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What is the allocation unit size when formatting disks?
4 minutes
Or help me out by engaging with any advertisers that you find interesting
Within Microsoft Windows, while formatting drives most people leave the operating system to handle the characteristics of their partitions. But there are times where manually adjusting these options could be beneficial. This post will focus on the allocation unit choice available during formatting, its purpose and how it can benefit you.
When instigating a drive format you are given a dialogue with a number of options. Most are self-explanatory although I'll quickly run through them here.
Volume label: Allows you to give your drive a memorable or cute name for easy identification.
File system: Except on some Enterprise installations the file system in Windows 10 will nearly always be locked to NTFS. Small partitions will also offer legacy options for MS-DOS era FAT and FAT32 file systems.
Perform a quick format: A standard format checks the drive for hardware errors (bad sectors) while the quick format skips these tests.
Enable file and folder compression: Applies file compression to every file stored on the partition. Generally, it is not used due to the performance hit it introduces.
The allocation unit size is an interesting property that is generally left on Default but offers cryptic choices of 4096 through to 2048K. These values represent the smallest amount of space a file can occupy on the partition. A partition is divided up into small units. When files are stored on the partition they are split into smaller parts and inserted into these units.
So a partition created with a 4096 allocation unit will split files into smaller pieces (chunks) of 4096 bytes respectively. For example, a 1MB file equals 1024K which on a 4096 (4K) allocation would be split up into 256 pieces (1024 ÷ 4 = 256) *. If we had a 64K allocation that same 1MB file would be split into 16 pieces (1024 ÷ 64 = 16). That's potentially 16 times less work for an electromechanical hard drive when reading or writing files on a partition.
* for simplicity I use the inaccurate unit symbols used by Windows
Newer NTFS partitions allow a 2048K allocation unit that split the file into 2MB pieces. That is larger than the storage capacity of the floppy disks that were common throughout the 1990s.
The benefits of a large allocation unit only affect older hard disk drives (HDD) and not modern solid state drives (SSD). Because the hard disk drive is electromechanical there are physical restraints that apply. The further a file is scattered over a partition the longer it will take the drive to find all the file parts to deliver to the operating system. In theory, bigger file pieces (chunks) means less actual movement for a hard drive head when writing or reading a file to disk.
So why isn't the 2048K allocation unit selected by default for all hard disk drives? The main issue is wasted space. The allocation unit also represents the minimum space a file will occupy on a drive. So a tiny text file with 2 characters (2 bytes in size) will sit in a 2048K unit with the remaining 2047.9K of space left unused and wasted. In situations where you have a lot of tiny files, such application generated data that creates a significant amount of wasted drive space.
But there are cases where this wasted space can be minimalised. Partitions used exclusively for backups or the storage of large files such as videos, RAW photos, zip archives or disk images. In these sorts of cases, I'd recommend increasing the allocation unit for new partitions where speed is more important than maximising available space.
I personally have a collection of large 8GB hard disk green drives that are cheap, quiet but are ridiculously slow. They are great for secondary backups of large files that are rarely accessed. And when I use a 64K allocation unit instead of 4096 I notice a significant speed improvement while copying new or updated files to these drives.
Written by Ben Garrett


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(Reuters) - Telecoms company AT&T said it anticipates that the pending deal to combine WarnerMedia's media assets with Discovery Inc will close by the middle of 2022.
AT&T is in the process of unwinding its expensive media investments to focus on its original business of providing phone and internet services.
It is combining WarnerMedia's media assets with Discovery to create a proposed stand-alone company, Warner Bros. Discovery.
"After close of that transaction and on a pro-forma basis, AT&T expects annual revenues to grow at a low single digits compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2022 to 2024 with annual adjusted EBITDA and adjusted earnings per share growing at a CAGR in the mid-single digit range", AT&T Chief Financial Officer Pascal Desroches said in an update to shareholders on Tuesday.
After the deal closing, the company said it anticipates annual dividends paid of $8 billion to $9 billion, reflecting a payout ratio of 40% to 43% on projected free cash flow of $20 billion plus in 2023.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Stephen Coates)

subset: commoncrawl


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VACANCIES | Highway Safety Solutions | Trainee Traffic Management Operative
IS YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO LOOK FOR A NEW CAREER? Then look no further!
Highway Safety Solutions Limited has a rare and exciting opportunity for 4 x Trainees at our busy office based in Bickenhill, Solihull, Birmingham to develop a career in Temporary Traffic Management, operating on the road network nationwide!
This is a rare opportunity to join a fast growing industry which has been guaranteed an additional £15 billion investment over the next 5 years! The industry is looking to invest in highly motivated individuals to undertake the role of Traffic Management Operatives.
Committed to an extensive training programme and the monitored development of competent Traffic Management Operatives, we, mentors at one of the industry's leading training providers, will share our knowledge and combined industry experience of over 75 years with the successful applicants throughout the term of the contract.
Each successful applicant shall be guided through an extensive training package of 13 nationally recognised & certified vocational qualifications, worth in excess of £7,000, as detailed below.
In addition to the recognised training package successful applicants shall also receive on the job training as well as additional off the job training to further develop their background knowledge of industry guidelines, applicable legislation, site design processes, and much more.
Job Title: Trainee Traffic Management Operative
Rate of Pay 18-20yrs: £5.50 p/hr
Rate of Pay over 21yrs: £6.70 p/hr
Hours of Work: 37 hrs p/wk with flexible start/finish times + overtime
Job Type: Permanent 12mth fixed term contract
Location: Solihull, Birmingham
Positions available: 4
Duties will include attending scheduled training courses and controlled assessments throughout a 12 month fixed term contract, installing, maintaining and removal of Temporary Traffic Management equipment on both high and low speed roads whilst ensuring compliance with Company Policies and the National Highways Sector Scheme.
During the 12 month fixed term contract, the successful applicants will have achieved the following qualifications:
- Temporary Traffic Management Basic Course
- Lantra accredited 12D M1
- Lantra accredited 12D M2 full card
- Lantra accredited 12D M3 full card
- Lantra accredited 12D M4 full card
- Lantra accredited 12D M5 full card
- Lantra accredited 12AB one day course
- Lantra accredited 12AB full card
- Emergency 1st Aid
- CSCS Card
- Manual Handling
- Fire Safety
- Working Safely
- Successful candidates will hold a full UK drivers licence.
- GSCE English and Maths
- Flexible
- Proactive
- Punctual
- Good communicator and team worker
- Highly motivated
- Good housekeeping within the depot and on site
- Compliant with policies and procedures
- Good verbal and written English skills
- Pass a stringent Drug & Alcohol test
- 13 nationally recognised vocational qualifications free of charge (upon completion of 12 months)
- 12 month fixed term contract
- A guarantee of a permanent contract offer upon completion of the fixed term contract, subject to satisfactory performance and attendance
- No obligation to accept any offer made
- Work experience at one of the industry's leading Temporary Traffic Management providers
- Great career prospects
- Supported, mentored career development
- Regular extensive overtime opportunities
- 28 days annual leave
- All PPE provided
- Free and secure on-site car parking
If you are interested in our trainee vacancies, with placements commencing in the New Year, then please register your interest via email to:
OR via post to:
Mr Steven Archer
Highway Safety Solutions Limited
Old Arden Brickworks
Coventry Road
Please enclose a copy of your CV along with any references you have.
Application deadline: Monday 4th January 2016 – 4pm


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:: Home :: Newsletter :: The Results Are In--21 Pounds and Counting !
It's been 6 weeks since the launch of the Harmonic Health and Wellness Program and I'm excited to say that it is receiving rave reviews.
Our members are losing weight, eating healthier, getting more active, feeling better about their health and their bodies and feeling like they are back in control of their lives.
Just read some of the testimonials so far:
"It's been about 5 weeks and it has been quite a trip! I've tried all the diets, exercise, and various combinations of the two. I never was really able to find the right combination of diet and exercise that would enable me to reach (and keep ) my fitness goals.
Starting your program I was super-motivated and rearing to go...needless to say, I was a little skeptical when I went through the first week of the program called: Creating a Vision...as it turned out, this was probably the most important part of the first five weeks. With the vision I created for myself,I have a constant reminder and solid motivation to continue on the path. It seems as though everything I now do after that first week, feeds into the vision and the vision becomes my helpful guide to stay on course.
Week 2 was the cleanse week -- it was pretty tough, but once again, I learned the importance of proper nutrition and started to learn what role sugar plays in my body.
Week 3 and Week 4 were important weeks to establish discipline and starting out by building up an active lifestyle.
It's been about five weeks and my weight is at about 237 lbs -- I started out at 258.4... I'm about 21 pounds down from where I started and I has to say I feel great, feeling positive, living an active lifestyle every day, and eating constantly! I'm really feeling empowered and I think I've finally been able to solve the diet/exercise riddle (with Cathy's help).
I still have 7 weeks to go until the end of the program, but I really look forward to what I'll learn and am excited to see how I respond to new challenges..."
Rim -- Toronto, ON
To read more testimonials from the program click here
Register now for the Harmonic Health and Wellness Program for the introductory price of $147.00.
Give the gift of Health and Fitness--Make Active Image your source for all your gift giving this year. We sell T-shirts, fitness packages, gift baskets and much more. Visit Active Image and start your holiday shopping now.
© 2006 - 2023 by Active Image - All Rights Reserved
|Site Map
The information contained within ActiveImage.ca is for educational purposes. It is here to help you made informed decisions about your fitness and health. It is not medical advice and is not intended to replace the advice or attention of health-care professionals. Please consult your doctor before beginning or making changes to your diet, exercise program, for diagnosis and treatment of illness and injuries, and for advice regarding medications and supplements.
In no way will Active Image or any persons associated with Active Image be held responsible for any injuries or problems that may occur due to the use of this website or the advice contained within. Active Image will not be held responsible for the conduct of any companies and websites recommended within this site.


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Osmo - Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad - 4 Hands-On Learning Games - Ages 3-5 - Problem Solving, Phonics & Creativity (Osmo iPad Base Included)
Little Genius Starter Kit
As a parent you can expect your child to have the following gameplay experience: Preschool letter formation and phonics (ABCs), create pictures and bring animals to life with sticks & rings (Squiggle Magic), dress & feed a character (Costume Party) & find silly solutions to obstacles & navigate adventures (Stories).
Osmo is Loved by Parents & Teachers!
Transforming how children learn – Osmo merges tactile exploration with innovative technology, actively engaging children in the learning process.
What They'll Learn
Letters & Phonics
Create letters & pictures with Sticks & Rings game pieces. Gain confidence in letter recognition, vocabulary, construction & phonics.
Emotions & Empathy
Your child will dress and feed a character while understanding if the character is happy or needs more to eat.
Fine Motor Skills
Use tangible pieces to dress characters for a party while discovering age-appropriate expressions related to emotions.
Creativity & Imagination
Let your child learn while having fun & not realize that the fun is really all about learning.
Ways to Learn
Build letters with squishy, colorful Sticks & Rings for preschoolers/pre-readers. Learn over 300 words and practice 50+ different phonics sounds.
Squiggle Magic
Create anything you want using Sticks & Rings and then watch them come to life.
Costume Party
Experiment with clothes & colors to make party outfits - gender neutral character. Then watch characters react.
Mix and Match costumes to find silly solutions to obstacles & navigate adventures.
Osmo is Magic!
Osmo brings learning to life, using hand held pieces with an iPad.
Your child's first Osmo learning experience, designed to take 3-5 year olds on a hands-on learning adventure. The games will spark their imaginations, learn critical skills & have a blast! You will have the ability to monitor what your child is doing in the game and their progress as they start the program and grow into more advanced learning. Your child can self guide themselves on this learning adventure.


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My latest labs indicate that my serum IgA went down. I don't know why or how, but I'm happy for it. I could tell there was going to be a change, because my total protein value was down for the first time in a while. It was at 6.7 mg/dL. The next day, I called in to see what my IgA was. Sure enough, it was 854 mg/dL.
This is an overview of the last four months. Normal IgA ranges from 40-390 mg/dL:
|25 Aug 2004
|854 mg/dL
|21 Jul 2004
|946 mg/dL
|23 Jun 2004
|1177 mg/dL
|19 May 2004
|996 mg/dL


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More than 54 million American households own a dog, so it's no surprise that 56% of dog owners actively seek out cars and trucks that can accommodate their four-legged friends. In fact, a recent survey revealed that 22% of Autotrader visitors have taken their pet, or would consider taking their pet, on a test drive.
For the second year running, Autotrader named the best cars for dog lovers, saying these cars offer comfort and convenience features that make any road trip enjoyable for both human and dog passengers:
Audi allroad
Ford Edge
Honda Fit
Jeep Renegade
Kia Sedona
Lincoln MKC
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Subaru XV Crosstrek
"We know car shoppers take every aspect of their lifestyle into account when shopping for their perfect ride, and four-legged friends are no exception," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. "The cars on our list provide key features for pet owners, such as fold-flat rear seats, rear lift gate, low ride-height, airy cabin and under-floor storage."
We all love our pets, and it's fun to have them along for the ride. But whether you're driving to the grocery store or taking a cross-country road trip, the experts at Best Friends Animal Society, cautioned about driving with pets.
"Pets are more than just our companions – they're members of our families – and it's important to take extra caution when traveling with them," says Gregory Castle, co-founder and CEO, Best Friends Animal Society. "An unsecured dog, even a small dog, can be hurt or killed and cause harm to others in the car if an accident occurs even at slow speeds."
Castle recommends the following safety tips for traveling with dogs:
When in a car, dogs should be secured with a harness/restraint, to protect the pet, prevent them from distracting the driver, and for the safety of the other people in the vehicle.
Small dogs and cats can ride in a secured pet carrier to keep them safe and to prevent them from getting around the driver's feet.
Pets should not ride in the front seat in a vehicle, as they could be severely injured by the windshield or the airbags in an accident.
Dogs seem to love to ride with their heads out the window, but it's safest not to allow them to. Bugs, rocks or flying debris can hurt their eyes or ears.
The back of a pick-up truck is never a safe place for a pet to ride.


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XQuery FLWOR
FLWOR is an acronym which stands for "For, Let, Where, Order by, Return".
XQuery FLWOR Example
Let's take an XML document having the information on the collection of courses. We will use a FLWOR expression to retrieve the titles of those courses which fees are greater than 2000.
Let's take the Xquery document named "courses.xqy" that contains the query expression to be executed on the above XML document.
Create a Java based XQuery executor program to read the courses.xqy, passes it to the XQuery expression processor, and executes the expression. After that the result will be displayed.
Execute XQuery against XML
Put the above three files to a same location. We put them on desktop in a folder name XQuery3. Compile XQueryTester.java using console. You must have JDK 1.5 or later installed on your computer and classpaths are configured.
javac XQueryTester.java
java XQueryTester
Next TopicXQuery HTML Format


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These bags are large enough to fit almost all sizes of poop, and they're made with 40% post-consumer recycled material so you can feel good about using them. They're also thick and have strong seams, so you know they won't leak. Plus, they come in recycled and recyclable card packaging. These rolls will fit in all standard bag dispensers and are also available in mint-scented options.
• 33 x 22cm
• Leak proof
• 48 bags
The best way to dispose of these bags is in a well-managed contained home compost for non-edible plants only.


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The Chicago Bears aren't expected to be very active on or before Tuesday's trade deadline. Most fans would love for them to go after a top wide receiver like Reggie Wayne, but I don't see that happening. One trade that might happen is the Bears could move safety Chris Harris.↵
Harris has reportedly asked for a trade and the Bears have given him permission to seek one out. This isn't a big surprise since Harris was a healthy scratch on Sunday against the Vikings after playing a bad game against Detroit.↵
Please stay with SB Nation Chicago for more Bears updates as the NFL trade deadline approaches.


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The first library in Wautoma was organized in 1934 through the hardwork of Gladys Young and the first librarian Grace Velte and volunteers. It was housed in the basement of a local movie theatre, and was organized as a lending library. The library was moved in 1935 to a room above the old Fire Station at 401 West Main St. It remained there until 1978 when a new fire station/library was built at its current location, 410 West Main Street. Eventually, the fire station relocated. In 2009, the library finished a major remodeling project that increased its floor space to include where the fire station used to be.
Today, the Wautoma Public Library houses well over 34,000 items. The collection includes books, movies, magazines, puzzles, newspapers, music, audio books, and digital databases and collections. Free Internet access is available along with public computers. Community enriching programs and events are held at the library, and its meeting room is available for public reservation (a fee may apply, see meeting room policy). Adjacent to the library is a small park, complete with park benches and a small playground. A public fishing pier is close by.


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Oh these are awesome! I wish I had the patience and talent to make them.ReplyDelete
Joy @ Books and Life
Hi Julie,ReplyDelete
We sill have time to make some blue ornaments for Christmas! Thanks for sharing.
Happy Blue Monday!
Oh goodness, I so love these ornaments! Made me smile. My Auntie Ang was a crafty lady. I miss her so much but one year for Easter she took the cheap plastic eggs and crocheted around them. I treasure them and wish I knew how to crochet. No talent in that area but I admire those that are so talented. Love your orns. Thanks and have a great week.ReplyDelete


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Intergovernmental Conflict Resolution: Sample Newsletter Articles
Please feel free to adopt any of the sample newsletter articles available in the Documents & Resources pod at right to help your membership take advantage of these intergovernmental conflict resolution pamphlets:
- A Local Official's Guide to Selecting a Conflict Resolution Professional for Inter-Agency Disputesis the newest publication in a series of resources to encourage and support local officials' use of alternative dispute resolution to address disputes and disagreements between public agencies.
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: Navigating Special Legal Issues in Public Agency Disputes is the second publication in the series and explores legal issues related to using alternative dispute resolution that are specific to public agency disputes.
- A Local Official's Guide to Intergovernmental Conflict Resolution discusses conflict resolution strategies that address the causes and consequences of inter-agency disputes.
These guides are the product of the Institute's Intergovernmental Conflict Resolution Program, a program supported by the JAMS Foundation. These resources are available without charge in electronic form on our website. Hardcopies are also available for a small charge. Proceeds from all publications sales support the Institute's work in service to local officials.


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HARP for Second Homes or Investment Properties
Since HARP, the Home Affordable Refinance Program, was made available in 2009, more than 2.9 million* homeowners have used the program to refinance their properties. But over the years, HARP has seen significant enhancements, and there are now many eligible borrowers whose properties are not their primary residences. Today, 1 in 6 HARP refinances are for a second home or investment property.
People have second homes or investment properties for a variety of reasons. Maybe you wanted a vacation home to get away or decided to join the investment property business. Sometimes a home becomes an "accidental rental" due to an unexpected or unplanned move, and you were unable to sell because of the drop in home value. Regardless of the reason, you are encouraged to look at HARP as a refinance option. You may be financially stable and are making your monthly mortgage payments, but you are making payments on a loan that no longer matches the value of the home.
HARP is a unique program created by the federal government for people in your situation. If your property — primary residence, second home or investment property — is valued at less than what you owe, take advantage of the program and get a better rate and/or terms on your loan; you may be able to build equity faster. You're doing everything right, so visit HARP.gov to learn more and talk to your lender.
The same rules apply
To qualify a second home, it must be a single unit or condo; for an investment property, it must be a 1- to 4-unit home. Otherwise, all requirements for the primary home also apply to the second home or investment property:
- Your mortgage has to be backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and acquired before June 1, 2009.
- You must be current on your payments (no 30-day+ late payments in the past six months and no more than one in the past 12 months).
- Your loan-to-value ratio (the amount you owe versus the amount your house is currently worth) must be greater than 80 percent.
*Numbers based on reported refinance data from FHFA Refinance Report October 2013.
Read More from Zillow:
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.
Mike Aubrey is a licensed Realtor® and host of HGTV shows "Power Broker" and "Real Estate Intervention." He has partnered with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to promote the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) and will be featured throughout the education campaign to help reach HARP eligible homeowners across the country.


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Category : Gigs
Medley of my songs
I created this medley of my songs specially for you! Enjoy!
Nika Boon Performing at London Live TV
Nika Boon Performing at London Live TV
On Stage Again!
Rocking on in Camden town again! On Stage is where I truly feel awake and happy!
Camden High Street
Walking down Camden High Street getting to my gig!
1 2 ›


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by Judith Curry
True courage is knowing when you're wrong but refusing to admit it. – The Onion
Courage (?)
I'm a big fan of The Onion, and I have been looking for an opportunity to incorporate some of their material into a post. This new article provides such an opportunity: True Courage is Knowing You're Wrong But Refusing to Admit it. Excerpts:
Courage requires us to remain steadfast in our beliefs. It asks that we stand by the convictions we express and never give an inch, no matter what the cost. However off base, wrongheaded, or patently false a position we've staked out may be, courage nonetheless demands that we blindly pound home our stupid fucking point, never letting up.
True valor is the moment in a conversation when you realize that what you're saying is completely and utterly wrong, but you continue to say it over and over again anyway, only louder.
Another part involves having the mental strength to steel our minds against any reasonable argument that might challenge one of our beliefs. This means cultivating the ability to remain totally impervious to logic, so that when someone points out a blatant error in our line of thought, we can simply shrug and ignore them.
Anyone can fold in the face of facts, or listen to a well-reasoned argument and say, "You know what? You're right, I never thought of it that way." But that's the coward's way out. Listening carefully to a friend's point, synthesizing the new information, and letting it influence your own perspective—these are all gutless acts.
Is courage scary? Sure. It can be terrifying. Do you think it's easy to suddenly realize that everything you've been saying is moronic, but to forge ahead anyway, no matter what bullshit comes flying out of your mouth?
No, that takes balls of steel. But courage has its rewards, too. Sticking to your guns means never, ever having to own up to your mistakes. And it's hard to put a price on that.
Courage (!)
The Onion article triggered a memory of an article by Robert Socolow titled High-consequence outcomes and internal disagreements: tell us more, please. This article was published in the special issue of Climatic Change on the IPCC and uncertainty. The particular statement that I recollect (and I quoted this in my paper No Consensus on Consensus) is this:
It will take courage to disclose lack of consensus, just as it will the courage to describe poorly understood high-consequence outcomes vividly. But the coexistence of contending views ("low agreement") is normal in science, not a cause for embarrassment, and users of the report need this information.
There is an underlying expectation (and pressure) for the IPCC not to pull back from its previous positions, and to increase the confidence level of its main findings. One notable pull back occurred in the AR4 relative to the TAR, regarding the warmest years in the past millennia. Jean Goodwin put it this way (again, quoted in my No Consensus paper):
"Once the consensus claim was made, scientists involved in the ongoing IPCC process had reasons not just to consider the scientific evidence, but to consider the possible effect of their statements on their ability to defend the consensus claim."
When anyone asks me what I expect from the AR5 and what I will be looking for, I respond that I am looking to see (and understand) if they have changed their mind relative to the AR4 and to previous leaked drafts of the AR5. If their mind is changed in the direction of reduced confidence or decreased alarmism, which seems to me to be justified by the evidence and observations over the past 5 years, then to me that would constitute an act of courage, particularly in face of sociopolitical and peer pressure to do otherwise.
Flip flopping
In U.S. politics, flip flopping has been used as a potent accusation against politicians, notably against John Kerry when he was a presidential candidate. Personally I prefer some flip flopping in politicians; it is often a good thing when policy preferences change in response to new evidence, changing situations and political realities.
What about flip flopping by scientists? In the climate debate, this doesn't happen too often, and people that 'switch sides' is often newsworthy, notably Richard Muller's 'conversion' from skepticism.
Apart from the public debate, what about the more purely scientific debate? I find it relative rare that a scientist who finds new evidence that is contrary to their previous finding actually provides the context of the new finding relative to what they previously thought. One particular example that I recall, almost a decade later, is a statement that Kerry Emanuel made circa 2004/2005 regarding pulling out from a paper on the topic of hurricanes and global warming. When asked about this, he said simply: 'I changed my mind.' The stark eloquence (and rarity) of this statement has made it stick in my mind. A scientist changing his mind as a result of new evidence and different ways of analyzing the previous evidence: this should be a routine occurrence. Its not routine in climate science, where post-hoc rationalization of inconvenient observations reigns.
My own emphasis on uncertainty in discussing climate science has been characterized as 'wimping out'. But a focus on the uncertainties, and not making overconfident statements, means that there is rarely a need to flip flop on a scientific judgment, and you avoid the bias inducing effect of feeling the need to defend a previous claim.


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Miles Morales is a fictional superhero who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is one of the characters who goes by the identity of Spider-Man.
The character was created by writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Sara Pichelli. Bendis and Marvel editor-in-chief Axel Alonso drew inspiration from both U.S. President Barack Obama and American actor Donald Glover.
Miles Morales first appeared in Ultimate Fallout #4 (August 2011) following the death of Peter Parker. He is a teenager of Black Hispanic descent. Miles is the second Spider-Man to appear in Ultimate Marvel, an imprint with a separate continuity from the mainstream Marvel Universe.
Morales is featured in the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man comic book series. He is not the lead character in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated TV series that debuted in April 2012 on Disney XD. After Marvel ended the Ultimate imprint in 2015 Miles was made a character in the main Marvel Universe. His beginning in the main Marvel Universe was with stories under the All-New, All-Different Marvel brand published that same year.
Reaction to the character varied. Some, including Spider-Man's creator, Stan Lee, approved the creation of a positive role model for non-white children. Others showed displeasure at the replacement of Peter Parker. Some even decried it as a publicity stunt motivated by political correctness, a charge Alonso denied. Alexandra Petri of The Washington Post called for the character to be judged on the quality of its stories, which have garnered positive reviews.
The character possesses powers similar to those of the original Spider-Man, which were derived from the bite of a spider genetically engineered by Spider-Man's nemesis Norman Osborn in an attempt to duplicate those abilities.


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Article Table Of Contents
Greensboro's neighborhoods conjure up too many stereotypes to count. You've got hipster areas, preppy places, neighborhoods where college kids thrive, and of course, ghettos.
It seems as if there's a neighborhood for everyone in Greensboro.
And while the city consistently ranks as one of the best places to live in the country thanks in part to a strong economy and tons of entertainment, it's not all rainbows and sunshine in Greensboro. Some neighborhoods aren't as great as others.
So the question arises, which Greensboro neighborhoods are the worst, and which are the best?
Today, we'll use science and data to determine which Greensboro hoods need a little tender loving care - the sore thumbs of the Greensboro area if you will. Realistically, you can't expect all the neighborhoods to be amazing, although Madison Woods ranks way above the rest.
We examined 88 of Greensboro's neighborhoods to find out the worst places to live. These places don't quite measure up to Greensboro's reputation.
The Worst Neighborhoods In Greensboro For 2022
So what's the worst neighborhood to live in Greensboro for 2022? According to the most recent census data, Greentree looks to be the worst neighborhood in Greensboro.
Read on to see how we determined the places around Greensboro that need a pick-me-up. And remember, don't blame the messenger.
Once you're done, you can look at the bottom of the story for a complete chart of every neighborhood we looked at from worst to best. Looking for places to avoid outside of the city? You can also check out the worst suburbs of Greensboro.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In North Carolina
- Cheapest Places To Live In North Carolina
- Most Dangerous Cities In North Carolina
The 10 Worst Neighborhoods In Greensboro For 2022
Population: 373
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $92,500 (19th worst)
Median Income: $28,125 (18th worst)
More on Greentree: Data
Population: 484
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $55,421 (worst)
Median Income: $28,449 (19th worst)
More on Oak Grove: Data
Population: 539
Rank Last Year: 3 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $101,166 (22nd worst)
Median Income: $30,786 (23rd worst)
More on Dudley Heights: Data
Population: 422
Rank Last Year: 4 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $119,652 (42nd worst)
Median Income: $39,840 (43rd worst)
More on Woodlea Lakes: Data
Population: 1,888
Rank Last Year: 5 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $83,343 (15th worst)
Median Income: $21,001 (4th worst)
More on Glenwood: Data
Population: 172
Rank Last Year: 6 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $93,764 (2worst)
Median Income: $29,701 (20th worst)
More on Callum Area: Data
Population: 2,597
Rank Last Year: 7 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $84,547 (16th worst)
Median Income: $41,988 (45th worst)
More on Hewitt Area: Data
Population: 268
Rank Last Year: 8 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $164,977 (67th worst)
Median Income: $35,891 (32nd worst)
More on Holden Farms: Data
Population: 717
Rank Last Year: 9 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $108,755 (30th worst)
Median Income: $40,391 (44th worst)
More on The Pines: Data
Population: 1,459
Rank Last Year: 10 (No Change)
Median Home Value: $80,046 (12th worst)
Median Income: $17,634 (3rd worst)
More on Smith Homes: Data
Methodology: How we determined the worst Greensboro neighborhoods in 2022
To figure out how bad a place is to live in, we only needed to know what kinds of things people like and then decide what places have the least amount of those things. We threw the following criteria into this analysis in order to get the best, most complete results possible. We used this set of criteria for each neighborhood in Greensboro:
- High unemployment (Less jobs)
- Low median income (Less pay)
- Low population density (No things to do)
- Low home values (No one's willing to pay to live here)
- High crime (Estimated)
Then, we ranked each neighborhood in Greensboro, North Carolina for each of these criteria from worst to best.
Next, we averaged the individual rankings for each criteria into a "Worst Score".
The neighborhood with the lowest "Worst Score" ranks as the worst neighborhood of Greensboro.
Read on below to learn more about these terrible places around Greensboro to live. Or skip to the end to see the list of all 88 neighborhoods ranked from worst to best.
This list is a scientific analysis based on real data and is completely unbiased. Hold on to your pants.
Summary: The Worst Neighborhoods Around Greensboro
Well there you have it -- the worst of the neighborhoods in Greensboro with Greentree landing at the bottom of the pack.
As we mentioned earlier, the neighborhoods in Greensboro aren't all bad. Madison Woods takes the cake as the best place to live in Greensboro.
We ranked the neighborhoods from worst to best in the chart below.
For more North Carolina reading, check out:
- Richest Cities In North Carolina
- Safest Cities in North Carolina
- Worst Places To Live In North Carolina


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Access to technology could be the key to elderly citizens living longer, more engaged lives, according to a report by the President's Council of Advisers on Science and Technology (PCAST).
The report, titled "Independence, Technology, and Connection in Older Age," was released on Tuesday and suggests 12 current and future technologies and policies that would be most beneficial to older Americans.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 15 percent of the U.S. population was over the age of 65 in 2014. Since many of those people are still working and living independently, the report looked for technologies that would enable them to do so longer.
Focusing on three primary challenges common with aging—social connectivity and emotional health, cognitive ability, and physical ability—PCAST recommended technologies and policies that would have great potential for improving people's lives. For example, the report prioritized the need for all senior citizens to have broadband Internet access so that they can be more engaged and have greater access to telehealth services. This is considered especially important for more geographically isolated citizens.
Though the report only acts as a recommendation to the president, and suggests policy changes in many Federal agencies, PCAST has begun the conversation about technology's role in addressing aging challenges.


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|I Could Write a Book. (Vocal)
|It's Alright With Me. (Vocal)
|I Get a Kick Out Of You. (Vocal)
|It's Deja Vu (all over again). (Instrumental)
|I Feel Good. (Vocal)
|It's Just Talk. (Instrumental)
|I Wish I Knew (how it would feel to be free). (Vocal)
|It's Not Easy Being Green. (Instrumental)
|In A Mellow Tone. (Instrumental)
|It's OK to Disagree. (Vocal)
|In The Mood. (Instrumental)
|Its Only A Paper Moon. (Vocal)
|Is you is or is you ain't my baby? (Vocal)
|It's Oh So Quiet. (Vocal)
|It Don't Mean A Thing (if it ain't got that swing). (Vocal)
|Ive Got You Under My Skin. (Vocal)
|It Had To Be You. (Vocal)


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Retreats, Meetings, & Events
Hinton Center provides a unique setting to get away from the everyday routine for an opportunity of uninterrupted fellowship, learning, and relaxation. Our serene setting gives a sense of renewal and rejuvenation that is often hard to find in familiar surroundings. Our facilities can accommodate groups of all sizes and budgets. We offer a variety of meeting and worship spaces, as well as meal options that include fresh fare created by our executive chef or meals you prepare yourself. Our campus has cell phone service and Wi-Fi internet throughout, and your audio-video needs are efficiently coordinated. Free time activities both on campus and in the surrounding area are abundant.
For details, as well as information on our Amenities, Local Eateries, and Area Activities, see our Tips for Your Stay page.
Whether it's a family reunion, a gathering of former classmates or colleagues, or just a vacation away with friends, Hinton Center is the destination that will provide your group's every need for comfortable lodging, delicious meals, and enjoyable activities.
Hinton Center is open year round, so reunion groups may gather and celebrate during holidays. Reunions during the spring, summer, and fall enjoy each season's changing beauty, as the mountain and lake views are transformed. You may choose to do meals on your own, eat in our dining room, or enjoy a combination.
See our Tips for Your Stay page for on-site recreational options and amenities, as well as an abundance of eateries, activities, and attractions in the Lake Chatuge area of Western North Carolina and North Georgia.
Weddings at Hinton Rural Life Center are exceptional. We offer unique options for making your special day unforgettable.
Perched on a hill with sweeping views of Lake Chatuge and the surrounding mountains, Dysart Chapel is a favorite site for weddings. The chapel seats up to 100 guests and is a perfect year-round option. Hinton Center's outdoor Labyrinth is a fabulous fair-weather wedding venue. Surrounded by the beauty of Creation in a woodland setting, the Labyrinth has a simple elegance that transforms the ceremony into a profoundly sacred experience.
Receptions can be held in our Moore Hall, Dining Room, or Young Commons Building. We offer full catering services, and our executive chef will help plan the menu from start to finish.
We have comfortable lodging options for your family and friends who are in town to celebrate with you. Inquire today at 828-389-8336 or email email@example.com to start planning your ideal wedding. We can assist you with clergy services, as well as vendors for flowers, decoration rentals, and music.
Meetings & Conferences
Let Hinton Center host your next corporate or organizational event. With our multiple meeting and dining spaces, executive chef, on-campus accommodations, Wi-Fi and cell service, as well as audio-visual equipment, Hinton will help you offer the perfect event for your business, church, or civic/nonprofit organization.
See our Tips for Your Stay page for links to pdfs for on-site recreational options and amenities, as well area Eateries and Things to Do in the Lake Chatuge area of Western North Carolina and North Georgia.


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via Do Christians Need To Go To Church? – Geeks Under Grace
Michael Morejon
This is a personal topic for me since I have actually been on both sides of the fence. Let me share my short story so you can see where I am coming from and I can give you a clearer answer.
At one point, I didn't attend the church I had been going to (currently the largest church in all of Miami, FL) and serving in for about ten years because I saw too much abuse and manipulation in the leadership. So called "brother/sisters in Christ" decided to gossip about my wife and I because they didn't like us being together. This was not just silly gossip, but literally spreading rumors about us without our knowledge and pretending they were very holy in doing so. We decided not to be a part of any bible studies, evangelism, or discipleship until we prayed and figured out what God wanted us to do.
As days turned to weeks, then months, we felt more at peace not being part of that church and instead seeking God daily in our personal lives. I knew that God was leading us to go to another place, but I personally don't agree with "church hopping," so we continued to pray and visited only one other church a few times.
A friend of ours was attending a small church (like 30-50 people) and I was invited to their men's bible study. I honestly had never attended one so I was looking forward to it, and after going several times I shared my heart with the pastor. He and the other guys prayed for the right decision to be made, and after hanging out and spending time with their church community we stayed. We chose to stay not because they were nice, but because their vision and goals were what we were looking for.
If your story is similar to mine, or you don't relate to it at all, that's ok. The point of the story is that as Christians, we need to be around a community of believers that can lift our hands when we can't anymore. We need to hear a message that will challenge us and not make us feel comfortable. Christians need to know that they aren't alone in their struggles, because the Devil loves to isolate and make us feel that we are the "only ones" going through this and that.
"The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Christianity is about community and relationships. You cannot pull one verse from the New Testament that shows Jesus going off on His own except in prayer. He is always around His disciples (unless they abandoned Him one way or another), or after the Resurrection you find Apostle Paul always mentioning in his letters how he goes to visit the churches he planted. Even Apostle Peter whose own shadow healed the sick never stopped communing with the other disciples.
"For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord." – Romans 1:11
"But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin." – 1 John 1:7
Should a Christian belong to a church, or at the very least some form of Bible study/cell group? Yes, of course. There is no such thing as a lone wolf Christian, which is exactly what the Devil would want you to do. When you're alone, you have nobody to correct you or guide you. Even if you're reading Christian books or listening to podcasts online, it's not enough because that preacher is not looking at your business and telling you what you need to fix.
It's easy for us to pretend that we have it all together, but a spiritual authority can point out areas in your life that are in darkness and need exposure. Maybe you're dealing with some kind of sinful habit, or you aren't treating your loved ones correctly. Whatever it is make sure you're plugged into your local church community and get involved with what God is doing. It is rewarding, biblical, and what God has always setup as ideal for His people.
via Do Christians Need To Go To Church? – Geeks Under Grace


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Stunning Room ShowcasesAlloggio comes with practical elements and neat templates designed so you can easily create detailed room presentations along with reservation forms.
Room List LayoutsYou get a stunning versatile collection of layouts made specifically for displaying your rooms. Feature images, descriptions, room availability filter & more.
-Gallery list with details on hover
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Single Room LayoutsDisplay all the rooms you have available for rent in astonishing detail and let your visitors make their reservations on the spot.
1. Room gallery slider
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5. Check-in system, extra services, price
6. Room availability calendar
7. Customizable Google Map
8. Related rooms
9. Weather widget
10. Custom ad
Accounts & PaymentsUsers can create their personalized profiles on your site! They can also pay for rooms then & there thanks to the full compatibility with WooCommerce.
-Cart page
-Dropdown cart
-Coupon codes


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the funny thing about relatioships is that they are always changing, always shifting, like the sands of a dune (or if you're into Frank Herbert Dune, Arrakis etc) Things change so quickly. One thing said off hand could start a fight that ends it, or calmly giving advise could change a relationship and rekindle old feelings. All the while in the backround things said and unsaid change the face of what is.
So first off let me adress one thing. Although there is much tail out there that is asking to be chased, I am NOT chasing the ones that have a ring on their finger, and if I find out there a brown card, well thats when the E-brake gets pulled. It sucks to be deployed and know know if your wife is cheating on you or not. Now having said that one of my friends is in a strange relationship with a brown card. She's super needy and all that jazz. Her husband is back, and I've met him, for a moment, he's a 1st class dick. I'll hold my tounge because I'm not sure what will happen but the kids involved all look to my friend as more of a father figure than the husband.
I do not want to get into a debate about the moral ambiguity of this, truth is, it's not my place to say. I used to think it was all black and white but there's a LOT of gray. I suppose that if the situation were different somehow, like it was just a purly sexual thing and the husband wasn't such a dick to everyone and everything, I'd feel more of an obligation. I suppose it's the wrong useage but lately i keep rembering biblical quotes, and "Judge not lest ye be judged" goes here. It may make me uneasy, but I can't stop them.
Now that that's cleared up. My bi-sexual ex is in a heap of trouble. She and her GF are officially over. This would be alright for her if she were the dumper. But she is not. It was going to happen, she admits it, but the fact that she was the one dumped and that after it was done her gf now ex was saying all the "right" things and keeping hope alive. A Fate more cruel that a clean break, cheating, or worst of all the "mega dump" (which leaves the signifigant other with everything to include house dog and dignity). Whatever the case rare is it that "just friends" works. I kind of had a feeling, just from the way she talked, that she'd been having feelings for me, and i got confirmation. Ironically this is NOT what i want. I want her to be happy, but she won't find that with me. I've already screwed her over once I'm not going to do it again. Having said that it does give the vainest part of me a slight ego boost.
the world keeps changing. Sometimes things said weeks ago are the seed which grows into a tree of discontent. I find it amazing that in all this time, all this misery, it all seems to come back to me. I am the ultimate fly on the wall. My prowess of observation has led me to be able to see people in their ungaurded moments and perhaps that is why no one will get close to me. I know them before they know themselves.
In a strange twist my shrink says i need to cut off the drama, then he turns right around and suggests i thrive off the drama. Oh i wish I could believe that it is that simple. I won't deny that I am the all seeing crap of the universe I just don't know what to do with what I see. Do I love people BECAUSE they have weakness, do i try to mend the hurt taround me, or do i simply cut myself off from those in need. I waver between two opposing view points. That no one, no matter what they have done (short of outright evil) deserves to be left alone and ignored, and the feeling that if they are that screwed up and they are on the death roll you can't help them more than lip service and you baisically have to let them recover.
The shrink suggested isolatingf myself from the sourses of my Pain. Nicole, because the wound she didn't know she inflicted festers. Andrea, because let's face it she'd gone over to the dark side and if she's into girls thats a tree i want not to bark up. Lisa, because of the sorted past i've only just started getting over, and the fact that no matter what i do i really can't save a person from themselves. And Gary, because his love of a brown card, and the drama implied in that makes life interesting at best. I don't know if i have the strength to cut anyone off. But i was encouraged to try. so here goes.


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For #badass #kickass women of the world! For when you're going through your regular workday, and can still make an adventure out of it. Think sunshine, positive vibes, lush greenery, open waters and yes, some punches!
Featuring the music of Didi Benami, Jasmine Ash, The Highfields, K.Flay, Valerie Broussard and many more! Check back often and follow us


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Ca Na Beach – the sleeping beautyUnder Blog
Ca Na Beach is located in Ninh Thuan Province in South Central Coast region. This beach has a super convenient position, nearby 1A Highway and national railway, about 30km to the central city of Ninh Thuan. Ca Na is famous for charming and pristine beauty.
The name Ca Na in Champa language means "little mermaid". It was named by a queen under the Nguyen Dynasty who once visited this beach and was impressed by its great charm.
Ca Na attracts visitors with the harmonizing beauty of sunny beach, picturesque mountains and forests as well as distinctive Cham culture. The landscape of Ca Na is amazing with rocks in one side and beach in other side. Little further distance is Truong Son Range along the side of rocky limestone mountains. Getting deep into the area is tropical jungles, where live so many kinds of rare and precious animals.
The beach in Ca Na is awesome. Like other beaches in South Central Coast, Ca Na beach has perfect curl, pure white sand, turquoise water and stunning surroundings. Unlike others, it is even more pristine and salty. Moreover, sunny and warm weather all year round is an advantage of this beach. You can visit here to swim in crystal-clear water any time in year.
Besides, rocky mountains lying along the beach is another special feature of Ca Na. The imposing and majestic mountains stand toward the sea like a natural wall to protect the mainland. There are also a lot of cliffs and stone stretches on the seaside with multiple shapes and sizes.
Getting in deeper is tropical forests with a diverse ecosystem and numerous attractive sceneries including multi-figure limestone caves. You will have chance to trek through the dense jungles to explore rare flora and fauna system, beautiful wild flowers, temple in the wood and enjoy the natural wildlife.
Especially, you can also enjoy wonderful seafood in here such as lobster, crab, fish, seashell, etc, together with the most famous specialities in here – salt and Nhi fish sauce. Near the beach is the Cham's special structures and traditional villages, where a lot of Cham people are living with nearly genuine traditional custom.
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Ballf is a golf like ball game made with our own custom voxel engine. There is a wide variety of courses to play on, everything from Ballf courses to towns or space stations. With our editor you can create your very own custom maps to play on with your friends. Each texture has it's own properties that affect how the ball bounces and rolls. This makes shot placement even more important, as hard surfaces can give your shot extra distance, and soft surfaces like leaves or sand can slow you down. Can you anticipate how the wind and your surroundings will affect the balls trajectory, in order to predict where the ball will land?
We're still on Greenlight, check us out and support further development of Ballf and our engine!
We've finally fixed the camera that would clip through walls and make it hard to see what was happening. It was easy to end up with a wall in between the camera and the ball, blocking your view of what was happening, or even worse, end up inside the voxels which would result in a very buggy view of the world. The camera now detects surfaces, meaning that the camera stops and simply allows the ball to roll closer to it. This means the ball should always remain within view! The player model and ball now also have more detailed shadows. They can both now be partially shaded/lit, depending on the lighting of where they are standing. The image below shows the camera moved in close to the ball to avoid clipping, and also shows both the ball and the cat with the more detailed shading.
The tutorial was mention in the last article, but it has been updated, and the last article was archived so I thought it worth mentioning again. The tutorial explains all of the basic mechanics, and gives you a chance to try them each out on a hole designed to isolate and teach you about them.
This update also includes the Haunted Mansion course, which comes with a new song and particle effects. This was also apart of the last update that we were fairly quiet about. It has new spooky music and flying ghostly cat heads (Don't worry, it's not that spooky)!
I've made a quick video demonstrating a speed run on the backyard course. It was just a quick playthrough, so with a bit of practice you should be able to best my score! The idea was just to give a goal to aim for, some idea of what a decent time would look like, until a more permanent solution is developed!
We have begun work on multiplayer and leaderboards! Leaderboards will allow for competitive play for all game modes, and give players an idea of where they stand in the ranks of other Ballf players! The online multiplayer will of course allow for you to play Ballf online with your friends! We are not ready yet to give an ETA, but it is our current focus and we will keep everyone updated on it. Once we have finished and are happy with the results, we will move on to arcade mode, which will include a variety of power ups.
The current build can be downloaded here on IndieDB, on our Itch.io page, or on our Gamejolt page!
We've added a tutorial that explains the mechanics and buttons. There is also now a Halloween course and song, new particle effects, and some minor bug...
Couple small additions and bug fixes, as well as a trailer that shows off the level editor!
Now on Steam Greenlight! Updated demo with more levels, music, and other improvements! Level design contest is also now starting.
Fixed a game ruining bug some people encountered and repackaged the demo files. We've also posted a preview of the soundtrack being worked on!
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A demo of our voxel based golf style game Ballf! Comes with editor!
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Hey, will you be needing any music for this game?
Liquid Hey, why you deleted the Balf editor? ¿IndieDB was because of what they saw as erased by a plagiarism to minecraft?
I've finally played every hole on the three maps and hey, turns out the game isn't as impossible as I first thought! The attention to detail in the town map is astonishing, all houses fully furnished and everything. Nice one.
I did a Let's Play of the town course: Youtube.com
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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We speak the same language right from the start, because your goal is also our goal: a smooth and efficient operation of your plant.
We are looking forward to you and your task!


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|Care coordination experiences of people with disabilities enrolled in medicaid managed care.
|Publication Type
|Journal Article
|Bowers A, Owen R, Heller T
|Disabil Rehabil
|Date Published
|2016 Aug 22
PURPOSE: To understand the impact of experience and contacts with care coordinators on Medicaid Managed Care (MMC) enrollees with disabilities. METHOD: Primary data was collected from a random sample of 6000 out of the 100,000 people with disabilities enrolled in one state's mandatory MMC program. Surveys were conducted through the mail, telephone, and Internet; 1041 surveys were completed. The sample used for analysis included 442 MMC enrollees who received care coordination. Regression analyses were conducted with the outcomes of number of unmet health care needs and enrollee appraisal of the health services they received. Race, age, gender, and disability variables controlled for demographic differences, and the independent variables included enrollee experience with a care coordinator (coordinator knowledge of enrollee medical history and whether the coordinator took into account enrollee wishes and input) and frequency of contact with a care coordinator. RESULTS: Positive enrollee experiences with care coordinators significantly related to more positive enrollee health service appraisals and fewer unmet health care needs; frequency of contact did not have any significant impacts. People with mental health disabilities and intellectual/developmental disabilities had significantly lower health service appraisals. People with mental health disabilities had significantly more unmet needs. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of care coordination, but not frequency of contact alone, is associated with better health outcomes for MMC enrollees. Implications for rehabilitation Care coordination is a core component of managed care and facilitates effective healthcare management for people with complex chronic conditions and disabilities. Better experiences with care coordinators is related to fewer unmet healthcare needs and more positive health care service appraisals for Medicaid managed care enrollees. The continuous development of person-centered care coordination strategies and training programs emphasizing quality relationships between coordinators and consumers should be prioritized.
|Full Text
What was this research about?
Recently, many Medicaid programs have begun following a "managed care" model for their coverage. This means that their healthcare is coordinated through a single managed care organization. Some Medicaid enrollees, especially those with more complex health needs, are assigned a care coordinator when they sign up for Medicaid. The care coordinator, like a case manager, works with the enrollee to develop a personalized healthcare plan and helps the enrollee access needed services. Care coordinators could be of great assistance to Medicaid enrollees with disabilities, who may have complex healthcare needs. In this study, we wanted to see if the quality and quantity of contact people with disabilities had with their care coordinator was related to their healthcare satisfaction or their unmet healthcare needs.
What did the researchers do?
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago sent surveys to Medicaid enrollees with disabilities who were receiving managed care. The researchers focused on surveys from 442 respondents who had been assigned a care coordinator. The survey asked respondents to rate the quality and quantity of contact they had with their care coordinator. To measure quality, the respondents indicated how much their care coordinator knew about their personal medical history, how often the coordinator took their wishes into account when developing care plans, and how much input they had in their care planning. To measure quantity, the survey asked respondents how often their care coordinator called or visited them to follow up on their healthcare needs. Then, to find out how quality and quantity of contact was related to overall care satisfaction, the respondents answered survey questions about how satisfied they felt with their healthcare overall and specifically from their primary care doctor and specialists. The respondents also indicated if they had any "unmet needs", or specialty services they needed but couldn't get from their health plan. Finally, the respondents answered questions about their background and disability type.
What did the researchers find?
Overall, most respondents were happy with their care coordinators, and they felt that their coordinators understood their medical needs and took their wishes into consideration. Respondents who felt they had better-quality relationships with their care coordinators were happier with their healthcare and had fewer unmet needs than those respondents who reported less positive relationships. The frequency of coordinator contact, however, was unrelated to respondent satisfaction or unmet healthcare needs.
There were also differences between disability types: Respondents with intellectual/developmental and respondents with mental health disabilities were less satisfied with their healthcare than respondents with physical disabilities. Respondents with mental health disabilities reported having more unmet needs than those with intellectual/developmental or physical disabilities.
How can you use this research?
Things you should know:
To learn about changes in Medicaid programs, go to: www.medicaid.gov
To learn about your eligibility for benefit programs, including Medicaid, go to: www.benefits.gov
Original research article:
Bowers A, Owen R, Heller T. Care coordination experiences of people with disabilities enrolled in medicaid managed care. Disabil Rehabil. 2016; Aug 22:1-8.
|PubMed ID


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Mitchell leads Clemson to 59-51 win over No. 11 Hokies
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Brad Brownell has seen plenty of teams with high expectations fall apart when adversity hits. He is proud that his Tigers are not among them.
Shelton Mitchell scored 22 points with a career-best five 3-pointers as Clemson won its fourth straight with a 59-51 victory over No. 11 Virginia Tech on Saturday.
The Tigers (15-8, 5-5 ACC) were ranked when the year began, but looked done after losing five of their first six Atlantic Coast Conference games, including a 69-67 loss at North Carolina State after blowing a six-point lead in the final minute — a defeat that would have crushed plenty of teams.
Not these Tigers, led by four starting seniors including Mitchell.
"It doesn't surprise me that with their backs against the wall in terms of basketball that they're going to fight," Brownell said.
It took plenty of fight to upend the Hokies (18-5, 7-5), who had not lost consecutive games all season.
Clemson limited Virginia Tech to just one field goal over the final eight minutes to beat a ranked opponent for the first time this season.
Virginia Tech had its chances and was down just 41-40 after Kerry Blackshear Jr.'s basket with 12:29 to go. But Clemson's Marcquise Reed and Hunter Tyson followed with 3-pointers to build the lead. Blackshear hit two foul shots make it 47-44, but that was as close as the Hokies would get.
"They defended us incredibly well," Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams said. "They were prepared for everything."
Virginia Tech missed the next eight shots, a string finally broken by Ty Outlaw's 3 with 12.5 seconds. By then, Clemson had a double-digit lead and the crowd at Littlejohn Coliseum was poised for a celebration.
Reed finished with 15 points, 10 in the second half. Elijah Thomas had seven of Clemson's 12 blocks, a total that tied for the best showing by the Tigers in coach Brad Brownell's nine seasons.
Blackshear scored 17 points to lead Virginia Tech before fouling out in the final minutes. The Hokies' leading scorer, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, had 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Mitchell said he and his teammates didn't hang their heads as the losses mounted, knowing they were better than their record showed. Things have gradually turned their way, improving everyone's confidence and attitude, Mitchell said. "We've got our swagger back," he said.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies have been out of sync without injured point guard Justin Robinson, who missed his third straight game — two of them losses. Virginia Tech needs to rediscover its balance.
Clemson: The Tigers are on the move after their early struggle in the ACC. Clemson is leaning heavily on its four seniors, Mitchell, Reed, Thomas and David Skara. The four combined for 46 of the team's 59 points.
Mitchell said he and his teammates are taking extra shooting reps in the gym to improve the offense. It has certainly worked for Mitchell. He has gone for double digits in two of Clemson's past four games after starting ACC play with just one game with 10 or more points in the Tigers' first six.
There is no question who the Hokies' leader is. Despite walking with crutches and wearing a large protective boot on his left foot, Robinson was involved in keeping Virginia Tech in the game. He gathered players around him frequently and was off the bench to greet them during stoppages. Williams said Robinson, who has averaged 14.4 points this season, is out indefinitely.
Virginia Tech returns home to play Georgia Tech on Wednesday night.
Clemson goes to Miami on Wednesday night.


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You might be aware of a recent report saying that the HP TouchPad was actually the second best sold tablet in the USA, following the iPad… Of course the trigger for this success was the $99 fire sale, as expected. And now everyone wants a TouchPad, because they can port Android on it and make it the cheapest high end Android slate on the market.
CyanogenMod is the way to get Gingerbread on your TouchPad, it seems… Right now CyanogenMod 7.1 Alpha 3 is taking care of business and bringing all the Android 2.3.x love on the device. The Alpha 3 version is available now for TouchPad hackers to install and believe it or not Android Ice Cream Sandwich is also coming to the HP tablet, according to inside sources. Of course, the latest CyanogenMod will be involved…
The team behind the hack is keen on reminding us that bugs are still present, although the Alpha 3 version brings quite a few fixes. The change log shows that the "sleep of death" bug has been solved, 2D/3D performance has increase in some apps, battery stats are now available, the WiFi is fixed, camera FPS is better (but still crappy) and much more.
And finally, before Android 4.0 comes, here's proof of the latest Android port to the TouchPad:


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Deciding the Next 15 Years for Western NC's Forests: The Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Management Plan
This year, the National Forest Service will share the first draft of a new management plan for Western North Carolina's two national forests, Nantahala and Pisgah.
Comprising more than a million acres combined, Nantahala and Pisgah are a central part of our natural and cultural heritage and a driver of our region's economy. Generations of people stretching back to the first inhabitants of the Blue Ridge have depended on our beautiful mountains, forests, rivers and streams for their livelihoods. Our crafts, cuisine and culture reflect this deep connection to the land. Nantahala and Pisgah are also among the most biodiverse temperate forests on earth, with more than 2,000 species of plants, over 400 bird species (over 220 that rely on these forests for nesting,) and more than 100 species of mammals that attract attention from biology experts and enthusiasts from all over the world.
To honor this heritage and range of virtues, MountainTrue's approach to our public lands seeks balance and sustainability. We want a forest plan that:
- Protects our wild places and unique natural habitats for future generations,
- Benefits our region's economy,
- Includes timber harvest as a tool for restoration and habitat creation,
- And continues to offer inspiration, adventure and solitude to all of us who enjoy these mountains.
Previous management plans for Nantahala and Pisgah have come up short. The 1987 plan tilted too far toward resource extraction and put our wild places and sources of clean water and recreation at risk. The Western North Carolina Alliance (now MountainTrue) appealed that plan, eventually prompting the Forest Service to add a 1994 amendment with protections for streams and springs, and to begin restoration for old-growth forests that had been decimated at the turn of the 20th Century. But the goals of the 1994 amendment were not realized due to decreasing federal budgets, lack of political leadership for protective designations, and a lack of ecosystem specific priorities for timber harvest and restoration.
Fast forward to recent years: the early draft of the forest management plan released in 2014 would have zoned almost 70% of the forest for timber management. MountainTrue again pushed back, with thousands of our supporters asking the Forest Service for a more balanced forest plan.
Those of us who care about our forests are trying something different this time: coming to the Forest Service with a win-win vision first.
That's why MountainTrue is an enthusiastic participant in the Nantahala Pisgah Forest Partnership, a collaborative group that has gathered in the spirit of cooperation and compromise to bring all forest interest groups into the same room at once: timber, water, wildlife, recreation, wilderness and more. We don't leave anyone behind, and we believe it's critical that everyone be willing to support everyone else's values with the expectation that the support will be reciprocal. For the past five years, the Partnership has come up with a vision and a set of win-win strategies for a forest plan that allows all of our interests to co-exist and thrive.
The Forest Service has also received recommendations from other groups participating in the forest plan revision, and now we want to share the best of those ideas with you. Check out our events calendar for upcoming panels, presentations and information sessions about the forest plan.


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The death toll as a result of the meningitis epidemic in Sokoto State has now risen to 21.
The state Health Commissioner, Dr. Balarabe Kakale, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Sokoto on Sunday, March 26 2017.
Kakale gave an update on the state of high alert declared by the Ministry since March 20.
The deaths were recorded in the seven local governments of Kebbe, Bodinga, Rabah, Wamakko, Gada, Dange/Shuni and Tureta, mostly affected by the meningitis outbreak.
Kakale said: "The state government had since Monday deployed no fewer than 15 medical teams, comprising of over 150 medical personnel. They were deployed across the 23 local governments of the state, fully equipped with ambulances and provided with free drugs, as well as medicament.
"The emergency response teams were conducting house to house search, definition and management, both at home and the hospitals. They had so far treated no fewer than 330 mixed cases of severe malaria and meningitis across the seven top-hit local governments.
"Out of the 330 cases, 40 were confirmed in the laboratories to be cases of meningitis, out of which 14 fatalities were recorded. These 14 deaths excluded the seven deaths earlier recorded in parts of Gada of Gada Local Government Area."
Kakale further noted that thousands of other cases were treated at the Primary Health Centres in the local governments.
The commissioner said there were some "imported cases" from Koko in Kebbi State, which compounded the epidemic.
He also lamented that traditional belief in witchcraft was making fighting the disease difficult, with some families refusing to take their suspected patients to the hospitals.
He said: "You will see suspected cases having symptoms of meningitis like vomiting, high fever, headache and steepness of the neck, but they will not be conveyed to the health facilities. The people of the state should disregard rumours of witchcraft and take all suspected persons to the hospitals early.
"Keeping them at home will only make the disease worse and cause transmission to other members of the family. The residents should also reduce the number of those to take care of confirmed patients, avoid sleeping in overcrowded rooms, as well as ensure personal and environmental hygiene."


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Officials: Rikers Island Inmate Was Released By Mistake
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Disciplinary action may be forthcoming after a prisoner was released from Rikers Island by mistake.
Police on Monday put out a bulletin, announcing a manhunt for Kimmanie Waisome, 23.
Waisome is described as a black male standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 185 pounds.
The Department of Corrections told 1010 WINS that Waisome was mistakenly released from Riskers Island.
He was released from the Eric M. Taylor Center at the jail facility this past Tuesday, when he was actually supposed to be released on July 15 of next year, according to a New York Daily News report.
Waisome was serving a year at Rikers after he pleaded guilty to stealing a CD with an alleged accomplice armed with a gun in Manhattan back in February 2013, the newspaper reported.
The Corrections Department took three days to realize Waisome was released when he should not have been, the newspaper reported.
The department late Monday was looking into disciplinary action against the officers involved in Waisome's release, for a breach of procedure, officials told 1010 WINS.
You May Also Be Interested In These Stories
for more features.


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The World Championship of Bible Quizzing 2016
Registration Page
Registration Instructions
Use the button below to access the online registration form for the 2017 World Championship of Bible Quizzing. If you are registering for multiple teams, enter the information for the first team, hit send and then repeat the process for each additional team. After hitting "Send" your registration will be automatically sent to the tournament director.
For tournament questions, please contact the tournament director:
Rick Morgan
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2010 BREEDERS' CUP (From HRTV's "PURSUIT OF THE CUP" Series)
Additional programs are also scheduled for Breeders' Cup week including on-site interviews from the Breeders' Cup host track - this year being the fabled Churchill Downs in Louisville KY. Truly a MUST-HAVE for all the goings-on and daily changing events leading up to the 2010 Breeders' Cup.
(19 Hours)
|Listing Info:
|Listing ID:
|Format(s) Available:
|DVD And VHS
|U.S. & Canadian Flat Racing


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by Alex
Hi, we have an American Staffordshire Terrier and up until now we never had any problems with him. He listens quite well actually and isn't dominant nor aggressive to me and my partner and some other people. We do small dog training with him almost every week so he won't forget to listen but we also spoil him quite a bit, such as he sleeps with us, he goes on the couch and even gets food from us BUT he always listens when we tell him not to do any of those.
We also taught him ever since he was a puppy (he is 2 now) to socialise with other people and dogs so he wasn't left outside from this point of view.
He seems like the perfect dog actually but lately he is going crazy over some people. We did notice that he is very dominant and aggressive over people that tend to be scared of him. He also tries them out by jumping to their hand and if he sees that the people are pulling their hand back he goes crazy on them.
We really don't know what triggered this sudden change in behaviour as with us and some people he is really the perfect dog!
Can it be that he has too much energy and not all of it is being let out?
Thank you!
Comments for Aggressive or dominant?
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Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Aggressive Dog.


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Iraqi troops have encountered the heaviest clashes yet with Isis fighters in western Mosul since the start of the new push more than two weeks ago.
Major General Haider al-Maturi of the Federal Police Commandos Division said that Isis fighters dispatched at least six suicide car bombs, which were all destroyed before reaching the troops. The militants, he said, are moving from house to house and deploying snipers.
The wave of heavy resistance comes as Iraqi forces launched attacks against Isis-held neighbourhoods in western Mosul from three points. The Federal Police are closing in on the city's main government complex in the Dawasa neighborhood and Iraq's special forces are attempting to push into the Shuhada and Mansour neighbourhoods.
Isis fighters have "some mortar (teams) and snipers positioned inside homes," said Iraqi special forces Major Ali Talib, explaining that US-led coalition air strikes have helped destroy some of the Isis defences, but clashes are still ongoing.
More than 40,000 people have been displaced in the last week from Mosul. The pace of displacement has accelerated in recent days as fighting approaches the most densely populated parts of western Mosul, and aid agencies have expressed concern that camps to accommodate people fleeing the city are almost full.
The International Organisation for Migration's Mosul Displacement Tracking Matrix showed the number of people uprooted since the start of the offensive in October exceeded 206,000 on Sunday, up from 164,000 on 26 February.
That number may still rise sharply. The United Nations last month warned that more than 400,00 people, more than half the remaining population in western Mosul, could be displaced.
Also on Sunday, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said in a statement the group was "seriously concerned" about reports of chemical weapons use in Mosul.
"The OPCW has asked Iraqi authorities for more information and has offered its assistance to the Iraqi investigation," the statement said.
The alleged attack occurred last week in eastern Mosul, an area declared fully liberated by Iraqi forces in January. The attack hit a neighbourhood along the Tigris River, which roughly divides the city in two. Hospital officials said 10 patients were admitted for exposure and would be discharged in the coming days.
The United Nations warned that the alleged use of chemical weapons, if confirmed, would be a war crime and a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The push on Mosul's west was launched about two weeks ago after the eastern half of the city was declared "fully liberated" in January. The operation to retake Mosul officially began in October after more than two years of slowly clawing back territory from Isis fighters. Isis overran nearly a third of Iraq — including Mosul the country's second largest city — in the summer of 2014.
Source: Independent


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Airboard with lift
Take advantage of the descent without wearing yourself out in the ascent. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Our installation has been approved and authorized by the Federal Office of Mechanical Lifts therefore we must enforce the following rules: 1 person per Airboard (going up or down), children 8 and up. Using only with Airboards. Thank you for your understanding.
Zip lines
Our zip lines also operate in the wintertime when reserved in advance. The teen and adult (from 50kg on up) circuit is unique to the region. The circuit of three zip lines is a total flying distance of 1 km.
Ski lessons
The Basseruche's slopes are ideal for learning how to ski. A ski instructor from the Swiss Ski School is available to give private beginners lessons for children and adults.
Number of the ski-school: 079/905'39'57
The ski-school is open as soon as there's enough snow to open the lift.
Individual lesson, CHF 70.-- per 50' (teleski including durant the lesson)
Ski-rental for kids (shoe-size 24 - 38)
Our modest estate is ideal for those of you just starting out or just wanting to have fun with the whole family. Our professionally maintained slopes, as well as the Bassesruche valley's location, are ideal for skiing the entire winter season. The 2 chairlifts and 3 slopes operate from wednesday to sunday, as well as daily during school holidays in both the Vaud and Geneva cantons.
Start your fondue night by going for a snowshoe walk. We offer several routes, from 45 minutes onwards of walking. Flat rates for small and large groups include snowshoe rentals, a guide and mulled wine.
you're cold?
Join-us inside the mountain chalet, wich has been tastefully renovated recently. We heat the entire restaurant with the large central fireplace.


text: Talked to my Dad on the phone yesterday – they have snow near Moscow already. We have rain, that's good too, but snow would be so much better. Even a smell of snow would be wonderful. Since I can't have that, I thought I would finish a snowy miniature that was lying around for way too long.


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Best Wine Tours in Osijek
Local Recommendations from our My Guide Croatia team
Croatia's wine culture is one which dates back to historical Ancient Roman times when wine was only a luxury to present day where enjoying a glass of wine has become a tradition.
With over 300 wine regions, in a country whose total land area is smaller than most major cities, Croatia certainly can pride itself on glorious domestic wines made from the best sorts of grapes. Wine making is a common pastime for many locals and a glass of wine is the drink of choice with all Croatian dishes.


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The Changing U.S. Retail Landscape
Terms such as the 'retail apocalypse' have become synonymous with the market over the past few years, but this might just suggest a changing landscape.
Dec. 9, 2019
Due to the rise of e-commerce players like Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY), Shopify (NYSE: SHOP) etc. the retail industry continues to undergo constant disruption. Amid this disruption, one thing remains consistent: Consumers are becoming more powerful, with the expectation of "having it all". Today's digital consumer is increasingly connected, has more information, and expects businesses to react to all their needs and wants instantly. This is why a myriad of newer, smaller, and tech-enabled players are stealing market share. This is leading us to a marketplace in which more brands have exposure.
The outlook for traditional retail is bleak, which is reflected in their stock prices. A basket of old school retail stocks trails a group of online retail ones and the S&P 500 index (SPX).
The recent numbers of the U.S. overall retail sales were a relief for investors which were up 0.3% in October, marking an improvement from September's 0.3% contraction. The slowing U.S. economy and consumer spending also play a big role in the retail sector's slowdown. The recent third-quarter earnings release of all the U.S. retailers boosted investor confidence. Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Target (NYSE: TGT) were among the winners, raising their full-year outlooks. Losers include Macy's (NYSE: M) which issued its third profit warning for the year and department store chain Kohl's (NYSE: KSS), which blamed an "increasingly competitive environment" as the reason behind disappointing third-quarter sales.
The U.S. department stores have a different plan to counter competition from Amazon. Kohl's now lets customers bring back items they bought from Amazon. The store will then pack it and send it back to Amazon, free of charge. JCPenney (NYSE: JCP) opened a store that features a spa, a barber & a fitness class as well as in-store Sephora & Disney (NYSE: DIS) outlets.
About 11% of the total U.S. retail sales are done online because there are many categories in which e-commerce isn't competing yet. Offline gas retail stores, automobiles & grocery stores remain safe from e-commerce. These three combined make up 52% of the whole retail sector. Others like fashion and electronics face a severe challenge. U.S. retailers have announced 9,270 store closures so far in 2019, including Gap (NYSE: GPS), Gymboree and Payless Shoesource, which is more than double the openings and an aggressive follow up on 5,840 closures last year. Another threat to brick-and-mortars is that online shoppers are becoming more comfortable buying higher-value products like computers and mobile phones online. The average order value on Black Friday (2019) rose 6% from last year, Adobe said.
It is important to note the numbers in the peak season (Nov 2019 – Jan 2020) for retailers. Deloitte estimated U.S retail sales to total $1.1 trillion in this period, a 5% rise from last year. It is certain to say that e-commerce won the Black Friday month as U.S. consumers spent $57.2 billion online in November alone, according to Adobe research.
An interesting study by IHS Markit (NYSE: INFO) shows how traditional retailers are preparing for the holiday season as online sales are expected to expand 18.4% from last year.
Bigger players like Walmart and Target have successfully been able to face down pressure from e-commerce. Target has streamlined its way of selling goods, allowing customers to use physical stores as a depot to pick up their purchase. It has been the best performer (Up 90% year-to-date). Walmart has been heavily investing in e-commerce as it bought the Indian e-commerce giant (Flipkart) for $16 billion in 2018. Walmart is comfortably the largest with $510 billion in sales, more than double Amazon's. While it is able to maintain stable revenue growth, the operating margins are contracting as it still loses money in e-commerce.
It'll be interesting to see how the Christmas and new year sales turnout for the retail sector. Whether department stores & small retailers will be able to stand up against the likes of Amazon and other e-commerce players. Otherwise, we'll experience even more store closures in 2020.
MyWallSt operates a full disclosure policy. MyWallSt staff currently hold long positions in companies mentioned above. Read our full disclosure policy here.


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I am looking at
whois record for a domain to know who is the registrar of the domain. But the
whois record has following line for registrar.
Sponsoring Registrar:Network Solutions, LLC (R63-LROR)
So what is sponsoring registrar and why it is used? I googled the term and found that it is something related to reseller domain but could not understand the concept.


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Meditation has its own peculiar challenges, not least of which are the obstacles you encounter going into meditating. Some meditation challenges are tougher to overcome than minor distractions, like the noise outside or thoughts inside your head. They are physical, emotional and mental factors that impede your progress in this spiritual discipline.
If you want to start a regular meditation practice, or are already into it but you feel like quitting, it helps to familiarize yourself with these challenges and obstacles. Knowing what they are is arming yourself with the weapons to overcome them, and reaping the good things that come with daily meditation routine.
5 Meditation challenges and how to overcome them
1. Attachment to the trappings of wealth and fame
An obsessive attachment to possessions, events, and relationships makes you lose the focus that meditation requires. A materialistic mindset is constantly seeking the temporary happiness that the flesh desires, such as fame, wealth, good food, luxury things, and carnal pleasures. It's one of the meditation challenges that presents difficulty because meditation calls for concentration, clearing the mind of thoughts and surrendering to silence and stillness.
To overcome thoughts and feelings of worldly attachment, you must first accept that it exists, recognize its transitory nature and experience it fully, then banish it from your mind. Conquering your attachment even if only for the time you are in meditation will allow you to go into contemplation, bring you calm and serenity.
2. Negative emotions
Anger, hatred, envy and resentment – all these lead to bitterness. These destructive feelings are directed at people who have hurt you and caused you pain, and you have a burning desire to hurt them back. It's ironic that in wanting to hurt others, you are hurting yourself more because being angry and envious makes you unhappy, frustrated and bitter. When you meditate in this state of mind, your focus wanders to thoughts of revenge and retaliation, and you have difficulty reining in your brain processes to go back to stillness and silence.
Conquer your hostile feelings by being compassionate and empathetic. Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahmavamso says loving kindness is a way to overcome this obstacle. Loving kindness helps you see the good in the person who has hurt you, helps you understand the story behind their ill will, and enables you to set aside your own resentment and anger, stripping them of the power to hurt you more.
Related Reading: How To Deal With The Quarter Life Crisis
3. Lethargy and sloth
Lethargy as a meditation challenge is both physical and mental, characterized by the body and mind's unusual lack of energy to do the practice. It can be caused by the feeling that meditating is not doing anything good to you, or by other problems that on its face seem insurmountable. You feel dispirited and lose your enthusiasm to meditate.
You can beat lethargy by looking at meditation from a fresh angle. One is to be patient and not expect instant changes in your life from your meditation practice. The calm and inner peace you seek comes to you in a quiet and subtle manner, so that you may not even notice you already have it. Develop the passion and motivation to meditate and acknowledge the well-being it brings to you.
4. Restlessness of the mind
The mind becomes restless when you give in to the clamor for attention from earthly concerns. The demands from work and the daily activities of living compete to be noticed by you. It's a struggle to meditate when your mind keeps wandering and worrying. You lose your focus when your thoughts stray, and it takes effort to bring you back to the present. A restless and preoccupied mind brings about stress and anxiety.
When you catch yourself reminiscing or making plans, simply stop and listen to your breathing. Appreciate and be grateful for the simple joys. Contentment helps you get rid of your fault-finding tendencies, which contributes to an agitated state. Meditation quiets the restless mind. These attributes will let you see things more clearly and help control your worries and restlessness.
5. Doubt, skepticism, lack of trust
You're unsure about your ability to successfully meditate. You are stuck in analyzing the methods of meditating. You're skeptical of its benefits, or you're too jaded to believe that meditation can bring you into a tranquil state. All these questions and uncertainties are meditation challenges that hinder you from maintaining the practice of meditation.
Instead of trying to achieve perfection in the meditation techniques or anticipating the benefits that the discipline gives, put your trust in simplicity, silence and stillness. Meditation doesn't need goals. It only needs your awareness of the present, and the benefits will follow without fail.


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This exceptional face restoring cream provides a complete anti-ageing treatment. Your skin will be left feeling refreshed, smoother, and firmer after just one application.
MAGNALOE™ 10000 C totally reactivates the skin's vital functions and has increased the active ingredients found in natural aloe vera:
Germanium 132™: Catalyses oxygen molecules and neutralises free radicals, both of which slow down cell ageing.
Magnesium and calcium help to maintain the redox potential of cell membranes and to send impulses between nerve endings, thus regulating cell metabolism.
Vegetable Collagen is used in MAGNALOE™ 10000 C to reduce signs of ageing, enhance moisturising and diminish skin flaccidity.
The inclusion of all these elements reduces the signs of ageing skin. After one week, 96% of users reported that skin was firmer, 82% better moisturised and 98% more elastic. .
Mode of application:Apply mornings and evenings to a well cleansed face and neck.
Wrinkles visibly reduced, your skin looks "intensively regenerated".