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"Nearly 100 new enterprises have been opened and 300 people employed thanks to projects funded by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss Government in South-East and South-West Serbia over the past three years," said Graeme Tyndall, European PROGRES Programme Manager at the third annual meeting of the Programme Steering Committee held at Vlasina Lake.
Eighty percent of the 251 projects the EU and Swiss Government funded through European PROGRES, one of the largest development programmes in Serbia, have already been completed and their initial effects facilitating social and economic development of the 34 local self-governments are visible.
"We have substantially improved the economic and social infrastructure and contributed to a better understanding of the good governance and gender equality processes. It is up to you to apply the processes in your future work and projects," said Ana Stanković, Project Manager with the EU Delegation to Serbia.
Petar Vasilev of the Swiss Cooperation Office stressed that the representatives of local self-governments should apply the skills and knowledge they acquired in the field of good governance in their work, planning and decisions, and thus help improve the lives of the population in the longer term.
The participants in the Programme Steering Committee meeting qualified as particularly important the progress achieved in the field of competitiveness, as corroborated by the analyses conducted by European PROGRES in partnership with the local self-governments. Over 75% of the local self-governments in the Programme Area of Responsibility (AoR) significantly improved their competitiveness, particularly in financial management, technical documentation preparation, building permits and the provision of municipal services, i.e. in the fields on which the support extended through European PROGRES focused.
The successfully completed Vlasina honey protection of geographical indication project, for which the EU and Swiss Government allocated 10,000 Euro via European PROGRES, is a prime example of support extended to boosting the competitiveness of the local economy and producers. It will also facilitate the promotion of the Vlasina area.
"Our honey is special precisely because of the bee pastures on the Vlasina Plateau, which has been declared a Landscape of Exceptional Features under a Serbian Government Decree, and that is why it has the aroma of medicinal herbs. Thanks to geographical indication, our 80 members will now be able to increase the sale of their products, and improve and align their production technology. We hope that the number of young bee-keepers will increase as well," said Ivica Kostić of the Surdulica-based Association of Beekeepers "Matica"("Queen Bee").
This Association was extended technical support through European PROGRES to design the specifications and perform the laboratory analyses for registering the geographical indication of Vlasina honey, which is a guarantee of quality and provides the product with added value and the opportunity to be more competitive in the market. The specifications were approved by the national Intellectual Property Office.
The processes of protecting the geographical indications of Ivanjica potatoes, Sjenica cow cheese, Sjenica stelja (dried sheep meat) and Sjenica lamb are also under way. Once they are completed, these products – the result of tradition, skills and knowledge – will be ready for sale at the European market.
The meeting participants were provided with an overview of the results the Programme has achieved to date and assessed that headway has also been made in the field of infrastructure. Namely, 40 main designs prepared thanks to European PROGRES' support, can attract potential investments worth 29 million Euros, i.e. five million Euros more than the programme`s total budget. Seven local self-governments have already been granted donations worth more than three million Euros.
The development of 19 local infrastructure projects is proceeding as scheduled. The meeting participants highlighted the importance of infrastructure projects in 14 local self-governments[1] in European PROGRES' AoR, for which the EU designated over 3.2 million Euros. These projects were contracted through the IPA 2013 National Programme, the first to be implemented under the Decentralised Management of EU Funds system. Two more regional projects implemented by the Department for Contracting and Financing of EU Funded Programmes within the Ministry of Finance have been contracted as well – completion of the construction of a new surgical block of the Vranje General Hospital and construction of a new emergency ward of the Novi Pazar Health Centre.
The meeting participants also underlined that the Programme has substantially contributed to the improvement of social inclusion through activities directly facilitating the social and economic empowerment of 9,000 persons belonging to vulnerable groups, particularly women and Roma. Most of the efforts were invested in their employment, education, access to social, medical and municipal services, as well as their exercise of human and minority rights.
It was noted at the third annual meeting of the European PROGRES Steering Committee that the donors would continue supporting the development of the south of the country and that all partners, primarily local self-governments, had to take an active part in completing the projects, so that they could start the new programmes afresh, albeit "armed" with the experience they acquired and the lessons they learned.
Source: www.europeanprogres.org


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Lexington Mayor makes "State of City" Address
Mayor David Jowers met with the Lexington Rotary Club, Tuesday, January 10th, for the State of the City address.
The mayor reminded the audience of several positive events and factors over the year, including the number of new businesses which have opened around town or are under construction. The mayor introduced the Lexington Board of Alderman members and members of his city staff. "The finances of the city are as good as any time in the history of the city," Jowers said. The seven-million-dollar budget is well in hand and about 40% was saved into a rainy-day fund. Mayor Jowers also mentioned…
For complete story, see the January 11th edition of The Lexington Progress.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Earlier this spring I showed two easy DIY ideas for refreshing the classic white button-down. Well this week, Rita Ora inspired me to create a third. The new America's Next Top Model judge stepped out in NYC in a Hellessy off-the-shoulder top that's just perfect for transitioning into fall. I found a replica online for only $17 but decided instead to try doing a DIY of my own.
I started with an oversize white button down shirt and folded it at the neckline so it was left off my shoulders. Then I layered an off-the-shoulder crop top over the button-up, tucking in any loose fabric. Like Rita, I slipped into black culottes and white pumps. I slicked my hair back into a bun, and used a new hair cuff I got in NY to make the updo a little more chic.
Photo by Jodee Debes
Top: Express
Shirt: American Apparel (similar)
Pants: WAYF (similar here, here and here)
Bun cuff: Jen Atkin x Chloe + Isabel
Earrings: Charming Charlie
Bag: DvF (same in black or gold)
Shoes: Guess (similar)
Nails: Essie "Fairy Tailor"


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When looking at the Denver Nuggets roster, there are remnants of the trade that brought Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler still remain in the Mile High City and were two of the players involved in the blockbuster trade. Meanwhile, it doesn't appear that either side has benefitted from the deal. The Nuggets saw the greater return in terms of players exchanged and were able to see slight success the following year, landing the third seed in the Western Conference. As for the Knicks, well...they've been the Knicks.
The lackluster Knicks
In theory, it's fantastic for a team -- and better yet, a large market team -- to have a superstar. After all, what team couldn't use a Carmelo Anthony, LeBron James, or Kevin Durant? Still, it's clear that Anthony has not been able to lead the Knicks to much success, even while averaging over 20 points per game each year. The Knicks have not gotten further than the second round of the playoffs with Anthony and have only made the postseason in half of the 11-time All-Star's seasons in New York.
One could argue that a core of Anthony, J.R. Smith, Amar'e Stoudemire, Raymond Felton, and Steve Novak would never have gotten far anyway. But even now, with a highly revved core of Anthony, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Kristaps Porzingis, the Knicks see their playoff hopes diminishing.
With the Knicks on the brink of missing the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, it makes one wonder if the team is all talk, and no action. After signing with the Knicks, Rose proclaimed the Knicks a "super team," and for a while, that seemed to hold true. At one point this season, New York had an impressive 14-10 record, but since then, have fallen to 19-25, 11th place in the Eastern Conference.
Can the Knicks move on?
The Knicks' poor performance also brings into question whether the team should move in a different direction. Sophomore Porzingis has already displayed flashes of becoming the Knicks' superstar in the long run. Better yet, most Knicks fans seem to like him, which could be an accomplishment in itself considering he was booed on draft night.
However, it'd take a lot to convince Anthony to waive his no-trade clause, considering how much he loves the city of New York and what it means to play in such a glorified location. Who would want to give up taking the court in the World's Most Famous Arena?
No-trade clauses themselves are rare in basketball, but they're tied to franchise players, with the likes of Kevin Garnett, Dirk Nowitzki, and of course, Carmelo Anthony. Players waiving trade clauses are even rarer, but Garnett did it twice: the first time to allow the infamous deal between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets to happen; the second time to rejoin the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015. In terms of Anthony, he's expressed zero intent to remove his no-trade clause, making it impossible for the Knicks to move on from him.
The question of loyalty
There's always drama associated with the Knicks and every season, because of the Knicks' lackluster progress, Anthony's loyalty to the team comes into question. In another attempt to dispel further doubt, Anthony recently met with Phil Jackson, who actually signed Anthony to the contract with the no-trade clause in 2014, and expressed interest in remaining with New York.
Depending on how you look at it, this drives both edges of the sword because of the Knicks' meager achievements with Anthony, but Anthony satisfying fans by showing his loyalty could be seen as a positive sign. Anthony calls the shots in New York, for better or for worse. That's just the unfortunate case -- as long as Anthony has a no-trade clause attached to his name, there's nothing Jackson and the Knicks organization can do. With Anthony already at 32-years-old, the Knicks' time for a championship window with the famed superstar is closing. But the Knicks will be forced to stick it out with Anthony, no matter what.


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The Pavillion Coffee Table in natural is made from solid Mango Wood and features a lattice-work base and low top. Mix it up with the Pavillion Side Table!
It is perfect decor for relaxed beachside living and adding interest to a living space.
DIMENSIONS: 81W x 81D x 32H cm
MATERIAL: Mango Wood
COLOUR: Natural


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Patio dining is always popular in Chicago during the spring and summer, regardless of how many people lawmakers allow inside dining rooms. However, last year street dining became critical for survival. Street dining is poised to return in mid-May and Chicago restaurants will have two new grant programs available — one from the city and another from Choose Chicago (the city's tourism arm) to aid in paying for outdoor dining spaces.
A new Choose Chicago grant program targets south and west side restaurants with the hopes of giving owners money for the design and construction of outdoor dining areas using public spaces. The grants, "up to $250,000 per applicant," can be used for plastic safety barriers, decorative elements, and more. The program's called Chicago Alfresco. Chambers, special service area groups (SSAs), and others will be eligible for these grants which benefit restaurants. Choose Chicago is asking those groups and local not-for-profit groups to email them with interest. Though the grants help restaurants, restaurant operators aren't eligible for the grants.
Money is central to many restaurant owners complaints when it comes to adjusting to pandemic rules. For example, the owners at Chilam Balam in Lakeview quickly moved their dining room's tables and chairs outside so it could take advantage of the city's shared street program that closed roads to automobile traffic so restaurants could serve customers. Chilam Balam's owner Soraya Rendon says she didn't have the money to buy patio furniture and had to make do, even if that meant sacrificing her indoor table and chairs to Chicago's unpredictable weather.
There is good news for Rendon as the city is preparing a second grant program — using federal funds that haven't yet been allocated — so restaurants could purchase of patio furniture and PPE. Block Club Chicago reports that the City Council is considering a program (separate from the Choose Chicago program) that would offer $5,000 to 400 restaurants. Application details aren't yet available.
The aid from the city is past due, says Rendon. After facing the challenges of serving customers safely during the pandemic, Rendon was hoping 2021 would be easier. She contacted the city in January to secure her patio permit thinking the process would be smooth, with licenses automatically carrying over from the previous year. The city told her that she needed to reapply and start over.
"It's frustrating because everybody else got their renewal right way," Rendon says.
Rendon and her fellow restauranteurs along Broadway in Lakeview made up the city's pilot street dining program. The program would expand to neighborhoods including Gold Coast, River North, and West Loop, as the city called the "Dining Out" program a lifeline as restaurant struggled for survival.
Though the city hoped to bring the program to the South and West sides, neighborhoods like Little Village, Pilsen, and Chatham opted out. Some residents in those areas worried that closing street traffic to cars would hurt retail business. For 2021, the city is banking that with a year under its built, it can bring the street dining program to more neighborhoods. Block Club reports the city is looking to close streets in eight to 12 areas.
For Lakeview's part, Dine Out On Broadway is returning on May 14. The city and chamber of commerce will close down streets two weekends on a month through September. Details are still being worked out.


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Perplexed by the number of auto insurance choices in Opelousas? You're not alone. People have so many companies to choose from that it can easily become a real hassle to find the perfect company for you.
If you have a current auto insurance policy or are shopping for new coverage, you will benefit by learning to shop for the lowest rates while maintaining coverages. Shopping for the lowest cost protection in Opelousas can be fairly easy. Louisiana drivers just need to learn the proper way to compare company rates on the web.
Finding Auto Insurance in Opelousas, LA
Effectively comparing auto insurance prices can be exhausting if you aren't aware of the best way to get rate quotes. You could spend the better part of a day talking about coverages with insurance agencies in Opelousas, or you could save time and use online quoting to accomplish the same thing much quicker.
Most of the larger companies enroll in a system that allows shoppers to send in one quote, and at least one company provides a quote based on the submitted data. This prevents consumers from doing repetitive form submissions to every company.
To access this free quoting program, click to open in new window.
The one disadvantage to pricing coverage this way is you don't know exactly which providers you want to price. If you would rather choose specific insurance companies to compare prices, we have assembled a list of low cost auto insurance companies in Louisiana. View list of Louisiana insurance companies.
It's up to you which method you use, but ensure you're using exactly the same coverage limits with each company. If the quotes have unequal deductibles or liability limits it will be next to impossible to truly determine the lowest rate in Opelousas.
Your personal situation dictates your coverage
When buying the best auto insurance coverage for your personal vehicles, there isn't really a "best" method to buy coverage. Everyone's situation is unique.
For example, these questions can help discover whether your personal situation would benefit from an agent's advice.
- Should I drop comprehensive coverage on older vehicles?
- How much liability do I need to cover my assets?
- Do I have coverage for damage caused while driving under the influence?
- Should I rate my vehicle as pleasure use or commute?
- Is business equipment covered while in my vehicle?
- Are my tools covered if they get stolen from my vehicle?
- Are rental cars covered under my policy?
- Are all vehicle passengers covered by medical payments coverage?
If you can't answer these questions but a few of them apply, you may need to chat with a licensed insurance agent. To find an agent in your area, complete this form. It's fast, doesn't cost anything and you can get the answers you need.
Are insurance agents a thing of the past?
Some people would rather get advice from a local agent and there is nothing wrong with that. Agents can answer important questions and help submit paperwork. One of the great benefits of getting online price quotes is you can get lower rates but still work with a licensed agent. Supporting local agencies is important particularly in Opelousas.
By using this form (opens in new window), your insurance data is transmitted to participating agents in Opelousas who will battle to get your business. You won't need to even leave your home as quotes are delivered directly to your email. It doesn't get any easier!
The following is a list of auto insurance companies in Opelousas that may be willing to give rate quotes.
- Jim Wallace Agency – 1107 Heather Dr, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-9527
- Farm Bureau Insurance – 5265 I 49 S Service Rd, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 948-8259
- Allstate Insurance – 129 S Main St, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 594-0122
- Physicians Mutual Insurance Co – 222 W North St, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-6337
- Cravins Insurance Inc – 223 N Market St, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 942-8784
- State Farm Insurance – 908 Creswell Ln, Opelousas, LA 70570 – (337) 948-4491
For a full directory of Opelousas insurance agents, simply jump to this page.
Choosing an insurance company requires more thought than just the price. Here are some questions to ask:
- Does the company allow you to choose your own collision repair facility?
- Is their price quote a firm figure or are their hidden costs?
- Can glass repairs be made at your home?
- What insurance companies do they recommend if they are an independent agent?
- Are claims handled at the agent's location?
- Will vehicle repairs be made with aftermarket parts or OEM replacement parts?
- Do they receive special compensation for putting your coverage with one company over another?
- What will you get paid if your car is a total loss? How is that amount determined?
Once you have satisfactory answers and a good coverage price, you have narrowed it down to an provider that is a good match to provide auto insurance coverage.
Additional auto insurance links
Much more information about auto insurance in Louisiana can be read on the Louisiana Department of Insurance website found here. Visitors are able to read consumer alerts, download brochures, find out which companies have the most complaints, and report car insurance fraud.
Additional helpful sites include this site for rates in Louisiana and this list of insurance agents in Opelousas.


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Heritage Wood Back
A traditionally styled bar stool,featuring a cushioned leather seat and guaranteed to blend in any game room setting. Design also matches the new Colonial™ Folding Poker Chair.
Features a Trendler™ brand swivel mechanism, a seat height of 30″, and antique brass and brushed nickel (shown) footplates—you choose which one to use. Available in traditional cherry, chestnut, and Original Mahogany™ finishes.


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Android App Development
iOS App Development
Flutter App Development
Cross Platform App Development
Hire on-demand project developers and turn your idea into working reality.
Big thanks to Webkul and his team for helping get Opencart 126.96.36.199 release ready!
Deniel Kerr
Founder. Opencart
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Bring retail shopping experience on the leading social media platforms with the social media eCommerce App.
Brand's Logo
Success Story
Increasing Sales and Reaching More Customers with Mobile Commerce
How Banglamark Group Embarked its E-commerce Journey
India's leading jewellery manufacturers, wholesalers, and dealers in one place.
There are many tools available (product tags, pins, shoppable stories, in-app checkout) for sellers to showcase their e-commerce products, respond to customer queries, promote their brands, blend with popular social media platforms, and integrate into their existing business model using a social media eCommerce app.
Social media platforms, including social media eCommerce apps, have become the exclusive space where consumers get to know about new product launches. People talk to each other about new products when they buy, share posts with real product images, and recommend friends and families if they like them.
The Facebook family of apps (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp) is the top source of online discovery for shoppers in all the categories surveyed. Mobile devices are also proving to be an important discovery channel, particularly in Household Staples, Media & Entertainment and Apparel & Accessories. (Facebook IQ 2018 report)
Consumer-generated content is more influential in driving sales than brand-created content. Shoppers like to know, hear, and see what other shoppers are have purchased and say about the brand and its product and services.
By 2020 businesses are increasingly leveraging UGC to promote their products, as it is seen as a cost-effective and authentic way to grow a brand's image and sales. [wiki]
User-generated content showcases authentic information, helping new customers to trust the brands. The product should speak for itself and engage customers to talk about it.
There are many tools available using which merchants can integrate social media feeds into their e-commerce platforms. Enabling customers to see how real-life shoppers are sharing their experiences using product photos, videos, social posts.
See how businesses are now utilizing trending social media platforms and finding new methods to promote brand, influence purchase decision, and sell directly on social media apps.
With live video feature available in popular social media apps, content creators and influencers are now sharing their product experiences in the real-time video broadcast. Further, shoppers can interact with the presenter using live chat and instantly buy items being showcased without leaving the app.
Shoppers can build a team and then negotiate with merchants to get volume-based discounts. Pinduoduo is a successful example of a group buying social commerce app. Shoppers can either buy the product at a normal price or join the team to enjoy the bulk-pricing discount.
With Augmented Reality integration with e-commerce, shoppers can now virtually try on shoes, glasses, and other apparel items from their phone camera. Snapchat offers shopping lenses filters to recreate the in-store shopping experience using Shopping AR.
Facebook Shops is a mobile-first shopping experience where businesses can easily create an online store on Facebook and Instagram. Sellers can also integrate their existing e-commerce platforms and import product catalog feed with images, prices, description.
Businesses can now add buy links to products being showcased in Instagram posts and stories. Shoppers can click on the product tags to instantly buy and checkout within the social app or get redirected to the e-commerce site to place an order.
US businesses can also provide a dedicated shopping experience right inside the Instagram social app with e-commerce features like an in-app shopping cart, wishlist, checkout, and accept payments.
Integrate your e-commerce store with WhatsApp messaging app to accept orders, communicate with shoppers, and share order-related notifications automatically.
Amazon Live, a dedicated mobile app for content creators and presenters, enabling them to directly broadcast the live video content from the phone camera. Promote products and also engage with the audience with the live chat feature.
Build multi-level marketing affiliate social app like Meesho. Enabling shoppers to earn profits when they share the products listed on the Meesho app with their friends or social media networks like WhatsApp, Facebook.
In the Verishop app, people can buy products through the personalized, shoppable feed, follow favourite people and brands. Hang out and shop with friends on virtual event Shop Party through video chat.
Trell app allows people to share their product experiences, recommendations, and reviews for various categories by making short videos. Viewers can buy the tagged products from Trell shop, comment and share on WhatsApp.
WeChat is the largest social media app and with its Mini-Programs businesses can develop an app within the WeChat ecosystem to offer a wide range of third-party services. Brands can create an e-commerce shop, share products with an active community, and process payments via. WeChat pay. Build your next super app with Mobikul.
Xiaohongshu, also known as Little Red Book or RED has become a popular social media commerce app for Gen Z and millennials. KOL (Key Opinion Leaders) share short videos and photos on fashion, beauty, food, travel, and lifestyle.
The traditional e-commerce shopping experience lacks the human touch. Going on the website, typing the product name in the search box, and then looking at thousands of products to decide whether to click add to cart or not.
But with social eCommerce app development and social commerce, shoppers interact with real human beings. People can ask questions, get instant feedback, and receive recommendations on whether to buy this product or not.
All communication is done through a ticket system. I appreciate the regular almost daily updates of what is being worked on, and communicating changes or updates is easy through this system. Mobikul's response timeframe is quick, and the developers accomplish tasks in a very reasonable timeframe. They also respond to questions, concerns, and any bugs very quickly. "
Josh Arnold
Client Trusted Mobikul App
Magento 2 Mobile App Builder
Client App
Shop ATV ESCAPE
It was a successful collaboration. The Mobikul team provided the client everything they needed in a timely and high-quality manner. They were very professional, reliable, and accessible during the entire process. The client also saw no room for any improvements in the vendor's performance."
Vincenzo Carrano
Magento 2 B2B Vendor Mobile App
Segshop Videosorveglianza
When it comes to S-Commerce app development, choosing the right development partner is crucial to the success of your project. At mobikul, we offer comprehensive S-Commerce app development services that are tailored to meet your specific requirements and goals.
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text: It is a pleasant place, with ample space and where each cat has its name, stay and observations at the door. I have tried two other residences for cats and the poor man was always very thin and afflicted to meow. Nothing to see since I took him to Granja La Luna. We will repeat for sure !!


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EA: Wii U matches PS3 and Xbox 360
Development kits make their way into the wild
EA developers have confirmed that the forthcoming Wii U console from Nintendo is easily as powerful as the Sony PS3 or the Microsoft Xbox 360.
EA Sports' vice president Andrew Wilson confirmed that his team now have the latest dev kits from Nintendo and that the tech can do anything that PS3 or 360 can do.
Happy with the new box
Wilson told Eurogamer that, "as every new piece of hardware and every new development library comes through we get a greater understanding of the power. With our early research we had been very happy with the output of the box and we expect that that will only go up moving forward.
"There are added challenges for us as developers when you think about rendering on two screens and what that might mean, but we're looking forward to that challenge.
"I think we'll be able to do anything that we can do on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on the Wii U. That's our hope…but again we're still in the early stages."
Release date speculation
Eurogamer also (unofficially) pegs the Wii U release date as August 2012, as that is the date that EA's launch title Darksiders II is currently confirmed for. Clearly though, it is still early days, and these launch plans could well change considerably over the next year or more.
Wilson also said that there was an "openness and willingness" at Nintendo to work closely with EA and other third party developers and game publishers, adding that online gaming in particular was "something that we're working very closely with Nintendo on".
He explained, "We are highlighting to them what we believe are the most important elements to that infrastructure to deliver a connected experience that we think is the future of gaming."
EA's accolades come as Nintendo announces disappointing financial results; no doubt all concerned are hoping that the Wii U will turn it the company's fortunes around.
Via Eurogamer
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Archie Bradley made his first rehab start since going on the DL back in late April for the AZL Dbacks. He allowed 2 runs over 4 innings on 5 hits and a walk while striking out 6. Nothing earth-shattering there considering the level of competition but it's just good to see him on the mound. In the first he struck out the leadoff batter, allowed a single, struck out the next batter then surrendered an RBI double. In the third the leadoff hitter tripled and later scored on a single. Sounds like he did give up a few hard-hit balls but considering he hasn't pitched in a real game for around 2 months it's a start.
Snake Stars
3 Stars: Aaron Blair, Visalia 7 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 9 K, 1 ER, W (2-2)
2 Stars: Steve McQuail, Visalia 4 for 5, 1R, 1 DBL, 1 HR (2), 4 RBI
1 Star: Sergio Alcantara, Missoula 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 DBL, 2 RBI
0 Stars: Rodrigo Takahashi, AZL 1/3 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 0 K, 4 ER
AAA: Reno 6 Colorado Springs 5. The Aces got a walk-off win in the bottom of the 12th inning on a Nick Ahmed 2-out RBI single. Lucas Harrell started allowing 5 runs on 9 hits in 5+ innings. The bullpen kept things right there with 6 shutout innings to set up the heroics. Recently-signed Argenis Diaz went 3 for 5. Bobby Wilson went 2 for 4 with a home run, Alfredo Marte had 2 doubles, and Tony Campana had a triple and 3 RBI.
AA: Mobile 0 @ Montgomery 1. Charles Brewer had yet another fine start at AA allowing 1 run on 4 hits and a walk while striking out 6. But there was no offense to be found as Montgomery starter Victor Mateo shut down the Bay Bear offense on 4 hits. Mobile put runners on first and third with nobody out in the 9th but Tom Belza was thrown out at the plate on a Dustin Martin groundout, followed by strikeouts of Jon Griffin and Garrett Webber.
A+: Visalia 10 San Jose 2. Aaron Blair had a dominating performance striking out 9 over 7 innings while allowing just a single run on 3 hits. The offense was right in step scoring 3 runs in the first inning featuring an Alex Glenn 2-run homer and they were never threatened from there. Steve McQuail had a big game going 4 for 5 with a double, a home run and 3 RBI. Brandon Drury and Rudy Flores each went 2 for 4 with a double and 2 RBI.
A: South Bend 4 @ Lake County 5. South Bend did well to erase a 4-1 deficit on a 3-run homer by Breland Almadova. But they eventually went down in 11 innings. Blake Perry was not too good allowing 4 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks over 5 innings. The bullpen was fantastic tossing 5 shutout innings until Bud Jeter was tagged for the game-winner in the 11th. Marty Herum went 2 for 5 and Andrew Velazquez was given the night off, though he did pinch run and stole his 24th base.
A-: Hillsboro 2 Vancouver 3. Hillsboro tried to rally from a late 3-0 deficit when the first three batters in the 9th singled. But 2 runs were all they could manage in the close loss. Fourth round draft pick Brent Jones started and was very good allowing 1 run over 4 innings on 3 hits while striking out 4. Reliever Nick Baker (29th round) was even better with 4 shutout innings. Reliever Jake Roberts was not so good allowing 2 runs in the top of the 9th. Nate Robertson and Todd Glaesmann led the meager offense with 2 hits each.
R: Missoula 6 Helena 9. Starter Gabriel Moya dug a hole for the Osprey offense when he allowed 6 runs in less than 5 innings. They battled all the way back with 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th on a Breland Amadova 3-run homer, only to have Brody Greer surrender 3 runs in the top of the 9th with the help of a Dane McFarland error. Sergio Alcantara had a nice game going 3 for 5 with a double and 2 RBI. Third round pick Matt Railey went 2 for 4 and hit his first home run as a professional.
AZL: Dbacks 10 @ Cubs 9. The Dbacks won a wild one when Henry Castillo tripled home Jose Herrera in the top of the 9th for the game winner. Archie Bradley made his first rehab start and was okay allowing 2 runs over 4 innings. Rodrigo Takahashi and Luis Castillo were not so good allowing a 5-spot in the 5th after the Dbacks had scored 7 in the top of the inning. Catching prospect Jose Herrera went 2 for 4 with an RBI while Luis Veras, Gerard Hernandez, Raul Santana and Jacob Cordero each contributed 2 hits. Rising prospect Joe Munoz also made a rehab start since being out for the past month.


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Diapers are really the ultimate life hack-they FREE you from having to worry about so many ADULT things. So many day to day annoyances are obliviated simply by wearing diapers. So I like to do you the favor of MAKING you wear them for Me.
You might never have worn diapers unless I MADE you. Since I know best it is best to obey and wear them willingly. It is going to solve your LIFE. And please ME, of course. Just consider all the questions I have just answered for you by having you wear diapers.
I am solving your life for you by making you wear diapers.
"Will I have to pull over and find a bathroom?" is not something you have to worry about now that you're in diapers. "Damn, I have to go NOW, can't wait for a commercial break" no longer happens when you watch your fave programs. You can go anytime you want because you are wearing a diaper. "Where is the nearest toilet?" no longer matters because you WEAR one now. For ME. Obedience pays off.
It feels so GOOD to be able to forget about adult life for a while and diapers give you that FEELING…
See what a good thing I have DONE for you by making you wear diapers. I have solved so many problems you just accepted as forever things. They are now in the past simply because you obeyed and wore diapers. This is why you must always obey Me. I know what is best for you. And like I said, diapers ARE the ultimate life hack, they let you FOCUS on LIFE.
-Goddess Mixtrix
ps: I am not allowed to post diaper content on certain sites, including AVNstars, but you should still follow Me there anyway. That's an order.


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Here's taking a look at some of the cutest child stars who have won us over with their fantastic performances.
Sunny Pawar has been winning hearts across the globe with his stellar performance in Lion and his dapper appearance at the Oscars, where he wore a black and white tuxedo paired with an awesome pair of trainers which garnered a lot of attention.
Besides the eight year old Sunny Pawar, there are a number of other child stars in the industry who possess the talent and the charisma to steal the limelight from their older counterparts. So here's taking a look at some of the cutest child stars who have won us over with their fantastic performances.
Salman Khan's little co-star from Bajrangi Bhaijaan is one girl to look out for. This talented young girl definitely stole the show in the film and looks like she is all set to take Bollywood by storm when she grows older. Her touching performance in Bajrangi Bhaijaan garnered a lot of critical acclaim.
The 16 year old Zaira Wasim who played the younger version of Geeta Phogat hails from Kashmir and floored us all with her marvelous performance. And now, she is gearing up for the release of Aamir Khan's home production called Secret Superstar where she plays the protagonist.
She played the younger version of Babita Phogat in Dangal and has also appeared in print ads for Monte Carlo. Hailing from Faridabad, Suhani is currently a student of DPS who plans to shift base to Mumbai if she gets good opportunities and roles.
She is all grown up now but who can forget the cute little girl from Koi Mil Gaya who stole our hearts with her endearing performance? Hansika Motwani has also, in the past, starred in a couple of television shows and was once known as one of the most promising child stars of Bollywood.
Darsheel Safary made his Bollywood debut with Taare Zameen Par and received a lot of accolades for his poignant and sensitive performance in the Aamir Khan starrer. And now, he is all grown up and will be returning to the silvers screens with his new film Quickie.
All images have been sourced from Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram


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Bedbugs are smart and they know where to hide. They'll find the perfect spot and you will likely never look. They're less than a quarter of an inch so they can fit into the smallest cracks and gaps. When they bite you at night, their bites will likely lead to red, painful welts. Below, you'll learn more about the common places where bedbugs might hide.
Bed Mattresses & Box Springs
As the name confirms, bedbugs tend to hide in begs. Doing so guarantees that they stay close to their primary food source which is you. Your body releases heat, kairomones, and CO2 that attract bedbugs. Since people spend a third of their lives sleeping, bedbugs have plenty of time to feed. Check your mattress carefully to determine if you have a bedbug infestation.
Bed Frames
You'll also need to check the bed frame. Many frames are brown or reddish-brown. Bedbugs are reddish-brown so they'll be able to blend in with the bed frame and remain undetected. When the infestation gets bigger, the bedbugs will have a harder time finding a hide so they'll spread out.
Bed Sheets & Bedding
Don't forget to check your bedding and bedsheets. Bedbugs can hide in your sheets, comforters, covers, and pillowcases. The good news is that it'll be easier to find bedbugs hiding in your bedding than bedbugs hiding in the mattress.
Carpets & Rugs
If you have carpets or rugs in your bedroom, they could be used as a bedbug hiding place. Thanks to their small size, bedbugs can easily hide in the carpet. In most cases, bedbugs will only live in rugs and carpets in your bedrooms and living rooms. Vacuuming your carpet is a good way to get rid of them.
Couches, Love Seats, & Recliners
Bedbugs often hide in upholstered furniture. Once bedbugs are entered your home, they'll climb onto the future and hide in it. Bedbugs can hide in your couch cushions and beneath your pillows. In addition to this, they might hide beneath the furniture.
Although bedbugs may hide in these spots, there are many alternative hiding spots. Below, you'll learn more about some of the unique hiding spots of bedbugs.
Unique Bedbug Hiding Places
You may find bedbugs hiding in unique spots. Don't forget to check the following because bedbugs might be hiding there too.
When you travel, you'll likely stay at a motel. You might stay at a bedbug-infested motel. If this happens, the bedbugs could climb onto and into your luggage. Then, you'll take your luggage home and the bedbugs will stay hidden in the bags. They'll come out at night to feed on you before returning to the luggage in your closet. After spending a night at a motel, it is wise to check your luggage for bedbugs.
Wall Art & Decor
Bedbugs can climb your walls. As a result, they may decide to live in your home's wall décor. Bedbugs prefer hiding in dark, warm spots so they may hide behind your wall décor and wall art. Check behind your pictures and picture frames because bedbugs could be hiding there.
Novels & Books
Believe it or not, bedbugs can hide in books and novels. They're small enough to fit in the gap between the spine and binding of the book. In addition to this, they'll be able to hide under the book's protective cover. Bedbugs often hide in books when they're stored near furniture.
Your Nightstand
Nightstands are the perfect place for bedbugs to hide. They're close to your bed and have plenty of hiding space.
TVs, Computers, & Other Electronics
Unfortunately, bedbugs can hide in electronics. It doesn't happen much, but it could. Most electrics are warm and they have tons of gaps to enter. Don't be surprised if you find bedbugs in your alarm clock, television, or desktop computer.
You'll also have to be worried about items located under the bed. If you've decided to store boxes under your bed, bedbugs will likely infest these items as well. To prevent this from happening, use airtight containers to prevent bedbugs from sneaking in. If you have identified a bedbug infestation in your home, call an exterminator so they can take care of the issue for you.


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Introduction to Computer Network Seminar Topic:
It is a group of computers that are in touch by electronic circuits with the intension of sharing information or broadcasting it for their users. Networks may be classified according to a wide variety of characteristics. This article provides a general overview of types and categories and also shows the basic components of a network.
It allows sharing of resources and information among devices adjoined to the network. The Advanced Research Projects Agency founded the design of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network for the US Department of Defense. It was first designed and established in 1969, by the ideas which were made in 1960.
It has Following some advantages:-
- 1. File Sharing.
- 2. Resource Sharing.
- 3. Augment of storage capacity.
- 4. Augment of cost efficiency.
It also has some dis-advantage:-
- 1. Security problems.
- 2. Accelerated Spreading of Computer Virus.
- 3. Expensive setup.
- 4. Bug on main file server.
Computer Network is also Scaled in 8 main types:-
- 1. Personal area network.
- 2. Local area network.
- 3. Home area network.
- 4. Campus area network.
- 5. Metropolitan area network.
- 6. Wide area network.
- 7. Global area network.
- 8. Virtual Private Network.
Accessing a network, anyone can communicate without difficulty and easily by mails, messages etc.
In a networked environment, each computer on a network can access and use hardware on the network.
Download Seminar Topic on Computer Network with Seminar Report .


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A new week rolls in. A week full of promises,
potential and endless possibilities. A week
for you to pursue your dreams...
The week started out on a gloomy note. So far
it has not gotten any better. The fog is back and today looks
once again like a fall day. Fortunately it is still warm
though a bit on the humid side. Looking froward to soon
going back home to Fort Lauderdale. Yes, I know,
summers in Florida are the absolute worst.
Arvid and I have spent a few hours binge watching Netflix.
Something we would not do if we were back in Florida.
Sniff has spent his morning sleeping, and has not
really eaten much since waking up. Guess the
weather is also getting him a little down.
Today is a hot tub kind of day.
Monday again. Be epic this week.
Show Monday who's the boss.
Finding your passion isn't about careers and money.
It's about finding you authentic self. The one
you've buried beneath others needs...


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Construction accident: OSHA investigating after worker becomes trapped at Amazon complex site
KENOSHA (WITI) -- Kenosha police and fire officials were called out to a construction accident that occurred at the site of the Amazon Distribution Center complex being built on Burlington Road in Kenosha.
The call came in just before 3:30 p.m.
Officials were dispatched for a report of a worker pinned between a beam and an aerial lift in the Onyx Building on the construction site.
Before emergency crews responded to the scene -- co-workers were able to free the worker who was trapped.
We're told no one saw the accident happen, or how the worker became trapped.
The 35-year-old worker was taken by ambulance to the hospital. It is believed he suffered a torn or dislocated shoulder. His injuries are not believed to be serious.
Flight for Life was put on standby for this incident -- but was not dispatched to the scene.
Kenosha police have contacted OSHA regarding this incident -- and OSHA is investigating.
It is unclear the company the injured worker was working for -- as there are several construction companies working on the job site.
Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this story.


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One of the most important holidays in the world, Easter, is getting closer each day and what better way to celebrate it than to create an interesting slot machine?
We assume that in the near future more developers will come up with Easter-themed games, but one of them beat them to the punch– Kalamba Games.
The game is titled, Mammoth Chase: Easter Edition, and don't be fooled by its name, thinking that it is the same slot released a few months ago, because it isn't.
As we stated in the beginning, this one was developed with a goal in mind to celebrate the holiday season.
This game is filled with interesting and dynamic moments. Namely, players will go on an Easter egg hunt and along the way they will get the opportunity to uncover and grab a plethora of spectacular prizes!
Besides the Mammoth, gamers will be able to come across some truly nice inhabitants of this reel slot – chickens, bunnies and nicely-decorated eggs. As we all know, all of them are main symbols of this popular holiday.
Mammoth Chase is probably one of the most famous slots from this developer and it comes with various stacked mammoth characters that can help players collect some huge wins, get casino spins with a frequent retrigger and multiplier wild icons.
This 6x4 game consists of three levels of bonus jackpots that can be launched with the highest-level jackpot starting from 1000x bet.
Alex Cohen, COO and co-founder of Kalamba, said:
"Mammoth Chase: Easter Edition is another seasonal addition to our ever-growing portfolio of games.
Seasonal twists to players' favourite games show the flexibility of our custom game assets and provide our operator partners with a fun promotional tool to engage their players."
Kalamba is continuously working on something. They are either developing new games or they are making new partnerships.
We talked about a few of them before and we think it's worth mentioning that approximately two months ago, they partnered with one of the most prosperous online casinos in the industry, Lapalingo.com. According to this agreement, their portfolio of outstanding video slots can now be found at this online casino. Congrats to both sides for making this happen!
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Do you want to tone or strengthen your core? If yes, the standing abs exercises are just perfect. These standing abs exercises increase the challenge of traditional abs exercises as it adds gravity as well as balance into the mix. These exercises also help in improving your posture, and also your balance. These standing abs exercises resemble the way we move our body during our day-to-day activities.
6 Best Standing Abs Exercises
Standing abs exercises are really great where your entire core muscles work together, right from your back to the hips. These exercises help you develop core strength as while doing these moves, you have to engage the abs so as to stand tall and stable and they really challenge your abs and the body balance. In addition to this, in case you have hip flexor or neck pain when you do the core workout, the standing abs exercises would be really a great alternative for you.
We will talk about 6 major standing abs exercises that must be done in a sequence with 10 seconds of rest interval in between. Each of the exercises must be done for 45 seconds. You might require some exercising equipment or objects, such as medicine ball or a dumbbell or any other weighted object such as, water bottles or books.
For those experiencing any medical conditions or those with joint problems, it is better to seek medical advice before doing these. If you experience any pain while performing these standing abs exercises, it is important to check with your doctor.
Standing Pike Crunch – Standing pike crunch is one of the easiest standing abs exercise that is to be done for 45 seconds. Hip flexors and the downward muscles are worked upon in this workout.
Raise one leg right in front of you to your waist-height and stretch your arms right overhead and draw them down so as to touch the raised foot. Slowly put the foot back down and raise your arms up again.
Keep doing this as you swing your legs slowly while touching your foot with the arms. Make sure that you stretch down towards the foot in a slow controlled motion, and also have slow controlled motion while you drop your leg down. Switch the sides and repeat the same.
Captain Morgan Diagonal Pass – After doing the standing pike crunch, rest for 10 seconds and then begin the next standing abs exercise, i.e. Captain Morgan Diagonal pass for next 45 seconds. This is one of the most favorite standing abs exercises for many. You would require a medicine ball, or dumbbell or any other weighted object.
Raise your left leg bent at the knee, holding the medicine ball.
Slowly bring the ball from over the top of the right side of the right shoulder towards the outer side or the left side of the left knee (or the knee of the raised leg); in a way that the ball makes a diagonal path from top to the bottom. Do it in a slow controlled motion. Rotate your shoulders as you move.
Rotate the shoulders to the right when the ball goes up and rotate them to the left when the ball comes down. Switch sides and repeat the same.
Jumping Oblique Twist – Rest for 10 seconds after performing the Captain Morgan diagonal pass and then begin the next move and that is, the Jumping oblique twist for next 45 seconds. This too is one of the best standing abs exercises.
For doing this, stand straight and then twist your waist or rotate around your torso with half in back and forth the feet.
Keep your arms right in front of you with fingers of both the hands interlocked with each other.
You need to rock your hips as much as possible. Make the motion as quick as possible and only land on your toes.
Torso Rotation – Torso rotation is the next standing abs exercise that is to be performed for 45 seconds after 10 seconds of rest from jumping oblique twist. The muscles that are worked upon while doing this standing abs exercise include the obliques (while moving towards the sides), the lower back muscles (while leaning forward) and the downward muscles (while swinging down). This exercise works on the entire core. Torso rotation is a stretching exercise.
Keeping your legs as well as your back perfectly straight, slowly lean backwards and swing in down towards the right side, then swing down to the center, and slowly swing up to the left side until you are fully straight.
Again leaning back little bit, pass in the reverse direction, so swing down towards the left side, then swing down to the center and slowly swing up to the right side until you are fully straight
High Knee Chops – After performing the torso rotation for 45 seconds, rest for 10 seconds and then move to the next standing abs exercise, and that is the high knee chops. Here the muscles that are worked upon, include the hip flexor and the downward muscles. This too is one of the most effective standing abs exercises.
Raise your right knee to waist-height and bring your hands (hands joined with fingers of both the hands interlocked with each other) right from the top over the left shoulders down towards the right side of the right hip.
Then take your right foot down to the touch the floor with the toes slightly behind your body and simultaneously take your hands right to the top over the left shoulders up again.
Keep this motion, going on in a well-controlled, nice and quick manner. Switch sides and repeat the same.
Waist Pinchers – One of the best standing abs exercises also includes the waist pinchers. Here the obliques muscles work while you perform the waist pinchers.
Place your left arm on the left hip for proper support and balance. Take your right arm up and take the right knee towards your side and then raise the right knee up slowly, while simultaneously crunching the right hand downwards, so that the right elbow touches your right thigh.
You must keep this motion slow, steady and very much controlled; by barely touching the ground. Keep your knee out to the side as much as possible.
Once done with this, switch the sides and repeat the same with your left arm up and left knee towards the side and raising the left knee up slowly up to your waist-height, and simultaneously crunching the left shoulders and the left elbow down towards the left thigh.
Make sure you keep slow, steady and well controlled motion all throughout the workout.
Above we talked about some of the best standing abs exercises that would help you in getting perfect abs. However, it must be noted that not all exercises are appropriate for everyone. So, before performing the exercises, it is always essential for you to take into account some factors such as flexibility, your body's strength, health condition and your age. It is also important for you to do these standing abs exercises under the supervision of a fitness trainer and also only if you are fit enough to perform the workouts.
Also Read:


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A good business leader knows how to maintain his business. While on the verge of being a leader, you should know how to keep yourself productive on business grounds. A leader knows and works for his place, so does a business leader. One of his keen jobs is to keep the business running, no matter the obstacles and how tough is the competition. Thus if you ask, how to become a successful business leader like Sheldon Barris and others, there are a lot of ways to do so. Sheldon Barris Lawyer has carried on a multitude of other personal and business ventures and enjoyed success in not one, but two careers for more than three decades.
Mix with your Workers:
A business leader should know how to mix and work with his employees. As those are his worker ants, interacting with them at the same level, increases their confidence in work. They also get to freely discuss their issues with the boss.
Thus it leads to an efficient work environment, where there is more communication then the maintenance of self-esteem. If you want to become a business leader, this is your first job.
Perform during Tough Conditions:
Improvising at work shows off your business and leadership skills to others, thus, it puts up a bright image of you, as a leader at the professional level. It is very important to learn and adapt quickly to certain conditions. Like an immediate meeting arrangement with a new client, right away.
Such cases, define your quick presentation skills. How much of it is perfect to tackle critical situations to protect your business from all such quick stunts. You should have such skills to become a proper business leader.
Be an overall Manager:
While the presentation works very well, you should know how to manage your business with the right strategies. Deal with the marketing team. Learn and gain market with minimum expenses as much as possible. Never neglect marketing and advertising your business product.
As it will lean your business to people and they will start including it in their daily lives. Perfect business leaders review everything with their own hands. Most leaders visit their clients all by themselves instead of using senior company managers to cut to the chase.
Share your Decisions:
Decision making in the line of business is not an easy job, as it decides the fate of the company and the business line, including all of the employees. If you want to become a business leader, never make your decisions all by yourself. Instead, gather some of the most esteemed and productive employees and share your decisions with them.
Several minds are always better than one, no matter how perfect it is. Sharing your idea, will make them think over it, cite out the pros and cons. They might even figure out several aspects of your plan, which you have even never thought of.
Handle Money in the Right Way:
Nothing is more important than handling money in a business. And a good business leader knows how to do it right. As capital, expenses, shares determine your company's worth. And maintaining them is the first thing you should take care of.
Never give full authority to anyone for handling your company's treasure unless you trust them completely. Keep an eye on the shares, capital income. Improvise on the marketing team, spend more if needed.


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Nike have packed their necessaries and departed on a short trip down memory lane, returning with a gift from the days of yore to warm with memories of days gone by. The Air Huarache has not only been bestowed with an OG colourway, it's even ditched the rubber tongue tag in favour of its classic stitched label. It doesn't really matter if you remember this one from back in the day or not, it's looking as good as any modern version and, in fact, better than most.
The Nike Air Huarache 'White/Game Royal' hasn't been given a release date as of this moment, we'll let you know when the info comes to light.


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Proposed Expansion
Can you imagine an expanded Geelong Gallery fit for purpose for future generations to enjoy?
For more information, please contact:
Andrew Deane
Deputy Director— Commercial Operations and Development
Geelong Gallery
03 5229 3645
"Artists and art are essential to any community and its culture. Great art galleries enrich our mind and spirit, they celebrate our creativity, challenge us and, most importantly, connect us. Great art galleries provide space for the critical thinking of current and future generations. Geelong is ready and, in need of, a great gallery."
Director and CEO Jason Smith
Currently Geelong Gallery is challenged by a lack of space to display our nationally important collection (less than 2% on display) and to attract and present major exhibitions of local, national and international content. As the expanded Geelong Library and Heritage Centre and evolving Geelong Arts Centre continue to transform our cultural offering, Geelong Gallery's expansion will ensure the completion of a 21-century arts and cultural precinct for our UNESCO City of Design.
Our diverse, clever, creative and rapidly expanding population needs cultural assets and infrastructure to match the changing needs of our people. We are working closely alongside the City of Greater Geelong to ensure we keep pace as a regional facility of state significance to provide a vibrant cultural, learning and social space that connects to the unique heritage of our City and historic buildings.


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Overview of HIPAA Privacy Regulation
Currently, there is no comprehensive federal law that protects the privacy of people's medical records. The 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) included legislative/regulatory deadlines in order to fill this significant gap in federal rules. HIPAA provides that if Congress failed to pass a comprehensive health privacy law by August 21, 1999, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to issue health privacy regulations.


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So, we've covered powder hounds in our first rendition of the Christmas gift list. Now it's time for the park rat. We've all got a mate who longs to jib like Torstein. Maybe that mate is you? Or are you that kid who spends hours lapping the dome on a battered old stick? With Christmas just 21 days away (yep, 21!) you're bound to be hankering after a new uber-flexy Bataleon stick or rad camera stick to mount your GoPro on. Which is why we've put together our recommended gifts for park lappers this winter.
If all these products have you dazzled like a magpie in a bauble shop, then this is what you should do. Highlight the page link at the top. Click copy and paste it into an email. Send it to that person who keeps nagging you about what you'd like for Christmas. You won't be sorry.


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DIY punk trio Piss Factory are launching their new four-track EP "Simplify" at The Burrow (83 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy) as part of Leaps and Bounds Music Festival. Join them for an intimate night of underground punk and gothic electro vibes with support from V, Cystic Nightmare and Burger Chef.
Piss Factory are known for their high energy, frenetic performances, encapsulating the punk ideology of "short, fast, loud". This is Piss Factory's first show of 2019, and latest release in over a year, making it a night not to be missed.
Very limited capacity - pre-sales available now from: www.trybooking.com/BDDVM
The artists and Psychic Hysteria wish to acknowledge that this event is taking place on the stolen land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. Sovereignty of this land has never been ceded, no treaty has ever been signed.
Psychic Hysteria and The Burrow want to provide a safe environment. Instances of harassment of any form will not be tolerated. If you experience or witness anything that makes you or someone around you feel uncomfortable, please reach out to one of us or the venue staff.
The Burrow doesn't have much access, and doesn't have accessible bathrooms. We apologise if this affects your night.


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> Recent Entries > Archive > Friends > Profile
December 19th, 2008
Earlier this week, I posted at torque_control about a short story, "Divining Light" by Ted Kosmatka, which is about the implications of a particular quantum-mechanical experiment.... we all have quite different interpretations. So I just made another post: I'm going away for a couple of days, and won't be back online until Sunday evening, so I thought I might invite you all to do some homework: go and read the story,and then post a comment here about what you think happens at the end. (And about any other aspects of the story that grab your interest.) When I get back, I'll post what I think it means, and why (even if nobody else has done so).
(Leave a comment)


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Black Daimond-ATC - Guide Belay /Rappel Device
Our most versatile belay/rappel device, now 10% lighter with improved feeding and pulling in guide mode
Our most versatile belay/rappel device, the Black Diamond ATC-Guide is now 10% lighter and features improved handling in guide mode. With an oval-ized anchor-hole, the device now feeds rope and allows you to pull rope more easily. Multiple friction modes provide the optimal amount of stopping power when lowering or rappelling, and the device's guide mode lets you belay one or two seconding climbers off an anchor.
- Multiple friction modes for belay and rappel
- Updated construction makes the device 10% lighter with improved rope handling.
- Now 80g
- Auto-block release hole accepts small carabiners
- Durable cable holds its shape and resists getting caught up
Weight : 80 g (2.82 oz)
Click Here for theINSTRUCTIONSdocument


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March 2008 William B. May served as commanding officer of submarine chaser SC 292. T
his chaser and 24 others were built at Bremerton, Washington, and traversed the Panama Canal. After the war, some of the chasers built in Washington state made a return journey. William May's daughter, Penny Thompson, recently submitted an excellent set of photos from the service of SC 292.
This month is posted a set showing SC 292 and other chasers in the canal.


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In a dramatic about-face announced during a video call Monday afternoon with CEO Brian Chesky, Airbnb said it would pay $250 million to hosts impacted by the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus. The new policy arrives as hosts worldwide face mounting financial pressure following the mass cancellation of bookings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Although it may not have felt like it, we are partners," Chesky wrote in an email sent to hosts Monday. "When your business suffers, our business suffers. We know that right now many of you are struggling, and what you need are actions from us to help, not just words."
Airbnb will pay out 25 percent of what hosts would normally receive for a canceled booking, based on their individual cancellation policies, for check-ins that were scheduled between March 14 and May 31. The company's initial response was to fully refund all guests who booked before March 14 with stays planned between March 14 and April 14 that were canceled due to COVID-19-related circumstances. The payments for hosts will apply retroactively, and will be sent to hosts starting in April. Furthermore, the company will create a $10 million Superhost Relief Fund for their most experienced hosts, financed with $1 million in donations from employees, and $9 million contributed by Airbnb executives, including Chesky. Hosts can apply for grants of up to $5,000 starting in April.
Airbnb also lobbied Congress, asking for specific assistance in the stimulus package, such as letting independent contractors take advantage of unemployment assistance (Chesky noted in his letter Monday that hosts can now apply for small business loans and receive unemployment). And on Friday, the company announced an initiative to house 100,000 health care and relief workers responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The move came as the short-term rental market has been decimated by recent events. David Wachsmuth, a McGill University professor who studies Airbnb and the short-term rental market, says "all the big Western city markets are seeing bookings just vanish." Entire businesses based around the Airbnb ecosystem, which made $1.1 billion in revenue in Q4 2019, have suffered crucial losses, not to mention the large number of service staff and cleaners who make significant income from cleaning Airbnb units. For example, Sonder, a venture-backed hospitality company that rents apartments via Airbnb and other services, just laid off 400 people—one-third of its staff.
"The main patterns are pretty clear now," Wachsmuth says. "There have been enormous and, to the people relying on Airbnb to make money, catastrophic declines worldwide."
With no idea how long shelter-in-place directives and the resulting economic pause will last, and virtually no demand for short-term rentals, Airbnb host have felt lost. The story has been the same for hosts across the country: Existing April and May bookings were nearly all canceled in mid-March, leaving those months empty, and nobody is booking trips for June or July.
Wachsmuth isn't surprised the company is pledging to pay hosts, since they've gotten criticized for not acting sooner, but he doesn't think it'll "stem the bleeding."
"They're proposing to pay out 25 percent of what the cancellation fees would've been," he says. "So a host who has a 50 percent refund policy, which is pretty common, would only get back 12.5 percent of what they would've earned. You can maybe imagine this tiding some hosts over for a month or so, but if this turns into a many-month slump, I don't see how this meaningfully changes the trends I was describing before."
The promise of funds to help hosts comes when many are desperate for income, yet some are left reeling after having recently adjusted their entire business with the expectation that Airbnb wouldn't be helping them. Julie Mosley, a 38-year-old stay-at-home mom in Denver, had just finished designing and converting the space above her family's garage into a unit meant for Airbnb, and began hosting guests in February. In the last two weeks, she's seen a slew of cancellations, and decided to block out March and April dates and try to cancel May and June bookings so she could lease to a single tenant for two months.
"It was hard for me to look at May bookings and wonder if those were actually going to happen," she says. Last weekend, Mosley spent hours talking with potential June guests, trying to get them to cancel so she could rent to a single, longer-term tenant.
"All nine people obliged, but it felt very awkward and honestly, painful for me to do," she says. "As of Sunday, Airbnb was offering nothing on its end to support us hosts, so this new announcement is rather baffling."
Others aren't sure the fund will amount to much. In 2015, Cortney Bibby, now 38, and her husband traded the Seattle area for the backwoods of Montana, and bought a home with an existing 100-year-old log cabin on the property. which they decided to rent on Airbnb.
Five years later, the Bibbys successfully rent two of their own properties, including an upscale tree house, and manage a handful of others nearby, making 25 percent of their income from Airbnb. That's made the impact of the coronavirus—which caused 90 percent of their existing bookings for the year to evaporate in the space of a few weeks in mid-March—that much harder to take.
"Typically at this time of the year, I'm scheduling anywhere from two to 10 bookings everyday, and now it's nothing," she says. "There's no activity, nobody is asking questions, there's nothing happening. If this goes on for several months, it'll impact our ability to pay mortgage and car payments."
The policy looks generous on the surface, she says, but agrees with Wachsmuth that the 25 percent cancellation payout won't be much. Her cancellation policy is 50 percent payout if a guest backs out within five days; most of her COVID-19 cancellations were more than five days out, so she doesn't believe they'll qualify for the payout.
"Ask me again after I get my check," she says.
Cynthia, a Vancouver-based host who prefers not to use her last name to maintain her privacy, runs AirHostsForum, a global online gathering place for hosts. She says the community had been starkly divided on the company's response before Chesky's letter.
"The hosts who were more experienced felt Airbnb had no obligations to hosts," she says, and weren't surprised by the company's initial reaction, whereas newer hosts "felt Airbnb was screwing them over and needed to do something to rectify the situation."
The company's decision is the latest shift in a string of policy changes related to the pandemic. The company said its initial policy of offering full refunds to guests was meant to avoid "creating a public health hazard." The move was met with mixed reviews, with some hosts feeling they found out about key policy changes late, and others calling the move necessary.
Despite relying on contractors and a gig-economy model that frees them from expensive fixed assets, Airbnb has to face its own difficult financial situation. Guesty, a property management company that operates short-term rentals on Airbnb and other platforms, says new reservations are down 50 percent in urban markets due to coronavirus, and up to 70 percent in some markets. Last week, Airbnb announced it would stop any and all marketing this year, and the founders will take no salary for the next six months while top executives will take a 50 percent salary cut. Spending $250 million on hosts will be a significant investment in this environment.
Wachsmuth believes Airbnb can likely weather a storm like this for a few months. But even that rosy scenario may lead to a huge revenue drop for most of the year. Airbnb makes money off a service fee for every bookings, usually just under 14.2 percent of the rental (it varies based on a variety of booking factors). A precipitous drop in bookings will results in a significant hit to revenue.
"It's possible that when the economy reopens, travel restrictions stay in place," he says. "A year or more of really reduced travel will lead to a real decline in the sector overall, not just in a couple of markets."
For the hosts that can hang on throughout the economic shutdown, the travel landscape that greets them on the other will likely remain somewhat uncertain. Wachsmuth says he predicts a massive price war between hotels and short-term rentals. Hotels can only operate as guest lodging, and will lower prices as much as possible to fill up rooms and drive ancillary income, like food and beverage sales.
Individual Airbnb hosts don't have the resources of the hotel chains, and may be unable to last through a long-term price war. They may instead pursue other options, including placing their short-term rental on the regular, long-term lease marker. Wachsmuth says he's seen a "flood" of fully furnished former Airbnb units hit rental markets in major cities over the last few weeks.
"Hotels don't have an alternative, they need to fill the beds," he says. "Hosts can switch."
Lucas Carpenter, a 37-year-old singer-songwriter in Nashville who rents a private suite in his house to tourists, doesn't plan to move away from short-term rentals even as the outbreak continues to grow. Since buying a house six years ago and fixing up a spare bedroom for Airbnb, he's become a superhost and welcomed hundreds of visitors. As different closures and shelter-in-place orders have rolled out—Nashville closed its bars on March 16—Carpenter says potential guests have messaged him about whether it's worth showing up. He's torn, and while he hasn't cut his rates or stopped taking reservations, he has recommended those who ask against coming, since he "didn't want people to show up, have nothing to do, and give me a poor review."
"I don't feel comfortable having folks, and haven't worked hard to get them there," he says. "But I will take the money if they book. The truth is, there are still people who have to travel."


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DB2 LUW Fitness Plan Webinar
The DB2 LUW Fitness Plan will show:
- A comprehensive shape up plan for DB2 on Linux, Unix and Windows
- Ways to save on storage, memory and CPU costs
- Ongoing maintenance plans
This recorded webinar is ideal for anyone wanting to know how they can shrink their DB2 hardware usage. It will describe the areas in DB2 that can be trimmed down and how keeping the system trim will help save on storage, memory and CPU costs. It is also great for DBAs who would like to see some alternatives to DB2s Automatic Maintenance processes.
The presenter, Brian Fairchild, was part of the DB2 Practice at XTIVIA. Brian has over 12 years of success and expertise In deploying enterprise database solutions, implementing scalable systems, and automating and improving critical processes. He supports many clients in the healthcare, manufacturing, banking, transportation and retail fields.


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My Guide Website?
From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Triglav National Park
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Start your small-group tour with a pick up from your central Ljubljana hotel, and depart for Lake Bled in Slovenia's Julian Alps in an air-conditioned minivan. Admire rural Slovenia and listen as your guide describes the glacier-formed lake and the legends that surround Bled Island, as well as the church-topped islet in its center. Drink in the views of the lake and towering mountains, and gaze up at medieval Bled Castle, the fortress perched high on a cliff above the water. Then, ride a two-oared pletna to the island and enjoy free time to explore. Visit the Church of the Assumption of Mary or sample some scrumptious potica at the cafe. Next, drive up to Bled Castle and visit the museum to chart the castle's story from its roots in the 11th century. Return to the lakeside for free time to walk around, and if you wish, sample a local specialty, kremšnita vanilla cream cake. After a break for lunch, visit Vintgar Gorge, and be amazed by its rapids as you walk along a 1.6 km path of wooden bridges above the water. Admire Pokljuka plateau, covered with coniferous forest and famous for its Biathlon Centre, where some of the best Slovenian athletes train in the winter time. Continue to Lake Bohinj, the largest and most beautiful Alpine lake in Slovenia. Discover alpine villages such as Ribčev Laz and Ukanc and take a short hike to picturesque Savica waterfall. Then, return to your minivan and end your tour in Ljubljana, with a drop off at your hotel.Includes
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Mussell, J orcid.org/0000-0002-5697-1557 (2014) Elemental Forms: The Newspaper as Popular Genre in the Nineteenth Century. Media History, 20 (1). pp. 4-20. ISSN 1368-8804
This paper considers the way the nineteenth-century newspaper was oriented towards information. Despite their political differences, nineteenth-century newspapers were often discussed as if they were universal, with a paper for every segment of society. My argument is that this apparent universality, where the newspaper was figured as a print genre potentially open to all, laid the foundations for the emergence of the popular press. The paper is in two parts. The first considers the nineteenth-century newspaper as a genre, arguing that its periodicity enabled it to serve as a perfect medium, passing on content derived from elsewhere. The second explores the way information was conceived in the period. By looking at the way the newspaper drew upon, represented, and distributed information, it is possible to understand how it functioned as material media. In conclusion, I look at the way the nineteenth-century newspaper is changed through digitization today. When scholars access nineteenth-century newspapers through digital resources, they engage with a different material media that, in turn, reconfigures the source material. Such encounters foreground the importance of genre while providing new opportunities for its study.
Authors/Creators: |
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is an Author's Accepted Manuscript of an article published in Mussell, JEP (2014) Elemental Forms: The Newspaper as Popular Genre in the Nineteenth Century. Media History, 20 (1). 4 - 20 (17). ISSN 1368-8804 as published in Media History, 2014 [copyright Taylor & Francis], available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13688804.2014.880264 |
Keywords: | newspapers; digital; humanities; popular; genre |
Dates: |
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of English (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 12 Feb 2014 18:18 |
Last Modified: | 19 Feb 2019 15:48 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13688804.2014.880264 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor and Francis |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1080/13688804.2014.880264 |


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The boys take on Eintracht Frankfurt today in the pleasant winter climes of Dubai. Here are three things to watch for in the training match:
1. Will form carry over for either team?
This being a training camp for both teams, no one is expecting either to be gunning for glory like the league depends on it. The biggest goals for both teams will be getting a bit of fitness back after the winter break, letting players reform any chemistry they might have lost, and getting out of the Middle East without any pulled hamstrings or tweaked ankles. However, fans for both sides will be interested in the form displayed. Eintracht had an abysmal end to the first half of the season. They followed scoreless draws against Bayern and Hoffenheim with four straight losses, including a 4-1 thrashing at Signal Iduna, and all this in addition to being bounced from the DFB Pokal by third-division Erzgebirge at the end of October. A little light shone in for Frankfurt as they came away winners against Werder Bremen to finish the first half of the season, but the club remains in 14th place in the Bundesliga table, only a handful of points above the drop zone. BVB, on the other hand, has enjoyed a solid start to the season (a positively stupendous start considering the first half of 2014/15). They see themselves sitting in second place in the league, taking nine of twelve points in their last four fixture before the break. Mediocre European form aside, Dortmund ride into the second half of the season on a high. Will Eintracht show bite or desperation? Will Dortmund come out strong, or complacently? Seeing how each team takes to the field might provide a little indication of what's to come. Bayern are eight points clear at the top, and it will take a sterling run to overtake them. Time to see what this BVB team is made of.
2. Marco, Polo
BVB welcomed Marco Reus back into the training fold after being out with a groin strain for almost a month, suffered against Eintracht Frankfurt in December. Reus's importance is widely-known, but can't really be overstated: when Marco Reus is at his best, BVB's attack is a force to be reckoned with. That said, it will be interesting to see whether or not Reus gets a run-out against Eintracht in Dubai. No one wants Tuchel to rush Reus back, and if he's not ready to go, he shouldn't be used, but the thought of him running out on the field again must be tempting. If Reus is fit enough to play some part against Eintracht, chances are good he'll be back for the Gladbach match, and that is good news indeed.
3. Let the Kids Play
Between news of Reus's return and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's coronation as African player of the year, it's easy to forget about BVB's prolific youth pipeline. The academy has been slightly quieter in recent years, with academy graduates playing first team parts, but no true superstars being born. That could change with the promotion of U19 team members Felix Passlack and Christian Pulisic to first team training in Dubai, rumored to be a permanent move. Both players are just seventeen years old and led Germany and the United States, respectively, at last fall's U17 World Cup. Integral in last season's U17 squad winning the German B-Youth Championship, both Passlack and Pulisic are exciting midfielders to watch. Their inclusion in the Dubai roster is news enough, but many BVB fans will be keen to see if the youngsters get some time on the pitch against Frankfurt, and where the two stack up in the more punishing world of the senior Bundesliga. BVB's return from the dead to win back-to-back Bundesliga championships in 10/11 and 11/12 was built on the back of Jurgen Klopp's youth movement. Here's to two new faces continuing that tradition, possibly beginning in Dubai.


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This study documents newly discovered trichomonads associated with morbidity and mortality in free-ranging house finches (Carpodacus mexicanus), mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos), and corvids [Western scrub jay (Aphelocoma californica), American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), common raven (Corvus corax)] in northern California. Sensitivity and specificity of wet mount screening in house finches were >95% (via comparison to InPouch TF™ culture kits, BioMed Diagnostics, White City, Oregon 97503 USA). Prevalence of infection on admission to a wildlife hospital ranged between 0.34–6.25%. Clinicopathologic findings and response to treatment were highly variable between species. Less than 30% of infected individuals displayed clinical signs that increased suspicion of trichomonad infection. These signs included sticky material on head or beak, caseous oral lesions, and ocular lesions in house finches; caseous sinusitis and conjunctivitis or neurologic signs in mockingbirds; and ocular and oral lesions in corvids. Case fatality ratio was >80% in house finches, scrub jays, and crows, 37.5% in mockingbirds, and 0% in ravens. Trichomonads were not detected in any surviving house finches (n=3) or corvids (n=3) after treatment with carnidazole (20–30 mg/kg PO SID for 5–10 days; Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado 80522). Identical treatment resolved clinical signs but did not clear trichomonad organisms from mockingbirds. DNA sequencing found that the house finch and corvid organism was closely related to Trichomonas gallinae, while the mockingbird organism was genetically distinct from all other sequenced trichomonads. Wet mounts are a reliable and inexpensive method of screening for trichomonad infection in these species.
Nancy L. Anderson, DVM, PhD Lindsay Wildlife MuseumWalnut Creek, CA, USA


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Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have battled over a number of transfers over the last couple years, and this summer looks to be the most ridiculous yet. Both clubs have been linked to big money moves for Divock Origi, and now they're apparently rivals for Wilfried Bony as well. The Daily Mail is reporting that the clubs will have to pay around £18m to get him.
Because Liverpool have already signed Rickie Lambert and Spurs have three first team strikers on their books, it would be shocking if either team signed both players. The reality is that Liverpool, with their Champions League football and Luis Suarez money, can probably take their first choice player and Spurs can sign whichever is leftover. Honestly, I'd be thrilled to have either player, though £18m seems a bit steep for Bony.
But if Spurs are going to sign a striker this window, someone has to leave. Based on his play at the end of last season, Mauricio Pochettino's ability to get the most out of young players and his reasonable wages, it's not going to be Harry Kane. One of Roberto Soldado or Emmanuel Adebayor needs to go, at least on a loan to get their wages all the way off the books.
The problem is, we haven't heard much about potential exits for Soldado and Adebayor lately. Bobby Soldier was linked to an Atletico Madrid move, but they've signed Mario Mandzukic and can probably get Romelu Lukaku on loan if they want. Galatasaray have been linked to Ade in the past, but those rumors have disappeared. Same with Monaco links since they signed Dimitar Berbatov.
It's possible that Spurs and these players' agents have done a good job of keeping things under wraps, but it's a bit concerning that we're linked to moves for expensive strikers, but no sale for our even more expensive strikers. If we're going to buy Bony, Origi or any other player with an 8-figure transfer fee attached to them, Ade or Soldado has to go.
Which one would leave, and where are they going?