text: Lots of players are trying their hands in the modern mobile game. What used to be a contest dominated by just a couple of companies, namely Nokia and Research In Motion (RIM), in both the consumer and enterprise spheres, now has successful players ranging from Apple to Google and perennial mobile hanger-on Microsoft. \n\n\n\nMotorola DROID X and RIM \n\nBlackBerry Torch 9800\n\nApple, with its iOS-powered iPhone, iPod touch and iPad, and Google, with devices based on the Android mobile OS, seem to be having the most success. That's due largely to both the "freshness" and functionality of their respective operating systems. Indeed, these two companies are stealing the most prospective smartphone users away from BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion (RIM).\n\nA few months back, before Android had gained the public support it's currently seeing, and while Apple was barreling along, full-steam ahead, I spoke with a handful of hardcore gadget-geeks, folks who live and breathe mobile, who'd recently made the switch from a BlackBerry to the iPhone. The idea: Spotlight the factors that lured them away from RIM and into Apple's "arms." (Check out "The BlackBerry-to-iPhone Switch: Converts Speak" for details.)\n\n\nSince then, Android has stormed the scene like a ravenous giant, devouring new subscribers in hordes and stealing buzz from RIM and Apple. \n\nSo I've hit the Web yet again to corral another collection of well-informed mobile enthusiasts and experts who'd recently dropped the BlackBerry for Google Android devices.\n\nEvery one of the seven sources featured in this story was located on Twitter, and I both respect and trust their opinions, because I read many of them on a daily basis. Every source also has a background using both BlackBerry smartphones and Android devices--and in some cases, others handhelds, as well. Most of them use their smartphones for both work and play. \n\nIn other words, these folks know smartphones. \n\nKeep moving for straight talk on why RIM is slowly losing market share to competitor Google, what the company could do to retain and regain users, and the future of RIM's BlackBerry OS, according to former "CrackBerry" addicts. If you're not interested in the specifics, skip right to my conclusions.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\nName:\n John Barsodi\n\nTwitter Handle: @jbarsodi\n\n \n\nAge: 31\nJohn Barsodi's Twitter Image\nBio: IT staffer for an international gaming company who's worked in various messaging-related IT roles, mainly designing and supporting Windows and messaging infrastructures.\n\nPersonal website: \nlopo.com\n\nSmartphone History: Google Nexus One; BlackBerry Storm 9530; BlackBerry Bold 9000, AT&T Tilt2, BlackBerry 8820; and BlackBerry Pearl 8100.\n\nCurrent smartphone(s) of choice: Motorola DROID X and Apple iPhone.\n\nWhy this particular device(s)? \n\n"The screen, the speed of the processor, and the 8MP camera combined with the slim 'chassis' and light weight make [the DROID X] a hard-to-beat smartphone," Barsodi says "Software comes third as the hardware really sealed the deal for me."\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer): Both. The Droid X is Barsodi's personal device, iPhone is his work handheld.\n\n\nDoes your organization support Android devices? If not, why not? What devices does your org support?\n\n\nNo. \n\n"We are waiting on the vendor we use for iPhone device management and connectivity to support Root detection within their Android client," Barsodi says. "Android poses a unique threat to corporate users since it has a much different application execution and multitasking implementation. For example, the drive by root exploit via Flash on the Sprint EVO."\n\n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n\nBarsodi says that he uses many Google services, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Voice and Google Docs, so switching to Android, which integrates nicely with many of these services, was a no-brainer.\n\nAlso, Barsodi says that he is not confident that RIM can keep up with its competitors in the future, though he does acknowledge BlackBerry's security edge in the enterprise.\n\n\nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n\n"The ability to 'do more' is a big part of it," Barsodi says.\n\nThe variety of available Android hardware-configurations and feature-sets are other drivers, according to Barsodi.\n\n"RIM has a habit of rehashing the same device in a slightly different form factor or leaving one feature off Model A, then introducing Model B with the previously missing feature," he says. \n\n \n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n\nBarsodi says RIM's recent second quarter 2010 earnings suggest RIM is not yet hurting financially, but that could change quickly if the company doesn't better adapt to the modern smartphone market.\n\n"RIM needs to look at revamping the entire [BlackBerry] OS. Theyre still relying on and tweaking an OS that was designed for one major use case: enterprise e-mail," according to Barsodi.\n\n \nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\n"At this time, I don't miss my BlackBerry," Barsodi says. "I do miss a specific application though: Viigo." (Viigo is an RSS reader and "lifestyle" application. The company behind the app was recently acquired by RIM.) \n\nBarsodi also misses the BlackBerry e-mail interface and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).\n\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n\nBarsodi appreciates Android's general application "richness," availability and selection.\n \n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\nBarsodi uses an iPhone for work, and he likes the Apple device, but was unwilling to switch from Verizon, his personal wireless carrier, so that ruled out the iPhone as his only device. He also hasn't seen anything about webOS or Palm's Pre that got him truly excited.\n\n"Android was the logical choice given my heavy Google Apps usage," Barsodi says\n\n\n \n\nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\n"RIM could offer more variety in form factor and make more progress in revamping or improving their OS," Barsodi says. "New bubbly UI tweaks aren't as important as improving overall performance of the OS and reducing memory leaks."\n\nFREE CIO BlackBerry NewsletterGet better use out of your BlackBerry and keep up-to-date on the latest developments.\n Sign-up \u00bb\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nName: John Maguire\n\nTwitter Handle: @Zerog46\n\nAge: 38\n\nBio: Former police officer, recently retired due to an injury after 11 years of service in a New Jersey small town. Web moderator for Android fan-site MyDROIDWorld.com.\n\n\n\nSmartphone History: Maguire's first BlackBerry smartphone was the brick-esque BlackBerry 7200, and he has owned the majority of BlackBerrys available through Verizon Wireless since then. He switched to the original Motorola DROID a few months ago, then the HTC DROID Incredible and now the Motorola DROID X.\n\nCurrent smartphone(s) of choice: Motorola DROID X\n\nWhy this particular device(s)? \n\nMaguire says he's sticking with the DROID X for a while, because he appreciates the device's larger size--both screen size and its overall dimensions. (The DROID X is significantly larger than any modern BlackBerry, even RIM's touch-screen Storm and Torch devices.)\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer): Mostly consumer, though he uses and has used his personal devices for work purposes. \n\n\n\nDoes your organization support Android devices?\n\nYes. Maguire says the small-town police department he formerly worked for mostly supports any device that's compatible with its specific infrastructure. \n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n\nApplication choice and quality.\n\n"On Android, there are at least 4 to 5 different browsers to install on your device aside from the stock Google browse," Maguire says. \n\nHe's also a big fan of Google's free navigation offering on the Android platform.\n\nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n\nMaguire thinks Android's ease of use and the ability to do more with less, i.e., more applications, etc., are the platforms greatest strengths.\n\nAnd he appreciates Android's selections of mobile games, as well. \n\n"Soon smartphones are going to replace smaller game consoles, like the Nintendo DS or the Sony PSP," Maguire says. "When we go on a road trip my son, who is 9-years-old, doesn't want to bring his PSP with old games, he wants to use my Moto Droid X where he can download a new game if he gets tired of playing the one he's currently playing."\n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n\nNot now. Not yet.\n\n"There might be an issue [in the future] if they don't keep up with everyone else," he says. \n\nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\nBlackBerry Messenger (BBM) and the trusty, full QWERTY BlackBerry keyboard. BlackBerry is clearly the market-leader when it comes to security as well, according to Maguire.\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n\nMaguire appreciates Android's "openness" and the platform's tight integration with Google's various Web services.\n\n"I can root my device--jailbreak, hack, etc.--and basically put whatever I want on it," he says.\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\nAT&T's iPhone exclusivity contract meant no iPhone for Maguire, since he's unwilling to switch from Verizon. And the current momentum of Android is very exciting to him, since it will likely lead to more and more quality developers creating new and innovative applications for the platform, Maguire says.\n\n \n\nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\nNot much, Maguire says. Right now, he has no regrets at all about leaving BlackBerry, and he's very excited about the future of Android.\n\n"I can't wait to see what Google brings in the future, and I am looking forward to the tablets running Android," Maguire says.\n\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\nName: Kai Armstrong\n\nTwitter Handle: @phikai\n\nAge: 25\nKai Armstrong's Twitter Image\nBio: Library-systems and technology worker in higher education and student, who's a computer geek as well as a software developer. Armstrong used to create BlackBerry applications for EDL Industries (http:\/\/edlindustries.com), back when he used a RIM smartphone.\n\nPersonal Website: KaiArmstrong.com\n\n\nSmartphone History: \n\nArmstrong's first BlackBerry device was the Storm 9530 on Verizon, which he used for more than a year before switching to the HTC DROID Incredible.\n\nCurrent smartphone(s) of choice: HTC DROID Incredible.\n\nWhy this particular device(s)? \n\n"At that time, the Incredible was the top of the line Android device on the [Verizon] network," Armstrong says.\n\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer): \n\nMostly consumer, though he does access corporate resources via DROID Incredible.\n\nDoes your organization support Android devices?\n\nYes, Armstrong's organization supports "just about any device you'd like," he says.\n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n\nArmstrong's entire experience with the BlackBerry Storm left him feeling very unsatisfied.\n\n"The iPhone was pretty much the standard at the time, and following the information about the BlackBerry Storm up until launch, it seemed like it was certainly going to compete," Armstrong says. "However...it just didn't live up to its pre-launch hype. The device was slow, the browser unusable, and the developer community didn't bond around the device with applications. It wasn't the experience I was looking for."\n\n\nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n\n"One of the biggest gripes I had with my [BlackBerry Storm] 9530 was that I was actually scared to open links that people would tweet on Twitter for fear of the BlackBerry Browser just crashing or the phone stopping."\n\nArmstrong calls the BlackBerry browser the platform's "worst feature."\n\nHe also thinks a lack of developer support, at least to the extent that developers are embracing Android and iOS, is hurting BlackBerry.\n\n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n\nArmstrong thinks RIM is in trouble in the consumer space, but that the company still has an advantage in the enterprise, due to BlackBerry security and stability.\n\n"[I]n several more years when other mobile platforms have built the back-end infrastructure necessary to keep corporations and government agencies 'happy' about allowing [non-BlackBerry devices] on their networks, RIM will be in trouble," Armstrong predicts.\n\n\nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\nArmstrong misses the colored LED notifier found on all BlackBerry smartphones, which lets you know when messages are waiting for you.\n\n"Other than that, I don't miss a thing," he says.\n\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n\n"Android's greatest quality to someone like myself is that ability to tinker," Armstrong says. "There are custom ROMs, custom Kernels, and all kinds of things that you can tweak and play with at a much deeper level than a settings menu. I think this type of open architecture\/platform is one of its greatest features. "\n\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\n"I don't like Apple products or their 'closed' eco-system, and WebOS still hasn't managed to do anything impressive," Armstrong says. "That leaves Android and RIM and after my previous BlackBerry experience, Android was certainly the way for me to move."\n\n \n\nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\n\n"Provide a large black duffel bag of non-sequential unmarked US denomination cash," Armstrong jokes. \n\nHe's not planning on switching back to BlackBerry anytime soon.\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\nName: Kelly Murphy\n\nTwitter Handle: @ke11\n \nAge: 36\n\nBio: Telecommunications worker who's been in the industry for 13 years; small-business owner; and technology\/clothing-design blogger.\n\nPersonal websites: SauceWear.com; The SauceReport.com; and TeeGazette.com.\n\n\n\nSmartphone History: First BlackBerry was an 8830 World Phone, followed by the BlackBerry Storm 9530, BlackBerry Tour and now the BlackBerry Curve 8530. Murphy has also used the original Motorola DROID, and she currently carries two devices: The Curve 8530 and the HTC DROID Incredible.\n\nCurrent device of choice: HTC Droid Incredible\n \n\nWhy this particular device(s)? \n\nMurphy says she "loves" the Android interface on the Incredible, as well as the ability to "completely customize" it. \n\nAndroid is also "not being held back by infrequent updates," Murphy says, knocking RIM and\/or wireless carriers' slow release of new BlackBerry OS updates.\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer):\n\nMurphy's a consumer user in that she pays for her own devices, and doesn't connect to any corporate resources. However, she also operates her own business and ensures her websites are all up and running using her various smartphones.\n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n\n"I felt as though BlackBerry kind of stalled," as far as platform technology goes, Murphy says. "I needed something that was pushing forward and didn't resist change. Android, to me, offered me this and more."\n\n\n \nWhy do you think so many people are switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n\nThe BlackBerry interface feels stale, Murphy says. RIM's not evolving quickly enough, and she has little confidence that it will in the near future, she says. \n\n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n\nYes, in the consumer market, she says.\n\n"[Consumers] are leaving in droves, but at the same time there are many organizations that aren't going to switch," Murphy says.\n\n \nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\nMurphy says BlackBerry just feels more secure, and she appreciates that. She trusts Android when using Google services, like Gmail, Google Calendar, etc., but isn't confident that Android is secure enough for use with other Web services.\n\nThe BlackBerry e-mail client is also second to none, Murphy says.\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n\nAndroid is just more fun, Murphy says.\n\n"[Y]ou can customize everything, you'll always have gaming, a great browser, uniformity between your calendar, email, contacts, etc through the Google interface," according to Murphy.\n \n\n\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\n\nMurphy says she's not at all a fan of webOS or the associated device selection, since she doesn't like the basic UI. But she does have her eye on the iPhone. \n\n"If Verizon gets [the iPhone], I'll be buying one," Murphy says. But she's unwilling to leave Verizon for the device.\n \n\n\nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\nMurphy hasn't abandoned BlackBerry completely; she's still using a BlackBerry Curve 8530, but much prefers her HTC DROID Incredible. \n\nReleasing more frequent OS updates would help draw her allegiance back to RIM, Murphy says.\n\n"Don't hold updates hostage," Murphy says. "Get that new technology out!"\n\nFREE CIO BlackBerry NewsletterGet better use out of your BlackBerry and keep up-to-date on the latest developments.\n Sign-up \u00bb\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nName: Craig Gormley\n\nTwitter handle: @cgormley\n\nAge: 39\nCraig Gormley's Twitter Image\nBio: Human resources management (HRM) consultant with The Educe Group who has been in the e-learning and HRM industry for more than 9 years. Gormley travels frequently and sees his smartphone as an essential business tool.\n\n\n\nSmartphone History: \n\nGormley's first BlackBerry was a Curve 8330, which he replaced with a BlackBerry Storm2 9550 following roughly a year and a half of use. After just six months with the Storm2, Gormley picked up an HTC DROID Incredible and hasn't looked back since.\n\nCurrent device(s) of choice: \nHTC DROID Incredible\n\n\nWhy this particular device? \n\n"From the work point of view, it has the best feature set for completing my job when I am on the go," Gormley says.\n\nHe lists application multitasking, Wi-Fi tethering, a functional e-mail client and Office support for Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. as the device features most important to him.\n\nAnd "[f]rom a personal point of view, I love to tinker with my phones." Gormley says. "Having the ability to customize how your phone runs is a big advantage in my book."\n\n \n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer): \n\nBoth. Gormley's DROID Incredible is his personal phone in that he purchased it himself. But his organization foots the service bill and he's connected to a variety of corporate resources via Incredible.\n \n\nDoes your organization support Android devices? \n\nYes.\n\n"[During] the last year the standard phone everyone had in the company was a BlackBerry," Gormley says. "Now half of company has either an Android phone or iPhone."\n\n \n\n \nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry? \n\nGormley could no longer deal with the BlackBerry Browser, which just wouldn't load all the websites he needs to do his job. \n\n"It became increasingly frustrating not being able to access certain client websites because of limitations of my Blackberry. The more I heard about the advances the Android platform had made e-mail wise, especially a reliable push connection with Exchange, and the flexibility to hit 99% of my client websites, it became a no-brainer to switch."\n\n \nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms? \n\n"I think people view the Blackberry OS as an aged platform, even the new BlackBerry 6 [OS]," Gormley says. "It's like [RIM is] putting band-aids on a 10 inch cut when it really calls for major surgery with stitches. "\n\n \n\n \nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n \n\n"[A]s long as RIM remains the leader in the corporate market place [the company] should be okay for a while," Gormley says. "But RIM cannot afford many more dud phones and BlackBerry 6 needs to be something special."\n\n \n\nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\nGormley says he has no regrets about leaving BlackBerry, though he says BlackBerry has an impressive and valuable set of keyboard shortcuts. RIM also has a great system for profiles and notifications, according to Gormley.\n\n\nWhat does Android do best? \n\nGormley appreciates Android's Web browsing features, multitasking, navigation and the seamless integration with Google services\n\n\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS etc? \n\nGormley almost went with webOS before choosing Android, but he says he could tell Palm was in trouble and didn't think betting on that company would prove to be wise.\n\nThe iPhone isn't an option because of AT&T's "terrible" coverage where he lives and works, he says. \n\n \nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\nGormley's not against going BlackBerry once again, but RIM hasn't shown him that BlackBerry can compete with Android. \n\n"Android just meets all my needs right now," he says.\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\nName: Jared DiPane\n\nTwitter Handle: @drm2blv\n\n \n\nAge: 23\n \n\nBio: \n\nGeek Squad Service Center supervisor and mobile blogger for both CrackBerry.com and AndroidCentral.com.\n \n\nSmartphone History: \n\nIn the past year alone, DiPane used a BlackBerry Storm 9530, BlackBerry Curve 8330, BlackBerry Tour 9630, BlackBerry Storm2 9550, a Droid Eris and other devices.\n \n\nCurrent Smartphone(s) of Choice:\n\nMotorola DROID and BlackBerry Bold 9650 \n\n\n\nWhy this particular device(s)? \n\n\n\n"This combination [of smartphones] fits my every need: something to easily keep in contact with nearly anyone while on the go (BlackBerry); and something to have fun with, play games, use widgets, tinker with system settings (DROID)," DiPane says.\n \n\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer):\n\nConsumer\n \n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n \n\n\nDiPane says he simply got bored of his BlackBerry and wanted a change. Since he wasn't particularly excited about the BlackBerry devices expected to become available through Verizon, his wireless carrier of choice, he decided to give Android a go. Four months later, he picked up another BlackBerry--the Bold 9650--because he missed it, but is still hanging onto his DROID.\n \n\n\nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n \n\nTwo reasons: Android's "openness" and customization options; and the fact that Android is the "It Platform" right now. \n \n\n"I honestly think that some people are switching because their friends are, and now it is 'the cool thing to do'," DiPane says.\n \n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n \n\nNot really, DiPane says.\n \n\n"I have personally been in or around [wireless] stores and still see how popular BlackBerry devices are by how many [people] walk out activated in just the time that I am there," he says.\n \n\nDiPane also thinks BlackBerry 6, RIM's new OS, is a big step in the right direction and is optimistic about RIM's future.\n \n\n \nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n \n\n"The Android OS it is still rough around the edges, and having come from a rather polished [BlackBerry] OS, the transition was a bit tough," DiPane says. "I missed the way emails were handled so well and I also missed all my BBM friends."\n \n\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n \n\nDiPane says he really appreciates the fact that he doesn't have to reboot his Android devices after every application update, which is often the case with BlackBerry devices.\n \n\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\nDiPane's decision to go Android had a lot to do with the fact that he's a Verizon customer, and isn't willing to switch to another carrier for a webOS or iOS device. He simply wasn't interested any of the webOS offerings via Verizon and AT&T is the exclusive iPhone carrier in the United States.\n \n\n \nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\n \n\n\nDiPane hasn't abandoned BlackBerry, nor does he plan to. But he does offer constructive criticism:\n \n\n"I would like to see RIM market BlackBerry applications a little more," he says. "I feel as though many think that there is no benefit to developing for the BlackBerry platform so a lot of the attention is placed on other platforms."\n \n\n\n \n\nChoose a section\nIntroduction\nJohn Barsodi \nJohn Maguire \nKai Armstrong\nKelly Murphy\nCraig Gormley\nJared DiPane\nEric Tonn\nConclusions\n \n \n\n\n\nName: Eric Tonn\n\nTwitter Handle: @edtonn\n\nAge: 23\nEric Tonn's Twitter Image\n\nBio: Commercial insurance worker and gadget geek. Gormley says his company's IT staffers often defer Blackberry related questions and issues to him.\n\n\n\nSmartphone History: BlackBerry Pearl 8100; BlackBerry Bold 9000; BlackBerry Bold 9700; BlackBerry Curve 8330; BlackBerry Tour 9630; and Samsung Captivate. \n\n\nCurrent Smartphone(s) of Choice:\n\nAT&T Samsung Captivate (personal), Verizon BlackBerry Tour 9630 (work)\n\n\nWhy this particular device(s)?\n\nTonn says he wasn't ready to leave BlackBerry by the wayside, but did want to try a device that was "decidedly not a BlackBerry." At that time, he saw the Samsung Captivate as the best AT&T Android offering.\n\n\nUser-type (Business v. Consumer):\n\nBoth. Tonn's BlackBerry Tour was provided by his employer. His Samsung Captivate is a personal device. \n\n\n\nCatalyst for the Switch, i.e., why leave BlackBerry?\n\nTonn's general frustration with the BlackBerry platform led him to investigate other options.\n\n"As a Mac user, I had several fights over contacts sync\/deletion\/duplication," Tonn says. "I got to the point where I was expending as much effort just keeping the BlackBerry running smoothly and dependably as I could expend actually enhancing (rooting, adding custom ROMs, etc) an Android phone."\n\n\n\nWhy are so many people switching from BlackBerry to other mobile platforms?\n\n"The problem I see with BlackBerry is, simply put, a hardware issue," Tonn says. "With the introduction of BlackBerry 6, the software is better than in the past, but RIM's insistence on using small, low-resolution screens and less-than-state-of-the-art processor speeds, combined with the relative scarcity of apps, gives BlackBerry users the feeling--at least, it gave me the feeling--that they are behind the curve and playing catch-up."\n\n\n\n\nIs RIM "in trouble" because of the large number of BlackBerry users switching to other platforms?\n\nYes, he says.\n\n"The mixed response to BlackBerry 6 and the Torch seems to indicate that RIM is still mostly focused on its core business customers," Tonn says. "Playing it safe appeases users of the BES--where consistency is key--but bores the personal-use customers. The consumers are already voicing their preferences, and as Apple and Google up the security ante on their platforms, RIM's core competency will come under fire soon as well."\n \nWhat do you miss most about BlackBerry?\n\nImpressive battery life and RIM's "famously strong phone antennas," Tonn says.\n\n\nWhat does Android do best, in your opinion?\n\nThe open source nature of the platform. And the ability to customize, whether after hacking or while using stock software, is a huge plus for Android, Tonn says.\n\nWhy Android and not iOS or webOS, etc? \n\nTonn says he never seriously considered webOS, since he was leery of the recent purchase of Palm by HP and the future of the software. \n\n"The ability to customize--I wanted my phone to be a hobby, as well--whether after hacking or while using stock software, was a huge plus for Android," Tonn says.\n \n\n\nWhat could RIM do to get you to switch back to BlackBerry? \n\nTonn has no regrets about leaving BlackBerry. But bigger screens, faster processors and more applications would go a long way to grab his attention once again.\n\n\n\n\n\n Al Sacco covers Mobile and Wireless for CIO.com. Follow Al on Twitter @ASacco. Follow everything from CIO.com on Twitter @CIOonline. Email Al at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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I know you are all just dying to know who won the Michelle Duggar signed book giveaway! And I am dying to tell you. But first, I just need to thank all of you for your comments and participation-- this was one of my most beloved giveaways to date! I'll have to drum up something like this again soon (you know, when I meet another local celebrity-- LOL). Without further ado, I give you the random.org info:
Again, thanks to everyone who entered... keep checking in because you never know when I might have another giveaway up my sleeves :) Happy Tuesday everyone!
israel; the start. Pre-pandemic
2 years ago

subset: commoncrawl


text: Sports Vision training is effective for almost every sport. Whatever your game is, Dynamic Edge can help you take it to the next level. Here is a list of just a few of the sports that have benefited from Sports Vision training. If you don't see your sport listed, please contact us!


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The entire point of the name "Unicorn", first coined by Aileen Lee in November 2013, is to describe something very rare: "U.S.-based software companies started since 2003 and valued at over $1 billion by public or private market investors" was Lee's definition.
Over the last year-and-a-half the definition has changed a bit — most include international startups, and limit the list to private companies — but the biggest difference is the number of companies that qualify: Fortune's Unicorn List has 100 companies on it, a big jump over the 39 counted by Lee.1 Many, including Andreessen Horowitz in a presentation entitled U.S. Tech Funding — What's Going On?, have argued the reduction of a unicorn to something more akin to a zebra — exotic, but not exactly rare — is due to a shift in money from tech IPOs to late stage growth rounds. In the presentation these growth rounds are defined as rounds of >$40 million and given the label "quasi-IPOs":
Bill Gurley, for one, made clear he's not buying this blurring of the lines in a March post aptly titled Investor's Beware: Today's 100M+ Late-stage Private Rounds Are Very Different from an IPO:
Some have argued that each of these companies would already be public in a prior era. Buying into such a notion is dangerous – dangerous for the entrepreneur and dangerous for the investor. Actually, very few of these companies are at a point where they could or should consider being public. Lost in this conversation are the dramatic differences between a high priced private round and an IPO. Understanding these differences is crucial to understanding the true risks in this large private-round phenomenon.
Gurley is particularly concerned with the lack of scrutiny for non-public companies, along with the ease with which unicorns can "mischaracterize their financial positioning relative to industry standard or norm." The Wall Street Journal highlighted the latter concern last week:
As young technology companies jostle for investors who will pour money into the firms as they try to make it big and strike it rich, some companies are using unconventional financial terms. Instead of revenue, these privately held firms tout "bookings," "annual recurring revenue" or other numbers that often far exceed actual revenue.
The practice is perfectly legal and doesn't violate securities rules because the companies haven't sold shares in an initial public offering. Public companies can use "non-GAAP" financial terms but must explain them and disclose how they differ from measurements that follow strict accounting rules…
Skeptics claim that the practice is yet another sign that the tech sector is plagued with overconfidence and setting itself up for a fall. They say investors who go along with vague, unconventional financial terms are inflating valuations and leaving almost no room for error at fledgling technology companies.
For his part Gurley has said on several occasions that there will "be some dead unicorns this year"; for the sake of argument, let's say that he's right.2 The question, then, is whether or not a dead unicorn (or ten) means the bubble has popped — or perhaps more accurately, whether or not there were a bubble at all.
Last week Chris Dixon described The Babe Ruth Effect in Venture Capital: the idea that swinging for the fences (10x returns) necessarily means more strikeouts (failed investments).
The Babe Ruth effect occurs in many categories of investing, but is especially pronounced in VC. As Peter Thiel observes:
Actual [venture capital] returns are incredibly skewed. The more a VC understands this skew pattern, the better the VC. Bad VCs tend to think the dashed line is flat, i.e. that all companies are created equal, and some just fail, spin wheels, or grow. In reality you get a power law distribution…
What is interesting and perhaps surprising is that the great funds lose money more often than good funds do. The best VCs funds truly do exemplify the Babe Ruth effect: they swing hard, and either hit big or miss big. You can't have grand slams without a lot of strikeouts.
Dixon's post is about the performance of individual venture capital firms, but I think the Babe Ruth framework is a useful way to think about the current crop of unicorns. Indeed, a close look at the valuations of the actual companies involved shows the exact sort of skew Thiel was talking about:3
The line is a power curve — even unicorns fit the expected venture capital return. This has one really important implication that should shape the way we talk about unicorns and whether or not there is a bubble. Namely, for tech broadly nothing matters outside of ~10 or so companies:
- Xiaomi and Uber alone account for 22% of Unicorn valuation
- The top 10 most valuable companies (Xiaomi, Uber, Airbnb, Palantir, Snapchat, SpaceX, Flipkart, Pinterest, Dropbox, Theranos) account for 49% of Unicorn valuations
- The top 20 account for 65% of Unicorn valuations
Anything that happens to any of these companies is a big deal when it comes to the overall health of the startup ecosystem; anything that happens outside isn't. To put it in concrete terms, if Dropbox, probably the most fragile of the top 10 (members-only), were to have a down round or sell itself for less than its valuation, that would be a very big story. If Evernote, which is suddenly changing its CEO, were to do the same, it wouldn't be nearly as big a deal. Keep this in mind when and if Gurley's predicted unicorn deaths occur.
On the flip side, should a few of these top unicorns finally go public and validate their valuations, nearly the entire unicorn cohort would come out ahead. The entire list of 100 has raised around $55 billion collectively, which is about the same as the combined valuation of any three of the top 10 (or any two if one of the set is Uber or Xiaomi).4
There's another insight to be drawn from that $55 billion collective investment: it turns out its distribution fits a linear curve much more closely than a power curve (at least once you remove Uber from the calculation):
This too echoes what you might expect at an individual VC firm — you invest equally, but profit unequally — but given that no VC firm is invested in every unicorn, there will clearly be winners and losers when it comes to individual firm performance. It's possible (and probably likely) that the industry comes out ahead in the aggregate even as a significant majority of individual venture capital firms lose money.
I've previously laid out why It's Not 1999: these unicorns are real companies with real business models and real revenues. Profitability is lagging, but given said business models — SaaS in the enterprise, and mostly ads in consumers — that's to be expected. Most importantly, there simply isn't the sort of public market froth that made the last bubble so contagious.
Indeed, I suspect that 1999 was less a cyclical peak than it was the top of the hype cycle:
- The Internet was the technology trigger
- The Dot Com era was the peak of Inflated Expectations
- The bursting of the bubble and much of the 2000s was the trough of disillusionment
- The last five years have been the slope of enlightenment
In this reading the technology industry is on the verge of the plateau of productivity, a steady march to remake industry after industry. That's an exceptionally valuable prospect, and more than anything explains these unicorn valuations, particularly transformative market-makers like Uber or Airbnb.
To be clear, this isn't exactly a controversial view; indeed, while macroeconomic factors like low interest rates play a role, I think a big reason for the quantity of unicorns is the fear of missing out on one of the greatest periods of value creation we have ever seen. However, some of the most valuable opportunities — particularly the aforementioned market-makers — have strong winner-take-all characteristics: this potentially limits the number of quality unicorns.
I think it's this dichotomy that makes the current bubble discussion so difficult: most unicorns may be overvalued, but in aggregate they are probably undervalued. It turns out winner-take-all doesn't apply just to the markets these startups are targeting, it applies to the startups themselves.
Discuss this Article in the Stratechery Forum (members-only)
Fortune's and Lee's definitions are different: Fortune includes 15 companies that were started before 2003, plus 26 international companies; on the other hand, Fortune does not include any public companies ↩
I suspect he is ↩
Valuations are drawn from the aforementioned Fortune Unicorn List; I updated a few of them to reflect recent fundraising ↩
The $55 billion was drawn from Crunchbase; it's an estimate, as not all companies had information, some included secondary offerings, and there was a much greater chance of human error on my part ↩


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About Template
Twenty20 is a multipurpose responsive email template suitable for any kind of agency, corporate, office, business and general categories. It contains one email template and PSD file.
Twenty20 compatible with StampReady, MailChimp & Campaign Monitor
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About Angiography
Angiography, also known as an angiogram, is an X-ray exam of the arteries and veins.
It is used to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems. During an angiography, your interventional radiologist inserts a thin tube — a catheter — into the artery through a small nick in the skin about the size of the tip of a pencil. A contrast agent — X-ray dye — is injected to make the blood vessels visible on the X-ray. The exam is performed in the hospital in the interventional radiology suite.
Why is angiography performed?
A common reason to have an angiogram is to determine if there is a blockage or narrowing in a blood vessel that may interfere with the normal flow of blood through the body. Angiograms are also performed to detect aneurysms (an area of a blood vessel that bulges or balloons out), cerebral vascular disease, and blood vessel malformations
If there is a problem, what can be done?
In many cases, the interventional radiologist can treat a blocked blood vessel without surgery at the time the angiogram is performed. Interventional radiologists can treat some venous blockages with a procedure called an angioplasty, in which a catheter is threaded to the site of the blocked artery using X-ray guidance. The balloon is inflated to open the artery. Sometimes, a small metal scaffold, called a stent, is inserted to keep the blood vessel open.
Blood Clots
If the blockage in an artery is caused by a blood clot, thrombolysis may be the treatment of choice. Thrombolytic drugs that dissolve clots are injected through a catheter to eliminate the clot and restore blood flow.


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McGregor, Richard ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6685-2589, ed. (2000) Perspectives on Peter Maxwell Davies. Ashgate Publishing. Full text not available from this repository.(Contact the author)
In the eight essays presented here, leading scholars of the music of Peter Maxwell Davies explore some of the composer's creative processes. David Roberts, Peter Owens and Richard McGregor examine Davies's employment of pitch-class sets and other models evident in his sketch material, while Joel Lester looks at the serial elements that produce structure and effect in the work Ave Maris Stella. The political, literary and musical influences evident in the 1987 opera Resurrection and in subsequent orchestral works come under scrutiny from John Warnaby. Davies's use of older dramatic forms and ritual is the focus of Michael Burden's examination of his music theatre.
|Item Type:
|Ashgate Publishing
|Academic Departments > Institute of Education (IOE) > Secondary PGCE
|Depositing User:
|Insight Administrator
|Date Deposited:
|27 Jul 2010 15:24
|Last Modified:
|05 Jul 2021 11:00


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A Well-Deserved Grammy Win For The Incredibly Talented Mr. EllingFebruary 9, 2010 / No Comments
Feb 9, 2010 – It's great when someone truly deserving of recognition wins the reward that goes along with that accolade. So to hear that Kurt Elling finally received his first Best Vocal Jazz Album Grammy for Dedicated To You after nine nominations was extraordinarily great.
We thought that Elling's Man In The Air would be a sure winner in 2004, and that 2007's Night Moves, which did not receive a nomination was equally deserving.
There are several other of those nine recordings that could have won as well, but there's something even more special about his winning for such an extraordinary showcase as Dedicated To You. Likewise, it says volumes about any artist who is consistenly singled out for such great work over more than a decade, but to see him finally realize the prize his work so richly deserves is something special indeed.
Check out TheJazzPage's October 2009 review of Kurt Elling's now-Grammy-winning project, Dedicated To You.


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Purpose: Whereas some studies suggest that statins exert a gastroprotective effect against gastrointestinal hemorrhage, others report that statin use is associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Aim of report: To investigate the risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage among statin-users compared with non-users. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using clinical, administrative, and pharmacy data encompassing October 2003 to March 2012 from patients enrolled in the San Antonio military health care system. Two treatment groups were defined: statin-users (use for at least 90days) and non-users (never received statin). A propensity score-matched cohort was generated to match statin-users and non-users based on 82 variables. Main outcome measures were defined by the International Classification of Diseases, ninth revision-clinical modification diagnoses codes or procedural codes for gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastritis/doudenitis, gastroduodenal ulcers, endoscopy procedures, and endoscopy procedures related to gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Results: A total of 43438 patients were identified; 13626 (31.4%) were statin-users and 29812 were non-users. We propensity score-matched 6342 non-users with 6342 statin-users. The risk of outcomes was similar between the two groups for gastrointestinal hemorrhage (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.0; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.91, 1.11); gastrointestinal ulcers (OR: 0.99; 95%CI [0.80, 1.24]); gastritis/duodenitis (OR: 0.92; 95%CI [0.83, 1.02]); and endoscopic procedures (OR: 1.07; 95%CI [0.98, 1.17]). Conclusion: Statin use was not significantly associated with either an increased or decreased risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Choice of statin therapy should not be limited in those patients at risk of gastrointestinal hemorrhage.
|Original language
|English (US)
|Pages (from-to)
|Number of pages
|Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety
|Issue number
|Published - Aug 1 2015
- Endoscopy
- Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Pharmacoepidemiology
- Statins
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Pharmacology (medical)


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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
The return of Advice PKD
Anyway, I figured it was high time to bring back a feature introduced on ye olde LiveJournal, Advice PKD!
Anyway, the book starts badly, but gets better. It's the story of a drug that induces time travel, multiple dictators, some or all of which may be robots, a failed marriage, Martian playgrounds for the immortal rich... somehow PKD manages to shoehorn a dozen plots into two hundred pages of book. Every time I read PKD (and to a lesser extent, Jonathan Lethem), I always feel a little bit of passion toward writing again, which is the reason I have a few of his books queued up: I want to write. But at this point I wonder if it's not sort of pointless, since I don't really care overly much about playing the publishing game. I want to be published, but I'm not willing to go through all the work involved, the politics that need to be played, the cons I must attend and the professional blog I have to do to be "real." Someone once told me that I was basically making a fool of myself by using my LJ as anything BUT a springboard to find an agent and the almighty Deal, and I'll be honest, that stuck with me for a long time.
It's not writer's block: if anything, I have too many ideas and find it hard to focus on just one. Rather, it is a form of self-preservation, of not wanting to be sucked back into the "writer's life" just because I write short stories. Because frankly, it can be boring and petty, and far too much work for something that will never return a living wage. I love the writing, I hate everything that goes along with it. And sometimes it feels like doing the writing is pointless if you aren't prepared to do everything else. But I do know that I was a lot happier when I was writing short stories on a regular basis, even factoring in the "other crap."
Sorry this post isn't very funny!
8 comments:
- AnonymousJanuary 26, 2011 at 7:48 PM
oh my god, i'm so horrified at whoever told you that about your livejournal. o_OReplyDelete
also, i feel the same about wanting to write but not wanting to jump through the hoops to be published. :| what do.
At the time I was going through some "stuff" and was open about it, and they said that no agent in their right mind would want to work with a crazy person. And that the face I present on the Internet is the only face an agent knows and for some reason I should care about this more than writing. Helpful email was not that helpful.ReplyDelete
I do take comfort in the fact that this person, to date, has published exactly zero things. Schadenfreude!
- AnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:55 AM
I so totally get every word you wrote here.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:54 PM
A friend set me up with a publishing consultant who said the same things, that I had to have a blog and be on twitter and facebook and 'establish my brand.' Then she told me I was 'telling not showing' in a two page synopsis, and I decided she didn't know what she was talking about.ReplyDelete
I hope you do start writing again, because I really like your short stories. You've published several without (as far as I know) jumping through hoops, so why not just keep doing that? I don't want to discourage you from writing another novel if that's what you want to do, but there's nothing wrong with what you've been doing.
Oh, I'm still working on short stories. Just... not always finishing them and not actively pursuing publication. I don't want to write any more novels. I wish I was writing more often than I was (I can't bring it in me to write every single day like "they" say you should), but I've managed to publish almost everything I've finished. And without a Twitter!ReplyDelete
(And oh god, the phrase "establish your brand" makes me want to choke puppies. It makes me think of Harlan Ellison copyrighting his name, and wondering if they're going to include the (c) on the tombstone when he dies.)
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Shaykh Muhammad Adil, also fondly known as Shaykh Mehmet, is Maulana Shaykh Nazim's elder son.
He is known for his intense humility, and only began speaking publicly at the Lefke Dergah when his father fell gravely ill late last year. He is so humble, that he often apologises for using the word 'I' during his Suhbahs, as that is a measure of a man's ego. One can tell that a man speaks with ego, when he is using the word 'I' regularly in his speech, often praising himself, mentioning his long service or association to the Masters. Shaykh Mehmet is nothing of the sort, he is a down-to-earth simple man, who spends must time planting in the fields and tending to Maulana's livestock. We will upload videos of him hard at work in the fields, once there is an opportunity.
Maulana Shaykh Nazim speaks very highly of him, having described him as a dragon on a few occasions. Maulana Shaykh Nazim speaks very highly of him, having described him as a dragon on a few occasions.
Last year, Shaykh Mehmet was appointed Shaykh of Shams, and also Khalifa of Maulana, the only Khalifa on Golden Chain, which instantly excludes all other representatives from that station henceforth.
Here is the Saltanat TV link where Maulana appoints Shaykh Mehmet, as his Khalifa on 4th November 2011. Maulana said:
"He is my Khalifa (Deputy). He as been granted by our GrandShaykhs. He is on Golden Chain. He may issue an order to everyone, through East and West. He is from Wuzera (Grand Viziers) of Mahdi (as)."
He gives Suhbahs, in Turkish and English.


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High quality storage with 24-hours security
Say goodbye to a dusty attic. At Pelican Self Storage we have nice heat up storage units any size you want. A storage unit should be clean and inviting. Therefore, we only offer storage units of the highest quality. We make sure that all our facilities are well maintained and regularly renovated, so that they preserve their high standards.
In Pelican Self Storage we believe that our storage units should feel like extension of your home. Our temperature regulation systems, soft carpets on the floors and pleasant lightning help to create a cozy atmosphere and take good care of your belongings. Our modern central facilities are equipped with everything necessary to provide you with the best possible storage experience.
Your safety is our priority. With our modern security monitoring systems, 24-hours surveillance and our well-trained staff working at the facilities, our customers have nothing to worry about. Moreover you can only enter our centers by using a personal code or a chip, as well as you are the only one who has access to your storage unit. On our behalf we guarantee you the safety of your storage unit at Pelican, so you have one less thing to worry about.
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text: Cindy Sheehan's tatoo of her son Casey's name. I think the numbers are the year he was born (1979) and day or year that he was killed in Iraq (April 4, 2004). This was taken at a recent health insurance for all rally here in San Francisco using the Nikon F3 and Fuji NPS 160 film converted to bw.


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The group's medicine manufacturing unit, Sreedhareeyam Farmherbs India Pvt Ltd was established to cater to the most vital need of standardized high-quality medicines in high volumes for treatments and also to achieve consistency in the quality of medicines. The unit is GMP certified and follows aseptic manufacturing processes and stringent quality control measures. While all the equipment for processing and packaging are state-of-the-art, the ingredients and formulations adhere strictly to the procedures and guidelines outlined in the ancient parchments (Thaliyolas) and ancient books (Granthas), the most invaluable assets of the Mana. All medicines and formulations utilised in the eye and other treatments are manufactured here. The facility has all the modern medicine manufacturing facilities including a most modern sterile eyedrop manufacturing unit, Fully Automatic Capsule Filling Machines, Blister Packing Machines, bottling machines, labelling machines and tablet punching machines.
After assessing and reviewing the safety hazards, ISO 22000 FSMS certification was awarded to the Unit in 2011, by the International Certifying Agency- BUREAU VERITAS.
An Automatic Eye Drop Filling and Sealing Machine in the most possible sterile conditions is installed to handle the ever-growing need of manufacturing different kinds of eyedrops in Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Medicines. Sterile Herbal Eye Drops are manufactured in Epoxy painted Aseptic Manufacturing Areas, equipped with Air Handling Units having HEPA Filters and Laminar Flow to achieve Class 10000, Class 1000 and Class 100 to meet International and WHO GMP Standards.
A Quality Control Laboratory having faculties to carry out tests with Botanical, Chemical, Analytical and Microbiological parameters ensures that the highest possible quality of medicines are constantly achieved. Apart from using the best of Herbs, Raw Materials and Intermediates after rigorous quality checks, finished products also undergo stringent and detailed testing to ensure that they conform to Pharmacopoeia Standards.
Continuous research enables the institution to develop variations in classical medicines and also to formulate completely new patented medicines.
Sreedhareeyam Farmherbs India Pvt. Ltd. has been granted accreditation by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL) in accordance with ISO/ IEC 17025:2017.With this recognition, Sreedhareeyam has become one among the four NABL accredited laboratories in Kerala that are qualified to conduct testing of AYUSH products. Sreedhareeyam Farm herbs India Pvt. Ltd is also the only Ayurveda manufacturing unit in Kerala that has its own NABL-accredited analytical laboratory. .
Atomic absorption spectrophotometer is the analytical device used to measure the concentrations of elements. Atomic absorption is so sensitive that it can measure down to parts per billion of a gram in a sample. The technique makes use of the wavelengths of light specifically absorbed by an element. Raw materials are examined using this technique to check that major elements are present and that toxic impurities are lower than specified.
Pharmacopoeia standards are typically used by the industry as a basis for meeting Quality requirements and GMP practices. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) is a robust, simplest, rapid, and efficient tool in quantitative analysis of compounds. It is also an ideal screening tool for adulterations in raw materials and is highly suitable for evaluation and monitoring of cultivation, harvesting, and extraction processes, along with testing of stability in raw materials as well as finished products.
Our expert team of microbiologists do a detailed study and analysis of microscopic organisms. The microbiology laboratory routinely carries out Sterility tests of all Sterile Herbal Eye Drops and monitors the presence of micro-organisms in the manufacturing areas.
Sreedhareeyam Farmherbs India Private Limited produces a spectrum of over 350 traditional ayurvedic medications as laid out in the ancient manuscripts. These are beneficial for a variety of ailments starting from various eye conditions to other bodily diseases like diabetes, arthritis etc. Over and above these time honoured preparations, Sreedhareeyam's research wing has developed a line of highly effective proprietary, Over the Counter Ayurvedic medications. These products have been developed after years of research into Ayurvedic principles and strictly following extensive tests on safety and efficacy. Sreedhareeyam's proprietary products include Sunetra eyedrops, a daily eye protector, Sumangala Hair Oil, a nourishing oil known to prevent hair fall and Smart lean Capsules, an Ayurvedic health Management remedy. Apart from all this, Sreedhareeyam produces a variety of over 50 patented products which are being prescribed in group hospitals as well as external clinics.
Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Medicines is currently supplying medicines to the group concerns as well as third party doctors and clinics. The entire line of classical medicines, patented products and OTC products are available for purchase and subsequent use. The core strength of these medicines is that they are primarily aimed at quality, not on profitability or bringing down costs. Most of these products are exported to other countries, where the quality norms are almost impossible, but these medicines come out of those tests unscathed.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.
Sreedhareeyam also manufactures products for other institutions using the state of the art facilities available here. Well defined processes and competent lab facilities make the institution preferred over other manufacturers.


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Amols' is America's Fiesta Headquarters
Fiesta is more than an idea in San Antonio - it is our city's heritage, culture, and annual blockbuster party.
San Antonio knows how to put on Fiest...View More
Fiesta is more than an idea in San Antonio - it is our city's heritage, culture, and annual blockbuster party.
San Antonio knows how to put on Fiesta, so you can count on us to help make your Mexican themed party come to life. Amols' finds the truly unique items that you won't find anywhere else.
We have everything you need to create a colorful and festive Fiesta. From handcrafted Mexican papel picado to must-have confetti eggs, our online fiesta store is your one stop shop for Mexican party supplies.
Day of the Dead
All you Need for a Haunting Halloween
Whether your taste leans toward spine-tingling terror or kid-friendly fun, Amols' offers the best selection of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins (oh my!) all fo...View More
Whether your taste leans toward spine-tingling terror or kid-friendly fun, Amols' offers the best selection of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins (oh my!) all for scary low prices.
We want to make sure your spooky celebration is free of tricks and full of treats! No Halloween is complete without scenes and props to send shivers up the spines of guests who dare to enter. We also have the perfect tableware for your Halloween party tables. Bring the classic back with a simple black and orange theme, or scare up the dead with skeletons, spiders, and ghosts. Amols' will definitely help make sure your are in for a screaming good time.
New Year's Eve 2024
Make party planning a snap with our convenient New Year's Eve party kits. Each kit has all the noisemakers, hats, and tiaras you need in one box. No matter the size of your celebration, we have everything you'll need for a flawless and festive New Year's Eve.
Mexican Party Supplies Edit Order
When it comes to throwing a Mexican Fiesta, Amols' is the authority.
Halloween Party Supplies & Decorations Edit Order
Glowing pumpkins, scary ghosts, spiders... anything you need to make your Halloween spooky, we have it all.
Day of the Dead Party Supplies Edit Order
Celebrate Dia de los Muertos on November 1st.
Mexican Blankets Edit Order
Our Mexican Blankets, also known as Serapes, are a must-have for your Fiesta or Cinco de Mayo celebration.
Mexican Paper Flowers Edit Order
Add some color to your celebration with our handmade Mexican Paper Flowers.
Papel Picado Edit Order
Beautiful, hand-crafted papel picado banners are a great way to add an authentic look to your Fiesta or other celebration.
Maracas Edit Order
Cha-cha-cha! Check out our huge selection of colorful maracas.
For over seventy years, Amols has brought festivities and celebrations to life with our unique assortment of party supplies. Our San Antonio party and fiesta store caters to every occasion big and small. Plan the perfect party by shopping online or in store. Find decorations and party supplies for every type of celebration, holiday and theme—birthday party, baby shower, wedding shower, retirement party, graduation party, New Year's Eve, Mardi Gras, Halloween, Pride and more. Amols' is proud to be your headquarters for authentic Mexican party supplies, gifts and imports. Whether you are celebrating a birthday, Fiesta, Day of the Dead or Cinco de Mayo, Amols' has you covered. We source your favorite supplies directly from Mexico including cascarones, papel picado, sombreros, pinatas, serapes...everything you need for an authentic event.
We carry all of your kids' party and adult party essentials like party favors, balloons, party wear, props, banners, streamers, party dinnerware, party drinkware, party flatware, party napkins, disposable party tablecloths and more. We have supplies for all of your favorite themes including: rainbow decorations, luau decorations, patriotic decorations, sports decorations, casino decorations, western decorations, etc.
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If you have questions or difficulties ordering items online, feel free to reach out our party store in San Antonio with any questions.
Shop online, or visit us in-store, for incredible and festive party supplies in San Antonio today!


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Siesta Key: One of the Best Places to Purchase a Property
If you are thinking of buying property that will make your entire surroundings feel like paradise, then there is no doubt that you can benefit the most by getting your property at Siesta Key Real Estate. From sunrise to sunset, Siesta Key is just a pure beauty not only on the eyes of those that have not yet seen the island and its white beaches but also those that are already living on this island for quite some time. Aside from engaging in Vacation Rentals Siesta Key, you can also see that the island has a lot of other amenities to offer such as their wide range of restaurant selection and more.
Siesta Key has turned out to be one of the best real estate properties that the world has to offer with its wide range of home watch options from their condominiums to their villas and apartments as well as their home rentals that face the white sand beaches. Siesta Key is also home to opulent neighborhoods. You will be amazed at how luxurious the island is able to offer that is just not like any other. It will just take you minutes to be going to their every popular Siesta Key Beach on a worldwide scale and their beloved Siesta Village where you will even be given the urban living freedom Sarasota. Basically, you have everything on this island in terms of opting to live a more relaxing life beside the sea and in feeling the vibe from the entertainment that you can get from this island. Whatever Siesta Key Real Estate choice you will be making, there is no denying that you will be offered nothing but a breathtaking view no matter if you will get home rentals or home options that let you look at the bay or the gulf. When you are the how dweller type that goes for the more traditional home styles such as colonial and beach bungalow houses, then you will no doubt find Siesta Key Real Estate manors at Bay Island that can offer you exactly this.
You might want to look at your Siesta Key Real Estate options starting at the west end of the island, the one they call Sara Sand if you are looking for the perfect gulf-side location and the one that is belonging to the center of the island village. This is the perfect place to offer you just a wide range of options in terms of your dining experience,your shopping experience, as well as your creative experience. When you want to live on the east side of the island, you can do so and have the option to live in Hidden Harbor where it can be directly found on Roberts Bay. Living in Hidden Harbor is best for people who would want to find a location that is just quiet but let them enjoy the best views of the island. On the other hand, if you want a place that you can easily walk and relax and experience the best in luxury living, then Siesta Cove is the place for you.


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Perhaps today's coolest celebrities might come from an unexpected field; a comic book story turned to film. Yes, that's The Avengers. And why was the movie a big blockbuster even before it was released on movie houses? Well, our folks were once kids, al3abgame and before they had TV they have the comic books. Ask your dad who the hell are the Avengers and you might be surprised that they can tell you a handful of stories not even your friends can tell. But in this celebrity news, we'll tell that the movie is way too cool to pass on.
The Avengers film was highly anticipated, 1stchoicepestcontrol especially as the "assemble" of Earth's mightiest heroes goes to the big screen. The movie features Chris Evans as Captain America, the icon that was apparently the role model of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s agent Phil Coulson; Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, the green mean alter-ego of Dr. Banner; Chris Hemsworth as Thor, thunder god, wielder of Mjolnir, and son of Odin; Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Starks, the handsome, playboy, philanthropist and owner of the Iron Man suit; Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, the insanely accurate marksman; and Scarlet Johansson as Black Widow, the sexy Russian spy that gave a balance to the almost domination of testosterone in the movie. civirtualtours
As the theaters opened during the first weekend of The Avenger's release, people flocked and didn't waste precious time just to get tickets. By the end of its weekend opener, The Avengers recorded a stunning $200 million in ticket sales. The movie already earned a whopping $441 million since its international release on April 25. That gives a total of more than $641 million in a little less than 2 weeks since it was released.
That amount also ensured The Avengers to the history books as it surpassed Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2, which had an opening weekend with $169.2 million. And now it's on its way to the $1 billion mark, vitamondo something that's a really great feat for a movie.
It gave the fans a lot to cheer about especially the crazy humor that each character portrayed. Uniquely, the film brought out different aspects of the characters that would've been hard to pull off if not because of the actors' dedication to the movie's success. randygoodwin


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Landon Meyer
Landon Meyer, an Arsenal Sales Development Representative, operates our lead generation process for you using the phone, email, salesforce.com, Autopilot HQ, and various technologies. He will collect sales intelligence on the best managed IT accounts in your market and setup qualified sales appointments.
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$3,750/month + 10% revenue sharing on gross recurring won through appointments paid over 12 months (MRR paid monthly, QRR paid quarterly, etc.) to the sales rep and 5% revenue sharing on gross project revenue won through appointments paid in a lump sum Ex. Win a $5,000/month customer and pay $500/month for the next 12 months. Win a $10,000/quarter customer and pay $1,000/quarter over the next 12 months. Win a $50,000 project and/or one-time sale and pay $2,500 one time. Use code "Revenue Sharing" at checkout.


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Peepers Reg RX
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ENTRE RÍOS ERD MUSIC DISTRIBUTION AGENT FOR COPYRIGHT, INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY MATTERS.ERD Music©, ErMusicTelevisión©, ErMusic©, ErMusicTV©, ErMusicNEWS© respects the rights of intellectual property and industrial property, and asks its users to respect them as well. ERD Music©, ErMusicTelevision©, ErMusic©, ErMusicTV©, erMusicNEWS© may, in accordance with its Terms of Service and under the appropriate circumstances and at its discretion, deactivate and / or cancel accounts that may be in violation of copyright, ownership intellectual and industrial of third parties.
Information protected by Intellectual Property Rights
The information that appears on a website is available for anyone to see; but it is not necessarily there for it to be downloaded or used. The people who enter the website have the possibility of electronically copying, or printing, sections of the web sites for their personal use and non-profit where it is allowed. In general, any other use is prohibited, including, but not limited to, the reproduction, modification, distribution, transmission, publication, display or commercialization of the content of the websites.
Violation of your intellectual property rights
If you think your copyright, intellectual or industrial property rights have been infringed, please provide the following information to our Agent for those matters:
- Unmistakable statement with signature, physical or digital, in which you establish that you are the owner of the rights, or that you have the authorization of the same to act on your behalf. You must provide the title or accreditation of the representation of the aforementioned rights;
- Description of the work and rights that you claim were infringed;;
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- Your full name, address, telephone number and email address;
- A statement that you believe, in good faith, that there is an unauthorized use of something protected by intellectual and industrial property laws; that is to say, that the owner of such rights did not give his authorization in this respect AND
- A statement, made under oath and whose inaccuracy is considered perjury, that the information mentioned in the preceding paragraphs is true and accurate, and that you are the owner of the infringed rights or that you have the authorization of the same to act on your behalf and representation.
You can contact the ERD Music© Agent, ErMusic©, ErMusicTV©, ErMusicNEWS© for copyright, intellectual and industrial property by email at email@example.com


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Tag Archives: safe products
Gluten Free Frito Lay
UPDATE: Jan, 2015 Updated this month, Frito Lay now have a list of U.S. Gluten-Free Products and a separate list of U.S Products Not Containing Gluten Ingredients. Frito Lay say they have "validated through analytical testing that the following products contain less than 20ppm of gluten, the level put forward in the FDA's Gluten Free
Read the rest of Gluten Free Frito Lay
Gluten Free Lara Bars
Lara Bars are awesome! They are definitely my favourite gluten free bar in the US so far. When I received a few samples earlier this week I was very excited. I've been looking for a delicious, safe and healthy substitute for my Eat Natural bars which I adore in the UK (but which sadly aren't
Read the rest of Gluten Free Lara Bars
Mary's Gone Crackers Gluten Free
Last week I received a box of samples from Mary's Gone Crackers. Exciting!
Coeliac UK Food and Drink Directory
Wherever you are in this gluten filled world…does your country's Coeliac Association have a directory which provides info for coeliacs on safe gluten free products by brand and/or supermarket? The UK does thanks to the fantastic and hard working Coeliac UK. The Food and Drink Directory which Coeliac UK compiles each year can be found
Read the rest of Coeliac UK Food and Drink Directory


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Twin Cities Best (Breweries) Map
Regular price
The Twin Cities brewery scene is one of the many things that make our cities the best place in the world to call "Home." Here's a map showing off some of THE best breweries the Twin Cities has to offer.
Make it a bundle with our Minneapolis and St. Paul Skyline Pint Glasses and you'll get 20% off the pints!
Orders will ship out near National Beer Day (April 7).
Product Specifications:
- 18" x 24" OR 11"x17"
- Designed, printed and produced in Minnesota.
- Printed on Uncoated 100% Recycled Paper
The Twin Cities Best (Breweries) Map is a collaboration between Northern Glasses and Custom + Kind, our sister brand committed to creating the best custom drinkware, apparel and stickers available for our customers.


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New Rule to Bypass Courts and Deport Immigrants
The Trump Administration is moving forward with a new plan to bypass immigration courts and deport undocumented immigrants.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register that enables DHS to "exercise the full remaining scope of its statutory authority to place in expedited removal" … illegal immigrants who cannot prove that they have been in the United States for the past two years.
This new rule will provide a new means to swiftly remove people from the US who lack proper status without further burdening the immigration courts. Immigration courts have been struggling to keep up with the workload lately and backlogs have reached record highs, closing in on 1 million cases.
The move comes a week after a new asylum regulation was also introduced. That rule prevents immigrants from seeking asylum in the US if they first pass through another country and don't apply for protection in that country. The head of US Customs and Border Protection said the new asylum rule was a small "pilot" for now but that was not enough for those who oppose the rule. Two federal lawsuits (California and Washington, D.C) have already been filed challenging the asylum rule.
President Trump also recently promised that mass deportation operations would be sweeping the nation, but it appears that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids have not occurred yet.


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October 27, 2008 -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA)
State Hopes New Prisons, Early Release Cut Crowding
By Tom Barnew
HARRISBURG -- A steady rise in the number of inmates and the political risks of paroling prisoners early are complicating the state's efforts to ease crowded conditions in its prisons.
The 27 existing lockups now hold nearly 47,000 inmates, which is up from a population of just over 36,000 in 1998. The number of inmates is now 8 percent over the current capacity of 43,300.
And the tide keeps on rising. State Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard estimates that the overall prison population could top 57,000 by the end of 2012. Legislators' desire to be "tough on crime" and the public's fear of rising drug-related crimes have led to longer and more mandatory sentences.
Correctional costs, at $1.6 billion for 2008-09, are the third biggest item in the $28 billion state budget, after education and welfare costs.
Progress to ease the crowded cells is going slowly. The Department of Corrections wants to build three new state prisons, each costing $200 million and holding 2,000 inmates. But the first of the three new prisons won't be open before mid-to late 2011.
The state Legislature has enacted a new law, one advocated by House Speaker Dennis O'Brien, R-Philadelphia. It's aimed at making more nonviolent prisoners eligible for early release. They would have to complete programs to ease their transition back into society, such as anger management and overcoming drug use, before being paroled.
By paroling more appropriate prisoners, officials believe they can moderate the rising tab for prison construction and operational costs, and thus ease the financial strain on state taxpayers.
But giving parole to the wrong inmate -- one who later commits another crime -- can spell political disaster. It happened in September, when an inmate released early from the State Correctional Institution Frackville shot and killed a Philadelphia police officer just a month after getting out of prison. The parolee had been jailed for a 1998 robbery and aggravated assault.
Gov. Ed Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, found himself under pressure from police unions and citizens groups, and imposed a temporary moratorium on all parolees, nonviolent as well as violent.
The moratorium was lifted last week for nonviolent prisoners, whom Mr. Rendell defines as prisoners "with no history of a violent offense."
The corrections department and the Board of Probation and Parole will decide if an inmate qualifies as nonviolent and thus can be let out of prison early.
But deciding if an inmate is truly nonviolent can be tricky, said Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo. Sometimes an inmate is jailed for a nonviolent offense, such as drug buying or selling, burglary or other crimes against property, but more serious charges had been dismissed or plea-bargained away.
Violent crimes include things like murder, assault, robbery and rape. State parole and prisons officials will take an inmate's complete history into account before allowing him to be released on parole, Mr. Ardo said.
Mr. Rendell named a Temple University official, John S. Goldkamp, to study whether nonviolent inmates could be safely paroled. He recommended last week that parole "be restarted for nonviolent offenders [only]."
Mr. Rendell said, "The moratorium on paroles for all violent offenders remains in effect."
Prisons spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said a thorough review will be made of all inmates considered nonviolent, but she couldn't say how many of them would eventually be eligible for paroles or when the paroles would start.
As for the three new prisons, the first will go on the grounds of the existing SCI Rockview in Centre County. A construction manager and an architect will soon be chosen by of the state Department of General Services. A ground-breaking is expected in 2009 and the project would take about two years to complete.
"Rockview was selected because there is plenty of state-owned land there to build upon and the new prison can share functions, such as warehouses and a business office, with the prison that's already there," said Ms. McNaughton.
A second new prison is to be built somewhere in Fayette County, which already has one. Corrections officials are now scouting several other sites in Fayette County for the second prison, with a decision expected by next spring.
There are several counties where the third new prison could be built, including two sites in Schuylkill and one each in Northumberland, Huntingdon and Luzerne. Another possibility is on the grounds of Graterford state prison outside Philadelphia.
Mr. O'Brien this fall pushed for House Bill 4, which is designed to help nonviolent inmates turn their lives around while behind bars and qualify for early release. A judge would outline the incentive program to a convict at his post-trial sentencing.
"The incentives would encourage nonviolent inmates to follow a path that gives them a much better chance at re-entering society without committing new crimes," Mr. O'Brien said.
Such programs would include recovery from drug and alcohol abuse or addiction; literacy and high school diploma equivalency courses; job training; and anger management.
The program for inmates "will enhance public safety and provide large financial benefits to governments and taxpayers," Mr. O'Brien said.


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Alloy Wheel Repair – Conserve Your Wheels Now! Alloy wheels can create a significant impact to the overall look of an auto. Further, it can make a large difference to the functioning of the automobile.Read more
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Boat Safety Procedures – Requirements For Boating
Boat Safety Procedures – Prerequisites For Boating We have an extensive fleet of RIBs available for safety boat filming & hire vessel hire UK wide with rates starting from #295 + VAT/day. We also giveRead more
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5 Easy Steps to Enhancing Your Security Guard Service
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Now a day's the majority of those consumers look for company services & products testimonials through distinct search information and become educated for themselves prior to going to buy or order services. More people areRead more
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Noise Control in the Workplace is Critical along with a Legal Requirement Noise control in the work environment where machines is operating can readily be achieved by using this products. Noise can be a securityRead more


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Michelle Klein's brings history to life as the Membership Manager of the GRAMMY Museum at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. She is responsible for maintaining and growing the museum's membership base by working with current and potential donors across the country. There are about 2,500 annual members of the GRAMMY Museum and their gifts, in the form of membership packages, range from $60.00-$25,000.
Michelle earned her Bachelor's degree from Gonzaga University with a major in history and a minor in public relations with the intent of becoming a teacher. After earning her Master's degree in museum studies and working as an intern in museum education, visitor services, gallery management, and development, Michelle pursued a career as a museum professional because "these experiences helped cement my interest in the field and ensured I was on the right path."
There are two major fundraising events each year, the Jane Ortner Education Award Luncheon in the spring and the Architects of Sound Gala in the fall, which are held at larger, off-site venues. Michelle and her team spend months planning for these events and the most difficult part is choosing the artist honorees to recognize at the biannual functions. Once the artist and the date are confirmed, Michelle works to finalize the guest list, invitation design, menu selection, and performing artists.
Being the Membership Manager does have its privileges. Michelle has been invited to attend the GRAMMY's and has met a handful of famous artists at the Museum, such as Annie Lennox, Donovan, and The Goo Goo Dolls. Michelle encourages young women who would like to work in the music industry to "maintain your professional relationships and identify individuals that are able and willing to mentor you throughout your career. Success requires hard work, a strong vision, a detailed plan, patience and flexibility."
Michelle grew up in Beaverton, Oregon and currently resides in Long Beach, California. In her spare time enjoys, skiing, the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, painting, traveling, and visiting historic sites and new cities.
Contributor: Judy McDevitt


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Kristina Gjini
Emerging Professional
Kristina joined IDEA in 2017, bringing experience in a combination of architecture and urban planning. She sees the two disciplines interlinked and over the years has developed an interest in multidisciplinary approaches which have the potential to tackle social challenges and can contribute to empowering communities. Her experience in both United States and abroad, along with her BIM capabilities, are a few of the assets she contributes to IDEA. She is passionate about art and enjoys painting, traveling, and meditation.
Selected Experience
- XNA Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Garage in Bentonville, AR (with DESMAN)
- Scioto Peninsula Garage and Park Project Columbus, Ohio (with DESMAN)
- Attended the workshop Quality of Space Quality of Life, AESOP EUSS, Lusofona University Lisbon Portugal
- Completed the International Training Program in Integrated Urban Planning, in Sweden and Kenya sponsored by the SIDA, Hifab International and BIT
Bachelor of Architecture
Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana, AL
Master of Science in Urban Development and International Cooperation
Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
Université Pierre Mendès Grenoble, France
In Progress


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Andy Cohen's star-studded squad is wishing him a happy birthday — well, from the mouth of Amy Phillips, Radio Andy's professional Housewives superfan.
The Reality Checked host celebrated her boss turning the big 4-8 with a hilarious montage of Lisa Rinna, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Jessica Parker, Joan Rivers, Sarah Silverman and more celebs sending him their best.
Listen to Phillip's impersonations in the clip below:
Another member of Cohen's SiriusXM family, Bethenny Frankel, also gave him a gift that keeps on giving: Wednesday night's "Berkshire-serk" episode of The Real Housewives of New York City.
Reality Checked with Amy Phillips airs live Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11 am ET on SiriusXM Radio Andy (Ch. 102).
For a free 30-day trial, check out http://www.siriusxm.com/freeTrial.
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Back in the day, people did not come across the concept of dating. It was either marriage or nothing. Of course, men always had the option of pleasing themselves either way without society holding them back with its hand. It was the women who were to be strictly prohibited from seeing men. For them, marriage was the only way to go about it. That was the only relation, other than blood, that a woman could share with a man. To this date, times have changed. Arranged marriages have gone down the drain, especially in first world countries. What remains behind is a mutual decision of getting to know each other and taking the next step together. However, with increasing opportunities and increasing stress that comes with busy schedules, the dating pool is dying. Remember when you could easily sit in a bar and meet a nice guy or a girl? You could just hit it on and find your life partner easily then. But today, its hard to find men or women that you can like. Hell, you yourself do not have the time to fish out suitable dating partners. With such reasons, your dating life is going down the drain. You have reached a point where you are not even aware of how dry your love life been. While you should absolutely focus on your career and life goals, do not forget to give love a chance every now and then. And so, for this very purpose we have Tinder. In the world of technology, you do not have to leave behind the important tasks of your life to find love. You can let love come to you with one swipe. So discover what is Tinder with us now!
Tinder is an exclusive mobile application that allows its users to find suitable dating or hook-up partners. This application was developed by IAC back in 2012. Almost immediately, it became immensely popular among social media users. We know that the whole idea about meeting a potential partner through an application sounds rough, but Tinder brings with it amazing experiences. It does not require for you to have a specific preference for dating. You can simply choose to date anyone according to your sexual preference. With that, you do not need to make a Tinder account only because you want to date someone seriously. You are allowed to experiment and keep a non-serious attitude. The point of having Tinder in your life is simple- meeting new people and discovering love. This application does not only hold the doors for love though, many users use Tinder to find one night stands, friends with benefits, cheat on their partners (What a shame!) and everything that comes under the category. What Tinder does is it uses your phone's location to navigate through the users and find out potential partners near you. It also uses data from your Facebook profile to build up your Tinder page. On this application your page will have; Your name (First, middle and Last), your age, date of birth, your preferences (sexual orientation), your brief biography, your images and profile picture and any pages that you have liked on Tinder or Facebook as well. However, when we say it accesses your Facebook data, we do not mean it forces itself into you privacy. It gives you the option of linking your Tinder account with Facebook. With that, it gives you the freedom to choose what can be shared on your profile.
According to Tinder's own statistics, about 50 million users are active on this app each day. With that, this application experiences several hundred million swipes each day! If you are intrigued, you might wonder how does Tinder even work. We will reveal the fun part first. This application allows you to swipe right or swipe left. When you swipe right, that mean you approve of a dating/hook up request. But, when you swipe left it just means you are not interested! This application creates a card like display of your profile and shows it within the application. As you launch the application in your mobile device, Tinder also suggests you potential people you might like. These cards are of people that are close by your area. Because, what is the point of Tinder if it connects you to a far away match. Nobody has time for long-distance relationships here!
Now when you or someone else swipes right to a card, it enables you both to chat with each other. This is how you have the ability to communicate with potential matches on this application. Remember, Tinder does not force relationships. When you get a potential match, you get to swipe right or left on their card. Similarly, they also get the option of choosing right or left swipe. So, if they swipe left (REJECT!) and you swipe right, you will be unable to chat with them! Similarly, if both of you swiped right on each and approved the match, you get to talk to each other. From that point, the application has done its job and the rest is on you two love birds!
Now, Tinder does create a lot of potential for you to date or find a romantic partner. But, in recent years there have been a lot of concerns. These concerns have led people to calculate whether or not this application is for them or not. Because you are trusting an online website, you can never completely trust what you see online. Many cases have reported that the people the swiped right on were not what they were in their profile pictures. Yes, many individuals made use of fake pictures to lure people into dating them. This can cause potential danger to you. If you are not careful, you can run into an online trap easily. And just like that, many times individuals put up wrong intentions on their profiles and while they chat with potential matches. For example, say you were looking for love and you find a match who suggest they are on this application for the same purpose. But after your first hook up, thing's turn around. This could really cause you emotional disturbance. Similarly, you have to understand that people lie. Many individuals on Tinder do not reveal their relationship status. There are chances that you will run into individuals who are already married, dating or engaged. However, they choose not to reveal their relationship status to lure you into their intentions. Once done, this can really increase your self-guilt. With that, Tinder is not a happy-go-lucky site for dating to be exact. When you begin your Tinder account, there are chances that you will run into creeps, weirdos, people who like playing out their fetishes and people who are desperate for sex. If you can dodge them, Tinder is perfect for you to find a suitable match. You have to understand that Tinder is part of social media. People from all over your country have joined this site and so you will run into all types of people. In order to calculate whether or not Tinder is for you then, you should consider this: If you are a strong, willful, rational, patient and honest individual who has the ability to filter out other individuals before getting involved, then Tinder is truly for you. Otherwise your should steer clear of Tinder. If you have evaluated yourself then and think you are ready for Tinder experience, you should learn how to access it; Because we guarantee Tinder, if used carefully and used right, can prove to be fun!
Now, we are going to end this article with teaching you how to access Tinder on your devices. Tinder can be accessed through web browsers but it is best if you do so through its application. Tinder is supported by both: Android and iOS supporting mobile phones. First, you need to download the application then. In order to download the application, you will open your app store (Play store or Apple app store) and in the search bar, type "Tinder". When you notice a suggestion with Tinder's official name and logo, click on it. When it opens, you will be required to click on Install. It will only install if you agree with the terms and conditions! Once installed, you will launch the application on your phone and the sign up page will appear immediately. Here you will simply provide your mobile number, email address, username and password. If you want to, you can connect Tinder with your Facebook and it will access your likes and dislikes immediately. This way, you will build your profile faster. The next step will require uploading a picture. Make sure you are honest and you load your original and recent picture. Now, type in a sweet and short biography and set your preferences. Well, your Tinder profile is up and running now. Starting swiping through and find potential "lovers"!
But, focus on our previous warnings and be careful of what you see. You might see a hot guy, but is he really who he says he is?