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Choosing a Location for Your Pop-Up Shop
Emma Miller
Guest Contributor
Pop-up stores continue to grow in popularity, not just with brands, but with shoppers too, and there are a variety of location considerations to factor when plotting your pop-up strategies.
These days companies are mainly focused on online marketing. Raising brand awareness, engaging potential customers, or communicating with target audiences has become easy through email marketing and social media channels. Online marketing strategies are very effective and they don't have to cost a pretty penny, but if you want to amplify the CX, it's a good idea to start engaging your customers offline too. This is particularly important if you're selling your products online because before making a purchase people like to touch and feel the product they're interested in, which is why you should give them a chance to see the benefits of your products in person. A pop-up shop is an affordable and innovative retail concept that will not only boost your visibility but also offer you a glimpse into how it would be to run your own physical store. No need to stress how crucial a location is for this kind of establishment, so here are a few tips on how to find the best spot.
What to look for
If you're still weighing whether to go for a pop-up store or not, here's a useful stat saying that the size of this industry has grown to somewhere in the vicinity of $10 billion in sales. That answers the "why" part, so let's focus on the "how" and "where" parts.
First of all, just like for any other retail store, the best locations are those in high foot traffic areas, and it's even better if you find a suitable space in a shopping area, as that way you will not have to worry about driving all store traffic on your own. Besides that, before setting up your pop-up store, explore the neighborhood that you have in mind, see what other shops are there, think about what kind of demographic it aims to attract, and for what purpose people mainly visit that area – for shopping, leisure, or work. Have a background check of the space and find out what it was used for earlier and how successful that shop was.
Finally, once you've found a suitable location, you need to sort out a number of things before closing a deal. Have a meeting with the property managers and establish what the rental cost is and what's included in it. Ask whether the place can be modified, who's liable for what, and suggest getting a surety bond to guarantee that both parties will fulfill their part of the agreement.
A shopping mall
It's only logical to set up your pop-up store in a shopping mall flooded with people eager to spend their money. This kind of location will undoubtedly bring you a lot of exposure, help you attract the attention of your potential customers, and provide your business with a certain air of credibility. Shopping malls are especially useful for acquiring new customers and showcasing your brand, but bear in mind that the rents can be higher than elsewhere. Having said that, it's worth mentioning that high rents have increased vacancies unoccupied for long periods of time and this means that if they want to survive, shopping malls need to change their game and adapt themselves to the existing circumstances. That's why shopping mall managements are usually willing to offer decent short-term rental prices. Renting a kiosk or booth is another option, and it will literally put you at the center of visitors' attention.
Street-level retail space
The situation with vacant street retail spaces is similar to that of shopping malls, and if their owners can't sell or rent them for a certain period of time, they're no longer opposed to leasing it short-term. This is good news for you since you can seize the opportunity and obtain a good location for your pop-up store at a reasonable price. A factor that also plays an important role in making the right decision is whether the location is a good fit with your type of business because even if it's a busy part of the city with a lot of foot traffic, you won't benefit from it unless it's frequented by your target audience.
A store-within-a-store
This interesting concept comes with numerous perks. Namely, you can, in a way, partner with a store that sells complementary products and has a similar target audience. You will get not only a portion of the space, but also loyal customers that will definitely be interested in what you have to offer. Built-in traffic means that you will instantly get noticed and that you won't have to try hard to drive your own traffic. On the other hand, the store owner will benefit from splitting the rent, so it's a win-win situation.
A gallery
Galleries can be an amazing solution for a pop-up store, mainly because of their minimalist interior design that won't steal your products' thunder. Although all kinds of pop-up stores can find their place in a gallery, it's usually the shops that specialize in handmade jewelry, arts and crafts, or fashion that are most suitable for such spaces. If you aren't sure how this works, check out when the next similar event takes place, and visit it. You'll be able to find out a lot simply by observing and asking participants to share their impressions and experiences about setting up a pop-up store in a gallery.
Many experts claim that pop-up stores are the future of physical retail and not just a temporary trend. This is one more reason to try your hand at this kind of retail and expand your business.
About the writer: Emma Miller is a Sydney-based writer with a degree in marketing. Interested in digital marketing, social media, start-ups and latest trends, Emma's a contributor at Bizzmark blog.
Join the #retail, #inspiringretail and #SmartStore conversations on Twitter @emma_k_miller & @RetailNext, as well as at www.facebook.com/retailnext.
Related topics
- The Rise of the Pop Up Shop [INFOGRAPHIC] Blog
- Key Takeaways from the WWD Apparel & Retail CEO Summit Blog
- 7 Tips for Making the Most of Small Business Saturday 2017 Blog
- 6 Powerful Tips to Build Your Retail Brand with Brand Advocates Blog


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Jared Bernstein is a senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington and a former chief economist to Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
In contemplating the one-year delay in the Affordable Care Act's employer penalty, I was reminded that the health care law is an awfully complicated piece of work.
Today's Economist
Perspectives from expert contributors.
In fact, as I read the recent report from the Government Accountability Office on setting up the state exchanges — the most complex part of the bill's implementation — I'd say it's proceeding apace despite train wreckers trying to derail it. I suspect most state exchanges will be up and running on Oct. 1 (the federal government is setting up and will operate most of them), and when you consider the magnitude of this challenge amid the blowback and underfunding of the effort, if I'm even close to correct, that will be a very impressive outcome.
But when the White House announced the delay in the employer penalty, a lot of people pointed out that had the United States gone with a single-payer, Medicare-for-all style system, it wouldn't have had to futz around with Rube Goldberg policy structures like that in the illustration below from the Congressional Research Service on the employer penalty.
It's a fair point, and one that took me back to my days of selling the bill out on Pebble Beach, that little strip of land next to the White House where television cameras film administration officials. A typical interview back then (2009-10) would usually involve a reporter asking me to defend the proposed reform and explain why the people should be for it. I cringe to think that I often started out by suggesting that it had the potential to "bend the cost curve" — i.e., slow the unsustainable growth of health costs.
Why cringe? Not because I was wrong — that was a major motivator and the law may already be showing some promise in that critical regard. The cringe is because very few listeners knew what to make of that assertion, and it certainly didn't answer what they really wanted to know, which was, "How is this thing going to affect me and my family?"
That's why being able to say the other line I recall using out there — "If you're happy with your current coverage, this law won't affect you at all" — was so important. And that's also why we're stuck with a lot more complexity than we'd like.
To understand why we are where we are with the Affordable Care Act, it's useful to think about the concept of path dependency, meaning that where you end up is often a function of where you start out. And in the United States, we start out with an employer-based system. Though employers have been shedding coverage, about 58 percent Americans and their families are still covered through their job, down from 68 percent a decade ago (not counting older Americans). Perhaps more importantly, among those with private coverage, a group that the opposition was and is trying to scare about the impact of the law, about 90 percent are covered through their employer.
That's the path we started on, and our judgment was that straying from that path would doom the bill. I suspect we were right. I can assure you that being able to hammer home that line about keeping what you have was very important and comforting for people to hear. Passing the law was in no small part about convincing a majority of passengers on an already rickety boat that they'd be better off if they threw a life preserver to the minority floundering in the water.
That doesn't mean that what we ended up with is optimal. Certainly, the addition of a public, Medicarelike option within the health care exchanges would have been a good compromise, a way to stay on the path but branch off in a more progressive direction. But even without that, objective analysts score the bill as eventually covering millions of people and saving billions of dollars.
Could we have bucked path dependency? Must we continue to accommodate the employer-based system, not to mention the powerful insurance industry deeply embedded in America's uniquely inefficient health care delivery system? Do we really need a bunch of separate health care exchanges?
Well, private insurers supported the law only when it looked as though they'd get to cover a lot more people, with many getting subsidized coverage. Though the coverage offered in the exchanges has to meet national standards, states will continue to regulate the insurers within their borders. (The state accommodations are particularly ironic, because deference to states run by arch conservatives is turning out to be a tough implementation barrier; according to G.A.O., 11 states say they lack "the authority to enforce or are not otherwise enforcing" the insurance market provisions of the Affordable Care Act. It's starting to look like the euro zone out there.)
Perhaps my former colleagues and I lacked imagination, but in the case of health care, with large, risk-averse majorities worried about keeping what they had, powerful industries lining the existent path and a largely reactionary House of Representatives, it's hard to imagine that we could have deviated from path dependency.
So as the implementation season proceeds and new delays and complications pop up, remember the rocky path we started on. I firmly believe that if we can fully carry out the Affordable Care Act — and I think we will — the path will become smoother. And that means the next round of reform will start from a better place.

subset: commoncrawl


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With the holidays coming up, it's going to be time to start looking at gifts for the special people in our lives and for those who already have a PS4 console, nothing makes the setup feel complete like accessories to enhance the experience. Whether it's extra controllers, cooling fans, stands for the console itself or things to help you mobilize your PS4 gaming, this list should help to showcase the top 10 best accessories any PS4 owner needs.
Squid Grip For DualShock 4 Controller
We've all been there. Hours long gaming sessions turn from immense fun to downright annoying when you can't even hold your controller correctly. It's not necessarily because your hand is tired, but simply because you've been playing for 4 to five hours on the couch and your hands are now a little bit sweaty. This is where Squid Grips come in handy and allow gamers to comfortably hold and grip their controllers for hours on end without the feeling of the controller slipping out of your hands. They're easy to apply to the controller as you just peel and stick them on, and the surface of the grips not only helps to wick away sweat, it's made from an antimicrobial material too.
Buy the Squid Grip for DualShock 4 Controller From Amazon
Nyko Data Bank For PlayStation 4
The PlayStation 4 is a great system to have, but for those who play a lot of games the hard drive can fill up quickly. At only 500GB it goes quicker than one would think especially if all of your games are digital. Thanks to Nyko, it's possible to easily expand the amount of internal hard drive space on your PS4 with the Nyko Data Bank, which fits neatly and securely on top of the PlayStation 4 face plate section of the console. This will replace the standard face plate portion but does not actually contain an integrated storage drive, it does however allow for the use of 3.5" drives as opposed to the 2.5" drives like the one already in the PS4. With this, you can swap out the 2.5" drive for one of the 3.5" size which are cheaper. This will also allow you to upgrade the storage capacity to 2TB so you'll less likely ever run out of space. 3.5" drives also usually come with a faster write speed, which should help the load times of games as well. As an added bonus, the data bank also has an LED light integrated into it which tells you whether the PS4 is saving game progress, or accessing the hard drive storage so you know what it's doing at all times.
Buy The Nyko Data Bank For PlayStation 4 From Amazon
PS4 Official Sony Vertical Stand
There's not much to say here about this particular product except that it helps you to stand up your PS4 system in a vertical orientation. This can help you save some space when you're setting the system up, or it can simply be to make things look a little cooler and cleaner. Either way, it's a nice addition to have if you don't want your console sitting flat. On the bottom of the stand there's an easy indicator to tell you which way to connect the system, and dials help you easily lock and release the PS4 by simply twisting them.
Buy The PS4 Official Sony Vertical Stand From Amazon
HORI Full HD Monitor For PlayStation 4
Another perfect idea for either saving space or taking the console with you where they may not be a suitable TV to hook the system up to, the HORI Full HD monitor for the PS4 fits neatly and securely on top of the system and matches the shape so it looks as though it's part of the console. The screen is 11.6-inches in size and is 1080p Full HD resolution so games will look nice and crisp, and of course it has the HDMI input which would certainly be needed. The HORI monitor is built with dual stereo speakers integrated into it, so you can play your games while listening to the audio output of the monitor, or if you prefer you can plug headphones into it for some privacy or use a set of external speakers that you like. Buttons sit on top of the setup and are visible once you flip up the screen which manage volume and power of the device. This device is officially licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment America.
Buy The HORIO Full HD Monitor For PlayStation 4 From Amazon
Nyko Modular Charge Station For PS4
Since the controllers on the PS4 are wireless, you can charge them in multiple ways, but only one of those ways comes standard without buying extra equipment, and that's plugging them into the console's USB ports on the front.If you want something a little more slick and without having to use cables, this modular charge station from Nyko for the PS4 makes it easy to charge your controllers with no cables and without having a separate charging base to stick them on. The charging unit fits onto the top of the PS4 system and plugs into the USB ports, and can charge two DualShock 4 controllers at a time by using the included dongles that you attach to the controllers, which allow them to dock onto the charging station for power. Not only will this save space and keep things completely wireless, but it's also compatible with other Nyko modular accessories, like the Nyko Data Bank for example.
Buy The Nyko Modular Charge Station For PS4 From Amazon
Gaems Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment
If you live on your console and can't live without when traveling or when away from home, the Vanguard model personal gaming environment from GAEMS lets you store, carry, and connect your PS4 console to play on the go. The inside of the lid has an integrated 19-inch LED HD display with built-in stereo speakers, but it also has dual ports for plugging in headphones if you prefer. While you secure and store your console in the middle, storage bags on either side will let you store your controllers and power supply, and any other accessories you may want to take with you. The inside of the case is equipped with LED lighting to give it a sleeker effect, and the shoulder strap on the outside lets you tote it around easily. There's also an included remote so you can power it on and off more easily.
Buy The GAEMS Vanguard Personal Gaming Environment For PS4 From Amazon
DualShock 4 Wireless Controller For PS4
Every PS4 owner could use another DualShock 4 controller if they ever plan on playing anything with others on the same console. While the system comes with one already, you can pick up extras and connect up to four controllers to one system for games that allow local multiplayer of that many people. The DS4 controller is wireless and can charge wirelessly or with the included USB cable that you can plug into the PS4 system. It also has a port on the bottom of the controller where you can plug in headphones just in case you want to listen to game audio in the headphones instead of from the TV. The DS4 features dual thumbsticks and a D-pad for controls, the four button setup to the right, left and right trigger and bumper buttons up top, as well as the new touch pad in the middle with the share and options buttons on either side of it. There's also the PS button in the middle to take you back to the PS4 homescreen at any point, and it comes in multiple colors.
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – Jet Black From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – Glacier White From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – Call of Duty Limited Edition From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – Magma Red From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – 20th Anniversary Edition From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 Urban Camouflage From Amazon
- Buy The DualShock 4 Wireless Controller for PS4 – Wave Blue From Amazon
Ortz PS4 Vertical Stand with Cooling Fan
So you like the wireless charging idea for the controllers, but you also want the vertical stand. Something like the Nyko modular charging station wouldn't work too well, which is why the Ortz Vertical Stand With Cooling Fan for the PS4 is the perfect solution. It stands your PS4 up vertically to look sleek and save space, but it also has an integrated cooling fan to help keep the system running cool while playing games, and it has a built-in charge station where you can dock two DualShock 4 wireless controllers to charge. It also contains a USB hub with three open USB ports so you can plug in other devices if need be.
Buy The Ortz PS4 Vertical Stand With Cooling Fans From Amazon
Official Universal Media Remote For PS4
Sony has finally listened and launched a universal media remote for the PlayStation 4 console, which is packed full of controls for anything from disc movies inside the console to streaming videos from PS4 apps like Netflix and Hulu. The remote connects to the PS4 via Bluetooth, and in addition to being able to use it for controlling certain functions of your PS4 including powering it on and off, you can use it for controlling other devices as well like TV's and audio receivers. There are dedicated buttons for volume, pause/play, power, and dedicated buttons for the PS4 including the action buttons. If you're tired of using multiple remotes for your TV and for controlling your PS4 media, this will allow you to do it all with one unit.
Buy The Official Universal Media Remote For PS4 From Amazon
PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset
If you like playing games late into the night or just want the ability to hear anything and everything, you'll need a headset. The PlayStation Gold Wireless Stereo Headset allows you to block out ambient noise and focus on the game audio, while also allowing you to turn things up and play without having to worry about disturbing others. The headset features 7.1 virtual surround sound so everything feels much more immersive. You can also still use this headset for game chat with the noise canceling mic. Not only that, but the mic is hidden so there's nothing protruding out from it. While you can use it wirelessly with the PS4, it also comes with an included 3.5mm audio cable to plug it into other devices like the PS Vita, smartphones, etc. They fold up for easy storage, and if you like to customize you can swap out the face plates.


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The Kids Cook Monday teamed up with Produce for Kids, ShopRite and Sprout Network to put on a fun-filled event at a ShopRite store in Morristown, New Jersey.
We were thrilled to have such a great turnout! More than 75 kids showed up to learn healthy cooking tips from ShopRite's registered dietitian Jessica Guarnieri and the store's culinary instructor, Chef Danny Arturo. The kids cooked Power Smoothies, PB Fruit Roll-Ups and Chocolatey Fruit Skewers and had a chance to meet and take pictures with some of Sprout Network's most popular characters, Super Why and Princess Presto, live and in person!
Each child received a Kids Cook Monday chef hat and a healthy gift bag from Produce for Kids, an organization that encourages parents and kids to eat more healthy produce at home.
Jessica was kind enough to answer a few of our burning questions about the exciting event and why it's so important to get kids cooking:
What was your favorite moment of the event?
My favorite part of the event was watching the children making and eating the recipes. I love to see children enjoying healthy food, especially while still having fun!!
Which recipe did the kids like the most?
The kids seemed to like the Chocolatey Fruit Skewers the most. They loved skewering the fruits and then adding a little bit of chocolate to them. They all had a different way of assembling their skewers and seemed to enjoy showing them off to each other.
How did the Sprout characters encourage healthy living?
The Sprouts characters encouraged healthy eating by giving positive reinforcement during the class. The characters also handed out goody bags that had healthy information in them, making it fun for the children to eat healthfully at home.
Check out the Morristown Patch to view photos from the event!


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Sep 19, 2019
Posted by Matt Joyce, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing
Whether they know it or not, many everyday drivers throughout the U.S. make an upgraded choice when it comes to filling their gasoline tank.
Why? Higher-performance additives have proliferated in the majority of name-brand gasoline sold throughout the country. Driven in part by the TOP TIER™ Gas program, gasoline retailers have included additive technology to satisfy automakers who desired higher detergency levels in gas used to power their vehicles. Fuel additives have been deployed to help reduce deposits, prevent engine damage and enable a generally higher level of engine performance.
That's great for passenger car drivers—but how about heavy-duty diesel trucks?
Logging hundreds of thousands of miles across the country, one might guess that high-performance fuels would be even more important. But the fact is, diesel fuel sold throughout America has not traditionally been subject to the same kind of performance-boosting standards that gasoline has—and that can have an impact on the total performance of diesel engines.
Like with additive-enhanced gasoline, there are significant benefits to be had with high-performance additives in diesel fuel formulations. It's the right choice for fleet owners and operators, or anyone who operates a diesel-powered engine. Here's what to know about additive-enhanced diesel:
Why Additive-Enhanced Diesel Matters.
Just as automakers helped spur the development of the TOP TIER Gas program, in 2017, TOP TIER Diesel was officially introduced for similar reasons. Here's a quick breakdown from Fuels + Lubes magazine:
OEMs have long been unhappy with a lack of movement in diesel fuel quality within standard-setting bodies. Diesel fuel regulations in North America have failed to keep pace with diesel engine design and equipment changes impelled by emissions regulations and customer demands. Comparisons between the U.S. standards for diesel and biodiesel and the EU standards or Worldwide Fuel Charter have also been unflattering.
Today's diesel engines are complex—and that means the fuels and fluids used to power them must keep pace. New engines must meet demanding fuel economy, power, emissions and reliability targets, and fuel quality is vitally important to ensure reliable, optimized performance. New diesel fuel additive technology can help make it a reality.
Higher Performance.
Diesel engines utilizing additive-enhanced diesel can realize a range of benefits. The higher-quality fuel can help reduce both internal and external deposits on fuel injectors, improve lubricity resulting in less wear on injectors and the engine as a whole, and improve fuel stability for fewer deposits in fuel system components. The full performance standard can be found here. Each of these benefits results in a higher-performing engine.
Here's an example: Consider an engine that uses commonly available diesel fuel without enhanced additive performance throughout its lifetime. While the use of that fuel doesn't mean the engine will fail outright, it does mean the engine will lose substantial performance over time, compared with a vehicle using additive-enhanced diesel. Fuel injector deposit issues can be significant, causing up to a 3% loss in fuel economy. That might not sound like much on the face of it, but 3% is a big number for a Class-8 truck traversing from coast-to-coast.
For example, for a fleet with 100 trucks, each driving 100K miles per year and getting 8 miles per gallon at $3.00/gallon, 3% fuel savings is $1,125/year savings/truck—or over $100k/year total, for a comparatively small investment in using additives.
Poor quality fuel can likewise have a gradual, negative impact on the engine's overall power; drivers may not perceive an immediate loss in torque, but eventually the loss in performance can become a major headache.
Additive-Enhanced Diesel Availability.
Solving the potential issues associated with traditionally available American diesel fuel isn't as simple as it might sound. While its counterpart in the passenger car gasoline market may make up the majority of what's available at retail, additive-enhanced diesel makes up a miniscule portion of available diesel fuel in the U.S.
While additive-enhanced diesel and the TOP TIER Diesel program are still relatively new in the United States, they are no less important. Engines continue to advance, and the importance of high-performance fuel will become increasingly important. In order to ensure that more high-performance diesel fuel makes its way into the marketplace, fleet owners and operators must be educated to demand the performance that additive-enhanced diesel fuel can provide.
Armed with the knowledge and the benefits that enhanced fuels can provide, fleet owners and operators can help create the necessary demand for additive-enhanced diesel and fuels that better enable engine performance.
Our View
At Lubrizol, we believe that high-performance fluids are necessary for the engine technology of today and tomorrow to meet its full potential. In the heavy-duty trucking market, additive-enhanced diesel is an important program that can help ensure cleaner, more fuel efficient and long-lasting performance among the trucks that help make our society work. It's time that additive-enhanced diesel makes its way into more diesel trucks on Americas roads and highways.


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text: Hey guys. I wonder if someone who knows how to model, can turn this into a prop for me: http://i44.tinypic.com/2vxmuqg.jpg I'll provide the textures and dimensions. I would do it myself - in fact, I'm thinking of starting to learn XSI soon - but I fear it will take me a lot of time to learn modelling enough to do that without screwing something up, as I know it's common to make mistakes when you start mapping for example. I'm willing to return the favour, though I don't know how - I can do textures pretty well, I'm not sure what else I can give back. The reason I want it as a prop, is that I have quite a lot of these in my map, and they're currently brushes - not exactly the epitome of optimization And it looks a bit ugly as a brush, not to mention it's a hell to align the texture on the top cone properly. Also, Hammer deletes parts of them whenever I load my map for some reason - even though they're completely valid brushes and compile properly. Also, from what I understand, making this prop into one of a different size is a matter of changing the scale in a text file and recompiling, right? I hope this doesn't come out as too annoying of a request, I really didn't know who to turn to.


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One of my greatest attributes whether in business or personal relationships I am told is my confidence. I can tell you a younger, healthier version of myself, was confident. Now I appear to be dealing with my new natural of tendencies, to be insecure and unsure due to my past health history and many other tragic events that have happened in my life. See, I have always been the guy who tries to give 110% all of the time, but reality is that isn't always possible. So this is how I STAY with the appearance of confidence even if the rest of the world is trying to bring it down. One of the ways I try to keep myself positive and confident is by counting my victories each day in my "Victory Journal" so I know that whatever happens I am counting my wins.
1. Dress for Success: I am a huge fan of "Entourage" both the movie and the show, and although Ari Gold may not be the best role model, his appearance always exudes confidence. You always catch yourself guessing, wait is his point of view correct just because he is always dressed for success and is just so confident in what he is saying?
2. Stand up Straight Shoulders Back: This is such a good way to automatically feel better about yourself. if you are slumpy and slouched over you will feel like the rest of the world is on your shoulders. Get over the pity party, stand tall, keep your shoulders back, and walk with authority and I can tell you that your mood will change immediately.
3. Smile and Make Eye Contact: Eye contact and a smile shows you are confident in what you are saying. I am not saying to have a stare off and look creepy, I am saying proper eye contact and a genuine smile that lights up when you talk.
4. Make Jokes about Yourself but Don't Try to Make Others the Focal Point: It is so much funnier to be the butt of your own jokes mainly because you can guarantee you are not hurting anyone's feelings along with not being so uptight. Also, if you can make fun of your own flaws it shows you truly aren't afraid to just own it.
5. Spend Your Time With People Who Lift You Up: You are the average of the five people you spend your time with whether it be financially, athletically, religiously it doesn't matter; pay a lot of attention to the company you keep. I have had to reflect on this so much in life because if you are around negative people who don't bring out the best in you, one day you may wake up look in the mirror and realize 'oh my goodness I am one of them now.'
6. Be Polite (Treat Others How You Want to Be Treated): The Golden rule…. One of my greatest gifts I have received is the manners my parents have taught me passed on from my grandparents. If you want to become confident, understand please and thank you and use them properly. Also, learn how to open a car door for the lady in your life. I tell people all the time chivalry isn't dead and being old fashion is a trait less than 3% of the population hold dear to them. So use it and one day you might make wake up and be that person you always knew you could be.


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HS Code - 01059491
Vietnam HS Code 01059491 | HTS Code Other:Weighing Not More Than 2 Kg
Vietnam HS Code 01059491 is for other:weighing not more than 2 kg. Lookup 2017 HTS Code or HSN Code.
|HS Code
|Item Description
|Live poultry, that is to say, fowls of the species Gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls.
|Other:Fowls of the species Gallus domesticus:
|Other:Weighing not more than 2 kg


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At BodyNatured we believe that movement is a fundamental part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Our Pilates classes offer a full body workout and teach greater bodily awareness, correct breathing techniques and core engagement based on Pilates principles. We aim, not only to help you improve your posture, balance and strength but to emphasise the conscious element of the movement and the link between mind and body.
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Volume 7, Issue 2
March 12, 2008
The enactment of Assembly Bill 383, originally designed to address the crime of human trafficking, impacts Nevada employers and provides solid justification for the use of the on-line verifications systems, such as the Social Security Number Verification System ("SSNVS") or the E-Verify program. The Bill creates the potential for state penalties to an employer who violates federal law by hiring unauthorized aliens and provides an affirmative defense for employers who verify the social security numbers of new employees. The Bill's provisions became effective October 1, 2007. First, the Bill requires the Nevada Department of Business and Industry to include on its Internet website a link to SSNVS. Second, it provides that if an employer is found by the federal government to have violated federal law by hiring or employing an unauthorized alien, the Nevada Tax Commission shall hold a hearing to determine whether state penalties should be assessed against the employer as the holder of a Nevada business license. If the Tax Commission determines that the employer violated federal law willfully, flagrantly, or otherwise egregiously, the Commission is required to impose an administrative fine against the employer in an amount to be established by regulations. (An employer may also be subjected to the revocation of its Nevada business license under NRS 360.798.) The employer can avoid such a finding by presenting evidence that it attempted to verify the social security number of the unauthorized alien within 6 months of his/her employment. Proof that an employer used SSNVS will constitute prima facie evidence that its violation was not willful, flagrant, or otherwise egregious. SSNVS is an on-line system, operated by the Social Security Administration ("SSA"), which allows employers to verify employees' social security numbers. This system uses SSA records and purports to be intended for "wage reporting purposes." Because AB 383 and the statute it amended, NRS 360.796, clearly contemplates the use of other proof by an employer to defend its employment actions, we believe employers can consider using the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program instead of SSNVS. E-Verify utilizes both SSA and DHS records and is specifically designed for immigration purposes - i.e., to allow employers to verify the employment eligibility of new employees. DHS is encouraging all employers to use E-Verify, which it will continue to improve and market to employers with the help of significant federal funding. Both systems are free and should be considered a supplement to (not a substitute for) an employer's obligation to complete I-9 Forms. SSNVS can be used for current or former employees. E-Verify cannot be used for current employees or on applicants as a pre-screening measure; it can only be used for new employees, after an offer of employment has been made and accepted and the I-9 Form has been completed. Neither system can be used selectively and instead must be used without regard to employees' actual or perceived national origin or race. Both programs provide detailed Manuals which explain how to use the systems, and the E-Verify program requires an employer posting. The E-Verify Manual sets forth specific directions and forms for an employer who receives a mismatch response. In sum, the Nevada Legislature wants employers to verify employees' social security numbers. The Legislature has clearly given employers a green light to use the SSNVS system; moreover, we believe prudent employers can use both the purpose and language of AB 383 to support a choice to instead use E-Verify. While some organizations are challenging E-Verify, the penalties for hiring unauthorized aliens are significant enough to justify the additional precaution. Indeed, the Justice Department recently increased civil fines for employers who break immigration laws; effective March 27, 2008, fines can now range from $375.00 to $16,000.00 per employee. See http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/February/08_ag_134.html.
Whichever system an employer chooses to use should be used consistently for all employees. To register for E-Verify, go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify; to obtain more information on SSNVS, see http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnv.htm.
KZA Employer Report articles are for general information only; they are not intended and should not be construed to be legal advice. Reading or replying to such articles does not establish an attorney-client relationship. In addition, because the subject matters and applicable laws discussed in Employer Report articles are often in a state of change and not always applicable to every type of business entity or organization, readers should consult with counsel before making decisions based on the same.


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|Us Weekly claims Miranda Lambert went public with her married boyfriend, Evan Felker, on Wednesday night. A fan spotted them holding hands in New York. "They looked very happy together. They looked closer as the night went on. At one point Evan leaned in for a kiss. When the two let themselves be open, they appeared very comfortable together."
See the picture here —-> https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/miranda-lambert-evan-felker-hold-hands-in-nyc-first-photos/happy-couple-3/


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UPDATE: Five taken to hospital from Old Bruce Hwy crash
UPDATE 10.30am:
FIVE people have been taken to Gympie Hospital with minor injuries following a crash south of Gympie this morning.
All patients, that included at least two adults and two children, were ins stable condition, a Queensland Ambulance Services spokeswoman said.
The crash happened on Kenilworth Skyring Creek Rd and the Old Bruce Highway just before 9am.
UPDATE 9.30am:
TWO adults and two children are being assessed by paramedics who are on the scene of a two-car crash south of Gympie.
The cars crashed just before 9am, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said.
It is yet unknown if any of the people involved will be taken to hospital.
More information as it comes to hand.
EARLIER 9.15am:
TWO cars have reportedly crashed on the Old Bruce Highway at Tuchekoi this morning just before 9am.
Paramedics are enroute to the crash on Kenilworth Skyring Creek Rd and Old Bruce Highway after being alerted at 8.55am.
The number of people involved in the crash or their injuries is unknown yet.
More information as it comes to hand.


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For with the news of his promotion came also the fatal order to a
distant shore. Why did they send such an order to him, who had at the
department an office in which he could render valuable services, while
so many of his comrades, waiting idly in port, watched anxiously, and
with almost feverish impatience, for a chance to go into active service?
"Ah!" he said to himself, his heart filled with rage, "how could I fail
to recognize in this abominable treachery Miss Brandon's cunning hand?"
First she had closed against him the gates of Count Ville-Handry's
palace, and thus separated him from his beloved Henrietta, so that they
could not meet nor speak to each other.
But this was not enough for the accursed adventuress. She wanted to
raise a barrier between them which should be more than a mere moral
and social obstacle, one of those difficulties which no human power, no
lover's ingenuity, could overcome, - the ocean and thousands of miles.
"Oh, no!" he cried in his anguish, "a thousand times no! Rather give up
my career, rather send in my resignation."
Hence, the very next day, he put on his uniform, determined to lay the
matter, first before that officer who was his immediate superior, but
resolved, if he should not succeed there, to go up to the minister
He had never worn that uniform since the night of a large court-ball,
where he had danced with Henrietta. It was nearly a year ago, a few
weeks before the death of the Countess Ville-Handry. As he compared his
happiness in those days with his present desperate condition, he was
deeply moved; and his eyes were still brimful of tears when he reached
the navy department, towards ten o'clock in the morning.
The officer whom he called upon was an old captain, an excellent man,
who had practised the appearance of a grim, stern official so long, that
he had finally become in reality what he only wished to appear.
Seeing Daniel enter his office, he thought he came to inform him of his
promotion, and made a great effort to smile as he hailed him with the
words, -
"Well, Lieut. Champcey, we are satisfied, I hope?"
And, perceiving that Daniel did not wear the epaulets of his new rank,
he added, -
"But how is that, lieutenant? Perhaps you have not heard yet?"
"I beg your pardon, captain."
"Why on earth, then, have you no epaulets?"
And he began to frown terribly, considering that such carelessness
augured ill for the service. Daniel excused himself as well as he could,
which was very little, and then boldly approached the purpose of his
"I have received an order for active service."
"I know, - on board 'The Conquest,' in the roadstead at Rochefort, for
Cochin China."
"I have to be at my post in four days."
"And you think the time too short? It is short. But impossible to grant
you ten minutes more."
"I do not ask for leave of absence, captain; I want the favor - to be
allowed to keep my place here."
The old officer could hardly keep his seat.
"You would prefer not going on board ship," he exclaimed, "the very day
after your promotion? Ah, come, you are mad!"
Daniel shook his head sadly.
"Believe me, captain," he replied, "I obey the most imperative duty."
Leaning back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, the captain
seemed to look for such a duty; then he asked suddenly, -
"Is it your family that keeps you?"
"If my place can really not be filled by one of my comrades, I shall be
compelled to send in my resignation."
The old sailor bounded as he heard that word, and said furiously, -
"I told you you were a fool!"
In spite of his determination, Daniel was too much troubled not to
commit a blunder. He insisted, -
"It is a matter of life and death with me, captain. And if you only knew
my reasons; if I could tell them" -
"Reasons which cannot be told are always bad reasons, sir. I insist upon
what I have told you."
"Then, captain, I shall be compelled, to my infinite sorrow, to insist
upon offering my resignation."
The old sailor's brow became darker and darker. He growled.
"Your resignation, your resignation! You talk of it very lightly. It
remains to be seen whether it will be accepted. 'The Conquest' does not
sail on a pleasure-party; she is sent out on a serious campaign, and
will probably be absent for some time. We have unpleasant complications
down there and are sending out reinforcements. You are still in France;
but you are actually under orders to meet the enemy; Men do not resign
in the face of the enemy, Lieut. Champcey!"
Daniel had turned very pale.
"You are severe, captain," he said.
"I have no idea, I assure you, of being gentle; and, if that can induce
you to change your mind" -
"Unfortunately, I cannot alter my decision."
The old sailor rose violently, and walked up and down the room several
times, giving vent to his anger in oaths of various kinds; then he
returned to Daniel, and said in his driest tone, -
"If that is so, the case is serious; I must report it to the secretary
of the navy. What time is it? Eleven o'clock. Come here again at half-
past twelve. I shall have settled the matter then."
Quite certain that his superior would say nothing in his favor, Daniel
retired, walking hurriedly through the narrow passages, when a joyous
voice hailed him, calling out, "Champcey!"
He turned, and found himself face to face with two of his comrades, with
whom he had been most intimate at school. They said eagerly, -
"So you are our superior now?"
And, with the utmost sincerity, they began to congratulate him,
delighted, as they said, that such good luck should have fallen upon a
man like him, whom everybody thought worthy of the distinction, and who
reflected honor upon the service. No enemy could have inflicted such
suffering upon Daniel as these two friends did. There was not one of
their good wishes which did not amount to a bitter sarcasm; every word
they said told upon him.
"You must confess, however," they continued, "that you are a lucky man,
like no other. One day you are made a lieutenant; and the next day they
offer you active service. The next time we meet, you will be a captain
in command of a frigate."
"I am not going out," replied Daniel, fiercely. "I have handed in my
And, leaving his two friends looking utterly amazed, he went away at a
rapid pace.
Certainly, he had not foreseen all these difficulties; and in his blind
wrath he charged his chief with injustice and tyranny. He said, -
"I must stay in Paris; and I will stay."
Reflection, far from calming him, only excited him the more. Having left
home with the intention of offering his resignation only in an extreme
case, he was now determined to adhere to his plan, even if they should
offer him full satisfaction. Had he not an ample income of his own?
and could he not always find an honorable occupation? That would be
far better than to continue in a profession where one is never his own
master, but lives eternally under the dread of some order that may send
him, at a moment's warning, to heaven knows what part of the world.
That was the way he reasoned with himself while breakfasting at a tavern
not far off; and when he returned to the department, a little after
twelve, he looked upon himself as already no longer belonging to the
navy, and in his imagination caring little for the final decision.
It was the hour for receptions, when everybody who had any business at
the department came to look after his interests; and the anteroom
was filled with officers of every grade, some in uniform, others in
citizen's dress.
The conversation was very animated; for Daniel heard the sounds from the
outer passage.
He entered; and there was silence, - sudden, deep, chilling silence.
Evidently they had been talking about him.
Even if he could have doubted it for a moment, he read it in the faces
turned aside, the forced smiles, and the cautious glances with which he
was received. He thought, very much troubled, -
"What can this mean?"
In the meantime a young man in citizen's dress, whom he did not know,
called out from one side of the room to the other, to an old officer
in a seedy uniform, with blackened epaulets (a real sea-dog),
lean, bronzed, wrinkled, and with eyes bearing the traces of recent
ophthalmy, -
"Why do you stop, lieutenant? We were much interested, I assure you."
The lieutenant seemed to hesitate, as if he were making up his mind to
do a disagreeable thing, which still did not depend on his choice; and
then he resumed his account, -
"Well, we got there, convinced that we had taken all the necessary
precautions, and that there was, consequently, nothing to fear, - fine
precautions they turned out to be! In the course of a week the whole
crew was laid up; and as to the staff, little Bertram and I were the
only officers able to appear on deck. Moreover, my eyes were in a state.
You see what they say now. The captain was the first to die; the same
evening five sailors followed suit, and seven the next day; the day
after the first lieutenant and two of the noncommissioned officers. The
like was never seen before."
Daniel turned to his neighbor.
"Who is that officer?" he asked.
"Lieut. Dutac of 'The Valorous,' just returned from Cochin China."
Light broke upon Daniel's mind; it was a painful light.
"When did 'The Valorous' come in?" he asked again.
"Six days ago she made the harbor of Brest."
The other man went on, -
"And thus, you see, we left a goodly portion of our crew out there.
That is a campaign! As to my own notions, this is what I think, - a nasty
country, a wretched climate, a people fit for the gallows."
"Certainly," said the young man in citizen's dress, "things are not
pleasant in Cochin China."
"Ah, but still" -
"What if you were ordered back?"
"I would go, of course. Somebody must go, you know, and carry
reinforcements there; but I should not care if somebody else" -
He shrugged his shoulders, and said stoically, -
"And besides, since we navy men must be eaten by the fish some time or
other, it does not matter very much when that takes place."
Was not that, in a trivial, but terribly impressive manner, precisely
the same thing that Daniel had been told by his captain? People do not
resign when they face the enemy.
It was very evident that the officers who were there assembled doubted
his courage, and were discussing the fact when he entered. It was clear
that they attributed his resignation to fear.
At this idea, that he might be suspected of cowardice, Daniel trembled
all over. What could he do to prove that he was not a coward? Should he
challenge every one of these men, and fight one, two, ten duels? Would
that prove that he had not shrunk from the unknown perils of a new
country, from the dangers of an armed invasion, and a fatal climate? No;
unless he was willing to remain a marked man for life, he must go;
yes, go, since out there dangers awaited him of which he was held to be
He went up, therefore, to the old lieutenant, and said, in a voice loud
enough to be heard by every one in the room, -
"My good comrade, I had just been ordered to the place you come from,
and I had sent in my resignation; but after what you have said, - things
I knew nothing of, - I shall go."
There was a murmur of approbation. And one voice said, "Ah! I was sure
of it!" and that was all. But it was quite enough to prove to Daniel
that he had chosen the only way to save his honor, which had been in
imminent peril. But, simple as the whole scene was in itself, it was
very extraordinary, in view of the usual reserve which prevails among
sailors. And, besides, does it not happen almost every day, that an
officer ordered to some station requests and obtains leave to exchange
with some one else, and nothing is said?
Daniel felt that underneath the whole affair there was some diabolic
intrigue. If Miss Brandon had really procured this order to active
service, was it not likely that she would have taken her measures, so
that he could not possibly avoid going? Were all these men in citizen's
dress whom he saw there really navy officers? The young man who had
asked Lieut. Dutac to go on in his story had disappeared. Daniel went
from one to the other, inquiring who that clever young man was, but in
vain. Soon a summons came for him to appear in the superior's office. He
hastened there; and, as he opened the door, he said, -
"I'll follow your advice, captain. In three days I shall be on board
'The Conquest.'"
The captain's stern face cleared up, and he said approvingly, -
"All right! You did well to change your mind; for your business began to
look very ugly. The minister is very angry with you."
"The minister? And why?"
"_Primo_, he had charged you with a very important duty."
"To be sure," stammered Daniel, hanging his head; "but I have been so
severely suffering!"
The fact is, he had totally forgotten that unlucky work.
"_Secundo_," continued the old officer, "he was doubtful whether you
were in your right senses, and I agree with him, since he has told me
that you yourself have solicited this appointment on foreign service in
the most urgent terms."
Daniel was stunned, and stammered out, -
"His Excellency is mistaken."
"Ah! I beg your pardon, M. Champcey; I have myself seen your letter."
But already a sudden inspiration had, like a flash of lightning, cleared
up the mystery in Daniel's mind.
"Ah! I wish I could see it too! Captain, I beseech you show me that
The old officer began almost to think that Champcey was really not in
his right mind. He answered, -
"I do not have it; but it is among your papers in the bureau for
Personal Affairs."
In a minute Daniel was in the office where those papers were kept, and
obtained, not without much trouble, and under certain conditions only,
leave to look at his papers. He opened the parcel with feverish haste;
and the very first paper that fell in his hands was a letter, dated the
day before, in which he urgently requested the minister to grant him the
special favor of being sent out with the expedition to Cochin China on
board the frigate "Conquest."
Daniel was, of course, perfectly sure that he had written no such
But the handwriting was so precisely like his own, letter for letter,
and even his signature was so admirably imitated, that he felt for a
moment utterly bewildered, mistrusting, for a second, his own eyes, his
own reason. The whole was done so exceedingly well, that if the matter
had been one of ordinary importance, and the date of the letter had gone
back to a fortnight or so ago, he would certainly have suspected his
memory rather than the letter before him.
Overcome by the atrocity of such a trick, he exclaimed, -
"It is almost incredible!"
It was, however, only too certain, too indisputable, that the letter
could not have been dictated by any one but Miss Brandon. No doubt, one
of her accomplices, perhaps the great Sir Thorn himself, had written it.
Ah! now Daniel understood the insolent assurance of Miss Brandon, when
she insisted upon his taking poor Malgat's letters, and repeatedly said,
"Go and show them to the clerks who have known that unhappy man for long
years, and they will tell you if they are his own." Most assuredly he
would have met with no one bold enough to say the contrary, if Malgat's
handwriting had been copied with the same distressing perfection as his
Still he might, perhaps, profit by this strange event; but how?
Ought he to mention his discovery? What would have been the use? Would
they believe him, if he accused her of forgery, of a trick unsurpassed
in boldness and wickedness? Would they even consent to an investigation;
and, if they instituted one, what would be the result? Where would they
find an expert ready to swear that this letter was not written by him,
when he himself, if each line had been presented to him separately,
would have felt bound to acknowledge it as his own?
Was it not far more probable, on the contrary, that, after what he had
done in the morning, they would have ascribed his charges to a mistake,
or seen in them a weak invention in order to cover his retreat?
Therefore it was a thousand times better to keep silence, to be resigned
to postpone to another day every attempt to avenge himself in a
manner corresponding to the injury he had suffered, and all the more
effectively, as his vengeance would have been carefully matured.
But he did not wish that false letter, which might become a formidable
piece of evidence against him, to remain among his papers; no doubt Miss
Brandon would soon find an opportunity of having it withdrawn. He asked,
therefore, for leave to copy it, obtained permission, went to work, and
succeeded, without being seen by anybody, in substituting his copy for
the original.
When this was done, knowing that he had not a minute to lose, he
instantly left the department, and, jumping into a carriage, drove to M.
de Brevan.
Like all energetic natures, Daniel felt a wonderful relief as soon as he
had formed an irrevocable decision. He would even have enjoyed the peace
that had once more returned to his mind, but for the savage hatred which
had accumulated in his heart, and which confused his thoughts whenever
he remembered Miss Brandon.
Providentially, it seemed to him, Maxime had not gone out, or, rather,
having been to breakfast at the English cafe with some of his friends,
he had just returned.
In ten words Daniel had told him every thing, and even shown him that
masterpiece of forgery, which he attributed to Miss Brandon's mind, and
M. Elgin's skill. Then, without heeding Maxime's exclamations of wonder
and indignation, loud and deep as they were, he continued, -
"Now, my dear Maxime, listen to me. It may be my last will which I am
going to give in your charge."
And, when his friend tried to remonstrate, he insisted, -
"I know what I am saying. I am sure I hope I shall not be buried out
there; but the climate is murderous, and I may encounter a cannon-ball.
It is always better to be prepared."
He paused a moment to collect his thoughts; and then he went on.
"You alone, in this world, Maxime, know all my private affairs. I have
no secret from you. I have friends whom I have known longer than you;
but I have none in whom I feel more confidence. Besides, my old friends
are all sailors, - men, who, like myself, may at any moment be sent,
Heaven knows where. Now I want a reliable, safe, and experienced man,
possessed of prudence and energy, and sure not to leave Paris. Will you
be that man, Maxime?"
M. de Brevan, who had remained in his chair, rose, and, putting his hand
on his heart, said, -
"Between us, Daniel, oaths are useless; don't you think so? I say,
therefore, simply, you may count upon me."
"And I do count upon you," exclaimed Daniel, - "yes, blindly and
absolutely; and I am going to give you a striking proof of it."
For a few moments it looked as if he were trying to find some brief and
yet impressive form for his communication; and then he said, speaking
very rapidly, -
"If I leave in despair, it is because I leave Henrietta in the hands of
the enemy. What persecution she will have to endure! My heart bleeds at
the mere thought. Miss Brandon must be meditating some terrible blow, or
she would not have been so anxious to keep me at a distance."
He sobbed almost, so great was his excitement; but he instantly became
master again of his emotion, and continued, -
"Well, Maxime, I shall ask you to watch over Henrietta. I intrust her to
you as I would intrust her to my brother, if I had one."
M. de Brevan was about to state some objections; but Daniel cut him
short, saying, -
"I will tell you how and in what manner you can watch over Miss
Ville-Handry. To-morrow evening I shall see her, and tell her the new
misfortune which has befallen us. I shall take leave of her then. I know
she will be terrified; but then, to reassure her, I shall explain to her
that I leave her a friend, another myself, ready, like myself, to assist
her at her first summons, and ready, like myself, to run any danger in
order to succor her. I shall tell her to appeal to you as if it were to
myself; to write to you as she used to write to me; to keep you informed
of all they may attempt to do; to consult and to obey you without
"As to what you will have to do, Maxime, I cannot tell you that, even
in a general way, as I know nothing of Miss Brandon's plans. I rely
upon your experience to do what is most expedient. Still there are two
alternatives which I can foresee. It may be that her father's house
becomes impossible for Henrietta, and that she should wish to leave
it. It may also be, that, under certain circumstances, you may think it
inexpedient for her to remain there, and that you have to advise her
to escape. In either case, you will take Henrietta to an old lady, a
relative of mine, who lives at the Rosiers, a little village in the
department of Maine-et-Loire, and whose address I will give you, while I
will inform her beforehand of what may happen."
He paused, trying to remember if there was any thing else, and,
recalling nothing, he said, -
"This, my dear Maxime, is all I expect you to do for me."
With open brow, a clear eye, and grave face, M. de Brevan replied in
a solemn tone of voice, speaking like a man who feels that he deserves
such confidence, -
"Friend Daniel, you may sail without fear."
But Daniel had not done yet.
Pressing his friend's hand heartily, he thanked him, and then with
a careless air, under which he very imperfectly concealed his real
embarrassment, he said, -
"There remains only to provide the means for carrying out these
measures, and for possible contingencies. You are not rich, my dear
Maxime, I mean rich in comparison with the people who are your friends;
you have told me so more than once."
He touched a wound which was always open, and always bleeding.
"Certainly," replied M. de Brevan, "in comparison with a number of my
friends, with men like Gordon Chalusse, for instance, I am only a poor
Daniel did not notice the bitterness of this reply.
"Now," he said, "suppose, at a given moment, Miss Henrietta's safety
should make a certain sum of money necessary, - perhaps a very large
sum, - are you sure you will always have enough in your drawer, and be
able to dispose of it without inconvenience?"
"Ah! you expect too much of me; but I have friends."
"And you would ask them! you would expose yourself to the humiliation of
hearing those set excuses which serve to conceal refusals! I could never
permit that."
"I assure you" -
"Let me tell you that I have forgotten nothing. Although my means are
modest, I can, by selling out some bonds, realize enough to secure you
against any embarrassment on that score. I also own property in Anjou
which is valued at fifty or sixty thousand dollars, and I mean to sell
The other man opened his eyes wide.
"You mean," he said slowly.
"To sell it, yes. You heard right. Except, however, my home, my father's
house, with the little garden in front, the orchard, and the meadow
adjoining the house. In that house my father and my mother have lived
and died. I find them there, so to _say_, whenever I go in; their
thoughts are still filling the rooms, after so many years. The garden
and the orchard are the first little bits of land my father bought from
his earnings as ploughboy. He cultivated them in his leisure hours, and
there is literally not a foot of soil which he has not moistened with
the sweat of his brow. They are sacred to me; but the rest - I have
already given orders."
"And you expect to sell every thing in the three days before your
"Oh, no! But you are here."
"What can I do?"
"Take my place, I should think. I will leave you a power-of-attorney.
Perhaps, if you make haste, you can get fifty thousand dollars for the
property. You will invest that so as to be able to use it any moment.
And, if ever Miss Henrietta should be compelled to leave her father's
house, you will hand the money over to her."
M. de Brevan had turned very pale.
"Excuse me," he said, "excuse me."
"Well, it seems to me it would be more suitable to leave some one else
in charge of that."
"Oh! I do not know, - a more experienced man! It may be that the property
will not bring as much as you expect. Or I might invest the money in the
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Émile Gaboriau
The Clique of Gold
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WeSellCellular.com is the premier global platform where wholesalers, retailers, repair shops, and smaller distributors can buy new and used cell phones wholesale. Before building WeSellCellular.com, we spent almost two decades building a reputation as the most reliable cell phone wholesale distributor in the USA. Because of the relationships cultivated for over a decade, we are now able to not only source inventory directly from carriers, manufacturers, and big box retailers, but we have also partnered with Brightstar, one of the largest wholesale cell phone distributors in the world, to connect you directly to its massive source of supply.
While we understand that a steady supply of used iPhone, Samsung, and other Android devices are key to your business, as veterans of the industry, we are also well aware of the challenges that come along with inconsistent testing and grading. We strive to differentiate ourselves through transparency and consistency. When you buy from us, you know what you are getting, regardless of which stock you select.
Our History
The WeSellCellular.com platform was formed by the marriage of WeSellCellular, one of the most well reputed wholesale mobile phone distributors in the USA, with the technology team behind uSell.com, one of the leading cell phone trade-in websites in the country. The combination of uSell's technology with WeSellCellular's hands on experience selling to wholesale phone distributors and retailers around the world enabled us to develop the first truly self-service platform built specifically to address the issues that wholesale mobile phone distributors and retailers face each day.
Today WeSellCellular.com is more than just a carrier wholesale distributor- it is a global platform connecting global supply with global demand. Our goal is to solve the inventory needs of every used cell phone distributor, retailer, refurbisher, and repair shop by making the process of sourcing inventory seamless and risk free.
Inventory Sourcing and Quality Control
We understand that every cell phone distributor, retailer, and repair shop, depends on consistent supply. That's why we have designed two different inventory streams to ensure that we always have the stock you need.


text:
Mission Statement
At Safe landing, we are dedicated to improving the lives of men through empowerment, deep engagement, and integrity.
We implement this mission by providing the highest quality of compassionate and individualized care to men who are transitioning from various treatment programs.
By providing our residents with a safe, independent living environment where they are thoroughly supported by our on-site staff, we further develop the process of creating independence, strength, and self-worth.
Supportive Living for men in Recovery
At Safe Landing, our team is dedicated to empowering men who are struggling with substance abuse as well as mental health challenges. We use a variety of support modalities to help residents on their road to recovery. Our team addresses the many different obstacles that residents may encounter while making the sometimes challenging changes necessary to a new way of living. We encourage residents to take an active role in teaming up with us to create a plan of action to address those challenges and design the healthy, successful life they desire.
We understand that recovery is lifelong. That is why we have designed a transitional home where men can feel empowered and inspired to continue their journey of recovery in a less restrictive environment. Our addiction and mental health support focuses on the individual. We identify and set goals that are specific to each resident by offering a variety of services designed to help regain their health and overall wellness. We build on the individuals' strengths to encourage his continued commitment to recovery.
When it comes to developing a support plan, we don't use a one-size-fits-all approach. We instead assess each individual's unique challenges and find supportive solutions that fit their needs. Our support services are designed to address the underlying causes of addiction, which may include co-occurring mental health issues. At Safe Landing, our team is committed to helping our residents find the courage to address these difficult challenges in order to live a full and healthy life.
For more information about our unique services, please contact us at 617-934-2159.


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原本以為最終結果應該是 BPC 的囊中物,應該不會有什麼懸念,但就在時間截止之前,另外一個隊伍 Ensemble 宣稱他們也跨過門檻(Breaking - Netflix Prize, we've got a winner, and it's Greek! (updated)),甚至一度自行宣佈他們勝過原本的領先者,是最終的贏家(下圖是目前Leaderboard公佈的成績)。不過,一位自稱 An Insider 的網友在這篇文章之後留言,解釋他們可能誤解了規則,BPC 在 Test Set 的成績較優,才是最終的贏家(自稱 Just a guy in garage 的 Gavin Potter 很快的在個人部落格撰文解釋為什麼 BPC 才是贏家)。
到目前為止, Netflix 仍然沒有正式宣佈誰是最後的贏家,只是宣佈停止收件,並且說有兩個隊伍通過門檻。
As of July 26, 2009 18:42:37 UTC, we have stopped gathering submissions for the Netflix Prize contest. There are submissions from two teams that meet the minimum requirements for the Grand Prize. We are contacting the lead team and we will report, as soon as possible, when and if we have a verified winner for the Grand Prize.
不管誰贏得這個比賽, Daniel Lemire 說的好,充份鼓勵各種創意和多元化的發展,才是學術發展的正確方向:
Both teams broke the 10% barrier by using a diverse coalition, by merging several different ideas. As Peter Turney recently stated:I am now more convinced than ever that science needs diverse explanations, techniques and opinions. We should actively reward creativity. Science is not merely about truth-seeking.
There are no whole-truths, but we can get by reasonably well with a large number of half-truths.


text: Saline Sculpture Walk Art Around Saline from SCTN on Vimeo. Comprised of 11 works created by four artists, the entire walk entails a hike of roughly a mile in and around the City. Five of the sculptures are located in downtown Saline, two at City Hall (one inside), two at the Saline District Library, and two are situated along the Depot Trail that runs between the Saline Depot Museum, 402 N. Ann Arbor St., and North Maple Road. A Sculpture Walk brochure that details the sculptures and maps their locations will be available at City Hall and downtown businesses. Best Contact: 734) 429-4907 | Email » Saline, Michigan 48176 Website »


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Double-click on a social set to edit its style. The Social Set Properties window will open.
|Social set properties
|Click to enlarge
The top-left section named Icon settings lets you define the main features of the icons that are part of the social set.
The result of each change made to the social set is immediately displayed within the Preview panel:
- Size: the size of the icon in pixels. The same size is applied both to the width and to the height.
- Spacing: is the distance in pixels that separates each icon.
- Style: the icons included in the social set can keep their original color by selecting the option "Full color". Instead, by selecting "Monochrome" all icons take on the same color. You can choose it from the palette of colors used at that time, customize it, or select it from among those used recently. If you are not sure about your choice, you can go back to the default one.
- Roundness: the value indicates the degree of rounding corners. Moving the cursor to the right you will get increasingly rounded corners until obtaining a round icon.
By right-clicking on one of the listed icons, you can also load one to use instead of the standard one.
The section Outer margins lets you define spaces between the social set and the elements around it (such as text, buttons, or images).
The option Same for all margins identically alters the pixel value right, left, above, or below the button.
The Links section is divided into two tabs: Links and Titles.
- The Link tab shows a list of the most popular social sites and their related URL. Select the social boxes you want to include in the set. You can then edit the order in which social icons will appear in the newsletter through the Up and Down arrows to the right of the URL addresses.
- The Titles tab lets you edit the name of the social that appears when hovering over the icon.
Open link in a new window: if checked, a click on the social icon will allow its related social to open in another window of the browser, thus avoiding closing the window containing the text of the e-mail.
Always saves images as local resource lets you save social set icons locally, even if export options involve image saving in the cloud.
See also
Main window
Editing images


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In our pervious article, we mentioned the US industry research organization, the Conference Board, and its Leading Economic Index (LEI). Last time, five of its components were revealed. Today, we are going to share the rest and see how well the LEI performs.
6. Building permits for new private housing units
The property market is an economic sector that rises or falls before the changes in economic activities. Therefore, privative housing building permits can be treated as a leading indicator of property market activities.
7. S&P 500 Index
Like Hong Kong, the stock market usually reacts dramatically before recessions. Since 1973, the United States has experienced six recessions. On average, S&P 500 index peaked 5 months before recessions.
8. Leading Credit Index
The index combines six financial indicators to analyse the resilience of the financial system.
9. Interest rate spread between 10-year treasury yields and overnight borrowing rates
When the economy deteriorates, the spread becomes narrow. On the other hand, when the economy improves, the spread becomes widen.
10. Average Consumer Expectations for Business and Economic Conditions
Since consumption is about two-thirds of the US economy, consumers' expectations of future business and economic conditions are very important. If they are optimistic about the future, consumption will be increased. Conversely, if they are pessimistic, consumers will reduce their budget on consumption.
Is LEI a good leading indicator?
From 1967 till now, LEI usually peaked six months before the recession on average and fell sharply before the recession, such as during 2000 and 2007 (see Figure 1). If you are interested in getting the latest data, you can pay more attention to the Conference Board website.
Figure 1: The relationship between the LEI (blue line) and the recession (grey area)
Image source: The Conference Board


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Always on the lookout for new movie posters (which trump trailers as my preferred way of being notified about new films), I saw this masterful work of art glued to these battered bits of particle board and exclaimed inside "WHAT IS THIS??" I read the fine print. At the top, it said "David Finscher and Spike Jonze Present." Two heavy-hitter directors, that's for sure...but they just were generously lending their names as helpful "presenters" of the project, much like David Lynch did with Terry Zwigoff's Crumb, for instance. Still, I was impressed they liked this movie enough to do that.
And I read on. No one I knew was involved...and then I got to the writer and director credits. Tarsem Singh (pictured below), acclaimed director of arguably the best music video ever, REM's "Losing My Religion," was at the helm. I then knew The Fall was going to be an event. Singh's 2000 release The Cell was a flawed but strangely beautiful movie. However misbegotten it was (and I did have many problems with it), I knew when I saw The Cell that at least a new and ambitious autuer was upon us. But, by 2008, I had totally forgotten about Tarsem (as he was known earlier, in his MTV-Award-winning days). He had seemed to have disappeared from the moviemaking scene in the intervening years. So I got a rush when I saw that The Fall, after a long 2-year run as a film festival staple, was soon to hit theaters. I knew nothing about the movie's plot, and wanted to know nothing about it. I knew only that it had to be seen.
The Fall is the best movie of 2008 for a number of reasons. It reminds us of the power of imagination. It highlights an unusual relationship, beautifully played by two largely unknown leads. It is visually stunning (to say the least). And, though it is a period piece, set in the 1920s, it has a lot to say about the sickly current state of movies.
Now, I must go off on a tangent.
In a year that gave us not only the coddled, overrated The Dark Knight, but also Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, The Punisher, another James Bond movie (Quantum of Solace), another Indiana Jones movie (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull), and The Spirit, (not to mention TV's Heroes), I think its safe to say that the Superhero meme has taken over moviedom. And there's more to come, with Watchmen now being touted as the movie we should be most looking forward to in 2009 (yawn).
But what do superheroes mean to us moviegoers? Do we or should we care about them as characters? Take, for instance, Bruce Wayne--in my view, this is hardly a person about which we should give two shits. Honestly: it's hard to muster up any feeling whatsoever for spoiled rich boy Bruce Wayne and his dim, ineffective grappling with mental illness, and with the admittedly unfair and bloody death of his parents. Even The Dark Knight itself is clearly uninterested in him; unlike in the vastly superior Batman Begins, there's not one shining moment for its star, Christian Bale. Let's face what we all know to be true: The Dark Knight would not be memorable at all were The Joker not in it. Subtract the late Heath Ledger's truly incredible supporting performance from the mix and The Dark Knight melts into a shapeless mess. But this should come as no surprise. At its heart, in whatever form it takes, the Batman franchise is REALLY all about its villains; this makes Christopher Nolan's new take on Batman not so far away from its campy 60s-era TV progenitor, for which millions of viewers tuned in each week to see Vincent Price as Egghead, Cliff Robertson as Shame, Cesar Romero as The Joker, or Burgess Meredith as The Penguin (the show's impressive guest star roll call could go on and on). Already, love-blinded fanboys all over the net are frothing at the mouths as they speculate about who'll be cast as Batman's next big screen nemesis, with Marion Cotillard (Oscar winner for last year's wonderful La Vie En Rose) intriguingly being submitted in some corners as the perfect Catwoman.
See, the villain is definitely the thing. All the movie's irritating fans crow about is how "relevant" The Dark Knight is to our present socio-political climate, comparing it ridiculously to The Godfather Part II in terms of highbrow quality. Namely: they like to make correlations between the chaos-loving Joker and the terrorists bedeviling our collective psyche these days. But the terrorists aren't in this thing just to create upheaval (though it might seem as such by the less attentive among us); they've got they're own reasons for creating the mayhem that they do--some of them are even understandable (if reprehensible). To match their politically- and culturaly-motivated efforts up to The Joker's merely-for-sick-fun actions proves a particularly dim worldview is endemic amongst Batman fans.
I have to posit this thought as well: if Bruce Wayne is such a great guy, instead of spending all his money on thrillseeking battles with nasty people, why doesn't he give some of his trillions to the more downtrodden denizens of the world? The fact that so many movie fans hold the "hero" of The Dark Knight up to such high regard tells me one depressing thing: they think make-believe guys in tight suits who kick the asses off bad guys are MUCH more interesting than guys who might direct their efforts and their cash in much more conventionally constructive directions.
The amazing thing about Christopher Reeve as Superman was that, throughout his charming and heartfelt performance, he convinces us that Clark Kent and Superman were one and the same person. Therefore, we cared. Not so with anyone who has played Batman in the movies. Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Michael Keaton as Batman? Two different people. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and Christian Bale as Batman? Two different people (and, yes, I realize that, in both cases, this is by design, but so what? It still distances us from the character, and stands as a fundamental flaw in the Batman persona). Dismissing the Val Kilmer and George Clooney Batmans outright, this makes Adam West the ideal Batman, 'cuz he's a campily square, unctuous ass with or without the blue leotard. But let's remember: Chris Reeve as Clark Kent and Chris Reeve as Superman? Same lovable, idealistic, moral guy. Thus, Superman (Richard Donner, 1978) and Superman II (Richard Lester, 1980) remain, for me, the best superhero movies made to date (not including Indiana Jones and James Bond movies; both are superheroes, yes, but cut from differing cloths).
With that in mind, Iron Man remains the finest all-out superhero movie of 2008--much more comprehensible and enjoyable than The Dark Knight--because it convinces us that Tony Stark is identical both outside and inside the Iron Man suit. This is only one reason why Iron Man is superior to The Dark Knight. And also: again, The Dark Knight would be a blah movie without The Joker. But who remembers the villain in Iron Man? No one. Why? Because the villain isn't the point there. The point is Tony Stark, our hero (humorously flawed as he is). He's the center of attention. And Robert Downey Jr's funny, gutsy, smarty-pants performance is the jewel in the movie's crown.
Now, why am I talking about Iron Man and The Dark Knight so much in a review that's ostensibly about The Fall? Simple. The Fall, too, is about superheroes. But it casts them as vulnerable humans. AND it takes care to recognize what worth such characters add to our lives. These are exactly the elements that superhero movies need to survive and thrive.
The Fall takes place at a Los Angeles hospital in the 1920s. Roy (Lee Pace) is a different kind of superhero--a silent movie stuntman. But he's been explosed to a glum reality: he's not indestructible. He's been seriously injured while performing superhuman feats for the camera. Now he's in this hospital, recovering not only from paralysis, but from a broken heart as well. It is the latter malady, in fact, that has festered and become more serious. Jilted in romance, Roy now wants to take leave of life by suicide. Only problem is, his damaged legs won't allow him to procure the morphine needed to ensure his death.
The Fall is very much also about lies and their intrinsic relationship to storytelling, so it shouldn't come as a shock that Roy feels forced to LIE to someone in order to get his precious morphine. That someone is Alexandria, played by the mesmerizing Catinca Untaru. Alexandria is a vivacious, intelligent 6-year-old with an arm that may or may not have been broken by an abusive father. While poking around the hospital, she strikes up a conversation with Roy, and the two become fast friends. Desperate to connect with someone, Roy also targets Alexandria as someone who can be easily manipulated. So he regales and slyly blackmails her with episodes from a floral fairy tale involving six incredible men: The Blue Bandit (played by Emil Hostina at first, then later by Pace); explosives expert Luigi (Robin Smith); master of knowledge Charles Darwin (Leo Bill); an all-powerful Indian (Jeetu Verma); a mystical swordsman (Julian Bleach); and a muscular African slave (Marcus Wesley). This unforgettable team of heroes band together on a hunt for the head of the evil Spanish Governor Odious (Daniel Caltagirone), who's horribly (and humorously) wronged them each.
Roy's telling of this story -- or, more specifically, Alexandria's imagining of it -- provides The Fall with its most stupendous imagery. Some reviewers faulted the film for not making this part of the movie more clearly plotted. But the fact is that the fantastical portions of The Fall do not constitute the film's point; they are, after all, representations of a story that's being made up on the fly, for ulterior motives, and as such the story's holes intentionally appear. These are lusciously fun scenes to watch, but Tarsem Singh clearly wants to interest us more in how the bond between Roy and Alexandria is to play out. That said, just take a look at this gorgeous gallery of images from the fantasy sequences in The Fall and tell me, with a straight face, that this is not a movie that NEEDS to be seen.
Pace and especially Untaru are mesmerizing in their roles. In reading about The Fall, I've discovered that Singh actually tricked Untaru--who was too young to take direction--into delivering much of her performance, filming when she wasn't aware that the cameras were rolling. This doesn't make her showing here any less perfect. Untaru, with her chubby face and big eyes, delivers for me the single best bit of acting of 2008. And Pace is nearly her equal! Their funny, quirky, emotional scenes together are unforgettable.
I love how The Fall ends up being a movie about the movies. It makes the connection between the wonder moviegoers must have felt at watching the world's first films being projected right in front of them, and the wonder most of us present-day moviegoers want to feel again. And I love how, even though it's a superhero movie, it's quick to remind us that even superheroes must die. And I love that the film is basically an extended homage to The Wizard of Oz (each of the fantasy characters also appear in Alexandria's "real" life--just like The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow, The Wicked Witch, and The Wizard were "played" by people in Dorothy's Kansas).


text:
Summer Sacred Chant
Alternatives says:
A beautiful entrancing evening of sacred chant
Welcome to an enchanting Summer concert of sacred chants, mantras and songs.
Renowned singers and spiritual facilitators Lila and Anaam make up Illumina, a duo who hold a space of healing and celebration in their music.
They use powerful and beautiful vocal harmonies and melodies of sacred sounds and mantras to reconnect you to the still, silent presence of your Divine nature.
External links: