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An Intelligent Shopping List - Combining Digital Paper with Product Ontologies
Marcus Liwicki; Sandra Thieme; Gerrit Kahl; Andreas Dengel
In: Proceedings 15th International Conference on Knowledge-based and Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems. International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES-11), September 12-14, Kaiserslautern, Germany, Pages 187-194, Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS), Vol. 6881, Springer-Verlag, 2011.
This paper proposes a novel system which automatically extracts the intended items to buy from a hand written shopping list. This intelligent shopping list relies on an ontology of the products which is provided by the shopping mall. In our scenario the shopping list is written on digital Anoto paper. After transmitting the hand written strokes to the computer, the list items are recognized by a hand writing recognition system. Next, the recognized text is parsed in order to detect the amount and the desired item. This is then matched to the underlying ontology and the intended order is recognized. Our current prototype works on an ontology of 300 products. In our real-world experiments we asked 20 persons to write shopping lists without any constrains.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Jimmy Webb has yet again managed to make a flash ascent of a confirmed 8B boulder problem. This time it was Paul Robinson's A simple knowing at Topside outside Cape Town, South Africa which was flashed.
The problem was originally given 8C, but after new beta, involving a crucial heel toe cam, was found, it was downgraded to 8B.
With five 8B flashes to his name, four of which this year and three of those in South Africa, there is no doubt Jimmy has improved a lot lately. Maybe he is better than he thinks? You could easily get that impression considering the many downgrades he has suggested...
Well I asked him about it a while back:
Could it be that it's your internal grading scale that needs adjusting rather than all the problems in the world being soft?
When it comes to my grading, I could potentially agree with you. Yet I started trying Monkey wedding the other day which is graded 8C. I realized very fast that this boulder is leagues above all the other blocs here in Rocklands. More than one step above the 8B+ boulders!
Remember Monkey wedding was originally given 8B+ by Fred Nicole. Grades...
Next up for Jimmy, after 26h of non stop traveling is the DWS competition at the Salt lake city trade show, and then later this autumn it's quite possible we'll see him in the La Sportiva Legends Only invitational.James Webb is sponsored by: prAna, Sterling Rope, Tennessee Bouldering Authority, Five Ten, Organic and Metolius.


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The main office of Metropolitan Casualty Insurance Company is located at 700 Quaker Ln, Warwick, RI, 02886, according to Hoover's Inc., a Dun & Bradstreet Company. The company offers services under the brand name MetLife. Customers can locate branch offices by using the Find a MetLife Office link on MetLife's "Contact Us" page at MetLife.com.Continue Reading
Approximately 70 percent of the company's premiums come from auto insurance policies in the United States, as Hoover's explains. MetLife also offers life, health, home, disability and long-term care insurance policies. It offers structured settlements for customers, as its site shows. The company, its subsidiaries and affiliates provide services to businesses and individuals throughout the United States and globally.Learn more about Insurance


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Oral Surgery Procedures
Dental Implants
Dental implants are used to replace tooth roots. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are small anchors made of biocompatible metal, called titanium, placed in the jawbone. The anchors begin to fuse with the bone over a few months. After the fusing process, known as osseointegration, abutment posts are inserted into the anchors to allow for the attachment of the replacement teeth. To fabricate the replacement teeth, an impression is taken and a model of the bite is created. The replacement teeth are based on this model. Replacement teeth can either be crowns, bridges or dentures.
Wisdom Tooth Removal (3rd Molars)
A wisdom tooth that is deemed problematic is normally extracted to avoid any oral complications. To have a wisdom tooth removed, a small incision is made to open up the gum tissue over the tooth and remove any bone that is covering the tooth. Once the tooth is in view, it is grasped with a dental instrument, known as a forcep, and gently rocked back and forth to loosen it from the jaw bone and surrounding ligaments. Sometimes the tooth may need to be cut into smaller pieces to make it easier for removal. Stitches may be necessary after the removal of a wisdom tooth.
Impacted Tooth & Tooth Exposure
An impacted tooth is a tooth that fails to fully pass through the gums.
Impacted wisdom and cuspid (or canine) teeth are fairly common. To correct impacted teeth, there are a few treatment options. For impacted wisdom teeth, the most common procedure is extraction. For impacted canine teeth, several treatment modalities are available. Orthodontics (braces) can be used to open space for proper eruption. Primary (baby) teeth can either be extracted or surgically exposed to allow for the placement of an orthodontic bracket to help align the teeth.
Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is the replacement or enhancement of bone around teeth. When a tooth is lost, the surrounding bone collapses. Bone grafting is performed to reverse bone loss or enhance existing bone. The grafting material can be taken from parts of the body or from synthetic material. Bone grafting allows for proper support of dental implants or prostheses.
Orthognathic Surgery
Orthognathic surgery is done to correct misalignments or other abnormalities in the upper and/or lower jaw.
Orthognathic surgery can involve procedures such as an osteotomy (bone cutting), bone grafts, or distraction osteogenesis (stretching of the bone) and orthodontic (braces) care. Orthognathic correction is conducted in stages, and the course of treatment can last from a few months to a year or more.
In order to perform the procedure successfully, the jawbones will be repositioned in accordance with one's specific needs. Inconspicuous incisions are usually made inside, and if needed, outside the mouth to allow for surgical plates, screws, wires and rubber bands to be used to hold your jaws in their new positions.
Labial or Lingual Frenectomies
A frenectomy is a simple surgical procedure performed to release the connection of the "frenum," a connective muscle between two tissues. There are two types of oral frenectomies that are frequently performed on both adults and children for a variety of reasons.
A Labial Frenectomy is performed on the tissue that connects the lip to the gums. This may be performed on children or adults to aid with orthodontic treatment or even help with the proper fitting for a denture or appliance.
A Lingual Frenectomy may also be referred to as the release of tongue-ties (ankyloglossia). This procedure is performed on the connective tissue under the tongue. The procedure is often performed on neonatal patients to assist with nursing or on toddlers or older patients who need the surgery to help correct speech issues caused by limited movement due the the frenum.
Sinus Lift
A sinus lift is a surgery that adds bone to your upper jaw in the premolar and molar areas of your mouth. To add bone, an incision is made where the premolar and molar teeth were previously located. Once the bone is exposed, a small circular shape is made in the bone to access the sinus. Once the sinus is accessed, the sinus membrane is gently pushed up and away from the upper jaw. Once this is done, bone graft material is placed into the sinus space to change the shape and provide support. Once the bone is in place, the incision is closed and the healing process begins.
Additional Procedures
Depending on the type of facial trauma sustained, there are many different treatment options available. The primary goals of treatment are to stop any bleeding from occurring, create a clear airway, repair any broken or fractured bone, and or suture any damaged soft tissue. Treatment is immediate, as long as there are no neck fractures or life-threatening injuries.
A series of surgeries can restore normal function and achieve a more normal appearance with minimal scarring.
A cleft lip is usually repaired between the ages of 3 to 6 months. Some children require a lip adhesion or a device such as a molding plate to bring the parts closer together before the full lip repair. A child with a repaired cleft lip will have a scar on the lip under the nose.
A cleft palate is usually repaired between 9 and 12 months of age. To repair the palate, the soft palate muscles from each side are connected to each other and the normal barrier between the mouth and nose is created.
Additional surgeries are needed to improve the appearance of the lip and nose, close the opening between the mouth and nose, help breathing, and stabilize and realign the jaw. Once the permanent teeth grow in, braces are often needed to straighten the teeth.
Adequate bone volume of the jawbone is necessary for the secure placement, stability, function, aesthetics and longevity of implants. Because tooth loss can result in diminished bone volume in the jawbone, a bone expansion procedure may be necessary prior to implant placement. This procedure can increase the height and/or width of the jaw ridge through the use of mechanical manipulation combined with a bone graft. The Ridge Expansion takes several months to mature and be sufficiently strong for the placement of implants. Ridge Expansion not only improves the function of implants, but is also a key contributor to the enhanced aesthetics, filling in the face around the gums and jaw and thus minimizing the appearance of aging.
To treat TMJ disorders, first the cause has to be identified. In less severe cases TMJ disorders can be treated with self-managed care (eating soft foods, using ice packs, avoiding extreme jaw movement) or nonsurgical treatments (anti-inflammatory medications, Botox injections, or stabilization splints). In severe cases surgical treatments (jaw joint replacements) may be necessary.
TMJ conditions fall into three main categories:
- Myofascial pain – discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function.
- Internal derangement of the joint – a possible indicator of a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injury to the condyle.
- Arthritis – a degenerative inflammatory disorder.
Sleep apnea is an ongoing condition that disrupts sleep. When breathing is paused or becomes shallow, one will often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep, making the quality of sleep poor.
Sleep apnea can be treated with lifestyle changes, mouthpieces, breathing devices, and/or surgery.
For mild sleep apnea, a custom fitted mouthpiece or some lifestyle changes (weight loss, smoking cessation, clearing nasal passages) may be helpful.
For moderate to severe sleep apnea, a breathing device called CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) or surgery to widen the breathing passages by shrinking, stiffening, or removing excess tissue in the mouth and throat or resetting the lower jaw may be helpful. A CPAP machine uses a mask that fits over your mouth and/or nose and gently blows air into your throat. This air pressure helps keep your airway open while you sleep. Surgery to shrink the tissue involves a small shot into the breathing passages. Surgery to stiffen excess tissue requires a small incision in the tissue and the insertion of a piece of stiff plastic.
The following are some of the facial cosmetic surgeries performed:
- Cheekbone Implants
- Chin Surgery
- Ear Surgery
- Eyelid Surgery
- Facelift
- Facial and Neck
- Liposuction
- Forehead/Brow Lift
- Lip Enhancement
- Nasal Reconstruction
Specialized Techniques
These growth factors are in the form of a mixed gel that can be applied directly into tooth sockets and other sites. Placing this material in tooth sockets after tooth extractions can improve soft tissue healing and positively influence bone regeneration.
These techniques offer a new approach to tissue regeneration. PRP derives from the centrifugation of a patient's own blood and contains growth factors that influence wound healing. This is important in tissue repairing mechanisms. The use of PRP in surgical practice could have beneficial outcomes, reducing bleeding and enhancing soft tissue healing and bone regeneration.
Lasers have several uses for dental surgery. Some common types of dental laser surgery include but are not limited to: dental cavities, root canals, gum surgery, dental abscess, biopsy, and treatment of lesions.


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Make sure your vehicle is decked out with New York Knicks pride by adding this two-piece deluxe car mat set to your floorboards! This set is the perfect gift for any New York Knicks fan!
Proudly serving our Military & Veterans
Official NBA STORE Gift
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In Stock
Basket of Sea Shells
A fantastic collection of exotic, decorative shells.
Supplied in a natural, woven basket. These shells are perfect for transient art activities or adding to your sand play.
Why not try adding to an Active World Tray and fill with sand to make a lovely small world scenario. Size approx 8 - 20cm.
Related Blog Posts
good, some are a little brittle though and broke straight away
I said good as some shells l ordered some was broken inside


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Proudly inscribed with the year Tiffany was founded, the Tiffany 1837™ collection is defined by sleek curves and contours. Iconic engraving adds a contemporary touch to this classic corkscrew.
At Tiffany, we believe in using beautiful things not only on special occasions, but also in everyday life. Every piece in our Home & Accessories collection perfectly blends form, function and quality to make ordinary objects extraordinary.
Engraving, Complimentary Hand Engraving, AU$55 Monogramming, AU$80 Symbols, AU$0
Shipping Enjoy complimentary shipping on your order.
The Tiffany Blue Box All purchases arrive in the renowned Tiffany Blue Box, tied with a white satin ribbon.
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Only 1 available
Slim gold foil bow washi tape Mint & Pink to choose from 8mm x 10m each roll
Items will be posted via UK Royal Mail 1st Class Standard, or 2nd class standard depending on the size and weight of your order, usually within 48 hours of placing an order. Proof of postage will always be retained. Our UK postage & packaging charges start from £1.40Please be aware that this price will include packaging materials as well as full postage costs. We always combine postage so you will only pay the one p&p charge.For international orders we send packages by Standard Airmail which is not trackable. If you would like your package sent by a trackable service please let us know. This will cost extra. We will provide you with a quote before hand.Deliveries to Europe normally takes about 7-10 working daysRest of the world about 10-14 days.
Payment is to be made in full at the time of placing your order. We accept paypal and all major credit/debit cards.


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The Petzl Pandion Climbing Harness is a webbing harness for climbing, adventure racing, and beginners. Completely adjustable at the waist and leg loops and superbly packable harness is ready for fast, lightweight adventures that may involve a change of clothing layers. Put it on while you're still wearing skis and crampons without destroying the nylon webbing and secure yourself in with the DoubleBack buckles. The single Dyneema tie-in point is tough and the single equipment loop is flexible, steering clear when wearing a pack. A lightweight convenience you can always keep around that is fully adjustable to fit all sizes of friends.
So sorry, but only 4 items are allowed for comparison, so we're comparing the first 4. I blame the gnomes and so should you.
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Hey babes,
I'm so excited for today's {Friday's Fancies} since it has to do with one of my favorite holidays... New Year's Eve!
I like to keep it simple but sexy on NYE. A flashy dress is my go-to, paired with black pumps and a simple envelope clutch. Go ahead and show a little skin... just be sure to pair your dress with a fabulous faux-fur coat to make sure you don't freeze!
What are your plans for NYE?
I'll be headed to a ball in Charleston... a few of my sorority sisters from college will be there and I can't wait to ring in the new year with them!
Love, Cait


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One of most beautiful waterfalls in America
When one arrives near Havasupai Falls Campground, the first waterfalls that greets him/her are Navajo Falls. Although as beautiful as they are, more popular one here is definitely Havasu Falls. It's a about 100 feet tall waterfall that plunges directly into a pool. Due to the high concentration of calcium carbonate in the water, the pool and Havasu Creek look vivid blue-green. I was quite excited to be back. I took my time taking photos there while thinking to myself what another great opportunity to photograph one of the most beautiful waterfalls in America was.
Even my fingers prickled
The rain that continued into late night prevented me from capturing the Milky Way. Thankfully it was no longer raining when I woke up. I grabbed my gear and headed down to the shore that I had scouted the day before. The soil was still wet. I love those early morning walks in the forest. As the damp air was filling up my lungs, I could feel that even my fingers prickled from such intakes of fresh air. While watching the trout ripples stir the water, I composed my shot and waited. As expected, the sunrise glow was cast along the ridge line.
My mind was uneasy
When I arrived at South Lake, the sky was filled with clouds. First and foremost, it concerned me that I may not be able to capture the Milky Way at night. The following day was the new moon, and capturing some good reflections of the galaxy traversing the sky in the lake was what drove me back out to the Eastern Sierra. I sauntered down to the other side of the lake where the sunset glow cast on the peaks, including Hurd Peak, in the distance would be seen. It wasn't too windy nor the water was quite choppy. I was just thankful that the weather was holding up. But whether I liked it or not, my mind was uneasy with a thick layer of clouds slowly creeping in.
Last streaks of glistening glow
Big and small blotches of clouds that kept creeping overhead eventually blanketed most of the sky. Only a bit of clearing remaining over the peaks was letting a bit of light through. It felt like I was witnessing a hard fought defeat of the sunlight that had attempted to pierce through but failed against the clouds that had already advanced quite a bit. It got dark quickly once the last streaks of glistening glow in the water swallowed up by the murkiness. And the raindrops soon followed. I packed away my gear and put my poncho over it just in time for a downpour.
Muy suave
The sky was hardly clear of grey clouds that appeared to shower in any given moment when I started out with this day's destination in mind - Bishop Pass. Part of me was rather uneasy due to possible downpours, but to my great surprise, the weather held up. And walking on Bishop Pass Trail was just pure fun. In fact, the overcast sky let me enjoy the hike without breaking even a single sweat up to the foot of the switchbacks to the pass. Maybe the rain that came overnight did it. Or so much humidity in the air did it. The greenery looked mucho mas verde. The soil underneath my feet felt muy suave.
Stark juxtaposition
One of the sights that pleasantly surprised me on my way was the abundant amount of wildflowers along the trail, which came in all different colors, shapes and sizes. When I arrived at this particular section of Bishop Pass Trail, Bishop Pass, one of the most popular passes in the Eastern Sierra, came into view for the first time. And Mt. Agassiz to its right immediately steered my gaze away from the pass. The peak looked quite taller than I originally imagine. And even later when I reached the pass, I was quite stunned by how massive the peak looked in its overwhelming presence. The stark juxtaposition of the colorful wildflowers in the foreground against the above treeline mountain backdrop pleased my eye. And believe me. The barren upclimb looked quite inviting as the trail that had led me to this point.
Flowing scary fast
The sky was never clear of the clouds. In fact, moments of sprinkling lightly continually came and went, and I kept finding myself retrieving my poncho, thinking that it may turn into a downpour. But it held off pretty well at least till I reached Bishop Pass. One of the places I explored was Long Lake, which was almost a mile long and sat right by the trail. But I wasn't interested in the view from the trail side. I wanted to see was other views that each corner of the lake had to offer, in conjunction with Mt. Agassiz. I rambled down to one of the outlets, thinking that I could go up high on Hurd Peak, which sat on the other side of the lake. It turned out that the stream wasn't shallow at all to ford. In fact, it was flowing scary fast. Great for photography but not so much for crossing. I may have been my last day on earth if I got swept away in the water!!! While telling myself that I must take another trail to get to the peak, I decided to do long exposure here with one of the twenty tallest peaks in California in the background.
I just kept it to myself
I realized that the northwest corner of Long Lake was the best vantage point to capture both Mt. Agassiz and Bishop Pass and their reflections. The lake wasn't always calm because the wind blew intermittently. But I was able to catch some moments where the water seemed still. Except for the clouds flowing across it. The sun shone through rather sporadically. I was just glad that it wasn't raining. From where I was, I could see day hikers and backpackers rambling along the main trail. Even a couple of trail runners. Yet I was thinking to myself only if they knew how beautiful this part of the lake also was. Well, I just kept it to myself.
Willy Wonka came to mind
Once I got the shots of Mt. Agassiz and Bishop Pass together, I walked further around Long Lake. I soon arrived at a spot where Chocolate Peak came into a full view. Till that moment, I had not made the connection as to why the peak was called Chocolate Peak. Contrary to the pale and dark grey colors of the adjacent higher peaks, however, this short peak was painted in milk chocolate. Willy Wonka came to mind for a sec. In the company of clouds, the reflection of the peaks looked quite promising for the next shot.
Took one last look
I really wanted to take as many photos as I could while hiking the loop around Chocolate Peak, consisting of Ruwau Lake, Chocolate Lakes and Bull Lake. But I knew I didn't have a whole lot of time. Besides, raining was imminent. So, I reluctantly headed up the steep section of the trail, which then evened out as it got closer to Ruwau Lake. What greeted me though was the stunning sight of Mt. Agassiz, which was literally dropping straight into the water. All of a sudden, I was quite stoked to be there. The wind frequently died down, so I was able to capture the clear reflection of the mountain. Part of me knew that I could finish the loop, but I also would've wanted to spend so much time doing long exposure at each lake, which means my return to South Lake for sunset would've been jeopardized. I took one last look and wavered to pack up and head back to the main trail.
Simmering in very nonchalant fashion
Upon returning to Thousand Island Lake, I wanted to stay by the water and capture the reflections of the mountains in the water. But, the strong gale of winds that never stopped blowing continued not only into the night but also till next morning. After early dinner, I set up my camera and waited. I really liked this composition where the rocks in the water in foreground were leading the eye toward the pines on the little piece of land jutting out into the lake and then eventually to Mt. Ritter, the focal point of the image. The peak was gleaming in a vivid orange glow, and the lake seemed to be simmering in a very nonchalant fashion.
Smoldering like embers
I woke up to the harrowing sound of the winds. The first thing that my half-open eyes inspected was the dust on everything inside the tent. Not much. Good. It worked. Dust blowing inside the tent was really bad the day before, so I had collected rocks about the size of full frame cameras and created a shelter wall going around the tent entrance. I grabbed my gear and the sleeping bag and hopped down the boulder slope to the shore for sunrise. Again, capturing the reflection of Mt. Ritter in the water was out of the question. However, once the peak of the mountain started smoldering like embers, the orange glow spilled over onto the smoothed out lake surface. I was not disappointed.
And then impeccable orange
When I opened my eyes and looked through the small pocket-size opening of my sleeping bag, it felt like the sun was already up. For a second, I thought that I slept through the sunrise. Then, the alarm just went off. Guess my body knew it was time to wake up. As I often do, I had the rain fly removed when I went to bed because it wasn't windy and that I knew there was no rain in the forecast. Falling asleep while counting the stars is one of my favorite things to do in the wilderness. I got out of my tent and got the cameras ready. Once the sun was rising behind me, Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak started glowing in dark red, almost rich dark purple, at first. And then burning red. And then impeccable orange. As I had been waiting for it. And the calm water without a single breeze reflected just that.
Exact replica of our world
The water was tranquil, so the reflections of Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak were literally mirror like. I didn't even have to do long exposure. Sometimes it's that simple. Not even a single breeze, as if the time stood still. Except for those occasional gentle trout ripples. As brutal as nature can be the next minute, for now the world came to an abrupt halt, and the only thing that I was witnessing was the exact replica of our world in the water.
Stillness of water
What followed the early tranquil morning at the lakeshore was the equally calm and quiet solitude at breakfast. After pondering a few different hiking scenarios in my head, I decided to move my campsite to Island Pass, a day earlier than planned. Since it was only 2 miles away, it was still quite early when I arrived there. Higher in elevation, the pass presented more snow along and around the trail and a few icebergs floating in the ponds and lakes. I put down my backpack and scouted the area for camping and photography. I eventually decided on one of the lakes close to the edge of the pass, facing straight at Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak. However, the wind never seemed to stop blowing. After early dinner, I set up my cameras and patiently waited. Then, really close to the sunset, the reflections of the snow clad mountains in the lake became very clear. The wind was eventually dying down. And the stillness of water that mirrored the orange glow infused mountains entered my frame.
More vivid and sharp
As the wind was dying down, the clump of orange glow on Mt. Ritter and the slivers of glow on Banner Peak grew brighter. And it felt like the mountains were growing bigger as the trees and rocks around the lake in the middle and foreground sunk in the dark. But, perception is such an illusion. Rather than what was simply unfolding before my eyes, what my mind wanted to see was beyond what I was expecting. They looked more vivid and sharp in spite of the fact that they were in the dark.
Overwhelming sense of belonging
Once the sunset glow cast on Mt. Ritter disappeared, twilight descended. And soon Earth's shadow was cast in the east of the snow clad mountain. And the reflection of this lovely bluish and purplish twilight wedge in the water was just beyond what my words could describe. While the west face of the mountain was still illuminating in afterglow, I was struck by this overwhelming sense of belonging. Yes, I belonged here. This little corner of the planet called Earth. And once the shadow completely faded into outer space, night fell.
Soaked in tranquility of nature
One of the iconic images that I'd seen over and over again and that I had planned to take as my own was the orange glow cast on Mt. Ritter and Banner Peak at sunrise. And, of course, the reflection of it in Thousand Island Lake. While there was not a single speck of cloud in sight, no wind was disturbing the tranquility of the water. It was so calm that those small ripples created by the trouts travelled far. A school of rainbow trouts indifferently swimming me by put a big smile on my face. As the sun rose, the peaks started glowing from grey to dark red to orange. Transfixed on the magic happening before my eyes, I simply let myself soaked in the tranquility of nature.
In spite of the fact that it is heavy, one of the advantages in bringing a 70-200mm lens on this trip was that I was able to take a closer (not necessarily personal since I wasn't climbing) look at the 15th tallest mountain in California and its peak. As is often the case, wide angle lenses, like 16-35mm, let me capture the overall perspective of the landscape, and I use it 95% of the time, but I must admit that at more like a touchable distance all the protruded up and outward, sharp rocks and sunk craggy crevices look intimidating and fascinating at the same time. No other explanations needed for those crispy, sharp images. As the sun rose, the orange glow got intense. And as soon as it was gone, I was looking forward to seeing the next one.
Slowly coming to life
Slept for less than 4 hours and woke up to the harrowing sound of winds that never seemed to have stopped. The sky was brightening up fast. As soon as I packed away my sleeping pad and the tarp, I set up my cameras. Again, I bundled up myself in the sleeping bag while waiting for the glow to descend upon Carson Peak, above Rush Creek Falls. The sound of the waterfalls was deafening as it constantly filled up the basin. As the facade of the peak was getting painted in bright orange, the whole world was slowly coming to life.
Suspended in time
One of the moments that I found quite idyllic was when the waning crescent moon (full moon two nights ago) was setting over the fresh snow clad peaks under the thick blanket of clouds. Catching a glimpse of Mt. Whitney poking out of the veil of clouds and flicking a smile in her freshly snow-powdered face in the early morning light was what I had in mind when I climbed this tall rock rather precarious in the gusty winds. Instead, it felt like everything seemed suspended in time… The moon hung frozen in the sky looked like an eye that never blinked, and the clouds hovering over the peaks like a thin stratum of air stopped brushing them.
Simply magical
Freshly clad with snow
Mt. Whitney finally emerged from under the thick blanket of clouds that had shrouded the top of the mountains for the last 2 1/2 days, thanks to the rain storm. And when she did, she was freshly clad with snow, to my pleasant surprise, although expected to a degree. I deployed my 70-200mm f/4 to have a closeup of the tallest peak in the contiguous US. And I was extremely pleased by how crisp the peaks looked, in particular, shot with the Sony A7III. Also, what I was extremely surprised by was the 35mm full frame (6000 x 4000) mode in high resolution, which brings the size of a file up to almost 50MB from 24 MB. Yes, it is a bit of pain in the butt to process these hugh files, but even when I crop in, the crispy resolution remains, and in this case I was simply blown away by the clarity and sharpness. What I wondered though is, if the f/4 lens could produce such a clear imagery like this, what could the newly introduced EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III do, let alone the f/2.8 II. How about an extender?


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As Congress begins dickering over what to do with farm legislation while facing the recent failure of World Trade Organization negotiations, an increasing budget deficit, and a negative trade balance, an already onerous task becomes even more arduous because of partisan politics.
"The environment in Congress is the worst I've seen in my lifetime," said former congressman Charlie Stenholm, now a government affairs consultant with a Washington law firm.
Stenholm discussed prospects for the 2007 farm bill debate during his keynote address at the recent Texas Produce Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
As a consultant on agricultural issues, Stenholm will participate in his eighth farm bill debate as legislators begin drafting a 2007 bill. He said Congress' task is to create a foundation for business to succeed and to support new business.
Stenholm, a charter member of the House Blue Dog Coalition, a fiscally conservative group of Democrats, was particularly critical of economic policies that created a massive federal deficit "to pay for tax cuts. I'm not opposed to properly-crafted tax cuts," he said, "but you also have to cut spending. This is the first war where we cut taxes at the same time. This huge deficit bothers me."
The numbers include:
In 1981, the U.S. deficit stood at $1 trillion with foreign loans accounting for 20 percent to 25 percent of the total. The ledger now shows an $8.4 trillion deficit with 50 percent owned by foreign investors.
"If we stay the course, we'll have an $11.5 trillion deficit in five years with two-thirds of the debt owned by foreign bankers," he said.
That comes with a rising trade deficit, he said. "How long can a country continue with a huge trade deficit without hurting markets?" he asked.
Stenholm reflected on the 2002 farm bill that he and former congressman Larry Combest crafted. 'It was not a perfect bill," he said. That bill marked the first time in U.S. history that both the chairman and ranking member of the House agriculture committee came from the same state.
"We did not always agree," Stenholm said, "but we were good friends." He said he and Combest put partisanship aside to develop the best farm bill they could get. He doesn't see that kind of cooperation today.
e-mail: [email protected]


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Pet Sitter
Hello, My name is Debbie and I am currently working in the Home Care Industry. I have many qualifications, both with senior\'s and children with certain disabilities. I am kind, caring, and compassionate. I have my First Responder Certificate, CPR, and First Aid. I have also taken an Administrative Medical course. My own daughter was born with congenital heart disease, which in turn has broadened my medical knowledge. I am cheerful and can make both the elderly as well as young laugh. I feel is an important pleasure in life. I also love animals and have had dogs and cats most of my life. I have worked at Kennels, pet stores, and have been a sitter for pets. If you like what I have said please feel free to contact me and I will fill you in on anything else you would like to know. Happily, Debbie I have as part of our family dogs and cats for many years. I have also worked at Kennels and pet stores in Winnipeg and outside the Winnipeg area. I have been a sitter for dogs when the parents had to travel.
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Don't Go, Mummy!
Since his first day back at daycare, each Monday has been very difficult for him and for me. The crying and waterfalls of tears begin as soon as we drive into the carpark of the daycare centre. On a couple of occasions, Elliott has seen me packing his bag at home and the tears have started earlier as well as the hiding and refusing to get his clothes on.
I know it doesn't help that he only goes one day per week, if we could afford it we would send him two days, but at the moment I've been trying to focus on making his one day a week visits easier for him.
One thing that is reassuring is that his daycare teacher told me that his crying lasts about 5 minutes and he enjoys himself for the rest of the day. But, I'm still doing my best to ease him into his daycare visits as best as I can to reduce his stress and make it a more enjoyable experience.
Even though it's a work in progress, here are the steps that I take to try to make Elliott's transition more bearable:
- On his first day, I made sure I stayed with him for a while so he got used to his new surroundings and his new carers. Funnily, his first day he was absolutely fine but I think the fact that I left him there, was a little disturbing.
- I've never ever sneak out while he isn't looking. Apart from not having the heart to be able to do something like that, it's all about building his trust.
- I try not to hang around too long and cuddle him otherwise this just drags it out and makes it even harder for him. I try to break the ties once I've said what I need to (see next points).
- I always let him carry a comforter like his blankey named 'Ellie' and up until recently, I allowed him to keep his dummy.
- I always tell him that I will be back in the afternoon. This reassures him.
- I try to be a reliable Mummy and turn up at the same time each week because I know he expects me then.
- When we are driving to daycare and when we get into the daycare centre, I make sure I talk about the day and what fun he's going to have. I try to make it sound positive and fun but I also let him know that it's ok to cry and that I love him.
It's heartbreaking seeing Elliott so upset, but I believe that if I follow my little rules, one day he will move past his anxiety, build confidence and not encounter these speed bumps when it comes to school time.
When I go to pick him up in the afternoon, I go outside and spot him in the playground, I'll stand for a moment and just watch him play until he catches my eye. The smile that appears on his face and the way his eyes light up when he sees me just makes me melt. I definitely miss him just as much as he misses me.
Eva Lewis (The Multitasking Woman)
Latest posts by Eva Lewis (The Multitasking Woman) (see all)
- My Guide To The Best Stretch Mark Creams Available In Australia - August 6, 2018
- I Have High-Functioning Bipolar. This Is What It Looks Like. - August 2, 2018
- 6 Of The Best Places To Work In Australia – Companies That Have Women's Backs - July 30, 2018


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Hard disks can't be feeling very happy these days: from music to movies, email to invoices, we're increasingly storing our important data in the cloud. Now that reliable and fast broadband and mobile broadband are available to most of us, the lure of the cloud is getting stronger – and it's being helped by a price war between competing cloud providers.
What's so great about the cloud?
Convenience. You're probably already using a cloud-based email service such as Gmail, Outlook or similar, so you'll be familiar with the idea of accessing it on whatever device happens to be handy: your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or even a borrowed PC in a hotel lobby.
Cloud computing brings that convenience to everything. Instead of transferring media files to your phone you simply stream MP3s or movies from faraway servers. Instead of copying crucial documents to flash drives or burning them to disc, you stick them in the cloud where they can't be left in the office or on a train.
Even more conveniently, much of this happens automatically – so for example cloud-based music services know when you've bought new music and make it available to all your devices immediately, and cloud-based storage knows when you've updated a file and updates its copy accordingly.
What are the downsides?
The cloud isn't much cop without an internet connection, although most services enable you to download files for times when you won't be able to get online. Some services are limited to specific hardware, although that has become less of an issue since Apple launched iCloud Drive as part of iOS8.
There are also financial considerations. Cloud services generally have multiple tiers, with a free service for casual use and paid-for versions for more serious or demanding users. As we'll discover, there are huge differences between the various providers' prices.
So, without further ado, let's begin our examination of the major cloud players, and find out which might suit you best.
Google has spent a lot of time refining its many cloud services, and there have been a few changes – so for example Google Docs has been rolled into the wider Google Drive service.
Drive's price plans have just been revamped, and there are now six tiers. Free accounts come with 15GB of storage, and if you need more you'll pay $1.99 (around £1.20, AU$2.15) per month for 100GB, $9.99 (around £5.95, AU$10.75) for 1TB and so on, rising to $299.99 (around £178, AU$323) for 30TB.
That storage is shared across three Google properties – Drive, Gmail and Google+ Photos – but it's only used for certain things. The documents, presentations or spreadsheets you build in Google Drive don't use any of your storage capacity, and neither do photos in Google+ if they're smaller than 2048 x 2048 pixels.
Google also offers a version of Drive for business users, Google Apps for Work, which starts at £3.30 (around US$5.50, AU$6) per user per month plus taxes. That provides 30GB of storage and guaranteed uptime (99.9%). If you want unlimited storage that's £6.60 (around US$11, AU$12) per user per month.
Getting collaborative
Google Drive is designed to do two things: create and share documents, and share files. By default you can create a new document, presentation, spreadsheet, form or drawing, and you can also connect third-party apps to add features such as note-taking, mind mapping, diagramming and even interior design.
Files you store on Drive can be accessed from phones and tablets with the Google Drive apps, and there are also desktop apps for PC and Mac that can automatically synchronise files between your computer and your Drive.
Google's own apps aren't as comprehensive as, say, Microsoft Office, but they aren't supposed to be – they're fast, easy to use and make commenting and collaborating effortless. Also, if you team them up with Google Mail and Google Calendar you're covered for most everyday business tasks.
That's work taken care of. What about play? Google Play is the entertainment arm of Google's cloud offerings, and it has five types of content: Android apps, movies and TV programmes, music, books and magazines.
The movies section offers both purchases and rentals, and the music section enables you to upload your own library as well as listen to songs you've purchased from Google. You get enough room for 20,000 songs, and music you buy from Play isn't included in your total.
Google Music Standard is free, and you can add Spotify-style streaming music with Google Music All Access. That's £9.99 (around US$17, AU$18) per month. Google has also updated its service so that photos and videos that once only showed up in Google+ are now also available on Google Drive across all your devices.
Google's cloud computers
Google's Chromebooks are designed as thin clients for Google's many online services. Sergey Brin called them a "new model of computing", but are they ready for primetime?
Forrester Research says yes, especially for business users. Speaking to business IT decision makers in the UK, Canada, France, Germany and the US, 28% of respondents said they were interested in Chromebooks.
The attraction is their simplicity. According to Forrester analyst JP Gownder, where deploying Windows PCs "requires time and effort from infrastructure and operations (I&O) professionals… Chromebooks require very little imaging; pilot users say any given device can be configured for a new user in under 15 minutes."
Low overheads, coupled with the ultra-low cost of Chromebooks, their simplicity and their suitability for mobile working, mean they're ideal business machines – unless you're doing business in China, where Gmail and Google Apps don't work.
It's safe to say that to date, Apple's cloud services were once disappointing. Storage space is miserly, we've been waiting for the UK launch of iTunes Radio for several years now, we often find ourselves tearing our hair out at iTunes Match's refusal to update its library – all the more annoying for a service that costs money, albeit just £21.99 (around US$37, AU$40) a year – and up until earlier this year Apple only seemed interested in sharing between Apple devices and Apple programs.
That's starting to change, though. Apple's online iWork office suite has improved considerably since launch, the iCloud Drive service that launched with iOS 8 plays nice with Windows and storage space will increase, although competitors are still considerably more generous.
At the moment, iCloud gives you 5GB for free – and that's shared among all your devices, so if you want to back up an iPhone and an iPad you'll soon run out of space. Apple rejigged its iCloud offering to compete more effectively with Google, Microsoft and other vendors.
20GB, 200GB, 500GB and 1TB tiers now cost £0.79, £2.99, £6.99 and £14.99 respectively ($0.99, $3.99, $9.99, $19.99 or AU$1.29, AU$4.99, AU$12.99 and $24.99). These are for monthly subscriptions; Apple has stopped doing annual ones.
iCloud Drive is here!
Once upon a time the charge levelled at the door of Apple's iCloud service was that it had too many limitations to be taken seriously on devices that didn't have the distinctive fruity logo on the back. iCloud Drive's release has blasted that assertion out of the water. On Apple devices it's as easy as upgrading to iOS 8 or OS X Yosemite and Apple will automatically upgrade your account. PC users just need to get the iCloud for Windows app and Windows 7 or later.
When it's all set up you're able to store and access documents from one place on all your devices, keep files and folders up-to-date across those same devices, create new files inside iCloud-enabled apps and work on the same files across devices. With iCloud's integration with Office and Office for iOS, this makes it an incredibly useful feature. Of course it still only works with apps that are supported by iCloud Drive but this is definitely a step in the right direction.
Misbehaving iTunes Match libraries aside, the media side of iCloud works very well indeed across Mac and iOS devices. You can buy a song on iTunes on the desktop and it'll magically appear on your iPhone or iPad, and if you've bought a movie or TV show on one device your Apple TV knows about it and knows where you left off watching.
Apple also recently made it easier to access images and videos across devices by implementing a new Photos app that offers the same experience across iOS and OS X. Marry this with iCloud integration and it provides an almost identical feature set to Google Drive's photo saving options.
Microsoft's been doing the cloud computing thing for decades: Hotmail (later Windows Live Hotmail, and now Outlook.com) was one of the first web-based email services, and Microsoft bought it back in 1997 when nobody really knew what cloud computing was. Its Azure platform powers many big businesses, and Xbox Live brought all kinds of entertainment to the Xbox.
When Google Docs first appeared, Microsoft didn't see it as a threat, but that belief has clearly changed. Today, Microsoft offers a range of cloud-connected Office services including the free Office Web Apps and the subscription-based Office 365.
Like Google, Microsoft has been revising its various cloud offerings, so for example its Live Mesh file syncing service was retired and replaced with SkyDrive. Legal action from Sky forced a name change, and SkyDrive is now known as OneDrive.
OneDrive is rather similar to Google Drive: you can use it to share and synchronise files between different devices, and you can create Word documents, Excel workbooks, PowerPoint presentations, OneNote notebooks and Excel surveys inside your browser.
In an aggressive move, Microsoft has dramatically increased the OneDrive storage from 7GB to 15GB for free users, and to a whopping 1TB for Office 365 subscribers (Home, Personal, University and Business; the cheapest option is just $6.99 – around £4, AU$7.50 – per month). If you don't want to subscribe to Office, extra storage is $1.99 (around £1.20, AU$2.15) per month for an additional 100GB.
OneDrive apps are available for Windows Vista onwards, for the Mac, for Windows Phone, Android and iOS, and like Google Drive there are also third-party apps that can use OneDrive for synchronisation. Examples include sketching apps, document scanners, PDF managers, notepad apps and document signing apps.
That's entertainment
When it comes to entertainment in the cloud, Microsoft's track record has been patchy. Redmond's MSN Music was a relatively unsuccessful rival to Apple's iTunes and was shut down in 2006, and its next attempt was tied to the supposed iPod-killing Zune music player. Just to keep things nice and confusing, the latest incarnation is called Xbox Music even though it isn't limited to the Xbox.
Xbox Music costs £8.99 (around US$15, AU$16) per month for the Xbox Music Pass, which gives you online and offiline streaming on PC, tablet and phone, plus ad-free streaming and music videos on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
There's also a companion service, Xbox Video, which offers movie rentals and purchases, and once again works on PCs and tablets (Windows 8 and Windows RT only) as well as on the Xbox. Both apps will be completely revamped as part of Windows 10, which will offer an even richer cloud experience across all devices thanks to the universal Windows Apps that will be same regardless of device.
Amazon isn't just the world's biggest retailer. It's one of the world's biggest cloud service providers, and its servers power some of the internet's favourite services.
In 2011 it decided to join the consumer cloud party too, and since then it's quietly added some very useful cloud-based features such as AutoRip, which automatically adds MP3 versions of CD or vinyl records you've bought to your cloud music player – and which checks through your purchase history to AutoRip CDs and records you've bought in the past.
AutoRip isn't perfect – it can only rip the records it has the digital rights for, so don't be entirely surprised if your prized 1977 punk rock B-side collections aren't covered. But it's still a clever and appealing feature, enabling you to stream music you can't remember you bought, or just listen to new purchases before the postman delivers the CD.
As CEO Jeff Bezos put it: "What would you say if you bought CDs, vinyl or even cassettes from a company 14 years ago, and then 14 years later that company licensed the rights from the record companies to give you the MP3 versions of those albums… and then to top it off, did that for you automatically and for free?"
The centrepiece of Amazon's consumer cloud services is Cloud Drive, which offers 5GB of free storage and comes with desktop (PC and Mac), iOS and Android apps. If 5GB is insufficient you can add additional storage, with plans available from 20GB (£6 per year – around $10, AU$11) to 1,000GB (£320 per year – around $540, AU$580). In the US and UK, Amazon Fire Phone owners also get unlimited photo storage from their device.
In July 2014, Amazon announced the launch of Zocalo, a secure enterprise storage service designed to compete with Dropbox and Box. Pricing is $5 (around £3, AU$5.40) per user per month for 200GB and the service is currently a "limited preview".
Prime mover
Amazon also offers music and movie services. Amazon Music (web, iOS, Kindle Fire and Android) is free for up to 250 songs plus all your Amazon MP3 purchases, or £21.99 (around $37, AU$40) per year for 250,000 tracks, and Amazon Prime free delivery customers get free access to Amazon Prime Instant Video, which is £5.99 (around $10, AU$11) per month as a standalone service. The video service works well on Macs, PCs Amazon's own Kindle Fire devices, games consoles, and now Android smartphones and tablets. As of April 2015 it even supports HD streaming on iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads.
Steve Jobs famously tried to buy Dropbox, but the nine-digit offer was rejected. Jobs then dismissed the whole thing – "He said we were a feature, not a product", recalls Dropbox's Drew Houston – and decided to stomp the fledgling service into the ground.
But, despite Apple's best efforts, Dropbox isn't letting itself get stomped. It has 300 million users, saving a billion files every day, 4 million business customers, of which 80,000 are corporate one.
The firm has supplemented its file and folder APIs with data APIs, enabling mobile app developers to share data as well as files over the service.
That's important because, unlike some rivals, Dropbox is multi-platform. You can install it on a Mac or PC, on a BlackBerry or a Kindle Fire, on an iPhone or iPad or Android device.
You can use it to sync and access music files, photos or movies, or you can use it as a hard drive in the sky, or you can use it for any other kind of content.
For example, apps such as the excellent Scrivener writing program work with Dropbox so all your notes and scribbles are available from any device, while Unbound and Heliog offer beautiful image browsing for your Dropbox photos.
Dropbox's very nature as a multi-platform provider means it is constantly making moves to remain relevant and the past six months has seen plenty of activity when it comes to Microsoft Office. Among the features that have already been implement are the ability to collaborate on Office documents across Windows and Macs using Dropbox plus users can edit the same documents inside Office Online.
Add this to the new apps for Windows tablets and smartphones and the fact that Dropbox for iOS will soon allow you to edit Office documents inside the app without leaving, and you get to see why so many still opt for Dropbox over other offerings.
Free accounts start with 2GB of space, and you can earn additional space by referring others: you get 500MB extra space for each referral, and you can get up to 18GB in total without paying a penny. Pro plans start at $9.99 (£7.99, or around AU$11) per month for 100GB, $19.99 (around £12, AU$21.50) for 200GB or $49.99 (around £30, AU$54) for 500GB, and business plans are $15 (£11, or around AU$16) per user per month.
We've used Dropbox for thousands of files and we've found it rock-solid across a wide range of devices, but the firm's refusal to join in the cloud storage price wars have led to predictions that it will suffer while Microsoft and Google duke it out.
Dropbox thinks acquisition rather than rock-bottom pricing is the way to go, however, and it has acquired email program Mailbox, eReader platform Readmill, and several other services to add value to its overall offering.


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The Atlas email account (email@example.com) provides faculty, staff, & students with a mailbox, calendaring, collaboration, blogging, photo sharing, event planning, instant messaging tools and much more!
Top Features
For the Outlook Client (2007, 2010 & 2013) or Outlook Express, use the control panel in Windows to add a new "Profile"
Download the PDF document
Known Spammers
We block known spammers from
sending email to Valencia. We reject connections from mail servers
that are listed on a particular set of "Remote Block Lists" (RBLs).
This list is maintained by a widely respected non-profit organization.
Anyone sending from a RBL listed server will not be able to sent
to Valencia and will receive a "failed delivery" message. This message
also includes instructions about how to get off the list. If someone
has been improperly listed, he will be made aware of the problem
and have an opportunity to fix it.
One technique which has seen
great success is known as "greylisting". This mechanism causes senders
to delay their messages in a manner which complies with accepted
email standards. Spammers generally are unable to cooperate, and
therefore their messages are not accepted.
As a result of our greylisting
efforts, you may notice some delay in receiving expected messages,
particularly in the period immediately following activation. Most
of the time, these delays should be minimal, and they should only
apply to the first message you receive from a particular correspondent.
Please let us know if you experience any lengthy delays in received
expected messages.
Spam Filtering
OIT checks incoming email
to try to determine if it is spam. We have two methods to help you
filter spam from your Inbox into a separate folder. No automated
technique can determine with 100% accuracy if a message is spam.
Check your spam folder regularly for legitimate messages that were
incorrectly marked as spam, as well as to delete the actual spam.
A publication of the Office of Information Technology at Valencia
Faculty & Staff Call 407-582-5555 - Students Call 407-582-5444 - Online Courses Help Call 407-582-5600


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This chapter covers object-oriented programming (OOP), which is new territory for many readers. We'll cover OOP methodology and terminology, using applied examples to make it all concrete. For the benefit of both experienced programmers and new programmers who appreciate a broad perspective, we'll compare ActionScript's OOP practices with those of Java and other languages. Experienced object-oriented programmers who simply want an overview of ActionScript's OOP syntax may want to skip directly to the Section 12.9 at the end of this chapter.
If you're new to object-oriented programming, you may have heard that OOP is some big mystery or that it's difficult to understand. Quite to the contrary, the concepts are highly intuitive, and the OOP process is much easier than you may have been led to believe. At its heart, OOP simply means that you treat portions of your program as self-contained modules called "objects." By "self-contained," we don't mean that objects are isolated, but rather that they can be independent of each other, and that you can use an object without worrying about its internal details. OOP concepts are easy to grasp once you realize that everything you deal with in the real world is a self-contained object. Your dog, your parents, your car, and your computer are all self-contained objects—meaning that they do some things independently and do other things at your request, even if you don't know the inner details of how they work.


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Nick Redfern, author of the book The Real Men in Black, stopped by to share with us a piece he wrote.
Beware of the Real Men in Black
by Nick Redfern
For decades - or perhaps even for centuries, some firmly believe - the infamous Men in Black have been elusive, predatory, fear-inducing figures that have hovered with disturbing regularity upon the enigmatic fringes of the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), coldly nurturing, and carefully weaving, their very own unique brand of horror and intimidation of a definitively other-world variety.
The preferred tools of terror of the MIB are outright menace, far less than thinly-veiled threats, and overwhelming, emotionless intimidation. And they are relentless when it comes to following their one and only agenda - that is, to forever silence witnesses to, and investigators of, UFO encounters. Unfortunately, it has to be admitted, they have been highly successful in achieving their unsettling goal, too. Indeed, and without any shadow of doubt whatsoever, the long and winding history of UFO studies is absolutely littered with fraught, frightened and emotionally-shattered figures that have been forever menaced into silence by the Men in Black, and who, as a result, have firmly distanced themselves from the UFO controversy, vowing never, ever to return to the fold.
Like true vampires from some strange, outer edge, the painfully-thin, white-faced and sunken-cheeked Men in Black appear from the murky darkness; they then roam the countryside provoking carnage, chaos, paranoia and fear in their notorious wake, before duly returning to that same shrouded realm of unsettling weirdness from which they originally oozed forth.
Very often reported traveling in groups of three, this definitive trinity of evil seemingly has the incredible ability to appear and vanish at will, and is often seen – in the United States - driving 1950s-style black Cadillac's, and - in the British Isles - 1960s-era black Jaguar's, both of which are almost always described as looking curiously brand new.
Despite the passing of the decades, and of the many and varied changes in fashions, the preferred mode of dress of these bone-chilling characters never, ever alters in the slightest, at all: it always consists of a well-preserved black suit, a black Fedora- or Homburg-style hat, black sunglasses, a black necktie, black socks and shoes, and a crisp, shining white shirt. Very little wonder, therefore, that they have been given the wholly notorious name with which they are, today, most famously – or perhaps infamously - associated.
But who, or far more likely, what, exactly, are the Men in Black? In the 1997 blockbuster movie, Men in Black and in its 2002 sequel, that starred Hollywood crowd-pullers Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, the MIB were firmly, and highly entertainingly, portrayed as being the secret-agents of a Top Secret, covert arm of the U.S. Government, whose sole role it is to hide from the general public the dark truth about a huge and intricate alien presence on the Earth. But, how much truth is there to the mega-bucks movie that spawned so much interest in these bizarre figures?
While some MIB are, without doubt, the all-seeing eyes of clandestine departments of at least several governments – including both the United States and the United Kingdom - the vast majority of these curious characters appear to be of a very different breed altogether. According to numerous, fantastic witness testimony and countless case-studies secured since the early years of the 1950s, the real MIB may very possibly be alien entities themselves, carefully and secretly working to ensure that we never successfully uncover the sensational truth about their presence, or the long-term goal of their strange and unearthly agenda, upon our very own planet.
On the other hand, however, some students of MIB history, lore and legend suggest that these non-human creatures are utterly occult-based, supernatural beings that originate in, inhabit, and with disturbing regularity surface from, strange and enigmatic netherworlds very different to that of our own, personal 3-D reality. On a very similar path, a variety of individuals suspect strongly that the real Men in Black are nothing less than definitive demons – the literal, deceptive minions of none other than the lord of the underworld: Satan himself. The intriguing fact that many of those that have been cursed by visits from the Men in Black have dabbled in occultism, with Ouija-Boards, and in devil-worship, is perceived as further evidence by some that the MIB may have origins that are far, far removed from the enigma-filled world of outer-space and highly-advanced extraterrestrials from the stars.
Meanwhile, there are those investigators of the UFO phenomenon who have put forth a truly fascinating, unique and near-revolutionary theory that has nothing whatsoever to do with aliens, flying saucers, or even the realm of the occult. It is a definitively jaw-dropping theory that posits the Men in Black may, incredibly, be time-travelers from humankind's far-flung future. Their role, it has been suggested, may be to ensure that we remain forever in the dark about the shocking facts of what is really afoot: namely, that our "aliens" are actually us, albeit from a time centuries, or even thousands of years, from now.
Whatever their point – or points – of origin, however, there is one thing that we can say with complete confidence and certainty about the Men in Black: they are, most assuredly, amongst us, and there is absolutely nothing positive, warm or welcoming about their presence at all.
And, if your personal, particular areas of fascination are those relative to such conundrums as Flying Saucers, alien abductions, close encounters, the Roswell UFO crash of 1947, Area 51, UFOs, and a myriad of other, attendant puzzles, then that trio of mysterious, black-garbed men may very well one day be paying you a visit, too.
If, late on some dark, thunderous and chilled night, you are awoken from an uneasy slumber by a slow, deliberate and pounding knocking on your front-door, no matter how tempted you may be, do not open it – that is, unless you wish to disastrously allow into your life one of the most terrifying, soulless and definitively macabre creatures that has ever been unleashed upon us, the Human Race. Remember you have been duly warned. Beware, always, of the real Men in Black…
About the book:
The Men in Black were elevated to superstar status in 1997 in the hit movie of the same name. Although the Hollywood blockbuster was fiction, the real Men in Black have consistently attempted to silence the witnesses of UFO and paranormal phenomena since the 1950s.
In The Real Men in Black, author Nick Redfern delves deep into the mysterious world of these mysterious operatives. He reveals their origins and discusses classic cases, previously unknown reports, secret government files, and the many theories that have been presented to explain the mystery.
Highlights of The Real Men in Black include:
• The story of Albert Bender, the first man to claim an encounter with the Men in Black
• The involvement of the MIB in the Mothman saga that dominated the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia in the 1960s
• Encounters with the MIB at the site of one of the world's most famous monsters: Loch Ness
• Exclusive interviews with leading researchers of the MIB phenomenon
About the author:
He is a regular contributor to UFO Magazine, Fate, Fortean Times, and Paranormal Magazine. He has also written for Military Illustrated, Eye-Spy, the British Daily Express, Western Daily Press and People newspapers, and Penthouse.
His previous books include The NASA Conspiracies; Contactees; Memoirs of a Monster Hunter; Final Events; On the Trail of the Saucer Spies; Three Men Seeking Monsters; A Covert Agenda; The FBI Files; Cosmic Crashes; Celebrity Secrets; Body Snatchers in the Desert; Monsters of Texas; Science Fiction Secrets; There's something in the Woods; and Strange Secrets.
Nick has appeared on numerous television shows, including the BBC's Out of this World; Britain's Big Breakfast; History Channel's Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle; Monster Quest and UFO Hunters; the National Geographic Channel's Paranatural; MSNBC's Countdown with Keith Olbermann; and the SyFy Channel's Proof Positive. He has also appeared on many occasions on Coast to Coast AM radio with George Noory.
His investigations have taken him to Puerto Rico in search of the blood-sucking Chupacabras; to Roswell, New Mexico on a quest for the truth behind the famous UFO crash of 1947; and to Wisconsin in pursuit of the infamous Mothman.
Nick is the co-host, with Raven Meindel, of the weekly, paranormal-themed radio-show, Exploring All Realms. He writes a regular, weekly column for Mania.com on his investigations into mysterious creatures titled Lair of the Beasts. Nick runs the American office of the British-based Center for Fortean Zoology, one of the very few full-time groups in the world dedicated to the investigation of such unknown animals as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabras, sea-serpents, and the Abominable Snowman.
Originally from England, Nick Redfern lives in Arlington, Texas with his wife, Dana. He can be contacted at nickredfern.com.


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Two men were found fatally shot Wednesday night in separate attacks in the Pilsen and South Chicago neighborhoods, Chicago police said.
In the first incident, witnesses said someone fired at the victim near his home in the 1600 block of South Loomis Street and then fled about 7:30 p.m., according to Police News Affairs Officer David Banks.
He said police found the man dead on the scene.
The victim was identified as Michael Enriquez, 43, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. An autopsy is scheduled for later this morning.


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Be the first OregonLive.com user to add photos or videos of Crave Cupcake Catering
Crave Cupcake Catering is located at 10300 SE Evergreen Hwy, Vancouver, WA. This location is in the Old Evergreen Highway neighborhood. This business specializes in Catering Services.
Crave Cupcake Catering serves Vancouver, WA and is located in the 98664 ZIP code. Crave Cupcake Catering falls under the following categories: caterers, catering & bartending services.


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19 U.S. Code § 1315 - Effective date of rates of duty
Any article which has been entered for consumption but which, before release from custody of the Customs Service, is removed from the port or other place of intended release because of inaccessibility, overcarriage, strike, act of God, or unforeseen contingency, shall be subject to duty at the rate or rates in effect when the entry for consumption and any required duties were deposited in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, but only if the article is returned to such port or place within ninety days after the date of removal and the identity of the article as that covered by the entry is established in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury.
Insofar as duties are based upon the quantity of any merchandise, such duties shall, except as provided in chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and section 1562 of this title (relating respectively to certain beverages and to manipulating warehouses), be levied and collected upon the quantity of such merchandise at the time of its importation.
No administrative ruling resulting in the imposition of a higher rate of duty or charge than the Secretary of the Treasury shall find to have been applicable to imported merchandise under an established and uniform practice shall be effective with respect to articles entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption prior to the expiration of thirty days after the date of publication in the Federal Register of notice of such ruling; but this provision shall not apply with respect to the imposition of antidumping duties, or the imposition of countervailing duties under section 1303 of this title (as in effect on the day before the effective date of title II of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act) or section 1671 of this title. This subsection shall not apply with respect to increases in rates of duty resulting from the enactment of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to replace the Tariff Schedules of the United States.
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States and the Tariff Schedules of the United States, referred to in subsecs. (c) and (d), are not set out in the Code. See Publication of Harmonized Tariff Schedule note set out under section 1202 of this title.
For the effective date of title II of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act [Pub. L. 103–465], referred to in subsec. (d), as Jan. 1, 1995, see section 291 of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as an Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 1671 of this title.
1994—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–465 inserted "(as in effect on the day before the effective date of title II of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act) or section 1671 of this title" after "section 1303 of this title".
1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–182, § 633(1), substituted "Customs Service by written, electronic or such other means as the Secretary by regulation shall prescribe," for "appropriate customs officer in the form and manner prescribed by regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury," in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–182, § 633(2), substituted "custody of the Customs Service" for "customs custody".
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–182, § 633(3), substituted "chapter 98 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States" for "paragraph 813".
1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–418 inserted at end "This subsection shall not apply with respect to increases in rates of duty resulting from the enactment of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to replace the Tariff Schedules of the United States."
1979—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 96–39 amended directory language of Pub. L. 93–618, § 331(c), to correct a typographical error, and did not involve any change in text. See 1975 Amendment note below.
1978—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 95–410, § 101, added par. (3).
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 95–410, § 204, substituted "publication in the Federal Register" for "publication in the weekly Treasury Decisions".
1975—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 93–618, as amended by Pub. L. 96–39, inserted "or the imposition of countervailing duties under section 1303 of this title" after "antidumping duties".
1970—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 91–271 substituted reference to the appropriate customs officer for reference to the collector.
1953—Act Aug. 8, 1953, amended section generally by dividing section into subsections, and by changing the provisions set out as subsecs. (a) and (b) to clarify such provisions with respect to effective dates of rates of duty.
1938—Act June 25, 1938, amended section generally, among which changes it inserted provisions set out as subsecs. (c) and (d).
Pub. L. 103–465, title II, § 261(d)(2), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4910, provided that:
Amendment by Pub. L. 100–418 effective Jan. 1, 1989, and applicable with respect to articles entered on or after such date, see section 1217(b)(1) of Pub. L. 100–418, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3001 of this title.
Pub. L. 93–618, title III, § 331(d), Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2053, as amended by Pub. L. 103–465, title II, § 261(d)(1)(A)(i), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4909, provided that:
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91–271, see section 203 of Pub. L. 91–271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.
Amendment by act Aug. 8, 1953, effective on and after thirtieth day following Aug. 8, 1953, and savings provision, see notes set out under section 1304 of this title.
Amendment by act June 25, 1938, effective on thirtieth day following June 25, 1938, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 37 of act June 25, 1938, set out as a note under section 1401 of this title.
For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the United StatesCustoms Service of the Department of the Treasury, including functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 203(1), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6. For establishment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security, treated as if included in Pub. L. 107–296 as of Nov. 25, 2002, see section 211 of Title 6, as amended generally by Pub. L. 114–125, and section 802(b) of Pub. L. 114–125, set out as a note under section 211 of Title 6.
Functions of all other officers of Department of the Treasury and functions of all agencies and employees of such Department transferred, with certain exceptions, to Secretary of the Treasury, with power vested in him to authorize their performance or performance of any of his functions, by any of such officers, agencies, and employees, by 1950 Reorg. Plan No. 26, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 31, 1950, 15 F.R. 4935, 64 Stat. 1280, 1281, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Customs officers, referred to in text, were under Department of the Treasury.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Glee Round Table: "Brittany/Britney"Matt Richenthal at . Comments
The debate is raging in our Glee forum: what did you think of this week's Britney Spears tribute episode?
In the latest edition of the TV Fanatic Round table, a trio of staff writers take on this same topic. Chime in on the issues analyzed below...
What was your favorite Brittany quote from the episode?
M.L. House: I was laughing so hard from the entire "Brittany S. Pierce" monologue that I may have missed parts of it, so let's give it to that quote as a whole. The girl has been tormented by her name!
LJ Gibbs: "Please don't pull out all my teeth. I'll look like an adult baby, but with boobs."
The Barnacle: It was subtle and in the background of a scene, but she compared Jacob's hair to a "Jewish cloud." Amazing.
Give the episode a grade.
M.L. House: D minus. I most went over this in my review. I adore Glee, but I adore it for the characters this show has created and the relationships they've forged with those around them. Give me musical numbers that emphasize those aspects of the show, not recreated Britney Spears videos with Brittany and Rachel simply mimicking the pop star.
LJ Gibbs: B. I agree with my colleague above: this episode did a poor job tying its songs into the ongoing plot. But I never tuned in to Glee for the plot anyway. It's simply unlike any other series on TV and this installment merely emphasized that point.
The Barnacle: I can't give it higher than a C for one reason: not nearly enough Sue Sylvester. I also think the idea of Artie joining the football team is just lame. Of course that's illegal. I'm on board for outlandish Glee characters, but the show does take place in some semblance of reality, right?What was your favorite song from the episode?
M.L. House: Toxic was one of my favorite numbers on the show to date. It took a classic single, mixed up the beat, gave us a chance to see Will actually perform with the group and played into the storyline of him trying to impress Emma. Perfect all around.
LJ Gibbs: Gonna go with "I'm a Slave 4 U" because it was such an incredible showcase for Heather Morris. This may be considered sacrilegious, but I'm going there: she's a better singer/dancer than Britney.
The Barnacle: Sorry, but I need to go with the one non-Britney single. Lea Michele sang "The Only Exception" beautifully and it fit perfectly into her plot with Will.
Who will break up first: Tina and Mike or Rachel and Finn?
M.L. House: Sheesh, negative much?!? I'd like to see both remain together for awhile, but would pick Rachel and Finn if I must choose. It's nothing against them, but no way Tina dumps Mike. Who would break up with The Situ-Asian?!?
LJ Gibbs: Tina and Mike. I prefer the latter as a background character because then I forget about him and can be surprised when he shows up and blows us away with his dance moves. Plus, I'm confident Artie will win Tina back over.
The Barnacle: It's a trick question! The answer is Emma and Carl because the former is destined to end up with Will.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.


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Microsoft Corporation on Thursday released the third and final beta of Windows 2000, its upcoming NT-based operating system for business users. Windows 2000 Beta 3, which will ship in Professional, Server, and Advanced Server editions, will be in the hands of over 650,000 testers over the next 30 days, making it the largest Microsoft beta test ever. This includes 430,000 customers, 140,000 developers and 100,000 channel partners. Microsoft wants as many corporate customers as possible to evaluate this feature complete version of the OS so that they can plan deployment for the final release this fall.
Please note that Windows 2000 is not for home users. As Microsoft notes, "Windows 2000 Professional is designed to be the most reliable mobile and business desktop operating system for organizations of all sizes. Windows 2000 Server combines integrated Web-enabled directory, network and application services with powerful end-to-end management to provide the fastest way to conduct digital business." If you're looking for an upgrade to Windows 98 for game playing, or other casual home use, this isn't it. But Windows 2000 is a huge improvement over Windows NT 4.0, the operating system it will replace.
"The release of Windows 2000 Beta 3 marks an important milestone for our customers and the industry as a whole," said Jim Allchin, senior vice president of the Business and Enterprise Division at Microsoft. "Hands-on experience with the software is the best way for customers to evaluate Windows 2000 with their existing systems and help ensure the quality and deployability of the final release planned later this year."
So what's new in Beta 3? First up is a far wider range of hardware device support (the current Hardware Compatibility List can always be found online), allowing Windows 2000 to interoperate with far more hardware than was previously possible. Windows 2000 won't approach the hardware support of Windows 98, but it will blow Windows NT 4's hardware support out of the water. New power management support (including both ACPI and APM support), fully functioning IntelliMirror and Active Directory, COM+, and integrated Terminal Services are also included. Additionally, Microsoft has been fine-tuning the user interface to make the system more manageable and easy to use.
"The launch of Windows 2000 beta 3 is the prime opportunity for corporations to evaluate and begin planning for broad deployment of Windows 2000," said vice president of marketing Deborah Willingham. "For example, the Corporate Preview Program provides the tools and resources for customers to work with their solution providers to ensure an effective and thorough evaluation of Windows 2000."
The Corporate Preview Program (CPP)--which was announced last week--allows business customers to purchase Windows 2000 Beta 3 along with product support, tools, video courseware and information to install, test and evaluate the new products. The CPP costs about $60 US through the Microsoft Web site.


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Chemical peels benefit and rejuvenate the skin of men and women of all ages.
The best candidates are often those with fair, thin skin that has a tendency of fine wrinkling or scarring on the face. Deeper chemical peels are usually not recommended for highly pigmented skin, such as those with Asian, black, and Mediterranean complexions.
Chemical peels often correct and improve superficial skin conditions, some of the common outcomes are:
- Softening of Scars
- Correction of uneven pigment
- Reduction in wrinkles
- Removal of blemishes
- General improvement of skin texture
There are a variety of different chemical peels to suit every different patient's skin type. A customised formula can also be created. Some of the most commonly-used solutions are:
- TCA – Trichloracetic Acid Chemical Peel
- AHA – Alpha Hydroxy Acid Chemical Peel
- Phenol – Deep Phenol Chemical Peel
Obagi Blue Skin Peel
Obagi Nu Derm Skin Care Rejuvenation System which is the number one prescribed treatment in the UK for erasing uneven colour and reducing wrinkles.
It works by stimulating collagen and elastin like no other creams or lotions. By utilizing the most effective treatments for hyperpigmentation, the Obagi Nu Derm System helps skin look younger and healthier. Read more
TCA Skin Peel
TCA skin peel is designed to fight the most noticeable signs of photo ageing, such as little lines and dry, uneven skin tone. This peel can also be used to treat acne scarring and areas on the hands, forearms and neck.
Trichloroacetic acid, being a gentler chemical peel acid, has made a comeback in popularity, it rejuvenates the skin without the risk of serious side effects Read More
Phenol Skin Peel
Phenol skin peel is a highly effective chemical peel with very long lasting results. This is suitable for patients who suffer from sun-damaged skin, or from pronounced facial wrinkles or blotches. It treats crow's feet lines and any crinkly skin around the eyes and upper and lower lips.
In the early 1950s, the phenol peel was developed. This was a deep chemical peel that could remove years of wrinkles, but also gave peeling a reputation for complications, such as pigmentation, depigmentation, scarring and even abnormal heart rhythms due to absorption of the deep chemical peels.
Therefore the deep chemical peel treatment (phenol chemical peeling) must be carried-out under controlled conditions by an experienced doctor to make sure that it is safe and effec. Read more
After the chemical peel the patient's skin will be noticeably smoother and the complexion will be greatly improved. Chemical peel will produce dramatic improvement in the surface of the skin with less wrinkles, fewer blemishes and even-toned skin. The results are long-lasting although not immune to aging and sun exposure.
Cleopatra and the ancient Romans used various food acids to peel their skin. In the early 1900s, women underwent 'non-medical' peels in salons with secret formulae, which were probably mild acids.
Chemical peels are basically an accelerated form of exfoliation induced by the use of chemical peel products. There are different types of chemical peels which aim to remove pigmentation, reduce lines and wrinkles and treat acne and scarring.
During the consultation our experienced staff will advise our patients on what types of chemical peel are most suitable to address their condition and how many chemical peel treatments are required.


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Weekend Getaway Details
We are doing it again! Last year Margette from Surrey won a Whistler weekend, and this year it could be you. Visit us at one of the trade shows we are participating in this year to fill out your entry form, or send us content (testimonials, stories, recipes or pictures) for our newsletter and/or website and request to be entered. On December 1, 2016 we will draw a winner to receive a two night stay for two in Whistler Village.
Good luck!
What happens when I go on vacation?
Are you leaving for vacation? Let us know via email or by phone so we can plan our driver's routes appropriately. Please be assured your information will not shared with any third-party, but helps us efficiently serve those in need of our service. It is recommended that bins are emptied before you leave. We thank our members for their co-operation.
What are the weight restrictions for my bin?
Due to WCB (Worker's Compensation Board) regulations, filled Pookt bins are not to exceed 50 lbs. Please ensure your bins are filled to acceptable levels and do not go over weight limits. We ask members to increase their pickup schedules to accommodate these requirements if necessary.
Pookt Standards and Terms of Service
Due to health regulations we request members respect our terms. Pet waste MUST be placed into Pookt bins in plastic bags, and bins are to be kept under a covered area between pickups. Pet waste collection is a dirty job, but we are working towards a cleaner future. Members who do not adhere to these standards risk having their membership revoked ( a prorated refund will be issued).
What is Pookt's Lifetime Price Promise?
Members who keep their membership in continuous good standing, and prepay twelve pickups at a time are guaranteed to enjoy the same prices they agreed to at the time of enrollment for life.
What Happens If My Pookt Bin Gets Damaged?
Pookt members enjoy bin rentals that include regular maintenance and refreshing. If your bin is damaged beyond regular wear a replacement fee of $19.95 plus applicable taxes will be charged to offset our cost. In the event the damage is of no fault of your own Pookt will cover these charges within reason.
What is Pookt's Cancellation Policy?
Pookt Pet Waste Solutions Inc. (PPWS) reserves the right to refuse or cancel a membership with PPWS at any time and for any reason.
Our Cancellation Policy;
PPWS offers a 30 day money back guarantee on the price of your membership. PPWS does not offer reimbursement for Pookt Bin Pickups. If for any reason, within 30 days, you must terminate your membership, please call us. Refunds will be credited back to the original credit card used for payment.
Cancellation after 30 days;
After 30 days PPWS offers a prorated membership reimbursement to fully paid members only. This policy excludes members who signed up at a reduced cost (i.e. trade show specials). Fully paid members are eligible to receive a $4.16 reimbursement per month for the remaining months of their membership.
PPWS Cancellation Policy is subject to change without notice.
How is my dog waste and plastic recycled?
Once one ton of volume is reached, waste and plastic are separated in preparation for renewal (a process that does not require human contact). With these recyclable materials we can create a number of safe and useful products.
Is my Pookt bin waterproof?
Not exactly. Although the bins are sealed and secure they are susceptible to weather and ware. Please place your bin in a semi-covered area (below an overhang or eaves trough).
How can I get my membership for free?
Members that refer ten new people to our service receive their service FREE for one year.
Is my Pookt bin 'critter-proof'?
Pookt bins are designed to keep odors in and critters out. The spring-loaded top could however trap small animals inside. If you are concerned about this we do offer a vermin-proof stainless steel bin at an additional charge.
Contact our office for more information 778-952-4800
Why is There Advertising on My Bin?
Pookt Pet works with local businesses and sponsors to keep our membership and collection costs low. It is our hope that you'll support the program in its entirety, but if you require a bin without advertisements please contact our office.
What happens when I'm not satisfied?
We stand behind our service – 100% satisfaction guaranteed – if you are not happy with the service simply notify our office and you will not be billed for that day, or your next service is free.
How can I invest in Pookt? What investment opportunities are there?
Visit our sponsorship page, Email the Pookt Team or call 778-952-4800 for more information.
How can I become a regional licensee/owner?
Contact the Pookt Team for more information,call 778-952-4800 or express your interest below.
What services are offered for commercial business' and communities?
We offer Commercial Collection Services as well as a Commercial Recycling Unit. We work with property managers, strata councils, and park boards to create the best pet waste management plan for each unique situation. Contact the Pookt Team for more information or call 778-952-4800.
Can I choose the collection day?
Pookt wants to provide you with the most reliable and cost effective service, therefore, we have a weekly collection schedule. We will advise you of the designated collection day for your area.
Does Pookt collect all year?
Yes. We collect waste from your bin all year round with the exception of a few crazy heavy snow days. If we are unable to collect, we will send you an email advising when we will be there next.
Where do I place the Pookt Bin?
Place your bin in a semi-covered location (example: below an overhang or eaves trough) in your yard. In order for the contents of your Pookt Bin to be collected it must be placed in the agreed location on your collection day. It must be visible from the road and be placed outside by 7:00am on your designated collection day.
How often does Pookt collect?
We can collect your pet waste weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Its your choice.


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Thank You For Your Support
Carol Hopwood Principal Lawyer, Serious Injury
On behalf of the members, Trustees and staff of RoadPeace I would like to thank Slater and Gordon for sponsoring RoadPeace's World Day of Remembrance for Road Crash Victims in November. I would also like to thank you personally Carol, for your support for RoadPeace and for crash victims generally in Merseyside."
Trustees and staff of charity, RoadPeace
Recent Testimonials for Carol Hopwood
"The level of service I received at Slater and Gordon's was second to none and in particular from Carol Hopwood. All the way through the process I was kept fully updated and advised in a very professional yet personable way. I would highly recommend Slater and Gordon and would certainly highlight that Carol in particular, provided me with a high level of expertise, rigour and commitment and was pivotal in ensuring my claim reached a successful conclusion."
Mr B, London
"I can't thank you enough for all your hard work, advice and your personal commitment in ensuring my case reached a positive conclusion. Many thanks for all your help and support throughout this process. I really appreciate it."
Mrs P, Liverpool
"The result and value of the settlement is truly amazing and to say we can't thank you guys enough is an understatement! So, our heartfelt thanks especially to you, but also to everyone in your office who have contributed to bring my case to such a successful conclusion."
Mrs J, Liverpool


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Pre WWDC sale!
iNterfacer is the app that allows you to quickly create user interface mockups for your iPhone applications.
The market is full of pads, stencils and other mockup tools to help you create an interface prototype but none of them have the convenience of existing in the device you already keep with you. Who knows when inspiration will strike and why not be ready to throw down a rapid prototype screen at a moments notice? And aren't you tired of all the erasing and starting over just to move one thing? Why not just tap and drag.
Its great for toying with ideas while in the car, subway or those sleepless nights laying in bed thinking about your next app.
Impromptu meeting or flash of insight at an important conference? Stop trying to draw buttons with ketchup on your lunch napkin, its unprofessional(and messy).
Current features:
-20 distinct common interface elements for iPhone apps, including buttons, sliders, tableviews, nav bars...
-Comes with 22 buttons images to choose from
-Elements can move freely around the screen with tap and drag gestures or adjusted with controls for perfect placement
-Change size of elements after creation
-Save creations as images in your iPhone photo library or automatically create an email with your image as an attachment, great for collaborations
Thanks to our early testers we already have a ver1.1 on the way ! It has been submitted for approval and includes:
-Persistance of elements between sessions.
-Durring a session values for element creation will stick to previously made elements to assist in creation of similar elements.
-Added in ability to lock element position.
-fixed issues with Segmented Control elements not resizing properly.
Some element you want added in? A suggestion on how our app can assist you better? Let us know! Stop by www.blueshiftsoftware.net or simply email us at email@example.com