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The Durst Organization and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today announced that DADA Holdings LLC has signed a five-year lease for 4,786 square feet on the 71st floor of One World Trade Center. Princeton Longevity Center signed a 10-year lease for 11,075 square feet on the 71st floor. This will be both DADA and Princeton Longevity's first offices in New York City. Ichnos Science Inc., moving its offices to New York City from Paramus, New Jersey signed a seven-year and five-month lease for 10,847 square feet on the 76th floor. Pison Stream Solutions signed a three-year lease for 10,804 square feet on the 49th floor of OWTC, making the building their global headquarters.
Also signed at the One World Trade Center were two expansion deals. Symphony Communications Services has signed a one-year lease for 3,510 square feet on the 45th floor, bringing their total square footage on the floor to 12,100 square feet. Additionally, Augustus Intelligence signed a five-year lease for 6,475 on the 77th floor of OWTC, doubling their footprint with a move from the 45th floor.
"We are extremely pleased with the leasing activity at One World Trade Center," said Jonathan (Jody) Durst, President of The Durst Organization. "We are beginning the year by welcoming our newest tenants DADA Holdings, Ichnos, Princeton Longevity and Pison and celebrating the success of Symphony and Augustus with their office expansions at One WTC."
Princeton Longevity Center was represented by Steven Rotter, Blake Goodman and Justin Haber of JLL. Ichnos Sciences was represented by Cushman & Wakefield's Drew Braver and Mark Zaziski. Michael Thomas and Aidan Campbell of Colliers represented Pison. Symphony Communications Services was represented by Christopher Foerch of Savills. And Augustus was represented by Carol Engel of CS Engel and Associates. The landlord was represented by Senior Managing Director Eric Engelhardt and Managing Director Karen Kuznick of The Durst Organization and the Newmark Knight Frank team of David Falk, Jason Greenstein, Peter Shimkin, Hal Stein and Travis Wilson.
Augustus Intelligence builds artificial intelligence products and secure infrastructure services to help enterprise clients reinvent themselves.
Pison Stream Solutions is a global leader in the research and development of chemical coatings platforms for niche markets. They implement their systems across defense, aerospace, automotive, antimicrobial, renewable energy applications, and additive platforms.
Princeton Longevity Center is a next-generation medical facility combining the most advanced technology with an integrated and individually tailored Preventive Medicine program. Princeton Longevity Center's Preventive Medicine and Executive Health programs give you the ability to take control of your future health – before the onset of symptoms or other indications of a problem.
A fully integrated, global biotechnology company with the spirit of a start-up, Ichnos Sciences is shifting the way the world thinks about innovation in medicine through its research and development of transformative, disease-centric treatments in oncology, autoimmune disease and pain. The Company, with headquarters in Paramus, N.J., is rapidly advancing a clinical-stage pipeline of novel, first-in-class candidates designed to address complex diseases and treat patients holistically. With a patented BEAT® technology platform along with pioneering teams in Switzerland and India, Ichnos Sciences has a mission to provide breakthrough, curative therapies that will hopefully extend and improve lives, writing a new chapter in healthcare.
Symphony offers a secure team collaboration platform that transforms the way users communicate effectively and securely with a single workflow application. Symphony is designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations of all sizes improve productivity while meeting complex data security and regulatory compliance needs. Symphony was founded in October 2014 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, with offices in Hong Kong, London, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sophia-Antipolis, Stockholm and Tokyo.
Dominating the Lower Manhattan skyline, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and home to the largest community of media and tech innovators. The 3.1 million-square-foot LEED Gold Certified skyscraper features premier office space and some of the most spectacular views in the world.
The state-of-the-art architectural, environmental, and structural enhancements of One World Trade Center incorporate the latest technologies and innovations at the cutting edge of efficient skyscraper design. On the 64th floor, One World Commons offers 25,000 square feet of outstanding tenant amenities including a world-class business and social hub fostering workplace creativity, collaboration, and community.
Built by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and The Durst Organization in a unique public-private partnership, One World Trade Center sets a new standard of design, construction, and prestige. Bringing a wealth of private sector experience to One World Trade Center, The Durst Organization is responsible for marketing, leasing, and managing the property.


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New York Times bestselling author "Christine Feehan has brought paranormal romance to a new high." Now she soars as she introduces Hannah, one of the extraordinary Drake sisters--all gifted, enigmatic, and seductively enchanted. . .
- #1 New York Times
- #1 Barnes and Nobles mass market
- #1 Borders mass market
- #1 Publisher's Weekly
- #3 USA Today
- Walmart
- Booksense
- Bookscan
- Target
- Amazon
- Washington Post
Drake Sisters ,
Book 5
Release: paperback
Release Date: June 26, 2007
Number of Pages: 384 pages
Publisher: Jove
Language: English
One of seven daughters in a line of extraordinary women, Hannah Drake has been the elusive object of affection for Jonas Harrington for as long as the young man can remember. If only the stunning super-model was driven by a passion other than her career. But Jonas isn't the only one with desires for Hannah.
From the shadows has emerged a vengeful figure who stalks the beauty with one terrifying purpose: to strip her of all she is and destroy her. Only one man was destined as her protection. Now, out of a storm of danger, Jonas must guide the woman he loves from a sinister darkness that threatens not only Hannah, but the entire Drake family.
Special Offer
Enjoy Safe Harbor with this beautiful new cover in these e-book editions:
ALSO: beginning June 5, 2018, Walmart is making this new re-issue of Safe Harbor available in some of its stores along with some other select retailers. Check your local Walmart!
Bestseller Lists
Christine's Notes
— Christine Feehan
Christine regularly writes about her books (and all kinds of subjects) in the following places:

subset: commoncrawl


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In Dunkirk, director Christopher Nolan tells the story of the 1940 British evacuation from France at the outset of World War II. The film, which cleverly plays with converging timelines, focuses on a soldier on the beach (played by Fionn Whitehead), the harried naval officer directing the seemingly hopeless evacuation (Kenneth Branagh), the civilian called to sail his small yacht across the Channel to pick up soldiers (Mark Rylance), and a Spitfire pilot desperately flying to protect the ships from aerial attack (Tom Hardy).
Dunkirk doesn't shy away from the horror of war. More to the point, Dunkirk doesn't let you shy away from the horror of war. You cannot ignore the constant strain and pressure war puts upon human beings and the terror that violence induces in its victims – nor should you. Nolan makes you look at the evil human beings will do to each other and doesn't permit you to turn your eyes to anything else for the entirety of the film.
Dunkirk depicts with considerable historical accuracy one of the most dramatic moments of World War II: as German forces rapidly advance into France, the outgunned British Expeditionary Force of 400,000 soldiers beat a hasty retreat to the beaches of Dunkirk, roughly 50 miles from the English coast. With disaster looming, the British faced the almost impossible task of evacuating their army before the Germans overran the defenses on the beach. With the help of a massive flotilla of civilian ships and boats, the British managed to evacuate the bulk of their army before the Germans seized control of the beaches.
In a tightly-paced 90 minute film, Nolan manages to do justice to most elements of the Dunkirk evacuation, including the disorganized British retreat to Dunkirk, the relentless German air attacks on the beach and in the English Channel, the numbing despair of soldiers waiting on the beach for evacuation but not expecting it, and the unexpected arrival of a motley civilian fleet of yachts, fishing boats, and barges that evacuated the remaining troops. Most remarkably, the film maintains considerable dramatic tension in a movie that depicts a relatively well-known historic event.
That description makes the film seem like a standard movie from its genre. I assure you that it is not. Reviews that critique Dunkirk as if it were simply a paean to a heroic event of great significance or an empty and grey war spectacle miss the point: Dunkirk is neither a sentimental war story nor a bloody festival of guts and gore. There is very little sentiment in Dunkirk and even less blood, though there are the requisite deaths and explosions.
Christopher Nolan is aiming at something different than the usual war film. Nolan discards all the typical tropes. There is no band of easily-recognized ethnic stereotypes talking about life in the old neighborhood or schooldays before the war, or wistful images of a sweetheart back home for whom our plucky warrior pines. The dialogue is sparse, and the few bits of humor are grim and laconic. Hans Zimmer's score is terse and minimal, serving to amplify the metallic sounds of war; the rare moments of rousing anthem are harshly undercut by subsequent moments of sheer terror and chaos. This is a film that drops a moment of levity simply to make the subsequent sound of incoming German dive-bombers even more disheartening.
The minimal character development that Nolan employs throughout Dunkirk points to Nolan's larger focus: this movie is only minimally about any of the individuals involved in the evacuation. Rather, Dunkirk is about the nation itself, grappling with the ongoing and ever present possibility of total defeat and destruction. Nolan walks you past soldiers who see death circling ever closer, and their countrymen's frenzied (and miraculously successful) attempts to avert it. And even though you know that most soldiers will be successfully evacuated, you still don't believe it will happen until you see soldiers walking through an English train station.
Most surprisingly, Dunkirk is a strikingly spiritual film. Though there is little overt religiosity in the film, it is a film that demands prayerful reflection. Through Dunkirk, we can look at the part of the world that still waits eagerly for the dawning of a new heaven and a new earth, the part of the world that cries out still for the fullness of redemption and new life. The drama of human dysfunction is fully on display in Dunkirk, as the strain of war and violence wreaks havoc on the humanity of the evacuating soldiers and the sailors who convey them.
The actual events of Dunkirk are nearly 80 years in the past. Yet, watching ships sink in the surf while men and women struggle to survive for just another moment is hardly irrelevant. Obliquely, Dunkirk harkens to the ongoing crisis of migrants and refugees. Everyday we read reports of ships more ramshackle than the wooden yachts of the English Channel foundering in the Mediterranean and the deaths of far too many men, women, and children, who like the men and women of Dunkirk, sought refuge and safety. We ought not avert eyes to them, either.
Go see Dunkirk. Do not look away from the history that Christopher Nolan is showing you. Peer deeply at the world of the past in its ugliness and beauty and let it inspire to keep your eyes open to the present world, too. Let an ethic of open eyes be the first step of many towards a growing solidarity and fraternity with all those standing upon anxious beaches desperately waiting for the chance to reach safe home.
Images courtesy FlickrCC users Craig Duffy and deepskyobject.


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The cost of the 2016 US presidential and congressional elections was $6.5 billion. The Indian parliamentary election of 2019 outspent the 2016 US figure, costing about $8.6 billion. Where does all this money go, whether in India or the US? And why is the cost of elections – the motor of democracy – climbing to astronomical heights while all other welfare investments are declining? There's an answer in the Netflix film The Great Hack that points to the marriage between big money and big data.
The Great Hack relates Cambridge Analytica's role in Donald Trump's 2016 election as US president to a much larger issue: the threat to democracy from global tech giants. It is not the Facebook data that Cambridge "hacked," but the election itself. And what is at stake is not just an election, but the very future of democracy. If elections can be hacked, so can democracy. The film poses a fundamental question for our times: Are more elections in more places going to be won by the best data "team" that money can buy?
The Indian elections of 2014 and 2019 raised similar questions. Shivam Singh's book How to Win an Indian Election covers very similar ground to show that elections can indeed be hacked, using big money and big data.
The role of advertising and media consultants in elections is not new. With the growth of mass media, the methods of selling soaps and detergents also became the method to sell politics. What has been added now is the power of micro-targeting: targeting each individual based on knowing, in minute detail, what makes us tick. An average person leaves enough digital footprints to generate 5,000 data points; these are used by big-data companies to target each one of us with ads. This is what has made Google, Facebook and Amazon – and now Alibaba and WeChat as well – among the world's 10 biggest companies.
We already knew much of this. What The Great Hack adds to our understanding is that a lot of these "tools" came out of the military psychological operations (or psyops) and cyberwar techniques. They were even classified as weapons under export-control regimes. These tools are used to spread hate, disinformation and divisions – fake news, in other words – in the "enemy" ranks, or any targeted population in countries slated for regime change.
The other insight of the film is that it is not the big vote banks that count toward an electoral victory. These votes are generally already decided, and difficult to shift. What counts is a small section of undecided votes. If these votes are turned, they can tip the election from defeat to victory. In the US elections, for instance, given the lopsided nature of the Electoral College system, just 70,000 voters in three states gave Trump his victory over Hillary Clinton.
If we understand the psychological profile of a voter, or what Alexander Nix of Cambridge Analytica calls the psychometric profile, we can do two things: We can discourage voters who would probably vote for the other side; and we can encourage the voters from "our side" to come out and vote. The film shows a successful example in Trinidad: young people of color were targeted with a "movement" message – the Do-So movement – how "cool" it is to not vote. The other side was encouraged to vote with messages about family values such as listening to parents.
In the recent Indian elections, for example, data analysis in the largest state, Uttar Pradesh (UP), shows that strongholds of the ruling right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a higher turnout than those of the opposition alliance – Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) – indicating the success of a similar campaign. If you were an opposition voter, you were targeted with messages about how all politicians are corrupt, and how elections serve no purpose. To the ruling BJP voters, the messaging was that patriotism demands that you vote to strike a blow against "our enemies."
Though the film focuses on Cambridge Analytica and the Trump election, it also registers the role of global right-wing networks using big money and deeply divisive messaging. This is visible, for example, in Jair Bolsonaro's victory in Brazil, where a massive fake news campaign was mounted using WhatsApp, Facebook's messaging platform.
The Great Hack also brings us face to face with the dystopian world that Facebook and Google have created – a social-media world that divides us rather than connecting us. Early on, Facebook realized that our anxieties and our fears are far more potent as advertising tools than our "likes." When Facebook and Google sell our anxieties, fears and hatred to advertisers, what is arguably the worst side of humanity explodes in the social-media space.
The Great Hack also brings us face to face with the dystopian world that Facebook and Google have created – a social-media world that divides us rather than connecting us
This is also what Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers found: they discovered that fake news penetrates deeper, faster and wider than actual news.
Hate pulls in eyeballs to TV screens as well. This explains the rise of hate TV and fake TV: Fox News in the US and the gaggle of Republic/Zee/Times Now troll television channels in India. This is the transformation taking place today in the media space, particularly in all forms of electronic media – from television to social media.
The question is: What are we going to do? The Great Hack argues that data privacy and individual ownership of our data is the answer. But the view that data belongs to us opens up the possibility that big corporations can indeed own our data, but only after purchasing it. It does not change the fundamental business model of the big-data companies.
Data as private property would still it make possible for our "eyeballs" to be bought and sold like any other goods; to allow data and power to be concentrated in the hands of big tech companies. Social-media giants are not neutral in this game. Their business models are built on algorithms that are not simply mathematics. They encode our prejudices and Mark Zuckerberg's business needs in their algorithms. The swing to the global right and the rise of hate politics are coded in the genes of Google and Facebook. Copycat politics of the right transferred to liberal, democratic or left spaces is not the answer.
Seeing data as private property means missing the fact that data is not simply our individual data, but also that of our social relations, and data that belongs to communities and groups. Instead of focusing on how to keep data in our hands as commodities that belong to us, we must look at how data is common to us; how it belongs to the commons and is not a commodity. We must treat the data of our social relationships, and community data, as something that cannot be bought and sold.
Next, how do we safeguard our elections? Our democracy? The answer has always been to limit the role of money in elections. Big data requires big money. Hiring an election analytics company with access to big data requires big bucks. Limiting the role of money in elections is an essential part of any campaign to ensure the future of democracy, including elections.
It is not enough to limit the role of money in elections. We also need to build grassroots activism, using social media not for clicktivism but for building movements; and strengthen democratic media and platforms – all of them, not just the digital ones.
People can be manipulated by fear and hatred for a short time, but not for long, and certainly not forever. They will come back to the real issues, issues that bind us instead of dividing us. Getting past hate to real people and their issues is the battle for the future of democracy.
This article was produced in partnership by Newsclick and Globetrotter, a project of the Independent Media Institute, which provided it to Asia Times.


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Data Backups
Ever lost your web site content? Make use of our backup solution
When put on the Internet, your site content will be prone to cyber–thieves attacks. It may be affected even by your own unintended actions. With us, there is nothing to worry about, since we have a backup copy of your website content, which can retrieved any time you'd like. Plus, you'll be able to create manual back–up copies of your whole website with one click of the mouse through your File Manager, which is incorporated into the Web Hosting Control Panel. The system will save all your files and will save them in an archive, which will be saved in your hosting account.
Web Hosting Control Panel
All the helpful website administration tools that you may need in one single location
Control your sites with a click of the mouse taking full advantage of the custom–made point & click Web Hosting Control Panel. It is fitted out with a drag & drop File Manager, an all–inclusive Domain Name Manager for your domain names (you can update your WHOIS information and your NS records, lock/unlock and ID–protect your domains, add custom DNS records, etcetera), a fast E Mail Accounts Manager (you can forward emails, activate anti–spam protection, create auto–response messages, create e–mail filters, get SPF protection, etcetera), a Database Manager for managing multiple MySQL & PostgreSQL databases, an exhaustive statistics GUI and lots of advanced tools.
True Cloud Platform
We've used the latest cloud server technology when constructing our own hosting system, which is insusceptible to unexpected performance interruptions and network outages. All the services associated with your site like DNSs, emails, databases, web apps, etc. are run on different hosting servers to ensure that even if there's an excessive load issue, your site will still be running smoothly.
Solid–State Drives
Your website will be faster with solid–state drives
All new PCs and laptops are equipped with solid–state disks and for a reason. Solid–state drives have much faster read & write speeds, making everything visibly faster. The same will apply to your website in case you host it with INTELLILOCK – all the cloud hosting servers are furnished with solid–state disks and the sites hosted with us work considerably faster compared to those hosted on ordinary hard drives.
And the best of all is that you don't need to alter, tweak or modify anything in any way in order to make it work faster.
Web Accelerators
The Site Accelerator Instruments (Node.js, Memcached and Varnish) built into the web hosting Web Hosting Control Panel, can considerably increase your dynamic web sites' loading speed.
They're meant to store in a cache the data on your sites and thus reduce the number of requests to the database server or the API. This will help your web sites open much faster than before and will enable you to attract more pleased site visitors, which equals minimized bounce rates.
Web Stats
Monitor your site 24–7 from your hosting Control Panel
The Web Hosting Control Panel offers a set of comprehensive web statistic tools that will present you with in–depth information related to your web site. You will be able to monitor your web site's traffic in greater detail and find out absolutely everything concerning your visitors – exactly where they come from and what device and web browser they are utilizing. You will be able to select from among three separate web stats tools – the popular Webalizer and AWStats tools and a new fully featured web analytics tool that we've made with your ideas and suggestions in mind.
24x7 Support
Don't hesitate to ask us anything at all. We're at your disposal 24x7x365
Waiting for a long time to get a response from the client care staff can be really annoying, no matter how insignificant the issue is. That is the reason why, here, at INTELLILOCK, we provide you with a one–hour response time warranty, and our client care staff members regularly answer in less than twenty minutes through the ticket system incorporated into the Web Hosting Control Panel. They're available to you 24x7x365.
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Smack in the middle of a fizzy-skewing resume that includes titles like L!fe Happens and A Case of You, writer and director Kat Coiro's And While We Were Here has long occupied a space of drama and romance that doesn't seem to come with the kind of belly laughs the filmmaker's other fare spawns.
Based on a set of audio tapes that Coiro made in conversation with her own grandmother, the film follows American writer Jane (Kate Bosworth) as she embarks on what should be a dreamy trip to Italy with her husband (Iddo Goldberg), one that soon becomes mired in her own attempts to adapt tapes of her grandmother's WWII-set life story for a memoir. Oh, and then there's that affair with a younger man (Jamie Blackley). It sounds like one heck of a trip, and the film's newest poster, exclusively debuting here, conveys the wistfulness and dreaminess of a journey worth taking.
And While We Were Here will hit VOD on August 13th and theaters on September 13th.


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After Melvin died, I feel like I remained me. I was me, just a super sad version of myself. Maybe I remained myself because Jake needed stability. After Jake died, I feel like I changed. Maybe that was to compensate for my little family disappearing. Maybe I was just due to change a little from the prior year me. Part of it was probably how lost and broken I felt.
Things that had caused me stress before, no longer bothered me. Things that I never noticed before, caused me anxiety. For a while, I felt like I didn't even know myself. I still feel that way a little.
The fact is, I have been learning who I am without Melvin and Jake. I'd rather not have to do this, so there has been some kicking and screaming along the way.
Normally, when I bring something home, I give it a lot of thought. Be it a couch, a rug, a new appliance or a dog(!), a lot of thought and consideration goes into my decisions. Yet, I didn't give Doug all that much thought. His first few days here, instead of over planning or controlling for everything, I just went with the flow. (I should note here that I still love over planning and controlling for everything, I just didn't do it all that much at first with Doug. I'm not a total anarchist).
The new me is full of surprises.
Take for instance this post from Doug's rescue group about this sweet girl, who had been starved and then dumped at a shelter.
They also posted her new photos to show how the shelter was able to get her back up to a healthier weight.
Doug's rescue group posted they would like to pull her if they could find a foster home for her. I immediately started thinking about how we could help. Then, in a shocking series of two minutes, my fingers opened my email and sent a note saying that we could foster her.
Wait, what? Who sent that?
I thought about it for a minute and thought, OK new me. You win, let's do this. So we had a phone call about fostering her, they gave me the scoop on her and asked me if I was still in.
I said, yes. That was a little over a week ago We are still awaiting word on when she is coming.
The mudroom is ready for her (actually the whole house is ready for her but the mudroom will be her private escape). I am not sure how long she will be with us but I do know she will feel love every minute she is in this home.
Hopefully she likes bouncy dogs named Doug.
Who wouldn't love the Doug?


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Communications satellite services provider Intelsat plans to launch two satellites on Aug. 24 in what the company describes as a significant moment for a largely underserved African market, IT Web Africa reported.
Intelsat 33e will join two other satellites to cover Africa and the Middle East.
Intelsat 36 will mostly serve pay TV provider MultiChoice, a Naspers-owned video entertainment and Internet company based in South Africa that does business across the continent.
"Just watch, price increase incoming for DSTV subscribers," an IT Web Africa viewer said on the site's comments section.
Launching two satellites simultaneously is unusual, but it makes commercial sense for the company and the timing is right, said Brian Jakins, Africa regional vice president of sales at Intelsat.
"They serve the same market predominantly," Jakins said. "Africa has shown a lot of growth on the broadband side and there is also a lot of growth on the media side as well. I think (the dual launch) was related to a combination of timing and commercial attractiveness."
Intelsat, which has offices in the U.S.- and Luxembourg, operates a fleet of 50 communications satellites in geostationary orbit. It has one of the world's largest commercial fleets.
A satellite in geostationary orbit appears to remain in the same spot in the sky but it's actually moving at the same speed as the Earth rotating below, according to Galactics. It's usually very high up — 22,276 miles above the equator.
Earnings are down
For the second quarter of 2016, Intelsat reported earning $228.3 million (42 percent of its total revenue) from network services — a decrease of 16 percent compared to the same period in 2015. Media revenue was $211 million (39 percent of Intelsat's total revenue) in the second quarter — a 5 percent decrease. Government revenue was $93.6 million — 17 percent of Intelsat's total revenue.
Intelsat is struggling to service $15 billion in debt at a time of slow growth in its satellite telecommunications business, Space News reported on May 18. Just to maintain its current fleet requires a capital investment in about three satellites per year.
The entire fixed satellite services sector is under pressure from the economic slowdown in certain regions coupled with an increased supply of satellite bandwidth, according to Moody's.
Intelsat, Paris-based Eutelsat and Luxembourg-based SES are the three biggest global commercial satellite fleet operators. Fresh concerns about the near-term prospects for the major satellite fleet operators were raised after Eutelsat issued a revenue and profit warning on May 12.
Their businesses are not interchangeable, according to Space News. Each has its own unique business focus. But they are similar enough that a problem in one will rattle the nerves of investors in the other two.
Jakins said there's growing demand by its customers for higher capacity and efficiency. Trends show Africa's growth prospects in communications, broadband and media.
"The market is robust and it is growing," he said. "If you look at Africa's Internet penetration, we have been trailing at around just under 15 percent. Our population as a region is often compared to Latin America and their Internet penetration is almost at 40 percent, so from an Internet penetration perspective you can see that there is a huge demand for broadband capacity."
Intelsat has about 300 million broadband connections and the market is generally underserved, Jakins said.
"There is a large population across sub-Saharan Africa that are not connected to any form of technology and this is where satellite plays a big role by enabling us to connect those at the last mile — to connect those rural and underserved communities," he said. "Satellite … is ideally placed to service all those markets."
Partnerships with mobile network operators and others are managed by Intelsat staff from offices in South Africa and Senegal.
Intelsat customers include Coca-Cola, Multichoice, Vodacom and Gondwana International Networks subsidiary AfricaOnline.
Another launch is scheduled in February, and seven satellites are planned over the next four years. Intelsat is also working on low constellation satellites which will bring lower latency, higher speeds and greater capacity.
Source: AFK Insider


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Roxanne Helm-Stevens, DBA
Professor, School of Business and Management
Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3463
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Fax: (626) 815-3802
Office Location: Wilden Hall, Room 115B
Video Introduction
Roxanne Helm-Stevens, DBA, joined the School of Business and Management faculty in 2000, teaching in the graduate and undergraduate programs. Her areas of teaching include organizational behavior, management, business, and employee development. Prior to joining APU, Helm-Stevens worked in public and private industry for 20 years, holding management positions in various industries. Throughout her corporate career, she received recognition and numerous awards for her work in performance improvement, benchmarking, and best practices. Active in her field, she has received national certifications from the International Society for Performance Improvement and the Association for Training and Development. She is active in national and international conferences, presenting and publishing on the topics of strategic business management, organizational behavior, educational leadership, and service-learning. She serves on several editorial boards for national and international journals and has co-authored two textbooks, A Foundation in the Principles of Management (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2015) and Organizational Behavior and Management (Cognella Academic Publishing, 2015).
- DBA, Strategic Management, Alliant International University
- MBA (Emphases in Leadership and Human and Organizational Development), Azusa Pacific University
- BS, Business Administration, University of Phoenix
- BA, Business Management, University of Phoenix
- AA, Mt. San Antonio College
- International Society for Performance Improvement
- Association for Talent Development
- American Society for Training and Development
Academic Area
- School of Business and Management
- Leadership
- Management
- Organizational Effectiveness
Courses Taught
- BUSI 110 – Business and Entrepreneurship
- BUSI 210 – Principles of Management
- BUSI 448 – Organization and Administrative Behavior
- BUSI 496 – Senior Seminar: Business Ethics
- BUSI 528 – Consulting for Organizations
- HROD 500 – Human Resource Development
- HROD 521 – Organizational Development and Change
- HROD 550 – Instructional Design and Training Methods
- HROD 561 – Group Dynamics and Conflict Management
- MGMT 516 – Organizational Behavior
- MKTG 362 – Consumer Behavior


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Special Event
Sled Island Yoga
It's easy to get worn down by five days of music, comedy, film and art! Start your day off by recharging with yoga in Central Memorial Park. You're in good hands—our friends at Banff Yoga Festival have curated some ace instructors to lead the charge.


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We Have A Sister!
Updated: Jan 4, 2020
Thanks to the efforts of our CMO and CO, we're now the international sister ship of the USS Alba, a corry chapter based out of Scotland! Our crew is getting to know theirs in a shared Facebook space, and hopefully we'll see plenty more events and interactions with them soon!
Captain Brady also announced this last week that we've got an away-from-home docking bay available to us on the Space Station Independent, which is also over in R20! Nothing quite like new friends to go with the old!


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Are you a junior JAVA developer? Do you want to boost your career level to the middle one?! Do you want to boost it just in 6 months, but not in 2 or 3 years?! Then, the following information will fit you perfectly!
The first, and the most important step which you have to make in order to boost your career level from junior to the middle one is to join us, ISD.
Who are we? We are an innovative software outsourcing provider with the main skill set focusing on JAVA and JAVA related technologies. With the support of our strategic partner, Inther Group from The Netherlands, for over 10 years, we are eager to take up a challenge and enjoy working with new technologies.
What do we have to offer? We are running the Junior to Medior Program, which is something really new and unique not only for our company, but also for the entire IT industry in Moldova. The program is inspired from a startup acceleration school and the process has been proved to be efficient in more than 180 cities worldwide. Such kind of examples, from the startup world, we can find even in the Republic of Moldova. And here we mean: Chișinău Founder Institute (www.fi.co) and Startup Academy powered by Tekwill (startupacademy.md).
What is the program about? Junior to Medior Program offers an intense, challenging and comprehensive 6 months curriculum of training sessions designed to help JAVA developers advance their skills, from hard to soft ones.
Our 24 weeks / 12 sprints, in person program, includes weekly sessions where you receive expert training and feedback, and then a series of challenging product building and soft skills development assignments, group meetings to help you make progress each sprint.
Each training session lasts about 3 hours and is led by experts who share their advice and provide our participants with useful information, hints, tips and tricks on the subject of the session and a constructive feedback. And, we are not exaggerating, we work with the best national and some of the best international experts. We are really confident about that!
It is important to mention that all the work will be led by the Agile Scrum Principles. And also, that participation, if you are selected, is free.
Why to become a medior JAVA developer? As a medior java developer, you will be able to get involved in much more interesting and challenging projects. In addition, you will have more freedom to choose the projects that you want to work on. Not to mention the fact that from the medior level it is easier to boost your career level to the senior one. Also, a pretty important benefit is that you will have a bigger salary as a medior developer, in the comparison with the junior one.
Did we not manage to intrigue you? What about contacting us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Email email@example.com or Telephone +37322996170 in order to find out more details about our new and unique program to boost your junior JAVA developer career level to the middle one just in 6 months.
We are looking forward to meeting you!


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I miss you, Dr. Martin Luther King.
This morning, when driving my daughter to a play rehearsal, we heard a Martin Luther King rap song on WBAI. My daughter smiled a big one.
King's voice rang out, surrounded by powerful beats and drums.
"I remember hearing those words live on TV," I told my daughter.
His words still ring true—the plight of African Americans in this country remains an unfair and terribly hard one.
Then, she asked me about my experiences with King and Civil Rights growing up.
"Didn't your parents do Civil Rights actions?" She asked.
"Yes, when I was just a baby and toddler, my mom and her friends took us to the courthouse in downtown Miami. In the late 1950s and early sixties. They made us drink from the 'negroes only' water fountain. That stunned the white folks who worked there! How shocking for them to see a group of little white kids and babies in strollers, all lined up to get a drink of water from the 'negroes only' fountain."
My daughter listened intently.
"And, you know the story about the Freedom Riders who came down south from up north, blacks and whites who road deep into the south to protest the Jim Crow laws and racial oppression? Well, around this time, a similar group called CNVA (Committee for NonViolent Action) came to Miami. They stayed with my parents and their friends in the early sixties. The did Civil Rights work with local African American ministers. Meetings were held at our houses, money was raised. We took rides in their 'Spirit of Freedom' boat-–the boat that CNVA tried to take to Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Of course CNVA was stopped before they got anywhere near Cuba—but my parents and their friends marched in support of this voyage--across the bridge in heavy rain in Miami Beach, while the 'Spirit of Freedom' group attempted to boat to Cuba. After, their boat was confiscated."
"Neighbors called us Reds, and the FBI watched very closely—lodging themselves outside of our houses. All these upper-middle class Jews (doctors, lawyers, dentists) in their houses in Miami Beach and Miami! What a time it was."
I also told my daughter about how my mom and dad refused to go into any restaurant or hotel that my Caribbean nanny, Margie, couldn't eat or sleep in. We just saw the movie, The Help. I told my daughter it was like that back then for real. She's seen The Long Walk Home, which I also show in my classes on feminist mothering. The Long Walk Home –it's one of my very favorites on this theme, along with Corinna, Corinna.
It was a different time.
It was a different time, but not different enough.
Case in point: today, as we drove past the lower income part of my town, and police checked each car for updated registration, they let me pass with just a wave. My car registration, in fact, is out of date; I'd forgotten to put the new one in. When one policeman caught this and asked about it, I explained that the new one was at home. He said, "I trust you. Go on." A white woman in a nice car. What if I had been a woman of color? Would he do the same thing? Would he trust me then?
"Why are they over here, stopping cars, mom?" My daughter asked.
For the very reason Mr. Luther King, the Freedom Riders, Rosa Parks, and so many others risked their lives, I tell my daughter.
Thank you, Dr. King. Yet words of thank you do not justice to what you are owed.
I would like to say things are all better now--that our world is color blind-- but in far too many ways, racial discrimination abounds. Count up percentages of inequity today, just as you did then in your speech: who fill our prisons, who die (most) on death row, who attend the most poorly rated public schools, who earn the lowest wages, who live in the (most) contaminated areas, who have the highest rates of infant mortality, and who die (most) from curable diseases?
I miss you very much, Dr. Martin Luther King.
We still need you.
Photo Courtesy of seavisioneternelly at Flcker.


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One of the world's poorest countries, the Central African Republic has struggled under repeated political crisis which have resulted in conflict and instability. UNFPA is based in the country since 1972 and provides humanitarian support, including reproductive health supplies such as clean delivery kits, male and female contraceptives, and medical equipment.
AFRIKANET project gives broadband to United Nation staff's houses for preventing their security.
United Nation is very keen in insuring security to their personal in trouble zone in Africa and AFRIKANET is here to provide them the security that they need by installing broadband and network between several sites in Bangui.


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Forescout Mobile Delivers Unified Visibility and Control for Managed and Unmanaged Mobile Devices and PCs
Addresses BYOD and Mobile Security Controls Under One Console With Plug-in Modules for Android and iOS Devices, as well as MDM Integration
Cupertino, Calif. — February 21, 2012 — Forescout Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of automated security control solutions for Fortune 1000 enterprises and government organizations, today introduced Forescout Mobile, a set of plug-in modules to enable rich Android and iOS security management, as well as a plug-in module for mobile device management (MDM) integration. By combining Forescout Mobile with Forescout CounterACT, the company's award-winning network access control (NAC) platform, security professionals can employ one console to gain unprecedented visibility and uniform control over managed and unmanaged mobile and PC devices.
According to IDC1, 40.7 percent of devices used by information workers to access business applications are ones that they own themselves including home PCs, smartphones and tablets such as Apple's iPad. Furthermore, organizations underestimate the number of information workers using consumer devices for work by 50 percent. In a recent North American survey conducted by the Boston Research Group2, 78 percent of the IT security professionals surveyed believe that network access control is an essential function to protect enterprises from mobile device risks. Respondents stated that the primary risks they are concerned about are data loss, malware, unauthorized use and unauthorized access. In this same report, the vast majority of IT security managers say that they influence or make MDM purchase decisions.
"Our customers are ramping up their mobile security initiatives ranging from simply wanting to enable access controls for specific users and devices, to supporting BYOD and rolling out MDM solutions. Beyond technology, we strongly consider how security solutions meet our customer's operational and compliance requirements," said Judith Buckardt, president and CEO of Konsultek. "Forescout Mobile offers strong implementation flexibility and a policy-based method to secure corporate and personal mobile devices that well complements BYOD and addresses MDM network security gaps. For a security administrator, the ability to apply pre- and post-connection policies to desktops, servers and mobile devices from one integrated system is extremely compelling."
Security teams want the same endpoint intelligence, security assessment and enforcement options for mobile devices as they have for PCs and they want it all managed from one operating console. Forescout Mobile meets this need by delivering the industry's first unified approach for NAC, BYOD and MDM and putting comprehensive mobile security at the operator's fingertips. With Forescout Mobile, IT organizations gain needed flexibility to accelerate Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) adoption and can better manage mobile security risks.
Forescout's market-leading NAC solution, Forescout CounterACT, identifies mobile devices, forces unknown users to register, and can automatically allow, deny or restrict access to specified network resources and wireless access points. All of this can be done from a single appliance, without the need for software agents running on the endpoints. From the same console, Forescout Mobile offers additional functionality by providing mobile device-specific security options and MDM integration.
- Forescout Mobile Security Module provides extensive information about the device, its user, its configuration, its apps and its security posture. This allows CounterACT to enforce more granular network access and endpoint integrity policies for mobile devices. The Security Module for Android uses a mobile app that extends CounterACT's visibility and control for Android 2.1 or greater. The Security Module for iOS takes advantage of Apple's native push notification service and MDM capabilities. Beyond blocking or limiting access to network resources, additional iOS remediation options include the ability to: remotely wipe and lock; enforce password policy; require apps such as anti-virus, MDM or virtualization; remove or disable native apps such as the camera; enforce specific Wi-Fi access; and do more without requiring an agent on the Apple iPad or iPhone.
- Forescout Mobile Integration Module allows organizations to leverage their existing MDM solution within the broader context of unified security control that CounterACT provides. With this module, security teams can consolidate information about all endpoints on the network, including mobile devices through their MDM system, into the CounterACT platform. The security staff, from one console, can monitor and report on policy adherence, enforce employee and guest compliance, and remediate devices across major mobile platforms such as iOS, Blackberry, Android and Windows. Operational efficiency is achieved by merging NAC and MDM security functions, enabling uniform access control policies not available in MDM, and negating the need for security managers to request, learn or use an MDM console.
"All this talk about smartphones, tablets and security must consider productivity gains. Like other employees, I readily use my iPad at home, on the road and at work. Security needs to be acceptable, unobtrusive and efficient for both users and IT, while fortifying necessary security mechanisms," said Gord Boyce, CEO at Forescout. "The Forescout Mobile / CounterACT combination offers a smart, flexible and cost-effective means for organizations to implement and extend mobile security across different phases of BYOD adoption and maturity."
Delivered as a physical or virtual appliance, Forescout CounterACT lets you see and control everything connected to your network no matter the device or user. Forescout Mobile, an add-on module for Forescout CounterACT, is licensed (perpetual) by the number of mobile devices with a price starting at $2,800 for 100 devices. The Forescout Mobile Security Module for Android and iOS are in beta test and will be available in April. The Forescout Mobile Integration Module will be available in Q3. See Forescout Mobile in action at the upcoming RSA 2012 conference, being held in San Francisco on February 27 to March 2 at booth 931.
About Forescout Technologies, Inc.
Forescout enables its customers to unleash the full power of their network through enterprise-class security and control. Forescout's automated solutions for network access control, mobile security, endpoint compliance and threat prevention empower organizations to gain access agility while preempting risks and eliminating remediation costs. Because Forescout security solutions are easy to deploy, unobtrusive, intelligent and scalable, they have been chosen by more than 1,000 of the world's most secure enterprises and military installations for global deployments spanning 37 countries. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Forescout delivers its solutions through its network of authorized partners worldwide. Learn more at by visiting www.forescout.com.
1 Source: IDC, 2011 Consumerization of IT Study: Closing the Consumerization Gap, sponsored by Unisys, July 2011.
2 Source: Boston Research Group, 2012 Mobile Security Study, sponsored by Forescout Technologies, Inc., Feb. 2012. Survey of 365 IT Network Security Professionals in North America with more than 1,000 employees.
Forescout Technologies, Inc. is a privately held Delaware corporation. Forescout, the Forescout logo, CounterACT and ActiveResponse are trademarks of Forescout. Other names mentioned may be trademarks of their respective owners.


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Hotels in Iran
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Meymand Rocky Village as Tourist Attraction of Shahre Babak in Kerman Province is one of the rocky settlements in the world, where people continue to live. The village has been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meymand village Ten thousand years old paintings and six thousand-year-old pottery are some of the glowing documents that narrate the history of Meymand.
Due to its defensive strength, Meymand has undergone less physical and social transformation throughout history. There is a collection of very old works such as scattered rocky houses, temples, castles and various towers (dating back thousands of years ago) that transformed Meymand from a village to a specific civilization complex. Meymand Shahrbabak, a rocky village with a few thousand years old, reminds us of the times when humans searched their gods at the top of the mountains, and the mountain was a sign of steadfastness, strength, and determination. This ancient monument is certainly one of the first human settlements in Iran, a time when Iranians were still Mithraism and considered the mountains sacred. Several thousand years ago, people who have broken the rocks and left a memorial that today, after many years, remains a symbol of determination of the ancestors of Iran. Still, no one knows exactly Who made this village, and what was the motivation of the people to build such buildings.
The inhabitants of this village have special customs and in their language and dialect they still use Sassanid Pahlavi words. The 3,000-year-old village of Meymand Shahr-e-Babak is the only historical village in the world that still has traditional relationships in which human-nature interaction can be seen in the second millennium. The village was the seventh natural and historical cultural landscape that received the Mercury Prize.
Meymand dates from 8000 to 12000 years, 38 km north-east of Shahr-e-Babak, at 30 degrees and 16 minutes, 55 degrees and 25 minutes long. Its height from the sea level is 2240 m and its breadth is 420 km2. Its annual rainfall is 185 mm.
This ancient village is one of the few architectural forms of rock architecture in the world that has been used extensively in all of the village structure of rock architecture. Although rocky examples of rock architecture are found in other countries, none of them have cultural, historical or tourist attractions of meymand. As an example, the village's most important attributes, compared with those of the Cappadocia village of Turkey, is the residential in Meymand rocky houses, which is less likely to be found in similar villages of the world. In other words, life has not lost its meaning in Meymand. yet.
The Meymand is located between the cities of Shahr-babak, Sirjan and Rafsanjan. Meymand is located in the region of the Shahrbabak and in the province of Kerman.
uraman takht
bandar laft
Updated Time: 2022-10-12 14:32:01


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The Innokin Endura T22E Starter kit is a high quality device which is powered by a 2000mAH battery. Firing up to 14W, this kit is recommended for vapers who prefer MTL vaping with it's wide airflow.
The tank is equipped with a 0.15ohm coil which is made of Japanese organic cotton wicking material, delivering large clouds and intense flavour. The pyrex glass windows within the tank allow e-liquid levels to be checked easily, while the no-spill swap system allows coil replacement to be quick, simple and clean.
The Innokin Endura Kit can be used while charging and features overheating protection and over discharge protection. Simply plug your micro USB cable in and vape away.
Available in rainbow, black, blue, purple and silver.


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An intricate peacock design on a burnt orange background with goldenrod accents. Orange tissue paper over the cutouts.
- Each star is made entirely by hand
- We use only high quality materials
- Each piece quality checked
- Socially responsible production
- Star measures 24" wide x 6" deep
This star lantern includes complete assembly instructions and is shipped flat. 12' electric cord with on/off switch optional for $6 more. 40 watt lightbulb not included. Handmade in India.
You can buy with confidence knowing that as direct importers we provide the best pricing possible. We've been selling our star lanterns since 1999.
- Model:
- Shipping Weight: 0.8lbs
- 100 Units in Stock


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Growth Potential: Lethbridge College helps students to stay ahead of the curve
By Tim Kalinowski, Staff Writer
As with most other traditional professions, agriculture is changing in dynamic ways to meet the challenges of a new millennium. A big factor in the success of farmers today is how savvy they are on the marketing end of things, and how efficiently they can get their crops or animals from the field to those markets. According to Dr. Edith Olson, interim Dean of Applied Arts & Sciences at Lethbridge College, with things changing so fast, post-secondary education programs are a key component of success in the agriculture industry nowadays. "Agriculture has evolved from the days when you could just put in the crop and do exactly as grandpa did, and expect you are going to be successful," states Olson. "Agriculture is much more than farming. You need to have a good science base to understand your soil, your plants, your animals and you have to be able to react in order to manage your farm in the best way possible. There is also, of course, the business side of agriculture. That is hugely important. "You need to have some skills in knowing how to market, how do financial reports, how to be able to get your product out there and understand the commodities side of the things." Lethbridge College offers two types of agriculture education programs: A two year Agriculture Sciences diploma for new farmers just starting out and a Agriculture Risk Management certificate program for seasoned farmers wanting to improve their management skills. "With the diploma program we teach not just about when, but why." explains Olson. "We don't take them out on seeders and combines, but we give them that good, solid science base to be able to understand that when, where and why. "As for our certificate program, your education in agriculture does not stop when you graduate. Education in agriculture is a life-long commitment. Things are always changing, and you've got to be able to maintain that body of knowledge and know what's current in the field. So ongoing education, I think, is something really important in the agriculture industry." Lethbridge College usually draws in students from all over southern Alberta, southwest Saskatchewan and southeast British Columbia. Olson says agriculture students are drawn to the college for very good reasons: Practical application and grounded experience in real agriculture. "Why choose Lethbridge College for agriculture? One of the things is because of the diversity we have with agriculture here in southern Alberta; that's very attractive. We are feedlot alley, so we have the animal production. We have the cow/calf, but we also have more than that: We have swine, we have poultry, we have exotic animals such as llamas… We have all those different kinds of livestock around Lethbridge because we have irrigation. "We can also grow a much larger variety of crops locally. That irrigation sets us apart from any other ag. program that is delivered across Canada. We also have lots of local producers who really like working with our students by hosting them at their sites." Olson is particularly proud of this hands on aspect to the agriculture programs offered at the college. "It's authentic learning, and real and valuable advice from someone who is actually working within their industry. It is not only their business, it is their passion. They are an essential part of the program." Lethbridge has also become a hub for cutting edge agricultural research, and has a diverse group of agriculture related companies who work in close partnership with the college to help instructors deliver top notch programming. "There are so many opportunities in agriculture: From banking and the financial side, all the way through to primary production," explains Olson. "And the college will help you on that path. The diversity we have here sets those students up to take the knowledge they get from Lethbridge College, graduate with the two year diploma, and they are then ready, willing and able to work in an agricultural operation almost anywhere across Canada." Olson says Lethbridge College is forging ahead alongside Canadian farmers to meet the challenges of agriculture heading into the future. The college is helping its students not only to understand the farming landscape of today, but wants them to be a step ahead of the curve in a dynamic and evolving industry. "The value of Lethbridge College to agriculture in southern Alberta has been recognized not just by Advanced Education and our local community, but also through the generous gifts our donors have provided to us, so we can continue to offer agricultural programs to the Lethbridge community, and beyond, for years to come."


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Freshly revealed today is the Night of Champions 2015 DVD cover!
Last Sunday's PPV was of course headlined by Sting vs. Seth Rollins for the World Heavyweight Championship, and John Cena vs. Seth Rollins for the United States Championship.
Those three Superstars will feature on the artwork when WWE officially releases the DVD across the United States next month. A Blu-ray edition of the event will be available in UK/Europe.
Click here to get your copy of the Night of Champions 2015 DVD…
Release Dates for the Night of Champions 2015 DVD (or Blu-ray) where you are…
– USA: October 20th. Pre-order now here on Amazon.com.
– Australia: November 4th. Pre-order soon from WWEDVD.com.au.
– UK/Europe: November 16th. Pre-order now via Amazon.co.uk.
Head over to this page of WWEShop.com now to find a "Titles, Tees & DVDs" sale running this weekend, which includes big 40% savings on many WWE DVD and Blu-ray titles!
Find the red "40% OFF" labels, click an item and its price will be automatically reduced.
Some of the 2015 WWE DVDs on sale include…
– The Monday Night War Vol. 1
– The Monday Night War Vol. 2
– The Very Best of WCW Nitro Vol. 3
– The KLIQ Rules
– The Monday Night War Vol. 1 (Blu-ray)
– The Monday Night War Vol. 2 (Blu-ray)
– The Very Best of WCW Nitro Vol. 3 (Blu-ray)
– The KLIQ Rules (Blu-ray)
…and there's many more on top! [SEE ALL]


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We still cannot believe it took us 11 years to get back to visit Paris, but it was as magical as always, even in the cold January weather. We were surprised and excited to receive so many DM's and messages from you guys letting us know you are making a trip here sometime in 2020 so we wanted to give a little more extensive guide to our favorite places to stay as well as things to eat and see while in Paris.
If you are thinking about traveling over to Paris this year and trying to pick a time- we will say it's beautiful and worth it any time. The first time we went it was in the summer and it was hot, but we loved every minute of the sunshine and site seeing. This last time it was typical winter weather, cold with rainy moments each day, but the one thing we didn't expect was the short window of daylight their winters have- it was wonderful for sleeping in but if you were wanting to walk around and site see it's good to be aware the its completely dark by 5 each day. We had a wonderful time, but it definitely had a different feel then our last trip in the summer time.
Where we stayed:
The Westin Paris – Vendôme
We originally found this hotel because we are devoted Marriott members and were searching for hotels that we could use our rewards points towards. After finding this particular hotel we actually were so pleased to book it because it was so central to a lot of the monuments we wanted to visit. While we were there the bus/ transit systems were on strike meaning taxis were difficult to find making it even more helpful to be central enough to walk and site see. We were a 2-minute walk from the Place De La Concorde. Less than a 10 min walk from the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens, and a 10/15 min ride depending on traffic to the Grand Palais one direction and Notre Dame the opposite way. The rooms themselves were exactly what you would expect from a Parisian style hotel. Every room had a great balcony that opened up to the middle court yard or faced outward towards the Tuileries Gardens towards the Louvre. If you are a Marriott points member this is a great option.
The Ritz
We have to mention because we stayed here the last time we came, and it is the primo location if you are looking for the ultimate luxurious stay. It's what movies are made of and it definitely comes at a higher price tag. Even if don't choose to stay there, it is a wonderful place to visit (next level gorgeous) and make a reservation at their iconic hotel bar.
Intercontinental Paris Avenue Marceau
We stayed here our last night. It was a gorgeous modern hotel. Very clean and the hotel restaurant bar was gorgeous with light pink seating. The location was perfect for shopping the Champs Elysees and a block away from the Arc De Triumph. The one drawback in my opinion which really only applies if you are staying there in the cold seasons, was that it's in a very busy, bustling area even late at night. We love sleeping with the windows open because we sleep really hot and it's hard to get AC in Europe when most everything is in heat mode in the rooms- but it was hard to sleep due to loud traffic and the occasional ambulance going by. We ended up just closing the window and sleeping a little warmer then we prefer. So, keep that in mind if you are like us and love to have fresh air at night. Besides that, it was a wonderful location and stay for us.
Favorite places to eat:
Angelina – By far our favorite please for a quick(er) breakfast brunch or afternoon treat & coffee. Not only is it so picturesque, it's so tasty with fresh French croissants and butter in the mornings and their incredible macaroons and desserts for mid-day snacks. We ate here twice as a family and were obsessed with how yummy it is. Suggest making reservations because there was a line out the door both times we went. There are multiple locations in the city and a few pop up ones as well seasonally. We went to the one by the Louvre both times.
86 Champs Elysees – We stopped here while shopping and loved this quaint little dessert bar. The Macaroons were so pretty but their pastries were amazing! Mom and I (Cristie) split two desserts and had cappuccino and almost slipped into a Parisian dream it was so amazing.
Lauderee – Iconic spot to visit and make reservations for tea and macaroons. We also love bringing back Laudree macaroons for friends as gifts.
A pro-tip that we learned last trip when it comes to anywhere you wanted to eat or drink – it's always in your best interested to all and make reservations beforehand. We had to because we were a larger group but as a rule of thumb – it's always best to ask your concierge to secure reservations anywhere you want to go a few hours before. Paris is always business and restaurants are way smaller and intimate that finding seating or even waiting for a table can be very difficult and stressful… real buzzkills when you are enjoying the city of love.
Girafe – worth it. Such a gorgeous restaurant and our only real French dinner while in Paris. In the spring they have a terrace that overlooks the Eiffel Tower too. #swoon.
Taokan Chinese – As a family we always have to eat Chinese at least once and this restaurant was amazing. Gourmet Chinese dishes and the nicest staff. It was not overly crowded, and we were able to make reservations same day. (since we went over a holiday- reservations were definitely something we had to have to eat as a family of 8).
After dinner Drinks/ Cocktails:
The Ritz Bar
Baccarat Bar – Upscale, very high-end cigar lounge (great for your man if he is a cigar lover)
Things to do:
Eiffel Tower – Obviously but we definitely would say you need to make sure to experience in the day time and in the evening when its all lit up with lights. It is so magical and worth the second visit. In the spring summer we suggest picking up a baguette or drinks and enjoying a quick picnic in the afternoon.
Louvre– this is definitely a must see but we also want to acknowledge that its by far the busiest tourist spot. Inside the museum can be extremely crowded so enjoy but be aware that you probably with not see everything you want to see in one visit. And if you want to see the Mona Lisa be prepared for a quick view because the wait is so long especially in that particular room.
Musée d'Orsay: If you love museums this is a must and you can leisurely enjoy the art work and have a more relaxed museum experience, unlike the Louvre as previously mentioned.
Notre Dame- Even though parts of it our under construction due to the tragic fires from last year, it is still a must see while in Paris and filled with history and gorgeous stain glass windows
Palais Royal: So gorgeous and definitely worth seeing. So fun to get your picture taken on the columns like the ultimate tourist.
The Dome/ Napoleons Tomb– This was probably our guys favorite part because of the history of French battles. The tomb its self is so amazing and grand its breath taking but around the back there is a whole court yard that displays old cannons and military tanks, while inside they have exhibits of military uniforms throughout French history that was honestly fascinating to all of us. Great option for if you are traveling with your man or friends that would love a break from shopping or the prettier Parisian site seeing.
Shopping the Champs Elysees– Consider this the Rodeo Drive of Paris. It has every high end luxury brand on one street. The Louis Vuitton is the original and it is 4 or 5 stories high – definitely worth seeing! The area makes for a great afternoon to enjoy leisurely window shopping though they do have more affordable stores like Zara and H&M nestled in between them as well. We spent one afternoon walking around and stopped at the 86 Champs Café to enjoy the best desserts and coffee in between.
Arc De Triumphe– Full disclosure it's a quick picture stop type of monument being that it's in the middle of probably the busiest roundabout in Paris. Definitely neat to see but once you've seen it you/ taken a picture near it, you want to keep moving because there are a lot of people walking around and driving in all directions from the roundabout.
Tips when traveling in Paris
Google Translator app- is a MUST HAVE! Its free so download it immediately. It was a total lifesaver on our trip. You can have it translate verbally or in text but the best thing about this app is you can hold it over a French sign or menu and it will translate the text in real time for you. This was extremely helpful in the little cafés and while traveling in looking at signs.
Yelp– Its actually very helpful resource when looking for restaurants while there.
Uber– we used uber more than taxis and it was so helpful. You can also use the metro but for our family and having the kids with us- we felt more comfortable ordering a Uber whenever we were ready to be picked up.
Extended hours at Museums– depending on when you go different museums have evening hours. This can sometimes be better times to go enjoy the museums because there are usually less people aware of the extended seasonal hours.
For our shoppers– If you are planning to mark you trip with a splurge and buy a new designer bag or sunglasses, the department stores offer VAT (value added tax) refunds – so make sure to ask so you aren't paying more than you have to.
We don't know when our next trip over to Paris will be but we promised as a family we would not wait another 10 years to come back. Traveling is something we love to do as a family and have created memories on this trip that we will cherish and laugh at forever. Let us know if you have any Paris favorites, we would love to hear for our next trip!
Check out our tips for traveling internationally with children here!


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With home prices and interest rates the lowest they've been in years, the experts are saying that now is definitely the time to buy a new home. For those who need more reasons, Brightwater in Huntington Beach has plenty of them: a sought-after location within walking distance of the beach, special value-added incentives on select homes, the new $10,000 California tax credit*, and the opportunity to move in this summer, just in time to enjoy all the advantages of living in Surf City USA.
And the reasons don't stop there. Brightwater also boasts these value-enhancing benefits:
* Award-winning home designs
* Exceptional quality
* The last community of its kind along the north coast of Orange County
* No Mello-Roos taxes
* Ocean views from many homes
* Prices starting in the low $800,000s
"If you've ever wanted to live at the beach, Brightwater is the opportunity of a lifetime," stated Doug Woodyard, vice president of sales and marketing for Hearthside Homes, Brightwater's developer. "Where else in Southern California can you find a prime coastal address with an attainable price and extra savings like our value-added incentives and the $10,000 tax credit?"
With four impressive neighborhoods — The Trails, The Sands, The Cliffs and The Breakers – Brightwater has something for everyone, from singles and young couples to growing families and mature adults...virtually anyone who has been captivated by the Southern California dream of owning a home at the beach.
The Trails makes a Brightwater address exceptionally attainable with prices starting in the low $800,000s. Stylish two-story residences range from approximately 1,710 to 1,953 square feet, including three to four bedrooms and two and one-half baths plus a two-car garage. The largest plan takes on the added dimension of an optional secluded third-floor loft, and gourmet island kitchens and private courtyards enhance most plans.
At The Sands, a trio of charming two-story floor plans features living areas measuring approximately 1,927 to 2,161 square feet, including three to four bedrooms and two and one-half to three baths plus a two-car garage. Offering exceptional versatility, the homes boast a variety of room options, which vary by plan. Among them are a quiet den, a spacious bonus room, a master-suite retreat and a bunkroom that's ideal for two youngsters to share. The Sands is priced from the high $800,000s.
The Cliffs presents elegant two-story residences that encompass four to six bedrooms and three to five baths within approximately 2,724 to 3,590 square feet. Garages feature either a three-car or two-car expanded configuration. Most plans include a bonus room and a private courtyard, and two plans feature a handy prep kitchen in addition to a conventional kitchen. Select locations are also enhanced by spectacular views of the Bolsa Chica wetlands and the Pacific Ocean. Prices start at $1,299,000.
The Breakers presents Brightwater's largest and most luxurious residences, and many of them take on the added drama of ocean and wetlands views. These magnificent homes span approximately 3,162 to 4,339 square feet, with four to six bedrooms, three and one-half to six baths, plus a three- or four-car garage. Impressive fireplaces warm both the family room and living room in each home, private courtyards invite outdoor living, and bonus rooms or teen rooms expand the dimensions of most plans. Prices begin at $1,650,000.
By purchasing now, new Brightwater homeowners can look forward to months of perfect Southern California weather – the ideal climate for swimming, surfing, sunbathing and sunset strolls along the miles and miles of pristine white beaches that helped earn Huntington Beach the moniker Surf City USA. And just steps from the beach, Huntington Beach's vibrant downtown abounds with shops, restaurants and night life.
Along with surfing, Huntington Beach is a mecca for many other sports and activities. Heading the list are roller blading, skateboarding, beach volleyball, swimming and disc Frisbee golf. Additional attractions include a beautiful 25-acre public equestrian center, Huntington Central Park and the world-renowned Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.
For families with young children, Brightwater offers the educational excellence of Hope View Elementary School, which has been honored with the prestigious California Distinguished School award.
An added benefit is Huntington Beach's easy driving distance to almost every major Southern California tourist attraction. Disneyland is only 25 minutes away, and Brightwater is also close to more than 30 other well-known local attractions that include Universal Studios, Knott's Berry Farm and The newly renovated Queen Mary.
Home buyers at Brightwater will enjoy years of significant savings because the community has no Mello-Roos taxes and a low property tax rate of only 1.04%.
Brightwater is a distinctive master-planned community by Hearthside Homes that offers a unique opportunity to experience Southern California coastal living at its best. With its prime location in world-famous Huntington Beach, Brightwater is close to the renowned beaches and historic pier that inspired the name Surf City USA. The community encompasses 356 homes in four inviting residential neighborhoods that have been carefully designed to meet a wide range of needs and desires. Many of the homes are enhanced by gorgeous ocean and wetlands views. In addition, 37 acres are being preserved as open space and conservation area. The high-caliber design of Brightwater reflects the extensive experience of Hearthside Homes, which has been a leading developer of new-home neighborhoods since 1994.
Hearthside Homes is committed to staking out a unique philosophy in the building industry by emphasizing homes instead of houses. From the first spadeful of earth through architecture, design and construction to the final details of each sale, the company strives to create communities that perfectly fulfill the lifestyles and dreams of today's home buyers, from growing families to career-oriented couples to retirees. Hearthside's first priority is to listen to its customers, and its second priority is to ensure their satisfaction. As a result of this approach, Hearthside Homes has a well-earned reputation both as a quality homebuilder and as a company that has a passion for satisfaction. In short, Hearthside Homes doesn't just build and sell houses. They help real people buy the homes that are right for them.
Home buyers can keep up to date on all the latest news and goings-on by becoming Brightwater fans on Facebook, where photos and floor plans of the decorated models are featured. To visit the Facebook page, just type Brightwater Huntington Beach in the social networking website's search box.
To discover all the reasons why Brightwater is today's best home-buying opportunity, travel Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) to Warner Avenue. Turn north on Warner Avenue, then right on Brightwater Drive and follow the signs to the models.
From the 405 Freeway, exit Warner, heading towards Huntington Beach then turn left at Bolsa Chica Street or exit Bolsa Chica Street (southbound). Proceed south on Bolsa Chica Street until it ends, turn right on Brightwater Drive and follow the signs to the models.
Models are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except Mondays, when hours are noon to 6 p.m. For further information about The Trails, call New Home Counselors Lori Schulte and Luci Ice at 714-846-1105. For information regarding The Sands, call New Home Counselors Robin Gannon and Janis Ruhmann at 714-846-4216. For additional details on The Cliffs and The Breakers, contact New Home Counselors Louise Easton, Joe Schulte and Patrick Loyd at 714-846-6417. Prospective buyers are also encouraged to visit the website at www.brightwaterhb.net. *Visit http://www.ftb.ca.gov for more information on the $10,000 California Home Buyers Tax Credit.
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Sorry, jelly. Your reign as the ultimate donut-stuffing has come to an end. There's always your complementary role within a PB&J, and whatever other work we can find for you now. Stay strong.
The Cinnamon Roll-stuffed Donut is to blame. Created by Chef Thiago Silva of Catch NYC, the cinna-roll/donut hybrid is still in its experimental stage. You'll know when it's ready for sale by the mile-long line of hipsters.


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Just outside Savannah, in one of the wealthiest places in the U.S., there's an ugly token of Georgia's history: "Runaway Negro Creek," a tiny body of water on Skidaway Island where slaves may have once escaped their life of brutality and forced labor.
Since March, Georgia legislators have formally pushed for that area to be renamed "Freedom Creek." The state's Republican governor, Nathan Deal, signed an overwhelmingly supported resolution to begin the process to do so in May. And then, for several months, nothing happened.
State archive officials failed to send the petition to the federal government's U.S. Board of Geographic Names — it's not clear why — until the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted in December that no further action had been taken. State officials finally relayed the petition on Dec. 21, and the Journal-Constitution reported Jan. 1 that researchers with the Board on Geographic Names had finally received it and could begin a process to change the creek's name.
The board, currently affected by the partial government shutdown, will contract Chatham County officials, which control the area where the creek is located, and see if any nearby Native American tribes oppose the rulemaking. There likely won't be any further ruling until the spring, according to the Journal-Constitution — nearly a year after state officials first voted to rename the shallow creek.
According to a 2011 report from the New York Times, the federal agency tasked with maintaining official names of streams, mountains, cities and civic buildings found more than 750 instances of the word "negro," or a variation of it, in names across the United States. For example, Pennsylvania has long struggled to rename Negro Mountain, which trails into Maryland, so the name still stands. Requests for a name-change to the Board on Geographic Names were shot down after opposition from local government officials, Pennsylvania's state naming authority, Maryland's archives authority and Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Resources.
In Georgia, it's believed that African-American slaves from the nearby Modena Plantation used to escape across the water to Union-occupied islands like Hilton Head or Fort Pulaski, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And, according to the paper, this might be the creek's second name-change. There are references to a "Runaway N—er Creek" in late-1800s editions of the Savannah Morning News.
via VICE NEWS