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A few of our readers have been requesting a copy of this article we wrote for HR Management in 2007, so here it is posted for all of you to read.
Employee Engagement Translates to Productivity and Retention
In today's competitive, global marketplace Recruiting and HR professionals assume the daunting task of delivering and maintaining a productive workforce. It is no small order to attract, engage, develop and retain employees, and few HR professionals or business executives argue the role of employee engagement as a catalyst or propellant of business success. Though the specifics of engagement may vary according to each company's philosophy or mission, the term can be generally defined as the degree to which employees emotionally and intellectually occupy themselves in their work, and the strength of their commitment to the employer and role (Vance, 2006). The vast majority of discussion about engagement is concentrated on the importance and methodology of actively engaging employees, which results in a long list of benefits. For the employee these benefits include higher job satisfaction and better job performance; for the company the benefits include lower attrition, higher productivity and business profitability. The question of employee engagement is therefore not about its importance to the business, but about the earliest point at which it can be escalated, measured and managed.
Engaging the Prospective Employee in the Pre-Hire Stage
Many HR professionals begin the process of measuring employee satisfaction and engagement levels post-hire, during performance management or employee development initiatives, by administering attitude or opinion surveys. Some common themes explored in these polls include pride in the employer, satisfaction with the employer, opportunity to perform well at challenging work, recognition and support for one's contributions, personal support by one's manager, understanding the link between one's job and the organization's mission, prospects for future growth with the employer, and the intention to stay with the employer (Vance, 2006). Sample questions include "Do you know what is expected of you at work?"; "Is there someone at work who encourages your development?"; "Does the mission or purpose of your company make you feel that your job is important?" (Bates, 2004). The aggregated responses to such questions are then correlated to business outcomes such as sales volume, profitability, customer loyalty, attendance, and retention.
Such efforts to improve employee engagement can be strengthened, since engagement begins and can be managed far earlier than previously accepted. Consider this: Engagement is a gauge of involvement and commitment based on a person's attitudes toward and dedication to the work required and people involved. This commitment does not magically manifest the moment an employee starts the job. Rather, the seeds are planted and nurtured in each contact leading up to the hire: when a prospective employee applies for work on a company website or through an external recruiter, she registers early perceptions that affect her level of interest and subsequent engagement in the job. When a job seeker receives communication from the company about the status of his job search, or meets with interviewers in person, he builds on earlier perceptions that support or refine his perception and level of engagement. Regardless of the reason for initial attraction to a job or employer, it is clear that candidate engagement deepens or weakens at each successive point of contact in the selection and hiring process, and sets the tone for retention and productivity measures to come. As gatekeepers of talent flowing into the business, Recruiting is well-positioned to measure and improve engagement at the earliest moments of connection, resulting in new hires with consistently high engagement levels day one on the job.
The quality of pre-hire experience becomes even more important when considering the impact of technology on communication today; Web 2.0 has created a fully-interactive and viral environment where one person's perception can be viewed, absorbed, and discussed by a wide audience immediately -- and saved in digital format forever. Consumer research shows that people are likely to tell at least 10 others about a bad experience; unfortunately, it is impossible to foresee if the recipients of these messages are potential employees, or even customers who begin to disengage from your company as a result (Edgley, 2006). A prospective employee may be excited about the opportunity at the application stage and then progressively lose interest –– so that if she does proceed to the offer stage she'll likely reject the offer. Or worse still, if she begrudgingly accepts the offer, despite her internal inclinations to the contrary, she may well start the job but with a sour attitude, low engagement, and a high proclivity to immediately begin searching for her next job. In fact, this latter scenario which contributes to attrition happens a full 15 percent of the time because of negative experiences in the hiring process (Staffing.org).
Objective: "You Had Me at Hello"
Imagine yourself casually perusing the Internet when you land on a company website, the name of which you had not heard before. Compelled by the mission-oriented communication, you wonder about the jobs they are trying to fill and easily find your way to the Jobs section. There, you discover (to your complete and utter surprise) your dream job, which you previously had thought might only exist as a figment of your over-active imagination. Though you are content with your current job, the opportunity is everything you've always hoped for: the right blend of people and technology, authority and responsibility, a high standard bar for excellence, and professional growth that will take your career to a new level. You research further and uncover a long list of others who speak highly of the company: customers, employees, and vendors. Intrigued, you return to the job posting; you hesitate to apply, imagining a convoluted process that is painful and time consuming -- but find that it is simple and easy to express an interest in the job. Then, miraculously, a company recruiter contacts you the next day; you have an interesting conversation that felt nothing at all like a phone screen, and you are invited to interview with the hiring manager and members of the team. You are more than intrigued at this point; you are impressed. The interview has been managed professionally: in preparation for the conversations you've been given good information about the job's responsibilities, an interview schedule, information about your interviewers' roles, and are ready to start the day. The hiring manager arrives promptly and seems genuinely excited to discuss the opportunity with you. He has completely read your resume and even checked into some of your online editorial work; the two of you discuss how your perspective in one article aligns with the company approach on the next critical project. As the day progresses and you meet the rest of the interviewers, each conversation is stimulating and you feel a sense of connection to the team. You leave the company offices genuinely excited: this job was made for you, and the prospect of developing your skills and creating positive impact is irresistible.
Now let's pause for a moment. Even if the offer and onboarding experiences are factored out, you already see in these earliest stages of application and interview the growth of candidate engagement. The scenario described is reminiscent of a scene from the 1996 movie "Jerry Maguire," starring Tom Cruise and Renee Zellweger. Toward the end of the movie, Cruise tries to woo back Zellweger after a period of separation. He finds her at home among friends, and awkwardly says "Hello." In front of this room full of people, he opens his heart, telling her all of the reasons why he needs and wants her in his life. At the end of his monologue, in a line that captures the message of the entire film, Renee quietly replies, "Stop. You had me at hello." We aim for a similar response when it comes to candidate engagement; the energy required to enhance positive perception from the earliest point of contact is infinitely less than that required to overcome negative perception.
Find Out: Measure Candidate Engagement
Clearly written job advertisements with compelling challenges for learning and growth help companies to attract suitable talent for the position; they can also encourage candidates who are not interested in those attributes to opt-out of the application and subsequent hiring process. Respectful, productive interactions between the candidate, recruiters and interviewers can also entice engagement early in the hiring process. But how can a company know if it is building or deteriorating employee engagement levels in the pre-hire and onboarding stages? The solution lies in capturing and measuring feedback. Feedback closes the gap between intention and delivery in all areas of candidate outreach, and provides an external point of reference to determine if results are meeting expectations.
Solicit feedback from job seekers about both experience and perception as they navigate your selection and hiring process. Gather quantitative and qualitative data from internal and external candidates at critical points such as application, interview, offer, and onboarding. By tracking the resulting scores over time, you can view satisfaction scores increase or decrease as an indicator of early engagement. Tracking these metrics can also help you monitor and improve the recruiting and onboarding processes, and gauge the job seeker response to newly implemented program improvements (such as applicant tracking systems, career websites, or hiring manager interview training). For example, if you measure the degree of agreement to the statement, "This job opportunity is more attractive to me than others I could have in other companies" at the apply, interview, offer and onboarding stages, and agreement increases as the job seeker moves through the hiring process, then you know that the experience is consistently building candidate engagement. Conversely, if the scoring trend is reversed for the question, or drops at an interim point, you've got work to do to correct the situation.
In addition to process improvement, candidate engagement is a strong indicator of your company's ability to compete for talent in the marketplace. Since the triggers that foster engagement vary across age, gender, ethnicity, industry, and education levels (to name only a few factors), it is important to collect and apply demographic filters to the resulting data to segment and isolate aggregate preferences and trends when creating or improving targeted outreach programs. This demographic information and accompanying feedback also help you understand the gap between your intended employer brand and how it is actually received, and allows you an early prism to view the patterns of attrition as employees voluntarily or involuntarily exit your company.
The Improved Experience Solution: Get Better Hires
As an independent research firm for HR and Recruiting, Improved Experience offers solutions to measure real-time candidate experience, job seeker demographics, and employer brand. Get Better Hires is an automated, online feedback portal that captures and benchmarks candidate feedback at four critical stages: application, interview, offer, onboarding. The subscription service offers a library of more than 400 standard questions across 15 feedback categories, such as: job opportunities, business reputation, company culture, pay and benefits, experiences with interviewers, experiences with company and third party recruiters, internet presence, facilities, and the recruiting process. As a third-party service provider, Improved Experience invites your job seekers to take a survey that is designed for maximum feedback in the shortest amount of time, and quickly identifies actionable feedback from the survey taker. The patent-pending system then analyzes, aggregates, benchmarks, and reports the feedback to you in a secure, real-time dashboard (shown below). For a deeper, more granular look at the results, your dashboard also includes a robust data-mining function so you can analyze feedback at the question level and apply demographic filters. For more information, contact us today at 877.344.4300, or visit our website at www.improvedexperience.com.
Bates, S. (2004). Getting Engaged. HR Magazine, Vol 49, No. 2, http://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/0204/0204covstory_factors.asp
Edgley, J. (2006). Six Degrees of Candidate Care. HR Management, Vol 1, No. 3, 60-61.
Lockwood, N (2007). Leveraging Employee Engagement for Competitive Advantage: HR's Strategic Role.
Staffing.org website: www.staffing.org
Vance, R (2006). Employee Engagement and Commitment: A Guide to Understanding, Measuring, and Increasing Employee Engagement in Your Organization.
About Alise Cortez: my day job is VP of Marketing & Sales at Improved Experience, where our mission is to capture the voice of experience one job search at a time for employees and empower employers with the metrics of engagement and retention.
Technorati tags: candidate experience, employee engagement, productivity, retention,"you had me at hello," recruiting, staffing.


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Barcelona and Juventus will face off in the Champions League's quarterfinals
And the Champions League continues! This Friday (17) moning, the draw that decided that decided the next big duels in the European tournament happened and the FC Barcelona will face Juventus in the dispute's quarterfinals.
After beating Paris Saint-Germain by 6-1 and making a historical 'remontada' in the championship, Barcelona remains very much alive in the fight for the title and might even get another 'Triplete'. Last time Neymar Jr. and his teammates faced Juventus was in 2014/2015's season, when they defeated the team by 3-1 and became the champion.
"It will be a hard battle, but we will prepare ourselves to be in our best condition to make a good game," said Neymar Jr. about his next challenge for in the Champions League.
Besides Barça, other great teams will face off in the quarterfinals. Real Madrid faces Bayern Munch, Atletico Madrid encounters Leicester City and Borussia Dortmund duels with AS Monaco.
The Dortmund x Monaco and Juventus x Barcelona matches will happen in April 11, with the second encounter scheduled in the following week, 19. As for Bayern x Real Madrid and Atletico x Leicester, the first game happens April 12 and the second one in 18.
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I am woman, hear me roar In numbers too big to ignore And I know too much to go back an' pretend 'cause I've heard it all before And I've been down there on the floor No one's ever gonna keep me down again. from the song I Am Woman
It was 1972 when singer Helen Reddy recorded that song, and the sentiments were considered mighty militant in those days. I was barely into high school, but was proudly waving my little teenage flag for Women's Rights. I had big plans to roar in those days, to be something my mother and grandmother never had the opportunity to be.
No one was gonna keep me down, that was for sure.
The Women's Movement (as it was called back then) sparked the kinds of changes in society that allowed women of my generation the ability to walk into courtrooms and operating rooms and board rooms carrying tools of the trade instead of cups of coffee. It gave women control over their bodies and the power to make decisions about their physical and mental health. In the space of one generation it became "normal" for women to work outside of the home at any career they chose. It became legal for women to maintain control of their reproductive system. The women of the 1960's and 1970's extended the work of their Suffragette Sisters and took women's rights several bold steps into the future.
That's a lot of change in one generation. And because I saw how quickly that occurred, how it began with a lot of "big talk" by women intent on taking control of their lives for once, I have to admit I'm more than a little frightened by things that are happening right now which could force the pendulum back in the other direction. There's a lot of "big talk" out there again, but this time it's not being spoken by women but instead by men who would like nothing better than to put women "back in their place."
And while it's easy to slough off comments of people like Rush Limbaugh, who have no real power other than the power we give him by listening to his pompous drivel, it's not so easy to disregard the sentiments of people like Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, and Mitt Romney. These are men who have the potential for great power, who have huge followings and huge bank accounts, and legions of people willing to do their bidding. Give these men a foot in the door and it could set in motion the kind of change that would destroy everything women have gained in the past three decades.
The young women of my son's generation - those in their 20's and 30's - have never lived in a time when women didn't have the opportunities they have today. They can't imagine the kind of work life my mother-in-law had as an Executive Secretary in the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters, where she referred to herself as "Mr. Smith's girl," and was required to wear dresses and high heels to the office each day. They can't fathom being denied admission to medical school on the basis of gender.
It's easy to take those kinds of freedoms for granted and become complacent about changes in society that have been to your benefit for so long.
But society changes all the time, and something that was deemed progress by one generation can just as well be deemed regression by another.
I'm thinking it may be time for women to start practicing their roar once again.
We really do know too much to go back and pretend.


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Beverly Fire Department
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Firefighters responded to a report of a house fire at 48 Pearson St this morning. Upon arrival, crews found a smoke condition in the basement and fire coming from an electrical panel. The fire was quickly knocked down with a dry chemical fire extinguisher and National Grid was requested to disconnect the power from the house.
Fire crews used thermal imaging cameras to check for fire extension finding that the fire had been confined to the area in the basement around the electrical panel. The fire did cause significant damage to the home's electrical system and all occupants of the home were displaced until repairs could be made.
No one was injured as a result of the fire.
The month of December has been busy so far with crews responding to chimney fires, car fires, serious injury motor vehicle accidents and conducting training. Let's hope the month slows down a little.
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Looking for a 2 carat princess cut diamond in Dallas, Texas? This is a GIA Certified 2 Carat G SI1 Princess Cut Diamond. If you would like to view our princess cut diamonds please give us a call at 214-336-8629. We have 100s of diamonds in stock and 100s of loose diamonds out on memo. We sell directly to the public now! If you would like to view our diamonds and engagement rings in Abilene or Dallas, Texas please contact us here. We are now going straight to the public with our REAL WHOLESALE DIAMOND PRICES. The price on the 2 Carat Princess Cut Diamond G SI1 GIA Certified is $13,500.00.
Identified as the square version of and a more unique substitute to the brilliant round cut, the princess cut diamond comprises of facets that can range anywhere from 53 to 144 facets depending on the shape and the cut of the pavilion. However, the most popular princess cut diamonds feature 58 or 76 facets. A traditional princess cut is a square cut though there are many princess cut diamonds that are a bit on the rectangular side. Because it is a patented cut, it is sometimes referred to a Square Modified Brilliant and if the ratio is higher than 1.05. It is referred to as the Rectangular Modified Brilliant. In a total of either 57 or 76 facets, the princess cut diamond comprises a range of exclusive chevron- shaped pavilion facets that are combined with table facets cut as found in a round diamond. The number of chevron present impacts the overall appearance of the princess cut diamond.It is the distinctive pyramid shape and the extra facets that are responsible for the superior light dispersion. This also camouflage the many small inclusions that may be present in the diamond. Of all the square cuts, the brilliant-cut princess share the fire and brilliance almost similar to a round diamond cut. A princess cut diamond that has the same width as the diameter of a round brilliant diamond will carry more weight as the former has four corners. The more inclined a princess cut diamond is towards the rectangular shape, the lower the price.
Shira Diamonds Dallas is a diamond manufacturer and loose diamond importer in Dallas, Texas. At Shira Diamonds we have a vast selection of loose diamonds certified by GIA and EGL. We can help you save on your next loose diamond purchase with our wholesale diamond prices. When we manufacture our loose diamonds we skip the jewelry stores and diamond brokers in Dallas, Texas.
When you arrive at our wholesale jewelry showroom we provide the private closed loose wholesale diamond purchasing experience to you the retail consumer. With our extensive loose diamond selection of round, princess cut, cushion, oval, radiant, pear, asscher cut, marquise, emerald, and trillion diamonds wholesale diamond prices, diamond studs and custom diamond rings designs, we deliver an unparalleled diamond and jewelry buying experience. We are located in Dallas, Texas between Frankford and Preston. Give us a call today to view our large selection of loose wholesale diamonds.
As an online diamond wholesaler, we save on overhead costs incurred by traditional retailers, so called wholesalers, diamond brokers and we pass those savings on to you. With over twenty years experience in the wholesale diamond industry,Dallas Wholesale Diamonds - Wholesale Diamonds and Custom Diamond Rings provides the service expected from a fine jewelry retailer while offering competitive wholesale diamond pricing.
At Shira Diamonds Dallas you will get true wholesale diamond prices on loose diamonds. We have been providing retail jewelry stores with diamonds since 1999 in Dallas, Texas. Don't pay retail when you can buy a diamond in Dallas, Texas from Shira Diamonds with wholesale diamond prices. We offer round diamonds, princess diamonds, cushion diamonds, oval diamonds, pear shaped diamonds, and marquise cut diamonds.
Shira Diamonds Dallas is proud to offer custom designer engagement rings to our Dallas, Texas customers. To create custom engagement rings, we can place our loose stones in designer settings, and our certified geologists can help shoppers navigate the many intricacies of selecting and purchasing a gorgeous, quality stone. Our impressive selection includes brilliant diamonds in many different cuts and shapes, including:
Whether you and your fiancée are shopping together and know just the type of diamond engagement ring you want or you are interested in creating a custom ring for a surprise proposal, we are confident that we can help you find the perfect engagement ring. You can enjoy browsing our inventory on your own, and our friendly and knowledgeable sales associates will always be ready to answer questions and provide guidance as you need. We maintain a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere at our showroom, and our goal is make sure your shopping experience is as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. For more information about our designer ring settings or loose diamonds, contact us today. We're happy to create custom engagement rings at our Dallas showroom, where we serve customers from throughout the greater Dallas Fort Worth area.


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Risk management could be a management practice that can help identify risks, to be capable of minimize handles to eliminate. It's a logical method acquainted with identify, evaluate, resolve and continuously monitor the risks in a organization. Risk means what things can decelerate a company from functioning well and from achieving its plans. It is something that creates injuries for the business's employees, assets, or clients. Risk management could be a process present in both public and private institutions, in varied fields of activity, in finances, etc.
Risk management could be a standardized way in which includes several steps. It starts, as being a beginning point, by determining the risks. The next factor is always to evaluate them, then resolve them. The very best step may be the continual monitoring within the risks because organization.
The first step, determining the risks, should be thought about within the organization´s business context. Concerning the level of smoothness in the industry, you will find particular risks that could emerge. That's why, when trying to acknowledge them, professionals have to think about the organization context in which the management processes occur. The probability along with the frequency of the design of a hazard have to be examined. Also, the finish result it's across the organization ought to be determined.
The next factor is example. This really is what is known as risk assessment. Risks have to be examined in the qualitative plus a quantitative perspective. Now they have been recognized, it ought to be determined which risks will most likely happen, additionally that ones may have probably most likely probably the most severe effects. These will be the most harmful for that organization. These risks have to be prioritized also using the costs they might provocke the organization. Risk levels needs to be defined, for the way severe their impact is. The amount are high, moderate and periodic. A classy means a harmful effect for that organization, so measures needs to be taken concurrently to solve the issue. An average level means a less devastating consequence, while a little level signifies a hazard that won't really really make a difference to cope with. During this situation, management need to research be it worthy to allocate money and time assets to resolve the problem otherwise.
In risk management techniques, the very best level risks must be handled first, since the ones with lower possibility of occurrence and fewer impact must be handled next. Organizations require a risk management plan that particulars the strategy utilized as solutions. Risk management consultants allows you to definitely create this strategy along with the best solutions to cope with any problems you might face.
The best step ought to be continuously completed. In a organization, risks don't stay. The overall business atmosphere changes, the recommendations change, the company changes, so new problems may seem, even though some vanishes. The strategy have to be continuously examined and modified for that new conditions.


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This Nikkor 18mm lens has been modified by Duclos Lenses via their Cine-Mod™process making them more useable for motion picture applications. The Cine-Mod consist of three primary parts: A seamless 32-pitch (0.8 module) focus gear, an 80mm front ring with 77mm filter threads, and a de-clicked, damped aperture movement. This lens has both Nikon and EF mount options.
The closest focusing distance of 0.25 m in the Nikkor 18 mm lens lets you stand very close to the subject and capture great detail and clarity. The filter size of 72 mm in this Nikkor f/3.5 lens protects its surface from dust, dirt and scratches. This wide-angle lens for Nikon, with 18 mm focal length, covers a wide area of interest, capturing everything you wish to. With a maximum aperture of f/3.5, the Nikkor 18 mm lens enables you to shoot brilliant photographs even in dimly-lit conditions. Featuring 7 aperture blades, this Nikkor f/3.5 lens produces stunning portraits, with beautifully blurred backgrounds.
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The Private Option: Health Insurance for Working Arkansas Residents
In 2014, Arkansas accepted federal funds to provide health insurance to more low-income residents through the private option. The private option gives Arkansas residents with incomes below 138 percent of the federal poverty level ($27,720 for a family of three in 2015) the chance to enroll in affordable health insurance. Our analysis finds that 58 percent of those who stand to gain health coverage through the private option are working.


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Area of Impact
Southeast Raleigh Promise is focused on the neighborhoods surrounding the Rock Quarry Road Corridor. Approximately 29,000 residents are living in this zone. Eliminating intergenerational poverty is long-term work. It will take at least one generation (18-25 years) to measure the true impact of this work. However, the first phase of this initiative will be born out of the "Beacon Site" on Rock Quarry Road in the summer of 2019. The Southeast Raleigh YMCA is scheduled to open its doors in June 2019 and the Pre-K-5 Wake County Public School will open its doors for the fall semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. We also expect more than 80 high quality affordable homes will be available for rent in our neighborhood in early 2019.


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Time: September 13, 2017 at 4:30pm to December 13, 2017 at 10pm
Location: Factory 8
Street: Upton Road, Southville
City/Town: Bristol BS3 1QZ
Website or Map: http://www.fb.com/gatheringvo…
Phone: 07970 748640
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The Actors' Workshop is not just another drama school. It is a unique centre of excellence, offering expert part-time training for young performers who show exceptional ability for their age. Their inspirational workshops, led by industry professionals, build on your existing accomplishments, taking performance skills to a new level and preparing young actors for a career in the very tough and demanding world of performing arts.
Small classes and individual mentoring are the cornerstones of their work: they work closely with each student to unlock potential and exceed expectations.
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Podcasting for small business owners, entrepreneurs & solopreneurs.
Are you looking for a cost effective way to market your business? Would you like to build brand awareness? Do you want to position yourself as an expert in your industry?
I have found podcasting to be a valuable tool in supporting my business as well as creating brand awareness. My podcast Clearing the Clutter Inside & Out continues to grow and is one of the main ways I get the name out about my business.
According to Libsyn statistics, my podcast is roughly in the Top 20% and it continues to grow. On January 17th, 2018, Clearing the Clutter Inside & Out crossed ONE MILLION downloads! I am not famous and came with a built in audience and I don't belong to a large group where people download one another's podcast and inflate numbers. I have created an audience and a following by being authentic and being me.
This just over 3 hour podcast class was created to help busy small business owners, entrepreneurs and solopreneurs get their podcast up and running. It's easy to learn how to make a podcast with some basics. I share my mistakes as well as best practices. An interviewer told me that most podcasters quit after 3 months. I was surprised and saddened by this and don't want this to happen to you.


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Summary ?
Let's start by What ?
We have produced the world's first general cognitive engine. This engine is capable of understanding natural language without looking at specific words, patterns, ontologies, neural nets, fuzzy logic or any form of training beforehand. This engine generates multidimensional ideograms which depend on the the semantic content only, and so "understands", is capable of associating concepts freely and therefore can identify equivalent concepts and evaluate relevance. The summary has a set similarity standard beyond which it considers two sentences to be similar and therefore not to be repeated, and also a set relevance standard beyond which it considers a sentence to be irrelevant, both parameters can be adjusted by registered users. See some examples of how powerful this system is. The output page shows the originals texts separated by a horizontal line on the left and the summary on the right, which is given in standard English but it can itself be simplified if needed.
Note that our summarizing tool is based on the ideas of C.S. Peirce about abduction. The idea is that we start with an argument expressed as a sequence of ideas (which we take to be contained in a first text taken as the reference or starting point). which is then further expanded as further knowledge is added (contained in further texts) with relevant details filling in the argument, consolidating and corroborating propositions and taking out details which, as more information comes in, are judged not to be relevant. Therefore, the user must input two or more texts about the same subject so that a suitable summary can be produced. Although not strictly in keeping with Peircian ideas, we are currently working on extending these ideas to the reference text itself, so that only the main thread of the argument is kept and not so relevant information is left out.
Now why has Summary been developed in Simplish ?
This tool was developed for enabling artificial cognition systems to acquire knowledge from the internet and recall only the most relevant information. However, we believe that there are many areas where this technology could be useful, such as an advanced summarizing technology to help people absorb the most relevant information only in this age of such vasts amounts of data on almost any subject.
Finally, how does it work ?
Unlike other methods, our approach involves the representation of knowledge by graphical ideograms so that meaning is represented by position and shape, and therefore if two sentences have more or less the same meaning, they will have similar ideograms, regardless of the specific wording or grammar. In this way, the computer is now capable of understanding the meaning of sentences and does not need any prior training in order to do a summary well.
Nothing is better than a concrete interactive example. When entering a text in the text field above, you need to separate each text in order to make a paragraph and in this way the system can identify each text, if you click in the above field, a small popup appears where has two buttons, each button is for generating sample text in order to make a summary or simplify text and after clicking the Summary button, you need to wait for automatic redirection.
If you want to copy and paste your text to summarize, you need to give it some format, in this part we will show how to summarize in the text field above, this requires that the text be separated by paragraphs and then to click on the summary button and wait for the automatic redirection.
When people are registered, they can make summaries by clicking on the summary button and then a menu shows files that can be selected and some options relating to topic, which is the title of the summary, followed by relevance, which is a variable parameter (preset to a default value of 50) determining when a concept will be considered to be relevant, and finally fusion, which is a variable parameter (preset to a default value of 90) determining when two concepts will be deemed to be identical and therefore fused into one. See the following illustration:
Availble files.
Example of a Summary
Text summarized successfully ! Summary of "Jesus comes to Jerusalem" took 39 seconds
Summary 426 words
And when they were near Jerusalem, and had come to Beth-phage, to the Mountain of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, Saying to them, Go into the little town in front of you, and straight away you will see an ass with a cord round her neck, and a young one with her; let them loose and come with them to me.
And they took him to Jesus, and they put their clothing on the ass, and Jesus got on to him.
And if anyone says to you, Why are you taking him? say, The Lord has need of him.
And if anyone says anything to you, you will say, The Lord has need of them; and straight away he will send them.
Now this took place so that these words of the prophet might come true, Say to the daughter of Zion, See, your King comes to you, gentle and seated on an ass, and on a young ass.
And when he had said this, he went on in front of them, going up to Jerusalem.
And those whom he sent went away, and it was as he said.
(These things were not clear to his disciples at first: but when Jesus had been lifted up into his glory, then it came to their minds that these things in the Writings were about him and that they had been done to him.) Now the people who were with him when his voice came to Lazarus in the place of the dead, and gave him life again, had been talking about it.
Then the Pharisees said one to another, You see, you are unable to do anything: the world has gone after him.
And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out.
And some of the Pharisees among the people said to him, Master, make your disciples be quiet.
And a great number put down their clothing in the way; and others put down branches which they had taken from the fields.
The day after, a great number of people who were there for the feast, when they had the news that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm-trees and went out to him, crying, A blessing on him who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel.
And when he came into Jerusalem, all the town was moved, saying, Who is this? And the people said, This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.


text:
For Nigerian PR company founder, Ijeoma Ndekwu, becoming an entrepreneur was in her genes. From an early age, she took her inspiration from her successful entrepreneurial father who managed to achieve the freedom of work/life balance in his business, and showed her an alternative and entrepreneurial career path of her own was possible.
This month, LoA got the opportunity to hear from Ijeoma on her unique journey to realise her long-held entrepreneurial dream of founding a successful, innovative boutique PR and media relations agency in her home country of Nigeria.
Tell us a little about your company
Redrick Public Relations is a boutique public and media relations agency specialising in creating, developing and executing innovative and strategic integrated PR campaigns, all guided by market intelligence, for Corporate, Lifestyle and Retail brands. From developing unique stories to implementing results-oriented PR campaigns, Redrick PR participates in aiding every facet of your brand's growth. Some of the specialist services we provide include: Editorial Placement, Story Pitching, Press Kit Development, Brand/Product Launches, Press Release Writing & Distribution, Planning & Coordination of Press Events (including conferences, trips and press days.)
What inspired you to start your entrepreneurial journey?
From a young age, my father instilled in me a sense of responsibility and leadership. He ran a successful business and because of his flexibility as an entrepreneur, he was able to support my mum with running the home and managing their four children, as she also had a 9-5 job which got more demanding as she climbed the corporate ladder. I quickly recognised that I wanted a life similar to my father's for myself. Straight out of University, even though I was certain I was going to be an entrepreneur, I had been convinced by almost everyone around me that I needed to spend a few years working for an organisation before I ventured into starting my company. My own personal "Aha!" moment came when I realised that I was young, with no real responsibilities, and ultimately nothing to lose when it came to making the choice to pursue my vision of establishing a PR firm at that moment, rather than at a later time. After all, my skills were going to be transferable if I decided that at some time in the future I wanted to enter the job market after all.
"My own personal "Aha!" moment came when I realised that I was young, with no real responsibilities, and ultimately nothing to lose when it came to making the choice to pursue my vision of establishing a PR firm at that moment, rather than at a later time."
What makes your company and its service offering unique?
We apply our passion to our clients' businesses, as we aim to become an integral part of their company success stories; whether it is in creating buzz-worthy content for their brands, securing product placements in select media, or conceptualising events that encourage the media and target consumers to intimately connect with their brands. We provide personalised attention and tailored campaigns; we are our clients' partners in publicity as we help to create value-focused packages for the various target groups their brand hopes to reach and inspire.
Tell us a little about the Redrick Public Relations team
I love my team, they are the absolute best! We currently have a young, small and vibrant team of three, including myself. I am the Lead Account Executive, whilst a Junior Account Executive and a General Office Assistant support me. I have always believed that a company is as good as the people in it, so recruiting the right team with the right attitude towards our work and our clients is a top priority. In addition, I favour small beginnings; so I planned to start-off with a small but well-experienced team. We have all had previous experience in various sectors of the business, including Media Buying, Online & Print Media, as Contributors or Journalists, Office Administration, Event Planning and Coordination, and at some point in our careers, we assumed client-facing roles. We are a close-knit team who not only work passionately to create and execute successful campaigns for our clients, but we are also very involved in our individual career growth paths. It is important that my team see value in the work they are doing.
"I have always believed that a company is as good as the people in it, so recruiting the right team with the right attitude towards our work and our clients is a top priority."
Tell us a little more about your entrepreneurial journey - you mention you come from an entrepreneurial background?
My late father was an entrepreneur; he was a major influence in my life and my first mentor. So even before I totally comprehended what it meant to be an entrepreneur, I wanted to be one. However, surprisingly, starting my company was not as meticulously deliberate as I had imagined my entry into the entrepreneurial space would be. I had been actively working as the Style Editor of Nigeria's Leading Entertainment Website – BellaNaija.com since I was 18, and assumed that role amongst others via internships all through my undergraduate degree programme in Global & Integrated Marketing Communications, and life after that. My role as a Style Editor served as the perfect training ground. In that role, I was forced to test my ability to execute and expand on a vision, and I honed some crucial skills, including supervisory and leadership skills – as it was my responsibility to recruit, manage and lead the style writers. In addition, I learned valuable brand building skills through liaising with PR Firms, Designers and Creatives in the African Fashion Industry in order to establish strategic partnerships. Due to my experience at BellaNaija.com, I began to explore a career in Public Relations, researching the PR Industry in Nigeria and defining my areas of interests within it. I had envisaged that I would work in a PR Firm after graduating, and then later set up my own firm in the near future. I communicated this plan to one of my mentors and she called me up a few months later and said she had a client for me and encouraged me to provide that client with specialist PR services, as I had the capability and capacity to do so whilst I was still job hunting. I started off my entrepreneurial journey with that one client, and without a proper company structure - no name, no logo, no staff, etc. However, I received a number of referrals from that client which led me to formally register a company. Once that was done, everything else had to fall into place. In retrospect, when I think of my entrepreneurial journey, I believe it was a situation where opportunity met preparation.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
I would like to expand my team, together with our strategic partnerships network globally, and grow our service offerings, especially in the Corporate Sectors. So far, we have been fortunate to work with a few Nigerian Government Parastatals, Indigenous Leading SMEs and Corporations in Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Retail sectors; also a Multinational NGO and International Consumer Brands. We will continue to seek new ways to add value to this existing client base and offer them more PR opportunities through strategic partnerships on the African Continent and globally. However, we will remain a boutique PR Firm. Ultimately, we would like to be the 'go-to' PR Firm in Nigeria for personalized, detail-oriented public and media relations services. This has been a key success factor for us and I think it will be of higher importance in the future, as public relations begins to have more of a definitive role for Nigerian brands and corporations.
"We are a close-knit team who not only work passionately to create and execute successful campaigns for our clients, but we are also very involved in our individual career growth paths. It is important that my team see value in the work they are doing."
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The flexibility and control over how I work, where I work, and whom I choose to work with. Being able to promote a positive and empowering work environment is extremely satisfying.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Start with what you can adequately manage to ensure the optimum delivery – in client or consumer experience; and be consistent.
Contact for follow Redrick Public Relations Limited
Email Address: firstname.lastname@example.com
Why LoA loves it….
At Lionesses of Africa, we love to meet those women entrepreneurs who are genuinely passionate about what they do, and who feel they are realising their own vision which, as in Ijeoma Ndekwu's own story, started at a young age. Ijeoma is a great example of someone who is doing what they love and what they felt destined to do, and the world needs more such women entrepreneurs who have the strength of their conviction to follow through and realise those dreams. --- Melanie Hawken, Lionesses of Africa founder and editor-in-chief


text:
This is an idol anime.
I've been watching Aikatsu, Sunrise's multimedia ploy to part elementary school girls with their lunch money. With more than 60 episodes, it's become my full-length, four-cour anime to complete for this year. I'm 14 episodes in, and it's been a fun ride so far.
I picked Aikatsu up in the middle of Wake Up Girls, another idol anime. To adopt a dichotomy from mecha anime, Aikatsu is about super idols in contrast to Wake Up Girls' real idols. WUG is an underdog plot about a ragtag group of novice idols led by a former top idol, and the tone of the show aims for realism, exposing the darker underbelly of the idol industry. Aikatsu, however, is about a girl trying to be the best idol she could be in a world where idols are the greatest thing ever.
Now that doesn't sound much, so here's the kicker: the main character, Ichigo (along with her friend Aoi) are ordinary girls who apply to a prestigious school solely for training idols. They get accepted, which means that they are walking upon the same ground as the girls they look up to. The start of the show is like a fairy tale, but it's only the beginning: the girls' wishes are yet to be fulfilled in the slightest. The message is clear–work hard enough and you can stand toe-to-toe with the people you admire.
It's unabashedly optimistic, even for a kids' show. I need more of this in my life–since this is a long anime, it can afford to be decompressed in its storytelling. I love watching anime that take their time to endear their characters to their audiences–this is western TV's entire M.O., but since I don't watch western TV at all, I can only turn to anime. Patlabor TV is my all-time favorite of the format, but Aikatsu might seriously contend for that spot as I continue to dig deeper.
Untouched by cynicism or the muddy compromise of the real world, Aikatsu presents an ideal world where idols can thrive by simply working hard and reveling in their work. It's fascinating because the anime is only one facet of the franchise–there is the Aikatsu arcade game, which the show is essentially an advertisement for. The jaded fan in me would think that such a tie-in would compromise the show's quality, but the writing is solid fun that keeps the show a worthwhile product on its own.


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CHICAGO -- Crunching the numbers on college costs has been a particularly grim task for parents of incoming freshmen this year.
CHICAGO -- Crunching the numbers on college costs has been a particularly grim task for parents of incoming freshmen this year.
The weak economy has strained their cash resources, and the nationwide mortgage crisis has made many unwilling or unable to tap home equity. On top of that, dozens of lenders have stopped issuing federally guaranteed loans because of the credit-market turmoil.
"In terms of parents paying, there's more stress than I've ever seen," said Valerie Broughton, a Minneapolis-based educational consultant who says many are considering changing to less-expensive colleges or universities than planned.
Even with the start of college just weeks away, however, money still can be found for those who don't have all the financial aid they need. One reason is that schools, too, are under extra pressure and working harder to fill their freshman classes this year as students make late switches because of costs.
That can work to the advantage of those who have been accepted to their school of choice but are struggling to pay for it. Additional financial aid and scholarship money can be dangled at the eleventh hour as earlier enrollment commitments evaporate -- a phenomenon known as the "summer melt."
"The later in the year we get, the more valuable each student becomes and the harder they are to replace," said Lynn Nichelson, director of financial aid at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Ill. "The quality student is in demand all over the place."
For starters, experts recommend contacting a college's financial-aid office before ruling a school out because of money. Sometimes the aid outlook can improve from what was offered earlier, perhaps because of a change in the family's situation such as divorce or one parent's loss of a job.
It worked for Debbie Bloss, who checked back with Drury University in Springfield, Mo., so late that fall classes had begun.
By working with the financial-aid office, Bloss and her son were able to obtain a $400 federal Pell Grant, a $1,500 state grant and $500 in academic money, amounts bolstered by $6,625 in federal Stafford loans.
Along with an additional $13,500 in private loans, that was enough to get him through the first year. The following year, he started the process much earlier and secured much more federal, state and Drury grants along with work-study aid, reducing his loan amounts considerably.
Searching for last-minute scholarships and loans online at sites such as FastWeb.com and Finaid.com also can be fruitful. But experts advise parents to consider non-education-based loans only as a last resort because of extra costs and the need to start paying them back immediately.
If aid attempts fall short, students and their parents might want to consider a less expensive option or even wait a year or two to save more money.
Lester Lefton, president of Kent State University, strongly advocates doing whatever it takes to get a college education and degree from the highest-quality institution affordable. But he says people have to think realistically about the debt load and the time it will take to pay it.
"A college education is probably the best investment you can make," he said. "Parents and students alike should think of it as a 10-year commitment."Where to look
How to pursue last-minute financial aid:
� Contact the college's financial-aid office to seek general assistance, ask about a monthly payment plan or learn of any money that might have become available late. A change in the family's financial circumstances, such as a reduction in income or unusual medical expenses, might qualify for additional aid.
� Make sure the child has completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even though most colleges set a spring deadline, filing it now still makes it possible to get otherwise inaccessible federal and state grants and loans.
� Seek outside scholarships through Web sites such as www.fastweb.org or by asking civic organizations, religious organizations, unions or other groups with which the family might be affiliated if they offer them.
� After exhausting the opportunities for need-based grants, scholarships and personal payment, explore student-loan opportunities through the financial-aid office or online. Maximize borrowing in federal programs such as Stafford Loans and Parent Plus Loans.
� Consider alternative or private loans only after running out of subsidized loan options. Check with the school's financial-aid office or check a site such as www.studentloanlistings.com for a list of alternative lenders.
Sources: Barry University, Illinois University, Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut, the University of the Arts


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Begin, enhance or complete your personal art collection by attending
Paddle Raisers
A Biennial Auction benefitting the Acquisitions Fund and permanent collection conservation
Join us for an evening of live and silent auctions, heavy hors d'oeuvres, spirits and surprises!
Register by phone or purchase tickets below. NOTE: Tickets will not be mailed. Tickets, catalogs and bid paddles will be located at registration desk upon arrival to event.
Absentee bidding is available after Nov. 8 by calling to register at 325.762.2269.
Silent bids accepted after Nov. 8, following event registration.
View catalog of Auction Works below. View on-Site at museum starting Nov. 8.


text:
Today, DivvyUp turns two, and it's been one heck of a ride!
Two years ago, our team embarked on a journey to give clean socks to Tallahassee's homeless shelter. We didn't know much about the sock industry or what it took to design and create a DivvyUp sock, all we knew was clean socks were needed and we wanted to tackle the problem sustainably.
Two years later, DivvyUp has enabled the community to gift over 7,500 pairs of socks to those in need across the United States!
Powered by giving, learning and growing, year two brought exciting milestones, valuable lessons, and a refined vision.
– 7,500+ pairs of socks gifted
– 10 homeless shelter partners across 7 states (see them on our interactive giving map!)
– Launched DivvyUp's Custom Sock Partnership Program
– Raised $11,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
– Released DivvyUp 2.0
– Created a custom Giving Sock
Though the past year brought incredible highs, it's the mistakes that taught us the most important lessons. From a canceled Kickstarter campaign to learning the ins and outs of manufacturing, now more than ever, we are optimistic about the future.
If the past is an indicator of what time will hold, DivvyUp will look a lot different in two years, but our mission will always be the same – to be the largest one-for-one company actively giving across the United States.
Today isn't just about us, it's a celebration of everyone involved. We want to thank all our friends, family, and community for supporting DivvyUp since the beginning.
Happy Birthday DivvyUp!


text:
VATICAN CITY –– French magazine Charlie Hebdo's front covers are known to be provocative. But now they've irritated the Vatican –– or at least its newspaper.
One day ahead of the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the publication's headquarters in Paris that killed 12 people, Charlie Hebdo released one million copies of a special edition.
The front cover features a bearded man, apparently representative of God, splattered in blood and carrying an assault rifle over his shoulder. The headline translates as One Year After: The Assassin Is Still Out There. In its commentary this week, L'Osservatore Romano, the newspaper of the Vatican state, said it was not impressed.
"This episode isn't something new because, behind the deceitful flag of an uncompromising secularism, the French magazine once again forgets what religious leaders of different beliefs have been repeating for a long time to reject violence in the name of religion. Using God to justify hatred is an authentic blasphemy, as Pope Francis repeatedly said."
But in an exclusive interview on CNN's Amanpour, Laurent Sourisseau, Charlie Hebdo's head of publication, who goes by the nickname of Riss, stands by the illustration.
"It is a caricature representing the symbolic figure of God," he explains. "To us, it's the very idea of God that may have killed our friends a year ago. So we wanted to widen our vision of things. Faith is not always peaceful. Maybe we should learn to live with a little less of God."
Following the attack last year, Charlie Hebdo released an edition with a sketch of the Prophet Mohammed on the cover, looking solemn and holding up a sign that read: Je suis Charlie, or I am Charlie in French. The phrase was widely shared on social media in support for the magazine. Sourisseau clarifies who is depicted on the latest cover. "No, this is not Mohammed. It's above him. It's the God of all those who have faith."


text:
February 19, 2018 at 05:58 PM
By Eric B
Eric B
Hello TT!
Picked up my first Scotty Cameron (Futura x5) and am looking for a classic Scotty designed head cover. I love some of the old archived designs and definitely want to stay away from counterfeits. Does anyone know of legit sites where you can purchase these covers?
Thanks, all!
Barry BLake St Louis, MO
Don OMadison, WI
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Aromatic & Allied Chemicals have been a pioneer in Farming. We have our own leased farms and fields in different parts of India where we give .........Read More..
Aromatic & Allied adopted a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh to open a School for Children
Aromatic & Allied adopted another Village for Opening W.C. (Toilets)
Aromatic & Allied has been Awarded as the best Manufacturing Unit by Government of Uttar Pradesh
Aromatic & Allied has been Awarded a Star Category Recognition by the Directorate of Industries
Aromatic & Allied has been Awarded a Star Export House by Government of India
Aromatic & Allied has organized a field trip to Himalayas with in-house Technical Team and Scientists in order to recognize and develop New Natural Crops in that region to support Farmers and their Families
The first ever of its own kind "100% Organic Certified Beard Oil".
Safest & Medically Proven Organic Certified Mosquito Repellent.
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Established in 1983, the company has a continuous progress offering wide range of Natural Essential Oils, Natural Aroma Isolates, Mint Oils, Organic Certified Essential Oils, and Natural Herbs to many of the Flavor, Fragrance, Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetic Industries Worldwide. The Company is an ISO 9001:2008 & WHO GMP and HACCP Certified Company with its products being Kosher Certified,NOP/NPOP/EU Organic Certified & Halal Certified.
Now our products are also GMO Free certified thus assuring these to be 100% pure and natural.
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B-8 Industrial Estate C.B. Ganj
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+91-581-2560560 / 2561961 / 2561789
Copyright ©Aromatic And Allied Chemicals.
Developed By


text:
Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover
Dan Meyer, a high school math teacher, presents a humorous, intelligent argument on changing math instruction.
Teachers, we have to change something. We order them to memorize vocabulary, practice facts, remember steps and algorithms, and, yet, we're surprised when they can't solve new word problems. Why? We've not asked them to do math. Now, I'm not saying that those things aren't valuable, but there has to be more to math. Through thinking and collaboration and freedom and challenge, we can create mathematicians instead of frustrated robots.
"To start with, I'd like to break math down into two categories. One is computation; this is the stuff you've forgotten. For example, factoring quadratics with leading coefficients greater than one. This stuff is also really easy to relearn, provided you have a really strong grounding in reasoning. Math reasoning -- we'll call it the application of math processes to the world around us -- this is hard to teach. This is what we would love students to retain, even if they don't go into mathematical fields. This is also something that, the way we teach it in the U.S. all but ensures they won't retain it."
"So first, five symptoms that you're doing math reasoning wrong in your classroom. One is a lack of initiative; your students don't self-start. You finish your lecture block and immediately you have five hands going up asking you to re-explain the entire thing at their desks. Students lack perseverance. They lack retention; you find yourself re-explaining concepts three months later, wholesale. There's an aversion to word problems, which describes 99 percent of my students. And then the other one percent is eagerly looking for the formula to apply in that situation. This is really destructive" [emphasis added].
"I encourage math teachers I talk to to use multimedia, because it brings the real world into your classroom in high resolution and full color; to encourage student intuition for that level playing field; to ask the shortest question you possibly can and let those more specific questions come out in conversation; to let students build the problem, because Einstein said so; and to finally, in total, just be less helpful, because the textbook is helping you in all the wrong ways: It's buying you out of your obligation, for patient problem solving and math reasoning, to be less helpful" [emphasis added].


text:
As a fan of Swedish mysteries, one thing I've learned is that Swedes love their coffee. And so last month when I was by the Plaza and desperate for some caffeine I decided to nip into Fika NYC, part of a small chain of Swedish Espresso bars in the city. Fika roughly means to take a coffee break, something that I love to do. And so I took my time and enjoyed a delicious cappuccino prepared by an extremely nice barista. It's now my go-to place when I'm shopping (or more likely window shopping) on Fifth Avenue. And just this week I went to their Tribeca location, which houses their chocolate factory (oh yes, they make chocolates as well). I think a tasting should be on the agenda for the next visit. Don't you?
For more info on Fika NYC, visit their site here.


text:
# Digital Workplace Company
Digital workplace
consulting and research covering people, place and technology led by
James Dellow
. Using human-centred design and technology management know-how, the goal of the Digital Workplace Company is to provide masterplanning to help develop organisations that are digital first workplaces from the ground up.
Weekly Newsletter
Sign up to the
Digital Workplace newsletter
for news and links about the digital workplace. View the
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Read "
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" or
watch the recording
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Engage the Digital Workplace Company for workshops, research and consulting projects. Contact James Dellow by
or phone
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WORKTECH19 Sydney
is the forum for all those involved in the future of work and the workplace.
The Digital Workplace Company is a media partner for WORKTECH19 Sydney.
What is the Digital Workplace?
Everyone is talking about the "digital workplace" but
what is it
? And who are the leading
Project Examples
Digital Workplace Company has experience
of working across a range of industries and working along side leading Australian design studios.
Chief Technology Solutions
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text:
And, I'm back! I'm more immersed than ever in the world universe of kitchens...maybe slightly underwater may be the better term due to my recent posting absence (I'm so ashamed!)
I honestly have four full time jobs right now: my design practice, all of the social media areas that I touch including the NEW blog I started, Scandinavian Kitchens & Design which is another labor of love, the coming launch of my new product line, www.bornholmstudio.com, and another top secret beeeeeeg project I'm involved in, not to mention appointments, events, and jobsite visits which are on the calendar, one of which is taking me to Madrid on a speaking engagement the first week of October and to a GE summit two days before I leave for Madrid!
Besides that, part of this summer was spent with my dear and youngest son, who unpredictably came home for a couple of days from the city to look for a car with us and ended up staying for nearly 2 weeks, as his girlfriend had also left to visit her family out of the country for that time period. It was such a gift to have this quality time with him in July. Then, we moved him and his girlfriend to Columbia, MD, near DC, in August, to start their next 5 year adventure, his girlfriend attending a PhD program at U of MD. Of course, the move, and a subsequent visit to DC, was surrounded by multiple visits to IKEA and learning to eat crabs!
Meanwhile, I've never been so stimulated in my life, professionally, by the new people I am continually meeting, materials I am seeing, and new information acquired, and I do love every minute of my busy day and now it's WAY past time to check in here, say a very warm hello and thanks for your patience. I will try to do scheduled blogging (a regular note on my calendar, saying "blog today!") rather than on the fly, which has not been working very well. The point is, it's a very busy time, but I'm happy as a clam, immersed in the kitchen universe, and am just trying to perfect the juggling!
This ended up being a bit of a hello again post, so next time, I'll be letting you in on some of the pretty amazing things I've been seeing and hearing around the kitchen universe.


text:
New Brunswick
Without a universal prescription drug plan, coverage in Canada vastly differs depending on where you live. Regionally, Atlantic Canada has among the lowest rates of access to prescription medications in the country. In New Brunswick, even publically-funded programs require dispensing fees or co-payments, which have proven to reduce access.
26 percentof Atlantic Canadians don't take their medications as prescribed because they can't afford to.
Public spending in New Brunswick covers less than half the cost of prescription medicine.
An estimated one in three of the province's 351,800 workers – 117,266 – don't have health benefits.
In Canada, only about 27 percent of part-time workers have prescription drug coverage. That means that in 2015, about three quarters of New Brunswick's 53,900 part-time workers didn't have prescription drug coverage.
The New Brunswick Prescription Drug Plan (NBPDP) covers seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement, but they have to pay co-payments. The Medavie Blue Cross Seniors' Health Program also covers seniors, but requires monthly premiums of $115, and co-payments of $15 per prescription.
Uninsured residents are covered by the New Brunswick Drug Plan, but they pay a premium and a 30% co-payment based on annual income.
Even charges as low as $2 have been found to be a barrier to taking medication as prescribed.
This patchwork coverage leaves many in New Brunswick without access to the medication they need, either because they don't have a prescription drug plan or have plans that don't cover the cost.
Everyone should have equal access to the prescription drugs they need regardless of where they live. It's time for a universal prescription drug plan.


text:
SEPHORA COLLECTION Lip Liner To Go
Select your options to be notified when it's back in stock
SEPHORA COLLECTION Lip Liner To Go
Product Description
A mini lip liner available in shades to match SEPHORA COLLECTION's lipstick colors.
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Suggested Usage:
-Outline lips with Lip liner to go.
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-Lip liner to go can also be applied alone over the entire lip for a semi-matte finish.
0.025 oz
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Don't force. Little things. Days. Hay the heap in which pricker lost, scintillant sharp-eye.
Pay attention. A haystack is a stack of needles. Needles of hay. Stop scouring gold for cold steel.
Transmission weak and flatulent, slack-jawed lines on a pole poorly buried. No electrical ground.
Engage the operative. Draw the lines taut and subtle like muscle tissue like sinew bow strings, foreleg of deer drawn taut to down the fleeing deer.
The deer enables the hunter. Without her there is no hunt<h>er.
Or is there? Her taut-strung sinews string his lyre. Therefore, he thinks, they commune.
No rest always a space simple let it fill itself with play.
Head too heavy to lift up?
Look down, upon reflective surfaces.
Try cans of spent motor oil. Try backside of spoons. Try sphericals. Try eyes of adoring animals. Try shiny-ing your shoes.


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Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Review
Amazon's Kindle Fire has been the star of the show as late, but we can't forget they have a huge hand in the eReader world. Amazon isn't ready to leave their bread and butter behind and with that we have the all new Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, the first Kindle with a front lit or built-in light for perfect reading anywhere. No longer will night readers have to keep a nearby lamp on and disturb others, or clip on a retro-style light. Does the new Paperwhite deliver on its promise for perfect reading anywhere? Read on to find out.


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Tarleton State University opens in Fort Worth
Tarleton State University opened the first public university campus in Fort Worth Aug. 1 on property along Chisholm Trail Parkway.
Fall classes begin Aug. 26 at the new campus. And it's already out of space.
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a long history of commemorating vital events, figures and items from the nation's history on special-edition stamps.
These illustrated pieces of adhesive art don't just spruce up the boundless blankness of a standard white envelope. They are also something of a profit centre for the USPS: collectors purchase the stamps for their hoards but may never use them to mail a letter.
But while stamp collecting's popularity has been on the decline, the post office has recently stepped up its sticky game in one specific area: featuring classic vehicles on its stamps. The past decade has seen the unveiling of postage celebrating fins and chrome, sporty coupes and muscle cars. This month, the USPS revealed its latest automotive addition: a pair of stamps bearing the likeness of two classic 1932 Ford "Deuce" hot rods.
Veteran automotive writer, concours judge and museum curator Ken Gross helped the USPS choose this particular car as an exemplar of the machines that came to be known as hot rods – a term though to be derived from a contraction of "hot roadster".
"The '32 Ford Roadster is the quintessential hot rod," Gross explained. "Light, quick, already set up for a V8 from the factory. These cars were rodded and raced almost from the moment they were introduced."
A hot rodder since his adolescent years, Gross entered the hobby because he craved speed but couldn't afford a proper sports car. "Fixing up my old Ford in high school – a 1940 coupe – was thus the way to go." A member of two hot rod clubs by the time he was 18, Gross still has an award-winning "Deuce" in his garage today, which he drives and displays at shows.
Gross claims that numerous factors contributed to the rise of hot rods in the post-World War II era: the revival of new American automotive manufacturing (and automotive consumption) following the war and thus the wider availability of inexpensive used cars; the return of mechanically trained former soldiers from overseas postings; the availability of aftermarket speed parts for engines like the Ford flathead V8; the establishment of clubs that sanctioned legal drag racing events (diminishing risk of arrest and providing some cover of safety); and the low cost of fuel.
But Gross attributes the development of this unique culture to the confluence of two distinctly American features: "Yankee ingenuity, and the need for speed."
If you would like to comment on this story or anything else you have seen on BBC Autos, head over to our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.


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|Star Wars, nothing but, Star Wars!
For three months, I trained for a swim meet for the State Championship of South Carolina for the US Masters Swimming organization.
|You will be.
Again, I am 42, and I hear Yoda in my ear telling me I am two old for the training. I will never be able to become a Jedi/swimmer. My aging body doesn't have enough recovery ability to get through a day to day training regimen. This is probably due to a low midichlorian count. (A midichlorian reference.) Olympic swimmer +Nathan Adrian was the Jedi Master that I watched on YouTube that brought balance to the force. Basically it was a really zen style, and I focused on the technique. (So don't sweat the technique.)
"Easy to say, hard to control."
|Na na na na na na na na...
However, when the first pitch is thrown, and I am at the pool with my toes over the starting block; it's time to hike up the speedos and play ball like a wild man.


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I am a regular visitor of The retired one as she takes fantastic pictures and every month she has a themed contest which I always check out, as there are always some fantastic pictures there too. Her own pictures vary from landscapes to macro and from animals to insects and her observations are always humourous, so check her out by clicking on her name above or click here.
Anyway its third time lucky as my third entry won the August contest, the theme was Lakes, Ponds, Rivers or Creeks. My prize is I get the bragging rights and a widget, but most of all it made me smile on a bad day!
Here is my winning picture taken in Connemara, I was surprised to win as there were other great pictures click here.click here


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Tractor trailers are a common sight in Nevada and throughout the United States. Along with buses and other commercial motor vehicles, they play an invaluable role in the nation's economy by transporting billions of pounds of food, products and raw materials around the nation each year.
As can be expected, the prevalence of tractor trailers on the roadways leads to a significant number of accidents each year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that large commercial vehicles, including trucks, were involved in around 286,000 accidents that caused 74,000 injuries and over 3,000 deaths in 2009. Drivers of non-commercial vehicles can help decrease these accidents by increasing their own awareness of tractor trailers and taking the following precautions:
Know the "No-Zones"
No-zones are a truck's large blind spots. They are located at the front, back, and sides of the truck, along with the connecting point between the truck and its trailer. Drivers can determine if they are in a truck's blind spots by looking for the truck driver in their mirrors. If the truck driver is clearly visible to a motorist, then the truck driver can see the motorist as well.
Avoid squeezing
Trucks often need to swing wide to the left in order to safely perform a right turn. This is very common in urban areas. However, impatient drivers occasionally cut in between the truck and the curb, believing that they will be able to pass the truck and quickly move out of the way. When a motorist isn't quick enough to get out of the truck's blind spot, they can get squeezed between the truck and the curb, resulting in a trucking accident. Drivers can avoid this by patiently following a truck when it turns.
Give them space
Many motorists do not realize the fundamental differences in cars and large commercial motor vehicles. An 80,000 pound tractor trailer traveling at 65 miles per hour requires the entire length of a football field to come to a complete stop. That is 45 more feet than a regular car. Drivers should thus avoid abrupt lane changes around trucks, maintain a safe following distance of 20 to 25 car lengths behind the truck, and never swerve in front of a truck and slam on the brakes.
Find representation
Tractor trailers are vehicles that should be respected on the roadways. However, motorists can do little to prevent an accident when the truck driver is at fault. When Las Vegas drivers experience serious injury due to a truck driver's negligence, fatigue, or a truck's defects, they can contact a personal injury attorney to begin the claims process and get on the road to recovery.


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Are you too busy to answer the phone but you want to let your callers know why you're busy? With LISTEN, you can select a Status message (e.g. "Sorry, the guy you are calling is in a meeting and can't take your call right now.") and play it to your callers during the selected duration.
Can I play 'Status' to a specific person?
In your LISTEN application, go to Menu > Status Setting. From this page, you can select Who Hears Your Status.


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Sulfur Plume off Namibia
High Resolution
Last update: August 24th, 2019 at 2:00 pm
In late June 2003, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra and Aqua satellites captured a series of images that tracked the development of a sulfur upwelling event in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Namibia in South Africa. The yellowish clouds of sulfur come from hydrogen sulfide gas produced by anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that can live without oxygen) at the ocean floor. As the gas wells up to the surface, it reacts with oxygen in the upper layers of the ocean and produces pure sulfur. The yellowish sulfur and the blue water combine to make green swirls in the waters off the Namib Desert coast. Streamers of dust hang over the ocean in several of the images. In the final image of the series, on July 13, dust plumes drift southwestward from the arid terrain north of the Namib Desert (light orange terrain at bottom center of image. The swirls seen in the ocean water may be phytoplankton blooms, rather than sulfur eruptions.
Credit: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC


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20 Interesting and Weird Facts About the Author
I was hesitant about doing an 'About the Author' page at first because one - it would be about me, and two - when reading the 'About' pages of other sites, I have noticed that they tend to be dry and boring. Such and such was born blah blah and lives blah blah with their family blah blah. Then I thought, why conform?
~*~ I was born on New Years Eve, December 31, 1983. See? Interesting already.
~*~ I am the writer, graphic designer, website editor, photographer, and model for naturaLiving.
~*~ I first got into the subject of natural health after reading Kevin Trudeau's controversial book 'Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About'.
~*~ I once aspired to be a paranormal romance writer.
~*~ I have a cat named Karma. Sometimes she can be a b*tch.
~*~ I live in Vermont, and I hate snow.
~*~ I cut and style my own hair.
~*~ I would like to have my own small permaculture farm some day.
~*~ I dream in color.
~*~ I hate sappy chick flick and drama movies, I'd rather watch something blow up any day.
~*~ I like to listen to all kinds of music; except most R & B, rap, and anything with an accordion.
~*~ I see Mike Adams, the Health Ranger as one of my personal heroes. Plus, he's cute. Don't judge me.
~*~ I have bug out bag, just in case...you know...I have to bug out.
~*~ I love the quote; "Be the change you wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Ghandi. But I'm not tattooing it anywhere.
~*~ I have the patience and will of a Capricorn goat climbing a sheer cliff. In the rain. During an earthquake.
~*~ I am a self educator and researcher. I read books, surf the net, listen to the radio, and experiment. No, I do not have a secret lab in my basement.
~*~ I take coffee in my cream.
~*~ I have the song 'Faster' by Within Temptation as a ringtone.
~*~ I sometimes feel the urge to write poetry that doesn't suck.
~*~ I was taught as a kid how to tend a garden by my grandfather, to bake a pie by my great grandmother, to handle a gun my dad, to believe in myself by my mom, and to stand up for myself by my sister. Without them, I wouldn't be half of the person I am today.


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Dear Marriage Supporter,
Great news!
Yesterday, the US Supreme Court intervened to grant a stay — a delay in the implementation of a lower court's ruling pending legal appeal — in Virginia, halting the redefinition of marriage in its tracks in the Old Dominion!
The justice in charge of reviewing petitions in the 4th circuit (Justice Roberts) referred the matter to the full court. And once again — just as was the case in Utah earlier this year — there was no dissent from a single justice in granting the stay!
Let me remind you that one of the conditions for overturning a lower court's decision in granting a stay is the reasonable expectation of victory on appeal!
Won't you please take this opportunity to renew your commitment to defending marriage by making a generous contribution of $35, $50, $100, or even $500 to NOM today?
After winning many lawsuits in lower federal courts presided over by hand-picked, liberal, activist judges, the momentum behind the marriage redefinition agenda is waning.
Remember, in addition to the Supreme Court's intervention in Utah and Virginia, federal judges in states like Wisconsin are taking notice and issuing stays on their own decisions to allow the legal process to play out.
Much, much more importantly, we recently won a case at the lower level in Tennessee! You might not know about it because the media is doing everything it can to ignore the facts, but Roane County Circuit Judge Russell E. Simmons, Jr., of Kingston, Tennessee ruled that "neither the Federal Government nor another state should be allowed to dictate to Tennessee what has traditionally been a state's responsibility."
In addition, he correctly commented on the Supreme Court's Windsor decision of last summer, saying that the "Supreme Court does not go the final step and find that a state that defines marriage as a union of one man and one woman is unconstitutional. Further, the Supreme Court does not find that one state's refusal to accept another state's valid same-sex marriage to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution."
The rush to judgment declaring marriage to be unconstitutional is not only premature — it's flat out wrong!
Won't you please give a generous donation today to help NOM continue fighting to defend marriage and the faith communities that sustain it?
The US Supreme Court has determined that states have the right to define marriage and we remain confident that they will uphold all the various traditional marriage laws and constitutional amendments that have been wrongly invalidated by federal judges.
Moreover, we look forward to the US Supreme Court taking one or more of the three marriage cases now pending before them, and ultimately ruling that defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman is entirely constitutional.
Thank you for continuing to stand for marriage!
Brian S. Brown
PS: As the recent actions of the Supreme Court in Virginia and the legal victory in Tennessee show... the tide is turning! And NOM needs your help to keep building the momentum! These lower federal court cases are making their way up to the Supreme Court, and we must demonstrate that Americans across the country and from all walks of life believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Won't you please make a generous donation today to help us build a grassroots movement and make a powerful statement that will be heard throughout the country and especially in the halls of the Supreme Court?


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Our goal is to provide you with the best service and manage your properties efficiently and effectively. Our team has invested in a complete and modern software solution, AppFolio Property Manager. We are excited to share several of the new capabilities and how they will benefit you.
- More effectively market your properties and fill vacancies sooner. AppFolio allows us to quickly advertise vacancies online, posting to our website, and hundreds of other listing sites. Applicants can also apply right from their smartphones.
- Price rentals right for your market and reduce vacancies. AppFolio's built-in rental comparison tool provides actual rental rates for units similar to yours in the same geographic location. This insight allows us to maximize your revenue and fill vacancies faster.
- Screen for the best residents. Streamlined, built in resident screening includes standard background and credit checks along with past rent payment history. Screens can be completed in minutes – enabling us to place the highest quality residents quickly.


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SPRK is a web-based travel-selling platform that enables agents to take their supplier relationships and customer service offerings to a new level. Travel counselors using SPRK have access to expanded content sources, including direct connect and flight merchandising, delivered in an intuitive, flexible environment that requires little or no agent retraining to get started.
Available only to travel agencies that have agreements with direct connect airlines, the SPRK platform equips travel sellers with a robust point-of-sale solution that not only handles 'traditional' air content, but also accommodates dynamic workflows and optional services that may be unique to different airlines. This enables both the supplier and the travel seller to offer a more personalized, higher-value trip experience, while also collecting more pre-trip data for corporate travel compliance. No custom implementation required. No local software installation/configuration. There is minimal agent retraining and, most of all, no more gaps between you and your travel distribution ROI.


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Grocery Shopping Tips
The next time you go to the grocery store consider these tips to make your trip less stressful and more affordable.
Buy your Fresh produce in varying ripeness to give you product to eat now and throughout the week.
Washed bagged items like; salads, mini carrots, celery, broccoli, cauliflower…etc. make prep time easy and convenient for those short on time.
Use your local store flyers to find specials.
Canned and frozen vegetables and fruit are just great options when the fresh product is not in season.
Creating a list will help you stick to nutritious choices and your budget.
For more great tips and tricks visit the Half Your Plate website.
Selecting and Storing Tips
Not all produce is the same, and storing some produce items together will quicker the ripening process in others leaving you with over ripe product.
For example did you know that apples and pears release ethylene as they ripen. This very small hydrocarbon gas will ripen your bananas and kiwi fruit much faster than they would on their own.
For more tips on storing information click on the link below from our friends Produce Made Simple.
Purchasing Tips
For information on purchasing tips check out our Fruits and Vegetable pages.


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Awoke this morning to a front page photo in The Star newspaper of 12 ISIS motivated persons being arrested near Kuala Lumpur in the Klang Valley. They had in their possession large amounts of explosives and were planning attacks on government buildings, entertainment venues and attractions. They are ISIS sympathisers and were answering a call to attack Muslim States that are secular. It looks like being in a Muslim state may no longer grant immunity from this type of action. We were pleased to note that the paper stated that Langkawi was not on their list. We are going there next week.
Having a quiet morning after yummy breakfast in the courtyard area at the rear of the Batik Boutique Hotel. It is a lovely relaxed area with plenty of seating, fans and great ambience. Looking to see where we might go on return from Langkawi on the 8th May. We are trying to get 21 days stay in a furnished condominium in The Shore Tower 3 in Melaka and Chea our contact has just given us the email of a lady from the developers to try. We are waiting for her reply but are not super hopeful as they normally only do 12 month leases in Malaysia. It would give us a good idea of what it would be like to be based in one for 12 months. The pools and gym facilities would allow us to "rehone" our bodies ready for more travel.
Erica is researching Laos and the Philippines whilst I trawl for cheap airfares. Just found one to Manilla from Kuala Lumpur return on Air Asia for 1400RM or $500 for two. It is nearly a four hour flight and 2493 kilometres each way. I always amortize airfares over the length of stay and this one works out for 20 days there at 70Rm or $25 per day (Pensioner prices!).
Erica is now looking at boat trip down the Mekong from Chiang Saen on the Golden Triangle into Laos at Luang Prabang while we are in Thailand. Sounds great but a bit expensive for ageing retirees! Having time to plan and research on the internet is fantastic for travellers like ourselves and saves enormous amounts of money.
We have been shopping around for a Samsung Galaxy A5 to replace my aging HTC phone but the prices are basically the same all over the world as are all international brands of merchandise so no bargains to be had here. Erica has a Galaxy S 10.5 inch pad that has a very clear Amelod screen that is great for ageing eyes especially in bright daylight and that is why we are looking at the A5 with Amelod screen. No hurry as long as we don't develop "Engine Failure"!
Heavy rain falling in Kuching at the moment and it does not look like easing. Can now see why the drains are so deep here.
Just had yummy street food for about 15RM or $5.35 Australian including lime juice. We ate it before we remembered to take a pic!