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Richard Kootstra added an event report
Founder Talks 4: Benjamin Derksen & Ard Boer
Pond pumps, conquering Europe and predicting hit songs with A.I. Together with local TV station RTV Noord, Founded in Groningen organized the fourth edition of Founder Talks, where two remarkable entrepreneurs share their equally remarkable stories, combined with an in-depth interview and questions from the audience.
For this edition, RTV Noord journalist Bart Breij interviewed Benjamin Derksen, the man behind Frank, formerly known as Experty, and Ard Boer, serial music and tech entrepreneur.
From Experty to Frank
This year is going to be an important year for Frank. The company, consisting of about 450 different webshops and active in 8 different countries, is going to expand on the one hand, to other to a whopping 27 countries, but as one giant webshop, going up against giants like Coolblue in the Netherlands, and Amazon abroad.
The company started out selling graduation gifts for students, like globes, telescopes and old city maps. "You know, niche things that are hard to come by in regular shops", Benjamin explains. "There was a real demand for that, and we started to sell different types of niche products on different websites, which is how Experty was born."
Experty grew explosively over the next couple of years, going from a few niche webshops to a total of 450. How do you get to such a whopping amount? "Simple", Benjamin says. "We basically look for search volume and competition. If loads of people google a certain product, there's a demand for it. And if there's not too much competition, we go for it. A lot of competition, means razor thin profit margins, like you get with electronics workshops."
Last year they changed the company name from Experty to Frank. "Frank means open, honest and transparent, which is what we've always stood for", Benjamin explains. "Basically, in online retail, the reason people order things at your website is based on price, supply and trust and I don't think any of the bigger sites score high in all three categories."
Best growth hack? "The world is a big place. The international market is much bigger than a national market", Benjamin says. "Just go out and do it and don't worry too much about potential risks."
But what about all the legal hassle, customer support and delivery times? "Sure, you need to figure out some legal stuff and in some countries we offer only English support. As for delivery times, people are willing to wait a few days. The notion that the customer is king, doesn't mean you have to grovel. Support is one way to help people, but we also like to help them in other ways."
"I'd like to change to whole process of online shopping actually", Benjamin continues. "The fact that people have to actively search for the products is kind of weird. So that's something we're currently working on, but because of the competition and because we're still in the early stages, I can't say too much about it."
Any tips for aspiring entrepreneurs? "Like I said, go out and just do it. I've met people with fucking great ideas and ambitions, who don't follow through because it seems too daunting or risky. Oh, and travel a lot! I've climbed the Kilimanjaro in Africa, and just being above the clouds, thinking about the risk of altitude sickness, makes you feel fucking insignificant and really makes you think about where you stand in life."
Create & hustle
Ard Boer is an entrepreneur, a programmer and he considers himself a failed musician. "When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them I just do stuff", he says. "Basically, I create and hustle. I come up with cool ideas for the music industry and find a commercial application for it."
Ard started out as a high school teacher: "I tried making it as a musician, but I just wasn't good enough. So what do you do when you're a failed musician? You get a job to cover the bills and start your own label, in your attic. Pretty soon, we landed a gig from Sony and we set up this sort of platform where bands could pitch their music along with a business plan and the best one would land a record deal."
Out of this project, New Music Labs was born, Ard's company to come up with innovative ideas and viral marketing for the music industry, working with some pretty big acts, like One Direction and the Foo Fighters. "The Foo Fighters just released their album White Limo, so we had a white limousine drive around the country and when fans found it and took a selfie, they could win a meet & greet with Dave Grohl during Pinkpop."
A few years back, Ard also came up with an idea for an Augmented Reality album cover. "It looked really cool, but selling this idea was a big challenge", Ard says. "Marketing budgets in the music industry are not as big as people think, and ultimately, the band is basically paying for it. And in the Netherlands, about 20% of the bands are big enough to make a living out of it, let alone pay for an AR album cover. We also pitched the idea to The Voice of Holland, but that didn't work out. That's the thing, sometimes cool ideas work out, sometimes they don't."
The music entrepreneur also set up a pretty well known music festival with friends, called Into The Great Wide Open. "I did that for about three years, but instead of enjoying the music, I was cramped up in an office counting cash. So I quit the organization, it just wasn't for me, even though setting up a festival with your best friends is the coolest thing ever."
Pretty soon after, while being a coach at Startup Weekend in 2016, Ard met award winning composer Renger Koning. "I was working on a platform where you can track the airplay of songs and Renger was really interested, because he composed a lot of music for commercials and was looking for a way to check his earnings and royalties. So, instead of coaching others, we basically founded our own startup that weekend too."
With that big bunch of airplay data, Ard used a neural network AI algorithm, to try and see if you could predict which songs became hits. He was invited to pitch his idea, named Hitwizard, during industry conferences at Eurosonic Noorderslag, South by Southwest in Austin, TX and the Amsterdam Dance Event. "Our accuracy was a little over 60%, which doesn't sound like much, but ask yourself this: is the record label A&R guy more accurate? If we're even 1% more accurate, our product already is financially more interesting."
So big ambitions with Hitwizard? Not really. "The thing about using a neural network, is that the connections and conclusions it makes, are extremely difficult to understand and retrace. So basically, you just get an answer, but not the reasoning behind it, so all we know is that something could be a hit song, but not what makes a hit. Maybe in 20 years time, A.I. will be at the level where it becomes really useful."
As a creative guy with no real interest in money or the business side of things, doesn't he need a commercial sellout to help him rake in some cash? "What we're doing with BroadcastRadar is pretty commercial. We're talking to a lot of publishers and have plans for the German market in the near future too."
Any tips for entrepreneurs? "Not really anything original. I'm going to say the same thing as Benjamin, who used to be my neighbor by the way: just go out and do it! Doing something and failing is still doing something. Create and hustle."


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What's on in Adelaide this April
What to experience in Adelaide this April
Mad March may be over, but there are still a plethora of activities and experiences occurring in Adelaide this April. From food festivals through to major art exhibitions there is something for everyone, and all only a short walk from InterContinental Adelaide.
Colours of Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Musee d'Orsay – 29th March – 29th July 2018
In this exhibition exclusive to Adelaide, more than 65 Impressionist masterpieces from the renowned collection of the Musée d'Orsay in Paris feature in a major exhibition at the Art Gallery of South Australia.
Make your Colours of Impressionism experience truly memorable and indulge in our art package, including; luxurious overnight accommodation in a King Superior Room, 2 x Exhibition Tickets to Colours of Impressionism and full buffet breakfast for two adults the following morning in Riverside Restaurant and complimentary WiFi from only $270.00. Book your Colours of Impressionism package here.
The Wizard of Oz – 3rd – 29th April 2018
Andrew Lloyd Webber's London Palladium production of The Wizard of Oz, is an enchanting revision of the all time classic. Developed from the ever-popular MGM screenplay, it contains the beloved Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg songs from the Oscar®-winning movie score, all the favourite characters and iconic moments.
Make your The Wizard of Oz experience truly memorable and indulge in our stay and show package which includes luxurious overnight accommodation in a King Superior Room, 2 x complimentary A Reserve Tickets to the show and breakfast for 2 the following morning in Riverside Restaurant, for only $250.00. Book your The Wizard of Oz accommodation package here.
Tasting Australia – 13th – 22nd April
Tasting Australia is where foodies come to discover what's new on the menu.
Be it a collaboration among world-class chefs, an inimitable tasting of beer, wine or spirits, or an evening soaking up the charred flavours and aromas of Town Square, Tasting Australia is unique and moreish food and beverage experiences.
For 10 days Tasting Australia is your passport to the premium, unprecedented eating and drinking experiences that only South Australia can offer.
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ In Concert – 28th April
Taking place at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, and presented by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Cinemuse, this concert features the film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in high-definition, on a giant screen, while your Adelaide Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams's unforgettable score. Relive every magical moment as the music brings life to a story that has enchanted the world.
© Copyright 2018. IHG®. All Rights Reserved. InterContinental Adelaide
IHG® is a registered trademark of InterContinental Hotels Group or its subsidiaries.
This hotel is independently owned by Grand Willow Development PTC Ltd as trustee for Viewgrand Trust G and Managed by IHG Hotels Management (Australia) Pty Ltd

subset: commoncrawl


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Pearls will stand the test of time. This classic pearl necklace from the Mother of the Bride, was a complimented the bride in such style and grace. Fulfilling the something old for her wedding day, it was her Great Grandmothers necklace passed down on their wedding day. Not a dry eye in the house when this was presented to Stephanie.
Stylish shoes and a unique ring complimented Stephanie's Day! With a little bling on the shoes to give the traditional styling a little notch above! Followed by the hand crafted ring by Raphael Jewellers, this unique style made Stephanie's shine so bright. With her shoes, pearls and dress, she was ready to go down the aisle! Check back often to see those images coming soon!


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BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– UNC Greensboro volleyball team (10-14, 4-8 Southern Conference) fell to Samford (12-13, 7-4 SoCon) 3-0 (23-25, 21-25, 18-25) Friday night in Pete Hanna Center to start a three-match road trip.
Junior middle hitter Mikaela Weidmann led the team with 11 kills and recorded a .429 hitting percentage, while senior setter Allison Penner recorded a double-double with a team-high 24 assists and 12 digs and added four kills with a .600 hitting percentage.
Junior middle hitter Lauren Robeck added seven kills with a .312 hitting percentage and added five blocks, while freshman defensive specialist Stephanie Meysembourg added 11 digs and six assists. Anne Schölzel added five blocks and four kills and junior defensive specialist Grace Howell added nine digs.
Samford scored five of the first eight points in the first set to take a two-point lead, 5-3, but the Spartans scored three of the next four points to tie the set at six. The Bulldogs scored nine of the next 13 points to take a five-point lead, 15-10, forcing a UNCG timeout. After the timeout, the Spartans scored 13 of the next 20 points to take a point lead, 23-22, but Samford scored the final three points to win the set and to take a 1-0 match lead.
The Spartans scored four of the first five points in the second stanza to take a three-point lead, 4-1, but Samford scored nine of the next 12 points to take a three-point lead, 10-7, forcing a UNCG timeout. After the timeout, the Spartans scored seven of the next eight points to take a three-point lead, 14-11, forcing a Samford timeout. After the timeout, the Bulldogs scored 10 of the next 14 points to take a three-point lead, 21-18. UNCG scored the next three points to tie the set at 21, but Samford scored the final four points to win the set and to take a 2-0 match lead.
The Bulldogs scored four of the first six points of the final frame to take a two-point lead, 4-2, but UNCG scored four of the next six points to tie the set at six. Samford scored 11 of the next 14 points to increase the lead to eight points, 17-9, but the Spartans scored five of the next eight points to cut the lead to six points, 20-14. Samford scored five of the final nine points to win the set and the match.
The Spartans continue the road trip with a match against Chattanooga Saturday at 6 p.m.
SoCon Tournament
Come watch your Spartans and the rest of the conference compete in the SoCon Volleyball Championship from Nov. 16-18 in Fleming Gymnasium. Tickets can be purchased now at $10 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors.
Short Box Score (Match)
UNCG vs Samford (Oct 26, 2018 at Birmingham, Ala.)
Samford def. UNCG 25-23,25-21,25-18
UNCG (12-13, 5-7 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Mikaela Weidmann 11-0-3;
Lauren Robeck 7-1-5; Emily Keilen 5-0-1; Anne Scholzel 4-0-5; Allison
Penner 4-0-0; Maria Esch 2-0-1; Grace Howell 1-0-0; Steph Meysembourg
0-2-0; Totals 34-3-8.0. (Assists) - Allison Penner 24. (Dig leaders) -
Allison Penner 12; Steph Meysembourg 11; Grace Howell 9
Samford (12-13, 7-4 SoCon) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kelsi Hobbs 12-3-2;
Krista Boesing 11-0-1; Shayla Phillip 10-0-2; Lauren Deaton 8-0-1;
Sierra Rayzor 1-0-0; Briana Holmes 0-0-4; Alana Schouten 0-1-0; Taylor
Anderton 0-2-1; Totals 42-6-6.0. (Assists) - Taylor Anderton 37. (Dig
leaders) - Lauren Deaton 14; Grace Tiesman 14; Kelsi Hobbs 8
Site: Birmingham, Ala. (Pete Hanna Center)
Date: Oct 26, 2018 Attend: 253 Time: 1:24


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Business Background
Alyssa Aquino is an active Professional in the Real Estate Sales and Mortgage Financing Industry. She began her early career as a Loan Processor in 2010 with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage in Tempe, Arizona. She rapidly climbed the corporate ladder by expanding into Mortgage Loan Origination and Residential Real Estate Sales . Alyssa currently holds three licenses, an NMLS license and two Real Estate Sales Licenses in the states of California & Florida. A passionate learner within her industry, she completed Master Certificate Training in both Mortgage Lending Practices and Real Estate Processes. She is certified in Military Relocation and owns her niche in VA Mortgage Lending. "I've always been excited to help a service man with orders to a new station. That's when the fun and new adventure begins!" In addition to achieving certified training in New Home Construction, Alyssa has hands on experience with major Tampa Home Builders both local and nationally recognized. She has a dedicated interest in Custom Home building and seeks to explore this area tremendously in 2019. Since she began practicing full time in Residential Real Estate Sales she has been professionally involved in more than 45 transactions. Alyssa is a proud Arizona State University alumnus graduating with a degree in Art History. Go Sun Devils! Whether it's Mortgage Financing, Property Buying or Selling Alyssa is always happy to help navigate the wonderful world of Real Estate.
Community Involvement
Alyssa is passionate about animals and is an active volunteer for the Humane Society of Tampa, the ASPCA and affiliated partners. She has contributed her time along with awareness efforts for sheltered animals in need. An avid supporter of fundraisers and non-profit groups highlighting both wildlife and domestic animal topics. Alyssa is a proud supporter of the ZooTampa at Lowry Park showcasing efforts to educate the public on its wildlife residences. Growing up in a musical family, Alyssa is also passionate about music and musical arts. She is an avid spectator of the Straz Center talents, Amalie Arena Shows and a supporter of the Tampa Orchestra. You can typically spot her in the crowd at the Straz Center with season tickets and when Harry Potter is on the big screen.
Personal Info
Alyssa resides in the city with her boyfriend Bill and two fur pups – Cali and Moose. They call the Towers of Channelside Home and love the vibrant energy of Downtown Tampa. With skips away from Hohman Homes Brokerage Firm, she's in the front seat experiencing the brand-new developments of Downtown Tampa. Bill and Alyssa are travel junkies and take to adventure when they have some free time. Growing up in California, she has a diverse love for the outdoors including water, summer and winter sports. You can catch Alyssa wake boarding, surfing, snowboarding or dirt biking when she's up for some fun and in season. Favorite beaches include St. Pete, Honeymoon Island and Sarasota beaches. Alyssa is currently obtaining her boating license and will soon be able to take you out for a Tampa Bay Tour!
Talk to Alyssa Aquino, MRP
Alyssa Aquino, MRP
cell: (760) 532-7538
10 Interesting Things You Need to Know About...
Alyssa Aquino, MRP
Proudest Moment?
Receiving a prestigious Leadership Award in my career industry and recognition for multiple Licensures achieved.
Perfect Day?
Boating out on the lake and clear sunny skies.
Favorite Neighborhood?
Mr. Roger's, lol just kidding. Follow me to Downtown Tampa – it's growing, go Bolts!
Superhero Power?
Shapeshifting, hands down!
Experience Checked off Bucket List
Waterfall Repelling in Maui. Next is skydiving!
Favorite Board/Card Game?
Trivial Pursuit
What's for Dinner Tonight?
Pesto shrimp pasta! I love white sauce over red.
Possibilities, Innovation, Love and Growth
Most Binge-Watched Show?
A Discovery of Witches. Fantastic show based on the book trilogy from Deborah Harkness.
Best Business Advice?
"Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." -- Albert Einstein
Let's Socialize with Alyssa
Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter
Military Relocation Professional
A REALTOR with the MRP certification understands that when military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate professional who understands their needs and timetables makes the transfer easier, faster, and less stressful. The MRP certification focuses on educating real estate professionals about working with current and former military service members which helps their clients find the housing solutions that best suit their needs and take full advantage of military benefits and support that are available.


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A year ago, wise football followers knew Seattle was going to beat Denver in the Super Bowl. After all, defense wins championships, and Seattle had the No. 1 defense in the NFL.
Of course, the way it happened was astonishing — with the Seahawks' defense shutting out the most prolific offense in NFL history for most of the game and Seattle running away with the win, 43-8.
It is hard to imagine the Hawks doing the same thing to the Patriots in this Super Bowl. But, Seattle again has the No. 1 defense in the league and — despite the Legion of Boom being banged up — that unit largely has played even better than the 2013 version.
Wise football followers once again know the Seahawks are going to win. The only question is: How will it happen?
A lot of national analysts appear to be picking the Patriots to win a close one, but — ignoring the obvious fact that the Seahawks are a team of destiny (the win over the Packers proved that, didn't it?) — most of the matchups and historical trends favor the Seahawks.
This is the second straight year the No. 1 seed in each conference has reached the Super Bowl — the NFC has won four straight meetings between No. 1 seeds.
The No. 1 scoring defense — as the Hawks are again this year — is 13-3 in the Super Bowl since 1970. The No. 1 defense is 6-1 against the No. 1 offense — so if you want to consider the Patriots' red-hot crew (80 points in two playoff games this year) like a No. 1, go ahead: It doesn't do anything for them.
Russell Wilson is 10-0 vs. quarterbacks who have won Super Bowls. The Super Bowl seems the perfect time to make that 11-0. Tom Brady is 15-8 vs. Super Bowl-winning QBs.
The Patriots became the first team to rally from 14 down twice in the same playoff game and win when they did it against Baltimore, winning 35-31.
The Seahawks, of course, trumped that with their 15 points in 44 seconds against the Packers.
The Hawks also have a history of rallying to beat the Patriots: In 2012, Wilson rallied them from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to win 24-23. He was just a rookie then.
The Patriots know the Seahawks never give up.
On top of all of that, the Seahawks are the kind of team that gives the Patriots trouble — one that can run and stop the run.
In Week 13, the Packers ran for 130 yards, dominated possession 37-23 minutes and converted 10 of 17 third downs. The Patriots ran for just 84 yards and converted 4 of 10 third downs. The Packers won, 26-21. When the Seahawks aren't beating themselves, we found out, they are better than the Packers.
In Week 16, the Jets — the No. 3 rushing offense and No. 5 rushing defense in the NFL — ran for 116 yards, held the Patriots to 85 and sacked Brady four times. The Patriots won 17-16, but any team with a quarterback that had done that would have beaten them.
In the divisional playoff game, Justin Forsett ran for 129 yards for Baltimore (the No. 8 rushing offense and No. 4 rush defense), which held the Patriots to just 14 yards on the ground. The Ravens twice blew a 14-point lead because Joe Flacco threw two interceptions, offsetting his four TD passes.
Those three games offer a great illustration: A team that can run and stop the run and does not turn the ball over is very dangerous for the Patriots. That's also a historic trend in the Super Bowl: The top rushing team is 38-10.
Yeah, we know what you are thinking at this point: The Seahawks just turned the ball over five times against Green Bay. Uh-huh. And who won?
Now, after that miserable performance, do you think the Hawks are going to turn the ball over even once in the Super Bowl?
Wilson has not thrown interceptions in consecutive games all season. And until that Packers game he had not thrown a pick in four straight playoff games. In other words, expect to see the Wilson who had been lights out in the playoffs before the NFC title game.
Oh, and let's not forget Wilson's numbers on the road this season: 64.9 percent, 14 touchdowns, one interception, 107.6 rating. Last time he played at Arizona's stadium, he threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 88 yards and a score.
It will help Wilson if the Hawks set up with better field position than they had vs. Green Bay, when their average start was their 26-yard line. The only other games they had it as bad were the loss in San Diego (23), the loss in St. Louis (21) and the win in Arizona (26).
Like the Packers, the Patriots don't turn the ball over much. In fact, they tied for the fewest turnovers in the league (13) — and Seattle was right behind them (14). So, field position probably will be determined purely through third-down performance and the kicking game.
The Seattle defense has been stellar on third downs over the past three months. They held the Packers to 3 of 14 and are 33 of 92 (35.9 percent) over the last eight games.
The Patriots didn't have great position vs. Baltimore, starting at their 28 on average, and still put up 35 points — with TD drives of 78, 67, 80, 70 and 74 yards. Of course, they did almost all of that through the air against a raggedy Ravens secondary. They won't have that kind of success against the Seahawks' No. 1 pass defense.
The Patriots surely will have some tricks up their sleeves though. For the comeback vs. Baltimore, they used a controversial tackle-eligible pass and also scored off a lateral/pass. The Patriots also scored off a tackle-eligible play (which turned out to be illegal) against the Colts, and Pete Carroll has focused his team on that tactic all week.
Of course, the Patriots will have to beware the Seahawks' stunts, too. The Packers can tell them all about fake field goals and onside kicks.
The Seahawks' offense will not put the defense in the dire circumstances it faced two weeks ago. The defense gave up just six points off four first-half turnovers and the Seahawks ended up outgaining the Packers in that 28-22 overtime win.
Last year, the Seahawks sacked Peyton Manning just one time, but they got in his face a lot and forced errors. If the Patriots want to run the same under routes with Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Shane Vereen, those guys surely will pay the same price — and the Patriots won't go very far.
The Pats do not have nearly the same caliber of skill players as the Broncos had, but they are a smarter, more flexible team overall. Belichick will tear out pages from the Chargers and Cowboys, especially, and hope the Hawks fall for some of the same stuff.
But it will take a lot to overcome this fact: Over the last two years, when the Seahawks have at least 10 days to prepare for an opponent, they are 9-1. The Patriots are 6-2.
Seattle's average winning margin in those games is 14.9. On home/neutral fields, the margin is 20.8.
Add that to the fact that the No. 1 defense typically wins by almost 16 points, and we're taking the Seahawks in another blowout: 38-20.
Now let's enjoy it.


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Suffering: from Punishment to Promise/
A Twilight Musing
A significant contrast between the Old Testament and the New Testament is seen in differences in the divinely sanctioned relationship between what people do and what they should expect to experience as a result. In the Old Testament, God's rewards and punishments were almost always temporal in nature and were the predicted result of obedience or disobedience to God. Two exceptions to this pattern are instructive. One is the book of Job, where the mismatch between actions and consequences is resolved only by acceptance of God's sovereign right to violate the expected correspondence between what people deserve and what happens to them. The second is in the climax of the "suffering servant" section of Isaiah in chapter 53, where we see the redeemer of God's people suffering unjustly, but as a part of God's great act of redemption in the future. As in the case of Job, this picture of God's afflicting His sinless servant runs counter to the normal expectations of people under the Old Covenant.
In contrast, what stands as an unexplained mystery in the Old Testament becomes in the New Testament a theological principle which is at the core of the message about Christ: the paradox that in this world of sin, doing the will of God finds its deepest fulfillment in patiently enduring undeserved suffering. Jesus set the new paradigm for God's dealings with His people. As Peter expressed it, "This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. . . . For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you. . . . He committed no sin . . . , [yet] He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. . . . By his wounds you have been healed" (I Pet. 2:19-24, passim; these last words, of course, reflect the language of Isaiah 53.).
In the New Testament, suffering is presented not only as an expected result of doing the right thing, but even more profoundly is seen as a part of the process of our growing spiritually. Jesus Himself introduced this idea in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:10). Paul tells Timothy that "all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Tim 3:12). James says, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness" (James 1:2-3; see similar statements in Rom. 5:3-5 and I Pet. 1:6-7). Even of Jesus Himself it is said in Heb. 5:8-9, "Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered."
What, then, are we to make of this radical new doctrine of redemptive suffering in the New Covenant? It can be seen as God's way of putting the spotlight on the Good News of salvation through the grace of God, in contrast to the Old Covenant, which depended on the willingness and ability of humans to live up to the standards set by a holy God. It was a means to an end, but not God's ultimate solution to heal the sinfulness of mankind. It had some relative success in maintaining through ordered behavior the best society that could be achieved in a disordered, fallen world. Its lasting benefit was to define a standard of holiness and perfect goodness against which the desperate needs of sinful humankind could be measured. The book of Romans shows that the Law could not fully meet those needs, and the book of Hebrews demonstrates that the need of humanity to be freed from bondage to sin could be accomplished only by a final and archetypal High Priest who could also be the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb, and in that double role could willingly offer Himself to suffer in cancelling out the world's debt of sin. "God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit" (Rom. 8:3-4). Therefore, we to whom the Lamb's redeeming blood is applied must "suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him" (Rom. 8:17). In this experience, suffering is not merely punishment, but God's way of bringing us into full fellowship with Him through identification with His Son.
In Paul's discourse contrasting the Covenant of Law with the Good News of salvation through faith in Galatians 3, he describes the Law as a "tutor to bring us to Christ" (v. 24, NKJV). This image aptly captures the wonder of God's eternal providence in, first, teaching His people to fear God's righteous judgment; and then building on that foundation to show, through the sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, the mystery of going beyond temporal rewards and punishments to participate in the glorious mystery of redemptive suffering.
Image: "Brooklyn Museum - What Our Lord Saw from the Cross (Ce que voyait Notre-Seigneur sur la Croix) - James Tissot" by James Tissot - Online Collection of Brooklyn Museum; Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2008, 00.159.299_PS2.jpg. Licensed under Public Domain via Commons


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When Kathy Newkirk found out that Mercy Hospital Joplin was going to have the first DAISY Award in the area, she knew exactly who to nominate.
As a result, registered nurse Judi Pim, who works in the surgical department, is the first Joplin recipient of the award, which "honors the superhuman work nurses do for patients and families every day."
Newkirk, senior talent development specialist for Mercy Joplin, recently underwent surgery. During her hospital stay, Newkirk said she had several excellent caregivers; however, Pim was the one who set the bar high for everyone.
"What she did very well is communicate in a compassionate manner, work well with other co-workers and even offer to jump in and assist with a personal task so the patient care associate could attend to others in need," Newkirk said. "She made me feel like I was her top priority and that she enjoyed caring for me. Never did she make me feel like I was a burden or an inconvenience. … She made me feel appreciated. She cared for my family who were visiting or staying with me, which gave me peace."
An acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem, The DAISY Foundation was formed in 1999 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died at age 33 of complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, which is a rare bleeding disorder. The nursing care he received when hospitalized profoundly touched his family, which created the DAISY Award to say "thank you" to nurses everywhere.
Pim received, among other items, a certificate signed by Barnes' father and Dennis Manley, Mercy Joplin's director of nursing, as well as a pendant to wear with her name badge signifying her as a DAISY Award recipient.
"It's just thrilling. I couldn't believe it. When I walked around the corner and saw all of those people, it was wonderful," she said of the surprise ceremony. "It's like 30 years have just flashed before my eyes. I'm very proud of what I've accomplished. Of course, I had a lot of people who helped me along the way, especially my family here at Mercy.
"I love working at Mercy. That's why I've been here 30 years. I can't imagine working anywhere else."
Mercy Joplin Foundation provided funding to start program locally


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On Wednesday the commission's Insurance Committee agreed to recommend a resolution to the full commission that would provide health insurance benefits for the spouse and dependents of a full time county employed first responder who is killed in the line of duty.
A similar resolution was placed on the County Commission agenda last November by Commissioner Jeff Barrett, but Barrett agreed to withdraw that resolution and refer it to committee.
The new resolution won't be ready for the county commission to consider at its Feb. 25 meeting, however, because there are still a few questions that need to be answered.
What commissioner do know is as of July 1, 2017, counties are authorized under Tennessee Code Annotated 8-27-404 to seek reimbursement from the state for the county's portion of the health insurance premiums for these eligible family members.
In Hawkins County that would include approximately 107 employees of the Hawkins County Sheriff's Office and the Emergency Management Agency director.
Hawkins County pays 70 percent of employee premiums and the employee pays the other 30 percent.
Health insurance consultant Michael Trout told the committee there may be a way for the employee's 30 percent to be reimbursed by the state as well, but it wasn't clear if that would that last for 18 months or 24 months.
Trout said he would work with commissioners to develop a plan to present to the full commission.
Committee chairman Mark DeWitte told the Times News after the meeting his goal, and he believes the committee's goal, is to provide 100 percent of the health insurance benefits for the longest possible period of time if this unfortunate circumstance took place.
The state law also addresses health insurance reimbursement for firefighters and rescue squad members killed in the line of duty. But, those first responders must be full time county employee to be eligible, and Hawkins County's fire and rescue responders are volunteers.
High turnover creates insurance problems
Trout told the Committee that high turnover in the jail is creating paperwork headaches for him, and added expense for the county due to a personnel policy that gives new hires health insurance less than a month after they start.
That policy allows new hires to receive health insurance on the first day of the next month after they are hired.
For example, a person hired Jan. 31 would begin receiving health insurance benefits on Feb. 1, while a person hired on Feb. 2 wouldn't receive health insurance until March 1.
Trout said the problem occurs when new hires get their insurance card, quit, and continue racking up medical expenses on that card. The termination paperwork doesn't reach him until the beginning of the next month.
Committee members voted to present the full commission a resolution that would require a new hire to work 60 days before they receive their health insurance benefits.
Trout told the committee that statistically employees who stay on for 60 days are more likely to stay long term.
Committee officers elected
Wednesday's meeting was the first since the new members of the Insurance Committee were appointed in October.
DeWitte was elected chairman, while Larry Clonce was elected vice chairman, and Bob Edens was elected secretary.


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Events / Trips
Eco Club Trip-26.6.18
Today the Eco Club took an 11 minute walk to the local recycling plant to see what happens to the cans and metal that are recycled. When we arrived we looked around and asked questions about the different metals that are recycled and reused. We also hopped onto the large scales to see what we would be worth if we were aluminium cans. Surprisingly, 8 children were worth £350 (wow!!). We then took our bags of cans to be processed, sorted and squashed. We then found out that they would be melted down and made into new cans. It was a hot, noisy but extremely interesting experience. We then received a £18 for our hard work and for the cans that would have just been waste if we hadn't collected them. Lets keep collecting and raise event more next year!
Have a look at the photos from the Year 2 trip to Warwick Castle.
March 2018


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Read original article in The Hindu here. (Thank you, Avinash Rajagopal for the link)
If information technology has enabled emerging economies such as India to change the commercial equations with the developed world, another speciality is being recognised for its potential: the 'creative economy'. This segment, according to a classification by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), comprises goods and services produced by the 'creative industries' such as art-crafts, audio visuals, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts, the 'creative services' (including advertising and architectural services), and their 'related industries'. For nearly a decade, UNCTAD has been attempting to turn the spotlight on the promise the creative economy holds for domestic development and international trade. Going by the evidence available, this segment emerges as one of the better performers even during a recession. In 2008, despite a contraction of 12 per cent in international trade, the creative economy did well: global exports in this sector, at $592 billion, were more than double of what they were in 2002.
The UNCTAD report, Creative Economy: A feasible development option, released in December 2010, has done well to urge developing countries to enhance their creative capacities. For, this sector's exports grew faster in developing economies between 2003 and 2008 (at 13.55 per cent a year) than in developed countries (10.02 per cent), and were above the world average (11.53 per cent). There is a difference, however, in the composition of exports. While music and audiovisuals, publishing/printed media, and new media and design topped the list of exports from the developed world, art-crafts and design products dominated the list from developing countries. Although India — unranked in 2002 — registered the fastest growth in such exports between 2003 and 2008 (15.7 per cent) to reach the 10th position in 2008, its market share of 2.3 per cent is way behind that of world-leader China at 20.8 per cent. China's rise in this dynamic sector can be traced to two policy actions: identifying this as one of the pillars of its future economic development and integrating it to its planning process. India, on the other hand, is yet to have a clear focus. Given the vast potential the country has to gain from its creative industries — be they films or crafts — a well-conceived policy that coordinates issues at the national level will go a long way in elevating its global position in this dynamic sector.


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Honda HRC216PDA
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text: SportsMets Mets' fan passion reignites as postseason arrives New York Mets' fans celebrate after their team defeated the Cincinnati Reds 10-2 to clinch the National League East Championship at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio on Sept. 26, 2015 . Photo Credit: Getty Images / John Sommers II By IVAN PEREIRA and ZOYA TEIRSTEIN email@example.com October 4, 2015 8:59 PM Print Share fbShare Tweet Email The Mets typically are defined by the following: The championships of 1969 and 1986, the letdowns and collapses from 2006 to2008, and maybe the worst of all, the heartbreak of losing the 2000 World Series to the Yankees. Whether there's a parade at the Canyon of Heroes at the end of 2015 might not even matter -- the season will be remembered as the year that the passion of Mets fans was reignited. For Amazin' fans, winning the National League East, ending a nine-year drought, brought a combination of shock and joy. "I almost cried, because since 2006, everything that the Mets fans have been through, it's sort of a relief. Finally, finally we did it," said Ryan Chandler, 21 of Union Beach, N.J. "It is pure excitement," said Osvaldo Frias, of Jackson Heights, who has been a Mets fan for 20 years. "The fandom is like a sleeping giant," added Danny Abriano, 31, of Dyker Heights, the editor of the Mets blog "Rising Apple." "The fans always have that passion even when they're losing, and when we win, it just explodes." This year, attendance at Citi Field has boomed after several years characterized by an abundance of empty seats. After 78 home games, attendance rose 17.7%, the third largest increase in the league, according to the Mets media office. Weekend attendance, meanwhile, is up 25.48% for an average of 36,488. On Friday, the Mets will begin their best-of-five division series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Tickets for the games at Citi Field, beginning on Oct. 12, are a red-hot item. Prices on StubHub start at $145 and reach $10,000. Craigslist, likewise, is filled with pricey ticket offers. Fans are so desperate to experience the power arms of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and others on the biggest stage, that they'd go to great lengths to score a ticket, some said. "Oh, I'd probably clean their locker room," joked Michelle Perez of Spanish Harlem. Mets fever is so strong that even some Yankees fans say they are willing to put aside their rivalry and show some support this October, unless the teams end up playing in a subway series of course. Jeffrey Wolf, a film editor and Mets fan from the Upper West Side, said he's seen congratulatory comments from Bronx Bombers supporters, much to his surprise. "A Mets fan would never do that for a Yankees fan," he noted. Things looked bleak for the Mets going into the All-Star break, with injuries to key players such as David Wright. Their luck changed in August, however, when they won 20 games. "Fans thought this was a rebuilding year, but they surprised us," Abriano said. The games at Citi Field will be the first postseason action in the ballpark's seven seasons. "There was nothing like playoff baseball in Shea Stadium. The stadium shook. It will be different at Citi but you'll see the same energy," Abriano said. Most importantly, no matter what happens, fans can once again wear their Mets gear with pride. "When they're struggling and you see Mets fans wear gear, [others] would give them a nod showing that you're with them and understand what they're going through. Now it's celebratory nods," Abriano said. By IVAN PEREIRA and ZOYA TEIRSTEIN firstname.lastname@example.com Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comments We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


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La Petite Bloom: The Styled Shoot Video
Back in July we hosted a workshop in Holland, Michigan where attendees were able to learn about the importance of styled shoots, how to create them, execute them and how to submit them for publication afterwards. They even had the chance to photograph and style 3 separate shoots for their portfolios. You can see our recap in pictures here!
Today we're excited to share our video recap with you, made by the talented Rooney & Company. We can't thank them enough for their beautiful work and the way they captured our workshop SO well! Enjoy...
We hope to put on more of these types of workshops in 2017. What cities should we come to with La Petite: The Styled Shoot?!


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There's no greater feeling than the feeling you get when you buy your first home - you finally have a place to call your own. Home ownership brings with it many wonderful opportunities, you can buy new things for your house, have a barbecue with family and friends, or sit out and enjoy the weather. However, a new home needs new things to retain its beauty and appeal. Here are the 5 most important home purchases after buying your home.
New Equipment for the Lawn
As visitors come to your home, the first thing they will see is the exterior. Since first impressions leave a lasting impression, get new lawn equipment to ensure the lawn looks amazing all the time.
The most important things you'll need to keep your interior in tiptop shape are a ladder, a sprinkler, a water hose, a weed whacker, a weed puller, and a lawnmower.
Remember that a beautiful lawn doesn't need lots of chemicals. Watering, mowing, and fertilizing – and annual dethatching and aerating – are enough to keep your lawn healthy.
Household Tools and Equipment
Even if your home is new, it may have a few problems that need fixing. The faucet may leak, doors may squeak, and other elaborate issues may crop up. You don't have to call a handyman every time something breaks down, you can handle minor repairs on your own if you have the right tools.
If you leave any problem unattended, it will get worse and become more expensive to fix. Besides, there are some simple home updates you can do yourself, like mounting a tv on the wall or changing the hardware.
The tools you should always have in your home include a screwdriver set, a pliers set, a hammer, a level, and a tape measure.
Outdoor Furniture for the Patio
When the weather is nice, outdoor spaces beckon. They extend the living area and also offer the promise of relaxation and entertaining. Outdoor furnishings transform the space.
The best part about being a homeowner is that you can style your patio however you want. If you plan to use the space for relaxing and entertaining, get some patio chairs, a table, outdoor lights, a barbecue, tableware, and cutlery.
Important Gardening Items
Gardening equipment should not be confused with lawn equipment. It's what you need to grow beautiful flowers that will enhance the appeal of your home. Flowers have a wonderful effect on mood and will boost your experience as a first-time home owner. Gardening can also become your new hobby, one you enjoy for many years to come.
To start your garden, you'll need new plants or seedlings, fertilizer, soil, mulch, a shovel, gardening gloves, and gardening tools (like a fork, trowel, and a cultivator)
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you will ever make. It's your first major step towards creating a better future. But after you buy the home, don't stop there. Make these 5 important home purchases that will help turn your house into a home.


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Long the domain of fashionistas and angsty teenagers, head-to-toe black has become the answer for design companies looking to resolve a recurring quandary: How to make classic pieces feel new again. Three years ago, American furniture manufacturer Herman Miller dipped a toe in the anti-color's inky waters and released a tiny run of all-black chairs. They sold out almost immediately, so earlier this year, the company began offering many of its old-school favorites in a custom, blacked-out option.
Source: James Gaddy, WSJ


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Carolina Crown took first place with a score of 96.775 during the penultimate competition of the 2015 season.
"Tonight's performance was exactly what we wanted and exactly what we needed," Crown drum major Ross Werner said. "Overall it was the best production we could have given."
With a win the night before in Prelims, the South Carolina corps edged the Blue Devils for a 0.15-point lead.
"The last couple of days have been awesome," Werner said. "We're focusing on us, and we're seeing everyone just come together and pushing themselves to be the best they can be. Perfect is what we're trying to achieve."
Blue Devils
Close behind, the Blue Devils took second (96.625), rebounding from their fall to fourth place during the Prelims on Thursday. The corps took first in total visual and third in total music.
"It was an absolutely wonderful show," drum major Alana Stevenson said. "There's always a drive, but there's an even bigger push as we go into tomorrow night. We're going to keep striving until the end."
Bluecoats (3rd, 95.775) skipped ahead of the Cadets (4th, 95.500). Despite the drop, the Cadets took first in brass and percussion and first in overall music. But with a fourth-place score in General Effect, the corps yielded nearly a full-point advantage to Crown. The corps' energy and drive continue to stay persistent as the corps heads into the Finals competition.
"George (Hopkins, the Cadets director) usually gives the pep-talk before we step-off," Cadets drum major Kendall Stevenson said. "He says to give it 100 percent, and that was the goal for tonight. Give it 100 percent, go full throttle, and leave nothing behind, because all we have is one more show."
Santa Clara Vanguard (5th, 93.425) kept a strong lead over Blue Knights (6th, 91.150) by more than two points. The California corps took third in the percussion caption, dropping from first place in Prelims the night before.
"The whole corps was feeling a unified energy throughout the horn line, the drums and the guard tonight," Santa Clara drum major Maycie Meyer said. "We all worked really well together, and when we can all get the same energy throughout all the sections in the corps, we always have a great performance."
Phantom Regiment
Phantom Regiment finished in 7th with a score of 89.775, and Madison Scouts (8th, 88.625) kept their hold over the Cavaliers (9th, 88.400) by 0.225 points.
"That was even more spectacular than last night," Madison Scouts drum major Eric Perry said. "We are going to be more focused tomorrow night than we ever have been."
Boston Crusaders (10th, 86.300) held their position from the previous night at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Blue Stars (11th, 85.275) and Crossmen (12th, 83.875) rounded out the top-12 corps, who qualified to compete in the World Championship Finals Saturday night.
"The show was fantastic, the best we've had all season," first-year Crossmen drum major Aaron Thomas said. "I can't even explain the emotions running through me right now. Performing in Finals will be such a great honor, and it's almost an unbelievable thing to even think about."
Troopers (13th, 83.800) kept their lead ahead of Colts (14th, 83.025), but it wasn't enough to bump the corps into the top 12 for Finals.
"They left their hearts out there today," Troopers drum major Gabe Gallegos said.
The Colts added a surprise ending to their final performance, changing the conclusion to their radio drama-inspired storyline. Fifth-year corps member and Colts drum major Kara Metzger said it was "one of the best runs" they've had all year.
"The energy and precision that went in, it kind of locked into place tonight and everything felt good," Metzger said. "Going on was harder than coming off, because now that I've had a good show and the corps had a good show I'm extremely happy and I can be satisfied, but of course I do want more, so it's a little bittersweet."
Vanguard Cadets (16th, 79.350) finished behind the Academy (15th, 81.825), who improved their score overnight by nearly a point.
Oregon Crusaders (17th, 78.550) finished ahead of Spirit of Atlanta (18th, 78.125), while Blue Devils B (19th, 77.175) kept a 0.75-point lead over Mandarins (20th, 76.425).
2015 has been a learning season for members of Spirit of Atlanta, and although the corps' season has come to an end, director JW Koester is proud of the progress his corps has made.
"Every day they came out and learned something new," Koester said. "We had to do a lot of teaching, but we were able to shape them into what we wanted them to be. It was a great season."
Pacific Crest (21st, 74.925), Genesis (22nd, 73.500), Spartans (23rd, 71.500) and Cascades (24th, 71.075) all completed their DCI seasons at the Semifinals, finishing in the same order as the night before.
Genesis members ended the season strong with their show, "Phantom Revisited."
"The corps definitely added a little more heart and soul with this being our last show," drum major John Filippone said. "We did a whole season for this night, and the growth in maturity has turned this into a whole different group of people."
The Cascades also embraced their last show of the 2015 season.
"That was just a wicked-crazy run through for us," Cascades drum major Maggie Whiteman said. "We're super surprised that we even made it into Semifinals tonight, and this corps has just been phenomenal."
Legends took 25th after competing in the Semifinals for the first time in its 10-year history, finishing with a score of 70.250.
The top-12 Semifinalist corps will return to the field on Saturday, August 8, the final day of the 2015 DCI Tour. Gates open at Lucas Oil Stadium at 3:30 p.m., and the first corps, Crossmen, will step off at 7 p.m.
Four hours later, a champion will be announced.
Contributing: Tim Webber


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The Muse posted a great blog that we thought might be useful to our general contractors and project managers that we work with.
It's Friday! Which means, it's time to think about Monday (you don't want to think about it over the weekend, do you?). Dedicate your Monday morning to organizing your week. Set-up your week's appointments; create a to-do list, prioritize it, and schedule your time to complete your to-do list; and do it with excitement!
Check out The Muse's list of the top 5 things highly productive people do every day. It might just change your Monday.


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Summer Tip # 3
Tinted moisturizer. I fancy myself olive-skinned. Opinions vary. To convince the skeptics, I apply a tinted moisturizer. Its the only makeup your lazy ass will need in the summer. Here's why:
You gotcha SPF…
You gotcha concealer…
You gotcha "tan"…all in one place.
My classy girlfriends like Laura Mercier. Even the Sephora brand of tints can provide a decent shade match. But if you can't take the girl out of Duane Reade, there's always Neutrogena.
And Method gel hand soap refill bags. And slanted tweezers that get those impossible strays. Or those garbage bags with the nice smell that doesn't make everything gross. The Kushy Foot flats that roll up into a bag. Leave-in hair conditioner with lychee notes………….I think I have a problem.
* note: i haven't tried the Kiehl's yet but who doesn't love their packaging?


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Alice Dixson surprised everyone when Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay revealed that the actress is married once again.
The management of the resort, where the former FHM cover girl celebrated her 49th birthday last July 28, confirmed that she had the proper documents needed to enter the island despite the tourist ban.
In a statement, the resort explained that Dixson is the "wife of a top executive" of the resort, and that they are "residents" of Boracay.
Read the full statement below:
Chroma Hospitality, Inc., the management company of Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, reiterates that the resort is in full compliance to the closure and rehabilitation order for Boracay Island pursuant to Executive Order 53 series of 2018.
The resort is not violating any government regulation regarding the closure. It is not accepting and entertaining guests at the resort, contrary to the articles released in the media where actress Alice Dixson was seen on the island.
Ms. Dixson is the wife of a top executive of Crimson Resort & Spa Boracay. They are both residents of the island with proper documentation. This has been confirmed and verified during an inquiry done by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
"We continue to support the government's initiative to rehabilitate the island to ensure its long-term sustainability and we look forward to welcoming our valued guests here at Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay, once the island reopens," Chroma Country Manager James Montenegro said.
Crimson Resort and Spa Boracay did not mention the name of the actress' husband.
This is the first time in years that Alice's love life has made headlines. In case you weren't aware, Alice was married to businessman Ronnie Miranda, but they separated and filed a divorce in December of 2012. The divorce was officially finalized February 2013. They were in a relationship for 13 years.
Well, Alice Dixson had a good run with her back-to-bachelorette life. And as a fitting farewell to her singlehood, FHM compiled the stunner's hottest Instagram and FHM moments. We miss ya, Alice!
Of course, first on the list is Alice's FHM debut last December 2013
And let's not forget her walk during the FHM 100 Sexiest party in 2014
Also on the list is the recently-concluded Century Tuna Bods Ageless campaign
Her workout posts are pure motivation fuel
She's a natural beauty in her natural habitat
Now we wonder if these stunning shots were taken by her mysterious husband:


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A new way for our members to access the huge wealth of knowledge content ICE has. Organised into bite-sized modules.
Our learning is structured around these key areas:
Courses, workshops and membership surgeries to help you achieve professional qualification.
24/7 access to recorded webinars covering key areas of professional qualification.
Courses, help and advice to advance your career no matter what stage you are at.
Specialist training courses let you learn new skills and add to your personal development.
Earn new qualifications to boost your career and demonstrate your abilities.
The prize is awarded to projects that demonstrate an excellent practical use of geotechnics.
The British Geotechnical Association has awarded this year's Fleming Award to the project team that worked on the £35m extension of the basement at Claridge's Hotel in London.
The annual Fleming Award Competition commemorates the life and work of Dr Ken Fleming, a geotechnical engineer who was the chief engineer at Cementation Skanska Foundation. It recognises the best use of geotechnics in a project.
A project team made up of contractor McGee Group Ltd, structural and geotechnical engineer Arup and RKD Consultant Ltd were responsible for the winning entry, which was a complex, deep basement extension project with very restricted access.
The team had just one window to access to build a five-storey basement underneath the luxury, five-star Claridge's hotel. The project took three years.
Dinesh Patel, director at Arup, said that the build almost didn't take place, as contractors consulted by the client said that it couldn't be done without closing the hotel.
"This was news which the client was not at all happy with," said Patel.
"Jim Mackey of McGee was the only person consulted who thought there was a novel method that would keep the hotel fully operational during the basement box excavation beneath the hotel."
Mackey assembled Arup Structures and Geotechnics and RKD consultants to provide an integrated permanent and temporary works design solution.
"The extraordinary basement solution used mining technology, which was unique for a project of this nature, and we consider it as a first," Patel said.
He added: "[The Fleming Award] is a culmination of our close collaboration and teamwork, not being afraid to take ownership of the design and construction, recognising that good engineering judgment and trials on site underpinned both design assumptions and buildability."
The team beat two other finalists who also presented their projects at the event held at ICE's London headquarters on Wednesday (6 December 2018).
A project team comprising WSP UK Limited, Scotland Transerv, Raynesway and Transport Scotland had entered its A77 Cairnryan Slip Remediation project into the competition.
This project in south-west Scotland involved the challenges of stabilising slopes above and below a major road, while ensuring that a trunk route to the ferry port of Stranraer remained open.
The third project was the Gardenstown Landslide Stabilisation in Gardenstown, near Banff in Aberdeenshire. This involved remediating a steep slope in the centre of a small village, with difficult access. The project team responsible included Aberdeenshire Council, Atkins and BAM Ritchies.
The judges agreed all the finalist projects were of high quality, but were unanimous in choosing the Claridge's team as the winner.
"The BGA has been holding the Fleming Award Competition for almost 20 years, and the standard remains as high as ever.
"All three projects were great descriptions of challenging geotechnical and civil engineering problems solved by collaboration, innovation and hard work."
While the judges deliberated, Yvonne Ainsworth of JRL Civil Engineering gave a presentation, Pay Peanuts, Get Monkeys, which discussed pay, skills and work/life issues in geotechnical engineering.
Last year's award was given to the PISA Project, which was worked on by a team including Oxford University, Imperial College London, DONG Energy, Carbon Trust, SOCOTEC UK.
PISA (Pile Soil Analysis) is a research project that investigates and develops improved design methods for the offshore wind sector.
The Fleming Award is supported by Cementation Skanska.


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What is MABX's project coverage area?
MABX reports on projects from the Mid Atlantic region. We cover in PA from Centre county east, western and southern NJ, all of DE, and northern MD. Click here to view the MABX project information coverage map.
What types of projects does MABX cover?
MABX provides access to public and private commercial construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region spanning the pre-design to post-bid phases. Projects range from demolition, road-work, and maintenance to vertical construction.
Where do I go to login to Tools?
There are a few different ways to access Tools.
From the midatlanticbx.com home page, click on the Tools logo on the left-hand side of the screen. Once you land on the Tools page, click the MABX Login button.
Go directly to the Tools page at midatlanticbx.com/Tools.aspx. Once you land on the Tools page, click the MABX Login button.
From any page on the website, scroll over the Solutions tab on the menu bar, then select Tools on the dropdown menu. Once you land on the Tools page, click the MABX Login button.
Click here to log in to Tools now.
My username and password will not work?
Contact MABX at 866.499.2665 to receive your username or password.
Do I have to log in every time I access Tools?
To protect your account information, we set each account to log out when you close Tools. On the logon screen, you have the option to stay logged in by selecting the check box below your password.
Where to I search for projects?
Searching for construction projects is a feature available to Projects and ProjectPro members. Please make sure you are a Projects or ProjectsPro member.
The search function is one of the most convenient new features of Tools. Once you log in, you will land in the Projects application. There you will see a column on the left labeled "Project Search" and a box on the right labeled "Search Results."
You can modify the search results by changing the criteria in the Project Search column. The column consists of text boxes, drop-down menus, check boxes, and calendar field containing the same search criteria we have always offered.
New Guided Search option – MABX recently launched a guided search for Tools, which breaks out the different project search options into a full-screen menu. To access the guided search, hover your cursor over the Projects button in the orange Tools menu bar, and select "Guided Search" from the drop-down list.
How do the search drop-down menus work?
Open the drop-down menu by clicking the arrow on the right side of the menu bar. Once the menu is open, check all search criteria that apply. Then close the menu by clicking on the arrow again.
How do I search by city or county?
We've simplified this process. Simply go to the county or city box and start typing the name(s) of the location(s) you would like to search. We have every city and county in our coverage area preloaded into the system. As you start to type, the suggested locations will appear below the text box. Once you find the name that you are looking for, either click on the name, or hit enter when the correct name is highlighted.
Can I search for more than one city and/or county at a time?
Yes. Enter as many into the text box as you like.
Can I search by project name?
Yes. In the Project Name box, simply enter all or part of the project name and click search.
What is the Project ID?
The Project ID is a number assigned to each MABX project by our Project Information Team. This is an easy way to reference any project in our database.
How do I track projects?
There are three easy ways to track projects in Tools. First, on the main Projects search page, you can track projects in the Search Results field simply by checking the check box in the first column (labeled "track").
You can also track a project in the project details page by selecting the "Actions" tab from the Project Details menu, and clicking the "Track this project" button.
The third way to track a project is to hover your cursor over the "Projects" tab in the top menu, and then select the "Tracked Projects" option from the drop-down menu. This will open your personal "Tracked Projects" list. You can add a new tracked project by selecting the "Add project to be tracked" icon.
How can I save a project search?
From the main Projects search page, select your criteria in the Project Search options list on the left-hand side of the screen. Once you have chosen the desired criteria, click "I want to save this search" at the bottom of the Project Search options list. A box titled "Save this Search" will appear. Type the name of the search into the text box and click the "Save" button. If you want to add those search results to your nightly email, select the "Include the results of this search in my nightly email" check box at the bottom of the "Save this Search" box.
You can also set up a new saved search on the "Your Saved Searches" page. To access this page hover your cursor over the "Projects" tab in the top menu, and then select the "Tracked Projects" option from the drop-down menu. Set up your new saved search by selecting the magnifying glass icon.
Where can I find my saved searches and tracked projects?
You can access your saved searches and tracked projects from the Projects menu tab in the top right corner of the Tools page. Hover over the Projects menu tab, and select the feature you want to access.
Can I tell if I have already viewed a project?
Yes, all previously viewed projects will be highlighted in green on the Projects Search Results page.
What does it mean to search by project trades?
The MABX project trade criteria are based on the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) MasterFormat codes. Project Trades searches will only include projects where the specifications are available.
Private Planroom
I've received an Private Planroom Invitation to Bid (ITB). Where do I enter my invitation code?
If you are an MABX member, log into Private Planroom with your existing username and password from our homepage, www.midatlanticbx.com. Once you are logged in, enter your project code at the bottom of the page and click "submit." Your page will update to reflect that you have now accepted this project to view in Private Planroom.
If you are a non-member, you will need to register as a nonmember. This can be done by clicking on Private Planroom from our homepage, www.midatlanticbx.com. Below the member login area, there is an option for "non-member registration." Once registration is acquired, proceed forward as a member.


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23 August 2019
The on-line newspaper devoted to the world of transports
January 30, 2019
This page has been automatically translated by
Original news
The European shipowners exhort United Kingdom and European Union to find an agreement on the Brexit
The ECSA emphasizes the necessity to avoid a scene without understanding
The European shipowners exhort United Kingdom and European Union to find an agreement for the escape of the British nation from the EU. Referring to the arguments yesterday to the British parliament and the mandate conferred to the Prime Minister Theresa May in order to rediscuss the Brexit agreements with its he connects European, the European Community Shipowners' Associations (DECOY) has turned a invitation to all the parts to pick this opportunity in order to avoid a Brexit scene without agreement.
The European shipowning association considers that "without an agreement the repercussions on the fluidity of the exchanges between the EU and the United Kingdom will be enormous, to the detriment of logistic, fleeting shipowners, partner and consumers". "We ask the authorities of the EU and the United Kingdom - the general secretary of the ECSA, Martin Dorsman has declared - for being constructive and to go to any length in order to guarantee that the escape agreement can be approved of everywhere. In case contrary, there will be alone losing everywhere".
The shipowning association has emphasized that if the agreement for regulating the escape of the United Kingdom from the European Union will be approved of "the period of transition will give to the United Kingdom and to the EU the time to prepare itself and will be finally the necessary clarity so that the marine operators prepare themselves to do so as that the commercial exchanges continue to carry out themselves without obstacles".


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H. Alan and Kerri watch The Golden Girls season 6 episode "Love for Sale," where they discuss the business of selling balloons, cheap men at charity auctions, and Uncle Angelo's (wild?) social life. Tune in next week for "Never Yell Fire in a Crowded Retirement Home: Parts 1 and 2!"
As H. Alan mentioned on this episode, here's "I'm the Only Gay Eskimo."


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Nikhil and his team possesses one of those rare combination of skills where he can simultaneously work on the strategic level and the tactical level in parallel and use this to make good designs. It is a safe bet he will always deliver results as expected. And, the icing on the cake is he is a person you like to spend time with. He will go out of his way to help your settle in terms of any technological challenges you may have, genuinely warm and nice person to be around. Nikhil would not hesitate in making multiple edits and changes in design as per the client expectation.
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We are more than just a Creative Agency! As a Premier Designing hub in Mumbai India, Remiges develops Creative Logos, Corporate Identity along with fullyfunctional Web Designs, Enhancing your Website Development. Furthermore, with our special expertise in online marketing, we help set up your website for online presence with the use of Digital Marketing strategy. We want your business growth. We get you noticed on - Search Engine Results Page! We also create Mobile app, Explainer Video Explainer Video for Playstore, Promo Video agency in Mumbai India


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This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Pages: 404
Synopsis: Celaena is a slave in a distant area called Endovier, living in a world of turmoil without magic thanks to the vicious King Adarlan. When his son, the Crown Prince (Dorian) along with the Captain of the Guard (Chaol) provide Celaena with a proposition that's hard to refuse. Win a competition, gain your freedom and become the assassin everyone knows you to be. But there is more happening than just this competition, deaths start arising at the Castle, something outlawed and washed away by the new King. Celaena will need to conquer this new threat, win the competition, while being protected by Chaol, flirted with by Dorian and befriended by an unlikely person, Nehemia.
Review: In the beginning I found this story to be pretty slow but once it picked up (just like some of the ACOTAR series) I honestly couldn't put it down, I wanted to take breaks at work to read it, that's how interesting it got. For the most part, I really enjoyed all of the characters, especially Chaol (sigh). They were all different in their own way, they had their beliefs and lifestyle but while they knew their differences among themselves, the main characters were able to see what they had in common. I do wish Celaena's assassin back story had been shown more but maybe I will see that in the next story. I didn't always feel like I was seeing her as a "bad ass" female like everyone was afraid of. Though on the flip side, I loved that she was still a vulnerable teenage girl going through girl things while people were still afraid of what she might do. I also liked that there wasn't much romance which is different from a lot of YA fantasy lately. I wish Celaena trusted a little more but I can understand why she doesn't.
While I liked the story, I felt like the mystery behind the deaths was wrapped up a little too quickly, I know this is the first in the series and it was definitely a good first book to get you to understand the story line and where it's going but I sometimes felt like there wasn't enough detail.
Overall, I gave this a 4 out of 5 stars. Have you guys read it? Did you feel the same way? Is the rest of the series good? I already bought the next one, should be here soon!


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2018 Lombardia Trophy takes place Sep. 12-16 in Bergamo, Italy.
Japan′s Shoma Uno, the reigning Olympic and World silver medalist, is the headliner of the men′s field. He will be joined by teammate Kazuki Tomono, fifth in his senior debut at 2018 Worlds.
Kaori Sakamoto, the 2018 Four Continents champion, ranks first in the ladies in the field. Mako Yamashita, the 2018 World junior bronze medalist, will make her senior debut at this event. Russia′s Elizaveta Tuktamysheva and Sofia Samodurova, who are both coached by Alexei Mishin, are slated to compete. This event will mark Samodurova′s debut in the senior ranks.
In pairs, Russia′s Natalia Zabiiako and Alexander Enbert and Nicole Della Monica and Matteo Guarise of Italy are the top two teams and should claim the top two steps of the podium.
Their teammates, Charlene Guignard and Marco Fabbri, rank highest in the ice dance discipline and are frontrunners for gold. Spain′s Sara Hurtado and Kirill Khaliavin and Rachel Parsons and Michael Parsons of the U.S. are strong contenders for the silver and bronze medals.
The 2018 U.S. International Classic takes the same weekend (see link below).


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Photo –Boat in the Marina of Palamos; A photo from the beautiful coastal city of Palamos, Catalunya -Spain. This taken at the marina of the city where boats of private owners and fishermen are docked. Went with a vintage style photo and if you're wondering "Barco" is boat in Spanish while "Parko" is parking area in my Anglo-Spanish 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
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In November I surpassed the 1 year mark of working for myself.
2016 was the year I took a jump of faith from part time employment to working for myself. Before that it had been over a decade since I haven't had a boss or regular paycheck. Until this year, I had to keep something that was reliable because I was scared. The year that a huge check bounced that I had paid bloggers on, right before Christmas made an impact. That year I didn't have enough to pay my mortgage. I had no backup. It took 3 months to get paid but in the meantime I found a job. That was a particularly traumatic year that I'll never forget.
Still, I felt like I was losing opportunities by not having more freedom and time to work on my business.
Note: this post contains affiliate links.
The Year of No Coworkers—Besides My Facebook Friends
Another thing that kept me from quitting my day job is that I hated working alone. But after a year of working in a small room with about 10 other people I was cured. A few months of coworking helped me adjust. I had some killer coworkers there. We were all independent businesses and I loved the ambition. There was a lot of hussle. That was an important middle step for me and I know I can always go back if I need to.
After a while I began to prefer working by myself on my computer, no commute or parking and easy access to healthy food. I like the quiet and the pace of my days. My desk is in the kitchen and I drink shakes for breakfast. Sometimes I drink a shake for lunch too. It's helped me lose weight and break my sugar and chocolate addiction. I love that I get to set my schedule every day.
Some days I'm very productive and don't want to talk a lot. I just want to work. Other days I'm more social or laid back. Or, there are days I skip out on work to go get a massage or take my daughter to see a movie. If it's a bad day to learn a lot of new things, I stick to blogging or things I know well. At work I didn't have that luxury! As I get older, I can clearly see how much sleep and what I eat play a huge role in how motivated I feel. There are days I'm forgetful and scattered, but I don't have to stress. I just don't take on something new on those days. I like to update my progress on Facebook, either on my personal page (here's my Newspapergrl page) or in Facebook groups.
Tough: Adjusting to the Income Roller Coaster
I still sweat it when people don't pay on time or my income drops. I've had months over $7,000 and months under $1,000. I got stiffed for some work with bloggers. It really stung because the people involved weren't honest. I put so much into it despite my reservations and got NOTHING from it—except a lesson. I learned I better not trust people even if I like them and always get paid up front. I broke that rule for a client that needed a rush job in November. I still haven't been paid so I'm not perfect at this and there are still times it's not feasible.
This quote and blog post from John Chow (I remember that HostGater shirt – I have one from Affiliate Summit) helped me realize this income roller coaster is normal. I still have a paycheck mentality. It doesn't make me quit but I need to adjust how I spend and think about money. My husband is self-employed too. That means that taxes and health insurance take a huge cut of everything we make!
For 2017 I want to make and sell my own product that helps even out some of the dips.
Challenge: Performance Anxiety
I took on some freelance work with a large company you'd all recognize. I was so honored but for some reason it also freaked me out. I had so much anxiety I could barely work or focus. This is not like me at all! When I did get myself to work on it, things never really clicked. I felt like I'd failed. Except that I learned that money isn't a good enough reason to do something. I learned what I'm not good at and appreciate the opportunity. I'd like to figure out why I had so much unnecessary stress about it and work on that.
Goal: Build up My Passive Income
I'm investing a lot of time and money in learning, like taking this Facebook ads course. In addition I took several classes on SkillShare and found some excellent ones that I applied right away. I won't link to the ones I took until they accept me into their affiliate program, dangit!
So far things always pull through. As part of my goal to be a queen of revenue streams, I have built up more passive income than ever before. This isn't a straight line though because I plowed a lot into a new affiliate site that, despite a lot of work, hasn't made a sale yet. 🙁
I took on YouTube in 2016 and I have a lot to learn to get good at it. For the most part but I still want to improve because the ads are paying for daycare bill right now. Plus, I can use my SEO skills in a new way.
In addition to passive income, I've created sponsored post campaigns and hosted events for bloggers. The influencer marketing part of my business is fun and I get to meet all sorts of interesting people and business owners.
2017, Here are 9 Things I Want Out of You:
This is a random list in no particular order and since I believe your personal life affects your business life, it includes both.
Lose another 12 or more lbs – I love how it feels to be thinner!
Master funnels, I don't know why they've been so challenging for me. I have a mental block I need to overcome.
Make an additional $1k in passive income per month, through existing and new partnerships – I recently added two. Funnels can help with this goal.
No debt except my car which may take 1.5 to 2 more years to pay off.
Do something purposefully in service to my husband and children each day, think of something they are or do to give gratitude for (see my list of books to read below for more context).
Read scripture or meditate daily to reconnect and center spiritually every day.
Plant at least 2 fruit trees in our yard and start to compost. As usual I plant a garden every summer but I'd like to add some potted herbs this year.
My dream is to get the HOA where we live to turn the kiddie pool that isn't used that much into a hot tub or put one in.
Rebuild Utah News Source, my press release distribution site for Utah news. It was deleted a few months ago so I get to start from zero. This only solidified my hate for Bluehost and never should've happened. Thanks for the bad advice to my business partner, guys!


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With clients in 14 states, Suzanne J. VanderSalm, Accountant, comes from a family of entrepreneurs. When Suzanne started her accounting business in 1978, she took on a variety of work to find her niche. Her life as a horsewoman and farm owner made her proficient in the industry standards.
Suzanne understands the anxiety and fear most people have around taxation issues. By obtaining the proper information, Suzanne is able to visualize your specific needs through creative, lawful investigation. Her expertise in finding solutions is as valuable as finding the right mechanic, plumber, or hairdresser.
A long term client recently stated:
"The beauty of working with Suzanne is that you don't get an intern or secretary, you get her. She is down to earth, easy to talk to, takes a personal interest in my situation, and gets results. I speak for my family as well when I say I trust her."
A new client states:
"I had not filed for several years, I knew I was headed for trouble. I had heard about Suzanne through a friend who raved about her. I set up the appointment, and met Suzanne at her home office and she allayed my fears immediately, I felt like I was chatting with an old friend. We got down to business and I realized that I had no idea about all the legal deductions I could have taken not only in the past, but now."


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It's hard for me to imagine the part of whale life where they have to swim up to the surface to get their next breath. It may be after minutes or hours but they are unique in this general pattern of surfacing to breathe.
Coming Up for Air
Whales are not like fish who remain in their watery world, getting oxygen through their gills. And they're different from other marine mammals like seals and polar bears, who can and do haul out for extended periods.
Whales' Worlds
The work of photographer Ray Collins captures a bit of this surface view, at the threshold between two worlds. Although he's a surf photographer, his artist's eye for abstract patterns helps me imagine the view whales have, even when far offshore.
His latest book of crystal clear images, Found at Sea , is just coming out and can be pre-publication purchased at his site. More about how this color-blind Aussie works is there as well, including the short video below.
I continue to be grateful to the photographers who bring us images of whales, the worlds they swim in, and, in this case, a better idea of what their surfacing might be like.


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Every household in Sweden will soon receive a booklet from the government with information preparing the population for war, terror attacks, and 'hostile propaganda'.
During 'emergency preparedness week' from May 28 to June 3, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB) will send out 4.8 million copies of the booklet, which is entitled "If Crisis or War Comes".
Illustrated with scenes of armed conflict, the 20-page resource contains information that the government says is necessary to ensure the population is "better prepared for dealing with serious events both in peacetime and — in the worst case scenario — war".
The government of #Sweden has sent booklets to every household detailing what to do if there's a war or crisis. The section on resistance is particularly striking. Here's the English language version of Om Krisen Eller Kriget Kommerhttps://t.co/XmngPdHdb5 pic.twitter.com/ircLFhzP73
— Tim Rich (@66000mph) May 21, 2018
"Many non-profit organisations and faith communities make important contributions to our collective security and preparedness," claims the booklet, in a section which calls on Swedes to "get involved" with helping defend the nation in some way.
"Everyone is obliged to contribute and everyone is needed" in the event of armed conflict sparking up in Sweden, it says, stating that "everyone who lives here and is between the ages of 16 and 70 can be called up to assist in various ways in the event of the threat".
On a page illustrated with a picture of tanks, helicopters, and soldiers carrying guns, the government says: "We must be able to resist various types of attacks directed against our country."
"Even today, attacks are taking place against our IT systems and attempts are being made to influence us using false information," it claims, above a list of "potential attacks" including airstrikes, sabotage of infrastructure, terror attacks and "attempts to influence Sweden's decision makers or inhabitants".
Sweden: "Purpose of military is to defend gay rights" https://t.co/YwuRgjxAwC
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) August 3, 2017
Warning that "states and organisations are already using misleading information in order to try and influence our values", the pamphlet tells Swedes to be alert for "false information and hostile propaganda" aimed at lowering the nation's "resilience and willingness to defend [itself]".
Earlier this year, when the plan to produce the booklets was first announced, Swedish security service (Säpo) chief Anders Thornberg said Islamic extremism continues to pose the major threat to the public, warning that the risk of terrorism taking place in Sweden has not decreased since the deadly attack in Stockholm last year carried out by failed asylum seeker Rakhmat Akilov.
While Swedish authorities last year reported that the number of violent Islamists in the country has risen tenfold in a decade to more than 2,000, the pamphlet is non-specific about potential terror threats to the country, warning simply that "attacks may be targeted against individual people or groups, against the general public or against vital societal functions such as the electricity supply or the transport system".
"Society is vulnerable, so we must prepare ourselves as individuals," said MSB chief Dan Eliasson, announcing that a hotline has been opened for Swedes to ask questions or relay any concerns relating to the project.


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We offer a full range of clinical diets for our patients.
Our Dietician and staff also offer dietary consults to residents in the community.
The purpose of the Nutritional Services Department is to meet the nutritional needs of the Hospital Patients. Nutritional Services provides diets for diabetic, low cholesterol and low sodium for in-house patients. Diet consults are available on an outpatient basis when ordered by a physician.