text:
Jenna Fagnan grew up in an Eskimo village in Alaska, went to Harvard Business School, and left a lucrative career in brand management at LVMH to help launch Tequila Avión in 2010. Later that year, the brand was featured in a storyline on the HBO show, Entourage, and in 2012, it was voted the world's best-tasting tequila at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Fagnan shares how she combated gender discrimination, learned from rejection, and listened to the advice of everyone around her to become one of the only female presidents in the spirits business.
When I think about what career direction I wanted to take when I was younger, I don't think I knew. I definitely didn't follow a linear path.
I was born in an Eskimo village outside of Anchorage, Alaska, and spent most of my childhood years in a small fishing and logging town on the Oregon coast. For me, growing up in a way that's not the quintessential path — where everything is planned out for you — is a great way to learn and be exposed to different types of people. It piqued my curiosity about the world.
I went to Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, to study international business, Japanese, and chemistry, which is sort of an odd mix. I had a chemistry scholarship to go to school, but I quickly realized that wasn't right for me. There was a point when I was going to drop out of school because it was too hard, and I thought I wasn't smart enough to be there. But I had an awesome professor who encouraged me to stick with it. I decided to focus on international business and Japanese and keep chemistry as a minor. There was a masochistic side of me that wouldn't allow me to completely give up on chemistry.
During summers, I would work in restaurants either waitressing or bartending in Texas or back home. I also worked for IMG and their world tennis team during my sophomore and junior years. They were putting on tennis exhibitions in San Antonio. There was one guy running the show. He called our business school and said, "Hey, we need an intern." I volunteered right away and I loved it. It was maybe my first entrepreneurial stint because it was just him and me working on it. I remember going to Office Max and offering free tickets to the match in exchange for printing services. It was my first experience learning how to negotiate too.
When I graduated in 1995 with a degree in international business, with minors in Japanese and chemistry, I was trying to figure out what to do. All my friends were going to grad school, or going into accounting and finance jobs. I wanted to see the world and do something different.
At the time Japan was a country that had a lot going on from a business prospective, I heard the Japanese consulate was hiring people for an exchange program to work on sister city programs, such as teaching English and working with the government. I applied and got a job teaching in middle schools and high schools.
It was an eye-opening experience for a young, cocky Westerner. The only other woman in the office was the woman who served us tea. My first day on the job, my boss took one look at me and said, "We asked for a boy. You can go home." I was lucky to have the bravado of a young person at the time. I was adamant that I was going to stay and that I would earn his respect.
It was hard. I had to learn to listen, which I think at the time wasn't a great skill set of mine. Any time I would give my opinion, it was met with men saying, "Maybe impossible," which is the Japanese way to say, "No." A very senior gentleman saw that I was struggling, and he took pity on me. He took me aside and said, "You need to understand where everyone sits." He taught me how to get the men to think my idea was their idea and to listen.
After two years, I decided it was time to come back to the U.S. I got a job trading soybean commodities for a Japanese company in Portland, where my parents were living. Once again, I show up to work and it's all men. I had to get there at the crack of dawn to work Asian hours. It was so not what I should have been doing. It was not something I was good at.
I started temping on the side and got a job doing some translations for Nike [which is based in Portland]. Wieden+Kennedy, which is the marketing group that works with Nike, offered me a job as an assistant. I left my job as a trader after just four months and became the lowest entry-level employee at Wieden+Kennedy.
My title was account coordinator. I would deal with people's schedules and other administrative assistant work. I had a phenomenal mentor in Rebecca Van Dyck, who was the account director of Nike Global. One day she said to me, "Listen, the whole team is out, but we have this really important TV shoot in L.A. You have to go down and be the account person." I looked at her and said, "Are you crazy? I don't know what I'm doing." She said, "It doesn't matter. You are going to learn a lot. Just be honest. When you don't know something, just tell people the truth."
It was probably one of the scariest things I've ever done. She had more faith in me than I had in myself. It's a great management skill that I remember today. I went to the shoot and tried to help as much as I could, listen, and learn. I made sure the athletes had anything they wanted. And I helped make sure everyone was communicating with each other. One of the partners came back and said I was a fantastic supervisor for the shoot. In reality, I was about three levels below supervisor. I then got promoted to assistant account executive and eventually account director.
Going from working with all men who didn't want me there to having this great female mentor felt really freeing. It's rare to have someone who is a boss and a mentor, who is incredibly sharp and knows how to manage people. I worked my butt off for her. I hope that every young woman gets the opportunity to have a powerful female boss because it allows you to see yourself a few steps ahead.
I stayed with Wieden+Kennedy for about 2.5 years. I absolutely loved what I was doing, but I felt there was more I could learn. When we were sitting there trying to solve problems for the Nike business, I thought, There are other levers I could be using. So I decided to go to business school.
I got in to Harvard Business School, and I was thrilled. When I got there, I also realized that I was pretty different than my peers, most of whom were from finance and consulting backgrounds. Here I was coming from a creative, soft-skills background in marketing. It was intimidating.
I contacted alumni to find a summer internship with DoubleClick, a company that did Internet advertising. I worked with the mergers and acquisitions team on new technology they were looking to invest in or acquire. Again, it was something I didn't know anything about, but it sounded glamorous.
During my last year at Harvard, LVMH came to campus to conduct interviews for their future management program. I was introduced to the different general managers who ran each group within the company. A few months before graduation, I was offered a full-time job to be a brand manager for Dom Perignon [which is owned by LVMH]. At the time, the champagne business was really suffering, and the brand itself was quiet. I was tasked with the challenge to make it grow. I learned to hire people who were smarter than me, and I reached out to everyone who I thought might have some insight — former colleagues from Wieden+Kennedy, former professors, and colleagues who I respected. I said, "Here's my business challenge. What would you do if you were me?" I realized I can only see so much on my own.
The job taught me a lot about sales, which I knew nothing about. I also learned that this is an industry where there are not enough women. Oftentimes I'd be the only female at a big meeting.
I was promoted to become the general manager of the Dom Perignon business and was then put in charge of the entire Champagne portfolio strategy for the group. I was there for four years when LVMH asked me to run sales and marketing for Tag Heuer watches, which they also own. They like to move people around to give them different exposure to the whole business. I was the head of sales there for three years. I was on the road four to five days a week, which is how I met my now business partner, Ken Austin. He was one of the presidents and founders of Marquis Jet. He was just beginning his quest to make a new tequila in Mexico. We met for lunch, and I was just blown away by his mind. I knew I could learn a lot from him, so we kept in touch.
About three years later, Ken called and said, "I have the final recipe. Get to my office and taste it." When I got there, he said to me, "Listen, I need someone to run this company. What do you think?" There was something in my gut that said, This is what I really should be doing. I knew that very rarely in life do you come across the beginning of a great lifestyle brand. I had worked with great brands in the past, but they had all existed long before me. I was scared, because I didn't think of myself as an entrepreneur. But I decided to leave my job at LVMH in 2010 after eight years to help launch Tequila Avión.
I went from having two assistants to it just being me. I had no idea how to send a FedEx or how to get the garbage taken out. All these basic things you take for granted. I had all the responsibility too. If I messed this up, it's all on me.
In the beginning, we were essentially selling it door-to-door to restaurants and liquor stores. We had billboards and print advertising, and we were growing. Then, one day, Ken was sitting in a hot tub powwowing with his friend Doug Ellin, the creator of Entourage. Doug was saying he needed a new storyline for Turtle, and Ken says, "What about my tequila?" Doug loved the idea, and it was completely free promotion for Tequila Avión. We thought it would be huge for us.
When [the storyline] debuted on the show, overnight our distributors in New York and California were asking for more. But because we were only in [those states] at the time, a lot of consumers didn't think it was a real tequila brand. That was surprising for us. We had a marketing challenge no one has ever had before: too much awareness about the brand before we could meet the demand for distribution. And once we did start to distribute to other states, the perception was that we made up Avión because of the show. It was hard to take after working so hard on something. But when we won the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012 — which for our industry is like the Oscars — that changed the course for the brand. We had legitimacy. And we had this fun pop-culture connection as well.
We now have 20 employees in our headquarters in New York, plus an office in Florida and our factory in Jesus Maria, Mexico, where we make the tequila. We have five Avión products, which are now distributed around the world via our partners, Pernod Ricard.
My day-to-day consists of checking in with all of our teams. I'll Skype with our team in Mexico, asking what's going in with production and supply, how the trucks are moving, do we have enough corks? I'll spend time with our marketing teams, analyze our social media strategy, and spend time talking to Ken to get his insight on marketing strategies and discuss ideas for the next products.
I love what I do, and I can't imagine doing anything else. Avión has only been in business for five years, so I feel like there's so much more to do. I somehow found my niche in the world.
Get That Life is a weekly series that reveals how successful, talented, creative women got to where they are now. Check back each Monday for the latest interview.
Follow Heather on Twitter.


text:
With the HSBC Women's Championships 2016 starting next week, we get into the golf fever with our very own golf enthusiast, Guangzhao! Always thought that golf is an expensive sport which requires a whole lot of experience and coaching to get started? Fret not. He provides some quick tips for you to get started with this seemingly atas (Singaporean slang: high class) sport.
If you are new to the game of golf and are looking to pick up the game quickly, here are some tips on how to get you started!
- Find a golf range near your home
There are many golf practice areas around your Singapore. The golf ranges that are open to public are as follows:
|Range name
|Asian Golf Center
|Mandai Road Track 7, Singapore 779384
|Bukit Batok Golf Range
|Bukit Batok West Ave 7, Singapore 659003
|Champions Public Golf Course
|60 Fairways Dr, Singapore 286966
|Marina Bay Golf Range
|80 Rhu Cross, Singapore 437437
|Orchid Country Club
|1 Orchid Club Rd, Singapore 769162
|Punggol Golf Range
|60 Punggol East, Singapore 828825
|Toa Payoh Golf Range
|590 Toa Payoh East, Singapore 319134
- Finding "khaki" to play with you
The current most active golf forum in Singapore is www.golfrepublic.org. You can register to make friends and find like-minded golf fanatics to learn more about the game. There are also golf meetup groups you can find on www.meetup.com such as Golf Addicts.
Most golf courses in Singapore require you to have a valid handicap to play on the green. If you are starting out, you can choose to play your first game either at the Asian Golf Center or Champions Public Golf Course. Alternatively, you can choose to have a game in Johor Bahru, Batam or Bintan where there is no requirement to have a valid handicap.
- Getting your first golf set
Buying your first golf set can be confusing. Some golfers swear by getting fitted from the start, while some would advise you to purchase a second hand set. Here are some factors to consider before getting your first set:
- How committed are you to the game of golf?
If you are unsure about how long you would continue to play golf, it may be a good idea to purchase one or two single irons. Loose irons are relatively cheap and typically start from as low as ten dollars a club. You can purchase loose clubs at Golf Bargains located at Jalan Pemimpin.
- How much are you willing to invest?
Golf sets range from around two hundred dollars for a used set, to more than one thousand dollars for a single club. Typically, a more expensive club does not necessarily help you to play better. Most professional golfers (do note they are typically sponsored) use medium price range clubs. Decathlon INESIS 3.0 Men Half Set provides quite good value as you get the clubs you need for a simple game and a bag. These are available on our website at S$229.90 only.
- Do you mind getting a second hand set?
Do you like to experiment or are you easily contented? Purchasing a second hand set could save you a lot of money as you could resell it with little financial loss if it is not to your liking. One of the biggest reselling sites in Singapore is www.golfsite.sg
I hope that these tips will help you on your way to learning the game of golf.
Visit Decathlon today for more affordable golf products. Head down to our Bedok flagship store or shop online today!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Clif Droke – Gann Simplified
Sale page :_http://www.amazon.com/Gann-Simplified-Clif-Droke/dp/1931611246
Price: $22.51
Paperback: 159 pages
Publisher: Marketplace Books, Inc. (August 1, 2001)
Language: English
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,100,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
"Those new to Gann's methods should find Gann Simplified a fascinating introduction. Clif Droke has done an excellent job of delivering the "essence" of W.D. Gann's writings… Readers will learn that much of the wisdom from today's top "gurus" originally came from Gann."Steve WoodsAuthor of The Precision Profit Float Indicator "Panics will come and bull markets will follow just as long as the world stands – and they are just as sure as the ebb and flow of the tides, because it is the nature of man to overdue everything." – from 45 Years in Wall Street by W.D. GannThis is but one of the many predictions and theories developed by Gann that are still relevant and useful in today's trading arena. Despite advances in everything from technology to communications, Gann's groundbreaking theories continue to be viable, influencing today's most successful investors.While his work is considered complex, often dense and difficult for many to decipher, Clif Droke provides an excellent overview of Gann's seminal theories in Gann Simplified, making them understandable and accessible to a new legion of followers. Gann's contributions to the field of technical analysis and trading are truly staggering and now, this hands-on manual helps new and experienced traders alike discover how to apply his winning concepts to their own investing success.You'll find …* The basic foundations of Gann theory* The type of chart Gann felt was the most important – and why* Gann's special swing charting approach * Gann's 24 Never Failing Trading Rules* How he explains support and resistance – and much more.Learn how this guru – who was trading well before WWI – can improve your trading today, using a "simplified" approach to Gann's classic trading tenets.
[b][color=red]Purchase premium accounts in order to enjoy unlimited downloads with resuming support
***If link dead, please leave a message, we will update immediately***[/color][/b]


text:
Mid-America Seeds & Agri-Services
View Quote
Corn Portfolio
Our Company
Costomer Services
Contact us
Terms and Conditions
Join our newsletter
Corn Portfolio
Our Company
Costomer Services
Contact us
Terms and Conditions
Join our newsletter
Sustainable Agriculture
The best way to address global needs in agriculture
Welcome to MASA in the U.S.A.
At MASA, we create a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in nearly every country to meet the current and future needs of society.
Our germplasm is unique and suited for variable and sustainable cropping systems across multiple geographies and environments.
MASA offers clients Conventionally developed Non-Gmo and Organic Corn, Soybeans, Sorghum, and Wheat elite germplasm for use in the development of high yielding pest and disease resistant crops.
Check out our non GMO corn hybrid portfolio
MASA Crops
Additionally, MASA offers a broad collection of "Ancient Grains" sought by persons interested in the best tasting healthy foods
Click here to learn more
Product Contacts Contacts for MASA Company most frequently requested products.
Need to speak to someone about a product or reach one of our sites? Have a question or a comment?
Call our North American Customer Service Center or send us comments or questions.
Product Finder
Find detailed information about our products as well as direct product contacts.


text:
The UMP website is moving. This website contains 2019 UMP information for PEBB members only (through the end of 2019). If you are a PEBB member and/or you will be a new School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) member and you need 2020 UMP benefits information, visit our new UMP website.
Medical benefits
In this section, learn about medical services covered and not covered under UMP Plus.


text:
Pricing your product is never a simple task.
In the beginning pricing hadn't been at the forefront of our todo list, instead we focused on fine tuning features and growing our customer base. Simplifyd was initially free to all those who signed up for Beta. I had toyed with the idea of charging a small one-off fee for the Beta but decided against it. A Public Beta worked well for us as we were able to get quality feedback from our users and in return they influenced the future development our feature set.
However this arrangement was never a long term plan, eventually it became apparent that it was time to establish a value for our product. From the get go, growing a profitable business was always the aim with this Start Up. With functionality, stability and a noticeable increase in interest in Simplifyd, we were faced with the increasing dilemma of pricing.
The next question was how much should we charge?
The founding aim behind this company was to simplify the admin and processes required to run a business as an individual, small teams or new business. As a startup ourselves, we sympathised with those trying to get off the ground who would benefit most from smart SaaS apps to help run their business, but would struggle with the multiple costs usually incurred when these add up.
So when it came to evaluating the cost, we had a couple of aims in mind:
- Simplicity was key – nothing confusing that would scare people off.
- It should be affordable – whether you were a individual or growing business.
We considered similar pricing models to other SaaS applications:
- A tiered pricing structure.
- A flat rate and extra add ons based on features.
- We could bill per company or individual team member.
Why we charge flat rates:
Our initial ideas were too complex for our aims, we wanted something that would prove to be valuable for our customer and not an expense. We didn't want something unaffordable or complex, that would discourage those that were growing.
The key turning point can be found in the apps name, Simplifyd. While everyone is focusing on the singular niche application or functional product, we are trying to produce a simple usable product that would encompass all the core functions you would need to run a business. A pricing model that was based on the number of features or individuals usually ends up overcharging. We wanted to support growing businesses and not penalise them for growth, so charging extras or inflated base prices wasn't the way forward for us.
As a team we chose a straightforward sign up, so that with this app you could just hit the ground running. We came up with a simple solution, everything included, no hidden costs and a free trial.
Today's pricing model.
We offer a 30 day trial – Experience comes first. Everyone should have the chance to trial a product before being bombarded with supplying credit card details, you get to test drive a car or view a house, why not a tool that can help run you business? It was important to us that people tried the product, enjoyed it and encouraged others to give it a go.
We charge a flat rate not based on features – It's quite simple, you pay a flat rate and with it comes all the existing features. As Simplifyd becomes more refined and new integrations are added these automatically become available to you with no extra cost. Providing more value to our users.
A single monthly cost for the sole reason that largely our users were not those who would want to spend a large sum of money in one go.
Free trial for those that are just getting started, and to give them the opportunity to see the benefits to their business.
Fixed price plans for those that wanted the full Simplifyd experience, as a single user or a team of up to 10.
For more details, take a look at our pricing model here.
Like any part of running a business, there are always a few creases to press out and any feedback is great. Leave us a comment below or if you enjoyed our post then please share it!


text:
A canned response in Gmail is a something you can do so you can automate a bunch of responses to emails using a template. But how do you create canned responses in Gmail? Why do you even need canned responses? I'll explain in this article why you need canned responses and also how you can quickly create them for free using any Gmail account.
Why Do I need canned responses?
If you've been running a business for some time or have been working in a position which requires you to send quite a lot of e-mails to your clients and customers, you may have noticed that a lot of the time you are sending the same e-mail to different clients each time. These could be e-mails as simple as a confirmation of an appointment, if you have multiple meetings with clients every day, you are likely sending similar confirmations to everyone all the time and re-typing them every single time you do. But with canned responses you can save a template within your Gmail account, then use the same saved template over and over for your clients and simply change their name and other personal details such as the time or date. Canned responses can help you to be more efficient at work by saving you time every day. The more you use it, the more time you will save and you'll be wondering why you didn't discover it sooner!
How do you create canned responses in Gmail?
Step 1
Once logged into Gmail, go to the top right and click on the gear icon.
Step 2
Once you are in your settings page, navigate to the tab towards the top of the page and click on "Labs"
Step 3
In "Labs" there will be a list of services available. Look in the list for "canned responses" and then tick "Enable". Scroll to the bottom after ticking "Enable" and save your changes.
Step 4
Start a new e-mail by clicking "Compose". Then type your canned response template that you wish to create. Then move your mouse down to the bottom right corner of the e-mail and click the arrow. It will open up a box, navigate up to where you can see "canned responses", then click "New canned response". Gmail will then ask you to name your canned response; after you do, you can then save it.
Step 5
When you want to add your canned response into an e-mail in the future. All you need to do when composing an email is to navigate down to the arrow on the bottom right of your e-mail, click "canned responses" then click the canned response you just created. Once you click on it, your Gmail will know to paste your canned response template into your e-mail. This will save you a lot of time!
Now that you know how to create canned responses you can start using them today for all sorts of tasks and appointments!
If you would like to know even more tips and tricks for automating your business, be sure to take a look at our magazine which this month is called "Automation In The Cloud". Get it free today 🙂


text:
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Pooran Poli ( Bobbatlu)
1.Maida Flour - 1 cup
2.Warm Milk - 1/2 cup
3.Butter - 1 tbsp
For Filling(Pooranam):
1.Grated Coconut - 1 cup
2.Jaggery - 1/2 cup
3.Ghee - 2 tbsp
4.Cardamon Powder - 1 tsp
5.Nutmeg Powder - 1 tsp ( optional)
1.Heat the ghee in a wok and add the grated coconut ,saute it well in a low fire.
2.After getting the coconut roasted smell add the jaggery,cardamom powder and saute it well.
3.Saute it till the jaggery melts.
4.Take off the pan fromthe fire and leave it to cool.
5.By the time make the dough with all the ingredients mentioned above.
6.The dough should be very smooth and almost mixed with ghee.
7.Now take a small ballof dough and roll out into small circle,place te the coconut filling in the centre part of the dough.
8.Now get together the edges of the dough to the top of the filling.
9.Roll out the dough or else use the plastic sheet ,apply the oil in the plastic sheet and pat the dough by using the hands into the small poori shape.
10.Heat the pan with oil or ghee,put the dough into the pan and add the ghee or oil on the edges to cook.
11.Turn it into both sides.
12.Serve the Warm Opputu's .
Posted by SathyaSridhar
Labels: Sweets
2 comments:
Hi sathya,thanks for your lovely comments and for joining in...pooran poli is one of my fav and mom used to make it for me and didnt have it since a very long time...looks delicious...do keep in touch and take care..have a nice day..ReplyDelete
Hi!!!!Sushma,, thanks for ur compliments,,,yes,,,you are right me too missing my mom's cooking.u too take care,,hv a niz day ahead,,ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man City team news: Predicted 4-3-3 line up vs Liverpool – Guardiola changes
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is set to make changes as his side head to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Expect a different Manchester City team from midweek as Pep Guardiola makes changes for the trip to Liverpool.
City drew 1-1 at Atalanta in the Champions League in midweek and now turn their attention back to the Premier League.
They sit six points behind leaders Liverpool and know a defeat would be near-on disastrous for their hopes of retaining the title.
Guardiola will be without Ederson who was injured during that Champions League draw.
Claudio Bravo was brought on in that match though was sent off with Kyle Walker ending the game between the posts.
But Guardiola is confident that Bravo will perform well up against the likes of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.
The boss said: "He is an exceptional goalkeeper. He is an international goalkeeper. I have no doubts.
"Why shouldn't I be confident about my players? I see him every day in training. We won't lose because of Claudio.
Man City team news: Predicted 4-3-3 line up vs Liverpool – Guardiola changes
"The red card the other day was because we lost the ball. Respect the guy. He is a top keeper."
Joao Cancelo has impressed at right-back this season and is likely to start over Walker.
Fernandinho will fill in at centre-back alongside John Stones with Benjamin Mendy likely to start on the left side of defence.
David Silva is out injured meaning Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan could be given the nod in midfield.
Riyad Mahrez missed a last-gasp penalty at Anfield last season but could be given a chance to redeem himself with Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero joining him in attack.
Man City predicted line-up vs Liverpool - Premier League
(4-3-3) Claudio Bravo; Cancelo, Fernandinho, Stones, Mendy; B Silva, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Mahrez, Aguero, Sterling.


text:
Tag Archives | ACFTA Economics, Industry and trade, Regional cooperation and integration
The upgraded ASEAN-People's Republic of China Free Trade Agreement could matter, big time
By Jayant Menon and Anna Cassandra Melendez. Posted August 2, 2019
In 2015, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) signed an Upgrade Protocol to improve the original Framework Agreement for the ASEAN-People's Republic of China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) as well as their Agreement on Trade in Goods, Services, and Investment. The Upgrade Protocol entered into force in July 2016, and implementation will start from August 2019.
Subscribe / Connect to Asia Pathways
- Agriculture and natural resources
- Capacity development
- Economics
- Education
- Energy
- Environment
- Finance sector development
- Gender
- Governance and public sector management
- Health
- Industry and trade
- Information and Communications Technology
- Infrastructure
- Miscellaneous
- Population
- Poverty
- Private sector development
- Regional cooperation and integration
- Sanitation
- Social development and protection
- Transport
- Urban development
- Video Blog
- Water
Recent Posts
- E-learning to enhance capacities in Asia and the Pacific
- Political risks in energy-transporting countries and energy security in the Caspian Basin
- Land readjustment in Japan: Beyond the myth of Japanese consensus and harmony
- Feed-in tariffs and loans for boosting private investment in renewable energy
- What explains the growing global demand for cash?
Recent Comments
- Kurt on Is female entrepreneurship a coping strategy during crises?
- Kurt on Do solar lights help kids do better in school?
- Andrew Mcintyre on Sustainable funding schemes for the development of waste management projects in Asia
- Rohini on Minimizing the Cost of Fecal Sludge Management through Co-Treatment
- Dr. A. Basu on Energy Efficiency: The Cornerstone for Achieving SDG 7


text:
Round of stressing the importance of fueling your body appropriately. Like one of my recent posts I had a client gain weight and his % body fat went down. Now we have my client Kim who increased her food intake and lost weight PLUS a decrease in her body fat %. This doesn't always happen, but increasing food intake will set you up for success down the road when you do want to diet to lose weight and lean out. Moral of the story is don't be afraid to EAT! Your body will reward you.
Don't Be Afraid to Eat!
by Evan | Mar 9, 2018 | Uncategorized | 0 comments


text:
Tag Archives: repair
How to remove the iPhone's new "tamper-resistant" screw
By William Chinda | Published: January 23, 2011
If you've taken your iPhone 4 in for service at the Apple store, you may have gotten it back with 2 new pieces of hardware that were changed unbeknownst to you. Though the iPhone 4 originally shipped with standard Phillips #00 screws, they'll replace them with an obscure type called a pentolobular screw if you [...]
Posted in News & Opinion, Tutorials | Also tagged apple, budget, diy, hardware, howto, iFixit, iphone, mobile, pentobular, screws, smart phones, smartphones, tips and tricks, tutorial | 1 Comment
How to replace ear cushions on the Koss UR-20 headphone
By William Chinda | Published: January 16, 2011
In this tutorial I'll be demonstrating how to replace the ear cushions on a pair of Koss headphones, specifically the Koss UR-20. For full size headphones, they're pretty cheap, but for me they've been extremely reliable over the past 8 years or so that I've owned them. Their first point of failure, however, was the [...]
Posted in Tutorials, Videos | Also tagged audio equipment, diy, do it yourself, ear cushions, entertainment, headphones, howto, Koss, music, replacement, stereophones, tutorial, UR-20, UR20 | 2 Comments


text:
Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch
Mortgage rates moved back up today after ending last week on a positive note. Improvements in rates have been uncommon so far in 2018. In fact, we haven't seen more than 2 consecutive days without a move higher. In that sense, today keeps the prevailing trend intact. If there's a saving grace, it's that rates didn't quite rise back above last week's highs. If there's a downside (whatever the opposite of a "saving grace" might be…), it's that rates remain in line with the highest levels in more than 4 years. While we COULD see some relief at some point, there's no telling if that would be a legitimate attempt at a ceiling or merely be a temporary correction before another move higher. Either way, betting on the emergence of a ceiling (via floating one's loan as opposed to locking) hasn't been…(read more)


text:
Ramesh Tarun Narine
Kapala Bahti4 min
Consult a doctor if you suffer from High Blood Pressure or Lung Problems before undertaking this practice.
Calming the mind and breath, this heating practice reduces mucous in the head and sinuses. It is a method of purification, cleansing and purifying the deep lungs and the subtle body.
How: Sit erect without becoming stiff in the spine. Exhale fully and inhale slightly into the belly. Steady, rhythmic short, slightly forceful exhalations empty the lungs by pulling in the abdomen. Pretend you're blowing out the candles on your birthday cake. The inhale occurs naturally as the abdomen relaxes outward. Practice 30-50 breaths/ round increasing up to 10 rounds. On the subtle level, visualize energy/light tapping at the 3rd eye center.


text:
Okay, I'm really not Irish. I am actually a mix between German and Native American. Although I can't figure out where my part of the Native American went. Obviously I wasn't given that gene. But hey, blonde hair & blue eyes. I'll take the German.
But humor me will you. So for today allow me to daydream about being Irish. Oh and part of my day dream includes being surrounded by all of the famous men I love. After all they have to kiss me, I'm Irish!
In celebration of St. Patrick's day and all things Irish, I decided to do a little researching last night for traditional Irish food. I have always grown up eating "green foods" on St. Patrick's Day. That was always the theme for school parties and such.
During my research I was glad to see that the Irish eat eggs for breakfast, as well as sausage and bacon. Of course their bangers and rashers are different than our sausage and bacon, but a familiar food. I was not enthused about the black and white puddings! You don't know what that is?? Just google Irish breakfasts. They also serve beans, tomatoes, and potatoes for breakfast, along with cheese and butter. What a breakfast! That is way to much food for me, not to mention to loaded with fat and such.
Still I wanted to keep with the holiday. I had a lovely breakfast of venison sausage, eggs, and soda bread with honey butter smeared on top. Loved this breakfast!
Irish Soda Bread
- 3c whole wheat flour
- 1c unbleached all purpose flour
- 1/5t baking soda
- 1t sea salt
- 2t powdered sugar
- 1c raisins
- 1.5c buttermilk
- olive oil
- preheat oven to 375 & line baking sheet with parchment paper
- combine all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, mix well
- coat your clean hands with olive oil for kneading, add buttermilk in small increments and knead it into dough
- place dough on sheet and make shallow marks across the top of the loaf with a knife
- bake in oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden on top
I mixed a little softened butter with honey to spread on top of the bread. This was delicious. It was a very filling breakfast. I have to admit I did miss my oats, but if I had to trade my oats for something else (besides pancakes) then bread would be called for 🙂
I took the remaining loaf of bread to work with me today to share with my co-workers in the spirit of St. Patrick's Day. They love having
a baking addict such a generous co-worker. They kissed me for it.
After all, I'm Irish 🙂


text:
8001 State Route Highway 1
Olema, CA 94950
Five Brooks Ranch is the area's most popular equestrian center, and offers riding services for the whole family. They provide guided trail rides for Point Reyes National Seashore, giving visitors the chance to discover its grassy meadows, coastal scrub and miles of white sand beaches.
Next: Blue Waters Kayaking »


text:
Posted on Sep 09, 2016 by Bertie's Blankets
Apologies for the lack of updates to the Bertie's Blankets blog! Bertie started school on Tuesday (where has that time gone!?!) so I am hoping to add to the blog at least once a week from this point on. Bertie loves books. He has just come home from school with his first reading book, we were both very excited! He really enjoys choosing his own book from our book rack at bedtime. It helps if children can easily see the front cover of the books. I came across this book rack today made from a plate rack. You could paint it any colour to match your child's bedroom and I think it makes a really useful and stylish book rack.
Jaipur Inspired Design worn by The Duchess of Cambridge: The Duchess of Cambridge was seen wearing a beautiful... https://t.co/Zb6iw5txX0


text:
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood denounces parliament ban
Egypt's leading political movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, has denounced the dissolution of parliament as unlawful.
It described the move as a coup against democracy and urged Egyptians to protect their revolution.
The ruling military council confirmed the dissolution after a court ruling on Thursday that the 2011 parliamentary elections were unconstitutional.
Egyptians are voting over two days to choose a new president to replace Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted last year.
Mohammed Mursi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, is up against Ahmed Shafiq, former President Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister.
The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) has vowed to hand over power to the winner by 30 June.
The decision to dissolve parliament so swiftly means that he could take office without the oversight of a sitting parliament and without a permanent constitution to define his powers or duties.
A 100-member assembly appointed by lower and upper houses of parliament earlier this week to draft the new constitution may also be dissolved.
'People's will'
The top official in parliament, Sami Mahran, said he had received a letter from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) confirming for the first time that the lower house, the People's Assembly, had been dissolved.
It follows a ruling from the Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday that the law governing Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades was unconstitutional because party members were allowed to contest seats in the lower house reserved for independents.
Soldiers have already been stationed around the parliament, with orders not to allow in MPs.
The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which secured the biggest bloc of seats in a vote that ended in January, said the order to dissolve the assembly "represents a coup against the whole democratic process".
"We are asking for the people to be the ones who decide that the parliament gets dissolved, as such a decision should be taken by the people's will and not the executive authority," FJP deputy leader Essam el-Erian told Reuters news agency.
The FJP won some of its 235 seats in the People's Assembly by running candidates for individual seats, as did the ultraconservative Salafist Nour party.
Scaf officials have told state media that it now plans to issue a new interim constitution and potentially select a replacement constitutional panel itself.
The Nobel laureate and former head of the UN's nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, warned that Egypt was suffering under worse conditions now than under Mr Mubarak, and that it was on the brink of allowing a "new emperor" to establish total domination.
Disenchanted youth
After the first day of voting, correspondents say there is less enthusiasm in the two-day run-off election than there was for previous rounds of voting, and some have called for a boycott or spoiled ballots.
There were early queues outside some Cairo polling stations on Saturday, but later they were reduced in some places to just a steady trickle of voters, the BBC's Jon Leyne reports.
Particularly noticeable was the lack of young people voting, our correspondent says.
They seem to be particularly disenchanted with the choice between Mr Shafiq, a candidate seen as a representative of the old regime, and the Islamist Mr Mursi, he adds.
While state TV has been urging people to vote, some activists have been distributing flyers in several Cairo metro stations calling for a boycott.
Mr Mursi's campaign held a news conference on Saturday afternoon in which it said several electoral violations had been reported, and urged voters to report any incidents.
The Muslim Brotherhood has called on voters to "isolate" Mr Shafiq, whom it calls "the representative of the former regime", while Mr Shafiq has said he will restore stability to Egypt.
Mr Shafiq came second in last month's first round, in which turnout among the 52 million eligible voters was only 46%. Official results gave Mr Mursi 24.8% and Mr Shafiq 23.7%.
Voting at 13,000 polling stations, spread across Egypt's 27 governorates, is being held over Saturday and Sunday, from 08:00 (06:00 GMT) to 20:00 (18:00 GMT). Voting on Saturday was extended until 21:00.
Final results from the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC) are due by 21 June, but are expected to arrive much earlier. Partial results from the first round were declared within 24 hours.


text:
|Cooperative Research Units
Education, Research And Technical Assistance For Managing Our Natural Resources
Home |
Intranet |
Digital Measures |
|Cooperative Research Units
Education, Research And Technical Assistance For Managing Our Natural Resources
Home |
Intranet |
Digital Measures |
July 2008 - December 2012
The Butler"s gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) – a diminutive, Great Lakes region wetland specialist - occurs in Wisconsin only as a disjunct population in the greater Milwaukee area in southeast Wisconsin (Rossman et al. 1996). This species is otherwise found only east of Lake Michigan in a distribution across the eastern half of Michigan and adjacent parts of southwestern Ontario, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio. BGS was listed as threatened in Wisconsin in 1997 because of long-term habitat loss in its geographically restricted range (Joppa and Temple 2005, Vogt 1981) and other threats. BGS presents a management and conservation challenge because it hybridizes with its close relative, the plains gartersnake (T. radix). The Eastern plains gartersnake is not a listed species in Wisconsin but is a species of Special Concern, and inhabits mesic prairies, dry-mesic prairies, and oak savanna with access to nearby water in the form of marshes, ponds, brooks, or rivers (Ernst and Ernst 2003, Vogt 1981). PGS occurs south of the Wisconsin BGS range – as currently understood - in extreme southeastern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and northwestern Indiana, and west of the BGS range in south-central Wisconsin and states further west. A purported BGS-PGS hybrid zone occurs in southeastern Wisconsin where the two species are sympatric. The respective ranges of BGS, PGS, and BGS-PGS hybrids in this area – and the degree to which these ranges overlap - are not well understood. However, the hybrid zone is thought to encompass Walworth, Kenosha, and Racine counties, and at least the southern portions of Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
Federal Staff: 95
Masters Students: 239
Phd Students: 142
Post Docs: 53
University Staff: 240
Students graduated: 701
Scientific Publications: 1936
Presentations: 4260


text:
Collect All 21! now available on Lulu.
I'm heading off the grid for a bit, but when I'm back, we'll talk about the awesomely fantastic OSWCC Summer Social, the new additions to my Star Wars collection, and a little bit about how freaking cool it is that I'm having to order more copies of "Collect All 21!"
(What, you missed the pre-order? Well, as it happens, it's now available at Lulu! Quick, get your early edition before some kid shoots his eye out and I have to change it!)
No comments yet.


text:
If you enjoy watching streaming programs on your TV, having Amazon Fire TV products is a great option. They are available in 3 variations namely Amazon Fire TV Cube, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and Amazon Fire TV Stick. Regardless of your choice, Amazon Fire TV products will allow you to access over a thousand apps, customized recommendations on Amazon videos, Alexa commands as well as a voice-friendly remote control.
To help make an informed choice, here is a comparison between the different Amazon fire TV products:
Size & Design
Amazon fire TV Stick: this is the tiniest of the three which has the look of a little black rectangle that measures 3.3* 1 inches.
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K: this has the same design as the Amazon Fire TV Stick but bigger in size at 4 * 1.2 inches.
Amazon Fire TV Cube: this is the most unique of the three as it has the shape of a square box measuring 3.4 inches.
Power Supply
To be able to use any of the three Amazon Fire TV products, you need to keep them constantly connected to a power outlet on the wall. Your TV power supply cannot provide enough power to control any of these products including the smallest of them.
Space Availability
To make a choice from these Amazon Fire TV products, you need to consider space available where your TV is located. If you have ample space, you can consider the Amazon Fire TV Cube but if the space is limited, you'll choose between Amazon Fire TV Stick and the Amazon Fire TV Cube.
Etharnet Connection
It is only the Amazon Fire TV Cube that supports Ethernet Connection outside the box. For the Amazon Fire TV Stick or the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, you'll need to purchase an Ethernet adapter.
Amazon Fire TV Cube and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K support 4K resolution & HDR protocol whereas Amazon Fire TV does not have this option. If your TV usually maxes out at 1080p, you can use the Amazon Fire TV Stick but if this is not the case, you have to consider the other options.
When it comes to HDR 10 protocol, Amazon Fire TV Stick and Amazon Fire TV Cube are your best choice as you'll get a richer color with either of them. However, if you need one that supports Dolby Vision protocol in addition to HDR 10, you'll have to settle for Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. Amazon Fire TV Cube only supports HDR 10 protocol.
Remote Control
To access an elaborate remote control, you need to pay an additional cost for it. For the Amazon Fire TV Stick, you can only use voice remote control.
For Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon Fire TV Cube, you can use the innovative Amazon's Alexa remote. This has additional buttons that will allow switching power off or on, raising or lowering the volume, and mute your TV. The remote has the ability to control your entire TV set in addition to the Amazon Fire TV player.
Alexa Integration
All three Amazon Fire TV products have complete Alexa integration. You can use them to know the weather, control the shopping list, checking sports scores, check traffic conditions, or even creating an impromptu playlist. Since they all have voice remotes, you can use Alexa immediately you set them up.
If you want better control, however, you'll have to settle for Amazon Fire TV Cube as it has a fully-fledged Alexa speaker. With this, you'll be able to control your TV without the need to press any buttons on your remote.
Amazon Fire TV cube will also allow you to control your lighting, thermostats or any other loT device outside the box. To use Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K or Amazon Fire TV in this manner, you'll need to have them connected to Amazon Echo speakers.
Cost and Value
Amazon Fire TV Stick is the most affordable of the three at $40, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K costs $50, and Amazon Fire TV Cube cost $120.
To get the best of Amazon Fire TV products, you can settle for Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K which will give you better control. You can settle for Amazon Fire TV Cube if you are in need of speaker functionality. Considering the 3 Amazon Fire TV products, however, buying the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K will give you the best deal. You'll not spend much and it has an amazing functionality as well.


text:
By Day or Night Dazzle
Samba, beaches, bossa nova, Guanabara Bay, Funk Carioca, Carnaval, and Christ the Redeemer-one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World"-are all well-known icons of A Cidade Maravilhosa, the "marvelous city." Nonetheless, Rio is a portrait of all of Brazil's contradictions. The gorgeous coastline of the Atlantic rainforest drapes down the hillsides, which are covered with a vast labyrinth of favelas (shanty towns) and spill onto the loveliest urban beaches in the world, lined with the very chic apartments of Brazil's wealthiest class. Both classes have one thing in common: a lust for life that makes for some of the most vibrant popular culture and most spectacular public events worldwide. First , there is Carnaval, of course, which draws thousands to the Sambódromo, where samba schools compete for the prestigious title. New Year's Eve also draws international attention to its beaches as revelers, dressed in white, bring offerings to Iemanjá-"queen of the waters"-while live mega-music shows rock the public along Avenida Atlântica to brilliant fireworks explosions. Sports activities abound, with excellent conditions for sailing, surfing, skin and scuba diving, hang gliding, beach volleyball, and, of course, soccer -- fútbol, as everyone in Brazil knows it. The more than 11 million inhabitants are famous for their love of music, which can be enjoyed in the many nightclubs, restaurants, and theaters -- or even in little sidewalk cafés.


text:
The online community of knife collectors, A Knife Family Forged in Steel
Nice to see you out on the web!
Thanks Tom...I have an order for a similar knife for another customer, I'll be glad to add one for you to my order list if you're interested. Let me know.


text:
Award-winning Canadian bluesman Steve Strongman is a versatile talent, and a restless one. By constantly pushing himself in new directions, he has kept himself vital. His talent is huge and impossible to miss, and it's matched by his staggering musical ambition — as guitar-slinger, songwriter or vocalist. The same structures and progressions that animate blues and roots music can also choke the air out of it, smothering it in caricature and cliché. But Strongman is a subtle shape-shifter who manages to slip that trap without betraying the music he loves. Throughout, he never sounds an inauthentic note or loses touch with the essence of the blues. In the tradition of The Howlin' Wolf Album and Muddy Waters' After the Rain.
Modern and timeless, Strongman's latest album No Time Like Now is a slab of reinvigorated 21stcentury blues. An intoxicating shot of raw electrified blues, the album captures the performer riding a surge of new energy. The album is a shout-out to a lifelong love of blues in all its shapes and shadings, from rough-hewn electric blues, blue-collar hollers and swampy stompers to soulful groovers and hushed, heartfelt ballads. More than anything, the album reconnects with the primal force and emotional clout of dirty blues. It's a stunning rocker, and it's a hell of a lot of fun.
Strongman's impressive resume includes stints opening for guitar legends such as Johnny Winter, B.B. King and Buddy Guy. The performer's breakthrough 2012 release A Natural Fact was hailed as a standout, earning Maple Blues Awards for Recording, Songwriter, and Guitarist Of The Year as well as a 2013 Juno Award for Blues Recording Of The Year. In 2014 he was thrice-nominated at the Maple Blues Awards (Guitar Player, Electric Act, and Entertainer of the Year) and in 2015 received a second Juno nod for Blues Album of the Year (for Let Me Prove It To You).


text: Heavy-duty professional punch machine, suitable for large range of products. Maximum punching thickness per stroke for standard punching dies is 4.5 mm but custom-made enforced dies can punch paper packs up to 8 mm thick. LP-500 is designed and produced at a state-of-the-art level; meets safety conditions requirements and distinguishes itself by numerous advantages. For example due to cantilever structure working width of punching is practically unlimited. Furthermore the model is equipped with eccentric shaft. This feature ensures ease of adjusting and handling. Special mention in this regard should be made of punching dies. Split two-part dies with thumb cut allow book block punching up to 480 mm in width as well as calendar punching up to 520 mm without the need to invest in a second die. Guides of all punching dies are made of bronze and also punch pins are made of superior high-alloy steel whereby dies durability increases threefold in comparison with steel guides and punch pins can be sharpened multiple times. Besides that dies configuration allows the quick cancellation of any punching knife, adjusting perforation depth and distance from the punching edge. Special tear-off perforation and scoring dies are also available providing range of options for using LP-500 beyond calendars producing season. The scoring die is designed with a possibility of score width adjusting up to 5.5 mm and variable geometry of scoring plates what is good for work materials of various thickness and base weight. Our engineers can design and produce punching dies with any bespoke punch patterns (e.g. rectangular, triangular, and elliptical).


text:
Senior Endurance training -Tuesday June 5th.
Tue 5th Jun 2018 Alan Coveney
Threshold + sets of 400's reducing
New Members Briefing (Seniors)
Tue 5th Jun 2018 Adrian Haughton
New to the club? Want to know more about events and activities? Got a question or idea?
Thursday Threshold -June 7th.
Thu 7th Jun 2018 Alan Coveney
Meet in Pavilion @ 6.50pm.
Spring Round-Up from Chatterbox
Thu 7th Jun 2018 Robert Bryan
The Spring 2018 Round Up from Chatterbox is now available
Thursday SOS - Harestock Handicap
Thu 7th Jun 2018 Steve Oliver
First Thursday of the Month ? It has to be the Harestock Handicap
Welsh Castles Relay
Sat 9th Jun 2018 Steve Oliver
The Welsh Castles 2018 will be the weekend of 9th & 10th June
Senior Endurance training -Tuesday June 12th.
Tue 12th Jun 2018 Alan Coveney
If racing : 6 x 800 ( Alt. Thr./5k pace ) 90 rec. OR : 10 X 800 (Ditto )
THURSDAY Threshold - June 14th.
Thu 14th Jun 2018 Alan Coveney
Thursday Threshold
Thursday SOS - Midsummer Madness
Thu 14th Jun 2018 Steve Oliver
Midsummer Madness.....Chilcomb Hill Reps
Sat 16th Jun 2018 Lloyd Dickson
Entry details!


text:
Follow These 3 Steps to Find a Real Estate Agent
Thursday, October 31st, 2019
When you're planning to sell a home or buy a home—it's a big deal. Sure, you can do it on your own, but it's a complicated process and will take up a lot of your time. There are some things that are better left to the experts, and real estate is one of them.
How Buying is Better than Renting
Thursday, September 26th, 2019
Whether you're looking to move out of your parents' house or just ready to relocate in general, there are a few options for you to consider. We're talking about buying or renting. While there are benefits to each, we believe that buying has an amount of benefits. Have you spoken to a BHHS Select real estate agent before? Maybe it's time to consider this option. Keep reading to find out how buying is better than renting.
Attending Open Houses: 5 Major Items to Consider
Thursday, August 8th, 2019
It's finally time to start looking for your dream home. Sure, you've been scouring the internet for months to find exactly what you want – but now you've got an agent from Select Properties. That means you're going to start attending open houses and see everything in person. All you have to do is to keep your eyes open. Not sure what we mean? Here are 5 major items to consider when attending an open house.
Becoming a Home Maintenance Pro: Tips for New Homeowners
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Congratulations on your new home! You survived the paperwork. You got all of your belongings moved in and everything unpacked. You even got a lawnmower, some power tools and a massive tool chest. Now what?
5 Reasons Why Home Inspections Are Important
Thursday, March 7th, 2019
When buying a home, there is one basic thing you should do without a doubt – get a home inspection. By hiring an expert to come out and explain the condition of a home, you can feel confident when moving forward with your purchase. Still not sold? Read on for five reasons why home inspections are important.
Is Student Loan Debt A Threat To Homeownership? No!
Thursday, January 31st, 2019
Brett Murray
Over the course of the last thirty years, a shift has happened. An entire generation has been raised to believe that a college education is their key to unlocking opportunities that were not available to their parent's or grandparent's generations.
3 Tips for Packing More Efficiently for Your Move
Thursday, January 17th, 2019
Brett Murray
Moving can be a stressful experience. While some things can be prepared in the weeks leading up to the move, packing and moving out in a single day can still be a challenge.
Related: 5 Tips to Make Moving Less Stressful
These packing tips can help you avoid common issues and save you time and effort:
New Year, New Goals? Buying Is Now 26.3% Cheaper Than Renting In The US
Thursday, December 27th, 2018
Denise Rivers
The results of the latest Rent vs. Buy Report from Trulia show that homeownership remains cheaper than renting, with a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage, in 98 of the 100 largest metro areas in the United States.
You Need An Agent Who Will Always Put You First
Thursday, December 20th, 2018
Denise Rivers
Whether you are a rookie homebuyer or have gone through the process many times, having a local real estate expert who is well versed in the neighborhood you are looking to move to, as well as the trends of that area, should be your goal while home shopping.
Millennials Are Skipping Starter Homes For Their Dream Homes
Thursday, December 6th, 2018
Denise Rivers
A new trend has begun to emerge. With home prices skyrocketing in the starter home category, many first-time homebuyers are skipping the traditional starter homes and moving right into their dream homes.


text:
barbituric acid
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to barbituric acid: aspirin
bar·bi·tu·ric acid(bär′bĭ-to͝or′ĭk, -tyo͝or′-)
An acidic pyrimidine derivative, C4H4O3N2, used in the manufacture of barbiturates and some plastics.
[Partial translation of German Barbitursäure (coined by German chemist Adolf von Baeyer (1835-1917), purportedly after he discovered the compound on December 4, 1864, the feast of Saint Barbara, by combining malonic acid and urea) : Barbit- (irregularly derived from the name Barbara) + New Latin ūr(ea), urea; see urea + German Säure, acid.]
barbituric acid(ˌbɑːbɪˈtjʊərɪk)
(Elements & Compounds) a white crystalline solid used in the preparation of barbiturate drugs. Formula: C4H4N2O3. Systematic name: 2,4,6-trioxypyrimidine Also called: malonylurea
[C19: partial translation of German Barbitursäure, perhaps from the name Barbara + uric + Säure acid]
bar′bitu′ric ac′id(ˈbɑr bɪˈtʊər ɪk, -ˈtyʊər-, ˌbɑr-)
a white, crystalline, slightly water-soluble powder, C4H4N2O3, used chiefly in the synthesis of barbiturates.
[1865–70; < French barbiturique < German Barbitur(säure) barbituric acid (of uncertain orig.) + -ique -ic]
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
|barbituric acid - a white crystalline acid derived from pyrimidine; used in preparing barbiturate drugs
acid - any of various water-soluble compounds having a sour taste and capable of turning litmus red and reacting with a base to form a salt


text:
Advanced Search |
Search Tips
Agra (2011)
Travel in style as Lux Lifestyles visits the famed Taj Mahal. Explore the fascinating culture, the striking landmarks, and every lavish detail in between as this episode explores the beauty behind Agra, India.
We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!
Click the button below to add the Agra (2011) DVD to your wish list.
All prices are in USD.
Copyright 2019 Zeus.
Sitemap |


text:
How much will I get back when I retire?09 December 2014
We'll give you an estimate of what we think you'll get back, based on assumptions such as:
- how much you save
- how long you'll be saving for
- how much your savings may grow
- how much we take in charges
We'll show this in the personal key features illustration you'll get when you apply.
It's important to remember that you'll be saving for a long time. We can't guarantee that these figures will be the same when you come to take your benefits. Investment returns can go down as well as up so you may get back less than the amount originally invested.


text:
$9.95 $7.96 20%
Neoprene Material, Easy and fast to wear, Water and wind resistant, Reversible with both sides, Adjustable with Velcro® closure, Protects lower half of face. Great with glasses, goggles, under helmet, or alone, Ideal for hunting, snowboarding, skiing, fishing, Biking, or cold weather activity, One size fits most
One Size
To find your best fit, please view our sizing charts.
Eagle Leather offers FREE UPS GROUND shipping in the contiguous 48 state on order over $69.00, but we also offer USPS and FedEx shipping services. Actual shipping charges will be calculated during checkout, but you can use the following links to pick the best service for you.
Please use 98499 for the Origin Zip Code for the most accurate
estimates in time and price.
USPS Delivery Map
USPS Rate Calculator
UPS Ground Map
UPS Rate Calculator
This product has not yet been reviewed.
Eagle Leather offers a 1 YEAR WARRANTY on all items, and a 2 YEAR WARRANTY for all Eagle Leather Branded items. Our warranties covers all workmanship and manufacturer defects, but does not cover normal wear and tear. Find manufacturer warranties here.


text:
The Grounds
The historic garden has trees that are 200 to 600 years old, of which a few were part of an Elizabethan walled garden. You can find remains of these walls everywhere on the grounds. The "Folley" is ideally suited for children to have their fantasies run wild.
The formal garden is now designed by the "lady of the manor" in the Edwardian style with its solar circle, babbling brook, pond and greenhouse.
Remains of a Roman wall and even prehistoric burial mounds tell us the importance of this sacred site by the centuries. Seven acres of nature surrounded by fascinating surroundings guarantee an exceptional peace and tranquillity. Relaxing and unwinding comes naturally.


text:
I guess this place is a good place to hang out especially with families or friends. If time permits we would like to tryout its food at nite, for a change of environment.
Louisiana's cuisine served a lot of seafood, pasta and meat. After reading its review about its Seafood Jambalaya, which is actually a risotto rice cooked with asssorted seafood, with vegetables eg. lieke, tomatoes, celery and some herbs. And its really really good!! This dish is served with 4 pieces of garlic toast bread and you have to dip it in the seafood bumbo. Just nice for two...really yummy.
Bee ordered Tangerine Chicken. Bee said this is a must try. The chicken taste really american and the lemony sauce goes well with the rice. Its yummy!


text:
18 - 20 June, 2019 | Crowne Plaza Zurich, Switzerland
Main Conference Agenda Day 2
8:30 am - 9:00 am Morning Coffee and Registration
8:55 am - 9:00 am Pharma IQ Welcome
9:00 am - 9:10 am Chairman's Summary of Day One
9:10 am - 9:55 am The Limits of Serialisation and Traceability: Why There are No Holistic Counterfeit Drug Solutions
Everyone is aware of the troubling growth trend in the illicit pharmaceutical trade, and while we all agree that more needs to be done to protect patients, serialisation compliance will only be part of the solution. Neither Governments nor drug companies should be in any doubt - serialisation by itself will not be enough to safeguard the pharma supply chain and prevent illicit pharmaceutical trade, and thus, patient health risk.
- Discuss where item-level serialisation fits into the patient health protection strategy, and why it is not a solution in itself
- Analyse what combination of technologies is needed to fight counterfeiting
- Examine the impact of pharmaceutical product identification and traceability at the formulation level, and as a result, how pharmaceutical companies can better monitor patient impact
10:00 am - 10:45 am Brand Protection and Anti-Counterfeit as Leverage to Improve the Supply Chain
- Analyse the global serialisation requirements: How can companies prepare for global compliance with differences in regional requirements?
- Discuss how to translate serialisation compliance into a brand protection asset rather than a cost
- Identify the limitations of serialisation data: First and last touch supply chain visibility, and what can we do to close the transit gap?
10:40 am - 11:10 am Morning Coffee Break
11:10 am - 11:50 am E-Commerce: connecting an unconnected Internet ecosystem
- The rising tide of fake pharmacy websites
- How the Internet stakeholders need to become more connected
- There is no silver bullet just lots of small rounds – what needs to be done
- Stemming public demand by raising awareness is key
11:50 am - 12:30 pm Open Forum Discussion: Protecting Pharmaceutical Trade in an Increasingly Online Market
- Examine the 'internetisation' of healthcare and what it means for global supply chain security
- Discuss the cost benefit analysis of internet supply for pharmaceutical trade and market penetration
- Identify current solutions and strategies to protect your brand in the digital marketplace
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm Networking Lunch
1:30 pm - 2:10 pm Understanding the End-User Paradigm: Patient Impact Perspective on Anti-Counterfeit Strategies
- Address public perception of company anti-counterfeit and brand protection strategies, and the impact on governmental and patient collaboration
- Examine the impact of falsified and counterfeit medications on patient health outcomes and brand value
- Discuss the benefits of centralising the patient in your anti-counterfeit and brand protection strategy
2:10 pm - 2:50 pm Securing the Supply of Controlled Substances Globally
- Discuss the inherent constraints and opportunities in managing small patient population drugs on a global basis
- Understand the nature of controlled substance supply with reference to the US and EU markets
- Discuss the impact of limited patient populations: Know your patients, know your product (security!)
- Identify trends in demand and supply as a method for product risk managment
2:50 pm - 3:20 pm Afternoon Coffee Break
3:20 pm - 4:00 pm Understanding Cross-Border Collaboration and Impact – The WCO's Approach to Building an Anti-Counterfeit Strategy
- Examine the challenge of regional market penetration: Do you manage the supply chain from afar or work with regional partners?
- Identify best strategies for coping with regional market importation requirements where you have less of an established brand presence and supply network
- Pinpoint how to identify suspicious import and export activities, and discuss next steps in process identification
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm Scenario Roundtables: Interrupting Counterfeit Networks and Strengthening Supply Chains: Balancing Investigations and Regulation
- Examine how markets outside of the EU are identifying illicit pharmaceutical trade and brand infringements without FMD serialisation
- Discuss the role of a field-based approach in counterfeit market interruption: Why local partnerships generate stronger results
- Map out where responsibility for investigation implementation sits: With the brand offshore, or with local market partners, and how to balance the associated risks


text:
Manchester United blew the Premier League title race wide open with a 2-0 win over lethargic leaders Chelsea, while Liverpool are back in third place after a 1-0 victory at West Brom on Sunday, AFP reports.
Antonio Conte's Chelsea were rocked by Marcus Rashford's early goal and a deflected Ander Herrera strike soon after half-time at Old Trafford delivered a major blow to their title ambitions.
The Blues barely managed an attack of note and a second defeat in their last four league games leaves them clinging to a four-point lead over second placed Tottenham, who had piled on the pressure with a 4-0 rout of Bournemouth on Saturday.
After appearing set to cruise to the title for most of the season, Chelsea now face a nerve-jangling final six matches as they try to hold off a strong challenge from their London rivals.
"They deserved to win because they showed more desire than us," Conte said.
"In this case, the fault is the coach. I wasn't able to do the right motivation.
"I have concern because we have to work together and find quickly the right ambition to win this title.
"Tottenham is in good form and playing with enthusiasm. We must find the same."
It was a sweet moment for United manager Jose Mourinho, who had suffered a 4-0 thrashing against Chelsea in October on his first return to the club since being sacked last season.
United were also knocked out of the FA Cup quarter-finals by Chelsea last month and avenging those painful losses kept alive their bid to qualify for the Champions League via a top four finish.
Mourinho's men, unbeaten in their last 22 league games, are now fifth, four points behind fourth placed Manchester City with a game in hand.
Chelsea's cause wasn't helped by the absence of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was injured earlier in the week, and the pre-match withdrawal of left wing-back Marcos Alonso due to a reported illness.
And the Blues looked less solid than usual at the back as United carved them open to take the lead in the seventh minute.
It was a goal rooted in controversy from Chelsea's point of view as United midfielder Herrera appeared to have handled the ball to win back possession.
Even so, Chelsea defender David Luiz was still exposed too easily by Herrera's precise pass, with Rashford allowed to gallop clear before slotting a cool finish under Asmir Begovic for his ninth goal of the season.
United, whose leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic started on the bench, were rewarded for a vibrant display when they struck again in the 49th minute.
Ashley Young's persistence opened space for Herrera and the Spaniard's shot from the edge of the penalty area deflected off Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma before looping over Begovic.
At the Hawthorns, Liverpool playmaker Roberto Firmino settled a scrappy game with a close-range header in first half stoppage-time.
The Brazilian converted a flick-on from Lucas Leiva to seal Liverpool's fifth win in their last seven games.
Liverpool are unbeaten since losing at Leicester in late February and now lead City by two points, although Pep Guardiola's team have a game in hand in the race for an automatic spot in the Champions League group stage.
With United, Arsenal and Everton also still in contention for a top four finish, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp isn't getting carried away just yet.
"It is the Premier League, Arsenal have three games in hand so we should not think about this," Klopp said.
"If we do what we have to do we will be where we want to be."
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]


text:
High Court cancelled the transfer of IPS T.C to SP
In compliance with the High Court order, the government canceled the transfer of Dr. Manjunath T.C from the post IPS to SP from Haridwar to Chamoli on Friday. His return was done on the old post of SP traffic in Haridwar. The Police Headquarters has upheld the old SIT by canceling the new SIT order.
Manjunath left for Haridwar on Friday evening after handing over the responsibility of SP Chamoli to CO. On January 8, the government sent Dr. Manjunath T.C, who was in charge of the SIT, the SP of the Haridwar Transport and Scholarship scam, and made him as SP of Chamoli. Also, a new SIT was constituted under the leadership of IG Sanjay Gunjyal to investigate the scam.
During the hearing of the scholarship scam on January 9, the High Court had canceled the transfer of Dr. Manjunath T.C. After dissolving the new SIT, Manjunath Wali ordered the probe by the SIT. Manjunath took the charge of SP Chamoli on Tuesday evening between the suspects.
On receiving the copy of the order of the High Court government on Friday, the has canceled his transfer for Chamoli. He has been ordered to take the charge of SP Traffic post of Haridwar. After three days of captaincy, on Friday evening, Dr Manjunath handed over the charge of SP Chamoli to CO Mithlesh Kumar and left for Haridwar.
Here the police headquarters has also canceled the order for the formation of a new SIT. The order of the SIT, led by Dr. Manjunath, to issue a scholarship scam, was issued once again.


text:
9/28/2017 0 Comments
26 Weeks: Keeping Fit Safely
I started coaching Master's swimming again last week. For those of you who don't know, Master's swimming is like swim team but for adults. Many of my swimmers are ex high school or college swimmers, many of them are triathletes and a lot of them also just picked up swimming as an adult. It's a really fun, diverse group of active adults who come from a variety of backgrounds and who have a range of goals. Some of them are super competitive and travel the nation or world competing against other Master's swimmers and some of them just show up for fitness.
I first got involved with Master's Swimming during the summers in college when I would go home for summer break, but still needed to train. I swam with Master's as a way to stay fast and fit for my upcoming college season. There was a handful of serious women and some men who were very fast swimmers and they kept me working hard and pushing myself. It was a nice break from the stress of the division 1 college training atmosphere but I was able to keep my body in top shape and ready to compete.
I became a coach shortly after I graduated college as a way to supplement income and stay involved in the swimming community. I was too burnt out to actually swim consistently though. I stayed fit with running, cycling and yoga and my only visits to the pool were my coaching shifts. There were multiple times over the few years when I was previously coaching that I got determined to get back in the water but after a few practices or weeks I would give it back up, still feeling slightly soured from the years of college swimming.
I finally think I am back into swimming this time. I really have no other cardio options at this point with a twin pregnancy. I would love to be running, but that ship sailed a few months ago, it just isn't safe for the babies or I this time around. I ran all the way through my last pregnancy until the day I delivered Sterling at almost 41 weeks and planned on doing that again this pregnancy but twins changed that!
Thus far, swimming has provided to be a wonderful, gentle cardio workout with the bonus of being a nice social outlet because this mama doesn't get out much. I've been enjoying how easily and gracefully my body moves through the water. I am defiantly not moving with that kind of ease on land these days!
I'm only swimming Monday, Wednesday and Fridays at a one hour noon practice. It would be nice to do more but this is what I have the energy for and what fits into my schedule. A year ago I'd think this was some sort of joke, me only working out three times a week, but I'm quite satisfied with this today.
9/21/2017 0 Comments
25 Weeks: Quitting Work
I reluctantly left my job at the Coop this week. I decided it was just too much stress to be on my feet for 8 hours at a time even just a few days a week. It wasn't worth risking my pregnancy over and since I was working the afternoon/late evening shift, it just isn't a good fit anymore. By the time the evening rolls around, I'm more prone to contractions because my body is tired. I need to be able to sit and rest if I'm having more contractions than normal or feeling particularly tired.
Conveniently, I'm starting a different part time job! In a way this works out perfect. Now, I know what you're thinking, that makes no sense, why quit one to start a different one, doesn't that defeat the purpose? This other job is only a total of a couple hours a week.
I'm coaching Masters Swimming at the YMCA, which is something I did for several years when we lived in Boise previously, and I loved it. I'm an ex college swimmer and swimming is something I am passionate about and have a lot of knowledge in. Plus, a big bonus is getting a free YMCA membership!
The timing is perfect because a few weeks ago I was feeling a little overwhelmed that maybe I had bitten off more than I could chew with both jobs. I tend to get overly ambitious and once we moved back to Idaho, I chased after two jobs and got both thinking I could totally handle two part time jobs!
I feel sad to be done working my other job at the Coop in Wellness, but it was too many hours on my feet at this point in my twin pregnancy. I feel super excited to still be getting out of the house and coaching again just a few hours a week. Something much more sustainable for where I am at physically.
9/14/2017 0 Comments
24 Weeks: Hydration
My main focus this past week has been my hydration. After that little field trip to labor and delivery during my 23 week of this pregnancy, I do not wish to repeat that.
I reached out to one of my good friends who just happens to be a new twin mama and a medical student in her residency. She told me that now, exclusively breastfeeding her twins, she consumes upwards of 300-400 fluid ounces of water per day!!!!! I have two amniotic sacs that need to replenish themselves every hour so not only do I need to keep my own body hydrated, but I need to keep two babies hydrated as well.
Dehydration is one of the primary risks for sending a pregnant woman into preterm labor so it is very important to stay hydrated. I normally drink my water out of big mason jars when I'm at home. The jars hold 32 ounces of water so I decided that my goal would be to consume 10 of these jars per day. That averages about a jar an hour with a little wiggle room if I don't quite make it. Mentally though, the easiest way for me to execute this was to aim for a jar an hour and I made a tally mark on our kitchen white board every time I finished it!
I didn't get around to taking official belly photos this week, but here's one I took in the locker room after I swam a Master's Swim practice!
9/7/2017 0 Comments
23 Weeks: Field Trip to L&D
This week started out great until the very last day, one day short of 24 weeks. It was a normal evening, I cooked dinner, did the dishes and gave our toddler son a bath. I noticed some minor Braxton Hicks contractions which didn't concern me at first.
Then I started to mentally take note of them because they seemed to be getting stronger, longer and more frequent. I told Matt I didn't feel so well and that I needed to lay down for a bit and asked him to watch our son who would be going to bed soon. I laid down on our bed for about 15 minutes but they didn't subside at all and I started to get scared. They weren't particularly painful; they were just coming fast and seemed to be getting worse not better even after resting a bit.
I guiltily decided to call my OB's pager and felt bad bugging him afterhours. He called back promptly, not more than five minutes after I left my number. I described my situation and he told me firmly to go to labor and delivery at the hospital. He said, they were the ones with the medications to help stop labor if I was indeed headed that way.
I shyly emerged from our bedroom and told my husband that I had just talked to my OB and needed to go to labor and delivery. I burst into tears mid telling him this information. My young toddler looked at me confused and alarmed to see me crying. He ran to me and I just hugged him as my husband got my parents on the phone and asked them to come pick up Sterling. Thankfully they live close and in 15 minutes my dad was at our house picking him up. This is the first time I have ever spent a whole night away from him!
I was super uncomfortable the whole car ride to the hospital. I couldn't believe I was headed into labor and delivery at only 24 weeks (not quite 24 w, though I was only hours away from being officially 24 w). I kept thinking, this is too early, they cannot be born yet. Technically the week for fetal viability outside the womb is 23 weeks, but most babies born that early who survive, have pretty sever lifelong disabilities.
Once checked into L&D, I was asked to give a urine sample and hooked up to two fetal monitors and one measuring contractions. The nurse had a difficult time getting two heartbeats. She was worried she was just getting a reverberation of the first baby when she finally thought she might have the second baby. This was because the heartbeats she was getting were exactly the same and that's very rare.
She ended up calling in an ultrasound machine so that she could get eyes on both babies and make sure she truly was getting two heartbeats. The ultrasound revealed that they were both head up and spooning. She had in fact found two heartbeats but the babies had synced up as they were nestled together in my womb.
They preformed a fetal fibronectin test by swabbing my cervix which was also still tightly closed. This test is a pretty good indicator of whether a woman will go into labor within the next two weeks. If it is negative, I was told, there is about a 90% chance I will NOT go into labor within the next two weeks. If its positive, its merely a 50-50 toss up. From what I understand, fetal fibronectin is a protein that helps glue the baby to the uterus. As the body prepares for labor, the protein breaks down and leaks out of the cervix. Thankfully, this ended up coming back negative.
When I got the lab results back though, they also informed me that I was very dehydrated. This was a shocker. I drink lots of water. I'm that girl who always has a giant water bottle on her and who makes constant trips to the restroom even when she's not pregnant. The urine sample that I gave the was also fairly clear, not dark like you would expect a dehydrated patient's urine to be.
The nurse repeated that I was "severely dehydrated." Apparently, there was all kinds of junk in my urine that shouldn't be there unless you're super dehydrated, things that as a non-medical professional, went in one ear and out the other. She told me that my doctor told her to give me a scolding about hydration and to send me home and he'd see me at my appointment the next morning. The timing was quite convenient that I was already scheduled in his office the very next day for my 24 week check up. I was surprised they didn't give me IV fluids, but I was relieved to be headed home with my babies still inside me.
Lesson learned, twin pregnancies require much hydration and that even if your urine is clear, its still possible to be dehydrated.
Ashley Wolfe
Twin Mom, Yogi, and Health Nut!
All Guest Blogger Holistic Living Motherhood Nutrition Pregnancy Recipes Sutras Women's Health
September 2018


text:
Windows XP vs Windows 7
Michael Brown April 8 2009 08:12:20 PMAs Windows 7 approaches its first Release Candidate, expect to see many performance comparison articles, courtesy of the ever friendly (towards Microsoft) computer press. I guarantee that these will all say pretty much the same with regards to performance: "Windows 7's performance is miles better than Vista's and almost on a par with XP's". That's where such comparisons mention XP at all. I suspect that many won't, or if they do, they'll gloss over it quickly as if it's an irrelevance.
Microsoft needs this forgetfulness to happen if Windows 7 is going to be the massive hit for which they're hoping There's plenty of Microsoft fans - and surely they can't all be astroturfers - urging that this is how it should be. E.g, take a comparison from Overclockers, which does include XP in the mix and which concludes that "Windows 7 underperformed XP in every category". (Note: that's underperformed, and not outperformed.) The first comment on this article says the the following:
Lets face it Windows XP is soon gonna be a fond memory for about 90% of the people in the near future so there is no longer any real need to see how Windows 7 stacks up against such a aging XP OS any more.You wish, "rocky"!! But I don't think you and Microsoft are going to be able to pull the wool over quite that easily.
"The Sale To End All Sales"
Here's an analogy. I was watching an episode of an old western TV show recently - guilty confession; I think it might have been Little House on the Prairie! - where the unprincipled propitiator of the town store wanted to make money on a sale she was holding. So how do you make a profit during a sale, when you're actually dropping your prices? Simple: she quietly raised her prices by 25% the week before, and then put signs in her shop window proclaiming "the sale to end all sales! everything reduced by 20%!". As long as nobody remembered what the original prices were before she raised them, then she gets to pocket the extra 5% while the customers are convinced that they're getting a good deal.
So it is with Microsoft. In terms of performance (although you could argue for dollar costs too) XP is the original price; Vista is the 25% jacking up; and Windows 7 is "the sale to end all sales" that actually puts things back almost as they were in the first place. But the whole scam only works if nobody remembers the "original price" that is XP. You only need know that "Windows 7 isn't Vista". Just as people love Barack Obama, and while he may turn out to be a great U.S. President, all most people care about now is that he's not George W Bush.
Likewise, Microsoft knows that 7 is going to be better than Vista. That's a no-brainer, because anything is better than using Vista. Hell, getting whacked in the face with a shovel full of compost is better than using Vista! So, you can expect Microsoft to "encourage" only studies that show the differences between Vista and 7, and which brush XP quietly under the carpet.
Home Vs Business
But how relevant for you is a comparison of Vista to 7?
If you're a home user who got stuck with Vista because it was all that was available when you bought your new PC (and you didn't want to pay through the nose for "downgrade" to XP rights) then it's very relevant. Hopefully, you'll be able to trade up to something that's much better than what you have, although that's not saying much, so good luck to you (but why not have a quick play with Ubuntu while you're waiting?). It only remains to see how much Microsoft is going to sting you for that privilege. (If you believe, as many people do, that Windows 7 is "Vista as it should have been" then you may be hoping that 7 will be a free upgrade from Vista. Dream on.)
However, if you're a business that's avoided Vista like your life depended on it - because from an IT reliability perspective, it very likely did! - then a comparison of 7 vs Vista is of no relevance to you whatsoever. You would be moving from XP to 7, and not from Vista to 7. How much better 7 is than Vista is neither here nor there, as far as you're concerned.
Lotus Notes, Bloat and Going Around In Circles
As a Lotus Notes developer, I may appear to be on thin ice when I point out - as I'm just about to! - that Vista and Windows 7 are bloated monsters. The Domino server may continue to amaze by packing in more features and offering better performance with each subsequent release, but the Notes client has been bloating up for many years now. Notes 8.0 was the worst culprit yet in terms of its increased size and lack of performance. Let's be honest: Notes 8.0 crawled. Thankfully though, Notes 8.0.2 and particularly Notes 8.5 managed to get on top of those performance issues and get things back to usable levels, even on older hardware.
But there was always a crucial difference between the Notes 8.0 bloat and the bloat of Vista and Windows 7: Notes 8.0 added some extra features over its predecessors! I mean real features; features that people actually wanted and that companies were willing to pay to have. To use a Hollywood comparison, you could see where the money had been spent; it was all right up there on the screen. I won't list all those new features here, but off the top of my head we had:
- A vastly improved UI.
- Multiple calendar overlays.
- Multiple undos. (Bring on redos!!)
- The Eclipse framework to give us:
- Simultaneous cross-platform releases for Windows, Macintosh and Linux. (Worth the price of admission alone, IMHO).
- Composite applications and mash ups. (Are they the same thing? Oh well!)
And what does Windows 7 give you over XP? Where's the beef? What is ten years of development - 7 for Vista then 3 more for Windows 7 - going to bring to the party? The party that you are paying for, by the way. To put it another way, at the end of an expensive - in terms of man-hours alone - upgrade from XP to Windows 7, what will you have that you didn't have before? What will you be able to do that you couldn't do before? Where will you be that you weren't before? Are you sure that you're not about to go around in a big circle only to arrive back pretty much at where you started? Mitchell Ashley at Network World makes the killer point:
Windows 7 is a better Vista but doesn't deliver enough advantages or differentiation from Windows XP to woo XP users from their stable, reliable and functional desktop OS.
Reasons To Upgrade?
Here are some of the reasons that you're likely to hear when you're being pushed to make the move from XP:
- It will have better security
Surely, you jest? Microsoft said the same of Vista. Did you see how all of the Vista PCs were impervious to Conficker, unlike their "outdated" XP cousins? Neither did I. Every version of Windows since 95 has been the one "that's going to fix security" once and for all. Do you really think that Windows 7 is going to be the one? (Did you also predict that the current recession "might have blown over by now"?)
- It has an improved Interface
If my limited experience of Vista is anything to go by, this will translate to mean "controls and functions that you could find in XP have been moved around so that you can't find them any more". Oh and a smattering of the Dock - the weakest feature of Mac OS X - has been thrown in for no particular reason.
- That's progress! If you want to stay in the past you should have stuck with Windows 3.1 or even DOS!
I don't want to use DOS because I prefer a GUI to a command line. I didn't stick with Windows 3.1 because Windows 95 was miles better. Even though it took far more resources to run - really, it needed a new PC for most people - it was worth it for the breaking of the 8.3 file name limit alone. Similarly, XP was worth the upgrade (hardware and software) from Windows 98 because of its better stability and responsiveness when multitasking. In fact, apart from Windows ME (which was hardly a flagship release anyway), every version of Windows had been demonstrably better than the versions that proceeded it... until we got to Vista.
- Macs are expensive.
Linux isn't.
- You just have to because... Microsoft says, and there's no alternative!
I refer the honourable gentleman (or lady) to my previous answer.
- Comments [1]