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The UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Public Financial Management is designed to support provincial and central Chief Financial Directors to strengthen Public Financial Administration at the subnational level. It provides participants with a peer-to-peer exchange with national and prefectural government counterparts and to learn about best practices within Japan and in particular the Hiroshima Prefecture.
The programme addresses Public Financial Management, Budget Planning Models, and Revenue Management Best Practices, with an emphasis on improving Customs and Taxation competencies. It also covers, inter alia, the Organizational Needs Assessment process, Action Plan Development, and Public Sector Leadership Fundamentals.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the training programme participants will be able to:
- Demonstrate enhanced understanding of government revenue and management systems
- Employ strategies to target corruption
- Translate political priorities into implementable activities
- Describe procedures for effective budget planning
- Assess organisational needs
- Design and implement action plans
- Illustrate processes to manage conflicts
- Demonstrate skills fundamentally important to leadership
The training programme is based on a blended-learning participatory approach and includes:
Interactive Lectures and Group Exercises
Interactive lectures are facilitated by key Resource Persons who examine the themes of the Workshop from a broad theoretical perspective down to case studies examining real world implementation. These presentations are augmented by small group exercises and frequent discussions from the floor, which serve to contextualise the issues being examined.
After-Action Reviews
Representing a key component of the Workshop, after-action reviews takes place within groups at the start of each morning, discussing the main issues raised in the previous presentations, as well as the specific frames of reference as applied to these by participants.
Personal Profile Questionnaires
The DiSC Personality Profile test, a behaviour assessment tool, allows participants to understand more closely their own emotions and motivating factors. This also gives insight into members of their team, and what motivates them, and can improve work productivity, teamwork and communication.
Study Tours
Underscoring the theoretical introductions and analysis presented, study tours form an integral part of the training methodologies utilised by UNITAR. Participants are able to relate to what has been seen and discussed in the training programme with actual examples of policy development and implementation.
Training the Trainer
A focus is made throughout the training sessions to relate the learning being facilitated to the realities on the ground. In addition, each participant is empowered to recreate the training upon their return to their organisation in order to achieve a self-propagating legacy of skills development.
Project Completion Reports
The UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Public Financial Management has been successfully developed and delivered to the following entities:
Hiroshima, Japan; 26-30 November 2012


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September 20, 2010 at 11am to November 30, 2010 at 5pm – The Rincliff Gallery-Drexel University Museum A rare display of 100 Chinese dragon snuff bottles from the O'Hara collection showing examples in all types of media. A lecture by the collector has been scheduled for october 27th at 5:30 pm in the… Organized by John K. O'Hara and Jacqueline DeGroff curator | Type: open, to, the, public.
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Earlier this year, we took a look at some life lessons given to us by B-list 90s teen films. But what did we learn from the teen films of the 00s? Let's take a look, shall we?
Bring It On (2000): The decade kicked off with a spin on the bitchy-cheerleader cliche in teen movies by presenting us with cheerleaders as both heroines and villains in the ridiculously silly Bring It On. Not only did the film poke fun at the world of competitive cheerleading, but it also presented cheerleaders, perhaps for the first time in the teen movie world, as legitimate athletes with serious skills.
Important Life Lesson To Remember: "This is not a democracy, it's a cheerocracy."
Save The Last Dance (2001): I'm using Save The Last Dance to represent every dance-will-save-you movie of the decade, a theme that seemed to run through the past 10 years the way extreme makeovers dominated the teen movies of the 90s. If you could dance in a teen film of the 00s, you could pretty much do anything. As long as you wore a "slammin'" outfit, of course.
Important Life Lesson To Remember: That outfit you're wearing from the Gap is "country, and you look country in it."
Saved, 2004: The dark comedy tale of an uber-religious teenager who becomes pregnant centers not only on the issues surrounding teen pregnancy, but on religion (and the hypocrisy within), abortion, sexuality, disability, love, and the difficulties of finding yourself in high school and breaking away from the worldview that is often imposed upon you by authority figures. It also taught us that it's a good idea to avoid crashing your van into Jesus.
Important Life Lesson To Remember: "So everything that doesn't fit into some stupid idea of what you think God wants you just try to hide or fix or get rid of? It's just all too much to live up to. No one fits in one hundred percent of the time. Not even you."
Mean Girls, 2004: The true heir to the great teen films of the 80s and 90s, Mean Girls stands out for its Tina Fey-penned script and stellar cast, including a top-of-her-game Lindsay Lohan and the always-excellent Rachel McAdams. And while the film is often name-checked and referenced due to its catchphrases, the true importance of the film lies in the exploration of bullying amongst girls in high school, a very real and difficult issue that still needs addressing. The film is already dated in the world of social networking (can you imagine what Regina George would have done with sexting and Facebook?), but the overall message of the film still rings true: high school, and the girls in it, can be a real bitch.
Important Life Lesson To Remember: "Calling somebody else fat won't make you any skinnier. Calling someone stupid doesn't make you any smarter. And ruining Regina George's life definitely didn't make me any happier. All you can do in life is try to solve the problem in front of you."
Juno, 2007: Diablo Cody won an Oscar for her screenplay about a 16-year-old girl who discovers she's pregnant, briefly considers abortion, and eventually decides to carry the child to term in order to give it up for adoption. Focusing on Juno's quirks, fears, and frustrations while attempting to navigate both high school and pregnancy, the film attempts to create a character who is much more than an afterschool special cliche. Whether it succeeds or not depends on who you talk to—in our comments, anyway, the film is always fairly divisive. In any case, for all the pop culture posturing and quippy dialogue, there is something quietly honest about Juno; she is depicted in moments of absurdity, weakness, strength, sadness, and acceptance; all elements of growing up and trying to figure out how to make sense of the world when it doesn't seem to make any sense at all.
Important Life Lesson To Remember: "Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."
Did I miss any? Feel free to leave your favorite moments from the past 10 years in teen movies in the comments.
Earlier: Important Life Lessons Learned From B-List Teen Movies Of The 90s


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Taking care of a virtual pet, like a Tamagotchi, can be a rewarding experience. Thanks to the game's clever design, you'll quickly find yourself genuinely caring about the wellbeing of a creature you know not to be real.
Tamagotchi is the brand that kickstarted the virtual pet craze in the '90s with their pocket-sized, pixelated pets, and the toys have evolved significantly ever since. If you're thinking of getting a Tamagotchi toy, it's a good idea to review the range of models currently available and how they differ before you buy.
A Tamagotchi is a virtual pet toy in which you raise an alien from an egg through to adulthood, training it to clean up after itself, helping it make friends and nurturing it along the way. The toy is often egg-shaped and small enough to fit in your pocket or even attach to your keys. Your Tamagotchi's appearance and demeanor will change as they grow, depending on how you care for them.
Newer models of the Tamagotchi toy connect to a companion smartphone app that offers even more online connectivity, unique Tamagotchi characters and mini-games to play with your pet. The newer Tamagotchi toys also allow you to care for your Tamagotchi into their senior years.
Tamagotchi toys have three buttons that allow you to navigate various screens within the game.
No matter which model you buy, your Tamagotchi will have a meter to represent its health, happiness, hunger and age. Once you've determined what your Tamagotchi character needs, you choose whether to cook food for it, take it to a restaurant, give it medicine, play with it or more. By tracking your Tamagotchi's meters and responding accordingly, you can ensure your pet grows to be happy and healthy.
As your Tamagotchi grows older, you can take them to a matchmaker to find them a suitable partner. These Tamagotchi pairs can have children that you can also raise to adulthood, growing your Tamagotchi family tree as you continue to play.
In newer models of Tamagotchi, you can use the smartphone app to connect with friends and set up playdates for your pets. The smartphone app also allows your Tamagotchi to earn points and surprises that you can import to your Tamagotchi device.
If this sounds like a lot, don't worry, some Tamagotchi toys may require significant involvement, but some models offer a more passive experience as well.
Older Tamagotchi models often have monochromatic screens and don't offer the same level of online connectivity as newer Tamagotchi toys. Still, the battery life is significantly better than more recent models, and some prefer the simplicity of the older Tamagotchi device.
Newer Tamagotchi models offer colorful screens, app compatibility, more options and longer Tamagotchi lifespans. Although modern Tamagotchi toys are more advanced, they don't provide the same level of nostalgia for those who enjoyed the toy in the '90s.
Some of the more popular Tamagotchi devices only feature Japanese menus or menus with pictures but no words. If you desire a device with English menus, you may want to consider the Tamagotchi On.
Newer Tamagotchi devices like the Tamagotchi On and Tamagotchi 4U allow you to pair with other Tamagotchi toys via Bluetooth or infrared connection. Some Tamagotchi devices can also pair with other Tamagotchi models as well as companion smartphone apps.
Tamagotchi toys come in various colors and designs, but the designs available to you will vary from device to device. If you want a solid-colored device, you may have to opt for the original Tamagotchi, or the Tamagotchi 4U, as the Tamagotchi On and many other new models feature flashy designs on their cases.
Older Tamagotchi models can cost as little as $20, whereas newer models are between $50-$100.
A. There is no official way to pause most Tamagotchi models. However, many users have found that they can effectively halt the devices by navigating to the "time" menu and ensuring that any digits are blinking. As long as one number is flashing, the game is essentially paused.
A. Your pet will die if you don't properly care for it or as a result of old age. If your pet dies, you're able to start over with a new pet.
What you need to know: This is a highly advanced Tamagotchi toy with a wide selection of connectivity options and games.
What you'll love: This device features English menus. Tamagotchi On's smartphone app nearly doubles the number of things you can do with your pet. The colored screen looks fantastic.
What you should consider: The battery life leaves a lot to be desired.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon and Macy's
What you need to know: This simplistic virtual pet toy mimics the model that started it all.
What you'll love: Playing this model has a high nostalgia factor if you played the original Tamagotchi. Simplistic gameplay. Long battery life.
What you should consider: The lack of a colored screen can take away from the realism of the experience.
Where to buy: Sold by Macy's
What you need to know: This is a fan-favorite model that can connect to other Tamagotchi devices.
What you'll love: This device can connect to other Tamagotchi models. It supports a range of different faceplates and has a gorgeous color screen.
What you should consider: The only language option is Japanese.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Cody Stewart writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.


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The Denver Broncos' search for a starting center is starting to feel like a rejected "Final Destination" screenplay.
Two starting options -- J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen -- have seen their seasonswiped away by injury before we've reached August. Now a twist in the script: The Broncos are eyeing a player whose career is technically over.
The Broncos have reached out to guard/center Ryan Lilja about coming out of retirement, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday. Citing a person who spoke to Lilja on Tuesday, Rapoport said the player is in "think-it-over mode" and should decide in a few days.
Lilja was Peyton Manning's teammate with the Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2009. Lilja, who turns 32 in October, is familiar with Manning's line calls, a huge plus for a Broncos team searching for stability at the position.
Lilja hardly is a perfect fit. He played guard, not center, during his time with Manning and the Colts. There also are physical question marks; Lilja underwent surgery on his toe and knee after starting 15 games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season. Still, Lilja might be a better option than Manny Ramirez, the guard who is currently acting as Denver's center.
Lilja had been in talks to come out of retirement and return to the Chiefs this spring. A phone call from his old buddy Peyton might get him over the hump.


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Laptops used to be the only devices on the company's wireless network. But Wi-Fi has become a ubiquitous standard used by a host of devices--including desktop PCs, laptops, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, printers, storage devices, and projectors.
To determine whether you need to update or improve your Wi-Fi network, you need to know which new features are available for recent Wi-Fi devices, and how they can improve the services you provide.
1. Improved Speeds
Wi-Fi speeds have improved from the maximum of 11Mbps with 802.11b to as much as 300Mbps or more with the 802.11n standard. Since signal strength can have a major effect on speed, creating better coverage areas through multiple access points (APs) and improved antennae can do as much to improve speed as a standard with higher throughput. There are a couple of caveats with the higher speeds. First, 802.11n has gone from 50Mbps to 300Mbps through the use of techniques including multiple-channel multiplexing, but those may not be compatible from brand to brand, causing devices to default back to the base level throughput. Further, there are two frequency bands, 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Many APs will use both frequencies, but doing so on a single AP can reduce throughput.
2. Improved Coverage
Many APs have multiple antennae, often configured in arrays (most commonly 3x3), allowing for improved coverage in areas near walls, better range, and stronger reception at longer ranges. The multiple antennae can typically be used in one of two modes, either as an array or as separate antennae for the two different frequencies. You may want to have different APs for the two frequencies to improve coverage and optimize throughput. Using different APs can make larger gains in throughput than using multiple APs set up for dual frequencies.
3. Security Features
Every administrator should set up security on APs. In fact, some vendors, including D-Link and Belkin, have changed the default setup of username admin with a blank password to a setup with a random username and password out of the box. It's still a good idea to enable additional security. Many APs allow for multiple groups of users, so you can set up a separate guest network that allows access to the Internet, but not to local resources such as file servers and printers.
Security standards have become easier to set up and harder to crack over the last few years. The newest standards can automatically exchange keys with new devices on the Wi-Fi network, but may not work as easily with all devices with older operating systems such as Windows XP.
4. Multiple Streams and QoS
When there are dozens or hundreds of devices on the network, with some doing other business-related tasks while others stream recreational videos, it's useful to guarantee that the important applications get sufficient bandwidth. Some access points can set up quality of service (QoS) to ensure that specific applications or protocols receive the bandwidth they need, while throttling or restricting inessential applications.
5. Management Tools
One of the reasons an enterprise-class AP can cost several times more than a wireless router advertising the same speed is that it offers additional features. Such management tools can display all APs on your network; track which devices and users are connecting; identify users, devices or APs that shouldn't be there; and find unauthorized devices to help you determine whether someone brought in a device from home or if a hacker has penetrated your network.
Newer devices can handle higher throughput; better coverage, signal strength, and security; and even segregate traffic to protect your wired network from unauthorized users or bandwidth-hogging traffic. If you're getting complaints about the network from users of Wi-Fi devices, review the new devices that are available, and see which ones will best fit your needs.


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Silicon Valley Deserves Silicon Valley
Until now, no one adequately embarrassed Silicon Valley on TV. All prior attempts either embarrassed themselves, or fell just short. But Silicon Valley, Mike Judge's HBO foray into the sociopathic pit of Northern California's tech scene is beyond adequate: It gives the fuckers the graceful slap across the face they need.
It's unclear why it's taken this long for Hollywood to skewer its Northern Californian cousins. Just this week, Amazon announced it's passing on Betas, its well-intentioned, online-only comedy series about nerd crisis. Maybe this scene isn't enough to hold attention spans. Judge's Silicon Valley (which premiers on April 6th) takes the same basic shapes—sociopath parvenues, villainous investors, clumsy wantrepreneurs, startup jargon—and builds it into not just a cutting portrait of an industry, but a genuinely funny comedy series. It's not Office Space 2014, but it's still corporate satire in top form.
Other than maybe The Social Network, no film or TV series has really accurately portrayed these new monsters, our mercenary Asperger's overclass. It's not enough to just have a show about "nerds": We've seen plenty of nerds, and freaks, and geeks. But we've never seen a faithful take on the startup goons.
In the very first episode, a group of young men—all white save one—are thrown into a crisis of judgment. In Silicon Valley, of course, that can only mean one thing: money. Our central-nervous-meek-white-guy-programmer Richard (Thomas Middleditch) is offered $10 million dollars for the whole of his "company" (essentially just himself) by one investor, or a relatively modest six figure sum in exchange for an equity stake. These are both very good options for someone living with a bunch of other computer science slobs—the other protagonist dudes of Silicon Valley—and their slob king benefactor Erlich (T.J. Miller), who runs a quarter-assed startup "incubator" out of his house. Unable to decide on which older white guy's money to take, Richard vomits his way to a doctor, who sends him home only after pitching his own a medical care app.
This total inability for self-care, the sad dance of the tech-industry manchild, is what gives Silicon Valley its momentum, and what prevents it from steering it into caricature. Everyone on the show is just barely human, but still humane. It's so easy to believe the worst about this world because so much of it rings true—would we really be shocked if someone in the real Silicon Valley said "If we can make your audio and video files smaller, we can make cancer smaller," as does an investor villain in the show? Silicon Valley's characters can't veer into over-the-top territory (a la Betas) because they're too impotent to even be pricks to each other. When Richard's new investor Peter Gregory—a perfect clone of Paul Graham played by Christopher Evan Welch—tells him he needs to trim the fat at the company, he's forced to question whether he's heartless enough to cut out his best friend. The entire company is suffering from an "asshole vacuum," Erlich scolds.
Hours of these people struggling with their lukewarm dreams ("I just wanted to work with computers and get paid for it") and middling greed could've been grating, but Silicon Valley is never as obnoxious as the geography it's panning. Judge adds in enough quick gags (a stripper with a Square reader, a brainstorming session for silly startup names) to break up the fact that we're dealing with almost uniformly unlikable characters—like Entourage, you might find yourself hooked by how turned off you are by this strange place. You'll find yourself caring what happens to this house of dicks—women are mostly sidelined, true to life—just enough to keep watching. But when the the wilting programmers betray, suffer, and treat each other poorly in the pursuit of change-the-world ambition, you'll relish that too. Just like the wider industry, Silicon Valley is a terrific mix of the goofy and the depressing, the people with genius IQs who still struggle to function. You'll cackle a lot and be glad you aren't there.


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President Obama has called for the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan over the next year and the remaining 68,000 by the end of 2014, but questions linger regarding what the troops are leaving behind after more than nine years of combat. In particular, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has accused U.S. and NATO-led coalition troops of littering his country with weapons that use "nuclear components."
Karzai made this comment last week during an address to the Afghanistan Youth International Conference, throughout which he broadly criticized coalition forces and pointed out that the U.S. has been in negotiations with the Taliban in an attempt to end the fighting set off by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, during an appearance June 19 on CNN's State of the Union news program, confirmed such negotiations had taken place. Less clear, however, are exactly which weapons Karzai was referencing and their long-term impact on the Afghani people and their country.
Karzai's comments likely refer to ammunition that uses depleted uranium (DU) to pierce armor or, conversely, to strengthen armored vehicles, according to scientists as well as intelligence and policy analysts. They also note that DU is not "nuclear" in the sense that brief exposure to it would not cause radiation sickness or cancer in the way that fallout from a nuclear warhead or meltdown would. DU, the main by-product of uranium enrichment, is a chemically and radiologically toxic heavy metal that is "mildly radioactive," with about 60 percent of the activity of natural uranium, according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
"In short, DU munitions are not even remotely on the same scale of danger as having a war in the first place," says Jeffrey Lewis, director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and publisher of the ArmsControlWonk blog, which addresses disarmament, arms control and nonproliferation.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), a Unified Combatant Command unit of the U.S. armed forces whose territory includes the Middle East, claims that no DU weapons are currently being used in Afghanistan, although a spokesman acknowledges that "DU-type munitions were used in Iraq in anti-tank and anti-armor weapons." The U.S. military itself has reported on its use of Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II jet fighter aircraft in Afghanistan. Whereas the A-10's standard 30-millimeter rounds normally contain DU, CENTCOM says that the A-10s in use in Afghanistan are not using DU munitions.
Why use DU?
"Wherever we send our A-10s, soon enough we hear reports of uranium contamination thanks to depleted uranium," says Chris Bronk, an information technology policy research fellow at Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy and a former U.S. State Department diplomat. Still, it is unclear how much DU ammunition has actually been used in Karzai's country (either by the U.S. or its NATO allies) and the long-term impact of DU on the environment, he adds.
DU kinetic-energy rounds are an effective way of penetrating armored vehicles. "You want something dense, and DU is denser than lead, something on the order of 1.6 times the density of lead," says Kristian Gustafson, deputy director of the Brunel Center for Intelligence and Security Studies (BCISS) at West London's Brunel University. "You've now upped your energy transfer by significant quantity." Still, U.S. and NATO air-strike targets in Afghanistan are more likely to be mud–brick buildings than armored vehicles, and DU rounds "are useless for anything other than smashing armor," he adds.
DU is used in anti-tank shells because it is a heavy metal that can slam through shielding plates on armored vehicles, agrees Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project.
How dangerous is DU?
The DU used in munitions is neither the same as natural uranium ore nor the radioactive uranium used in a nuclear reactor. DU is mostly composed of the isotope uranium 238 (U238); its more radioactive content, U235, is at least three times less than that of natural uranium, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). "Natural uranium ore contains almost entirely U238 but also a small amount of U235," Kristensen adds.
The reason for this breakdown, as well as the different isotopic proportions found in uranium used as fuel, has to do with nuclear physics: U235 can fission, U238 cannot easily fission. "During enrichment of uranium, to turn it into reactor fuel or highly enriched nuclear weapons material the enrichment process increases the amount of U235 to 3 percent in reactor fuel and more than 90 percent in weapons," Kristensen says. "The leftover U238 is referred to as depleted uranium."
Because DU contains much less U235 than natural uranium, it is less of a health threat, in terms of radioactivity, than both natural and fuel-grade uranium.
U238 is not radioactive in and of itself, but naturally decays and transforms to other elements, including lead, over time. "Some of those elements are radioactive, and one of them, radon (a gas), can be problematic because it can be inhaled and emits alpha particles, which, if embedded in the lungs, can cause cancer," Kristensen says. Still, U238 decays slowly—half of the material decays in 4.5 billion years—so the trace elements are miniscule."
WHO notes that the kidneys are most likely to be damaged from depleted uranium's chemical toxicity. Such damage would more likely result from ingestion of food and water containing uranium isotopes and inhalation of uranium-contaminated dust. External gamma exposure is generally not a major concern because uranium emits only a small amount of low-energy gamma radiation, and beta exposure is only of concern for direct handling operations, according to a study (pdf) produced in 2001 by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.
Health questions persist
The health effects resulting from DU exposure depend on the route and magnitude of exposure as well as the metal's characteristics, such as particle size, chemical form and solubility, according to UNEP, which has studied the use of this material in armed conflicts in Kosovo (pdf), Serbia and Montenegro (pdf), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (pdf). The three studies concluded that, whereas radiation can be detected at DU sites, the levels are so low that they do not pose a threat to human health and the environment.
At the same time, however, the studies identified a number of remaining scientific uncertainties that should be further explored. These include the extent to which DU on the ground can filter through the soil and eventually contaminate groundwater, and the possibility that DU dust could later be resuspended in the air by wind or human activity, with the risk that it could be inhaled. These assessments of the Balkan wars were made two-to-seven years after NATO air strikes using DU weapons.
"Although our assessments to date, under conditions prevailing in the Balkans, have concluded that DU contamination does not pose any immediate risks to human health or the environment, the fact remains that depleted uranium is still an issue of great concern for the general public," former UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer said in a statement in 2003.
Given the U.S. military's claims that it is no longer using DU weapons in Afghanistan and a lack of clear evidence that DU poses immediate and severe health risks, Karzai's comments are more likely politically motivated than grounded in science. "Domestically he has to shore-up his constituents by making a show of not toadying to the Americans," Gustafson says. "At the international level, he has to extract the best deal possible from NATO and the Americans. This means putting on the pressure in ways that he can to get his way with them, whilst ensuring they keep supporting him."
Is Karzai's Accusation That Coalition Forces Are Polluting Afghanistan with Nuclear Material Accurate or an Over-Reaction?
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's recent comment that U.S. and NATO-led forces use weapons with "nuclear components" may be a reference to depleted-uranium munitions, whose health impact is still being studied
President Obama has called for the withdrawal of 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan over the next year and the remaining 68,000 by the end of 2014, but questions linger regarding what the troops are leaving behind after more than nine years of combat. In particular, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai has accused U.S. and NATO-led coalition troops of littering his country with weapons that use "nuclear components."


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Lately, we've been doing a lot of articles covering PC hardware that require basic knowledge on how to build your own computer. However, one option I often overlook is pre-built computers by companies such as iBuyPower. Today, I'm going to review the iBuyPower HS11: a holiday special made for gamers who want a good deal, but at the same time, are not interested in building the computer themselves.
These are the system specs I received from iBuyPower:
- NZXT Source 210
- Intel Core i5-2500k
- 120mm Liquid Cooling
- Gigabyte Z68 Chipset Motherboard
- Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3-1600
- 1TB Sata3 HDD
- Win7 home Premium 64bit
- 6-Port internal USB hub with Bluetooth and Wifi
- Starting $999
One problem that often occurs when dealing with computer companies of this nature is that while they do include quality components — the i5-2500K, for example — there can be a distinct lack of brand names on some of the other components. This lack of exact model allows the company to use cheap components that don't necessarily have the best quality track record, which can leave you potentially with a blown power supply or a leak in the liquid cooling system (Okay, unlikely, but still possible).
Not a bad case, but it's not a good case either…
At first glance, you can tell it's a pretty cheap case, but it is more or less standard for a midtower. There are three USB ports on the front, including ports for SD cards, along with your typical 5 1/4″ drive bay. There are four thumb screws attaching the side panels to the rest of the chassis and a total of five ventilation grates on various parts of the case.
To begin, let's take a look at the front. The entire front is on a somewhat raised platform, which under closer inspection, is a front ventilation panel. However, it's more or less useless, as the air circulation is poor to begin with and the front ventilation just ends up being another way for dust to get into the system and gunk things up. The ports are all in convenient places, except for the top audio/mic and USB ports. While it's not a big deal, cords from headsets, USB devices, and the like are liable to be in the way when you open up the DVD drive. All in all, though, good placement on ports.
One thing that really kills this case for me is the lack of a good power button; I actually thought it was the circle the plastic mold leaves on cheap toys upon first glance. When the computer is off, it's not very obvious that it's the power button, as it has no visible marking. In fact, the only difference between the power button and the reset button is a small change in size. When the computer is on, the power button is lit up by a small white light that shines around the outside of the circle, and the hard drive light is a small dot in the middle of the reset button. I feel like some more thought should have gone into the power button, or at least some impression on it with a power signal; I've seen better layouts on ten-dollar cases.
Although it doesn't matter as much to people who won't be tinkering around inside, this case does have decent room to move around in compared to other midtower cases, but it still suffers from a distinct lack of space compared to a full tower (This may be obvious to some, but it needs to be said. People's fingers only come so small).
You can't go wrong with the Intel Core i5-2500K
I've said this before and I'll say it again: the i5-2500K is one of the best deals out there for a processor in terms of balance between power and price. While there are good AMD solutions available, I would venture to say that for your average gamer, this is really the only Intel processor you should consider unless you have an extra hundred bucks to blow on the i7-2600K, which is the next level up. Of course, everyone's situation is different and if you do need the extra processor power, I am in no way saying you shouldn't get a more powerful one.
In case you aren't caught up with your computer hardware, the i5-2500K is a quad-core processor that is priced a little over $200 on most sites. Although this processor doesn't support hyper-threading, many gamers do not necessarily need the power supplied by hyper-threaded machines.
Powerful graphics card, but a bit on the noisy end of things…
This computer comes with an NVIDIA GTX 570 that holds not one, but two fans. With the extra fan comes added cooling as well as noise output. When idling, it is relatively quiet, as it should be, but when you load a game such as Battlefield 3 or Skyrim, it sounds like a small plane is taking off. Despite the noise, this card is quite powerful and is able to take all the games I tested (Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Deus Ex: Human Revolution) all on the highest settings — but more on that later.
I have mixed feelings about this card, because while it is superior to the GTX 560 Ti, I'm not sure as to whether or not the extra $200 is worth the performance increase. Personally, I would go with the GTX 560 Ti over the GTX 570 because it's not worth it to me, or I would go all the way and get the GTX 580 if I wanted to step the performance up from the 560.
This is an overall powerful graphics card, but not necessarily the most price efficient (Not to say the GTX 580 is, but it does offer a decent performance boost over the 570, and a sizable one over the 560). For someone looking for more power, I would recommend using two GTX 560 Tis in SLI, which would offer as much power as the GTX 580 for slightly less money.
A little iffy on the Seagate from personal experience
The IBP computer I got came with a 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM hard drive, which is relatively fast for an HDD. It's hard for me to treat this drive without bias based on past experience and that my current computer runs on a RAID array of SSD, but as far as I can tell from the short time I've used the drive, it's perfectly fine.
As I said in the last paragraph, I'm not very fond of Seagate drives, and with reason. Out of six Seagate drives I've had in my life, all six have died within a year (if not within the first six months). I understand other people may have experienced better results, but I have not and have lost faith in the company. Again, that is not to say that Seagate isn't a good company, it's just saying that I've had the bad luck of receiving six faulty drives in a row.
8GB of Corsair XMS3? Sounds good to me!
When it comes down to RAM, Corsair is one of the best companies to buy from. Although you can change the speed, the increase isn't very noticeable, which leaves quality measure up to the longevity and the consistency of the RAM. Corsair has both, and if you happen to get the bad unit of the bunch, it can be exchanged without a second thought.
Coonix's website doesn't even publicly sell an 800W power supply…
This computer comes with a Coonix 800W power supply, which is all fine and dandy, but I couldn't find anywhere that sold the same model power supply. In fact, Coonix's website doesn't even have it on their product list! You have to wonder why that is, and if it's a quality product or not being that there's no documentation.
Even though it's a phantom power supply, it seems to be of at least decent quality on the surface. The power cords have sleeves on them, which is a big plus in my book because it keeps the computer clean looking, and there's a nicely sized fan on the bottom of the unit. However, the fan placement does bother me somewhat. Because the fan is on the bottom, it doesn't allow very good air circulation from the power supply. It would be more understandable if the case had longer legs to allow for more air to get underneath the unit, but the case's legs are only about a centimeter high. If for some reason you put your computer on a carpeted floor, it could cause heat problems. I haven't tested this myself, but just be warned.
And now for the mysterious liquid-cooling device with a cheesy blue light…
I seriously have no clue what brand or model the liquid cooling is. There's no markings on either the fan or the socket that would say what brand name or give any hint. However, you can't argue with the results. It idles around a balmy 30 degrees Celsius in a cool room, and hovers around 50-60 degrees Celsius depending on the temperature of the room at the time. The cooling system didn't come fully filled (meaning there was air in it) and made a constant gurgling sound as the liquid and air traveled through the pipes. So, right from the start, I needed to fill it up with more distilled water to get rid of the noise. To be honest, I don't know what exactly is inside the liquid cooling, and just assumed it was water because I didn't want to buy anything else. Yet another reason why having no documentation on the liquid cooling is a bad decision!
As for the blue LED light in the liquid cooling, it seems random that it's located there, as the only way you would see the light is through the small ventilation grating on the side or from above; the case clearly isn't designed to show off the innards. To top it off, the light is covered by a cloudy plastic cover, which makes it look muddy and sloppy. I'm all for LED lights on the inside of cases, but this doesn't even look good.
I ran a few games to see how this machine performed as a gaming system, but I decided not to go through the trouble of running individual benchmarks for each component as I normally would because this review is over how the system works together as a whole instead of many separate components.
As I mentioned before, I decided to test the frame rate of three games running at 1920×1080: Deus Ex: Human Revolution, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Battlefield 3. The IBP system held up well against both Human Revolution and Skyrim on the highest settings at around 50-60 FPS and 40-50 FPS, respectively, depending on what was going on in the game.
In Battlefield 3, however, I began to see some irregularities: while the gameplay ran smoothly at around 30-40 FPS, some clipping started occurring in the cut scenes. I noticed that parts of faces and scenes would begin to artifact (distort) when on ultra settings, which was a big heads up that things were not going as well as the FPS counter showed. As iBuyPower.com suggests, high settings are probably the highest you want to take Battlefield 3 without some noticeable artifacting, though it should be noted that gameplay was perfectly fine on ultra. Cut scenes were the only place where this happened to me.
Price Comparison
Here's what I assume a lot of you are reading for: whether or not building the same computer on your own is cheaper, or if buying from iBuyPower makes more sense. Looking elsewhere for individual components, this is what I came up with.
|NZXT Source 210 Case
|Intel Core i5-2500K Processor
|Mysterious Liquid Cooling
|Gigabyte Z68 Motherboard
|Corsair XMS3 8GB RAM
|EVGA GTX 570 Double Shot
|Miscellaneous DVD/CD Drive
|Seagate Barracuda 7200RPM 1TB HDD
|Coonix (Undocumented) 800W Power Supply
|NZXT USB Hub
|Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
So, in the end, it seems as though the iBuyPower computer does indeed come out on top in terms of price by $122 based off my estimated prices for the parts I didn't have exact models for.
Let's take some more things into consideration. For instance, given the current power consumption of this computer, an 800W power supply is unnecessary. Instead, a 700W or 650W would cut it, so you can cut off about $10 right there or more depending on which power supply you look at (assuming they are equal quality and brand-name units). There are also a few other things that could be changed with little to no effect on the system: one being the liquid cooling. Unless you intend on heavily overclocking, an air cooler will be more than enough, which takes off another $20 from the price tag. Adding to that, getting a normal (one-fan, non-superclocked) EVGA GTX 570 will knock off another $25, making the total discount $55, which is obviously not enough to make it an even game.
The iBuyPower computer wins this one, hands down. Sorry to all you computer builders out there!
Bottom Line
You can't argue with the price iBuyPower offers. For $999, you get the i5-2500K, EVGA GTX 570 Double Shot, 8GB of Corsair XMS3 RAM, and the rest of the components discussed earlier in the article. To top it off, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and a cheap keyboard/mouse are both thrown into the mix.
Despite my typical distaste towards pre-made computers, it is undeniable that iBuyPower offers a superior deal — due to their bulk ordering and ability to obtain components cheaply — and, therefore, deserves a positive review. I recommend iBuyPower's holiday special computer if you are in search of a new computer, because it is one of the best deals you will find out there. Be it for yourself, or a (really, really nice) present for someone else, this is a good buy and worth the money.
Along with being a good deal to begin with, you also get some free games with the computer: Batman: Arkham City and Just Cause 2. Paired up with the deal the computer is already, this makes it a complete steal. If you are looking for a new computer in this price range, I would not pass up the offer.
Remember when I told you guys about the sketchy unmarked liquid cooling? Sadly, as it turns out, it ended up being a bad unit. After about 5 months of owning the machine, I found that the liquid cooling had leaked onto the GTX 560 and ultimately fried it. While it was definitely a really irritating experience, customer service wasn't a bad experience at all. Although I didn't end up getting the parts back (because of a situation completely unrelated to this review), I would have had the replacement parts within the week. The person I talked to spoke very good English (yes, it does matter to me. When they can't understand me, it's a problem) and understood what went wrong. Just because it took them a while to get around to agreeing to send me the replacement parts, I give them an 8/10 for customer service. However in retrospect if I were to buy this computer, I would buy another cooler to replace the sub-par one they put in my machine. All in all, still a good deal, just watch out for the bad parts they sneak in.


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We are a diverse community of people, all working together to bring the best service possible to our customers. We are seeking a skilled Senior Application Operations BSS Engineer with Telco experience to join our MS Division. The client is one of the biggest telecom providers in Western Europe, and the position includes both development and operations.
Project description:
Perks for you:
We strive to provide our employees a more flexible workplace and by joining our team you will have opportunity for hybrid working.
We value our people and this is an act of recognition of their success based on
specific results and behaviors.
Our library contains both hard-copy and e-books that will provide support for your professional development and growth.
During the remote work period, we are organizing virtual sports challenges such as running, cycling, walking, etc.
We organize CodeTalks to exchange our know-how in an informal environment and annual social events and parties to celebrate our joint success stories.
We take care of our employee's kids by organizing New Year celebrations, virtual activities and creative workshops where we spend some quality time together.
Recommend a friend of yours for a job position and we will award you if they get employed.
We engage our employees in a variety of training and development programs as well as workshops, conferences, team building events, talent programs, and certifications on both technology-related and soft-skills topics.
We are a product of our experience, the projects that we work on, and the people that we work with. Working on high demanding projects from technology and domain perspective will push you to be better in your career as a developer.
In our commercial projects, we adopt the latest and most mature libraries and frameworks that make us highly productive when delivering business value. We are continuously developing the technology stack to meet the ever-increasing complexity of our projects, implementing new solutions, and adopting new patterns as part of our Evolutionary Architecture approach.
Projects are coordinated by Technical Leads, who make sure that the product is delivered with the utmost high quality. Technical Leads work with developers on a daily basis, providing feedback on the quality of their work through the process of code review, essentially guiding them in the process of enhancing their technical skills.
We are in a constant lookout for domains and technologies that will drive the world of tomorrow. That is why our divisions are investing in their R&D products, next-generation software that is crafted by our most skilled developers that get the opportunity to contribute.
New and innovative solutions go hand in hand with the latest in development technologies and architectural patterns. Domains such as Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things are often included to deliver additional value to our clients.
In our line of business, there is no staying idle. You can move forward by grasping the new opportunity, or you will find your self regressing because what you know today might not be relevant tomorrow. This means that learning must be part of our everyday life.
This is the reason why Seavus provides to every developer, QA, BA, or DB developer, the opportunity to join our Open Projects program and be part of our company's learning initiative. Under the supervision of our Technical Leads, you will be able to enhance your technical skills by using cutting edge technologies and architectures. Together we can learn to be more prepared for the future. Let's learn together.
The pre-selection phase of the hiring process, addresses the matching of the candidate's resume with the advertised Job Vacancy, in terms of required: skills, competencies, and expertise. If shortlisted, the contenders will be contacted and invited to an initial interview by a respective recruiter.
The initial interview is conducted by a dedicated recruiter and technical interviewer/s. The candidates will have an opportunity to present themselves, highlighting their skills and qualifications for the job position. They will also get acquainted with the key information about the: company, job position, project they aspire for, as well as the team they will potentially work with. The Interview can be conducted in person, over the phone, or via digital video call.
During the hiring process, the candidates will be enrolled in several optional assessment and profiling activities, which evaluate the: knowledge, cognitive abilities, personality traits, skills, and/or interests. This information is essential for proper profiling of each candidate, as well as providing a suitable job match with the position the candidates are applying for.
Depending on the job position, the candidates have been interviewed for, as well as the scope of the job requirements, each candidate may be invited for a second interview. If so, the recruitment representatives will provide all the necessary information, so the candidates return confident and well prepared for a second interview.
Feedback is really important to us.
If there are a proper match and mutual interest between the Company and the fitting candidates, the recruitment representative will propose an individualized job offer. In all other cases, the candidates will be informed by the recruitment representative, on the results and the outcome of the hiring process, as well as discuss the possibilities of future collaboration.
If the selected candidates accept the proposed job offer, they will become official Seavus employees. The new employees will be provided with all the necessary information to ensure they are ready for the first working day, to complete all administrative employment forms, legal employment documents, and statements, as well as get their official employee ID badge.


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On Tuesday of next week, Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team will become available to PlayStation Network users in North America. As was the case with the already out Xbox Live Arcade release, this twin-stick shooter will be $9.99.
I'm a fan of the Dawn of War series, so I had a decent enough time with Kill Team. Does it feel rushed, and come off as little more than a marketing vehicle for Space Marine? Absolutely. But you get to shoot Orks in the face, and until the game freezed on me, I was enjoying myself.
Give the demo a try. Maybe we'll get a well-thought-out sequel.


text:
Work involving technical safety equipment may only be carried out by proven specialists that have been briefed on the specific working conditions (VUV 5 & 8).
Hence, there should always someone on site capable of rescuing his coworkers from dangerous situations.
Unfortunately, until recently, there have been huge differences in the content and length of training sessions for technical safety equipment to prevent falling accidents.
30 Minute sessions with 15 participants were not uncommon.
The reasons for this are complex, and may have been due to the conditions of the schooling company, as well as the firm receiving the training.
This website should help to improve the situation by standardizing the training options in the interest of course participants. See rubric: Length of Training
An appropriate training for people with limited experience should last a full work day.


text:
United Nations Department of Management: Audit of Payment of Contracts with Eurest Support Services (AH2006-511-06), 6 Feb 2007
From WikiLeaks
Unless otherwise specified, the document described here:
- Was first publicly revealed by WikiLeaks working with our source.
- Was classified, confidential, censored or otherwise withheld from the public before release.
- Is of political, diplomatic, ethical or historical significance.
Any questions about this document's veracity are noted.
The summary is approved by the editorial board.
See here for a detailed explanation of the information on this page.
If you have similar or updated material, see our submission instructions.
- Release date
- January 12, 2009
United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (UN OIOS) 6 Feb 2007 report titled "Audit of Payment of Contracts with Eurest Support Services [AH2006-511-06]" relating to the Department of Management. The report runs to 6 printed pages.Note
Further information


text:
LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday sued
Los Angeles Clippers owner and real estate mogul Donald Sterling
for housing discrimination, claiming he refused to rent apartments
to blacks and families with children.
Federal prosecutors contend that Sterling, his wife, Rochelle,
and their family trust refused to rent to many prospective tenants,
treated them poorly and misrepresented the availability of
apartments to them in the city's Koreatown section.
The defendants also are accused of refusing to rent to black
prospective tenants in Beverly Hills as well as families with
children looking to rent apartments that the defendants owned or
managed in Los Angeles County.
"Here in Los Angeles, where housing is already at a premium, it
is imperative that no one be denied housing simply because of their
skin color, ethnic background or because they have children," said
U.S. Attorney Debra Wong Yang.
A message left with attorney Michael Kennick, who has
represented Sterling in previous lawsuits, was not immediately
returned Monday.
Claiming violations of the federal Fair Housing Act, the lawsuit
seeks an end to "discriminating on account of race, national
origin and familial status," plus unspecified monetary damages and
penalties. The lawsuit also names as defendants the Sterling Family
Trust and the Korean Land Company, which owns multifamily rental
properties throughout the county.
In November, a federal judge ordered Sterling to pay nearly $5
million in fees to plaintiffs' attorneys in a lawsuit accusing him
of discriminating against black and Hispanic tenants.
The case -- filed by attorneys including the nonprofit Housing
Rights Center for 19 plaintiffs -- resolved with a financial
settlement that the judge described as "one of the largest ever
obtained in this type of case," though the terms were not
The 2003 lawsuit alleged that Sterling tried to drive out
tenants, particularly blacks and Hispanics, at apartments he owned
in Koreatown.


text:
NOW Foods, Water Out, Fluid Balance, 100 Veg Capsules
Best By: June 2026
- Date First Available: May 2008
Shipping Weight:
0.1 kg
- Product Code: NOW-01908
- UPC Code: 733739019080
- Package Quantity: 100 Count
- Dimensions: 11.2 x 6.4 x 6.4 cm , 0.1 kg
Product rank:
Frequently purchased together
Product overview
- With Standardized Uva Ursi, Dandelion, Potassium, Vitamin B-6, and More!
- Supports a Healthy Urinary Tract
- A Dietary Supplement
- Vegetarian/ Vegan
- Botanicals/ Herbs
- Family Owned Since 1968
- Quality Assured- GMP
- Kosher
NOW® Water Out™ is a blend of complementary herbs and nutrients formulated to support healthy urinary tract function and proper bodily fluid balance. Water Out™ features dandelion, which has been traditionally used to support the maintenance of water equilibrium, as well as uva ursi and juniper, which have been used historically by herbalists to support a healthy urinary tract. In combination with the nutritional components vitamin B-6 and potassium, Water Out™ helps support proper urinary tract function.
Suggested use
Take 2 capsules twice daily as needed with food and plenty of water.
Other ingredients
Hypromellose (cellulose capsule), stearic acid (vegetable source) and rice flour.
Not manufactured with wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg, fish, shellfish or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Made and quality tested in the USA with globally sourced ingredients.
Store in a cool, dry place after opening.
For adults only. Not for pregnant/nursing women. Consult physician prior to use if taking medication or have a medical condition (especially liver or kidney conditions). Do not exceed recommended dose. Prolonged use only under the supervision of a physician.
Keep out of reach of children.
Natural color variation may occur in this product.
While iHerb strives to ensure the accuracy of its product images and information, some manufacturing changes to packaging and/or ingredients may be pending update on our site. Although items may occasionally ship with alternate packaging, freshness is always guaranteed. We recommend that you read labels, warnings and directions of all products before use and not rely solely on the information provided by iHerb.
|Supplement Facts
|Serving Size: 2 Veg. Capsules
|Servings Per Container: 50
|Amount Per Serving
|% Daily Value
|Vitamin B-6 (from Pyridoxine HCl)
|25 mg
|Potassium (from Potassium Chloride)
|99 mg
|Uva Ursi Extract (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) (Leaf) (Standardized to min. 15% Arbutin)
|250 mg
|Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) (Leaf)
|200 mg
|Juniper (Juniperus communis) (Berries)
|120 mg
|Buchu (Agathosma spp.) (Leaf)
|120 mg
|† Daily Value not established.


text:
The Gift Box No-Sew Ornament Pattern
This no-sew gift box ornament is sure to add to your festive cheer!
Finished size: 4" H x 4" W x 2" D
(2 reviews)
How do you like this product?
Share your thoughts with the Annie's community.
November 25, 2015
Oh thought these ornaments were going to be really hard to make, but they were super easy and look so pretty! Only thing I would do is to purchase some 1.5" ribbon instead of the 7/8 since my cloth didn't go down as far onto the sides as I needed it to. But play with yours; you might have your cloth go further down than mine. Happy crafting!
April 28, 2014
I have enjoyed making pinecone, tree and round ornaments. I've done these with Christmas and Spring colors. I plan on making them for 4th of July.


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Today's Headlines
Today's Headlines for Monday, February 11
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Advocates provide bikes to migrants, request help from CDOT to meet growing demand
Donation organizers say unless funds are freed up from a larger entity, bike distribution to asylum seekers is going to stay in crisis mode indefinitely.
During board meeting, CTAction cites service problems, South Siders push for youth employment as part of Red Line Extension
CTA service reliability issues and likely funding for the long-awaited Red Line Extension were major topics of discussion at the latest CTA board meeting.
Bicycle-friendly politicians showed up in force for Bike Lane Uprising's packed 6th anniversary fundraiser
Lawmakers Kelly Cassidy, Andre Vasquez, and Kam Buckner, plus BLU founder Christina Whitehouse, thanked the advocates present for their efforts to make cycling safer.


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Bright Side Of Life Quote
Write your name on this beautiful Bright Side Of Life Quote image and share it with your friends, family, brother, sister and loved ones on facebook, whatsapp, instagram and other social media.
Put life in perspective with some short yet sage pieces of advice. These wise and beautiful quotes from your favorite positive thinkers will get you in the right mindset to tackle whatever obstacles lie ahead. Inspirational quotes from successful people like Einstein, Helen Keller, and Maya Angelou can help you reframe negative thoughts during tough times. Their Positive quotes can change your attitude so you feel refreshed and motivated. So lets create a heart touching Bright Side Of Life Quote image. Then share the generated image on facebook, twitter, instagram, text messages and whatsapp to motivate your friends and family members.
We have created most inspiring and heart changing Life quotes, Motivational quotes, Inspirational quotes, Positive quotes, Quotation, Love quotes, Good quotes, Depression quotes, Good morning quotes, Friendship quotes, Short inspirational quotes, Funny quotes, Christmas quotes, Sad quotes , Best friend quotes, Sister quotes, Smile quotes
Attitude quotes, Happy quotes and Relationship quotes with your name on it. See more Quotes Images and Status.
How to Use:
Write your name in the given text field "Your Name Here" and then click on the "Save Image" button.After some time a new popup window will open that contains download and sharing options.
You may also like: GenerateStatus – Make Fake Instagram Post, Twitter Tweets, Facebook Posts, Memes and Many More
Importance of sharing Quotes and Quotations
Inspirational quotes and motivational sayings have an amazing ability to change the way we feel about life. This is why I find them so interesting and crucial on our paths to success.
So what's their secret?
You see, the way you think and feel about yourself, including your beliefs and expectations about what is possible for you, determines everything that happens to you.
When you change the quality of your thinking, you change the quality of your life, sometimes instantly. Just as positive words can make someone smile or a well-timed funny quotes can make someone laugh. Our thoughts react to the world in real-time. So inpiring words from famous persons or our elders can help us to change our life.
You have complete control over only one thing in the universe — your thinking – and that's where motivational quotes come in!
You can decide what you are going to think in any given situation. Your thoughts and feelings determine your actions and determine the results you get. It all starts with your thoughts.


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Bullock Science Center
Facilities in brief
The Mary Brown Bullock Science Center, opened in 2003, houses the departments of biology, chemistry, psychology and physics. Astronomy classes and research facilities are located nearby in the renovated Bradley Observatory and Delafield Planetarium. State-of-the-art instrumentation in the Science Center includes:
- X-ray spectrometer, which allows quantum mechanics experiments of many sorts using X-rays as the probe
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer for investigation of molecular structure and dynamics
- Scanning tunneling microscope and atomic force microscope, used to study topography, conductivity, reactivity and hardness of surfaces or of molecules attached to surfaces at the atomic and molecular level
- Walk-in cold and warm rooms and environmental plant growth chambers, which provide controlled conditions for experimentation
- Confocal laser fluorescent microscope for three-dimensional digital cell imaging; scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope for ultrafine resolution of cells and organisms
- Eight computer-controlled Skinner boxes used to examine learning in animals
- Eye-tracking system that monitors and maps eye position in relation to computer imaging
Bullock Science Center ground floor highlights
- A herbarium to support teaching and research in plant biology, ecology and environmental studies
- Two dedicated faculty/student research labs adjacent to related teaching labs
- Teaching laboratory for ecology, field botany and environmental science
- Student project laboratory that supports long-term projects in plant biology, ecology and environmental science
- Neuroscience laboratory suite for interdisciplinary studies in psychology and biology
- Greenhouse with a controlled environment for plants and small aquatic organisms
- NMR laboratory facility
- Microscopy suite containing microscopes, a darkroom and a specimen preparation area to support studies of cells, tissues and organisms
Bullock Science Center first floor highlights
- Two psychology data analysis computer labs with workstations for faculty and students
- Laboratory space for faculty-student research in physics and psychology
- Introductory physics laboratory, featuring computer aided data collections
- Modern physics teaching laboratory, with a variety of optical, nuclear, electromagnetic, and spectroscopic experiments
- Electronics laboratory, including a 3D printer and soldering station
- Windows computer laboratory with 16 workstations for learning computer methods used in the sciences
Bullock Science Center second floor highlights
- Six faculty/student biology research laboratories
- Specialized teaching laboratories for of the major branches of biology
- Student project laboratory with dedicated lab space for student experimentation in biology
- Biology student support suite including a collaborative learning center and an office for teaching assistants who provide daily learning support
Bullock Science Center third floor highlights
- Two chemistry computer laboratories for data collection and analysis
- Five faculty/student chemistry research laboratories
- Dedicated teaching laboratories for introductory, organic, analytical, physical, and inorganic chemistry as well as biochemistry
- Multi-purpose chemistry instrumentation laboratory used in almost every chemistry course
- Chemistry student support suite including a student collaborative learning center and an office for teaching assistants who provide daily learning support


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Wednesday, September 15, 2010
More than Half of Canadians Living Hand-to-Mouth?
It's hard to interpret exactly what this poll reveals. It all comes down to what the respondents interpret "financial trouble" to mean. For some it may mean bankruptcy, but for others it may mean a relatively minor inconvenience.
In my case I wouldn't say that delaying my pay by a week would cause me real trouble, but if it happened at the right time, it might force me to write a cheque against a different account than I normally would. This is hardly trouble, but it could be a minor inconvenience.
Setting aside the question of how many people really are living hand-to-mouth, I'm not too surprised that many Canadians' finances are in poor shape. I don't think that our hunter-gatherer history did much to prepare us for dealing with more than a day's worth of wealth. There was no point in hoarding meat or berries. It would rot or others would steal it.
The idea of wealth that lasts for years is a modern phenomenon. It takes some rational thinking to make decisions about wealth; we're not wired to make these decisions well. Many people tend to focus on today's cash flow and let tomorrow take care of itself. Access to borrowed money can be a disaster for people like this.
8 comments:
Biggest issue I would run into trouble with is all the automatic payments I have set up with on line banking might cause some issues.ReplyDelete
@Big Cajun Man: The critical question is how you would have responded to the poll question of whether a week's delay in pay would cause you financial trouble. You might be inclined to answer yes, even though you clearly don't live hand-to-mouth.ReplyDelete
I read that study as well and didn't find the number all that surprising. Just look at all of the payday loan offices, many people can't survive until their pay cheque arrives.ReplyDelete
Personally I would find it a huge inconvenience to have my pay delayed, as I only get paid once a month...but I wouldn't say I would be in financial trouble.
@Echo: I agree that there are a great many people with cash-flow problems, but the percentage who use payday loans is (I'm hoping!) much less than 59%. I would be concerned if it was even 5%.ReplyDelete
@CC: I've seen this happens with polls before. If you include being yelled at as abuse, then nearly all children have been abused. But, when you report that almost all children have been abused, people picture a form of abuse that is much more severe than being yelled at.Replies
The second reply above is to Canadian Capitalist's comment:Delete
I'm puzzled by this survey. 60% sounds like a really large number to be financially stretched due to missing a single paycheque. It is possible like you note that it may be due to differing interpretation of what "financial trouble" means.
I get paid weekly but it would be 2 weeks before I would be in trouble. Simple math. I have some savings but not enough for even a month. I find it very easy to believe people would suffer with missing one weeks pay.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 16, 2010 at 6:39 PM
I use my LOC as a chequing account so having my paycheck delayed wont cause me any financial ruin except I would start accumulating interest from the loan.ReplyDelete
Great post and point, Michael.ReplyDelete
Beyond the "what is difficulty," I wonder what the respondents felt a "financial obligation" is.
Person A may consider rent and food as his/her financial obligations, while Person B may also include $100 per week auto-deducted into two RESPs, $200 per week auto deducted into each RRSP and spousal RRSP, as well as 10% into savings.
I looked at the survey itself, and also found it to be a little skewed by gender and geography. I'm just not confident that it is an accurate representation of your typical Canadian.


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Lessons From The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) was the first legislative attempt to comprehensively address the issue of unauthorized immigration. The bill included sanctions against employers for the hiring of undocumented migrants, more robust border enforcement, and an expansive legalization program that was unprecedented.
IRCA resulted from a number of political compromises, and balanced the need for stronger immigration enforcement with legalization of a large portion of the unauthorized population. Although the concepts behind the legislation were sound, there were a number of problems with its design and implementation in each of its major goals: employer accountability, broader enforcement that prevented illegal entries, and legalization of a large population of unauthorized migrants.
While the context of American immigration has changed substantially since 1986, the incentives for immigration to the United States remain the same. Thus, many lessons from the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act remain powerful in today's environment.


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Héma-Québec intends to contribute to the training of qualified aspiring researchers and to the development of a clinical expertise in fields that are relevant to the organization's activities. In this context, biomedical and bio-industrial research are of particular importance.
Researchers in the R&D Division have university affiliations allowing them to act as thesis co-supervisors for graduate students. Héma-Québec awards scholarships to the most promising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to encourage them to specialize in fields of interest for the organization.
During the summer, the R&D Division offers college and undergraduate students the opportunity of undertaking internships at Héma-Québec. For a few months, students can put into practice the knowledge gained during their academic training. Other divisions occasionally welcome interns seeking to hone their business administration skills, especially in project management and business plan development.
For information about our scholarships and internship opportunities, please contact the R&D secretariat.


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I Miss You Messages for Dad after Death: Quotes to Remember a Father
I Miss You Messages for Dad after Death: It doesn't matter whether it has been weeks, months or years – the pain of losing a father will pinch his son or daughter for a lifetime. You will be able to relate to this fact if you have lost a dad. Read these heartbreaking quotes and let the tears flow. Death and funerals one of life's bitter truths and there is no point in being in denial. Cry your heart out and give your soul a release. This is the only way you can truly mourn, move on and accept reality that he has passed away. Think of the beautiful childhood memories, think of how much he loved you, think about his warm hugs, think of how he cared for you and most importantly – think of how even today, he is watching down on you like the angel that he has always been.
1) Dad… I keep thinking about, you even though it pains. I'd give anything to relive those memories again. I miss you.
2) I never knew that being fatherless would make me feel so aimless, worthless, powerless, heartless and helpless. I miss you dad.
3) It hurts to think that you are not here anymore. Although I can't help but smile with tears in my eyes to think of how we cherished each and every moment of our lives together when you were alive. I miss you dad.
4) As I grow older, no matter whose love gives me happiness – I will always be my daddy's little princess. I miss you dad.
5) I have stopped looking at the sky in the night, because destiny has taken away my life's brightest star. I miss you.
6) I still get a lot of hugs, but none of them as warm as yours. I miss you dad.
7) Dad, wherever you are I just want you to know that no matter how much we've fought and agued, you were right, is what my heart always knew. I miss you.
8) Right from the time when you held me in your arms to the day when you saw me off for my first day in school, I am holding today on the beautiful memories that have made me the person I am today. I miss you dad.
9) Every time I place flowers on your grave, I realize how fragrant you made my life. I miss you dad.
10) Just one last chance, I wish I could get to hug you. Then I would hold you tight and never let go. I miss you dad.
11) Dad, you taught me to be strong but sorry I'm letting you down… I can never be strong enough to accept that you are no longer here. I miss you.
12) Death thinks it has taken you away from me. But it doesn't know that it has actually brought us closer than ever. I miss you dad.
13) Dad… How ironic is it that I wasted all these years not listening to you. But now that you're not here, I'm living life exactly how you told me to.
14) Every Father's Day is a painful reminder of your absence in my life. Dad, I wish I could just turn back time and live out every single day of my childhood as if it were a grand Father's Day celebration. I miss you.
15) We may have been living miles apart but somehow it always felt that you were always there. Maybe because ever since you held my tiny fingers, you showered me with nothing but love and care. Dad, I miss you.
16) Dad, as much as a mourning, your death is a celebration… because you made my life nothing short of one.
17) I miss you dad, now there is no one to help me when I'm fighting with myself.
18) Your death will always remain a blurry memory. But your life will always be a vivid one, the epitome of greatness and sacrifice. I miss you dad.
19) On the day I lost you, I lost a father, a friend and an idol who I looked up to. I miss you dad.
20) It didn't matter whether we met often or not, what mattered is that your advice helped me connect my life's dots. It didn't matter whether we spoke every day or not, what mattered was that you loved me a lot. Dad, I miss you.
21) Death may have take you away from me, but my life's hero you'll forever be. Miss you dad.
22) Just like how I was the apple of your eye, you were the balm to my soul. I miss you dad.
23) Dad… even though you are not in front of my eyes right now, your picture in my heart will remain beautifully pristine forever. I miss you.
24) Death took away not just my dad, but also someone who was my unsung hero. I miss you.
25) How do you expect me to cope up with the grief your death, when you were the only person who understood me for what I was and not for what I could be? I miss you dad.
26) Dad… I won't immortalize you in the stars, because they fade away. I won't remember you with a poem, for it will be forgotten one day. I will just keep you safe in my heart, so that you are with me in every way. I miss you.
27) Whether it is the empty spot in a chair next to mum's or the eerily silent garage on a Sunday morning, you are missed in every way dad. I love you.
28) When I think of you, tears roll down my cheeks unbidden, just the way it rains in London. I miss you.
29) Dad… as a child, I had a million ways to annoy you. As a teenager, I had a million reasons to defy you. As an adult, I had a million opportunities to make you proud. I did all that but I missed out on the most important – a million chances to say I love you while you were alive. I miss you.
30) Talking to your gravestone and hugging your photographs – these are just some of the things I do to convince myself that you are still here. I miss you dad.
31) Dad… how heartbroken I am and how much I miss you. I can't explain in words but my tears do.
32) People say that whatever happens, happens for the best. But the painful memories of your death, I'll never be able to put to rest. I miss you dad.
33) How can the Heavens be beautiful when they have been nasty enough to take away my favorite person from me? I miss you dad.
34) Dad… I haven't been with you enough to know everything about you, but I have been with you enough to love you and miss you dearly.
35) Dad, death doesn't change a thing… because you've always been the angel in my life. I miss you.
36) Dad, your memories have become my heartbeats – which means I am thinking of you all the time just to stay alive. I miss you.
37) Your life has ended, but your legacy of wisdom, integrity and courage will go on forever. I miss you dad.
38) My loss is Heaven's gain. I miss you daddy.
39) A free-spirited person like you can never be proclaimed dead. You may not be around in person but your spirit will live on forever in our hearts. I miss you dad.
40) The best dad doesn't exist in this world. That's because he is in Heaven right now. I miss you.


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Knowledge transfer is only the beginning to enablement.
Many implementation partners (including myself) have handled enablement as an event or milestone that occured as part of the cut-over to production. We as implementation partners too often assume that the traditional, informal "do what I do" approach between consultants and customer was sufficient for customer enablement. If the traditional approach was sufficient for customer enablement then one can argue that there should be no need of post production support.
When ERP software is implemented in a production environment it is usually the first opportunity for the customer to lead in the support of a new business solution. For the majority of customers that do not have hands-on experience with supporting external packaged software this can be a difficult challenge. Customers typically ask their implementation partners to provide post-production support until the customer has confidence in their business solution support (technical, business) capabilities.
There is a better way. An approach that will more effectively provide the knowledge, experience, and capabilities the customer requires to be self-sufficient. This enablement must be completed and validated during the implementation. There will be less need for post production support to address the enablement gap for customers. Let's elaborate on one of the key processes that will prepare the customer to lead during the implementation.
Progressive Leadership Style
A key competency for any implementation partner is their ability to enable the customer to support and manage the new ERP software. This will require the implementation partner to employ different leadership styles during the implementation. There should be a logical progression in leadership styles that naturally transfers ownership from the implementation partner to the customer. We will use the following illustration for our discussion.
Let's discuss each leadership trait in more detail in the context of an ERP implementation life-cycle.
- In the early strategy and planning stages of an implementation the implementation partner should use a directive leadership style to lead the customer. The implementation partner leads in setting the direction and the pace of the implementation.
- As the customer is educated on the packaged software and implementation approach the implementation partner moves towards a coaching leadership style to enable to customer to take a more active leadership role in the packaged business software implementation.
- With the facilitating leadership style, the implementation partner has moved from an active leadership role to a passive leadership role. The customer is leading and managing the implementation project.
- The supporting leadership style is the final stage where the implementation partner provides what I'll call ad-hoc/as needed support & guidance.
The first day of any implementation is the first day of transition from the implementation partner to the customer. Many treat transition as a last step in a go-live event. This approach results in customers not being ready or confident in supporting their business solution. A customer should never feel that way! Allowing the customer the lead will naturally drive the implementation partner to be more focused on knowledge transfer to the customer and results in better success rate for customer preparation.


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WALLDORF, Germany and SAN MATEO, California — Following the successful closing of SAP AG's (NYSE: SAP) cash tender offer for all issued and outstanding shares of SuccessFactors, Inc. (NYSE: SFSF) ("SuccessFactors"), SAP and SuccessFactors today announced that SAP has completed the acquisition of SuccessFactors. The acquisition was completed via a short-form merger under Delaware law pursuant to which Saturn Expansion Corporation., an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of SAP, was merged with and into SuccessFactors, with SuccessFactors surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of SAP America, Inc., the U.S. operating subsidiary of SAP AG. As a result of the merger, all outstanding shares of SuccessFactors that were not tendered into the previously completed tender offer (other than shares held by SuccessFactors, SAP America or any of their wholly-owned subsidiaries, and shares held by stockholders that properly exercise appraisal rights under Delaware law) were converted into the right to receive $40.00 per share in cash without interest and subject to any required withholding of taxes, the same consideration paid to stockholders in the tender offer.
SuccessFactors has notified the New York Stock Exchange, Deutsche Börse, and the Professional Segment of Euronext Paris of the completion of the acquisition and expects trading of shares of its common stock to be suspended on each exchange pending delisting of such shares.
About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 183,000 customers (includes customers from the acquisition of Sybase) to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
About SuccessFactors, an SAP company
SuccessFactors, an SAP company, is the leading provider of cloud-based Business Execution Software, and delivers business alignment, team execution, people performance, and learning management solutions to organizations of all sizes across more than 60 industries. With approximately 15 million subscription seats globally, we strive to delight our customers by delivering innovative solutions, content and analytics, process expertise and best practices insights from serving our broad and diverse customer base. Today, we have more than 3,500 customers in more than 168 countries using our application suite in 35 languages.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties concerning the parties' ability to close the transaction. Actual events or results may differ materially from those described in this release due to a number of risks and uncertainties. These potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, the outcome of regulatory reviews of the proposed transaction and the ability of the parties to complete the transaction.
SAP is not obligated to, and undertakes no obligation to, publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the SEC, including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Statements regarding the expected date of closing of the tender offer are forward-looking statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties including among others: uncertainties as to the timing of the tender offer and the satisfaction of closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.
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On Saturday, October 27, Hartford Seminary presented a special interfaith afternoon of exploration and discovery to confirmation classes from 10 United Church of Christ and Episcopal churches.
Close to 100 students attended to learn about Islam through the stories of Seminary students and to get a better understanding of the religion through conversation with the students, who are in the Islamic Studies and the Islamic Chaplaincy programs at the Seminary.
?Faithful Christian discipleship today will be lived out in communities in which there are many other faith traditions. This afternoon is an opportunity for young people and their advisors to meet, learn about, and be in conversation with our Muslim partners in the Abrahamic tradition,? said The Rev. Dr. Jonathan B. Lee, Director of Institutional Advancement at the Seminary. Lee organized and moderated the event.
?Hartford Seminary, a school that specializes in interfaith dialogue, strives to reach out to faith communities with programs that expand understanding and awareness.? Lee said.
Presenting during the afternoon program were:
- — Sami Shamma, who offered an introduction to Islam
- — Asmaou Diallo who spoke on her roots in Guinea and her wearing the hijab
- — Junaid Sulahry, who spoke on the impact of 9-11 on him
- — Jaye Starr, who spoke on the aspects of Islam that are attractive to her (at left)
- — Morteza Rezazadeh, who spoke about his home country of Iran and the difference between Shi?a and Sunni Islam (at left)
The afternoon included presentation of a video A Land Called Paradise, followed by six discussion groups to reflect on the video. The groups were led by the five presenters and Liza Arulampalam, who assists Lee in coordination of the International Peacemaking Program at the Seminary. Rezazadeh is a student in the program this year.
At the conclusion of the event, the students enjoyed a meal of stuffed grape leaves, pizza and baklava. The dialogue with the Seminary students continued during the meal.
(Above, Sami Shamma talks with several students.)
Also attending the event was Zulu Lemtur, who is in the International Peacemaking Program. He is pictured here with Asmaou Diallo.