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Incorporating A Company: When & How?
The main rate for Corporation Tax is set to be cut to 17% from April 2020. Although the current tax rates are already pretty favourable as typically lower than those paid by many individuals, the rate cut makes it even more appealing for sole traders to incorporate their company.
However, even though Corporation Tax rates and other tax areas makes it convenient to run a limited liability company or a partnership rather than trade as an individual, there are also stricter regulations and higher administration costs involved. So, it's all about the pros and cons!
The starting point, before you start considering whether or not to incorporate your company, is to keep in mind that incorporating a limited company means creating a legal entity that is completely separate from your own.
When to incorporate
The question of whether or not to typically arises in the perspective of business growth: limited liability companies are more suitable to win work from bigger clients, and as a business person expands their trade they usually prefer not to be personally liable for their business' debts. Moreover, setting up a limited company is often the easiest way to start a business that is owned by more than one person.
However, especially in the early days of trading, there are downsides to incorporation, especially if significant losses are forecast for the first years of trading. Sole traders and partnerships, in fact, are allowed to carry back losses made in the first four years and offset them against personal income. This often results in a substantial refund of tax becoming due and may offer a much-needed cash boost to the business.
Although there are disadvantages to incorporating a business, the lower tax rates and other reliefs currently on offer still make it an attractive proposition. Some advantages worth considering include:
- ability to pay dividends to shareholders, which may in turn reduce liability to National Insurance Contributions (NICs);
- flexible succession planning, particularly for inheritance tax purposes;
- great investment opportunities, for example potential to raise money through tax-efficient schemes such as the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS);
- limited liability status for shareholders, although directors may be asked to give personal guarantees of loans to the company and may still be held liable for the debts of a company;
- potential increased saleability.
How to incorporate
The first, obvious step of the incorporation process is choosing a name for your company. This cannot be the same as another registered company, and if your chosen name is too similar to another company's name or trademark, you'll have to come up with a different one.
Private companies must have at least one director who is a natural person, public companies must have at least two. There is no obligation to appoint a company secretary for private companies, although it is the most common practice.
Of course, there must be at least one shareholder – indicating who owns the company – who can also be a director.
In order to incorporate, you will need to prepare a memorandum of association and articles of association, as provided for by Companies Act 2006. Broadly, these documents set out how the company will be run. A corporate lawyer can help you take care of these.
Private limited companies are also required to maintain what's known as 'PSC Register', which keeps track of anyone with significant control over the company. Its function is to increase corporate transparency and comply with regulations meant to prevent tax evasion and money laundering.
The company must register with HMRC for corporation tax and PAYE as an employer at the same time as registering with Companies House. This must be done within three months of starting to do business. The company may also be required to register for VAT if it meets the registration criteria.
The information available on this page is of a general nature and is not intended to provide specific advice to any individuals or entities. We work hard to ensure this information is accurate at the time of publishing, although there is no guarantee that such information is accurate at the time you read this. We recommend individuals and companies seek professional advice on their circumstances and matters.


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The Satin Mahogany line is Kala's flagship collection and has become an industry standard. The traditional design is highlighted with a satin finish and cream binding. Built and designed to stand the test of time.
Need Assistance?
Give us a call 630-434-2480 or send us a message. We're happy to help.

subset: commoncrawl


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Before & After Photos
Before-and-after photographs of various surgical procedures. For specific procedure examples, please look up the results on the relevant website page.
Important: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. All images displayed on this website are property of BCK Patel MD, FRCS. Before/after photos are for reference purpose only and are subject to Copy Right laws. Individual results may vary.
BCK Patel MD, FRCS
Quick Enquiry
Short on time? Simply send your enquiry here and we will get back to you with more information.
Site of the "English Surgeon". Dr. BCK Patel MD, FRCS, Salt Lake City, St. George, Layton, Orem, Mid-Town, London


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Today's giveaway supports an amazing project.
LovingEco is a new flash-sale site featuring eco-friendly fashion and beauty brands. This week's sale is a collection of handmade beaded jewelry to support the health, safety and wellbeing of women in Haiti. The jewelry is handmade by Haitian artisans who are working to change their families' lives; each piece includes a card telling the story of artisan who made it. Actress Maria Bello also worked with an artisan Althanie to design a limited-edition necklace to help support the cause.
LovingEco will be giving one lucky winner this beautiful Natural Signature necklace, above, made with porcelain beads by a Haitian mother of four. It would be gorgeous to wear this fall, and would make a beautiful gift.
For a chance to win, become a member on LovingEco (or sign in) and tell us your favorite item from their sales in the comments below. (I like the MyChelle lipsticks and sunshield.) A winner will be chosen at random on Saturday (so you have four days). Good luck! xo Update: Our winner is Katelyn B. Thanks for playing.


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Pancreatic cancer is an extremely deadly cancer, known for high malignancy, rapid tumor proliferation and poor prognosis. It is rarely caught at an early stage and more than 80% of patients are diagnosed at the middle or late stage. The prevention and early detection make a huge significance in lowering the mortality of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer has little to do with heredity and less than 10% of pancreatic cancer is caused by inherited gene changes. Pancreatic cancer is closely related to an unhealthy lifestyle like smoking, drinking and eating high-fat food.
Noticeably, heavy drinking has direct damage to the pancreas, and patients who drink a lot of alcohol tend to get chronic pancreatitis which is known to increase pancreatic cancer. In addition to bad living habits, some diseases like diabetes, cholelithiasis, chronic pancreatitis can also induce pancreatic cancer.
Risk groups
Taking risk factors into account, some people are at greater risk for pancreatic cancer and the following five groups of people are more likely to have pancreatic cancer:
- People over the age of 45, especially those with chronic pancreatitis
- People with diabetes diagnosed by the first time whose blood sugar continues to rise for a period.
- People with a family history of pancreatic cancer
- People who received gastric resection
- People who have smoking, drinking habits
- People who are exposed to chemical poisons for a long-term time.
Survival period
Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor prognosis. If surgery is available, the survival time of patients with pancreatic cancer can be extended. According to statistics, the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer patients after radical surgery can reach 20% and patients who do not receive radical resection have a survival period of only 6-12 months.
Recurrence prevention after surgery
The prevention of pancreatic cancer metastasis and recurrence is important for prolonging a postoperative survival. Metastasis and recurrence are prone to occur after cancer surgery such as liver metastases from pancreatic cancer. Patients who get metastasis after surgery are usually treated with systemic chemotherapy or local radiotherapy.
Adjuvant therapy is regarded as an effective treatment to keep cancer from returning. A large number of studies show that rare ginsenosides can be a promising adjuvant therapy for cancer treatment with a brilliant performance in many aspects, including reducing the risk of cancer metastasis and recurrence after surgery.
Ginsenosides are active ingredients in ginseng. Their metabolites rare ginsenosides were found to exhibit significant anticancer effects in various ways including inhibiting cancer cell growth and proliferation, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells, inhibiting cancer cell invasion and metastasis, and suppressing tumor neovascularization.
Many studies indicated that rare ginsenosides can be promising anticancer agents. A combination of rare ginsenosides with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy can improve the efficiency of treatment because rare ginsenosides can reduce the side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy and reduce multidrug resistance.
Researchers found that rare ginsenosides in combined use with surgery can inhibit the systemic inflammatory response to prevent cancer metastasis and recurrence. Rare ginsenosides can inhibit the inflammation of surgical wound healing, improve patients' immunity and promote their physical rehabilitation after surgery.
Currently, a combination of rare ginsenosides and surgery has become a therapy choice for many doctors and patients in some countries. Taking rare ginsenosides before and after surgery can improve treatment effects and reduce the risk of cancer metastasis and recurrence.


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Making a phone call to a car dealership to check availability and pricing of a new or used car seems like a simple task, but there is more going on than you probably realize. The phone call to a dealership is the highest quality lead a car dealer can receive because they have the highest probability of visiting the dealership and buying a car. Therefore calling the car dealership is taken very seriously and handled in a predetermined manner to take maximum advantage of every phone call a dealer receives.
Most car dealerships use 800 telephone numbers for to people contact their dealership and they use several of these numbers. They have different numbers for each source, for example they have a phone number for a direct mailer letter, a different for their car dealer website, one for radio advertising, one for television advertising and different ones for each online advertising source. By using these phone numbers they can track where calls come from and measure the effectiveness of each source and these statistics are used to determine their advertising budget.
Besides tracking all of these 800 phone numbers, these special telephone numbers are recorded and you should hear a disclaimer when you calling using one of those lines telling you that they are recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. Since these calls are recorded the caller phone numbers are also recorded. These phone numbers are used for future follow-up and if the person that answers the phone does succeed in bring the customer into the dealership for an appointment. Anyone calling the car dealership is considered a hot prospect because you are looking for a car and that means you will buy a car at some point, so be prepared for future phone calls.
Calling the Car Dealership for Information
The person that takes your call to the car dealer has been trained to answer the dealership's telephone and they receive ongoing training by using the recorded calls that I mentioned earlier. They primary objective is to get you in the dealership and if they don't get an appointment from you their secondary objective is to get your contact information. These people use finely tuned scripts and word tracks to give you some of the information you request, but not everything. They use words and redirection questions to control the telephone conversation in order to get you to visit the dealership. They often evaded the fine details and speak in generalities because you are a hot lead and they want you to visit the showroom.
Hopefully you will call the car dealership and get the information you desire, but that is not always the case. However there are times that you will get someone on the other side of the phone that is new or just doesn't car about their job and they will tell all, but this only about 32% of the time. Some dealerships will tell you absolutely anything just to get you in the showroom because they know that 80% of car buyers will buy a vehicle that is different than what they came to buy. It might something as simple as color, option or accessory, but they buy a different car than they came to purchase.
Now if you did not tell the person at the dealership that you would come in to see them you can expect a phone call or 2 and maybe 20 calls. The car dealership that is on the ball will have a structured follow-up system to make outgoing calls to anyone calling the car dealership. A good car dealer follow-up system means that they continue to call follow-up and they only stop if you die, buy or issue a restraining order. The next time you call the dealer be prepared and ask the right questions so you can decide if you want to visit the dealership.


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Getting Defence personnel home in a hurry
Bringing servicemen, women and civil servants home from anywhere in the world when their families need them most is an exacting task, handled with great care at the Bristol-based Compassionate Cell.
Deep in the heart of Abbey Wood, the Defence Support Chain Operations and Movements' Compassionate Cell is an unremarkable looking unit – a pair of office desks with a six-foot-high map of UK air fields and a television screen playing rolling world news. But the job the small team does is vital – bringing people home in their hour of need.
The team of ten, from all three services, work in pairs in shifts which means the unit is active 24 hours a day, every day. There is never a moment when serving sailors, marines, soldiers, airmen or civil servants on operations do not have the comfort of knowing that, if the worst were to happen to close family members back home, this team would spring into action to get them home to be at their loved ones' side. This reassurance allows them to concentrate fully on the task in hand.
With British military personnel and civil servants on active service across the globe, the unit can be tasked with anything from picking a soldier out of a forward operating base in the middle of Afghanistan, to getting a member of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary off a ship in the middle of the ocean.
No hard and fast regulations can be laid down for the granting of compassionate travel; each case requires individual, objective and sensitive assessment.
Wing Commander Guy Lendon, Head of the Compassionate Cell, said:
Every family has a little card with details of the JCCC and, should the need arise, they know they can get loved ones home as soon as possible, taking away one of the stresses of being separated.
The authority for travel at public expense on compassionate grounds rests entirely with the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) in Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, or, for civilians, the Employee Wellbeing Section of Defence Business Services. Then it's the job of the Compassionate Cell to organise the transport.
After negotiations with medical staff, the urgency of travel needed is agreed as, in this business, hours and even minutes really do count.
The cases are classified either as compassionate Alphas or Bravos. The Alphas need to be home by the fastest possible means; the Bravos need to be home by a specific date.
Although the use of existing military air transport is the default setting, for compassionate Alphas it's any means necessary to get the person home in time. This includes buying seats on commercial aircraft, arranging special flights of military aircraft and even hiring taxis for transport from airport to hospital.
A couple of recent cases give a flavour of the job's importance. Last summer a Royal Marine in a Forward Operating Base in Helmand province, Afghanistan was categorised as a Compassionate Alpha due to serious illness of a member of his family. Due to the base's remoteness, he had missed the last military transport aircraft by two hours with the next one 24 hours later.
One of the C-130 Hercules aircraft based in Afghanistan was tasked to fly the Marine to Minhad Airbase in the United Arab Emirates. The Compassionate Cell booked a civilian flight from Dubai to Manchester leaving two hours after the arrival of the C-130. This flight arrived at Manchester airport where there was a taxi waiting to take him to the hospital where his next of kin was.
The total time from notification to arrival at the hospital was only 20 hours.
In another case a soldier on exercise in Canada was told his father-in-law was seriously ill in a Nottingham hospital – he was deemed an Alpha case.
The fastest way to get him back to the UK was by a commercial flight from Calgary to London Heathrow. At Heathrow he was met by a member of the Civilian Airport Detachment – military movements personnel who serve the London area – and transferred to a waiting military Agusta 109 helicopter.
The helicopter landed him on the sports field at Nottingham University, from where he was taken by military transport straight to the hospital.
From leaving Canada to arriving at the hospital took 17-and-a-half hours.
Wg Cdr Lendon said:
The people we move are not just numbers to the staff of the Compassionate Cell. The men and women who work there care deeply about getting these people home, because as serving Service personnel themselves, they know that one day it could be them needing to get back home in a hurry.
If, on the odd occasion, personnel don't get back in time to say goodbye to their loved ones, the staff on the unit really take a knock; they put everything into getting that individual home as quickly as possible.


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Argentine Museums
Argentina is located in the southern half of South America and is bordered by Chile to the west, Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil to the north. The earliest recorded human presence in the area dates back to the Paleolithic period and the country was colonised during the 16th century by the Spanish Empire.
The declaration and fight for independence (1810–1818) were followed by an extended civil war that lasted until 1861. The country thereafter enjoyed relative peace, with massive waves of European immigration reshaping its culture and demography. Increasing prosperity led to Argentina becoming the seventh wealthiest developed nation in the world by the early 20th century. Today Argentina is one of the largest economies in South America and member of the G-15 economies.
Museums in Argentina
Argentine Proverb & Quotes
- Country: Argentine Republic
- Spanish: República Argentina
- Capital: Buenos Aires
- Population: 48 million
Argentina Map
"A learned man is twice born."
– Argentina Proverb
Photo Credit: By InvestProperty Group (InvestProperty Group) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons


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In light of recent developments regarding COVID-19 we regret that we have taken the decision to postpone this event. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused, please see our website & social media for updates, these will also be shared via our mailing list.
Artist Beth Kettel will introduce each course of her Communal Lunch with short texts inspired by the ingredients used. The ingredients will inform costume and food vessel interventions which along with an accompanying soundtrack will set the scene for each course.
Through an experimental writing practice Beth has recently been considering the interrelationships between species and environment, with explorations into nonverbal communication, consciousness and mental health of human, plants and animals. She usually borrows structural and stylistic devices from elsewhere, previously from sports, music videos and game shows. On this occasion she will borrow from recipes and dining experiences to build on a performative sharing.
With an interest in the flexibility and obscurity of language, gesture and objects Beth Kettel's work manifests across costume, sound, voice and performance. Reflecting the simultaneity, porousness and strangeness of contemporary hybridity, along with the frameworks installed to supposedly protect and help us make sense of it. Often borrowing structural devices from popular culture to create multi layered performance, video and installation works.
Beth Kettel (b.1988) was born in Leicester and is based in London and Nottingham, she is a studio holder at Primary. Recent commissions include: Baseline Drift, Art Night 2019, produced by Forma supported by ACE (2019); A Bang, A Bomb, A Lie and A Band at Stands For Something Else, a 30-minute video part of Art and Screen Network, ICA, London in partnership with Phoenix, Leicester (2018). Solo exhibitions include: The Mist of a Pessimist, ZC: Invites, London (2017); Viscoelastic Muted Contempt [soft applause], Eastside Projects, Birmingham (2016); II,I, Two Queens, Leicester (2016). Recent Group shows include: Full English, Curated Dateagle, Platform Southwark, London (2019); Mantel (curated by CACTUS), Copperfield Gallery, London (2018); Muscular Notions, Cob Gallery, London (2018); CCTV17, Caustic Coastal, Manchester (2017); Jerwood Staging Series, Jerwood Space, London (2016); Sorry About Last Night, It's All Tropical, Art Sheffield (2016).
This project is part of Mansions of the Future's Lincoln Live programme March – November 2020 (Season extended in response to COVID-19). Departing from Lincoln's rich entertainment and theatre history, Lincoln Live features new commissions which exist at the intersections of disciplinary boundaries. The season is a celebration of performative ventures that stand resolutely marginal to both the history of English theatre and the often exclusive, disciplinary rhetoric of contemporary performance art.


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Is liquidation required as part of the process?
Bankruptcy can be a beneficial process when people are facing financial troubles during a difficult time. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, meet with an attorney to decide on which process is best for you. They can guide you on which bankruptcy process can be more beneficial for you. This can lead you to […]Read More


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Ever since 9/11, Muslims have been forced to hedge their identity in order to appease racist views of Islam in the West. Followers of a faith with over a billion adherents were compelled to bear the guilt for the actions of nineteen terrorists.
An unspoken presumption grew that perceived each person who was a Muslim as an intolerant zealot unless they could prove otherwise to Western audiences. When Muslims would try to defend their religious beliefs in the face of such prejudice, they were often called 'apologists' trying to water down a religious creed based on violence.
In this environment, the desire of every Muslim to be seen as something other than the actions of fringe radical groups caused them to allow instances of clear racism to pass. Be it casual encounters or more aggressive forms of racism, Muslims kept their heads down and their mouths shut — because we didn't want to feed the stereotype of the angry Muslim.
Muslims in the West held on to an optimism that other people would call out racism against them the same way they called out racism against other groups. That terrorism against them would be highlighted by the media the same way it was highlighted when it happened to others.
None of that happened. Instead, Islamophobia became normal and 50 people were murdered in cold blood in Christchurch because of it.
What happened in Christchurch is a consequence of the mainstreaming of racist views against Islam and Muslims by politicians, academics, and so-called intellectuals like Christopher Hitchens. After 9/11, Islam was perceived as one of the greatest threats to the liberal democratic order — it wasn't. The greatest threat to democracy today is a far-right movement howling for white supremacy.
The terrorist attack in Christchurch is a consequence of the normalisation of Islamophobia around the world through the ascent of far-right political parties and websites, such as 4chan and 8chan, that allow white supremacists to congregate. It is the direct result of a worldwide discourse that has been unable to differentiate between Muslims who want to live in peace and those who mask their violent tendencies behind religion.
This discourse is racist, and those who believe in it are guilty of racism. It is time we called them that. As columnist Wajahat Ali put it for the New York Times: "All those who have helped to spread the worldwide myth that Muslims are a threat have blood on their hands."
Chief among those enabling this racist environment is the man who is the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. Donald Trump fires off anti-Muslim rhetoric and racist propaganda faster than he declares bankruptcy. In this respect, he is no different than a religious preacher who spews vitriol towards other religions in his sermons day after day just waiting for someone to act upon it.
Trump's racist portfolio includes him saying 'Britain was losing its culture through immigration'; lying about seeing Muslims celebrate 9/11; calling for a travel ban on Muslims; lying (again) about a caravan entering the United States that included 'Middle Easterners;' and, saying 'Islam hates us.'
Ideas, no matter how repugnant, have the power to enable action. The more we normalise racist ideas, the more we will normalise racist actions. People like Trump, Viktor Orban, and Sam Harris must bear the blame for what happened in Christchurch.
Think I'm pushing things? How can I possibly blame Trump for what happened in a place as distant as New Zealand? Well, the Christchurch terrorist was enamoured by Trump's anti-immigrant, white supremacist narrative. He praised Trump as "a symbol of the renewed white identity and common purpose."
Christchurch is not — and probably will not — be the only instance that shows how racist ideas have painful consequences. Robert Bowers, who committed the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue, believed that Jews were part of a conspiracy to fund migrant caravans into the US. It was a lie that Donald Trump had repeated many times.
In fact, Trump's inner circle was made up of people like Steve King, a believer in a conspiracy theory known as the 'Great Replacement' which advances a fear that Jews, blacks and Muslims will replace white people and eventually subordinate them. It included Steven Bannon who often endorsed 'The Camp of the Saints' a racist French novel about the destruction of Western civilisation due to immigration.
The narrative of white supremacy is now a global phenomenon. Gaining traction over the past decades while the world looked elsewhere for the enemies of democracy. The Christchurch terrorist hailed from Australia where the white supremacist movement has a considerable following.
In 2015, a movement called 'Reclaim Australia', rallied with placards reading 'Islam is the enemy of the West'. The Australian Liberty Alliance has called Islam a 'totalitarian ideology', much like the West's beloved Christopher Hitchens once did in a debate with Tariq Ramadan.
As these people and movements became normal, so did Islamophobia. Internet sites such as 8chan allowed these ideas to fester into malignant forms. With Facebook, Instagram and Twitter now every 'patriot' with their head full of 'Mein Kampf' can bypass the editorial guard rails of the traditional press to incite violence against immigrants and minorities.
If social media is the future, then it must not give us a future where a man can livestream the murder of 50 people. That is not free speech, that is terrorism.
In a world where Islamophobia is the prevailing mindset of some of the most powerful people that exist, the Christchurch incident does not surprise us. Muslims have been living under an ominous cloud of fear ever since the far-right grew powerful enough to gain control of the United States and some parts of Europe.
Christchurch has shown how racist ideas against Muslims have devastating consequences. It is time for the world to wake up to this reality before more blood is shed across the globe. And it is time for the Muslims to band together to call out racist speech against them for what it is.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2019.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.


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Thursday, March 23, 2017
"The Hatred of Trump runs so deep ....
Good read!
Peter Giraldi at UnzReview
Neocons as a Figment of Imagination
Criticizing their thuggery is anti-Semitism?
We have a president who is belligerent towards Iran, who is sending "boots on the ground" to fight ISIS, who loves Israel passionately and who is increasing already bloated defense budgets. If one were a neoconservative, what is there not to like, yet neocons in the media and ensconced comfortably in their multitude of think tanks hate Donald Trump. I suspect it comes down to three reasons. First, it is because Trump knows who was sticking the knife in his back during his campaign in 2016 and he has neither forgiven nor hired them. Nor does he pay any attention to their bleating, denying them the status that they think they deserve because of their self-promoted foreign policy brilliance.
And second, Trump persists in his desire to "do business" with Russia. The predominantly Jewish neocons always imagine the thunder of hooves of approaching Cossacks preparing to engage in pogroms whenever they hear the word Russia. And this is particularly true of Vladimir Putin's regime, which is Holy Russia revived. When not musing over how it is always 1938 and one is in Munich, neocons are nearly as unsettled when they think it is 1905 in Odessa.
The third reason, linked to number two, is that having a plausible and dangerous enemy like Russia on tap keeps the cash flowing from defense industries to the foundations and think tanks that the neocons nest in when they are not running the Pentagon and National Security Council. Follow the money. So it is all about self-interest combined with tribal memory: money, status and a visceral hatred of Russia.
The hatred of Trump runs so deep that a.......
Posted by MariaS at 16:58
Labels: israel, jewish tricks, Trump
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Our work
Our customers choose us because we're commercially focused and results orientated.
See what our customers say about us
We strive to form long term partnerships and work closely with our customers to alleviate challenges and drive growth
Hudson Digital delivered our new website on time and the increase in sales was immediate. Since then we have hired Hudson Digital for marketing support and they also run our Pay Per Click (PPC) campaigns. We never make a marketing decision without discussing this with Hudson Digital, they keep us right.
Because we were developing and designing a site from scratch, it was very difficult to push through with our KPIs apart from the timeline, how many errors we had to go back and fix, and the like. The main measure for success was the positive feedback, from both my internal team and our new customers, on Hudson Commerce's finished product.
Hudson were instrumental in the initial brand and ecommerce development for Craft56. They have also been vital in developing marketplace integrations as well as deploying and managing successful paid search and social advertising which has provided phenomenal year on year growth


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Practice Areas
— Art and Entertainment Litigation
We have extensive experience representing companies and individuals in the art and entertainment industry. Our clients have included television networks, record labels, recording and visual artists, galleries, collectors, publishers, and writers.
Representative matters include:
Represented Domenico and Eleanore De Sole in a highly publicized, three-week federal jury trial asserting RICO, fraud and contract claims against Knoedler Gallery and its former president arising from the sale of a fake "Mark Rothko" painting to our clients.
In a one-week bench trial, won ownership of a large-scale "wave" painting for contemporary artist Raymond Pettibon.
Won unanimous jury verdict proving dealer of Russian art sold forged avant garde drawings to our client.
Represented producer in action against celebrity television host, Nancy Grace, alleging breach of contract to develop television series.
Represented contemporary artists James Turrell, Takashi Murakami and Roxy Paine in breach of contract actions against former dealers, and Christopher Williams in action by fabricator of work seeking ownership of client's work.


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Library Archival Collections
The LSU Law Library Archival Collections record the history of the Law School, its faculty, and alumni, and their contributions to legal scholarship in Louisiana and across the globe. In addition, they contain one-of-a-kind and rare materials relevant to the legal history of Louisiana.
Highlights of the collection include the papers Paul M. Hebert created during his tenure as a judge at the US Military Tribunal at Nuremberg and Ira S. Flory's correspondence from the 1920s regarding the expansion of the Law Library's holdings, in addition to Hebert's personal speech files and his records from the Tidelands case.
For a complete list of archival collections (with detailed finding aids), visit the collections page.
Because many items in the archival collections are one-of-a-kind, there are special rules about how they can be used. Our policies page has information on: the handling of archival materials; photocopying rates; online reference requests; and our acquisition/donation policy.
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (by appointment only). To set up an appointment please contact email@example.com.


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Golden Retrievers are not just good for search and rescue but also for therapy and are considered the third most popular dog breed in the United States for 3 consecutive years since 2015. No wonder, past Presidents Ford and Reagan had them as pets.
Augie – an 8-year-old Golden Retriever, has set a Guinness world record in 2003 for having 5 tennis balls in its mouth at the same time. This speaks volumes of what this breed is willing to gobble up just to please its hooman.
Golden Retrievers got their name from the time they were trained to retrieve waterfowls during hunting or shooting games without damage; hence, the 'retriever'. 'Golden' is obviously for their coats which vary from light golden to dark golden.
The Price of a Golden Retriever
The cost of a Golden Retriever varies depending on where you acquired it. You can have one for as low as $400 to $1,000 from backyard breeders with no health clearances and $500 and below if you acquired it from a pet shelter or rescue.
But prices of golden retrievers may go beyond the $1,500 mark if you decide to buy from a pet breeder instead, depending on your location.
- North East US – $1,700 to $2,000
- Mid West US – $1,500 to $1800
- West Coast US – $2,000 to $2,500
Breeder prices typically include tax and other documentation, microchip, first shots, pet insurance for 3-6 months, health screening reports of sire and dam for eyes, heart, hip, elbow, deworming, and photocopies of test results.
On the other hand, pet shops often offer dog beds or crates when you purchase a dog from them. They even offer food enough to feed your dog for a few days.
When adopting a pet from Golden Retriever rescue organizations, the cost would be cheaper as compared to buying directly from pet shops or breeders. However, you'll have to pass certain requirements before you can have one.
Animal shelters also offer affordable prices for as low as $300 up to $400. They are actually a good place to start since they conduct a thorough medical examination to ensure that you'll get a healthy pet.
One-Time Expenses for Having a Golden Retriever
Besides the actual cost of the canine pet, several budget items you need to spend on upfront for keeping it are the following:
- Licensing Fees
In most states, dog owners are required to have their pets licensed. They have different prices but on average, the fee is around $50.
There also some states where dogs with microchip are only required to pay a one-time license fee. In some areas, multiple dog registrations reduce your licensing cost.
- Microchipping
This is almost always required in every state especially if dog registration is mandatory. As mentioned, this is typically included when buying from breeders. Otherwise, expect to pay for around $19 to $45 with an additional fee of around $20 for the registry.
- Housing Costs
Golden Retrievers can easily adapt to either indoor or outdoor living but most of the time, they are kept outside. If that's the case, there should be a fence in your backyard to prevent them from roaming in your neighborhood.
They are large-sized animals with an average height that ranges from 21.5 to 24 inches, while the average weight is approximately between 55 and 75 pounds. Thus, the recommended size for a crate is 42" which has a starting price of around $45.
For Golden pups, you may consider buying a dog bed which you can purchase for as low as $10.
- Required Exercise and Training
Although Golden Retrievers are known to be somewhat service dogs, they are still in the category of "medium energy" breeds. With this, they are required to have at least 1 hour of physical activity or moderate exercise every day.
Since they are predisposed to joint problems, rigorous running is not recommended until they reach their peak growth which is around 2 years.
Golden Retrievers tend to have a strong personality and considering their size when they turn to adulthood, training them at a very young age saves you from going through the troubles of having disobedient and unruly pet especially in the presence of other people.
Like Labs, they are also known for "crittering" so, not training them properly will result in having hunters of rats, squirrels, spiders, chipmunks, etc. at home.
But worry not; their breed is known to be highly intelligent which makes them easy to train. That's why they are a popular choice to star in movies and television shows; with the most recent one being "A Dog's Purpose".
Dog trainers typically charge $20 per hour but could go up depending on the size and temperament of your pet. Other dog training classes charge $150 on the average for a series of sessions.
Recurring Cost of Owning a Golden Retriever
- Food Costs
Golden Retrievers are mostly voracious eaters. Because of this, they tend to choke on big chunks of food and are very much prone to obesity so it's up to you to control their eating habits.
There are some specific food bowls (starting at $20) that are intended to do just that. But before buying one, you might want to try putting ice cubes on its bowl to somehow limit the amount of food they can gobble up at once.
Golden pups need to have a natural, limited ingredient diet since they are more prone to food allergies so stay away from food that contains grains, gluten or wheat. A high-quality 12-lb bag of dog food will cost around $36 and will last for two months.
If you have an adult Golden Retriever, a 30-lb bag will cost around $60. If it is not that active, the food will last around 1 ½ months. Otherwise, the food will last a month.
Also, if you want to have a shiny coat for your Golden, you must look for dog food that has fatty acid contents.
- Hygiene and Grooming Costs
One thing that sets potential dog owners off is that Golden Retrievers have long coats and that they shed a lot. And this is not just a concern of those with allergies but also those who can't be bothered cleaning and disposing of dog's hair every time.
While others would make Golden Retrievers' shedding their life problem, it only takes a few minutes of brushing of their coat to minimize this occurrence. This also makes a good bonding moment for you and your dog.
That said, they need to be brushed at least once a week to prevent matting or having dreadlocks, particularly on the side of their bellies and under the legs. During major sheds, brushing needs to be done daily. The kind of combs for this purpose can be purchased with prices starting at $5.
Prior to brushing your pet's coat, you have to bathe it first to help in loosening its furs. You can purchase dog shampoos for as low as $15.
One of the biggest expenses you would have to pay for in terms of grooming a Golden Retriever (or at least consider getting one) is a vacuum cleaner because of its heavy shedding. You can purchase one at around $200.
Your pet also needs to have regular ear cleaning as Golden Retrievers are prone to ear infection due to their floppy ears. You can buy an ear cleaner solution for as low as $5. Make sure to choose those with Aloe Vera to loosen ear wax and antiseptic formula to reduce the risk of infection.
And because of this, nail clipping regularly is a must to avoid further irritating their ears when they scratch them. You can do this at least once a month. Dog nail trimmers are available online at an average cost of around $6.
If you don't have time to maintain the cleanliness of your dog, you can always bring it to pet shops that offer grooming services. At least four times a year is okay but every 6-8 weeks would be ideal for Golden Retrievers since they are known to smell a lot. You can avail of a grooming service for as low as $29 up to $60 per appointment.
- Illness and Disease Costs
Golden retrievers are known for having a lot of genetic illnesses such as cancer and joint issues so be careful in choosing a reputable breeder as a source. Legit ones would be honest about all the information pertaining to the dog's pedigree and would be very open about discussing the cause of death of any relative in the family line and would be very willing to provide copies of clearances.
- Cancer – It is said that around 60% of Golden Retrievers will die of cancer. Since all other health issues can be guaranteed by a health certificate after various conducted tests but cancer has no pre-tests to confirm, the only way around it is to ask the breeder about the average lifespan of their breed lines. Female Goldens are prone to mammary cancer while male goldens are more likely to develop prostate cancer. The treatment cost for these ranges from $8,000 to $15,000.
- Hip Dysplasia – Puppies are also prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is common and is caused by genetics. That's why breeders often spay or neuter dogs known to have this medical problem to reduce the likelihood of passing it to the next generation. The surgery cost for hip and elbow dysplasia is very expensive. Hip dysplasia particularly, can cost around $1,200 to $6,000, depending on the type of procedure – whether Double or Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (DPO/TPO), Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO), or Total Hip Replacement (THR). So make sure to purchase your pet from a breeder who is certified by Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- Other Genetic Conditions -Adult Goldens can also be afflicted with epilepsy which is passed through genes. Anti-seizure medications can cost you $20 to $100 a month but could go up to as much as $500 depending on severity. Hyperthyroidism is easily treatable with medications that cost around $50/month. On the other hand, please prepare a budget of around $500 for heart conditions such as sub-aortic stenosis and cardiomyopathy treatments.
- Other Health-Related Costs – These include all optional procedures and non-illness related conditions but still have effects on your Golden Retrievers overall well-being.
- Spaying and Neutering
When you have no intention of breeding your dog or can't afford to raise its offsprings, we should subject our puppies to neutering (for females) which costs around $70 to $165, while for males, spaying costs around $100 to $200.
Some reported to having been quoted up to as high as $350 that includes hospital confinement after the surgery, IV fluids, and pain medications.
Not only will you prevent unwanted pregnancies, but these procedures can also lengthen your pet's life by reducing its chance of getting cancer (mammary or prostate).
This is also performed by reputable breeders to stop propagating defective dogs or those that are predisposed to having genetic anomalies based on their family history which cause different diseases and illnesses.
Dogs must undergo annual immunization to boost their immunity. Puppy's complete initial immunization costs around $200 and then $75 for every 2-3 years for the booster packages.
Since the breeder is usually the one responsible for the first few shots, you just need to take care of the rest.
- Accidents and Untoward Incidents
As a puppy, Goldens can be very curious and really clumsy. If they are kept indoors, they might roam in every part of your house. They may even stumble upon your toddler's room and accidentally swallow a small toy.
These objects may interfere with your pet's digestion, so make sure you take all precautionary measures like dog-proofing your home. Also, the cost to remove the foreign object from your pet may cost about $800 to $1,000 depending on the vet.
- Insurance
Some sellers offer a few months' worth of pet insurance as an additional freebie. After its expiration, you may want to get one as this is ideal for Golden pups since they're young and they're prone to getting sick and accidents because of their personality.
Golden retrievers' insurance premiums are typically priced at around $30 to $60 a month.
Overall, your annual visit to a veterinarian would be estimated at $350 so you'll almost get your money's worth even if your dog didn't really need any major health care service.
- Toys and Accessories
Golden retrievers are very active and would need toys to stimulate their minds and exercise where they can shed some energy t
o avoid being destructive. It's recommended to have a mix of chew toys, balls, and other interactive toys that don't need to be expensive.
You may also consider buying a collar and a leash as Golden Retrievers are easily distracted outside so you may want something to control or hold on to them to avoid any untoward incidents. Price starts at $15 each.
Golden Retriever Buyer's Guide
Make sure to purchase from breeders who are registered members of a reputable club such as the American Kennel Club.
Watch out for those breeders who advertise 'rare' breeds of Golden Retrievers with different coat colors. They often charge higher prices when in fact these different coat color breeds are not really rare.
Before you get yourself a Golden Retriever, decide on whether you're going to get a puppy or an adult. If you're going to get a puppy, you need to have extra patience in taking care of them.
Although Golden Retrievers are one of the gentlest and sweetest breeds, they tend to bite people to protect property. Always keep in mind to never pull things out of their mouths (as they are prone to putting whatever things that fit in them) but try to trade treats or anything more interesting or valuable in exchange.
They are cuddly and they tend to stick like glue with their owners wherever they go and they get easily sad if they're alone for long periods of time. If you're going to work for long hours, make sure you'll have someone to take care of your pet.


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From Proverbs 25:11 -
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
in pictures of silver."
The Mission Focus from the UMW Prayer Calendar for 2014 is the Wesley House Family Services, Key West, Florida.
May this Sunday be filled with blessings!
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014....
7 comments:
Yes-The Bible is right about those soft words! Happy Sunday to you, too- xoDianaReplyDelete
- AnonymousFebruary 16, 2014 at 6:43 AM
Blessings to you this Sunday morning.ReplyDelete
xoxo Mildred
Nellie, Blessings to you and yours this Sunday morning. xoxo,SusieReplyDelete
The Book of Proverbs is filled with great wisdom! Thank you for these words this morning! Enjoy the sunshine, as always! :-)ReplyDelete
LOVE reading that and how apt. And trueReplyDelete
Have a wonderful Sunday Nellie!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing, Nellie...ReplyDelete
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text:
What we're about
It's all about the burn with Core Ex – an ab workout that's going to work on churning out a sculpted core. Combining low-impact core exercises and creative modifications to keep your muscles guessing, you'll instantly feel the burn and be one step closer to that sexy, sculpted core.
What to bring
party schedule
Pick a club to find a schedule for this class


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Secret Paradise Hotel & Spa
Läs mer om hotellet
Secret Paradise Hotel & Spa is located just a short distance from the beach. It boasts an outdoor swimming pool with pool bar, a roof garden and gym!
How far is the nearest beach?
This hotel is located 150m from the beach.
Distance from Airport
This hotel is located 35km from Thessaloniki Airport.
All guest rooms feature a private bathroom, minibar, air conditioning, satellite TV, alarm clock, hairdryer, safety deposit box, heating, telephone and a balcony or terrace.
Food & Drink
Guests can enjoy a rich buffet breakfast each morning at the breakfast room. A la carte is served at lunch and a buffet at dinner in the main restaurant. There is also a main bar and pool bar!
Sports & Entertainment
Outdoor swimming pool, sun terrace equipped with loungers, free internet access, massage service, spa and wellness centre, gym, sauna and children's playground.


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The Bib100 Dataset
The Bib100 Evaluation Dataset contains 100 pairs of English words along with human-assigned relatedness judgments. It can be used for training and testing of semantic relatedness measures.
The 100 pairs are composed of 122 English words and were collected from the top 3000 tags of the social tagging system BibSonomy.
The relatedness scores were collected from 26 test subjects. Each test subject was shown all word pairs from this dataset and had to judge the relatedness on a scale of 0 (unrelated) to 10 (synonymous).
All scores were collected from native English speakers, using the crowdsourcing platform MicroWorkers.
The data are available at
(4,3 kB)
For any questions, refer to Thomas Niebler.


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If you're a woman approaching or in menopause, hot flashes may be the bane of your existence. Those all-too-familiar bursts of heat can mean discomfort and much misery. Women who have diabetes may have hot flashes that can be linked with low blood sugars, too. Read on to learn more about hot flashes and what you can do to help keep them at bay.
What exactly are hot flashes?
Hot flashes are sudden feelings of intense warmth that can come on over a few minutes or, more likely, all of a sudden. They are often accompanied by other symptoms, such as redness of the face or neck, sweating, rapid heartbeat, headache, and then feeling chilled once the flash has passed.
To get cutting-edge diabetes news, strategies for blood glucose management, nutrition tips, healthy recipes, and more delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our free newsletters!
"Night sweats," or hot flashes that occur at night and result in excessive sweating, can be particularly disruptive to sleep. Recurring night sweats can lead to insomnia.
While hot flashes can occur in anyone for a variety of reasons, they're very common in women who are approaching menopause (perimenopause) or who are menopausal. (Men can also have hot flashes due to androgen deprivation therapy.) There's no rhyme or reason to them, either: they can vary in intensity, they can come and go quickly or linger, and they can persist for months or even for years. Hot flashes are also more likely to occur in women who are overweight or who smoke. African-American women are more likely to get hot flashes than Caucasian women; women of Asian descent are less likely to experience them.
What causes hot flashes?
The cause of hot flashes is somewhat of a mystery. However, scientists believe that they're related to imbalanced levels of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, and changes in the body's thermostat, which is located in the hypothalamus in the brain. When a hot flash occurs, blood vessels in the skin dilate, causing blood to move into the area — hence, the redness and heat.
While hot flashes can sometimes appear to occur for no particular reason (other than to be annoying), there are certain factors that seem to trigger them. These include:
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Hot beverages
• Caffeine
• MSG (monosodium glutamate)
• Smoking
• Warm temperatures
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Hyperthyroidism
• High blood pressure
• Certain medicines, such as raloxifene (brand name Evista), tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Tamoxen, Tamofen, Soltamox), tramadol (Ultram, Conzip, Rybix ODT, Ultram ER), and nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid, Nitro-Dur, and others)
What's the link between diabetes and hot flashes?
It's not uncommon for women who are perimenopausal to have a higher risk of developing diabetes. Fluctuating hormone levels may lead to spikes and dips in blood sugar levels, and can also lead to insulin resistance. Add insult to injury: many women find that they develop food cravings and sleep poorly during this time of their life, which can cause weight gain and raise the risk of diabetes.
Women who have diabetes and who have hot flashes may find that, on top of the usual symptoms, they may feel shaky, confused, and/or weak. Why? It's likely that low blood sugar is a trigger for hot flashes. Pay close attention to when your hot flashes occur, such as before a meal or after exercising, especially if you take insulin or certain types of diabetes pills that can cause lows, including sulfonylureas and meglitinides. Also, it's a good idea to check your blood sugar if you have a hot flash that's accompanied by typical symptoms of lows.
How to deal with hot flashes
There are many suggested ways to handle hot flashes. Lifestyle changes are often recommended first, such as:
• Trying to avoid or minimize triggers (see above)
• Dressing in layers
• Sipping on ice water
• Sleeping with a fan or the air conditioner turned on
• Using a "cooling" pillow and sheets
• Exercising regularly
Natural remedies are often touted, too. These include the use of herbs and essential oils. Black cohosh, dong quai, evening primrose oil, and soy are popular, as well as peppermint, lavender, geranium, and clary sage oils. Be careful using these remedies, however. Most of them are not well tested, and all of them can have potential harmful side effects. Talk with your health-care provider about the risks and benefits of using these.
The "big guns" are medications. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is probably the most effective way to treat hot flashes. Estrogen, with or without progesterone, helps to balance out hormone levels in the body, thus reducing or even eliminating hot flashes and improving quality of life. And HRT can help with other menopausal symptoms, such as vaginal dryness and discomfort. However, HRT hasn't been without its controversies, and it may not be appropriate for some women. The good news is that a low dose of HRT for a short period of time is believed to be safe, along with being effective. Weigh the pros and cons of using HRT with your provider.
If you choose not to or cannot use HRT, there are non-hormonal medicines that may work. For example, certain antidepressants (fluoxetine [Prozac], paroxetine [Paxil], venlafaxine [Effexor]) can help minimize hot flashes. Brisdelle is a newer medicine that contains paroxetine and is specifically aimed at hot flash treatment. Other medicines may help too, such as those used to treat nerve pain (gabapentin [Neurontin], pregabalin [Lyrica]), and clonidine (Catapres, Kapvay, Nexiclon, Clophelin, and others), a blood pressure medicine. Of course, all medicines have potential side effects, so decide with your provider if any of these are an option for you.
What else can you try? Acupuncture has been found to be effective in managing hot flashes and night sweats. And research indicates that managing stress through meditation is also helpful in easing hot flashes, as well.
Also, don't overlook nutrition: following a Mediterranean diet (which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains) is beneficial, as is getting plenty of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet (found in foods such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, flaxseed). Soy foods may also help — these include unsweetened soy milk, soy nuts, and tofu.
For more information about hot flashes and menopause, in general, visit The North American Menopause Society's website.
Want to learn more about staying healthy as an older woman with diabetes? Read "Menopause: What to Expect, How to Cope," and "Top 10 Health Tips for Women Over 65."


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Man, 19, arrested for carving his name with knife into his girlfriend's forehead
A young man from San Antonio Texas, has been arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and carving his name on her forehead with a knife.
19-year-old Jackub Jackson Hildreth was arrested by police on Friday, December 6, and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after his girlfriend, 22-year-old Catalina Mireles, accused him of attacking her.
Mireles said the pair met on Facebook about four weeks ahead of the attack, which left her with a broken jaw, a black eye, and extreme swelling and bruising on her face.
According to her, the attack began in the morning and lasted until the afternoon as they argued about their relationship.
'He was going to put me in the closet until he figured out what he was going to do with my body,' Mireles told KSAT-TV.
Mireles told investigators that Hildreth grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the face before carving his name into her forehead with a knife.
He fled the scene before police arrived but authorities were able to track him down hours later on Friday and arrested him.
Hildreth was previously wanted for burglary assault, court records show. He is being held on $75,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court next month.
Mireles' mother, Juanita Lopez, said she was relieved her daughter's attacker is now behind bars. 'She was scared for her life, he tried to kill her,' she said. 'I don't want him to get out again because he's going to hurt someone else. She's my baby, I didn't expect this to happen.'


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text: Lauren Bedal is a designer, dancer, and filmmaker based in San Francisco, California. Lauren currently works at Matter, a design and innovation firm focused on the intersection of industrial, digital, and service design. Outside of Matter, Lauren is currently working on Open Kinect, an open source platform for generating real-time, virtual dance performance with motion capture technology as well as other motion capture VR films. She believes her multi-disciplinary background gives her a unique understanding of story, experience, and people.


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Threshold supports TDM PRI voice circuits. However, most enterprises have moved to SIP trunks and not all SIP trunks are alike…
- Threshold has a geo-redundant voice network that protects clients from single points of failure.
- DIDs are available in most of the US/Canada including Hawaii and Alaska.
- Our flat rate SIP trunk includes all local usage.
- Customers can connect via public internet, private transport or via most major carrier hotel marketplaces.
- Burst trunk capability above your commitment level. So when you have occasional peak usage, you can process the calls.
- Fast and easy setup of your services
- Toll-free carrier redundancy. Threshold will put your Toll-free number on multiple carriers to reduce the impact of any carrier issues.
To learn more about SIP Trunks, email email@example.com


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March 07, 2011 09:11
Chinese hackers gained access to the government's top-secret plan to buy the U.S.-made Global Hawk reconnaissance drone in June 2010, it emerged Sunday.
"We've had a report from a government official that China launched a hacking attack on the Defense Ministry's computer system and accessed confidential information about the ministry's plan" to buy the drone, a spokesman for Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Hak-yong of the National Assembly's Defense Committee said. "The government hasn't raised this issue with China yet and is apparently still mulling how to handle it."
Seoul asked Washington to sell the Global Hawk in 2005, and in 2009 the U.S. Defense Department agreed. Budget problems delayed the purchase, but after North Korea sank the Navy corvette Cheonan last year, the government earmarked W45.2 billion (US$1=W1,116) from the 2011 budget to start negotiations amid growing fears of further North Korean provocations.
Japan also wants to buy the Global Hawk. China is apparently collecting intelligence for fear of growing surveillance power by South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.
The high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle can stay in the stratosphere over 18 km above the earth for more than 30 hours at a time. It has a surveillance range of 200 km beyond the Northern Limit Line, the de facto sea border with North Korea.
Meanwhile, there have been more than 20,000 hacking attempts on the government computer systems every year, most of them from China, according to data the Ministry of Public Administration and Security submitted to Grand National Party lawmaker Lee Sung-hun.
Of 21,899 hack attempts last year, 8,183 came from China, followed by the U.S. (1,032 attempts), Brazil (282), Thailand (255), Hong Kong (239), and Japan (232). In 2007 there were 30,287 attempts, 36,907 in 2008, 20,176 in 2009, and 21,899 from January to August 2010.
- Copyright © Chosunilbo & Chosun.com


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If you are looking for Acupuncture Wyckoff, you can come see us. Located in Ridgewood, NJ, we are the number 1 Acupuncturist in the area. If you have a lot of anxiety then you need something to help with it and acupuncture is the way to go. We have helped thousands of people since 2002 and we can certainly help you!
Want more help? I would like to give you a chance to get to know me and to find out how acupuncture can be of help to you. Schedule your "get acquainted" consultation and evaluation today. If you are ready to take control of your health and your life now, call (201) 444-7150 or send me a message. I am never too busy to help you with your healthcare needs.


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By Basil K Mbuye
PWD Bamenda is back in the big time after 14 years. The Abakwa Boys will be playing top-flight football in the 2018-19 season after coming a long way since its relegation.
P-Ton Ton beat AS Etoa-Meki in their last game to stay on top of the MTN Elite Two Championship and put an 8-point gap between themselves and third-place Tonnerre Kalara Club of Yaounde.
With two days of play left, the Abakwa Boys are at the top with 51 points and are followed by Avion Academy FC and Tonnerre Kalara Club with 51 and 46 points, respectively. Mathematically, PWD Bamenda has booked their place already to play the country's top-flight football next season for the first time in 14 years.
The Abakwa Boys almost dropped out of the MTN Elite Two championship last year when they narrowly escaped relegation. Their promotion could have been robbed should they have been relegated in a case that could have seen them relegated.
Fortunately for them, four elite teams from the Northwest had threatened to withdraw their participation in the Elite One and Two championships if an office decision relegates PWD of Bamenda to the regional league in place of Botafogo FC of Douala that won a controversial decision against Fovu Club of Baham.
Thanks to the decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, PWD Elite two status was maintained and Botafogo FC, DAC and PSG were relegated into the inferior league instead of PWD Bamenda, following a decision of the Chambers of Conciliation and Arbitration of the National Olympic Committee of Cameroon.
PWD President Keeps To Promise
The President of PWD Bamenda, Pascal Abunde, in an interview granted Lions4life in August 2016, promised to keep to his words by taking the club to Elite One football in three years.
Hear Him: "When I came in as the team President, I pledged that I was going to take the team to Elite One football and this I will do. This is my second year at the helm of the team that was already out of the picture for 11 years.
It has been a learning process and, believe me, the team will play in Elite One at the end of the 2017/2018 sports season." This, he finally did.
Club's Brief History
Created some 66 years ago, PWD Bamenda has played many seasons in the first division league and the last time they did so was in 2005. The club is one of the oldest in the country. Since its creation, PWD has had remarkable performances at the Cup of Cameroon where they have lost two finals; 1967, against Canon of Yaounde and, 1979 against Dynamo of Douala.
However, in the championship, they have failed to shine.
The club has never achieved any significant performance except in the 2003 season where they ended the Elite One league at the 3rd position. PWD was relegated from MTN Elite 2 championship in May 2008, alongside Kumba Lakers, Victoria United, to the then Provincial Division 2 League.
Meanwhile, at the continental level, the club has made only one campaign which was during the 2004 CAF Confederation Cup, following its third place in the league at the end of the 2003 season. They eliminated TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first round, but were booted out in the round of 16 by AS Douanes of Senegal (2-2, 0-3).
PWD Bamenda was a breeding ground for players like Dr. Ekwe, Peter Essoka, Frankline Ngoh, Zachary Nkwo, Sunday Nji, Augustine Simo, Ben Bola Forcha, Matthew Andongcho Mbuta, among others.


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We're having SUPER weather in San Diego that would make it the perfect host city for the event that's going on in Indianapolis today. Sunny warm weather, 55,000 hotel rooms and thousands of restaurants and the NFL won't give us the time of day.
Why? Because we have a 45 year old stadium. I'm hoping we can get a new venue without costing the taxpayers and be hosting the bowl in a few years.
Recommended Reading
I have a new team of fellow Yakezie members and challengers and am highlighting my favorite articles from the group this week.
The Debt Myth shares the importance of looking at the overall picture occasionally.
If you've already slacked off your 2012 resolutions and goals use these tips from Money Q and A to get back on track.
One Cent at a Time discusses ways to calculate how much to save for retirement. Are you saving enough or too much?
Learn about researching stocks from Thirty Six Months.
Smart Money Hacks reveals that not everyone needs to file a tax return. Are you one that doesn't?
Learn how to get a refund without losing your dignity at The Frugal Toad.
Newlyweds on a Budget discusses balancing saving money with traveling.
Jai Catalano Photography shows us that most pictures we see are an illusion with a great photoshop example.
Carnivals and Round-ups
I'll be posting another declutter giveaway later today so come back, but to get you started enter these giveaways hosted by personal finance bloggers.
Little House in the Valley is hosting a Ghirardelli chocolate giveaway. Entries are open until February 10th.
Prizes include the Rich Dad board game and a $25 Amazon gift card at Family Money Values' giveaway. Enter by February 12th.
Budgeting in the Fun Stuff also has a Ghirardelli chocolate review and give away. Leave your comment by February 12th.
All high heel lovers, enter the memory foam cushion pads giveaway at Well Heeled Blog. Entries close February 9th.
Super Frugalette is giving away a $50 Starbucks gift card! Enter no later than February 14th.
Help Tight Fisted Miser celebrate the blog's fifth birthday by entering the giveway for a whole bunch of personal finance books and a $5 Amazon gift card. Enter by Wednesday.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card at Master the Art of Saving by February 29th! (Not often we type that date.)
Couple Money is giving away two copies of TurboTax Deluxe Online to help you file taxes. Enter by February 9th.
Enter to win the cold and flu package at Surviving and Thriving by tomorrow night. It's good to be prepared!
Frugal Beautiful is giving away The Lovely Box (makeup) to five winners! Enter by February 9th.
You get another chance to win Ghirardelli chocolate at The Family CEO. This one ends February 1oth.
Financial Success for Young Adults is celebrating a blogiversary with $150 in gift cards. Enter by February 11th.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway at Retire by 40. You have until February 19th to get entered.


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Apple CEO Tim Cook Worried That Humanity is 'Being Drained Out of Music'
Apple CEO Tim Cook has recently lashed out at other music streaming services over the lack of focus on human curation that they provide.
"I couldn't make it through a workout without music," Cook says. "Music inspires, it motivates. It's also the thing at night that helps quiet me. I think it's better than any medicine."
In a quick sitdown with Fast Company's Robert Safian, Cook, however, expressed his disdain over algorithms and mechanical processes taking over the music business, saying he worries the "humanity" is being sapped from today's music.
"We worry about the humanity being drained out of music, about it becoming a bits-and-bytes kind of world instead of the art and craft," said Cook.
While Cook didn't point any fingers, his comment is certainly an implied swipe at Spotify's (and other music services') primarily algorithm-driven method for suggesting and exposing users to music.
The 57-year-old Apple CEO highlighted that Apple Music, the biggest competitor to Spotify, uses humans to build its playlists. According to Cook, this approach represents "art and craft" over "bits and bytes." Cook's comments mirror Apple's longstanding criticism of the way Spotify suggests music and builds playlists for its users.
Although Apple overwhelmingly dominated the download era of digital music in the aughts, Spotify currently has more paid subscribers and more listeners. Spotify boasts 170 million users in more than 60 countries, with 75 million of those people being paid subscribers to the streaming service.
Safian's full piece is full of interesting details and can be read in its entirety here.


text:
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Lou Jean Fleron, emerita extension faculty member of the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, describes Cornell's community partnerships spanning across Buffalo.


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BRCC x Grinds
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Most people can agree: there's nothing more refreshing than an ice cold Mexican beer.
Whether you're celebrating Cinco de Mayo or just relaxing on a warm afternoon, you can't go wrong with a little cerveza (lime optional).
For over a century, Mexico has produced accessible, session-friendly brews with mass appeal. Known for light lagers, German-influenced pilsners and Viennese-style amber lagers, Mexican breweries are responsible for some of the top-selling beers in the world.
More American brewers are now experimenting with traditional Mexican flavor profiles, incorporating some fun twists and unexpected ingredients. In contrast to the hoppy direction that craft beer has headed over the past decade, these lighter varieties appeal to those who don't normally drink craft brews.
All right, amigos, let's crack open some cervezas.
5 Must-Try Mexican Beers
Negra Modelo – This is practically the only dark Mexican beer that you'll ever find on tap, which speaks to its quality and popularity. Slightly sweet and smoky, Negra Modelo pairs well with food. Or if you're looking for something lighter but equally high quality, the classic Modelo Especial is always a crowd favorite.
Bohemia Clásica – A notch above most Mexican brews, Bohemia tastes more like a European pilsner than a typical pale lager from Mexico. Sure, the gold foil packaging is a little annoying to remove, but it's well worth the trouble. While it's still relatively light compared to your average pilsner, it's balanced by a nice hoppiness.
Corona Familiar – Now available in 12-oz brown bottles, this classic lager is sold in 6 & 12-packs. This longtime Mexican favorite is just now gaining traction in America. You'll notice that it's richer and brighter than the ubiquitous Corona Extra. Enjoy the smooth, crisp taste with a fruity honey aroma and the perfect balance of delicate hops and malt.
Dos Equis – One of the most recognizable Mexican beers in the world, this go-to brew goes down like a pilsner with hints of a traditional lager. If you're feeling something a little darker, try Dos Equis Amber, which features roasted malt, choice hops, and a unique strain of yeast.
Sol – Born in 1899, Sol is the original Mexican beer. Light yet flavorful on the palate, Sol is smooth enough to enjoy on its own and also pairs well with a variety of entrees.
5 Must-Try Mexican-Style Craft Brews
21st Amendment El Sully – The quintessential Mexican-style craft brew, El Sully is a popular adjunct-Pilsner that's as colorful on the outside as it is on the inside. Enjoy the fruity notes and mellow Pale malts, which are balanced by floral and citrus hops with just a touch of bitterness. Pairs well with fish tacos—best enjoyed by the beach.
AleSmith Sublime – A collaboration between AleSmith Brewing and reggae rock legends Sublime, these collectible cans feature the cover art from Sublime's seminal album "40oz. to Freedom." This easy drinking Vienna/Mexican-style lager is balanced by subdued hop bitterness—perfect for outdoor concerts and pre-game tailgating.
Epic Brewing Los Locos – A session beer that pairs well with spicy Mexican dishes, this light and refreshing lager has a hint of corn sweetness, a dash of sea salt and the perfect kick of natural lime juice. It's made for days when the sun's out, and there's something on the grill.
Oskar Blues Beerito – A light-bodied amber lager with Mexican attributes and a ton of character, featuring malts sourced from Germany and Colorado. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy and remarkably smooth with hints of walnut, toasted bread, plum, honey and cocoa. A slight bite is provided by the accent of Noble Hops.
Anchor Brewing Los Gigantes – Anchor's second collaboration with the San Francisco Giants, these iconic 16-oz cans feature artwork inspired by the city's history and diversity. Clean and easy drinking, this Mexican-Style Lager features a light maltiness and crisp, refreshing flavor—the perfect ballpark brew.


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Ghost in the Shell (2017)
(Netflix Streaming, July 2018) When I say that I'm impressed at this Ghost in the Shell live-action remake, please read until the end of the sentence: I'm impressed at how this Ghost in the Shell live-action remake manages to take all the high points of the original anime film and spin them into a new and entirely boring whole. It's practically impossible to imagine someone taking the best part of a classic film and making such a mediocre product out of it, but this film is proof of the seemingly-impossible. Whitewashing controversy aside (and yes, the film would have been a bit more interesting with a non-Caucasian lead), Scarlett Johansson is the least of the film's problems when it's the entire production that is so forgettable. (At least she gets to burnish her credentials as this generation's emblem for post-humanism). While the production design has its own high points before delivering exactly the same thing as so many wannabe-cyberpunk films do, it's the witless and unsurprising script that really lets the film down. In-between this and Snow White and the Huntsmen, director Rupert Sanders is proving himself a surprisingly untalented purveyor of mediocre dreck. There's been a glut of SF movies and series lately about post-humans, and while the original Ghost in the Shell remains an impressive classic, this one is a tepidly warmed-over of familiar ideas weakly played. Dour and humourless roughly twenty years after bleakness has been overplayed in mid-future Science Fiction, this remake is destined to rapid memory oblivion. I not only dislike it because of my devotion to the original: Even on its own, this Ghost in the Shell is an average take on stale ideas.


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Our WriteOnCon 2020 speakers are finally public! Check them out here.
As always, we have an awesome roster of authors, agents, editors, and illustrators lined up. If you've attended previous conferences, then you might be excited to recognize some returning favorites, including Caitie Flum, Pintip Dunn, and our fairy godmother of storytelling Gail Carson Levine!
If you're a new attendee, please note that not all speakers listed as such will be speaking in live events — several have chosen to contribute via blogs, vlogs, or podcasts! An official schedule (with event types and titles) will be released in January.
This list is still a work in progress, so keep your eyes peeled for updates!
So, who are you excited to hear from during our 2020 conference?


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Waba Grill Teriyaki House - Lake Forest
24354 Muirlands Blvd.
Lake Forest, CA 92630
I recently visited the Waba Grill in Lake Forest for lunch. This is the restaurant that took over the spot of my beloved China Express. (Now New Panda in Coasta Mesa, but they're not the same.) Everything looks sleek and new inside the Waba Grill. The environment looks modern with a plasma screen tv on the wall showing CNN or something.
I looked at their menu board. Even though this is still a fairly new place, it looks like they recently raised their prices. Little pieces of paper with prices on them were taped over what I am assuming were their old prices up on the menu board. Their menu basically looked just like Flame Broiler. They even boasted that their food was super healthy. I wanted to try both their chicken and their steak, so I ordered the Chicken-Steak Plate ($7.09). It came with white rice, salad and some orange slices. If I had wanted all white meat chicken, it would have been an extra $1.25. Brown rice, and extra $1.00 and I could add avocado for $1.50.
It didn't take them long to make my meal and I took it to go. I grabbed a couple little cups of teriyaki sauce and hot sauce on my way out. I got back to my desk and opened the box. It looked exactly like Flame Broiler. I took a bite. It tasted exactly like Flame Broiler. I tried the sauces and they too tasted exactly like Flame Broiler. The meats were tender and juicy and the sauces tasted perfectly sweet. I devoured the entire plate.
I've been eating at Flame Broiler a long time now so it's what I'm familiar with. Looking at the back of the Waba Grill menu, I see that they have plenty of locations. I'm not really sure which restaurant came first, but in my mind they are exactly the same restaurant. The only difference is I think that Waba is more expensive.
Labels: Fast Food, Griffin, Japanese, Lake Forest


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review the ABS200 Outline and Annotated Bibliography Template, which contains the layout for this week's assignment. Your outline must be one to two pages in length. Clearly identify the case study selected, and include major headings for the areas to be considered. See the attached ABS200 Case Study List to review the case studies and review the parameters of your chosen study. ( I have chosen Clinical Psychology Severe Depression) Under each major heading, summarize your point about that heading. Be sure to addresses each of the following components:
Clearly define applied behavioral science and the area of psychology from which the case study is explored.
Identify the potential source(s) and/or cause(s) of the issue that is/are relevant to the selected case study (genetic, environmental, social, cultural, organizational, etc.).
Examine the case study by applying one psychological theory of your choice.
Describe scientific research that is relevant to your selected case study. Include past and current findings and note any key changes.
Identify any relevant trends in working with your intended population.
Detail a suggested plan of action for moving forward and include the advantages and disadvantages of…
Specify what you would do to build rapport with the clients in the selected case study.
State ethical considerations relevant to this case.
Subheadings should briefly summarize research that may both support and disagree with each viewpoint, if applicable. This outline will provide you with a foundation for creating your Final Paper.
Writing the Final Paper Outline and Annotated Bibliography The Paper:
Must be two to four double-spaced pages in length and formatted according to APA style
Must include a title page with the following:
Title of paper
Student's name
Course name and number
Instructor's name
Date submitted
Must begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.
Must address the topic of the paper with critical thought. View the Critical Thinking Community website for further assistance.
Must end with a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis and summarizes supporting evidence.
Must use at least six scholarly sources
Must document all sources in APA style
Must include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style
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The post final paper outline and annotated bibliography 2 appeared first on Nursing Writers Hub.


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8 Bizarre Facts About Animal Reproduction
December 26, 2016 Kristance Harlow
There's no rule that regulates how animals obtain the necessary genetic material to reproduce—and as a result, there is a lot of weird animal sex going on out there.
Banana slugs are huge, they eat your garden, and they leave a slimy trail as they squirm across the ground. Their method of reproduction is no more pleasant than their appearance: The scientific name for one species of banana slug is Ariolimax dolichophallus, the second part of which means "long penis," and it's apt. The invertebrates' penises can be 6 to 8 inches long—the entire length of the slug's body. When it's time to get down, the penises grow out of pores in the head. It isn't unusual for the penis of one slug to get stuck inside the other during copulation; to solve this uncomfortable situation, the slug on the receiving end will eat the penis that's stuck inside it.
Sorry, dudes: The size and shape of a male animal's sperm is more related to the biology and mating practices of the female—which is why mouse sperm is longer than the sperm of the biggest land animal on Earth, the elephant.
Two major factors in sperm size include the literal length and size of the female reproductive tract and how many mating partners the females have. Mice produce big sperm because, in most species, females have a lot of partners. The grouping of sperm can help to increase its competitiveness in promiscuous animals. Accordingly, the deer mouse has sperm equipped with small hooks that helps them clump together in groups of up to 35 sperm to fight their way to the egg. Grouping sperm allows the cluster to swim in a straighter line to the egg; the ideal number is seven. Too many spermatozoa will eventually start working against each other. Meanwhile, female elephants have a very long reproductive tract (more on that below), so male elephants have evolved to produce more but smaller sperm to combat the risk of dilution. To follow the reproductive strategy of mice sperm, elephant sperm would need to be scaled up enormously to make a difference.
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Kevin Sheekey, the Democrat behind the Republican National Convention, stood in the shade of a trailer on a quiet West Side block one recent morning, near two bags of carrots. The trailer's occupant, an elephant, stood in the street with former Mayor Ed Koch, clowning for a television commercial. Mr. Sheekey stayed out of the camera's eye. But the unlikely combinations-Mr. Koch and the elephant, Manhattan and Republicans-might not have come together without the slight, sunny 37-year-old who is Mayor Michael Bloomberg's closest political adviser.
Insiders describe Mr. Sheekey as Mr. Bloomberg's version of Karl Rove. "I think Mike trusts him more than he trusts himself," said David Garth, a consultant to Mr. Bloomberg's Mayoral campaign. For Mr. Sheekey's birthday last summer, Mr. Bloomberg printed him up a set of business cards. "Kevin Sheekey, Covert Operations," they read. "Dial 311." Virtually unknown to the public, Mr. Sheekey has been the blunt Mayor's diplomat, playing a central role in Mr. Bloomberg's unlikely victory in 2001. He went on to close important deals, from the city's purchase of Governors Island to the Mayor's trip to Afghanistan in 2002. His latest coup is bringing the Republicans to New York for the first time in the party's history.
Mr. Sheekey is president of the New York City Host Committee, which will spend more than $60 million overseeing the convention. He will also be watching the back of a Mayor caught between the conservative Republicans who will be in town during the convention and the mainly Democratic voters he will face in 2005. Mr. Sheekey is just the man for that job.
"It is somewhat fair to say that I have never voted for a Republican in my entire life," he told The Observer. (His faith in his boss did not extend to moving to New York before Mr. Bloomberg was elected, so Mr. Sheekey was unable to vote here in 2001.) This November, "I'm going to vote for the person I think is best for New York," he said.
Though he works for a Republican Mayor, Mr. Sheekey is a born Democrat. He worked for Congressional Democrats for 12 years. His mother was for a decade the legislative director of Common Cause, the liberal advocacy group. "My wife told me she'd leave me if I became a Republican, but working for a Republican seems to be a gray area that I've been able to exploit," he said.
"One of the great ironies of the convention process is, the most partisan event in America is supported by a nonpartisan, nonprofit [corporation]-and Kevin is a great example of that great irony," said the chief executive of the Republican National Committee's convention operation, William Harris. "I keep telling him if we keep working together long enough, I'm going to try to convert him to our side of the aisle."
Mr. Sheekey personifies the city's all-business, no-politics approach to the summer's most political event. His political affiliation is mixed with a heterodoxy that comes with years spent working for Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and he's close to Republicans from former Senator Al D'Amato to Mr. Rove. Boyish and casual in a uniform of open-collar shirts under charcoal suits, Mr. Sheekey is one of the rare men to have visited the Oval Office without a tie.
True to Mr. Bloomberg's message, Mr. Sheekey doesn't want to talk about pomp and nominating speeches. That stuff is best left to Mr. Harris, who sits across the hall amid a set of neat offices with flat-screen televisions tuned to Fox News. Mr. Sheekey talks about hotel jobs, about visitors' impressions and, above all, about real estate.
The Host Committee's cubicled office atop Madison Square Garden, the convention site, looks west. Over the Hudson River, Mr. Sheekey can see the steeple of his father's childhood church, St. Michael's in Union City, N.J. Closer up is the green roof of the James A. Farley Building, the city's central post office, which Mr. Moynihan fought to transform into a new train station to replace the dank Penn Station across the street. The day after Mr. Moynihan died last year, Mr. Sheekey engineered a quick deal among the Mayor, Governor Pataki and the federal government to rename the facility Daniel Patrick Moynihan Station, a sentimental move that he says he's as proud of as anything else he's done.
Mr. Sheekey is one of a tight, powerful tribe of former top Moynihan aides. His predecessors as Moynihan's chief of staff include NBC's Tim Russert and a passel of other smart Irish-Americans scattered through the government, the media and the federal judiciary.
One of them, Lawrence O'Donnell, first encountered Mr. Sheekey on a Congressional staff trip to Israel in the days before the first Gulf War. Mr. Sheekey was then an aide to Queens Congressman Jim Scheuer, the first in a series of prickly politicians for whom he's played the soothing diplomat. Mr. Sheekey, as Mr. O'Donnell recalls, wasn't quite senior enough to qualify for the trip, but had gotten himself invited anyway.
"There was some classically Sheekey maneuvering involved-it wasn't clear that his rank was quite the right one," said Mr. O'Donnell, who is now a writer and producer for NBC's West Wing . "I thought, 'This guy's good-he's got good moves to the hoop. This is somebody who knows how to move outside of the normal channels-outside of the stiff rule-book version of how you do something.'"
Mr. Moynihan hired Mr. Sheekey in 1992 as his scheduler and sent him hurtling around New York for two years. Mr. Sheekey's path from scheduler to press secretary to chief of staff, with a detour to help run the Senator's 1994 re-election campaign, was a seven-day-a-week job. Not reading The New York Times before 9 a.m. was a firing offense in Mr. Moynihan's camp. (In classic Moynihan fashion, Mr. Sheekey was apparently fired briefly in 1995, after he took the only vacation of his tenure, but was unaccountably left on the payroll and soon promoted.)
He took a job as the Washington lobbyist for Bloomberg L.P., the Mayor's media company, in 1997. But it's through the lens of Moynihan's dreams for the West Side that Mr. Sheekey sees the convention.
"Looking back five years from now, why is [the convention] important?" he asked. "It's important because it leaves a legacy of the train station."
When city officials began laying plans to lure the G.O.P., it was Mr. Sheekey who suggested transforming the decaying Farley Building into a media center.
"I called Moynihan and I said, 'Listen, I think we could put this in the bid as the media center; I think we get the convention, and it forces the post office to leave,'" Mr. Sheekey recalled. "Moynihan understood instantly."
Another former Moynihan chief of staff, Bill Cunningham, who is now Mr. Bloomberg's communications director, also understood. "Because the President's party was coming to town, the post office stopped dithering and got out of the way," he said. The G.O.P.'s Mr. Harris said, "The selection of New York without the Farley Building space would have been a much more difficult decision."
And so, one recent afternoon, Mr. Sheekey was ambling across Eighth Avenue toward the nearly vacant building, a neoclassical box inscribed with postal themes that spans 31st to 33rd streets, between Eighth and Ninth avenues. Headed the same way was a senior convention staffer he calls "Jesse the Body," a burly Colorodan named Dan Lewakowski, with a shaved head and a diamond stud in one ear.
"I've got to go up there and get this guy out of the air unit," Jesse the Body said conversationally.
"He's got a contractor stuck inside an air conditioner," Mr. Sheekey explained. "Good thing the guy had a cell phone."
The 90-year-old building may be perfect for the convention, but it is also a mess. Mr. Sheekey's staff has already smeared most of a planned 750 gallons of paint on the interior walls of a building whose million square feet now look like the largest Williamsburg loft you've ever seen, with acres of empty space punctuated by exposed columns. Hazardous-waste teams have removed more than a thousand fluorescent bulbs from the lights that hung over mail-sorters' heads.
Along the ceilings are hundreds of yards of enclosed walkways. Peepholes jut out at intervals, the better for the post office to monitor its workers. Mr. Sheekey, sensitive to reporters' paranoia, has instructed contractors to paint them over.
By now most of the building's worst spots have been repaired or walled off, but Mr. Sheekey and Jesse the Body have decided simply to padlock one basement bathroom. On the door, "Wo" is scrawled next to the printed "Men." A set of long-abandoned urinals line the wall, and a pile of broken porcelain toilets occupies the middle of the floor.
"This is the Reuters space," cracked Mr. Sheekey, referring to Bloomberg L.P.'s main corporate rival.
"This whole building was the most Rube-Goldberg-like thing you've ever seen. It was basically technology built on top of technology built on top of technology," Mr. Sheekey added. As for the basement, "it was take your old shit, throw it in the basement-and you have 100 years of shit."
From the basement up, the Farley Building will be cleaned, scrubbed and newly lit by the time some 15,000 reporters show up during the last week of August. Mr. Sheekey promises high-class catering and concierges at the front of the building. "Your media credential will be worth something at this convention," he promises.
Media Grumbling
Mr. Sheekey has occasionally provoked grumbling from the press. He's been known to stand up reporters for lunch, and he's been so unwilling to see his name in print that he recently committed New York media sacrilege by rebuffing a "Public Lives" profile in The New York Times. Mr. Russert described him as "sharp, savvy and discreet." But one thing he knows how to do is put on a party.
It was a skill he perfected as Mr. Bloomberg's Washington lobbyist, charged with turning the tycoon into a Washington player. Perhaps his greatest gift to the future Mayor was a lavish party after the White House Correspondents Dinner at the Russian Trade Ministry four years ago. Mr. Bloomberg's other close aide, Patricia Harris, got a tip that Vanity Fair would stop sponsoring the party. Mr. Sheekey headed straight to the trade representative's office. He left poorer by $10,000 and two Dell computers; but since 2000, the best party in Washington has been the Bloomberg party.
"Kevin introduced Mike Bloomberg to the right people the right way and got him taken very seriously. It was a remarkable achievement," said Tammy Haddad, a Washington television producer and über -insider.
When Mr. Bloomberg hired Mr. Sheekey, he also told him he was thinking of running for Mayor. Three years later, Mr. Sheekey assembled the campaign team, bringing his old boss, Mr. Cunningham, aboard as Mr. Bloomberg's campaign manager and hiring many of the best Democratic consultants and pollsters. Mr. Sheekey commuted from Washington for the campaign's frantic, strange final weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks, catching only glimpses of his newborn twins.
Some Democrats resent Mr. Sheekey's loyalty to the Republican. "He's a turncoat," said one, who insisted on anonymity because of Mr. Sheekey's influence in City Hall. But he is a hard man to stay angry at.
"He's such a charmer," said Westchester Congresswoman Nita Lowey, a veteran Democrat. "Anyway, I don't want to get Mayor Bloomberg in trouble, but I would say Michael Bloomberg is a Democrat at heart."
Mr. O'Donnell, the former Moynihan aide, had his own theory on the Republican National Convention, which will take place amid massive protests in a state that appears unlikely to end up in Mr. Bush's camp.
"New York is a nutty place for the Republicans to go at this convention," he said. "So the salesman who got them to do that deserves a gigantic prize from both the Democratic Party and New York City."