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This paper was presented at the Symposium on Computer Networks, 1975 pp 8-13.
CYCLADES has been implemented on schedule, without significant change to the initial design. The packet switching network (CIGALE), host protocols, terminal access, and basic host services are operational. But CYCLADES users are still mainly a research oriented population, although no longer a majority of system programmers. A connection has also been established with the NPL network, in the London area. The workforce is mainly composed of highly motivated research oriented people, with control based on results rather than administration. Particular emphasis has been given to human communications. Critical tasks are undertaken by IRIA, with assistance from participants and software houses. Figures are given on resources spent so far. Objectives have been largely met in technical aspects, and applications are beginning to pick up. The future of CYCLADES is twofold. The present network is becoming a university service bureau, as well as a tool used to promote international cooperation, specifically in the area of distributed data bases. It will also give birth to similar systems in the private sector. A redevelopment of protocols is taking place, and the core of the present implementation is being made available to the industry. C.I.I.3 and software houses are cooperating to make CYCLADES protocols a common model in order to market a consistent set of products for building heterogeneous networks.
A previous paper[1] has already introduced the CYCLADES network, its goals, participants, and major design points. One year later the basic services of the network were implemented and put into operation. Most of the contents of the earlier paper are still valid, and it serves little to repeat them here. The present paper is thus a companion to its predecessor. It will indicate changes in our initial plans, current developments, and the likely direction the future will take.
Participants are essentially the same as originally quoted, other than the addition of one more institute in Grenoble, two in Toulouse and one in Rennes. In other words, the network environment is composed of research oriented or university people having a computer science profile, albeit that a sizable proportion are young and have only limited experience.
Inter-connections not originally planned have been undertaken. CYCLADES and the NPL 1 network have been linked in August 1974, and another link with the ESRO 2 network should be established by mid 1975.
More than a dozen other educational or research institutions have expressed the wish to join in CYCLADES. However, we were reluctant to increase significantly the size of the network until such time as it was operational and its future better defined. Indeed, managing the whole project would have become increasingly difficult, and the additional costs not justified by contributions in new areas. However a few more participants were allowed in when they already had their telephone lines, and were involved actively in software development for the network.
Computers are essentially the same as anticipated, except that most of the C.I.I.-10 070's have now been replaced by a new model, the IRIS 80, which is software compatible and significantly more powerful than its predecessor.
In summary, ultimately CYCLADES will have 19 host computers in 16 different locations. Currently 14 hosts are connected.
Due to budgetary restrictions, we had to reduce the number of (rented) mini-computers planned in 1975. Rather than to chop off terminal concentrators, we chose to turn some of the packet switching nodes into concentrators, in order to maintain wide access to CYCLADES hosts. Since nodes were then too few, a host interface has been implemented on concentrators. Temporarily, 2 hosts were disconnected, reducing the host population from 16 to 14.
Line speeds are as indicated on Figure I. 48 Kb/s lines were delivered late in '74 and their operation raised a few hardware and software difficulties, which delayed their use on a regular basis until March 75.
FIG. 1. - CYCLADES topology
Year '72 was devoted to the general design, planning, and staffing of the project. Participating centers became active towards the end of '72.
Year '73 saw the implementation of a baby network, which was publicly demonstrated at the beginning of November '73, with 3 homogeneous hosts, and one packet switch. Facilities available were :
- Inter-operator communications
- File transfer
- Remote job entry
From that point on, the network grew rapidly.
Another official presentation in February '74 featured 4 hosts and 3 packet nodes. The packet switching network (CIGALE) was turned operational for 3 hours a day, and this immediately fostered the testing of host software on the various sites, as well as giving practical experience in the operational aspects of a packet switching network.
Software for a terminal concentrator was developed on the MITRA-15 (the same mini-computer as used for CICALE). This allows users not attached to a host to use the network and the services offered on any host. In practice, concentrators may be viewed as a specialized version of a host, on which only relevant parts of the network protocols have been implemented. In March '75, there were 4 concentrators installed. Terminals are normally provided by users.
By June '74 CIGALE had 7 nodes, and was made operational for longer sessions, up to 6 hours a day since January '75. In addition CIGALE is also available most of the time out of regular sessions, for users who want to run tests or experiments.
In February '75, CIGALE shrunk to 3 nodes, for reasons indicated previously, and 4 concentrators were equipped with host interfaces.
A control center and a measurement center were also developped on Mitra-15's. The former is located at IRIA and the latter in Rennes (in a P&T 6 research center). They monitor the network for statistics and exception conditions. The control center is used also to load programs dynamically into nodes.
Host services had to be provided, if the network were to be any useful. New developments were rather straightforward, as they were implemented as user programs interfacing through macros or sub-routine calls with CYCLADES transport stations. Existing manufacturer software, viz. time-sharing and remote batch, were made to interface with the network.
Services available in March '75 were time-sharing, remote batch, file transfer, and local terminal access, both on IRIS-80 and 360/67 computers. The same services, except time-sharing, were also available on 10 070.
No services were at that time offered on other machines, save for a few ad hoc implementations.
These facilities were demonstrated in Toronto (Canada) at the beginning of November '74. The MITRA 15 installed there worked alternately as a terminal concentrator on CYCLADES, or as a ClGALE node. The link was a 4 800 bits/s leased telephone line.
In addition, CYCLADES and the NPL network were interconnected [2] in August '74. This is considered as a first leg of the European Informatics Network [3] (EIN) of which NPL and IRIA are node centers. Initially terminals at IRIA could access services on the NPL network, principally using SCRAPBOOK, a text editor and filing system. The use of CYCLADES facilities from NPL terminals was not yet available, due to differences between present CYCLADES protocols and those agreed with NPL. Some adaptations are being worked on.
Controlling the work of a multitude of organizations scattered over many geographical areas would require a very powerful line of command if tasks were organized on a factory basis. In a research environment this approach is just too unrealistic. Therefore we had almost no administrative control and very few reports or large meetings (no more than quarterly).
The main idea was to develop friendship among all the participants, who hardly knew each other before, and to introduce goals, challenge, enthusiasm, as well as some redundancy so that no failure would be critical. People were encouraged to take initiative and see each other whenever necessary. Mixed teams involving persons from various places were set up, mostly to break parochialism and inhibitions. In order to make sure that no one would be left out, or retire to an ivory tower, a person from IRIA was assigned specifically to the job of traveling consultant and gossip carrier. It was assumed that information around the network would circulate much better through thousands of informal channels. In particular contributions, or lack of contribution, from individuals were more widely visible. This approach seemed to work.
However, there were unavoidably some critical paths, which were kept under the direct control of IRIA within the headquarters of the project. These tasks were:
- CIGALE, the packet switching network
- The definition of network-wide protocols
- The implementation of protocols on CII machines
(10 070 and IRIS 80), which represented 50 % of the hosts.
With these tasks under control, we were in a safer position to set up half the network on schedule.
Participants see CIGALE[4] as a black box carrying packets. Thus they were not directly concerned in its construction. It was developed mainly as a sub-project in conjunction with the French P&T, who assigned two people to this task. The CIGALE effort coincided with the first deliveries of MITRA 15's by C.I.I. This meant teething problems, mainly in technical support, documentation, and basic software. In addition our staff were mostly inexperienced programmers. It took until mid '74 to recover from these early difficulties. Well trained professionals from software houses were gradually brought in and CIGALE is now well under control.
The protocol team was initially composed of people from a variety of participants, in order to gain wider acceptance. Some individuals were assigned to IRIA for periods ranging from 3 months to one year. Others worked with us for short periods, or attended frequent small meetings. As a result, the CYCLADES protocols, were already reasonably well accepted when their specifications were made available. We experimented with a method of portable definition, intended to facilitate implementation on various operating systems, and prevent ambiguities in interpretation. This approach has been quite satisfactory, as practically no incompatibility problems have been reported from the various sites.
Participants were in charge of developing their own host software, when they could not benefit from the IRIA implementation. In addition they co-operated in various ways : adaptation of host services to the network environment, demonstrations, simulation of host protocols before implementation, preliminary studies in view of coming developments. Most of them were given contracts from IRIA to help them set up a local team, and compensate partially for the manpower they provided. On the other hand, they had to make computer time available for software testing.
A noticeable point has been the very strong cooperation with C. I. I.3 in the definition and implementation of host protocols and adaptation of host services. While basic host to host protocols were designed without the need for operating system modification, this could not apply to existing access methods designed for directly connected terminals. Furthermore a proportion of participants would not have reacted enthusiastically to the idea of having modifications, unsupported by the manufacturer. In order to anticipate these predictable difficulties, an agreement has been reached with C.I.I., whereby this company takes the responsibility of maintaining the CYCLADES software on its own computers. A similar problem could arise with other manufacturers, but its scale is so far much more limited. Modifications are presently under participant responsibility.
When CYCLADES was initially set into operation, i.e. in the last quarter of 1974, we relied on each participant initiative to be present on the network at least 2 hours a day. It did not work out, as most participants did not consider the network as really operational, and shunned sessions as a waste of time.
Through a mixture of participant volunteering and political support from the Ministry of Education, it was decided to expand the session time to 6 hours, and concentrate all effort on 2 centers, Lyon and Grenoble (2 IRIS 80, 1 360/67). Simultaneously a campaign was launched to recruit users and install terminals attached to concentrators. Monthly meetings were held to review progress, uncover hurdles, and take appropriate speedy action. All parties involved were informally invited so as to create a forum atmosphere and exchange experience.
Since January '75, the project definitely picked up new momentum, even though it was only visible within a few participants. Emphasis shifted from system to user matters: terminal keyboards, command language, manuals, session schedule, training, etc. The real concern was no longer whether the net worked, but how to make it attractive. Soon other participants got anxious to step on the bandwagon.
The number of persons assigned to the project has been changing constantly, and not all persons were assigned full time. As it was not realistic to keep track precisely of the amount of manpower made available within each participant, we relied usually on samplings taken at a few months intervals.
The manpower spent on the project till the end of '74 is about 70 man-years. Expenses in contracts with participants, software houses, and C.I.I. totaled roughly 12 millions French Francs by the end of '74. Even without reliable figures on participant contributions, it was estimated that they would equal the amount of subsidies5 [5].
The total forecast till the end of '75 was respectively 140 man-years, and 52 MFF. In other words 50 % of the resources have been spent during the first 3 years. Since there are about 70 people currently working full time on the project, predicted costs will probably be attained over the current year.
Overall the project is both on schedule and within the predicted budget. It is however less predictable that with inflation and reduction in expected funds, we will be able to continue throughout '75 at the planned level of commitment.
It should also be recognized that the extent to which objectives have been met is not always as we expected. In the areas of basic software, results are generally beyond our initial expectations. A second iteration of host protocols should be completed by mid '75. CYCLADES and CIGALE have been accepted not only as an interesting experiment, but also as prototypes of commereial products. The transfer of know-how to the computing industry has been faster than could be predicted. On the other hand, the adaptation of existing manufacturer software is more cumbersome than we had hoped it would be.
Finally, applications got off the ground, but slower than we anticipated. It is clearer now that real users do not move as long as they cannot check the practical operability of a new tool. It appears that it could take several more years to establish live applications in a casual DP environment.
Nevertheless, prototype applications are being introduced in '75. The subject of network usage will be covered in the following chapter.
There are basically two domains of applications for CYCLADES. One is the use of the present prototype network, in its current configuration, or with some extensions. The other is the development of independent replicas of CYCLADES for the internal use of large organizations.
We might term CYCLADES-0, the present project, initially planned through the end of '75. The main objective in terms of network usage is to turn it into a university network for the benefit of the Ministry of Education, which owns all computers within universities and some research institutes. To that effect CYCLADES should allow students and researchers (not computer specialists), to get the most cost-effective computing services available on the network. It is mainly a service bureau type of operation for unsophisticated users whose ambitions reach the level of compile-and-go Fortran jobs, or pre-packaged applications.
Therefore, what is required, is to make the usual manufacturer software services available on the larger computers of the network, and provide access through terminal concentrators. This type of use started in January '75 on the Lyon and Grenoble computers, with both local and distant customers. Once this service is considered satisfactory, other centers will be gradually added, as well as additional concentrators. IRIA is already joining the band. Existing smaller scale computers will also be used for concentrating terminals, possibly in parallel with local tasks.
Other than for the typical software and equipment problems, the main difficulties that remain are organizational and psychological. Users hate changing their habits, and it is always difficult to persuade them to try another computer or system. This may be a reason why we found better response from people who were working on new applications, and had not yet settled for specific computing services. Computer centers are not organized to deal with very distant customers, particularly in regard to documentation and consulting services. Charging practices are also quite a problem in the typical French Administration environment.
It is clear that new methods, policies and tools, will have to be devised. Our approach is to try first, and then correct from experience. There is definitely no intention of developing sophisticated and expensive tools, nor re-inventing manufacturer software. Thus, network services are going to be limited to whatever is realistic on present day systems. A few simple tools are already available and may be expanded later, e.g. network journal, standard description of services and tariffs, ready to go sets of control statements, etc.
In addition. CYCLADES-0 is intended to be used as a research tool for further network experiments : network languages, new types of terminals, new operating systems, etc. This is not likely to involve the hosts devoted to the university service bureaus.
It may be useful to list some of the applications that were at various stages of development in March '75 :
CYCLADES -bis are the commercial fall-outs. Two departments of the French Administration have already opted for private CYCLADES, which will be installed by software firms. It turns out that many large organizations operate heterogeneous computers in different locations. For various reasons, not necessarily technical, they choose to keep these installations, but use them more efficiently. Among typical requirements are access to several computers from the same terminals, or file enquiry from various computers or terminals.
Some large corporations prefer building their own system, on their own design. This trend is typical when a new technology spreads over. Technical staffs are eager to acquire first hand experience and go convince their managers that only a homemade system can meet their requirements. In some cases, such an investment. is totally justified. But in general, experienced managers favour already proven systems backed by dependable vendors. Already supported on UNIDATA equipment, CYCLADES is currently the only system offered commercially with a comprehensive set of well defined protocols for heterogeneous networks. Even when their installations are homogeneous, sophisticated users balk at the prospect of getting completely trapped in the spider web of too powerful manufacturers.
Studies are under way to make CYCLADES protocols commercially available under various operating systems. Most likely, this support will be provided by software houses.
In this context no plans are yet sufficiently advanced to speak from experience. So far it seems that technical difficulties are to be found in adapting existing procedures, access methods, teleprocessing packages, into a network environment. This problem is general, not peculiar to CYCLADES. We can expect however that the careful insulation of the various logical levels of protocols will make it easier than in more ad hoc constructions.
Another potential problem arises from the commercial nature of the industry. It is a constant strategy of well established suppliers to devise products and services intended to keep customers captive, and competitors at bay. Once it is a known fact that CYCLADES opens the door to foreign computers and terminals, it is unlikely to be welcomed by large manufacturers.
At the present time, the basic protocols are those described in [1], except for the "liaison" type which has not been implemented. There was no direct use for it in the conventional services we were aiming for.
During '73 extensive discussions about network standards took place on the international scene, mostly within IFIP WG 6.1. In the light of these discussions, and as a result of our experience with the present protocols, a new design was produced [6]. Among the major points which brought us to this change were :
- Letter size was dependent on packet size
- Connection set up was too costly in its implementation
- There was too much freedom in protocol variations.
This last point may sound paradoxical, since CYCLADES advocates precisely the ability to allow for any kind of user tailored protocol. A bit of explanation might be useful.
Our initial design presented the various letter services as independent and parallel implementations, on top of a basic service. In practice, independence meant redundancy and more expensive implementations. Sharing functions would have created hidden dependencies. Furthermore, future needs would have increased this undesirable dilemma, since users were tempted to invent protocols with slight variations, leading gradually to a jungle of mutant species.
The new approach tends to eliminate duplication by making protocols interdependent in a tree-structured manner. New services may be added as options, but it should be tempting to build onto the more basic ones. Furthermore, a negotiation procedure allows interworking between parties having not necessarily the same set of options. To sum up, there is freedom, and discipline. Users may start from scratch and build their own basic protocols. It is only hoped that this will not happen too often.
The new design of host protocols is taken as standard within C.I.I. for its new line of software products. It is also accepted as a first step in the European network (EIN).
Additional higher level protocols have been specified and implemented :
- A contact protocol [7], allowing a terminal to set up connections with a particular transport station.
- A virtual terminal protocol [8], intended to make compatible any terminal and any server system on a host. The CYCLADES virtual terminal is modeled after a tree structure, so as to facilitate the handling of structured data, such as files, or intelligent terminals. It handles Teletypes as well.
Again, these protocols are integrated in C.I.I. software products, so that commercial support be readily available. Several software houses have joined in a CYCLADES club, with the objective of disseminating common standards, and a consistent product line. This may be a starting point in attempting to work out nation-wide standards.
The CYCLADES project has mushroomed in various areas, some of which are described briefly below:
A long term objective is to be able to access in parallel several heterogeneous data bases, for some integrated purpose. A first step is being implemented using SOCRATE [9], a data base system available on C.I.I., SIEMENS and IBM machines. A network access method [10] has been implemented to allow accessing a homogeneous data base distributed over several computers. A second step will be to link two data base systems.
Several research projects are investigating practical schemes allowing a variety of mini-computers to offer services and resources in a consistent manner, without losing their autonomy (e.g. university of Toulouse [11]).
A particular effort is being put on the sharing and dissemination of scientific information, for which a substantial investment has been made in the past decade, in the form of specialized data banks. This is a world-wide effort. In France, coordinating agencies are BNIST 4 and BAB 5. They are involved through the European communities in the EURONET project, which intends to pool scientific information allover Europe. The interconnection of CYCLADES with the SDS-ESRO network is part of this drive. The cooperation established between France and Canada in this particular domain should result in common projects undertaken in '75.
At the worldwide level, UNESCO is conducting a long term study (UNISIST [12]), whose goals are to plan and organize the dissemination of scientific information across all countries. This is an obvious and challenging future for international cooperation.
A research project investigates the feasibility of creating a network wide language interpreted within a portable environment [13] This work should be pursued in cooperation with EIN.
Host protocols are simulated before implementation, in order to check their logic and efficiency. A CIGALE model is under way [14], particularly in view of testing routing and flow control techniques. On this last aspect, co-operation has been started with the University of Waterloo (Canada).
Concentrators are being refined in order to allow various configurations, and supervision through ClGALE. Studies are under way for prototypes of terminals and mini-concentrators working directly with standard network packets [15]. Radio-terminals are also being investigated.
In our view the network scene is rapidly changing. What was considered a few years ago as futuristic is now forming the basis of tomorrow's plans. There is noticeable pressure for less experimentation and more practical work. There is also more concern for standards [16], since it is clear that networks will have to communicate with each other.
For these reasons the CYCLADES effort is already being transferred gradually to the private sector. Both software and hardware developments and engineering are now becoming commercially marketable. It is not IRIA's mission to undertake such steps. Hence, there will be a split between research type activities and industrial developments. Specific emphasis will be put on some prototype applications, such as military, financial, or documentation systems requiring typical network technology, i.e. distributed resources.
Standards have been a definite concern from the beginning of the project [17], and it is a permanent objective to seek agreement with other "networkers" on some level of compatibility. Interconnection with NPL is one example. Another is the public vs. private network issue. CIGALE offers the type of service that the CCITT calls "datagram". Therefore, users building now private packet switching networks will be able to expand them, or to replace them later with public services, provided they use CYCLADES protocols, which only require datagrams.
The CYCLADES philosophy is geared to offer an alternative to organizations which are not prepared to sign away their future with a particular manufacturer. It seems that this is going to be less and less of an academic issue.
[1] POUZIN L. - Presentation and major design aspects of the CYCLADES computer network. Third Data Communications Symposium, Tampa, (Nov. 73) pp 80-85. HYPERLINK
[2] GIEN M., SCANTLEBURY R. - Interconnection of packet switching networks. Theory and practice.EUROCOMP, London, (Sep. 75), to be presented.BAD TITLE ??
[3] BARBER D.L.A. - The European computer network project. ICCC, Washington, (Oct. 72), 192-20[0] [4] POUZIN L. - CIGALE, the packet switching machine of the CYCLADES computer network. IFIP Congress, Stockholm, (Aug. 74), pp 155-159. HYPERLINK
[5] POUZIN L. - The economics of computer networks. The CYCLADES case. International Symposium on Economics of Informatics. (Sep. 74), IBI ed. Vol. II, 79-8[8] [6] ZIMMERMANN H., ELIE M. - Transport protocol.Standard host-host protocol for heterogeneous computer networks. Doc CYCLADES SCH 519.1; (Jun. 74), 31 p. Also IFIP WG6.1, doc 6].
[7] ZIMMERMANN H. - Protocole client-serveur de terminaux. Doc. Reseau CYCLADES, TER 502.2, (Nov. 74), 8 p.
[8] ZIMMERMANN H. - Terminal access in the CYCLADES computer network. International Computing Symposium, Antibes (Jun. 75), (to be presented).
[9] AERIAL J.R. et a1. - Projet SOCRATE. Nouvelles specifications (version 3). Universite de Grenoble,(Sep. 72), 625 p.
[10] CHUPIN J.C. - Control concepts of a logical network machine for data banks. IFIP Congress, Stockholm, (Aug. 74), pp 291-295
[11] BEAUFILS R., LAGASSE J.P., CAGANEL J.P. - Projet ARAMIS. Specifications d'un reseau de miniordinateurs. Universite de Toulouse, (1974), 14 p.
[12] UNESCO - UNISIST Synopsis, (Mar. 71), 92 p.
[13] DU MASLE J., FARZA M.N., SERGEANT G. - Proposed organisation of an interpreter intended for the implementation of high level procedures on a computer network. IFIP working conference on command languages, Lund, (Aug. 74), 7 p.
[14] IRLAND M. - Simulation of ClGALE. CCNG Report E-32, University of Waterloo, (Jan. 75).
[15] DENJEAN F. - Connexion de terminaux a un reseau de commutation de paquets. International meeting on mini computers and data communication, Liege, (Jan. 75), 8 p.
[16] POUZIN L. - Standards in Data Communications and computer networks. Reseau CYCLADES, Fourth Data Communications Symposium, Quebec City, Canada, October 7-9, 1975, pp 2.8-2.12
[17] POUZIN L. - A proposal for interconnecting packet switching networks. EUROCOMP, Brune1 University, (May 74), 1023-1036. Also IFIP WG6.1, doc 60
1. National Physical Laboratory, UK.
2. European Space Research Organization
3. Compagnie Internationale pour l'Informatique. A French computer manufacturer engaged in a European group (UNIDATA) with PHILIPS and SIEMENS
4. Bureau National d'Information Scientifique et Technique.
5. Bureaud'Automatisation des Bibliothèques.


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Home Improvement Projects That Sell
With the start of a new year, many people turn their attention to improvements. If your New Year's resolutions include home improvement projects, it might be wise to evaluate them not only for the benefits they will bring you while you live there, but the value they will carry when it's time to sell.
If you think that money spent upgrading your home automatically translates into a higher sales price, you are likely to be disappointed. In many cases, this is not the case.
"It's a very common misconception," says Stephanie Chan, a top broker and partner at Prudential Locations LLC. "The good news is that by doing some simple research before choosing your upgrade projects, you can avoid common yet easily avoidable pitfalls and maximize the return of your home improvement dollars."
Mistakes include over-improving your home or selecting styles or colors that may not appeal to buyers. And, unless you're a professional, Chan advises against do-it-yourself projects, which may showcase expensive materials but suffer from poor workmanship or design, or colors that are too loud. Inappropriate upgrades can be a waste of money, she says, and can end up being more of a detraction than an asset.
"I brought a client to a gorgeous apartment – the floor-plan, the views, everything was great, except for the bedroom," Chan describes. "The owner recently painted that room a shocking red and built in very awkward shelving. It was such a turnoff that the clients decided not to move forward with buying the unit, despite all its upsides. Unless a renovation is universally appealing, don't count on it to help sell your apartment."
In the case of paint, you might enjoy non-traditional color schemes while you live there, but make sure to budget for re-painting when it comes time to sell. Neutral color schemes, and new paint in general, will show the best.
Remodeling projects that sell and recoup the highest percentage of their cost, according to Remodeling magazine's 2011-12 Cost vs. Value Report (www.costvsvalue.com), include doing a minor kitchen remodel – such as upgrading cabinets with new doors and drawers, installing new appliances, and updating countertops and sink, and replacing the front door and garage door. Other projects in which sellers are able to recoup 60 percent or more of their costs are adding a wood deck, replacing windows, adding a second story or a family room and remodeling a bathroom.
"In any home, the quality and appearance of the kitchen and bathroom are central," Chan says. "They are both often-used rooms that wear down quickly, so special attention should be given to keep them constantly fresh and appealing."
She adds that simple upgrades have the most impact.
"You can minimize the cost by refacing cabinet doors as opposed to purchasing new cabinets," says Chan. "Don't change the bathtub, but maybe have the surface reglazed. Buy a new lighting fixture or change a rusty old faucet."
It makes sense that a tastefully upgraded home will generally sell faster and for more money than a competitor that doesn't show as well.
But it is equally true that shoddy workmanship and unconventional color schemes or design can send buyers running.
It's all about making a home really sparkle.
"New appliances can easily and quickly give the house an edge," Chan says. "If I take a buyer to five houses and one house has new carpet, a fresh coat of paint and new appliances, that goes a long way."
Some of the projects where you can expect to recoup a smaller percentage of your investment include replacing windows and the addition of a master suite, a
bathroom, or a garage, according to the study. Likewise, spending a lot of money on the wrong improvements may make your home less attractive to potential buyers.
For the maximum return on your improvement investment, check with your Prudential Locations agent to find what currently sells and what doesn't.


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With the blessing of bike angel "Lala Lallement," a local theater company is delving into New Haven's two-wheeled past to help a nervous accountant confront his fear of the velocipede.
The confrontation happens in the latest production by A Broken Umbrella Theatre company, which has made a name for itself in New Haven with site-specific plays that draw from local history.
The production, called "Head Over Wheels," is a goofy, kid-friendly, bike-themed musical that opens Saturday during Westville's weekend ArtWalk festival.
The play, like all Broken Umbrella productions, is written by the company and inspired by New Haven events of yesteryear. In this case, the inspirational incident is the first recorded "header" off a bike , in 1865. The historic faceplant was achieved by Frenchman and Ansonian Pierre Lallement, who famously rode his newly invented pedal-bike on the New Haven Green and took out the first American patent on it in April 1866.
According to one historical account, Lallement careened down a hill in what is now Derby one damp day and struck the edge of a culvert. "The positions of rider and vehicle were suddenly reversed, and the rider still wears the scar of that too impulsive embrace of mother earth," Charles E. Pratt, co-founder of the League of American Wheelmen, wrote in 1883.
The historical facts of the header and the subsequent patent were fed into Broken Umbrella's all-inclusive group brain-storming and plot-development process, and a 35-minute comedy set in the present day emerged.
During a recent visit to the show's outdoor set on Blake Street in Westville, director Rachel Alderman described the plot:
The story revolves around a hub formed by two twins, Clint and Flint. Clint owns the town bike shop, Clint's Sweet Bikes. Every year he puts together the "Pierre Lallement Annual Community Bicycle Ride," a bit like the annual Rock-To-Rock ride in real-life New Haven.
As the annual ride approaches, Flint, the town accountant, becomes more and more nervous. He's harboring a terrible secret—he can't ride a bike. He can balance the books, but not a bicycle. And he's afraid he's going to be chosen as the ride's grand marshal.
Luckily, Lala Lallement—a woman who is part angel, part goddess, and a descendent of Pierre himself—comes to Flint's aid and helps him to confront his terror.
"She comes and helps Flint find his inner bike spirit," Alderman said.
Like all Broken Umbrella productions, the show will be staged in an unconventional space. It will be the second show to go up at the company's new home in the old furnace room of a long-vacant factory. But while the last show was inside the space, "Head Over Wheels" will be just outside.
A Broken Umbrella is in the process of transforming the building's facade into backdrop for the play. An overhead garage door has been transformed into the entry way to Clint's Sweet Bikes. Another garage door has been painted with a giant art-deco inspired painting of Lala Lallement, bike goddess.
The stage is surrounded by a proscenium made of spinning bike wheels, unintentionally similar to the facade at the Devil's Gear bike shop on Orange Street.
Astroturf will be rolled out in the parking lot for kids to sit down, with bleachers placed behind it.
The show will feature original rock music, inspired by the '80s. The band will set up on stage left, near the town's organic pizzeria shop, Scott Slices It Up. Scott delivers pizzas by bike, of course.
The cast of four main characters is rounded out with another bike-rider, a local paper boy. Each character has a distinctive bike specific to his personality, many of which came from the scrapyard belonging to Rachel's husband Ian Alderman, another one of the company's principals.
For Ian, the show is a chance to show off his "clowning" talents, which have not been a feature of previous productions, Rachel said. "It's going to be over the top goofy."
While the show is intended to share the "inherent joy" of bikes with the audience, it's already had a similar effect on the cast.
Broken Umbrella members have a variety of levels of bike enthusiasm, from everyday urban riders to bike-path-only pedal-pushers to those who never set foot on a bike, Rachel said. Despite those differences, the company recently took part in the Rock to Rock ride together.
"It was such a great day," Rachel Alderman said. "That's the same spirit of the show ... a celebration of community"
"Head Over Wheels" is just the first of two bike-history-themed productions Broken Umbrella has in the works. Next spring, the company will put on a more grown-up show that explores the connections between bikes, corsets, and women's freedom.
Among New Haven's many firsts is that is was home to the very first corset factory, Alderman said. Then when the bicycle rolled around, it hastened the development of the "rational dress" movement. The trend was towards more comfortable clothing for women, to allow them to do things like bike-riding. Meanwhile, despite New Haven's biking pedigree, the city grew to become a center for the manufacturing of the most restrictive of women's clothing, with nine corset factories in town, Alderman said.
Just how Broken Umbrella will weave those threads into a narrative remains to be worked out. Alderman said the company has a "crazy brainstorming" process that takes ideas "to outer space" before arriving back on earth with a script.
It's a process designed to allow company members to explore whatever creative desires they have, Alderman said. "We really want to be that dream outlet for people." Whatever members want to pursue, the message is: "We have a home for you." That's how the giant art-deco bike goddess ended up on the outside of the company's headquarters—one member wanted to do it and the company made it work into the play.
This June, for the first time, A Broken Umbrella is opening up that creative process to the public with a gallery show of work exploring the relationship between bikes and corsets, Aldermen said.
Also coming up, in October, the company will unveil a production commissioned by the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation to commemorate the library's 125th anniversary. That show will take place in the library's main branch downtown.
Head over Wheels will be performed on May 12 at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. and May 19 at 2 and 4 p.m. at 446A Blake St. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. And performances are rain or shine. In case of precipitation, A Broken Umbrella has umbrellas—non-broken ones—to hand out to the audience.


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Your Shopping Cart
We hope you found everything you were looking for.
If you cannot find what you are looking for on our site, or you are not pleased with your purchase for any reason, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you. Whenever you're in the Austin area, stop by either of our locations to see what's new.


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|Hermes, our adorable Argentine dogo, is 1 years old now! He's getting big (I'm wearing 10cm heals on the photo, so you can imagine what a beast he is becoming!), but he's still a real cutie!
dimanche 23 juin 2013
Summer is back...some natural ways to soothe sunburn.
23 commentaires:
Missed you so much sweetheart <3RépondreSupprimer
Thanks dear! Missed you too :)Supprimer
I love summer too. But now it's winter here in Brazil and I hate it. Your hair is beautiful and very creative. Kisses!RépondreSupprimer
Thanks for the compliment on my hair :) Hope that winter goes ok, I have heard that it isn't too harsh in Brazil compared to europe.Supprimer
Hi dear, your blog is amazing, it inspires me so much and I love all of your posts..such an amzing style!! Why don't you have a look on my blog, I've just launched an amazing sponsored giveaway by persunmall clothing, there are such great prizes and a very few people are now joied..if you want to know something more here's the link:RépondreSupprimer
Thanks! Will check out your blog and giveaway too :)Supprimer
Girl I love summer too! Like I wait for the summer months all your long....and then they're gone in the blink of an eye:(. Enjoy this beautiful season:)! P.S. Thank you so much for the kind words on my video!RépondreSupprimerRéponses
Summer sure does past too fast! I suppose the only way to live with summer weather all year round is to live 6 months in the northern hemisphere than the other 6 in the southern!Supprimer
Love the last pic ;)RépondreSupprimer
:) thanks hun!Supprimer
Looks really awesome.RépondreSupprimer
- Anonyme5 juillet 2013 à 12:18
Very nice ;)RépondreSupprimer
I folow you beautiful blog. I hope you will follow me back and I will wait for you in my blog www.gabusiek.blogspot.comRéponses
thank you for following :) I'm following your lovely blog too!Supprimer
Very nice post...
Maybe you want to follow each other..!!!
Keep in touch,
thanks for visiting! Sure I'd love to follow!Supprimer
- Réponses
thanks :) *blush*Supprimer
Yay , great to see you after a while .RépondreSupprimer
I can't just love summer , because it's like 35C here without beaches so I'm pretty much wanting winter around . Love your hair shades , ah-wosome.
Noor @ Noor's PlaceRéponses
I understand the heat issue! Here on the coast we have a nice cool breeze, but inland, near the desert, the temperature goes up to over 50°!! Glad you like my hair :)Supprimer
Lovely post and outfit!RépondreSupprimer
Great blog!
I appreciate that you have the same interest in Fashion, Style and Beauty, maybe when you have time you wanna visit my page:
Silvia, kisses!


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I don't have to tell you it's been a bumpy year. From bizarre elections to a slowing economy to shocking world events. So many things have broken. Lives. Careers. Trust.
I'm lucky because I didn't break this yearI just cracked. At first I thought I'd patch up the crack and go on as I did, using a concrete mix of denial and hope.
Then I noticed I could look through the crack and see something new inside. Something that could emerge, like a chick from an egg. I realized this by accident, the way so many discoveries are made. I did it by looking in the mirror.
Now, I don't look in the mirror often, which, according to my wife, explains why the little hair I have left sometimes looks as it
does. It's not because I'm not vainIn my early thirties I tried lots of different things to keep from losing my hair and turning gray. Nothing workedexcept to stop looking at myself. Then I could imagine I looked the way I felt.
But a few days ago a storm was raging outside, the electricity had gone off and we were plunged back into the 1700s with only candles. And it was in this new light that I saw what I saw in
the mirror.
I saw Santa. He looked jolly, and pleasant... and a lot like me. As I stared at his face, I realized it was mine.
It wasn't such a bad face after all. It was like it had finally turned into what I felt. I didn't started out life as a generous person, but I have become one. I'd accepted the Santa inside me and he finally found his way
to the surface through that crack.
As a child, I always liked Santa. I mean, what's not to like? He's a snappy dresser. He works great hours and has snazzy rig. Not to mention the fact that he gives good presents. I knew he wasn't "real," but I still wanted to believe in him.
And now I do. Not just in myself, but in everyone who helps
other people. We've seen a lot of Santas this year, helping those in need. And while the Scrooges got more press, if you stop and think about it, all over the world we've seen a lot more Santas than Scroogesa good sign for the future.
So accept the fact you're crackedlet your inner Santa out.
And to all, a good night.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Santa and I worked together to send you a digital present. Download the free Santa clock or animated card screensaver as our holiday gifts to you. Just go to Santa's Page and or send Santa e-mail at email@example.com . Happy Holidays!
http://www.will-harris.com , http://www.elementoftime.com , http://www.mydailyyoga.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santa Spurns Spam
Santa and I were nearly going mad with Spam. I was
getting over 100 a day (and I can only imagine how many he was getting). Together we finally found a solution, http://www.MailBlocks.com This service cuts out spam
Now if you send me an e-mail, and you're in my address
bookthe message gets through instantly. If I don't know you, your e-mail goes into a pending folder and the system server sends you an e-mail, asking you to click on a link. The link takes you to a web page with some words or numbers in a graphic format that people (not machines or Spam robots) can read. You type in those numbers and press return, and you're added to the list of approved senders, and your message goes to my inbox
and the next time you e-mail me your mail will go right through again instantly. Spammers won't respond personally, so their Spam doesn't go through.
MailBlocks is well-designed and well-financed, so it should be around for years to come. It's also smart, because it uses the IMAP e-mail protocol (which lets your e-mail program interact with the mail server, rather than just downloading messages), so you can use it
as web-based mail, then still download your mail to your normal e-mail program such as Outlook, Eudora, or the program I use, The Bat from http://www.ritlabs.com . You can even use it with AOL, Yahoo mail or Hotmail. The web-mail portion is the best I've seen, so you may want to use it instead of any other online e-mail service.
If you sign up now, you can get a special price of three years for a mere $9.95.
If you don't have a domain name, you can also use this service as your main e-mail address.
One thing you should also do is hide your e-mail address from spammers. BitMotion's SuperSpamFree on your site puts your e-mail address in a format that many address-harvesting software programs can't read.
Or, use a simple script to disguise your e-mail address.

OR, here are two scripts that use the same scripting
technique but use normal text links. Here they are:
OR:
Just change "YOURDOMAIN.COM" to your real domain,
and YOURADDRESS@ to your real address (including the @ sign). You can change the VALUE to whatever you want the email button to say. Because this breaks your e-mail address into two pieces, e-mail harvesting programs can't suck it up and send you spam.
Want to drop that script into Fusion? Here's how:
Remember, you can also use this HTML tip to drop any code into Fusion, including forms, PayPal e-commerce buttons, whatever).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How This Santa Sends Out The Presents
While I actually do answer all my e-mail, one of the ways Santa can answer so much e-mail (and quickly send you the free Santa clock and screensaver) is by using an auto-respondera message that gets sent out automatically from your server or e-mail software.
I never use these to replace personal replies, but they are useful if you have standard information (like how to download presents) you want to send.
The easiest way to do this is using your e-mail program. Each e-mail program has its own way to do this. Some call it a "Filter" while others (like Outlook and Express) called it a "Message Rule."
In the case of Santa's holiday goodies, my Filter looks for a specific e-mail address. When an e-mail arrives to that address, the filter moves the message to the Presents folder, then automatically sends a reply with instructions on how to download the present.
If you are going to get a heavy volume of mail to an
auto-responder address, see if your ISP or web host offers automatic auto-responders right from their mail server. My web host, http://www.intermedia.net (I highly recommend them) makes it easy to set up mailboxes, and auto-replies.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Come On, SantaDo Good
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ONE MORE THING: 8 shopping days...
Consider my unique watches and computer clocks make great gifts. We pack and ship for you.
Best wishes for the Holidays and a happy New Year.
Like the stories? Buy the book!
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The SchoomozeLetter is ©1998-2005, Daniel Will-Harris, all rights reserved. If you'd like to use any article on the web or in print, please ask for permission. If you're an agent or publisher
looking to publish these pieces, just drop me a note.


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Now accepting film and screenplay submissions.
TAFFest is seeking films in the following categories:
Narrative Shorts (30 min or less)
Documentary Features (over 30 min)
Documentary Shorts (30 min or less)
Oklahoma based student films (30 minutes or less)
American Indian, Native & Indigenous Films (any length)
Latino American Films (any length)
African American Films (any length)
Disability Films (any length)
TV Series (30 minutes or less)
Horror Films (any length)
Short Film Screenplays (30 pages or less; unproduced)
We offer two convenient ways to send us your film: Withoutabox and FilmFreeway. To submit, or for more information on each service, please follow the links below:
Guidelines for inclusion in the 2018 program:
All submitted films must be American made. TAFFest considers this to mean that the film was produced within the boundaries of the U.S., but we welcome your own interpretation of what constitutes an American film.
Please note that any film received too late for consideration for the current year's Festival may be considered for the Festival in the following year(s). In addition, quality films not accepted for the current running of Tulsa American Film Festival, for whichever reason, may be considered for resubmission, at no additional fee, unless the filmmaker specifies that the film shall only be considered for the current running of Tulsa American Film Festival.
Films from Tulsa and surrounding area must be a Tulsa premier, including private screenings for friends, family and supporters.
Terms & Conditions:
Simply put, you must have written authorization to exhibit every aspect of your film/video work. All trademarked/copyright work contained within your film or publicity materials - including but not limited to images, sound recordings and musical compositions - must be cleared in order to screen at TAFFest. All personal and property releases, licenses, and other required clearances or authorizations must be available for included persons, likenesses, characters, locations, etc. The submitter must also have gained permission from any and all writers, directors, producers, or other individuals who are considered owners of the film, to submit and screen the film. By submitting through Withoutabox, you indemnify Tulsa American Film Festival and its staff from any and all claims resulting from the display of the work.
All entrants grant permission to have portions of their work reproduced for publicity purposes connected with the Tulsa American Film Festival. Tulsa American Film Festival reserves the right, without limitation, to display any element of any film or script submitted, in part or in whole, for purposes of promoting the film or the Festival.
Tulsa American Film Festival grants awards in the following categories, judged by industry professionals:
- Best Feature Film
- Best Short Film
- Best Student Short Film
- Best Director
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Ensemble Cast
- Best Cinematographer
- Best Screenplay
- Grand Jury Award
- Best Oklahoma Film
Submitting via Withoutabox.com:
Tulsa American Film Festival (TAFFest) prefers online entries submitted via Withoutabox.com, which provides cost-saving, paperless submission to film festivals around the world. Withoutabox's internet-only submission platform features online applications via one master entry form, online fee payments, press kits, and the option to use Secure Online Screeners, an economical, eco-friendly, and secure alternative to traditional hard-copy DVD submissions. Fill out one master entry form and take advantage of quick entry, extended deadlines, and powerful submission management tools. There's no extra cost to you, and by submitting, you'll join Withoutabox's global filmmaker community and stay in the loop about international exhibition opportunities. Click to submit your film today!


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New Girl
- Title
- New Girl
- Genre
- Comedy
- Episodes
- 1 Season, 4 Episodes
- Description
- After a bad breakup, Jess (Zooey Deschanel) moves in with three single guys. Along with her childhood friend Cece, the five friends come to realize they need each other more than they ever thought, and end up forming a charmingly dysfunctional family.
- Share
- Share Facebook Share Twitter
List of Episodes


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Fun original Art Card called 'Blackpool Rock'.
'Blackpool Rock'.
Inspired by a stick of rock and looking at cut slices of polymer clay when it is folded and made into beads. I was looking at a book and Blackpool rock came into my head and out popped this card! It's fun and reminds me of holidays by the beach!
This piece would make an excellent fun gift for a Birthday or to make gorgeous feature in any room by framing. It is blank inside making it ideal for any occasion.
Hammer White Card measuring 14.5 x 14.5cm. Art work measures 9.5 x 9.5cm. Comes with an envelop in a plastic cover for protection.
It will be sent out first class. If you live outside England please email me and I will do my best to accommodate you. If you want more than one item then please email me to discuss grouping the postage.
Whilst I have done my best to photograph this card there may be some variation in colour due to monitor differences.
Blackpool rock and polymer beads!
Shipping & delivery
This item will be posted to you by Seven Hands within 3 days of receiving payment.
|Shipping destination
|Additional items
|United Kingdom
Returns Policy
You have 14 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.
Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; items which deteriorate quickly (e.g. food), personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.


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People Living With HIV Make Their Mark at IAS 2015 in Vancouver
July 28, 2015
Of the significant outcomes of the IAS 2015 in Vancouver that closed just last week, one was the signing of the Vancouver Consensus Statement (2015). It's an urgent call to world leaders, donors, governments, clinicians and civil society to ensure that all people living with HIV have access to antiretroviral treatment upon diagnosis and the strategic use of ARVs for treatment and prevention in order to meet the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets.
It's progressive and addresses the priorities that recent science has dictated make sense in the current environment. Treatment as prevention is there, early treatment is there, better access to medication is there. You can read the Consensus Statement here and/or read aidsmap's review of it here.
Does it do enough to enshrine the rights and priorities of people living with HIV? Perhaps not, said a group of people living with HIV, who quickly gained support for the release of a second statement which builds upon the Vancouver Statement, agrees with its approach but adds important safeguards for people living with HIV. Called The Canadian Declaration by Persons living with HIV (2015), it's a human rights based document that ensures people living with HIV are not coerced into treatment, have immediate access to HIV medications and, amongs other provisions, are fully engaged in all phases of the global approach to ending the epidemic.
It concludes, "To truly achieve or exceed the 90-90-90 targets globally, the scientific, research, medical and pharmaceutical communities, policy makers, international and governmental bodies, funders, and donors must work together with people living with HIV and activists as allies to address more than the bio-medical issues associated with HIV. We must all commit to reducing and eliminating the social and structural impediments that continue to put people at risk of HIV and that drive the epidemic."
Organizers report that within a day, 50 individuals and/or organizations from 12 countries had signed on to show solidarity behind people living with HIV, since expanded to 111 persons and/or organizations. Organizers are encouraging others to sign on here and distribute to others. A French version will be available shortly.
Want to know who has signed up so far? Go here.
Myself and PositiveLIte.com are original signatories to the declaration because we believe in its combination of a progressive approach to ending the epidemic that is comprehensive of the concerns and invovment of people living with HIV while protecting their human rights.
We were at the media launch on Vancouver's waterfront on July 22, 2015, the last day of the conference. You'll see our video below of some of the people living with HIV attending IAS 2105 talking about why the declaration is important to them.
Consider signing it, won't you?
This article was provided by PositiveLite.com.
Add Your Comment:
(Please note: Your name and comment will be public, and may even show up in
Internet search results. Be careful when providing personal information! Before
adding your comment, please read TheBody.com's Comment Policy.)
The content on this page is free of advertiser influence and was produced by our editorial team. See our content and advertising policies.


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About this Business
From Our Editors
"If you succeed, it will change your lives." Accountant Afram Nimeh uttered those words to his two sons in 1993 after investing the last of his savings into a failing restaurant. Though he passed away the following year, his sons—Joseph and Steven—carried on his legacy, Chicken Dijon Rotisserie & Grill. Today, they have expanded the family franchise to three locations, where customers gather to sample casual, healthy Mediterranean cuisine without having to build their own private jets. The kitchen staff efficiently assembles gyro and chicken platters flanked by sides such as rice pilaf, mediterranean potato salad, and stuffed grape leaves, as well as sandwiches topped with chicken, sliced gyro meat, or falafel.


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By Josh on Feb 04, 2015
By now all members and advertisers of the Handmade Tile Association have received their copies of 2015 Directory. Now we need to request you hand them out!
Members can have as many directories as you want, all for free!
For those Members who are outside of MN, we will be shipping a box of directories free of charge to you. If you want more, please contact us and we will be happy to send them. We can even drop-ship them directly to a major event, as long as you will be there to show your work and hand out the directories. Thank you! Your efforts help us all.
Handmade Tile Association
34 Thirteenth Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413


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Meal Type
Featured Videos
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Featured Brand Sites
Featured Brand Sites
Product By Category
Tools & Info
Cooking Tips
Healthy Living
Your Kids
Recipe Ideas
food&family Magazine
7 servings, 1 cup soup and 5 crackers each
Read MoreRead Less
Tap or click steps to mark as complete
Prepare as directed, omitting the rice, substituting frozen peas and carrots for the broccoli and adding 1 can (14-1/2 oz.) undrained stewed tomatoes.
This delicious soup is rich in both flavor and nutrients. As a bonus, the tomato juice and broccoli team up to provide an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A.
* Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.


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Page 1 of 4
The ProXalt's intensive Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Fast Track Training Camp is designed to minimize your study time for the certification exam. You will learn essential skills and knowledge needed to pass the PMP® exam, while also working with real world examples.
This PMP® Exam Prep course is based on the 'A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge' (PMBOK® Guide) – 5th Edition 2013 published by the Project Management Institute (PMI)® and prepares you for the revised PMP® certification exam (effective Nov. 1st, 2015)
Course Objective:
You will learn essential project management standard skills, concepts, terminology, and material covered on the PMP® certfication exam, test taking strategies and other preparation techniques.
Course Description:
This course provides three (3) days of classroom instruction followed simulated PMP® exam. The simulated final exam is about four hours long and must be taken in one sitting; you will take the simulated exam online from your home at you convenience. Course instructions are designed to quickly and efficiently provide you with information, skills, strategies, and techniques to lead to successful preparation for your certification exam. This includes practice exams, facilitated classroom discussions, and individualized student/instructor interaction.
By participating in the complete program you will have developed sufficient knowledge and skills to take the Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam and pass the PMP® test.
Course Format:
Course Package:
Course Duration: 35 Hours
PDUs : 35 hours towards PMP® application - PMI® requirement
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– Athar. Saudi Arabia
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- Ibrahim Rahimi, UAE
|Project Management Professional (PMP)® Exam Prep


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ISIS facing final battle as Turkey and Saudi Arabia prepare to invade
ISIS is facing complete annihilation – but a final battle with the terror state risks sparking an apocalyptic global war.
The Iraqi army is preparing to retake Mosul – Islamic State's main base in Iraq – and the Syrian army is marching on Raqqa – the so-called caliphate's capital in Syria.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia is sending troops and fighter jets to Turkey ahead of a joint invasion from the north.
But the race to Raqqa will pit Saudi Arabia and Turkey against their sworn enemies Russia, Iran and the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Saudi Arabia has said it plans to wipe out Assad as well as ISIS – and it risks drawing Britain into war with Russia and Iran.
"There will be no Bashar al-Assad in the future"Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir
Saudi Arabia has agreed to send four F-16 jets to Turkey's Incirlik military base in Adana, near the border with Syria.
The US said it expects commandos from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to attempt to retake Raqqa.
Turkish artillery shelled Azaz, in northern Syria, at the weekend – but it has denied reports Turkish soldiers carried out raids across the border.
Azaz came under heavy fire again today – with at least 14 civilians killed when Russian missiles hit a children's hospital, a school and other locations.
Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said: "Saudi Arabia declared its determination against Daesh by saying that they were ready to send both jets and troops.
"At every coalition meeting we have always emphasised the need for an extensive result-oriented strategy in the fight against the Daesh terrorist group.
"If we have such a strategy, then Turkey and Saudi Arabia may launch an operation from the land."
The Syrian army has speeded up its attempt to wrestle back control of the country – possibly in a bid to keep Saudi Arabia out of the war.
It has captured positions between Hama and Raqqa, the village of Tamoura – which overlooks rebel-held Aleppo – and Tabqa – where ISIS seized an air base two years ago.
Government forces are nearing the towns of Hayan and Anadan, which lie on the road to Aleppo – and now have their sights set on Raqqa itself.
Assad – a close pal of Russian president Vladimir Putin – has pledged to retake the entire country.
But Saudi Arabia – a key ally of the US and UK – insists his days are numbered.
In a chilling threat, Saudi foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said: "There will be no Bashar al-Assad in the future."
Russia which has pummelled Syria with air strikes at the invitation of Assad since September has warned Saudi Arabia and Turkey against getting involved in the bloody civil war – warning they could spark World War 3.
PM Dmitry Medvedev said: "The Americans and our Arab partners must think well: do they want a permanent war?"
Russia has also accused Turkey of sending Islamic extremists to "replenish" the depleted ranks of ISIS and other terror groups.
It has vowed to continue air strikes in the country even if a ceasefire deal is reached.
Meanwhile, the resurgent Iraqi army – fresh from victory over ISIS in Ramadi – is preparing to retake Mosul.
Two brigades of the army's 15th division have arrived just south of the key city – which had a pre-war population close to 2 million – ahead of the long-expected siege.
US special forces – escorted by Apache attack helicopters and heavy weapons – have arrived at Ein al-Assad airbase in Baghdadi District, west of Anbar in Iraq.
America has offered special forces and Apaches to help the Iraqi army retake Mosul – which would effectively abolish the terror cult's state structure in Iraq and deprive them of a major source of funding.
The loss of Mosul and Raqqa would kill off ISIS's delusions of statehood.
But victory celebrations would be short-lived if fighting continues – between Saudi Arabia and NATO-backed Turkey on one side and Russia and Iran on the other.


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The last week has been filled with controversy over Syria refugees. Republican and Democrat alike have their doubts about the wholesale influx of refugees who potentially could be aligned with terrorism.
This is not an irrational fear, as our president stated in the Philippines, that opponents were "afraid of widows and orphans."
It is always extremely classy of the current administration to take the dirty laundry outside of the country and try to promote his twisted ideals, except it is not in any way professional or in keeping with the leader of the free world. But then, class has never been his burden.
It is a real threat, and the best example would be the two brothers who bombed the Boston Marathon. They immigrated to the United States as children. They had advantages, public schooling and government assistance paid for by American taxpayers.
Trending: BREAKING: Pelosi Gets HOUNDED Out Of Cuban Restaurant – Can You Say, 'KARMA?'
Yet, they retained the beliefs of their homeland, and had a hatred of the country that saved them, protected them. They bit the hand that had fed them, and maimed and killed people they did not even know with their core hatred. Their own mother supported their position, as she was quoted as being in support of the young men and their actions in their violent, anonymous, killing for the terrorist cause along with their friends and allies. There was no remorse, not from any one of them. So much for the "gentler sex."
How did the refugee children the United States fed and sheltered become so full of hate? Could it be cultural? At least, that seems a reasonable and strong possibility.
That being said, it seems that many Syrian refugees who seek asylum in the long held stronghold of Michigan are offended and surprised that a great majority in the United States are against more refugees or, minimally, for a much, much stronger vetting system for potential refugees.
A quote from the book of Matthew 12:30 in which Jesus said, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters…"
If the people who are of the same race and religion as the Islamic State do not CONDEMN and HALT the activities of the Islamic State, then they must be guilty by acquiescence!
They must find this behavior as acceptable if they do not band together and stop it. If they do not scream to the world that they want NO part of such thinking, such gratuitous violence, then they must feel that this is status quo and needs no punishment.
"All evil needs to triumph is for good men to do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
Truer words have never been spoken.
Until some real organized effort by the followers of Islam, in any and all nations, can show some initiative in prohibiting such violence as witnessed in Paris twice this year, by either social and public shunning of radicals, or by actively pursuing and revealing who and where these rogues are operating, there is little confidence in keeping such terrorism under control.
How does the United States know that the families that will enter under refugee status will not bring young men and women who feel that the cause of Radical Islam must be advanced?
Will the United States open its collective arms and invest in such youth, only have treachery returned for its kindness as in the case of the brothers Dzhokher and Tamerlan Tsarnaev?
Are the crystal balls at the ready?
That seems to be the only real way to determine who will turn bad and who will be thankful to accept an opportunity for a quiet, peaceful life with the advantages of freedom, education and happiness in this republic, this haven of freedom, The United States.
Image: http://www.pressenza.com/es/2013/04/11-razones-para-sospechar-de-la-version-oficial-de-los-atentados-en-boston/


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Apple is coming into the traditional gaming space. It's not even a question of 'if,' only of 'when' and 'how.' And that's the question keeping execs at Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo awake at night, and which must surely be filling games creators with a sense of impending revolution.
This being Apple, there's no shortage of media speculation fueled by the company's own raging secrecy. It doesn't matter that the general feeling of confidence of Apple's impending arrival is entirely lacking solid evidence. The media's arguments as well as those from analysts and investors, are based more on Apple's bulging bag of compelling motivations. In short, it just makes too much sense.
Question is, what can we expect to see?
Obviously, the idea of Apple creating some sort of disk-based graphical power-box is ludicrous. There's more chance of the company releasing a crystal-set radio than it showing up at E3 and unveiling a shiny plastic thing alongside a first-party shooter. Consoles aren't merely about graphical speed and tech-specs, although these are important. They are also about access and retail power and brand-trust and by these measures, Apple is a monster.
The company has long been rumored to be working on a TV set, and the idea of this being its videogame play is entirely plausible. It's only a 'console' play because we're talking about gaming through the TV screen, in the home. There's no actual console.
Games business analyst Michael Pachter agrees, "For now this is all rumor and speculation. Nothing's been announced. But it's definitely going to happen," he says. "But it won't be a box. And don't expect to see a giant touch-screen iPad being released. Nobody wants to clean their TV screen every day."
Only this week, an Apple TV was the subject of a glowing consumer survey on buying plans
A recent report once again raised the prospect of Apple's TV-set, amplified (somehow) by Apple's super-senior exec Tim Cook's alleged visit to Valve. (Note: Valve now says this visit never happened.)
Apple's TV has been mentioned in retail surveys and, only this week, was the subject of a glowing consumer survey on TV buying plans, in which 25 percent of U.S consumers said they find the idea "appealing."
Earlier this month Jefferies analyst Peter Misek dubbed the oft-touted device as 'iPanel' and gave various reasons why he believes it's happening soon, including the movement of TV-like components to Apple manufacturing partners in Asia.
Gene Munster, an oft-quoted analyst at Piper Jaffray, cited the TV in a recent projection that Apple's share price could reach $1,000.
Not everyone is convinced, although even those who dismiss the idea of an actual TV-set are happy to note that the next big play will come through the AppleTV device, which does not preclude a games strategy. There's always the possibility of Apple using both a TV set and AppleTV for its foray into lean-back gaming.
One leading game industry exec (who preferred to remain anonymous) told me, "We know this is happening. Apple has been slow to understand the games business but it gets it now, and it understands consumers. It sees gaps, it comes up with elegant solutions. And the games publishers are ultimately going to be happy whenever Apple opens up new ideas, new markets and new consumers."
The idea of an Apple TV set has been in circulation for a long time, as you can find out by visiting IGN's own Apple TV wiki, wholly dedicated to this long-running rumor. It cites Steve Jobs' famed quote from his biography published after his death. "I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."
And yet, despite the vintage of this rumor it bears scrutiny because it's likely that when Apple does arrive, everything changes, just as it did when Apple got into the music and the mobile phones and the mobile games business.
You think Microsoft and Sony are losing sleep over each other's next-gen plans? Not one bit
Apple is the most important company in the games business, and yet it's the biggest player without a hand in what we should probably still refer to as the 'console' market. Is Apple happy to leave TV-screen gaming to entrenched competitors? Is Apple going to sit back while the fastest growing entertainment sector in the world continues to mushroom? Hardly.
You think Microsoft and Sony are losing sleep over each other's next-gen plans? Not one bit. They're waiting to see what Apple does. They're well aware that it's been 11 years since a serious new player came into the console space, an unprecedented span of time in gaming history, especially given how much the market has grown in the last decade. Sony and Microsoft and even Nintendo also know that there's only one company with the money, energy and power to really destroy their plans.
Apple isn't interested in being in the TV-set business as it currently stands, because it's a miserable scramble for tiny margins conducted by gargoyle-electronics companies like Samsung, LG and, yes, Sony. Nor is it interested in being in the games console business, which is looking increasingly archaic with every passing day.
My source added, "Look, the last thing on Apple's radar is squeezing tiny margins out of consumer electronic devices. The play here is about owning everyone's media buying experience. If you are connected to Apple through your phone, your computer, your tablet and your TV, there's just no way out. It becomes too painful to go anywhere else."
In fact, Apple's play is well beyond words like 'TV' and 'console'. It's in the business of installing a retail outlet in your house, one which connects with all your other devices. It gets to the point where it's virtually impossible for you to leave Apple's entertainment retail combine for a competitor. And gaming is a huge part of that plan.
The company is interested in owning the entertainment business through this crucial portal, the TV screen. It wants to complete the circle of handheld Phone and desktop computer and portable in-house iPad and TV
Speculation on the nature of the TV is not hard to find. It will attempt to re-invent the TV experience through an app-like online environment which will also integrate traditional viewing and economic models. It will feature a new kind of interface that takes us beyond the remote control, using a mixture of Siri voice control, Kinect-like manipulation and iPhone / iPad integration. It will be stylish and expensive, very obviously aimed at elite urban media consumers.
It will be heavily geared towards the connected, social generation, not as an afterthought but as a core principle. As media commentator Brian Solis says in an editorial today, the future of TV is all about integration with other screens, like the computer and mobile devics, and it's here where Apple has the most to gain. Solis writes, "Connected consumers don't just expect online, on-demand streaming optimized for each device. They expect to engage in each screen differently and in a dynamic way." There is currently a hole in Apple's multi-screen strategy, right in the corner of your living room. Unless you believe the TV is going away, it's a screen that Apple needs to own.
Apple understands that retail is finished as far as game distribution goes
The screen must come with some sort of traditional games controller. Rumor has it that Apple has been visiting core game developers to talk about a new controller and while it's possible that this might be restricted to the company's handheld gaming business, some alternative to the limitations of touch-screen, this does not preclude a standardized games controlling device.
It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that the iPad, or some version of it, will be the controller. A touch-screen controller is an idea Nintendo has already jumped on with Wii U.
It's tempting to consider again the so-called connection between Apple and Valve. Is it right that iTunes has something to learn from Steam, that Apple (like the rest of us) has something to learn from Valve's extraordinary culture? The idea of a Steam-cloud hovering over Apple devices is pretty neat.
Apple understands that retail is finished as far as game distribution goes, and it is not about to allow some other Steam-like outfit to out-iTunes its own ambitions. Steam is now the biggest retailer of PC games in the United States. The console companies and the likes of EA and Activision are gearing their business plans towards selling content through the screen. If games is the biggest entertainment business in the world, it takes the biggest company in the world to step in, dominate rivals and change everything with a bold stroke.
As well as offering games as downloadable apps, it may also consider an OnLive / Gaikai- style streaming service for top-end games.
This is where Apple's likely plans become especially murky. If the Apple TV comes with a good enough chip to play, say, games of an iPad 3 graphical quality, that will satisfy a large proportion of the market. But it won't satisfy the kind of players who want to play Crysis 3. Will Apple seek to handle this kind of game through a cloud-gaming solution, or will it cede the hardcore end of the market to established players? As yet, we just don't know, although Apple's history with games suggests that it isn't especially concerned with the Call of Duty player, when there are so many Angry Birds players ready and willing to part with their cash.
Michael Pachter says the company may decide to hedge, beginning with a fairly basic 'casual' play and then ramping up with more intense tech solutions as the infrastructure becomes available. Undoubtedly, cloud gaming is evolving rapidly and solves a lot of the issues Apple might have with stuffing its gadget with graphics chips.
Owning screens is what Apple has been doing this past decade. More to the point, it (along with Facebook) has created a massively successful communication platform in which games are the dominant factor. If they enter the console / TV market, the guys at Apple face tough competition. But do you want to bet against them?
Colin Campbell is an award-winning games journalist based in California. Follow him on Twitter and at IGN. Here are links to Colin's recent articles.


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The Art of Shaving Pre-Shave Oil - Lavender is sympathetic to your skin's needs. It calms your sensitive skin and smooths out the hair, preventing razor burn and ingrown hairs with the help of olive, castor and lavender oils that don't leave an oily residue. Take a walk on the soft side. Prepare your skin for the silkiest, most effortless shave you've ever had.
Who is this for?
Ideal for normal-to-sensitive skin and those with thick, coarse beards.
Before shaving, rub a small amount in your hands and massage into your skin.
Key Ingredients:
Castor Oil soothes and prevents skin irritations and infections. Olive Oil hydrates the skin and helps maintain elasticity. Lavender Oil heals skin inflammation.
Full Ingredients:
Castor Oil, Olive Oil, Essential Oil.
Where reviews refer to foods or cosmetic products, results may vary from person to person. Customer reviews are independent and do not represent the views of The Hut Group.
(1 review)
I always get this Item for my husband. He is not a person who would use this kind of thing ever. However, he is the one who ask to get it every time he needs another new bottle. I recommend to use all this line together.
Thu Oct 15 11:18:23 BST 2015 by
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text: my question is simple: i am using marketsamutai to find good keywords. i want to rank good for some italian keywords so my main puropose would be to target google.it but marketsamurai is only getting dates from google.com how can i to check competition on google.it? what is the difference when you try to rank on a local google.xxx instead than google.com? will you need to do something different?


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Memorial park Cemetery opened in 1956 and is still open for casket and ash burials.
Corner Cypress Street & Ruru Road(external link)
Map of the Memorial Park Cemetery [PDF, 378 KB] [PDF 210KB]
The cemeteryhas concrete beams for upright and reclining memorials. The cemetery is located on ancient sand dunes and has excellent, largely unobstructed views to the port Hills.
There is a Muslim burial area on the eastern side of the site where the graves are aligned facing to Mecca (14 degrees west of north), a Māori burial area or urupā near the Ruru Road entrance, and a Russian Orthodox area to the western side and a Pacific Island area.
Tree planting is generally associated with the driveway areas, with a diverse mix of shrubs and trees around the central area surrounding the public toilet which is more or less centrally located.


text:
It's about time.
Even though former Flyers standout forward Mark Recchi is only one of 10 players ever to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams, the Hockey Hall of Fame decided to make him wait.
And wait, and wait some more.
Finally, on Monday, some three years after he was eligible for enshrinement, Recchi received his overdue honor.
He's part of a five-player contingent scheduled to go into the HHOF in Toronto on Nov. 13.
Although Recchi didn't win any of his hat trick of Cups in Philadelphia, he's remembered as a fan favorite.
He still holds the Flyers' single-season scoring mark (123 points in 1992-93).
And of the seven NHL teams...


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LONDON (Reuters) - Carmaker Toyota <7203.T> said it could make a legal complaint against the official Brexit campaign for using its logo in leaflets, which the Japanese firm said might give the impression it backed Britain leaving the EU.
On one "Vote Leave" flyer, Toyota's logo appeared next to those of five other major companies including Unilever and automakers Nissan <7201.T> and Vauxhall <GM.N> with the message: "Major employers ... have all said they'll stay in the UK whatever the result of the referendum."
Toyota, which built more than one in 10 of Britain's 1.6 million new cars last year, said in February it believed a vote on June 23 to stay in the bloc would be better for its operations and long-term competitiveness.
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The firm said on Thursday that use of the logo could "mislead the reader into thinking that Toyota endorses the Vote Leave campaign" and that it could take action against "unauthorized use of our trademarks."
Consumer goods maker Unilever <ULVR.L> has also complained to the "Vote Leave" campaign over the use of its name and logo.
Unilever said the use of its logo was a "complete misrepresentation" of its position and it planned to complain to Britain's electoral watchdog the Electoral Commission.
"We weren't consulted or asked if we were happy for our name to appear. If we had been, we would never have allowed this to happen," a spokesman said in a statement. "Our position couldn't be clearer. We firmly support Britain remaining."
Vote Leave did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters.
Britain's overwhelmingly foreign-owned car industry has spoken out in favor of continued British membership of the EU, which allows it to benefit from tariff-free access to the single market and the free movement of people within the world's biggest trading bloc.
(Reporting by Costas Pitas, Martinne Geller and Kylie MacLellan; editing by Stephen Addison)


text: Sorry if it is in the wrong section, but I've been calling every store for a nintendo ds. Sadly, they are all out of stock. Does anyone know when they restock in Target? I want a crimson 1 BADLY. I called 1 target they said "Check with us on sunday". I need 1 from target because I have $55 gift card. But if it's not from target it's ok. I should have bought 1 before the holidays >.> EDIT: I live around the bayarea in California


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Passenger service for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit officially kicked off today with free rides following the Grand Opening Ceremony in Santa Rosa.
After today, half-price rides will continue through Sept. 4, followed by regular-fare rides beginning Sept. 5.
Reporter Paul Payne rode today's first train departing from the downtown Santa Rosa station and recorded the entire event.
Have you wondered what it's like to ride a train through Sonoma County? Take a look at the scenery, the food and drink options at the concession stand, and hear what happy passengers had to say about the ride in the video below:
For more PD coverage on SMART, including what you can and can't do on the train, go here


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THEMATIC ELEMENT #3: Prayer
5 fundamental aspects of prayer:
- Praise
- Thanks
- Love
- Contrition
- Petition
Message to myself: Employ, wherever appropriate, these fundamental aspects of prayer in your interaction with the people in your life.
- Praise them.
- Thank them.
- Express your love. (God loves them, even if you don't, or don't think you do. Let God love them through you.)
- Make amends.
- Ask for support.
To be continued …


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Cadillac New in inventory
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