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Marcel Fengler is a stalwart of the Ostgut Ton stable. Over the past seven years he has released a string of brooding 4/4 techno 12″s for the Berghain based label as well as releasing via Mote-Evolver and his own imprint Index Marcel Fengler. However it is only until now that he steps up to present his stunning debut album 'Fokus' on Ostgut Ton to his loyal listeners. We caught up with Fengler to discuss his new album and ultimately why he has waited so long to release it. In the interview he talks in depth about the development of the album, including drafting tracks whilst on holiday, fine tuning them in the studio and revealing the journey behind 'Fokus'.
What have you been up to over the past few months?
The last few months have been pretty busy actually, first of all this project called 'MASSE' was a great challenge; Phillip (Efdimin) and me had to do a lot of complex things in the end. Apart from that I've been working on my new album 'Fokus' on Ostgut Ton. Other than that, my fiancé and I are getting married in August, so now that all the music is done I can focus on the wedding.
I read that you've been working on the album for the past three months. When did you decide that you wanted to create an album?
Well this happened a long time before I started the production process of album. First of all it was very important for me to find out what I wanted to express in the album and how it should feel. So this process started much earlier than the production period itself. I guess it's better to take some time to figure that out. It's a difficult process to write an album and to satisfy yourself, especially when this is my first album; I had no idea how long it was going to take so I couldn't plan the process ahead. Also some of the work of our contribution as DIN for MASSE took a lot longer than I had expected.
Even during my holiday in February I worked on my album. I developed a lot of ideas of the album in a bungalow with a great view of the beach, the environment there was perfect for making rough ideas for music and it inspired me a lot.
I was also thinking whether I should delve into older folders and projects on my computer and develop them into new tracks or just create completely new tracks. In the end I decided to go with the latter. I guess everything happened at the same time, developing the album concept, working on the ballet and brainstorming ideas for tracks.
Did you prepare a sound library as such before heading off on holiday?
I did a lot of recordings and took a lot of sound ideas, specific sounds from synthesizers and other instruments as I wanted to work on developing tracks, but I also wanted to enjoy my holidays. I created some drafts and sketches and then brought them back to the studio to see if any of them sounded any good.
A lot of my ideas I produced on my laptop and some potrtable equipment, controllers and a small soundcard, which I bought before my holidays. Usually I don't to use my laptop much to produce music, but this was a compromise so that I could work during my holidays. I was also using really small speakers. So when I went back into the studio afterwards I was really surprised with how the tracks sounded and how the ideas were still there.
Then I worked out which tracks would be good for the album and then worked on the track listings. I thought it was important that the album had opening and closing tracks that lead you into and out of the album and of each track. I didn't want to make an album that was full of tracks that stood by themselves, I wanted the album to flow coherently so the listener experiences the ideas and tracks as a whole.
Would you say there is a definite journey within 'Fokus'?
Yeah, this is the perfect description; I want to be taken on a journey when I listen to an album. I don't like it nowadays with digital files that you can skip through tracks. You should take your time and listen to the whole album and pick up the various themes, as this is what it's all about. Each track is important, they have their own role in telling a story in the album to the listeners.
Are there any tracks in the album that stand out to you or have a personal connection with?
Actually yes, the track 'Jaz' is named after my girlfriend who's called Jasmine. This track was made for her because I was trying to reflect how she is, there's this pretty easy listening feeling on one end that makes you feel happy but then on the other side there's a lot of melancholy in the track. These two directions in the track combine the feeling I sometimes get when I'm with her.
'Sky Pushing' is very hypnotic, whilst 'King Of Psi' sounds like you've used sample of a gunshot.
Yeah that's right, 'King of Psi" features gunshots that have been filtered down. The groove in 'Sky Pushing' was made a long time ago, maybe a year and a half ago, I thought it would be nice to include a deep and moody feeling one end, but also very progressive. It's a bit like my previous releases on Ostgut Ton, on the edge between house and techno.
In a recent interview with Emika, she said that her new album DVA was heavily inspired from being in Berghain, hearing the music as well as the sounds that the clubs architecture resonates. Do you also share this inspiration?
Well the 'Berghain Sound' is in heads of a lot of people as a stereotype; it doesn't do justice to the vibe of the club. When you spend some time at Berghain you get to hear a lot of genres of Techno and even House, so that's why I think this tag is just an attempt to name it and to put in a box. In regards to the album I didn't want it to have this 4/4 dark and moody feeling, because there are enough people doing that. When you are travelling as a DJ you are always taking inspiration from those experiences, it doesn't matter where you are. There isn't one single track that is inspired specifically by Berghain, it's more a collection of experiences.
Who created the album artwork?
I worked with an artist called Norbert Bisky, he's a painter and has a lot of exhibitions all around the world at the moment and a lot of people are giving him attention. Some people even say that he's the Tarantino of the art world at the moment.
I saw some of his pictures before we met at the MASSE ballet. He designed the theatre stage for the ballet itself. We were talking about options and if he would be able to do something for my album. I didn't expect that he'd be into it but he was! I was really happy so we discussed it further and he showed me some pictures, which he did for the album.
The picture on the front cover is hand made by him and what I love about it, especially on vinyl editions, is that it makes you want to touch it, the surface looks textured and is very tactile, just like a canvas painting. It makes you think, is this canvas or is it paper?
Also the colours used in the picture match the concept of the album because it's pretty dark but the face is painted with warm reds and oranges. It's full of opposites, light and shadows, just like the album.
Is the front cover a cropped section of a larger painting?
Yes, it's a detail of a bigger picture. First Norbert introduced me the picture and then we discussed a possible extract that makes everybody happy.
I read that you were sharing a studio with someone when producing the album – who was that with?
Yes, I share the studio with Peter van Hoesen who runs Time To Express.
Did Peter help you develop the album at all?
No not at all, I barely saw him; I worked on the album entirely by myself. During the production I was contemplating using more hardware and Peter brought a lot of hardware into the studio when we built it up. But that can be really dangerous as it's like having a new toy; you spend ages playing with it and loose focus pretty easily. I tried to avoid that tendency during the production process.
Recently we also discussed an option to play live in the future. We share a similar vision about performing live and now there is more time for us not only to share the studio but also to work on music and jam together.
What is the meaning behind 'Fokus'?
For me it's a multilayer of things. I wanted to give a description of the album process. To get "focused" on the production was the main and overall feeling I got during the entire process. Besides that I want people to get focused on the album as well, you're not just skipping through it but you're listening through it seriously.
What's happening with your own label 'Index Marcel Fengler'?
Well I haven't been able to produce or release seriously over the past few months. So it didn't make sense to release anything. When I do release a record I want to make sure that it's done properly. I'm not about quantity more quality. However now I can focus on my label more and I've collected a lot of ideas during the album process, so there will be some new releases and I'm in touch with someone who could be the new face of the label as well as some new artists to release on the label.
Marcel FenglerOstgut TonJuly 2013Techno


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Places To Stay in Gatlinburg
Where The Getaway Comes Together
With pillows this perfect, your weekend retreat might turn into a week-long vacation. Every hotel, motel, condo and campground; every cabin, chalet, and bed & breakfast is just right for the whole family. Gatlinburg has more choices than any other mountain destination in America.
Use the search tool to find the best places to stay in Gatlinburg. Here, you'll find hotel deals and other lodging discounts before you book. There are plenty of options for every budget.

subset: commoncrawl


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For Lightspeed Restaurant (O-Series) POS users
Adding new customers to your loyalty program outside of the store
New customer sign up journey via QR code
Instead of signing new customers up at checkout for times you are out of store such as a pop-up event. You can create a QR code that customers can scan which will automatically link them to the signup form. Once this form is completed, it will also create a profile for them in the Lightspeed POS database.
⚠ Important:
If your business uses Bopple's 'table ordering', you will not need to use these QR code forms. You may however find these useful for outside events, like catering jobs.
If your business has Lightspeed Ordering powered by Bopple or an integrated Shopify website, the QR codes can be set up to direct customers to sign up there instead.
New customer SMS registration
1. After the customer is added to the sale, they will receive an SMS message asking them to complete their account.
2. The link provided will lead your customers to sign up via the customer portal below by default.
The customer can now sign up via one of the single-sign-on options and access their customer portal.
Your Customers' Experience
Through the in-store customer portal, customers can access their digital membership card, loyalty points balance, available rewards & email discounts. They can also earn points by completing actions like referring a friend.
Customers can access this portal through any web browser and can bookmark or save it to their smartphone home screen for easy access when visiting you in the future.
Loyalty notifications from Marsello can lead either to this portal, to Bopple, or to your Shopify eCommerce site (if applicable).


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This is a four part series on 24 ways you can boost sales! Browse Part1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4
5. Boost sales by tell customers how to think about your company.
We come to conclusions by making comparisons. If you don't let customers and prospects know why it is in their best interests to do business with you or buy your product, they won't. The rating of life insurance companies makes an impact on customers. The J.D. Powers' customer satisfaction survey on cars and personal computer manufacturers influences buying behavior. Wise companies spend time and effort consciously influencing the way they are perceived by customers, prospects, bankers and stockholders.
6. Boost sales by making your offers outstanding.
Customers are cautious. They don't like being put on the spot; they don't want to make a mistake. This is why offers are essential. "Try it for 30 days…free." "We won't deposit your credit card slip for a month." "Your satisfaction is guaranteed." "Take the car for the weekend and drive it all you want." The goal is to overcome the customer's reluctance.
7. Boost sale by being in the right place at the right time.
"Why didn't I think of you last week when we bought the new…." Some salespeople simply shrug off such comments. "Oh, well. I can't be in the right place every time." Wrong. Being in front of the customer is today's assignment. Developing a consistent program for staying in front of customers
regularly is the challenge. A mix of seminars, newsletters, bulletins, fact sheets, special events and informative articles will keep you in the customer's mind.
8. Boost sales by naming your product or service.
One of the best ways to differentiate your products or services from all the rest is to give them distinctive names. A building contractor with expertise in remodeling during off-hours calls himself the "stealth" remodeler. A fuel oil dealer doesn't talk about service. He emphasizes "ComfortCare Service." The idea is to imbue ordinary ideas with new meaning thereby separating your company from your competitors. Make sure, however, that the name appeals to your customers and not just to you.
9. Boost sales by being relentless.
Persistence is power in marketing and sales. Far too many firms fail in their efforts because they don't follow through long enough to produce proper results. Marketing momentum comes from a consistent effort. Once you start a newsletter, issue it on schedule. It takes time for customers to comprehend what you are doing and for prospects to get acquainted–and comfortable–with a business.
10. Boost sales by getting rid of the self-serving nonsense.
Most company publications, ads, letters, brochures, and other sales materials are filled with words, photographs and information that do nothing more than toot the company's horn. No one cares that the business says it is the "best," "oldest" or the "biggest." Pictures of the staff are only interesting to the staff. A better approach is to ask prospects what they want to know about your company. We doubt anyone will be anxious to see pictures of the CEO, chairman of the board or the executive vice president.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.15368/theses.2020.96
Available at: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/theses/2241
Date of Award
Degree Name
MS in Nutrition
Food Science and Nutrition
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Peggy Papathakis
Advisor Department
Food Science and Nutrition
Advisor College
College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences
Background: Maternal malnutrition in developing countries is associated with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. Malnourished mothers are often faced with additional risk factors as a circumstance of poverty. Supplementary nutrition can improve the outcomes of both mother and infant. Identifying maternal nutritional and socioeconomic risk factors is critical for developing effective interventions.
Objective: A secondary analysis to evaluate maternal risk factors associated with poor birth outcomes including pregnancy loss, low birth weight, stunting, and preterm delivery among moderately malnourished pregnant women in Sierra Leone. Maternal risk factors in the analysis are age, education, parity, BMI, MUAC, gestational weight gain, and recent exposure to malaria infection.
Methods: Pregnant women were enrolled into a randomized controlled trial when presenting with a MUAC ≤ 23cm (N=1475). Demographic information was collected and women were randomly assigned two receive either a ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) or a corn-soy blended flour with an iron and folic acid supplement (CSB +IFA). Anthropometric measurements of height, weight, MUAC, and fundal height were measured every two weeks during pregnancy. Upon delivery the infant was measured for length, weight, MUAC, and head circumference and the mother was measured for MUAC. Infant outcomes of interest included stunting (length-for-age z-score
Results: The mean age of enrolled pregnant women was 21.2 years with a mean BMI of 19.78 kg/m2. A total of 33.2% had never attended school. Controlling for weeks on treatment and BMI at enrollment, mothers receiving the RUSF treatment gained a mean 0.49 kg (p2 produced infants that were significantly smaller than women with a BMI ≥ 18.5 kg/cm2 . Similarly, infants born to women with a MUAC(p=0.004) and had a 0.26 cm smaller MUAC (p=0.008) compared to women with a MUAC ≤23. Additionally, for every one unit decrease in maternal MUAC, women has 1.2 greater odds of preterm delivery (p=0.022). Also, women with adequate weekly weight gain gave birth to infants with a 0.37 cm greater mean length (p=0.012), 7.0 g greater mean weight (p=0.030), and 0.08 cm greater mean MUAC (p=0.045) than women with inadequate weight gain. No association was found between recent exposure to malaria at enrollment and poor infant outcomes.
Conclusion: In resource poor settings like Sierra Leone with high rates of maternal malnutrition and a high burden of stunting, LBW, and preterm delivery, use of RUSF improved maternal nutritional status but did not impact infant outcomes. The youngest adolescents had the most adverse infant outcomes. Education did not have the expected outcome, indicating other risk factors in this population may play a greater role in infant outcomes. Maternal risk factors of malnutrition such as BMI2and MUACpregnancy, women should be encouraged to gain adequate weight. Young primiparous adolescent are at the highest risk and interventions to postpone motherhood should be priority.


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Brandon Royval meets Kai Kara-France at Sept. 26 UFC event
Brandon Royval vs. Kai Kara-France
Brandon Royval will meet another member of season 24 of "The Ultimate Fighter."
After submitting TUF 24 winner Tim Elliott at UFC on ESPN 9 this past May, Royval is slated to fight fellow flyweight Kai Kara-France at UFC's event on Sept. 26. First reported by MMA Fighting, the location of the event is yet to be announced.
Royval is fresh off a "Fight of the Night" bonus in his UFC debut victory over Elliott. The former LFA flyweight champion won his last three bouts by submission.
His most recent defeat was a unanimous decision loss to Casey Kenney at LFA 53 in November 2018. Kenney is 3-1 inside the octagon.
Kara-France most recently beat Tyson Nam via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN+26 on Feb. 22. He re-entered the win column after suffering his first octagon defeat, a unanimous decision loss to Brandon Moreno at UFC 245 this past December.
The loss snapped an eight-fight win streak, including three wins inside the octagon. Kara France was on Team Cejudo, where he was eliminated by Alexander Pantoja via unanimous decision in the quarterfinals.


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Use the Tab and Up, Down arrow keys to select menu items.
Aspects of socially-conditioned phonetic variation in speech. These include sound change, social and regional variation, phonetic style-shifting, and the study of how socially-conditioned phonetic variation can be accommodated by models of speech perception and production.
Work in sociophonetics sits at the interface between sociolinguistics and phonetics. The specific topics we address in this course will be determined by students' interests, but likely areas of investigation include (i) speech production: how does speech production vary? What phonetic aspects of speech function indexically? That is, which aspects of pronunciation correlate with non-linguistic factors? How does speech vary between speakers, e.g. according to their age, gender, social class, regional background, ethnicity? How does speech vary within speakers, e.g. according to their speaking style, their communicative context, their emotional state, their attitude? (ii) sociophonetic methodology: what things need to be considered when collecting data for sociophonetic research? What is the best type of recording equipment (recorders, microphones etc)? What about the practicalities of recording 'good' data? How do we compile a sociophonetics corpus of speech? What are the best statistical techniques to use for sociophonetic work?
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Subject to approval of the Head of Department.
Lynn Clark
Domestic fee $2,046.00
International Postgraduate fees
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 2 people apply to enrol.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .


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Crawling robot patrols Alaska pipeline's formerly 'unpiggable' pipes
In the trans-Alaska pipeline's early days there was just a pig, a large projectile sliding through pipe with the flow of crude oil, scraping away corrosion-causing water or waxy buildup.
Then along came the "smart pig," a high-tech twist on the original version that used magnetic and other forces to inspect the pipe as it drifted down the line, providing updates on the pipeline's condition from the inside.
Now comes a third-generation "crawler pig," a robot that in the last year has saved Alyeska Pipeline Services Company tens of millions of dollars, while helping prevent spills that could lead to costly shutdowns of the 800-mile artery carrying Alaska's economic lifeblood.
The latest gizmo — looking like a no-nonsense version of the Pixar movie robot WALL-E — inspects the once "unpiggable" pipelines that are smaller than the 48-inch main line but still critical to the Alaska pipeline's operation.
Doing the impossible
Some of those secondary lines, connected to pump stations, have never been inspected because doing so wasn't possible without a dig that exposed the pipe and increased the risk of accidents.
The issue gained attention in 2011, when an "unpiggable" line, buried underground in concrete at Pump Station 1, sprang a leak.
The result was a shutdown that halted North Slope oil production, costing the state $18 million daily. The leak sparked repairs that remain underway because of the extensive engineering required to install about a half-mile of new, above-ground conduit and because of the importance of Pump Station 1.
"It's the main place where oil enters into TAPS, and if you don't have it right you can have a shutdown, so everything we do there is with an abundance of caution," said Michelle Egan, spokeswoman with Alyeska.
A Russian import
Often decades old, infrastructure in the pipeline system needs regular maintenance to operate properly, so the new pig is an important development, said Lois Epstein, an engineer and board president of public-interest group Pipeline Safety Trust.
"Some infrastructure in Alaska is getting old and wasn't designed in a way that it could be inspected as frequently as it needs to be," said Epstein.
The 2011 leak led to an agreement with federal regulators at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that Alyeska would replace or remove hazardous liquid pipelines at four pump stations and a relief station that couldn't be inspected with pigs.
"We originally expected to bring all of them above ground," for inspection, a circumstance that could have pushed total costs into the hundreds of millions of dollars, said Egan.
That left engineers scrambling for a solution that Google ultimately helped provide.
The machine sports track wheels, two that look like big shoes and a retractable one on top. What appear to be arms contain lasers and electromagnetic sensors to detect wall thickness and metal loss. What could be eyes are cameras and LED lights.
A mutating machine
Brian Carlson, director of pipelines services for Diakont at the company's U.S. headquarters in San Diego, said any resemblance to WALL-E is purely coincidental. The robot does have a name, RODIS — for Remotely Operated Diagnostic Inspection System.
While the pigs of old went with the flow, this next-gen pig operates in dry, cleaned pipe. But it can turn corners, chimney-crawl vertical pipes, or reconfigure itself to fit various sizes.
It moves too slowly to send down the main pipe — the costs of the delay could be catastrophic for Alaska's economy. But it sends data instantaneously through an "umbilical" tether extending about half a mile, an advantage over the "smart pig" that stores data for later review, leading to a months-long analysis.
The time saved because pipes don't have to be moved above ground is huge, Neogi said.
"What could have taken three years to finish a project, we're able to finish that in two months," he said.
Saving dollars
Alyeska worked with Diakont and PHMSA regulators to allow its use in cleaned-out crude lines in the U.S. Federal approval came last year.
After a successful trial at a decommissioned pump station – where the robot found pipe anomalies "planted" by engineers – the company has completed reviews of secondary pipes at other stations.
The review at Pump Station 3 found no problems, said Neogi.
"Several isolated corrosion pits" have been found in pipes at Pump Station 9 near Delta Junction that are being repaired, Egan said.
The robot has already saved the company at least $70 million, Egan said.
"The beauty of this is the delivery system," said Neogi. "You can take it right to where your issues are."
Turning to technology
Neogi said the new tool is one example of how Alyeska has become more open to innovation under Tom Barrett, who became president in 2011 after running PHMSA.
"I think it's very possible this idea might have died on the vine had we not had the tone at the top to say go ahead and make this happen," Neogi said.
More innovation will be critical in the future because the pipeline operator faces huge hurdles as production continues to fall, including more water and wax buildup as the flow of crude oil slows.
"If we can't get more oil, we'll have to figure out how technology will help with all the massive challenges that come with lower throughput," Neogi said.
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Imperial delays oil drilling in Canadian Arctic, Alaska Dispatch News
Greenland: Arctic oil and gas must stay in ground to restrict warming to 2°C says study, Blog by Mia Bennett
Iceland: From Arctic Circle 2013-2014, a big drop in the price of oil, Blog by Mia Bennett
Norway: Norway surpasses Russia as top gas supplier, Barents Observer
Russia: Gazprom drilling ongoing at oil field in Arctic Russia, Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden's Greens torn on Vattenfall's coal mines, Radio Sweden


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By Godwin Ojoshimite
Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has debunked reports that he is having a rift with his deputy, Dameshi Luka Bauru.
The governor made the rebuttal at a meeting of the state interim management committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lafia, the state capital, onWednesday.
He alleged that the report in some sections of the media, was the "handiwork of mischief makers, who do not mean well for the development of the state."
He proclaimed that "those waiting to see friction between me and the deputy governor will have to wait till dooms day."
Al-Makura attributed his administration's success to the collaborative efforts of everybody in his government, including the deputy governor.
He prayed members of APC in the state to eschew personal interests and imbibe the spirit of sacrifice to enable the party to excel.
The governor appealed to members of the party to support the interim management committee and avoid unnecessary scheming capable of causing disunity in the party.
He described the recent claims that over 4,000 supporters of the APC in the state had defected to the Peoples' Democratic Party as "ridiculous", and urged the public to disregard it.


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Login NowStress Management
There are MANY problems that come from stress that is not managed. Health problems, relationship problems – even leadership problems. A leader's effectiveness can be greatly diminished if that leader is over stressed.
When a person is experiencing too much stress, and doesn't manage it, that stress can cause the person to experience burnout. When that happens, there is a real need to get some help.
This tutorial will teach you how to determine how much stress you are experiencing, whether you are managing your stress well, and show you how close you are to burnout. But the training won't just explore the problem, it will also give you a solution. You will learn simple, proven methods to manage your stress, prevent undue stress and avoid entering into burnout.
Duration – 14:09
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Ultraman Taro: S1 E36 - You Swine! The Bride Cried Ultraman Taro
Saori's friend, Yoko, sells stone-roasted sweet potatoes at night with her younger brother to save up money to purchase a condominium. One night, her little brother witnesses some aliens inside the condominiums that are currently under construction. Shortly after, Yoko's fiancé and his construction co-workers start acting strange. It turns out Freezing Alien Grost was brainwashing them!


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In a world-first, exclusive test drive of the new Mercedes AMG GT R, the guys at Sport Auto magazine took the beast back to where it was developed – its natural habitat, if you will – to set an independent Nurburgring lap record. It wasn't a casual, motoring journo kind of lap, but a full-fat, balls-out lap record attempt with high-tech timing gear.
And the record the Mercedes AMG GT R managed to set was…
Yep, 7 minutes and 11 seconds (7.10,92 to be precise), which is did on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. This is faster than a Lexus LFA and on the par with the monstrous Gumpert Apollo. And to think the AMG has all the luxuries of a deluxe coupe… not bad at all!
Mercedes AMG GT R Highlights:
- AMG green hell magno paint job
- Wider front and rear wings for wider tracks
- New front fascia with active elements
- New rear fascia with double diffuser
- Nine-way adjustable traction control system
- Adjustable coil-over suspension
- Rear-axle limited-slip differential
- Twin-turbo V-8 front-mid engine (585 hp / 700 Nm)
- Specifically adapted seven-speed dual-clutch transmissio
- Active rear-wheel steering
- 20-inch lightweight 10-spoke wheels


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Code: 12695
Antique French Palais Royal Cranberry Red Glass Egg Sewing Etui with Dore Bronze Bird Finial.
This Egg Casket has all the Original 5 Piece Sewing Set.
Beautiful Gilded Bronze Sewing Pieces.
All in Good Condition and All Sewing Pieces Present.
A Real Treasure Originally from the Palais Royal Shops in Paris.
Circa 1860.
All on Original Marble Base.
SIZE: 11 cms (4.3") Wide When Open.
CONDITION: Good Condition. No Chips or Cracks.


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The Relais La Pretura is on the first floor of a historic building dating back to the early '900, in the seat of the district court in Vieste. I...
From - Visit siteResidence Sun Bay is located 5 Km from Vieste on the coast road to Peschici. It overlooks a lovely setting of a fine sandy beach and the blue sea...
From 17 € Visit siteChoose from the different categories of hotels in Vieste for a beach holiday. A selection of hotels divided by star rating and location.
List of Apartments in Vieste for rent. Holiday homes near the sea or immersed in nature. Ideal places for families and managed directly by individuals.
A selection of Residences, ideal for those wishing to spend your stay without time restrictions for menu lunches and dinners.
A Vieste Village with entertainment and close to the sea, for families with children. Camping for a family holiday, ideal place for a cheap holiday.
Holidays in Vieste in the name of freedom and savings, choose between our proposals of Bed & Breakfast. Or choose among hotels with Bed & Breakfast.
An alternative holiday may be the choice of a Farm at Vieste. Ideal place for consoscere the Forest Umbra, the various dairies and animals typical of the Gargano.


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There's no doubt that Covid has been a disruptive force in many of our lives, perhaps leading us all to ask more fundamental questions about the work we do.
Everyone's experience has been (and continues to be) different and entirely subjective, however, many people who have been working from home have seen the benefits, in terms of spending more time at home with their families and a better work life balance. Many have fundamentally started to question whether their career (as it existed before the pandemic) may still be right for them.
The way we think about work has changed
Our experience of (and attitude towards) working from home over the past 12 months has, for many of us, fundamentally reshaped the way we think about work. That is likely to have far reaching consequences for the way we recruit and retain talent. It will be interesting to see how these attitudes continue to shape in the coming months and years.
Covid could be seen as a reset button for many of us, where we've all previously been so busy and distracted to truly question what we, as individuals, are getting from our careers.
Employees may also be planning career changes because they just don't see a future in the viability of an individual business or the industry sector – even if they think it's just going to struggle in the short term. In the end we each have to consider security for ourselves and our loved ones as a matter of priority.
Remote working
Working from home has had its own challenges, but it's useful to remember that working from home during a worldwide pandemic is different to working from home in more 'normal' times. Working from home whilst simultaneously home-schooling whilst under the potential threat of redundancy, alongside an invisible, deadly virus isn't exactly normal times.
This brings into sharp focus that we must continue to engage our employees in the direction of the business, to listen hard, to understand their concerns and therefore what we could do to help them. If we can create a win-win, so they get what they need and we get what we need in moving towards our vision in a post-pandemic world, then surely that's the route to long term success, or at least a very good start.
One positive to draw from this worldwide home-working experiment is that despite the unusual circumstances and the haste in which it's been thrust upon us all – it's been relatively successful. Working from home isn't by any means perfect – but certainly a viable option and even preferable for many. Opinion seems fairly split in terms of whether people want to be (or ought to be) back in, or out – and that goes for both employers and employees.
Future of work looking more flexible
If there's any takeaway from this, it's that the future of work is looking a lot more flexible. Just being physically at work doesn't make us productive. We all work in different ways and have bursts of productivity at different times, some may be more productive early in the morning, others later in the evening. So maybe we can find ways to encourage more flexibility so that everyone has the chance to be more productive in a way that best suits them. Clearly not practical in all situations but maybe more possibilities have opened up and we should at least try to listen and learn.
Creating more value from the time we actually spend working can only be a good thing for any business and for any individual. Time is precious after all.
As businesses are about growth – more sales, more customers, more products, more innovation – are we willing to share a little more of the success with the people who make it run?
The people we employ are, after all, our most valuable asset and they alone are the route to long term success. No matter how sophisticated our systems and how clever our business model, we'll still need people (for now at least) to drive it forward and continue innovating.
New opportunities and potential threats
There's little doubt that business has been, and will continue to be, in a state of change for some time yet, that's partly due to Covid but let's not forget the ongoing advances in technology and globalisation. The reduced need to be physically present in every case has also opened up new opportunities and potential threats.
Some employees returning to work after furlough may struggle to adapt back into the routines of work life and may feel there is some catching up to do on live projects, a lot can happen in 9-12 months. They will need time to adjust and it may bring a few challenges, in some cases maybe even leading to life and career changes.
We all also have to take into account the mental health challenges that many people have faced and the anxiety that may come with returning to the workplace.
Change brings its own specific challenges and, given the turmoil of the past 12 months, it's even more important that we take people on the journey with us. For many, change brings uncertainty and fear so it's more important than ever to ensure we have everyone on board and comfortable. Change Readiness has never been more important and engaging those involved in and affected by any change is critical to that.
'Test the water' periodically
The challenge is often how to know, especially among a large population and there is no shortcut to taking the time to listen to concerns. You can, however, use Change Readiness Surveys alongside to "test the water" every now and then. This can help to quickly identify any concerns so that they can be addressed swiftly.
Employee (talent) retention has always been a complex area and there are many factors involved. The "grass can seem greener on the other side" and sometimes people will move on, that's perfectly normal. All we can do is continue to work towards creating the conditions in which the needs of the business and needs of those involved in the business are as closely aligned as possible. And above all, especially now, be kind.
Applied Change specialises in helping businesses to navigate their way through changing circumstances, from adapting to broader market or technology changes and opportunities to streamlining in order to become more profitable and more competitive. For more information visit https://appliedchange.co.uk/.
Author bio
David has worked in digital marketing for over 11 years. He has worked agency-side, client-side, and now as a freelance digital consultant. Along with his consultancy work, he writes content discussing technology, finance, and digital subjects.
As a side project, and to solve a problem in his local community, he designed an app called Enviroute which helps users get the latest updates on the Severn Bridges.
If you want to work with David on your content marketing, or improving your digital agency operations, you can reach out via his LinkedIn profile here.
Interesting related article: "What is Teleworking?"


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Help Us To Provide Food To The Needy
- We all wish we could do more to support underprivileged children facing challenges and their caregivers, beyond our prayers.
- We at team koshish constantly strive to fight with the hunger of underprivileged children sleeping on the footpaths, slum areas and outside temples.
- We conduct events / drives every Thursday and Two sundays in a month and distribute food to the needy ones


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AMD is making firmware updates available for Ryzen and EPYC chip series owners and the company is planning to update older processors "over the coming weeks." Like Intel, these firmware updates will be provided to PC makers, and it will be up to suppliers to ensure customers receive these. For details on how this may affect you, see this article.
#meltdown&spectre #security Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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Blog AuthorI love technology and how it enhances our lives! Just think, without the Apollo moon missions, we might not have calculators! Imagine!! Archives
October 2018


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Last updated on April 7th, 2023 at 05:17 pm
There are few things in life more indulgent than enjoying a delicious tasting menu at a fancy restaurant. With no choices to be made, you can sit back and savour the meals as they come. What's more, a tasting menu can often expose you to delectable dishes that you otherwise may never have tried.
Restaurants that offer tasting menus often include an additional wine tasting menu that is chosen to perfectly accompany each course for an even more luxurious experience.
Happily, Dublin is home to several excellent tasting menus from a variety of top quality restaurants.
In this post, we share the 9 best tasting menus in Dublin in 2023.
Map of Tasting Menu Restaurants
The following map shows the location of every tasting menu restaurant highlighted in this post:
Chapter One
One of the finest restaurants in Dublin, Chapter One needs no introduction. Overseen by the respected Michelin star chef Ross Lewis for three decades, the restaurant is now in the capable hands of Mickael Viljanen. Best known as the former chef of The Greenhouse, a former Michelin star restaurant in the capital, Viljanen has brought his energy and passion to Chapter One, qualities that are evident in the mouthwatering tasting menu on offer at the restaurant.
The restaurants refined, luxurious, yet understated interior makes Chapter One the ultimate environment to soak up some culinary delights.
With seven courses, the menu opens with a selection of canapés, followed by two starter plates, two main courses, and finally two exquisite desserts. An optional complementary wine tasting menu is available, with a hand-picked wine pairing for each course.
While the menu undergoes regular changes, some of the delights on offer have included smoked eel foie gras, BBQ lobster, milk-fed lamb and anchovies, and mousse laitière with dried sea kelp and citrus.
While it certainly isn't cheap, the tasting menu at Chapter One is a once in a lifetime experience and worth every penny in our opinion.
Location: 18-19 Parnell Square North, Rotunda, Dublin
Website: https://chapteronerestaurant.com
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud
Since opening its doors in 1981, Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud has been consistently recognised as one of the best restaurants in Dublin. Operated by the French chef and restaurateur Patrick Guilbaud, the restaurant earned its first Michelin star in 1988 and its second in 1996, making it one of only a handful of restaurants in Ireland to receive two Michelin stars.
Housed in the plush surroundings of the Merrion Hotel just off stately Merrion Square, the restaurant has always prided itself on serving up only the finest and freshest produce available. Locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce are key tenets of the restaurant.
The tasting menu consists of eight courses, with an emphasis on surprising and delighting the diner. Each course is designed to tantalise the senses using seasonal ingredients cooked to perfection. For a taste of what to expect, think blue lobster ravioli, croquette of suckling pig, anjou squab pigeon, and iced caramel and peanut parfait.
In line with the restaurants two Michelin star status, the tasting menu is expensive. However, we're sure you'll agree that it is the ultimate in luxury and the perfect experience to celebrate a big occasion or anniversary.
The tasting menu is only available to an entire party, so make sure to plan ahead.
Location: 21 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin
Website: https://restaurantpatrickguilbaud.ie
Liath's rise to culinary excellence has been nothing short of meteoric, with the Blackrock restaurant being awarded its first Michelin star in 2021, followed shortly after by its second in 2022. Named for the Irish word for the colour gray, Liath is a small, intimate restaurant, and reservations are accordingly hard to come by.
The chefs at Liath have elevated the dining experience to a true communal celebration. The restaurant scours the country for the finest ingredients, and prepares their dishes with respect for the food and the farmers, fishermen, and foragers who produce it.
The restaurant offers three tasting menus; a lunch menu experience, a preview menu experience, and the full tasting menu experience. Both the lunch menu and the early evening preview menu are collective dining experiences, with all guests served at the same time. A beverage package must be selected to accompany the full tasting menu, with a choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
Although it can be difficult to get a reservation for this unique restaurant, it is more than worth the wait. The tasting menu dining experience at Liath is truly stunning and unforgettable.
Location: Blackrock Market, 19a Main Street, Blackrock, Dublin
Website: https://www.liathrestaurant.com
Variety Jones
A Michelin star restaurant since 2020, Variety Jones serves up a holistic dining experience with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients. Named after the online alias of one of the founders of the Silk Road marketplace, Variety Jones has been trading since 2018 in its restaurant in The Liberties on the north side of the city.
Run by the highly respected head chef Keelan Higgs, the restaurant offers a chef's choice sharing menu only. While the actual dishes may change according to the season, the menu is structured into six courses; snacks to open, a cold and warm starter, a pasta course, a main course, and dessert.
A sample of some of the delectable bites that have featured on the menu include squid crackers, Vietnamese dressing oysters, salt-baked celeriac, halibut in a mussel and roasted fish bone sauce, and rhubarb and elderflower cake with a white chocolate and yoghurt cremeux. A pescatarian menu is available on request, but a vegetarian, vegan, or dairy-free menu is not.
The restaurant features an excellent wine list, with wines sourced from small producers only. Wine is available by the glass or by the bottle.
There's no doubt that Variety Jones is one of the most exciting new restaurants in Dublin to open in recent times. The tasting menu is excellent value for money for those looking to experience an amazing, fresh dining experience without breaking the bank.
Location: 78 Thomas Street, Dublin
Website: https://www.varietyjones.ie
Bastible is one of the most recent restaurants in Dublin to receive a coveted Michelin star, having been awarded one in 2022. The Portobello restaurant serves up a stunning set menu based around the best Irish produce available at the time.
Some of the delicacies that have featured on the menu include Lissadel oysters, beef tartare, lacquered and smoked sea trout, and stem ginger caramel with smoked sea salt. A vegetarian menu is also available. While relatively concise, the drinks menu features some terrific wines from a selection of vineyards all over the world.
Reservations are highly recommended but the restaurant does take walk-ins where possible if you're in the area and feeling lucky.
Location: 111 South Circular Road, Dublin
Website: https://www.bastible.com
Glovers Alley
A Michelin star restaurant since 2022, Glovers Alley operates out of a gorgeous dining room overlooking St. Stephen's green in the heart of the city centre. The restaurant focuses on simple food perfectly cooked, with stellar service and attention to detail.
The restaurant offers a tasting menu, with the option of adding a complementary wine menu. A selection of the dishes featured are Dublin Bay prawns and lardo, beet 'tartare' with hazelnut and mustard, and Wicklow Ban cream cheese with truffle honey.
Glovers Alley is the place to go to for a classic yet modern tasting menu experience in the lap of luxury.
Location: 128 St Stephen's Green, Dublin
Website: https://gloversalley.ie
Mulberry Garden
The cute and eye-catching restaurant Mulberry Garden offer a 3 course set menu packed with delicious, local Irish ingredients. The restaurant is vibrant and welcoming, with friendly staff and a warm atmosphere.
The restaurant features a heated outdoor terrace, perfect for enjoying a cocktail or two before your meal. The simple, yet elegant seasonal menu features such classics as Irish lamb, saddle of rabbit, and fine Irish cheeses, with dishes tailored to reflect the season.
The provenance of their food is of the utmost importance to Mulberry Garden, with their menu featuring all producers prominently.
Location: Mulberry Lane, Donnybrook, Dublin
Website: https://www.mulberrygarden.ie
The French themed restaurant Dax on Pembroke Street Upper in the city centre is a little slice of heaven in Dublin. Nestled in a cosy basement location, the restaurant serves up mouthwateringly good food with first class service and an elegant, refined ambience. Operated by Olivier Meisonnave and head chef Graham Neville, the restaurant is named after the small French town of Dax, where Meisonnave was born.
The tasting menu features an amuse bouche to begin with, followed by starters, a main course, and dessert. Dishes have included roast scallops, asparagus in vin jaune sauce, organic chicken and wild garlic, and Wexford rhubarb sorbet.
For the height of French dining in Dublin, look no further than Dax.
Location: 23 Pembroke Street Upper, Dublin
Website: https://www.dax.ie/restaurant/
The final entry on our list is the magnificent Ananda, a superb Indian restaurant perched at the top of the sprawling Dundrum Shopping Centre. With a name meaning 'bliss', you can rest assured that you are about to experience a masterful culinary encounter and wonderful service from the moment you walk in the door.
While there is an a la carte menu, the jewel of the restaurant is its tasting menu. Featuring six dishes, the menu is nothing short of an Asian culinary extravaganza, and must be tasted to be believed.
Location: Cinema Building, Sandyford Road, Dundrum Town Centre, Dundrum, Dublin
Website: https://www.anandarestaurant.ie/
FAQs About The Best Tasting Menus In Dublin
While you may need to take out a second mortgage on the house, for our money the best tasting menu in Dublin is that of the peerless Chapter One.
For a Michelin style tasting menu experience without breaking the bank, we recommend Variety Jones.


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Nurse Practitioners (NP) are highly skilled, educated, and well-trained people. They have a huge responsibility towards their patients that they fulfill day in and day out. They are primarily autonomous, and that only increases the accountability that they have. They work in various healthcare organizations, including hospitals, clinics, private practices, government organizations, research environments, and more. They are capable of providing a wide range of services to their patients. These include, but are not limited to:
- Taking and maintaining patient histories
- Ensuring up to date medical records
- Taking histories from patients' caregivers and family
- Offering primary healthcare services in rural areas
- Ordering all types of diagnostic tests
- Educating patients and their caregivers
- Collecting and compiling samples from patients
There are a lot of specialties that NPs can opt for when they are choosing their practice areas. But no matter what they choose, they must stick to the scope of practice that they have. A Nurse Practitioner's scope changes depending on the state that they work in.
Level of Expertise
As of 2016, 21 states and the District of Columbia have permitted NPs to practice independently. It means that they don't need to have a doctor continually checking upon them. They can prescribe medication, sign death certificates, order therapy, and more. And there is a ton of proof that tells us that NPs are more than capable of performing their monumental tasks independently, without any supervision.
A journal published the outcomes of NPs during 1990 and 2008. It compared NPs and physicians' and found no difference in patient satisfaction or patient health outcomes. During their online Master of Science in Nursing, NPs go through all sorts of training and guidance and the most up to date knowledge that brings them to the same level of expertise as physicians. Not just that, a lot of other organizations have spoken about NPs and their efficiency, high performance, and effects on patients like the Institute of Medicine, Federal Trade Commission, the American Association of Retired Persons, and more. Moreover, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) published a report in 2016 that stated that NPs have a low rate of malpractice, only 1.9 percent.
Scope of Practice
If you are related to the field in any way, you must have heard the term "Scope of Practice" thrown around. It refers to all the actions and procedures that NPs are legally allowed to perform or follow. Of course, this is all within the terms of their license. This scope of practice is different for each state. Some states allow NPs to take liberty with their scope of practice. Other states have created highly restricted roles for these Nurse Practitioners. They require them to be monitored by a physician while they do their work. Although the scopes differ from state to state, all nurse practitioners receive training and education to practice independently. They can provide patient care whether they have a physician that they have to report to or not.
According to the AANP, this is the scope of practice:
Nurse practitioners who have acquired their licenses are independent practitioners. They can practice in all types of situations like ambulatory, acute, or chronic.
They can act as a primary care provider or a specialty care provider. They assess, diagnose, manage, and treat chronic as well as acute illnesses and ailments. They are experts when it comes to health education and promotion as well as disease prevention. They are fully capable of conducting, supervising, and interpreting diagnostic laboratory tests. They are also capable of prescribing medication and other therapies. They educate and counsel their patients in several ways, among other things.
Nurse Practitioners can work independently as well as in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. They can conduct research, advocate for patients, and so much more. They serve individuals, families, communities, groups, and more.
NP Vs. RN
The scope of practice changes if you compare Nurse Practitioner and Registered Nurses (RN). RN is capable of making a diagnosis and starting treatment. They also handle case management and patient education. ON the other hand, an NP also prescribes medication, diagnostic tests and interpretation, and counseling.
NP Vs. Physicians
If we compare the scope of practice of NPs and physicians, we will see that there is not too much of a difference. In most cases, the difference comes down to the physician prescribing any medical diagnosis treatment. On the other hand, an NP can only give prescriptions and therapy in their specialty.
What is Independent Practice?
We have already discussed that Nurse Practitioners are allowed to provide patient care without a physician's oversight. They can practice autonomously, conduct tests, diagnose, assess, and treat patients without a physician's involvement. Thus, there are three states of practice that any state can allow. They are:
- Full practice (completely independent)
- Reduced practice (somewhat independent)
- Restricted practice (non-independent)
Full Practice
According to AANP, the state allows all Nurse Practitioners to assess patients, diagnose their illnesses, suggest diagnostic tests, interpret and prescribe medication or therapies. A few states where NPs can conduct full practice are Oregon, Vermont, Maine, among others.
Reduced Practice
States where NPs are only allowed to reduced practice allow NPs to engage in some of the elements that full practice allows them. They either limit some of the scopes or require a collaborative agreement with any health discipline outside the range. States that offer reduced practice to NPs are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, among others.
Restricted Practice
States, where NPs can only perform to restricted practice can engage only in a few of the elements that a fully practicing NP participates in. These states require constant supervision or team-management by an outside health discipline. That is the only way that NPs can practice in restricted practice states. These states include but are not limited to Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and more.
Although all Nurse Practitioners (NP) are fully capable of working autonomously, their practices depend on the state being with or without any supervision. No matter what type of procedure they follow, they can handle multiple responsibilities and take care of them competently.


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I dont often do this, but this post was so powerful, I had to repost it here. Welcome to the Kingdom
I bumped into Jesus the other day. This kind of thing doesn't happen often so I figured I'd take advantage of the opportunity to speak to the Master himself.
"Jesus," I said, "I'm trying my best to live life as your apprentice. What do I need to do?"
"Listen," Jesus replied. "You know the guidelines my Father set out—they're for your benefit." He counted them off on his fingers as he listed them: "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, don't cheat, honour your father and mother."
"Yeah, I've been pretty good with all those." I said "Those are definitely effective rules for a good life."
I struggled for the right words. "But I want to do more. I want to be your hands and feet, and your voice. I want to help bring about your Kingdom. What else? What am I missing?"
Jesus looked at me with warmth in his eyes, yet I was locked in his grip. I could not move as he said softly, "Well, there is one thing..."
"What?" I pleaded.
He looked at me for a moment, then said "You tell me."
My confusion must have been obvious because Jesus smiled at me.
"What are you holding back?" He asked.
""Nothing." I responded. "I've given you my life, asked you into my heart, accepted you as my personal Lord and Saviour, been born again, washed in the blood, redeemed, saved and sanctified. You name it—I've claimed it!"
"Yes, yes." Jesus said with a hint of impatience. "I think I remember hearing something about that. We're all very pleased. But what are you holding back?"
"Nothing." I said wearily, as I averted his gaze.
"Mike." He said it quietly, yet I had no choice. I turned my head and looked him in the eyes.
"What are you holding back?"
I didn't as much hear the words as I felt them. Every cell in my body shook as he spoke. I heard the words in my head, in my heart and in my soul. I heard the words outside of time and space. The words soaked me like rain.
I turned my body to face Jesus directly and named the thing that I just couldn't give him.
"What a coincidence," Jesus said. "That's exactly what I want."


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Oladimeji Ramon
The office of the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice on Tuesday unveiled an online search engine for tracking pending land-related lawsuits in the state.
The Attorney General of the state, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, said the initiative was to assist real estate investors to make informed decisions before throwing their money into a property.
He noted that due to lack of information, many a land buyer had paid for a property only to realise that the property was a subject of litigation.
But with the new website, www.lagoslispendens.com.ng, Kazeem said investors could now ascertain the status of any land they want to invest in from the comfort of their offices at the click of a few buttons.
The Attorney General was represented by the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Mrs. Funmilola Odunlami, at the public presentation of the initiative tagged, "Lagos State Real Estate Litigation Database, a.k.a. Lagos Lis Pendens," in Alausa, Ikeja, on Tuesday.
In attendance were stakeholders in the real estate sector, including the Surveyor General of Lagos State, Mr. Olutomi Sangowawa; the Executive Secretary, Lagos Land Use Allocation Committee, Mrs. Olayinka Oye-Bamgbose; and the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, who was represented by the Director of Litigation in the agency, Mr. Emmanuel Akande.
Also in attendance was Justice Olaide Olayinka, who represented the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke; as well as the chairmen of the various branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in the state.
Speaking through Odunlami, Kazeem said the project was part of the fulfillment of his promise to drive justice system in the state with technology.
He said it would have a direct impact on the economy.
"The Lagos State Electronic Real Estate Litigation System is designed to provide easy access to information for anyone who intends to deal in real estate; it provides information, primarily, on whether the property is a subject of litigation.
"In addition, it offers end-users a platform for filing a lis pendens entry, which may be uploaded on the website, thus giving actual and constructive notice to the public and innocent purchasers," Kazeem said.
Speaking on behalf of the CJ, Justice Olayinka described the initiative as a timely intervention, noting that courts were inundated with land-related lawsuits.
She said, "It could not have come at a better time; this is exactly what is required in this state because there are so many cases and the problem often is that there's no way of knowing whether a matter is pending somewhere. But with this database, this will be taken care of."
She said it was particularly commendable that litigants could, on their own, upload pending lawsuits on the website to keep it updated, stressing that it would enhance justice administration.
Also speaking, Akanni described the project as a welcome development, saying it would make search for information on property less cumbersome and ultimately complement the Federal Government's efforts on enhancing the ease of doing business in the country.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]


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With winter on Russia's doorstep, Deputy Prime Ministry Dmitry Rogozin is hounding workers at the Vostochny Cosmodrome construction site in the Far East to complete the spaceport's facilities before the cold sets in.
"Vostochny Cosmodrome workers are trying to complete all concrete construction before the cold arrives, and provide warmth to the facilities for the installation of the technical equipment, which has already been delivered to the space industry in the Amur region," Rogozin, who oversees the space and defense industries, wrote on his Facebook page.
Rogozin has been increasingly active in the Vostochny Cosmodrome project, which is estimated to be two to three months behind schedule. Eager to make a promised first launch next year, President Vladimir Putin last month pledged 50 billion rubles ($1.2 billion) to expedite the facility's completion.
In February, Rogozin announced that cameras had been installed throughout the cosmodrome and linked to his office in Moscow so that he could monitor the workflow and root out "slackers."
Putin last month also stripped Roscosmos, Russia's federal space agency, of its role as overseer of the construction project and handed all responsibility to Rogozin.
Putin has visited the cosmodrome several times during its construction and said that, by ensuring Moscow's independent access to space well into the future, the cosmodrome is important for Russia's national pride and security.
Russia currently conducts the vast majority of its launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in southern Kazakhstan. Russia leases the isolated Soviet-era missile base from the Kazakh government for $115 million a year.
Roscosmos has said it does not intend to abandon the Baikonur site in favor of the new facility in the Far East, and instead will use both cosmodromes for launches.
But it is not clear that continuing launches from Baikonur would be economical or necessary. Russia already operates an alternate launch facility, the Plesetsk Cosmodrome near Arkhangelsk, for certain kinds of launches. By supporting similar types of operations, the Vostochny Cosmodrome may well make Baikonur superfluous.
By 2018, the Far East facility will be home to manned launches of Russia's new Angara rocket, the country's first rocket of post-Soviet design. Tested for the first time this summer, the Angara is an important project for Russia's space industry as it attempts to show that the country can create something new after surviving for 20 years on Soviet-era technology.
Russia will test a heavier version of the Angara in December, indicating that the country intends to compete with the U.S. and China to build the world's next heavy-launch rocket, a vehicle necessary to send people beyond low-Earth orbit and into deep space.
While Russia works to bring both the Angara and the Vostochny Cosmodrome into full service, China announced Thursday that it has completed the first stage of construction on its new launch facilities at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center.
Located on Hainan Island, a popular tourist destination, Wenchang will be used to launch China's own heavy rocket, the Long March 5, which will fly for the first time next year, the South China Morning Post reported, citing the Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily.
Contact the author at email@example.com


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ST. PETERSBURG — Three teenage girls asked a stranger for a ride to Childs Park.
But before they were dropped off, the driver stopped at a Walmart at 22nd Street S. He stepped out, leaving the gold Honda Accord running.
Moments later, the girls and the car were gone.
"Who tryna get seen & wheels?" posted Dominique Battle, 16, on Facebook at 8:48 p.m. Wednesday.
Seven hours later, the Honda rolled into a pond inside a cemetery off Gandy Boulevard. The car sank within five minutes.
No one got out.
"Three young lives have been needlessly lost," Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Thursday.
• • •
Pinellas deputies don't know where Laniya D. Miller, 15, Ashaunti Butler, 15, and Dominique Battle, 16, went after they left the Walmart about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Nor do they know which girl drove the car out of the parking lot.
A sheriff's sergeant first spotted the Honda with the dark tinted windows about 3:30 a.m. Thursday as it headed east on Sunset Point Road west of U.S. 19. Its headlights were off.
The sergeant turned on his vehicle's emergency lights, but the Honda continued east on Sunset Point Road and then turned south onto U.S 19. It ran a red light.
The Honda, driving at the legal speed limit, continued five more miles to Ulmerton Road. There, another Pinellas sergeant ran the tag number and confirmed it was stolen out of St. Petersburg, Gualtieri said at a news conference Thursday where he described the chain of events.
The deputy followed the car from a distance. Under Pinellas County Sheriff's Office policy, deputies cannot pursue stolen cars.
At U.S. 19 and Gandy Boulevard, the Honda stopped again. But when the driver saw another sheriff's cruiser at the same intersection, the Honda ran a red light and headed toward Royal Palm North Cemetery at 2600 Gandy Blvd.
At speeds between 30 to 35 mph, the Honda navigated the narrow roads of the cemetery. It was dark, with the glowing lights of Interstate 275 in the distance. Deputies, with their emergency lights off, slowly followed behind.
At a sharp bend in the road about 4 a.m., the car stayed on a straight course, then slipped into a pond.
It drifted about 20 yards into the muddy waters. Deputies shed their gun belts and equipment and waded in to save whoever was inside. But the mud was so thick, Gualtieri said, it stopped them from venturing farther into the pond.
Within five minutes, the Honda submerged in about 15 feet of water.
"That car became a death chamber," the sheriff said. "That was a very horrific event for those girls sitting in that car."
• • •
About 6 a.m. Thursday, a wrecker pulled the car out. It was covered in underwater weeds. The doors were closed and the windows were shut.
Inside, deputies found Battle in the front seat. Miller and Butler were in the back. Because the windows were tinted and the girls may have moved inside as they tried to break free, deputies don't know for sure who was driving when the car entered the pond.
Investigators believe the girls may have thought they could get to I-275 through the cemetery.
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Explore all your optionsDamien Marriott, 36, the owner of the Honda, declined to comment. He told deputies he didn't know the girls. A friend of his had asked him to give them a ride to Childs Park. He said he stopped at the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 1794 22nd St. S to buy a TV when the teens, who stayed behind, stole his car.
As news of the deaths unfolded, friends of the girls mourned them on social media.
"Wish you would of slowed down when the judge told you to," read one post about Butler.
"Y'all Too Young To Leave," read another.
Police records paint a troubling picture of all three girls.
Dominique Battle, a St. Petersburg High School student, had multiple arrests for burglary and grand theft motor vehicle.
Ashaunti Butler, who went to Dixie Hollins High School, was wanted on an arrest warrant and was also the subject of a pick-up order for being a runaway.
Laniya Miller attended Gibbs High School. She was arrested for grand theft motor vehicle last March. It was her only arrest. The dispositions of the girls' arrests were not available Thursday.
Battle's father, Allen Battle, is serving a 30-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
Butler had just entered the foster care system Wednesday, the sheriff said.
The girls' families could not be reached for comment Thursday.
• • •
Gualtieri stood before the TV cameras on Thursday afternoon with photos of the girls on one side of him and photos of the wrecked Honda on the other.
For the past year, he said, authorities have been grappling with an "epidemic" of juveniles stealing cars and joyriding across Tampa Bay. In Pinellas County alone last year, 2,779 cars were stolen.
"Solutions need to come deep from within the community," the sheriff said. "Kids need to know there are consequences. This is a systematic and complex problem.
"Three dead teenagers is unacceptable."
Times senior news researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Contact Laura C. Morel at email@example.com. Follow @lauracmorel.


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The Planet Construction Kit
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2020 issue.
Planet Construction Kit. Mark Rosenfelder.
Yonagu Books http://www.zompist.com/yonagu.html
371pp., Trade Paperback
The first thing I need to say about this is that it's not light reading. Mr Rosenfelder takes his conworlding seriously, and this book is not only of nontrivial size, but densely packed with information. That said, he specifically says that it's not necessary to do everything he describes, nor necessarily in as much detail as he describes: He is being 'hyper-complete' (my word, not his) so that you have the tool(s) available if you find you need or want them, not because you must use them all.
In the very first chapters, he focuses on the idea that you do worldbuilding because you have stories to tell, not for its own sake. He also emphasizes, with examples, that if some aspect of worldbuilding doesn't add to the story, there's no need to do more than just sketch it in, and maybe not even that much. Storytelling itself is also examined, and the reader is shown errors that conworlders often make, with examples of both good and bad storytelling.
The bulk of the book is a subject-by-subject treatment of many aspect of building a culture and the world it exists in – or perhaps building a world and the culture that exists in it. The treatments are not so in-depth as to make the topics 'impenetrable', but they are certainly more in-depth than any treatment in Traveller supplements to date, and some subjects that Traveller worldbuilding gives short shrift to (like culture or religion) or ignores entirely (like daily life or history) are given a good treatment here. Interactions between the various subjects are also covered, and illustrative references to both real and literary cultures are included (and literary references may be examples of good worldbuilding or bad). From the Table of Contents, the broad subjects that you get are, in order, E-Z Fantasy World, which focusses on a questionnaire for you to answer about the world you want to build; Storytelling, giving an overview of what's involved in [good] storytelling, and how to apply this book to it; Astronomy and Geology, for understanding how the planet and its sun 'relate' and what a world's climate zones will look like; Biology, discussing animals, ecosystems, agriculture, etc., and the relationships between them and the effect on societies that might develop; History of the culture(s), discussing how and why they got to where they are 'today'; Culture, on the details of a society and its people's relationships to each other; Daily Life, where you get to see how the previous chapter is applied to the individual; Religion and other belief systems, and how they affect a society's thought processes and attitudes; Magic (which can actually be used as guidance to applying psionics to a society in Traveller); Technology from the most basic to the most advanced, and how to apply it to society; War, its reasons, attitudes toward it and those who do it, and so on; and the 'cosmetic' chapters of Making maps, Illustrations, and 3-D Modeling. The only worldbuilding topic that isn't addressed in this volume is language, but Mr Rosenfelder has written four other books – each about the same size as this one – on that topic.
You're not given all this information without guidance, however; remember that E-Z Fantasy World chapter, with the questions that you should ask yourself before you start working out the details – questions that will let you 'get straight' in your own mind what your target will look like. Other chapters have similar questions for you to work through to think about.
Mr Rosenfelder's writing is clear, and not loaded with jargon (though some technical discussion is unavoidable). Examples (generally from the author's own worldbuilding) are relevant, without a great deal of obscuring detail, and additional explanation and summary is provided where useful and appropriate. It is clear that the author has 'done his homework', and a (partial) list of his sources is included – many of which are also well-written and interesting books not aimed at the academic reader, but nevertheless informative.
This is definitely one book that should be on your bookshelf if you write or run RPGs in the SF or fantasy genre; I've yet to find a better guide to worldbuilding. Well worth the $14.95 and more.


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Construction of its $290 million Cape Verde Casino Resort has officially begun for Macau-based casino and hotel operator Macau Legend Development Limited.
The groundbreaking ceremony on the islet of Sanat Maria on Monday was attended by gaming tycoon and Macau Legend CEO David Chow Kam Fai, along with José Maria Neves, Cape Verde's Prime Minister. According to Teledifusao de Macau (TDM), in his speech, Chow hailed the project a landmark in the tourism industry of the archipelago and in the cooperation with China and Macau.
During the announcement, Chow said that the investment by the company is the first step of its growth in the international market to offset revenue losses in Macau due to the efforts of the Chinese government to curb illegal foreign-exchange transactions, among other illegal activities.
The project was described by Neves as another pillar for the transformation and development of the island country in Africa. He added that tourism to the county will increase to approximately 2 million from the current 600,000 over the next few years, due to the lure of the project. The government of Cape Verde has been working to increase tourist activity to the area. In 2014, the casinos and resorts already established provided a 40% increase in Gross Domestic Product.
The terms of the agreement with the Cape Verde government include a land concession of 75 years in length and a 25-year gaming license to be granted to the Macau Legend subsidiary CV Entertainment Co. The first 15 years will be exclusive to casinos on Santiago Island. In addition, for 10 years CV will have nationwide operation exclusivity over online gaming and sports betting (land-based and online), according to local sources.
The Cape Verde government has been paid a one-time premium of approximately HK$10.1 million by CV Entertainment for the gaming license. A gaming tax of 10 percent of gross gaming revenue will be paid by Macau Legend, but a 25 percent deduction of gaming tax for VIP patrons will be allowed during the first five years of operation. Also, for the first 10 years Macau Legend will be exempt from income tax.
The casino resort will be located on a 1.3 million square foot plot on Santiago Island in Praia and will feature office buildings, a marina, museum and a convention center. It is anticipated that the construction will take three years. Construction of Chows casino resort was previously rejected due to the environmental impact; however, a new proposal was submitted.


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National Indigenous Arts Awards
National Reconciliation Week kicked off last night with the 12th annual Indigenous Arts Awards.
Legends like Uncle Jack Charles and Aunty Lola Greeno were awarded for life time achievement.
Artist Jenna Lee was awarded the Dreaming prize, recognition as an up and coming Indigenous artist.
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Graphene–Polyaniline composite based ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for non-enzymatic detection of urea
Sha, Rinky and Komori, Kikuo and Badhulika, Sushmee (2017) Graphene–Polyaniline composite based ultra-sensitive electrochemical sensor for non-enzymatic detection of urea. Electrochimica Acta, 233. pp. 44-51. ISSN 0013-4686
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Detection of urea is of prime importance in food and water safety, dairy industries and environmental monitoring. Traditional methods to detect urea are either expensive and involve sophisticated instrumentation or are based on enzymatic approach of detection. Herein, we report a Graphene-Polyaniline (Gr-PANi) based electrochemical sensor for non-enzymatic detection of urea. Gr-PANi composite was synthesized by electro-deposition of PANi on the surface of Gr modified GCE using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. The presence of Gr and PANi in the composite was confirmed using a multitude of characterization techniques which included FESEM, XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical behavior of urea at the surface of Gr-PANi modified GCE was studied by CV whereas urea sensing was performed by using simple current-potential (I–V) technique. The current response of the as-fabricated urea sensor was ∼ 4.74 folds greater than that of pure PANi based sensor and ∼ 67.2 times greater than that of pure Gr based sensor. The sensing performance of the composite based urea sensor was optimized by varying the thickness of PANi film. The optimized sensor exhibited lower limit of detection (5.88 μM), excellent reproducibility, selectivity and stability with an enhanced sensitivity of −226.9 μA/μM cm2 (R2 = 0.993) in the range of 10 μM–200 μM. The reliability of the as-fabricated sensor was successfully investigated by using it to detect urea concentrations in samples of tap water and milk samples. This highly-sensitive Gr–PANi composite based urea sensor provides a simple, low cost, non-enzymatic approach for detection of urea that find numerous applications in clinical diagnostics, dairy industries, fertilizer plants and environmental monitoring.
IITH Creators: |
Item Type: | Article | ||||
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Graphene, polyaniline, non-enzymatic, electrochemical sensors, urea | ||||
Subjects: | Electrical Engineering | ||||
Divisions: | Department of Electrical Engineering | ||||
Depositing User: | Team Library | ||||
Date Deposited: | 12 Jan 2018 11:21 | ||||
Last Modified: | 12 Jan 2018 11:21 | ||||
URI: | http://raiith.iith.ac.in/id/eprint/3719 | ||||
Publisher URL: | http://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.03.043 | ||||
OA policy: | http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/issn/0013-4686/ | ||||
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Oil exports from Russia in January in monetary terms fell by 42.8% compared to last year (to $ 5.708 billion) and physical exports fell to 15.849 million tons (minus 27.1%), as it follows from the data of the Federal Customs Service
Sales of petroleum products increased by 6.7% (to 12.319 million tons), but in monetary terms they decreased by 19% (to $ 4.415 billion). Physical exports of gasoline decreased by 29.8 percent and diesel fuel – by 7.1 percent. At the same time, electricity supplies increased by 43 percent.In general, Russia's foreign trade turnover in January fell by 8.7% compared to last year (to $ 43.4 billion). Exports fell 14.9% and imports rose three percent.
Caspian Barrel