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Utilities tackled planning, deployment and rate reform.
- Grid modernization activity among US states increased by 60% in 2018
- There were 460 individual actions in 2018, compared to 228 in 2017
- Actions include: studies and investigations; utility business model and rate reform; planning and market access; policy
US cities and states in 2018 ramped up grid modernization efforts, according to a recent report from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center.
Grid modernization activity among US cities and states increased by 60% in 2018 to 460 individual actions, compared to 228 in 2017. Those actions include investigations of smart grid and advanced metering infrastructure; energy storage and microgrid development; as well as regulatory and business model reform.
The report follows the New York Public Service Commission's December adoption of a 3,000 MW energy storage goal by 2030. Notably, PSC also provided a roadmap for implementation that includes: competitive direct procurement; a system efficiency target; the preparation of nonwire alternatives; an incentive plan; a distributed energy resource data platform; and value stack tariff refinement.
That month, California ISO, ISO New England, Midcontinent ISO, New York ISO, PJM Interconnection, and the Southwest Power Pool also filed plans to comply with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Order 841. The order requires wholesale market operators to establish rules that will allow energy storage resources to participate in energy, capacity, and ancillary services markets.
The report also notes that the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in 2018 formally adopted rules for distribution system planning, while the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission established integrated distribution planning requirements. Regulators in Delaware and Ohio according to the report also initiated distribution system planning efforts that year.
The increase in activity came as some utilities either scaled back or rejected plans to invest in grid modernization in 2018. The report particularly notes that advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) proposals in North Carolina and Virginia were reduced due to questions around functionality and cost, respectively. AMI proposals in Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New Mexico were rejected in some cases on the basis of their benefits to the public.
The report notes that some regulators have since asked utilities to present revised plans and budgets for the rejected elements. The full report can be found here.


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Has any extremely rich person ever told you that he has a lot of money or wealth with himself? Perhaps not! But still, you would know of many people who have tons and tons of money or are extremely wealthy. They may not make any express statements regarding their having a lot of money or wealth or their rolling in money, but still 'the world' knows that they are wealthy or rich. You may even say that just a few of the worldly possessions of these people are enough to conspicuously prove that they have loads of money or that they are indeed very rich! So you may want to ask How Rich Show Off Their Wealth?
Must read: How Rich Become Richer
How Rich Show Off Their Wealth
Well, most of the super rich people do tend to show off their wealth. They indulge in some conspicuous behavior to attract attention towards themselves. Though there is no end to the ways in which the rich can show off their wealth, there are some common and prominent ways in which the rich often show off how much money or wealth they possess or that they do possess a lot of wealth. Let us briefly look at some of the key ways in which the rich show off their wealth and also the cost factors associated with each of these ways:
1. Private Planes
A very common and prominent way of showing off wealth is by acquiring a private plane or more. It could be an old light jet such as Cessna or Learjet which may seat 2 pilots and 4 passengers or a very large jet with much more seating capacity. One could even go in for an Airbus or a Boeing, which are both costlier planes.
How much does a private plane cost?
A three decade old light jet like Cessna or Learjet may cost in the range of $1m while a brand new custom fitted Boeing or Airbus may cost well over $100 million. Bigger planes don't only cost more in terms of the initial price and depreciation but are also more expensive to maintain.
What is the cost of operating a private plane?
Cost of operating a private plane would largely depend upon the actual usage and will vary with the size and age of the private plane. It may, therefore, not be possible to put an exact number here. But apart from the high variable expenses on fuel and other items, the owners will have to consider crew salaries, insurance, hangar costs and expenses on routine check-up and maintenance as well.
Talking in broad terms, while the estimated variable cost could be upwards of $1.5m per year, the fixed costs may be an additional $0.5 million or more per year for a small private plane. For bigger private planes, the fixed and variable costs and consequently the total cost of operating the plane would be significantly higher.
While talking about the estimated hourly cost, it may be interesting to note that the less you fly your aircraft, the higher will the hourly cost be. These operating costs will also depend upon the country where you base your aircraft, its flying efficiency, your skills while negotiating with the aircraft management company and many other factors.
2. Yachts
Owning a yacht is proof enough of your being extremely rich. The cost of acquiring a yacht would depend upon a number of factors including its length, the year in which it was built, the builder of the yacht, the number of guests that it can accommodate and the number of cabins it has. The cost could, accordingly, be anywhere upwards of $1.1 billion.
Many people with a whole lot of wealth prefer to buy a superyacht which may cost tens and sometimes, even hundreds of millions of dollars with the annual upkeep costs running into seven figures. These include routine maintenance expenses, gas prices, crew salaries and taxes.
A 100-meter long super yacht having a top speed of 25 knots would cost close to $275 million and will need a crew of around 50 members. Larger superyachts cost much more. Annual dockage fees, insurance and crew salaries run into millions of dollars. It is estimated that on an average, the owner may have to spend around 10% of the initial cost of the yacht on its upkeep every year.
Owning and maintaining a yacht or a super yacht is a hobby or style that only the super rich can afford to indulge in.
3. Luxury Cars
Owning luxury cars such as Mercedes S-Class, Range Rover, Bentley Mulsanne Speed, Rolls-Royce Ghost, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7 Series or any other luxury car for that matter is a definite sign that you do have a lot of money and wealth. These luxury cars offer exclusive features with a touch of class.
Though some people may think that you are showing off your wealth by using these luxury cars, the fact remains that these luxury cars are truly pleasing to your senses. You do get a great feeling when you use these luxury cars.
4. Golf Resort
Owning a golf resort is another sure-shot indication that you do have lots of money. An 18-hole golf course could easily cost you between $2 to $7 million, depending upon the actual location and quality. This would exclude your investment in land, maintenance equipment, clubhouse and cart fleet.
The rich also show off their wealth through buying diamonds, expensive engagement rings and sports cars in addition to yachts, golf resorts, luxury cars and private planes as detailed above. They even show off their money by going on luxury holidays and by travelling to exotic locations. Some of the other ways in which the rich show off their money include sending their children to expensive schools and colleges abroad, arranging lavish weddings for their kin, organizing charity events, acquiring exclusive art collections and making hefty donations for social causes.
5. Diamonds
It is not possible to talk or write about Rich without mentioning about their love for diamonds. Rich and their diamonds are inseparable. Men often gift their ladies expensive diamonds. The occasion or purpose could be anything from birthday gift, engagement, marriage anniversary, they love to show off their diamond jewellery on social media as well.
But do you know that besides genuine diamonds, rich women also have a good collection of fake diamonds or artificial diamonds. You may wonder that despite loads of money why they still go in for fakes. Well the possible reasons for using fake diamonds could be saving on insurance costs, less fuss about care in keeping them, saving costs of guards or bodyguards.
To Sum Up
All the wealthy people in the world may not possess many luxury cars, private planes, yachts, sports cars, private islands or golf resorts of their own. But even some of these would be enough to prove that they are indeed rich.
Dear Readers,
Hope you enjoyed reading this article. Here are a few more articles recommended for you, just click on the link:
- Best Passive Residual Income Ideas
- Best Work from Home Ideas for Housewives
- Five Steps to Investing in Stock Market
- How to Start a Business with No Money

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Mission & Vision
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to show the love of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet,
whether in our church or without, whether we agree with them or not, whether they return our love or not,
so that we might serve our community and do all we can to share the Good News, by God's grace and strength.
Leadership Team:
Our leadership team recognizes the authority of God, and realizes that we are shepherds who serve under the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We desire to devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. Our passion and goal is to equip the believers for the work of the ministry until we all attain maturity in the fullness of Christ.
Carolyn Nye, Preschool Director
Caroline oversees the daily operations of the Good Shepherd Preschool. She has a degree in elementary education from Grace College in Winona Lake, and her masters from St. Francis University in Fort Wayne. A life-long member of the Church of the Good Shepherd, she joined the preschool staff in the fall of 2009 after retiring from Pierceton Community School district where she was a teacher for 41 years. Caroline lives in Warsaw with her dog and two birds. The most rewarding aspect as the director is observing the academic, social, physical, and spiritual growth of each preschool child.
What we believe:
Jesus Christ, the living Word, became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. He who is true God became true man united in one person forever. He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. On the third day He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Mediator. The Holy Spirit has come to glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to our hearts. He convicts us of sin and draws us to the Savior. By dwelling in our hearts, He gives us new life, empowers and imparts gifts to us for service. He instructs, guides us into all truth, and seals us for the day of redemption.


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Adaptive social protection (ASP) helps to build the resilience of poor and vulnerable households to the impacts of large, covariate shocks, such as natural disasters, economic crises, pandemics, conflict, and forced displacement. ... Exibir mais + Through the provision of transfers and services directly to these households, ASP supports their capacity to prepare for, cope with, and adapt to the shocks they face, before, during, and after these shocks occur. Over the long term, by supporting these three capacities, ASP can provide a pathway to a more resilient state for households that may otherwise lack the resources to move out of chronically vulnerable situations. Adaptive Social Protection: Building Resilience to Shocks outlines an organizing framework for the design and implementation of ASP, providing insights into the ways in which social protection systems can be made more capable of building household resilience. By way of its four building blocks, programs, information, finance, and institutional arrangements and partnerships, the framework highlights both the elements of existing social protection systems that are the cornerstones for building household resilience, as well as the additional investments that are central to enhancing their ability to generate these outcomes. In this report, the ASP framework and its building blocks have been elaborated primarily in relation to natural disasters and associated climate change. Nevertheless, many of the priorities identified within each building block are also pertinent to the design and implementation of ASP across other types of shocks, providing a foundation for a structured approach to the advancement of this rapidly evolving and complex agenda. Exibir menos -
Publicação 148677 JAN 01, 2020
Bowen,Thomas Vaughan; Del Ninno,Carlo; Andrews,Colin; Coll-Black,Sarah; Gentilini,Ugo; Johnson, Kelly; Kawasoe,Yasuhiro; Kryeziu,Adea; Maher,Barry Patrick; Williams,Asha M. Disclosed
Rapid social response program progress report 2017-18 (English) The report covers Rapid Social Response Program (RSR) activities during calendar year 2017 (January–December 2018), which includes the fiscal years (FYs) 2016 and 2017. ... Exibir mais + During this period, the RSR approved the Round 10 call for proposals, which is reflected in the information and data provided in this report. Since the previous reporting period, the RSR has completed an additional four rounds of calls for proposals— Rounds 11, 12, 13, and 14. Reference is made to Round 15 in the report, but it is not included in the reported sums. The RSR Multi-Donor Trust Fund (MDTF) program was established in 2009, in partnership with the World Bank, to help the world`s poorest countries build effective social protection systems. The RSR MDTF is supported by Australia, Norway, the Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United Kingdom and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Exibir menos -
Relatório Anual 145191 JAN 01, 2019
Sipos,Sandor; Kryeziu,Adea; Lundberg,Mattias K. A.; Ellaham,Inas J. Disclosed
This report examines the system of residential electricity subsidies in Pakistan, and explores how it can be improved to better assist households within the existing political and budgetary constraints. ... Exibir mais + The report is multi-disciplinary in nature, drawing on specially commissioned analysis of survey and administrative data on household electricity consumption, as well as a qualitative assessment of household and service provider attitudes and experiences. Based on the findings of this research, the report suggests various ways in which the Government of Pakistan can better target subsidies and manage the reform in a politically sensitive manner. The report is structured as follows: chapter I describes the current system of electricity subsidies in Pakistan and the pricing mechanism, takes stock of international experience on energy subsidy reforms, and highlights the importance of considering subsidies as part of the broader social safety net. Chapter II examines the relationship between electricity consumption and welfare using household survey and electricity company microdata. Chapter III presents the findings of the qualitative study, illustrating how households use electricity, manage their bills, and cope with increasing electricity costs and service disruptions. Finally, chapter IV summarizes the policy implications arising from the multi-disciplinary study, and presents recommendations on how to improve the affordability of electricity for households in need in a manner that is politically acceptable and sustainable. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho ACS22806 AUG 04, 2017
Kryeziu,Adea; Canpolat,Ezgi; Khan,Farah Khalid; Walker,Thomas Disclosed
The Rapid Social Response Program (RSR) multidonor program was established in 2009 to help the world's poorest countries, in partnership with the World Bank, to build effective social protection systems. ... Exibir mais + The RSR is supported by the Russian Federation, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Sweden. Since its inception in 2009, the RSR in addition to becoming a widely recognized brand name associated with social protection (SP) systems building has undergone several transformations, in line with development needs worldwide. Since Phase 1 (2009–12), launched to assist countries in addressing urgent social needs stemming from crises and helping them build the capacity and institutions to better respond to future crises, the RSR has morphed into Phase 2 (2012 onwards), which supports the agenda of social protection and labor (SPL) systems building. Cross-sectoral by nature, the RSR has also managed to move beyond the core SPL areas to include other priorities that are easily linked to SPL operations, including gender, nutrition, employment, and more recently disaster risk management. The RSR is one of the key instruments for implementing the World Bank's 2012–2022 Social Protection and Labor Strategy for Resilience, Equity and Opportunity, mainly in countries eligible for International Development Association (IDA) support. This 2015–16 Progress Report of the Rapid Social Response Program (RSR) summarizes the progress made by the program between January 2014 and December 2015. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho 116339 JAN 01, 2017
Mori,Hideki; Kryeziu,Adea; Ellaham,Inas J. Disclosed
This paper examines the economic and social implications of the current system of residential electricity subsidies in Pakistan, and assesses the potential to improve the system's outcomes through alternative targeting and program design. ... Exibir mais + The analysis is multi-disciplinary in nature, drawing on national household survey data, electric company data on household electricity consumption, a welfare database, and a specially commissioned qualitative assessment of household and service provider attitudes and experiences. Affordability is only one of many concerns among electricity users, with reliability of supply and customer service being arguably more important. The analysis finds that targeting could be improved considerably by allocating subsidies according to proxy-means test scores using an existing national proxy-means test database. Providing a flat credit rather than a price subsidy could also alleviate certain governance concerns. The paper concludes with some guidance on how to carry out these reforms based on international experience. Exibir menos -
Documento de trabalho sobre pesquisa de políticas WPS7912 DEC 13, 2016
Walker,Thomas; Canpolat,Ezgi; Khan,Farah Khalid; Kryeziu,Adea Disclosed
This study examines the role of social protection programming, and programming design and implementation features, that are prominent in fragile and conflict-affected states. ... Exibir mais + The main objective is to build on existing, available information from a sample of fragile and conflict-affected countries and develop operational guidance that addresses policy, design, and implementation issues and offers operational solutions for social protection programming and policy making in different fragile settings. The analysis showcases the universe of social protection objectives that are evident in these countries as well as the programming trends, types, coverage, and expenditure patterns. The paper also examines dimensions specific to fragile and conflict-affected settings in implementing social protection and labor programs, such as social cohesion, the role of community-driven development, and postwar benefits. Finally, the study highlights social protection and labor program delivery in seven different country contexts, and discusses the country-specific programming options chosen to achieve the objectives and overcome capacity and operational constraints. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho (Série Numerada) 96378 APR 01, 2015
Ovadiya,Mirey; Kryeziu,Adea; Masood,Syeda; Zapatero Larrio,Eric Disclosed
This discussion paper is the first output under the umbrella of the programmatic work on social protection in fragile and conflict-affected states. ... Exibir mais + This work aims to develop operational guidance to teams on the likely determinants of effective social protection programming and policy making in fragile and conflict-affected settings. This paper elaborates on the role of social protection programming, and programming design and implementation features, that are prominent in fragile and conflict-affected states. In particular, the paper objectives in these countries, reflects on their revealed objectives, and discusses programming options chosen to achieve those objectives as well as how several countries have overcome particular operational and capacity constraints. This paper presents a methodology that has been devised to group countries based on income, capacity, and extent of enabling environment. Use of this methodology will aid in understanding trends, patterns, and key factors in policy making and programming choices, good and bad. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho 99494 JAN 01, 2015
Ovadiya,Mirey; Kryeziu,Adea; Masood,Syeda; Zapatero Larrio,Eric Disclosed
This review examines World Bank support to social safety nets between FY2007-13, including both financing and knowledge services. During this time period World Bank financing for safety nets totaled just over United States (U.S.) 12 billion dollars, 273 financing activities in 93 countries, the World Bank spent approximately U.S. 118 million dollars on 281 safety net studies and supported approximately 129 credible safety net impact evaluations covering in 24 countries. ... Exibir mais + Among the 93 countries represented in the portfolio, 42 received little or no safety net support from the World Bank prior to FY2007. The growth in Bank support is especially notable during the period of the food, fuel, and financial crises. The analysis delves into these trends by region, type of intervention, and instruments involved. Finally, it delineates implications and outlook for the future based on lessons learned, results measured, and evaluative evidence. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho (Série Numerada) 90187 JUN 01, 2014
Andrews, Colin; Kryeziu, Adea; Seo, Dahye Disclosed
A decade has passed since the World Bank introduced its social risk management framework and launched its first social protection strategy. During that time, the work of the World Banks social protection sector has grown, innovated and played a critical role in supporting developing countries, most notably in managing the social impacts of the recent global economic crisis. ... Exibir mais + In order to respond more effectively to the emerging, fast-changing and challenging demands expected in the coming decade, the World Bank Group is preparing a new social protection strategy, to be finalized in early 2012. The new strategy will shape the World Banks work in social protection for the next 10 years (2012-2022). The development of the social protection strategy was supported by a global multi-stakeholder consultation process seeking to elicit views and inputs in as broad, inclusive and transparent a manner as possible. Specifically, the consultations aimed to: i) create a vibrant space for dialogue with stakeholders to share their views on challenges and new and emerging opportunities for social protection policies and programs; ii) obtain inputs and feedback from stakeholders on improved social protection policies, programs and other mechanisms in developing countries; and iii) expand and deepen channels for ongoing engagement with key stakeholders beyond strategy development and toward strategy implementation, so that the World Banks social protection efforts can continue to benefit from different perspectives and experiences. Exibir menos -
Documento de Trabalho 82582 MAR 01, 2012
Costella, Cecilia; Kryeziu, Adea Disclosed
|Data do documento
|Relat�rio N�.
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|Also available in
|Adaptive Social Protection : Building Resilience to Shocks (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Rapid Social Response Program Progress Report 2017-18 (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Relatório Anual
|Residential electricity subsidies in Pakistan : targeting, welfare impacts, and options for reform (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de Trabalho
|Progress report 2015–2016 : rapid social response program (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de Trabalho
|Residential electricity subsidies in Pakistan : targeting, welfare impacts, and options for reform (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de trabalho sobre pesquisa de políticas
|Social protection in fragile and conflict-affected countries : trends and challenges (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de Trabalho (Série Numerada)
|Social protection in fragile and conflict-affected countries : trends and challenges (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de Trabalho
|World Bank support for social safety nets 2007-2013 : a review of financing, knowledge services, and results (Inglês) Exibir mais +
|Documento de Trabalho (Série Numerada)
|Resilience, equity and opportunity : the World Bank's social protection and labor strategy 2012-2022 - consultations report (Inglês) Exibir mais +
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You are here
Algerians rally even after ex-premiers detained
By AFP - Jun 16,2019 - Last updated at Jun 16,2019
Algerians brandishing national flags take part in a weekly demonstration in the capital Algiers, on Friday (AFP photo)
ALGIERS — Demonstrators rallied in the Algerian capital on Friday to keep up their demands for the ouster of all officials linked to the former president, unappeased by the detention of two ex-premiers.
The protest came a day after former prime minister Abdelmalek Sellal joined a long list of prominent politicians and businessmen who have been detained as part of investigations into corruption.
"Thieves, you have pillaged the country," the crowds of protesters marching in Algiers chanted.
"They deserve what they got... and they must be held accountable by the people for their actions," said protester Mohammed, who declined to give his surname.
Thursday's supreme court decision against Sellal, an ally of ex-president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, came a day after another former premier, Ahmed Ouyahia, was also remanded in custody as part of a graft probe.
"Jailing Ouyahia and Sellal is an excellent thing," said Cherif Tigrin, a 40-year-old carpenter taking part in the massive rally in the centre of Algiers.
"But we must continue" to protest as long as Bouteflika's cronies remain in power, he said.
Algerians have been holding massive protests since February, after an ailing Bouteflika announced plans to seek a fifth term in office.
The veteran leader resigned on April 2 as the pressure against him to quit mounted from all sides, only hours after army chief and close ally Gen. Ahmed Gaid Salah demanding impeachment proceedings against him.
Gaid Salah has since emerged as a key power broker in the north African country.
Although the army chief has ordered anti-corruption investigations in the country, according to observers, he has not won favour with the demonstrators who are also calling for his departure.
"Gaid Salah to the [rubbish] bin," protesters chanted on Friday, according to footage posted online by local journalists.
They also called on interim president Abdelkader Bensalah and his prime minister, Noureddine Bedoui, to step down.
Several demonstrators also held up signs to mark the 18th anniversary of the "Black Spring" bloody riots of 2001, sparked by the death of a high school student in a police station in the Kabylie region.
The mountainous Kabylie region east of Algiers is home to the largest Berber community in Algeria who have long suffered marginalisation.
"April 2001 and February 2019... the struggle continues," read one of the signs.
Demonstrations also took place on Friday in several other Algerian cities and towns, according to social media reports.
It was not immediately clear, however, how many protesters took to the streets nationwide as official figures were unavailable.
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At present, seven agencies are using the Family Care Model with parents at their sites, and a number of other agencies are interested in beginning the program shortly. The AAPI tool with over 30 years of reliability and validity is being used to measure improvement in the parental attitudes INCLUDING: 1- belief in corporal punishment, 2- lack of empathy, 3- parent/child role-reversing, 4- inappropriate expectations, 5- oppression of children's independence and autonomy.
Preliminarily, Family Care is showing promise. Retention rates for parent trainings are high and agency directors have noted positive differences in parents being supportive of one another outside the group. Self-evaluations of staff trained in the Family Care Curriculum suggest that the transfer of knowledge enhances staff relationship skills both at work and in their personal lives. Feedback from all the trainers presently using Family Care has been that group facilitation has gone surprisingly well and they are definitely seeing a difference in the parents and their interactions with their children weeks and months after the training.
Anecdotally, the majority of parents trained have reported positive changes in attitudes about their children and themselves, and shifts in parental behaviors to being more available, consistent, and providing more nurturance. Parents reported better understanding their children's behaviors, and learning different ways to discipline. This seemed to translate to feeling better about themselves as parents and having the ability to better enjoy their children. In addition, it appears to be helping often difficult-to-engage parents pro-actively seek the support of their COMMUNITY and become active participants in wanting to improve their parenting skills.
More than half of AAPI participant post-test scores demonstrate improvement from very high levels of risk in all five parental attitudes. Significant is that for the number of participants that took the Family Care Training a second time, they demonstrated continued improvement both at pre-testing of the second training and on their final post-testing. This seems to indicate that positive parental attitude changes are staying stable and may in fact be continuing to improve as time progresses.
In order to measure the significance of changes in parenting attitudes prior to and following participation in the FCC, dependent sample t-tests were performed on AAPI pre-and-post-tests from 27 mothers. T-tests were chosen because they can be used with a relatively small sample size. Two out of five of the parental attitudes (Inappropriate or appropriate Parental expectations and Stifling or Allowing Child Autonomy and Independence) on the AAPI evidenced statistical significance in the anticipated direction from pre-to-post-test (p< .09, ES=.25; and p< .007, ES= .70). Two other attitudes (Belief in Corporal Punishment and Reversing Family Roles) moved in the anticipated direction but did not reach statistical significance. These findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of FCC for promoting positive changes in parenting attitudes and beliefs.
The attitude of Parental Empathy also evidenced statistical significance but not in the anticipated direction (p>.09; ES=.35). This finding did not correlate with responses given by these mothers in the qualitative post-test. One possible explanation for this could be that "empathy" is a more complex construct and attitudes/beliefs related to empathy may take a longer time to develop. Additionally, there could have been other confounding factors to explain these scores such as stress/exhaustion for mothers who had birthed additional children during the intervention and possible mental health issues. Further research is needed to better understand this phenomenon.
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Sometimes I just like to reflect on life…
As I lay in the sun on my own on a beach in Koh Samui, I am able to stop and think.
These past 6 months or so have been hectic. I've never been too good at being still. I am constantly on the move, doing something or thinking about my next step.
I definitely believe that your life is what you make it… If your not happy , change or move, just don't complain.
People might see me as "lucky" or envy what I am doing. I am constantly gratefully for my life and the opportunities I've had but I had to make that big step first.
I love my life. I love travelling. I love meeting new people. I love teaching. I love exploring new parts of the world.
All I can say I made the choice to give up the familiar in my home country and get out my comfort zone. Money is not an excuse. I learnt to budget and prioritise my money. I did not have thousands in the bank but had enough to get a flight and first month of living. I moved to Thailand and found a job, where I saved more to travel and move to the next country to work. My life is packed in one bag and at the moment I'm country hopping. Over the last year, I have lived in South Africa, Thailand and so far travelled Burma, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. I have experienced and seen some incredible things, and learnt huge amounts and grown as a person.
Are you doing what you love? What do you need to change? I would urge everyone to travel and live the life they want.
Do you need to reflect on your life?
10 Nov 2015 Leave a comment
in Adventure, Thailand, Thoughts, Travel
Sometimes I just like to reflect on life…


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5 Winter Makeup Trends From 2013 Fashion Week
The 5 Winter Makeup Trends to Try Right Now
The 5 Winter Makeup Trends to Try Right Now
Back in March, we showed you the 2013 Autumn Winter fashion shows — always a celeb-filled, dreamy time — to get inspired by the beauty trends that were set to roll out as the weather cooled down. Now that we're officially in Winter, it's time for a refresher course! There were five prominent makeup trends amongst a sea of equally beautiful looks, and the best part is they're all wearable. From eyes to lips and skin, it's all typically rich and Winter-y — enough to have you greeting the cold season like an old friend. Click through to see the five Winter makeup trends to try now!
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The sub, the hoagie, the grinder, and the hero: Depending on where you sit or where you're from, these either describe four distinct styles of sandwich or serve as regional variants, the savory and bread-encased version of the perennial soda-versus-pop debate that can arise at a moment's notice. The sub can be a handheld operation; the sub can also be the six-foot-long meal that's served up for you and dozens of guests while watching sports. It can involve cold cuts, cheese, oil and vinegar, and salt and pepper, or it can involve no meat at all; the ingredients can be piping hot or freshly removed from a refrigerator. But what makes one truly great, and how can you make your own?
Geography may play a role in what subs someone considers iconic. A long-running fixture at Rutgers University are the grease trucks, whose staple sandwiches involve taking virtually every form of deep-fried food and placing it within a long roll. (They have their own Wikipedia page.) Some Floridians swear by the subs from the grocery store Publix. The sandwiches from Atlantic City's storied White House Sub Shop fall into yet another archetype, with meat, cheese, and peppers all in the mix. In New York City, you can find traditional deli subs along with sandwiches from chefs who are taking the form in unexpected (yet delicious) directions.
One of those chefs is Tyler Kord, co-founder of New York's No. 7 Sub, a place that's redefined the sandwich for a number of New Yorkers. (And possibly beyond: a cookbook deal was announced last year.) The anything-goes aesthetic at the heart of No.7 Sub seems rooted in Kord's own approach to the sub. "For me," he told me, "a perfect sub is a sub roll with whatever the hell I feel like eating inside of it."
A quick glance at the menu of one of No.7 Sub's locations reveals an approach that balances the traditional with the unexpected: though you can get sandwiches featuring savory ingredients, whether ham, turkey, or seitan, there's also a beloved sandwich where broccoli is at the heart of the sub. (Kord has, in fact, written a volume in the Short Stack series on the vegetable in question.) "I look at a sub as being no different from a plate of food: that hero roll is what makes a sub, but anything goes as far as what goes in it" he said. "I think a lot of people think of a sub as being a compilation of Boar's Head meats and cheeses. That's totally fine, and that's what you get at the bodega, but like any food — if you made a plate out of that, that also would not be particularly exciting. It doesn't change for me too much if it's between two rolls."
For Kord, his first notable encounter with a sub came in upstate New York. "It was at a place called Shortstop Deli in Ithaca, New York," he said. "They are an Ithaca-style deli, they say, but to this day I don't totally know what that means. I was a really picky eater as a kid, and I would go there and get roast beef with lettuce and tomato on a roll. It was my favorite thing ever. With lots of salt on it." He went on to make something clear, though: "What I make has very little to do with that."
When asked what his favorite sub in New York is, Kord's answer gets at the heart of the debates that can arise when talking about subs. "The hot roast beef with fried eggplant and fresh mozzarella at Defonte's in Red Hook is easily my favorite sub sandwich in the city," he told me. "But again, I think they would probably take issue with it being called a sub." Regardless of what you call it, the savory meals that fit within a roll (or sometimes spill out of them) are a favorite lunch or dinner for a good reason. And, as Kord's approach to sandwiches shows, the possibilities are limitless.
Classic New England Lobster Grinder
- Meat from the claws, knuckles, and tail of a 1 1/4 pound lobster cut into small chunks with any cartilage and the dark vein-like organs from the tail removed
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 4 lemon wedges
- 1 medium stalk of celery, finely diced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
- Pepper (optional)
- 2 pieces of Italian bread or baguettes
- Mix the lobster meat with the mayonnaise and dried taragon in a bowl. It should very lightly coat the lobster. That's all.
- Add a dash of pepper Add the diced celery if you want some crunch. Mix again to distribute the pepper and celery. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
- Fill the bread with the lobster, squeeze lemon on top, serve.
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Riesling 2016
Our Riesling is produced from 5 different clones enhancing the continued varietal flavours. Brilliantly clear with a steely crispness, initial light floral aromas, followed with citrus flavours and hints of musk.
"Old Cherry Block" Sauvignon Blanc 2018
This wine is clean & bright, displaying quite crisp fruit characteristics, a hint of lychee, pear & sweet lime flavours that lead to a rich full finish.
"Not Shy" Pinot Noir Rose 2017
Light and crisp, flavours of fresh strawberries and cherries with a dry finish.
"Old Apple Block" Chardonnay 2016
After spending 10 months in French oak (30% new), this wine is brilliant straw green in colour with a fine citrus mid palate with hints of cashew and displays a struck match yeasty complexity from time spent on lees. A wine with natural harmony, poise, balance and an exciting future.
"Old Pump Shed" Pinot Noir 2016
Deep crimson in colour with rich aromas of strawberry and rhubarb, the mid palate displays flavours of sageand dark fruits with a typical vineyard earthiness which leads to a savoury textural finish with gentle firm tannins. An extremely well balanced wine that will reward patient cellaring.
Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2016
Displaying true characteristics of a cool climate Shiraz with flavours of red and blue berries, hints of white pepper and spice. Gentle tannins from time spent in French oak (30% new). A wine with elegance poise and wonderful length. Allow time in the cellar


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Would you like to schedule an appointment, have questions, or just want to say "Hello"?
Please fill out the below form. Or as always you can call 904-228-3441
In Person and Distance Sessions are by appointment only.
Office Address Florida:
2825 North Tenth Street, #A-4
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
Office Address Tennessee:
1012 Rennboro Road
Knoxville, TN 37923-1927


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Quality SARMs in Europe
At Sarm4you we sell high-quality selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs). We are a company that strives to put the best quality sarms on the European market. There are a lot of companies selling underdosed, low-quality products against ridiculous prices. They often have terrible customer support and do not keep their promises. This is why Sarms4you was formed, we saw an opportunity to give customers a high-quality product that gives the promised results against reasonable prices.
Lab testing
Quality is very important to us, that is why we perform lab tests on every raw SARM powder batch we receive from our manufacturer. By doing so we can guarantee high-quality products for our customers. We believe every customer should get the same quality products they pay for, in order to get the best results. We are slowly taking over the European market by offering our customers quality SARMs, excellent customer support and listening to the feedback we receive from our customers.
Our products
We currently have every SARM available in either capsule or powder form. Currently, we are shipping our products worldwide. Once your order has been placed, we will ship it out within 24 to 48 hours. When your order has been shipped out you will receive an email containing a track and trace to follow your order.
If you have any questions regarding our products, delivery or the use of SARMs you can always contact us through e-mail. If by reading this you have gotten curious about our products, check them out on our product page.
- LGD-4033 (Ligandrol);
- MK-2866 (Ostarine);
- MK-677 (Ibutamoren);
- SR-9009 (Stenabolic);
- S-4 (Andarine);
- Rad-140 (Testolone);
- GW-501516 (Cardarine);


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Good things take its time, so it took us a while to find two more members for our SILENT.PUBG team. Finally xElesde and Ownkel found their team mates and we're happy to introduce them to you!
Benjamin "bancholinho" Grenacher
Benjamin "bancholinho" Grenacher started playing tactical shooters competitively with Rainbow Six Raven Shield in 2003. After the game and it's scene died, he went on with other games like Battlefield 3, Rust and Overwatch. While playing the newly released PUBG, he was randomly matched with Ownkel, who was an old buddy of his. Eventually he became interested in playing competitively again.
Pascal "Sjoo" Hofer
Sjoo is a PC gamer since day one. He has experience in many competitive games like Counter-Strike, Battlefield, Call of Duty and Rocket League. As a part of the #SILENTFamily he started playing PLAYER UNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS with Ownkel & Elesde and eventually joined them, to be part of the newly formed SILENT.PUBG squad.
˝We are very excited to finally complete our roster and are hyped for the future.˝
Find more about SILENT.PUBG on their team page!
Welcome to the #SILENTFamily to both of our new players! We're excited to see the squad participate in many cups and tournaments and of course we'll keep you up to date!
"With the addition of bancholinho and Sjoo to our team we can finally look forward to participate in squad competitions. Both are good friends of us and talented players in the battleground. Sjoo is a very good marksman and rarely misses a shot with his beloved Kar'98, on the other hand bancholinho saved our lives many times, when reviving us at the perfect moment in the worst situations imaginable, resulting in us winning the fight and eventually the game. We are very excited to finally complete our roster and are hyped for the future." - Marc "Elesde" Rais


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An Astronauts Guide to Life pt1; Towards a Cosmic Consciousness- The Overview Effect and Orbital Perspective.
Click to Listen;
Back in the early days of the manned space program there had been a lot of concern about something that psychiatrists were referring to as the "break-off phenomenon," the notion that you would feel disconnected from the earth and it's people when you were above it, particularly when you were in orbit.
But when Manned spaceflight actually began to occur something unexpected happened.
Apollo 14 astronaut, Edgar Mitchell reported experiencing a profound sense of connectedness, with a feeling of bliss and timelessness. He was overwhelmed by the experience.
He said;
"Every two minutes, a picture of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun — a 360-degree panorama of the heavens — appeared in the spacecraft window. And I'd studied astronomy, and I'd studied cosmology, and I fully understood that the molecules in my body and the molecules in my partners' bodies and the molecules in the spacecraft had been prototyped in this amazing generation of stars — in other words, it was pretty obvious … we're stardust."
He became profoundly aware that each and every atom in the Universe was connected in some way, and on seeing Earth from space he had an understanding that all the humans, animals and systems were a part of the same thing, a synergistic whole.
This sermon was recorded on Jan 18th, 2015 at Unity Church of Flint in Michigan. In it I share a fascinating phenomenon that I recently discovered, that each of the 538 people who have viewed the earth from space has been indelibly altered by the experience. Each and every one has reported the feeling of a profound sense of interconnectedness, that each and every atom in the Universe was connected in some way; that all the humans,
animals and systems were a part of the same thing, a synergistic whole, that "there are no borders or boundaries on our planet except those that we create in our minds or through human behaviors…
That all those things that separate use from each other; geographic boundaries,
politics, religious ideologies and creedal differences are all created by man,
not by the universe, not by God.
Harvard trained science writer Frank White call this the "Overview Effect," and formed an institute to study this. Working with Astronauts and Neuroscientists, and astronauts they have determined that this shift in consciousness actually seems to "rewire" the same areas of the brain that are lit up when Buddhist Monks meditate, and religious people pray. I point out that 21st century scientist such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, and 12th century mystics such as Hildegard of Bingen both used the same terms to describe this same thing. I then explore the idea that many, including Astronaut Ron Garan and others believe that this "Orbital Perspective" will be put in the hands of more and more people as low cost spaceflight and high definition video will become the norm, and with that shift may come the true Cosmic Consciousness that spiritual practitioners have yearned for… and we can save the world.
This sermon was greatly inspired by this amazing video that I stumbled upon in my research. I don't know whether to suggest you watch it before or after my sermon, you'll have to decide.


text: Count Dr. Michael Roizen of the Cleveland Clinic among those who see a concept called body age as a potentially effective tool to help Americans get healthier. The anesthesiologist and internist is among the experts quoted in this New York Times story, which notes that doctors and health clubs increasingly are assigning patients and clients a body age that measures factors such as body fat, strength, cardiovascular condition and flexibility. The goal, obviously, is to have a body age that at least matches or preferably is lower than your actual age. In a boost for the concept, Bally Total Fitness next week will begin offering a test called RealAge nationwide, contending that with enough exercise anyone can attain the body of a teenager, according to The Times. But exercise is only part of the equation in lowering a persons body age. Dr. Roizen told The Times that he has spent decades trying to persuade his patients to stop smoking and to become more active. He had little success until one day when a 49-year-old patient about to undergo surgery asked about his chances for survival, according to the newspaper. I said, If you were only 49, you wouldnt have much risk, but your smoking makes you at least eight years older, Dr. Roizen recalled. If you stop smoking you can get one year younger in two months, and two years younger in five months. He did. That taught me that if we put it in age terms, we can motivate patients.


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The transcripts of the official inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the press.
It's possible, but so highly unlikely that I find it incredible.
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Extra Repayments
Repaying your loan over a shorter term will save you plenty. Use this calculator to determine how much is possible, and then give some thought on what you'll do with money. The longer the loan lasts the more money the bank will make in interest/fees/charges from you. We'd rather the money stays with you and this calculator is perfect to provide some motivation.


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|Home PageFramesOccasions Frame 4x6
Newbridge Silverware Occasions Frame 4x6 - €35.00
Silver plated Bridal frame with beaded edging and a protective anti tarnish layer, fits 4 x 6 photo, suitable for engraving, presented in a Newbridge Silverware gift box.
Each piece of Newbridge Silverware giftware has been created to the highest standards of design and excellence. All the products are individual and with a little care you can maintain the beauty and lustre of your piece. For more information, please visit our Advice for Giftware page.
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The city of festivals
Szczecin is the city I've always been connected with. I was born here, I grew up here, and I studied here. One would say I know it like the back of my hand. However, it can still surprise me a lot.
Apart from the green land and parks right in the city centre, where you can forget for a while about the everyday hustle and bustle, the city enchants you with its architecture and tenement houses, testifying to its former splendour. The Castle of the Pomeranian Princes (in Polish: Zamek Książąt Pomorskich), the Chrobry Walls, the Cathedral, the old "new" town – these are spots which I always include on the sightseeing map whenever anyone comes to visit me in my city. There are still magical spots of fascinating stories which you can discover in the Downtown.
Nevertheless, it is not only the greenery and buildings which make Szczecin what it is. This city is alive! Contrary to the common and harmful opinion, quite a lot of things happen here. October and November are the concert months; summer holidays are full of festivals and open-air events, spring months feature gardening fairs and picnics at the Oder, while in the winter you can grab a cup of tea and relax in the Club-Cafeteria in the Bogusław shopping arcade.
The Szczecin Rock Festival, organised not long ago, attracted crowds of music lovers to Szczecin, who wanted to listen to Polish and world-famous stars. More and more people are also coming to a yearly Szczecin event called InSpiracje. Another event, Kontrapunkt, features a variety of theatrical spectacles. Finally, various concerts are organised in the Castle, and the events called Okno and Westival are just about to start.
At night the city shows its different face. Warm street lighting makes it an ideal place for a walk, without the noise of cars and stressed people running in a hurry. Those who seek impressions are invited to clubs and pubs, which cater for all tastes.
You cannot say nothing happens here. All you need to do is just to find out what and where ;)
Aged 30, a graduate from the Interior Decoration Department at the West Pomeranian University of Technology


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A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to go with Sylvia to look at the former Hardy's restaurant which is currently being refurbished, part of No.14 High Street, the building described in Sylvia's post about Thomas Byngley.
It's a fascinating building with features from different periods of its long history. The basic structure is a large stone-built house dating from Tudor times (one of a series along the lower part of the High Street). This section also has a rather fine Victorian or Edwardian shop front. Inside, the main front room has an old fireplace surrounded by Art Nouveau tiles, but the main feature of this room is a remarkable painted ceiling.
Darkened by decades of smoke from coal fires, candles and tobacco, the design is quite hard to make out. It consists of a wide border around the edge of the ceiling edged by painted studs, containing a design of stylised plants and leaves. In each corner and in the centre of each side is a roundel, again outlined in studs, containing a painted head or figure. The main figures seem to be a male head on one side and a female head, wearing a crown on the opposite side.
The other figures need much more study but may represent qualities like literature and art (this is just my guess!). One, for instance, seems to show a man in robes, sitting on clouds with a scroll in one hand and a quill in the other. The painting is not high art but looks professional. For instance the artist knows how to achieve a three dimensional effect. The hundreds of studs are all drawn with a carefully placed highlight as if lit from the large front window of the room. In spite of some cracking and a lot of darkening, the ceiling is remarkably well preserved.
So when was the painting done, who commissioned it, who carried it out and what does it represent? The style looks Victorian or pre-Victorian, perhaps from the time of William IV. William was the third son of George III who was made Duke of Clarence in 1789. He was notorious for living with his mistress, Dorothy Jordan, and having 10 children by her. In 1818, he married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen and in 1830, having outlived his brothers, he succeeded to the throne. The coronation was held in September 1831.
Maybe the male figure is William and the female figure is Princess Adelaide at the time of their marriage, which would account for her being shown with a crown and him without. Maybe they are Victoria and Albert, but he seems to be clean-shaven – no sign of the famous side whiskers!
It is hard to work out who was living in the premises in the 1830's (if this is the relevant date). Was it Francis King, brush maker and tin plate worker or West and Barter, surgeons, all listed in Pigot's 1830 directory? Was the room used as the family parlour or was it part of the business premises and what inspired the owner to order such a spectacular ceiling decoration? William Watts, painter, was listed in the 1841 census as living only a few doors away. Could he have been the artist? There are so many unanswered questions. Maybe someone can fill in the story? Anyway it's well worth going in to look at this fascinating ceiling when the premises is open for business again.


text: Eastern is a full-line distributor of pipe, valves, fittings, and commercial plumbing products. We also specialize in valve automation and pipe fabrication. We are committed to exceeding your expectations and strive to have a positive impact upon the lives of others by demonstrating the God-honoring values of Caring, Honesty, Integrity, Self-Responsibility, and Being Positive.


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There is always lots happening at Westpark Shannon and along the Atlantic Way Business Corridor. You can check out the latest news from Westpark Shannon and from the wider region right here, including new and expanding companies, regional developments, access news and more.
Financial Services company Pepper Ireland has announced that it is to add up to 50 new jobs to its Irish operation. The company employs around 300 people in Ireland between its bases at Westpark Business Campus Shannon and Hatch Street Upper in Dublin. Pepper will split the new positions between the two locations.
Westpark is delighted to welcome Hubbell Incorporated to Westpark.
Hubbell is an international manufacturer of quality electrical and electronic products for a broad range of non-residential and residential construction, industrial and utility applications. The Company operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the People's Republic of China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Australia. Hubbell, headquartered in the United States, also participates in joint ventures and maintains sales offices throughout the world.


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Monday's are always the hardest day to train for me, so why do I always do the hardest session of the week on a Monday? I am starting a new job on 1st Feb 2012, and one of the best things about my new job will be not having to leave home at 0530 on a Monday and drive 240miles to get to the office. I wonder how much more energy I'll have all week?
Today's session was 7 x 1k, and I decided just to go for the same starting pace as I did on the 750s last week. It turned out to be just a bit too fast to maintain today, mentally at least.
7 x 1k / 2min rest:
3:22.9 / 1:41.4 / 29
3:22.9 / 1:41.4 / 29
3:22.9 / 1:41.4 / 29
3:23.6 / 1:41.8 / 29
3:23.4 / 1:41.7 / 29
3:23.1 / 1:41.5 / 29
3:19.4 / 1:39.7 / 30
7k = 23:38.2 / 1:41.3 / 29
I had to play mental games to get through this one. I had to let the pace drift just a little through 4, 5 and 6 rather than trying to be too specific just to take a bit of the effort away. Somehow I convince myself that I've done the pace for 750m reps, so just get through the first 750m of each rep. Then it's just another 25 strokes and you don't want to let the pace drift and waste all the hard work then.
The 2min rest periods felt plenty long enough. I don't think the pace would have been much different down to even half the rest. It is close to my current sustainable limits for this type of length session, but slow enough to recover aerobically from pretty quickly.


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Guinness Record House of Cards Built on Running LG Washer
Hey kids, let's try this at home.
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
Promotional gimmicks are a dime a dozen. But we have to admit, this stunt really got its point across with a Royal Flush.
To show how a washer's new damping system might greatly reduce vibration and noise levels, LG Electronics hired a professional card stacker to break the record for the tallest house of cards built in 12 hours, as certified by Guinness World Records.
The coup de grace? He had to stack the cards on top of the LG Centum washing machine while it was spinning at 1,000 RPM.
For more than three decades, card stacker Bryan Berg has been building amazing structures using only playing cards—no tape or glue, no bending or folding. He set his first Guinness World Record in 1992 at the age of 17 and has been constructing increasingly elaborate creations ever since.
It doesn't take much to knock down these ephemeral buildings, so surely making a structure with playing cards on top of a washing machine tumbling away must have been one of his greatest challenges.
Or maybe it wasn't—and that was exactly what LG wanted to showcase. The LG Centum washer introduces a new damping system equipped with shock absorbers, like you would find in a car. According to LG, they substantially reduce the vibration and noise typical of most washers.
But if you're in the habit of just turning the washer on and leaving the room, why does a damping system matter? Well, the excessive vibration of a typical washer causes wear and tear on parts, potentially leading to costly repairs.
With the Centum system, the shocks serve as stabilizers. A fixed tub greatly reduces vibration and noise levels, keeping the drum steady during the spin cycle and limiting wear and tear, thus extending the life of the machine. LG is so confident in its new technology that the Inverter Direct Drive motors are covered by a 20-year warranty—double the industry standard. The Centum is a European washer, but similar technology is available on some of LG's U.S.-bound models.
An industry-busting warranty was probably the least of Berg's concerns. The tower he built atop the spinning LG Centum washing machine set a new world record for the tallest house of cards built in 12 hours. Rising 48 stories, or 10.7 feet in height, the stunt required some 10,800 cards.


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Feasibility assessment for a Colchis World Heritage site
The Michael Succow foundation conducts a feasibility assessment for the Colchic Forests and Wetlands following the methodological approach that has already been used for the Central Caucasus region to increase awareness in Georgia and particularly around the prospective site on the World Heritage Convention and the advantages of a World Heritage Site for the region. The overarching goal is to foster the protection of Colchic protected areas, inter alia through an increased international recognition as Colchis World Heritage site.
The Caucasus Ecoregion covers a total area of 580,000 km2 and is one of the most biologically rich regions on Earth. It is one of 34 "biodiversity hotspots" (Caucasus Global Biodiversity Hotspot) identified 2007 by Conservation International as being the richest and at the same time most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on Earth. The Colchic Forests and Wetlands are humid pleiocene/pleistocene refuge areas and among the ecosystem complexes with the longest uninterrupted existence in temperate Eurasia. Together with the Hyrcanic refugia in Azerbaijan and Iran, these Forests and Wetlands are considered a centre of plant endemism in the Caucasus (Ecoregional Conservation Plan for the Caucasus, 2012), preserving plant associations from the Tertiary period. In the last ten years, major efforts have been undertaken to preserve the unique biodiversity "hot-spots" in Georgia. Nevertheless, despite the substantial efforts in biodiversity conservation in the country, Georgia is still facing major challenges. Currently, in the South Caucasus only about 14% of forests are preserved in protected areas.
Since 1992 Georgia has been a Party to the World Heritage Convention. The Georgian authorities have acknowledged the importance of supporting a natural or mixed nomination, which is reflected in national legislation and regional plans. However, despite its crucial biodiversity value the rich natural ecosystems and the inclusion of four natural and mixed sites in Georgia's Tentative List, until now no natural or mixed sites have been nominated as potential UNESCO World Heritage site.
This project will be implemented by the Michael Succow Foundation in cooperation with WWF Caucasus and is funded by the German Federal Environment Ministry's Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP) for environmental protection in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia and other countries neighbouring the European Union. It is/was supervised by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the German Environment Agency (UBA).
Project coordination: Sophie Hirschelmann, email: sophie.hirschelmann(at)succow-stiftung.de


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There are so many ways to share doTERRA with others!
Whether you're feeling drawn to simply helping your friends and family with their health goals, or you're thinking of taking it to the next level and teaching classes, or even building a business, it all starts with simply sharing oils.
Getting comfortable using your oils is the first step. Carrying them with you in the form of roller bottles, sample drams, or straight up in your bag will make it easy!
Often people will just naturally ask about what that amazing smell is, and where it's coming from, or ask you what you're applying.
Sharing is the easy part. But how can you turn that into sales without being 'salesy'. How do you go from 'sharing', to 'building'?
Well first of all, life is full of sales. We are constantly selling, and being sold to. Authentic 'sales' really just means learning how to serve people in a way that feels good for both of you, and meets their needs.
When we 'sell' doTERRA, we are offering people the life changing gift of natural solutions for their health. We educate, and then we leave the ball in their court. Never being salesy or pushy. We simply let them decide. There are certainly tools and training we offer on our team, to help you find the words effectively, but that's what's at the heart of it.
So where do you start? You start with what feels good for you. There will be times when you'll need to step out of your comfort zone, sure. But if you never ever want to step foot behind a vendor table, you don't have to. Start where you feel excited and inspired.
If events do happen to be your thing, you might feel drawn to having that table at an expo, or holding DIY nights at your home. Maybe a 'Yoga & Oils' night would be right up your alley, at your wellness centre or yoga studio.
The great thing about this business is that you really can get creative and build it in an authentic way that honours you.
You can start by hosting a simple class. Hosting an essential oils class in person or online is a great way to earn free product, or even commissions!
Depending on your location, myself or one of my amazing team members can come and teach your first class or two, until you feel comfortable teaching yourself. And web classes are a great option if you're further away.
And while we're talking online options, the opportunity to expand your doTERRA business through a website and social media is endless.
For more details on how to share and build doTERRA, have a look at the articles 'Is this a pyramid scheme', and 'Are there any minimums or quotas?'


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Cornerback Tramaine Brock's tenure with the San Francisco 49ers ended on April 7 following his arrest on a domestic violence charge and it looks like that relationship with the team will not change. On Wednesday morning, a spokesman with the 49ers told NBC Sports Bay Area that the team has no interest in re-signing their former starting cornerback.
The incident, which took place the day before Brock's release from the 49ers, allegedly involved his 31-year-old girlfriend. Brock was accused of punching the woman in the face and multiple attempts of strangling her, to which Brock pleaded not guilty.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported on Wednesday that, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office, the charges against Brock have been dismissed.
The felony DV case against former 49ers CB Tramaine Brock has been dismissed, Santa Clara DA spokesman says. Brock is currently a free agent— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 9, 2017
The Sacramento Bee reported that four teams have contacted Brock's agent to inquire about the free agent cornerback and that the list included the 49ers. The team denied that report on Wednesday and said that it has not reached out to Brock or anyone representing him, per NBC Sports Bay Area.
49ers spokesman: The #49ers did not reach out to Tramaine Brock's camp and there is no interest in re-signing him.— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 9, 2017
The 49ers have a lot of young, yet mostly unproven, talent at the position. Rashard Robinson looks like a lock as the team's top cornerback with Dontae Johnson lining up across from him for the majority of the time during training camp practices. Johnson, who suffered a concussion during Tuesday's practice, will not play on Friday in the team's preseason matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Keith Reaser, who replaced Johnson in practice, has gotten some work in there as well and the team drafted Ahkello Witherspoon in the third round of April's draft.
"It was a tough situation because it's a big deal and you don't have all the information," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said in April following the release of Brock. "(It was) my first time going through it, I found out how hard it is to get all the information. So, we spent most of the day trying to figure out all the information you can -- as much as you can get. You never do get all of it but there was enough there that we felt it was a decision we had to make and move from."
"I think there's been some conjecture that we didn't think highly of him," 49ers general manager John Lynch said in April. "That couldn't have been further from the truth. He was a starting player for us. So, that was not easy. I can also tell you that it wasn't meant to send a message. I think you let those things happen organically and we did what we felt was the right situation in that situation. It was not easy and felt like it was something that we needed to do."
Brock started all 16 games at cornerback for the team in 2016. He spent his entire career with the 49ers after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of Belhaven in 2010. Over seven seasons with San Francisco, Brock had 181 tackles, 11 interceptions, a touchdown, and two forced fumbles. In 2016, Brock was the 49ers' top graded defensive back and the third-highest graded defensive player by Pro Football Focus.


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Temple Etching Pants c/o Sugarlips
Wilfred Free Libre t-shirt
T. Babaton Howell Wool Coat
Wilfred scarf
Jeffrey Campbell ankle boot
earrings c/o CoutuKitsch
Joe Fresh lipstick in Poppy
I love that scarf! It looks so warm. Also, Those pants are crazy amazing! I love them. I'm trying to get back to exercising everyday too! It's hard though!
you are so, so pretty. love these close-up shots!ReplyDelete
you look stunning! I love love those pants! and I've finally got back into the swing of things too with the gym.. I just hate how busy it is this time of year!
I love your scarf!! Great outfit and I love these photos.
Almost Endearing
I'm dying over the raw gem earrings - so gorgeous.
x The Pretty Secrets
OH, you are so brave to run in the snow?! I couldn't handle it, and it's hard for me to even want to run in sprinkles here in southern CA! -Jessica LReplyDelete
I love the patterned stripe on those trousers!ReplyDelete
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This class offers an energetic flow and creative sequencing designed to inspire both mentally and physically. Contact the organiser if you would like to know more about this event.
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Canberra / Beijing – Chinese navy challenged Australian navy's destroyers en route to Vietnam on a goodwill visit. The incident that happened on 15th of April has recently been brought to the notice of media. The confrontation underlines the escalation in tensions in the South China Sea. It once again highlights China's growing intimidation in the maritime region. China has a history of stopping ships and naval vessels in the South China Sea which it does to consolidate its claim on the area.
The Australian naval ships are on a three-month deployment of south-east Asia. Naval ships 'HMAS Anzac', 'HMAS Success' and 'HMAS Toowoomba' had left for the deployment last week. Chinese navy sent them a warning message on 15th of April when they were in the South China Sea. It was only after the Australian naval vessels gave a fitting reply to the Chinese navy that they were allowed to advance, informed sources in the Australian media.
China's defense ministry has denied these claims from the Australian media and has alleged them to be fabricated. Trying to clarify its action, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense has explained that the People's Liberation Army Navy established contact with Royal Australian Navy at the professional level and they too responded accordingly. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also backed the action by its navy.
Australian PM asserts that Australia will conduct drills in the South China Sea despite Chinese objection
Canberra / Beijing – In a strongly worded statement directed at China, the Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has asserted that the Australian navy has a 'perfect right' to navigation in all the maritime regions across the globe including the South China Sea, in line with the international laws. It is just a few days back that the reports have emerged of Chinese navy challenging the Australian naval vessels en route to Vietnam through the South China Sea. Taking a strong stance on the matter, the statement issued by Prime Minister Turnbull had made it clear that Australia will continue to take an independent and affirmative policy not bending to the Chinese pressure.
Explaining Australia's stance on the issue of the South China Sea, Prime Minister Turnbull said that the Australian navy has a 'perfect right' of navigation across the globe and that all their actions are based accordingly. Turnbull also said that this case of China concerns with the issue of the global freedom of navigation of the Australian navy and as per the international rules the Australian naval vessels have just right to do so including the disputed South China Sea.
The last few years saw warming of ties between Australia and China as the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had greatly advanced bilateral relations with China. But Turnbull's tenure has seen Australia take an aggressive role on the issues concerning China. Over the last year, many controversies concerning China's influence in Australia have come to the fore and in one such case a prominent Australian lawmaker has had to step down.
Last year, the Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs had released a whitepaper that threw a light on Australia's foreign policy. The whitepaper had openly warned of China trying to challenge the US supremacy and had pointed out at the Chinese military expansion in the South China Sea as a reason of potential conflict. Terming the region around Australia as 'Indo-Pacific', the whitepaper had also asserted the Australian ambition of playing a decisive role in deciding the future of the region.
It seems that the deployment of Australian naval destroyers to south-east Asia is aimed to achieve the same and is part of efforts to curb China's growing influence in the region.
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The Lowertown Guitar Festival has lost one of its primary sponsors — the now-defunct McNally Smith College of Music — but Saturday's free, all-day celebration continues for the sixth consecutive year with a change of venue.
The festival has moved from Mears Park in Lowertown to the Como Lakeside Pavilion and Spring Cafe.
The event starts at 1 p.m. with a master class by world-class picker Greg Koch, with music continuing until 9 p.m.
Headlining on the main stage will be Sunny War, an innovative, L.A.-based street guitarist who released her first album, "With the Sun," earlier this year. War's first love is Mississippi Delta blues, but she combines it with other influences, along with her own playing method, into something unique.
Jazz guitarist Iraida Noriega of Mexico City will precede War on the main stage.
Other mainstage performers will be the Greg Koch Duo, Lonesome Dan Kase, Mike Michel, Congolese expatriot Siana Matuzungidi, Paul Metzer, Jake Hanson+James Buckley, Greg Herriges, Berta Rojas, the MacPhail Student Ensemble and more.
Along with the main stage in the pavilion, solo performers will play near the Hamm's Waterfall, on a dockside stage and a floating stage on the lake.
Como Lakeside Pavilion is at 1360 N. Lexington Pkwy. in St. Paul. For details, go to springcafestp.com.


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471 Posts in 231 Topics by 67 members
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|Topic: Fourth V6-9 beta release - 16 November 2018
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16 November 2018 at 2:59pm
On the 16th of November 2018 we completed another release sprint of the development version of GLOBE Claritas (V6-9) and were able to provide a download for the latest beta release to our Linux clients.
Some of the new functionality and features in this beta release included:-
• Griffon (New application) – Griffon performs interactive trace header maths on HDF5 datasets, updating existing headers or creating new headers with the results of user defined maths expressions (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pw9rrege_6A), utilises the NumPy and SciPy libraries to provide an extensive list of options for users (https://docs.scipy.org/doc/numpy/reference/routines.html)
• Griffon – Launches SV application and displays trace header overlays of updated or created trace headers.
• Griffon – Launches a window displaying the min/max range of values in the headers, the trace header index, and whether the headers are updated or used by the maths expressions being applied by Griffon.
• Griffon – Launches a trace header listing showing the results of the maths expressions on the first 400 hundred or so traces in the HDF5 dataset allowing users to QC/QA the results.
• Griffon – Has the ability to read or save out a file containing maths expressions previously defined by the user.
• SNAWT – A new module (Surface Noise Attenuation using the Wavelet Transform) for ground roll attenuation based on the DUSWELL module provides useful capability to attenuate Airblast/Ground roll energy.
• WRITESEGY – Option added to allow Writesegy to create a single Segy dataset every time a user defined header name changes. Output files include header value in file name.
• Header display in XVIEW – Header list option from XVIEW/SV etc 'Analysis' options has been updated to show all USED headers as default rather than SHOTID/CHANNEL.
Bug fixes included:-
• REFSTAT3D – Was hanging on Windows, now resolved.
• K3T – Issues on sparsely populated offset volumes with the boundary calculation resulted in module hanging, now resolved.
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Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology
Prices & shipping based on shipping country
Book Description
Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology, 5th edition, addresses project management across all industries. First covering the essential background, from origins and philosophy to methodology, the bulk of the book is dedicated to concepts and techniques for practical application. Coverage includes project initiation and proposals, scope and task definition, scheduling, budgeting, risk analysis, control, project selection and portfolio management, program management, project organization, and all-important "people" aspects—project leadership, team building, conflict resolution and stress management.
The Systems Development Cycle is used as a framework to discuss project management in a variety of situations, making this the go-to book for managing virtually any kind of project, program or task force. The authors focus on the ultimate purpose of project management—to unify and integrate the interests, resources and work efforts of many stakeholders, as well as the planning, scheduling, and budgeting needed to accomplish overall project goals.
This new edition features:
- Updates throughout to cover the latest developments in project management methodologies
- New examples and 18 new case studies throughout to help students develop their understanding and put principles into practice
- A new chapter on agile project management and lean
- Expanded coverage of program management, stakeholder engagement, buffer management, and managing virtual teams and cultural differences in international projects
- Alignment with PMBOK terms and definitions for ease of use alongside PMI certifications
- Cross-reference to IPMA, APM, and PRINCE2 methodologies
- Extensive instructor support materials, including an Instructor's Manual, PowerPoint slides, answers to chapter review questions, problems and cases, and a test bank of questions.
Taking a technical yet accessible approach, Project Management for Business, Engineering and Technology, 5th edition, is an ideal resource and reference for all advanced undergraduate and graduate students in project management courses as well as for practicing project managers across all industry sectors.
Table of Contents
Introduction Part I: Philosophy and Concepts 1. What is Project Management? 2. Systems Approach Part II: Project Life Cycle 3. Project Life Cycle and Project Conception 4. Project Definition and System Definition Part III: Systems and Procedures for Planning and Control 5. Basic Project Planning Techniques 6. Project Schedule Planning and Networks 7. Advanced Project Network Analysis and Scheduling 8. Cost Estimating and Budgeting 9. Project Quality Management 10. Project Risk Management 11. Project Execution, Monitoring, and Control 12. Project Evaluation, Communication, Implementation, and Closeout 13. Agile Project Management and Lean Part IV: Organization Behavior 14. Project Organization Structure and Integration 15. Project Roles and Stakeholders 16. Managing Participation, Teamwork, and Conflict Part V: Project Management in the Corporate Context 17. Meta-Management of Projects and Program Management 18. Project Selection and Portfolio Management 19. International Project Management
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John Nicholas is Professor of Operations Management at Loyola University, Chicago, USA
Herman Steyn is Professor in the Graduate School of Technology Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa
"As a Professor who has taught Project Engineering for the last 14 years, I have also performed large scale Project Engineering throughout my first career (over 20 years) in Aerospace, Defense and Information Technology. When deciding on a textbook for my graduate Project Engineering class, I looked long and hard. I wasn't finding what I was looking for and was going to write my own, until I found Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology. This is the textbook I would have written. It is robust, complete and easy to follow. The graphics, charts and figures are all very descriptive and real. And my students like the paperback nature of the book. I highly recommend this textbook for anyone teaching Engineering, Business or Technology Project Management/Engineering. I also recommend it as a "keeper" for students who will be guiding projects in the future."
Mark Calabrese, University of Central Florida, USA
"The publication of the 5th edition of Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology by John Nicholas and Herman Steyn is an important milestone in a continuing conversation between the authors and the current and future practitioners of project management around the world. This book has long been a comprehensive but accessible publication that provides valuable insights into the strategic and day-to-day management of projects both large and small. There are numerous publications in this field but Nicholas and Steyn have found the balance between the needs of experienced practitioners looking for ways to improve project outcomes, and the needs of students who are new to the project management field. The concepts are clearly and logically laid out, and the language is appropriate for a wide range of audiences. It continues to be a benchmark in a crowded field of publications offering both practical and strategic insights into the art and craft of project management."
Barrie Todhunter, University of Southern Queensland, Australia
"I have been using the earlier editions of this book in my Project Management teaching to working executives of a major engineering company employing close to 40000 people in various types of projects. I have evaluated the current 5th edition of the book from the perspective of (a) a teaching resource (b) study material and (3) as a resource for case study and references. I find that the 5th edition has been thoroughly revamped and incorporates several relevant resources and presented in a very lucid and structured way. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending this book as a standard resource for teaching students in a university set up and/or for working executives in a project environment. The book is also a good resource as a study material for certification courses."
Krishna Moorthy, Ex-Dean, Larsen & Toubro Institute of Project Management, India
"Project Management for Engineering, Business and Technology is one of the most comprehensive textbooks in the field. Nicholas and Steyn explain the matter in a readable and easy-to-understand way, illustrated with interesting examples. The authors combine the 'hard matter' of project management with relevant behavioural aspects. Overall, a useful work for anyone new to the field or as reference for the more advanced project manager."
Martijn Leijten, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
"Project management plays a vital role in achieving project objectives. Projects bring change and project management is recognised as the most effective way to managing such change. This book encourages readers to become interested and involved in the change towards renewed project management and management of projects."
Benita Zulch, University of the Free State, South Africa
"A very comprehensive text. An excellent mix of materials to enable students to learn techniques and engage in discussion of scenarios."
Richard Kamm, University of Bath, UK
"An excellent book which provides comprehensive coverage of project management theory and practice with insights from technology-based case studies, practical examples and exercises. An essential core text for project management students in engineering and technology disciplines."
Jane Britton, University College London, UK
Support Material
Companion Website
Please visit our companion website for additional support materials.


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About CnCThePast
A modest CnC proposal
CnCThePast replied to CnCThePast's topic in Command & Conquer: General DiscussionI've pretty much said what I wanted to say, but it seems you're conveniently dismissing and ignoring it. If you're asking me if I intended to strike a nerve, then yes, I did, should be obvious from the satirical tone. If you're asking me if I'm willing to question the community's conduct for once instead of the corporate one, then for sure I do. Anything else you may believe about me is just there to help you cope with all that resentment you exude. The mood and attitude I highlighted and condemned has been going on for too long, it has become alienating and tiresome. Where is the community coming along and making suggestions for what they would like to see and putting them together like puzzle pieces, without any entitled expectations that something would even materialize from that? Instead, everyone's doing their own thing at their own pace and having their own understanding of how things are and how things should be done, yet despite this fragmentation, they then react and mourn in unison as if there's anything concrete that ties them together, while in the meantime they barely share anything but bitterness.
A modest CnC proposal
CnCThePast replied to CnCThePast's topic in Command & Conquer: General DiscussionThat's the issue. If you don't know what you want, you'll end up getting what you don't. None will ever be inspired by this negativity.
A modest CnC proposal
CnCThePast posted a topic in Command & Conquer: General DiscussionFor preventing petulant hashtags such as #NotMyCnC on Twitter, disgruntled comments on Youtube, hopeless Reddit thumbs up and melancholic posts on community forums, and for turning this unfocused backlash into a complete boycott and disapproval of EA and its affiliates To be fair, this can go on to become a full parody of the original, but what would be the point in that? EA is right! The so-called CnC community doesn't know what they want from a next-gen CnC RTS. What is CnC but a pile individual tastes and personal experiences? There's no vision, no purpose, just incessant arguments on what should have been. You people are so deep into the rabbit hole of CnC, so deeply impacted by its bleakness and dread, that you don't get that timelines can not be altered AND that you don't need to do so to re-image reality, as you dutifully cover anything released under the brand only to sigh from the disappointment. There will be no community project to be able to further CnC and no corporate effort to ever satisfy YOU. The only reasonable proposal to make is to give up, move on, forget about CnC and hope that someday it would be rediscovered by people unplagued by your grief, willing to judge it for what it's worth and based on that come together to theorycraft and design a new future inspired by it, instead of clinging on to a lost miserable one, in which everyone would have been enjoying their own personally tailored version of CnC.


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Large Laser Cut Wedding Post Box cut from 3mm MDF.
Larger design features couples initials, doves & heart design, info box and frame and comes with lift up, lockable lid and is suitable for larger cards or weddings with large amounts of guests.
Postbox comes in simple to build kit comprising 7 pieces with all of the front decorations already being assembled as part of the front.
Postbox measures 280mm x 320mm x 473mm approx.
Suitable for:
100 approx. standard size cards – based on Moonpig Standard (132mm x 185mm) & Funky Pigeon Standard (148mm x 210mm).
50 approx. large size cards – based on Moonpig Large (205mm x 290mm) & Funky Pigeon Large (210mm x 297mm).
Design can be customised on request.


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NIH awards $11.6M grant to support study of retail tobacco policies across the U.S.
Three innovative and complementary research projects — done in partnership with UNC-Chapel Hill, Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis — will examine the role of the tobacco retail environment in promoting tobacco use and causing tobacco-related illnesses.
Tobacco use causes nearly a half million premature deaths in the United States each year from cancer, cardiovascular disease and pulmonary illnesses. Most tobacco is purchased from brick-and-mortar retailers, where the tobacco industry spends $1 million every hour on advertising and marketing.
With the goal to help reduce tobacco use, tobacco-related disparities, and the public health burden of tobacco, including cancer, researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stanford University and Washington University in St. Louis are using a five-year, $11.6 million National Institutes of Health grant to launch Advancing Science & Practice in the Retail Environment (ASPiRE), a project to investigate tobacco policies and evaluate their effects on health across the United States.
Three innovative and complementary research projects will examine the role of the tobacco retail environment in promoting tobacco use and causing tobacco-related illnesses. Researchers will study how tobacco retailer density contributes to cigarette smoking and tobacco-related illnesses, evaluate the impact of local retail interventions on tobacco use and availability, and develop computational models to learn how changes in the built and consumer environment could lead to improved public health. A Community Advisory Board, whose members include tobacco control leaders from 30 large U.S. cities, and organizations such as the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, will give input and guidance on what is most needed in their communities.
The principal investigators are Kurt M. Ribisl, chair and professor in the Department of Health Behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and program leader for Cancer Prevention and Control at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center; Lisa Henriksen, senior research scientist at the Stanford Prevention Research Center in Palo Alto, California and a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute; and Douglas A. Luke, professor of public health at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, and director of the Center for Public Health Systems Science.
The newly created research program builds on the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which gave states and localities more authority to regulate the sales and distribution of tobacco products in their communities. The rapid growth and spread of policies and interventions in the tobacco retail setting in the past nine years calls for systematic research to evaluate the efforts.
The ASPiRE group continues its "team science" approach, building on a strong, multidisciplinary 6-year collaboration that began in 2012 with funding from the National Cancer Institute's State & Community Tobacco Control Initiative. "I am thrilled to be part of this dream team of scientists who will study how the retail environment affects tobacco use and identify promising solutions for communities," said Ribisl. "Our center has expertise in behavioral science, epidemiology, public policy, and computational modeling. Retail is one of the hottest areas in tobacco control and we are eager to expand the evidence base in this important area."
Results from three unique research projects will combine to advance the retail tobacco control evidence base. In the Density and Disease project, researchers at Carolina will map 275,000 tobacco retailers across the U.S. from 2000 to 2016 and explore the relationship between the density of these retailers and tobacco-related illness, like cancer.
"This will be a landmark study because it will finally sort out the relationship between the density of tobacco retailers, smoking prevalence, and disease," said project lead Ribisl. "In areas with more tobacco retailers, do we eventually see higher smoking rates and higher cancer rates? We will examine nearly 15 years of data to figure that out. This is important because communities are starting to enact policies to reduce the number of tobacco retailers, and it is essential to understand whether that will reduce smoking rates as well as cancer and heart disease."
Shelley Golden, assistant professor of Health Behavior at UNC Gillings, is co-leading the density and disease project with Ribisl. Project co-investigators are Christopher Baggett, assistant professor of Epidemiology and faculty director of the Cancer Information & Population Health Resource (CIPHR), David Richardson, associate professor of Epidemiology and Joseph Lee, formerly of Carolina and now an assistant professor of health education and promotion at Eastern Carolina University. Additional UNC-Chapel Hill personnel supporting the project are analysts Tara Queen, May Kuo, and Cearo Faulk; Sara Vandegrift, assistant project director; Sarah Mills, post-doctoral fellow, and graduate students Amanda Kong, Vivian Tao and Rakiah Anderson.
Researchers at Stanford will lead the Big City Tobacco Control project, which seeks to understand how the tobacco retail environment in a city may impede efforts at quitting smoking. This study will further evaluate the benefits of local policies to regulate and limit retail availability of tobacco. Stanford researchers will survey a panel of 2,400 adult smokers five times over 30 months and will examine changes over time.
"This is a collaborative effort with local tobacco control programs in 30 large cities," said project lead Henriksen. "The cities are home to 1 in 6 U.S. residents. Our partners at the Public Health Law Center in Minnesota and Truth Initiative in Washington, D.C. will help us document how local policies change over time and enable us to study policy impact on retail availability and tobacco use, particularly menthol and other flavored products use in lower-income neighborhoods."
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis will direct the Tobacco Town project, which will use agent-based modeling to study innovative policies in the retail setting and their impact in different types of communities, especially those with low-income and minority populations. Data collected from the Big City Tobacco Control project will help inform model development for Tobacco Town by adding current and realistic tobacco use patterns and user behaviors.
"The Tobacco Town study is exciting because the computational models will be used to better understand how retail policies actually operate to improve community health," said project lead Luke. "In turn, communities will learn how to tailor these policies to meet their particular tobacco control needs."
In addition to three distinct synergistic research projects, the ASPiRE Center has three shared resource cores that will provide administrative, data and statistics, and dissemination and implementation support to extend the reach of the findings and improve synergy among the three projects.