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By Capital News Service Staff
WASHINGTON - President Bush began his State of the Union address Tuesday by invoking the name of one of Maryland's most famous politicians, the late Baltimore congressman and Mayor Thomas D'Alesandro, and complimenting D'Alesandro's daughter, Nancy Pelosi, on becoming the first female speaker of the House.
But if the names were intended as a charm to ward off criticism from Democrats, now in charge of Congress, and Marylanders, now in the top two posts in the House, the incantation was not as effective in Republican hands.
"If we are going to find the right solutions to challenges on immigration, health care, Social Security and Iraq, then bipartisanship must rule the day, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, in a prepared statement. "Mere words by the president are not going to get the job done."
President Bush's address was his first to a Democratic Congress. Democrats took control of the House and Senate after the November 2006 elections, largely riding a wave of public disapproval of the war in Iraq. And although other issues were discussed, Iraq dominated the president's address, and Bush asked for support for his "new strategy."
"Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned and our own security at risk," Bush said. "Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle. So let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory."
The president said he was convening a bipartisan special advisory panel to work with him on Iraq solutions.
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Baltimore, answered the president: "Well, the fact is that it's what the President is doing, really, that's exacerbated the problem and everyone will tell you that," he said, adding that he heard earlier in the day from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who told his Armed Services Committee that the war could last another eight to 12 years.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Kensington, agreed that something must be done in Iraq, but it might not happen Bush's way.
"He wants a blank check," Van Hollen said after the speech. "But times have changed and that's not going to happen. We look forward to working with him and finding a new way forward."
A new CBS news poll shows Bush's approval rating has sunk to 28 percent, and two-thirds of the country opposes his plan to bolster U.S. troop strength in Iraq by 21,000.
A Gallup Poll in mid-January found Bush's approval rating at 36 percent, while another of its polls showed that just 35 percent of Americans are satisfied with the way the country is going today.
Cooperation was a theme that ran through the president's speech and the Maryland delegation's reactions.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said "We are ready to work with him. We sure hope he is ready to work with us."
But she made it clear that Bush's call for increasing troop strength in Iraq was not going to be approved without question.
"A strong American military cannot be a substitute for a weak Iraqi government," Mikulski said in a statement before the president's speech. "The stronger we are, the more permission we give the Iraq government to be weak. The Iraqi government must come up with its own plan, and Bush must lead a diplomatic initiative, not a new troop initiative."
The president's call for a reduction in energy dependence by encouraging use of alternative fuels and discouraging low gas mileage won favor with Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Frederick, who plans a morning news conference to discuss the president's plan.
Bartlett is a longtime proponent of the "peak oil" theory—that the world has already passed the halfway point of its oil reserves and depletion will come all too fast at current rates of consumption.
The House is fresh off its successful passage of its "100 Hours" agenda: implementing the 9/11 commission report recommendations, increasing the minimum wage, expanding stem cell research, negotiating prescription drug costs, cutting student loan interest rates and ending $14 billion in oil subsidies.
Bush has promised to veto the bills on stem cell research and prescription drug costs.
Capital News Service reporters Hallie Falquet, Esther Nguonly, Patricia Murret and Scott Shewfelt contributed to this report.


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Two years ago, you were born to see this world my dearest boy.
I did cry and your Daddy did screaming right after hearing your voice.
Syukur Alhamdulillah. You complete our life, you are our loves one.
20 days more before I weaning you off from breastfeeding. We have a great bonding, sweet & sour time for Mummy to remember. All my effort, all your Daddy hard works will only be answer by time from now on.
My music, as always before you fall asleep:
Mummy loves Azizi, Azizi loves Mummy, sayang menyayang.
Daddy loves Azizi, Azizi loves Daddy, sayang menyayang.
My doa after solat always include you my boy, insya Allah.
Yesterday was Abg Lie Birthday celebration.
Actually you are the one to cut a cake, but we save it on your birthday on September.
You did sang a song on your own words, LOL.
Clapping hands, jerit-jerit....ahhahah
You did cekau Abg Lie cake, see your shirt was dirty with black spot.
Happy Birthday Abg Lie.
He requested a new school bag, end year baru beli la....
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

subset: commoncrawl


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That afternoon an old man collapsed on the stairs outside his brownstone. He lived in a neighborhood dubbed "Little Estonia," where the streets intertwined and often failed to appear on GPS devices. Before losing consciousness he dug his phone from his sweatpants pocket and dialed 911, requesting help at 260 Ruby Street. An ambulance was sent.
Arthur Rambam only drove the ambulances. Except for a nearly expired first aid certificate, he had no medical qualification and was strongly discouraged from handling the bodies. His one responsibility was to get the vehicle and crew to the victim.
He said: "All I'm saying is, is if you teleport us back to the Renaissance…"
"…put us each on a Jet Ski with a shotgun, a rifle, maybe one guy gets a bazooka…"
"Shut up, you'll miss the turn."
"…me and a dozen of my VFW buds, armed, on Jet Skis, could take out the entire Spanish Armada, lickety-split."
"You missed it, Artie. Turn around," said the paramedic from the passenger's seat, a hand smushing half his face.
The men could've simply asked the dispatcher for specific directions to 260 Ruby Street, where an old man lay clutching his heart, but the paramedic wouldn't allow it. If he asked for help, the higher-ups would view it as a sign of inadequacy. He had to find the address himself.
Throughout five years on the job he had encountered endless scenes of pain, gore, loss, dismay. Naturally, he picked up an ugly drinking habit. Soon his work performance plunged and he found himself perpetually on the brink of being fired. If they didn't find this old man at 260 Ruby, he'd most certainly lose his job.
Inside the glove compartment the paramedic found a city map. He unfolded it until it obstructed his half of the windshield. Now if only Rambam would shut up.
But Rambam would not shut up.
When the paramedic turned to punch Rambam's arm, the map fluttered, blocking the driver's side of the windshield. Rambam hit the brakes but the ambulance struck something before coming to a complete halt.On the pavement, right below the ambulance bumper, an unconscious old man rested alongside the groceries he had been carrying. Rambam sat very upright at the wheel whispering "oh god" over and over as the paramedic got out to examine the victim.
It wasn't until the backdoors slammed shut that Rambam moved again. His head jerked around to see the old man on a stretcher, wires and tubes sprouting from his motionless body. The paramedic climbed back into the passenger's seat and signaled "Go" with two fingers pointed forward.
"H-hey," Rambam stammered. "This ain't the guy. We can't-"
"Is this man not banged up? Is there not blood coming down his face? Does he not need medical help?" The paramedic flicked on the siren. "He'll do, Artie."
Rambam's eyes got soggy. He turned the key, "Yeah, okay. He'll do."
At the hospital the old man came to. He couldn't remember calling 911 or how he lost consciousness. Mild memory loss, they called it. While bandaging the head the doctor discovered a lump on the back of the patient's neck. A medical staff assembled and removed the mass, which could've posed minor problems to the spine had it grown large enough. Hours later the old man returned home good as new.
The doctor praised the ambulance crew's grace under such duress. To celebrate, the two colleagues decided to grab drinks. At the bar, Rambam prattled on about hypothetically winning the Battle of Hastings with only one M18 Hellcat and ten well-placed landmines. The paramedic said little but listened with a smile. He drank just one beer the entire night, sipping slowly and enjoying flavors he had never before noticed.


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Go Back
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The Color of Women's Sunglasses
If anybody knows color, it�s women. They are experts in wearing all black; the black work suit, the black dress, the black purse. They are also masters of wearing white, whether it�s for a wedding gown, a summer party dress, or in a golf outfit. Then there are all the colors in between that they know how to mix and match. The pastel greens and pinks of spring, the oranges, yellows and browns of fall, and the reds and blues of summer�every color under the sun becomes their palette when they are preparing an outfit to wear.
About the Author: Angie Stocklin is co-founder of Sunglass Warehouse. Sunglass Warehouse carries the hottest trends in women's discount sunglasses. For more information about Sunglass Warehouse, please visit http://www.sunglasswarehouse.com .


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To get started on your fully online/blended course (ONLN/BLEN), registered students are required to follow the steps below. Feel free to print or bookmark this site.
York University Fully online and blended course offerings are searchable.
Getting Started
1. Prepare your Learning style for eLearning
York University Fully online and blended course offerings are searchable.
2. Prepare for writing on-campus supervised exams
3. Obtain your YU-Card for Identity Validation and using the York Libraries
All students are expected to obtain a YU-Card. eLearning students enrolled in on-campus courses or residing in the Greater Toronto Area are normally expected to visit the YU-card Office during business hours to obtain a card. Students who are enrolled in only online, blended, or off-campus courses; or graduate students residing outside of the Greater Toronto Area and enrolled in no on-campus courses; may request a YU-card by mail. The YU-card will not bear a photo and will require that you present valid photo ID should you wish to use the card. Requests should be submitted to firstname.lastname@example.com. A valid student number and mailing address must be included in the request. Please allow up to 10 business days for your card to be produced and mailed.
eLearn students can access eResources online remotely from any location.
Once students are in possession of a YU-card, they will be able to access eResources using their Passport York ID from the York University Libraries website.
4. Update your mailing address
Update your mailing address, phone, fax, e-mail information from your Student Record Online - Office of the Registrar
5. Ensure that both your Student Passport York and mail.my.yorku.ca email accounts are active
Students are required to have an active an
a) Passport York account to access the course websites. Sign up for a Passport York username and password in order to proceed with course website access.
b) an active mail.my.yorku.ca email and check it regularly for course announcements and important notices from instructors.
Computing support can be directed to email@example.com or visit the Student Computing website
6. Access your Course Outlines
Some instructors/departments post course outlines prior to the beginning of term and some others wait till the beginning of term and post detailed course outlines in Moodle. If they are provided they will be available from the following:
LA&PS Course Outlines are searchable from the Search for Courses link from the Current Students webpage.
Once you search your course by search options available such as the eLearn or Subject search, you will find the "Course Outline" link at the Notes/Additional Fees Heading.
Health Course descriptions/outlines are searchable from the Schools/department "Course' tab
Natural Science Course outlines are searchable from the NATS Course List.
7. Access your Course Website
Most courses use Moodle for hosting course lecture materials, communication and assessment tools. Moodle course website access starts within the first week of the term. For late enrollees it takes two business days from the time of your enrolment to access the Moodle websites once the semester has started. Course materials begin to be released on the course website during the first week of the semester. Get familiar with Moodle by reviewing the Moodle Student Resources Page.
If you course is not using Moodle or using an additional website your instructor will let you know in the detailed course syllabus.
Moodle and computing support can be directed to email@example.com or visit the Student Computing website
8. Purchase your Course Materials
9. Contact the Academic School or Department if you have academic/enrolment questions
For fully online and blended course academic and enrolment related questions, please contact the affiliated Faculty/School Department:


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Your care begins with you
From working with you to create the best possible birth experience to providing your ongoing health care, certified nurse-midwives are specially trained to listen to your needs and concerns. We believe you can and should play an active role in your care.
What you can expect
- Care from nurse-midwives with a record of safety and patient satisfaction
- Guidance in creating your birth plan
- Easy to make appointments
- Care from the same nurse-midwife
- Online test results
- Coordination with doctors and other care providers as necessary
Partners in Pregnancy – Group prenatal care
At Partners in Pregnancy, you'll get holistic, midwifery-based prenatal care in a group setting. You'll be in a class with 8-10 other moms-to-be, and your due dates will all be about the same time. The group setting allows you to connect, learn and share with other moms. And you'll get prenatal care from your midwife.
Wondering what we do?
- Prenatal care
- Labor, delivery and postpartum care
- Instruction on breastfeeding
- Family planning counseling
- Birth Control
- Screening for sexually transmitted infections
- Adolescent health care
- Assessment and treatment of vaginal infections and bladder infections
- Educational support on pregnancy, nutrition, exercise, childbirth and parenting
- Menopause counseling and education
Related specialties:
Information you might need:
- Health library
- Partners in breastfeeding
- 2018 Meet the Midwives
- Questions or Concerns
- Free weekly health tips for mom and baby:
- Download our myHealthyPregnancy app for iPhone
- Download our myHealthyPregnancy app for Android


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Building success through Jewish values
Two years after the world witnessed the dissolution of a global power, the collapse of the Soviet Union, my parents made a decision that would change the course of our lives forever. Leaving the Ukraine as Jewish refugees with a three year old, three hundred dollars, and a desire for a better life required willpower, self-discipline and immense courage.
Growing up as a first generation immigrant inspired me to capitalize on the opportunity I was given, a chance at success living in the world's super power.
Raised in New York, I was taught by the city to embrace my uniqueness and to exemplify my individualism, ideals that have played a pivotal role in my life. Additionally, my growth has been incubated by the warmth of a group of people who share my values and appreciate my vision. I am speaking, of course, about the Jewish people.
Before I go on, a little background is in order.
Ever since my early childhood, I dreamed of greatness. I wanted to be a powerful, successful individual, and I had no intention of settling for anything less. But my father set me straight, reordering my priorities. I will never forget the words he chose to drive home his point: "Above all, no matter how successful you are, you must always remember to be a good person first and successful later."
At the time, I wasn't quite sure what he meant. Being a "good person" seemed quite vague. Later, when I was diagnosed with bone cancer, it all came into focus.
Throughout the ordeal, my parents taught me the importance of fortitude and devotion. Friends, family and organizations like Chai Lifeline showed me the importance of compassion and unconditional love. The care and attention I received molded me into the person I am today and helped me appreciate Jewish values, which, I learned, are rooted in being a good person.
I have learned that everybody has a story and is struggling with something. A good person is one who cares enough to listen and never passes up an opportunity to help. A good person is one who has empathy, a quality that is difficult to obtain yet impossible to lose.
This brings us back to today.
The Jewish values that motivate me are a desire to live life to its fullest and a penchant for giving back. Ever since junior high school, I have been devoting my time to local fundraisers, walkathons, and volunteering opportunities. Now, I run my own NYC-based pediatric cancer fundraising and awareness campaign called Checkmate, Cancer! (checkmatecancer.org). For me, giving has become more of a personal obligation than an act of self-fulfillment. For me, giving is a way of life and the only way to live.
I put being a good person ahead of success just as my father suggested – the best advice I have ever received. But now it's time to plan my future, and I believe that entails taking Jewish values to the next level.
In the newest chapter of my life, I am doing just that as a participant in the BUILD Fellowship, a joint program of Yeshiva University and the UJA-Federation of New York. This incredible program has helped me explore Jewish values as I never have before.
I am surrounded by people my own age who share the same Jewish values but utilize them in different ways. Despite our differences and varied backgrounds, one thing is quite evident: we are all Jewish, and we are all exceedingly proud.
With every BUILD Fellowship session (especially the eye-opening discussion about charity with The Beanstalk Group cofounder Seth Siegel) it becomes clearer that the scope of Jewish values is endless, and that I will likely never fully grasp it. But I enjoy the process of having my eyes opened to Jewish values and figuring out how I will incorporate these into everything I do.
Jewish values have been my greatest strength and guiding star thus far. I trust that they will help me achieve the success I have always wanted in my life and career.


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If you are using the default Android browser, take a few minutes and grab the Chrome browser. There is a major security hole in the old default browser. Unfortunately it seems many people are using that very browser that has little chance of being upgraded.
Android Browser flaw a "privacy disaster" for half of Android users
I know there are many people who don't pay attention to this stuff, so pass it on if you know someone using the default browser. Thank you!


text: Donelson Air Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning Your Air Conditioning Experts in Nashville We recognize your comfort needs are of top concern and that everyone's essentials are different, which is why we've got you covered from the start. Whether you are hunting for a new air conditioner or just need yours tuned up for the journey, Donelson Air Service Experts here in Nashville is here to help with all of your HVAC needs. Our technicians are ready to help upgrade the word comfort for you and your home. Take a peek at our air conditioning services below and find the right fit for your needs, then schedule a FREE appointment so we can get you back to unwinding quickly. Our AC repair experts recognize that your patience can lessen rapidly when the temperatures start rising, and no one likes being hot and bothered. Your coziness should never be in question, which is why we're accessible 24/7 for AC repair. Need a specialist now? Call 615-953-9885 and we'll be there in a jiffy. Don't forget to watch for coupons for current deals on our services as well. AC Repair Service AC repairs don't have to be a headache. Sure, you're probably not in your most joyful moment when you need us, but know that we're certified to provide maintenance all brands of air conditioners, so you know you'll be getting the best AC repair service available, supported by a written 100% Satisfaction Guarantee*. Learn More New Air Conditioners We've made it easy for you to arrange a FREE estimate for a new AC. Just fill in your information and we'll assist you to make your home cool, energy-efficient and the most comfortable it has ever been. Our ENERGY STAR® qualified air conditioners can help keep your home at the perfect temperature while giving you quiet, efficient cooling 24/7. Learn More Air Conditioning Maintenance AC maintenance is vital to ensuring your home is operating at maximum efficiency, avoiding break downs during pinnacle use, and keeping your air conditioner warranty valid. So we've planned our four service plans to meet your AC maintenance needs, and your budget. Learn More Solar Air Conditioning Solar air conditioning is more reasonable and practical than you may think. We have great solar AC products that can bring your home to the next level of effectiveness while saving money and utilizing all the power the sun can offer. Learn More Donelson Air Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning is ready to tackle any AC repair issue and setup a great new air conditioner for your home. We're available around the clock to keep your system up and operating, giving you and your family comfort year-round in Nashville. Check out all of the air conditioners we carry and take a look at our repair and service abilities so you'll always have someone to call when you have an issue come up. Set up an appointment with us online or give our professionals a call at 615-953-9885.


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TEB Bank offers the most sophisticated ATM's in our market.
To provide 24/7 access to your current account and to StarCard, TEB has invested and expanded the network to 81 ATM's. You can withdraw or deposit throughout Kosovo quickly and safely, avoiding waiting in line at the branch.
TEB Bank ATM's provide various services, such as:
Withdrawal of cash
Withdrawal of coins
Deposit of cash
Repayment of Starcard debt
Checking your balance
Changing card PIN
ATM security
Through our ATM's, we also provide services to card holders of other banks if they are branded with VISA, VISA Electron, PLUS and MasterCard, Maestro and Cirrus.
Click here for locations of the TEB Bank ATM's.
Cash Withdrawals:
You may withdraw € 10, € 20, € 50 and € 100 notes from TEB Bank ATM's.
While for the first time in Kosovo you can now also withdraw €0.01,€ 0.05, €0.20 dhe €1.00 in coins . Withdrawals with TEB Debit cards are free of charge, while for withdrawals with StarCard a fee is applied as per the Price List in force (published on the TEB bank website www.teb-kos.com).
Cash deposit:
TEB Bank has ATM's where you may deposit money.
Deposit is done in 5€,10€, 20€, 50€ and 100€. notes
Maximum deposit is 40 notes at one time, the limit per transaction is 2,000€, while the daily limit is up to 5,000€.
Notes that are crushed, folded or written on shall not be accepted.
You may perform various transfers through TEB Bank ATM's, such as:
Intra bank transfers (TEB)
Quick intra bank transfers
Quick transfers to local banks
With quick transfers, you must have previously registered beneficiaries. Beneficiary registration is done in advance at the branch or through e-banking.
Starcard debt repayment:
You can pay your or other persons Starcard debt, in two ways: transfer from current account or depositing money (in ATM's where depositing is provided).
The payment method through cash deposit:
• If minimum payment of Starcard debt is completed, then the ATM does not return change in coins, but the change is credited to account.
• If total Starcard debt is repaid then the ATM returns a change in coins in the amount of 1 to 9.99 Euro.
Checking the balance:
You can view your current account balance and Starcard balance in TEB Bank ATM's, the statement can also be printed out.
Changing the card PIN:
You may change the debit card and Starcard PIN in TEB Bank ATM's by entering the old PIN and then replacing it with the new PIN.
ATM security:
TEB Bank ATM's offer high security for performing services.
ATM's have equipment which prevent obtaining card data and are monitored 24/7 by security cameras .


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Ray Cruz is truly a 5-star professional!
My family has worked with Ray over the past several years on 2 mortgage refinances and 1 home purchase. In every case, his rates have been very competitive within the market. Ray is always available to answer our many, many questions about the loan process. We love to have all the details and Ray patiently provided as much detail as I wanted. I've always been impressed with his responsiveness, even returning calls outside of business hours as the loan closing dates approached. He keeps a keen eye on the market and alerted us to dropping mortgage rates and let us know the best time to move forward with a refinance given current and future mortgage rate trends.
We will definitely work with Ray for all of our future home mortgage needs.
Mary & Howard J., McLean, VA
Mortgage Refinance – April 2016 / Home Purchase – September 2014


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Botanical illustrations by participants from the community collaborative Fairbanks STEAM Institute 2014
OneTree Alaska is a STEAM (STEM + Arts) program sponsored by the School of Natural Resources and Extension of the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
OneTree Alaska projects are made possible through collaboration with K-12 teachers, the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, university students, staff and faculty, and many community partners.
The local boreal forest is our foundation and inspires our work. Please see our recent projects, and share your expertise.


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Bringing Homologies Into Focus
- 2.2k Downloads
- Citations
Anyone who has skimmed a high school biology textbook will be familiar with the iconic examples of homology that seem inseparable from any explanation of the term: the limb structure of four-legged animals, the human tailbone and the more elaborate tail of monkeys, and the remarkable similarities among the embryological development of fish, birds, and humans. These same examples make their way from edition to edition, along with the classic illustration of an analogous structure: the wings of butterflies, birds, and bats. But is that really all there is to say about homologies and analogies? Several articles in this issue discuss these concepts more deeply in the context of eye evolution (Gregory 2008; Oakley and Pankey 2008; Piatigorsky 2008). Homologies and analogies, it seems, are not a black and white issue—especially when it comes to vision.
KeywordsHomology Homoplasy Analogy Teaching
A Textbook Review of Homologies and Analogies
Beyond Analogies
Convergent evolution. This process produces analogies, as discussed above. Two lineages that begin with different traits evolve a similar characteristic independently of one another, often because both lineages face similar environmental challenges and selective pressures. For example, two distantly related plant lineages might evolve analogous tubular red flowers under selection from hummingbird nectar feeders. Or, as in Fig. 5a, fish lineages that originally had different body patterns might independently evolve analogous vertical stripes, perhaps because of selection for a particular camouflage pattern.
Parallel evolution. In this process, two traits that are already similar (usually because of common ancestry) independently evolve the same set of changes—generally meaning that the same set of underlying genes are involved. This is illustrated in Fig. 5b in which two closely related fish lineages evolve in the same way, resulting in two lineages with a striped body pattern. A real-life example of parallel evolution also involves fish. The ancestral stickleback fish was marine-living and heavily armored by sturdy plates. However, several stickleback lineages invaded new, freshwater environments. Many of these now-freshwater lineages independently evolved the same sort of genetic changes which produce a lightly armored body form. Scientists are not sure why the lightly armored trait was favored in so many different lineages, but it may have involved selection for increased body flexibility (Colosimo et al. 2005).
Evolutionary reversal. In this process, a lineage evolves toward one of its ancestral traits, effectively losing a more recently evolved trait. This is generally thought to involve genetically "reactivating" the ancestral trait (e.g., see Marshall et al. 1994). If a related lineage has retained the ancestral trait, the two lineages will share a similar feature, not because of inheritance from a common ancestor but because of an evolutionary reversal in one lineage. This is illustrated in Fig. 5c in which an originally striped fish lineage loses its stripes and then regains them, producing a species similar to a closely related lineage that never lost its stripes in the first place. A real-life example of evolutionary reversal involves stick insects, which evolved from a winged ancestor but then lost those wings. Stick insects diversified into many different species in their new wingless form. However, a few stick insect lineages seem to have independently "reevolved" wings by reactivating an ancient genetic program that produces wings (Whiting et al. 2003). These newly winged insects now have wings similar to one another and to more distantly related winged insects—insects which never lost their wings in the first place. However, the wings in these different groups are homoplasious since they were not directly inherited from a common ancestor: the winged stick insects went through an intermediary wingless stage.
Eye evolution, in fact, exhibits both convergent and parallel evolution. The similarity in structure between squid and vertebrate eyes (Fig. 3) is a classic example of convergent evolution, since our most recent common ancestor may have borne nothing more complex than a few light-sensitive cells. In a remarkable example of parallel evolution, the same protein (known as zeta-crystallin) appears to have been independently recruited to go to work as part of the lens in two distantly related groups of vertebrates: the llama and guinea pig families (Gonzalez et al. 1995). The zeta-crystallin in the lenses of these relatively remote relatives represents the legacy of parallel evolutionary events, not recent common ancestry. These processes, as well as evolutionary reversal, can produce traits that are strikingly similar—though not inherited directly from a common ancestor.
Homologies at Many Levels
An examination of eye evolution also highlights another, less familiar aspect of homology. Though we tend to think of homologies in terms of anatomy (e.g., the tetrapod limb, insect wing, or vertebrate eye), any heritable trait—anything that can be directly or indirectly encoded in DNA—can be a homology. Coding and noncoding DNA sequences, the proteins and gene regulation systems encoded by DNA sequences, simple traits (like eye color), components of complex organs (like the lens of an eye), entire complex structures, and even behaviors (like providing parental care to offspring) can be examined to determine whether they are homologous or homoplasious among different lineages.
- 1.
Which organisms are being compared? The complex lens eye is homologous among humans, lizards, and fish, but the same trait is homoplasious between humans and squid, having evolved independently in vertebrates and mollusks. Simply identifying a trait as homologous or homoplasious is meaningless unless we know which lineages are being considered.
- 2.
What specific aspect of the trait is being compared? Taking another example from eye evolution, we need to know whether we are considering the entirety of a complex structure (e.g., a lens-type eye), the lens itself, the proteins that make up that lens, the genes that encode those proteins, or the genetic triggers that cause those genes to be turned on in developing eyes. Each aspect of this trait may have a slightly different evolutionary story. Vertebrates, for example, have homologous, lens-based eyes, though some of the crystallin proteins that make up those lenses exhibit homoplasy. Different proteins have been recruited at different points in our evolutionary history to build vertebrate lenses.
- 3.
Does the function of the trait matter? To make matters even more complex, analyses of homology may also need to consider the function of the trait. Zeta-crystallin, described above, provides a striking example. This molecule is present in modern llamas and guinea pigs—and appears to have been inherited from their common ancestor, making the molecule itself homologous in these two groups. However, in that ancient common ancestor, zeta-crystallin likely performed the job of catalyzing chemical reactions and did not form part of the lens, as it now does in llamas and guinea pigs—making zeta-crystallin homoplasious as a lens component in these two groups (Gonzalez et al. 1995).
Consider the evolutionary history of Pax6, which exemplifies many of these details. Pax6 is a gene that helps control what other genes do. It encodes a special type of protein known as a transcription factor. This protein can invade the nucleus of a cell, bind the DNA there, and turn other genes in that DNA off and on. Such regulatory genes can be enormously powerful, as they can set off a whole cascade of other gene actions.
Through an examination of eye evolution, we have seen that distinguishing between homology and homoplasy can be a tricky and context-dependent business. In fact, these concepts may represent the ends of a continuum more than opposite ideas (Hall 2007). Making even a general differentiation between them depends on specifying the organisms of interest, the aspect of the trait being compared, and even the function of the trait at various points in its history. Homoplasy, especially if it arises through parallel evolution or reversals, may be difficult to detect. Nevertheless, examining these issues for each level of organization of a complex organ (from regulatory genes up to the functioning structure) provides a more accurate and complete understanding of sometimes complex evolutionary histories and helps us understand how sophisticated and highly interdependent organs can evolve from humble beginnings. Especially when it comes to the evolution of eyes, the concepts of homology and homoplasy may not be simplistic, but they are illuminating.
Give Me an Example of That
Homologies. We have seen that homologies are simply traits inherited from a common ancestor. However, not all homologies are obvious. If two homologous structures have been adapted for different roles, they may not look very much alike. For example, though they are homologous structures, the chomping front teeth of a beaver look quite different from the tusks of an elephant. Nevertheless, once you know what homologies are, you can find them almost anywhere. This short article from the Understanding Evolution website takes a look at five examples of homology, including structural, genetic, and behavioral examples: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/homology_01.
Analogies. As we have seen, analogies are one important category of homoplasy. They often result when two species face a similar problem or challenge and evolution shapes both lineages in similar ways. This short article from the Understanding Evolution website takes a look at six examples of structural analogy: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/analogy_01.
Branch Out
Review basic concepts from the field of evo-devo in this advanced tutorial from the Understanding Evolution website: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evodevo_01.
Learn how developmental genetics is reshaping our understanding of evolution in this article from National Geographic: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0611/feature4/index.html.
Expand your understanding of developmental genetics with this video from Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In lecture 4 of a four-part series entitled From Butterflies to Humans, evolutionary biologist Sean Carroll uses the developmental genetics of insects to explain how old genes can learn new tricks and how this can help us understand human evolution: http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution/lectures.html.
Dig Deeper
An interactive web feature on the evolution of eyes: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/eyes_01.
In the Classroom
Similarities and differences: Understanding homology and analogy for grades 6–8, http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_ms_01.
Similarities and differences: Understanding homology and analogy for grades 9–12, http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/similarity_hs_01.
Comparison of human and chimp chromosomes. A lesson dealing with homologies at the molecular level from the Evolution and the Nature of Science Institute for grades 9–12. In this lesson, students observe that the banding patterns seen on stained chromosomes from humans and chimpanzees show striking similarities. Possible evolutionary relationships are explored, as are the chromosomes and relationships of other apes: http://www.indiana.edu/~ensiweb/lessons/chromcom.html.
Using trees to understand plants. An article with discussion questions from the Understanding Evolution website for grades 9–12. This research profile follows scientist Chelsea Specht as she uses phylogenies to investigate the pattern of homology and homoplasy in the evolutionary history of tropical plants and their pollinators—and in the process, tries to figure out how to conserve endangered species: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/specht_01.
The new shrew that's not. A short news article with discussion questions, links to lessons, and a podcast from the Understanding Evolution website and the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center for grades 9–12. This news brief from March of 2008 describes scientists' discovery of a new mammal species, a giant elephant shrew. Though elephant shrews share many analogous traits with regular shrews, genetic homologies suggests that elephant shrews actually sprang from a much older (and perhaps more charismatic) branch of the tree of life—the one belonging to elephants and their relatives: http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/news/080301_elephantshrew.
The author wishes to thank T. Ryan Gregory, Todd Oakley, and Judy Scotchmoor for the helpful comments on earlier drafts.
- Colosimo PF, Hosemann KE, Balabhadra S, Villarreal G Jr, Dickson M, Grimwood J, et al. Widespread parallel evolution in sticklebacks by repeated fixation of Ectodysplasin alleles. Science 2005;307:1928–33. doi: 10.1126/science.1107239.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Gonzalez P, Rao PV, Nunez SB, Zigler JS Jr. Evidence for independent recruitment of ζ-crystallin/quinone reductase (CRYZ) as a crystallin in camelids and hystricomorph rodents. Mol Biol Evol 1995;12:773–81.Google Scholar
- Gregory, TR. The evolution of complex organs. Evolution: Education and Outreach 2008;1. doi: 10.1007/s12052-008-0076-1
- Hall BK. Homoplasy and homology: dichotomy or continuum? J Hum Evol 2007;52:473–9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.11.010.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Marshall CR, Raff EC, Raff RA. Dollo's law and the death and resurrection of genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 1994;91:12283–7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.25.12283.PubMedCentralCrossRefGoogle Scholar
- Oakley, TH., Pankey, MS. Opening the "black box": the genetic and biochemical basis of eye evolution. Evolution: Education and Outreach 2008;1. doi: 10.1007/s12052-008-0090-3
- Piatigorsky, J. A genetic perspective on eye evolution: gene sharing, convergence and parallelism. Evolution: Education and Outreach 2008;1. doi: 10.1007/s12052-008-0077-0
- Whiting MF, Bradler S, Maxwell T. Loss and recovery of wings in stick insects. Nature 2003;421:264–7. doi: 10.1038/nature01313.CrossRefGoogle Scholar


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Terralcantara - Gole Alcantara Park & Country Resorts
Palermo, Sicily, Italy (PMO)
Hotel Specials
Package Specials
Package Specials
Standard twin/double room
- One Double Bed
- Two Twin Beds
Junior Suite
- One Double Bed
Triple Occupancy
- One Double Bed
- One Twin Bed
- Three Twin Beds
Deluxe apartment
- One Double Bed
Property Features.
Dining options at Terralcantara - Gole Alcantara Park & Country Resorts include 2 restaurants. A bar/lounge is open for drinks. Room service is available during limited hours. The property serves a complimentary breakfast. Guests can enjoy a complimentary evening social on select days. Recreational amenities include a children's pool and a lazy river. This Graniti property has event space consisting of banquet facilities and exhibit space. Wedding services, concierge services, and tour/ticket assistance are available. Guest parking is complimentary. Other property amenities at this Beaux Arts property include a rooftop terrace, a coffee shop/caf�, and multilingual staff.
50 air-conditioned guestrooms at Terralcantara - Gole Alcantara Park & Country Resorts feature windows that open. Rooms are all accessible via exterior corridors. Accommodations offer courtyard views. Rooms are individually furnished. Bathrooms feature showers. Guestrooms are all non-smoking.


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Michael Hyatt has some thoughts on taking notes on Working Smart right now and, while I agree with most of his advice, I have my own variations on note taking techniques. Specifically, I disagree with his choice of notebook. Like Michael, I tried (and loved) the Moleskine notebook, but it didn't work for me as a note taking implement (though it is perfect as a journal or diary).
My favored technique was inspired by David Allen's use of legal pads, which allowed him to tear things off and put them in "In." Here is what I do:
I carry around a spiral notebook with micro-perforated pages, and take all my notes in there (here's a grainy Treo 600 snapshot of mine).
I prefer notebooks by a company called "Notebound" because they are cheap and durable, but look professional enough for a high-level business meeting. They also have a plastic pocket inside, which is good for stashing a couple of business cards and to serve as a traveling inbox when I don't have my red folder with me. I can also put temporary things like directions, etc. that I've printed out to help me get where I'm going. I can find these at Walgreen's for around $5 for the 10.5" x 8.5" size (120 or 160 page versions are available).
Here's where these are different from those beautiful Moleskine's: As I process the pages, I can tear them out and a) discard them, b) put the action items into my Outlook task list, c) file them, d) hand them off to someone else.
When I take notes, it's just for taking notes - so this process works for me. It means that I don't carry around a bunch of old notes that I will probably never read, and since I tear out pages as I process them I can see at a glance how much needs to be processed.
When I have notes I *do* want to retain in their original form, I can file them just like I would file any other piece of paper. More often than not, I need to summarize the outcomes of meetings in an email to other people and I use that opportunity to distill the meeting down to its core elements, then file that in my electronic filing system (which I can search easily with Lookout).
How do you deal with notes?


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CP REVIEW: This cozy, family-run Thai restaurant offers a selection of mostly tried-and-true cuisine (salads, rice and noodle dishes, and curries), as well as chef's specials, many involving tilapia filets. "Tulip dumplings" and Thai toast make for excellent starters, and the kitchen shows skill in balancing the flavors of more complex curries and meat entrees. [April 24, 2013]
Price: $$


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Pop Forecast for Aug. 22: Mechanic: Resurrection, Britney Spears and more
Chris Lackner
"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," Bob Dylan sang. But these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture offerings is just what we need. With that in mind, here is what's on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.
Big releases on Aug. 26: Mechanic: Resurrection; Don't Breathe.
Big picture: He's like Jason Bourne, only with 10 per cent of the vocabulary. Jason Statham returns as Arthur Bishop (aka the Mechanic). The plot reads like TV's 24 meets Taken meets Kill Bill. Bishop is forced to complete a list of impossible assassinations of the world's deadliest men in 36 hours — all to to save his one true love, played by Jessica Alba (To be fair, most men would likely entertain a couple assassinations to impress Alba.). Even Alba gets in on the hand-to-hand combat and at least one obligatory swimsuit. (How generous of her captors to stow her away on a luxury yacht! All the better for a screenwriter to pen her wet-and-wild escape.)
Meanwhile, Don't Breathe is like Saw meets Scent of A Woman meets To Catch a Thief. When a trio of young friends breaks into the house of a wealthy blind man, they think they'll get away with an easy heist. Turns out he's the senior citizen version of the Mechanic (as trained by Hannibal Lecter). The blind man quickly begins to reveal his own dark secrets that turn him from victim to villain, and prey to predator.
Forecast: Put Mechanic in the category of a sequel better left buried. I'd enjoy it more if it truly lived up to its title and Arthur Bishop came back as vampire assassin. (Throw in a werewolf sidekick, and suddenly Hollywood could have re-created the inexplicably titillating love triangle of Twilight! But Alba's abs convey more emotion than Kristen Stewart, so such a new franchise would already be a major improvement.) As for Don't Breathe, I predict that blind guy will end up being Al Pacino's Col. Slade from Scent of a Woman, and the true horror will come from the burglars being forced to listen to him say "whooh-ah" and talk about how women smell for 120 straight minutes.
Big event: Better Late Than Never (Aug. 23, Global/NBC).
Big picture: It's like a National Lampoon's vacation starring four Clark Griswolds. This reality TV series is Amazing Race meets Grumpy Old Men meets Space Cowboys. The over-the-top concept finds four aging, outrageous celebrities (William Shatner, Henry Winkler, Terry Bradshaw and George Foreman) travelling across Asia with no itinerary and no help — other than a comedic sidekick (Jeff Dye), who intentionally leads them astray as the cameras roll. Have you ever wanted to see NFL personality Bradshaw in a kimono? Now's your chance! Who hasn't wondered whether Winkler can ride an actual elephant trunk? And I can't be the only one who has daydreamed of watching Capt. Kirk himself go up against Foreman in a boxing ring? All this and more awaits! The four clueless, over-the-top personalities hit four "exotic" countries and six cities armed with zero filters, handlers or sensitivity training. (If nothing, the show will make a great propaganda tool for America's enemies.)
Forecast: For once, I'm compelled to watch a new reality show. Foreman calls the foursome "the world's oldest boy band" — an idea that has likely already been green lit by a TV executive for Season 2.
Honourable mention: MTV Music Video Awards (Aug. 28, MTV); XOXO (Aug. 26, Netflix). The major clash is between Beyoncé (11 nominations) and Adele (eight nods). But the women's respective singles, Formation and Hello, must contend against Drake's Hotline Bling for video of the year. Meanwhile, Netflix scratches XOXO, an original movie about romance and millennial career aspiration set at an electronic dance music festival (Modern Family's Sarah Hyland co-stars). Strangers are brought together by a love for DJs, drugs, dreams, flirtation and a musical genre that sounds a lot like robot karaoke. The movie matches the emotion of a John Hughes coming-of-age movie, and the fashion of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet, with the slogans of a Hallmark card (e.g. "Jump and the universe will catch you.")
Big releases on Aug. 26, Britney Spears (Glory).
Big picture: Oops, she does it again. Britney is back with a new album. Amid her top-selling Las Vegas residency, the megastar made time for the studio. Her club-crafted debut single, Make Me … ft. G-Eazy, features lyrics like "No rules / From the bar to the car / Let's take it back to my room / Igniting the heat of the moment; let the sparks fuse /Blowing up to the ceiling, we're burning bright." Hmmmm. Sounds like someone thinks they're a 20-something clubber again instead of 34, eh? Case in point: other tracks include Private Show and Invitation. Overall, expect radio-friendly R&B, EDM influences and couple of juicy pop ballads.
Forecast: Britney has called the project a "left turn" but it sounds more like she aims to coast in neutral for her latest glory bid. In 30 years, I predict a Better Late Than Never reality series featuring Spears, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé and Adele forced to travel the galaxy together — all the while being periodically Punk'd by a juvenile retiree turned space explorer named Ashton Kutcher.
Honourable mention: Liz Longley (Weightless); De La Soul (and the Anonymous Nobody). A rootsy, acoustic singer-songwriter is a welcome throwback in a week filled with Britney's filtered house beats and altered vocals, and Netflix's XOXO. Longley's compelling, vulnerable voice is a finely tuned instrument. Speaking of soul, '90s hip-hop giants De La Soul return with a new, Kickstarter-funded album; guests include Snoop Dogg and Usher.


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beige and brown, beige and lilac, beige and violet, beige and yellow, bright yellow, brown and beige, brown and lilac, brown and violet, brown and yellow, colour of lilac, lilac, lilac and beige, lilac and brown, lilac and violet, lilac and yellow, lilac shades, lilac-pink, pink and violet.
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Accessing your agency information
To make it easier and more efficient to access information in your agency:
- when describing information apply meaningful metadata including descriptive titles
- systems should not be cluttered with information that can be destroyed or transferred, see destruction and transfer
- procedures should be developed to ensure information is captured into the right systems, see capture
- the media (for physical records such as paper files, photographs and film) as well as the information content should be preserved
- information that should not be available to everybody should be properly secured
Tracking your records
Developing efficient tracking systems for both physical and digital information is important. A tracking system means that you will be able to:
- know where information is located, and where it has been previously located (physical)
- know who has the record (physical)
- know how often the information has been accessed and by whom (physical and digital)
- know what changes have been made to the information and by whom (digital)
For more information about what metadata (information about the records), your system need to be collecting, see describing information.
An information census or audit gathers data to confirm or update a tracking system. The frequency of this activity will depend on the importance of the information. The Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework released by the Attorney General's Department has guidelines about tracking classified information.


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At the beginning of this year, I set myself an exercise target. Of course, I am hardly the first to resolve in early January to get fitter; of course, this is hardly the first time I have done it myself. What's been different this year is that I settled on a target that I knew I could achieve, with minimal disruption to my normal daily routine; but a target, nonetheless, that would require persistence over the course of the whole year, and might make some noticeable improvement to my wellbeing. Now, a quarter of the way through 2016, I'm 40% of the way to my goal, and I feel… better. A bit. I feel positive, at least. I'm almost embarrassed to state my target here. Especially given where I drew inspiration - my friend James's epic cycle around Europe last year. I am so full of admiration for that kind of monumental enterprise, and my 'grand ambition' might be something similar - kayak around Britain's wonderful coast, perhaps, or walk another of our long distance footpaths. But that kind of time commitment is just never going to fit in with everything else I like and have to do, certainly not until the kids are old enough to come along. Even the more typical schemes of the newly 40 are out for me - even if I fancied running a marathon I know from experience that I would not find the time for regular runs of any useful distance.
So instead, I decided to do 10,000 press-ups in 2016.
10,000 is a nice, large-ish, round number; but over the course of a year it's also extremely do-able, easy even, with a minute's commitment on more days than not. Even I can find that. I can do it late evening, I can do it anywhere there's 6' of vacant floor, I can even do it after a drink or two. Of course, this regime is never going to propel me to any kind of superhuman levels of fitness. At this stage, now that I'm older than pundits, coaches, even fathers of international players of sports I follow, I think I have finally let go of that dream. Oh and, if you know me - don't expect to notice any difference in my appearance. My body weight remains a constant 'scrawny' more or less whatever I throw at myself; exercise merely redistributes it to somewhat more flattering locations than do food and drink. (Whether you find that enviable or not depends, I submit, on whether you grew up a chunky or a skinny teen…)
But for all that, I do feel a little better, physically and mentally, and I'm now so far ahead of schedule - and accelerating further ahead - that I might yet end up aiming a bit higher.
As for the purpose of writing this on a science blog?
Well, ambition is a great thing, a necessary thing - to paraphrase Browning, if our reach does not exceed our grasp, then what are Science and Nature for? But it's goals that get things done. And by persistently attaining modest goals, you can end up achieving a surprising amount. This is the thinking behind the well known advice to write every day - advice I am much more inclined to heed now. As every writer knows, starting is the hardest thing, so find an easy way in: get that methods section underway, that study site description; just get a few sentences down and that paper will be written one hundred words at a time.
Listen - if you're the Eddie Izzard type, go ahead and run your marathons and aim for the stratosphere and good luck to you. I will follow your career with respect and admiration. But if you feel crushed by such grand ambitions, why not set yourself some modest goals? Make them goals you know you can meet, that cannot be derailed by the slings and arrows of reviewer 3; make them goals that, given a fair wind, you might well exceed. For instance: I've not succumbed to science Twitter's encouragement to read #365papers - I might read more papers by striving for one a day, but as soon as it was obvious that I would fall short (after about #7papers, probably…), I'd lose heart. Maybe next year though I'll sign up to #52papers - which would still be a worthwhile boost to my scholarship, and one much more likely to get ticked off.
Which raises a final important point: keep score. My press-ups are logged in a google spreadsheet, so I can tap the day's tally in on my phone and instantly see my running total. I am lazy, unmotivated, a procrastinator extraordinaire; but I am a competitive sod, and keeping my foot on the throat of that tally drives me on. So many metrics quantify our scientific output, but it's up to us to record our progress towards those outputs - words or lines of code written, organisms sorted and identified, seeds sown, papers read. Get those tables drawn up, and commit to beating yourself at your own game.
Anyway. I'm unlikely to write a self-help book, and much of the above in any case is just elementary project management. But I've found the setting of modest goals a useful way to sidle up to grander ambitions. Talking of which, that's my 900 words written for today. Must push on. Or even, push-up…


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Will the NAR's Recent Predictions Come True?
Today, I want to talk to you about a recent report issued by the National Association of Realtors. On a national level, they're predicting a 1% to 3% increase in sales. I'm not sure if we're going to experience that here in Connecticut; there's just too much downward economic pressure to expect any appreciation. I'll go more in-depth later in this series. To hear more, watch this short video.


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Daily renminbi foreign exchange transaction volumes at Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd. remained strong in August, rising to 80 billion yuan (US$12.6 billion) at one point, despite a declining trend in the market, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reported on Thursday, citing Yang Jiewen (楊杰文), head of the bank's renminbi business division.
Yuan deposits for the month grew as the exchange rate of the currency stabilized while corporate demand also increased, Yang said.
Foreign central banks also showed strong interest in the renminbi.
Individual demand for the currency, however, declined at a single-digit rate, partly due to a switch in currency for investment through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect.
Fund flows to Shanghai reached HK$19 billion net in August after the People's Bank of China revised the daily fixing mechanism for the renminbi, resulting in a devaluation of the currency.
Yang expects the difference between the currency's onshore and offshore exchange rates to further narrow, from the recent level of about 500 basis points.
E Zhihuan (鄂志寰), the bank's head of economic analysis and research, has forecast that the renminbi will mildly depreciate against the US dollar as the world's largest economy is likely to raise its fed fund rate soon.
The Chinese currency is expected to stand at about 6.45 to the dollar at the end of this year and 6.6 at the end of next year.
– Contact us at [email protected]


text: Bellevue High teens create computer learning game for students in developing countries by Distance-Teaching-and-Mobile-Learning on Jun 24, 2018 Bellevue High School's CS for Social Change club, Hack 4 Good, teamed up with DTML to assist in educational outreach through the creation of literacy games for students in K-12 education in developing communities. The team of six students came together during the 2017-18 school year to design and code game with the goal of teaching students about the different parts of a computer. As technology is increasingly becoming an integral part of our daily lives, the students felt it was important to elevate and incorporate technology into the lives of young students residing in less technologically advanced communities. Through the implementation of visuals, audio, and keyboard command, the students hoped to provide an engaging atmosphere for young students learning English. Like all DTML games, Computer Parts in Outer Space is a literacy game. The game uses visuals, audio, and keyboard commands to engage young non-native English speakers to learn the common parts of a computer. Using in-game robots, the students provide an engaging atmosphere for young students who are learning English. The teens learned to use Construct 3, a 2D game engine, to create their game. Tyler Wang, a Bellevue junior, said his goal was to make sure the game was both educational and fun. "As we created the game, having small details like background music and a space theme helped shift the app into an entertaining game," Wang explained. Throughout the process, team members strengthened their process thinking and ideation skills. Emily Huang, a senior, noted that the biggest challenge in creating the game was figuring out the various functionalities of Construct and "how they fit into our game plan." Sophomore Jack Zhang was excited about designing the flow of the game: "We put ourselves in the shoes of the players and this type of experience was fantastic." Aside from acquiring new technical and thinking skills, creating the game also taught the six a solid lesson in teamwork. Ein Chang, also a senior, said, "My favorite part of the game was working on it together as a team! We had a lot of fun brainstorming themes, adding different sounds, and combining our work to create a final product!" Emily Huang echoed Chang's sentiments: "I particularly enjoyed brainstorming our game themes and objectives as a team! It was a lot of fun working together and building on each other's ideas, as well as making our final idea come to life through code." Creating the game has had an impact on the way the students are thinking about their future careers. Julia Dai, the fourth senior on the team, explained that working as part of a team made her think differently about what it would be like to work in the tech industry. "Usually when you imagine a software engineer, you think that they work alone all day, but working on this game proved that you need teamwork, especially in this industry." In fact, it has opened her to new possibilities: "I definitely started considering joining the tech industry as a career after working on this game," Dai said. The lessons these six students learned from working on the game with DTML were just the beginning. DTML's entire focus is leverage technology to provide access to free educational support to every child around the globe. Through DTML's online portal, students across the globe can access variety of free eLearning materials. To support us with donations of any amount, visit their website at dtml.org/Home/Donate.


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Growing up in central Missouri, cole slaw was a staple on our table. It was served just as often as your typical romaine or iceberg lettuce salad, and it was always my preference. My Mom makes an incredible cole slaw and I have been eating that same cole slaw recipe since I was in diapers.
This slaw recipe was actually inspired by one of those shredded lettuce bags you find at the grocery store. It combined several types of shredded cabbage with sunflower seeds and bacon, and had a slightly sweet creamy dressing. I LOVE it, but it's extremely pricey for how simple the ingredients are.
Combine white cabbage, purple cabbage and kale with sunflower seeds, bacon and diced green onions to give this salad the perfect combination of crunch and salty bacon. The dressing is simple. The greek yogurt and lemon give it a tangy taste, while the sugar lends a slight sweetness.
I could honestly make a meal out of this. Enjoy!Print
Sunflower Slaw with Citrus Yogurt Dressing
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Total Time: 25
- Yield: 7
A nutritious blend of kale, cabbage, and sunflower seeds is topped off with a creamy lemon dressing made with greek yogurt.
For the slaw
- 4 cups white cabbage,shredded
- 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 cup kale, finely shredded
- 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 4 tbsp sunflower seeds
For the dressing
- 3 tbsp greek yogurt, full fat
- 1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp evoo
- 1 tbsp shallot, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp sugar*
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp pepper
For the slaw
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
For the dressing
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Whisk vigorously.
- Combine the slaw ingredients with the dressing, and allow to chill in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes before serving.
- Feel free to substitute honey, but you may have to add a bit more to get to desired sweetness.
- Serving Size: 4


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Adhesive & Grouts
Ceramic Planet provide a large selection of Norcros Tile Adhesive for all your tilling needs be it wall or floor tiles, cement or wood. Plus the tile grout you'll need to finish the job and make your tiling perfect.
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Norcros One Part Flexible White Tile Adhesive£15.00
For tiling onto plywood/reinforced floors and electrical under floor heating you need FLEXIBLE ADHESIVE.
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It is ideal for tiliing in heavy duty areas such as swimming pools, commercial showers and locations where thermal variation may occur (electrical underfloor heating). Setting time 16 to 24 hours.
When fixing light coloured or translucent tiles/stone use a white adhesive such as One Part Flexible White or Rapid Porcelain & Stone White.
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Tiling directly onto floor boards? Use DIRECT TO WOOD adhesive.
Tiling onto a new solid floors (made from gyvlon/gypsum/anhydrite/calcium sulphate based screeds) or water pipe underfloor heating? Use TILE TO GYPSUM adhesive.
DON'T FORGET if your using flexible adhesive you'll need to use FLEXIBLE GROUT.
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Use our Norcros COVERAGE CALCULATORS to work out your project requirements quickly and easily. Just click on the links below to use that calculator.
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Add the number of tiles you require to the shopping basket and the weight of the order will be calculated to give you the best delivery option avaiable.
We are unable to ship oustide the UK.
Extended Delivery Area Surcharges defined by courier may be applied before order is dispatched to extended and remote areas (examples Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands).
Delivery times are given as a guideline. The Company will not under any circumstances entertain any financial demands from the customer for late or incorrect delivery. We always recommend that you never book a tiler or other workman until the goods have been delivered and inspected.
Any damages must be reported within 48 hours of delivery by email with photos showing the damage and the number of tiles damaged. No claims after 48 hours will be considered.
For more information about our delivery service visit the delivery service page.
Customers are entitled to a refund if they report within 14 days of receiving their goods that they want to cancel. Customers then have a further 14 days to return the goods once they've started the process.
The customer will then receive a refund within 14 days of the goods arriving back.
Once the pallet has arrived it will be inspected to make sure the tiles are present and in a re-saleable condition. The Company reserve the right not to refund if the goods are deemed as not being in a re-saleable condition.
Any delivery charge from the original order will not be refunded.
Therefore we recommend that you return the goods on a wooden pallet and securely fasten the goods so they are not able to move around. It is always helpful in the event that damage may be caused in transit to take a couple of photographs before they are wrapped and when they are wrapped, before they are collected.
A delivery address will be supplied once the return request has been raised via email firstname.lastname@example.com
If you would like Ceramic Planet to arrange a collection via Palletways a collection based on a date of your choosing can be arranged (48 hours' notice required).
Please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com with your preferred date. (Note collection can only take place between Monday-Friday and can be any time between 9am and 5pm)
The cost of the collection and return service is based on the postcode and the weight of the order being returned. This will be calculated and communicated via email with the customer before being booked in with Palletways.
The collection charge will be deducted from the cost of tiles returned.
Please make sure the tiles are on a wooden pallet and secured (cling film). The delivery company will not collect or deliver any loads not on a pallet and will not manually handle any load they collect. Palletways supply a pallet and wrap service for an additional £30.00 on top of the collection/return charge if required.
For more details please read our Terms and conditions.
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50% off ALL Hilton Hotels in China - ends 15 November
These Hilton Deals just won't stop - I for one am not complaining though! Ending in 4 days at the time of posting today, enjoy up to 50% off ALL Hilton hotels in China - yup you heard that right! No matter where you are travelling to and what your budget is, find a property that suits your lifestyle!
Click HERE for the promotional landing page.
If you are a high-end luxury traveller, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund is 33% cheaper now and room rates start from 1541 CNY (approximately S$325).
The Conrad Hong Kong is also on a 50% discount with room rates from 1384 CNY (approximately S$290) so be sure to book early! The Conrad Hong Kong famous for its opulence and impeccable service can be quite costly when you book within a small booking window.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Putien which caters to more for the value travellers have room rates from 250 CNY (approximately S$55).
For a full list of participating hotels and discount, kindly refer to this page.
This promotion is excellent if you have travel plans to China for stays between now and 31 December 2014.


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|Mon May 4 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Tue May 5 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Wed May 6 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Thu May 7 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Fri May 8 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Sat May 9 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
|Sun May 10 2015, 11:00am–9:00pm
From 10 April to 3 May 2015, ION2 will be transformed into a Spring oasis with the ION Orchard Fashion Garden. Its piece de resistance will be its first-ever butterfly house, a captivating enclosed domed installation. It will be an enchanting experience for all who enter the magical winged world of live butterflies in vibrant colours and patterns. The species of butterflies coming from India, New Zealand, Sub-Saharan Africa, Indonesia, Asia and Singapore can be admired in a self-contained habitat that will include over 30 flower and plant species. Visitors can catch the butterflies feeding in flight, or at rest amidst the plants and animal topriaries in the dome daily between 11.00am-9.00pm.
Following positive response from shoppers, the ION Orchard Butterfly House will be extended for another weekend till 10 May 2015. For this exclusive period, shoppers will now only need to present one same-day receipt from ION Orchard of any amount which admits a group of four persons to enter the dome.
Before you go, would you like to subscribe to our free weekly newsletter with events happening in your area, competitions for free tickets and CD giveaways?
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Mathematics at The Deepings School
The Deepings School Maths department is a dynamic team dedicated to the ideal that all students can achieve well in mathematics through focused effort. We believe our valuable subject opens doors for young people and we are dedicated to supporting students to make great progress and fulfil their mathematical potential. We are always here to help so do feel free to contact any of us via email or by telephoning the school.
Mr Akhtar
Assistant Headteacher
Mr Barham
Second in Department, KS4 Co-ordinator
Mr Bannister
Mr Beg
Mr Burnell
Miss Butterworth
Mr Cherry
KS5 Co-ordinator
Mr Hipwell
Mrs Locke
Lead Practitioner
Mr McDonald
|Mr Meneaugh
Mr Pearson
Mrs Robinson
Mr Shafiq
Mrs Sowinska
KS3 Co-ordinator
Key Stage 3
In Years 7 and 8 all students will follow the Mathematics KS3 National Curriculum. The National Curriculum for Mathematics aims to ensure that all students:
- Become fluent in the fundamentals of Mathematics, including with varied and frequent practice of increasingly complex problems over time so that students develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately
- Reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisation, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language
- Can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions
Students in KS3 will study a broad curriculum that will cover the core themes of Mathematics:
• Number
• Algebra
• Statistics
• Ratio, proportion and rates of change
• Geometry and measures
Mathematics is an interconnected subject in which students need to be able to move fluently between representations of mathematical ideas. The programme of study for Key Stage Three is organised into apparently distinct domains but students should build on Key Stage Two and make connections across mathematical ideas to develop fluency, mathematical reasoning and competence in solving increasingly sophisticated problems. They should also apply their mathematical knowledge in Science, Geography, Computing and other subjects.
Decisions about progression should be based on the security of students' understanding and their readiness to progress to the next stage. Students who grasp concepts rapidly should be challenged through being offered rich and sophisticated problems before any acceleration through new content in preparation for Key Stage Four. Those who are not sufficiently fluent should consolidate their understanding before moving on. To ensure we can do this effectively, students are taught in sets and each class teacher will develop appropriate resources according to prior attainment.
Students will be assessed on a regular basis by their class teacher to ensure progress is being made. The data obtained from assessments will inform subsequent lessons and homework and students will have the opportunity to improve their areas of development after each assessment cycle.
Key Stage 4
The GCSE course begins for students in Year 9 and continues until Year 11. We currently follow the AQA specification which is available from the following link:
Students will either study a foundation (grades 1 – 5) or a higher tier (grades 4 – 9), with opportunities to change between the two tiers during the course depending on performance. Both tiers of examination require the students to complete three examinations. Paper 1 is a non-calculator exam, however, a calculator is permitted in papers 2 and 3. End of Term and End of Year PPE assessments take place throughout Years 9 and 10 and regularly throughout Year 11 to allow teachers to assess any areas in which students may require additional focus. Additional revision sessions will be held during the year which all Year 11 students will be welcome to attend. Please see the chart below under Page Gallery which shows a comparison between the new 1-9 grading system and the old A*-G system.
This qualification in Mathematics encourages students to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards, mathematics and to recognise the importance of mathematics in their own lives and to society. This qualification develops knowledge, skills and understanding of mathematical methods and concepts within the following areas:
· Number
· Algebra
· Ratio, proportion and rates of change
· Geometry and measures
· Probability
· Statistics
In line with the requirements set by the Department for Education, the expectation is that:
• all students will develop confidence and competence with the content identified in the "basic foundation content" column
• all students will be assessed on the content identified by the "basic foundation content" and "additional foundation content" columns; more highly attaining students will develop confidence and competence with all of this content
• only the more highly attaining students will be assessed on the content identified in the "higher content" column. The highest attaining students will develop confidence and competence with this content.
Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual and are the same across all GCSE Mathematics specifications and all exam boards. The exams will assess the following AOs in the context of the content set out in the Subject content section.
• AO1: Use and apply standard techniques
Students should be able to: • accurately recall facts, terminology and definitions • use and interpret notation correctly • accurately carry out routine procedures or set tasks requiring multi-step solutions
• AO2: Reason, interpret and communicate mathematically
Students should be able to: • make deductions, inferences and draw conclusions from mathematical information • construct chains of reasoning to achieve a given result • interpret and communicate information accurately • present arguments and proofs • assess the validity of an argument and critically evaluate a given way of presenting information
• AO3: Solve problems within mathematics and in other contexts
Students should be able to: • translate problems in mathematical or non-mathematical contexts into a process or a series of mathematical processes • make and use connections between different parts of mathematics • interpret results in the context of the given problem • evaluate methods used and results obtained • evaluate solutions to identify how they may have been affected by assumptions made
Key Stage 5
Students study and sit exams in the following modules: Pure 1, Pure 2, Statistics and Mechanics.
Further Mathematics A Level
Further Mathematics is an A level qualification which both broadens and deepens the mathematics covered in A level Mathematics. The first year of Further Mathematics is designed to be learnt alongside the first year of Mathematics in year 12. Students studying Further Mathematics find it to be an enjoyable, rewarding and stimulating experience. For someone who enjoys mathematics, it provides a challenge and a chance to explore new and more sophisticated mathematical concepts. This course is demanding, but very rewarding.
Students study and sit exams in the following modules: Core Pure 1, Core Pure 2, Further Mathematics Option 1 (Students take one of the following four options: A: Further Pure Mathematics 1 B: Further Statistics 1 C: Further Mechanics 1 D: Decision Mathematics 1) and Option 2 (Students take one of the following seven options: A: Further Pure Mathematics 2 B: Further Statistics 1 C: Further Mechanics 1 D: Decision Mathematics 1 E: Further Statistics 2 F: Further Mechanics 2 G: Decision Mathematics 2)
Students who have studied Mathematics have gone on to study a variety of courses including Mathematics, Computing, Medicine and Architecture. Students have selected a variety of universities in which to study these courses with many being accepted to study at Imperial, Durham and Cambridge.
Core Mathematics - Level 3 Mathematical Studies
Core Maths is a Level 3 course offered by AQA for post 16 students who have passed GCSE Mathematics with a Grade 4 or above who decided not to study A Level Mathematics. Introduced in 2014, it forms part of the Governments plan to increase participation and raise standards in mathematics education. It has been designed in association with employers, universities and professional bodies as valuable preparation for employment and further studies.
The course equips students with the skills and confidence to tackle everyday demands they are likely to encounter in their working lives.The course covers: statistics and algebra; probability and estimation; data analysis and modelling; sequences and growth; financial planning and management; collaborative problem solving approaches and techniques, and using technology and spreadsheets.
Useful Websites
https://hegartymaths.com/ - An excellent resource with video support prior to completing topic specific tasks)
http://www.mrbartonmaths.com - Excellent resources of all types
https://corbettmaths.com - Excellent resources of all types
https://www.examsolutions.net/ - Great support for A Level Students
http://www.mathsphere.co.uk/ - Useful free mathematical resources
http://www.emaths.co.uk/ - Worksheets and advice when finding topics difficult


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One call. Red does it all! 302-629-3001
Carrier Oil Furnaces
Carrier Oil Furnace Installation, Repair & Maintenance in Delaware & Maryland
There are so many options out there when it comes to deciding on what type of heating system you should install in your home. With so many fantastic choices, it can be hard to make a decision! Our team at Peninsula is here to give you all the information you need about heating systems for your Maryland or Delaware home. We pride ourselves on providing the best possible heating products for our customers, which is why we offer Carrier oil furnaces to our Delmarva area neighbors.
Carrier oil furnaces are a durable, long-lasting heating option. They typically use less fuel during the heating process than other heating systems do, and oil is typically convenient in that it's available to be delivered to most areas.
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Why Choose a Carrier Oil Furnace to Heat Your Maryland or Delaware Home?
When it comes to home heating systems, Carrier is one of the nation's best brands! Carrier creates systems that are as effective and efficient as possible. If you're looking for a dependable way to keep your home warm this winter, then a Carrier oil furnace is an ideal choice.
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Carrier offers a variety of oil furnaces, ranging in efficiency, performance, and cost. However, each of the units in the Carrier Comfort™ Series oil furnaces are known for providing reliable home comfort at an affordable price point.
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Well, I haven't been doing so well on my resolution to blog more, have I? In my defense, the last two and a half weeks were not very blog-worthy.
So! My internship! Despite missing two weeks (one due to my knee, another time class was cancelled because the entire city iced up and shut down), it's going well and I'm really enjoying it. As part of our teacher training we need to observe a certain amount of classes, and today I went in early to observe their Creative Dramatics class of mostly 3- 4 year olds. It was a really lovely class– the teacher was so patient and so great with the little ones, and I loved her energy! And of course, the kiddos were adorable and funny. I learned a lot from watching them work together!
After that it was time to assist my regular class. It was going to be a little different today– the modern teacher was dancing out of state, and the improv teacher had another teaching gig this evening; so we were to have improv first, followed by an hour of yoga. Before class the school's education director pulled me aside and asked if I would be okay working with the students myself, in case there was any gap between when the first teacher had to leave and the second teacher was ready. I said "sure, of course" and immediately knew what activity I could do.
We had a really fun improv class; doing an exercise called "Complete the form" and working with different-sized spaces to dance in. By the time 5:20 rolled around the improv teacher had to leave, and the yoga teacher hadn't arrived yet (and she's always early). I gave the kids a water break, then circled them up for an activity.
At first I was nervous. The teens all had a lot of energy, it was my first time working with them "solo" (well, aside from the accompanist), and two other teachers were observing the class. I swallowed my nerves and explained the exercise– each student would say their name, and do a dance move for each syllable of their name (I demonstrated by doing three arm movements– the "disco arm"– for my three-syllable name). Then the next person would do the same, and repeat the moves of the person before them. I also explained that this would also help me, the new-ish lady, learn their names a little better.
So, we did! It was pretty fun. Once we had gone all the way around the circle, we got word that the yoga teacher was stuck in traffic behind a wreck (Houston traffic is just awful). With that, I told the students that they would pair up and make their own little dances out of the moves we had just done in "the name game." They didn't need to use all the names, and they could choose to say the names aloud (as we did in the name game) or not; then each pair would present their "duet" to the class. If time permitted, they would then show their pieces a second time– with different music (the musician– who is awesome, by the way– played a moderate/fast tempo for the first round; the second round would be slower, and they would have to make their movement fit the new tempo).
I was really impressed with what some of these kids came up with! They have been taking modern and improvisation for a couple of years, and they are good with manipulating a phrase and making variations (level, speed, and dynamics) of the movements. Each duet brought a little something different to the table. After each pair presented their movement, I asked the rest of the class for feedback. All of the students were very supportive and encouraging of their fellow dancers.
By the time everyone had presented their duet and gotten feedback, the yoga teacher had arrived (after sitting in traffic for over ninety minutes. Poor gal!). I thanked the students for their wonderful work and told them to go grab a yoga mat; then we all– myself and musician included– got to enjoy some Forrest Yoga (I've only taken a few classes in that form of yoga, but I like it. It feels good, and the teacher is all kinds of wonderful).
After class, the two teachers who had been observing gave me some compliments on my insta-subbing; which was very nice to hear because I felt like I was flying by the seat of my pants. The yoga teacher thanked me for jumping in (hey, no problem!), and we commiserated for a moment over the general suckiness of Houston traffic.
And then it was my turn to go get stuck in traffic. Boy, was I ever glad to get out of the cold, wet weather and into a hot shower and a dry martini!
All in all, I had a really wonderful time. It was a great way to spend a cold, rainy, yucky afternoon.
(I realize that this post is probably full of semicolon abuse and tense-shifting issues, but eh. It's been a long day and I can proofread tomorrow. I'm sure my three blog readers* will understand.)
*Three is probably generous. I'm sure it's more like one blog reader. Hi, Mom!


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This seed has two villages (one with a blacksmith) and an abandoned mineshaft all near each other. This means there are plenty of good items for you to collect right away when you spawn. It all begins when you spawn looking directly at the village with the blacksmith.
Minecraft PE Dungeon / Monster Room Seeds
Each Minecraft PE Dungeon Seed listed below has a dungeon (sometimes called a monster room) at or near the game's spawn point.
Battle of the Climates [Taiga, Jungle, and Desert] – MCPE 0.15.X Seed
Taigas, jungles, and deserts usually have completely different climates, but only in Minecraft could they exist right next to each other. This weird combination of biomes will provide you with a variety of materials to choose from for building. They also give you variation in foods to keep your hunger bar full. Not to mention there's a dungeon that can give you special, rare items.
Survival Island with Benefits [Dungeon and Mineshaft] – MCPE 0.15.0 Seed
Islands can be fun to play on in Minecraft because they're different from the usual expanse of land you spawn on. When you spawn on islands in the middle of the ocean, it can add a level of challenge to the game by creating a survival island scenario. This seed goes beyond the survival island gameplay by having both a dungeon and an abandoned mineshaft below the surface of two islands.
Roofed Forest Mineshaft – MCPE 0.15.0 Seed
This seed spawns you in a roofed forest, or more accurately, on a roofed forest. When you spawn you'll see you're right on top of a giant brown mushroom. If you get down from that perch, you can explore the roofed forest what you can find among the large mushrooms and close trees. If you go to the left of the spawn point, you can even find an abandoned mineshaft.
Deep Ocean Bryce Mesa Seed – MCPE 0.11.x
This MCPE 0.11.x seed spawns you on a Plains Biome on the edge of a deep ocean directly beside a Mesa Biome that includes Bryce formations. The ocean and flat, green plains make a great backdrop for the mesa and nearby Bryce Mesa formations. From the game spawn point, it's easy to get to the bryce mesa biome.


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Once I was passing Galle, I saw a large gathering who is watching some different kind of a game. I identified both local and foreign players playing elephant-polo with assistance of mahouts. That game seemed funny, because some of the elephants were not aware what was going on but mahouts had to drag them to the ball and do according to so called players' wish. Some elephants were seen exhausted and frustrated. Anyway, I was thinking this is a very inappropriate try. We should not drag our majestic looking elephants to this pathetic situation. Elephant is a cultural symbol and I don't like to see it as a funny puppet. So this was my vision on Elephant Polo.
After sometime back I heard that an elephant had become so violent during such a game at Galle. This simply supplied a proof that Elephants were actually not playing the game but they had been forcefully dragged to the ground. This is not the way we should treat wild animals. I guess, after this incident Elephant-Polo wasn't tried. (Please correct me if I am wrong) So this should be taken as a warning message for people who think of ways to use animals to earn some dollars by the sake of eco-tourism.