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What is a HTTP 999 error
I was trying to crawl a linked in page with both Brozzler and standard Archive-It and with both received a HTTP 999 error. I did it a second time, and the Brozzler crawl worked sorta. A. What is a HTTP 999 error? B. How do you best crawl a linked in page? C. are the parameters for crawling different for Brozzler rather than regular Archive-It?
Gabrielle Barr-National Library of Medicine
1 comment
Official comment
Hi Gabrielle,
A 999 error is a form of user agent block that we've noticed linkedin.com seeds periodically return. Sometimes, the seed status in the crawl report will read "Crawled (HTTP error 999)" and still return a valid capture, other times the seed will have to be re-crawled. Due to the occasional nature of this issue, we haven't developed a site-specific linkedin.com page for our help center.
Our best advice when crawling linkedin.com pages, is to do the following:
1. Add a seed-level ignore robots.txt rule
2. Add login credentials to your seed's settings, if the content you wish to capture isn't publicly available on the live web
3. Test crawl since you may not have a successful capture on the first try
4. Review your crawl results in Wayback and run a new test crawl, if you did not get a successful capture
Thanks for the great question!
Please sign in to leave a comment.


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TORRANCE: Man goes on trial in the 1984 death of a fast-food restaurant manager.
By Denise Nix
Just days after William Marshall allegedly killed a Torrance fast-food restaurant manager during a robbery 23 years ago, he confessed to the crime – sharing details with his then girlfriend that only the killer would know, a prosecutor said Monday.
But Marshall's attorney countered that the former girlfriend has a history of lying to police in this case and that she also has a head injury that impedes her memory.
The opening statements in the "cold case" trial were the first public glimpse into the details of the Oct. 30, 1984, murder of Robin Hoynes at the Kentucky Fried Chicken, which was at Palos Verdes Boulevard just south of Pacific Coast Highway.
Marshall, 46, a former state Department of Forestry captain, was an immediate suspect in Hoynes' death but wasn't arrested until 2005, after investigators reopened the case.
A grand jury indicted Marshall on a murder charge and the special circumstance allegation of killing during a robbery. If convicted at the trial, which is expected to last about a month, he faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In his two-hour opening statement, Deputy District Attorney John Lewin discussed the circumstantial evidence he said proved that only one person – Marshall – could have killed 21-year-old Hoynes.
A key witness in the case will be Marshall's former girlfriend, Yvonne Williams, who initially did not reveal much new information when contacted in 2005. Later, however, she told detectives she lied about an alibi she provided for Marshall two decades before, and she shared details, which she said Marshall gave her, of the killing.
Hoynes was working late doing paperwork after the franchise closed when she was killed.
A medical examiner is expected to testify that she had two fatal wounds in her back and that her throat was slashed – information not released to the public.
Blood spots near the restaurant's safe linked to Hoynes showed that whoever killed her stabbed her before trying to open the safe, Lewin said. Also, she had no defensive wounds, indicating she did not know she was about to be attacked, he added.
Along with evidence that there were no signs of a forced entry, investigators concluded that she knew her attacker and did not fear him.
Marshall was fired from his assistant manager job at the restaurant about four days before Hoynes' death. Among other things, Lewin said, Marshall was suspected of stealing from the restaurant. The prosecutor said evidence will also show that he had a drug problem.
In a taped statement, Williams told a detective she asked Marshall about the crime during a conversation in her car.
She said Marshall told her that he asked the female manager for the money but that she wouldn't give it to him – and instead dropped the envelope with the cash receipts for the day into the safe's drop slot.
Marshall told Williams that he didn't know if she was dead after he stabbed her but that he slashed her throat to keep her from talking and identifying him, Williams said in the statement.
She said he cried and worried that, because of what he had done, he wasn't going to get into heaven.
"That was a confession," Lewin said. "But he didn't give you the whole story."
Lewin said Hoynes likely put the money in the safe when he arrived, and Marshall, upon learning that the combination to the safe had changed since his termination, attacked her from behind.
"He modified his story so he didn't look quite as bad, although it's still horrific," Lewin said.
The press had reported that the perpetrator got away with money – so only the killer would know that he didn't, Lewin noted.
In addition, Williams told the detective that an object found at the crime scene – later identified as a piece of foam – came from Marshall's shoe.
She said she told Marshall that the police showed her a picture of the object within days of the crime. Marshall told her it came from his boots, and tore out the matching foam piece from the heel of his other boot and threw it out of the car as they drove on a freeway.
Lewin said the foam piece recovered at the restaurant was analyzed by a shoe expert and a chemist at the FBI, and they will testify that it is consistent with the boots Marshall was wearing when arrested on Nov. 10, 2005. That arrest came after detectives placed Marshall under surveillance for five days.
They followed him as he left Williams' South Los Angeles home and drove to Fountain Valley, all the while using what Lewin termed were "evasive" driving tactics – changing speeds and pulling over, as if trying to lose someone.
Officers followed Marshall, who wore gloves and camouflage pants, as he cased a Fountain Valley Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant where he had previously worked. He repeatedly left and returned, looking in the windows and watching the employee door.
Eventually, he was arrested. Inside the car with him was his "robbery and murder kit," Lewin said, describing the contents of a blue nylon bag that contained a boning knife.
Lewin said a tool expert will testify that the knife is consistent with the weapon Hoynes was stabbed with.
Marshall's defense attorney, Simon Aval, said one of the wounds on Hoynes' back was 9 inches long, and said the blade of the knife found in Marshall's bag was less than 6 inches long.
He told the jury there was no evidence – with all the blood and forensic samples collected and technology now available to test it – to link Marshall to Hoynes' murder.
Aval also said the jury will hear that the foam was "chemically different" from the boot Marshall wore at the time of his arrest.
"There is no doubt Ms. Robin Hoynes was stabbed and killed," Aval said. "The only dispute really is what happened and who committed the crime itself."
The first witness to testify was Hoynes' younger sister, Wendy Castaneda. She described her sister as her "best friend," a "very maternal" woman whom she shared a room with in their family home in Whittier.
To show that Hoynes likely knew her attacker, Lewin asked Castaneda about Hoynes' habits regarding safety.
Castaneda said she locked doors and kept close contact with her family.
"I would say she was conscious about her safety," Castaneda said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Reasons #208-199: Prince In The 1980's
I try to compose and schedule the majority of these posts months in advance, because the only quiet "me" time available to do these kind of things is at night…VERY late at night, usually. This post is no different. It's publishing today, Friday July 8th, but it is being written Thursday, April 21st. You may recall that this was the day the world learned Prince was dead.
I was and remain a casual fan, but his death made me go back and listen to much of his late '70's and '80's LPs and I gotta say he put out some of the most memorable music of any decade. The man truly was a genius. Part James Brown, part Michael Jackson, part George Clinton, part Jimi Hendrix, and yet a true original.
The 10 albums he released in the '80's were: Dirty Mind, Controversy, 1999 (my favorite), Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Parade, Sign O The Times (2nd fave), The Black Album, Lovesexy and the Batman soundtrack. Not all were top to bottom classics, but a good half of them were, and all have their moments, all are worth your time.
I won't go into detail about these as more capable people have already said what I would have, but much, much better. So I'll let Allmusic have the last words:
"One of the most singular talents in music, a multi-talented pop/funk/rock performer who showed remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity."


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Does anyone have any products similar to this style wooden hand grip? It seems like everything on the market now is crazy expensive, I guess because they're handmade or specialty wood or something. They look like great products but it seems like there would be a mass produced heavy duty plastic one out there by now.
I saw someone make one out of Instamorph, but it requires a lot of little parts off amazon for just an experiment.
I don't know if it'd be cheaper, but even a 3D model on Shapeways could possibly work.
Aaton style grip
DIY would be carving it out of wood yourself, yes? I don't know how popular this could be, but it does look like there is room in the market for cheap copies from India or China. Someone could probably find a wood working supplier in India to make these by hand for cheap and then sell the wood pieces in the U.S. and worldwide for $50-100 depending on wood and styling. Although I think there is some laws and wood treatment required before importing the wood into the U.S.
Instamorph or gorilla plastic (same thing) are great ideas for this. The tricky part is the mount to the rails. For that a rosette set is needed. I wouldn't think you need any more than that. The best ones fit your hand specifically, which is what the mouldable plastic is good at. Plus it's easier to embed a run/stop trigger in them than in the wood which you need to precisely drill, etc.
At the very least make yourself a model out of the plastic and then send it off to be laser-scanned and CNC machined out of wood. That would be pretty sweet.
Well I ordered the necessary parts, so in a couple weeks we'll see if I can whip something up with the Instamorph and a rosette adapter
Well I did it. The tightening mechanism is a little janky, but it feels 100% sturdy. And it fits my hand perfectly. I had to dremel out the center of the rosette attached to the hand grip (as well as sanding down parts of the bolt) so that it moved freely along the bolt and tightened flush against the rod rosette.
Anyone have any suggestions for something better than a wingnut?
Good idea!
You can use the aftermarket ebay arri rosettes. This $30USD piece should work
It is a rod and a clamp connected together with the rosette. If you were to mold the handle around the rod part that would work...
Or you could use a bolt with a hex key part instead of the wing nut.
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Apocryphote of the Day: 3-25-09/
sober up and shake off your drunkenness
which is the work of ignorance!
If you backslide and are governed by the body,
you dwell in savageness.
When you descended,
when you were embodied,
you were born.
Come into being inside the bridal chamber.
Be enlightened in the mind.
Teachings of Silvanus 94.19-29 (Alexandrian Christian text, late second century)


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Texas Green Roofing,
Phone: 512-920-2422
Standing Seam Metal Roof Products
Austin area roofing material packages include: panels manufactured on-site, custom metal trim and flashing, fasteners, underlayments, caulking and roof jacks.
Types of metal roofing panels we offer to the Austin area
Colors Available
Drexel Color Chart
McElroy Metal Architectural Colors
Green Your Buildings | Cool Roofing
GAF offers more reflective roofing solutions than anyone!
EverGuard®... TPO and PVC
Timberline®... Cool Series shingles
Topcoat®... elastomeric coatings
GAFGLAS®...EnergyCap™ BUR
Ruberoid®... EnergyCap™ APP and SBS
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Garden Roofing
GAF also offers the industry's widest selection of Energy Star® qualified and Title 24 roofing systems (may also qualify for LEED credit)
TPO Membrane
Versico Products
Versico has a wide range of single-ply roofing systems to meet almost any building design. From our EPDM line of VersiGard Roofing Systems to our heat weldable lines, VersiWeld TPO and VersiFlex PVC Roofing Systems. And with a whole line of accessory products and insulation, Versico has the ability to solve your roofing needs.
There are three general types of metal roofs- screw down panels, metal shingles and standing seam.
Standing seam metal roofs are by far the longest lasting and most leak-resistant roofing option. Standing seam panels are cut to length and are attached with clips recessed under the panel, eliminating the holes left by screws and minimizing the potential for leaks. GCS offers standing seam options in either galvalume or a wide variety of colors.
Why Consider Metal Roofing?


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But hasn't this most recent episode proven that Johns' Blog Team needs some other disciplines, too? Well. Maybe just some more discipline…
Here, in John's home county – Orange County, North Carolina – we have an excellent Blog Moderator, by the name of Ruby Sinreich. Who, if she ever gets to read this post, will instantly grow gray hair, hearing this praise come from me.
Ruby and I have crossed swords. However, in the space of just of few years, she has put together an extraordinarily professional multi-author blog. Which she moderates assiduously. She is intelligent, outgoing and dedicated. And is more than capable of swapping acid with the best of them.
My only complaint – hence the sword-play – has been that she has sometimes been a little too keen to edit out posts. Which actually may be just what John's blogging effort needs at the moment.
Ruby lives down the road from John. She's on great terms with the family – to the best of my knowledge. She is already on John's Blogroll (OrangePolitics and LotusMedia). And I believe would be a tremendous asset to John's campaign.
I'm still not sure I'd want to spend an evening in a bar with her. But you don't have to like someone to recognize their suitability for a particular position.


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THE body of one of Britain's most senior policemen was found dead in Llanberis yesterday following a largescale search.
It is believed that Michael Todd, the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police may have committed suicide, but a post mortem has yet to be undertaken.
The body of the 50-year-old was found at 2.50pm on Tuesday after a long search by Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team and North Wales Police.
Deputy Chief Constable for North Wales Police, Clive Wolfendale, paid tribute: "This is a tragic loss of a colleague.
"My thoughts in particular are with his family and also with my former colleagues at Greater Manchester Police."


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Queen Rania's visit to Cairo: February 28, 2010
Queen Rania arrived today to cairo in a 2 days visit to the egyption capital .
الملكة رانيا تØ*اضر ÙÙŠ القاهرة الاØ*د
The queen will deliver a lecture at the American University tomorrow.
According to the article, Queen Rania arrived Saturday evening in Cairo and the lecture is suppose to be delivered today Sunaday and that the visit is 2 days.
Great see her again in Egypt. In previous visits Queen was received by Suzanne Muabarak. Does anyone know if she and Egypt First Lady will meet today?
U r right dazz .. today is sunday .. Sorry for my mistake I thought that today is Sat. Can u correct it please? 27-28 feb 2010
Thanks dear:smile::flowers:
Live Stream (link from her twitter site http://twitter.com/queenrania)
" Back at my old stomping ground today, American University in Cairo (AUC). Memories of student life flooding back to me!"
Queen Rania's talk on civic engagement at the American University in Cairo
...The Queen underscored how this story can serve as an example to be emulated by many others, saying that in "each and everyone of us is the ability to look beyond ourselves." She said; "Civic engagement is about leaving the four walls of your life, looking up." Looking up and beyond, change becomes possible because the "true value of the world lies in people."...
جرÙدة اÙبشاÙر | اÙÙ ÙÙØ© راÙÙا تدع٠ÙÙ٠شارÙØ© اÙ٠دÙÙØ© باÙÙط٠اÙعرب٠|
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan speaks to students and faculty at her alma mater, the American University of Cairo, Egypt, 28 February 2010, on civic engagement in the Arab Region and the role it can play in improving lives and ensuring progress. In her address, she called on the next generation of young Arabs who have benefited from higher education to accept their obligation to advance their societies
ANP Beeldbank
ANP Beeldbank
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Her speech:
Queen Rania addresses students at American University in Cairo (AUC) | Queen Rania
Queen Rania urges more civic engagement in an address at American University in Cairo
Queen launches Arab Sustainability Leadership Group in Egypt
ImageShack Album - 3 images
Queen Rania underscores value of civic engagement
Queen Rania underscores value of civic engagement | Jordan Times
Her Majesty launches Arab Sustainability Leadership Group in Egypt
Her Majesty launches Arab Sustainability Leadership Group in Egypt | Jordan Times
اÙاخÙرة - اÙÙ ÙÙØ© راÙÙا تØ*Ø« اÙØ·Ùبة عÙ٠اÙعطاء
Article and pic.
Queen Rania speaks during the launch of the ASLG Egypt chapter in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt/ February 28, 2010
ImageShack Album - 2 images
For the Arab speakers amongst you, check out this blog about my trip down memory lane to Egypt yesterday Ø£Ø*سن ناس.. | Queen Rania
The ASLG launches its website - ASLG Web Site - check out what the leaders in sustainability are doing in the Arab Region
Queen Rania visit The American University in Cairo, laha magazine article Page 2:smile::
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Dates: 10/19/16 5:00 PM - 10/21/16 1:00 PM
Ages: Age 18 and up
Cost: $130
In the face of climate change, how does our faith call us to work for environmental justice for all? Come explore ways in which we can "green" our churches as well as become agents for environmental justice in the broader community. Participants will leave with knowledge, skills, and resources to engage their home faith communities in this topic.
Register here


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- Page 1 JVC Mini Note – Ultra-Portable Notebook Review
- Page 2 JVC Mini Note Review
- Page 3 JVC Mini Note Review
- Page 4 Feature Table Review
- Page 5 Performance Results Review
Just below the screen is a silver bar with four buttons embedded in it. The Key Lock button locks the media playback controls located at the front of the chassis, while the Surround button toggles the virtual surround sound option. There are two buttons for increasing and decreasing the brightness of the screen, and finally the power button. At the front of the Mini Note you'll find the aforementioned media playback buttons, comprising Stop, Play/Pause and Skip forward and backward.
On the right hand side of the chassis you'll find a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive, a Type II PC Card slot, a four-pin FireWire port and the power socket. The left side is crammed full of connection options – there are two USB 2.0 ports, an SD card slot, an Ethernet port, a modem socket, a volume jog dial and a hardware switch for the integrated Intel PRO/Wireless 2200BG 802.11b/g WiFi adapter. There's also a pull down flap that hides a port for a docking bar – this will also accept a dongle that gives you a D-SUB port.
The rear is completely dominated by the clip-on battery, and if anything spoils the look of the Mini Note, it's this. The battery doesn't look terrible, but having a black plastic lump sticking out the back of a slim and sexy notebook does kind of spoil the effect. The advantage here is that the Mini Note can be even smaller if you want to use it connected to the mains, but the bread and butter work for an ultra-portable notebook is battery based. Unfortunately the Mini Note flatly refused to run Mobile Mark, so I wasn't able to get a proper battery life test done – I'm not keen on quoting manufacturers' approximate battery life, but I can say that I used the Mini Note on the move quite a lot and the battery life appeared to be pretty good.
There's a port replicator supplied with the Mini Note, which makes using it as your main computer an easier prospect. The port replicator features D-SUB, optical S/PDIF out, Ethernet and four USB 2.0 ports. It will also supply power to the Mini Note, so if you leave the port replicator on your desk connected up to your monitor, network and the mains, all you have to do is put the Mini Note down, and plug in a single cable to get working.
As with any ultra-portable notebook, the Mini Note is not about raw power – something that's borne out by the modest specs. This is a Centrino branded machine, so there's obviously an Intel Pentium M CPU inside, and due to the size and target market of the Mini Note, JVC has chosen a 1GHz Ultra Low Voltage chip. That's a fair choice for CPU, but I'm less accepting of the 256MB of memory that's fitted as standard. I find it hard to work with a notebook that has less than 512MB of memory, since things start to get slow when you've got multiple applications open concurrently. It's also worth remembering that the integrated graphics chipset will also grab some of the system memory, making matters worse.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.


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Main Street Dog Stroll & Ice Cream Social
Submitted by Keith Schoen on May 4, 2018 - 11:28am
Join Hill & Harbour Veterinary Center on Thursday, May 31st for an ice cream social and dog parade for the whole family! The party will begin at 4.30pm, registration for the East Greenwich dog parade begins at 5.00pm, and the actual parade begins at 6.00pm.
Bring your furry friend in costume and stroll down main street in a parade that has become an annual tradition in East Greenwich. Hill & Harbour will be on site to provide free ice cream and plenty of giveaways. There will be treats for the pups as well!
Please call us at (401) 398-7807 or email email@example.com for more information. We can't wait to see you there!


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All track and field athletes need to take responsibility for their personal equipment needs and bring gear including spikes, gloves, their specific shot put, discus, or javelin. But a few other things are helpful for athletes in any events to have in their bags:
-Band-aids, both small and large, for mid-meet blisters on fingers, toes, or heels
-Toilet paper/Kleenex
-Water bottle/sports beverage of choice
-Energy snack of choice (bars, gels, crackers, etc.)
- Pain reliever (Advil, Tylenol, etc.)
-Warm-up jacket; even on a warm day, sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers in particular need to stay warm between events
Now one of the top on-line publishers in the world, LifeTips offers tips to millions of monthly visitors. Our mission mission is to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Expert writers earn dough for what they know. And exclusive sponsors in each niche topic help us make-it-all happen.
|Guru Spotlight
|Jolyn Wells-Moran


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Race Packet mailing is an additional cost of $5. You can elect to have your packet mailed up until September 11th. If you do not elect to have your packet mailed, you will be able to pick your packet up from our office (directions below) starting Saturday September 17th through Friday September 23rd. Packets can be picked up the day of the Race but it is strongly suggested to pick up prior to the Race to avoid long lines. Race packets include your Race t-shirt, bib number and information about the Race.
Packet Pick Up Office Hours:
Saturday Sept. 17th: 10am - 2pm
Monday Sept. 19 - Friday Sept. 23rd: 10am - 5pm
Sunday September 18th at Fleet Feet Blue Ash 12pm-4pm
Directions to our office:
6120 South Gilmore Rd. Ste 206
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
We are in the old Fairfield Executive Center, now called Gilmore Point, on the corner of South Gilmore and Mack Road. We are immediately north of the Cincinnati Financial Corporation towers and there is a Fifth Third Bank branch on the corner of the building. Come around to the back side and enter from the doors by the flag pole.


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Luie Tito F. Guia is a lawyer and an electoral reform advocate.
He was born in Dagupan City and grew up in Binmaley, Pangasinan. He went to the University of the Philippines in Diliman for his Political Science and Law degrees.
Although his first real job was that of being an elevator operator at the Hyatt Terraces Hotel in Baguio in the summer of 1983, his first serious work engagement was with the Commission on Elections after finishing his law studies in 1991. It was there where he developed his passion for electoral reform work. It was also there where he met his wife, whose passion for electoral reform matches his.
Luie Guia worked as an executive assistant in the office of then Philippine Commission on Election (Comelec) Chairman Christian S. Monsod between 1992-1995. Later, between 1996 and 1998, Comelec engaged him as a consultant to the office of then Commissioner Regalado E. Maambong.
After his Comelec stint, Atty. Guia became a private law practitioner. But he maintained his electoral reform work by being actively involved in groups like the National Movement for Free Elections, Consortium of Electoral Reform (CER), Libertas, and the Legal Network for Truthful Elections or LENTE, among others. The range of his electoral reform advocacy includes election administration reform, campaign finance reform, political party system reform, election dispute resolution reform, and voter education. He has written on campaign finance laws and on campaign finance reform (2007, 2010), the Automated Election Law (2008), and on updating the legal framework of election (2008 and 2010), among others. He was invited to talk before judges (Philippine Judicial Academy), lawyers (Mandatory Continuing Legal Education), and before civil society organizations, on automated election laws and processes and on campaign finance. He has likewise been invited to share his knowledge and experience on various election topics in Thailand (2007), Indonesia (2010, 2011), Maldives (2011, 2013), Kosovo (2012), Papua New Guinea (2012), Libya (2012, 2013), Kenya (2012), and in Kyrgyzstan (2012, 2013).
He acted as the Executive Director of LENTE. He was appointed Commissioner to the Philippine Election Commission in April 2013. He is now trying to survive public service.


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BEIJING — China's radio and television regulator on Nov 9 asked audio-visual service providers to contain hype over celebrities and crack down on fake audience ratings and click-through rates.
According to a regulation released by the National Radio and Television Administration, paychecks for program guests should be strictly controlled, as part of the administration's efforts to strengthen management.
Some programs have been excessively enticing celebrities with high paychecks, which has destroyed industry order, misled teenagers into being star-struck and bred a culture of money-worshipping, the regulation said.
Radio and television stations, along with online audio-visual service providers, should scrap their vulgar content, promote core socialist values and strictly limit children of celebrities from participating in various entertainment and reality shows, it said.
They have also been told to reduce the broadcasting of game shows, reality shows and singing contests that are joined by celebrities, it noted.
Efforts should be made to strengthen management of data on audience ratings and click-through rates, the regulation said, adding that a task force will be formed to strengthen the crackdown.


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Each charity organisation conducts its own draw. All draws are conducted under Government Licence Regulation and are usually open to the public for viewing. A charity organisation official who is not a ticket holder conducts the draw. Winning ticket numbers are drawn via electronic means, using either a raffle machine or random number generator.
How are charity lottery draws conducted?Follow
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Priority Populations »
Immigrants & Dual Language Learners
- The Academic Trajectories of Children of Immigrants and Their School Environments
June 3, 2010
In this article for Developmental Psychology, Han examined 14,000 children from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey - Kindergarten Cohort (ECLS-K) to determine school's role in shaping the academic performance of children of immigrants compared with native-born non-Hispanic white children.
- Children in Immigrant Families – The U.S. and 50 States: Economic Need Beyond the Official Poverty Measure
June 2, 2010
This Research Brief from Child Trends and The Center for Social and Demographic Analysis at the University of Albany, SUNY, finds that nearly one-half of children in immigrant families live in poverty when basic living and child care costs are taken into account.
- Challenges and Strategies to Maintaining Emotional Health: Qualitative Perspectives of Mexican Immigrant Mothers
June 1, 2010
Mexican immigrant mothers face many challenges that put them at increased risk for poor mental health.
- Facing Our Future: Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement
May 28, 2010
This report examines the consequences of parental arrest, detention, and deportation on 190 children in 85 families in six locations, providing in-depth details on parent-child separations, economic hardships, and children's well-being.


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Liene Conard
Youth Involvement – Key for the Future Museum? How can organizations succeed in establishing and developing relationships with the new audiences, while maintaining the relationship with the existing audience base?
MAS – Museum aan de Stroom from Antwerp was throughout the latest EU Study on Audience development recognized as one of the good examples on placing audiences at the centre of organizations. The programme MAS in Young Hands (MiYH) is considered to be one of the museum's first and most intensive activities that resonated beyond the organization, inspiring colleagues from museum sector and beyond. Launched in 2010, MiYH is the youngsters crew of the MAS. Translating the motivations and expectations of young people towards the museum, MiYH has become an annual project where a group of volunteers between 15 and 26 is recruited to work on a full youth museum programme.
Liene Conard began her career within the museum industry as a 21 year old museum enthusiast. After completing her internship, she became part of MAS – Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp team, specializing in public sector, education and digital communication. Aligned with the opening of the new museum building in 2011, she was the pioneer of the project ´MAS in Young Hands´. Liene Conard is now directly involved in expansion of the format of MiYH as well as the impact of their work.


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A Beginner's Guide to speaking Offlish - the native dialect of people from Offaly
In Offaly, we have a language and way of speaking that is unique to us..... and a few surrounding counties.
Unfortunately 'Offish' (we're calling it Offlish because, let's be honest Offalyese just sounds silly) is not as easy for others in the English speaking world to pick up on.
So to make it easier, we have put together a quick simple guide to some of the keys words and phrases of our language that might make it easier for outsiders to understand..... as long as we are not speaking too fast.
Well – A general greeting that does not necessarily mean you are interested in the other person's general well being.
Sound – A term used to describe an individual of good character. Also a general acknowledgement that something is okay
Grand – General expression of contentment that can cover a variety of situations including mood, state of repair of an item or the weather.
I seen – Colloquial term for I saw
I done - Colloquial term for I did
Aks - Colloquial term for to ask
Noh ha bodder – When something is not a problem
No bodders - Another phrase used to signal that something is not a problem
Yer wan – An expression used when not sure of a person's name. Usually used to describe a female.
Yer man - An expression used when not sure of a person's name. Usually used to describe a male.
Trow on - Add more to. Usually in terms of adding turf to a fire
Me Ma – Not to be confused with the sound of an approaching ambulance, it means 'my Mammy'
Tree – The number before four and after two. Also a large item with branches and leaves.
Turheen – An unlucky number after 12 and before 14
Turhee – Number after 29 and before 31
Ho – (pronounced like hot without the 't') – Double meaning. An expression that something contains excessive heat and also a standard response when a statement is not heard correctly.
Hames – To make a particularly bad mess of something.
Feiced – Used to express tiredness or the degree to which something is broken
Totally feiced – Used to express total tiredness or that an item is totally broken
Banjaxed – Used to express a state beyond total tiredness or to describe an item that is beyond repair.
Pints – General description of all alcohol and not just restricted to pints of various beverages.
Session – An expression to describe a light evening's socialising
P**s up – An expression to describe a more robust night's socialising
Jayzus – Used as an expression of surprise.
Mane – Used to describe someone that is less than generous.
Lehher – Item of post delivered by the postman
Fodder – Term used to describe all food but usually invoked after a night of socialising
Shnake – An untrustworthy individual
Yoke – A term that can be applied to any item where the name of said item is not known
Strahaggy – A game plan for a match
De feeld – Where members of the Gaelic Athletic Association are know to gather
Be more Pacific – Asking a person to narrow down the number of options
Dem – Used to describe a specific group of individuals
Savage – Describes something as being very good
Shpo hon – When someone is totally correct in their assertion
Dats da trute – When someone is totally correct in their assertion
A lohha – A considerable amount of an item
Dat – Demonstrative pronoun/demonstrative adjective
Shocken – Something that causes shock. Can be used as a single word or in a sentence
Tamarra – The day after today
Waher – Clear liquid that usually flows from a tap
Behher – When something improves
Mush – General description of all males in Birr
Daycent – Can be applied to any number of situations but usually applied to an individual
Nohin – An absence of anything
Anihen – An absence of nothing
Hih im a dig – Proper course of action to retaliate when provoked on the field
Are ya havin anudder – Generally used when someone is offering another beverage in the pub
Lave ih wih me – Used when someone currently doesn't have the time to deal with something but who will get to it later
MORE CRAIC: 10 places we can rename to make Offaly a sun holiday destination


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This is the Sasha head, number 37 from OR Doll. You can purchase this as a stand alone item or as an extra head to freshen things up.
head is made from TPE and has an oral orifice (15cm) and fits on to any of the bodies we have for sale.


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The Australian defender is moving to the Scottish Premiership.
Bradford City defender Ryan McGowan has left the club due to "personal reasons".
The 29-year-old has joined Scottish Premiership side Dundee FC on loan till the end of the season.
McGowan's contract with City expires in the summer – he's made 29 appearances for the Bantams.
The Australian arrived at Valley Parade last year, joining from UAE Arabian Gulf League outfit Sharjah FC.
City manager David Hopkin said: "We are disappointed to lose Ryan and would like to wish him the very best for the remainder of the season.
"Ryan has family in Scotland and expressed a desire to leave for personal reasons.
"We appreciate his position, given the offer made by Dundee, and thank him for all of his efforts."
The January transfer windows closes at 11pm tonight.


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On a hot and dusty track under a sun drenched sky at the Sea Otter Classic, Stephen Ettinger earned himself two trips to the podium with third place finishes in both the short track and cross country races. Canadian Geoff Kabush (Scott 3Rox) and Dane Simon Andreassen (Specialized Factory Racing) adorned the top two steps in the fast and tactical short track race on Friday. Saturday's cross country race shook up the podium with Todd Wells (SRAM/Troy Lee Designs) taking over the top step and Czech rider Nicola Rohrbach (Goldwurst-Power/Felt) standing atop the second step.
Like the short track race, the eight-lap cross country started off fast and tactical. Positioning was key on a track that was dusty and blown-out.
"It was really tactical for the first couple of laps," said Ettinger. "It was important to be in the right spot. I tried not to burn any extra matches. I saw Kabush sitting back and thought 'maybe I should be out of the wind a little more'. But then we'd get into the singletrack with off-camber corners where one person would come out of a pedal and everything behind would slow up. I decided that using a little energy to stay up front was a better decision."
The Ridebiker Alliance rider's decision to ride near the front proved to be the right one as the field was reduced from a group of 20 riders to 11 and then to four after three laps of racing. Riding smart and fast Ettinger found himself at the front of the race along with Rohrbach, Wells and Canadian Raphael Gagne (Cannondale 360 Fly/Sugoi).
"When it broke up and there were only four of us, I thought, 'I'm glad I made the selection'," Ettinger said. "Then it was about putting the head down and getting it done in the middle of the race. I think we worked well together, but everyone was looking at Gagne because he's been riding so well. He kept acting like he was tired, but then Nico attacked with three to go and Raph wasn't able to stick it."
With two laps to go, the trio kept riding hard to keep the chase group at a safe distance. On the last lap the three riders continued to work together with only Rohrbach making any real attempts to get away. Unable to create a separation, the race came down to a tactical sprint into a headwind finish.
"On the last lap Nico went to the front and attacked at the top of the climb," said Ettinger. "He put in some digs but nothing stuck. There was really no good place to attack on the course. You could force some gaps on the technical stuff, but if you attacked on the climb you were in a headwind by yourself."
"In the end it was the three of us together," Ettinger added. "I was sitting second wheel in the final few chicanes. Todd tried to attack on the outside and then he and Nico got tangled up and almost went down. I sat back and said, 'be calm, be calm, be calm'. I thought being third wheel would be a good place to be sprinting into a headwind, but I underestimated how well they could sprint."
With two third places finishes and more UCI points in his back pocket, Ettinger is happy with his results.
"When you're at the front it's easy to say 'I'm not happy, I should have won'," said Ettinger. "But this is the best cross country result I've had at Sea Otter. I rode a really good race – I did what I needed to do."
There to witness his best Sea Otter result was Ettinger's mom and dad who made their annual pilgrimage to Monterey to watch their son race.
"Sea Otter is the first big race I ever did," said Ettinger. "I road tripped down with my dad when I was 14. I barely survived the Junior expert race. To have gone from that to now being on the podium at the pro men's race is cool. And my dad has been here for every one of them."
With Sea Otter in the books, Ettinger is looking forward to hopping a plane on Sunday to land Down Under for the first World Cup of the season.
"I raced with the #3 plate here so I can say I was consistent all around," Ettinger said. "But the big prize is in Cairns, Australia next week. That's the one that will really count."


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Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 31-10-2015
This week's transportation tantrums include annoying noises, ice screams, faltering filters, grinding gearboxes and miscellaneous motoring mishaps you won't see anywhere else.
As usual, emails to Honest John should be addressed to: email@example.com Please try to keep them as short as possible.
The way we whirr
I own a Ford S-Max Sport, which I have had since new, three years ago. It has since covered 38,000 miles and has been serviced regularly at a Ford dealership. I noticed a year ago a noise that has since become very noticeable and now to passengers also. I can only describe the noise as a low, quiet 'whirring'-like sound, almost as if driving across lines across the road and related to the car's speed. It can be sensed through the steering wheel too. Some road surfaces make it more noticeable than others (more evident on smoother). I intend to take it to the dealership for inspection, but would appreciate the benefit of your experience as to what this may be. Could it be the 2.2 diesel engine drive-train 'characteristic' caused by age; a wheel bearing, maybe or something else?
AM, via email
Most likely to be tyre wear. Once the tyres become more than 3/4 worn, more of the rubber is on constant touch with the tarmac and they get noisier. This can be amplified by different types of road surfaces. Sometimes the rears are worse than the fronts and the noise can be reduced by swapping front to back. 38k would be a huge mileage for the original tyres.
Austin Powers
Our main car, used for Continental Touring, UK Adventures, and when the going gets tough, is a 1929 Austin 7 Chummy. This is augmented, when necessary, by my wife's Skoda Octavia, bought new, and now 9 years old. The Austin lives in the garage; the Skoda on the street parked in front of the garage. During last winter's snows, the door locking system of the Skoda froze solid, thereby trapping the Austin and my means of escape in the garage. I had therefore to gain access to the Skoda. The Austin has taught me many things in 45 years of ownership, from fitting crown wheels and pinions, to re-spoking wheels and, that in certain cases, 'reasonable force' is necessary. Increasing the force gradually, using no more than the Austin readily accepts, and using all the tricks I could think of, there was a 'twang' and the door opened. The downside was that the handle came further out than ever before. I am reluctant to start stripping the door mechanism as there will be an expensive learning curve. The workshop manual is of little help. If I take it back to the dealership I fear he will charge more than the car is worth. My wife, has been on the computer but found little help in terns of a specialist repairer. Help, please.
PS, Barnsley
Insides of doors are wet places with a constant stream of water pouring through them. If the lock servos are not themselves watertight then water can get in and, as in your case, can freeze them solid. Another quirk of VAG cars is that the electronics for the windows and doors are all inside the driver's door and it is very common for moisture to eventually get into the ECU, causing doors and windows to open and close at random. If you decide to take the door card off you will probably damage the plastic membrane between the door card and the door itself. This must be replaced or water will seep into the car. Your easiest option is to somehow gain access and using the extension nozzle squirt WD40 onto the lock servos to try and disperse the moisture.
Filter trip
My 2012 (previous shape) Renault Clio has been in Renault's Enfield garage since 18th August with a "Diesel fuel injection filter fault" (written on 2nd September). I have spent the past two weeks in conversation with Renault UK over when my car will be ready. At the moment the approximate delivery date for the part is 16th October and I stress this is approximate. No one at Renault UK, including Kenneth Ramirez seems to understand why I am upset over this and show complete contempt and disregard towards me. Renault Enfield, however, seem to care, but can't do anything further. Can you please help?
AP, Enfield
Presumably the same 1.5DCI fitted to millions of Renaults, Dacias and Nissans, so if the dealer can't get one from Renault for contractual reasons, such as a dispute with the supplier, then you must be able to get one from Dacia or Nissan, or from a parts specialist.
Transmissionary position
I am emailing from Nigeria. I just bought a VW Touran 1.6FSI and I noticed that each time it is selecting a gear it will jerk and it will make a sound. European specialists are not available to me. Please, what do I do?
NO, Nigeria
If you write "selecting a gear" then it must be automatic and in that case is probably a DSG 6-speed. These boxes need a transmission fluid and filter change very 4 years, so that's a good thing to start with. If the fluid is dirty, contaminated or has become conductive you will get trouble. There are excellent instructions on a You Tube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ink6ZpYqPQk/ This is what you need: 1 DSG VW Automatic Transmission Filter; 1 DSG VW Transmission Filter O-Ring Seal; 2 Oil Pan Drain / Fill Plug Sealing Washers; 1 DSG Transmission Fluid Fill Adapter Tool Kit (This can be used in place of Audi VW special tool VAG 6262. The tool connects to Ravenol DSG fluid bottles and then to the DSG transmission allowing the transfer of DSG fluid to the transmission by gravity fill, as specified by the factory); 6 Litres of German Ravenol Volkswagen DSG Fluid (Adequate quantity of fluid for complete filter change) specifically developed and engineered for 02E 6 Speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) transmissions used in this vehicle. You can get the complete kit from http://www.blauparts.com/proddetail.asp?prod=F2A1015-E/ The part number is F2A1015-E. Alternatively from: http://www.sale-wow.co.uk/search/?q=Dsg%20Oil%20Kit&campid=5337672009/ Or from: http://www.europaparts.com/dsg-transmission-service-kit-02e-6-speed.html/ /
I live and drive a lot in Cornwall. Many of the roads are narrow and have trees growing close to them, at time occluding daylight quite considerably. The problem I am looking for help with may be partly caused by my advancing years, but it is a serious enquiry. When late in the day and the sun is low, if I am driving towards the sun, I can see a reflection in the windscreen of the horizontal surface between the top of the dashboard and the windscreen straight in front of me. Whilst I am clear of wooded areas, this reflection is only a minor impairment. If, however, I approach a shaded section of the road, the reflection becomes much more visible and proper vision beyond that is very difficult. The contrast between sunlit road and shaded road is considerable. Once I get out of the direct sunlight on the windscreen, acceptable vision is restored. I wonder if I were to coat the reflective area with black flock that the problem would be reduced? I have tried laying a velvet material over the surface as I have had good results using that for Photograph backgrounds as it does not reflect flash lighting back and provides a jet black background. It did not however make any difference to the reflections troubling me when driving. I would be interested to have your views and recommendations.
RM, Cornwall
You might be suffering from the gradual onset of cataracts. I once drove with an ageing colleague who suffered the same symptoms when entering and leaving tunnels of trees. If your eyesight is normal, you can simply train your brain to ignore and see through the reflections. Much more difficult if you are suffering an eye disorder. If you cover the dash you will cover the venting for the screen and it's actually the screen vents and the cowling over the instruments that reflect the most. A treatment that leaves a matt black finish might be best.
Ministry of Defender
I have a 2004 LandRover Defender 90 TD5, which has done 60,000 miles and which I've owned since almost new. It is in very tidy condition as it is not off-roaded very often. I have always ensured that it is regularly serviced, but wonder what parts I should think about replacing with new to ensure I get another ten years reliable use out of the vehicle. I am a firm believer in prevention is better than cure and reliability is important to me as I make long trips away.
MR, via email
Happily, the TD5 is chain cam so as long as you are not hearing any rattles there should be no need to change that or the tensioner, but you may need to change the waterpump. Change the coolant because the corrosion inhibitors in it only last 3-5 years and thoroughly flush the whole system out with the heater set to max heat. Change the brake fluid. Change the oil and filter and continue to change it every year or every 5,000 miles whichever comes first.
Flaw to sealing
What is the law regarding tyre sealant for cars? The sealant to my wife's car expires at the end of September. Neither she nor I would be able to use the product in an emergency. We have roadside cover with one of the rescue organisations. Our thought is that we don't replace the sealant and upgrade our emergency roadside assistance to relay or other cover to get us home. What would you advise?
RP, Chepstow
Best advice is to get a space saver spare wheel, jack and wheelbrace or to convert to TPMS and runflats because 95% of the time the tyre sealant doesn't work and if you try to use it, it also ruins the carcass of the tyre. This is now the AA and RAC's most common reason for a callout. It's even happened to me and the cost was £256 for one tyre for an ordinary car at Kwik Fit on a Saturday. 2nd best advice is what you propose: upgrade your rescue cover, and whatever you do, don't squirt tyre sealent into your punctured tyre. (Over Friday/Saturday a colleage drove more than 1,000 miles from Spain back to the UK on a runflat tyre with a screw in it. Runflats take you a lot further then they guarantee to.)
Play 'Misty' for me
The radio in my 2004 BMW 5 Series has started to suffer from severe crackling when the rear demister is on. I know that the demister also acts as the radio aerial. Is there an easy fix?
JG, via email
Not that I know of. The most obvious one on an older car is to have a separate radio antenna fitted. (It later transpired that the reason was failure of the earth strap between the trunk lid and the car. Replacing the earth strap stopped the crackle.)
Dither goeth thou?
I am dithering between a Fiesta and a Mazda 2. I want an automatic. Do either of them have a proper torque converter, or are they both automated manuals?
NS, via email
The Mazda 2 has a proper 6-speed torque converter autobox. The Fiesta has a 6-speed Ford/Getrag Powershift. The Powershift is more 'efficient', but they have been suffering a shaft oil seal problem. Mazda's 6 speed torque converter is better: /road-tests/ford/ford-fiesta-10-ecoboost-powershift-2014-road-test// /road-tests/mazda/mazda-2-2015-15-automatic-road-test//
Lost and found
Hi. I am trying to track down a car I had many years ago. I have tried the site you mentioned: www.drivearchive.co.uk/, but can't seem to locate it, is there any other way I can log into it? Could you please reply with any further information?
RJ, via email
Click on http://www.drivearchive.co.uk/ You can also check if the car and plate still exist together at https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla/ You can then check if it's insured at http://www.askmid.com/ Next stage is to go to the relevant car club and with any luck they can email the owner, give him your details and ask if he wants to contact you, which he probably will because establishing provenance increases the value of a classic car.
I have been interested in buying a new Citroen C1, which includes a media screen, and Bluetooth connectivity and iPhone display touchscreen, which the salesman assured me replicated most of the Apps on an iPhone via this touchscreen. I have an iPhone 6 and have my TomTom satnav as an app, so this feature really appealed to me. But, although the advertising and documentation doesn't say so, the 'state of the art' media screen is only compatible with the iPhone 4, which has been superceded by two newer iPhones over the last 4 years. I have been unable to get any information about when Citroen intends to update this very useful accessory. The salesmen say it is not a problem because they will simply upgrade it for free when it released, but cannot give a timescale. Given that they are at the moment 4 years behind it seems that I will get to sell my new car after 4 years before ever having used the iPhone connectivity.
DG, Sunbury
That's interesting. I stuck doggedly to the iPhone 4S because it is far more robust than the iPhone 5, 5S and 6 and when I tested the C1 I used my phone. I will include the problem in the entry in /carbycar/ Skoda seems to be having even worse problems with its MirrorLink in the new Fabia.
Action man
I took your advice and in early May 2015 I bought a 2014/64 BMW 218i Active Tourer petrol auto 'luxury' with 2,000 miles, 6 months old for £24.5k with many extras and, after adding 5,000 miles of varied motoring, both my wife and I are delighted. I'm unsure of effect of auto stop/start on turbo bearings after a decade of not switching engine off after a stop on motorways. etc.
PS, via email
Congratulations on the car. There are certain parameters when the stop start won't 'stop and start', which are when there is insufficient battery power, when the ambient temperature is below 3C and when the turbo is too hot, so no need to worry.
Driving in shorts
We are about to move to very rural (and hilly) West Wales. We feel we need a 4-wheel drive but we are likely to do a lot of short journeys. What would you recommend? We would prefer diesel although this is not vital. The cost of the vehicle is not an issue although we would probably buy something 12 months old.
RM, Lugwardine, Herefordshire
FIAT Panda Cross TwinAir, as tested here: /road-tests/fiat/fiat-panda-cross-2014-road-test// Just don't expect to two a horsebox with it. If you insist on a diesel, a Suzuki Vitara 1.6DDIS 4WD: /road-tests/suzuki/suzuki-vitara-16ddis-2015-road-test// That even rides and handles better with 4WD than with 2WD. And now there's a new 140PS Vitara 1.4T 4WD offering good economy and low CO2.
You must be jerking
On my 3-year old Golf 1.4TSI DSG I have started getting a gap when the gears are changing in the low gears. This then leads to a clunk when the box changes to the next gear. It is intermittent but gradually getting worse. Any ideas as to the problem?
RTR, via email
Depending on its VIN (didn't affect all DSGs), the car might have missed the transmission fluid recall to change the fluid from synthetic to mineral. The synthetic fluid becomes conductive, confusing the Mechatronics. A VW dealer will be able to check on centralised records.
Pass perfect
The demographic of the area around where I live and the associated leisurely driving styles I come across has prompted this question: What cars and particularly 4WD SUVs up to say £70k have you found in everyday driving to be the most instantly responsive and quickest to dispatch the 20-40, 30-50, 40-60, 50-70 overtaking manoeuvres.
BB, Lymington, Hants
Porsche Macan Turbo: /road-tests/porsche/porsche-macan-2014-road-test// And BMW X5 M50d: /road-tests/bmw/bmw-x5-m50d-road-test// I guess the Range Rover Sport SV would be close. Haven't driven that one. Or the new Jaguar F-Pace 3.0 V6 diesel with 700Nm torque that is brilliantly effective in the XF.
Nitro rider
You may be interested to know that I fixed the starting problem on my ancient and high mileage Peugeot 306 by switching to Shell Nitro +. It now starts first turn of the key whether hot or cold. Remarkable. The only problem is that the nearest Shell filling station is a long way away. The irregular tickover still occurs from time to time but that is a minor problem.
JF, via email
Thank you. I'm going to have to recommend V-Power even more often as a first resort for unsticking sticky engines.
Passing reference
Many years ago I was coming down the M6 in my Austin A60 automatic cruising behind a truck. We came to a long hill, which had an extra truck lane on the right (it has gone now). The truck pulled into the extra lane, leaving me in the first lane with nobody in front of me and the 2nd and 3rd lanes almost standing still. I passed 6 cars before I had slowed down to their speed. In the outer lane was a police car. I was fined £60 and 3 points on my licence. I upset a lot of drivers before I eventually passed on the nearside. I am sure what you say is common sense, but ask a traffic policeman.
PH, via email
The same happened to Sir Stirling Moss, long before he was knighted, hence the expression, "who do you think you are, Stirling Moss?" Life has moved on, common sense has prevailed and even the Highway Code has been revised over these points. These days those cops could not get away with what they did. And, of course, there is no way that this could have been considered a "high speed manoeuvre" in an A60 automatic. High speeds were not on its agenda.
Feet of engine erring
My wife has a 7-year old Tigra, owned from new with a mileage of just 8,000. The car has leaks into the driver and passenger foot wells. After some research on the Internet, we tried pouring water into the gutter that runs under the windscreen, but this seemed to drain out through ports under the car on both sides. The door closing surfaces seem wet at the front, but all the drain holes in the underside of the doors are clear. Any ideas?
BD, via email
The Corsa C based Tigra has the same bulkhead problem as the Corsa C: "18-11-2013: Over the last year I have received about 15 further reports of water leaks into the footwells of Corsa C models from year 2000. Same cause. The brake master cylinder is bolted to a plate, which is bonded to the bulkhead, quite high up. This bonding fails, allowing water into the car. To gain access you have to take the cover off the bulkhead vent well, remove a wiper arm, etc. Very fiddly. And squirting sealant around the edges can only ever be a temporary solution. See: Corsa C leaking bulkhead fix."
Free parking
I probably don't have a leg to stand on with this one but thought I might mention it to you anyway. I parked for 65 minutes (according to the parking charge notice) in a pay and display car park that I had not used before. It was very busy and, having found a space, someone came over and gave me a ticket valid for far longer than we wished to stay. This was innocently displayed on my dash as being valid even though I had not purchased it. I have just received the notice from Euro Car Parks (cameras took the vehicle registration) stating that "no valid pay and display was purchased and is in breach of the terms and conditions". Do you think I could argue that I took advantage of someone else's generosity or (as I suspect) I have no defence because I did not pay for my vehicle?
KJ, via email
Legless, I'm afraid. People used to generously donate tickets with unexpired time to other drivers but this was never legal. Now that the enforcers ANPR your plates on entering and leaving a carpark and you have to key in your reg against the parking ticket, they know you never paid for the parking. Best to cough up at the discounted rate.
Following your suggestions we test-drove a Suzuki Vitara: nice car, but engine a bit sluggish. Nissan Juke: engine very responsive but noticeably smaller inside. And Renault Captur, which we loved and ordered today. Thanks for all your help
KP, via email
Some nice bright Captur colours, too. Suzuki has now upgraded its petrol engine line-up with the Vitara S 1.4T that offers 4WD, 140PS, 220Nm torque from 1,500rpm, 127g/km CO2, 52mpg and 120mph. We will be testing this soon to see how it matches up to its promise.
Condensor condemned
I recently took advantage of an offer to have the aircon of my HyundaI i30 recharged. Much later, in Devon, I was surprised that the system did not operate in the warmer climate. I returned the car to AJS who had undertaken the recharge. Their examination revealed that the condenser was leaking. Although this was not any fault of theirs, they gave me a very reasonable price for replacement of this item. I requested (on advice) that they retained the failed item for me. Examination of this condenser revealed that it was apparently disintegrating; the fins breaking up causing it to leak. I appreciated that me car was out of warranty. None the less I contacted Hyundai customer service, but regretfully they were unable to offer any help. I thought the least they could do was to get my local dealer to examine it and perhaps give me some idea how this disintegration had been brought about. The condenser shows no other sign of damage, such as stones or kerb hits. I would very much appreciate your opinion.
DK, via email
Unfortunately (and some may say 'deliberately') a/c condensers often have to live in a very hostile environment subject to corrosive winter road salt, stones and everything else that the roads and the weather have to throw at them. More than 5 years old (to be out of warranty) and maybe a lot older than that (you don't say how old) you may have to regard this as a disposable item and could take steps, such as a protective shield, to prevent damage to the new one.
Two grand daughter
My grand-daughter was 17 last October and took her test and passed first time. She is saving up to buy a car, as she needs one to get to college in Ipswich. She lives in a village 7 miles from it. What would you recommend for somewhere around £2,000 plus or minus? Is a Fiesta possible? Or better to wait till she has nearer £4,000 saved?
PH, via email
The most reliable car in this sort of price bracket is the original 1999-2005 Toyota Yaris, and the cheapest of them to insure is the 1.0 4-cylinder version. Fiesta 1.25s are a reasonable 2nd best but much more prone to rust.
Compound interest
I leave my car in an outdoor compound at Alicante Airport, for up to 3 weeks at a time. Recently, upon my arrival, the battery of my Ford Focus has been completely flat. Flat enough to have disabled the clock. My local main dealer tested the battery, which he says is ok, but claims that, because of the complicated electrics in the car, the positive terminal of the battery should be removed for stays of this duration (the negative terminal is hard to reach). Is this really the situation that modern car electronics have arrived at in 2015?
TG, via email
After a long run of 50 miles or more to the airport the battery should be good for at least a month. It might be affected by something at the airport. Might be the dimmer switch for the interior light remaining live (switch off the interior light completely). Or might be the notorious reason of a Ford specific fault with the Bluetooth radio that stays live and continually searches for your mobile phone. Some say that leaving the radio on and switching off at the ignition (the reverse of my normal suggestion) prevents this.
Personal drainer
I am the owner of a Bentley Continental GT, bought new 7 years ago. Ever since then it has suffered from the auxiliary battery going flat for no reason at all. Returned to Bentley on numerous occasions and they say 'no problem with the car'. Why does this happen? Your comments much a appreciated.
WM, via email
An electrical circuit remains live. The first suspect is always the interior light 'see you out' dimmer switch. These often remain live after the light has dimmed and gone out because the circuit remains live. To check for that, switch off the interior lighting completely. If it solves the problem you then know the source. The second suspects are the lights in the trunk and the glovebox. Best way to check if the light goes off when the lid is shut is to set a smartphone to video record then shut it inside the trunk and then the glovebox. If the video shows a light on, you then know that those switches are not working. The third suspect is the Bluetooth system. If a car is not locked properly the Bluetooth will continuously search for its paired phone using power. Or locking the car might not switch off the Bluetooth. The fourth suspect is the alarm/immobiliser system and particularly if some form of tracking device has been installed that takes a continual drain from the battery. The fifth is not driving the car far enough to recharge the auxiliary battery. If the car is used only for short runs then this could be the reason. Hope that helps. You can eliminate some of the suspects yourself. The model is notorious for electrical problems.See: /carbycar/bentley/continental-gt-2003/?section=good
Buy now, pay later
I was wondering if you've been ever asked to comment on the widespread common practice of car manufacturers / dealers of advertising a special price for a car which is subject taking out a manufacturers finance deal. If, however, you're in the fortunate position where you don't have a need to apply for finance, then the cost of the same car immediately increases – in some cases by as much as £1,700. Currently I think KIA is the only manufacture who isn't doing this. If I went into a shop to buy something expensive like a new kitchen then the price quoted would remain the same, irrespective of whether I paid in cash or bought it on finance. Why are car manufacturers allowed to do this? Indeed, is it legal?
GD, Tunbridge Wells
This was illegal in the past, but it is so widespread now that must have been legalised by a later Consumer Credit Act. Comes from car manufacturers supporting the finance because the manufacturers own the finance companies and since the ex-factory profit on a car is really about 40% there are different ways of managing this. What one hand gives, another takes away in order to secure a sale and potential future sales on PCPs.
Panz people
I am interested in a 2013/63 Mercedes-Benz ML250 diesel auto with 10,000 miles. Is there anything obvious I should be aware of? And what reality economy should I expect?
AS, Chelmsford
Open the fuel flap and check if it has an AdBlue filler. It should have and should thereby be EU5 or even EU6, which will be a significant advantage in years to come. This has the comparatively old Mercedes 2,143cc 4 cylinder diesel in its most powerful form: 500Nm torque. Still a bit noisy, though. Expect low to mid 30s mpg.
Halo effect
As a teenager in the late 1950s, bought up in London, I cycled everywhere. My rear light was 'bomb' shaped with a bright 2-inch diameter lens. The front light was a torch with a 4-inch lens, bright enough to cast a beam. Today's cycle lights seem no more than a flickering pinprick, hardly visible against all the modern lighting. It seems safety is going backwards in the face of fashion. Your views please?
AS, Chelmsford
The LEDs and strobes used by cyclists these days are actually many times brighter and attention grabbing than the old battery and dynamo powered lighting sets on bicycles of the 1950s and 1960s.
Maxed out
I've owned C-Maxes for over 10 years and they have served me very well, but now I'm wondering about a change of manufacturer. I need the high seating position of the C-Max and rear door that is 3' wide for my 93-year old mother; not a 'Chelsea tractor'; not a box on wheels and probably petrol now mileage is much reduced. A lack of 'gizmos' would suit me fine as I'm a technophobe. You speak well of the Mazda range and VW; Peugeots don't appeal to me but a Skoda would be acceptable if the above parameters are met. Any thoughts/guidance?
NM, Nailsea
We really liked the manual 1.4TSI 125 and 150ACT petrol versions of the new VW Golf SV. Nicely styled, too: /road-tests/volkswagen/volkswagen-golf-sv-2014-road-test// Alternatively, a BMW 2-Series Active Tourer: /road-tests/bmw/bmw-2-series-active-tourer-2014-road-test//
Stiggy question
Please – what is a STIG? Have tried a dictionary without avail.
PW, Cirencester
There was a legendary Finnish rally driver by the name of Stig Blomqvist. I rode with him with him once in a SWB Audi quattro. He looked like a retired accountant, though didn't drive like one. The Top Gear 'Stig' (who I've also driven with) seems to have come from a schoolboy term used by Jeremy Clarkson and Andy Wilman when they were at public school together.
Smash and grab
My daughter's 2002 Peugeot 206 3-door was reversed into in Willesden, where she lives. She continues to drive the car daily, as it was minor damage. The driver admitted liability and there were two witnesses. He asked her to get it estimated for repair and he would pay her directly. The damage was confined to the grill and bonnet, which still closes. She had the damage estimated by one of the local independents at £900, and whilst she was there got the car serviced and an MOT done. When the driver heard the cost, he asked her to claim from his insurance. I was concerned would happen as the damage assessors want to write the car off. They say it is dangerous (within two days of passing an MoT test). I hasten to add, there is no torn metal, merely some crumpling. My daughter thinks she can get another car for the money they may pay her (they have not said how much yet). I doubt that she will get much more than £1,000 if lucky, and even a replacement 13-year old 206 will be more. Clearly she could get the car back, as it cannot be truly dangerous or otherwise would not have passed its MOT. What should she do?
MP, Willesdan
This is a standard insurance tactic to minimise the amount of a claim and not be subject to lengthy provision of a credit hire car during the repair. Simply tell them the car was freshly MoT'd 2 days previously, is therefore roadworthy and you do not want it written off. You will have the car repaired and will take separate action via the Small Claims Track of the County Court to recover the cost from the party who damaged the car. I have to warn you that you might lose this action because a 2002 206 isn't worth £900.
Honda Discord
I recently had the clutch replaced on my 120,000 mile 2009 Honda Accord 2.2 CDTI and, since then. the car seems much more noisy inside, related to road surface. The work was done by a Honda main dealer and the car has been back but nothing found apart from uneven wear on the rear tyres, which have since been replaced and although the noise level is reduced it's not back to it's previous low level. During a subsequent conversation with the dealer I was told the clutch replacement involves major work, including removing the front subframe and may have just altered the acoustics. However I wonder if there is any other likely cause such as missing rubber bushes on reassembly?
MF, via email
The car may require a four way laser alignment to correct the alignment disturbed by the dismantling and re-fitting of the subframe. Try: http://www.alignmycar.co.uk
Can I 'Trust Ford'?
I have just purchased a Ford Fiesta with 12,014 miles on the clock from a Trust Ford garage. I noticed that after I purchased this car that the first service was due at 12,500 miles or 12 months whichever came first. From the service record, I noted that the first service had not been done until the car was 19 months old. This service had been carried out by a non Ford garage with no notification on what had been done. I still have 16 months Ford warranty left and I have been told I have 30 days to reject the vehicle. Do you think I should reject the vehicle and on what basis?
GW, via email
Basically you have to ask for a written reassurance that the car is and will remain under the Ford dealer warranty until it is 36 months old. If none is forthcoming then reject the car. (The Ford warranty is 12 months manufacturer followed by 24 months dealer. Trust Ford is owned by Ford.)
Seasonal variation
I have a 2011 Octavia 2.0 TDI/CR, L&K. DSG. Bought in December 2013. The tyres are Kleber Quadraxer, All Season, 225/45/R17 from purchase. I recently went to a well-known tyre centre to have them checked and the pressures done and also the tracking. The manager asked if I realized I was using winter tyres. I pointed out that they were All Season but he said there was no such thing and I needed to come back in the spring and get some better tyres for the summer months. Is he right? Am I losing out on economy or am I gaining on ride, stability and comfort, which is good.
HC, Old Woking
The manager of the tyre depot is talking through his rear valve. These are all season tyres that can be left on all year round: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Kleber/Quadraxer.htm/ Like garage service managers, these guys are often primarily tasked to meet sales targets and don't always understand that they are legally obliged to know their subject and to be honest.
No Business like show business
In May I purchased a 2012 BMW 520d Business Edition from a reputable garage. My first issue concerns satnav. The car was sold as having satnav (I have a print-out of the advert), yet I've since discovered that in fact it does not. What possible action should I take? Plus what would the possible difference in value be for future trade-in. We purchased the car with a mere 25,000 miles on it and in the following four months have covered 4,000 miles of normal driving with no towing or excessive acceleration. Last week whilst on the M8 I had a flat tyre and it didn't show up as an issue on the dashboard. Is there a possible fault with the tyre pressure monitor. At Kwik Fit the car was found to need a complete new set of tyres (as they were all bald and worn) plus realignment, which cost £750. I feel the garage was partly at fault here for selling the car with tyres on such low tread. Where do I stand regards to receiving some sort of compensation for the tyres?
RK, via email
As long as the car was legal when you bought it there is no reason for compensation for the tyres. It is a second hand car, not a new car. And you had travelled 4,000 miles in it. Lack of a satnav wipes £500 - £1,000 off its value, so if it was advertised with satnav and it if was not made plain to you before purchase that there was a mistake in the advertisment, then you could demand £500 compensation. The fact that the TPMS did not work is more serious and is a fault with the car that could be taken to have pre-existed your purchase of it. The dealer is liable to repair that.


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Craft Rocket Challenges - Use Embellishments
Dragonfly Dreams - Here Come The Girls
Crafty Gals Corner - Add a Flower
Starstampz - 2 or More Patterned Papers
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes/So Cute
Allsorts Challenge - In The Pink
Super layout and a really cute image thank you for joining our 'In the Pink' challenge this week at Allsorts.
Kath x
Such a sweet and pretty card, thanks for sharing with us at CraftyCatz this week..x
Lovely entry for our challenge at Crafty Catz this week and dont forget we have a GDT call for June running till the end of this challenge. Good luck
A pretty creation for our 'In the Pink' theme at Allsorts challenge, many thanks for joining in.
B x
Thanks for entering our theme at allsorts this week Tracy x
Great card - thanks for joining us this week at Crafty Catz.
Helen x
So sweet and adorable, just perfect to welcome a new baby girl :-)
Thank you for playing along with us at Crafty Gals Corner. We hope to see you again soon.
Lena ~ DT
What a darling image. Thank you for joining in the Dragonfly Dreams challenge this month and hope to see your lovely work again.


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Pursuit of Happiness Lowest Happiness Level Since 1972/
Guest blog by Laura Berman Fortgang
A new study by the University of Chicago's National Opinion Research Center has just released information that 14 percent of Americans are "not too happy," the highest percentage since 1972. Whether it's marital problems, the down economy or the persistent blues, there are easy ways to increase your happiness level. Happiness means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, so it's hard to figure out the cause of so much unhappiness. There are many external factors to point to in today's landscape, however, a few time-honored steps you can take to improve your general mental and physical well-being, making it that much easier to achieve your happiness:
Let the light shine in
Since the lack of sunlight and Vitamin D can cause winter blues, the addition of light boxes and illumination bulbs in your home can help simulate spring and summer sunshine.
Stay Mobile, Get the Blood Pumping
Joining a gym during the winter can be very beneficial, as exercise will balance the brain chemistry and is especially important this time of year. However, if you don't have the funding available, simple stretches and breathing exercises can be done right at home to get the blood pumping. If it's not too bitterly cold outside, bundle up and take a brisk 30-minute walk as you marvel at the winter wonderland around you.
Keep Stress in Check
If you are facing unemployment or job instability, try not to take that stress out on your family. Have 'venting' time and supportive folks to include in your current challenges, but keep stress at a minimum by keeping it in check.
It's important to separate your work and home life in order to manage stress levels. Make sure you separate the two to avoid immediate and future negative results.
Find Meaning in the Small Things
Remember to appreciate all you do have. Focus on the good relationships in your life and the activities you enjoy. Do small kindnesses for others and watch your happiness factor rise.
Take a Mental Inventory at the End of the Day
Basically, give yourself a mini "pat on the back" at the end of the day. It will help you focus on all the positive things you did throughout the day, and to avoid dwelling on anything negative.


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Nanigans uses cookies for marketing, analytics, and other purposes. Please click here to view our full privacy policy.
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The Nanigans help center is a one-stop digital marketing shop, providing customers with on-demand articles and videos covering topics as varied as mobile RTB and data integration. For campaign managers with specific questions, the FAQ section is often a popular destination. Curious about what our most frequently searched questions and features are? Read on.
1. How do I integrate with Nanigans Reporting API?
Many customers inquire about how to plug into our reporting API because we offer the ability to get customizable ad level or event level data that's meaningful to their businesses. It's easy to do – it just requires implementing a turnkey code snippet (available in multiple programming languages). Any time there are updates, we do the work on our end. Some of the benefits of our API include 24/7 access to this data and the ability to combine this data with your other marketing channels. For more information, one of my colleagues recently wrote an in-depth blog post on the topic.
2. Which dynamic parameters can I pass in a URL?
Nanigans enables customers to pass through dynamic parameters in their URLs to aid in analysis of audience segments. This analysis often leads to actionable insights that improve return on investment. It's a marketer's paradise with around 70 parameters to choose from; here is just a sampling of data you can obtain at the ad level:
For many of the parameters, you can decide how you'd like the data to display so that it's consistent with your other reporting. For example, you can report on gender where male is designated as "M" and female as "F" or where male is "1" and female is "2".
3. Nanigans SDK
The Nanigans SDK helps you better understand customers' lifetime value by capturing key events, such as purchases, registrations, or downloads. Our platform can then automatically optimize campaigns with mobile app data and do so across different device types. Customers are increasingly using multiple devices and Nanigans helps you track, retarget and reengage your most valuable mobile app users across any number of devices. And this is all done in near real-time.
The Nanigans mobile SDK is also complimentary, saving you on third party tracking costs. To find more information on the benefits of a direct integration with your marketing automation software, see this insightful article.
4. Stop Loss
Marketing automation is a wonderful means for optimizing your ad dollars. However, marketers will generally want to have some assurance that specific ads won't go too far off the rails in terms of the defined performance goals. That's where Nanigans stop loss feature comes into play – it pauses down ads that are exceeding your target CPA or not meeting your yield goal.
Nanigans allows you to select how far you're willing to go beyond your goal before pausing an ad. For example, if using Stop Loss on a CPA goal of $3.00, entering 20% means any ad with a CPA over $3.60 will be paused. For Stop Loss on a yield goal of 200%, entering 50% means any ad with a yield lower than 150% will be paused.
In addition, Nanigans won't just pause an ad for which it's only acquired a handful of clicks. Rather, you indicate your data significance requirements in the software before an ad gets paused.
5. Creative Testing
The ability to multivariate test in an automated fashion is a necessity for today's online marketers. Nanigans has a feature that enables customers to find the best performing ads per audience while automatically pausing down underperforming ads and activating new ones in their place.
The Nanigans user can decide how many ads to test at a time and how many resulting winners to have, measuring success by the metric that impacts business the most. Important to all testing of course is data significance, and our customers are able to input their preference here as well.
In summary, these are just the top five most searched topics in our help center. Get a full overview of what Nanigans has to offer:
Download your guide to the advertising automation software powering today's most successful in-house marketing teams.
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The alarm goes at six, although I'm often awake before it. But I'm still a slug-a-bed at heart and sometimes the snooze button is put to good use! We all get up at the same time, usually early-bird Amy is the first up, with Daddy, while the lazy ones, me and Lena, sleep on!
From the time I get up until the kids leave for school, and sometimes until quite some time after they're gone, I clean up the living room and kitchen and do laundry. I'm getting fat-bellied and heavy so I often do the laundry now sitting on the computer chair, watching CNN. I can grab the clothes off the mini coat-hanger clothes-lines, fold them and put them on the low table without having to move much.
After that first bit of work is done I write in my blog, check the email and write email, and read the online news (Stuff) and have a cup of tea and some breakfast. I don't usually work until the afternoon, so I schedule some things to do for myself in the morning.
Today I plan to work upstairs between 9 and 10, organizing the tatami bedroom a bit. Yesterday I bagged the winter bedding in vacuum bags, but I have to wait until Kanji has a few spare moments to get the bags into the closet. A lot has to wait until Kanji has a spare moment! The Spare Room waits until the Shed is done, and as Bec can vouch, the Shed is a shambles. Most of it is still full of the junk the prior owners left, with our stuff piled precariously in a heap at the door. I need Kanji to help me move our stuff, so we can toss out their stuff, and finally get our stuff along the walls. Then I will move the old carpet in there, the spare room wardrobe, and the round table, heaters, spare clothes and a few boxes of toys that will probaby become really exciting again once they move position.
THEN I'll be able to move my trade-me flea-market things to the spare room, and have a fairly clear tatami room! But for today, it's a just a bit of re-arranging piles, cleaning up, and starting to pull down the baby things to see what I have and what I need. I'll be able to go through the clothes soon now that the baby is 'probably' a girl. Every month she gets more probably a girl!
At 10 I have scheduled a break! I have a long day today and I don't want to get exhausted. I am going to cook some apples for my lunch, then settle on the sofa, tidy through the girls' school notice folders (you wouldn't believe the volume of notices they hand out!) and figure out some kind of scheme for teaching them English. At 11 I'll showerd and have some lunch, then pick up Lena at 12 and take her to Baachan's.
I start work at 1:10, and it's my least favorite class, a very challenging 'junior university', meaning it's a two-year rather than a four-year course. The students are scraping the bottom of the barrel, they're the ones who didn't get in anywhere else, and they are pretty much coddled through. We can't fail them. They just sit the test over and over until they pass it! You have to be really determined to fail! So they learn that they don't have to put in any effort, and most of the teachers are too afraid to discilpine them, they just ignore them and keep talking, so the students tend to ignore the teacher, and keep talking while you try to explain something or give instructions, which is very frustrating. I tell them to shut up. I'm quite stubborn and I tell them to shut up, but they don't always, and if they do, it's not for long. They are not all like that - half the class work really well.
Between 12 and that class starting, I either go home and rest (again, I'm good at that. This is one pregnant lady who will not get over-taxed!) or I go to the office, if I have prep to do. I do today - we are starting unit six, and I need to copy the teacher's book. Unit six is the last unit I teach! Yay! Only three more lessons! I also need to see how the other teacher is going with the test - we talked yesterday about what to put in it, but he took the job of putting it together, as I had a million things to do at home, while he had compulsory office hours to fill.
After that class I come home just in time for Amy to arrive home from school, and I take her to Baachan's. There is just enough time to check the email, plan what I'm doing in the class and get going again. The next class is at the hospital, I teach the residents. Jo and Bec came to this class with me, and will tell you how un-responsive they can be! Many students get that it's a 'conversation' class, and conversation goes two ways - this class doesn't, possibly because it's compulsory. So it turns into a question and answer session, with me asking questions over and over and over, and them bluntly answering, or me talking away and them nodding. I always have to have things prepared for them to do.
I have about an hour and a half after that class until I have to leave for my evening class. Enough time to get a meal ready, eat and look over what I will teach tonight. I think we are doing time and morning routines today, for which I have just been inadvertenly practicing in this blog! That class is two hours, but it's voluntary students with good study habits and enthusiasm, so it's a pleasure to teach. I get home around 9:20 and pretty much collapse into bed! A few chapters of Harry Potter (I've pre-ordered the 7th book and I'm half way through book 4) and I'm sound asleep


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Photography Workshop
For those wanting to take professional looking photos with a smart phone or simple camera, this workshop offers the fundamentals of photography and photo-editing starting with the most basic principles of design. This one-day workshop is perfect for those interested in taking excellent images for painting reference, or anyone who just wants to take better pictures. Getting familiar with tools of composition, light, color, and more can make a world of difference in your photos, and turn a phone/camera into an enjoyable pastime. Taught by Red Dot instructor Dori DeCamillis. (See her photos on her Instagram page.)
This workshop offers students practice at shooting photos of various subjects, such as landscapes, architecture, still-life and portraiture, depending on time and weather. Simple photo-editing will be covered in a manner that even the most tech-challenged can manage. A quick slide show and talk will be followed by lots of practice and gentle critiques. The basics of framing, lighting, camera angles, subject placement, and creative flair will be emphasized, and the editing lessons will acquaint students with the easiest way to turn decent photos into awesome ones. There is no one who will come away without being much more familiar with their camera and able to take far better photos.
Students must have their own smart phone, camera and/or tablet fully charged and with a charger. If a laptop is available, bring it, too. Weather depending, workshops may include carpooling to and from the studio to different locations so dress accordingly.
The next photography workshop will be held on a Saturday to be scheduled soon, 10:00 to 2:00 pm. Depending on weather, we will be working on indoor and/or outdoor subjects.
One-day workshops are held at Red Dot Gallery with a cost of $100. An hour lunch break gives students time to grab a bite at one of the many restaurants around the corner. (Healthy options are available.) Required supplies are listed above. Check with Dori at firstname.lastname@example.com for availability. Workshops fill quickly, so please reserve a spot ahead of time. A space in the workshop is considered reserved when it is paid for. Your receipt might say Without a Net workshop. No worries, just let me know via email which workshop you're interested in.
Workshop can be taken more than once.


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Consiliul Concurenţei ( The Romanian Competition Council) has fined Westgate Romania a total RON229,496 lei (nearly EUR50,000) because the operator didn't wait until it obtained the approval before taking over the Stanleybet betting agency.
The council found out the violation while analyzing the transaction where Westgate took over the right to use the Stanleybet brands (Stanleysport.ro and Stanleybet.ro domains, as well as the Stanleybet brand) in Romania.
Westgate admitted that it had wrapped up the merger before the deal was fully approved by the country's competition regulator. According to local Ziarul Financiar news website, the admission of wrongdoing by Westgate Romania reduced the fine.
According to current regulations, it is forbidden to act on a merger before notifying and obtaining the authorization from the Competition Council. Therefore, the buyer cannot make decisions about the acquired company, such as exercising the right to conclude contracts, selling the assets, restructuring the company, before the Competition Authority analyses the operation.
Westgate operates slot machines and video-lottery terminals on the local market. The company also took over the Stanleybet betting agency but had to wait to get the Competitiion Council's approval for the transaction before starting to operate this new business. Stanleybet is one of Romania's top betting brands.


text: What Nate-Certification Is and Why It Matters Published on November 08, 2016 McKinley Heating Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning in Edmonton always tells you about how our service techs are NATE-certified, and while it sounds reassuring, what does it truly mean? NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence and, as stated on their website, is the nation's largest certification organization for HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and refrigeration technicians. The organization is owned, operated, developed, and supported by the entire HVAC and refrigeration industry but not all people in the industry are required to be certified through NATE. The certification is voluntary and technicians can provide heating, cooling, ventilation, and refrigeration services without being certified by NATE. It's important to McKinley Heating Service Experts that our technicians are NATE-certified to be sure we are sending the most qualified and trained technicians into your home. To make sure technicians meet these standards, the NATE-certification tests validate real-world working knowledge of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems for technicians. The exams are knowledge-based exams that assess the technician's knowledge of these subjects. Since McKinley Heating Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning focuses on the HVAC side of NATE-certification instead of refrigeration, there are only specific areas pertinent to our technicians. NATE assessment candidates may obtain installation and/or service certification in one or more of the talent areas listed below: Air ConditioningAir DistributionGas HeatingOil HeatingHeat PumpsHydronics Gas (service only)Hydronics Oil (service only)Light Commercial Refrigeration (service only)Commercial Refrigeration (service only)Ground Source Heat Pump Loop InstallerSenior HVAC Efficiency Analyst You can be confident the technicians at McKinley Heating Service Experts to be highly skilled and professional to do the project right the first time. Our company has the knowledge and qualifications to not only service and repair your HVAC systems, but to take the best care of your equipment. Call 780-800-7092 to have one of our NATE-certified experts come out and make sure your HVAC equipment is prepared to keep you comfy all year long. Back To BlogContact Us


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Notification posted by the International Students and Scholars Office.
The International Students and Scholars Office will be operating on minimal staffing May 30–June 2, 2017, due to attendance at an off-site immigration conference. During this time:
- ISSO will not be able to process requests or sign documents for travel
- ISSO office hours will be 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–4 p.m.
- Students and scholars will be able to pick up and drop off documents; however, visa advising will not be available.
If you have an emergency during this time, please email your ISSO adviser and add "Emergency" to the email subject line. Please contact Brian Groves with any questions about this article.