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VLoad®: new software to design the capping beam of steel sheet piles submitted to significant vertical and/or horizontal loads
Steel sheet piles have been used predominantly as retaining walls for more than 100 years. In many countries, sheet piles can also resist significant vertical loads from a superstructure, transferring the loads to the soil through point resistance or friction (interaction soil/structure), like any other bearing pile. In certain cases, like bridge abutments, horizontal loads may also be transferred to steel sheet piles.
Bridge abutments, retaining walls of underground car parks and basements are typical applications where high vertical and / or horizontal loads are transmitted to the sheet piles through a capping beam. Currently, the design of the capping beam takes into account the resistance against punching of the concrete (shear failure), and requires some local steel reinforcement. The design is based on national standards and regulations, and may vary by country. Experience has proven that quite often the design of the capping beam was too conservative.
Our R&D department in Luxembourg launched a project to tackle this issue years ago. The aim was to obtain a 'Technical Approval' for the design of capping beams submitted to significant static loads. This approval was sought in Germany, and in cooperation with a renowned German consultant, an innovative theoretical concept with quite simple formulas was submitted to the 'Deutsches Institut für Bautechnik' (DIBt) in Berlin. Several laboratory testing campaigns were performed in order to corroborate the formulas. Finally, the 'Zulassung Z-15.6-235'1) was granted to ArcelorMittal in December 2011.
In the meantime, EN 1992, the new European design standard for concrete structures, was officially released in Germany. Consequently, the approval was re-submitted for revision and the current Zulassung was granted in August 2012. Although EN 1992 is a European standard, the National Application Documents may impose different values for some parameters, like the partial safety factors2).
The next logical step was to simplify the use of the new theory which contains a bunch of formulas. The software 'VLoad' was developed to actually allow engineers to design cost-effective concrete capping beams in a fast way, including the steel reinforcement, and based on the German 'Zulassung'.
The software is free of charge and can be downloaded from our website: http://sheetpiling.arcelormittal.com/page/index/name/software . The range of sheet piles covered by the approval is being revised by the DIbT. The interface is quite user-friendly and the user will quickly get acquainted with the software. Nevertheless, if you have any comments or suggestions to improve the software, feel free to contact our technical department firstname.lastname@example.com .
1)Allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung für Schneidenlagerung zur Einleitung von Vertikal- und Horizontalkräften in Stahlspundbohlen System ArcelorMittal nach DIN 1045-1:2008-08 bzw. DIN EN 1992-1-1 und DIN EN 1992-1-1/NA. DIBt. 2012
2)From a practical point of view, the design based on the German Technical Approval could be applied in any country that uses similar design codes, but it is the responsibility of the design engineer to verify any technical and legal implications.
Released on February 17, 2014


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Nigerian Dwarf Goat
The all-purpose goat…
Nigerian Dwarf
One of the first animals my wife and I wanted after we got our small farm was a dairy goat. Although there are many breeds, we decided in favor of the Nigerian Dwarf.
The milk from these goats is sweet and high in butterfat. And because they are mostly grass fed, the milk is extremely healthy. We drink unpasteurized raw milk every day and make yogurt, kefir (similar to buttermilk) and cheese with the extra. I've never had anyone who tasted our milk not like it.
Females are called does; males are called bucks and the offspring are called kids. Neutered males make great pets and are called wethers. Some of you may have seen a couple of our kids on the home page of DD.com. Their colorful markings come in so many different patterns and some goats even have blue eyes.
Each doe can have up to 4 kids about once a year. We had two does deliver in October, one had 4 and the other had three. All have been sold to wonderful homes with small children to love and play with them. Some will become herd bucks, some will be the milk providers for the family and the wethers will be some of the friendliest pets you can have. All of them will be grazing on weeds and grasses eating some of the most noxious plants, including poison ivy. That's why I call them the all-purpose goat.
My wife and I have given free seminars on raising dairy goats at several different locations. These events have been well attended and the class notes were appreciated by all. I thought I would attach a copy of our notes for those of you who may be interested in knowing more about these versatile animals.
by Tony Manasseri
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subset: commoncrawl


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The systematic abuse of the free exercise clause strikes again. In this latest episode, according to bloggers at Hot Air and the American Conservative, "[t]he Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that a priest must testify in a case about what he heard in a confessional," and "Fr. Bayhi will have to go to jail to protect the seal of the confessional."
These pundits can, to some extent, be forgiven for these misleading statements since the Catholic Church's Baton Rouge Diocese has made some fairly alarming claims including, among other things, that the Supreme Court's decision "attacks the seal of Confession" and that to compel a priest to testify would be a violation of both the Free Exercise and Establishment Clause, subjecting the priest to excommunication.
If, in fact, a court did compel a priest to break the seal of Confession that would be a radical act. Good thing the court didn't actually do any such thing. It only takes a brief review of the facts to reveal a far more, dare I say, judicious ruling.
According to Baton Rouge newspaper The Advocate (not to be confused with the LGBT publication of the same name), "The case involves a young girl who claims she was sexually abused by a now-deceased church parishioner but that her confession to a local priest fell on deaf ears." (Even this brief summary is somewhat misleading, since the status of the girl's conversation with the priest as "confession" is a central question.)
A lawsuit filed against the priest and the church several years ago was dismissed by the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the priest was not required to report the abuse since his conversations with the girl all occurred during the sacrament of Confession. The state Supreme Court reversed that decision in May ruling that what did and did not take place during confession was a matter of fact that ought to be argued at trial.
So, despite the misrepresentations of the Church, newspapers and right wing bloggers, the court did not rule that the priest had to testify as to what he was told during confession.
It's also worth noting that, with regard to the girl's own testimony, the seal of Confession wouldn't be broken as it doesn't apply to the penitent, only to the priest. Yet, not only is the Diocese seeking to keep the priest from testifying at all, it filed a motion to bar anyone from mentioning what took place during confession.
So no, no one is actually attempting to compel the priest's testimony—the attorney for the plaintiff confirmed that fact—and nobody is challenging the seal of Confession. The only question here is: can a religious body—one that, in this case, is a defendant in a lawsuit—make its own determination concerning the facts?
Of course there is a thorny issue here given the difficulty of determining both the contours of a religious ritual and the facts regarding a series of encounters that took place several years ago, but the diocese and its apologists have opted to go the chicken little route, joining those who see attacks on religious liberty at every turn.


text: .Mental breakdown can strike anyone. Illnesses of the mind aren't restricted to a certain segment of society: anyone with a brain has that potential. The chances of it happening are significantly increased when traumatic situations are faced. Unemployment. Relationship breakdowns. Bereavement. Especially in the face of extreme violence, such as combat.


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ELEMENTS at DI Factory in Poland
When DI Factory opened its doors in 2012 in the capital of Warsaw, the rise of a new star for state-of-the-art post-production on Poland's sky had begun.
The postproduction house in Poland for high-end VFX and finishing of feature films and premium TV series has been in part of impressive and challenging projects such as Loving Vincent, Cold War (Winner Cannes 2018) and the first original Polish Netflix series 1992.
Since early 2017 the creative heads at DI Factory trust ELEMENTS to support the entire range of creative services.
Find out more about this collaboration!


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KUALA LUMPUR, 24 Nov 2008: Real estate allocated for bumiputera can be sold to the other communities in the open market through a special mechanism approved by the government.
Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Ong Ka Chuan said the bumiputera quota could be lifted if there was no demand from bumiputera for the properties within a certain period.
"In such a situation, the ministry will discuss with the state governments concerned for the mechanism to be put into place and the bumiputera quota lifted as soon as possible."
Ong was replying to Dr Puad Zarkashi (BN-Batu Pahat) who asked whether the government would consider the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association's (Rehda) request for the bumiputera quota for real estate ownership be opened to the other races and the price discount for bumiputera be abolished.
He said although the mechanism would take time to be effective, it existed to lessen the burden of developers with unsold real estate allocated for bumiputera.
On the proposal to abolish the price discount for bumiputera, Ong said the ministry was discussing the matter with the state governments to find the best solution to the issue.
Earlier, to a question from Billy Abit Joo (BN-Hulu Rajang), he admitted that currently the supply of real estate had exceeded the demand.
He said based on the 2008 Real Estate Status report from the National Property Information Centre, there were 24,151 unsold housing units from the second quarter of 2007 to the second quarter of this year.
Ong said the ministry viewed this seriously and was working closely with other ministries and government agencies like the Finance Ministry and state governments to improve the sluggish real estate market.
He said among the incentives or measures taken were reducing the stamp duty by 50% on the sale and purchase agreement for properties valued below RM250,000 and creating a fund for the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme to enable those without proof (statements) of income to obtain a housing loan.
Developers were also encouraged to reduce the property prices and build more low- and medium-cost houses, and civil servants to make use of the housing loan facility and Employees Provident Fund contributors to withdraw part of their contributions to buy property. — Bernama


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- Épice
- Pure Blue
- Approx. 70cm x 190cm
- Eyelash fringe trims
- 100% cashmere
- Dry clean only
- Made in India
- Manufacturer Style No. UNI2
Dec 2019 Designers
Image caption appears here
Style # UNI2
Sold Out $410.00
Co-founded in 1999 by the Danish duo Bess Nielsen & Jan Machenhauer, Épice is a brand dedicated to producing wearable art. Mixing innovation with a deep respect for history, Épice works to uphold two traditions: "the rigorous and purposeful Scandinavian approach intertwined with the sublime and refined Indian stance." With remarkable designs & quality fabrics, the scarves made by Épice are guaranteed to earn a special place in your heart — and closet.


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At Compassion, we've seen God working in amazing ways through the generosity of Canadians since COVID-19 began.
And though we are praising God for the ways Canadians are rising as one to provide support for those most impacted, it's also important for us to recognize that many people living in poverty around the world continue to reel under the earth-shattering effects of COVID-19.
People like the residents of Kibera. For those who don't know much about Kibera, here is a quick snapshot:
- Kibera is known as Africa's biggest urban slum
- Only about 20% of Kibera has electricity
- Until recently Kibera had no water—it had to be collected from the Nairobi dam
- In most of Kibera, there are no toilet facilities
- In Kibera, there are no government clinics or hospitals
- Since July 2020, COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high in Kenya, seeing up to 300 new cases per day
With so many adversities to hurdle even before COVID-19, the people of Kibera have been shaken under the weight of it. We talked with some of our neighbours in Kibera to see how they've been impacted by the pandemic.
Come meet them.
Daniel, Security Guard
When the quarantine restrictions were announced across the country, Daniel was working as a security guard at a home in an upscale area of Nairobi.
"My boss told me that he could no longer keep me on since there had been reported cases of COVID-19 in Kibera, where I live," says Daniel.
Although his job didn't pay much, it provided a sense of security for his family of five. Since he lost his job, Daniel has joined his wife in their small business of selling plastic products and small household wares. But the business is struggling to stay afloat because of inflated stock costs and few customers.
"Many people in the slums, who are our main clients, are day labourers and currently not working. There is no money to spend so nobody is buying," says Daniel.
Nelly, University Student
Nelly is Daniel's daughter. She's enrolled in Compassion's sponsorship program at Kibera Church of God. She's also a first-year university student pursuing criminal psychology. When schools were abruptly closed, students like Nelly found themselves at home with a lot of free time on their hands.
"The biggest challenge has been how to manage all the available time. I feel the need to keep busy to not get caught up in the social ills that many young people find themselves in here in the slums. We have classes on Google classroom twice a week. I have been spending a lot of my time watching YouTube tutorials about singing," says Nelly.
Beatrice, Domestic Worker
Life was already challenging for Beatrice, a single mother of four who works as a domestic worker. But when the pandemic hit, she was thrust into a nightmare.
"My boss demanded that I become a live-in housemaid after seeing news on TV that the cases of COVID-19 in Kenya were on the rise. Since I couldn't because there was nobody to take care of my kids, she let me go," says Beatrice.
Since then, Beatrice has struggled to make ends meet by offering laundry services in the middle-class neighbourhoods around Kibera slums. Depending on how many clothes she can hand wash, she makes between CAD $3 to $7 a day—barely enough to meet her family's needs.
"The money is just enough for food for the day and then we are back to the drawing board," says Beatrice. "My prayer is that God would just end this pandemic, otherwise I do not know how we will survive if this persists."
Faith, Hairstylist
Faith is a hairstylist in Kibera. Her business has been struggling since the pandemic hit.
"People just do not have money and so people are prioritizing feeding their kids over fixing their hair. We used to make house calls and work way past 7 PM, which we can't do anymore because of the restrictions," says Faith.
Faith is mother to seven-year-old twins Brian and Ryan, who are part Compassion's program at Kibera Church of God. Despite the challenges, she continues to run her hair salon in the hope that clients will come.
Her business is all her family can depend upon for their livelihood.
Sarah, Roadside Kiosk Vendor
Sarah had plans to save up her money to open up a proper shop that sells toiletries, soap and detergent to the Kibera slum dwellers. But since the pandemic, those plans have been shelved.
"For now, all we care about is survival. I feel that I am putting myself at risk by sitting here all day selling, but what can I do? If I don't come here, my children will starve," she says.
"I try my best to take precautionary measures like having a mask and not shaking hands with customers, but ultimately, it is a gamble I have to take every day and I do not have a choice in the matter."
Reverend Gerald, Pastor at Kibera Church of God
"The church has been vastly affected. We are a church in the heart of Kibera that ministers to predominantly slum dwellers. But we have taken it as a challenge to practice God's word and to be His hands and feet," says Rev. Gerald.
The church has kept its doors open in order to meet the spiritual and physical needs of its members the best way they can while maintaining the safety of the staff.
"Now more than ever, we need to preach hope. And at church, we have embraced technology as a way to still gather the saints and to keep prayer going, especially now."
Compassion is on Medium! Read our first article to learn more about how Compassion's local church partners in Kibera are working hard to bring hope to these increasingly desperate situations.
For families in Kibera, everything about COVID-19's devastation is magnified. But together, we can rise as one to equip the local church to provide urgent relief for families like Daniel's and Nelly's.
Give Today
Photos and field reporting by Isaac Ogila


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Inspiring a hypnotic and bold collection, Chanel plays with contrast in subtle touches for a ...
November 10, 2015
Inspiring a hypnotic and bold collection, Chanel plays with contrast in subtle touches for a complete look.
This holiday, for the first time ever, the Chanel Makeup Creation Studio has created the Collection Rouge Noir Absolument, a limited-edition deep black-red collection to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mademoiselle Chanel's favorite unconventional shade. Collection Rouge Noir Absolument is inspired by the cult nail polish by Chanel. More than a nail polish, Rouge Noir has claimed its place amongst the house icons, alongside quilting, tweed, beige and pearls.
A uniquely striking Le Vernis shade was revealed on the Chanel Fall 2015 Ready-to-Wear runway show, and a legend was born. This year, a gleaming Chanel Holiday 2015 beauty collection celebrates the rebellious black-red, Vamp — the shade that became an icon.
The Holiday collection features the exclusive Signe Particulier creation which takes up the spirit of the nail polish. The eye shadow palette consists of four eyeshadows which are a spin off on the iconic color.


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Creamy Lemon Basil Potato Salad
We all have had those moments when we're invited to parties or BBQs and asked to bring a side dish. But doesn't everyone get sick of the typical things: macaroni salad, fruit salad, green salad, and how about potato salad? Well here is a perfect recipe to throw a twist on a classic that will impress everyone. Try this lemon basil potato salad paired with a Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. This has hints of herbs and citrus that will match the lemon and basil combination in this.
A big thank you to "Pioneer Woman" Ree Drummond for this recipe.
- 1 bag (24-28 Ounce) Small Potatoes
- 2 whole Lemons, Juiced
- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- Salt And Pepper, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Prepared Pesto
- 1/4 cup Pine Nuts
- Small Basil Leaves
Preparation Instructions
Boil potatoes in lightly salted water until fork tender. Drain, cut in half, then place in a bowl.
Toast pine nuts in a skillet over low heat until just lightly golden. Remove from heat.
Mix together lemon juice, olive oil, mayonnaise, salt & pepper, and pesto until creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as you'd like.
Pour half the dressing over the potatoes and toss to combine. Add more dressing to taste.
Cover and refrigerate the potato salad for a few hours. To serve, sprinkle lots of small basil leaves over the top.


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Future-proofing the Raspbian SSH Server
Enable SSH headlessly
If you want to connect to the Raspberry Pi without a monitor or input devices, the latest version of Raspbian won't be very forthcoming. If you try to connect via SSH, by default you'll only see ssh: connect to host <address> port 22: Connection refused.
This places you into something of a Catch-22 situation. Without connecting via SSH, you can't enable SSH on the Pi. Fortunately the Raspbian Developers have a neat solution. To get started, first write your Raspbian image to the SD card as normal. However, once the image has been written, leave the microSD card in the reader. Open the newly created /boot partition on the microSD card using the file manager of your choice, then create a new, empty file named ssh (Figure 4).
Since the partition has been formatted to FAT32, this will work with file managers on any operating system i.e., Linux, macOS and Microsoft Windows.
If you're using Linux, you can make life a little easier for yourself. Instead of using a file manager, you can write the Raspbian image as usual using dd to the microSD card. Next, create the file ssh using
touch using the path to the /boot partition. The example in Listing 2 is the correct path for Ubuntu-based systems, but feel free to change this as well as the path to the microSD card as necessary. The whoami function will automatically return your username.
Listing 2
Writing Raspbian Image to MicroSD
$ dd bs=4M if=2017-04-10-raspbian-jessie.img of=/dev/sdb; sync $ touch /media/$(whoami)/boot/ssh
In future, setting up a Raspberry Pi without a monitor and keyboard is going to be a little trickier. However, this is more than made up for by the security benefits. Even if Pis behind a WLAN router can only be accessed via explicit port forwarding, a hacked IoT device connected to the local network could easily be programmed to search for and connect automatically to Raspberry Pis, turning them into a fully fledged Linux attack platform. As SSH is now disabled by default, we can all rest a little easier.
- "A security update for Raspbian Pixel": https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/a-security-update-for-raspbian-pixel
- LAN: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_area_network
- NAT: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_address_translation
- Universal Plug and Play: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Plug_and_Play
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Bank of America agreed to pay 9.5bn to settle charges it misled US mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac before the housing crisis in 2008. The bank will pay 6.3bn in cash and buy back 3.2bn in mortgage securities.
The settlement resolves four lawsuits filed in 2011 by US regulatory agency, the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) Those suits were filed against Bank of America as well as Countrywide and Merrill Lynch.
Bank of America bought Countrywide and Merrill Lynch in 2008 and 2009 respectively, during the height of the financial crisis.
The bank said the agreement resolved one of the most significant remaining pieces of housing market-related litigation against the firm.
This settlement... represents an important step in helping restore stability to our broader mortgage market and moving to bring back the role of private firms in providing mortgage credit, said FHFA director Melvin Watt in a statement.
Separately, Bank of America settled a lawsuit brought by New York's attorney general in 2010.
That suit, which was filed against Bank of America as well as the bank's former chief executive Kenneth Lewis, alleged that Bank of America failed to disclose losses at Merrill Lynch prior to the bank's acquisition of the firm.
In hiding these losses, New York's attorney general alleged that Bank of America misled shareholders about the purchase. To settle the suit, Bank of America agreed to pay 15m and adopt certain corporate governance changes.
Additionally, Mr. Lewis agreed to pay 10m, and said he will accept a three-year ban from working at any public company as part of the settlement.
The firm said that it has now resolved around 88% of the total cost of pending litigation relating to the bank's conduct during the housing crisis.
It does not cost them 9.5 Billion as the 3.2 Billion still holds some value.
Who actually gets this money?? The folks who lost their $$ or the greedy govt, so they can spend it on another war.
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Fla. Police Discover Missing Girl's Body
You. Cannot. Rehabilitate. Pedophiles.
This entry was posted on Saturday, March 19th, 2005 at 12:11 pm in General. You can feed this entry.
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No ma'am you sure cain't.
Walk into any psychiatric hospital and 9 out of 10 professionals will tell you the same thing. The 10th is a new graduate and still idealistic.
Perhaps I shouldn't admit this, but when I worked in the psych hospital, we would stretch the stay of a sex-offender as long as possible to avoid putting them back into the community. It's a horrible balance of "patient rights" versus the safety of others.
The things I saw… and heard… unimaginable. It's all so unimaginable.
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Easy to make, Coq au Vin is a French dish with chicken and veggies braised in a flavorful wine sauce.
Don't be fooled by the name, this dish is actually easy and while it takes some time, a lot of it is hands-off while the dish bakes in the oven! It is perfect for those stay-at-home dinners or even special occasions!
What is Coq au Vin?
Coq au Vin is a French dish with bone-in chicken slow-baked (braised) in wine, bacon, mushrooms, and garlic.
Braising means a dish is browned (like the chicken skin in this recipe) and then slowly cook in liquid (the wine sauce).
When I think of this dish of course I go directly to Julia Child's Coq au Vin and I can almost hear her walking me through the recipe. While this recipe somewhat follows the recipe found in Julia's book (which is also very similar to the recipe in Joy of Cooking) I have slightly simplified the method (and ingredients).
Most often, Coq au Vin uses red wine but truly ANY wine will do! Don't forget to pour some for the chef!
Browned thighs and drumsticks with the skin on have so much flavor! Chicken breasts can be used but cook time may need to be adjusted to avoid overcooking.
Mushrooms, onions, and carrots are sauteed until soft.
How to Cook Coq au Vin
Follow these easy steps to tender chicken perfection in a rich wine sauce!
- Crisp Bacon & Brown Chicken – set aside
- Cook Veggies – until slightly soft and then add garlic, wine and remaining ingredients.
- Bake – add chicken back to the pan and cover. Bake until tender, about 1 hour.
Wine for Coq au Vin
The best wines for Coq au Vin are historically reds, but literally, ANY wine will do.
- Deep, dark burgundies are the preferred wines
- Pinot Noirs or Beaujolais are suitable as well.
- Whites are okay too but expect a sweeter, lighter flavor.
Don't be concerned about the cost, inexpensive wine is just as flavorful in a Coq au Vin as a pricier one!
More Elegant Meals
- Braised Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms – a family favorite
- Easy Layered Ratatouille – a one-pot dish
- Easy Shrimp Scampi Recipe – quick to make
- Broiled Lobster Tail – special occasion worthy
- Chicken Cordon Bleu – cheesy & juicy
- Balsamic Pork Loin – marinated until tender
Did you love this Coq au Vin dish? Be sure to leave a rating and a comment below!
Coq au Vin
- 8 slices bacon chopped
- 4 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- 4 chicken drumsticks bone-in, skin-on
- salt & pepper to taste
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms cleaned and sliced
- 1 large yellow onion diced
- 1 ½ cups sliced carrots
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 ½ cups dry red wine
- ½ cup beef stock or broth
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 2 dried bay leaves
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Add bacon to a deep 12-inch skillet or braiser and cook until crisp. Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate. Leave the bacon grease in the pan.
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken, skin side down for the thighs, and cook 5-6 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove chicken from the pan and set on a plate.
- In the same pan add sliced mushrooms, carrot, and onion and cook just until the mushrooms and onions start to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Sprinkle in flour, stir and cook 1 minute more.
- Add red wine a bit at a time stirring after each addition until smooth. Add beef stock, fresh thyme, bay leaves, and half of the bacon. Stir to combine.
- Place chicken on top of the wine mixture.
- Cover and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additonal 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and skin is golden.
- Remove and discard bay leaves. Top with remaining bacon and serve over mashed potatoes or pasta.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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The Path To The Light Goes Through Evil
Question: I want to escape "from Egypt," from my ego. How can I stay in this fear of not falling back into my egoistic desires once again? How can I build an ever stronger screen each time, capable of withstanding the immense pleasure of bestowal so that it does not turn to receiving once again?
Answer: Invest in the Light as much as possible. This means to invest in the connection with others since the Light is revealed in the connection between souls.
Once, we were in a completely different state. We were together in a system of a single soul where all of our souls were completely connected with each other, and the Light of Infinity filled them without any limits. This state was called the "world of Infinity," one desire called "one soul" completely filled by the Light.
Afterward, this desire broke apart and scattered into small fragments like a plate that smashed into bits, and there was no connection at all between them. That is why all of the fulfillment which used to be in this "plate," all of this Light, disappeared. If you glue this "plate" back together, you begin to feel the fulfillment in it.
The whole problem lies in the fact that there is no vessel (Kli) in which you can reveal the fulfillment. The Light is around the "plate," but it cannot be revealed because there is no connection between its pieces, and they cannot hold the Light.
Therefore, all of our work lies in connection. I must be ready to unite with others, and then I will feel the Light which is revealed inside our unity.
How can I reach unity? Just the thought of it immediately strips me of any desire. Suppose it seems to me that I want to unite with others. Then, I begin to realize that my desire is completely not toward this. First of all, I have to reveal how broken apart I currently am, how far from unity with others. I do not want it, and I even hate it.
In this whole process, until the end of correction (Gmar Tikkun), we reveal how opposite we are to unity, how much we hate it, and how we are ready for anything but this. Even if we are already in the spiritual world, over the Machsom (the barrier separating us from spirituality), at each degree there are states (Klipot, shells) when you hate the Creator, unity, and the Light.
That is why the revelation of evil is a necessary and essential state at each stage. When I reveal the evil, it means that I join into it. I cannot see it from the side; I must completely submerge into it. I must feel it inside me, including Pharaoh, and Moshe (Moses), and the fight between them.
That is why our work consists only of attracting the Light that Reforms.
From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/24/10, "Perfection in Life"
Related Material:
The Creator, Pharaoh, And Me Between Them
The Ladder to Infinity
A Guide To The Book Of Zohar: A Lego toy For All Humanity
One Comment
Moses had to ascend to the top of the mountain to receive the Torah, Aaron could not make it that far…Might I ask you where the symbol of a mountain also appears with a man on top of it? 🙂 Moses faced the primordial evil, and thus knew what had to be done.


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Friday, March 27, 2009
My Tiki Girl, by Jennifer McMahon
In Maggie's mind, there is her Before Accident self (where she had friends and a mother that everyone liked) and then there is the After Accident Maggie where she has become "Frankenstein Girl" (hobbling from a leg injury) reeling from the death of her mother. Drowned in self-pity and blaming herself for the loss of her mother, Maggie has shut herself off from her friends. It takes a quirky outcast (Tiki) to bring Mags out of her shell. But the relationship develops into something more, triggering rumors and backlash from their peers. All of this aggravates the problems that Mags has dealing with grief.
Long-ish and slow paced, this story fails to deliver. Aside from an attempt at a cathartic ending, the key problems remain unadressed. Instead, we get a lot of ingredients (angst, dead mom, gender identity, oddball adventures, etc.) but no recipe. The characters are surprisingly thin for such a cerebral story (perhaps because their behavior is so predictable) and the story meanders.
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"Patience is also a form of action. —Auguste Rodin"
Chocolate Morsel of the Day
When using the Champion Juicer to initially grind your cocoa nibs, expect to lose 6 oz. That is how much is retained in the empty spaces of the juicer. To minimize the impact of that waste, try and grind at least 2 lbs of nibs (more is even better) and don't spend extra time super winnowing your nibs. With a little husk present, that 6 oz can be husk instead of liquour.
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© 2023 Chocolate Alchemy.


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One of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year will reach its peak on the nights of August 11-12 and 12-13. This year's Perseids will be exceptionally brilliant because the moon will be only a small crescent and will set early. You can best see the Perseid meteor shower after 12:00 AM local time.
The Perseids are interesting because they frequently feature a brilliant fireball which can actually cast a shadow or a bolide which is a meteor that explodes. The Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the fact that the meteors appear to come from the direction of the constellation Perseus which will be in the northeast for those of us looking up from the United States. However, you will see them streaking in any area of the sky.
The Perseid meteor shower is debris from the Comet Swift-Tuttle which was discovered in 1862 and returned most recently in November of 1992. These meteors are small particles usually no larger than a pea and as small as a grain of sand. They become visible at an altitude of 55 miles (88 k) where they enter the atmosphere with an average velocity of about 133,200 miles (214,365 km) per hour. Perseid meteors usually burn up by the time they reach an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) and never contact the surface of the earth. If they did, they would be called meteorites.
So, if you can, find a place away from city lights after midnight. Lean back in a lounge chair where you can see the expanse of the sky. The best viewing is with your unaided eyes. Binoculars or a telescope will not allow you to view the whole sky. Then just enjoy the beauty of God's creation. We will have more on the Perseid meteor shower in our post tomorrow.
–John N. Clayton and Roland Earnst © 2018


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Opening of Dallara Academy, Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia
Academy, Exhibition Center, Exhibitions, Exhibition halls, Companies, Museums,
- Blog
- Materials
- Opening of Dallara Academy, Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia
There comes a time to give back, as Giampaolo Dallara said during his address at the inauguration of the Dallara Motorsport Academy. The founder of the renowned racing car manufacturer of the same name decided to do this through a landmark building. Architecture that provides a vehicle for the firm's historical narrative and for the future. This is because it will be contributing to the training of young engineers through its collaboration with MUNER, the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna, a partnership of regional universities and historic car manufacturers of the Italian Motor Valley. It will also be providing workshops for middle school and secondary school students.
The architect, Alfonso Femia brought this premise to life after winning a private, invitation-only design competition in 2015 from fifteen Italian design studios and his project won last year's Best Future Building (under construction) at the ABB Leaf Awards, London because of its highly innovative content.
Alfonso Femia says that the idea for his building, which is a symbol of pooled expertise and interaction with the context, shaped somewhere between organic and futuristic, came to him as he looked down on the valley from the top of a nearby hill.
Visitors arriving from the road are greeted by a volume with a convex wall that seems to grow out of the hill, covered with bronzed aluminium rods. A glass incision reveals the ramp where the cars are on display and gently enfolds the landscape of Val Ceno in a continuous play of references between indoors and out. This connection is also emphasised by the public square in front of the building that separates the road from the hill.
Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia has crafted the Dallara Academy as a harmonious ensemble of geometric elements - circles, truncated round cones, rectangular boxes. The laboratories are located in the wedge-shaped main axis, and alongside this is the parallelepiped that accommodates the 350-person auditorium, which sits in an asymmetrical position with respect to the weight of the other volumes in the complex. The upper floor of this is covered in dark-textured biocement. The semi-circular ramp showcases the cars in chronological order and its shape resembles the curve of a race track. It is supported by circular beams, overlooking the auditorium and partly covering the outdoor areas. The three cones have a shimmering, dynamic surface and accommodate the classrooms; the central cone forms the apex of the lobby.
Architecture with feeling is how its designer defines it, architecture defined by the history of Dallara, where the idea of giving back was expressed when the building was presented to the press, in an emotional gesture: Alessandro "Alex" Zanardi, famous car racing driver and para-cyclist, rebuilt his sports career after his accident at Germany's Lausitzring, transitioning to the world of handcycling. At London 2012, he won two golds followed by another two in Rio de Janeiro 2016, racing on handbikes that were designed in collaboration with the Dallara engineers, whose know-how helped him on his way to victory. As a mark of his gratitude and in response to the generosity and sharing spirit of Giampaolo Dallara, Zanardi gifted him with the individual gold medal won at Rio de Janeiro.
A special moment and a perfect way to conclude the opening of a new landmark crafted not only as an architectural gem but also one that looks towards the future of the valley in Emilia and of the generations to come.
Christiane Bürklein
Project: Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia - https://www.atelierfemia.com/
Competition: 2015
Location: Varano de' Melegari (PR), Italy
Images: courtesy of Dallara Academy


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The Public Health Advocacy Institute submitted comments to a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") to make its public housing smoke-free. The proposed rule would affect 1.1 million households, but leave 3.4 million other HUD-funded households unprotected. These include the agency's tenant-based and project-based rental assistance.
PHAI argues that there is are several ways that HUD could expand the proposed protections:
- HUD maintains significant control over the development and operation of many mix financed properties, in part, through the Housing Assistance Payment Contracts. HUD has a legal right to change these contracts during the renewal process. Going smoke-free could simply become part of the eligibility requirements, for example, under the all HAP contract renewals going forward. Just like it currently prohibits marijuana use in all the housing it finances, HUD could require a smoke-free environment, too.
- There is widespread support for smoke-free policies among owners and property management companies of mix-financed, affordable properties. In Massachusetts, some of the leading management companies of mixed financed affordable properties have made many, and in some cases all, of their properties smoke-free. Examples include Beacon Communities, Peabody Properties, and Corcoran Management.
- Surveys show that residents who are eligible for affordable housing prefer a smoke-free building, despite the high smoking rates in affordable housing.
- Smoke-free rules reduce maintenance costs, which would benefit the private owners and funders of affordable housing.
- The health and safety risk to residents exposed to drifting secondhand smoke is the same regardless of whether the resident lives in public housing or another type of affordable housing.
- Requiring smoke-free buildings for the use of tenant-based assistance would cause approximately 700,000 landlords to go smoke-free. This change would benefit all residents living at these properties, not just the voucher holders.
Download our comments here.
PHAI operates the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's Smokefree Housing Program as well as the Public Health and Tobacco Policy Center, which provides services, including smoke-free housing legal and policy technical assistance, to entities funded by the New York State Bureau of Tobacco Control.


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I no longer have a Christmas stocking because my mother and I respect each other too much, but I did have one for many years. The very best presents I ever received in that stocking were warm socks and clementines.
Warm socks are a practical and kind gift. A pair or two from someone else checks something off your list—you no longer have to buy yourself warm socks because they have already been given to you—and offers a kind of physical comfort that points to the deeper comfort your loved ones may hope to provide you in this life. (They are socks, but they are also your mother's love.)
The joy of a good clementine is instantaneous, material. You may wash the socks first or wait a few days to wear them, but you will eat the clementine right away.
The world is a chaotic place, but we can find peace in small moments and ease where we can. Eat the clementine now. Later, wear the socks.


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Transformers beauty Megan Fox is officially the queen of science fiction after fans voted her best sci-fi actress at the Spike TV Scream 2009 festival.
The star-studded event, held on Saturday (17Oct09) at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, pays tribute to the best in sci-fi, horror, fantasy and comic-inspired films and TV shows.
Fox received her prize for her role in summer blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, with the film also scooping an award for its special effects and Isabel Lucas receiving a breakout performance trophy for her role as a seductive, shape-shifting robot.
Vampire movie Twilight scored four awards - best fantasy film, breakout performance for Taylor Lautner and best fantasy actors for stars Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart .
Bloodsuckers proved popular at the ceremony, with hit TV show True Blood landing four trophies for best TV show, best villain, and best horror actor and actress for Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin.
Stars including Tobey Maguire, Jessica Alba, Kate Bosworth, Harrison Ford, Justin Long and Christina Ricci were on hand to present the prizes.
Pirates of the Caribbean actor Johnny Depp presented his on-screen father, Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards with the Rock Immortal award.
On accepting the award, Richards commented, "I liked the living legend, that was all right, but immortal is even better."
Where is Optimus Prime when we need him most? Despite the fact that Earth is...


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By the power of Grayskull, our favorite Masters of the Universe heroes and villains are brought down to Little People toy size! This Little People Collector MOTU set features He-Man, Moss-Man, Skeletor, and Faker ready to wage battle for Eternia. This figure set comes in premium packaging with a fearsome backdrop of Snake Mountain and an 80's VHS tape-box vibe perfect for display.
- Exclusive edition Little People Collector MOTU: Skeletor's Stronghold set featuring two heroes and two villains for an epic face-off between good and evil
- Includes He-Man, Moss-Man, Skeletor, and Faker
- Each figure is just over 2.5 inches tall
- Comes in display-worthy packaging with an '80's VHS tape-box vibe
- Great gift for fans ages 1-101 years
Larger scale action figures sold separately.
2022 Mattel.


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View All Calendars is the default. Choose Select a Calendar to view a specific calendar. Subscribe to calendar notifications by clicking on the Notify Me® button, and you will automatically be alerted about the latest events in our community.
Learn about Orcas in our local oceans and eat some snacks, learn about more library programs, and find out more about how you can take care of our sea creatures.


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And some more ...
I tucked even more cards inside for some secret thoughts 👼
And as the top card had a frame I decided to challenge myself to add a drawing in only 7 mins to match the week.
I am a Freelance Designer, Mixed Media Artist and Illustrator. I have my own range of stencils which I sell in my shop (link below) and have designed craft stamps for Rubber Dance. I am also regularly published in Craft Stamper and a contributing Artist to a book called Learning to Paint made easy. I teach mixed media art and alteration as well as art journaling.
Love how you have used the cards :-) Love everything you have done for this weeks DLP :-) xxxReplyDelete
Do like it Deborah. Pleased that you liked Kate Crane. Colours so different, drawing ace. Pleasing week 8.ReplyDelete
This is a fabulous and original design! Love your own made colorful background!ReplyDelete
Thank you for your comment xDelete
Wonderful! Love your stamps. I'm really wanting to make my own stamps too, I just don't have any foam so trying to work out what I can use.
Emma x
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. Your comments are appreciated.
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.


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The Absurdity of Our Regime Change Policy in Venezuela
The Trump administration's statements about Venezuela are beginning to sound eerily like Western governments' pronouncements about Syria over the last seven years:
The United States has no timeline for a change in government in Venezuela, a U.S. top official said, but is certain embattled President Nicolas Maduro will not remain in power.
Almost three months have passed since the U.S. threw its support behind Guaido as "interim" president. During that tine, the opposition has made no discernible progress in taking over, and the military remains firmly on Maduro's side for now. The administration has no "timeline" for when Maduro will leave power because they and the opposition have no idea how to achieve the regime change they are seeking, but that isn't stopping them from pursuing it anyway. Like the confident Western assertions from 2012 that Assad "must go," the administration is "certain" of an outcome that seems increasingly unlikely to happen.
It is possible that the top military brass will eventually decide that it is better for them to rid themselves of the unpopular ruler and retain power for themselves, just as Algeria's military did with Bouteflika and Sudan's military did with Bashir recently, but there is no guarantee that this would lead to a "restoration of democracy." On the contrary, a transition that depends so heavily on the military is much more likely to produce another dictatorship. Even if Maduro were forced out by his current supporters in the military, it does not follow that Guaido or any other opposition figure would take over later. At that point, does the policy of forcing regime change continue shuffling forward like a zombie, or will the U.S. then accept a military government in Venezuela that is run by someone not named Maduro? How long does the U.S. keep trying to install its preferred government in power before admitting that it won't work?
The absurdity of the administration's current policy is quite remarkable. They insist that Maduro is no longer president, but the president they recognize controls nothing. The success of their ill-conceived regime change "plan" depended almost entirely on mass defections from the military, but they have found no way to spur these defections. Since these haven't occurred, they have no plan except to strangle Venezuela's economy further through sanctions. Perhaps the best part is that the administration claims that Guaido is president of Venezuela, but that his presidency hasn't actually started yet. The administration's special representative, Elliott Abrams, claimed this in a press briefing last month, saying that the 30-day "interim" period of Guaido's "presidency" won't begin until after Maduro leaves office. According to them,
Guaido is the "legitimate" president but has not yet assumed office:
QUESTION: So Juan Guaido is the interim president of an interim that doesn't exist yet?
MR ABRAMS: The 30-day end to his interim presidency starts counting. Because he's not in power, that's the problem [bold mine-DL]. Maduro is still there. So they have decided that they will count that from when he actually is in power and Maduro's gone. I think it's logical.
QUESTION: So then he really isn't interim president, then?
MR ABRAMS: He is interim president, but he's not —
QUESTION: With no power.
MR ABRAMS: — able to exercise the powers of the office because Maduro still is there.
Abrams' comments remind us of the shaky legal basis for everything that Guaido has been doing this year. As Noah Feldman pointed out shortly after this started, the provision in the Venezuelan constitution that Guaido invoked to claim his position as "interim" president was intended to apply in cases of death or incapacity of the incumbent president. It wasn't a loophole for declaring the presidency vacant when it is still very much occupied. Now because it is occupied, the official line is that Guaido's "interim" presidency hasn't really begun. Judging from how the regime change effort has been going so far, it probably never will.


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Table of Contents
On-screen UI in Motion 5 and Final Cut Pro X
Beginning with FxFactory 3.0.3, our software sports new and improved on-screen UI to help in the development of products that target the latest FxPlug hosts.
Update: Final Cut Pro 10.2 has introduced full support for parameters with custom UI. This means that on-screen controls are no longer the only way to change the value of certain parameters. On-screen controls should now be considered just a additional method for effect customization.
|Although on-screen controls are used by FxTemplates products too, the information on this page is only relevant to native plug-ins developed through FxPacks.
Parameters Available as On-screen Controls
FxFactory plug-ins running in Motion 5 or Final Cut Pro X can now sport on-screen controls for the following parameter types:
Point parameters are displayed on-screen by default. Other parameters must be manually designated as on-screen controls by enabling the corresponding property.
When creating Motion Templates that use one or more on-screen controls, keep in mind that the Publish OSC parameter must be enabled in order for the on-screen controls to be accessible in Final Cut Pro X as well:
FxFactory will also display "Buy Now" and/or "Watch Tutorial" buttons when appropriate. These controls are displayed only for commercial and free products that have not been registered. Products under development will not display these on-screen controls.
Special Case #1: Point Controls
FxFactory's on-screen point controls replace the old controls provided by the host. This allows our software to provide new features:
- On-screen point controls are labeled so the user can more easily determine which parameter they are adjusting.
- Coordinates can be restricted to a given range, for example to create horizontal or vertical dividers.
- Coordinates can also be restricted relative to the initial location of the point, in order to create on-screen dials, color wheels, etc.
- The appearance of point controls can be adjusted to fit the particular usage scenario.
- Faster rendering performance.
- Users can hold down the Command key to allow for more precise positioning of points, and display the current offset (in pixels) from the starting location.
- Users can hold down the Shift key to constrain movement along the vertical or horizontal axis.
More information on how to control these features can be found on the point controls page.
Special Case #2: Toggle Buttons
Toggle buttons are available as checkboxes in the parameter inspector, but they can also be elected to appear on-screen. Enable the property named Display on-screen to have a toggle parameter appear as a "push on/push off" style button in the canvas:
You might also designate a single toggle parameter for a special purpose. You can let the parameter control the visibility of all on-screen point controls by enabling the property "…and make it toggle point parameter visibility". This particular behavior can help design attractive UI based on point parameters that control user interface drawn in the Quartz composition1).
Here is an example of the Yanobox Moods plug-in, enhanced to use a horizontal divider and 5 different point controls whose coordinates have been restricted to the color-wheels area:
The screenshot also displays a row of buttons. The "Display Overlays" button toggles both the visibility of the on-screen point controls as well as the drawing of the color wheels in the composition, thus providing a single, easy way to enter and exit "setup mode" for this effect.


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I ride inside.
Don't forget to check out FRIDAYS WITH FRED over at Mina Burrows blog HERE
Books, Gardens & Dogs
By Mary
Mirjam says
That's so cute! We had a long-haired dachshund when I was a kid. I'll never forget him nor his many quirks! 🙂
I feel so much better knowing Schatze is riding shotgun when you are out on the road!
holdenj says
What does she bark at the most? Our dog seems to think bikes are a good target, they must confuse her somehow!
ShadyLane says
Doggy!!!!! so……..cute lol
Donna Yates says
She is just way too sweet! What a honey.


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Infrastructure Investor's 10th global annual awards are the industry's premier reader-voted awards. After a record fundraising year for the asset class in 2018, we celebrate the best of the industry across 41 categories. I Squared Capital, Global Infrastructure Partners and Antin Infrastructure Partners are some of the standout winners of this edition.
II Awards 2018: I Squared sweeps the board
The fund manager triumphed across a range of regions and sectors, not to mention our global fundraising and fund manager categories. Antin and GIP are two of the other stand-outs of our 10th global awards.
Latest news
Visit our special reports section, where you'll find an extensive library of Infrastructure Investor reports on the key issues affecting the industry.


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2012 Balverne Estate Red
In Stock
Cabernet predominates in this particular Claret, but the Merlot is the silent partner that accentuates the cassis and currant fruit of the Cab and combines with its bigger tannins to silken the mouth feel. A small amount of Malbec adds soft black fruit like blueberry and plum. Both Merlot and Malbec bring midpalate richness and, with carefully chosen French oak, promote a long and complex finish.
Wine Specs
Vintage 2012
Appellation Chalk Hill


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You are here: Main page > News > Associate Cooperations
Associate Cooperations
We welcome Auditors/ Consultants of all the standards all over India to become QSCert India members. QSCert is always interested in business relationship with Auditor/ Consultants in various industries/sectors across india.
Franchise Opportunities:
We also welcome Persons or companies who are interested and able to invest to start franchise of our company as Zonal office at Mumbai, Chandigarh or Delhi and Indore.
If you are interested in business relation to establish QSCert Marketing office or you have better proposal please contact us at; firstname.lastname@example.com


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How to Pipe Shells- Cake Decorating Basics
This is a very easy to follow, step by step video on
"How to Make Shells". This is one of the most basic
ways to decorate a border on a cake. The video explains in detail, how to make them and the most common mistakes made when these beauties are piped.
The video is also available in Spanish.
Please reload
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English teacher Aleeta Johnson first saw an advertisement for essay-grading software while attending a Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando six years ago. Her initial reaction was skepticism, bordering on disbelief.
"I thought, oh, that's too good to be true," says Johnson, who works at Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. "How could a computer grade an essay?"
But since then, Johnson has become a true believer in the power of essay-grading technology—especially Educational Testing Service's Criterion Online Writing Evaluation, which is used in her district. Now the 22-year-teaching veteran can't imagine life without Criterion because it has freed up her time to assign an "astronomically" higher number of writing assignments than she did before she used the technology.
Many other teachers have also seen the wisdom of writing-evaluating software, fueling the proliferation of titles such as Writing Roadmap 2.0, a product of CTB/McGraw-Hill; IntelliMetric by Vantage Learning; WriteToLearn by Pearson Knowledge Technologies; and SAGrader by Idea Works Inc.Each program works a little differently. Some, such as Criterion, assess the quality of sentence organization, grammar, usage, and style, but do not evaluate content. Others use artificial intelligence to evaluate the quality of an essay on a particular topic.
Shortly before Johnson attended that Florida technology conference, I wrote a story about essay-grading software. At the time, I was also very skeptical that it would somehow revolutionize the teaching of writing. It seemed more hype than reality, and there was debate raging among researchers about the accuracy and effectiveness of the essay-grading engines. Plus, as a writer and editor, the thought that a machine could replace the craft of evaluating a piece of writing made me cringe a bit. Writing, to me, has always been a quintessentially human experience.
But I do not have to teach writing to more than 150 students in the course of a school year, as Johnson does. And that's why her experience, not my perspective, carries more weight. In 2002-03, when Criterion was used to grade essays at all 12 of her district's high schools, writing scores on a subsequent standardized test of 11th graders' persuasive writing rose 8 points. At one high school where a writing-across-the-curriculum program was put in place in tandem with Criterion, 11th graders' scores jumped 19 points that year.
Even so, Criterion and other essay-grading technologies have their limitations. They can't judge the creativity of a writing style or the inventiveness of metaphors and symbolism. And I remain skeptical that artificial intelligence can effectively differentiate between a good essay and a truly excellent one.
Johnson acknowledges that Criterion is not a good tool for very sophisticated writers. It wouldn't appreciate the skill and creativity of a budding Shakespeare, for example.
But the reality, Johnson says, is that budding Shakespeares make up less than 1 percent of her students. The other 99 percent, she says, are best served by the modern duo of teacher and machine.


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Democrats are haters too
In the February Bollard, Samuel James penned a very articulate illustration of Trump Derangement Syndrome ("The 'C' Word"). He implies that Republicans are a modern version of the KKK. He forgets that the KKK evolved as the militant arm of the Democratic Party throughout the segregation years, as well as thereafter. So what he's really saying is that the Republicans are acting like Democrats. But, in any case, he offers no proof for his insinuations.
He goes on to accuse President Trump of racism when the president referred to "shithole countries," implying that Trump was referring to the color of the indigenous people rather than to their disastrous governments. That he was doing the latter was obvious to anyone without a far-left bias.
Next, James refers to "the political party representing the people who want me dead for the color of my skin." This is pure paranoia. He forgets that Republicans promulgated all the civil rights laws, from the Emancipation Proclamation to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Historically, it was the Democrats who wanted the black people dead. Conservatives then and today don't particularly care what color a person is.
Then James suggests that President Trump wants "the wall" because he doesn't like Mexicans. He assumes that Trump is therefore racist. He ignores the fact that there are now about 22 million undocumented (a.k.a. illegal) people in the U.S., mostly Hispanic. So many of these people are living on state and/or federal aid that the cost thereof will exceed the $5.7 billion Trump wants to build the wall. To any objective observer, it is obvious that President Trump is motivated not by racism but by economic concerns.
Finally, James blames Republicans for creating an atmosphere of pure hatred. Again, no proof, no examples. On the other hand, led by Maxine Waters, Democrats have been screaming "impeach" since before the inauguration. Consider the torture Democrats inflicted on Judge Kavanaugh and his family — guilty until proven innocent, but ignore the proof. Consider what the Democrats did to the Covington Catholic High School students because they were wearing red hats. Each case manifested pure hatred. Elsewhere, daily, baseless accusations of racism and immorality are hardly friendly and are indicative of hatred not generated by conservatives. James ignores all of this.
It was not without good reason that someone invented the term "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Bill Heaphy


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commits not working with SVNParentPath
From: Eugene Eric Kim <eekim_at_blueoxen.org>
Date: 2004-02-19 10:35:43 CET
I recently installed Subversion 0.37 on Apache 2.0.48, and am having
When I configure Subversion using SVNPath to specify the absolute path
svn: Commit failed (details follow):
The error_log reports:
[Thu Feb 19 01:15:37 2004] [error] [client 184.108.40.206] (20014)Error string not specified yet: Can't open file '/data/svn/repos/error/format': No such file or directory
Also, when I try a "make check BASE_URL=..." to run the tests, all of
What I find very strange about the error message is the first line;
Configuration is as follows:
* Parent path is /data/svn/repos. I tried both leaving this directory
* Apache config is:
ErrorLog /data/svn/logs/error_log
I actually have some auth stuff there, but I removed it for the sake
Suggestions? Thanks.
-- Was I helpful? Let others know. http://svcs.affero.net/rm.php?r=eekim&p=EnablingOnlineCommunities --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com For additional commands, e-mail: email@example.com on Thu Feb 19 10:36:14 2004
This is an archived mail posted to the Subversion Users mailing list.
This site is subject to the Apache Privacy Policy and the Apache Public Forum Archive Policy.


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Peter Parker clone Kaine has been in Houston for only a couple weeks, what sort of mess has he made for himself in that time, find out after the jump. . .
Writer: Chris Yost
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Inker: Babinski & Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Marte Gracia w/ Andres Mossa
Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Stegman, Babinski, & Gracia
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
Previously in Scarlet Spider: Kaine arrived in Houston on his way to Mexico to stop a drug dealer and get his cash. In the process he saved an illegal immigrant, Aracely, from a fire wielding villain, Salamander, who was going to sell her. He also managed to save Dr. Donald Meland, after the doctor saved Aracely, and then found out that Aracely would be deported right back to the hands of Salamander without Kaine's aid. Now, convinced by the doctor and the senior officer, Officer Layton, to help, Kaine has taken Aracely into hiding and is now protecting her and the city as a costumed hero.
The tag for this book is a riff on Peter's usual mantra of "Great Power and Great Responsibility" stating that Kaine's only utilizing the first half…well that's not entirely true as Kaine has reluctantly started to take responsibility for his own actions, as well as the safe-being of Aracely and just being a general hero-type in the city.
The book opens with Kaine rescuing a woman from a mugging and scaring the mugger out of the city. Kaine's brutal methodology is followed up with his assurance to himself with that's how Spider-Man would have handled it followed by instant karma in a crash landing due to lack of sky-scrapers. This was a reassuring moment for me as it both leveled the mood out from the grim-dark to some humor while allowing setting establishment that I was concerned would be overlooked.
Next we bring one more person into the supporting cast, the apparently necessary red-head for Spider books. Again, Yost manages to give us a good mix of the reality of the situation with Kaine needing someone to watch over and translate Aracely as she only speaks Spanish. The red-head is Annabelle Adams, bar tender at the hotel Kaine is living at and after much disbelief she is willing to help out. The entire affair turns out quite funny as Aracely has finally awoken again and attacks Annabelle thinking Salamander has returned. Once Dr. Meland arrives things calm down then he and Kaine head to the hospital to steal some supplies for Aracely.
At the hospital, we get a good bit of character development and interaction between Kaine and the doctor. The best part of this is the reveal that Dr. Meland and Officer Layton are husbands and Kaine's reaction to it. Kaine mostly stopped mid-thought and did a double take of surprise, which is exactly the reaction one would expect for that reveal in that region of the country. The reveal is cut a bit short as Kaine has to save the doctor from a sniper, an assassin hired by the husband and father of car accident patients Dr. Meland failed to save. Here we get a great action sequence with Kaine effectively using the stealth mode on his suit as well as being quite a bit more brutal than Peter ever is. During the fight though, the assassin manages to hit Kaine in the face with a gas forcing him to remove his mask. The assassin is part of the guild that Kaine was a member of back when and recognizes him before getting away setting up where the story goes next. While this was the weakest part of the book, having Kaine get tagged like that, it still sets up how far Kaine has to go for redemption as his first thought after revealing himself is to kill the assassin so he can't report it.
Stegman does a great job of showing how brutal and intense Kaine's fighting style is compared to Peter. He makes Kaine look tense in almost every situation and it works rather well for the character. The digitizing look for Kaine going into and out of stealth mode was a bit weird, but the overall effect worked well. The people are very individualized and recognizable and the background details work really well, especially the early dawn skyline in the first few pages. The book looks great throughout and my only complaint is the costume design itself, I liked Peter's/the earlier look better.
Yost has been doing a great job with this title. The story is entertaining, the people are interesting and believable, and I can't wait to see more. Heck, he even set up the doctor/officer relationship two issues ago without me noticing. Great artwork and a fun, enjoyable story earn this title 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only point that makes me wonder is how easily Kaine is willing to take off his mask in front of people, though that might be another great piece to the character in the future.


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The Melbourne Cup – 1930-1980 – believed to be Pharlap's Cup
As usual I haven't a clue as to who will win the Melbourne Cup, and I haven't had much time to study the form, but here are my thoughts on the so called race that stops a nation.
First, a bit of pictorial history.
I recently attended the National Gallery of Victoria's Winter exhibition "Masterpieces from The Hermitage:The Legacy of Catherine the Great" and whilst there took time out to view the concurrent exhibition "The Horse", which naturally appealed to me.
As you were permitted to take photos, I took a few that were related to Australian horse racing, the Melbourne Cup in particular.
The Betting Ring at Flemington 1887 by Carl Khaler
Winners of the first 12 Melbourne Cups 1889 by Frederick Woodhouse Snr
Handwritten note attached to the above painting
I was vastly amused by the following photograph by E G Adamson of a race crowd from the 1920s to 1930s, in sharp contrast to the current spring attendees with their outrageous costumes and champagne habits.
So, this year's Cup…
Now that Bart Cummings has passed away, I have been trying to devise a new strategy to find the winner of the Melbourne Cup, not that Bart had any viable runners in the last year or so.
I'm sticking with the Zabeel factor and the only one of his sons in the race is the Chris Waller trained Preferment. He has won two races this spring, the Group 2 Hill Stakes and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. He also won the 2014 Victoria Derby and if he wins the Melbourne Cup, will become one of the few who have won the Derby/Cup double. Efficient was the last horse to do so in 2007, and was also sired by Zabeel.
As usual the bulk of the field is made of International challengers, from the UK, Japan, France and Ireland.
You can't overlook the Japanese and current favourite is the Japanese bred Fame Game who finished 6th in the Caulfield Cup.
This spring, as far as the big three races is concerned, locally bred horses won both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, whereas last year the winners came respectively from Japan and Ireland. That leads me to hope that an Australasian bred horse can win the 2015 Melbourne Cup and make it 3/3.
As well as Preferment, there are four other local contestants - the classy Criterion if he can run the distance, Who Shot Thebarman who ran third in the 2014 Melbourne Cup and long shots Prince of Penzance and Gust of Wind, the sole mare in the race.
I'm really disappointed that Mongolian Khan is not part of the field. He was scratched early last week after a colic attack. I trust he will make a full recovery and that we'll see him again next year.
The best of the Internationals, barring the Japanese, is Trip To Paris who ran second in the Caulfield Cup.
And finally, because I like his name, I'm going to have a small bet on Max Dynamite, who certainly can run 3200 metres.
Even though my Flemington Season ticket admits me to the Melbourne Cup, I am not planning on attending the event. I had enough of crowds on Derby Day, and it will be much worse on Cup Day as I experienced first hand last year.
I'm going to a Fleetwood Mac concert on Wednesday night, and will probably attend Crown Oaks Day and Emirate Stakes Day. So it's big week for events, then it will all die down to not much at all.
Good Luck with picking the winner of the Melbourne Cup. Take my vague tips with a grain of salt.


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What the Olympics Should Teach Us About Immigration Law Reform And Attitudes
The Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil have now completed their first weekend of inspired and dramatic competition. This year's Olympic games feature 11,000 athletes from 206 nations, including for the first time ever, athletes competing under the Olympic Flag as refugees from countries experiencing tremendous strife. At a time when immigration attitudes and immigration law…


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Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season. It is also a period of time that is filled with unhealthy, sugary treats. Consuming too much sugar isn't healthy, especially for your child's body, and can wreak havoc on health including your smile.
An occasional treat is harmless for the most part but if you are like me once you start it can be a tough habit to break. It is a real problem and it is hidden in foods that we consume on a regular basis. Then when we add in treats and candy, it can trigger the sugar cravings again.
Consuming too many sugary treats this holiday season can lead to and potential dental decay. We don't want to totally discourage splurging on an occasional treat but we wanted you to be mindful of the treats that you are consuming. Some treats don't stick to your teeth unlike hard candy, taffy, caramels, and some of your favorite holiday treats.
But dentists like Karl Jobst from Grand Lake Dental, want you to know how tooth decay starts after you consume sugar. After eating, your saliva initiates a chain reaction in your mouth. When sugar combines with the bacteria in your mouth. Bacteria in your mouth then feed off the sugar. When the bacteria and sugar combine it creates acid in your mouth which slowly destroys tooth enamel.
The great news is you can prevent holiday weight gain and potential tooth decay this holiday season. Are you looking for some healthy or sugar-free treats for Christmas? We found these 6 healthy holiday desserts that are will wow your guests this holiday season. Plus, they are kid-friendly too.
Photo Credit and Recipe belongs to Suburban Simplicity
These easy Christmas kabobs will impress your holiday guests and they are kid-friendly too. Plus, we love that they are super easy to make. Please visit Suburban Simplicity for the full recipe.
Photo Credit and Recipe Belongs to Running in a Skirt
Who can resist peppermint and chocolate? This healthy recipe won't set you back on your diet and the flavors scream Christmas. You can take these healthy energy bites to your holiday parties or you can make them when you are craving something unhealthy. You can even leave off the crushed peppermint if you don't want to add a ton of sugar to this recipe. Please visit Running in a Skirt for the full recipe.
Photo Credit and Recipe Belong to Cotter Crunch
This hot fruit bake would be perfect over a warm bowl of overnight oats or even a healthy dessert topped with sugar-free ice cream. Holiday dishes don't have to be laden with butter and sugar to satisfy your taste buds. The great thing about this recipe, you can substitute fruits so that you can enjoy this recipe year round too. You can feel comfortable that your dentist Karl Jobst, Oak Grove OK, will be pleased with this dessert option. Please visit Cotter Crunch for the full recipe.
Photo Credit and Recipe Belong to Sweet as Honey
These no-bake coconut snowballs are guilt-free and you can even put several together to make Frosty too. They will be the talk of the night if you bring them to a holiday party or serve them to your family. We love that these coconut snowballs are easy to make and the recipe only calls for 4 ingredients. Please visit Sweet As Honey for the full recipe.
Photo Credit and Fruit Christmas Tree Idea Belong to Project Nursery
This fruit Christmas tree is the perfect centerpiece for your next holiday party. You don't have to feel guilty for indulging this is fun and festive dessert. I even have a feeling you might have to make more than one too. We also love that it is kid-friendly too. Please visit Project Nursery for the full tutorial to make this fruit Christmas tree.
Photo Credit and Recipe Belong to North South Blonde
I love the festive no-bake holiday energy balls. You can make these energy bites in 5 minutes unless you are making them to feed a large crowd. We love that they are healthy yet contain a bit of sweetness with the chocolate chips. Don't be surprised if the kids enjoy these festive treats too. Please visit North South Blonde for the full recipe.
The holidays are known for festive treats that are filled with unhealthy and sugar-laden recipes. We wanted to help you keep your waistline and dentist happy with these festive healthy holiday desserts. If you do decide to splurge on a few treats that contain sugar, dentist Karl Jobst recommends brushing your teeth as quickly as possible to help reverse the war going on in your mouth.
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Fresa can be added to an existing WordPress theme or plugin by using Composer to add the package:
composer require jplhomer/fresa
This will add Fresa to your project and install any necessary dependencies.
Adding Fresa to your WordPress project is a breeze. If you are developing a plugin, you can install it directly into the plugin folder using the Composer command above. The last step is to import Composer's generated
autoload.php file:
// your-plugin-root-file.php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
If you are developing a theme, you can run the Composer command inside the theme folder and then do the same thing, only in
// functions.php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';
Typically when you are developing a project, it is not recommended to track your
vendor folder in version control and instead to import dependencies at build time.
However, due to the nature of WordPress, you cannot ensure that dependencies in a nested directory are installed without writing a custom build script.
It may be easier to add the
vendor folder to version control in this case.
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The Value of Place-Based Education
A reflection by Sierra Club BC's Environmental Educator, Kirsten Dallimore
November 2016
"Place-based education is a vibrant approach to education that takes students out in to the communities, to learn, to do and to grow as human beings. Students are given the opportunity to learn subject matter in deep and lasting ways, understand the places they live in and participate in community renewal that makes a different to themselves and others" (Our Curriculum Matters).
If you have ever moved or traveled to another place in the world, you understand what it means to be connected to place. When we leave our home environment that we have become familiar with—our neighborhood, local forest, bodies of water, workplace or school—we depart from a place that we have been deeply rooted and connected to and embark on a journey to learn about a new place.
At first, it can be easy to adapt to the new place we find ourselves in. In fact, this change in place can be quite exciting. However, as we stay longer in that place, we may begin to discover how our sense of place plays a role in the way we interact with our local environment.
When I moved from Ontario, I left a place that was familiar to me and intentionally came to BC to establish a new sense of place. Over the past two years, I have found myself going on many outdoor journeys in hope of becoming more familiar and connected to this place—stepping deep into the coastal rainforest, watching waves crash on west coast beaches, collecting huckleberries and beachcombing during low tides. What I have learned is that the more time I spend in a certain location, the more deeply rooted and connected I feel here in BC.
Many years ago, I took a course in ecological education where I was introduced to the term place-based education. Before this, I didn't quite understand the importance of becoming connected to a place. As my program was taught through the lens of traditional ecological knowledge, I was able to look toward First Nations for guidance. I felt that since generations of First Nations have lived in this place for thousands of years, they should be the ones to teach us the techniques for learning about place and the history of local places. Their understanding of place is rooted in their own knowledge of how their ancestors have lived here over time. Traditional knowledge about the environment is a direct result of their interactions with nature in a specific place.
When I visit communities, I speak with the local people about their relationship to the land and water. Through their sharing of local knowledge, we can learn how they are impacted by the loss of salmon, old-growth trees, and clean water and air. We can also see how they have established a sense of place.
What does this mean for the way we educate our children? Why should place-based education be part of the educational model for how our children can succeed in school?
According to research by Dr. J. Mark Fly at the University of Tennessee, the benefits of place-based education include increased academic performance, reduced behavioural problems, reduced ADD- and ADHD-related symptoms, improved health, greater community involvement, and increased investment and pride in one's home community.
We may need to make some changes in the way we educate our children so that they may become more connected with their local community and environment. For example, taking students for walks in the community, inviting parents and community members to share local history of a place, visiting a local regional park, and engaging in outdoor nature play and exploration are ways place-based education can be integrated into a classroom routine.
If you are interested in integrating place-based education, the model and philosophy of Forest Schools is a great place to start. Forest School programs provide regular and repeated access to a natural space, as well as child–directed, emergent and inquiry-based learning. The defining feature of a Forest School program is that children have an opportunity to build an ongoing relationship to the land, to a dedicated educator, to one another, and to themselves.
My experience teaching and being part of many place-based education programs is that it can be challenging to see the many benefits at first. When I first moved to BC, I didn't realize how much I would change to truly embrace my own place-based learning. However, I now firmly believe that if we provide our children with opportunities for place-based education, we will empower them. First, we will have recognized the many benefits I described above. And ultimately, we will have nurtured stronger advocates for environmental protection.
-Kirsten Dallimore
Forest Schools in Victoria:
For a list of forest schools in the Metro Vancouver area, visit FreshAirLearning.org
Feature image by K. Zolotas.


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I don't normally point out specific products but I like to highlight new technology or products first to the market. RFMD has introduced the industry's first surface mount GaN power doubler module aimed at CATV networks. It uses a combination of GaN HEMT and GaAs pHEMT technologies and provides high output capability from 45-1003 MHz with excellent distortion performance.
- 45 to 1003 MHz GaAs/GaN Power Doubler Module
- 61dBmV Rated Power
- High Current Mode: 450mA at 24VDC
- Low Current Mode: 350mA at 24VDC
- Min. Gain: 22.5dB at 1GHz
- Saves ≈ 50% PCBA Area versus SOT115J (with external baluns) 182 mm² versus 362 mm²
- CATV Optical nodes
- CATV Line amplifiers
RFCM2680 Product Announcement from RFMD on Vimeo.
Microwave Journal will be covering this subject in depth in our April issue next year.


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As I begin my move across the country, I find myself dodging all kinds of Craigslist scams, particularly in the apartments and housing classifieds. Fortunately, I've discovered a little trick that will tip me off to a scam before I lose $1,000 in a fake security deposit.
The Scam: Houses & Apartments Too Good to Be True
Last week, I encountered a Craigslist posting for this unusually beautiful home in "Nashville." At $900 a month, I thought it was too good to be true. I was right. My initial suspicion began when the owner claimed to be away "doing missionary work in Africa."
A Reverse Image Search Saves the Day
What confirmed my suspicion was running a reverse image search in Google. In this type of search you don't begin with a group of keywords, you begin with a picture. My results showed a home located 2,707 miles from Nashville in Snohomish, Washington.
How to Do Reverse Image Searches on Google
By clicking the small camera icon to the right of the search box in Google Images (just go to Google Search and click on Images up top to get there), Google gives you the option to upload the picture from your desktop or paste in a URL.
Doing Reverse Image Searched Directly from Craigslist
If you're using Google Chrome, you can simply right-click on (almost) any image and select "Search Google for this image." Your results will appear in a separate tab or window (depending on your setup). If you're using an older build of Chrome, you may have to grab the extension.
You can get the same thing in your right-click contextual menu in Firefox by installing the official Search by Image add-on.
If you're on Internet Explorer, Opera, or Safari, you will need to visit the Google Image Search page and follow the steps above. Or, you can try out a similar reverse image search engine called TinEye. It doesn't work as well as Google's, but if you're not using Chrome or Firefox and want a shortcut option, it'll do the trick.
This Tip Also Works Well for Other Things...
Once you detect a scam and get back at your scammer, you may continue searching for that beautiful product or home without worry. And this reverse image search also works well for other things, like hunting down (and eradicating) embarrassing photos of you online.
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Today I had the pleasure of representing Rompa at Gully's place. Gully's place provide palliative care for children and their families. Whilst there I met William (3) who has cancer, his big brother Gary (6) and Marion who is a sister on the ward.
We're delighted that we could contribute to fund raising efforts of Gully's Place by donating the tactile pyramid you can see in the photo. William absolutely loved it and got stuck straight into exploring it.
Gully's place have a satellite site called Julia's hospice who also now have an end of life suite and are interested in a sensory room. Plus Dorchester hospital are about to open a Gully's place of their own which will also require an additional sensory room.
Gully's Place have done a magnificent job of raising funds for their sensory room, including having plucky volunteers jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane to raise money for the ward. Well done to everyone who contributed their time and money to this wonderful facility.


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Column: The Tokyo Olympics will go on, but in name only
In 1964, less than two decades removed from World War II, Japan used the Summer Olympics to showcase its astonishing recovery from a horrific defeat.
It was an undeniable triumph for the host nation.
This time, the Tokyo Games will be a multibillion-dollar test of survival in the midst of a lingering pandemic.
Despite the mixed messages coming from top officials, not to mention the steadfast opposition of the vast majority of Japanese citizens, these Olympics will take place this summer.
There's too much money at stake for there to be any other outcome.
But it's clear this will be an Olympics in name only, stripped of the joy and charm and lofty ideals that make it a tradition unlike any other (sorry, Masters), leaving only the stench of well-deserved cynicism.
Forget about tens of thousands of people from every corner of the globe transforming the streets of Tokyo into a potpourri of humanity. Foreign fans are not allowed.
Forget about the athletes hanging around to absorb the culture and cuisine of the hosts once their competitions are over. They're being told to arrive late and get out of town as soon as possible. (Of course, Ryan Lochte probably wishes he had followed that advice in Rio.)
Forget about the stories that would've been shared in the years to come — the frenzied bartering of the pin traders, the embarrassed remembrances of far too much money dropped in the Olympic superstore, the chance encounter that opened your heart to someone who looked and sounded different.
For Katie Ledecky, one of the most enduring memories of her two previous Olympics was having NBA stars from the U.S. men's basketball team turn up in the stands when she was swimming for gold.
In 2016, it was Kevin Durant, Kyle Lowry, Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins and DeAndre Jordan who transformed into awestruck fans as they cheered on Ledecky and Michael Phelps.
Afterward, they all posed for pictures.
"They typically come to at least one of our sessions at the Olympics," Ledecky said ruefully. "I know this year it probably won't be able to happen."
With coronavirus cases surging in Japan, the prospect of canceling an Olympics that already has been pushed back a year was raised again this week by a leading politician.
Toshihiro Nikai, the No. 2 person in the ruling political party, was asked during an interview if cancellation was still an option.
"Of course," he replied, adding that if the Tokyo Games piled on to the misery already wreaked by COVID-19 "there would be no meaning to having the Olympics."
But the swiftness with which Nikai backtracked and a bunch of other powerful officials jumped in to say his comments were off the mark only solidified the reality that these games are going forward — no matter what happens in the next three months.
"There are a variety of concerns but as the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee we are not thinking about canceling the games," said Seiko Hashimoto, who heads up the Tokyo organizing committee.
But Hashimoto acknowledged that Nikai has a right to be concerned, and that sort of thinking is right in line with a Japanese public that has polled as high as 80% against holding the Olympics during the pandemic.
"His comment has reminded us of how tedious it was for us to feel confident or be fully prepared for delivering the games," Hashimoto said.
Though there will surely be socially distanced fans in the stands — Japan has allowed people to attend sporting events since last summer — these Olympics will essentially be a made-for-TV event.
Everyone from the athletes and coaches to officials and the media will be on virtual lockdown during their time in Japan, restricted largely to the stadiums and arenas where the events are held and the rooms where they will lay their heads at night.
That is good enough for the International Olympic Committee, which relies on international broadcast fees for nearly three-fourths of its revenue. Besides, TV is the conduit through which nearly everyone except a lucky few gets to experience the games, so a cancellation would leave a giant void in the summer programming schedule.
Frankly, its understandable that Japanese officials want to press forward, considering how much the country has laid out to prepare for the world's grandest boondoggle — at least $15 billion officially, with audits suggesting the actual figure might be twice as much.
And, of course, the athletes desperately want to compete, no matter what restrictions are are placed on them. This is a moment that usually comes around only once every four years, and they've already had to tack on an extra year of training, preparation and expense just to take part in the Tokyo Games.
When a British newspaper suggested in January that the Olympics might be canceled, U.S. gymnastics star Simone Biles undoubtedly expressed the mindset of all her fellow athletes.
"I'll basically do anything at this moment," Biles told NBC. "Whatever they say they want us to do, I'm in 100%, because I've been training so hard, and I've just been so ready."
Sadly, no matter how the IOC tries to spin it, everyone in the Pandemic Games will be walking on eggshells until the flame is extinguished on Aug, 8.
Only then can the celebration really begin.
Or, more likely, nothing more than a giant sigh of relief.
Paul Newberry is a sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at pnewberry(at)ap.org or at https://twitter.com/pnewberry196 His work can be found at https://apnews.com/search/paulnewberry
AP Sports Writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
More AP Olympic coverage: https://www.apnews.com/OlympicGames and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
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Budget 2020 for the upcoming year was released at the start of the week. The main focus on the budget is preparing for a no-deal Brexit with a package worth 1.2 billion euro. We saw the usual increases in areas such as cigarette prices and cuts to prescription charges. Below is our list of the main points we feel affect us either from a business or personal level.
The Farm restructuring relief program will be extended until 2022. The Government will also be investing €2 billion in rural Ireland next year, this includes €51 million more form the Department of Agriculture. A further €3 million will go to pilot new agri-environmental schemes in 2020 to reduce emissions in the sector, another big focus of the Budget 2020.
Business schemes
Nearly €1 billion will go to the Department of Business, this includes €10 million for a disruptive technologies fund and another €600 million for a Brexit loan and growth scheme. Minister Donohoe will increase the Research and Development tax credit for small and micro companies from 25% to 30%. There's an increase to the qualifying production cap for microbreweries from 40,000 to 50,000 hectolitres, and a relief for small independent bookmakers up to €50,000 a year from the betting duty.
Rainy-day fund
€1.5bn will be transferred into the 'Rainy day fund' from Ireland's Strategic Investment Fund. The additional €500m from the exchequer will not be transferred this year, Mr Donohoe decided.
Additional funding to the value of €2 million will be used to step up the powers of the Residential Tenancies Board. The stamp duty rate for non-residential property has increased from 6% to 7.5%. This simply means that the stamp duty payable when purchasing non-residential property is now 7.5% of the purchase price. The help-to-buy scheme for people trying to get a start on the property ladder will be extended until 2021 with no further adjustments.
Unfortunately, there were no broad tax cuts announced in the Budget 2020, but there were some interesting takeaways. Minister Donohoe announced for self-employed individuals an increase in Earned Income Credit by €150, to bring the value to €1,500. There will be an increase in the Dividend Withholding Tax from 20% to 25% from January 1, 2020, and the banking levy will increase from 59% to 170%. The threshold for Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) in what is known as the 'Group A Threshold' has increased. This means that children can now receive a gift or inheritance up to the amount of €335,000 tax-free from their parents. And lastly, new measures will be announced in the new future to prevent aggressive tax avoidance by Irish Real Estate Funds.
To see the rest of the points made in Budget 2020, click here. If you have any queries related to any of these key points from the Budget 2020, don't hesitate to contact us here for a confidential consultation.