon as they know a liver could be suitable for you and sometimes circumstances beyond their control mean that your transplant cannot go ahead on that occasion.
How long will I be on the waiting list?
There are many factors that affect how long you may wait for a liver transplant, such as blood group, weight and the type and severity of liver disease. The UK introduced a new system called the National Liver Offering Scheme in March 2018 to decide who is offered available organs for liver transplant first. The Liver Offering Scheme means potential organs (livers) for transplant are matched to patients on the waiting list in a more in-depth way than previously. This is expected to increase the number of lives saved and improved by liver transplant.
Can I still travel while I am on the waiting list?
Yes, you can travel. You let your transplant co-ordinator know if you plan to travel, as they need to know your location in case a potential donor liver becomes available. You may be suspended from the list for the duration of your holiday if you are travelling a long distance from the hospital, and would not be able to get to the hospital in time if you had a call for transplant.
Can I still work while I am on the waiting list?
Yes, if you feel up to it. Some people continue to work right up until their transplant, while others reduce their working hours or stop working altogether.
Once on the list, what sort of circumstance would result in me being suspended or removed from the list?
You may be suspended or removed from the liver transplant list if you are not fit enough to survive the surgery or if you have an infection (and sometimes if you are travelling). Your condition might even improve to such an extent that you become too well for a liver transplant (that means that your survival expectations without a liver transplant are higher than those you would have if you undergo the transplant operation), in which case you will be removed from the list.
What happens if my liver becomes extremely poorly once on the list and a liver isn't available for a long time?
During your time on the waiting list, your liver centre will regularly update your progress in a national database. Therefore, if your condition does deteriorate, this information is incorporated into the National Liver Offering Scheme and included in decisions made about who the next available liver will go to. This is one of the potential advantages about the new scheme.
What are my chances of surviving the operation? What's the life expectancy after transplant?
The one, 5 and 10-year survival rates following liver transplantation for PSC are excellent 79.
Can someone I know donate their liver?
In certain circumstances, a living person can give some of their own liver to help someone else. This is called Live Donor Liver Transplantation (LDLT).
How do I explain I need a liver transplant to my children?
This is not easy but the patient support group at Addenbrooke's have come up with a fantastic aid with author Julia Rawlinson.
National Liver Offering Scheme
The National Liver Offering Scheme A system for prioritising people on the liver transplant waiting list With the growing numbers…Read More
What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag
What to pack in your hospital bag Once you are listed for transplant, you should have a bag packed and…Read More
Explaining Liver Transplant To Children
Explaining liver transplant to children Mending Mum by Julia Rawlinson A book to explain liver transplant to your children When…Read More
Liver Transplant Centres
Transplant centres Liver transplant centres and liver transplant patient support groups Liver transplants are conducted in liver transplant units or…Read More
After Your Liver Transplant
All you need to know about being in hospital after your transplant – from stitches to getting things moving for that first poo!Read More
Once You Get Home
Your questions answered about life after liver transplant.Read More


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MANILA – The Movement Against Tyranny condemns the House of Representatives for slashing the budget of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to P1,000 for the year 2018.
If approved, this insulting amount will render the CHR practically abolished, with no funds even for a week's supply of bond paper.
The action of the House sends a clear message that the Duterte administration will not tolerate even a modicum of accountability for its horrible human rights record, especially its murderous attack on the poor masquerading as a war on crime and illegal drugs.
This budgetary attack on the CHR should be taken in the context of martial law in Mindanao, the President's threat to declare a revolutionary government to monopolize power, and ongoing assaults on other institutions and citizens groups that serve as a check and balance to the powerful powers of the President. These include the two impeachment complaints against Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno, the threat of impeachment against Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and the President's persistent badmouthing of the critical press, church leaders and human rights advocates.
"We are heartened that a number of senators have vowed to reject the disgusting action of the House. We appeal to the Senate to substantially increase the budget of the CHR in order that it can function effectively as a watchdog and protector of human rights and civil liberties," declared the group in the statement.
"We call on our people to reject and denounce attempts by the President and his allies to create the conditions for tyranny and the emergence of a new dictatorship. We reiterate our call for all freedom loving Filipinos to come to the Luneta on Septemeber 21 to demand a stop to the killings and say never again to tyranny and dictatorship," they said.


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Try out features in development and let us know what you think. To get started with Labs, currently available to Firefox 2 and IE7 users, click the Labs tab under Settings
Gmail Labs allows you to try out experimental new features in Gmail and send feedback to us so we can improve them. If you're going to brave the Labs world, it's important to keep the following things in mind about these features:
- They may break at any time
- Similarly, they may disappear temporarily or permanently
- They may work so well that they graduate and become regular features
- Go to http://mail.google.com/mail/?labs=0 to temporarily disable Labs and get your account back to normal.
- If you'd like to help pinpoint the problem, you can disable each feature until the problem goes away; then, report what happened.
- Give us feedback in the Labs Google Group (http://groups.google.com/group/gmail-labs). You can use this group as a place to report bugs, tell us what you like and dislike about the feature, and share special ways in which you're using the feature.


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Often, we a point made so often that the actual message becomes lost. We hear arguments from both sides that justcompletely don't get it. To the point where we forget what the original discussion was all about. "The gear does not matter" is one such debate. It's one that pops up all the time, and there are compelling arguments for both sides, but many arguing "for", are completely missing the point of the message and arguing against something that it never its intent.
Ted Forbes at The Art of Photography put out a video on this topic a while ago and a lot of people there didn't seem to get the point, either. So, he's released an update to it. When you look at photographers like Ansel Adams, and the gear they used vs the gear we have available to us today, it definitely helps to drive the message home.


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Sun's Out Guns Out
Design by Christopher Phillips
Our regular tee is an everyday staple. This pre-shrunk classic features zero side seams, and double-needle stitched sleeves giving your wardrobe the upgrade it deserves. 100% cotton (except Heathers)
White Regular Fit size info
This item comes with the Threadless Happiness Guarantee
No one can be crabby on a sunny day! Flex your style muscle with the winner of our Tanks Challenge. Perfect for muscle tanks, beach towels, drawstring bags, and more essential beach accessories to sun your buns.


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Today marked the return of WTaps for Fall/Winter '14 with the release of the brand's seasonal preview and lookbook over at their website. Though WTaps typically keeps its cards to its chest on specifics, the preview is a chance for head designer Tetsu Nishiyama to outline the fundamental concepts of the collection and to paint the broad strokes – something which has certainly become more central to collections since the birth of his child and the reflective introversion this has brought to his creative process.
The chosen theme for this season is 'Youthful Dayz', exploring 'the profoundness of the time called "now"' through Nishiyama's eyes. The lookbook revolves around Nishiyama and a group of friends taking a trip into the forest to go kayaking and fishing, previewing appropriate pieces from the season along the way.
The collection continues to take clear leads from military culture, blending it into a broader outdoors theme; functional pieces like the utility vest are combined with mainstays like the woodland camo parka, bringing a familiar flavour from the brand, but one with increasing maturity.
With the lookbook having set the tone, a selection of styles is presented to give a broader picture of the collection. Alongside the rugged outdoor style already seen, the brand has continued to develop its staple menswear pieces as well as its own takes on classic American clothing – most exciting from this collection is the announcement of a collaboration with Ebbetts Field Flannels, who have created a shirt, fitted cap and coaches jacket for the season, all of it looking stinking rich. Alongside we can also see references to other Stateside trends including prep, punk and casual athletic.
Once more, the presented styles draw clear lines and boundaries throughout the collection that ties each piece to a distinctive form. With the central themes cemented, side pieces then give light to other sources of inspiration and stimuli; a perfect fishing trip companion in the Barbour-esque waxed cotton jacket; references to early 20th century frontiers in the boa liner jacket and sheepskin boots; a nostalgic but contemporary hardcore vibe in the all-black MA-1 outfit.
Overall it's a familiar hit of WTaps, presenting another of TET's personal explorations into functional fashion. On the one hand, the creation of a WTaps Ebbetts piece was long overdue, but in a broader picture it constitutes another puzzle piece in the identity that Nishiyama is constructing through WTaps.
Gradually maturing, with a family of his own to worry about, you can pick up these signals that he's taking more time to inject his personal desires into each design, and the continued use of lookbooks revolving around this makes it even more interesting.
As outlined in the 'Lifist' collection and in FPAR, his philosophy is becoming more and more focused on self-enlightenment and fulfilment. The authenticity of such an objective only gets stronger with each collection. Clearly the time spent with his child has reignited memories from the days of his youth and with it a passion for the present moment, something which this latest collection seizes through its designer's immersion in the new life forming around him.
WTaps' Fall/Winter 2014 will be available worldwide over the coming weeks from stockists such as Haven, End Clothing and Union Los Angeles. Enjoy the lookbook and Style shots below, or check out the WTaps website for more information. Safe!


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Comparison of four commercially available tumour profiling services highlights superiority of Caris Molecular Intelligence
A new publication,1 published in October 2017, has compared the clinical utility of four commercially available tumour profiling services: Caris Molecular Intelligence (CMI), FoundationOne (Foundation), OncoDEEP, and Paradigmdx (PCDx). The researchers also compared the clinical utility of the commercially available tumour profiling services with purely academic approaches to tumour profiling.
In precision medicine in cancer, clinical utility is defined as the generation of clinically useful and relevant information that can change the course of the disease for a patient, resulting in improved outcomes. In this paper, the researchers looked specifically at the clinical utility and clinical benefit of the tumour profiling services, the impact of the tumour profiling services on treatment choice, and the technical details and quality of each of the services. To do so, they analysed published clinical data widely available in the literature.
The researchers found that CMI had the most impact on treatment choice at 77%. This meant that in 77% of cases the physician's planned treatment was changed after profiling with CMI. By contrast, PCDx changed treatment decisions in 26% of cases and FoundationOne changed treatment decisions in only 19% of cases. The researchers were unable to find published data that demonstrated the impact on treatment decisions using OncoDEEP. Tumour profiling from leading academic institutions changed treatment decisions in 20% of cases.1
The services were compared for clinical benefit, which is the positive effect on patient health. It can be measured in a number of ways including PFS ratio ≥ 1.3 and response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST) response. The researchers found that the clinical benefit in patients whose treatment was chosen in line with the results of molecular profiling was 50% for CMI, 43% for PCDx, 34% for Foundation, and 33% for academic approaches.1
CMI came out on top with regard to clinical utility as well. Clinical utility refers to the percentage of patients who have clinical benefit compared to the total number of patients that undergo profiling.2 CMI had the highest clinical utility at 34%, compared with PCDx (11%), Foundation (6%), and academic approaches (5%). The clinical utility for OncoDEEP could not be calculated as the researchers could not find any published literature demonstrating clinical benefit or impact on treatment choice for the service.1
The researchers reasoned that the much higher clinical utility of CMI is due to the fact that the majority of patients treated in line with the results of CMI profiling are treated with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies. This, they said, was a result of the inclusion of immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridisation (ISH) testing in CMI, whereas services which rely on NGS-only testing (such as Foundation) were more likely to recommend targeted therapies.
The researchers also noted the many and vast differences in quality and technical details between the different profiling services. Only CMI and Foundation use Illumina technology for NGS, whereas PCDx and OncoDEEP use Ion Torrent. Illumina is the industry standard and has received FDA approval for medical uses, whereas Ion Torrent has not been approved for medical diagnostics and is therefore recommended for research purposes.1 Ion Torrent uses hotspot sequencing which means that it has a much higher error rate than Illumina sequencing which utilises full exon sequencing. In particular, when sequencing insertions and deletions the error rate of Ion Torrent sequencing is twice that of Illumina sequencing.3
The researchers noted the quality certifications achieved by the four services. CMI is the only service with CLIA, CAP, NYSDOH and ISO15189:2012 accreditations (view all CMI certification). In addition, the researchers highlighted the extra quality measure of laboratory-developed tests that CMI does for IHC testing.1
- A new publication has compared clinical benefit and utility, impact on treatment choice and technical quality of four commercially available tumour profiling services and profiling provided at leading academic institutions.
- Caris Molecular Intelligence had the highest clinical benefit (50%) and clinical utility (34%) of all of the tumour profiling services evaluated, both commercial and provided by leading academic institutions.
- Caris Molecular Intelligence had the highest impact on treatment choices at 77% which was much higher than Paradigmdx (26%) and FoundationOne (19%).
- Caris Molecular Intelligence is the only service with CLIA, CAP, NYSDOH and ISO15189:2012 accreditations.
- Janssens J, Gallagher WM, Dean A, Ussia G, Stamp G. Tumor profiling-directed precision cancer therapy – comparison of commercial and academic clinical utility. Int J Surg Surgical Proced. 2017; 2: 123. [PDF]
- Russell KJ, Janssens J, Dean A, Hernandez A, Voss A. Comparison of Utility Cost in three commercially available precision medicine approaches in oncology. Value in Health, Vol. 20, Issue 9, A590. [PDF]
- Salipante SJ, Kawashima T, Rosenthal C, Hoogestraat DR, Cummings LA, et al. Performance comparison of Illumina and Ion Torrent Next-Generation Sequencing platforms for 16S rRNA-based bacterial community profiling. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2014; 80: 7583-7591. [Full text]


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G.H. Mumm Demi-Sec NV
Vintage: Multi-Vintage
When G.H. Mumm was founded in 1827 sweet Champagne was the main style and it was mainly drunk with desserts. G.H. Mumm Demi-Sec is the sweetest Champagne made by the house with a high dosage (mixture of reserve wine and sugar) of 40 to 44g per litre compared to a Brut style which is less than 15g per litre and about 8 g/l for Cordon Rouge.
Unlike other wines in the range, Pinot Meunier plays a very important role in bringing softness and roundness to this cuvée.
The Blend
55% Pinot Meunier; 35% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. Grapes sourced from up to 50 different crus. 20-25% reserve wines are used. The cuvée spends a minimum of two years on the lees before disgorgement.
The dosage is added after the wine is disgorged. A high proportion of Pinot Meunier and of mature reserve wines gives this wine its round and generous character. The Pinot Meunier gives fruitiness and intensity and the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay provide structure and elegance.
Tasting Notes
Golden yellow in colour.
Fruity, rich and intense on the nose with aromas of soft peach, pear and tropical fruit, backed by hints of honey and vanilla.
The delightful roundness of the attack persists through the sweet and fruity mid palate to finish.
% Alcohol: 12.5
Dosage: 44g/l
Food Pairing
G.H. Mumm Demi Sec is a good match for foie gras or savoury foods that have a slight edge of sweetness to them (duck with fruit sauce). It also goes well with fruit desserts (as long as they aren't too sweet) like tarte tatin or strawberry tart.


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How to Avoid SEO PenaltiesDecember 9th 2010 Sally Ormond copywriter, copywriting tips, search engine optimisation, SEO copywriter
Search engine optimisation is helping businesses, of all sizes, reach a wider online audience. If it is done well they can slash their marketing budgets because the need for 'paid' advertising can be greatly reduced.
But because SEO takes time, many are still inclined to try to cut corners.
Be warned, SEO shortcuts can, and most probably will, incur the wrath of Google and you really don't want to do that.
So don't be lazy. Work at your SEO strategy.
Building links
Every link you get to your website is seen by Google as a 'thumbs up' for your site. The more you have the more authoritative you're perceived to be.
But gathering links is time consuming so many are tempted to buy them to speed the process up a bit. But buying is not good. Building your links naturally will ensure they come from reputable, related websites. If you buy them there's no telling where they're coming from and you could damage the reputation of your site.
Good links can be attracted in several ways:
- A well thought out Google profile
- Contacting your local Chamber of Commerce and asking for a link from their site
- Link swap with your clients/suppliers
- Press releases
- Entries in influential online directories
- Through blogs and articles
The main thing to remember about link generation is that it's an on going process. If you find it too much for one person to handle alone, set up a link building team within your organisation to share the workload.
Keep away from black hats
There are many SEO companies out there that will claim to be able to get you on the front page of Google just like that.
Remember SEO isn't quick and it's not a one-off solution. Some (not all) of these companies will employ 'black hat' techniques such as cloaking, using link farms, invisible text and keyword stuffing. All of these will land you in hot water with Google.
Readability is key
SEO is a lot to do with keywords so people make the 'logical' step of thinking all they have to do is stuff their keyword into their copy as many times as possible to get good rankings.
SEO copywriting is quite an art so it always pays to find a professional to do it for you.
If you cram your text with keywords you'll render it:
- Unreadable
- Unable to convert any visits into sales
- Forgettable – your readers will be completely turned off by it
A professional SEO copywriter will create content that's compelling, benefits driven, natural and that converts your visitors into sales.
Don't be repetitive
Gaining as much space on the internet as possible is vital. But in a rush to do so, many companies simply cut and paste their profiles across numerous directories and websites.
Don't! This will result in duplicate copy issues which Google hates. Although it takes a lot of work, make sure you only enter original content to your website, directory entries and blogs.
Keep going
Your SEO strategy must be on going. Back links have to be build constantly, blogs and articles should be written regularly, the content on your website should always be up to date. You should constantly monitor the effectiveness of your keywords and amend as required.
Yes it's hard work but boy can it be rewarding. If you want higher rankings, more traffic and a lower marketing spend get your search engine optimisation right.
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Series: Scoundrels of St. James
Author: Lorraine Heath
Read copy: Mass Market Paperback
Published: July 1, 2008
Publisher: Avon
They call him the Devil Earl—a scoundrel and accused murderer who grew up on the violent London streets. A proper young lady risks more than her reputation when consorting with the roguishly handsome Lucian Langdon, but Lady Catherine Mabry believes she has no choice. To protect those she loves, she would do anything—even strike a bargain with the devil himself.
Lucian desires respectability and a wife above all else, but the woman of his choosing lacks the social graces to be accepted by the aristocracy. Catherine can help Lucian gain everything he wants. But what she asks for in exchange will put their very lives in jeopardy. When danger closes in, Catherine discovers a man of immense passion and he discovers a woman of immeasurable courage. As secrets from his dark past are revealed, Lucian begins to question everything he knows to be true, including the yearnings of his own heart.
My rating:
Lucian Langdon, the Earl of Claybourne, is not what one would expect from a peer. For one, he's not even sure he is one. Having grown up on the harsh streets of London, Luke knows how to lie to survive. It was one of those lies than earned him the title and it is his dark past, tainted with murder, that has earned him the nickname "Devil Earl". He is openly shunned by society, no one would dare be seen conversing with him in public, everyone in high society fears him.
Enter Lady Cathrine Mabry. Five years ago she was the only one who "dared" hold his gaze at the one and only ball he attended, she's proceeded with sending him invitations he didn't bother to read...She represents everything he wants to steer clear off, yet he can't fight the strange attraction he feels toward her.
He should feel nothing, in fact. He is in love with the woman he's known since his childhood and he would do anything to make her his wife. Even strike a bargain with Lady Catherine to teach her all she needs to know to feel comfortable in society.
Catherine needs Luke's expertise to dispose of a vile, wife-beating peer. His previous two wives had died in "freak" mishaps and she would do anything to prevent the same happening to her best friend. If that means murder, so be it.
So the devil and the angel strike a strange bargain...
This book's major strength is in the characterization. Not only of the main characters, but the supporting cast as well. Also, the twist from the "normal template" (the hero is in fact in love with someone else at the beginning) was amazing.
At the moment, Luke is at the top of my favorite-romance-hero list. Despite his murderous reputation, the reader (and Catherine) quickly discovers there's more under the scoundrel veneer than he lets out. He was positively tortured, not only by the outside world but on the inside as well, with his doubts about his true identity and guilt for having deceived the man who saved him. His loyalty and fierce protectiveness (even of a complete stranger - Catherine in the beginning of the book) make him a truly great hero.
Catherine was one of my favorites as well, Luke's perfect match. She was strong and courageous with a stubborn streak a mile wide. I loved the fact Lorraine Heath stuck with the character throughout the novel and didn't turn her into a simpering, whining female by the middle of the book. She shared Luke's traits of loyalty and protectiveness (even toward him), but I especially liked her selflessness in the end, when she was prepared to give up her happiness for his.
The romance between them was beautifully done, it grew and evolved, making it believable and heart-wrenching, faced with Luke's "indecision".
This was a beautiful story of redemption, self-discovery, and salvation. Totally "unputdownable" and completely recommended.


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Speakers and Abstracts
Version: 16.09.2019 (may be subject to changes)
Opening session
Jos Buiting
WHFF Council (President)
Markus Gerber
Steering Committee (President)
Adrian Aebi - Assistant Director Federal Office for Agriculture
The political environment of Swiss (cattle) breeding
Today's promotion of livestock breeding
The Swiss animal breeding legislation lays down the terms for the state's promotion of Swiss animal breeding. It is equivalent to EU legislation. Only recognized animal breeding organizations are eligible to receive federal contributions to promote animal breeding. This is a classic PPP (Public- Private-Partnership) approach. The law defines the framework conditions and the animal breeding organiza-tions work out their breeding objectives. By doing so, 21 recognized breeding organizations received approximately 32 million Swiss francs in federal contributions to realize their breeding measures in 2019. This money went particularly into the support of herd-book keeping and performance testing. An additional 2 million Swiss francs were dedicated to the conservation of Swiss breeds and to research projects on animal genetic resources.
Six recognized Swiss cattle breeding organizations received about 23 million Swiss francs of the aforementioned funds available for the promotion of animal breeding. Two thirds of this money went to the milk performance tests. The funds allows breeding organizations to lower the prices breeders have to pay for the breeding services, such as milk performance testing.
«Animal breeding strategy 2030»
Animal breeding develops the genetic potential of animals. Together with other disciplines of animal husbandry it thus stands at the beginning of the animal products value chain, whose demands it must take into account. International framework conditions as well as the expectations of our society regard-ing animal welfare, animal health and ecology influence this value chain. The agricultural and food in-dustry with its upstream and downstream sectors is therefore in a state of constant change. This in-duced the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG) to revise the strategic orientation of the state action taken in the field of animal breeding. The "Animal breeding strategy 2030", which was developed in collaboration with acknowledged experts representing all stakeholder groups, sets the course. In short, the mere performance of livestock is no longer sufficient as a breeding objective. Characteristics such as animal health, animal welfare, environmental impact or resource efficiency have become so-cial requirements and are therefore increasingly relevant in animal breeding. The personal responsibil-ity of breeders and their organizations is also gaining importance. Accordingly, the role of the state is to support breeders in their breeding activities for the successful use of breeds in the long-term and the conservation of rare breeds, while taking the requirements of society into account.
Furthermore, the "Animal breeding strategy 2030" showed, that compared to our neighboring coun-tries, Switzerland needs to intensify its research efforts. Besides basic research, the focus has to lie on applied research, especially the development of new breeding characteristics and methods as well as the evaluation and use of new technology. The establishment of a competence and innovation net-work for animal breeding will tackle this challenge. The network will consist primarily of existing struc-tures and will specifically promote the integration and exploitation of knowledge. The network's part-ners will be existing breeding organizations with its own research areas.
Martin Keller - CEO Fenaco
From farm to table
fenaco cooperative was established in 1993 as a rural self-help organisation and supports farmers in the economic development of their businesses. It is owned by some 200 local LANDI cooperatives and their 42,000 members, mainly farmers. It operates in four strategic business fields (agro, food industry, retail trade and energy) and pursues three main priorities (innovation, sustainability and international competence). Despite enhanced competition and price pressure, fenaco wants to continue playing its role in the self-help of the Swiss agricultural sector. As agrochemical companies and retailers are growing ever larger, fenaco wants to reach a critical size in order to stay in the market at long term. fenaco seeks proximity to the consumers in order to understand and fulfil their requirements, in accordance with its slogan "from farm to table". fenaco promotes the USPs of Swiss foodstuffs: a high standard of product quality and safety, proximity and local products, animal welfare and protection of natural resources, transparency and traceability, and rural family structures. This also enables a price differentiation for "Swissness" to be achieved. At the same time, efficiency along the whole value-added chain has to be further improved in order to find the right balance between productivity, ecology and animal welfare. The digitalization of the Swiss farming and food industry serves this objective and is therefore driven forward by the fenaco cooperative together with other partners.
Session 1: The Holstein cow can do anything - the economic choice
Tom Lawlor - USA
Holstein as the breed of choice
Details to be completed soon.
Anna-Charlotte Doublet - France
Loss of diversity in the Holstein breed
|Impact of different breeding scheme strategies on genetic diversity was assessed in the French Prim'Holstein breed. The evolution of genetic diversity was estimated in Holstein bulls born between 2005 and 2015, using several inbreeding metrics such as pedigree data and runs of homozygosity (number and length). This study highlights an accelerated loss of diversity with the beginning of genomic selection, resulting from the decrease in generation intervals. As expected, genomic selection also resulted in higher annual genetic gains. Based on simulations, we then analysed to what extend several embryo transfer strategies may have an impact on genetic diversity and gain. We also plan to identify genomic regions involved in the genetic load, i.e. regions responsible for inbreeding depression, in order to take this information into account in genomic evaluations in the future and to assess the impact of this inclusion on genetic diversity and gain. This will provide solutions for more sustainable breeding schemes and animals.
Session 2: The Holstein cow - all set for tomorrow [...]
Yvette de Haas - The Netherlands
Methane emissions
|Climate change is a growing international concern and it is well established that release of greenhouse gases (GHG) is a contributing factor. So far, within animal production, there is little or no concerted effort on long-term breeding strategies to mitigate GHG from ruminants. In recent years, several consortia have been formed to collect and combine data for genetic evaluation. Discussion areas of these consortia focus on
(1) What are genetic parameters for methane (CH4) emissions,
(2) What proxies can be used to assess CH4emission, and
(3) What are the prospects of breeding for lower emitting animals?
The estimated genetic parameters show that enteric CH4 is a heritable trait, and that it is highly genetically correlated with DMI. So far, the most useful proxies relate to feed intake, milk mid-infrared spectral data, and fatty acid concentrations in milk. To be able to move forward with a genetic evaluation and ranking of animals for CH4 emission, international collaboration is essential to make progress in this area. Collaboration is not only in terms of sharing ideas, experiences and phenotypes, but also in terms of coming to a consensus regarding what phenotype to collect and to select for.
Jennie Pryce - Australia
Feed efficiency
Feed is the biggest variable cost on farm and therefore ranks highly for consideration in breeding goals. The most common approach to include feed efficiency in a selection index has been to approximate energy requirements for maintenance using estimates of body weight through type traits. However, through genomic selection it is now possible to select for feed efficiency directly. In Australia, the Feed Saved breeding value was introduced in April 2015 and is included in the national selection index (BPI). Feed saved includes maintenance requirements and metabolic efficiency. Metabolic efficiency is the difference between actual feed intake and predicted feed intake (sometimes known as residual feed intake). Animals with breeding values of 66kg (1 standard deviation above the mean) are estimated to require 66kg less dry matter per year at the same level of milk production as an animal with a breeding value of 0kg.
Christine Baes - Canada / Switzerland
Phenotyping for feed efficiency
|The application of novel genomic approaches to improve sustainability is the goal of many national dairy cattle breeding organizations. In parallel, dairy farmers are striving to improve profitability, as they are continuously facing challenges like changes in feed and milk prices. Feed represents up to 60% of the variable costs of milk production, and improving feed efficiency in dairy cows will help achieve better margins over the long-term. Although collection of feed-intake data on individual dairy cows is expensive and difficult, rapid development of new technologies and precision farming allow more precise / automatic measurement of existing or new traits. Strategic phenotyping of several thousand genotyped animals suffices for effective selection within an entire population. Implementation of genomic selection strategies provide an efficient and effective means to improve feed efficiency in dairy cattle populations, thus also reducing the environmental footprint of the dairy industry.
Session 3: New trends and traits for the future
Donagh Berry - Ireland
Beef on Dairy
|Feed efficiency is obviously important irrespective of feed system. Todate commentary on feed efficiency has largely focused on a daily metric or a per lactation metric; these metrics require data on feed intake which is resource intensive to measure. Little cognisance is given to longevity (data freely available) or, in the case of grass-based systems of production, calving date (data also freely available). Moreover, there can be a disconnect between measure of feed efficiency (i.e., lower feed intake) and the feed-intake credential desired in grazing dairy cows (i.e., greater feed intake capacity). Relatively good predictors of feed intake already exist which can be readily exploited in breeding programs at minimal cost. While many attempt to dissuade the use of some efficiency metrics because of their (potential) correlations with other traits, the argument is nonsensical as dairy cow breeders have breed for the moderately antagonistically correlated traits of milk and fertility for two decades now.
Hermann Swalve - Germany
Hoof health
Hoof health in dairy cattle is of ongoing concern in dairy cattle. Traditionally, hoof health primarily has been dealt with from a veterinary perspective. This perspective is often focused on the cure of diseased animals and on the prevention of diseases by means of management practices. With the general trend of collecting data on health of dairy cows, and even pioneered by collecting data on hoof health, massive amounts of data have become available. For the case
of hoof health, it has to be differentiated between individual treatments of lame cows and collecting data at time of hoof trimming thus including every cow of a contemporary group. A variety of results have been achieved when analyzing hoof health data in the context of genetics. Heritabilities of the susceptibility to individual diseases and genetic correlations between diseases have been estimated. The results show that genetic selection for improved hoof health is feasible. With the widespread application of genomics, also genomic selection for hoof health nowadays is feasible and practiced in various countries with good results. From own experience, specific attention will be given to the diseases sole hemorrhage, interdigital hyperplasia, and digital dermatitis.
Daniel Lefebvre - Canada
Milk analysis
Advances in analytical methods in recent years have opened up exciting opportunities to expand the potential of milk as a medium to give us valuable insight in dairy cows health, welfare and economic value. Billions of milk samples are analysed every year by mid infrared spectroscopy and new predictions models are continuously being created, going far beyond the traditional compositional analysis. Functional properties of milk (fatty acid profile, casein content, cheesemaking properties) to tools for monitoring nutritional and metabolic status (MUN, BHB, Energy balance, feed efficiency) can now be reliably and economically monitored in high throughput instruments, ideal for creating large datasets for selection indexes. In addition to MIR, biochemical (ELISA) and molecular (PCR) are increasingly used for the identification and quantification of disease and other conditions (inflammation, pregnancy) that can be highly
valuable for routine herd management as well as disease surveillance. We will highlight with some actual examples the value of some of the recent analytical developments and suggest some potential areas of development for the future.
Session 4: Sensors and digitalization on farm [...]
Reinhard Reents - Germany
Sensors and AMS
|Dairy cattle breeding has accumulated a valuable data set used for management and breeding. This has led to highly reliable breeding values for progeny tested bulls and more recently also for young bulls. Due to a shortage of labor, automatic milking systems (AMS) are nowadays frequently used on dairy farms. Many intense dairy regions report of more than 50% of new installations of AMS systems. Initially, AMS were primarily used to reduce labor in the milking process. Nowadays, new developments in sensor technology combined with AMS have the potential to collect phenotypes on 'old' and 'new' traits with low costs in high frequency, replacing costly data collection systems. Therefore, phenotypes on new traits could be collected on large amounts of animals and used for genetic improvement of traits that could not be addressed properly so far. Examples are body condition, body weight, udder geometry, and some behavior traits. First analyses show that data from many on-farm sensors are not yet as accurate as data from separate data collection systems, but technological progress of data calibration is expected. Together with the high amount of repeated measures, usefulness for genetic improvement might increase.
Key will be if these new sources of data will not only be available for management purposes on farm but also centrally for genetic and genomic evaluation.
Steven Sievert - USA
New sensors for dairy data collection
Fueled by improvements in technology, computing power, and data storage, producers have many options in on-farm sensor devices for measurement of dairy cow metrics on the farm. In addition to the traditional recording of milk yield and composition, the opportunities to collect data on other phenotypic traits are abundant. These include milking speed, milk flow curves, activity measurements, feed efficiency measurements, and live cow measurements such as condition and conformation. With a wide range of sensor devices available in the marketplace, understanding what the sensor measures and how these measurements are transformed into useful data is critical. In addition to understanding what is measured, ensuring accurate animal identification and cross-referencing sensor-system identification with official animal identification is a prerequisite for automated data collection systems. These two focus areas provide abundant opportunities for development of new tools for management decisions on the dairy as well as new streams of dairy data for research, breed improvement, and genetic evaluations. The challenge that exists is qualification and integration of data from sensor systems into traditional herd recording programs and national databases as more dairy operations invest in new cow-side measurement technologies.
Jørn Rind Thomassen - Denmark
3D cameras
Camera technology to bring large-scale data from commercial herds. Real case study, data from 3D cameras, sensors, reliable data, automatic data collection, dual-purpose data – genetics and herd management. With increasing herd size and less labour spend per cow, sensors and on farm digitalization can support the farmer to take better management decisions. In alignment increasing demand from consumers and society to document product safety, quality, tractability and environmental food print, farm digitalization is an important part of the solution. Real-time and large scale data collection at farm level that in an easy and cheap way for the farmer can provide valuable information to make better management and genetic decisions. These new sensor data or autogenerated data from farm equipment may be patent protected by private companies, since many R&D-costs are spend in development and implementation. Accessibility for the breed organizations to these new data sources are important to ensure reliable and efficient genetic selection. Viking Genetics will use 3D camera technology to measure a cow's individual feed intake real time. These data can be used for both daily herd management purposes as well as genetic selection for feed efficiency.
Session 5: Data ownership and integrated use
Frido Hamoen - The Netherlands
JoinData - data highway
|Together with Friesla Campina and Agrifirm, CRV took the initiative to start a new cooperative: JoinData. The JoinData cooperative is working towards a secure and transparent data platform for the agricultural sector. Commercial enterprises, knowledge institutions and agrarian businesses are using our data platform to develop innovative digital working methods in the field of sustainability, efficiency and nutrition. The first connections to the platform are made in 2018. From that starting point, JoinData has expanded the data highway, and encourage businesses to develop innovative applications (apps) using the data available, so that farmers can manage their activities even more effectively. Goal of JoinData is for data to be actively shared within the agricultural sector, thereby encouraging innovations, which will eventually result in improved performance in terms of sustainability, profitability and welfare. CRV is actively supporting the development and promoting the use of JoinData for two reasons. First to gather more data to be able to breed better cows. Secondly to develop apps to support the farmer to manage these cows in a better way.
Matthew Shaffer - Australia
Access to data
Details to be completed soon.
Boaz Hanochi - Israel
Herd management software NOA
The Israeli dairy sector represent holistic approach for data management. This was part of the concept of the pioneers who build the foundations of the Israeli dairy industry, more than 100 years ago. They believed in data recording and data sharing for the benefit of all. Today, the total number of milking cows is 135,000, located in nearly 750 dairy farms across the country in a limited geographical region. Around 90% of the cows in the HerdBook. The average milk yield of the Israeli cow is one of the highest in the world, 12,010 kg of milk per cow / year, with 3.77% fat, 3.34% protein and 290,000 SCC. Many factors contribute for that impressing results, but one of the major contributors, is the comprehensive data management system that was developed in Israel by the ICBA in the last 30 years. The two most important products that enable it are:
• NOA – the Israeli on-farm herd management software (HM) that installed in more than 90% of the farms.
• The national Herdbook database (HBDB) that serve as central DB of the whole industry.
Special data transfer system was developed to exchange data between the local farm HM software (NOA) and the HBDB. More than 20 different data files from HBDB system updating NOA DB and save time for the farm team, allow the farm manager to focus on decision making and not on data collection. Special intranet network connects all the players in the industry; farms, dairy processing, milk lab, udder health lab, AI organization, veterinary services organization, feed centers, feed mills. Sharing data between dairy farmers is not an easy task, however in the Israeli dairy sector it was the main principal from the very beginning.


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