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Accentuating customer experience: Digital Chat Agents & Chatbots
3AI May 10, 2021
As e-commerce (and retail in general) becomes increasingly global and competitive, business leaders understand that AI can be a valuable tool in reconnecting with consumers. AI has the power to analyze huge amounts of data from numerous sources, including human behaviors and emotions. This can then be used to create more meaningful customer experiences.
Take, for example, the first social robot for the home, Jibo, designed to help you with a range of tasks. It connects to your calendar and other devices as well as the internet in order to act as a personal assistant. Jibo uses artificial intelligence technology to learn your habits and serve you accordingly, as well as using emotions to react and relate more effectively.
We are also seeing companies such as Hilton Hotels looking at how robots can assist with their customer service experiences. Connie is a concierge robot who interacts with guests and answers their questions in a friendly and helpful manner. The more guests that Connie interacts with, the more she learns about how to assist customers. Connie utilises IBM Watson technologies to understand natural speech and provide guests with a comprehensive view of local attractions.
Another example is The North Face's bot which is trying to recreate the experience of a store where you are asked 'Hi can I help you shop for a jacket today?' The bot then asks where and when you will be using the jacket, before coupling that information with weather predictions and other data to help you select the best jacket.
While it is easy to get overexcited about AI, we still have situations where 85% of enterprises are not sharing data within their own sales teams. The new E-consultancy/IBM Watson Marketing report revealed that only 6% of companies think that dark data (unstructured) and dark social are barriers to building a joined up view of the customer journey. Yet Jeremy highlighted that 88% of consumer conversations are happening in private messaging apps, meaning brands and marketers are largely left in the dark.
AI has the power to analyse huge amounts of data from numerous sources, including human behaviors and emotions. This can then be used to create more meaningful customer experiences.
Does customer experience (CX) analysis need an AI-upgrade?
On a basic level, customers aren't going to shop at or buy from a company if they don't have a good customer experience (complete end-to-end). But the customer experience can be incredibly complicated, involving everything from the visual appeal of the product to the way a customer service representative walks them through a technical problem. Thus, a huge pain point is created for businesses in that they need to sort through the nuances and make informed decisions at the executive level and positively impact the end-user.
To streamline the process and help customers to have a good experience on their own terms, Companies are turning to artificial intelligence. The new AI Chabot can help customers get the answers they need. However, instead of chatting with a human, customers are communicating with a machine that uses trends and previous knowledge to provide the right answers.
One area where artificial intelligence tends to lack is with emotional connectivity. Several companies have been working on building a better emotional experience by mimicking the connectivity customers have when talking to and chatting with real customer service representatives. There are a number of challenges involved with artificial intelligence, including making sure the information is updated and accurate, that the experience meets customer satisfaction levels, and that the program meets the company's success metrics.
Fair value exchange
A more open and transparent relationship with the customer and the concept of fair value exchange sit at the heart of the customer experience in the digital era. When this is done properly, consumers are willing to share more because they recognize the value that they receive and have a degree of control over how brand interactions take place.
Many of these interactions are now managed by artificial intelligence, machine learning, Chabot and virtual assistants. As more of the consumer experience of a brand is driven by AI, the emphasis on fair value becomes even more important. And it's a crucial component underpinning the ability to build 'living brands' that adapt and evolve with every consumer interaction. As such, this becomes a powerful potential source of competitive differentiation.
AI becomes the face of the brand
Some of the leading digital businesses are already securing significant advances in their use of AI for everyday dealings with the consumer.
In only a few years, it's likely that most interactions won't require a keyboard. Instead, they will be based on voice, gesture and augmented or virtual-reality interactions. And as screen time declines, the ability to 'own' an interface will become a critical goal and a potential source of disruption.
Of course, using AI interfaces as the primary source of interaction and a key source of data needs to strike a balance between offering 'cool' features consumers' value and safeguarding against 'creepy' intrusions that turn customers off.
This reinforces the need to give consumers a degree of control that goes beyond simply setting channel preferences to provide a deeper understanding of how and when communications take place. It means that the 'right time' rather than 'real time' becomes the key attribute consumers appreciate and respond to.
Moving forward
So what do organizations need to think about when integrating AI as their spokesperson and first point of contact with the customer?
The right operating model and governance:
Pervasive use of AI to support the customer experience requires a radically different approach to operating models, processes and governance. Entrusting customer data to analytics, machine learning and AI requires the right kind of robust capabilities and controls.
Evolving the data supply chain:
Having AI, machine learning and analytics as the drivers of the customer experience relies on collecting enormous amounts of data. This data can be internal, external, structured and unstructured from right across the value chain, as well as being augmented from other sources. In addition, overlaid on this is 'derived data' and consumer insight. Making all this work together depends on a sophisticated and evolving data supply chain to feed the AI.
Keeping pace with changes in technology:
The sophistication of analytics, AI and machine learning is increasing exponentially. Techniques are in play today that didn't exist a few months ago. So it is essential to make the right choices regarding technology, and have solutions that can keep pace with a rapid rate of change.
People and machines working in tandem:
Tools and techniques need to be augmented with people. Human intervention and control must support AI and its adoption within these enterprises as it becomes the foundation for the customer experience. It's critical to test, learn and develop technology in ways that keep in step with the lightning-fast pace of change.
Finally, the Future Preconditions?
As AI takes over Customer interactions completely, the terms of interaction and mutual regard will come to focus. It seems as though AI robots will soon also have human rights. The European parliament has urged the drafting of a set of regulations to govern the use and creation of robots and artificial intelligence, including a form of "electronic personhood" to ensure rights and responsibilities for the most capable AI.
We may soon be marketing to machines that also have human rights.


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I've been loving the bits and pieces I'd seen of Richard Mishaan's furniture line, Homer, for some time now. I saw it advertised in Elle Decor a while back and have been anxiously awaiting the website launch ever since. The wait is over!
The "Cairo" credenza – a very chic silhouette, an absolute classic, would look great in my dining room!
The "Cairo" etagere – another classic profile, and very elegant. I have a tonne of books I'd love to pile up on this.
The "Halcón" side table – also very chic, I would love this for a bed side table. The pull-out tray at the top is the perfect place to rest a morning cuppa.
The "Halcón Parson's" table – more of a modern profile, but I think it would work in a variety of interior styles.
Believe me or not, but the "October" side table is pretty much exactly the same as the side table I had in mind to get made for my new apartment. Inspired by a JM Frank design and covered in parchment, it's very chic, and has a discreet drawer for extra storage. I think I might have to change my design a little so I don't look like I'm copying…The "Mondrian" chair is a pretty versatile shape, and I'm loving it's square shaped upholstered arms.
I think the "Spider" chair was possibly inspired by classic Art Deco styled arm chairs, but I love Mishaan's interpretation. It's much more elegant and refined.
The perfect library chair, the "de Colombe High Back" looks comfortable and stylish at the same time.
The "de Colombe Slipper" chair is just as chic from behind as it is from the front!
And finally, the "de Colombe Sofa" has a timeless profile, slender arms, comfy back cushions, and lovely legs. I wouldn't mind coming home to this beauty every night!

subset: commoncrawl


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India's solar power market has witnessed impressive growth owing to various government measures such as the VGF/GBI in the initial phase, the ISTS waiver, a concessional GST regime, the renewable purchase obligation (RPO), a transparent project allocation mechanism based on competitive bidding, and enthusiastic participation by the private sector. Although the Covid-19 pandemic has temporarily disrupted this growth due to supply chain constraints, etc., the segment is expected to bounce back quickly post the pandemic. The government, on its part, has been making constant efforts to address various issues through enabling policy interventions. At a recent Power Line conference on "Solar Power in India", Aniruddha Kumar, additional secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), discussed the key government initiatives in the area of domestic manufacturing, the hydrogen mission and transmission infrastructure development, and shared his perspective on the solar power segment. Excerpts…
Solar power is on the top of the agenda for the MNRE, and various steps taken by the government so far testify to this. India's solar capacity has grown manyfold and has reached 40 GW in a short span of time. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected our 100 GW solar target for 2022. In 2020, the capacity addition was less than the target and the second wave of infections has further impacted the progress of solar projects. We have taken all measures needed such as an extension of timeline for ongoing projects, which has been extended from five to six months recently, and we have kept the window open for a further extension depending on the situation of the second wave of Covid-19.
We were expecting 15-20 GW of capacity addition this year, according to our assessment done before the second wave of infections began. However, it is difficult to assess the impact of the pandemic on capacity addition this year. Our target was to have about 20 GW of installations this year up to March 2022 and another 10-15 GW by next year. This capacity will be based on utility-scale solar and we were hoping for 4-5 GW of capacity addition from the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) and rooftop solar schemes also.
Recent policy developments
To encourage domestic manufacturing of solar cells and modules, there is a mandatory domestic content requirement in the central public sector undertaking scheme and KUSUM. There has been a tremendous response from industry, particularly after the recent announcement regarding the imposition of basic customs duty on solar cell and module imports, with effect from April 2022. We have set up a project development cell in the MNRE to facilitate the setting up of new solar manufacturing capacity in India. Further, a production-linked incentive scheme has been sanctioned and we have issued guidelines for the same. We hope that India will have sufficient manufacturing capacity in the next three to four years. In addition, we have set up a dispute resolution committee to address various issues/disputes arising in projects. At times, many projects get delayed due to issues that are beyond the control of developers or contractors. Thus, there is a dispute resolution committee to examine those issues, which are beyond the provision of contracts, and assess whether their request for the extension is genuine.
Further, we are looking at the possibility of liberalising open access procurement of renewable power. In fact, the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission has recently introduced the green power tariff which allows consumers, willing to meet 100 per cent of their power requirement through renewables, to do so by paying some additional charges to the discom. The next thing is the promotion of rooftop solar for which we have proposed to increase the minimum permissible limit for net metering for rooftop installations to 500 kW. This proposal is under consideration of the Ministry of Power. This increase in the net metering limit will encourage rooftop solar installations in the country, which has various advantages, such as reducing transmission and distribution costs as well as AT&C loss reduction.
We are currently working on the National Hydrogen Mission also. The mission document is almost ready and has been circulated for consultation. We should be able to launch this mission in the next three to four months. We are also looking at some sort of mandates for industry to use green hydrogen, but not for energy use. Many industries, such as steel manufacturing, refineries and fertiliser manufacturing, use hydrogen. We are contemplating some sort of obligation for them to use green hydrogen or green ammonia instead of using grey hydrogen. The idea has already been discussed with the respective ministries and they have responded favourably to this idea.
Transmission and evacuation of renewable generation
Regarding the transmission infrastructure, we have a two-way approach. One is to promote intra-state transmission systems for which we have the green energy corridors scheme, which is already under progress. Under this scheme, we give 40 per cent grant to the states to construct transmission lines to facilitate evacuation of renewable power. We hope to complete most of the projects by March 2022, while some of the projects may continue till June 2022. In addition, we are setting up ISTSs for 66.5 GW of renewable energy capacity. This is under progress. However, the application for connectivity has not been received from developers for many locations, some of the components are yet to be bid out. Besides, the MNRE is planning to set up 10 GW of solar parks in Leh. For evacuation of solar power from Leh, we have planned 10 GW of ISTSs from Leh to the main load centres of India. The detailed project report has already been prepared by PGCIL and is under consideration.
We are also planning the second phase of the intra-state transmission scheme. The Ministry of Finance has given in-principle approval and that will also help in the evacuation of 25-30 GW of renewable energy capacity. The government will provide 33 per cent grant to states for the construction of intra-state transmission capacity. The draft EFC proposal has been circulated to various stakeholder ministries and we are expecting their comments soon. Once we receive their comments, we will approach the finance ministry to appraise it and the cabinet to sanction it. KfW is also willing to provide loans for the green energy corridors project to the extent of 40 per cent for the second phase as well, depending on the states' willingness.
Discoms' appetite for the absorption of new solar power is certainly an issue because for the past two years, the energy demand has not increased. States already have sufficient contracted capacity in terms of long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs), which has reduced their appetite for fresh PPAs. Further, there is reluctance on the part of the states due to their expectation of tariffs falling further and they postpone the signing of new PPAs. We hope that soon states will realise that tariffs for solar and wind power have become very competitive. In the draft Electricity Act Amendments, we have proposed to make it compulsory for states to adhere to the RPO trajectory and any non-compliance will attract penalties. Thus, once these amendments are finalised, states will be prompted to sign fresh PPAs.
Another issue is regarding the ability of the grid to absorb solar power without impacting its stability. We not only have to balance the diurnal variation and intermittency of renewable power, but also manage the seasonal variation of demand and generation. The energy demand is not constant throughout the year, so if we put up more renewable capacity to meet the peak demand, there will be huge curtailment during lower demand periods. Sufficient storage would be required to balance the grid and maintain its stability. This could be either battery-based storage or any other form of storage, including hydrogen.


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Organic Cotton Baby and Toddler Blankets with BFF Cats
Organic Cotton Baby and Toddler Blankets with BFF Cats
This fabric is just so adorable!!!! The main print features colorful kittens holding hands. It is bordered by a pink stripe and a pink floral print, with a soft pink flannel on the back. Check out the close-up shot with the little hearts and "BFFS".
All fabrics are are 100% organic cotton and are GOTS certified.
Our blankets measure a generous 32" x 36"; the perfect size for receiving, swaddling, strolling or cuddling! Fern, the panda just loves to cuddle with her BFFS! We also have a toddler size available at 42" x 58".
Baby size is ready to ship.
If you are ordering a toddler size (42" x 58") it will be made to order and will ship out in 1-2 weeks.
Machine wash cold, gentle cycle, air or tumble dry low. Warm or steam iron.


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Artificial intelligence, automated cars and the "Internet of Things" expected to drastically change lives
Stouffville Sun-Tribune
March 10, 2017
By Ali Raza
Imagine it's the year 2030. You just got off the train at the Richmond Hill GO station, it's raining and you need to get home.
As you exit the station, an automated car waits for you – having already detected your arrival through the GPS on your smartphone.
You take a seat in the car and off it goes – controlled by artificial intelligence (AI) – to drop you off home. The car reads body temperature data from your smartphone and automatically adjusts temperature.
"We're building a planet-sized machine and we'll be connected to it," said Stephen Chen, a professor in the School of Information Technology at York University.
"We're building a planet-sized machine and we'll be connected to it," said Stephen Chen.
This is a small preview of the big changes in technology experts believe will change the lives of Canadians in the coming decades.
"I have a daughter close to two years old," Chen said. "I don't think she'll ever learn to drive, I think autonomous vehicles will take over in five to 10 years."
AI, Chen says, is becoming increasingly reliable. Human intelligence and machine intelligence is quickly becoming the same thing.
"If we banned human drivers today the world would instantly be a safer place," he said. "That's with today's technology, let alone the technology we'll have in the future.
He gives as an example Google's AI, which beat a human in the strategy board game Go.
"It learned on its own," Chen said. After playing Go against itself repeatedly, Google's AI effectively taught itself out to play the game.
Rapid advancement in AI will only make automated vehicles safer and more efficient, Chen says.
IBM Canada senior executive Michael J. Martin says automated vehicles and the "Internet of Things" can help York Region face its transportation and population challenges. In 2015, York Region's population was 1.5 million, by 2041 it's expected to 2.13 million.
The "Internet of Things" describes how everyday objects will be connected and constantly sharing data with each other. It's how your future smartphone will "speak" to your future automated vehicle, but the possibilities are limitless.
Martin explained that sensors on power lines – for example – would share data to the cloud, informing the power company of a sagged or damaged line immediately and electricity could be deferred to another line to prevent an outage.
"We could see even millions of these sensors spread throughout York Region," Martin said.
Sensors and other "Internet of Things" tech can also be used to create "smarter" cities. Martin thinks instead of having several stand-alone systems – one for electricity, one for roads, etc. – that a smarter city would have all its city resources on one shared network that shares data dynamically in real-time.
Chen offered another instance using renewable energy.
For example, a washing machine runs on a duty cycle, with most power being available during evenings. With solar or wind power, washing machines, refrigerators and other appliances would automatically detect periods of high sunshine or high winds and collect power dynamically instead of on a fixed cycle.
All these advancements will cause "job destruction", Chen says. Indeed, automation – not globalization – is why Chen believes we've already seen job losses. A challenge, he says, for which Canada must prepare.
Ali Raza is the reporter for the Stouffville Sun-Tribune. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter and the Stouffville Sun-Tribune on Facebook.


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Grasberg Open Pit, Indonesia
Located some 60 miles north of Timika, at Tembagapura in Irian Jaya – the most easterly of Indonesia's provinces – on the western half of the island of New Guinea, the Grasberg mine has the world's single largest known gold reserve and the second largest copper reserves.
The Grasberg Open Pit – originally a 4,100m-high mountain, which has been mined down to 3,000m.
Copper is the primary commodity, with a proven and provable reserve of 2.8 billion tonnes of 1.09%. The reserves also contains 0.98g/t gold and 3.87g/t silver.
INSIGHT-Remote, gas-rich islands on Indonesia's South China Sea frontline
INSIGHT-Remote, gas-rich islands on Indonesia's South China Sea frontline
Reuters, Reuters yesterday
By Andrew R.C. Marshall
RANAI, Indonesia, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The word "sleepy" could have been invented for Ranai, the largest town in Indonesia's remote and sparsely populated Natuna archipelago.
It has few cars and only two sets of traffic lights. The cloud-wreathed mountain looming over it resembles a slumbering volcano. Nearby beaches lie pristine and empty, waiting for tourists.
ALKINEMOKIYE by Dandhy Dwi Laksono
Documentary gives stage to miners' struggle in Papua
Ika Krismantari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 02/28/2012 12:46 PM
The voices of local workers in the world's largest gold and copper mine controlled by the US-based mining giant Freeport McMoRan in Papua can be heard loud and clear in a new documentary that chronicles the biggest strike in the company's history.
How the National Government Is Encouraging Papua to Break Away
Jakarta Globe, Bramantyo Prijosusilo | November 22, 2011
Transparency and accountability are universally accepted as the cornerstones of good governance. With neither present in Papua, we can be sure that the natural riches of the region will never come to benefit local communities, but will rather bring about the so-called "resource curse" in the form of economic, cultural, social and political strife and ecological disaster.
Grasberg mine
see Grasberg_mine
Activists express doubt over 'lungs of the world' plan
Activists express doubt over 'lungs of the world' plan
Elly Burhaini Faizal, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/21/2012 1:05 PM
Activists were pessimistic that the government plan to allocate 45 percent of forests in Kalimantan as "the lungs of the world" would work, as mining activities and land clearing for oil palm plantations had taken up more than half of the forests on the island.
REDD+: Opportunities to alter deforestation
REDD+: Opportunities to alter deforestation
Agus Purnomo and Yani Saloh, Jakarta | Thu, 01/26/2012 10:33 AM
The recent Durban climate talks had mixed results and different implications for each country, including Indonesia. On the main issue of reducing emissions from deforestation and peat land conversion, known as REDD, Durban made progress in setting reference emissions levels, measuring emission reductions (including agreements on measuring), reporting and verifying (MRV) of achieved REDD+ outcomes, and the implementation of safeguards to mitigate negative impacts of REDD+ projects.
Bima regent's office torched by angry mob
Bima regent's office torched by angry mob
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/27/2012 8:40 AM
Thousands of protesters staging a rally in front of the Bima regent's office over the handling of a recent deadly clash at Sape port on Sumbawa Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), ran amok and set fire the building on Thursday.


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Matt Hurdle
b.1955 (USA) is an American artist working from his downtown Indianapolis studio. A lifelong artist, his early work consisted of pen & ink and charcoal drawings of places seen in nature, but he has recently moved toward painting contemporary, atmospheric landscapes. His compositions originate from vivid dreams of places beyond this world and his love of nature. Matt Hurdle's painting style is influenced by abstract and expressionism resulting in work that instills a feeling of calm and serenity.
Next Page (Ashley Mack-Jackson)


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The apartment is fitted with wall mounted electric panel heaters in all areas except the bathroom. These are fitted with a dual electric thermostat with 9 pre-set programmes. Please watch the information video on how to use the heater or alternatively you can read the instruction manual. Please remember to turn the spur switch next to the heater to on, this is demonstrated in the video below. If there is no electricity to the heaters please check that the RCD has not tripped in the consumer unit.
Towel Rail
The bathrooms are fitted with a Proline electric ladder style towel rail. Please remember to turn the spur switch outside the bathroom to on, this is demonstrated in the video below. Please also see the PDF manual below for further guidance.
Consumer Unit (Fuse Board)
Your Consumer Unit (fuse board) is located within your apartment. They are all fitted with British Standard RCD cut out for your safety.
The RCD will shut down if there is an electrical problem with that particular electric circuit. Each circuit is labelled in the consumer unit. The RCD will "Trip" turn off if there is a problem with that circuit this is a safety feature to protect you from electrocution. Common issues to trip an RCD is if a light bulb blows, there is a problem with the appliances fitted in to your kitchen or an electrical equipment like toasters, kettles, irons, TV's and laptops. Lightly push the RCD to rest. If the RCD will not reset then there is problem with one of the appliances or electrical equipment. By a process of illumination (removal all electrical equipment out of sockets and plug one in at a time to see which one trips the RCD) identify which item is fault and do plug this item back in to the electrical system. If the bulb blows please refer to the light section for replacement bulbs
Please watch the information video on how to use the consumer unit or alternatively you can read the instruction manual before reporting a fault.
TV, Telephone and Internet
Your apartment has a TV, telephone and internet point in the living area. All points are pre-wired by OFNL. The fibre optic infrastructure at Bridgewater House is maintained and operated by OFNL who specialise in full fibre services.
For broadband and telephone services you can choose from a variety of service providers. Your chosen broadband provider will post a wireless router to you in the post to set up in your home. Should you encounter any problems with your broadband or telephone please contact your chosen service provider in the first instance. More information can be found at www.ofnl.co.uk/residents-businesses/available-isps.
For television services the fibre infrastructure fitted by OFNL provides Freeview TV via a communal satellite as standard, you will not need to attach an additional aerial or satellite to the exterior of the building. You will be able to receive these channels by plugging in your TV into an aerial point and selecting auto-tune on your television. For additional television packages you can choose from the selection of providers listed below. Should you experience any problems with the TV signal including pixilation please ensure your television is set up and tuned correctly. Should this not resolve the problem please contact OFNL on 02921 678 550 / www.ofnl.co.uk/get-in-touch
To set up your TV, telephone and broadband please select the best deal for you by choosing one of the following service providers:
See the Light – 0800 331 7638 / www.seethelight.co.uk
Love Your Broadband – 02087 607 669 / www.loveyourbroadband.co.uk
Direct Save Telecom – 0800 027 3930 / www.directsavetelecom.co.uk
Vfast Internet – 01227 668 901 / www.vfast.co.uk
Pure Broadband – 01482 778 838 / www.purebroadband.net/ftth
BreezTel – 08000 465 367 / www.breeztel.com
MTH Networks – 01536 661050 / www.mthnetworks.com
Air Broadband – 01223 653400 / www.airbroadband.co.uk
Kinetic Telecom – 01702 841841 / www.ktel.co.uk/
RedRaw Internet – 01803 500009 / www.redrawinternet.com
Please Note: It is the responsibility of the occupier to acquire their own television license, this can be sourced by visiting: www.tvlicensing.co.uk
For further information on the providers, please see the OFNL Information Sheet below:
Fused Spur Sockets
Your fitted kitchen appliances are wired in to the electrical circuit at the back of the appliances under the worktop. The appliances are wired to a fused spur within the apartment kitchen area. If an appliance is not working, check there is electric coming in to the apartment, then check the RCD has not tripped. See the consumer unit demonstration video below. If there is electric to the apartment and the RCD has not tripped, replace the fuse in the fused spur. Please see the overall kitchen demonstration video for further details. If replacing the fuse does not resolve your problem please report the fault.
Smoke alarm
There is a hard-wired battery back-up smoke detector within each apartment. If you hear the alarm, it's important that you follow the fire evacuation procedures displayed on the noticeboards throughout the building. Please regularly test the smoke alarm. Please refer to the demonstration video or alternatively you can read the manual below checking the following three against the alarm that is fitted in your apartment.
Door Entry System
There is a telephone hand set intercom system within your apartment that's linked to the external intercom on the main entrance doors. These provide each occupier control of visitors into the building. Please do not provide access to anyone you're not familiar with to prevent security issues within the building.
Electrical Installation Certificate
The Electrical Installation Test Certificate was provided on the legal completion.
The lights in your lounge, bedroom, hall and cupboard are a pendant fitting with LED bulbs. The lights in your kitchen are recessed lights with LED bulbs. The bathroom light has LED bulbs. We have created a manual for the fittings and bulbs. If there is no electricity to the lights please check that the RCD has not tripped in the consumer unit. Please see the demonstration video for the consumer unit and how to charnge light bulbs below.


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Saturday, September 26, 2015
Good Morning Everyone!
Don't forget to vote for us! Go to www.cambridgetimeschoice.ca and let your vote count!
The Rustic Loaf line for today – French Baguette, Roasted Garlic, Multigrain Loaf, Ciabatta, Rosemary Focaccia, Olive Boule and Butter Croissants ~ baked FRESH each day!!
Doughnuts are: Classic Glazed and Chocolate Glazed.
Today's features are: Salted Caramel, Milk & Cookies, Cookie Dough Cheesecake, Hey Joe – Where's Louie? and Pumpkin Spice.
All of your regular favorites are here as well: Knotty Pine Buttered Almond (#KnottyPineButteredAlmond), Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla, Red Velvet, Coconut Cream Pie, Lemon Pie, Apple Pie, Vanilla Bean, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Black Forest.
Pumpkin Tarts, Pumpkin Butter Tarts, Bakewell Tarts, Classic Cannoli, Chocolate Truffle Mousse (GF), Assorted squares and Assorted Pastries like Pain au Chocolat and Cinnamon Raisin Brioche are waiting for you!
Have a great day and we look forward to seeing you in the shop!
#KWBestCupcakes #tinycakescambridge
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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'Never lose hope': Chance at permanent residency in Canada opens up for unprecedented number of people
The Leal family came to Canada from Portugal in 2017, after Marcio got a construction contract. Vanessa works in finance, and their goal has been to become permanent residents, and eventually citizens. (Photo: Vanessa Leal)
VANCOUVER -- An unprecedented number of people have recently been invited to apply for permanent residency in Canada through a program aimed at attracting skilled workers, following a year that saw immigration numbers plummet during the pandemic.
About 27,300 people received an invitation to apply through an online system called Express Entry on Feb. 13. Eligible candidates have at least one year of Canadian work experience and meet English or French language requirements set by the government. About 90 per cent are already living in Canada, including Vanessa and Marcio Leal and their 12 year-old son in Metro Vancouver.
"This is better than winning Lotto Max," Marcio said, as he described how it felt to receive an invitation earlier this month. "Now I can say my son has a bright future full of opportunity ahead of him."
The Leal family came to Canada from Portugal in 2017, after Marcio got a construction contract. Vanessa works in finance, and their goal has been to become permanent residents, and eventually citizens.
"People are so warm and welcoming," Marcio said. "That captivates you. And there's opportunities for anything."
Vanessa said that includes a chance at a better quality of life.
"It's so beautiful," she said of British Columbia. "We love to be here."
The family is now working on their application, which they have 90 days to complete. Marcio said the overall process of working towards permanent residency is "overwhelming."
"It's hard. It gets you down, but you've got to have hope, because it's a long process," he said. "It's tiring, you're always in uncertainty, but never lose hope."
Immigration consultant and managing partner at Whistler Immigration Brooke Finlay told CTV News Vancouver there are typically about 3,000 to 5,000 invited to apply for permanent residency in each round, making this round particularly historic.
What also sets it apart is the minimum threshold of points required for eligibility.
Finlay said each candidate's profile in the online Express Entry system is ranked "based on human capital factors, like their age, and education, and language ability and skilled work experience".
"Since about October 2019, that threshold has been around 470. It's dipped, and it's gone above that, but kind of on average, 470 points," she said. "And in the round of invitation on Saturday, the minimum threshold was 75 points."
Finlay said that's opened the door to many more candidates who have been waiting for their chance.
"It's a huge relief, because immigration through Express Entry is a competitive process," she said. "They've already come to Canada, they're integrating into society, they're contributing economically, and so this is an opportunity for them to make that move permanent."
But first, those invited have to submit their application within three months.
"The government, when they receive an electronic application, they do a pre-screen, and if anything is missing from the application, they cancel it. So then the person has to start back at square one," Finlay said.
That's why it's critical people get their submission right the first time, she added.
"We don't know if there's going to be another round of invitations with such a low score," she said. "That person might not have this opportunity again."
Finlay said Whistler Immigration is offering free online "master class" courses to walk people through the process.
While it takes an average of six months for an application to be processed by the government, she said she wouldn't be surprised if that timeframe increased due to the larger volume of applicants.
"The government has really ambitious immigration targets for the next three years and having fallen a bit short last year, I think that this is a response to that," she said.
Canada's intake of new permanent residents in 2020 was 184,370, far short of the target for that year of 341,000.
The target for 2021 is 401,000, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.


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Summer 2021
Inspiring entrepreneur selected as a Forbes Next 1000 honoree
As the semester came to an end, three agribusiness students had something a little extra to celebrate. They won the top three prizes in the 2021 Cotton Family Business Idea Competition, a competition where students have the opportunity to win money and take their ideas to the next level.
"It's worth it if you put in the effort," said Danielle Bunting '21 while reflecting on her time as a SUNY Morrisville Mustang.
"If your goal is to make difference, you start with journalism and Morrisville." Those words spoken by SUNY Morrisville journalism graduate Mike Gormley are precisely what he has been doing as a reporter covering politics and government for four decades. Since he graduated in 1981, Gormley has racked up more than two dozen journalism awards, including the 2016 New York State Publishers Association Distinguished State Government Coverage Award of Excellence for his investigation into New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo's campaign finances.
Campus community comes together for Giving Day: Event exceeds its goal, helps students stay on track
As a single mother, Rolanda Campbell '22 has faced her share of financial burdens while pursuing her education at SUNY Morrisville. But childcare costs, transportation worries and so many other financial burdens were alleviated thanks to the college's Student Hardship Fund, which helped her stay on track. The fund supports students who incur a sudden expense or change in circumstances they cannot overcome with financial aid or family support.
Building Successful Careers: As the demand for skilled residential construction workers goes through the roof, SUNY Morrisville professor embraces the challenge
As a hot housing market and spike in home remodeling propel the need for skilled tradespeople in the residential construction industry, Mike Gridley '04 is doing his part to ease the demand. The assistant professor of residential construction at SUNY Morrisville has been teaching the tricks of his trade and molding skilled workers for more than two decades in the classroom and as proprietor of Gridley Construction, in Hamilton, New York.
There were smiles of joy, relief, elbow bumping, physically distanced selfies and Mustang Pride was in full swing as SUNY Morrisville graduates celebrated scaled-back, in-person ceremonies in lieu of a traditional commencement this year. The separate indoor ceremonies, which all followed New York State and Health Department guidelines, balanced safety and tradition, allowing graduates to put some normalcy back in their lives following COVID-19 restrictions, which forced a virtual commencement ceremony in 2020.
The Sky is the Limit: Grad wants to give back to the community after Educational Opportunity Program changes her life
A life once limited is now filled with opportunity and dreams for Dahmili ("Molly") Pierre Browne '20. The SUNY Morrisville criminal justice graduate spent most of her childhood moving in and out of motels and living in shelters in a crime-ridden part of Bronx, New York, where sirens saturate neighborhoods and a quarter of all students drop out of high school. So much changed for Browne when the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) offered her the chance to go to college.
Going Clean: New Agricultural and Clean Energy Technology Center feeds hungry industry with qualified grads
The future of agriculture, engineering and energy isn't confined to traditional desks and lecture halls at SUNY Morrisville. Students will begin taking classes this fall in the $16 million Agricultural and Clean Energy Technology (ACET) Center, a 30,000-square foot applied learning technology building that will bolster the renewable energy, agricultural engineering, and diesel technology programs.


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Celine Dion's Father Dies
The Las Vegas Review Journal reports Celine Dion canceled her Wednesday and Thursday shows at Caesars Palace this week to attend the funeral of her father. Adhemar Dion, who worked two jobs to support a family of 16 on $165 a week, died Sunday at his Montreal home.
Related News
12 thoughts on "Celine Dion's Father Dies"
- rangergirl says:
Sorry to hear this. She seems like a nice lady regardless if you like her music or not.
- rachell says:
Wow this is the greatest Christmas present of all!
- Jive says:
You are so stupid. You're the one who should die!
- Madfan says:
We can hate all we want, but that's just sick, rachell, VERY sick.
- clayfan says:
When your parent dies, I hope you get rude comments instead of sympathy.
Rachell, do you have parents, or did you crawl out from under a rock?
You can dislike Celine, Rachell, but this is WAY OUT OF LINE for a hater.
- BroadmindedMusic says:
Don't worry, you guys, there's a thing called KARMA.
- popnicklover says:
Rachel is a sick freak! I feel so sorry for Celine and her family. My prayers go out to them!
- Cicero says:
That's terrible. Poke fun at artists and posters, but wishing death upon someone?
I share your outrage, but really, don't say that. Don't degrade yourself.
This isn't about being a fan or not. Honestly, I like one or two of her songs, but I'm not a Celine fanatic. I feel *very* bad for her anyway, because we all can relate to the sorrow she must be going through. My friend's dad passed away last month, and I wouldn't wish something like this on my worst enemy. I hope all posters here have supportive families that are safe and healthy, and I wish only the best for Celine through these difficult times.
- clayfan says:
I lost my mom two years ago right before Christmas, and it was just awful. Still is. I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone. Thanks for stopping me, Cicero.
- Brentwood_Babe says:
Sit there for a moment and really think about what you just said, Rachell. Sarcasm was not called for here. A woman's father just died. Some day, your father will die too. Mine did, but way too early, which is why I am so sensitive to your rude comment. Hate, jokes and sarcasm have their time and place, but not here.
- hotstuff says:
All my love and prayers to the Dion family. A family of 16 and 2 jobs, and after all that hard work look at what his daughters become. Anyone would have been proud to have a father like him. Shows how much will power and tenacity some1 can have.
- Tam says:
so so so sympathy for the lost of your father. You are so beautiful lady and great singer I love your voices so much.
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Lyrics: Michael Falzarano
Music: Michael Falzarano
A new New Riders song, introduced in 2012. Thanks to Michael Falzarano for the lyrics.
Truth is dead, it�s been laid to rest
They buried it late last night right alongside common sense
You can�t say anything anymore without consequence
So button it up and get your ass back on the fence
Don�t dare take a stance on one side or the other
Or the hammer will come down on you like a mother fucker
Civility, reasonable thinking, free speech
Well, these days it just seems as though they�re just out of reach
They�ve been replaced with politically correct
And it don�t seem to matter much who we elect
You can vote down the middle, vote for left side, vote for the right
Say something they don�t agree with and you better run for your life
Because they�ll cut you down, run you out of town
So just keep your mouth shut, don�t make a sound
Don�t talk about how you feel, don�t say what�s on your mind
Or they�ll hunt you down like a dog and bury you alive
Truth is dead it�s been laid to rest
They buried it late last night right alongside common sense
No you can�t say anything anymore without consequence
Truth is dead
Yeah truth is dead along with common sense
All we�re left with now is politically correct
Truth is dead along with common sense
Truth is dead
Hey darling, you wanna dance?
|New Riders Recordings
|17 Pine Avenue


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by Kevin
(Jakarta, Indonesia)
The first time my family came to Bangkok to pray to the four-faced Buddha was on 6 April 2009. My mother, my daughter and I prayed for my girl friend who was a Muslim.
As she waited for us while we prayed, she said to the four-faced Buddha in her heart to heal her painful leg. She wanted the four-faced Buddha to help her.
ITS TRUE, her leg didn't hurt again until now. I pray to thank the four-faced Buddha for my girl friend. I believe in the four-faced Buddha.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Four faced Buddha – were your prayers answered?.
Search Tour Bangkok Legacies with DuckDuckGo


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February 19, 2014
Collaborative learning is one of the important aspects of the 21st education. The read/write web ( As the author Will Richardson names it ) is all about tapping into the collective wisdom of the mob. Students create and join cliques online and they get to share and learn from each other. The collaborative culture that the web fosters should definitely be mirrored within the four walls of our classrooms. We need to provide students with the right environment where they can work in teams and peer help each other. Mia from anethicalisland has this wonderful visual featuring 27 tips for teachers to boost team work in class. Have a look and share with your colleagues.
27 Ways to Encourage Team Work in Your Class
February 19, 2014


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This Superlift Dual Steering Stabilizer Cylinder replacement kit is intended to replace the cylinders used in any inline dual-stabilizer system(s), regardless the brand, as long as the bracketry of the system uses eye-to-eye mount cylinders.
To check for proper fitment: Turn your wheels to full lock in both directions, and measure the one cylinder that is extended and the other one that is collapsed in each direction. If the measurement is 23.68" or less at fully extended and 14.62" or more collapsed this product will work with your vehicle.
NOTE: We highly suggest you measure your cylinders prior to the purchase of these replacements. These cylinders are intended to be used in dual applications only.


text:
Ape Software is proud to serve so many quality conscious companies. Here are
just a few:
Ape Software creates and supports Calibration Control, our Calibration Management Software solution.
We also provide programming, MS Access, SQL Server and several other related problem solving or creative services.
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ABAP Platform – SAP TechEd Lecture of the Week
Hi folks,
it's been a while since last TechEd and planning for the TechEd events in the fall of 2017 (as usually in Vegas, Bangalore and Barcelona, see http://www.saptechded.com is in full swing. The results will be posted to the SAP TechEd web site as soon as the official agenda page goes live in May. This year we will present a program which is weaved around SAP's major product and platform offerings. You will see themes and topics covering SAP HANA and Big Data plus Analytics. Like last year, SAP S/4HANA sessions will play an important role. In addition we will feature lots of content around User Experience and SAP Cloud Platform covering innovations in emerging technologies like IoT and Machine Learning to name a few. The list here is by far not complete, and we are heavily working on a good balance which takes care of integration points between the various themes and topics. Of course, we will also offer lecture and hands-on workshops on ABAP Platform as the technical foundation of the digital core in SAP S/4HANA. A full bunch of innovations has been developed for both cloud and on-premise deployments based on the core data services principle with a new program model including transactional behaviour for template based FIORI applications. If you want to refresh your ABAP Platform knowledge you can follow the recording from last year, but even better have a look at our new presence at https://www.sap.com/developer.html where ABAP Platform is fully featured. Stay tuned for the publication of the TechEd 2017 agenda.
Best regards,


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I hate the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
All right, not really. In fact, based on everything I know about the Cornhuskers and their fans, I don't have any reason to dislike them in the slightest. However, the Georgia Bulldogs are playing Nebraska for just the second time ever on New Year's Day, so it's high time we started working up some first-class contempt for the 'Huskers, because, hey, we're Georgia fans; we hate everyone, right? Here are five reasons to despise the Nebraska Cornhuskers. They're the best I can do, really:
1. Larry the Cable Guy. A lot of folks mistake Daniel Lawrence Whitney for being a scalawag, like his Blue Collar Comedy Tour buddy, Jeff Foxworthy. In fact, he's a carpetbagger: Larry the Cable Guy is a Nebraska native, a Lincoln resident, and a Cornhuskers fan who began affecting a Southern accent in his comedy routines after having college roommates from Georgia and Texas. Larry is one of them, and he makes his living by making fun of us. His schtick is tired, annoying, and git-'r-dumb.
2. The Memorial Stadium sellout streak. Beginning with the homecoming game on November 3, 1962---six years to the day before I was born---Nebraska has sold out every game the Cornhuskers have played in Lincoln. In the abstract, 50 straight seasons of selling every seat for every game sounds pretty impressive, but, when you pause to think about it for a minute, it's actually a source of shame. If there hasn't been an unsold seat in Memorial Stadium in half a century, Lincoln needs a bigger stadium. If you don't believe me that the University of Nebraska athletics administration deliberately has suppressed supply to keep it below market demand and create an ersatz scarcity, take Tom Osborne's word for it: Lincoln needs an expanded stadium, yet the Cornhuskers refuse to enlarge their arena to accommodate their fans for fear of losing this dubious title. As with Hartsfield-Jackson's status as the busiest airport in the world, Nebraska's home sellout streak looks like a point of pride but is in fact an embarrassing hallmark of inadequate planning.
3. I hear bad things from chuckdawg. Nebraska is flat. Nebraska is ground zero for tornadoes. Aside from having dangerous weather patterns, Nebraska is dull, so much so that, according to chuckdawg, opening a new Chick-fil-A or bumping into Kirstie Alley constitutes big fun in Nebraska. I'm sorry, what? That's Kansas, not Nebraska? Oh. Well. In that case, I hate Nebraska for being located in a place I can't be bothered to distinguish from Kansas, then. Try creating a state based on mountain ranges and rivers instead of using a ruler and a map, how 'bout it?
4. They're not clearly inferior to us in every way, shape, form, and fashion. Entering the 2012 college football season, Nebraska ranked ninth nationally in all-time winning percentage (.701) and fourth nationally in total victories (846), whereas the Bulldogs were 14th (.646) and 11th (747), respectively, in those categories. The 2013 Capital One Bowl will be Georgia's 48th bowl appearance and the Cornhuskers' 49th. The 'Huskers fielded their first football team in 1890, two years before the Red and Black did, and Nebraska leads the all-time series with Georgia, 1-0. We're not used to seeing the Bulldogs square off against teams that aren't clearly behind the Athenians in the pecking order---neither the Auburn Tigers nor the Florida Gators nor the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have as many wins, as high a winning percentage, or as many bowl appearances as Georgia, and none of those three rivals has an older football program than, or a winning record against, the Classic City Canines---so it's disconcerting to head into the postseason against an opponent with a pedigree even remotely as storied as our own.
5. They're too nice to dislike. Nebraska fans have a national reputation for being among the classiest in college football, and for being especially gracious to opposing fans. Every Cornhusker fan with whom I ever have come into contact seemed to be a genuinely nice person. They're polite to the point of being rude. I mean, really, people; we're trying to hate y'all over here. Do you mind?
Admittedly, Nebraskans are hard to hate, but desperate times call for desperate measures. If you can come up with better, preferably humorous reasons for despising the Cornhuskers that meet the site standards here, by all means, let us know in the comments below.
Go 'Dawgs!


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Product Description:
The Ambu SPUR II Valve Mask is the only resuscitator that is made from an SEBS material instead of PVC. This classifies the SPUR II as environmentally safe and fully disposable, thus eliminating all risks of cross-contamination.
The valve mask's SafeGrip™ surface ensures that there's a secure grip on the bag and that the Spur II can be firmly squeezed in all situations. The ergonomic, lightweight design of the SPUR II is made for optimal user handling and support, even during extended ventilations. The convenient handle makes it easier to hold the unit and ventilate the patient with just one hand if necessary. Ambu's characteristic design provides optimum stroke volume with perfect recoil.
- Provides optimum stroke volume with perfect recoil
- PVC free – made of SEBS for environmental safety, full disposability, and reduced risk of cross-contamination
- SafeGrip™ surface to enable secure grip on bag and firm squeezing of the SPUR II in all situations
- Ergonomic, lightweight bag design for optimal user handling and support, even during extended ventilations
- Convenient handle for one-handed ventilation, if necessary.


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Silhouette of a Sparrow
Growing up in the 1920s, sixteen-year-old Garnet Richardson watches the birds outside her window, admiring their freedom and beauty. Her mother, on the other hand, does not approve of Garnet climbing trees to peer into nests. She has Garnet's life all planned out: after finishing high school, she'll marry and tend to the home.
When Garnet is sent away for the summer to stay with relatives in the lakeside resort town of Excelsior, Minnesota, she discovers a chance to spread her wings. There she finds herself under the supervision of oppressive guardians and her father's wealthy cousin. But an amusement park and roaring dance hall beckon, and her explorations land her where she least expects—enthralled with a beautiful and daring flapper, Isabella. Caught between her family's expectations and her own newfound passions, Garnet must decide whose dreams to follow.
Tender and moving, Silhouette of a Sparrow is the tale of a young woman's discovery of the science of risk, the art of rebellion, and, of course, the power of unexpected love.
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Praise and Prizes
"Rich with emotion and loaded with fascinating details of the flapper era, Silhouette of a Sparrow is a wonderful novel about independence and first love."
"A sweet, quiet coming-of-age story . . . Garnet's narration reveals a girl on the cusp of modernity, one whose desire for something more and something else feels both alluring and terrifying. . . . A positive breath of fresh air."
"An excellent example of an historical coming-of-age lesbian young adult novel. Written with a deft hand, based in the true history of its setting, and with characterizations that will ring true to any teenager, it is a worthy and enjoyable read for anyone."
"Tenderly and touchingly realized."
"An immensely charming short novel . . . Molly Beth Griffin perfectly captures the mood of America in the twenties—prohibition, first wave feminism, ongoing and virulent racism, the class war at one of its many peaks—and it is this that pushes Silhouette to be more than 'just' a coming of age romance novel, but an example of historical fiction at its most vivid. . . . Well-researched and beautifully lyrical."
Lambda Literary Awards Finalist
ALA Rainbow List
Amelia Bloomer Project List
Milkweed Prize for Children's Literature
Minnesota Book Award Finalist


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Last Spring, I told you about the baby boom in my life, so I thought I would follow up this year with more luscious interiors for children. I've always felt that children's rooms should be inspiring laboratories for creative imagining and comforting retreats where the little ones can feel safe and loved.
I've collected quite a few photos of children's rooms and here are my all-time favorites. Spring is here, so why not update your children's rooms or at least re-arrange a few things to give them a fresh outlook and make them feel extra special.
Delphine Krakoff
Amanda Nisbet
Elle Decor
Kelly Wearstler
Room for Children
Gwyneth Paltrow
Elle Decor
Delphine Krakoff
Miles Redd
Tory Burch
Room for Children
|• Design
|• Comments Off on Kid~N~Play


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What you need to know about encryption on your phone
While we wait for the courts or Congress to rule on Apple vs. FBI, learn more about what is and isn't encrypted on your phone, and how you can better protect yourself.
The heated and very public confrontation between the FBI and Apple has spurred a lot of talk about encryption, the technology that shields data on phones and other gadgets.
The feds are pushing Apple to find a way to prevent an iPhone 5C from erasing itself after 10 successive incorrect guesses at the passcode. The user of that phone, San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook, used a PIN code to secure his device, and without bypassing that code, the data stored on it is unreadable, thanks to encryption.
If Apple were to disable the auto-erase feature, the FBI could then connect the iPhone to a computer and quickly and repeatedly attempt to guess the passcode -- a technique commonly referred to as a brute force attack -- until the device is unlocked.
Should the FBI prevail and the courts force Apple to comply, the decision could have widespread implications for our daily lives. Apple and fellow technology companies would be forced to create permanent solutions for law enforcement to get around encryption, using what's commonly referred to as a back door.
Alternatively, companies could very well decide the financial burden of maintaining encryption and abiding by law enforcement requests is too much, and give up on adding security features to the devices we've come to rely upon.
With our personal devices carrying more and more of our lives than ever before, it's a good time to look at what is and isn't encrypted and what you can do to ensure your information is safe.
What is encryption?
A fancy word for a basic concept, encryption is the science behind protecting any information stored on an electronic device, be it a phone, a laptop or a server. On a phone that means your photos, text conversations, emails and documents.
Encryption stores information in a scrambled format, typically unreadable by computers or people without a key (which only the device's owner should know) to unlock the data. PIN codes (of numbers, letters or a combination of both) and fingerprints are just two of many examples of keys used to unlock an encrypted device.
Indeed, the practice of encryption is far more technical than requiring a PIN code or fingerprint to unlock a device. Some phone manufacturers, such as Apple, require multiple pieces of information -- one known to the device owner, another embedded in the processor inside the device unknown to anyone -- to unlock data stored within the device.
It's important to note, regardless of the device you're using, data created by third-party applications store information on their own servers, which may or may not be encrypted. Even then, the rules for decrypting data stored on a server are often different than data stored on a phone (see iCloud section below for more information).
In other words, most of what we do on a phone is backed up to a server at some point. That means a copy of your Facebook posts or photo albums, Snapchat conversations, or Twitter direct messages are stored on your device but also on the respective servers for each service.
Essentially, any information stored within an app on your phone that forgoes any sort of connection to a server is encrypted and inaccessible by law enforcement on a locked phone. For example, if an iOS user wanted to keep Notes or Contacts off of Apple severs, he or she would need to disable iCloud sync for the respective app in Settings.
If you've opted not to sync your contacts or calendars through Google or a similar service, relying instead on a local copy of information on your device, that data is encrypted and presumably inaccessible by law enforcement.
How does iOS handle encryption?
Apple began encrypting iOS devices in 2014 with the release of iOS 8. Prior to iOS 8, iOS users were able to set a PIN or passcode to prevent unauthorized access, but some of the data stored on the device was still accessible by Apple when law enforcement presented the company with a valid warrant. A total of 84 percent of iOS devices are running iOS 8 or later.
With iOS 8 and beyond, Apple no longer has the tools required to bypass a device's lock screen and gain access to any data stored on your iOS device. That means items such as call logs, photos, documents, messages, apps and notes are inaccessible to anyone without a device's PIN.
This is an important detail, as it has led to the current situation playing out in public view between the FBI and Apple.
How does iCloud factor in?
Another topic that's come up in the battle between the FBI and Apple is what data stored in an iCloud backup of an iOS can and cannot be accessed by Apple.
Apple's Legal Process Guidelines state iCloud backups are encrypted and stored on the company's servers. However, unlike an encrypted device, Apple can access information stored within a backup. Specifically, it's possible for Apple to provide authorities with "photos and videos in the users' camera roll, device settings, app data, iMessage, SMS, and MMS messages and voicemail," as detailed in Section J.
What about encryption on Android?
As with all things Android, there's a long list of caveats regarding encryption on an Android device.
Android manufacturers use different processors and components, each requiring custom software and backup services outside of what Google originally designed Android for. It's the key selling point of Android over iOS, as Android fans are quick to espouse. And they're not wrong. However, each change can introduce unintended security issues outside of Google's control.
Google first provided the option for users to opt into encrypting their devices in 2011. At the time, the option was strictly up to the user, leaving the manufacturer out of the equation.
Toward the end of 2014, though, the company released Android 5.0 Lollipop with the default setting of encryption turned on. But phone makers didn't have to enable encryption to be default when they made phones; it wasn't a requirement of Google, and in the end, most OEMs left the setting turned off, citing performance issues as the reason.
Then, with the release of Android 6.0 Marshmallow in 2015, Google started requiring manufacturers to enable encryption on all devices out of the box. There is, of course, an exception to the rule: Google allows phone makers to disable the feature on what amounts to entry level, and thus often slower devices. For those who want a more technical explanation, read section "9.9 Full-Disk Encryption" of this document.
Once an Android device is encrypted, all data stored on the device is locked behind the PIN code, fingerprint, pattern, or password known only to its owner.
Without that key, neither Google nor law enforcement can unlock a device. Android security chief Adrian Ludwig recently took to Google+ to refute a claim of a back door into Android: "Google has no ability to facilitate unlocking any device that has been protected with a PIN, password, or fingerprint. This is the case whether or not the device is encrypted, and for all versions of Android."
Nevertheless, each phone manufacturer is able to alter Android, customizing its look, adding or removing features, and in the process potentially introducing bugs or vulnerabilities authorities can use to bypass Android's security features.
So how do you know if you've got encryption working?
Android users can check the encryption status of a device by opening the Settings app and selecting Security from options. There should be a section titled Encryption that will contain the encryption status of your device. If it's encrypted, it will read as such. If not, it should read similar to "encrypt device." Tap on the option if you want to encrypt your device, but make sure to set aside some time -- encrypting a device can take upwards of an hour.
Google's backup service for Android devices is optional for device manufacturers and application developers. As with Apple's iCloud Backup practices, data within a backup stored on Google's servers is accessible by the company when presented with a warrant by law enforcement. However, because the backup service is opt-in by developers, it may not contain data from every app installed on your device.
What can you do to better protect your data?
Android users should enable encryption and set a PIN code or alphanumeric passcode. iOS users, setup Touch ID and use an alphanumeric passcode containing at least six digits. The longer password is a hassle, yes, but with Touch ID enabled, you shouldn't have to enter it too often.
If the FBI succeeds in forcing Apple to bypass a device's lock screen timeout, it would take five and a half years for a computer to crack a six-digit alphanumeric passcode, according to Apple's iOS Security Guide (see page 12).
As for protecting data stored in backups on Apple's or Google's servers, you can start by disabling iCloud backups by opening the settings app, selecting iCloud, followed by Backup and sliding the switch to the Off position. Apple also allows you to delete iCloud backups from your account through the iCloud settings on your iOS device by opening Settings > iCloud > Storage > Manage Storage.
On Android, the process for disabling backups will depend on the device you're using, but generally the setting is found in Settings app under Backup & Reset. You can remove backed-up data from Google's servers under the Android section in your Google Dashboard.


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BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A judge ordered Broward County Supervisor of Elections Dr. Brenda Snipes to allow immediate inspection of voter records during an emergency hearing Friday.
The court was asked to intervene in the tight U.S. Senate race between Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott as the two sides prepare for a possible recount.
Judge Carol-Lisa Phillip said Snipes must allow inspections on or before 7 p.m. Friday evening. Phillips found that Snipes violated that law by failing to turn over the information to attorneys for Scott's Senate campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
Lawyers for Snipes argued that requiring such a swift response would interfere with ongoing efforts to finish counting Broward County ballots. But lawyers for Scott contended the information is already required to be collected under state law and should take minutes to provide.
WIN A $100 PUBLIX GIFT CERTIFICATE in the Local 10 Thanksgiving Giveaway
Scott filed a lawsuit Thursday night against, asking the court to order Snipes to turn over several records detailing the counting and collection of ballots.
But Snipes attorney said in court Friday that it would be inappropriate for the court to intervene at this time, simply because Scott wants the counting process to be sped up.
The attorney said Snipes is not refusing to turn over the records, but needs more time to do so.
Scott's thin lead over Nelson has narrowed during the vote-counting in the days since he declared victory Tuesday night.
Without citing any evidence of wrongdoing, Scott also asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate elections offices in the Democratic strongholds of Palm Beach and Broward counties, questioning whether they have been taking too long in some sort of effort to inflate the Democratic vote.
However, the FDLE has said it is not investigating Snipes at this time, as no allegations of voter fraud have been received and Scott has not put his request in writing.
Nelson waited until Friday afternoon to respond to Scott's lawsuit.
"Clearly, Rick Scott is trying to stop all the votes from being counted and he's impeding the democratic process." said Nelson in a recorded video statement. "You can see this from his irresponsible, unethical and unprecedented press statement last night that he's worried and he's desperate."
A lawyer for Nelson criticized Scott for using his official position to try to influence ballot counting.
On Friday, Nelson lawyer Marc Elias shot back at Scott on a conference call with reporters, saying, "Just look at the behavior of your governor."
Elias said it's "not appropriate" for a governor to suggest he's going to use his powers to "interject his law enforcement authority to prevent the counting of ballots that have been legally cast."


text:
Sold Out
Lil Cactus - Colourful Cupcake Bubble Romper with Ruffle Trim
$ 33.00
Brand Lil Cactus
This product is sold out
Your little fashionista will love this adorable polka dot romper. It features a ruffle bottom, adorable angel-sleeves with smocking and embroidered cupcakes on the front. Perfect from events like birthday parties or days at the beach to everything in between.