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1. Log in AdvancePro and click into the QuickBooks switchboard at the top navigation menu > Click Settings (Gear icon
2. Click Connect to QuickBooks Online
3. Your internet browser will open with the QuickBooks Online login/authentication page (Requires Internet Explorer). Login and verify your QuickBooks Online account then click Authorize
4. If the authentication is successful, you will be taken back to AdvancePro and the QuickBooks Online Connection Settings fields will be populated with the appropriate information. If you see anything else other than the screen below you will need to close and reopen this screen and try the process again from first step.
Configuring Product Account Settings
Before exporting to QuickBooks for the first time, it is necessary to configure the default accounts that will be debited/credited when exporting transactions and adjustments to QuickBooks.
The asset, income and COGS accounts for products will be updated in QuickBooks during the export to match the accounts specified in AdvancePro. If you need to specify different accounts for specific types of products, you can create category specific overrides which will be discussed in the next section.
To set the default account settings:
1. Click on the Export tab of the QuickBooks Settings window and import your accounts if you haven't already done so.
2. Select the appropriate account from each drop-down and click Finish to save the changes.
Explanation of Account Settings:
Asset Account - This is the inventory asset account that will be debited or credited by changes to inventory.
Income Account - This will be credited when invoices export to QuickBooks.
COGS Account - This will be debited when invoices export to QuickBooks.
Accounts Receivable Account - This will be debited when invoices export to QuickBooks.
Accounts Payable Account - This will be credited when bills export to QuickBooks.
Default Deposit to Account - This specifies the default option when receiving payments in AdvancePro and can be overridden. It should be an 'Other Current Asset' or 'Bank' account type.
Invoice Shipping Account - This is the account that will be used for shipping income on invoices.
Bill Shipping Account - This is the account that will be used for shipping charges on bills.
Services Account - This corresponds to the 'expense account' field for service items in QuickBooks. This account will be debited/credited when service items are used on bills or invoices.
Services Adjustment Account - This is a clearing account used for tracking freight costs on bills. This is applicable if you are using the freight module for tracking landed costs.
Default Discount Account - This specifies the default account that will be used for promotion codes (which can be overridden). Each promotion code created in AdvancePro will create a corresponding discount item in QuickBooks that will appear on invoices. The account can either be an expense or income (contra-income) account.
Negative/Positive Inventory Adjustment accounts - These are used for tracking adjustments to inventory and MUST NOT be the same as the asset account (they offset the adjustments to the asset account). Typically, these would be an expense, income or COGS accounts and may be separate accounts or a single account for tracking both negative and positive adjustments.
Setting Accounts for Specific Product Categories
If you use different accounts for different types of items in QuickBooks, you can set category specific overrides in AdvancePro. For each category, you can specify an Asset, Income, COGS and Expense account that will override the default account settings. If all your products are assigned to the same accounts in QuickBooks, you can skip this step.
If you have not already done so, you will need to create the categories and assign the products to those categories as necessary. See: How to Create Categories and assign Products to Categories
To set the category specific account settings:
1. Go to QuickBooks > Settings > Categories tab.
2. Select a category from the Categories drop-down and then select any accounts from the options below that you want to override the default settings.
3. Once one or more accounts have been selected, click Save. (For any you do not specify, the default accounts will be used.)
4. Repeat steps 2-3 for any other categories that require unique account settings.
QuickBooks Online Import into AdvancePro
1. Go to the QuickBooks switchboard > Settings > Click into the Import tab. When you are ready to sync, click the Initial QuickBooks Online Import button and click OK to confirm and begin sync
Sync progress will show as the sync runs
You will be alerted if the import was successful. The sync is now complete and AdvancePro should contain the synced information
QuickBooks Online Export from AdvancePro
1. After authorizing and completing the setup, you are now ready to perform an export. When ready click the export button on the QuickBooks switchboard. When the export is complete, you will see a report with the statuses of each record that was synced.
2. The below pop-up message will be displayed during the export and the Export Progress bar will indicate the current progress.
3. When the export has finished, you will see a report of all successfully exported items, as well as any failed items. You can filter the list by clicking on Export Successful or Export Failed at the top-right.
4. If there are any items that failed to export, you can click the blue REF ID number for each line to see more details of the problem. Resolve those issues as necessary and repeat the export process until there are no more failed items shown. There is a button at the bottom-left of this screen that will allow you to re-link all failed exports.


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California Lawyers Association
Competency Issues: Having "The Talk"
By Michelle Harmon, LCSW, LAP Program Supervisor
It is now common knowledge that law students and licensed attorneys suffer from mental health and substance use problems at greater rates than the general population.[1, 2, 3] This recognition has prompted the State Bar of California to require all attorneys admitted after February 1, 2018, to undergo 1.5 hours of education on substance use and mental health disorders within their first year of licensure in addition to the long-standing requirement to obtain an additional hour of education on Competency Issues during each subsequent renewal cycle.[4]
The State Bar's Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) conducts a free seminar on the topic of substance use and mental health problems in the legal field at least weekly for bar associations, law firms, law schools, or other entities. A significant portion of the presentation outlines how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use problems in yourself and others. Social withdrawal, missed appointments, decreased work performance, and changes in overall mood or appearance are among the most commonly noticed behaviors that alert coworkers to an attorney's struggle. The program concludes with a question-and-answer period, and week after week, some version of the same question is asked: "I work with an attorney who I think has depression—or an alcohol problem—or is using drugs. What should I do?"
There is no one right answer to this question. It is likely that what you want to do will be different depending on your relationship with the attorney who is suffering. For example, is this person a coworker, manager, or opposing counsel? In some cases, you might have ethical obligations to a shared client, or you might be dependent on this attorney for your livelihood. The suggestions below do not offer legal or ethical advice, nor do they replace consultation with a medical professional about any specific problem.[5] However, they provide a road map for you to follow as you consider how to approach a difficult conversation with a colleague that could potentially save their career or even their life.
- Think about what structure might already exist to support you. Does your firm have an established policy that you should follow? Many firms, both large and small, are now developing mental health support structures, such as a Well-being Program, or may have specific HR staff who are trained to manage mental health crises or intervene with employees whose drug or alcohol use is affecting their work.
- Plan in advance. Think of specific events that you want to discuss, rather than general behaviors. Be prepared to point out facts without assigning a label as to why the behavior occurred. For example, you would say, "I notice you didn't bring the correct brief with you the last three times we went to court," as opposed to, "You are always unprepared—are you hungover?"
- Before approaching someone else, analyze your own biases and stereotypes about mental health problems. Your values and fears will show through your words, tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. Will you unintentionally convey that you think the other person is weak, immoral, or dangerous? Similarly, many of us were raised with the message that it is impolite or intrusive to discuss certain topics. Your discomfort with the topic might be perceived as judgmental or shaming. Use your support system to practice ahead of time so you will be more comfortable talking about awkward topics.
- Prepare to have resources at your fingertips. Bring a couple of phone numbers or links to relevant websites with you in case you need to contact someone immediately. For example, it may be helpful to have your firm's EAP contact, the Lawyer Assistance Program number (1-877-LAP-4-HELP), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255), and any other contacts you may have in mind.
- Consider the surroundings. Choose a place and time when you are unlikely to be interrupted. Respect the other person's privacy by not confronting them in public. Similarly, don't "gang up" on an individual with a group of coworkers—even ones with good intentions. Although you might feel more comfortable and supported with other people who share your concerns, that approach is more likely to put the other person on the defensive.
- Beware of leading questions. Attorneys know how to ask questions to get the answers they want (or don't want)! For example, "You're not thinking of hurting yourself, are you?" may elicit a different answer than "Are you thinking about killing yourself?"
- Listen. A simple way to let someone know that you are hearing them is to reiterate their words or the meaning of what they are saying. For example: "I've just got a million things on my plate, so I wake up at night thinking about work, and I can't go back to sleep" can be met with "You have so much going on; that sounds exhausting!" Active listening of this type can reduce confrontation during a conversation, establish trust, and build rapport.
- Be prepared for defensiveness, and don't take it personally. It's possible that the person to whom you are talking is not ready to deal with their problems and may find it extremely threatening that you have noticed their struggles. The person may deny everything or tell you that you are the one with the problem. End the conversation politely. You never know what seeds you have planted or when they will sprout.
Finally, it may be extremely uncomfortable for both of you to have a conversation of this nature with someone who may be in denial about the problem or who is terrified of damaging a professional reputation, and it may permanently alter your relationship. If you decide that you are not ready to approach the attorney, there are resources that can help. Please consider contacting the Lawyer Assistance Program. The LAP's mission is to support attorneys with mental health and substance use problems. One of the LAP's licensed mental health professionals will reach out to let the attorney know that someone has a concern and will offer resources. If you choose to contact the LAP with your concerns, your identity will be kept confidential, or you may simply remain anonymous. Any information obtained by the LAP is confidential and under state law cannot be disclosed as part of a civil proceeding, a disciplinary proceeding, or a public records request.
The LAP can be reached at: firstname.lastname@example.com or 1-877-LAP-4-HELP.
[1] Patrick R. Krill, Ryan Johnson, and Linda Albert, "The Prevalence of Substance Use and Other Mental Health Concerns Among American Attorneys," Journal of Addiction Medicine 10, no. 1 (2016): 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1097/adm.0000000000000182.
[2] Jerome M. Organ, David B. Jaffe, and Katherine M. Bender, "Suffering in Silence: The Survey of Law Student Well-Being and the Reluctance of Law Students to Seek Help for Substance Use and Mental Health Concerns," Journal of Legal Education 66, no. 1 (2016): 116–156, https://www.jstor.org/stable/26402424.
[3] Cristina Violante, "Law360's 2016 Lawyer Satisfaction Survey: By The Numbers," Law360, September 2, 2016, https://www.law360.com/articles/833246/law360-s-2016-lawyer-satisfaction-survey-by-the-numbers.
[4] The "Competency" requirement was formerly known as the "Detection/Prevention of Substance Abuse" MCLE requirement.
[5] All content in this article is for informational purposes only. The content/article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider/mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. Nothing in this article should be read as a recommendation or endorsement of any products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rendra, an intelligent high school student known for his computer talents, discovers that he can use his ability to hack as a way of exposing the misdeeds and hypocrisy of his classmates under the pseudonym "Helix." What starts as an attempt to enact justice on a chauvinist classmate moves further and further into a moral gray area as Rendra/Helix starts to look for new targets. Will he take things too far? Will his secret identity be discovered?
Varsity Noir
Kate Glasheen
It's Mine
Jackson's Diary
Paola Batalla
Written by
Trying his best to be a writer. Enjoys sleeping and imagining things.
GANDA: Night Defender
Nikki Dibya Wardhana / Linka08
Art by
Has a tiny brain and heart that seem ready to explode anytime. Drawing comics is probably helping to prevent it.
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New Design Coming August 2013 for Leading International Healthcare Platform International Private Medical Insurance Magazine
- Do we cover the subjects you want to read about?
- What may we improve?
- What do you currently enjoy about iPMIM?
- Would you like to contribute to iPMI Magazine?
- Would you like to become an iPMI Magazine blogger?
- Can you suggest good topics for discussion?
As a contributor or blogger you may be given full credit with the inclusion of photos, bios and company information.
About International Private Medical Insurance Magazine
International Private Medical Insurance Magazine (iPMIM) is the ultimate Private Medical Insurance online platform and health insurance magazine, serving expatriate, corporate, health and travel insurance markets. Due to the nomadic nature of the international healthcare industry iPMI Magazine is an internet based news service for worldwide healthcare professionals, who need to understand the impacts of international healthcare and insurance policy, regulatory, and legislative developments. iPMI Magazine is the leading international industry voice, of the international travel, health, expat, assistance and private medical insurance market.


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Stay in a Birmingham serviced apartment when you see Dara O'Briain at the Hippodrome
Next April, the hilarious Dara O'Briain will be bringing his Craic Dealer Live 2012 tour to the Hippodrome Theatre Birmingham. He will be performing 2 dates- Friday 27th and Saturday 28th. If you're looking for accommodation in Birmingham for Dara's tour, why not stay in a Birmingham serviced apartment? Serviced apartments are an increasingly fashionable and popular accommodation choice for visitors to cities, offering more freedom, more space and more amenities for your money than a hotel! Serviced City Pads has a large range of serviced apartments for you to choose from for your stay in Birmingham.
Dara O'Briain is one of the most popular faces in comedy, entertaining viewers regularly on such shows as Mock The Week, QI and The Apprentice- You're Fired. He's already completed 2 sell-out national UK tours in the past few years and Craic Dealer Live 2012 is looking to be no exception. Having already sold out once, more dates have just been added so make sure you snap up yours to see the funnyman live in action. Dara O'Briain is genuinely a cry-with-laughter; not-able-to-breathe kind of funny and I encourage you to get yourselves down to Birmingham to experience his hilarity for yourselves.
If you will be travelling to Birmingham to see Dara O'Briain, apartment accommodation is a great alternative to a hotel room, offering more space and the advantage of having your own kitchen and dining/living area. Whether you are travelling alone, in a couple, a large group or a family, there is a serviced apartment in Birmingham to suit you. To find out more about what serviced apartments are available for your stay, contact Serviced City Pads on 0844-335-8866 or have a look at the Birmingham city page on the Serviced City Pads website.


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Bueckers scores 15 as UConn beats Indiana to reach Elite 8
Paige Bueckers and Christyn Williams each scored 15 points to lead a balanced UConn offense in a 75-58 win over Indiana on Saturday to advance the Huskies into their 16th consecutive regional final.
Connecticut guard Paige Bueckers (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Olivia Nelson-Ododa had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds for Connecticut (28-5), which outscored the Hoosiers 46-32 in the paint.
Connecticut forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa reaches for a rebound against Indiana forward Mackenzie Holmes. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Azzi Fudd added 13 points for the Huskies, who face top-seeded North Carolina State on Monday night in an attempt to earn a 14th straight trip to the Final Four.
Ali Patberg, in her seventh year of college basketball thanks to transfer and COVID-19 rules, had 16 points for the third-seeded Hoosiers, who finish their season at 24-9. Grace Berger had 13 points and Mackenzie Holmes added 12 for Indiana.
UConn led 37-33 at the half, but opened the second half with a 16-0 run to take control of the game.
Williams' layup put UConn up by double digits for the first time at 44-33. Aaliyah Edwards' free throw capped the run and gave the Huskies their first 20-point advantage at 53-33.
Indiana outscored UConn 13-6 to close the quarter and cut the deficit to 11 midway through the fourth quarter on a basket by Holmes.
But Bueckers responded at the other end and the Hoosiers could not close the gap any further.
Indiana started strong. Holmes hit a turnaround in the lane for the first basket and the Hoosiers opened on an 8-2 run.
The Huskies got an early scare when Bueckers went down on a steal attempt and grabbed her surgically repaired left knee. She ran to the bench and had it worked on by trainers, but returned for the start of the second quarter. She played 33 minutes in her eighth game back from the injury that kept her out more than two months.
The Huskies closed the first quarter on an 8-0 run. A driving layup and free throw by Williams gave UConn its first lead at 19-18 and her blocked shot just before the buzzer preserved a 21-18 lead.
UConn extended the lead to nine points on Fudd's third 3-pointer of the half.
Indiana benefited from a bizarre play that ended the second quarter Edwards tossed a missed layup from Holmes out of bounds, apparently believing the clock had expired. But that gave the Hoosiers the ball back with 1.2 seconds left and a 3-pointer by Aleksa Gulbe at the halftime buzzer sent the teams to the locker rooms with UConn leading 37-33.
Indiana: At 24-9, finished a win shy of the program record. The No. 3 seed was the highest in program history in the NCAA Tournament and the Hoosiers advanced to their first Elite Eight last season.
UConn: The Huskies have not given up 60 points since Feb. 11, when they beat DePaul 84-60. They had held their previous 10 opponents to 51 points or fewer, giving up 40 points or fewer in seven of those games.
UConn will face North Carolina State Monday night in the regional final.


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I am really not liking the look of this. This is not the Jack Ryan we might remember. This is a retconned version. This looks more like a cousin to the Jason Bourne films than anything — which really just irritates me more than anything else. Jack Ryan was never a superstar hero. But, whatever. I'm sure I'll watch it and even enjoy it on some level. But some part of me will be sad. This is not the film I thought we would get.
Here's the summary:
The story follows him from 9/11, through his tour of duty in Afghanistan, which scarred him forever, and into his early days in the Financial Intelligence Unit of the modern CIA where he becomes an analyst, under the guardianship of his handler, Harper (Kevin Costner). When Ryan believes he's uncovered a Russian plot to collapse the United States economy, he goes from being an analyst to becoming a spy and must fight to save his own life and those of countless others, while also trying to protect the thing that's more important to him than anything, his relationship with his fiancée Cathy (Keira Knightley).
And the international trailer:


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The semifinals are set after two more bouts unfolded on the latest episode of The Ultimate Fighter, as Ronaldo Candido took on Eric Shelton while Tim Elliott faced off with Matt "Danger" Schnell.
Candido and Shelton kicked things off this week in a battle of Team Benavidez training partners trying to make it one step closer to earning that coveted title shot against flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. With two of his fighters squaring off against each other this week, coach Joseph Benavidez largely bowed out of getting them ready and instead brought in his teammate and good friend TJ Dillashaw to help out.
Dillashaw had plenty of past experience on The Ultimate Fighter after fighting on season 14 and then serving as a guest coach back in season 22 as well. He was a valuable resource for both Candido and Shelton as they prepared to battle it out for a spot in the semifinals.
Candido teased before the fight started that he was going to show off more than just his world-class jiu-jitsu game, but he wasted little time getting inside on Shelton in an attempt to take this bout to the ground. Candido did a good job avoiding a big, spinning back fist from Shelton early and he grabbed on to a body lock before dragging the fight to the ground. Candido was relentless with his attacks as he used every ounce of energy to get Shelton to the mat, where he unleashed his full grappling arsenal to keep him there.
Candido did a great job advancing his position and trying to lock on to Shelton's back, but he couldn't quite wrap up a submission before he got reversed on the ground. Shelton found just the right moment to explode and turn into Candido's guard to escape the dangerous position. From there, Shelton was patient in escaping Candido's guard before getting back to the feet. Once the fight returned to striking, Shelton took over with a strong arsenal of punches while Candido was breathing heavy after putting everything he had into getting that submission on the ground. The round ended with Shelton landing a hard right hand that popped Candido and left him reeling as the horn sounded.
The second round saw a lot more of the same, with Shelton using a dynamic striking game to keep Candido guessing while the Brazilian was clearly running on fumes as he desperately tried to get the fight to the ground. With each shot getting sloppier and sloppier, Candido just came up short while Shelton was quick and reactive to make sure he always got back to the center to reset. While Shelton was clearly in control, he wasn't exactly firing off impressive combinations on the feet, although he was certainly doing more than Candido. The second round didn't exactly impress anybody, with Shelton playing it a little safe while Candido just had nothing left in his gas tank, but when the fight was over there was no doubt who came away with the victory.
The judges all returned 20-18 scores in favor of Eric Shelton, who continues to be the upset king of The Ultimate Fighter this season.
"I told people from the beginning I wasn't the 15th seed," Shelton said after his win.
With Shelton punching his ticket into the semifinals, it was time to find out who would be his opponent as Tim Elliott prepared for his showdown with Matt Schnell. With a wealth of experience under his belt, Elliott was ready for whatever Schnell had to throw at him. Add to that, Elliott knows he has such an unorthodox style that finding anybody to emulate him would be a near impossibility for Schnell and his coaches on Team Cejudo.
"I can bring in 100 guys that fight like Matt Schnell. He can't find one Tim Elliott," Elliott said.
Still, Schnell believed that he had what it would take to upset Elliott and move into the next round. Schnell also needed to get a win to ensure that Team Cejudo would be represented by two fighters in the semifinals or only Alexandre Pantoja would be left standing for the next round of the tournament.
As soon as the fight started, Elliott went for a spinning strike and Schnell countered with an inside leg kick but accidentally landed with a hard shot to the groin. Elliott fell to the ground in pain as everyone watching cageside cringed in pain after a very nasty kick downstairs. Thankfully, Elliott quickly recovered and he was able to restart the fight.
Elliott wasted no time coming after Schnell with everything he had as he backed up the Team Cejudo fighter, and he just started winging huge, heavy punches. Schnell did a masterful job weathering the storm before returning fire and nearly landing a takedown on Elliott with a whizzer, but he couldn't quite maintain the position on the way to the ground. Elliott reversed and landed on top, where he started looking for punches and elbows. Schnell got into his full guard and immediately started working his way up Elliott's back as he looked for the same triangle choke that got him into the second round.
Elliott defended but Schnell quickly transitioned into an armbar and it looked like he might get the submission finish. Schnell kicked out his hips and Elliott's arm was fully extended, but the wily veteran refused to give up and instead started slamming his opponent on the ground while systematically working free from the submission. Once Elliot wiggled free from the armbar, he saw an opening with Schnell leaving his head up and neck exposed. Elliott capitalized and grabbed on to a guillotine choke before landing on top of Schnell on the mat. With the pressure mounting, Schnell had no choice but to tap out, giving Elliott the submission victory.
With Elliott's win, the semifinals are now set and both fights will take place on the next episode. The first fight will see No. 1 overall seed Alexandre Pantoja - and the last man standing from Team Cejudo - take on Hiromasa Ogikubo while Team Benavidez fighters will face off when Tim Elliott meets Eric Shelton in the second bout.
Who will meet in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions? Tune in to the next episode to find out.
Jamahal Hill Talks UFC 300 Main Event
Hall Of Fame


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Conrad Roy III, a kid who died by suicide in 2014, is the subject of an eight-episode drama starring Elle Fanning (The Nice). Michelle Carter, Conrad's then-girlfriend, was charged with involuntary manslaughter after allegedly inciting Conrad to take his life through their extensive textual content communication history.
Stream the first three episodes of The #GirlFromPlainville now, only on @hulu. pic.twitter.com/jzxxP5hlhY
— The Girl From Plainville (@PlainvilleHulu) March 29, 2022
The tragic account of Conrad Roy III's death and the horrific circumstances surrounding it are told in 'The Girl from Plainville.' What begins as a normal teenage relationship between Michelle and Conrad takes a bizarre turn when investigators discover clues that his girlfriend may have pushed him to commit suicide following his death.
The Hulu drama follows the development of the central connection and the catastrophic consequences of the subsequent tragedy in two timelines.
The first several episodes go fairly deeply into the plot, beginning with Conrad's death and gradually unravelling the circumstances that lead up to it. There are a lot of moving elements in this story, with both families, a determined detective, and the centre heroine, Michelle, whose intentions are unclear.
Let's take a closer look at episodes 1, 2, and 3 of 'The Girl from Plainville' to see what they have to say.
Recommended: How Did Conrad Roy III Commit Suicide and How Many Attempts He Did?
Recaps of the first, Second, and Third Episodes of 'The Girl from Plainville'
On July 13, 2014, Conrad's mother, Lynn, calls the police to report her son missing, and the episode begins on an ominous note. Conrad was discovered asphyxiated by carbon monoxide inhalation in his pickup truck in a KMart parking lot by a police officer.
After the authorities arrive, his grandfather and father are the first to arrive on the site, and word of the tragic suicide travels quickly. Michelle Carter, who lives in the nearby town of Plainville, is devastated when she learns of Conrad's death.
She then reveals that she has been emailing Lynn since before Conrad's death, and that she is still sending her comforting messages.
Michelle is then presented to Conrad's best friend, Rob, who is taken aback by the fact that his late buddy never mentioned Michelle. The two discuss holding a memorial service, and the latter goes on to organise a fundraiser for mental health called Homers for Conrad in honour of her partner.
Meanwhile, investigator Scott Gordon notices Michelle and Conrad had substantial text and phone communications in the days preceding up to the catastrophe and launches an investigation.
Conrad and Michelle met in 2012 while on vacation in Florida with their separate families, according to Episode 2. They have a common experience of being unable to sleep and having to take medication to relax.
Conrad's (supposedly) abusive father, who tries to abuse him physically, is seen in brief sequences, as is the son's struggle to cope with social anxiety. Conrad and Michelle maintain in touch after they return to their respective towns, and the latter begins to exaggerate the nature of their relationship with her acquaintances.
Back in the current day, Michelle organises Conrad's memorial, but bizarrely, she chooses to hold it in her hometown of Plainville, where no one knows Conrad except for her. It appears that she is attempting to gain renown through his death, and Detective Gordon, who attends, is dubious of her as well.
When Michelle learns that a detective is looking into her, she panics and writes an incriminating text to her friend Natalie Gibson, claiming that she (Michelle) could have prevented Conrad from committing suicide.
What is Conrad Going to Do with the Medicine Bottle in the 3rd episode of The Girl from Plainville?
Detective Gordon presents Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn with Michelle and Conrad's text chat history in Episode 3, and she is first doubtful of the detective's theories. Michelle's involvement in Conrad's death is doubtful, given his history of despair and attempted suicides.
Katie, on the other hand, eventually uncovers the incriminating text the girl texted her friend and thought that the detective's claims may have some merit. With a warrant in hand, Detective Gordon seizes Michelle's phone and electronic gadgets, much to the dismay of her parents.
The plot then shifts to the past, where Conrad is having trouble readjusting to high school life after spending a long time working with his father on their marine salvage business. He records a series of voice recordings in which he ponders social anxiety before attending a party where he spends the majority of the evening alone.
The episode ends with him returning home a little tipsy, staring at a mirror in rage and grief while holding a bottle of drugs.
The third episode ends on a bleak tone, revealing Conrad's inner agony. When surrounded by people, the quiet, generally courteous adolescent appears to be fine, but his alone time paints a totally different picture.
Conrad appears intoxicated and frustrated upon his return from the party, where he appears to have been abandoned by his best buddy, Rob. He also mentioned how difficult it was for him to navigate high school earlier.
Conrad's jar of pills in his hand at the end of the episode is a concerning sign, especially because he has intimated to Michelle that he takes huge doses of medication on occasion. He appears to be on his way to doing just that, and the fact that he has consumed alcohol makes the situation even more perilous.
As a result, it appears that episode 3 ends with Conrad's earlier suicide attempt, which was precipitated by him taking an entire jar of Tylenol. Even though we know he will live, the prospect is nonetheless heartbreaking.
What did Michelle say to Natalie in Her Text?
Michelle remains a mystery at the centre of it all, acting suspiciously as it is revealed that she is copying her consoling words to Conrad's family from movies on one hand and being the hurt girlfriend on the other.
The fact that she is using his death to gain attention (via the fundraising) is also unflattering.
Michelle's veneer is shattered one of the few times when she panics after knowing that Detective Gordon is investigating her. The young girl breaks down in the car alone and, in a blur, types out a long message to her buddy Natalie.
Michelle tells Natalie in the text that she might have prevented Connor as he got out of his car because he felt the carbon monoxide spreading, as the district attorney later discovers.
Instead, she ordered him to go back inside and finish the process, thereby encouraging him to commit suicide. According to the district attorney, the explosive communication is incriminating evidence.
Katie's next move is unknown, the messages she sends to Natalie could cause Michelle a lot of grief and lead to her being named as a suspect in Conrad's death.


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Villa Oceania
Bedrooms: 6, Guests: 14
From 43,400
to 68,180 USD
per week
A luxurious Caribbean property, designed by a renowned architect
Villa Oceania lies right on the waterfront, offering guests a small private beach and a private dock along with spectacular scenery. The property sleeps up to 12 guests and offers many leisure and relaxation facilities.
Outdoors, guests can take a dip in the swimming pool or a soak in the Jacuzzi. The landscaped gardens include a sandy beach area leading to the private dock, which allows guests to enjoy kayaking right on their doorstep.
The spacious outdoor lounge and dining area is the perfect place to unwind with loved ones at the end of the day.
Indoors, the open-plan living area is cheerful with comfortable sofas and colourful touches. There is a fully-equipped kitchen, a beautiful dining area and two TV rooms for the entertainment of guests.
The property boasts six uniquely designed bedrooms, all with simple, yet stylish décor and a welcoming atmosphere. The two master bedrooms have king-sized beds and a private terrace, whilst the remaining rooms each have two queen-sized or double beds. Each bedroom boasts en-suite facilities and a sitting area, and is equipped with a flat-screen TV, DVD player and a walk-in wardrobe.
With its beautiful location and modern facilities, Villa Oceania is the perfect base for a relaxing and luxurious holiday in the Dominican Republic.
- Swimming Pool
- Direct Beach Access
- Ocean Views
Bedroom 1 (Master) – king-size bed, sitting area, en-suite bathroom with shower + outdoor shower, and private terrace with ocean views
Bedroom 2 – 2 x queen-size bed and en-suite bathroom with shower
Bedroom 3 – 2 x double bed and en-suite bathroom with shower
Bedroom 4 – king-size bed, sitting area, en-suite bathroom with shower + outdoor shower, and private terrace with ocean views
Bedroom 5 – 2 x queen-size bed and en-suite bathroom with shower
Bedroom 6 – 2 x queen-size bed and en-suite bathroom with shower
6 Jan 2024 - 30 Apr 2024 | USD 45,780 per week |
1 May 2024 - 18 Nov 2024 | USD 43,400 per week |
19 Nov 2024 - 27 Nov 2024 | USD 45,780 per week |
28 Nov 2024 - 17 Dec 2024 | USD 43,400 per week |
18 Dec 2024 - 5 Jan 2025 | USD 68,180 per week |
Price per week. Price for shorter stays (excluding Christmas/NY) available on request; minimum stays apply. 18% tax not included.
Indoor Features
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Fully-equipped gym
- Study
- TV rooms
- Cable TV
- DVD Player
- Sofa bed
- Crib
- Safes
- Laundry facilities
- Ceiling fans
- Air conditioning
- Wi-Fi
Outdoor Features
- Ocean views
- Direct beach access
- Private dock
- Swimming pool
- Jacuzzi
- Landscaped gardens
- Pond
- Terrace
- Balconies
- Outdoor lounge areas
- Outdoor dining
- Barbecue
- Sun loungers & umbrellas
- Hammocks
- Parking
- Concierge service
- Butler
- Cook service (3 meals/day + snacks, food costs not included)
- Housekeeping
- Airport transfer
- Welcome drinks
- Welcome basket
- Bathroom amenities
- Kayaks
Extra Services
- Food & beverage costs
- Grocery pre-stocking
- Golf cart use
- Babysitting
- Massage & beauty treatments
- Activities & excursions
Villa Oceania is located in the exclusive gated community of Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic, where guests have access to a range of resort amenities and activities. The resort includes three miles of beautiful white sand beaches, a protected harbour marina, and an award-winning golf course.
On land, guests can enjoy golf, tennis, horse riding, and cycling, along with access to the resort's fitness centre and spa facilities. Water sports on offer include windsurfing, kite surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, sailing, kayaking and deep-sea fishing.
The area boasts a temperate year-round climate with light rainfall and soft breezes. White sand beaches lead to calm, crystal-clear waters with vibrant coral reefs in their depths.
Distances (approx.):
Nearest beach – 0 m (direct access)
Juanillo Beach – 7 minutes' drive
Eden Roc Beach Club – 8 minutes' drive
Punta Espada Golf Club – 9 minutes' drive
Marina – 9 minutes' drive
Airport – 16 minutes' drive
Disclaimer: the location on the map may be approximate due to privacy reasons.


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Perspectives On The GOP Health Policy Agenda And Trump's Obamacare Options
Opinion writers examine the health policy changes that area likely to come.
The New York Times:
The Art Of The Scam
But it's already clear that bait-and-switch — big but empty promises, completely lacking in detail — will be central to Republican strategy on one key issue: the future of health coverage for millions of Americans. ... Republicans have promised to repeal the law as soon as they had a chance, replacing it with something much better. Strange to say, however, they have never described what their replacement would look like. And I don't mean that they haven't spelled out all the details. Almost seven years after Obamacare was enacted, Republicans haven't offered even the broad outline of a health reform plan. Why not? (Paul Krugman, 12/5)
The Wall Street Journal:
How The Republican Health Agenda Could Play Out
The worm is about to turn in health policy and politics when Republicans shift from throwing stones to owning the problems of the health system and the Affordable Care Act or its replacement, as President Barack Obama and Democrats have for the past eight years. It's hard to predict how events will play out, but it's likely that grand plans to repeal and replace Obamacare, convert Medicaid to a "block grant" program, and transform Medicare into a premium support program could be whittled down or delayed as details of such sweeping changes, and their consequences, become part of the debate. (Drew Altman, 12/2)
The Washington Post:
Under Trump, Red States Are Finally Going To Be Able To Turn Themselves Into Poor, Unhealthy Paradises
In 2004, the journalist and historian Thomas Frank wrote an insightful and prescient book, "What's the Matter With Kansas?", in which he tried to puzzle out why voters in his native state backed Republicans whose policies undermined their own economic interests. Watching the apocalyptic response to Donald Trump's victory in the liberal precincts I inhabit, I'm struck by a similar quandary: Why are voters in states that pay a disproportionately large share of federal taxes, and benefit from a disproportionately small share of federal spending, so upset about the prospect of a cut in taxes and federal spending? ... If these states want to maintain the Obamacare insurance exchanges, the low-income subsidies and the expansion of the Medicaid program, they can do that, just as Massachusetts did under Mitt Romney even before passage of the federal law. (Steven Pearlstein, 12/4)
The Wall Street Journal:
Diagnosing Your Doc's New Euphoria
If your doctor is happier now than you've seen her in years, the reason is the potential dismantling of ObamaCare in favor of something that will help restore sanity to the health-care system. My first patient one recent Thursday morning was a smoker with an ObamaCare policy he purchased on the state exchange. A slight irregularity on his chest X-ray had led me to jump over insurance hoops for approval to do a CT scan. None of the radiology places I use accepted his insurance, but my staff finally found one that did. Now he was here to review the results. (Marc Siegel, 12/4)


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The government has received the report from the Royal Commission into the banking industry and the news is scathing. There will be massive changes to the industry, assuming the government heeds the advice of High Court justice and royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne for a number of major reforms. The reforms are wide-ranging and will impact almost everyone at some level. Here are some of the key issues that will impact consumer banking and financial services.
Hayne's 72 recommendations are wide ranging. But they are largely designed to guide the behaviour of the people and companies that we entrust to protect our financial assets. While Hayne has recommended further investigations and potential prosecutions for companies, directors and trustees, his proposed restructures are designed to remove the incentives for the financial services industry to take advantage of vulnerable customers and to mismanage funds for their own benefit.
Shopping For A Mortgage
The mortgage brokerage business is set for a massive shift as the royal commission says the days of trailing commissions are numbered. New rules will turn the industry around with mortgage brokers required to act in the best interests of the intending borrower and not the bank providing the loan with breaches resulting in fines. With the move away from trailing commissions, borrowers should pay the mortgage broker for their services.
Most banks already charge fees for processing loans and other administrative tasks. So it's not like borrowers aren't used to paying fees for signing onto mortgages. Brokers will charge fees for their services which, I expect, will result in a major restructure of that industry.
Hayne gave a lot of attention to the superannuation industry with almost an entire volume of his report dedicated to the super industry.
For starters, a number of providers including IOOF, Suncorp, NAB, and the Commonwealth Bank will be referred to regulators to establish whether criminal or civil proceedings should be instigated. If you have super with one of those funds, it might be a good time to look carefully at the fees you've paid and the details in your statements.
And the practice of new employers defaulting you into their preferred fund could be going the way of the dodo as well. Workers will only be able to be defaulted into an account once in their working life. That's likely to be a contentious issue as it will mean the dubious practice of people having multiple accounts that attract lots of fees for companies will become less prevalent. Fees for basic advice will also be banned, further curtailing the superannuation fund gravy train.
If you've shopped around and consolidated multiple funds then some of these changes won't hit you directly although the pressure to reduce fees should result in all of us having a few more shekels in our retirement funds.
High pressure sales
There will be tighter scrutiny of how insurance and other financial products are sold. And funeral services will be deemed financial products so ASIC will have oversight of that industry as well.
Anyone who has purchased a car has been subject to the hard sell on insurance products. Hayne's report proposes that a cap will be imposed on the commission that can be paid to car sellers for add-on insurance products.


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text: This is a lot of 6 SAND STORM marbles (6 different colors), measuring about 16mm in size. Each marble is handmade of solid glass. These unique marbles have a matte finish with colorful swirls. The stock photos are a representation of what you will receive, each marble is unique and will vary slightly from photos. Colors may vary from photos. check out our other listings for other styles, we do combine shipping. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE - CHOCKING HAZARD


text:
It's a sad truth of housekeeping that even if you wear gloves, your hands will still wind up dry after a cleaning marathon. So we scoured Reddit and even called on a few of our favorite housekeeping experts for the inside scoop on the best hand-saving products to use during and after cleaning. From coconut oil to diaper cream, here's what the pros say to use to keep your hands soft, smooth, and moisturized.
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text:
When I first hear Ania Boniecka's voice on the other end of the line she's out of breath. "One second!" she says in between laughs. "We're just getting off of a swing, in the middle of the mountains."
Traveling the globe two-thirds of the year, Ania and Tyler Stalman capture killer shots for clients but know how to enjoy life along the way.
A professional model for 14 years, Boniecka hated the lack of control over anything happening on set. Then she met and teamed up with Tyler, a photographer. Unlike other travel bloggers who mostly chase the most popular geotags, they gravitate to places people aren't obsessing over on social media.
"I'm just tired of seeing the same sh*t everywhere [on Instagram]," Boniecka says. Her dream trip? Visiting every ghost town in the Southwest.
From Canada to Croatia, this travel blogging duo reveals some of their favorite hidden gems around the world.
5. The Destination: Malmö, Sweden
For those who never thought of Malmö as a destination, think again. "The juxtaposition of the modern buildings versus the old in this pretty small, industrial city doesn't get the credit it deserves," Boniecka says. The best time to go explore the city? May to July offers refreshing temperatures of 60's to 70's.
To Do: Take a dip in the Baltic Sea at the retro Malmö bathing house. Beloved by locals, go here to sunbathe, sauna, or enjoy a massage in between swims. (Beware, saunas are naked only.)
4. The Destination: Palm Springs, California
Whether you adventure by jeep or foot, choose from over 100 trails of natural desert beauty. Joshua Tree National Park is a classic. "It's so big that it's hard to get bored of it," says Stalman. Plus, enjoy well-respected restaurants nearby. But skip the triple digit weather and visit between January and April.
To Do: Visit Pioneertown to stroll around epic western movie sets that hosted shows from Westworld to The Cisco Kid. "It's always empty and available to explore," Boniecka says. "It was cool to insert yourself [into the Westworld set] and pretend like you're part of the experience."
3. The Destination: Yoho National Park, British Columbia
A winter spot that's hard to beat, Emerald Lake Lodge sits in a hidden alcove of Yoho National Park. "There's no cell service. (Just Wifi.) You can rest from the social media and being connected at all times," Boniecka says, who likes to lounge by the lodge's century old fireplaces. The lodge also boasts an oak bar salvaged from an 1890's Yukon saloon.
To Do: Scenic snowshoeing, skiing, and hot-tubbing. Oh my.
2. The Destination: Banff National Park, Alberta:
This picture-perfect mountain town is ideal for summer exploring. Take one or two days to visit Canada's oldest national park, where Marilyn Monroe spent time to film 'The River of No Return," (1953) here.
To Do: Spot the wildlife while hiking, picnicking, or paddle-boarding. "There's always a bear or a moose on the side of the road," Ania says, a Calgary local. Prime time to visit: June to August, when weather is warm and welcoming.
- The destination: Hvar, Korčula and Hvar Island, Croatia
"We knew Croatia was nice. But within 24-48 hours of arriving you're like, 'Wait, this is just exceptionally nice.'" Stalman says.
Most places in Eastern Europe make one choose between seeing city or nature. But Stalman says Croatia provides the perfect balance of a flourishing cultural city and stunning vistas. "Korčula and Hvar Island were so beautiful with almost no tourists," Ania says. (Dubrovnik tends to be more touristy and expensive.) The best bet is visiting during "shoulder-season" months of May, June, September and October.
To Do: Eat seafood and go boating. There's no license needed to boat in Croatia, so rent a private boat and just go right out onto the water. "There are so many hidden beaches and gems to discover," the pair raved.
While it's easy to compare your vacation shots to those in the Instagram world, the real value is in the experience. "The most important thing is to be true to yourself, not to follow what other people are doing." Boniecka says. "Be able to judge what's beautiful on your own, without having constant validation from other people."
Keep up with their adventures through Ania's blog and Instagram. For tech reviews, professional photography or cinematography tips, and travel guides, see Tyler's Youtube channel.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.


text: Squid sugar cooking has come to this game portal. You must demonstrate your skills by cooking cookies from the famous squid game. Move with agility and cook, mix ingredients to create the sweet cookies. Set a new record in this fast-paced cooking game. Dare and click on this fun game to spend a few hours without boredom. Will you be able to reach the end of this game? You can play this fun game from any device: Smartphone, Tablet and PC.


text:
Missing Appendix 8? What You Need to Know
Like 8-track tapes and white disco suits, Appendix 8 of the Nacha Operating Rules has faded into history. Many were using it as a guide for ACH audits, which Nacha acknowledged in the title of its recent webinar, "Curing the Appendicitis After Removing Appendix 8." But as the webinar showed, there's plenty of audit guidance still available.
Why did Appendix 8 get the hook? Cari Conahan, Nacha Senior Director and Group Manager, ACH Network Rules and Enforcement, said one problem was that Appendix 8 required constant updating and expansion.
"To help improve the ability to make it more user-friendly and to react to changes, we felt the best option would be to take it out of the Rules and to make it more of a living document in the Guidelines," said Conahan. The change allows Nacha "to be able to be more reactive to changes, so that we could modify the language on an as-needed basis."
The core ACH audit requirements from Appendix 8 are now in a new chapter of the Nacha Operating Guidelines, where Conahan said Nacha "expanded on it to make it more user-friendly."
There was also the issue of people treating Appendix 8 like an audit checklist or workbook, believing you only audited for what was in Appendix 8.
"We really wanted to get away from that perception, because the obligation is to ensure full compliance with the Nacha Rules, regardless of whether everything was enumerated there or not."
There's plenty of audit help available. Pamela T. Rodriguez, President and CEO of ePayAdvisors, said "the No. 1 cure for appendicitis after the removal of Appendix 8 is the Center for Payments."
"This is a collaboration of all the Payments Associations," said Rodriguez, adding that of the 11 Payments Associations that are Nacha Direct Members "most do offer ACH audit services as well as risk assessment."
The complete 90-minute "Curing the Appendicitis After Removing Appendix 8" webinar has in-depth details, including ACH audit requirements, what an audit should include beyond what's in the Rules, the history of Appendix 8 and some cures for the "appendicitis." The webinar is worth 1.8 continuing education credits for AAPs and APRPs.


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Lebanese fail to elect president
Lebanese MPs have failed to convene to elect a new president as the term of the incumbent, Emile Lahoud, expires.
Members of the Western-backed majority had hoped to hold a vote, but the pro-Syrian opposition did not allow the session to achieve the quorum needed.
The crisis has raised fears of civil strife, including the possibility of rival administrations, as happened during the 15-year civil war. [complete article]
From hopeful to helpless at a protest in Lebanon
Squalls of rain lashed the offices of Carmen Geha and other young activists. Thunder rolling off the Mediterranean provided a cadence to their work. The weather was a little like politics this week in Lebanon — turbulent and baleful. And Geha, optimistic against the odds, was determined to provide a glimmer of hope.
Lebanon finds itself in a familiar place these days, facing the unknown. Its worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war builds to a climax at midnight Friday, when the term of President Emile Lahoud ends. Despite weeks of French-led mediation, Lebanon's factions appeared unlikely to reach a consensus on Lahoud's replacement by the deadline, plunging the country into a constitutional limbo that sets up scenarios as diverse as the country's problems: rival governments, military rule or a vacuum, along with the civil strife each option could bring.
Geha and her colleagues readily admit the confrontation is bigger than they are. But on Wednesday, they organized a protest outside the parliament, planning to deliver a blunt demand, in the hopes that others would join them. Enough of a crisis, they said, that has brought a country still scarred by one war to the brink of another. [complete article]


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Hotel Okura
Information :
Discover all that Tokyo has to offer with Hotel Okura as a base.
All of the hotel's 834 guestrooms are equipped with standard in-room amenities to ensure the maximum comfort for its guests.
These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to Tokyo.
To book a room at the Hotel Okura, please select your dates of travel and complete fill out our secure online booking form.
Address : 2-10-4 Toranomon,
Rating :
Check Rates & Availability (Agoda) : Check


text:
If you guys are getting coupon expired or course is not free after opening the link, then it is due to the fact that course instructors provide only few hundreds or thousands of slots which get exhausted. So, try to enroll in the course as soon as it is posted in the channel. The Coupons may expire any time for instant notification follow telegram channel
Learn how to process and visualize geospatial data and perform spatial analysis using Python.
Geospatial data science is a subset of data science that focuses on spatial data and its unique techniques. In this, we are going to perform spatial analysis and trying to find insights from spatial data. In this course, we lay the foundation for a career in Geospatial Data Science. You will get hands-on Geopy, Plotly etc.. the workhorse of Geospatial data science Python libraries.
The topics covered in this course widely touch on some of the most used spatial technique in Geospatial data science. We will be learning how to read spatial data , manipulate and process spatial data using Pandas , and perform some spatial operations. A large portion of the course deals with spatial Visuals like Choropleth, Geographical Scatter plot, Geographical Heatmap, Markers, Geographical HeatMap. Each video contains a summary of the topic and a walkthrough with code examples that will help you learn more effectively.
Who this course is for:
Students who want to become Data Scientist by show-case these Projects on his/her Resume..
Students who like to take their first steps in the Geospatial data science career.
Python users who are interested in Spatial Data Science.
GIS users who are new to python and Jupyter notebooks for Geographic data analysis…
Who this course is for:
One who is curious about DataScience
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text: The young poetess from Ranchi, Jacinta Kerketta, was recently in Germany to attend 'India Week'. It is held every year in different regions of the country, where literature and Indo-German history are discussed, along with other such programmes. This year, 'Wisdom of the Adivasi' was the topic of the seminar.


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Finding new customers can be about taking the direct approach through advertising and marketing campaigns. But sometimes growing a startup is more about being passionate and spreading the word informally through conversations at tech meetups, the coffee shop, and social events.
I was on a plane with a front-row seat to a multiple-minute melodrama about averting crisis in the air. In my view, the situation and how to handle it was simple. But the process airline employees took to get there was quite complicated. Compared to decision-making procedures in a startup, it was almost comical.
To grow an ed-tech startup, you have to know your market. Conversations with the various players involved are invaluable. Use the information gathered to organize talking points based on what is important to each of the players on your radar screen.
As a startup founder, you'll only work on days of the week that end in y.
Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. Saturday. Sunday.
The fourth day of this work week is Thanksgiving. Even though some might argue that "holiday" fits the "y" rule, I'll be taking that day off.
A launch party for startup Autism Expressed is about celebrating our progress, connecting to customers, and promoting awareness about autism.
In some respects, the challenge of naming your product is akin to an elementary-school-style Mad Libs. The list of possibilities when you begin is unlimited. Literally.
As a startup, naming your product is one of the most difficult decisions you'll make. While you'll work to control the message around your brand, it may ultimately take on a life of its own.
Deciding to participate in any incubator or accelerator program is a tough decision with many factors. Autism Expressed had to make a difficult choice.
Last week I realized I'm guilty of trying to serve two masters: customers and users.
Sometimes a banner week means big news. Sometimes a banner week literally means…


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I started this website to challenge myself to spend a few moments every day involving my children in an activity that would help us connect and build character. I have found that these moments give me an opportunity to talk to my kids about what is most important, while also helping me to live my best life as well. I am inviting you to join me in this endeavor!
Please Note: This challenge was officially finished 24 May 2014! To read about how it went, visit this post.
The Moments A Day Family Challenge
My family will spend a few moments every day engaging in a meaningful activity to help us all develop a quality of the heart.
Wondering what this might look like in action? To help you get started and give you some practical ideas which you can implement without any preparation, I have created a "guide" with tips and activities which you can download from this post.
Are you in?
Be sure to sign up for my newsletter where I will share resources once a month. I also invite you to join me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter where I will be sharing even more ideas for creative character building and fun.
Thank you! I look forward to living life to the fullest, and challenging ourselves to be the best parents we can be, together.
From Readers:
Leanna "I would love practical ideas for teaching my son, but also tips on keeping my cool in challenging situations and remembering to focus on these practical ideas!"
Vanessa "I'm a stay at home mother of 2 little ones (ages 5 and 3) and found my own creative juices running out of new ideas to teach character and the alphabet and to have fun doing it! How lucky I was to run into your generous and lovely website. My lovely children will be rescued from the same crafts and crayons and alphabet letters–we'll be on to something new and interesting and important every day. Thank you!"
Amber and family "I want to join the challenge. I speak with my 3 year old about this but it hard to illustrate it. Count me in, and me be a better Mama!"
Linda "We are up to the challenge! I would love my two girls (age 7 and 4.5) to learn about and practice gratitude, empathy, generousity, respect, and acceptance. Thanks for your help."
Lynn "I want to find ways to teach my boys respect, love, and appropriate attitudes."
Bridget "I would like to be part of the challenge so I can help my children to grow as thoughtful, kind, and genuine people."
Wendy "Count me in for the challenge! I would like to spend time with my children encouraging appropriate attitudes and respect and helpfulness – tall order perhaps!"
Thanks to each one of you for taking a step forward towards growth for every member of your family! I look forward to learning together!


text:
A lot of people are watching the development of 'Watchmen'. Why? For some, it's to see if this all-star epic stands a chance of becoming HBO's next 'Game of Thrones'. For others, it's to see where this surreal series can take the story that was so famously begun and ended in the classic Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons graphic novel from the '80s, and was later adapted to mixed results in the 2009 movie, directed by Zack Snyder. Ah, but Jeremy Irons' character has an answer to that last inquiry:
"Nothing ever ends."
Will the new trailer, unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con, give a better idea of what to expect? Maybe. It's still a little hard to comprehend what this world is all about, but check out the extended look below:
Following the end of the original 'Watchmen', this clip reveals that Doctor Manhattan retreated to Mars, and his presence there has been captured by satellite news cameras. Back on Earth, he seems to have taken on the status of a mythical being.
RELATED: New Video Tease Hints That The Crappiest Part Of 'Watchmen' Will Be In The Show
Jean Smart reveals that her character is FBI agent Laurie Blake, which– bar any strange twists– indicates that she is the Silk Spectre. In the original, she went by Laurie Juspeczyk, her mother's real last name (versus "Jupiter" her stage name) because she didn't know who her father was, but it turns out that he was The Comedian, Edward Blake. Perhaps after she learned this, she decided to go by her father's name. The "why" will probably be explained on the show.
There are also glimpses of Nite-Owl's airship back in action, but judging by the rotten job the pilot does, it isn't Dan Dreiberg in the pilot's seat. And it has already been revealed that Irons is playing Ozymandias/ Adrian Veidt.
But who is the man in the featureless silver mask? (Tim Blake Nelson?) He acts sort of like Rorschach, but Rorschach's dead, isn't he? "Masks" seems to be a major theme, as the police have taken to wearing yellow masks, while Rorschach has inspired a militia to rise up to carry on his work. There are even a few individuals who seem to be sporting unique costumes and masks. One guy is wearing a red suit with yellow lightning bolts. (Remember in the original, none of the characters were actual super-beings, other than Manhattan.)
We may have to wait until the show arrives in October for any real answers.
From Damon Lindelof and set in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws, this drama series embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own. The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk. Watchmen is based on the graphic novel co-created and illustrated by Dave Gibbons and published by DC.
Check out these new images from the trailer below:


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The wall surrounding his castle finally came into view. Lord, it was gigantic. A section looked as though it had been built into the side of the mountain. It was made of brown stone, an innovative break from English tradition, for most of the barons' holdings were built of wood. His wall was much tal er, too. Why the top looked as if it reached the clouds. The structure was new, incomplete, too, as there was a wide breach adjacent to the drawbridge.
The trees had all been clipped away to make a wide margin around the wall . There wasn't a blade of grass along the rocky slope to soften the starkness.
The moat, with water as black as parchment ink, curved around the structure. The wooden drawbridge was down, but they headed through the opening in the wall instead.
His castle was much more grand than her papa's humble home. Alec was a rich man, she decided. The main dwel ing boasted not one but two turrets, and everyone knew how costly just one was to build.
Jamie certainly hadn't expected anything this magnificent. She thought all Scots lived in stone cottages with thatched roofs and earthen floors, like the serfs in England. She realized now she'd made a prejudicial assumption. There were cottages, however—at least fifty of them, she guessed, peeking through the branches of the trees as high up the hil side as the eye could see. Jamie assumed the huts belonged to the Kincaid clansmen and their families.
"Alec, your home is grand," she told him. "When your wall is finished, your lower bailey will enclose half of Scotland, don't you suppose?"
He smiled over the astonishment in her voice. "Do you live alone, then? There isn't a single soldier in evidence."
"My men will be waiting for me atop the hil ," Alec answered. "In the courtyard."
"The women as well ?"
"A few," he answered. "Most of the women and children have gone to Gil ebrid's holding for the spring festival. Half my number of soldiers are with them."
"And that's the reason it's so quiet?" She turned, smiled up at Alec, and then asked, "How many serve under your command?"
Jamie forgot her question as soon as she'd asked it. His smile had captured her full attention. "You're happy to be home again, aren't you?" she said.
Her eagerness pleased him. "There are five, perhaps six hundred men now, when they're all called together, and yes, English, I'm happy to be home."
Jamie let him see her exasperation. "Five or six hundred? Oh, Alec, you do like to jest with me."
"'Tis the truth, Jamie. There are many Kincaid clansmen."
She could tel he believed what he was tel ing her. "By a Scotsman's method of counting. I believe you think you have that many men."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm merely suggesting you need help counting, Alec. After all , you did tel me it would take us three days to get to your home, and it took us several added days."
"I slowed the pace because of your condition," Alec explained.
"What condition?"
"You were tender, or have you forgotten that fact?"
She immediately blushed, tel ing him she hadn't forgotten at all .
"And you're clearly exhausted."
"I'm not," Jamie replied. "It isn't important," she rushed on when he started frowning. She was about to meet his relatives and wanted to keep him in a cheerful mood. "If you tel me there are seven hundred men under your direction, then I'l believe you."
His smile told her she'd placated him. Yet she couldn't resist pricking his arrogance just a little. "Isn't it strange, though, Alec, that I don't see any men? Could all six hundred be waiting in your courtyard?"
He laughed over the exasperation she tried to hide from him. And then he let out a shril whistle.
His cal was immediately answered. They came from the top of the wall , the cottages, the stables, from the trees and forest surrounding them, these fierce-looking fighting men, until they covered the ground.
He hadn't exaggerated. If anything, she thought he'd understated their number. While she stared at the soldiers, Alec nodded his approval, then raised his hand into the air. When he made a fist, a resounding cheer split the air.
Jamie was so jarred by the noise that she grabbed hold of Alec's other hand where it rested possessively around her waist. She couldn't stop staring at the men, even though she knew it was rude. She'd come to the land of giants, she decided, as most of the soldiers seemed to be as tall as the pine trees she'd heard they liked to throw.
Their size was most impressive, their watchful gazes unnerving, aye, but it was their state of dress that stunned her speechless.
Cholie hadn't been sotted. She'd known what she was talking about. The Scots did wear women's gowns. Half-naked women's gowns, she qualified. Jamie shook her head. No, they weren't gowns; they were blankets, the Gaelic word for their plaid.
Al wore the same plaid. Alec's colors they were. The men had them wrapped around their waists and belted in place; and the plaids barely reached their knees.
Some of the men wore saffron-yel ow shirts; others went without. Most were barefoot.
"Would you like to count their number?" Alec asked. He nudged his mount forward, then said, "I would guess around two hundred are here now, wife. But if you'd like to—"
"I'd say five hundred," Jamie whispered.
"Now you exaggerate."
Jamie glanced up at Alec and tried to find her voice. A wall of soldiers lined the path they climbed, and she therefore kept her voice low when she said, "You have your own legion, Alec, if this be only half your number."
"Nay. A legion is three thousand, sometimes as many as six thousand men. My number is not so high, Jamie, unless I cal up my all ies, of course."
"Of course."
"You needn't be afraid."
"I'm not afraid. Why would you think I was afraid?"
"You're shaking."
"I'm not," she denied. "They're all staring at us."
"They're curious."
"We didn't catch them unprepared, did we, Alec?" Her voice sounded terribly forlorn.
"What are you talking about?"
She was staring at his chin. He nudged her chin up, saw her wild blush, and became all the more bewildered. "My warriors are always prepared."
"They don't look prepared."
He suddenly understood why she sounded so embarrassed. "We don't cal them gowns."
Her eyes widened in astonishment. "Did Beak tel you—"
"I was there."
"In the stable."
"You weren't!"
"I was."
"Oh, God."
Jamie frantical y tried to remember the conversation she'd had with the stable master. "What else did you overhear?" she asked.
"That Scots have minds of sheep, that we throw pine trees at one another, that we—"
"I was just jesting with my sister when I told her… and I thought Cholie was sotted when she told me…
Alec, do they always dress so indecently? With their knees showing?"
It was sinful for him to laugh right in her face. "You'l get used to our habits once you settle in," he promised.
"You don't dress like your soldiers, do you?"
She sounded appal ed. "I do."
"No, you don't." Jamie sighed when she realized she'd just contradicted him again. He did seem to take offense whenever she corrected him. "I mean to say, you're wearing proper breeches now and for that reason I did assume—"
"I've been in England, Jamie. 'Tis the reason I wear such cumbersome garb."
Jamie glanced around her again, then returned her attention to her husband.
"How do they keep their britches rol ed up above the hem of their plaids?" she asked.
"They don't."
"Then what…" From the devilish look in his eyes, Jamie decided she didn't want to know. "Never mind," she blurted out. "I've changed my mind. I don't want to know what they wear underneath."
"Oh, but I want to tel you."
He was smiling just like a rascal. Jamie had to sigh over his ungentlemanly remarks and her own unladylike reaction. Lord, he was becoming more handsome by the minute. Her heart started fluttering like a butterfly's wings.
"You may tel me later, then," she whispered. "Late at night, Alec, when it's dark and you can't see my embarrassment. Do they wear chain mail when they go into battle?" She added that question to get him to forget about the soldiers' lack of undergarments.
"We never wear armor," Alec explained. "Most of us just wear the plaid. The seasoned warriors prefer the old ways, though."
"What is the old way?" she asked.
"They don't wear anything."
She was certain now he was jesting with her. The picture of na*ed warriors riding their mounts into war made her laugh with delight. "So they just throw off their blankets and—"
"Aye, they do."
"Alec, you must think me naive indeed to believe that fool's story. Do quit your jesting, please. You're being rude by half ignoring your men for so long."
After making that pronouncement, she turned her back on him, leaned against his chest, and forced a serene expression for the soldiers they passed on their way up the hil .
It took a mighty effort, what with the shameful thoughts Alec had just put into her head.
"You must learn not to give orders, wife."
He dropped his chin to rest on the top of her head as he whispered that order. It was a gentle rebuke. A shiver of pleasure rippled through her stomach. "I would like to do the right thing, husband, and so should you. Rudeness is never acceptable by anyone's measure, even a Scotsman's."
A shout echoed through the trees when they reached the second clearing. Alec jerked on Wildfire's reins as soon as she started fussing, then dismounted. He left Jamie on his stal ion and led both horses toward the throng of waiting soldiers.
My, but she was nervous. She folded her hands together so his men wouldn't see how much they shook.
A blond man about Alec's size separated himself from the others and walked over to give greeting to his laird. The man's good looks made her think he was related to Alec. She assumed, too, that he was Alec's second-in-command and a friend as well , for he actually embraced his leader and slapped him mightily on the back.
The loud whack would have fel ed her to the ground, but Alec didn't even shrug. The burr in the soldier's voice was so thick Jamie couldn't catch every word. She heard enough, though, to blush in reaction. The two giants were taking turns insulting each other. It was yet another odd habit, she supposed.
The talk turned serious then. She could tel it wasn't good news the man was giving her husband. Alec's voice had taken on a hard edge, and a scowl had settled on his face. He looked furious. The soldier looked worried.
He didn't pay any attention to Jamie until they'd reached the inner courtyard. Then he tossed Wildfire's reins toward the men circling them and turned to lift Jamie to the ground.
He didn't even glance at her. Jamie stood at his side while he continued his conversation with the soldier.
Alec's men seemed to be divided in their curiosity. Half the number stared intently at her, their scowls suggested they didn't like what they were seeing. The other half circled Wildfire. They were smiling. And just what was she to think about that?
Wildfire didn't like the attention she was getting any more than Jamie did. The nervous horse reared up, snorted her displeasure, and rudely tried to trample the men trying to catch hold of her reins.
Jamie instinctively reacted. Like a mother whose child was being naughty, she immediately sought to stop the budding temper tantrum.
She moved too quickly for Alec to catch hold of her. Without a thought to her audience, Jamie skirted her way around her husband and his stal ion, nudged two big soldiers apart, and rushed forward to soothe her baby.
She stopped when she was just a few feet away from her pet. Jamie didn't have to say a harsh word. She simply held out her hand and waited.
Wildfire immediately ceased her tantrum. The wild look left her eyes. While the warriors watched in open fascination, the proud white beauty trotted forward to receive a touch from her mistress.
Alec suddenly appeared at Jamie's side. He put his arm around her shoulders and pul ed her up against his side.
"She's usual y very docile," Jamie told her husband. "But she's tired, Alec, and hungry, too. Perhaps I should take her—"
"Donald will see to that task."
She didn't want to argue with him in front of his men. Alec took Wildfire's reins, spoke in rapid Gaelic as he gave instructions to the young man who'd just rushed over to him.
Donald was a mite young to be stable master in Jamie's opinion. Yet as soon as he announced that Wildfire was a fine horse indeed, Jamie decided to trust his capabilities. He obviously knew good horseflesh when he saw it. He had a gentle voice, too, at great odds with his flaming red hair and complexion, and an easy smile that made her want to smile back.
Wildfire hated him. The fussy horse tried to push her way between Jamie and Alec. Donald proved determined, however. When Alec added a harsh command, the stable master was able to gain complete control. He led Wildfire across the yard. Jamie watched, feeling like an anxious mother being separated from her baby.
"She'll settle in."
Alec's remark irritated her. So she and her mare were the same in his eyes, were they? He'd said the same thing to her. Horse and wife. "She might," Jamie answered, stressing the word "she."
They started walking toward the steps leading to his castle doors. Alec stil hadn't introduced her to his men. She wondered about that oversight a long minute, then decided he was waiting for the right moment to do it properly.
They reached the top of the steps before he finally paused. He turned around, forcing her to fol ow with his arm stil anchored around her shoulders.
He let go of her then, accepted a plaid from one of his soldiers, and draped it over Jamie's right shoulder.
As soon as that action was accomplished, silence fil ed the courtyard. The soldiers placed their hands over their hearts. Their heads were bowed.
The moment had arrived. Jamie stood as straight as a lance, her hands at her sides, waiting to hear the wonderful speech Alec would give his men.


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» The ancient caravanserais of Azerbaijan
The ancient caravanserais of AzerbaijanCaravanserais are building and palace built as guest houses on trade routes. Caravans are kept at those buildings built by merchants, people gets relaxed and continue on their way. During the Middle Ages, the buildings built to protect the military and borders, and later buildings with trade purposes became used as caravanserais. Baku caravanserais The most unique and historical caravanserais, considered as pearls, are still preserved in Old City. One of them is Bukhara caravanserai. According to research, this historical monument was built in the 15th century by merchants who came from Central Asia to Baku. As merchants from the Eastern countries were in the need for temporary shelters, so they used to have rest in this great caravanserai. The name of the building was taken from then capital of Uzbekistan, Bukhara. This is one-storey caravanserai. It is assumed that other floor of the caravanserai remained under the ground. The private nature of Bukhara caravanserai, which consists of 17 rooms, is a circular shape. Likewise in other eastern caravanserais the pool is located in the center of yard of this caravansary. The pool preserved as it is since XV century till date is of surprise and interest. Thus, although t the water flows from fountain but pool does not get full and the water remains at a certain level. Caravanserai walls are decorated with the pictures from ancient Azerbaijani carpets, kilims, decorations, pictures depicting Baku. The main purpose here is to form imagination on ancient and rich history of Azerbaijan at foreigners visiting the caravanserai. Multani caravanserai - one of the hundreds of caravanserais in Azerbaijan. Multanı caravanserai, which was related to fourteenth century although reached the twentieth century in destroyed conditions, but the monument has been restored in 1973-1974. The main construction material of the monument is small blocks and building stone, small, granular limestone of the used as traditionally in Shirvan-Absheron architecture school. The older ceiling of underground rooms was built from a complex mixture of lime, stone of the correct shape. The foundation of the building is the rock massif used in the natural shape. Nakhichevan caravanserai Gulustan Caravanserai is located in Julfa region, on the left bank of the river of Gulustan village. In 1974, the ruins of Gulustan caravanserai were found during the field survey, in 1978, the building plan was fully revealed. While building Baku-Julfa railway line (1939-1940) about half of the caravanserai was destroyed. At the result of studies, the Gulustan Caravanserai has been identified as the most famous and magnificent monuments among road caravanserais of Azerbaijan. The same type of Gulustan caravanserai with total length of 37 m. was saved entirely on the right bank of the river. The location of the two caravanserais on the banks of the river face to face shows that before the bridge over the river was built, the river ferry operated here and the period of construction of caravanserais relates to beginning of the 13th century. Caravanserais were built of river stones and plastered with mud along. In the revealed part of the Gulustan caravanserai many living rooms were found. Garabagh caravanserai The largest caravanserai of Garabagh is is caravanserai in Garghabazar village of Fuzuli region. In ancient times, caravanserais are used widely as the means of regulating interstate commerce for the purpose of communication. In other words, changes in the nature and society of the near and distant towns were studied first of all. Caravanserai in Garghabazar village, a memory of XVII century, reached our era, is from such type. Ganja caravanserai Ugurlu bey caravanserai was built in the early XVII century by architect Sheikh Bahaddin Mohammed Amil. The clay-lime mixture and egg whites, red bricks were used in the construction of the building. At present, the building is located in Ganja, Ali bey Huseynzade street. Daralayaz caravanserai Selim caravanserai is a caravanserai at Selim Mountain, pass Alayaz area Keshishkend of Daralayaz town, the top of the village Agkand. Semicircular inscription on rock at the entrance door of the caravanserai prove that the caravanserai was built in 1329 by Abu Said Bahadur Khan, the ruler of the state of Elkhanids. If we add to this the fact that in Agkand village where the caravanserai was located only Azerbaijanis lived in this area until 1918, but the Armenians resettled and lived in the village (172 people, according to official statistics) in 1923-1925, and then it was impossible to deny the truth that the monument belongs to Azerbaijanis. But, unfortunately, Armenians deny the historical truth. After forcible withdrawal of Azerbaijani from these areas in 1988, the government of Armenia totally falsified the facts related to Selim caravanserai and presented it to world as a monument of the Armenian community. Sheki caravanserais From 5 large caravanserais existed in Sheki in XVIII-XIX centuries up today, only two of them Yukhary and Ashagy Caravanserai reached. Sheki Caravanserai like others was made for stay of travelers and caravans and was built according to the nature of its function. However, in contrast to the rest rooms along the way, along with the rest rooms special private rooms made for having various trading operations, to conclude barter agreements. The caravanserai describes Sheki architecture on its plan structure, large size, the comfort of leisure and business. During the construction of the caravanserai everything is taken into account for providing convenience of traders from distant countries, for the safety of their wealth. Although the gates are opened for passengers and merchants with hospitality, but when closed it turns invincible castle.


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Value stream mapping is a popular operational approach in many organizations, especially those that believe in lean operations. It helps minimize waste while maximizing productivity and customer satisfaction. Essentially, organizations can do more with less, thus realizing better value in the long run.
Shortly, we'll discuss the reasons why you should jump on the bandwagon. But first, let's understand the process. What exactly is value stream mapping?
To understand the meaning of value stream mapping, it's perhaps best to begin with a definition of "value stream."
A value stream is a series of steps followed in an organization to deliver the products or services that customers want or need. Every company has this set of steps. For instance, a simplified value stream for software development would be as follows; request > approval > development > deployment > acceptance.
Value stream mapping simply means identifying the location/position of each of these steps, where value is added, where there's waste, and above all, how to improve upon the entire process. It provides organizations with a structured visualization of the main steps in a process. It also highlights the data needed to understand and intelligently improve each step to optimize the process as a whole.
One of the best Value Stream Mapping (VSM) books, written by Karen Martin and Mike Osterling, defines it as a process that "offers a holistic view of how workflows through the entire system."
Value stream mapping is a proven Lean technique (Lean techniques are manufacturing and production approaches that focus on minimizing waste while maximizing productivity). It is useful in industries and businesses where items pass through multiple phases or departments before delivery to the customer.
It has two main purposes;
By providing a visual representation of the current state of the company's value stream, VSMs allow the management to identify gaps in the existing process. Once you identify inefficiencies or undesirable phases in the process, you can find opportunities to fix those issues. In your future state maps, you can take steps to improve upon the unpleasant parts or remove the inefficiencies to achieve your goals.
This is very important in Lean manufacturing processes as it helps companies streamline the value chain for optimal performance.
The following are four key reasons to consider value stream mapping (VSM) if you aren't on board yet;
Value stream mapping diagrams both the current and ideal state of the organization's workflow involved in making a product from start to finish. By comparing the two charts, organizations can pick out wastes in the existing workflow and correct or remove the inefficient processes to streamline the development process.
"Waste" in the VSM process is any action or step in the workflow that doesn't add value to the final product. Be careful not to confuse this with other instances where any action or effort that customers don't pay for is regarded as waste. For instance, inspections are a critical part of the VCM process, yet customers don't pay for it.
This is what makes value stream mapping different from flow charts and the ilk. VSM diagrams label and link materials to information flow. They help you see the connection between one step in the process and the next. As such, you can deduce useful information such as lead time and cycle times.
Using this information, you can then identify where value is being added and where you're losing value, and make adjustments accordingly for utmost efficiency. If the cycle times are longer than ideal, you can dig deeper to identify the reasons and address the problem right away.
This is something a lot of people rarely see. But, value stream maps also help streamline collaboration efforts, especially where you have multiple departments working on the same project. The value stream mapping process involves everyone working on the project. Each party's role in the project will be displayed and assessed to uncover opportunities for improvement.
Better still, remember that the mapping process requires buy-in from managers at the top to workers at the bottom. The result is that everyone at the company gets to view the project as an organization-wide responsibility rather than a departmental project.
This is one of the most significant benefits of value stream mapping. Think about this way – what happens after the mapping? What follows after the organization has identified that certain processes aren't adding value.
The obvious next step for the organization is to sit down and discuss how to address the issue. Do they remove the process? Do they improve upon it? If so, how? These are critical conversations for any company. The best part is that since VS mappings bring the entire organization together, it allows the company to have these conversations together. This can be vital in taking the company forward.
Taking the Next Step
As you can see, value stream mapping comes with several benefits, critical to business profitability and growth. As such, every organization should strongly consider the strategy. However, we must stress that identifying your key objectives and identifying those who need to be present in the mapping process is critical. Make sure that key decision-makers at the various steps of the production workflow are involved.


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Last Updated on January 30, 2023
While many people may have a basic understanding of virtual reality (VR), most are not as familiar with the concept of augmented reality (AR). Virtual reality is a completely immersive experience that separates the viewer from the physical world through the use of a VR device that the user wears. In contrast, augmented reality typically uses a camera on a smartphone to add digital elements to a live view. Mixed reality (MR) combines aspects of both augmented and virtual reality that allows real-world and digital objects to interact.
Many businesses are starting to use augmented reality technology (AR technology) to assist in providing remote technical support to employees and customers. With the current rapid pace of technological advances comes an ever greater number of tech issues that need to be resolved quickly and easily.
AR technology helps to solve this problem by guiding customers and employees through the troubleshooting process in real-time with an overlay of onscreen visual instructions. Being able to instantly communicate from anywhere in the world eliminates the need for an IT technician to travel on-site, reducing time and costs.
Here is a look at some important ways augmented reality camera technology is being used by businesses and other organizations to improve the effectiveness of remote IT support.
How AR technology supercharges tech support
If your employees or customers experience any tech issues with their devices, your IT team has to be able to get them up and running again as soon as possible so that employee productivity and the customer experience is not adversely affected. This is the perfect scenario where augmented reality for Android and iOS can step in to save the day.
Customers and employees can be easily led through the resolution process by overlaying onscreen visual instructions on the camera images of the device. It can clearly guide customers and employees through the adjustments they need to make to return the device to optimal functionality.
Troubleshooting a physical device with AR technology
One of the biggest benefits of augmented reality camera technology is the ability it gives businesses to virtually send an IT admin to any location to provide customer support. With the help of the customer's or employee's phone camera, the IT admin can directly view the issue to offer remote visual assistance.
The IT technician can then clearly show the device user what sequence of steps are needed to troubleshoot their issue. Miscommunication is often one of the biggest hurdles in providing remote IT tech support. With AR technology, IT agents can see the problem without having to blindly rely on the customer's description. Being able to visually confirm on both sides that the issue is resolved prevents repeat support sessions in order to fix the same issue more than once.
AR technology removes any roadblocks by allowing the IT admin to guide the customer or employee in the exact troubleshooting process required to fix the problem. This can be achieved by adding 3D markups to the image the customer or employee is viewing. It is as if the IT technician is with the customer or employee in the same physical space wherever they may actually be.
Simplifying the user experience for customers and employees
A difficult and frustrating tech support experience can create a negative impression of your business in the minds of customers. Once that impact is felt, it can be difficult to erase. This can result in the loss of repeat business and customer loyalty. A study by NewVoiceMedia revealed an estimated $62 billion is lost by U.S. businesses alone due to poor customer experiences.
Chatbots, FAQs, knowledge bases, and other self-service options are often not enough to solve challenging tech issues for customers. By using augmented reality technology to facilitate remote IT support, businesses can immediately help their customers, which ensures a high-quality user experience.
How AR technology works with AirDroid Remote Support
AirDroid Remote Support for Business lets your IT team pinpoint issues quickly by viewing images through your customer's device camera. Skip the guesswork by guiding your customers through the resolution process with the ability to place 3D markers onto real-world objects. Screen sharing also allows for swipe and click gestures, screen edits and recording, voice chat and recording, texting, and file sharing.
Imagine one of your customers is trying to use your self-service kiosk that is not working properly. With so many working parts it is challenging to uncover what specific part is causing the problem. Instead of your customer trying to provide you with an accurate description of what is going wrong, the IT team can connect to their phone with the remote support app installed and view the kiosk through the camera once permission is given to do so.
Voice chat can also be enabled to facilitate direct communication. Finally, a 3D marker can be placed on the kiosk to reboot the device. Conventional remote access software will not allow your IT team to see the physical surroundings of the kiosk without the integration of AR technology.
If you have more than 10 devices in your company's fleet, you should consider adopting a full mobile device management solution that includes AR-enhanced remote support software. This is especially true if you need to monitor device status, create member accounts, and leverage grouping capabilities along with remotely controlling devices. In this case, AirDroid Business can be combined with remote support instead of just having remote access software alone.
With augmented reality remote support software, your IT team can easily and quickly connect to your customers and employees to troubleshoot tech issues for Android devices. View what their Android smartphone camera sees while drawing, adding text, or tagging real-world objects with 3D markers as a reference point. Collaborate effectively by guiding people through troubleshooting, device setup, or maintenance procedures without the guesswork—as if your IT admin was there in person.
Equip your business to be able to immediately respond to critical time-sensitive situations without diminishing your customer service experience. Plus, your business can avoid the costs of device downtime and having your IT technicians travel onsite to fix issues. Get a 14-day free trial to discover how AirDroid Remote Support can help your business.