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Outsourcing – of anything – is often a yes-or-no situation.
It either works, really really well – delivers what you need, at a lower cost or greater speed than you could do it internally – or it fails miserably and you get a bit disillusioned with it.
At PF, we're the outsourced marketing people. But what does that even mean? Is outsourcing your marketing a good idea at all, whether with PF or someone else?
Here's when outsourcing your marketing will not work for your accounting firm:
Outsourcing marketing won't work if you simply hire someone to do it, and leave them to it.
You can delegate marketing, but you can't abdicate it.
Marketing is still your job.
Regardless of the task, the core of the marketing comes from what you and your team know.
The questions your clients are asking. The opportunities only you are aware of. The texts or direct messages sent to you, or in person comments made to you. The idea you had when attending an event.
Yes, you can get someone to source images or create hashtags for social posts or build a web page in the back end of WordPress. They can write unique, original content via blog posts or PDF guides or emails. They can even become your entire marketing team (as in the case with some of the firms we work with on a regular basis).
So you have to work together with your outsourcer – whether that's someone you found on People per Hour, or a virtual PA, or an agency.
The number one lesson we've learned at PF over the past seven years is that for outsourced marketing to work, it absolutely has to be a partnership.
We've had firms ready to spend any amount of money on their marketing. Ready to invest in lead generation, running a big event, getting billboards or radio adverts designed, or press releases written. And they've hired the people and spent the money and left it to run and….been a little disappointed that it didn't magically result in what they hoped for.
Eventually, you're going to need a full time marketing person in your firm (at least) – and if your firm is larger (or it expands over time) you'll need an in house marketing team.
That's the goal. That's what you're working towards.
So outsourcing becomes one of two things:
- It will either sustain you with a marketing team when you're not ready to hire one
- Or
- It will support the marketing team you have.
Here's how you can help your outsourced marketing experience be the best you'll ever have:
Work with a person or team you like.
Think about the approach you take to hiring a new employee for your firm.
You've got to get on with them personally, enjoy their company, be glad they're joining you, make sure they're a fit with the rest of the team.
The same goes for an outsourcer. Think of them as an outsourced employee – and don't skimp on your usual hiring process.
At PF, we have four Pillars we stand on as a company – Creativity, Integrity, Generosity, and Rest.
When we are looking at hiring a new employee, we send reference requests to three individuals who know the person really well. And we ask them questions that relate to these pillars. How does this person stretch themselves creatively? What hobbies do they have? Has this person ever lied to you, or do you believe they would? Are they generous with their time and money – in what way? Are they a workaholic, or do they make an effort to get breathing space? How?
Your brand is the core of everything you are, and your firm is. What does your firm stand on, and stand for? Will this outsourced person or agency fit in with how you do things?
(Oh, and if you don't currently hire with a structure specifically built around your brand and values, it's time to revise your hiring processes.)
Be ready to commit the time personally where needed.
The whole point of outsourcing IS to save you time. But as with any new situation (like hiring a new employee or expanding offices or investing in new tech), you'll need to invest a little extra time at the beginning in order to see that time savings down the road.
The firms who work with us and get the best results from their marketing:
- Are in the strategy meetings themselves. Even if they have a marketing manager or a whole team, the owner(s) or director(s) make sure they are part of the marketing direction and discussions.
- Involve their team. They talk to the whole team about what the firm is doing with marketing. They hold marketing meetings, invite ideas from everyone, set up collaborative documents (or share the ones we create), bring all the team to events.
- Invest in marketing training for the whole team. They buy copies of They Ask You Answer for every team member, send team members to marketing events and conferences, run internal TAYA sessions. They actually pay cash for things that relate to marketing for their accountant team members. (Not just the 'marketing people'.)
- Show up to regular marketing update meetings. At PF, part of every outsourced relationship is a Co Pilot & Tracking Call. This is held either monthly or quarterly (with options for in person strategy sessions) – and the owner or responsible person for the firm is always part of these.
When you approach outsourcing this way – being part of it at a high level right from the start, and being involved on a regular basis – you'll get the very best from it.
But if you hire someone (internally or externally) and then simply leave them to get on with it, you'll be frustrated.
Ask questions so you understand how and why it works.
You may not get into the nitty gritty of whether it's this hashtag or that one, or spend three hours picking the right image for the website page. That's not the best use of your time.
But it is your responsibility to understand what marketing you're doing and why.
When PF started using Infusionsoft as our lead nurturing and CRM system, I got to know it as well as I could at the time. I went to Infusionsoft events. Attended trainings. Listened to webinars. Hired experts (some real ones who actually helped, and some so-called ones who didn't).
I also used the system myself. Used the email builder. Applied tags. Created campaigns and sales processes. Uploaded images. Asked questions from the Infusionsoft team via the live chat function.
I don't really do that anymore – my team now create campaigns and send emails and do all the detail work. Trust me: they're far better at it than I am. The last time I went in to create and send an email, I guarantee you it took me about four times longer than it would have taken them. But I do have a sense of what's possible with the system, so I can instruct the team accordingly. And I have a real appreciation for the work they do and the time they save me!
When we created the PF Marketing Map to explain what elements of marketing your firm needs to address and in what order, the very first item we included was Training.
We've seen time and time again that the firms getting the very best clients, the highest number of quality leads, more business than they know what to do with….they are always making an effort to learn.
Hit your deadlines, too.
Marketing will often be the thing that takes a back seat.
You know you need to be doing marketing for your firm on a consistent basis (not just now and then), and you fully intend to do that.
And then client work. Emails. Phone calls. Meetings. Opportunities. Your one-hour or eight-hour slot in the calendar that is specifically identified as "Marketing Time" gets moved around, shifted, shortened, and eventually deleted.
"I'll review that web page, I just need to reply to this email first."
"I know I'm supposed to send those bullet points so they can write that blog post, but I'm so busy today."
"We definitely need to review our brand, but it's not exactly urgent."
Think of your outsourced marketing team as not simply the people who will support you and help the firm, but who will push you to be better.
At the start of your outsourced marketing relationship, the problem with marketing tasks is that you haven't gotten enough wins yet to know just how incredibly powerful any one of these small tasks are.
It's not the one social post that lands you a new PR opportunity. It's not the one blog post that gets you business. It's the combination of continual blog posts and social and the updated brand and the new web page and the discovery call form and all the other little things, day after day, month after month, year after year.
I'm (at the time of writing) on my way to London for a two day QuickBooks conference and meetings. I've written this marketing tip whilst sitting on a bus to the airport. A table near the gate waiting for it to board. On the plane. On the train and the underground.
After writing marketing tips every Friday for almost ten years, I know people read them. They take in the content and it helps them make a decision about working with PF. They save me time when someone asks me a marketing question in the future and I can send them a link rather than typing out a long answer. They give us fresh content to share on social. They help me process what I personally am learning about our audience and what matters most to you.
There is always time to fit it in, when you know what it's doing for you.
When we ask accountants what their greatest challenge is in marketing (or social media or branding or whatever), we always say, "other than time".
Time is always the issue, and it is never the issue. An example of this is the accountants who wanted to learn about how marketing works for their firm, and to get their team involved. We run a live marketing training course, but it's important that it runs in order, with live sessions. So sometimes the start date for the next intake is at a time that feels really perfect…but most of the time, it doesn't.
Some accountants joined right in the middle of tax season. Some got the unlimited team member option and brought in every member of their team. Some were marketing managers of large firms, and others were sole practitioners doing everything themselves.
But because they joined, because they paid for it, they showed up every week. Created content. Recorded video. Rebranded. Launched a new website. Quadrupled their social media followers. Hired a marketing manager. Ran an event.
For people who are considering the Accelerator but aren't sure yet because they don't have time, I tell them you can spend an hour or two a week pretending or trying to do marketing yourself (that "marketing time" blocked out in the calendar), or you can spend an hour or two a week actually doing it, with support and help and ideas from the PF team.
The latter gets better results, every single time.
The same applies to your outsourced marketing relationship. You can try to do marketing yourself, squeezing it in here and there amongst all the other things you have to do, and letting it drop lower and lower on the priority list.
Or you can bring in someone who knows what they are doing and have done it before, and let them help you bring out the very best of who you are and who your firm is.
Show that to your prospective clients, the ones who are desperate to find you but right now don't know you exist. Show that to your referrals, the ones who have been told you're amazing but haven't decided yet. And show that to your future team members, the ones who will one day work for your firm and serve your clients…and be part of marketing the firm, too.
Happy outsourcing.


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:37 — 41.3MB)
Today we have a special guest on our show, J.D. Rice. In today's broadcast Pete, Barry, Bob & JD talk about the truth of Covid 19 vaccinations and discuss if Christians should or should not take it. They'll answer some other questions like, "What happens if our employer is requiring us to take the vaccination?" and "Is this really an item that portrays the "mark of the beast?" Tune in on a great discussion along with some laughs and Truths about what is happening in today's society. Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast so you receive notifications when the next podcast is up! Also, we'd appreciate you sharing the podcast on your social media to help us get the word out! ~Thanks and have an amazing day!

subset: commoncrawl


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Hong Kong was recently named as a great destination for digital nomads. Despite the costly living expenses, it's got a certain intoxicating mix of pulsating energy, old-world charm, spectacular scenery, efficient public transportation, salivating food, and buzzing nightlife.
However, there's more to Hong Kong than just its buzzing energy and Instagrammable streets. You'll actually find some of the world's best restaurants here, each with their own unique charm that seems to flood in from the streets and fill spaces with eccentric energy you won't find anywhere else in the world.
So, if you're looking to plan a date night in Hong Kong, you won't lack choice, that's for sure. You'll actually find it might be hard to choose between restaurants, which is why we've helped make things easier. Check out our picks for the seven most romantic restaurants in Hong Kong.
Most Romantic Restaurants In Hong KongHow do these rankings work?
1. Tate Dining Room & Bar
Perfectly pink and superbly chic, Tate Dining Room & Bar is one of the most elegant restaurants you'll find in Hong Kong. It's also the perfect place to take a date if you're looking to set the mood and impress them with tasty, well-crafted cuisine. It recently earned a Michelin star for 2020, making it the perfect stop on any food-focused tour of Hong Kong with your partner.
Red velvet drapes and a stunning chandelier decorate the walls and ceiling of JUNON, one of the most romantic restaurants in Hong Kong. The opulent decor exudes romance, and as soon as you're seated here you'll surely feel it too. If you can't make it to Moulin Rouge in order to woo bae, this is absolutely a great alternative.
3. Pierre
Tucked away inside of Hong Kong's world-class Mandarin Oriental hotel is where you'll find Pierre. The stunning two-Michelin starred restaurant sits atop the 25th floor. It's perched high above Hong Kong. And, this allows loved-up couples the chance to peer down over one of Asia's most beautiful cities as they dine on delectable dishes.
4. Dear Lilly
Inspired by the dreamy hole-in-the-wall florists along beautiful boulevards in Paris, Dear Lilly is a unique dining concept and easily one of the most romantic restaurants in Hong Kong. It showcases exquisite design and superb attention-to-detail, straight down to the hidden bar and hanging flowers.
5. Madame Fu
Critics can't seem to get enough of Madame Fu. It offers carefully-curated Cantonese cuisine with selected signature accent features and furniture. This contemporary restaurant serves up stunning, Instagrammable decor. Then, it balances it out with a touch of elegance, flair, and style.
6. Le 188° Restaurant & Lounge
At Le 188° Restaurant & Lounge you'll be surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering unforgettable 188-degree harbour views. European cuisine and seafood delights are standard, all of which you can enjoy as you watch the setting sun behind the Hong Kong skyline.
7. Petrus
The Island Shangri-La Hong Kong is one of the world's most luxurious and stylish hotels. So, it comes as no surprise that the hotel's premier restaurant is one of the most romantic restaurants in Hong Kong. The decor evokes feelings of a Parisian salon. The experience is complete with all of the fine wine and dining you'd expect.


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[colored_box color="grey"]Rating: 6
Label: Kscope
Website: Link
Author: Andrew Koran[/colored_box]
Anathema have been around for over twenty years. Regardless of musical direction, they've managed to consistently release albums that were creative, emotional and fairly unique.
In their previous release "Weather Systems" Anathema followed almost the exact same formula as its predecessor, but it was still universally lauded because it was really well done – making the best elements of the "We're here because.." album even bigger and more prominent. So, where do you go from there?
Stripping down was the next logical step. So, while they've opted to use the same basic formula for the third consecutive time, they've also taken it in a slightly different way with rather remarkable – in a bad term- surprises. The most noticeable of those surprises is the slightly darker atmosphere. We're not talking old-school Anathema of course, but the album isn't uplifting or "happy" and careless as the two previous ones!
This new feeling is augmented by an increased use of keyboards and a reduced role for the guitars. On paper that might seem like a negative modification, but it's actually one of the biggest reasons "Distant Satellites" doesn't sound even more familiar than it already does.
Beginning with track 'You're Not Alone' innocuously enough with a typical Anathema-style piano melody and a repetitive vocal line, where soon enough the piano melody ends abruptly by a distorted guitar riff where high-energy drum & bass percussion take their place, while the repetitive vocal line continues over the top. It turns out, that it's prepering the listener for the final third of the album, that's dominated by electronics. Yes, you read well!
Unfortunately, that latter section is also fairly disposable. Each track features minimalist electronics, subtle percussion and repetitive vocals. This presence of electronics could have definitely lent "Distant Satellites" its own identity, but the songs just aren't given nearly as much attention as the first two-thirds of the album. So, it just confuses the listener!
Anathema rebuilt their band when they crafted the formula used on "We're Here Because We're Here".. "Distant Satellites" is the third consecutive release to build on that foundation and it definitely has a prominent feeling of familiarity associated with it. Those final electronic tracks though, almost make the final third feel like a totally different album changing my opinion and rating even further to medium.
It could just end with the song 'Anathema' that has that "Silent Enigma" touch to it! Overall it seems that the recipe is there, the cook is there but this time the ingredients didn't work out that well…To be honest with you, I didn't really enjoy it that much!
Track List | Line Up | 01. The Lost Song part 1 02. The Lost Song part 2 03. Dusk (Dark Is Descending) 04. Ariel 05. The Lost Song part 3 06. Anathema 07. You're Not Alone 08. Firelight 09. Distant Satellites 10. Take Shelter |
Vincent Cavanagh – guitars, vocals, keyboards Daniel Cavanagh – guitar, keyboards, piano, vocals Jamie Cavanagh – bass John Douglas – keyboards, drums, percussion Lee Douglas – backing vocals, lead vocals |


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MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin's decree on recognition of passports issued in the self-proclaimed republics in Lugansk and Donetsk (LPR and DPR) stems from humanitarian consideration as Kiev keeps on blockading its regions, Russian president's press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
"As for [Ukrainian President Pyotr] Poroshenko's statement, we don't share his point of view. This decree constitutes no violation of international law," he said. "You know, it is mere equaling situation de jure with what is de facto. Because it was necessary to do due to humanitarian considerations and recognize these actually issued travel documents."
Peskov stressed that this situation was triggered by Kiev's blockade of the region. Hundreds of thousands of people have no possibility to receive passports, travel documents, driving licenses, etc., he noted.
"In this situation, the Russian president signed this decree being guided by humanitarian considerations only. There is no violation of either international law or the Minsk agreements. So, there are no grounds to escalate the situation," the Kremlin spokesman stressed.
Peskov focused attention on the fact that LPR's and DPR's passports are not passports of officially recognized states but are only seen as "actually issued documents."
"I would like to stress once again: the entire region is living in conditions of a rigid blockade, a rigid embargo from its capital, from Kiev," he said. "In conditions of this embargo, people cannot update, receive or recover lost documents. As a matter of fact, all documents are issued in this region and these de facto documents will be recognized here."
However he did not answer the question concerning lawmakers having passports of the non-recognized republics issued in eastern Ukraine. "I cannot answer this question. It is a legal issue requiring opinion of counsel," he added.


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Summary: The biker who flipped off Trump in a viral picture is suing the employer who fired her for violating their social media policy.
Last year, a photo of bicyclist Juli Briskman went viral. In the picture, she could be seen giving President Donald Trump's motorcade the middle finger during a bike ride in Virginia, and the Monday after the photo blew up the internet, she was fired from her job working at Akima.
Now the outspoken Democrat is suing Akima for missing severance, according to NBC News.
"I filed this lawsuit against my former employer today because I believe that Americans should not be forced to choose between their principles and their paychecks," Briskman said to CNBC on Wednesday.
Briskman, 50, was employed by Akima, a government contracted company during the time she was photographed exercising her free speech to the President of the United States. She said that she was forced to resign after the political photo went viral because she had allegedly violated the company's social media policy.
"I never imagined that my 'one-finger salute' to the Presidential motorcade and its occupant would cost me my job," Briskman said. "The actions of my company were swift and unexpected."
Akima has a social media policy in place, but Briskman said that it was enforced differently for her. For instance, she said that several months ago she reported a male colleague who called their coworkers ""f—ing Libtard assh–es" but that the company did nothing. This coworker had a reference to Akima as their Facebook cover photo and was in a management position.
Briskman's legal team said that she was fired because she was opposed to Trump instead of for Trump, and she noted that her male colleague who used terms such as "Libtard" was not fired, even though he was political on social media.
"Akima's actions — forcing Juli to resign out of fear of unlawful retaliation by the government — violated the basic tenets of Virginia employment law," Maria Simon, an attorney for Briskman, said in a statement to Boston.com. "Ms. Briskman chose in her private time and in her capacity as a private citizen to express her disapproval of President Trump by extending her middle finger."
Briskman said that her political speech was stifled by Akima, which is a violation of Virginia law and the Constitution, according to Boston.com. She is seeking $2,692 for two weeks of severance that she was promised but not given. She also sought the reimbursement of her legal fees.
Akima is a government contracted company that specializes in network operations and cybersecurity. The company is located in Virginia, which has an at-will employment policy, meaning that employers can fire employees at any time as long as they are not violating federal discrimination laws.
- Trump's Blocked Twitter Followers File First Amendment Lawsuit


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Apple recently released a new firmware update for AirTag which brings a number of new changes to help alleviate some privacy concerns that had been voiced by users and various media outlets soon after launch. The new update changes the time duration after which AirTags play a sound after separated from their owner, as well as introduces support for an Android app that will be released later this year.
Unlike iPhone and Apple Watch, there is no clear mechanism for updating AirTag firmware. Similar to AirPods, the process is hidden and automated. However, with AirPods, we know that if we keep them plugged in to charge at the same time as the paired iPhone, it might trigger the update. With AirTag, there is no such method.
How to find the firmware update version for AirTag in Find My update
The best thing that users can do is keep the AirTag within the proximity of the paired iPhone. This should help the firmware update process to take place. At the time of writing, the latest firmware version is 1.0.276. The previous firmware version is 1.0.225, which is what AirTag originally launched with.
To view which firmware version you have installed on your AirTag, open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Navigate to the Items tab, and select your AirTag. Tap or click on the battery icon and you will see the serial number and firmware appear.
If you do not see the new firmware update on your device yet, fret not. Apple is rolling out the firmware update and you should see it on your AirTag soon.
Read more:


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Get Flowers delivered in Aldgate in no time. Gone are the days of waiting in queues, searching for the right Flowers, taking time out of your day to collect a bouquet. It's a brave new world out there, and here at Flowers & Plants Co, we're at the forefront. Beautiful bloom are what we do: from the import, care, creation and delivery, we are passionate about Flowers. And what's more, we're passionate about bringing beautiful Flowers to your doorstep.
Want fresh same day Flowers Aldgate? Well, you've found what you're looking for. A speedy delivery on all our bouquets? What could be better! If you've forgotten a birthday or just remembered an important anniversary, send Flowers to Aldgate and make up for any lost time. With special morning delivery and a superfast 3 hour delivery, we can make floral magic happen in the blink of an eye. Get in touch today or browse our catalogue to start your journey.
Thinking of a perfect plant for a friend? Want plants delivered in Aldgate today? Well the hardest part is over: you've found Flowers & Plants Co. We're a plant retailer with a difference. We focus on variety and freshness, vibrancy and verve. Out with drab old plants, the same old, same old. We're a plant specialist for the 21st century with design at the forefront of all our thought. So not only do we bring you the very best plants sourced from around the globe, but the best same day plants Aldgate, delivered to your doorstep, 7 days a week.
From blushing bromelia to giant ginger plants and everything in between, planted gifts Aldgate are what we're about, it's our raison d'etre, our mission. Talk to our plant specialist today if you have any specific requests: we love sourcing unusual and exotic plants for clients and with our extensive industry contacts, nothing is impossible.
I've been living in Australia for 8 years and been looking for a good florist to send to my Mum pretty much since I left. I've tried quite a few each Mother's Day and they all seem to be equally awful, I won't go into the details but usually either woefully inept or just overpriced. So this Mother's Day I made my usual Google-rounds and happened upon Flowers & Plants Co. I was obviously very cautious and so just went for something small with a box of chocolates, which for the territory was quite cheap. Halleluiah! The bouquet was a success! I don't know if it was blind luck or skill but I'll take it. Many thanks and see you again next year.
We had a big event at work recently and needed a set of vases for some poseur tables. Flowers & Plants Co provided them and delivered to our offices on a Friday evening at about 8pm. I was extremely grateful for the help of all the staff members there, they seemed to really work hard to get the vases out to us at the awkward time and in the heart of the City. The vases themselves were fab, with orchids and all kinds of Flowers sprouting out. They really put the icing on the cake for our event and were collected the next afternoon by a very polite gentleman. Thanks! We'll certainly be using your services again.
So, so happy I've found a florist to deliver nationwide for me. I have a lot of clients all over the country and like to send them bouquets occasionally. The local florists always seemed to mess it up somehow, so when I saw the Flowers & Plants Co website pop up, I was sold. I ordered a couple of bouquets to start and got very positive responses from everyone ever since. Many thanks.


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Reminder: Able Danger Premiere in NYC - May 30th, 2008
The fiction film Able Danger premieres in NYC this Friday, May 30th. Showtimes. Here is a short description of the film, clipped from this longer review;
"...Able Danger was a "a classified military intelligence program under the command of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM). It was created as a result of a directive from the Joint Chiefs of Staff in early October 1999 by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hugh Shelton, to develop an Information Operations Campaign Plan against transnational terrorism, 'specifically al-Qaeda.'" The story, as alleged by various journalists as well as Congressman Curt Weldon, former Vice Chairman of the Armed Services committee, is that Able Danger members identified the Mohamed Atta terrorist cell prior to 9/11 but were prevented from passing their information on to the FBI. Subsequently, Weldon claimed that 2.5 terabytes of data collected by the Able Danger group was ordered destroyed two years before the 9/11 attack. The 9/11 commission either did not consider or dismissed these allegations, and 9/11 theorists have gone on to claim that Able Danger was actually a program designed to monitor and control Atta and other "patsies" who were the fall guys for the 9/11 attacks.
Able Danger the movie takes the real-life mystery of the intelligence operation and uses it as the basis for a spirited and blackly comic neo-noir set all over Manhattan and Brooklyn. Thomas Flynn is a 9/11 theorist, author of a conspiracy expose, and manager of a coffee shop named Vox Pop. When an Eastern European femme fatale, Kasia, played by Elina Lowensohn, enters the picture, Flynn is rapidly learns just how much he is on to when he is plunged into a netherworld of shadow ops, New American Century puppeteers, and smartly-accented henchmen. Reworking classic spy movie tropes for the post-9/11 age, Krik uses flashes of dark comedy, an affection for the film noir genre and the perfect eyebrow-half-cocked attitude towards his subject matter to create a fast-paced and entertaining story. He's aided quite a bit by Aaron Nee, one of Filmmaker's "25 New Faces" of 2006, who stars here as Flynn and gives an appealing performance as the Williamsburg underground reporter who, like a character in a '60s John Frankenheimer film, knows a bit more than he should. With its black-and-white cinematography and visual imagination (the film mixes in color dream sequences and text-overwritten surveillance footage), the film is bit reminiscent of Darren Aronofsky's debut, Pi, as well as Hal Hartley's recent Fay Grim, but Krik's low-fi riff on the conspiracy thriller has a charm all its own. "In case you didn't know," Krik writes, Able Danger is based on a 'true story'... Vox Pop really exists, the author and the book featured in the movie really exists, Able Danger program really existed, all the 'conspiracies' mentioned in the movie are true..."
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Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
Diabetes, Volume 62, Issue 9, p.3151-62 (2013)Keywords:
Animals, asb, Blotting, Western, Cells, Cultured, Diabetic Nephropathies, Immunohistochemistry, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Mice, Mutant Strains, MicroRNAs, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Transforming Growth Factor beta, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53Abstract:
Elevated p53 expression is associated with several kidney diseases including diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanisms are unclear. We report that expression levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β), p53, and microRNA-192 (miR-192) are increased in the renal cortex of diabetic mice, and this is associated with enhanced glomerular expansion and fibrosis relative to nondiabetic mice. Targeting miR-192 with locked nucleic acid-modified inhibitors in vivo decreases expression of p53 in the renal cortex of control and streptozotocin-injected diabetic mice. Furthermore, mice with genetic deletion of miR-192 in vivo display attenuated renal cortical TGF-β and p53 expression when made diabetic, and have reduced renal fibrosis, hypertrophy, proteinuria, and albuminuria relative to diabetic wild-type mice. In vitro promoter regulation studies show that TGF-β induces reciprocal activation of miR-192 and p53, via the miR-192 target Zeb2, leading to augmentation of downstream events related to DN. Inverse correlation between miR-192 and Zeb2 was observed in glomeruli of human subjects with early DN, consistent with the mechanism seen in mice. Our results demonstrate for the first time a TGF-β-induced feedback amplification circuit between p53 and miR-192 related to the pathogenesis of DN, and that miR-192-knockout mice are protected from key features of DN.


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The idea of Asian Psychiatry uniting to put its shoulder to the wheel of change to reform Asian Psychiatry started late in the 1960's in different parts of Asia among the newly trained psychiatrists. Those in Southeast Asia met several times and by 1973 had formed a pro-tem committee of the proposed ASEAN Association of Psychiatrists. This took further discussions and finally in 1981 Asia's first regional psychiatric association, the ASEAN Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health (AFPMH) was formed in Bangkok. This consisted then of 5 member countries, namely Indonesia Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. It was the beginning of post colonial era psychiatric contact, communication and cooperation in Asian Psychiatry. It was the brain child of ASEAN psychiatry's leaders, headed by Professor R Kusumanto Setyenegoro the Director of Mental Health in the Ministry of health Indonesia and concurrently Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Indonesia. Despite this optimistic start it took another 22 years for the next regional Psychiatric association, the South Asian forum for Mental Health and Psychiatry to be formed.
The need for cooperation in psychiatry across Asia has been felt by some psychiatrists but been slow in starting for a variety of reasons. Following the Second World War and gradual decolonization most former colonies that gained independence sent their trainees in psychiatry overseas mostly to their former colonizing countries for training in small numbers. These formed the nucleus of future psychiatric human resources of these developing countries and hopefully set up indigenous training programmes. But they quickly faced administrative and economic problems at home that slowed if not stopped change. Psychiatry is a low priority discipline in most countries of Asia. As time went on the spectre of brain drain added to make any plans for improving slow and tenuous.
It was at this stage in 1998 that a former president of the ASEAN Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health Dr. M P Deva started discussions with colleagues from Asian countriess to form an Asian Psychiatric Federation to join hands across Asia to fulfill the task of psychiatric reform. The backward state of psychiatric practices, teaching and research needed to reflect the rapid economic and even medical advancement of this vast continent of 3.3 billion people. Letters were sent out to all psychiatric associations in Asia explaining the need to form a federation of psychiatric associations to share experiences and resources so that psychiatry could improve in all parts of Asia. Unlike other branches of medicine and indeed science and technology that were charging forward in the economic boom occurring in Asia, psychiatry remained backward in its practice even in the developed countries of Asia. Large mental hospitals and custodial care of the mentally ill continued to stigmatize mental health, preventing progress in many countries. Custodial care sometimes in modern trappings continued to work against attempts to give psychiatry a human or health care face to young minds in training in medicine and nursing and influenced decision making in ministries of heath throughout the continent.
There was a need to link up psychiatric associations that for the most part lived side by side in almost total isolation in most parts of Asia, following very different systems based often models of care invented continents away following practices meant for other cultures, economies and needs. The unquestioning belief in historical concepts of psychiatric care, developed and imposed during historical past had all but stagnated growth for a new generation of psychiatrists.
A first meeting was held in Yokohama in 2002 of about 20 interested people and this led to better contacts among Asian leaders in psychiatry. There followed the formation of the innovative South Asian Forum for Mental Health and Psychiatry international (SAFMHP-I) in 2003 and the SAARC Psychiatric Federation (SPF) linking psychiatrists of the 8 South Asian countries of SAARC in 2004. It was followed by the formal launch of the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations on 11 September 2005.
The AFPA went to work immediately helping the people affected by the 2004 December Tsunami in several countries, helping in training of trainers in psychosocial projects. AFPA was formally inaugurated on Asian soil in Lahore Pakistan on 17th February 2007 where the pro-tem committee was replaced by a formally elected Board, with Prof Shinfuku as its first president and a constitution provisionally adopted subject to amendments. AFPA has 6 regional members in the form of AFPMH, SAFMHP-I., SPF, and provisional groups for East Asia, Central Asia and West Asia. AFPA has continued to help with training and psychosocial relief in many parts of Asia and the recent disasters in Asian countries that together have claimed well over 500,000 lives in Asia in the past 3 ½ years but that attracts very little psychiatric help from outside of Asia.
In August 2007 The First World Congress of Asian Psychiatry (1-WCAP) was held in Goa India that attracted over 350 participants from 5 continents. At this Congress the Asian Journal of psychiatry was launched the Journal will fill a long felt need for a quality journal in psychiatry for all of Asia aimed at cooperation among psychiatrists interested in changing Asian psychiatry for the better and cutting edge research that will benefit Asian psychiatry. It welcomes contributions that highlight Psychiatry in Asia from around the world.
AFPA has come a very long way since 2005 when it was launched and strengthened ties within the member countries of Asia who face many problems in mental health. The Asian Journal of Psychiatry (AJP) is at the cornerstone of this effort for excellence in Asian Psychiatry


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نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
1 استادیار گروه مهندسی عمران، دانشگاه آزاد، واحد قم، قم، ایران
2 مهندسی عمران، دانشکده عمران و معماری، موسسه ی پویش، قم، ایران.
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسندگان [English]
Deep beam have large depth/thickness ratio compared to conventional beams. In deep beams, the bending strain distribution through the depth of transverse sections of beam considerably deviates from the linear distribution. So their behavior is different with ordinary beams and are designed based on shear strength. The design of deep beams, due to their widespread use, is a crucial issue in structural engineering. So far, numerous studies have been done to determine the shear strength relations or models for deep beams. One widely used approach to determine shear strength of is the strut-and-tie method, which is employed by the American Concrete Association (ACI). However, It has been a long time since the Iranian Concrete Code (ICC), regardless of this research, uses a direct relation for the design of deep beams. In this research, methods and relations provided by other researchers along with the ICC method for deep beam design have been evaluated based on 240 experimental specimens. Moreover, a new equation for predicting the shear strength of RC deep beams using the genetic programming (GP) method is presented. Some input and output data should be used for feeding GP and equations producing. This equation was only based on primary specifications of RC deep beams and compared with other methods presented in the literature. In addition, the effect of different parameters on shear strength of RC deep beams were investigated. The results of this study showed that the proposed equation had acceptable accuracy compared to the experimental results and other equations presented in the literature. The proposed equation predicts the experimental results with an average error of 6%. Comparison of the results of the of ICC method in the design of deep beams with ACI method results showed that design in accordance with the ACI method resulted in a 27% lower error.
کلیدواژهها [English]


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With January behind you and spring on its way, it's almost time to pack away those heavy winter coats and tweak your style to suit the warmer weather. Now we're not talking a complete overhaul here. All you need is these 5 key fashion pieces to refresh your wardrobe. Mankind have teamed up with Burtons Menswear to bring your some style upgrades for your wardrobe this season.
Short Jacket
Cover all bases and be prepared for unpredictable weather with this season's short jacket. Great for throwing over your jumper on chilly spring mornings, the great range of styles available now means, you're sure to find a style to suit your personality.
You could always go for a classic, such as a bomber jacket or Harrington jacket. These styles are easy to wear; why not team your short jacket casually at the weekend with jeans? Or you could wear over a smart shirt when you head out in the evening.
Essential Jean
Tough, stylish and versatile, a good pair of jeans is a must in every man's wardrobe and since it's spring, stick to the mantra 'out with the old and in with the new' and re-evaluate your denim inventory.
If you're not sure about fit, a classic slim pair of jeans is a good choice as they are smart enough to wear to work (dress code permitting). Wear with a blazer, smart shirt, desert boots and belt to take you from work to the bar.
Modern Jersey
Get on the right track this spring with this season's modern jersey. And we're not just talking scruffy joggers and sweatshirt. Thanks to crafted details such as hidden pockets and clever tapering, those key gym pieces have been reinvented with a sharper and smarter edge. So don't sweat it and take your off-duty style up a notch by teaming your hoodie with jeans and a t-shirt at the weekend or a contrasting pair of joggers in your downtime.
Textured Knits
From the waffle knits to mid-gauge textured crew neck, this season is all about the textured knit. Put simply, it's a jumper or cardigan crafted from different knitting techniques and textures. Great for those fresh spring mornings, team with a pair of vintage-wash jeans and plimsolls or under your smart blazer when you head to work.
Smart Suit
When it comes to suits, keep it simple and understated this season and if you don't own one already, a dark blue or grey suit is a worthy investment. Be boardroom ready by teaming with a crisp white shirt and contrasting tie. When the temperature drops, you could wear a jumper under your suit or try a 3-piece, then you can take off the jacket and still look smart in the office.
Will you be makind any of these 5 style upgrades this season? Let us know over on Twitter @mankindcouk & @Burton_Menswear


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Johar Town Escorts Lahore
You have come to the right place if you are looking for a Escorts in Johar Town Lahore. You can meet with 100s of girls and have a romantic night out. These girls are the perfect choice for your sex needs. They are highly skilled and will take care of your every need. The only thing you need to do is make a few calls, and you'll have your dream girl in no time.
When it comes to hiring an escort, it's essential to check the experience of the person. You want someone who knows the city well and will be able to satisfy your sexual needs. There are several escort agencies in Johar Town, so you don't have to worry about a thing. If the agency is not registered and has a license, you'll have trouble finding a replacement. It would help if you always looked for a reputa
In Johar Town, you can meet with a call girl in a restaurant or a resort. The best part about these girls is that they're the best in the country. They're passionate about their job and have great potential. Even if you're looking for an evening of fun with a call girl, these girls are ready to serve you. So, don't hesitate to pick a call girl in Johar Town Lahore. The only thing you have to worry about is the safety of your sexual encounter.
The best way to book a call girl in Johar Town is by dialing the WhatsApp number of the agency, indicating your sexual needs, and asking about availability. This way, you can be sure that you're getting a genuine and safe call girl. The best part is, these agencies are legally registered with the government, so you can rest assured that you'll be safe with them.
Our girls are very frank with you. They'll share their deepest thoughts with you. They'll tell you all your secrets. Our girls behave like real wives and girlfriends. They'll share their deepest desires with you and provide you with a night to remember. The best part about these girls is that you'll be able to have a fun time with them in their hometown.
These girls are available all the time in the city. Most of them are specialized in their work and can provide you with a high-quality service. There's no need to worry about your safety – they will keep you discreet. A female escort in Johar Town Lahore will have your complete confidentiality. They will not tell you any personal information about themselves, but they can tell you if they're up for a sexual activity or not.
It's easy to find a call girl in Johar Town Lahore. Our girls are highly qualified, reputable, and will satisfy your sexual desires. You'll feel confident in her company and her professionalism, and you'll enjoy the experience. You'll be pleased with your call girl in Johar Town! And if you're looking for a call girl in Johar, you'll never have a hard time finding one.
When looking for a call girl in Johar Town Lahore, make sure to choose one that has a clean history. A young woman with a clean record can help you get a good night out with a man. While you're at it, enjoy yourself! You'll feel more at ease with your new escort. Your love life is worth it. You'll never regret a single second you spend with your girl!
You don't have to pay a lot of money for an escort in Johar Town. There are plenty of affordable escort agencies, but be careful with cheap services. You can also use their mobile numbers to meet the girls. These girls are not just good at what they do, but they are worth every penny. In addition to the cost, they can be helpful for your sex needs and give you a lot of fun.


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You can set the default billing rate for your account from the settings page. This value will be applied to all hours that are logged to billable projects, unless you have assigned a different billing rate. See the rate tracking overview for more information about how to customize your rates by project, person, or service.
Set the default rate
- Go to the Settings Page in your Time IQ account
- Scroll down to the "Rate Tracking" section on the settings page
- Find the Default Rate section within rate tracking
- Click the pencil icon next to the current default rate to change it.
The new rate will take effect for all time entries created after it has been changed.
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Witch's Way Goddess Candle Brown
- Regular Price
- $ 18.00
- Sale Price
- $ 18.00
- Regular Price
Sold Out
- Unit Price
- Translation missing: en.general.accessibility.unit_price_separator
Witch's Way Goddess Candle is your go to ritual candle. Coming in several shades, each flame brings empowerment and is easily blessed, charged or anointed. Standing at 7" tall, the Goddess is made of soy wax which is not only biodegradable and vegan, but is healthier to burn compared to paraffin wax or besswax.
Witch's Way Goddess Candle is also available in white, red, orange and black on Toile's web store and Frankford Ave location!


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Shop for Fountains-Accessories
SplashDance Ring Dance
Easy-to-install water fountain kit that "dances" to music Programmable controller allows dynamic fountain display Enjoy RingDance in your pond or as a container water fountain Relax to a beautiful water display set to music Compact, adjustable fountain features a low voltage controller with manual, auto, and audio mode for a dynamic fountain display. Easy-to-setup kit is perfect for small ponds or containers with diameters 18" and up. For indoor or outdoor use. The SplashDance RingDance includes low voltage controller, 250 gph pump, filter basket, and riser tube.Please click on "More Information" directions for use. -
Splash Dance Fountain Small Single Pump
Transforms the sight and sound of moving water.Fountains will dance to music as the pump' output changes in tune with the music you choose to play. Fountains will pulsate and move to the music - or to pre-programmed commands. Available in two sizes:small/compact for 2-3'water display(6'diameter or larger pond) large/dramatic for 5-7'water display (12'diameter or larger pond) Each kit includes pump(s) - mounting float(s) - controller, and interchangeable fountain heads (3 patterns: three-step Fleur-de-Lis, AquaDome, Foam Jet). Each is available with a single pump or three-pump version. All mounting floats are equipped to accommodate the addition of Cal Pump EggLites for lighting effects. -
Fountain Nozzles
Resin Fountain
Ring Jet 17" diameter
Provides vital aeration for a healthy pond environmentPond ring jet fountain creates soothing soundsAdjustable fountain creates a dramatic, one-of-a-kind water featureLet a cascading ring of water gently rain upon your pond. The soothing sounds ease your stress and provide vital aeration for a healthy pond environment. Precision adjustable nozzles direct water jets to the desired angle. Combine with your existing fountain for a dramatic, one-of-a-kind water feature. Requires a 400 to 1,500 gph pump. We recommend economical, energy efficient Quiet One pond pumps. 17" diameter with 21 directional jet nozzles. 1/2" FPT intake and discharge.Please click on "More Information" for installation and cleaning instructions. -
Fountain Pump Kit
Pebble Fountain Water Feature
Integral hinged lid makes the water feature easy to install and maintain. Only one lid segment needs to be opened to access pump once installed, which avoids having to remove pebbles off the entire lid. Lid can bear a load of 20kg. Three recessed planting pockets are moulded into the outer rim. These pockets can be covered with lids provided, if they are not required.With a capacity of 21 litres, the water feature needs less frequent topping up, even in hot weather. A sludge trap at the base of the reservoir protects the pump. -
Outdoor Clean-All 32 oz
Organic cleaning agent removes tough outdoor grime and dirtNontoxic and biodegradable cleaner will not harm aquatic lifeKeep outdoor areas clean without using harsh chemical cleanersRemove tough outdoor grime and dirt without using harsh chemical cleaners. Outdoor Clean-All tackles the toughest outside cleaning jobs yet will not harm landscaping, animals or aquatic life because it is organic and nontoxic. Use on patio furniture, statuaries, pots and urns, decks, sidewalks and patios, fencing, siding and gutters, driveways, garage and shop floors, fountains and birdbaths, concrete sideways, stepping stones and vinyl siding - virtually any water-washable surface Pleasing spearmint scent. 32 oz (1 quart). For external use only. Not for use in ponds.Please click on "More Information" for directions for use. -
Out-of-Pond Installation Kit Plumbing Kit
Sturdy PVC kit helps you install your external pond pumpWorks with external pumps that have 1-1/2" FNPT vertical dischargeThick PVC is ideal for above ground applicationsConvenient PVC installation kit simplifies plumbing. Set of sturdy PVC elbows, couplers, and valve helps ease external pond pump installation. Designed for use with pumps with 1-1/2" FNPT vertical discharge like the Little Giant Out-of-Pond Pumps and similar.Includes: (5) 2" slip x 2" slip long sweep 90-degree elbows, one 2" rubber coupling with 2 stainless steel clamps, one 2" slip x 2" slip ball valve, one 2" MNPT x 2" slip PVC coupling, and one 1-1/2" MNPT x 2" slip PVC coupling.Please click on "More Information" for installation notes and plumbing term glossary. -
Natural Fiber Planting Container


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Make a secure online donation:
At a time when uncertainty and instability are profound, Habitat's mission has never been more important. Everyone deserves a decent place to call home. There are families throughout West Virginia who still spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Sadly, affordable housing is a problem throughout Appalachia. But, with your help, Habitat can help change that.
Please give your most generous, tax-deductible donation today.


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In our previous guide, we have already discussed how you can set popular iPhone ringtone on your Apple iPhone. Now some Android users might also be interested to set the iPhone ringtone of their phone. If you also want to do that, then you have landed on the right webpage.
There are basically two popular iPhone ringtones named Marimba and Opening. In order to set them on your Android phone, first you have to download them as an MP3 file and after that you can set them as your caller ringtone from the settings. Below we have shared detailed information for both these steps.
1. Download iPhone ringtone of your Android phone
You can easily find iPhone ringtone on YouTube. There are more advanced and edited mix version also available. But the main task here is to download them as an MP3 file on your Android phone. We will be using an online tool for this called YTMP3. This tool allows you to directly convert YouTube videos to MP3. Here's what you have to do –
First, open the YouTube app and find the iPhone ringtone you want to use. Just search with "iPhone ringtone" keyword. If you want Marimba ringtone, then add its name in the search keyword. Once you have find the video, click the Share button on it and then tap Copy link option. This will copy the video link to your clipboard.
Now head over to the YTMP3 website and paste the link you have copied. Make sure to select MP3 option and then tap the Convert button. Once the video is processed, you will see Download option. Just click on it and you have successfully downloaded the iPhone ringtone on your smartphone.
Set iPhone ringtone on your Android phone
The next part is pretty simple. You just have to change the ringtone of your phone with the new iPhone ringtone that you have downloaded. Here are the steps you need to follow –
- Open the Settings app on your Android phone.
- Go to Sounds and Vibration.
- Here you will find Ringtone option. Just click on it.
- If you have a dual SIM smartphone, you will be asked to select the SIM for which you want to change the ringtone.
- After that, you will see various option to choose your ringtone. Select Media Storage and then click + button at the top. This will take you to the Sound Picker. Just find and select the iPhone ringtone. Next, click on the Done button and that's it.
- At the time of choosing the option from where you want to load the ringtone, you can also use File Manager. If you choose that, you have to select the iPhone ringtone manually from the Download folder on your internal storage.
So that's pretty much everything you need to know. We hope you find this guide helpful to set iPhone ringtone on your Android phone. Let us know if you have any questions in your mind. Feel free to share your personal queries in the comment section below. You might be interested to read another related article on how to make your Android phone look like an iPhone. Don't forget to share this post with your friends on social media!


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U.D.P. Must 'Fix' the Problem
There's a possibility that the People's United Party may return to power in 2020, and with the UHS debt being kicked around like the political football it has since become, it can land squarely at the feet of the P.U.P. So what would the prospective prime minister do to address the issue of the unpaid debt?
John Briceño, P.U.P. Leader
"Many people knew back then and they know now that I had a problem with the whole issue that led to this problem, but at the end of the day, the prime minister managed to find a settlement. Whether you like it or dislike it or you feel no way about it, a settlement was found that did not cost directly the taxpayers of this country. And because Dean Barrow so bad minded and say he wanted to put people in jail and he is so bad minded that this has been pissing contest between Mr. Ashcroft and Mr. Barrow and unfortunately, that piss is falling on us because we are bearing the cost of that. So Mr. Barrow is being a coward when he is saying, "Oh we're going to be a conscience vote." He as a lawyer knows what he's supposed to do."
"Now there are those in the U.D.P. who are simply saying, and this is not what they are publicly saying, privately, it is saying man, we noh wahn pay it. If P.U.P. wahn pay it, mek dehn pay it. Would the P.U.P., if they had the majority in parliament, support paying it?"
John Briceño
"Let's put it this way, we would have never been in that position because we had solve it already. He was the one that has created this problem, and has created this crisis and as the saying goes, you broke it, you own it, you fix it."
"They want you to…"
John Briceño
"Well then, that is their problem government has caused."