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Vitamin of the Week: Marti Munford (Specialist Agent - Talent Bridge)
Marti Munford
With an agency background in copywriting and account management and a passion for helping others, Marti knows how important culture can be when making a creative match.
As our temp to perm specialist (we call it Talent Bridge), she helps ensure our clients get the talent they LOVE and our creative talent find a place they can call home.
Marti would like you to know that no animals were harmed as she gave her awesome answers to our http://tomatomania.com/encino/.
What made you want to work at Vitamin T? And what do you love most about working here? Unlimited vacation! Just kidding, of course, although it's certainly a nice perk. I wanted to come to Vitamin T because of the culture. I've always worked in the creative field, so I knew I wanted to stay in the industry, but I was hooked by a culture that believed in work/life balance, in making work FUN, and that wasn't content with letting growth be anything but intentional. Now, as an employee coming up on 2 years, I love being here for the same reasons. I love that an idea can be heard on any level here and that some of the most dynamic concepts, ideas, approaches, or processes can come from any individual in the company with the passion to put it to action. It keeps you working your creative muscles, because you don't feel stifled by position or influence. You have the opportunity to make your own opportunity - and that's a cool feeling to wake up to every day.
What do you love about working with creative talent? That no two conversations are alike. I am someone who tends to get bored with repetition—and creatives keep things interesting. Creatives also tend to be a very passionate breed, and passion is contagious.
What's the BEST thing someone can do when looking for a job? Network. With real humans! It's easy to shoot your resume out to as many job boards as possible, and, sure, that might have some results. But more often than not, you will be frustrated as you continue to feel like your resume is disappearing into the black hole of the Internet. You'll have a much higher return on your time by spending time getting to know folks in your field, asking for referrals, and making real connections. Don't know where to start? A recruiter is like having immediate access to a robust network. They can help point you in the right direction to have the right conversations that lead to perfect fits.
What app do you use regularly that provides great user experience? Mint! I am a personal finance nerd and also very goal oriented. Tracking all my accounts, spending and savings goals in one place is easy and visually appealing. Typing passwords and usernames and such for different accounts can be cumbersome, so Mint's ability to keep information secure in one place, decrease the number of steps I need to take to access information and use of clean visuals to track goals and budgets helps make everything easy. When testing UX on an app, I use the litmus test question "does this make me want to throw my phone out of my car window?" And with Mint, the answer is no. (Unless I overspent on shoes that month).
What's your favorite interview question? My favorite interview question is to ask the candidate what their best working relationship looked like. It will give them a chance to paint an honest picture of environments and leadership styles that they were able to thrive under.
Best creative/digital event in your city? I am a huge fan of Leadercast in Atlanta. It's not focused directly on "creative," but certainly leads down the path to being a more dynamic, more creative leader. The event is inspiring—and you spend time listening to thought leaders across industries that give you a chance to learn what innovation can look like in a host of settings.
If you had to pick two celebrities to be your parents, who would they be? No shade to my real mother, who is my actual hero, but if I just HAD to pick a celebrity mom it would be Amy Poehler in a heartbeat. Her unapologetic confidence as a woman is inspiring and I love what she's done with her organization Amy's Smart Girls. As my celebrity father, I would have to pick Jon Stewart. I can imagine that he would be excellent at helping with homework and building a last-minute volcano science project. Both very important parenting skills.
Have a question about Talent Bridge? Or looking for great creative jobs in Atlanta?
Connect with Marti!


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CITYCAMP is a mobile day camp in neighbourhoods across the Greater Toronto Area. Guests turning 6-12 years grow, learn, laugh and, most of all, have unforgettable FUN. Huge water slides, archery, skateboarding, bazooka ball, teambuilding, arts, nature experiences and all kinds of creativity-boosting activities make every day new and exciting. All the fun of Muskoka Woods comes to a location near you!
Every year, we hire the best and brightest young adults to join our CITYCAMP team. Staff members live, or temporarily reside, near their camp location for a local connection. Our staff receives seven days of training before camp begins in such areas as: occupational health & safety, emergency preparedness & procedure, customer service standards, youth culture & development, information from a child protection expert and specific training for each age group at camp.
Jeremy has been the Director of CITYCAMP since 2014. Before coming to Muskoka Woods, Jeremy was the Director of two other day camps over 10 years. Jeremy graduated with a B.R.E. in Recreation Leadership from Tyndale University College and also completed a diploma in Outdoor Education from Summit College in Huntsville. He has served as the Day Camp Representative on the Board of the Ontario Camps Association, as well as numerous committees developing training events for camp professionals. Jeremy resides in Newmarket, Ontario with his wife and two sons.
Supported by local schools, churches and youth organizations, CITYCAMP locations are in kid-friendly environments in a growing number of neighbourhoods from Stouffville to Burlington.
CITYCAMP is looking for new locations to offer our exciting summer program! If you know of a great place in your community that would be interested in hosting this type of experience, please email email@example.com.
My son appreciated all the fun time he had outside, and he said that you guys made learning fun. I'm grateful for all the counsellors who were so enthusiastic and caring. It is great to have counsellors who care about the children's basic needs, in addition to the camp's content.
- CITYCAMP Parent

subset: commoncrawl


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Celebrate the launch of Lavande Designs new website with a FREE bridal bouquet & buttonhole for your wedding!
To celebrate our shiny new website, we are offering all Sydney brides who book their wedding with us within the next month, a free bridal bouquet and a stylish buttonhole for their groom. The value of this generous offer is $200 and you will receive only the most beautiful flowers of the highest quality.
So lets keep it simple. Pop over to Lavande Designs facebook page and click 'like' then get in touch! Email [email protected] or call us on 02 9969 9007 to chat about flowers for your upcoming wedding. We can then arrange our first consultation by phone or in person to discuss the details further. That's the fun part!
There are just a few basic Terms and Conditions: We'd love you to read these below!
- You must like Lavande Designs Facebook page and then contact us directly via email: [email protected] or via phone 02 9969 9007.
- Offer applies to brides whose wedding will be held in Sydney only.
- Offer applies to bookings made and confirmed between Friday 1st August 2014 and Monday 1st September 2014.
- Offer applies to full wedding bookings with a total minimum spend of $2000.
- A 50% deposit will confirm your booking and offer will only apply once deposit has been received.
- This offer is not transferrable.
- Offer is subject to date availability. To provide the best service possible to our clients, Lavande Designs books one wedding per calendar date. Offer will not apply should a wedding already be booked on a particular date.


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The average cost of replacing an ignition coil on a spark club ranges from $70 to 375, as of 2016, depending on the make and model of the car and the location of the repair work. Also, if only one coil needs replacing, the cost is cheaper.Continue Reading
Another factor that affects the price of the coil replacement is the type of parts used by the repair shop. Parts made by the car manufacturer are usually more expensive than parts from an outside manufacturer. The parts cost ranges from $100 to 200, and the cost of labor ranges from $75 to 100.Learn more about Vehicles


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There are currently 73 extension's for skp.
73 ways to port into a universal animation format that has millions of 3d models.
Can we utilize at least one? Pie to skp is the goal.
http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/searc ... egory%3A33
trevormanaze wrote:This is the final version of the regular bunker. I can fix height later, this one is movie ready.
Berg wrote:! can convert models to object format but im not sure what you wona do with them please show example work?


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Watch on your Apple TV, Roku, or Fire TV and your iOS, Fire, or Android device.Learn More
"A yummy vegan recipe for chickpeas! You can eat this hot or cold."
Chickpeas With Creamy Lemon Pecan Sauce
0 recipe photos
READY IN:20mins
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 cups cooked chickpeas (or 1 can chickpeas, drained )
- 2⁄3 cup pecans
- 1 tablespoon chickpea miso
- 2 lemons, juice of, small
- 1⁄2 cup roasted red pepper, chopped into small pieces
- Chop the roasted red pepper into small pieces and set aside. You can roast the red pepper yourself or buy a jar of roasted red peppers.
- Heat a stainless steel or cast iron frying pan over medium heat for 1 or 2 minutes. Don't add any oil.
- Add the pecans to the frying pan and stir occasionally until they begin to give off a nutty smell and they start to turn slightly brown, about 5 minutes. This brings out their flavor. If you are unfamiliar with the process of dry-roasting nuts, it is better to remove them too early than too late. If they get too brown, their flavor will turn bitter.
- When the pecans are done, remove them from the heat and set aside.
- In a medium size nonreactive bowl, add the freshly squeezed lemon juice (removing any seeds) and the miso. Stir until well mixed.
- Grind the pecans in a coffee grinder or food processor and add to the lemon-miso mixture. Stir well. The sauce should be thick, but if it is more like a paste, add a tiny bit of water to make it a thick sauce.
- Add the chopped red peppers and stir.
- Add 3/4 of the sauce to the chickpeas and stir well. Depending on how light a sauce you like, this may be enough. If you want the beans thick with sauce, add more sauce, up to the full amount. Any extra sauce can be used over vegetables or brown rice. Enjoy!
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Get dining news including restaurant closures and qualify for giveaways.
a big restaurant with bold flavours, i like their lamb chop appetizer and their chicken vindaloo the most. everything bursts with flavour. they give you complementary nachos and salsa. they have a big screen tv around their bar and a clean design. great for a big group of people. they can adjust their spicy dishes to mild, just ask for it.
don't look at the outside and the fact its located next to a campground, its gourmet food dining once you get inside, the chef has really put a lot of thought into the menu, all of their appetizers are to die for, especially their cheese souffle. you have a view of shannon falls and its a cozy place although just a bit dated, but the rustic feel is just right for this place, the campground next to it is famous for its many wild bunnies running around.
their tiramisu is by far the best i ever had, i prefer their dinner the most, also ask them about their specials, it's a shame that they are closed on mondays and tuesday, and even more sad that a fancy development is about to level that area sometime in the future, experience their dishes while you can.
Who would have thunk it? a funky sushi joint that attracts every evening loads of people in a place like squamish! well this place is such a refreshing surprise for such a town, i know it would have people lining up for blocks if it was located in downtown vancouver. forget about the predictable california rolls, you need to order the following: yam rolls, dragon rolls, deep fried icecream, yes you read correctly!
and their specials always change up, there is plenty to choose from, the place is somewhat small, but a lot of the locals get take-out. the servers are very friendly and helpful, you can see the chefs working and they greet you sometime in japanese. only open on evenings and closed on mondays.
the prices have increased since new management took over, i liked it more when it was still woodlands, and it seems that they are always hiring. yes the place looks old, but i kinds like the 70ies ambience, i wish they would have an AYCE buffet, to make it worthwhile, some of the ingredients in the salad bar can look old because they been sitting there some time, i guess the best to go is early lunch, i never had their deserts and judging from previous submitters would not pursue it anytime soon. but i do like the what you see is what you get deal, sometimes i like to see how my food is gonna look like before i order it. i like to see more variety in their buffet, as it seems to be always the same and repetitive. i know vegetarian food can be more exciting than this.
pricey but delectable place for desert, it's like you have died and went to cake heaven, i just hope that they will not close down, since the place is big and has the latest of everything, just in an awkward part of town. if you have a sweet-tooth and are not watching your weight then this place is it! make sure to drink a hot beverage with your desert since some of the pungent rich flavours are overwhelming and need to be washed down, but in a good way.
i have been there twice and i have to say wow, what a nice place, but in the wrong neighborhood, i bet they would attract some serious customers if they would move to vancouver, we only been there when we had to drop off family at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal. this hidden surprise was a lovely welsome to our palates, we basically ordered half of their appetizers, i forgot their names, but i am sure their website is self-explanatory, very delicious and presentation is numero uno, the pricing is understandably high for what you are getting.
i come here mainly for their coconut soup, you can order it spicy, medium or mild, it has so much flavour because of the bay leave and the lemongrass thats in it, the chicken thats in it needs to be cooked more though, i also like their lettuce wrap, it's only kinda messy to eat, so make sure your hands are clean, their service is fast and friendly. and the prices are fair, ample parking.
i have to say that the best moussaka i have had is at this small scale restaurant. who would have known? they make it only on mondays though! the owners are very friendly and advise you on the dishes if you are unfamiliar. the only thing is that they don't accept credit cards, there is plenty of parking since it is walking distance to lougheed mall. did i mention they have a nice veggie/meat barley soup that tastes very fresh?
you can't go wrong dining there on a wednesday where the schnitzels are $10. the portions are generous and the flavours are spot on, i feel like i am back in europe as far as decor is concerned, the crowd is mostly older and european. i also like that, they have free german newspaper there. make reservations on wednesday evenings as they tend to get quite busy.
so sad that this place doesn't exist anymore, they had one of the more interesting vegetarian foods i had ever encountered, if anyone knows where they have moved or if they are cooking up similar stuff in a different named restaurant, please announce it here. they had to shut down when construction started on cambie which killed just about every business in its vicinity. what a shame.
for a cafeteria, they sure have fast, tasty and most of all inexpensive meals. you cannot beat their breakfasts anywhere, a buck! i like their salmon and their fish and chips, you are allowed to replace the fries with veggies, which i always do and ikea itself rules, big up to the swedes! did i mention their wild mushroom soup, its like it comes from a high end restaurant.
i am glad that this unique restaurant has been so well received, they certainly deserve it and similar middle eastern restaurants should take notes from this fine establishment. i am glad that they moved to their new location on granville island, the place is now bigger and more beautiful and the food is of course always so good, the meats are so tender, their platters easily fill 3 people although its meant for 2, the value ain't bad either, it is really quality food afterall. the cozy ambience makes this place a perfect eatery for couples or a bunch of friends who are in town for a good time.
i don't know what it is in our culture that makes us think we are so superior. sometimes i am not proud being persian, when it comes to the service of this restaurant, it's amazing how little they know how to please a customer, and the unprofessional manner is rude and condescending. anyway the food is great, their kababs are so succulent and tasty, now if the service would match that, i am sure they would have more customers. if one of the servers is reading this, let it be known first and foremost that the customer is king, when they are dissatisfied with a meal for any reason, don't argue but come to an amicable solution, so they can have a nice experience and come back, so as a result you have a returning customer. i personally like my rice cooked well, and when i returned my plate to the server she said, thats how they make it in the kitchen, and i said and this is how i like it to be, anyway it was a chore for her given the expression on her face to return my plate and not see any change in the rice. the design is very lovely and there is ample parking, the prices are ok but there is always room for improvement.


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The La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoe is a grippy climbing shoe for the climber doing it all. The Tarantulace features a comfort fit with low asymmetry, so you can power through day after day of climbing without getting tired. Save your toes for a night of partying with the soft, unlined leather upper and synthetic leather overlay. The lace ups give a snug fit so you won't slip and slide around inside. Whether you're strictly a gym climber, prefer the sun on your back on outdoor rock, or enjoy a mix of the two, this shoe will get it done. The FriXion RS rubber is durable and long lasting with plenty of grip to get you to the top.
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.
Would you like to compare the products you have selected now?


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Unaudited Quarterly Disclosure StatementFor the period ending June 30, 2013
FY2013 financial results Support slides
PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23, 2013 – UPMC's financial results for fiscal year 2013 continue to reflect the evolving health care market and UPMC's continued commitment to meeting the community's health care needs.
UPMC's operating revenues increased by $551 million to nearly $10.2 billion for the fiscal year, due primarily to growth in insurance services. Operating income was $187 million, excluding a $55 million non-cash expense related to the Pittsburgh Promise agreement. In the original agreement, UPMC matched $1 of every $1.50 raised up to $100 million annually for 10 years. The amended agreement removes annual fundraising targets, allowing the Pittsburgh Promise unlimited time to earn UPMC matching funds. Including the impact of the amended agreement, UPMC's operating income for the year was $132 million.
For fiscal year 2013, UPMC's earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization (EBIDA) – a key measure of financial performance and the ability to generate the necessary resources for reinvestment – were $611 million. Including the impact of the Pittsburgh Promise amended agreement, EBIDA was $556 million for the year.
"We continue to see the impact of our evolving health care market," said Robert A. DeMichiei, UPMC senior vice president and chief financial officer. "Amidst challenges that all hospitals are facing today, UPMC remains strongly positioned to continue our commitment to the health of our region."
UPMC Health Plan membership grew 16 percent since this time last year and now exceeds more than 2.1 million subscribers. UPMC's other key operating metrics were up compared to the same period a year ago. In a continuously shrinking market with declining reimbursements, UPMC's outpatient revenue and inpatient volume both were up 4 percent, and physician revenue increased by 6 percent. UPMC's reputation for clinical and research advancements and accountable patient care allows it to attract physicians from around the world, nation and region as the number of employed physicians grew 5 percent to 3,360.
During fiscal year 2013, UPMC spent $503 million in capital expenditures and business investments to advance clinical excellence, good science, smart technology and accountable care. "Our top 10 ranking for the second year in a row on U.S. News & World Report's Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals is a result of our unwavering mission to provide and re-invest in world-class patient care for western Pennsylvania. It's what we do," added DeMichiei. U.S. News & World Report ranked UPMC No. 10 in the nation and No. 1 in Pennsylvania.
UPMC's diversified investment reserve portfolio stands at $4.0 billion, with a 9.6 percent return for the end of the fiscal year. UPMC maintains a long-term investment perspective. "Our long-term investment strategy continues to help us prepare for factors related to health care reform and other economic pressures," said C. Talbot Heppenstall Jr., UPMC senior vice president and treasurer.
A world-renowned health care provider and insurer, Pittsburgh-based UPMC is inventing new models of accountable, cost-effective, patient-centered care. It provides more than $622 million a year in benefits to its communities, including more care to the region's most vulnerable citizens than any other health care institution. The largest non-governmental employer in Pennsylvania, UPMC integrates more than 60,000 employees, 20 hospitals, 400 doctors' offices and outpatient sites, a 2.1-million-member health insurance division, and international and commercial operations. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC ranks No. 10 in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report annual Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals — and No. 1 in Pennsylvania. For more information, go to www.UPMC.com.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


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Irem Tütün is the new coach of the team Golden Roses from Turkey. For this new season, her goals are to create... READ MORE
The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championships took place in Stockholm, Sweden, last weekend. If everything seemed to... READ MORE
Senior, Junior, and Advanced Novices... On Sunday, the participating teams presented their free program in front of the... READ MORE
Only a few days left before the World Synchronized Skating Championships 2016 in Budapest (WSSC 2016). This event will... READ MORE
For the moment Jura Synchro has no video about this country.
For the moment Jura Synchro has no editor or photographer in this country. If you are interested in joining the newsroom, you can contact us here
Jura Synchro is a media dedicated to synchronized skating in the world. The goals are to promote and popularize this sport, speaking about different teams and competitions, publishing news, photos and videos.
Jura Synchro by RCP
Avenue de la Gare 12
1003 Lausanne


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Ms. Riley told us that she would be working on narrative and perspective with the kids, and had already given them a "what did you do this summer?" writing exercise. Using that as a starting point, we began our project by playing a theatre game that introduces the concept of sound and gesture as characterization. Each student had to share something about themselves with the class, such as, "This summer, I played football," and use a gesture, facial expression, tone of voice, and an illustrative sound to turn their sentence into a multi-faceted acting exercise! The kids loved it and it was a good way to get them performing. We then brainstormed themes familiar to them, such as "Jaws", and discussed sounds that we associate with people, such as the song that the ice cream man plays on his truck loud speakers (it was August!) The kids used their portfolios to draw pictures of the ice cream man and to discuss how hearing that theme made them feel. Further work will incorporate listening to famous classical themes, writing self-portraits verbally; improvising a theme on handbells based on those essays; notating them; and performing them at the end of the year. Listen: how does this song make you feel?
This student notated the pitches of her composition on the staff, by color, and by note name. !!!!
Student #1
[jwplayer mediaid="2996″]
This student is struggling with some emotional and behavioral issues, but did an apparently amazing job in early work focused on writing personal narratives. Listen here to what he and his learning aide think about an essay he wrote about a family fishing trip.
"We all went fishing and my brother caught 5 fish and I caught 15 fish…and my dad caught 14 fish. The catfish were big and strong. They were good fish. I threw the fish back to the water."
Student #2
Clarissa is extremely bright and ahead of the rest of the class. It is a challenge to keep her engaged while attending to those that are not at her level. I hope our creative work will give her room to work deeply for as long as she is willing to focus. All the students completed an essay about a significant personal experience upon which to base future compositions about their personalities. Hers is above.
Student #3
This student apparently has a sad home life. He is very bright and articulate for his age and surprised me with his sensitivity and artistic ability. He joined our class later in the year, but immediately took to the curriculum. When asked what experience defined him, he mentioned his mom's remarriage, and would later base his composition upon the sound of her wedding bells, which made him "cry tears of joy"


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Turkey Meatballs & Spaghetti
Forget turkey sandwiches & cold cuts, this is a great way to use up leftover Christmas meat.
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:25 minutes plus pasta cooking time
Serves:4 portions
Great For:Kids - 2-4 Years, Kids 4+ Years
Suitable for Freezing
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For the Dish:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped (approx 200g unpeeled weight )
- 40 g white breadcrumbs (approx 2 slices)
- 50 ml milk
- 250 g turkey mince
- 1 small apple, peeled & grated
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 tsp salt & freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp flour to dust hands
- 3 tbsp sunflower oil for frying
For the Tomato Sauce:
- Use half the onion from above
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 x 400 g tin & 1 x 200g tin chopped tomatoes or 1 ½ tins chopped tomatoes
- 100 ml water / chicken stock
- 1 tbsp tomato puree
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- pinch dried chilli flakes
- salt & pepper
- 200 g spaghetti
- a little chopped parsley or basil
- Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onions gently for about 10 minutes until softened. Use half the onions for the meatballs and half for the tomato sauce.
- Meanwhile soak the breadcrumbs in the milk for 10 minutes in a large bowl.
- To make the sauce, transfer half the sautéed onion to a pan. Add the crushed garlic and sauté for one minute add all the remaining ingredients and simmer covered for 7 minutes.
- To make the meatballs, add the turkey mince, grated apple, thyme, sautéed onion, salt and black pepper to the soaked breadcrumbs and mix together.
- Using floured hands, form teaspoons of the mixture into small balls. Heat the sunflower oil in a frying pan and brown the meatballs. Transfer the meatballs to the pan of tomato sauce and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes uncovered.
- Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the packet. Drain and toss with the sauce and meatballs. Sprinkle with a little chopped parsley or basil.


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On August 21 I am planning to perform a major update to the site. I can't give a specific time in which the update will happen other than probably sometime between 6:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. (Central Time, USA). There is a very small chance that a prior commitment will interfere with this and if so the update will be rescheduled for a later date.
I have spent the better part of the last year or so rebuilding the site from the ground up and the result should (hopefully) lead to quicker load times for the pages and for a better experience on mobile platforms. For the most part the update should be seamless for you with a couple of potential exceptions. I have tried to set things up so that there should be next to no down time on the site. However, if you are the site right as the update happens there is a small possibility that you will get a "server not found" type of error for a few seconds before the new site starts being served. In addition, the first couple of pages will take some time to load as the site comes online. Page load time should decrease significantly once things get up and running however.
Just as we did with line integrals we now need to move on to
surface integrals of vector fields.
Recall that in line integrals the orientation of the curve we were
integrating along could change the answer.
The same thing will hold true with surface integrals. So, before we really get into doing surface
integrals of vector fields we first need to introduce the idea of an oriented surface.
Let's start off with a surface that has two sides (while
this may seem strange, recall that the Mobius Strip is a
surface that only has one side!) that has a tangent plane at every point
(except possibly along the boundary).
Making this assumption means that every point will have two unit normal
There is one convention that we will make in regards to
certain kinds of oriented surfaces.
First we need to define a closed
surface. A surface S is closed if it is the boundary of
some solid region E. A good example of a closed surface is the
surface of a sphere. We say that the
closed surface S has a positive orientation if we choose the
set of unit normal vectors that point outward from the region E while the negative orientation will be the set of unit normal vectors that
point in towards the region E.
Note that this convention is only used for closed surfaces.
In order to work with surface integrals of vector fields we
will need to be able to write down a formula for the unit normal vector
corresponding to the orientation that we've chosen to work with. We have two ways of doing this depending on
how the surface has been given to us.
First, let's suppose that the function is given by
In terms of our new function the surface is then given by
the equation recall
In this case it will be convenient to actually compute the
gradient vector and plug this into the formula for the normal vector. Doing this gives,
Now, from a notational standpoint this might not have been
so convenient, but it does allow us to make a couple of additional
First, notice that the component of the normal vector in the
z-direction (identified by the
This will be important when we are working with a closed
surface and we want the positive orientation.
If we know that we can then look at the normal vector and determine if
the "positive" orientation should point upwards or downwards. Remember that the "positive" orientation must
point out of the region and this may mean downwards in places. Of course if it turns out that we need the
downward orientation we can always take the negative of this unit vector and
we'll get the one that we need. Again,
remember that we always have that option when choosing the unit normal vector.
Before we move onto the second method of giving the surface
we should point out that we only did this for surfaces in the form ) or for surfaces in the form ).
Now, we need to discuss how to find the unit normal vector
if the surface is given parametrically as,
In this case recall
that the vector
So, in the case of parametric surfaces one of the unit
normal vectors will be,
As with the first case we will need to look at this once
it's computed and determine if it points in the correct direction or not. If it doesn't then we can always take the
negative of this vector and that will point in the correct direction.
Finally, remember that we can always parameterize any
surface given by ) easily enough and so if we want to we
can always use the parameterization formula to find the unit normal vector.
Okay, now that we've looked at oriented surfaces and their
associated unit normal vectors we can actually give a formula for evaluating
surface integrals of vector fields.
Given a vector field S is given by,
where the right hand integral is a standard surface
integral. This is sometimes called the flux of across S.
Before we work any examples let's notice that we can
substitute in for the unit normal vector to get a somewhat easier formula to use.
We will need to be careful with each of the following formulas however
as each will assume a certain orientation and we may have to change the normal
vector to match the given orientation.
Let's first start by assuming that the surface is given by S
Now, remember that this assumed the "upward"
orientation. If we'd needed the
"downward" orientation then we would need to change the signs on the normal
vector. This would in turn change the
signs on the integrand as well. So, we
really need to be careful here when using this formula. In general it is best to rederive this
formula as you need it.
When we've been given a surface that is not in parametric
form there are in fact 6 possible integrals here. Two for each form of the surface
Notice as well that because we are using the unit normal
vector the messy square root will always drop out. This means that when we do need to derive the
formula we won't really need to put this in.
All we'll need to work with is the numerator of the unit vector. We will see at least one more of these
derived in the examples below. It should
also be noted that the square root is nothing more than,
so in the following work we will probably just use this
notation in place of the square root when we can to make things a little
Let's now take a quick look at the formula for the surface
integral when the surface is given parametrically by
Again note that we may have to change the sign on
Note as well that there are even times when we will used the
Let's now work a couple of examples.
Example 1 Evaluate
is the surface given by the paraboloid S has positive orientation.
Okay, first let's notice that the disk is really nothing
more than the cap on the paraboloid.
This means that we have a closed surface. This is important because we've been told
that the surface has a positive orientation and by convention this means that
all the unit normal vectors will need to point outwards from the region
enclosed by S.
Let's first get a sketch of S so we can get a feel for what is going on and in which
direction we will need to unit normal vectors to point.
As noted in the sketch we will denote the paraboloid by y
direction. On the other hand, unit
normal vectors on the disk will need to point in the positive y direction in order to point away
from the region.
Since S is
composed of the two surfaces we'll need to do the surface integral on each
and then add the results to get the overall surface integral. Let's start with the paraboloid. In this case we have the surface in the
We will next need the gradient vector of this function.
Now, the y
component of the gradient is positive and so this vector will generally point
in the positive y direction. However, as noted above we need the normal
vector point in the negative y
direction to make sure that it will be pointing away from the enclosed
region. This means that we will need
to use
Let's note a couple of things here before we proceed. We don't really need to divide this by the
magnitude of the gradient since this will just cancel out once we actually do
the integral. So, because of this we
didn't bother computing it. Also, the
dropping of the minus sign is not a typo.
When we compute the magnitude we are going to square each of the
components and so the minus sign will drop out.
The Paraboloid
Okay, here is the surface integral in this case.
Don't forget that we need to plug in the equation of the
surface for y before we actually
compute the integral. In this case D is the disk of radius 1 in the xz-plane and so it makes sense to use
polar coordinates to complete this integral.
Here are polar coordinates for this region.
Note that we kept the x
conversion formula the same as the one we are used to using for x and let z be the formula that used the sine. We could have done it any order, however in
this way we are at least working with one of them as we are used to working
Here is the evaluation of this integral.
The Cap of the Paraboloid
We can now do the surface integral on the disk (cap on the
paraboloid). This one is actually
fairly easy to do and in fact we can use the definition of the surface
integral directly. First let's notice
that the disk is really just the portion of the plane xz-plane.
Now we want the unit normal vector to point away from the
enclosed region and since it must also be orthogonal to the plane y-axis, but we
already have a unit vector that does this.
the standard unit basis vector. It also points in the correct direction for
us to use. Because we have the vector
field and the normal vector we can plug directly into the definition of the
surface integral to get,
At this point we need to plug in for y (since is a portion of the plane
and so the square root is,
The surface integral is then,
At this point we can acknowledge that D is a disk of radius 1 and this double integral is nothing more
than the double integral that will give the area of the region D so there is no reason to compute the
integral. Here is the value of the
surface integral.
Finally, to finish this off we just need to add the two
parts up. Here is the surface integral
that we were actually asked to compute.
Example 2 Evaluate
is the upper half the sphere S has the positive orientation.
So, as with the previous problem we have a closed surface
and since we are also told that the surface has a positive orientation all
the unit normal vectors must point away from the enclosed region. To help us visualize this here is a sketch
of the surface.
We will call z component. Remember that
the vector must be normal to the surface and if there is a positive z component and the vector is normal
it will have to be pointing away from the enclosed region.
On the other hand, the unit normal on the bottom of the
disk must point in the negative z
direction in order to point away from the enclosed region.
The Sphere
Let's do the surface integral on
Since we are working on the hemisphere here are the limits
on the parameters that we'll need to use.
Next, we need to determine
Note that we won't need the magnitude of the cross product
since that will cancel out once we start doing the integral.
Notice that for the range of z component and as we noted above in order for this to point away
from the enclosed area we will need the z
component to be positive. Therefore we
will need to use the following vector for the unit normal vector.
Again, we will drop the magnitude once we get to actually
doing the integral since it will just cancel in the integral.
Okay, next we'll need
Remember that in this evaluation we are just plugging in
the x component of etc.
We also may as well get the dot product out of the way
that we know we are going to need.
Now we can do the integral.
The Bottom of the Hemi-Sphere
Now, we need to do the integral over the bottom of the
hemisphere. In this case we are
looking at the disk D that tells us how much of the
surface we are going to use. This also
means that we can use the definition of the surface integral here with
We need the negative since it must point away from the
enclosed region.
The surface integral in this case is,
Remember, however, that we are in the plane given by
The last step is to then add the two pieces up. Here is surface integral that we were asked
to look at.
We will leave this section with a quick interpretation of a
surface integral over a vector field. If
represents the volume of fluid flowing through S per time unit (i.e. per second, per minute, or whatever time unit you are using).


text:
Sealed Plaintiff v. Sealed Defendant
Plaintiff: Sealed Plaintiff
Defendant: Sealed Defendant, J.C. International Business Group, LLC, Jose R. Picayo and Rosario, Jose
Case Number: 1:2008cv20663
Filed: March 13, 2008
Court: Florida Southern District Court
Office: Miami Office
County: Miami-Dade
Presiding Judge: Adalberto Jordan
Nature of Suit: Trademark
Cause of Action: 15:1114 Trademark Infringement
Jury Demanded By: None
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text:
Senior Canada diplomat accuses military of complicity in torture of Afghans
[JURIST] A former senior Canadian diplomat alleged Wednesday that the Canadian military was complicit in the torture of Afghans by their own government, during testimony before the House of Commons Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan [official website]. Richard Colvin, who represented the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) [official website] in Kandahar from 2006-2007 and is currently the deputy head of intelligence at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, said that captives transferred from a Canadian military base in Kandahar to Afghan authorities were subsequently tortured [Canwest News report]. Colvin accused both the government and military of ignoring and even suppressing reports of torture by Afghan authorities, citing upwards of twelve memos [Reuters report] that he sent to top officials beginning in early 2006. The minority Conservative Party [party website] government maintains that captives were not transferred if there was a threat of torture, and questions [CBC report] the validity of Colvin's information.
Amnesty International Canada and the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association [advocacy websites] filed complaints [JURIST report] in 2007 against the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal [official website], alleging complicity in torture by Canadian personnel serving in Afghanistan. Amnesty accused Canada of violating the Charter of Rights and Freedoms [text] by turning Afghan detainees over to Afghan authorities without any protection against later cruel and unusual punishment. In March 2008, the Canadian Military Police Complaints Commission (MPCC) [official website] decided to hold public hearings to investigate the country's detainee transfer process in Afghanistan despite a move from the Canadian Department of Justice to block the inquiry [JURIST reports]. In September, the Canadian Federal Court ruled [JURIST report] that the MPCC's authority was limited to the investigation of military police, and it did not have the authority "to investigate government policy and to inquire as to the state of knowledge of the Government of Canada at large."


text:
My SJW Meme Facebook Group Has Changed the Way I Make Friends
Having a social justice warrior meme group has brought people into my life who are serious about their politics and also fucking hilarious.
Interested in sexual liberation at your fingertips? Well, of course there's an app for that. The developers behind Pure aren't looking to the men to make their new app a hit; they're hoping that sexually liberated women will get more use out of it. Pure is a mobile location hook-up service, much like all of the other apps currently available under the guise of "dating" apps (Grindr, Blendr & Tinder). The company's press release claims Pure is "liberating" and "about giving women freedom and choice. It's "the application that many women have dreamed of, but never dared ask for," it says. "For women who feel constrained by society's stricture to be chaste and monogamous, Pure lets them break the bonds as often or occasionally as they choose."
Oh, so it's a feminist hook-up app? Or is it a sex-positive hook-up app? Either way, it's a hook-up app for those want easy access to ass.
Although the app has yet to be approved in the iTunes marketplace, the creators of the app, Roman Sidorenko and Alexander Kukhtenko, said they interviewed women and discovered there was a marketplace for it. Pure "was very positively accepted," he said. "The idea that they could express their sexual desires how they want and without any shame and judgment — most of the girls liked the idea. There are a lot of ideas in our society about how a woman should behave sexually," and says, "I personally realize that it's gonna be tough mission just to get woman into it."
Well there you have it folks, two men created an app for women to explore their sex-positive and liberating attitudes.
Reprinted with permission from Clutch.


text:
The It's A Wig! Wig – Miss Diva is the perfect solution when you need a go-to style for everyday wear! This short cut with a medium curl will flatter your face while giving you an effortless style you can always rely on. Miss Diva is made from premium synthetic fiber and is heat safe up to 400 degrees, too. That means you can straighten or curl her with your favorite heat appliances to make her your own unique style! Miss Diva is a full cap wig, too; she needs no glue or tape for a secure, comfortable fit.Miss Diva is available in 14 beautiful shades, so the hardest part just might be choosing your favorite color! Don't worry; once you see the great price, you may decide to order more than one so You'll always have a great diva-do on hand!
Color Shown: TM34


text:
I like to say that IT moves ten times faster than the rest of the economy -- and that free and open source software (FOSS) moves ten times faster than the rest of IT.
Certainly that held true in 2012. At times, FOSS reflects what is happening in IT in general, but events usually unfold much more quickly. FOSS solutions often arise in a matter of weeks, rather than the months it would take in general IT. At other times, events and trends affect FOSS while having hardly any effect on the rest of IT at all.
So what were the big stories for 2012? LWN is publishing quarter by quarter summaries of the events in FOSS for the last twelve months. However, here are the nine trends and stories that shaped 2012 the most for the community and that are likely to continue to influence events in 2013:
Crowdsourcing, the sponsorship of software by its users, is not new. Nor are other ingenious ways of funding projects. For instance, the Calibre ebook manager derives income from Open Books, a portal site for DRM-free publishers. One or two distros have also cut affiliate deals for a default search engine.
However, in 2012, nearly every FOSS project seems to have discovered crowdsourcing all at once. The only trouble is, FOSS projects that have regular releases don't fit well on existing crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter, which caters to one-time projects.
The Yorba Foundation addressed the difficulties in a popular presentation at the 2012 GUADEC, raising the possibility of creating a software-specific site for crowdsourcing. More recently, the Free Software Foundation sponsored its first crowdsourcing campaign for MediaGoblin, a de-centralized media-sharing application. The efforts to make a living from FOSS are only likely to continue in 2013 and beyond.
All of which leaves you to wonder: Is there a limit to the number of projects that the community can support by crowdsourcing? What happens to unpopular but necessary projects that can't raise the money they need?
The days of GNOME and KDE dominating the desktop are gone. A side effect of the rise of Ubuntu's Unity and user revolts is that users have more choice than ever regarding which interface to use.
Traditional desktops have proved popular, with many users opting for re-creations of GNOME 2, such as Linux Mint's Cinnamon and Mate. Others have preferred Xfce, which has been the third major desktop for over a decade. LXDE and other minimalistic desktops have also become more widely used.
Others prefer more innovative desktops, such as Unity or GNOME 3, while KDE manages a balance of tradition and innovation.
The one shortcoming of this diversity is that many coding hours have been spent re-creating GNOME 2 that might have gone into creating something new. The question for next year is whether GNOME's support of a core group of extensions for re-creating GNOME 2 will help GNOME regain something of its former domination.
IT Solutions Builder TOP IT RESOURCES TO MOVE YOUR BUSINESS FORWARD
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Searching our resource database to find your matches...


text:
My friends and I can talk for hours, we women who came of age together. We are attentive to the same details, each caring to the same extent. We don`t tire of one another`s lives. We cover everyone: mothers, sons, lovers, in-laws. No one who is not us cares about these people in the same proportion or to the same degree. Some, who love a particular family member, care for that one; while others, friends or former spouses, care for none.
George has his own friends, too; they go back to the start, and I am no part of them. I can hear their stories but I cannot weigh them fairly. Some strike me as too odd, too pointless, some too harsh to be treated in a joking way.


text:
When it comes to leisure reading I'm in the anything-but-politics camp. One of my favorite chick-lit writers is Jen Lancaster. She's written several hilarious memoirs and has a new fiction book out today titled, Here I Go Again. Rather than me explain the premise, check it out here.
Lancaster doesn't write about politics, but she is one of us and deserves our support. I interviewed her for my De Pasquale's Dozen column back in 2010. Here's her explanation of how her conservative beliefs fit into what she does:
Tell me about the moment you decided to become more vocal about your political beliefs.
LANCASTER: As an author, I'm actually less vocal about my political beliefs than I used to be as a blogger. I was working to get my first book published during the 2004 elections and I wrote a lot of posts about my politics. Regardless of how articulate I thought I was, I found that I was winning neither hearts nor minds and I was losing readers. On top of that, my agent warned me that being so forthcoming could keep editors from wanting to buy my book, so I stopped. I hated the idea of silencing myself but I was willing to do so in order to start a writing career.
As years have passed and I've built a fan base, I've become far less cryptic about my political beliefs. Readers know what I stand for, but that's not something I stress in my writing, at least directly. I try hard not to let my politics become divisive. Rather, through my books I want people to see that even though we might vote differently, we still have many of the same interests and goals and feelings. I have so many readers tell me, "You're the first conservative I've ever liked." Convincing others that conservatism isn't evil is the first step in getting others to open their minds to opposing ideas.
No one's going to be won over by my spouting dogma in my books because that's not why people buy my stuff. I don't write essays on why liberalism doesn't work or why Obama's taking us down a slippery slope. People read my books to laugh, so that's my goal. But if my goofy little stories just happen to emphasize conservative values like morality, self-determination, and liberty, well… let's just say that's not unintentional.
I love this woman. Buy her books.


text:
Mary Wollstonecraft Quotes About HeartQuotes about: Heart
It appears to me impossible that I should cease to exist, or that this active, restless spirit, equally alive to joy and sorrow, should only be organised dust - ready to fly abroad the moment the spring snaps, or the spark goes out, which kept it together. Surely something resides in this heart that is not perishable - and life is more than a dream.
...men endeavor to sink us still lower, merely to render us alluring objects for a moment; and women, intoxicated by the adoration which men, under the influence of their senses, pay them, do not seek to obtain a durable interest in their hearts, or to become the friends of the fellow creatures who find amusement in their society.
I earnestly wish to point out in what true dignity and human happiness consists. I wish to persuade women to endeavor to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonymous with epithets of weakness, and that those beings are only the objects of pity, and that kind of love which has been termed its sister, will soon become objects of contempt.
The highest branch of solitary amusement is reading; but even in the choice of books the fancy is first employed; for in reading, the heart is touched, till its feelings are examined by the understanding, and the ripening of reason regulate the imagination. This is the work of years, and the most important of all employments.
Executions, far from being useful examples to the survivors, have, I am persuaded, a quite contrary effect, by hardening the heart they ought to terrify. Besides, the fear of an ignominious death, I believe, never deterred anyone from the commission of a crime, because in committing it the mind is roused to activity about present circumstances.
I am a strange compound of weakness and resolution! However, if I must suffer, I will endeavour to suffer in silence. There is certainly a great defect in my mind my wayward heart creates its own misery Why I am made thus I cannot tell; and, till I can form some idea of the whole of my existence, I must be content to weep and dance like a child long for a toy, and be tired of it as soon as I get it.
Mary Wollstonecraft
- Born: April 27, 1759
- Died: September 10, 1797
- Occupation: Writer
- Cite this Page: Citation


text:
1- Introduction:
With development of science and technology, GPS measuring technique also makes some progress nowadays and plays an increasingly important role in practice of engineering surveying.
Although GPS measuring technique has many advantages, such as high technical content, high measurement accuracy and short measuring time, it still has some problems in practical application, which we need pay attention to. This thesis simply analyzes composition, technical advantages and application of GPS measuring technique, focuses on studying problems of GPS in engineering practice and proposes solutions via exploration.
GPS just refers to global positioning system, which belongs to radio navigation positioning system in essence. It is jointly composed of global communication satellite and signal reception devices and can provide accurate navigation, time information and three-dimensional coordinate for users.
As the latest satellite positioning navigation system, GPS can not only realize all-weather, global and uninterrupted three-dimensional navigation positioning function but also have strong confidentiality and anti-interference performance. As global digitization process accelerates, GPS technique develops rapidly, is widely applied to engineering surveying and plays an important role.
Aircraft navigation systems usually display a "moving map" and are often connected to the autopilot for en-route navigation. Cockpit-mounted GPS receivers and glass cockpits are appearing in general aviation aircraft of all sizes, using technology such as WAAS or LAAS to increase accuracy. Many of these systems may be certified for instrument flight rules navigation and some can also be used for final approach and landing operations. Glider pilots use GNSS Flight Recorders to log GPS data verifying their arrival at turn points in gliding competitions. Flight computers installed in many gliders also use GPS to compute wind speed aloft, glide paths to way points such as alternate airports or mountain passes, and to aid en route decision making for cross-country-soaring.
Boats and ships can use GPS to navigate all of the world's lakes, seas and oceans. Maritime GPS units include functions useful on water, such as "man overboard" (MOB) functions that allow instantly marking the location where a person has fallen overboard, which simplifies rescue efforts. GPS may be connected to the ships self-steering gear and Chart plotters using the NMEA 0183 interface. GPS can also improve the security of shipping traffic by enabling AIS.
Heavy Equipment can use GPS in construction, mining, and precision agriculture. The blades and buckets of construction equipment are controlled automatically in GPS-based machine guidance systems. Agricultural equipment may use GPS to steer automatically or as a visual aid displayed on a screen for the driver. This is very useful for controlled traffic, row crop operations, and when spraying. Harvesters with yield monitors can also use GPS to create a yield map of the paddock being harvested.
Bicyclists often use GPS in racing and touring. GPS navigation allows cyclists to plot their course in advance and follow this course, which may include quieter, narrower streets, without having to stop frequently to refer to separate maps. Some GPS receivers are specifically adapted for cycling with special mounts and housings.
2- Composition of GPS system:
Global positioning system (GPS) mainly contains two sub-systems, i.e., ground monitoring system and space satellite group system. According to hardware facilities, it also contains satellite receiving equipment. The space satellite group includes 24 satellites in all and all satellites are averagely distributed to 6 orbits surrounding the earth, whose distance to the ground is 0.2 million kilometers. On such orbits, operational cycle of satellites is 11 hours and 58 minutes. In this way, any site on the earth can receive GPS signals sent by 4 satellites at least and 11 satellites at most
simultaneously anytime. Devices contained by GPS user terminal part involve receiver, data processing equipment, corresponding user equipment, meteorological instrument and computer etc.
3- Advantage of GPS surveys :
• Three Dimensional .
• Site visibility Not Needed .
• Weather Independent .
• Day or Night Operation .
• Common Reference System .
• Rapid Data Processing with Quality Control .
• High Precision .
• Less Labor Intensive(Cost Effective) .
• Very Few Skilled Personnel Needed .
• GPS eliminates the need for establishing control before a survey .
•GPS can establish control as and when needed and establish points at strategic locations to start and close conventional traverses.
•All or any of the following values could be available directly in the field or after post-processing the data
- Latitude, longitude, geodetic height and X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinates.
- State Plane or Project coordinates .
- Forward and back geodetic azimuth of the baseline .
- Geodetic distance or Monument to Monument slope distance of baselines .
- Vertical angle from point to point .
•GPS determines the geodetic azimuth between two points directly thereby eliminating the need for converting an astronomic azimuth to geodetic azimuth by applying Laplace correction .
•State plane coordinates can be directly computed from the latitudes and longitudes obtained from GPS.
•The slope distances can be reduced to the ellipsoid very accurately as ellipsoidal height is known .
Note, however that, even though the baseline components such as distances and azimuths are accurate, the accuracy of coordinates of new points are dependent on the quality of known points included in the survey.
4- Methods of GPS Surveys :
-Static GPS Surveys :
Static GPS survey procedures allow various systematic errors to be resolved when high-accuracy positioning is required. Static procedures are used to produce baselines between stationary GPS units by recording data over an extended period of time during which the satellite geometry changes.
-Fast-static GPS Surveys :
Fast-static GPS surveys are similar to static GPS surveys, but with shorter observation periods (approximately 5 to 10 minutes). Fast-static GPS survey procedures require more advanced equipment and data reduction techniques than static GPS methods. Typically, the fast-static GPS method should not be used for corridor control or other surveys requiring horizontal accuracy greater than first order.
-Kinematic GPS Surveys :
Kinematic GPS surveys make use of two or more GPS units. At least one GPS unit is set up over a known (reference) station and remains stationary, while other (rover) GPS units are moved from station to station. All baselines are produced from the GPS unit occupying a reference station to the rover units. Kinematic GPS surveys can be either continuous or "stop and go". Stop and go station observation periods are of short duration, typically under two minutes. Kinematic GPS surveys are employed where third-order or lower accuracy standards are applicable.
-OPUS GPS Surveys :
The NGS On-line Positioning User Service (OPUS) allows users to submit individual GPS unit data files directly to NGS for automatic processing. Each data file that is submitted is processed with respect to 3 CORS sites. OPUS solutions shall not be used for producing final coordinates or elevations on any Caltrans survey; however OPUS solutions may be used as a verification of other procedures.
5 - Equipment :
Post processed GPS surveying equipment generally consists of two major components: the receiver and the antenna.
-Receiver Requirements:
First-order, second-order, and third-order post processed GPS surveys require GPS receivers that are capable of recording data. When performing specific types of GPS surveys (i.e. static, fast-static, and kinematic), receivers and software shall be suitable for the specific survey as specified by the manufacturer. Dual frequency receivers shall be used for observing baselines over 9 miles in length. During periods of intense solar activity, dual frequency receivers shall be used for observing baselines over 6 miles in length.
-Antennas :
Whenever feasible, all antennas used for a project should be identical. For vertical control surveys, identical antennas shall be used unless software is available to accommodate the use of different antennas. For first-order and second-order horizontal surveys, antennas with a ground plane attached shall be used, and the antennas shall be mounted on a tripod or a stable supporting tower. When tripods or towers are used, optical plummets or collimators are required to ensure accurate centering over marks. Fixed height tripods are required for third-order or better vertical surveys. The use of range poles and/or stake-out poles to support GPS antennas should only be employed for third-order horizontal and general-order surveys.
-Miscellaneous Equipment Requirements
All equipment must be properly maintained and regularly checked for accuracy. Errors due to poorly maintained equipment must be eliminated to ensure valid survey results. Level vials, optical plummets, and collimators shall be calibrated at the beginning and end of each GPS survey. If the duration of the survey exceeds a week, these calibrations shall be repeated weekly for the duration of the survey. For details regarding equipment repair, adjustment, and maintenance.
6- General Post Processed GPS Survey Specifications:
-Network Design
Baselines (Vectors)
Baselines are developed by processing data collected simultaneously by GPS units at each end of a line. For each observation session, there is one less independent (non-trivial) baseline than the number of receivers collecting data simultaneously during the session. Notice in Figure 6A-1 that three receivers placed on stations 1, 2, and 3 for Session "A" Baselines are developed by processing data collected simultaneously by GPS units at each end of a line. For each observation session, there is one less independent (non-trivial) baseline than the number of receivers collecting data simultaneously during the session. Notice in Figure 6A-1 that three receivers placed on stations 1, 2, and 3 for Session "A" yield two independent baselines and one dependent (trivial) baseline. Magnitude (distance) and direction for dependent baselines are obtained by separate processing, but use the same data used to compute the independent baselines. Therefore, the errors are correlated. Dependent baselines shall not be used to compute or adjust the position of stations.
-Loops :
A loop is defined as a series of at least three independent, connecting baselines, which start and end at the same station. Each loop shall have at least one baseline in common with another loop. Each loop shall contain baselines collected from a minimum of
two sessions.
two sessions.
Networks shall only contain closed loops. Each station in a network shall be connected with at least two different independent baselines. Avoid connecting stations to a network by multiple baselines to only one other network station. First-order and second-order GPS control networks shall consist of a series of interconnecting closed-loop, geometric figures.
First-order, second-order, and third-order GPS control networks shall be designed with sufficient redundancy to detect and isolate blunders and/or systematic errors. Redundancy of network design is achieved by:
• Connecting each network station with at least two independent baselines
• Series of interconnecting, closed loops
• Repeat baseline measurements
7- Satellite Geometry:
Satellite geometry factors to
consider when planning a GPS survey are:
Number of satellites available
Minimum elevation angle for satellites (elevation mask)
Obstructions limiting satellite visibility
Positional Dilution of Precision (PDOP)
• Vertical Dilution of
Precision (VDOP) when performing vertical GPS surveys
8- Field Procedures:
-Reconnaissance :
Proper field reconnaissance is essential to the execution of efficient, effective GPS surveys. Reconnaissance should include:
• Station setting or recovery
• Checks for obstructions and multipath potential
• Preparation of station descriptions (monument description, to-reach descriptions, etc.)
• Development of a realistic observation schedule
-Station Site Selection :
The most important factor for determining GPS station location is the project's requirements (needs). After project requirements, consideration must be given to the following limitations of GPS:
• Stations should be situated in locations, which are relatively free from horizon obstructions. In general, a clear view of the sky is required. Satellite signals do not penetrate metal, buildings, or trees and are susceptible to signal delay errors when passing through leaves, glass, plastic and other materials.
• Locations near strong radio transmissions should be avoided because radio frequency transmitters, including cellular phone equipment, may disturb satellite signal reception.
Avoid locating stations near large flat surfaces such as buildings, large signs, fences, etc., as satellite signals may be reflected off these surfaces causing multipath errors.
With proper planning, some obstructions near a GPS station may be acceptable. For example, station occupation times may be extended to compensate for obstructions.
-Weather Conditions:
Generally, weather conditions do not affect GPS survey procedures with the following exceptions:
• GPS observations should never be conducted during electrical storms.
• Significant changes in weather or unusual weather conditions should be noted in the observation log (field notes). Horizontal GPS surveys should generally be avoided during periods of significant weather changes. Vertical GPS surveys should not be attempted during these periods.
With proper planning, some obstructions near a GPS station may be acceptable. For example, station occupation times may be extended to compensate for obstructions.
-Antenna Height Measurements :
Blunders in antenna height measurements are a common source of error in GPS surveys because all GPS surveys are three-dimensional whether the vertical component will be used or not. Antenna height measurements determine the height from the survey monument mark to the phase center of the GPS antenna. With the exception of fixed-height tripods and permanently mounted GPS antennas, independent antenna heights shall be measured in both feet and meters (use conversion between feet and meters as a check) at the beginning and end of each observation session. A height hook or slant rod shall be used to make these measurements. All antenna height measurements shall be recorded on the observation log sheet and entered in the receiver data file. Antenna height measurements in both feet and meters shall check to within ± 0.01 feet. When a station is occupied during two or more observation sessions back to back, the antenna/tripod shall be broken down, reset, and re-plumbed between sessions. When adjustable antenna staffs are used (e.g., kinematic surveys), they should be adjusted so that the body of the person holding the staff does not act as an obstruction. The antenna height for staffs in extended positions shall be checked continually throughout each day.
When fixed-height tripods are used, verify the height of the tripod and components (antenna) at the beginning of the project.
-Documentation :
The final GPS Survey project file should include the following information:
• Project report
• Project sketch or map showing independent baselines used to create the network
• Station descriptions
• Station obstruction diagrams
• Observation logs
• Raw GPS observation (tracking) data files
• Baseline processing results
Loop closures
• Repeat baseline analysis
• Least squares unconstrained adjustment results
• Least squares constrained adjustment results
• Final coordinate list
9- Office Procedures:
-General :
For first-order, second-order, and some third-order Post-Processed GPS surveys, raw GPS observation (tracking) data shall be collected and post processed for results and analysis. Post processing and analysis are required for first-order and second-order GPS surveys. The primary post-processed results that are analyzed are:
• Baseline processing results
• Loop closures
• Repeat baseline differences
• Results from least-squares network adjustments
Post-processing software shall be capable of producing relative-position coordinates and corresponding statistics which can be used in a three-dimensional least squares network adjustment. This software shall also allow analysis of loop closures and repeat baseline observations.
-Loop Closure and Repeat Baseline Analysis:
Loop closures and differences in repeat baselines are computed to check for blunders and to obtain initial estimates of the internal consistency of the GPS network. Tabulate and include loop closures and differences in repeat baselines in the project documentation. Failure of a baseline in a loop closure does not automatically mean that the baseline in question should be rejected but is an indication that a portion of the network requires additional analysis.
-Least Squares Network Adjustment :
An unconstrained (free) adjustment is performed, after blunders are removed from the network, to verify the baselines of the network. After a satisfactory standard deviation of unit weight (network reference factor) is achieved using realistic a priori error estimates, a constrained adjustment is performed. The constrained network adjustment fixes the coordinates of the known reference stations, thereby adjusting the network to the datum and epoch of the reference stations. A consistent control reference network (datum) and epoch shall be used for the constrained adjustment. The NGS Horizontal Time Dependent Positioning (HTDP) program may be used to translate geodetic positions from one epoch to another.
10-Applications of GPS :
1-Civilian Applications of GPS :
1. Road Transport
2. Aviation
3. Shipping & Rail Transport
4. Science
5. Security
6. Heavy Vehicle Guidance
7. Surveying, Mapping and Geophysics
8. Telecommunications
9. Financial Services
10. Social Activities
2- Military Applications :
Boats and ships can use GPS to navigate all of the world's lakes, seas and oceans. Maritime GPS units include functions useful on water, such as "man overboard" (MOB) functions that allow instantly marking the location where a person has fallen overboard, which simplifies rescue efforts. GPS may be connected to the ships self-steering gear and Chart plotters using the NMEA 0183 interface. GPS can also improve the security of shipping traffic by enabling AIS.
Heavy Equipment can use GPS in construction, mining, and precision agriculture. The blades and buckets of construction equipment are controlled automatically in GPS-based machine guidance systems. Agricultural equipment may use GPS to steer automatically or as a visual aid displayed on a screen for the driver. This is very useful for controlled traffic, row crop operations, and when spraying. Harvesters with yield monitors can also use GPS to create a yield map of the paddock being harvested.
Bicyclists often use GPS in racing and touring. GPS navigation allows cyclists to plot their course in advance and follow this course, which may include quieter, narrower streets, without having to stop frequently to refer to separate maps. Some GPS receivers are specifically adapted for cycling with special mounts and housings.
Hikers, climbers, and even ordinary pedestrians in urban or rural environments can use GPS to determine their position with or without reference to separate maps. In isolated areas, the ability of GPS to provide a precise position can greatly enhance the chances of rescue when climbers or hikers are disabled or lost (if they have a means of communication with rescue workers) .
11- References :
1) California Department of Transportation CALTRANS SURVEYS MANUAL
2) Wu Yingjie. Experience about GPS in engineering surveying [J]. Municipal Engineering of China, 2005(2).
3) Li Jun. GPS measuring technique and its application to engineering surveying [J]. Journal of Qiqihaer Vocational College, 2012(5).
4) Ma Jie. Discussion on improvement in accuracy and reliability of GPS RTK landmarks [J]. Zhongzhou Coal, 2006(2).


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Topically Moto Morini has been in the news lately with its rumored saving from the dustbin by Paolo Berlusconi, and as such Oberdan Bezzi has inked another sketch that sees the Italian manufacturer linking up with Bimota to create the MMB1, the first Moto Morini powered Bimota motorcycle. The pairing seems a bit odd, as Moto Morini isn't exactly known for its amazing motor design, although we are a sucker for a good v-twin here at A&R. Additionally, Bezzi's design reminds of sketches of his that we've seen before, surely in his imaginary world Bimota would find a new vein of motorcycle design to explore Moto Morini with?
Modular motorcycle design is the wave of the future, and it would seem Ducati agrees with this same sentiment that we've been harping on for the past 9 months or so. Perusing through the USPTO's records for patent applications, we found this interesting nugget submitted by Ducati Motor Holdings S.p.A. Known better as Patent Application #US 2009/0308677 A1, or "Simplified Motorcycle", Ducati's patent application outlines a motorcycle that is devoid of a frame, and instead has all the components of the motorcycle bolt on directly onto the motor.


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Sunday, April 25, 2010
Prototype complete!
Last weekend Jess and Jason (me) installed hinged doors with magnetic holders and the weekend before that we installed wheels; don't be fooled, those are no small tasks! There is of course more left to do: such as a diffusion layer under the surface, protective acrylic on the top of the surface, paint, cable management and interface ports. But these will be summer projects, maybe work for younger students.
What is paramount now is software, specifically demonstration apps. Due to time constraints I will be simply trying to get apps that have already been created for MT surfaces to run in preparation for display on the 30th of this month. But over the summer and on the horizon this table will serve as the basis for several very exciting projects to come (catch up with me if you have an idea for a project you'd like to do!)
Stay tuned for photos of the table in use!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Projector mounting
Click here to view a sweet photo set of the new developments!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Status update
- We successfully cut a mount for the projector out of a 1/16" sheet of aluminum so we can mount it upside down.
- Worked on a rail-based mounting system for the projector (and mirror eventually) . Some parts are cut, some need to be cut but its coming together smoothly.
Click here to view more build photos on Flickr!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Build update
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Build construction started
I have tested the acrylic layer out with the vision system and it works great, though blob tracking was not great. I suspect its just a matter of isolating the IR inside an enclosure and probably more importantly tweaking settings in the vision system software to get the best out of our system. All in all things are going very well, expect some build photos in a while.
Friday, October 16, 2009
All parts acquired!
As for the projector the make and model are listed in the previous post. I hooked it up today and tested it out and am happy to say that the picture quality is crisp and bright and the throw distance is amazing. Its also very compact and quiet, which are real bonuses.
If I can find the time over fall break I will try to get the surface built (i.e., enclosing the LEDs and acrylic within a metal frame) so we can have that ready to drop into a table later on. If that sounds a little confusing here is a graphic that may help:
(click for full size)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
First status update
Our build process will hopefully be documented here in the days / weeks / months to come, but to start things off and get everyone up to speed. Check out the links on the sidebar to get to some valuable information about MT technology and what we're looking to achieve with this project.
Here is the status of our project at the start of this blog:
BenQ Mainstream MP522 ST - A short throw projector that should fit our needs well
Vision system:
Modified PS3Eye from PeauProductions.com - has been modified to include a suitable IR bandpass filter (meaning the camera will only see light in the IR range, specifically 850nm wavelength) as well as an adjustable M12 camera mount and lense. This is a standard lense mount for cameras and will allow us to focus and fine tune our vision area to achieve the best blobs possible
5m long flexible strip of IR LEDs from EnvironmentalLights.com - specially made 8mm wide flexible strip of SMD mount IR LEDs that will essentially be wrapped around the edge of our acrylic surface to provide IR light from within the acrylic layer itself. This item has been ordered with accompanying 60W power supply
Acrylic Layer:
33"x25"x8mm sheet of EndLighten acrylic - A special made type of acrylic that has been manufactured with a lot of very small reflective bits, which essentially will diffuse the IR light coming from the edges uniformly. This piece of acrylic will "glow" with IR light, which will be reflected downward when someone touches the surface. Due to high degree of illumination, no compliant surface layer will be needed, though an extra layer of very thin acrylic may be placed on top to prevent scratching. HUGE thanks to Eli Fox-Epstein from the NUIGroup.com forums for providing us with this acrylic and being super patient while payment was sorted out.
Once we have all of these parts we will test them out and then design a free-standing table to house them in.
Status of parts:
Projector - ordered
Vision system - acquired
Lighting - acquired
Acrylic - ordered


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Baby - Stephen Lynch
This is for my little girl
My lady gives birth today
I run to her room right away
She smiles with glee, and hands her to me
I look at my newborn and say
Damn that's an ugly baby
Damn that's an ugly ass baby
I'm feeling quite concerned
My semen must have turned
'Cause damn that's an ugly baby
I can't believe this came from me
I think her mom did too much lsd
She's skinny like a twig
At least her nuts are big
But the placenta is cuter than she
Damn that's an ugly baby
God damn that's an ugly ass baby
I can't take her home today
She'll scare the dog away
'cause damn that's an ugly baby
And when she smiles I find
Shane Mcgowen comes to mind
It makes me want to cry
When I look into her good eye
I always wanted kids
Is it wrong to hope for sids?
Then the doctor calls me in
Mr. Lynch she has a twin
Damn that's a good-lookin' baby
One for two on the good lookin' babies
I almost start to weep
Now this one we can keep
Cause that was an ugly ass...
Damn that's an ugly baby (x4)
She's got one good tooth and one ear and one eye
And thank god just one nose, but it's on her left thigh
Now doctor I am asking you guy to guy
Would a really really really late term abortion still fly?
Oh no, not me!
I don't want no ugly baby!
Lyrics taken from http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/stephen_lynch/baby.html


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Fireworks launcher by laterite house. आतिशबाजी atisabaji, पटाखे patakhe
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I jumped shocked in my chair as an explosion, sharp as a crack of a lightning, terrorised the cyber cafe. A huge ball of fire flashed on the alley just outside the front store window.
Now that only smoke remained and I survived, I gathered my senses and asked the young business owner who stood there peacefully looking out, what was that.
He said 'marriage' and took me out the door pointing to an orchestra, forming a circle at the entrance to an apartment building further down the sandy path.
That was my first experience with Indian recreational / traditional use of firecrackers in Indian everyday life.
And here's the bomb: http://jpgmag.com/photos/2954685
Fireworks (आतिशबाजी atisabaji, in Hindi), Abandoned firecracker (पटाखे patakhe) launcher left in front of laterite brickstone house after a street festival function at Maharashtra Kokan town - 4th of July tribute to USA 2012 independence day - India feature story image jpgmag - IMG_7989;
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Also by Etan Doronne
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General eligibility requirements for Medicaid in Pennsylvania include children 20 years old or younger, adults 64 or younger whose income is at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty line, or adults 65 or older or individuals with disabilities. Social Security defines the accepted disabilities.Continue Reading
In addition, Pennsylvania residents must either be U.S. citizens or have a Medicaid-approved immigration status, have a Social Security number and qualify based on their income. The state has set income limits based on household size and the federal poverty line, although requirements do vary by the specific Medicaid program.
Pennsylvania has four ways to apply for medical assistance: phone, online, mail and in-person. County assistance offices accept in-person applications; however, the state recommends bringing in a completed application found on HealthChoicesPA.com. The fastest way to apply is online at compass.state.pa.us. After applying, a resident may receive a letter asking for more information. Caseworkers at the county assistance offices can help the applicant obtain what is needed.
An approved applicant receives an Access Medicaid card via mail, which is accepted by doctors, hospitals and pharmacies across the state. Recipients should always confirm that a doctor accepts Medicaid prior to the appointment. Those in the Pennsylvania's Medicaid program, called Health Choices, must enroll in a managed care program, from which there are nine to choose. After being accepted into Health Choices, the resident receives a welcome packet with information about the different managed care providers. Each recipient's eligibility is reviewed yearly.Learn more about Social Services


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Permanent link to this article: http://biomicrosystems.net/publications/attachment/53/
Biomedical Engineering + Materials Science
Christopher J Bettinger
cbetting [at] andrew [dot] cmu [dot] edu
Voice: (412) 268-7677
Fax: (412) 268-7596
Mailing Address:
5000 Forbes Ave
Wean Hall 4315
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Lab News
Hydrogel-based neural probes highlighted in Advanced Science News
Wei-Chen's work on hydrogel-based neural interfaces highlighted in Wiley Advanced Science News. Congrats to Wei-Chen and the team!
Article on polydopamine nanomembranes published in Advanced Engineering Materials
Zihao (Derrick) Ding and Ik Soo publish a paper in Advanced Engineering Materials based on a collaboration with Prof Pistorius (MSE).
Article on edible electronics published in Angewandte Chemie
A mini-review article on advances in materials for edible electronics was recently published in Angewandte Chemie.
Congrats to the 2018 graduates from Carnegie Mellon
Congrats to the BME, MSE, and all graduates from CMU in 2018! Best of luck with your future endeavors!
Ik Soo defends PhD thesis
Ik Soo successfully defends his PhD thesis entitled "Multimodal Control of Adhesion in Polydopamine Nanomembranes through Texture, Microstructure, and Chemistry Control". Congrats, Ik Soo!


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Eye Floaters Look Like
What are those floaty things in your eye Michael Mauser
Have you ever noticed something swimmingin your field of visioné It may look like a tiny wormor a transparent blob, and whenever you try to geta closer look, it disappears, only to reappearas soon as you shift your glance. But don't go rinsing out your eyes! What you are seeing is a common phenomenon known as a floater. The scientific name for these objectsis Muscae volitantes,
Latin for quot;flying flies,quot; and true to their name,they can be somewhat annoying. But they're not actually bugsor any kind of external objects at all. Rather, they exist inside your eyeball. Floaters may seem to be alive,since they move and change shape, but they are not alive. Floaters are tiny objectsthat cast shadows on the retina, the lightsensitive tissueat the back of your eye.
They might be bits of tissue, red blood cells, or clumps of protein. And because they're suspendedwithin the vitreous humor, the gellike liquidthat fills the inside of your eye, floaters drift alongwith your eye movements, and seem to bounce a littlewhen your eye stops. Floaters may be onlybarely distinguishable most of the time.
They become more visiblethe closer they are to the retina, just as holding your hand closerto a table with an overhead light will result in a moresharply defined shadow. And floaters are particularly noticeable when you are lookingat a uniform bright surface, like a blank computer screen, snow, or a clear sky,
where the consistency of the backgroundmakes them easier to distinguish. The brighter the light is,the more your pupil contracts. This has an effect similarto replacing a large diffuse light fixture with a single overhead light bulb, which also makesthe shadow appear clearer. There is another visual phenomenonthat looks similar to floaters but is in fact unrelated. If you've seen tiny dots of lightdarting about
when looking at a bright blue sky, you've experienced what is knownas the blue field entoptic phenomenon. In some ways,this is the opposite of seeing floaters. Here, you are not seeing shadows but little moving windowsletting light through to your retina. The windows are actually causedby white blood cells moving through the capillariesalong your retina's surface. These leukocytes can be so largethat they nearly fill a capillary


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Status: Open
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first NJ.com user to add photos or videos of The Wicker Cottage
Wicker Cottage the can be found at Mill Creek Rd 675. The following is offered: Phonebook. The entry is present with us since Sep 8, 2010 and was last updated on Nov 14, 2013. In Manahawkin there are 27 other Phonebook. An overview can be found here.
The Wicker Cottage is located at 675 Mill Creek Rd, Manahawkin, NJ. This business specializes in Furniture.


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According to today's Sun newspaper, Willie Thorne is to appear on the new series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here.
Willie, who last year tripped the light fantastic on Strictly Come Dancing, can expect to spend up to three weeks in the jungle eating grubs, wrestling with all manner of animals and sleeping in a tent.
He was due to go on the show a couple of years ago but the producers went with Jimmy Osmond instead, preferring a long haired lover from Liverpool to a bald headed snooker player from Leicester.


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Need a quick yet well thought out read?Why not check out this ongoing collection of Sci-fi and Fantasy Stories: [link]
This topic might exist in our archive - Try Here
People who have no sense of Sportsmanship have NO PLACE designing any Gaming system
Something I believe in when it comes to house rules is that if anything, you should overcost.This mainly applies when you are adding a unit to an existing codex. Its is not so much the unit being overcosted but instead you are paying for actually having this extra option to choose from. At the end of the day, more choices and options make for a better/more effective codex so you should pay a premium for increasing these options. When creating a whole new codex I think the rule still applies but for different reasons. When it comes to a homebrew codex I think you should pay this premium for the fact that your using an army that people will have far less experience in playing against it and that itself is a massive advantage.
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You know that nervous feeling clients can get when they are worried that money is about to run out? Its not just mass-affluent clients; high-net-worth individuals experience that same nervousness. Most do not have reason to, yet they still do.
If you are in the investment business field, there are ways to deal with worried wealthy individuals. First, though, Id like to share an experience with one of my clients, a close friends mother. Annie has significant assets and although her portfolio is not heavily tilted toward income-producing securities, we create more income than she spends. With a 2% to 2.5% distribution rate, this woman could live forever and never run out of money.
So at first I wondered if she was joking when she started asking questions about her spending vis-à-vis her income. I thought back on our previous meetings and the data I had shown her. It didnt make sense that she was unaware of her situation.
So I addressed it head-on: Annie, you have plenty of income. Your income is in excess of your spending. You have extra in your checking account and we have extra cash in your investment account. If there is something you need to buy we can fund it easily. You can increase your spending substantially and not outspend your income. She seemed satisfied and reassured.
My associates had also seen this same anxiety in some of their clients. A large check to write or a tax bill to pay would prompt a nervous phone call seeking reassurance.
Obviously, we had not communicated with them well enough. One thought I had was to estimate three years of spending and compare that to the amount of liquidity in the portfolio. I added up the bond maturities, the expected dividends and interest and compared that to the needed income.
Surely, if sources for 80% of the next three years spending were known, then this should be reassuring. Not so. Logic and math were getting me nowhere. The more work I did to prove my case the less the beneficial effect. I was headed in the wrong direction, and it was frustrating for me and not helpful for the client.
The elderly tend to be anxious about their health, their family and their money. It makes sense that my logic and numbers had only a temporary palliative effect. The problem was not about understanding the numbers but instead about reassurance. I knew my client had nothing to fear. My client could see she had nothing to fear. But that didnt keep the fear away.
As a money manager, I cannot cure anxiety but I can approach client needs mindful of their anxieties. Here are the strategies that I have learned over the years:
Treat their needs seriously: An older client has fears that may seem unreasonable but are real to them. Perception is reality. For older clients, understanding and comfort may be more important than facts and figures.
Make sure you understand what your client is anxious about: A single client may have several worries which can overlap and be confusing. For instance, a fear of losing money and a fear of the stock market may be the same fear, or separate fears. Also, keep in mind that, while obvious to us, not everyone understands the difference between income generated from a portfolio and the ability of a portfolio to support cash outflows. Telling your client that they can take $50,000 a year from the portfolio without fear and then sending a statement which shows expected income from the portfolio is $35,000 will be confusing. Plan on a program of regular reassurance; once is not enough.
Make your reassurance simple: In Annies case, you might tell her: Annie over the last year you spent X and made Y, so you saved Z. Or, if the market falls, say: Annie the stock market dropped last month by X%. We are watching this carefully but believe you should not be concerned because this is only a temporary drop and puts us back to where we were 90 days ago.
Brian Sullivan is president and chief investment officer of Regions Investment Management, a division of Regions Wealth Management.
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