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Culture Novels – Book List
The Culture is a post-scarcity society created through the symbiosis of humanoid species and machines. Any technology of a sufficiently advanced level must be granted sentience. Everything that can be automated in the Culture is; any administrative tasks are done by a small portion of the computational abilities of the Culture's "Minds", vast artificial intelligences. This leaves humans free to play and explore and do ... well, essentially whatever they want. Most of the books in this series focus on the Culture's interactions with various alien societies, whether it's the militant and religiously fanatical Idirans or the odd Empire of Azad.
1. Consider Phlebas
by Iain M. Banks
- 9781857231380
- Format:
- Paperback, 467 pages
- Published:
- Orbit, 1987
Spoiler Alert! This review contains crucial details about the plot of this book.
I had a good time reading Consider Phlebas. Iain M. Banks manages to mix technobabble with description and dialogue to come out with fascinating societies and intense action sequences. The plot was simple, and pretty linear, but it got the characters where they needed to go and blow things up. Beneath it all, there were the questions Banks raises about what it means to be human, about how we plan to interact with machines when they are just as intelligent as—more intelligent than—we are. My elation and excitement began to dissipate after the climax, however, melting away into a small amount of confusion and the bittersweet realization that nothing that happens in this book really matters.
First, a minor spoiler that's more about Banks' universe than the plot of Consider Phlebas. When I started reading, I assumed that the Culture is the product of humans from Earth and that this book takes place in the far future. The appendix clarifies the timeline; the Idiran-Culture War during which this book takes place is actually concurrent with 14th century Earth. The Culture's origins lie in a group of humanoid species, and contacts Earth around 2100, nearly eight hundred years after the events in Consider Phlebas. Again, this has no bearing on the plot, but it's a good reminder of one way in which Banks manipulates our sense of scale.
The fact that the Idiran-Culture war is "the most significant conflict of the past fifty-thousand years" of galactic history is buried at the end of the appendix, but it's one of the most interesting and important observations in this book. Imagine considering fifty-thousand-year swathes of history. Fifty thousand years ago, humans were still stumbling out of Africa and spreading throughout the world. We really have only about, what, 6000 years of recorded civilization? By setting his work in a world where civilizations like the Culture consider a couple of millennia a mere blink of the eye, Banks immediately puts us on uncertain ground and forces us to re-evaluate our conceptions about history and how individuals and even civilizations influence the outcome of events.
Consider Phlebas is a classic "rescue mission" plot, somewhat inverted in that the protagonist is working for the stranded Mind's enemies, trying to steal it away before its comrades can retrieve it. Horza has plenty of opportunities to explain why he dislikes the Culture and has sided with the Idirans; frankly, I have to admit I'm on the Culture's side in this one. I'm ready to accept my synthetic overlords. And it's pretty clear that Banks thinks the Culture is a very stable, largely beneficial society. So throughout the book, I was hoping that somehow Horza would lose, that the Culture agent Perosteck Balveda would recover the Mind and return with it to the Culture.… In retrospect, I should have been more careful with my wishes.
OK, here's the spoiler. The back cover copy says "It was the fate of Horza … and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries … actually to find it, and with it their own destruction." I thought that was just some hyperbole on the part of the publisher to sucker ambivalent readers into the story.
I was wrong. Almost everyone dies toward the end, and one of the survivors later commits suicide. The events in this book aren't part of a great turning point in the Idiran-Culture war, and none of the characters have any significant impact on galactic events. Which brings me back to scale and how Banks distorts our conceptions of "a long time" to humble us.
On an individual, human level, Horza's actions are important. He's fighting the Culture out of personal convictions, and even when he has the opportunity to go off and forget his obligations to the Idirans, he gets his mission back on track and sets off to retrieve the Mind. In the process, he falls in love with Yalson and conceives a child with her . . . and when she dies, something in Horza breaks, and he pushes himself over the edge trying to take revenge. Although I didn't agree with Horza's ideology, I understood that he was struggling to find a place and keep some sense of purpose. This is no easy task, especially not in a society that exists on an interstellar level, as Banks reminds us.
Ultimately, the Idiran-Culture war concludes some time after the events of Consider Phlebas. The story's only bearing the war itself is that the rescued Mind gets installed in a Culture ship and names itself after Horza. As a result, Banks leaves us with the bitter taste of futility in our mouths at the book's end. There was no real reason for all those people to die; they did, however, and not in some blaze of glory like so many war movies. They were extinguished in Horza's failed attempt to steal something that ended up having no influence on the outcome of the war and robbed him of everything he cared about.
The only conclusion I can draw that makes any sense is that this is Banks' justification for the Culture's reliance on machines, a refutation of Horza's claim that the human-machine alliance is a hollow, stagnant one. Only Minds possess the combination of boundless intelligence and longevity. Humans in the Culture, and even the Idirans, are nearly immortal, but immortality itself does not beget wisdom. The Minds are nearly immortal as well as wise, and as such, they are the only beings in the Culture capable of understanding events on a galactic scale and reacting to them. Hence, the Culture needs its machines because humans—with a few exceptions—can't comprehend events on such a large, lengthy scale. I'd have to say that Banks is right on this one.
The less lofty aspects of Consider Phlebas aren't any less impressive. Although we don't actually see many Culture-controlled areas, we learn a good deal about the Culture, and Banks does a lot of world-building. I particularly enjoyed how he describes the Damage tournament that takes place on Vavatch Orbital prior to its destruction. Damage is the sort of game that we like to imagine existing in the post-apocalyptic type of world we often envision alongside any sort of posthumanism—the ultimately sign, perhaps, that all conventional morality has gone out the window. And Banks stays true to this idea, for the most part.
Also, I couldn't help but imagining all of the drones in Consider Phlebas as having British accents. Maybe it's the bad influence of 343 Guilty Spark from the Halo series, but there's just something about the snarky superiority of the drones, particularly Unaha-Closp, that fits with the British stereotype of the elite, upper-class gentleman with perfect diction and manners used to disguise discourtesy. Anyway, the parts where we got a glimpse at the workings of the drones' minds were a definite treat.
Where Banks is less successful is the main plot of the book itself. Sometimes the action wandered, and there were parts that seem unnecessary (and unpleasant—I'm thinking of Horza's encounter with Fwi Song). Horza's approach fluctuates from calm and calculated to insanely risk-taking, and I never quite get a handle on what makes that switch inside him flip. I continued reading because I knew eventually they would wind up on Schar's World and try to find the Mind, but Banks seldom succeeds in interesting me in what happens in between the beginning of the story and its end. I was hooked on the societies, and maybe a couple of the characters, and I wanted to know how it all turned out!
Consider Phlebas has an edge to it. Without any prior experience in Banks' Culture universe (nor, indeed, with any of Banks' other work), I didn't realize this until the end of the book. Whispering rather than shouting, Consider Phlebas still manages to describe the scale on which its grand imagination must play out. Yet it doesn't always deliver a similarly-scaled narrative, not successfully anyway. I recommend it, but with the warning that this isn't "feel-good" fiction. And although the space pirates, antimatter bombs, and sex may make this sound like an action-oriented space opera, there's something deadly serious about Consider Phlebas.
2. The Player of Games
by Iain M. Banks
- 9781857231465
- Format:
- Paperback, 309 pages
- Published:
- Orbit, 1988
Spoiler Alert! This review contains crucial details about the plot of this book.
My experience with Iain M. Banks has been lukewarm. I liked but didn't love the first book in this series, Consider Phlebas, and I absolutely hated The Algebraist. I read The Player of Games because I am an artificial intelligence, post-scarcity junkie, and Banks is the kind of author who serves as my pusher.
The Player of Games more than makes up for any disappointment I felt over Consider Phlebas. In this return to the Culture universe, Banks manages to craft a character and a story that are compelling, both on an emotional and on a philosophical level. Most of the book takes place in a society outside the Culture, but make no mistake: this is an indictment, in some ways, of the sneakiness with which the Culture disarms possible threats. Banks employs a subtle, double-edged wit to portray simultaneously both the utopian aspects of this society and how it might look to the aliens it encounters.
But first, let's talk about the eponymous Jernah Morat Gurgeh. He plays games, almost any type of game, and he is probably the best player of games in the entire Culture. He's really rather an authority on it. Have achieved such a pinnacle, Gurgeh is bored out of his mind and spoiling for a challenge of some kind. After the additional push of some blackmail from a slightly crazy drone, Gurgeh allows himself to be enlisted by Contact, the division of the Culture that does exactly what the name implies, to play a game called Azad.
Azad is the cornerstone of the Empire of Azad, a civilization in the Lesser Magellanic Cloud. Contact isn't quite sure what to do with the Empire—in fact, for an imperial power structure to survive the advent of space travel is very rare, or so we are told. This one seems to have survived because of the game after which it is named; almost every Azadian plays Azad, and one's performance determines one's status, vocation, etc. Oh, and the Azadians have three sexes: male, female, and what our limited vocabulary forces us to call "apex". The apices are dominant, having selectively bred the males and females for strength of arms and docility, respectively.
Gurgeh gets parachuted into this game, and we are told that both sides expect him to lose rather quickly. Certainly, the Azadians have no desire to see Gurgeh advance into the higher levels of play: how would you feel if an alien showed up one day and beat you at the game around which your entire society revolves? Notably, the ultimate winner of Azad becomes the Emperor. When initially being briefed on the mission, Gurgeh asks the Contact representative if they expect him to become Emperor, and the representative essentially laughs. In that one respect, Contact tells Gurgeh the truth: they don't really expect him to become Emperor. That would be too simple. No, Contact is manipulating Gurgeh—and Banks is manipulating the reader—in a far deeper game.
Central to The Player of Games is the conundrum that faces most visions of utopia: if there is no suffering, no challenge to one's livelihood, wouldn't life be stagnant and pointless? The vast AI resources of the Culture mean that no human has to do any work unless he or she wants to; everyone essentially has unlimited free time. Disease and death are uncommon. There is no money, and aside from the occasional crime of passion, there is little enough crime—mostly because there are no formal laws. The Culture is axiomatically uninhibited, and this problematic: when everything is permitted and nothing is forbidden, how can one grow by pushing the boundaries?
Banks explores this question by juxtaposing Gurgeh against the Culture's emissary to the Empire of Azad, Shohobohaum Za. Za has not quite gone native, but he speaks about the Empire with a certain amount of admiration for the "rough-and-tumble" nature of life there. At first Gurgeh has no idea what Za means; he doesn't even really grasp the concept of an empire or ruling through coercion. He only begins to understand how different Azadian society is after he learns about it through the game (because, after all, the game is the society and the society is the game). Sometimes, influenced by the reaction of Gurgeh's companion drone, Flere Imsaho, I began to worry that Gurgeh was being seduced by the game Azad, that he was beginning to lust after power and victory a little too much. This comes to a head when Gurgeh becomes the subject of a Physical Challenge. Basically, if he loses he will be castrated; if he wins, his opponent, an apex, will have its reversible vagina and ovaries removed. Gurgeh could suffer the indignity, get extracted by his ship, and have the Culture's advanced medical technology restore his genitals. Yet he wants to win, wants to advance, even if it means causing, through his victory, his opponent to lose the ability to reproduce and become an outcast. Flere Imsaho takes Gurgeh on a little tour of the slums of the capital city and shows Gurgeh some scrambled channels that cater to the depraved sexual and violent needs of the empire's elite. All of this seems designed to remind us that even if some people, like Gurgeh, aren't creative enough to make their own fun in a post-scarcity society, it's infinitely better than the injustices visited upon the members of a society like the Empire of Azad.
It turns out that the situation isn't so simple. I keep saying "we are told" in this review, because Contact tells Gurgeh one thing (or several things) and then actually intends another. He is certainly not naive of this fact; the duplicity of Contact is notorious among the Culture, and he knows he is being manipulated. He's just not sure exactly how or why. It only becomes obvious during the endgame, when Gurgeh faces off against incumbent Emperor Nicosar, what Contact intends. And just as Flere Imsaho's horror tour is supposed to wake us to the inequities of the Empire, Contact's real goals remind us that the Culture is not always sunshine and rainbows. Because when the Culture decides your society is not worthy, they do not destroy you. They do not attack you. They dismantle your society from within and let your own people do the rest. It's a little chilling, especially when, at the very end, Banks reveals exactly how intricately Contact manipulated Gurgeh into accepting the mission and achieving their goals.
In this respect, The Player of Games continues the theme from Consider Phlebas, and Gurgeh even explicitly remarks upon it: in the Culture, individuals do not make much of a difference. Minds undertake the larger, galactic-level decisions, such as running Contact, because they vastly exceed humans in both intellectual capacity and longevity. Individual humans become, in one sense, pawns that the Minds manipulate in order to serve the larger needs of the Culture as a whole. What's so troubling is that it apparently works, because the Culture has been around for eleven thousand years. That kind of makes sense, because this impersonal, non-individualistic approach to decision-taking removes the ego that might otherwise corrupt a politician and his or her government. However, it goes against a lot of the thinking that pervades our contemporary society, and that makes the theme a bitter pill to swallow.
Note that I'm not actually advocating for (or against) the Culture as an ideal vision of what we should strive for as our future. It's unrealistic, because it assumes human beings are nicer than they probably are. In real life, I doubt we can ever eliminate that criminal element (even if we do arrive at a point where we no longer need laws). Any new technology is immediately going to be seized upon for two purposes: to make money legitimately, and to commit crimes. Our future will almost certainly be a lot grittier than the society depicted in the Culture series. Nevertheless, I am enamoured of the Culture, what it represents, and the interesting philosophical implications of a human/machine symbiosis on a political level.
So I enjoyed The Player of Games thematically, and I also liked the character of Jernau Morat Gurgeh. As a protagonist he might not be ideal, especially at first, because he whines about his dissatisfaction with being awesome. Yet that proves a useful starting point for Gurgeh to change and grow, mostly for the better. I really like that Banks enforces a certain level of ignorance when it comes to Gurgeh's knowledge of science and technology. A lot of science fiction novels focus on the characters who know exactly how all of their society's advanced technology works; some take it one step further and seem to assume that, in the future, everyone will understand quantum mechanics. Banks averts this:
The Limiting Factor was tearing through something it called ultraspace with increasing acceleration.… He didn't even know what ultraspace was. Was it the same as hyperspace? At least he had heard of that….
Even better, Gurgeh remembers this very close to the end of the book and asks Flere Imsaho what ultraspace is, but he doesn't really understand the explanation. Gurgeh is by no means unintelligent—he writes papers on game theory and has mastered in years a game that takes Azadians their entire lifetime to play well. So I enjoyed that Banks made a layperson the protagonist of a science-fiction novel and still managed to make the entire book work. It attests to a skill that seemed largely fallow in The Algebraist and did not quite shine enough in Consider Phlebas.
With The Player of Games, I no longer feel lukewarm toward Banks or his Culture series. I am officially hooked.


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rendering passion into
carefully crafting the right
running free with emotions of
embracing trust and forming
concept app iOS
Music is a language that emotes and controls. From hours of it on the road to minutes of it at the gym – we breath and feel it. What if we could analyze our emotions, just from what we listened to – when we listened to it?
What if we could discover when we are the most happy? The most sad? Melody was a simple concept/ idea that I developed around those very questions. Knowing how many songs you have is great. Knowing who the artist is - even better. But the user should discover more. More about themselves and the music they listen to. Melody breaks it all down and allows you to do so.
When are you most excited? Where do you listen to most of your music – and what are you listening to in those locations? Melody can help you see your "emotional roadmap" and show when you are most happy, sad or ready to conquer the world.

subset: commoncrawl


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Entries from March 2009
Australian Oil Spill Worse Than Thought
March 17th, 2009 · No Comments
Tags: Spills
14,000 Barrel Oil Spill in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest
March 11th, 2009 · No Comments
"The river was completely covered with oil from bank to bank." (Mr. Beltman was generous enough to provide some photos taken of the spill for this story.) About 100 workers are cleaning up the area and a spokesperson for the pipeline company, Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados Ecuador, said the leak had been contained. http://ecoworldly.com/2009/02/27/14000-barrel-oil-spill-in-ecuadors-amazon-rainforest/
Tags: Spills


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AECOM Asset Specialist in Rosslyn, Virginia
Business Line Government
Position Title Asset Specialist
United States of America - Virginia
Job Summary
AECOM is looking for an Asset Specialist to join our team in (Rosslyn, VA) Arlington, Virginia! The successful candidate will join a dynamic team supporting IT operations for a large federal customer in Arlington, Va.
The IT Asset Management Specialist is responsible for the tracking and control of physical IT assets in the infrastructure and is accountable for the management of all information technology assets throughout their lifecycle. They will be responsible for asset management tasks supporting government contract, and for verifying those deployable assets in the Asset Inventory System match the deployable physical assets in stock. This includes ensuring that the assets are managed and controlled according to requirements for security, inventory, intellectual property, compliance, usage and disposal.
Minimum Requirements
High school diploma
At least 1+ years supporting asset management experience
Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office products
Experience in a hardware asset analyst/manager role
Must be able to move/lift boxes of computer equipment not more than 50 pounds
Demonstrated ability to manage an asset inventory and reconcile data, ensuring high levels of accuracy
Strong interpersonal skills, requiring a balance of assertiveness, tact and diplomacy
Works well independently and on teams
Must have a strong willingness to take initiative and drive change
Strong organizational, oral and writing skills
Ability to quickly and accurately assess needs of demanding business clients
Ability to deal with complex difficult problems involving multiple facets and variables in non-standardized situations
Ability to work with little to no supervision while performing duties
Performs other duties and projects as assigned
Ability to make decisions that have moderate impact on the immediate work unit and cross functional departments
Ability to organize and prioritize work schedules on a short-term and long-term basis
Active Secret, TS eligible clearance required
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree preferred
What We Offer
AECOM is a place where you can put your innovative thinking and business skills into high gear and work alongside other highly intelligent and motivated people. It's a place where you can apply your skills to some of the world's most challenging, interesting, and meaningful projects worldwide. It's a place that values the diversity of our areas of practice and our people. It's what makes AECOM a great place to work and grow. AECOM is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
At AECOM, employee's safety and security are our top Safeguarding core value. All employees are expected to set the highest level of safety expectation in their work, display the highest level of safe behavior, and actively participate in AECOM's Safety For Life Program. SH&E is a part of our company culture and participation is required for all employees.
NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES: Please note that AECOM does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, AECOM will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, AECOM explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of AECOM.
Job Category Administrative Support / Secretarial
Business Group Management Services Group (MS)
Country United States of America
Position Status Full-Time
Requisition/Vacancy No. 189016BR
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.


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About the Wine Competition
The 27th annual Indy International Wine Competition will be held June 6-7, 2018!
Nearly 2,000 entries from around the globe will be evaluated by our distinguished judges at the 2018 INDY International Wine Competition. Wine writers and winemakers, winegrowers and enologists, chefs and sommeliers, wine distributors, retailers and consumers meet every year in the heart of America, a truly central place for your wines to be seen and recognized.
Why enter the Indy International?
- Awards medals that are highly regarded in the eyes of consumers and wine writers
- Offers exceptional value and maximum exposure to national and international media
- Provides professional feedback from leading wine experts
- Increases your wine's retail value
- Supports wine research
Christian E. Butzke, Chief Judge
Jill Blume, Executive Director
About the Competition
Learn about the wine competition.


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Flying home for Thanksgiving? Be Prepared for Weather Delays
From CNN - The nasty weather tantrum that has already left a mess on its march from California through Texas is soaking the South and expected to ice up roads in the Northeast.
So if your spouse is angry that you put off making Thanksgiving travel plans, you can respond that you may have actually done your family a favor. Everyone may be glad you stayed at home, as a wintry storm threatens to upend the best-laid plans.
The colossal storm system already brought localized flooding to Arizona, heavy snow in Colorado, and heavy winds in New Mexico as it moved eastward.
With an estimated 3.14 million Americans taking to the sky this week so they can eat turkey with loved ones, planes will be as stuffed as bellies.
Passengers on nearly 500 flights out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport had to find alternate routes when the storm iced the area over the weekend.
The outlook, however, was positively rosy Tuesday morning. None of the major airlines had cancellations planned.
"We decided to leave early, and we're just going to keep our fingers crossed," said Beth Hundley, who was taking a flight from Washington Dulles International Airport to Des Moines, Iowa.
"So far, the forecast seems to be pointing toward a nuisance storm, from our perspective, one that's not going to result in severe cancellations, but more so, delays," said Rob Yingling, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman.
But the nasty weather has another target to aim for. Snow and freezing rain is expected to move into New England Tuesday night, expanding the chances of cancellations and delays.
"The issue they run into is if you cancel one flight, there may not be capacity on the later flights to accommodate all the displaced passengers," said Daniel Baker, who runs flight tracking website FlightAware.com.
"What I always say is, have a low expectation when traveling through bad weather on the airlines, particularly around the holidays, and you won't be disappointed," he said.
The weather may put a further dent in the trip home, as winds rev up to 40 miles per hour as the holiday wraps up, Myers said.
It could make flying harder and cause some people to miss work Monday.
And then they'll have to deal with an angry boss -- unless, of course, the boss ends up being stranded at an airport, too.
Full story at CNN.
Photo courtesy Associated Press.


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2007 Ford Mustang
|Price : $6,795
|2007 Ford Mustang Convertible ** MANUAL Transmission **
Blue / Black
137,357 Miles / VIN: 1ZVHT84N175273568
Phone : (503) 844-2777
1131 Sw Baseline St. , Hillsboro, OR 97123
|Blue / Black 2007 Ford Mustang Convertible ** MANUAL Transmission **
|Convertible, 2 Doors, Rear Wheel Drive, 4.0L 210.0hp, 6 Cylinders, Manual Transmission
|Stock: 1335
Price is our Internet Special
At Car City LLC, we are here to make purchasing your vehicle as easy as possible. We partnered with some of the leading financing institutions to make it happen.
Please, apply directly with the following institutions.
Of course, if you need further help, do not hesitate to contact us and we will do everything we can to get you approved.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Saint Robert Parks and Recreation department puts on all recreational programs such as Halloween in the Park, Easter Egg Hunt, Holidays in the Park, and the Outdoorsman Show. With a growing Park system, there is bound to be something for every community member!
The St. Robert Park System currently includes:
Along with the city's pedestrian and bicycle trails, the city also has walking trails located at Bosa Heights Park with more planned in the future.
The pavilions at the Parks are available for reservations. Reservations are available on a first come, first serve basis and are not confirmed until all fees are paid. Contact the Municipal Center at 573-451-2625 or submit a Pavilion Reservation Form (PDF).


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The Hear the World Foundation is an official Healthy Hearing sponsor and partner of the Special Olympics. In the context of this partnership, the Hear the World Foundation also supports the World Winter Games in Pyeongchang, Republic of South Korea.
Between January 29 and February 5 2013, 2100 athletes from 107 nations will gather to compete in seven Olympic winter sports such as alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding, speed skating and other.
Almost a quarter of the participating athletes at Special Olympics are affected by hearing loss. Many of them do not wear a hearing instrument, because they cannot afford one and they do not have access to the necessary medical and audiological care in their home countries. The Special Olympics Healthy Hearing Program tackle this problem head on by offering the athletes comprehensive hearing screenings. This service is offered as part of the larger, multidisciplinary Healthy Athletes program, aimed at ensuring access to quality health services for all participating athletes. In Pyeongchang, the Hear the World Foundation supports this program by providing expertise on site by qualified employees from the local Phonak subsidiary, donating high-quality Phonak hearing instruments and organizing free follow-up care in the athletes' respective home countries.
"We are extremely proud and honored to work with such a well-known and highly regarded organization," said Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman and CEO of Special Olympics. "Our Movement's athletes represent the most medically underserved population in the world. With the help of the Hear the World Foundation, we can offer them the health care intervention that they so badly need and deserve."
Connect with us at http://www.facebook.com/CanYouHearTheWorld to get news from the Games in Pyeongchang. Find further information on www.specialolympics.org.
HEALTHY HEARING RESULTS AT A GLANCE1,183 athletes aged between 8 and 64 years underwent a hearing screening.
218 athletes were diagnosed with hearing loss, which equates to 18.4 percent of the Special Olympics athletes.
The Hear the World Foundation supplies high-quality Phonak hearing instruments to 55 athletes from 35 countries and is organizing follow-up care in their respective home countries.
Three Korean athletes with hearing loss were fitted on site at the Healthy Hearing venue, while vouchers for hearing aid fittings, batteries and follow-up care were given out for the remaining athletes.


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Hanes Adds Bras N Things To Pac Brands Portfolio
HanesBrands, the US clothing and sportswear group which bought Bonds owner, Pacific Brands in 2016, is to buy another major Australian clothing business the privately-owned Bras N Things.
Hanes paid $1.1 billion for Pacific Brands almost two years ago and said overnight Thursday in its 4th quarter earnings release that Bras N Things would cost around $A500 million on an enterprise value (ie including debt).
Bras N Things is owned by Brett Blundy, who also controls or owns shares in a number of major retail brands, the most recent being snapping up 12% of shoe retailer, RGC late last year.
Blundy is the chairman of investment vehicle BB Retail Capital, which owns stakes in the listed jewellery chain Lovisa, the listed homewares group Adairs and the unlisted lingerie companies Bras N Things and Honey Birdette.
The group also has a large shareholding in the listed property group Aventus Property, which owns 14 retail centres across Australia.
The company operates 154 stores in Australia, 10 stores in New Zealand and 7 stores in South Africa.
In its statement Hanes said it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Bras N Things, a leading specialty retailer and online seller of intimate apparel in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
"In 2017, Bras N Things had net sales of approximately A$180 million (US$144 million).
"The all-cash transaction is valued at A$500 million (approximately US$400 million) on an enterprise-value basis. The purchase price is approximately 10 times 2017 EBITDA and is expected to be less than 8 times EBITDA after cost and revenue synergies. The pending acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in 2018."
"Bras N Things is a leading intimate apparel retailer and ecommerce business that is a strategic and natural complement to our very successful Bonds underwear business in Australia and New Zealand," Evans said. "Bras N Things has a great business model that appeals to millennial consumers featuring core products supplemented by seasonal product offerings. This consumer-direct sales model has significant potential for expansion into other geographic markets. We are delighted that Bras N Things CEO George Wahby, who oversees a talented management team, will remain with our Hanes Australasia business unit."
Bras N Things, based in Sydney, sells proprietary bras, panties and lingerie sets through a retail network of approximately 170 stores and a fast-growing ecommerce platform (www.brasNthings.com). The company's three-year compound annual growth rate is 11 percent, and online sales last year increased 71 percent and represent nearly 10 percent of total sales.
With the acquisition, the company's combined Australian commercial businesses would hold the No. 1 market position in bras and the No. 1 market position in panties in Australia, as well as the No. 1 market position for underwear, socks and babywear.
The acquisition is expected to close in the next two weeks.
View More Articles By Glenn Dyer
Glenn Dyer has been a finance journalist and TV producer for more than 40 years. He has worked at Maxwell Newton Publications, Queensland Newspapers, AAP, The Australian Financial Review, The Nine Network and Crikey.
At the AFR he was a finance writer, Finance Editor, News Editor and Chief of Staff. At the Nine Network he was supervising producer of Business Sunday for more than 16 years. He has also written for other online and analogue print publications here and overseas.


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Are you creative? Got a knack for art and design? Want to win tickets for two to the shows during the next Labor Day Jamboree?!?
Labor Day Jamboree is in need of a new logo. And we are launching a Logo Creation Contest to find the perfect fit. The purpose of the Logo Contest is create a logo specifically for the Labor Day Jamboree that captures the spirit and content of the weekend. The logo will be used online and in print for all marketing activites for LDJ and in different district events. The goal really is for Labor Day Jamboree to become its own "brand".
- Must promote the theme, spirit, content and culture of Labor Day Jamboree
- Must incorporate the name "Labor Day Jambore" or initials "LDJ" or both
*The "Year" is optional, but if included must be able to be easiily updated!
- Must be in good taste
- Must be in digital format and able to be opened in PDF
- Must look good in color AND Black and white (both must be included with submission)
- Must be suitable for website use and High Quality Printing
- Must be able to submit electronically via email or file sharing (i.e. such as Dropbox, etc.)
- Must give SUN rights for use and reproduction
- Contest is open for particpation to anyone
- Entries must be submitted by midnight August 27, 2017.
- Entries can be submitted to firstname.lastname@example.com by the deadline date above
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When we lost Eagles founder Glenn Frey last year, I wrote an article titled "Eulogy From A Fan," in which I stated: "The magic of that band was the combination of Don Henley and Glenn Frey. That magic got the band through several lineups, musical changes, a breakup and a reunion. That magic is gone. It can't be replaced, nor should anyone try to replace it."
At the time, that was how I felt, mostly because I didn't see how the band could possibly continue. I felt as if it would just be a Don Henley show with an all-star band. After all, Frey and Henley were the voices behind the band's biggest hits.
Frey sang "Take It Easy," "Peaceful Easy Feeling," "Lyin' Eyes" and countless other Eagles classics, and on paper, it just doesn't look like it would work to have someone else singing those songs. But after the band's tribute performance to Frey on 2016's GRAMMY Awards with Jackson Browne singing "Take It Easy," which he co-wrote with Frey, I felt like it might be able to work.
I'm not saying there should be another decade of touring and recording. I still don't think that would work. I do think, however, that the remaining band members could do at least one last tour as a tribute to Frey. It would also, in a way, bring a form of closure for the fans and perhaps even the band.
After Frey's passing, Henley said in an interview with BBC Radio 2 that he didn't think the band would ever perform together again after the GRAMMY tribute.
Henley also said that there were plans to do a "Hotel California" tour, in honor of the album's 40th anniversary, where the band would play the legendary album in its entirety. Call me crazy, but in my mind, this could still work.
Out of the album's nine songs, only eight contain vocals. Of those 8, Henley sang five, while Frey sang only one, "New Kid In Town." The other two songs, "Try and Love Again" and "Pretty Maids All In A Row" were sung by, original bassist, Randy Meisner and, lead guitarist, Joe Walsh respectively.
The latest news has nothing to do with a "Hotel California" tour, however. Two big classic rock festivals, "Classic East" and "Classic West" were recently announced. Taking place this July, the festivals in New York and Los Angeles feature rock legends such as Fleetwood Mac, Journey, Steely Dan and the Eagles.
Though nothing has been confirmed, rumors indicate that the band is looking to hire a country singer to fill-in for Frey during these performances. While some fans debated about who it could be, others argued that it would only be right if one of Frey's close friends and collaborators, such as Browne, J.D. Souther or Bob Seger filled the role.
Keep in mind, I have no inside knowledge of any kind. That being said, if I had to take a guess, I would say Vince Gill is likely to get the job. Not only did he sing "Peaceful Easy Feeling" at the band's Kennedy Center Honors tribute this past year, but he's also friends with Walsh. More importantly, he's a highly-qualified, highly-respected musician who knows what to do musically to fit any given situation.
Regardless of who is chosen, what shows the band does, or even if this is the end of the Eagles, I feel like they're making the right decision by giving it one last run. The magic may be gone, but there's nothing wrong with paying tribute to that magic.


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The complexities of shipping your household goods to El Salvador
In searching the internet I found virtually nothing about shipping goods to El Salvador, so I hope at least shed some new light on this. I'm going to try to explain how complex this can be, if you do a great deal of this yourself, to save money.
To begin with, you need to estimate how much you need to ship. This means you will probably be selling many unnecessary items. But before you do that, have someone come out from a shipping company and estimate how much you have. (They will do this to give you a quote for free, and it IS wise to do this). I'd do this months before, if possible, so you can have time to sell what you need to. Know the prices of a a 40 ft container, a 20 ft container, and palletizing your items. I can tell you that you get more bang for your buck using a container, unless you have about one pallet with less than 100 pounds. That is not much! Maybe 5 boxes at the most?
Next...BUY A SCALE AND A MEASURING TAPE! You will need them both! I would also invest in a tool kit, if you are so inclined. This way you can take off the legs on certain pieces of furniture. I had purchased some IKEA book shelves purposely, to be able to tear them down. So my tools came in handy. Now here's what else you'll find valuable: bubble wrap by the roll, at least five to ten rolls of packing tape, and you will marvel at how wonderful shrink wrap works.
Now you are ready to pack. So, before you do, create a list (I created an excel spreadsheet). Here are the categories you will need:
(This will be the number of each piece. Each piece is counted seperately and this has to be an exact count).
(How many parts are there...six pillows? Then, if you have a couch with six pillows, if they aren't shrink wrapped together, they will be counted as seven separate pieces. If they are shrink wrapped together, they are one piece))
Packed Description
(Describe the item)
(Is this by the piece, set, each?)
(Any added descriptions to clarify. This is also where I list each of the contents of a box, instead of the more generalized "packed description")
(New or used? It really does make a difference in the value for figuring duties)
(How many pieces? Do you have 3 bookshelves shrink wrapped together?)
(Serial numbers of every electronic item')
(Model numbers)
(Measurements of the item. Height Weight and depth)
(weight of a box, a sofa, a mattress...whatever. You can often pull this up by comparing similar items on the internet and finding a general weight. Furniture stores have this too, if you purchased it there.)
Unit price
(How much is the item worth)
Next, the pricing is important. For us, the cost for shipping a 20 ft container from Los Angeles to El Salvador will run around $3400. But that doesn't end the costs associated with shipping your goods.
Now you have an idea of the complexity of this. If you are up for it, you will save a great deal. If not, a shipper will do all of this for you, but it will raise the costs. But here are some of the services they can offer: A Team of Full Time Professional Movers, not day Laborers - at pick up. Loading container.
Basic dismantling of necessary furniture,Taxes Tolls and Fuel surcharge at origin. Dispatch and Customer Service. Free no limit Valuation Liability Coverage of an estimated per pound per item. All origin warehouse fees.
What they most likely will exlude:
Special custom inspection, custom penalties, quarantine, custom duties or taxes GRI/VAT/THC, port related charges, container detention at origin or destination, storage at port, demurrage, special equipment, shuttle or long carry, barges, double handling, roll over fee. For these costs, you may want to contact a broker to help you clear these charges.
I found an excellent source who quoted around, PGL at Tel.:2263-0310 /17 For me, they quoted: Custom Clearance: $95.00
Warehouse fee: at cost (depends on the warehouse your shipping co. use. Document handling: Depending on the consolidation company cost.
Delivery: Depending on the address of final destination (ours is included in our shipping fees, but you can also pick up your items at port. Taxes: (We aren't paying taxes because my husband is returning to his country and has been away for more than five years, but most will...and you will want to find out how much this is when you figure the cost.) You will also want to know the EXACT measurements of the inside of your container, not the outside.
So...if you are down for all this work...and it IS work, you can have your household items. But is it worth it? Find out how much the items you will replace will be there ad add the cost of shipping. Still worth it? Then your next step is to get prepared.
My next step was to disassemble any furniture I could and shrink wrap pieces together. I placed all screws inside plastic bags and taped them to legs, etc. This was begun about two months before the packing. As I packed each box, I listed the number of the box and contents in my spreadsheet. Then I taped it shut and weighed and measured each one. This is a long, tedious process, but you will be glad you did it in the end.
Finally, the day comes when the container arrives. You should plan for the day to be when it won't receive any infractions if it is in the street. Now pack! Then let it go...it will take at least 13 days to get there, and maybe more. I haven't included shipping a car in this, but many people do ship cars too. This is much more difficult, because it involves them loading the car, building a bulkhead, and emptying the fuel lines etc. It also adds to the cost of the load, but you will probably make it up in the cost of buying the vehicle there. Prices for vehicles are higher there.
So that's it, until you unload and they deliver.
- LaFoca's blog
- 18760 reads
Your comment about shipping to el salvador
Hi there, I would like to know a few more things about your experience with shipping to el salvador. Thnks much!
Shipping belongins to El Salvador
me gusto tu articulo y sus explicaciones. es justo lo k yo kiero hacer, me gustaria saber cuando hiciste el envio y con k compania y mas o menos cuanto te costo? y en cuanto tiempo estaban tus cosas en su destino? agradeceria tu pronta rspuesta gracias
Of course you need to isure the container and
if anything happens pay out. Are you willing to do that?
I doubt it.


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Renee Zellweger proud shes retained her sanity despite showbizNovember 26th, 2007 - 6:53 pm ICT by admin
Wahington, Nov 26 (ANI): Oscar wining actress Renee Zellweger is proud that to despite the stresses of celebrity life she has managed to retain her sanity.
The 38- year-old star is amazed that she has stayed sober and stable even after years in the limelight
"I've been able to stay out of the psychiatric wards despite the really bizarre exchanges I have on a daily basis, Contactmusic quoted her as saying.
The Bridget Jones Diary star had a fleeting, failed marriage to country singer Kenny Chesney.
It's weird to have fame precede you in any situation . . . and I'm proud of the fact that I've not been to Betty Ford yet, she said.
But, Zellweger was careful enough about not guaranteeing anything, saying with a laugh: "Never say never!" (ANI)
Tags: actress renee, betty ford, bridget jones diary, celebrity life, country singer, daily basis, failed marriage, kenny chesney, limelight, old star, psychiatric wards, renee zellweger, sanity, showbiz, stresses


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The newly inaugurated 45th President got right to work: On his very first day in office, he convened a meeting of his national security team in the White House Situation Room, in the basement of the West Wing.
The President began, conscious that he was making history with every utterance: "I want to thank you all for joining me. I know that strange circumstances—some would say, the Hand of Providence—have led us to this day and this time." Then he added, "And, speaking for myself and no doubt for all of us, I am honored and humbled, both, to be here."
The President didn't say all of what he was thinking, however. He knew full well that some of the people around the table had also sought the presidency the year before; in his Cabinet, the 45th President (or P 45, as he would come to be called) had truly assembled a "team of rivals"— just as had the 16th President, Abraham Lincoln.
Indeed, the 45th President figured that some of his new "teammates" still harbored presidential ambitions of their own—and perhaps, too, still maintained feelings that the wrong person was president, even now. But of course, while such ambitions and frustrations might be seething in the hearts of some of those gathered in the Sit Room, they would have to seethe below the surface: Today, the country was in peril. Today, they all had a job to do.
The National Security Adviser, a veteran of many past administrations, chimed in: "Mr. President, we, too, are honored to be here and humbled to be asked to join your national security team. I think we will all be saying a prayer to the Almighty in our own way. And in view of the gravity of this moment, I know I also speak for all of us around the table when I recall that back in 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of our number said that we should draw inspiration from the shining example of the late Henry Stimson, who ably served presidents of both parties in top foreign-policy jobs, in both peace and war."
The President smiled. "Yes, I have been reading about Henry Stimson—or, as he liked to be called, Col. Stimson. Because even though he was Secretary of State under President Hoover and then Secretary of War under President Roosevelt, he was proudest of his service as a field-grade officer in the US Army in combat in France during World War One. And to think, he was almost 50 years old when he volunteered for duty!"
But now it was time for the Secretary of State to get things going. "Thank you, Mr. President, for those words. And in the honest and open spirit of of Col. Stimson, I feel that I must give it to you straight: I'm afraid to say that your national security team is very divided on key issues of the Middle East. We all agree that the Obama policies were a failure and need to be changed, but beyond that, we have not yet been able to reach a consensus. It appears that the hawks want to re-assert US power in the Middle East, while the more isolationist libertarians"—
A voice from across the room called out, interrupting the nation's top diplomat: "Don't label us 'isolationist'! Call us 'Constitutionalists'! It's the Constitution we wish to defend!"
Another voice called, "Or better yet, call us 'Realists'! If you keep calling us names, we'll have to start calling you 'Neocons'!"
The President smiled to himself. Yes, this was a team of rivals, that was for sure.
The Secretary of State was caught off guard by the interruptions, but being the smooth operator that she was, she soon regained her composure, "As you can see, Mr. President, we are very divided."
The President smiled as he said, "Well, I wanted a 'Team of Rivals,' and I guess that's what I've got!"
The Secretary of State, America's top diplomat, regained her momentum: "Mr. President, to get right to the point here, some members of your national security team think we need to send ground troops back to the Middle East, while others think that the best thing to do is for us to stay out of the fighting, avoid US casualties, and do more minding of our own business."
The President stroked his chin thoughtfully: "Gee, neither of those seem like such good choices to me. I mean, the American people don't want to be humiliated and driven out of the Middle East, and they also don't want to see a lot of our boys and girls coming home in body bags. As we used to say back home, if you give a man two bad choices and make him pick, he's guaranteed to make a bad choice. Either way, he's a loser."
The Secretary of State smiled a tight smile: "Mr. President, this is a very difficult decision for you."
The President answered: "Thank you for your concern, Madame Secretary. But you know, I am not so sure that the only choices are either a) to send ground troops into combat, or b) to sit back and accept what happens in the region, even if that means defeat for US interests. If you all were to give me an options paper that had just those options a) and b) on it, I think I would scribble, 'Give me an option c).'"
The Secretary of Defense broke in: "Sir, what do you mean?"
And the 45th President answered, "Well, perhaps Uncle Sam could fight in the region—kill the terrorists, just as they deserve—and yet not put our boys and girls at such risk."
The Defense Secretary was interested: "Mr. President, do you mean that we could use stand-off weapons, such as drones?"
"Yes," the President said. "And drones have been very effective. Why in the past, they've been a game-changer. Indeed, if we'd had more drones 15 years ago, we might have been able to kill Bin Laden as he was escaping from Afghanistan into Pakistan. That would have been very helpful."
The Defense Secretary answered, "Sir, we do have plans to continue using drone strikes. You can approve those plans today."
"That's very gratifying. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. But now, let's go further: Tell me, please, What plans do the guys back at the Pentagon have for improving our drones?"
The face of the Pentagon chief flushed a bit: "Well, sir, I am not completely sure. DOD is a big place. I would like to get briefed more before I would presume to brief you."
The President had more to say on the subject of technology: "You know, I have heard a phrase in the business world called 'continuous improvement.' That is, always, continuously, making things better. And that's great for a private company, and I think the government ought to operate that way, too." As the President looked around the room, he could see that he was getting some blank looks. "Let me give you a specific example: A couple of years back, I can remember when al-Baghdadi, the ISIS leader, gave a speech in which he called for 'jihad' and all that. So here's my question: What would we have needed, weapon-wise, to take al Baghdadi out right then and there?"
The President paused and looked around the long table in the Sit Room; he could see that he was getting still more blank looks. P 45 sighed to himself: He knew that he had gotten elected the year before to push for new thinking, including in the realm of national security. And now that he was in office, he could see that it would take some time to bring his entire team onto the path of new thinking. And that was okay; that was part of the job, and today was as good a day as any to start.
The President continued: "As al-Baghdadi was talking, I thought to myself—I remember, I was in a hotel room in Des Moines at the time—'You know, maybe we should be able to hit him with a drone while he's talking. You know, with cell phones and Big Data, we can find the proverbial needle in a haystack here in the US; maybe we should be able to do the same in the Middle East. I mean, if Facebook can find us to send a text-message about the sale at the store on the corner, then maybe we should be able to find a way to find and bump off a sworn enemy of the US, a man who has ordered the martyrdom and murder of countless Christians and others in the Mideast."
The Secretary of State jumped in: "Mr. President, this issue of 'targeted killings' is extremely controversial. Extremely. Every case, it seems, generates a lawsuit, complete with the ACLU. And they aren't our friends on these matters."
"You're right, Madame Secretary. Targeted killings are controversial, indeed. But I was elected as President of these United States in no small part because the American people were tired of our floundering around in the Middle East, so maybe we need to embrace new ideas as the key to winning. And if that stokes a robust debate here at home, well, so be it."
The Secretary of Defense jumped back into the conversation: "And Mr. President, I might point out that al-Baghdadi was speaking in a mosque that day he was first widely seen. I am not sure that we would have wanted to send in a drone strike at that structure and perhaps kill other worshipers—maybe hundreds of others. The collateral damage could have been great."
The President responded: "Good point, Mr. Secretary. That's why I brought up the issue of 'continuous improvement.' That is, perhaps we need better drones—smaller drones that are more flexible, more maneuverable—and that can be purposed more easily."
The Defense Secretary flushed some more. "Mr. President, do you mean drones that might be able to fly inside a building? And strike an individual?"
"Yes, exactly. Is that so hard to imagine? I mean, if people can fly drones on the White House grounds and fly little gyrocopters onto the Capitol, then we can see that the military applications of this sort of technology can't be far behind. I've already told the Secret Service that I can feel another tragic event, like Pearl Harbor or 9-11, coming our way. And so I'll deliver the same message to all of you. And when I read that the world's largest drone manufacturer is in China, I get a little more nervous."
The President continued: "I saw on the news awhile back that only around 25 percent of our air sorties against ISIS end up with us firing a rocket or dropping a bomb on an enemy target; the rest of the time, we simply keep our ordnance and fly home."
The Secretary of Defense spoke up: "Yes, sir! At DOD, we've been excruciatingly careful about not hitting bad targets. We don't want to blow up the proverbial 'wedding party.'"
P 45 continued: "And I think that's great. I don't want to hit innocent civilians, even if I sometimes wonder how innocent they really are." Then the President caught himself: "Nobody quote me on that. Nobody tweet that, please!"
Then the President continued. "But maybe if we had smaller weapons, more nuanced, more individual, it would be easier for us to find suitable targets. I mean, suppose we were just targeting an individual, not a group, and could be pretty confident that if we pulled the trigger, as it were, we could hit only that individual. And I read somewhere awhile back that they have machines now that can read retinas from 40 feet away. That means that the technology of target acquisition is getting pretty robust—and that's good news for, say, a nano-drone that might be flying over an area. That drone might not find a high-value target, but if a low-value target is good enough, then the remote retina-scanner ought to make a big difference in the target-acquisition."
The President didn't think he was saying anything profound or radical, but he could see from the expressions of the others around the room that he was breaking new ground with some of them. If so, better now than never, he thought to himself. He continued:
"And so here's my point: In addition to taking sound defensive measures, I would like us to take a good, long look at offensive measures. That is, what might it take for us to regain the lead in this sort of drone technology? Get the lead back from China? And again, I don't just mean defensive capability, I mean offensive capability. I want us thinking outside of the nine dots, not only on defense, but also on offense. I think we need to give ISIS and all the other bad guys more to worry about than they have now. Remember, they've had us off balance a lot in the last decade-and-a-half; maybe it's time for us to put them off balance. Say, isn't there a more military way to express that concept?"
"We call it 'optempo,' sir, for 'tempo of operations.'" That was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff answering.
"Yes," the President said. "Thank you, General. I like that. Maybe we should up the optempo we use on those bad guys."
The Secretary of State interjected. "Mr. President, there are serious Geneva Convention issues that need to be considered. That is, important matters for the lawyers and the international jurists to analyze. And all this, of course, is over a hypothetical technology—that is, a micro-drone—that doesn't even exist yet in weaponizable form."
"You're absolutely right, Madam Secretary. These are serious issues. And I don't minimize the seriousness: We need to look at all these issues in the full 360, considering every angle. But as a help to our deliberations, let me tell you something else that's serious. Going to the funeral of a young man who was killed in action is serious. I've been to a lot of funerals and memorial services during this Great War on Terror over the last 15 or 16 years, and I will tell you that every one of those ceremonies was serious—and sad. As Commander-in-Chief, I am prepared to send our warriors into harm's way, and yes, I am prepared to go to some funerals afterward. But before that happens, God forbid, I want to know that I have done all I can—that we have all done all we can—to provide our warriors with the best possible weaponry, and that includes the best possible technology."
The President was also thinking about, but did not mention, the upcoming 2018 midterm elections. He was enough of a patriot to feel that it wasn't right to mention partisan political considerations in front of his national security team. And yet at the same time, he was enough of a politician to know that if the Republicans took a drubbing in the '18 midterms, then it would be hard for him to fulfill his pledge of reinvigorating the Great War on Terror.
The President continued: "Now that's all I have to say about the role of technology—for now. In our next meeting, let's take up where we stand."
The President paused for effect, fixing everyone in the room with a slow and steady gaze. Then he continued:
"And of course, as important as technology is, there are other questions, too. So next, let's take up the next matter on our agenda—what to do about Iran."


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New Developments at Abell Point Marina
Abell Point Marina has seen a vast array of new development over the last three years, both on and off the water. The development master plan is focussed on improving services for our marina guests and creating a vibrant destination marina for guests and visitors to the Airlie Beach/ Whitsunday region to enjoy. Receiving the Global 5 Gold Anchor Marina Accreditation in 2016 acknowledges the progress of Abell Point Marina and the strive for continuous improvement. A summary of the progress to date can be found in our Before & After booklet.
North Village
The Northern Marina Village has been refurbished to ensure a relaxed environment in the midst of a vibrant port while providing easy access to marine services. New developments include the launch of the Abell Point Marina Flight Collection from our private helipads and Sorrentos Restaurant new upper-deck area proving to be the best outdoor area on the coast and a favourite with visitors and locals to catch the evening sunset.
South Village
The South Village marina has transformed into a vibrant arrival and departure plaza for visiting guests. An additional 250 car parking spaces have been created for customers to easily access the new Hemingway's restaurant, the quirky Bohemian Raw cafe and the marine foreshore walkways and relaxation areas. With the addition of Bohemian Raw, R Marine Crawley and Airlie Adventure Central, the South Marina Village is a busy vibrant hub on a daily basis.
Lure – Abell Point Marina
Launched in early 2016 and located in the heart of the South Village is our new contemporary styled, nautically themed function venue. Providing the perfect backdrop for a Whitsunday wedding or corporate gathering, Lure is fast becoming the venue of choice for any special event or celebration in the Whitsunday region. With an expansive marina facing balcony, Lure is the perfect place to hold an intimate or large gathering. Adding a touch of class to the marina's leisure offer, the gourmet cuisine and relaxed atmosphere, set Lure apart from the pack.
On Water
The biggest developments that have occurred to the on-water operation is the service delivery. The customer is now a primary focus at Abell Point Marina and improved on-water services include a daily dockhand service to assist you with lines, provide gas refills or help with any on water logistics. The infrastructure team have worked hard to implement deep-water draft berths to 5m, whereas the introduction of R Marine Crawley's floating state-of-the-art office on L Arm provides the marina customers with access to a full range of yacht management services.


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Edgeland 105: Comedians in Podcasts Having Conversations w/ George Chen
November is here and that means watch start your complaining about Christmas decorations and get ready for another episode of Edgeland podcast. This week on the show Bill answers some listener mail, it has been a while, and the people will have their voices heard. In the interview portion of the show show Bill talks with Bay Area musician and comedian George Chen (Tumblr) about gold star lesbians, edibles, and the subtleties of the edge. Once again this episode is brought to you by DRKLGHT Clothing so head to www.drklght.com to check out everything they have to offer and follow them on instagram @drklghtclothes.


text: I would like do delete the "piracy protection" IOS files. More specifically, IOS 222 through 254. I understand the risks and I already have a NAND backups just in case it turns out to be useful if something goes wrong. The dop IOS mod program says that other than piracy protection, the IOS files are useless. My wii is running system menu 3.2u that has been downgraded from 4.2 with dop IOS mod, and then formatted with the wii format thing in wii settings if it helps. Are there any programs that will let me remove these IOS files? I think they are the cause for my recent troubles with reinstalling stuff after recovering from a semi-brick with system menu 4.1j installed from a wad.


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At ICT HUB users receive the following:
- Legal, accounting and marketing consultancy and support
- Help in dealing with business procedures and legal issues
- Access to the network of technological and market knowledge
- Assistance with the development of business, strategic and marketing plan
- Easier access to the market
- The opportunity to collaborate with partners on projects
- Organised visits to entrepreneurship events (business networking, training, expert panels…)
He is a cyber accountant and a tax consultant, specializing in IT entrepreneurs. He is the founder and owner of cyber bookkeeping Knjiški moljac (Bookworm) and the owner of www.ft1p.rs, a blog on taxes, bookkeeping and bureaucracy. His vast experience in providing accounting services to future IT entrepreneurs and ICT Hub users helps them master the accounting procedures easily and teaches them how to keep accurate reports, which are of utmost importance for every business and also for business decision making.
An expert in the field of legal consulting of companies. He gained experience as a legal advisor to a number of companies in bankruptcy proceedings as well as to one of the leading Serbian computer programming companies. He takes part in the work of the electronic legal clinic of the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade as a lecturer in the field of commercial law. The experience he gained in the field of commercial law is at the disposal of ICT Hub users.
A Bachelor of Laws from Belgrade. Since 2012 he has been a member of the non-governmental organization providing free legal aid through the Internet "Pro Bono". He is a graduate of the Faculty of Law at the University of Belgrade, and he is currently engaged in commercial law and intellectual property rights. He won several awards in rhetoric competitions at the Faculty of Law – in 2011 he won first place in his category and the "Young European 2011″ prize and in 2012 he was awarded the title of "Overall winner" of the rhetoric competition.
is one of the mentors responsible for helping ICT Hub's tenants to properly present their products or services online. He is engaged in internet marketing business for more than ten years. He is the founder and owner of the creative studio "DEFAULT Design" for online marketing, web and graphic design, as well as portal ePrivatnik.com whose primary goal is to educate entrepreneurs in Serbia and in the region for the successful implementation of online marketing tools. He is an active blogger and online educator.


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Junji Amigara
Junji Amigara is the director of the Teras Terrace office of Pretorius Technologies, and Branton Mongley's boss. He's also the boss of many other inhabitants of the community; since most of its inhabitants can't leave the Terrace due to their monstrous forms, they have to work in Teras Terrace, and Pretorius Technologies is the biggest employer there. Mr. Amigara is almost always cheerful and genial—even when things are going on that it really seems he should be disturbed about. His orders to his subordinates at Pretorius Technologies often seem bizarre, but he never appears to doubt that they'll be carried out.


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Yes. We are really two organizations. Our advocacy work is done by a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, Campaign for Vermont. We have a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that can only conduct our policy research, education, and outreach work, the Campaign for Vermont Foundation. Contributions to the 501(c)(3) are tax deductible, while contributions to the 501(c)(4) are not tax deductible.
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@01045467715 - Tracking 김기수 Twitter profile since August 4, 2014
김기수's story
김기수, also known as @01045467715 has a novice's presence on Twitter and is ranked by us in the 20% percentile for account strength. Active on Twitter since August 2014, 김기수 made it to having a respectable 6 Twitter followers and to being ranked 211,058,678 for number of followers among all Twitter users.
The plot thickens when considering 김기수's follower-to-following ratio, which is 0.1. Which is not surprising given this account's audience size.
Over the past month, @01045467715's was hardly active on Twitter, with an average of 0 tweet(s) per day in the past 30 days. That's pretty consistent with a total of 2 since @01045467715 joined Twitter.
This account is tracked by us Only August 2014. As of August 21 2018 we track 290827700 Twitter accounts, so feel free to search for other accounts you're interested in and reveal their Twitter story!
김기수 Tweets
@01045467715 has posted 0 tweets in the last 9 days, which translates to an average of 0 tweets per day.
김기수 Twitter Followers
@01045467715 has 6 followers on Twitter.
This account is #211,058,678 in the worldwide rank of the most popular Twitter users.
김기수 Following on Twitter
@01045467715 is following 62 Twitter accounts.
Last month this account followed 57 users.
김기수 Predictions & Milestones
@01045467715 will hit 6 followers in the next 3 months, and 6 in one year.
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Please join us to celebrate LPIE's 35 years of supporting and enriching the education of Lafayette's students!
When: Saturday, April 30, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Where: Plaza Park
What: An LPIE Celebration!
Local bands and performers
Art and science on display
Kids activities
Food trucks
The afternoon is free and open to all! Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Come for dinner or bring your own picnic. But mostly, enjoy some good entertainment and activities because we will have something for everyone!
We are looking for bands of all ages to provide the entertainment for the afternoon! We will have equipment for you to hook up to--you just need to bring your instruments! Singing group only? Just bring your voices! Want to perform a dance? That would be great, too. Parents and adults, you are encouraged to sign up, too! Please indicate your interest on this form by Monday, April 18th. We anticipate more groups signing up than we will be able to accommodate, and will let you know by April 20th if you have been selected to perform. Thank you for helping us celebrate this big event!
Originally named Lafayette Arts and Science Foundation, LASF was founded in 1980 by Lafayette parents who wanted to ensure that our schools would still be able to offer an education rich in science, art and music. Using an innovative approach, they not only created an organization to raise funds, but also one that could organize experts in their fields to deliver cutting-edge curriculum to enhance each student's education. Today, Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) still provides innovative instruction in science, art, humanities and music, but has added direct funding for technology, foreign language, math, writing and electives/sections. From raising $5,936 in 1980 to our goal of $2.825 million this year, we have relied on parents, teachers, administrators and our amazing Lafayette community to support our schools and ensure that Lafayette continues to be home to excellent public schools.
We look forward to seeing you on April 30th. For more information visit www.lpie.org.
©2018 Lamorinda Presents.


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Located inside Four Seasons Hotel Denver, EDGE Restaurant & Bar offers locally sourced ingredients and Colorado-raised beef.
Led by Executive Chef Simon Purvis, enjoy an extensive wine list with over 50 wines by the glass, signature dishes such as wagyu beef grilled to perfection and free-range Boulder chicken, mouthwatering sides like lobster mac & cheese and delightful desserts prepared by our skilled Pastry Chef.
Complimentary valet parking is offered for both lunch and dinner in the restaurant.
Photos by Don Riddle and Damon Luu
1111 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Daily: 6:30am-10:30am
Daily: 11:00am - 2:00pm
Daily: 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 9:00am - 2:00pm
Stay in Touch with EDGE
Sign up with your e-mail address below to receive exclusive news and updates.
EDGE Bar
Click below to find out more information on events & special happenings at EDGE and Four Seasons Hotel Denver.
Meet the team
simon purvis, executive chef
Chef Simon Purvis' career has taken him all over the globe, from Berlin to Singapore. In each city, he immersed himself in the local cuisine and developed his menus around tastes that were already familiar there. So it is in Denver where Chef Purvis became the Executive Chef of Four Seasons Hotel Denver and its EDGE Restaurant. The beef is from a Colorado ranch, the lamb from the Rocky Mountains, the striped bass from Alamosa, and much of the fruit is from Colorado's Rocky Ford Valley. And, of course, there is plenty of game.
"Our menus offer a reason for our local clientele to come back often, and a way for our guests from afar to taste things that they can't get back home," says Purvis. His home, by the way, is Portsmouth, England, and he honors it with a mashed potato side dish that is a thoroughly updated take on 'bubble and squeak'.
Given Purvis' current location, it's not surprising that his menus are heavy on beef. But the carpaccio is Kobe and the beef tartare is from grass-fed steer. Those steer also make EDGE the only restaurant in Denver serving a dry-aged Kansas City strip.
Since EDGE is open for breakfast, lunch, brunch and dinner, Chef Purvis has extended the steakhouse feel across all those meal times. He's turned a classic eggs Benedict into Benny on EDGE with crispy pork belly, and put a buffalo burger on the lunch menu. Benny is back at Sunday brunch, joined by a barbeque boneless beef short ribs Benedict and buffalo hash with free-range eggs.
"We want people to feel as if EDGE is their home," says Purvis. "It's a place that they can come back to often, not just a special-occasion restaurant."
zachary rozanski, restaurant sous chef
Born in Columbus, Ohio, EDGE Restaurant Sous Chef Zachary Rozanski actually claims Georgetown, Indiana as his hometown. It was in Georgetown where he fondly remembers helping his mother cook as early as age seven, hoping to score a nibble before dinner was served.
"My biggest inspiration for becoming a chef was my mother," comments Rozanski. "Her food was always delicious and memorable, and everything was made from scratch."
At age 15, Rozanski worked at a Mexican restaurant, starting as a dishwasher and then, fine-tuning his burrito making skills as a young cook. His first venture into hotels was in St. Louis, where he began as lead line cook and after three years, was named Chef de Cuisine.
Remarking on his cooking style, Rozanski says, "I would define my food as Southern comfort with a little European flair, as I combine my experiences from childhood. My mother's family is from Kentucky and Tennessee, and my father is from Germany."
Having worked with Four Seasons for six years, he mentions that his chef mentors are Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis Chef Bruno Cardone, and Four Seasons Hotel Denver Executive Chef Simon Purvis.
"Chef Simon has shown me more about the bigger picture and has given me the confidence to take EDGE Restaurant to another level," said Rozanski. "I want my guests to look forward to eating here days before they arrive and then when here, they experience the best cut of meat on the best grill in Denver."
Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Sarah McHugh notes the salmon from EDGE is closest in quality to Alaska's famous fresh-caught salmon.
Spending some time in Scottsdale, Arizona, she finally landed in Denver, where she enjoys exploring new restaurants and sipping fine rums and Italian wines. Sarah loves to travel and has been countless places, such as her favorites: the Caribbean, Italy and Mexico.
Given Sarah's past with hotels and resorts, it's not surprising the level of passion and knowledge that she brings to events at EDGE Restaurant. Her focus on elevating customer experience for each and every event makes EDGE the premier private dining venue in Denver.
"The culinary team is very diverse, hailing from around the globe, incredibly skilled and creative." She said. "Their innovation brings dining at EDGE to a whole new level."
For what drives her, she credits her husband, Mike, who applauds her pride and detail she pours into each and every event.
Private Dining
Host your next Private Event at EDGE Restaurant. Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, EDGE has three glass-enclosed Private Dining Rooms, richly appointed in comfortable furnishings and accentuated with stylish abstract art that echoes the colors of Colorado.
Our Private Dining Rooms can accommodate parties from 4 to 24 guests. The Chef's Table Private Dining Room features an exclusive look into the kitchen, with a glass wall and a private entrance for full kitchen access. Guests have direct views of the grill and carving station and can see all of the behind-the-scenes activity.
In addition, EDGE offers an outdoor patio, ideal for intimate corporate gatherings or social soirees. Our contemporary patio lounge furniture sets the stage for an urban cocktail party, girls' night out or afternoon drinks alfresco.
Private events may be customized with a visit from our Executive Chef Simon Purvis. We can plan your meal to be interactive, with a tasting and commentary from the culinary team, or we can leave you to enjoy the privacy of the space. EDGE Restaurant will push your next corporate or social gathering over the EDGE with modern luxury.
To book a Private Dining Room, contact Sarah McHugh at email@example.com.
Click here to experience a virtual tour of EDGE Restaurant & Bar.
Contact us to begin planning your private event!
Call 303.389.3050 or book online with OpenTable.


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We can clean all surfaces from tarmac, concrete, stenciled concrete, tiles, brick pavers to pebblecrete and sandstone. Whether your driveway or path needs a good clean, your carpark needs cleaning to stop any possible slip and slide or your patio and pool surrounds need a freshen up to combat the mould that has caused the area to go black, we can clean it all.
We use different cleaning techniques dependent upon the surface. From the revolutionary floor whirlaway cleaning tool for most floor surfaces to handheld pressure lance for the more delicate sandstone. This may also involve soft brushing or hand washing and low pressure washing to ensure the integrity of your particular surface.
Whilst oil and and grease can be removed from the surface, if the stain has been in the floor for some time, this will eventually seep into the lower levels of the material surface. It is always best to have any surface cleaned as soon as possible if you have a spillage of any kind. This will enable us to give you the best possible results when it comes to cleaning those surfaces. Please advise us of any particular areas of concern when requesting a quote to ensure we are able to treat the area with the right product when we come to clean.
All of our cleaning equipment is industrial grade and quality for the purposes of professional pressure washing and all detergents used are fully bio-degradable, eco-friendly and Australian made for Australian conditions. These detergents do not include bleach or chlorine and do not carry any fumes. They are environmentally safe and are therefore kind to plants, pets and humans. They include mould inhibitors to restrict the regrowth of mould and mildew.
Upon arrival our team will firstly assess the areas to be cleaned and look for any areas that have mould, grease or oil. If required, the surface is firstly sprayed with our environmentally friendly detergent. This will be left to sit for a few minutes to start breaking down the dirt. If some areas are heavily stained, these will receive a higher level concentration of the cleaning solution. Our specialized floor whirlaway pressure washer (or other appropriate tool dependent upon your surface) is then used to clean the area thoroughly. Finally the area will be washed down to rinse away the dirt and grime that has been removed.


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Passengers Flee Two Blasts At Brussels Airport
There have been two loud explosions at a Brussels airport which is being evacuated amid reports of a fatality and several casualties.
Video and images on social media showed smoke rising from an airport building, shattered windows and confused and shocked passengers fleeing the terminal to safety.
Footage also showed strewn black luggage belts, cases and bags at a check-in desk.
According to reports the blasts centred on an American Airlines desk in a departure hall at around 8am.
Several people have been injured and all trains suspended to the airport which has been closed.
Airport spokeswoman Anke Fransen said: "There were two blasts in the departure hall. First aid team are in place for help."
Explosions At Brussels Airport: Live Updates
It comes as the Belgian capital is on high alert following the dramatic arrest of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam in the city last Friday.
Sky's Alex Rossi, at the scene, said: "I was in the duty free in Zaventem Airport and I heard two very, very loud explosions.
"I could feel the building move. There was also dust and smoke as well.
"I went towards where the explosion came from and there were people coming out looking very dazed and shocked.
"The thinking here is that it is some kind of terrorist attack although that hasn't been verified by any of the authorities here at the airport.
"Don't know how the explosion took place, the method if you like. But it certainly seems Brussels airport has been targeted in a terrorist attack.
"We are all being moved out of the airport now towards the emergency exit.
"There is a great deal of confusion here. Certainly there are a number of very upset, as you might imagine, very frightened people."
He added: "There are fears that there might be other attackers."
These are the scenes of destruction from inside Brussels Airport following two explosions
Watch Video Below:
Sources: Yahoo News, Sky News


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Choosing your words wisely./
"But if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought."― George Orwell, 1984
I am a writer.
I always have been, really, but there was a decent length of time in which I figured I wasn't there yet. I'm not sure exactly what I was waiting for, but it was probably something like an official, associated-members-only embroidered hat or t-shirt from Those Who Are Writers, Inc. Maybe a plaque, or at least a notarized invitation or some other such nonsense that would never ever materialize.
I spend my days in front of computers, where I write articles and blog posts and manage marketing campaigns. When I'm not at my day job, I'm often in front of my laptop, drafting blog posts for Evergrowth or for my own personal blog, Views From the Bay. I'm writing my first book. I keep notes in my phone about ideas for posts and stories.
I suppose you could say that I'm trying to build some credibility here, but basically, what I'm saying is that as a writer, I'm a storyteller. Telling stories is what writers do.
Apart from the fact that I care deeply about spelling and grammar, I care about words. Getting just the right word is important. Heck, I edited this very post constantly while I wrote it and I know I'll revise it and edit it several times even after I've hit "publish".
Different words have different meanings, sure, but beyond that, they have a different nuance. Even synonymous terms can have a different flavour and leave a different taste in the reader's mind. The wrong word can tell a different story than the one the author intended to create.
Well, guess what: Different words leave a different taste in the speaker's mind, too. Your words sometimes start as thoughts, but what you say speaks your intention into the world around you.
You could say it creates the world around you. Have you ever noticed that people tend to see what they're looking for? It's the classic glass-half-full/glass-half-empty concept.
You'll find evidence to support your thoughts and your words will shape the world around you.
So, choose those words wisely. You don't have to believe everything you think and you most certainly don't need to speak thoughts out loud into existence if they aren't in service of you and what you want.
As Thumper tells us in Bambi, you don't need to breathe more power and life into negativity.
Keeping those thoughts from becoming words might mean you keep your silence now and then. I don't know about you, but I don't think that would be such a bad thing for me, sometimes.
And you know, if you notice that you find yourself not "sayin' anything at all" for a long time, or frequently in certain situations, there might be something there for you to take a look at.
When you choose your words, are they an extension of your Essence?
Are they the voice of your Survival Mechanisms? Or, are they the voice of someone else entirely? Are they the voice of the past?
When you are consciously choosing your words carefully (the first step is noticing), where are you choosing from?


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Spanish Day 2016
This week we have celebrated our first Spanish "Fiesta" and the result has been fantastic after a year of hard work . The whole school took part in such a great day with lots of activities: special assemblies, a raffle, food tasting, dances, crafts, art, geography…
"I really enjoyed Spanish day especially with all the fun activities that were planned for us thank you Miss Rodriguez!" Alisha Hope Year 6
"Spanish day was spectacular, I enjoyed every second of it . I would really like to do it all again" Ella Rose Lamb year 6
Let's watch some pictures of this amazing day!


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O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassion'd stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev'ry gain divine!
O Beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
-America, The Beautiful Lyrics
by Katharine Lee Bates - 1913
That song always causes goose bumps….I love it!
Happy Fourth of July everyone and remember what this day is really about…
Our nation's Independence Day.


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Carol Luwaga
Position: Associate
Carol advises clients in the commercial sector including banking & finance, energy, oil & gas on regulatory compliance, legal and contract risk management, contract negotiation and drafting, debt recovery, dispute resolution and litigation.
Carol holds a Master of Laws Degree (Oil and Gas) from the University of Aberdeen, a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University and a post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice of the Law Development Center.
She is an advocate of the High Court of Uganda, a member of the East African Law Society and the Uganda Law Society
Carol has extensive experience in regulatory compliance and legal risk management gained as Legal Officer (Corporate and Investment Banking) at Stanbic Bank (Uganda) Limited and before that as compliance and money laundering control officer with the same institution.
Regulatory Compliance
Legal Risk Management
PORTFOLIO: Team member Commercial, Energy and Tax departments
Address: 10th Floor, Tall Tower Crested Towers Building, 17 Hannington Road, P. O. Box 7026, Kampala, Uganda
Phone: +256 41 234483 / 4 / 5
Fax: +256 41 234486


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Thursday, March 31, 2005
My Last night!
Clint, Valerie, Jen Wozab, and I went through the final details of the night and did a run through. Everything is set and ready to go. I also called Delena's family to warn them and told them not to say anything.
Delena seemed a little fishy as if she may know something so I will have to play extra hard to make sure nothing leaks out tomorrow. Well, thanks for everything guys!
Starting Saturday this site will turn into a joint BLOG for Delena and I, I will let her post as well so we can update you all on our wedding plans.
Tomorrow I pop the question
Here is the run down:
She knows about the entire date, but thinks it is just for fun.
- 6:30 pm Limo picks us up and takes us to Salt Lake
- 7:30 pm Reservations at the Roof Restaurant
- 8:30 pm Temple Square and Carriage Ride
- 9:30 or 10:00 pm Free Time
- 10:00 pm Head Home
- 10:30 pm Drop Delena off and give her surprise Concert Tickets and tell her this is the gift she has been wanting for a long time.
- 10:35 She goes into bedroom and sees the Giant Present, inside saying April Fools your real present is outside.
- 10:35 and 10 seconds, she comes outside and I will be ready to propose!
Not to technical with plenty of time to waste! Clint will be also dropping by tomorrow to through her off the trail. As well as we will try and go ring shopping that night.
Wish me luck all!
Monday, March 28, 2005
5 Days and Counting
Well, She mentioned last night that she didn't think I would be proposing for awhile, when I mentioned where we were going to dinner she said isn't that a popular place for people to propose. I said, "Yes, but I won't be proposing there," She said, "I know, I don't expect you to propose for a few more weeks."
So I know she will be surprised. Well, Thanks to everyone for your support. Just to let you know this Blog will turn into a Wedding update Blog after the engagement. Delena and I together will post information as to our wedding plans to help you all stay informed.
Thanks Again,
Monday, March 21, 2005
Do you want to see a picture?
I have received a lot of emails and comments for pictures of Delena and myself. I will work on getting some up. For now I thought I would post my favorite of us. This photo was taken on her last birthday.
Thanks everyone for your posts and don't forget to vote for the wedding proposal idea.
Saturday, March 19, 2005
APRIL FOOLS - THE PROPOSAL! - My Idea!
My Idea:
I have already told Delena to get April 1st off of work. I told her I got free tickets to a play on that day in Salt Lake. I also told her that we should dress up and go to Dinner and then the Play. BUT, I have to be home early because of a service project I have at work the next day. My idea is to pick Delena up in a Limo for dinner(this will make her really wonder). Then through out the night, dinner, the play, etc I will say things like, "I want to ask you something." But I will never finish the questions like she wants, I will say things like, "I am going to take some new responsibility at work, what do you think," or "We should plan a trip to St. George." Finally we will go to Temple Square, and I will bend down on one knee and then say, "Sorry my shoe was untied."
Finally I will take her home early and say good night. I will then have something in her room a big present or something that says: April Fools, your real present is outside!
I will then be on the porch, on one knee already to ask!
What do you think? Some say it is harsh, others say she will love it! I need your help on deciding, use the poll to the side of this post to give me your vote!
Friday, March 18, 2005
I am so lucky!!! (or do I know her well enough)
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Asking the Father
The original plan was to fly down to St. George during work one day and surprise Delena's father, Darrell, with the question. But surprise Delena's Family decided to come to Salt Lake for the a few days. Tonight we all were hanging out and Delena had to leave early. Next thing I knew I was alone with Delena's dad and I saw my chance. I moved and asked the question:
Can I have permission to marry your daughter?
He was surprised when I asked, but very glad I asked. He said he was glad I was traditional and that I had asked. I wanted to show him the respect he and Delena deserved. He of course gave me the permission and we went on to talk for 2 hours about Delena and I and the progression we have made.
Delena called two times while were talking. I had to push her calls to voice mail because we were still talking. Darrell gave me some great advice about marriage and I think we became much closer tonight.
I am glad that we were able to talk and I learned a lot from our conversation. I also let him know about the website but told him to keep everything a secret but he could tell Jodie, Delena's mother.
Well more will now be visiting the site and I invite you all to post comments. I would also like to hear peoples Wedding proposal ideas!
Monday, March 07, 2005
What a purchase!
I spoke with Craig at Farr's tonight and I told him of some places that I had seen similar rings for cheaper. Mom gave me a suggestion of looking on some websites so I could have some good amo!
Well I I was able to bring the ring down $570 which enabled me to purchase a little bit bigger diamond. I am excited and told Greg to do it! Now it is all about figuring out how to ask Delena!
I have a few weeks so I any ideas feel free to send them!
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Finding the right ring
Well I think I have found the right ring. This is a lot harder than I
thought. I did go to Farr's Jewelry after many suggestions, but I felt like
the service I got was fairly poor. After telling a few people this they
suggested I go back and talk to Craig White at Farr's. I called him and he
did a fantastic job. I really felt like he took care of me. We looked at
all sorts of rings! It seemed like I was there for hours. We finally
narrowed things down to the right type of ring. I was worried that it still
might not be the one, but probed Delena a little more to see what she would
like and I think this is about it.
So I believe I found the ring I want but I will need to see if I can get him
down in price. If I am successful I think we will be getting engaged here
soon. We are checking on some diamonds and Craig is going to call me on
Monday. Hopefully we can move down in price!


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Spring / Summer
Campus Tower Suite Hotel provides 90 spacious, modern suites. This hotel recently won the Hotel Association of Canada's Human Resources Award, which are basically the Oscars of the hospitality industry. For the second time, they were also a National Finalist at the Tourism Industry Association of Canada Awards! Enjoy a room equipped with a kitchenette and complimentary internet access to create the perfect home away from home.


text: Progress on 27162 is continuing at a good pace. Dismantling of damaged portion of the framework and roof is now complete and a start has been made on the replacement of the bottom rail. The new end framework is being manufactured off-site. Some of the new floor boards can be seen in the picture which . . . → Read More: Restoration of 27162 (2)