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Urban IoT
ICRI Cities (2012-2018)
The Intel Collaborative Research Institute (ICRI), a joint collaboration between UCL and Imperial ran from 2012- 2018. The research was concerned with user-centered and technical aspects of sustainable and connected cities. For example, the capstone project focused on developing novel IoT technologies at scale and testing them in situ, in the harsh realities of the city. A core theme was how to explicitly bring citizens into the loop of Urban IoT; we employed citizen engagement to enable local communities to be more proactive in collecting and making sense of urban data for their own personal/ community gains while providing valuable new data in the form of citizen experiences and feedback.
Throughout the lifetime of the ICRI, the guiding principles were: design for humans; build for the long term and the imperfections of the real world; and be able to deliver social, economic and environmental value. As part of this large-scale research agenda, we created a Living Lab at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) - itself undergoing regeneration since the end of the Olympic Games, held there in 2012. A number of prototypes and sensing infrastructure were deployed in the park, helping to transform it into a 'smart' park, delivering services and experiences to local communities and businesses. For example, one project investigated how to leverage the latest advances in IoT and edge computing in order to design and develop smart sensors that could monitor bat activity in real-time across a large diverse urban environment. As part of this project, PlayBat was developed by one of our 2017 HCI Master's students Matej Kaninsky, where he built a physical public display, that combined a novel multi-modal interface, an interactive narrative structure together with the real-time IoT environmentally sensed bat call data. The aim was to evoke curiosity, discovery and challenge the oft-held negative perception about bats. When placed in the QEOP park, PlayBat was found to draw all manner of people to explore the live bat data, and at the end, even change their minds to like bats more.
Another project called Roam-io, explored how to sense and make visible to the general public, data about how urban spaces are being used by people. Quantitative data was collected, using an urban IoT sensing infrastructure along with qualitative data, asking people to answer relevant questions in public, by using a walk-up, robot-like installation. The ensuing hybrid dataset helped us to build a better understanding of what happens in urban spaces, where it can be difficult to interpret the data streams arising from environmental sensors, by themselves.
During the five years of the ICRI, UCL hired 14 post docs, 6 PhD students, and various interns and visitors, who worked on an amazing array of projects. All the researchers have now moved onto new careers and pastures new. There is a legacy website comprising papers, project descriptions, a portrait gallery of 'who's who', videos capturing many of the projects and PhD students explaining their work and much more about what happened on our adventurous 5-year journey.


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Price: £95 + VAT
Duration: 2 Hours
To manage more effectively the process of gaining and keeping the support of stakeholders.
What will be covered?
- Stakeholder analysis
- Identify key stakeholders
- Prioritise stakeholders according to their influence and interests
- Understand stakeholders needs, opinions and issues
- Stakeholder management
- Using the results of stakeholder analysis
- Planning to win and maintain support
- Planning stakeholder communication and participation
Who should attend?
This course is ideal for:
- Directors
- Senior Executives
- Those who have relationships with any stakeholder
Outcome and benefits
- Delegates will have some simple tools to make the process of managing stakeholders more consistent and effective.
Course materials (included)
Delegates receive courseware to refer to throughout the course and as a refresher following the course
There are no pre-requisites for this programme.
Further courses that may be of interest:
- Business Planning & Review Techniques
- Ethics and Integrity in the Workplace
- Managing Resources
- Leadership at Board Level
- Workshops on the CPD programme – please ask for separate brochure

subset: commoncrawl


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Flickerfest 2002 call for entries
Australia's leading short-film festival is held on Bondi Beach, Sydney.
The 11th edition takes place 4-12 January 2002. Fiction and animation entries are being sought for the international competitive section, up to 30 minutes running time, on 35mm or 16mm. Submission and payment of the $30AUD entry fee can be made at Flickerfest's website, deadline 1 October.
In order to be eligible for the international competition, entries must participate in a subsequent tour of the Festival around Australia. $20AUD is paid per venue; prints are tied up until late March.
Flickerfest 2002 is also introducing Australia's inaugural online festival. Preferred entry formats are DigiBeta or BetaSP, with a maximum running time of 7 minutes.


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Gridwall Sign Holders
Signing your merchandise is one of the keys to successful retailing. When using wire grid panels, keep your customers in the know by using FixturesAndDisplays.com's wide variety of crystal clear acrylic sign holders. High impact styrene material will reduce loss due to breakage and the material won't yellow when exposed to light. FixturesAndDisplays.com's acrylic sign holders will also fit slatwall.
2 Items
Vert or Horiz mount, 6 sizesAcrylic Sign HoldersAs low as $3.95
AVAILABLE IN 3 FINISHES7"H x 11"W Metal Sign Holder for GridwallAs low as $6.25
2 Items


text:
Plastics Engineering
Course Name:
Plastics Engineering (ML702)
M.Tech. in Materials Engineering
Programme Core (PC)
Credits (L-T-P):
(3-0-0) 3
Course modules and teaching hours:
General properties of plastics - introduction, polymeric materials, plastics available to the designer, selection of plastics. Mechanical behaviour of plastics - introduction, viscoelastic behaviour of plastics, short term testing of plastics, long term testing of plastics, design method for plastics using deformation data, mathematical models of viscoelastic behaviour, fracture behaviour of unreinforced plastics, creep failure of plastics, fatigue of plastics, Impact behaviour of plastics. Processing of plastics - introduction, extrusion, injection moulding, transfer moulding.
R. J. Crawford, Plastic Engineering, 2nd edn. Pergamon Press, 1987, Reprinted in 1989.
William J. Patton, Plastic Technology, D. B. Taraporevala Sons and Co. Pvt. LTd., 1981.
Peter C. Powell, Engineering with Polymers, Chapman & Hall, 1983.
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering


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Dozens of people have spoken out at meetings against Pinellas County adding fluoride to the water supply, an outcry that helped trigger the county's attention-grabbing decision to stop fluoridating Dec. 31.
But on any day, small levels of other contaminants, such as radium, arsenic and copper, turn up in the same water. None of them came up in hours of debate this month.
Just as the vast majority of health officials say the fluoride in water is safe, so have federal and state regulators found nothing harmful in the testing for other substances by county utilities. But those contaminants can be dangerous at much higher amounts.
"If we tried to remove everything from drinking water — I mean everything — it would be horrendously expensive and the health effects would be negligible," said county water and sewer director Bob Powell, who has been a chemist and lab director for more than 30 years with Pinellas.
For example, radium is radioactive and exists in tiny levels in the county's water. The amount found in a county analysis of its drinking water was below federal limits, but above the goal of zero in 2010.
"You wearing a watch that glows? That's like thousands of times stronger than the level in drinking water," Powell said.
But no one in the commission meetings mentioned radium. Why the worry about fluoride but not about other substances?
Bill Thomas of Palm Harbor said he wasn't aware of radium or other substances in the water, but test results didn't worry him.
The biggest factor to him is that adding fluoride goes beyond government's role of providing clean, safe water.
"Nobody hired our county commissioners to add any chemical or agent to the water after it is as clean as humanly possible," said Thomas, who was among tea party activists and fluoride opponents pressing for the change.
"I'd love for the government to do what it's supposed to do and quit trying to help us," Thomas said. "If diabetes gets bad, are they going to start throwing diabetes medicine in the water?"
Fluoride turns up naturally in water, but Pinellas adds fluorosilicic acid produced from phosphate mining. Critics seized on it as "industrial waste," but Powell and environmental agencies say the heavily diluted level poses no risk under environmental rules.
Fluoride aside, federal standards overall are not protecting public health enough, said Linda Young, director of the Clean Water Network of Florida. Many people don't pay close enough attention to the risks in the state, including its penchant for taking inexpensive, lesser routes to treating drinking water, Young said.
While there are good arguments pro and con, Young said she avoids fluoridated water because of concerns about the risks outweighed worries about cavities to her. She uses filters to rid her taps of chlorine, too.
"Just because water is coming out your tap doesn't mean it's clean and safe," she said.
Federal law requires the county and other utilities to disinfect water for bacteria and to test for 91 contaminants — tests that measure for a lifetime's effects, said Dale Froneberger, an environmental scientist at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But adding fluoride to what health agencies deem optimal levels is optional.
That helps make it much more of a "hot button issue" than other substances that turn up in water supplies, said Alan Roberson, who works on EPA regulations as federal relations director for the American Water Works Association. Most utilities have 10 to 20 contaminants in their water, he said.
Pinellas has no drinking water violations within the past five years, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
"The bottom line is they're meeting all the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, and in many cases they're exceeding them (for the good)," said Jeff Greenwell, regional water facilities program director for the DEP.
Besides what turns up in small quantities in water, Pinellas adds disinfectants — chlorine, for example — to clean the water. A liquid disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite, produces vomiting and tissue damage if too much is ingested.
Copper and lead are found in tap water, but again, in levels below what regulators deem a health hazard.
In fact, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services say copper is essential in small quantities for something else: good health.
St. Petersburg Times


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Dear Buffalo Supporters,
It has been a phenomenal few weeks since my last edition of On the Buffalo Trail. I am constantly amazed at the events and experiences I have as I walk with Yellowstone Buffalo. This past few weeks will be at the top of my memories because of the awareness, sharing, and symbolism I had experienced representing the Campaign.
On July 12-15, I attended the 2022 International Bison Convention held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. The theme for this convention was "Strength in the Herd". Held every 5 years, the convention was an inspiring and informative event. While there I interacted with bison conservationists, Canadian preserve managers, private growers, bison geneticists, First Nations chiefs, handling experts, and the list goes on. The diverse gathering reflected that unity and togetherness. I networked throughout the event. Everyone I spoke to is in support of the Campaign's mission. As is to be expected, those closest to bison understand the unique and cherished nature of wild Yellowstone bison. It is clear there are very few intact, large ecosystems capable of sustaining a population of the size necessary to protect their genetic viability. The Yellowstone Ecosystem is such a place. Wild, migratory bison are worthy of protection and advocacy as a keystone species within the ecosystem. At no time did I hear that translocation of Yellowstone bison should be a priority over appropriate, science-based population management. On the contrary, it was gratifying to hear the reverence for Yellowstone bison that was pervasive throughout the gathering.
Another significant event that took place during the convention was a signing ceremony for the [Inter-tribal Buffalo Treaty], at the [Wanuskewin Heritage Center]. As a Buffalo Emissary, it was empowering to read the language of the treaty that advocates for free-roaming bison as wildlife. As a signatory I vowed to take the treaty back to the Nez Perce Tribe, and advocate for its implementation there. Also signing the treaty were First Nations Chiefs, other tribal emissaries, nonprofit organizations, the mayor of Saskatoon, and masses of individual supporters. As a descendant of signatories to the Nez Perce Treaty of 1855, I was honored to make my mark upon the sacred document. The reception I received from the First Nation leaders in attendance was so warm and welcoming. I felt at home with the leaders as I listened to their wisdom and learned. I made acquaintance with private growers from Saskatchewan and Alberta, and we had a great time sharing our bison stories. They were informed and skeptical regarding the State of Montana's deplorable track record for bison management. I spoke with federal conservationists and park managers. They were sympathetic to our mission and wished us well. The sharing was a powerful experience that I will treasure for the rest of my days.
We are doing right by wild, migratory bison in the Yellowstone Ecosystem. The North American bison community is watching. It is important we continue to stay true to our vision and mission, while finding common ground. Qeciyewyew (thank you) for standing with us, as we advance the mission.
For the Buffalo,
James L. Holt Sr., ED
"The Earth and I are of One Mind."- Chief Joseph, Nimiipuu (Nez Perce)


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Guess the Granite Contest WINNER!!!
Guess The Granite Contest
This year at the Maricopa County Home and Landscape Show at the beautiful University of Phoenix Stadium we presented visitors with a challenge, guess how many pounds of A & E Recycled Granite products we featured in our booth — and we had it everywhere!
From the beautiful Paver floor, to the Split Stone Mailbox and Bench and our amazing Round Grillin' Pit. All the way down to our recycled granite business card holders. Some found the game overwhelming, others enjoyed calculating and many grabbed a friend to get their opinion! However they chose to guess it was amazing to watch our guests walk around the display, exploring all the ways we use granite waste.
Let's talk a little bit about that. A & E Recycled Granite works with countertop fabricators and diverts their scrap from our local landfills. Pieces like sink cut-outs and side cut-offs (that would normally end up in the dump) we pick-up and recycle into useable granite building materials. All of the products that we manufacture are solid granite, we don't crush and reform them with any type of chemical. We manufacture Pavers, Split Stone Tiles, Fire Pits and our new line of Subway Tiles!
Last year A & E Recycled Granite diverted 1.5 million pounds of granite scrap from the Tucson and Phoenix landfills. Our booth, with its staggering amount of products, represented an average week of waste from 1 fabricator. That's a lot of beautiful granite sitting in our landfills taking up space!
Sooo... how much did the all the recycled granite in our booth weigh???
4,838 Pounds!
Our winner used a combination of Calculating and Guessing ( we'll call it Calcu-essing) to come to her incredibly close answer -- Only 12 pounds away from actual weight!
With an entry of 4,850 pounds our winner is:
Kristie Mayhew!
Congratulations from everyone at A & E Recycled Granite and our #DirtyShoeCrew!
Fun Facts from the Contest!
Number of people needed to load-in our booth display :
Number of hours it took to carry in and set-up our 10x10 booth :
Number of kids that helped their parents by doing Math over the summer :
Honorable Mentions:
J. Landis with a submission of 4,865
M.Ferrel, L. Clayton & T. O'Driscoll each guessed 4,800
Weight of the Fire Pit Prize:
624 pounds
Number of Entries:
Most Common Guess:
7 submissions for 3,600 pounds
Lowest Guess:
258 pounds
Highest Guess:
70 Tons (140,000 pounds)
Great Job Everyone and thanks for learning more about A & E Recycled Granite!
Arizona's Eco-friendly manufacturer of Recycled Granite Building Materials
#recycledgranite #pavers #landscape #maricopacounty #splitstone #subwaytiles #trade #design #booth #homeshow #thingstodo #phoenix #contest #winner


text:
Hello everyone, I hope that you are doing very well today, today I am going to talk to you about a new store and tell you what I liked about it, if you want to know more, keep reading ...
Well, in my free time I found this store that I liked very much, its name is Milanoo, this store was founded in 2008 and is based in the city of Chengdu in China, they offer high quality products and good prices for shipments to all the world.
This store sells clothes, lingerie and accessories, what most caught my attention was the shoe section, there are all types and many colors and designs. My favs were definitely the Heel Sandals. Next I'm going to show you my favs shoes from this section.
This store has many forms of payments and can be made through Paypal, which makes it a very safe store where you can make your purchase with confidence, since if your item does not arrive or it is simply not to your liking, you can request a refund through this platform.
What I also like is that there are many customer reviews who have purchased these shoes with real photos that show what the product is like and tell you honestly what they thought of the item and if they are satisfied with the purchase.
Another section that I really liked was Gladiator Sandals, it is a somewhat exotic style that is perfect for this summer. here are my favs:
As you can see, in this store there are many styles of shoes that will allow you to combine with any type of outfit, you can find many Sexy Sandals that will look good with anything, in this store you will surely find something to your liking that goes well with everything. The prices are very accessible, there are of all the sizes and in addition the same model can be in several colors
I recommend that you shop around and tell me what your favorite pairs of shoes are or if you already know this online store.
Thank you very much for reading me, I hope we continue reading in the next post, I have many things to tell you and a little time, but I will try to organize my best so as not to leave the blog so much. I love youuuu. Prrrr


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This coffee table is super cool due to its trendy hairpin legs and an amazing wooden pattern on top. To make it you'll need a drill, a miter saw, a brad nailer, tape measure, a pencil, safety glasses, a torch, 12 – 1 x 2 x 8′ common board; 3/4″ x 48″ x 48″ plywood, 4 – 16″ hairpin legs, wood glue, 1-1/4″ brad nails, 1-1/4″ washer head wood screws. First of all, cut the wood according to the pictures. Then, using 120 grit sand paper sand the rough edges of the wood. Then for the smaller triangle pieces completely torch them. Torching the wood burns away all the softer wood leaving a raised grain. It makes for a really cool texture on the tabletop. Head over to rogueengineer.com to continue reading the tutorial.
Source: rogueengineer


text: They were growing up…and the world liked their Jacksons young. By 1973, The Jackson 5 were becoming somewhat of a spent force around Motown. It had been a few years since the group scored a bona-fide top ten hit, and there was plenty of dissatisfaction to go around. Brother Michael was no longer the pint-sized dynamo that he once was. He was now a pimply 15 years old geek … [Read more...] about Song Of The Day– "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5


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Financial Education is Key!
We are committed to promoting financial literacy and ensuring accessibility to all community residents.
We provide complimentary financial education workshops, on demand videos and access to financial resources to promote financial wellness. We advocate and encourage youth to start on the right financial path early in life with tailored products and financial educational workshops.
We strive to provide families and college students the financial resources to effectively manage their money and avoid the pitfalls of little savings for emergency, high credit card debt or home foreclosure.
Meriwest offers a complete library of financial resources to support you in successfully managing your money.
Financial Education Programs at Meriwest
Help For Your Personal Finances
We are here to help!
Meriwest Credit Union believes everyone should have access to personal financial education. It does not matter whether you are a youth or a senior citizen; the need for financial education spans all age groups.
Young people need to learn about budgeting and how to best handle a checking account. Later in life, we need to learn how to purchase a home or how to protect our identities in public and on the internet. As we grow even older, we need to know how to protect our retirement nest eggs and prepare our estates to help our children and grandchildren.
Improve your financial future by gaining a better understanding of a broad range of personal finance topics. The tools & tips we are providing will help you build strong money management skills that will serve you today and for years to come.
Youth Financial Education
We want to partner with your school!
Meriwest is a proud partner of many school districts providing financial and life skills workshops to help our students become prepared for the financial realities of today's world? Do they understand what credit means? Can they balance a checkbook and live within their means? These are the questions all parents should be asking and preparing their children for as they develop their independence. The Meriwest Teen Financial Education classes give young people insight into what life can be like when they are independent and living on their own. Our budget simulation gives the students a post college job and a savings account. The students then have to rent an apartment, furnish the apartment, buy a car, and then develop a budget that will allow them to live comfortably and replenish their savings with their after tax income. It is an exciting and thought provoking class that gives young people a taste of the real world.
Meriwest Credit Union also provides credit classes for teens and young adults. Establishing Credit teaches teenagers how to get started in credit and what financial issues to avoid on the way to building an excellent credit rating. The Credit Myths and Repair workshop provides a more in-depth view of credit and credit scoring as well as information on accessing and reviewing one's credit report. Finally, Auto Finance 101 provides valuable insights into purchasing and financing a young person's first vehicle. In the Auto Finance 101 class we teach teens and young adults how to negotiate their deal and show them the best options for financing their auto purchases.
Call our Community Relations Team at (408) 365-6328 to inquire and book a time for us to visit your school.
Financial Literacy Resources for Educators
Preparing your students for financial success!
Meriwest Credit Union is here to help empower educators by providing free access to a diverse range of financial literacy resources. Our resources include free financial literacy presentations for classroom use and online video tutorials. It is our hope these resources will provide students the tools necessary for financial success.
Incorporating money lessons into your classroom is an important addition to a student's educational experience. Whether you're introducing this topic to your students for the first time or you want to reinforce what you're currently doing, our resources offer a wide array of topics.
College Savings Plans
Helping Families Save for College
Every parent wants to see their child enter and graduate from college. The 529 College Savings Plans were created to help families save for college without having to pay taxes on the earnings. If 100% of the funds deposited in a 529 College Savings are used for any type of post-secondary school education (colleges and trade schools) the earnings are tax free.
- College 529 Plans - This is a U.S. Government sponsored website featuring general information on College 529 Savings Plans. Will you have the money ready when your child is ready for college? Learn how a 529 Plan can benefit your child's future education.
- Estate Planning - In a way, estate planning is like fishing in the backwoods. You would not go into the backwoods without a professional guide to lead you to the best streams where you find the best fishing. In the case of your estate, your investment advisor is your guide to protecting your family and the nest egg you have grown over the years. A professional investment advisor will be able to direct you to the best products that meet your investment objectives and estate planning needs.
- Meriwest Wealth Advisors - Estate planning is not simple or planned for overnight. Good estate planning can save your family time and money when you pass. With a good estate plan, you can save money on your taxes and pass along more of your estate to the ones you love. You can even establish charitable giving with your plan or a charitable trust or foundation. MW Wealth Advisors can help you.
Meriwest Wealth Advisors is also the investment company serving the members of Meriwest Credit Union. You need someone who can distill your financial information and investment goals into an investment portfolio customized to your lifestyle and needs. You can discover your options by meeting with one of the registered representatives by calling (408) 363-3300. A simple call can make a big difference for you and your family.
Downloadable Presentations
- ABCs of Credit
- Auto Finance 101
- Building Your Budget – Blueprint for Success
- Debt Management
- Debt Management (Handout)
- Establishing Credit for Students
- How to Write a Check
- Improving Your Credit Score
- Intro to Budgeting Preventing Identity Theft
- Tips for Interviewing Success including Resume Writing
- Reality Based Budgeting (for students)
- Adult Protective Services Overview and Mandated Reporter Training
Video Resources
Eligibility Requirements
You are eligible to join Meriwest Credit Union if any of the following applies
- You live, work, worship, or attend school in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties of Northern California, and Pima county of Arizona.
- You are an employee of a participating Meriwest Credit Union member company.
- You are a relative of or reside with a current member of Meriwest Credit Union.
- If you don't meet any of the requirements above but live in California or Arizona, you can still join Meriwest with a complimentary membership in the Financial Fitness Association. Call 1-877-637-4937 to learn more.


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Try a selection of the local spirit which is at least 40°
You will taste the local spirit in a Soviet Era themed restaurant.
5 different glasses of Rakia per person (5 x 25mL).
An experienced Rakia maker will share the secrets behind it.
5 glasses of Rakia, water and 1 local salad per person.
Friendly guide will pick you at your hotel and be with you during all the activity.
1-2 hours
"It's mandatory to try the Rakia when you are in Bulgaria!"
We recommend to do it around dinner time.
Sure. You have a salad per person included but you can stay longer and order a main dish.


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Framed Mirror Art 2 Assorted
Product ID: 66
When you see a decorated wall you wish your house walls also had the same appearance. Hence here's a great chance to offer your house wall that much needed attention by adorning it with this 2 assorted framed mirror art. This assorted set is made from quality materials. This assorted set is rectangular in shape. Each of it features beautiful and striking artistic work that depicts excellent craftsmanship. The beauty of this set would hold attention of many and also make you win appreciations for the same. This incredible assorted set can be part of your living room drawing room kitchen area or passageway. It can be decorated together or separately to adorn your home. The minute you beautify your walls with this set it will instantly enliven the entire setting.
- Artistic Detailing
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Perfect presenting option
Ships in 2-5 days. Free shipping in Contiguous USA.
You are covered by our 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee. If you do not love it within the first 30 days, return it for full refund, minus original and return shipping costs. Click the Return an Order link located in the footer of the website to initiate a return. For damaged or missing items call us within 7 days of product receipt for instructions.


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In part three of this series on self-management for remote workers, we talked about the need to be problem solvers. But what happens if the "problem" is another person? Well, that's the fourth competency of self-management: being able to handle personality conflicts.
While working remotely can be great in terms of reducing the amount of time we spend with annoying co-workers, it doesn't completely eliminate it. Even when we're working remotely, we have to collaborate with people we may not like. And, we still need to be able to do it effectively.
When we work in a traditional office environment, we can rely on there being someone around who can help us resolve conflicts. Whether it's our supervisor or human resources, they can facilitate a conversation and hopefully assist in reaching a resolution. In a virtual or autonomous environment, we have to resolve these personality conflicts on our own.
One way to examine personal conflict situations is to take the "person" part out of the equation and focus on the circumstances creating the conflict. This doesn't mean we shouldn't make sure the other person knows that having a good working relationship is important. Ask for their help in trying to reach a solution everyone can live with. Then examine the circumstances creating the conflict. In my experience, I've found the conflict often includes one of these three scenarios.
Conflict #1 – We don't agree with the data.
In situations where the conflict is created because people can't agree with the data, research and information, the best way to solve it is with more research. For example, Jane and John have a conflict. John believes the data from XYZ is correct and Jane believes the information from ABC is more accurate. This can create personality conflicts in the forms of distrust in each other or thinking that the other person isn't doing enough work. By engaging in more research, they can hopefully find a common research source that they can both rely upon.
Conflict #2 – We don't agree on the goal.
When the conflict surrounds goals and objectives, the way to resolve the conflict is with negotiation and compromise. Using our example above, John and Jane can't agree on the desired outcome for the project. Both of them are frustrated and start to believe there are office politics or hidden agendas involved. By working together on a compromise, they are both able to have a say in the final goals of the project. Think win-win instead of a zero-sum game.
Conflict #3 – We don't agree on the action.
Lastly, if the conflict is regarding the work that needs to be done then consensus is the means to conflict resolution. John wants to do Plan A and Jane would prefer to do Plan B. John and Jane should use their research (fromnumber one) and compromise (from number two) to create an outcome they can both live with. Notice I didn't say they both needed to love it. That's not the purpose of consensus. Consensus is about finding a solution all parties can live with.
As you can see, a key component to resolving conflict is understanding ourselves. When we can use the information we know about ourselves to step outside of conflict, we can begin a dialogue and work toward resolving the matter.
Speaking of knowing ourselves, our next self-management skill deals with something we don't spend nearly enough time talking about…and that's understanding how we like to learn.20


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The robins are finally here, the killdeer are calling, the snow is melting. I should be ecstatic.
Well, I am, underneath it all.
While my book is still 'in review', I'll call it, it's getting harder and harder to keep positive, harder to want to continue onto the sequel, or even continue efforts on Exposing Dallas.
So I haven't been writing in the last few months, not much. You know this, I've mentioned it many times before. But without writing, something that has filled my time for so long, I don't know what to do. I feel like a drifter, without a purpose or place.
I have all sorts of things I could be doing, I know, but to fill the void, I fill it with meaningless internet surfing or busy-work. Yeah, I said I was going to stop that, too, didn't I?
Winter is hard enough without waiting for the critique of a work you put so much effort into, the waiting and the doubting. Doubting leads to thoughts of failure, and failure leads to resignation. But damned if I want to resign. I don't think so, buddy. Does that give me drive to go on? Not sure. Just hovering in that gray area between doubting and thoughts of failure at the moment.
I have already received some notes, most of which are not too difficult to fix or manipulate. But then I receive the "this would not happen, why not do this instead" comment that would affect how the entire book plays out. I wonder, did I make it clear enough that it's actually A and not the B that you think it is? If I change one thing, I have to change the entire book and the story is lost. It no longer has the impact it once did. I don't know. It's things like this that make me question.
So here I am on a beautiful spring day wallowing in self-pity. That's nice, eh? (Yeah, threw that in, after all, I'm Canadian, eh? And I live in an igloo, eh?)
Anyone ever feel this way when having a work initially critiqued? Ever feel like quitting, like it's just not worth the pain that may follow the pleasure of writing? Been too long that my husband and daughter have had to put up with my 'wallowing' if you will. I just want to feel care-free like I do when my books are not being judged. People say, it's just a job, it's just a hobby, stop worrying so much about it! I HATE that. To me, it's my life. Two things most important to me? My family and writing.
Maybe I just have that kind of personality, the one that really knows how to dwell on the negative instead of thinking positively. But I was always taught, "Expect the worst, hope for the best". I really hate that phrase, too. Basically tells you to expect nothing good to happen in life, but you can always hope. So am I expecting my editor to love my book? Nope. Am I hoping? Sure. What's life without hope?
Anyway, that's a lot of blathering. I'd love to hear your comments on your experiences.


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Silver Round Crystal Greek Key Earrings
Sale Sold out
Regular price $14.38 USD
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
Silver Engraved Metal and Clear Crystal Round Designer Inspired Greek Key Stud Earrings Featuring Rhinestone Round Greek Key Dangle Detail. Earrings measure 1.15 inches wide.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Standard delivery usually arrives within 5-15 business days from theshippeddate, excluding holidays. All packages are sent via United States Postal Services and DHL.Nyumadiva will accept returns/exchanges of unworn clothing items with original tags and packaging if initiated within 15 days of receiving all items in the order. If it is a split package order, it will start from the time of the final package delivery date.


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From the questions you've asked and from our spiritual
assessment surveys, we've identified the top struggles. That's why we've created "Win the Day".
We want to come alongside you to win the day and overcome your struggles. Join us as
we; Stand firm. Stand faithful. And stand on God's Word!


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Create Populations, Scenarios, Test Execution and Reports in Neoload (with Examples) Part 4:
In this tutorial, we are about to discuss the Final part of Neoload training series.
Here, we will be covering all the step by step procedures involved in the scenario setup process and also learn more about test execution in Neoload.
What You Will Learn:
Population Creation
In Neoload we have to create the population before creating a scenario and it is very easy to create a population in Neoload. As mentioned in the part 1 tutorial Neoload has a single window to cover all the 3 sections such as Design, Runtime, and Results.
Design again has 3 sections which include:
- User Paths(Scripts)
- Populations and
- Monitors
A scenario can include more than one population to run a test with several different behaviors. And it requires creating different populations to the application using different business and network conditions.
Note: In Neoload we can create a mobile scenario without recording the script from a physical device, just by selecting the mobile browsers and mobile bandwidth like 3g 4g etc. from the population creation.
We will create the Population by taking sample scenarios to cover all the aspects of population creation.
Step #1: Click on populations and it will open the population wizard.
Step #2: Select the user paths (scripts) by clicking the '+' on the right-hand side and select the required script from the user path drop-down button from the parameters as shown below.
Step #3: More populations can be created by clicking '+' from the population tab as shown below.
Consider the below scenario for creating Population:
Example Scenario:
A web pet store site can be tested by simulating 80% of the users for web and 20% of its users for Mobile under different browsers, Operating systems, network and cache conditions.
Under one population we can include as many no. of scenarios.
Create a population called « Web » using the following definitions:
- Scenario 1
- 80 % of virtual users
- Full cache
- Unlimited bandwidth
As we already covered on how to create a population, now will see how to change the parameters depending on our requirement.
Add the User path (Script) to Web population and change the properties to satisfy the above scenarios as shown below.
- Scenario 2
- 20% of virtual users
- 50% use Chrome 46 with Windows
- 25% use Firefox 8.0 with Windows
- 25% use Safari 5.0 with Mac
- Empty cache
- ADSL 8M broadband
- 20% of virtual users
Add the user paths (Scripts) and change the properties to satisfy the scenario 2.
Below are the steps to create Scenario 2:
Step #1: Consider that 20% of the users for a scenario are 20 virtual users, out of that 20, 50% of the users means 10 users use Chrome 46 with Windows, empty cache, and ADSL 8M broadband.
Step #2: Browse from the browser parameter marked with the blue circle and select the windows chrome 46 as shown below.
Follow the same steps and create the next 2 populations, the Firefox 8.0 with windows and safari 5.0 with Mac.
Select or deselect the http/2 depending on your application. If an application doesn't support http/2 uncheck the Http/2 else, we will get an error like NLP is not supporting.
Step #3: Take the bandwidth as ADSL 8M from Wan Emulation as shown below.
Step #4: Select the empty cache, which means New User as shown below.
Once all the parameters are set the population will look as shown below.
Create another population called « Mobile » with the same settings for each scenario but use the below options instead of "ADSL 8M broadband".
- Scenario 1
- 3G mobile broadband with an average signal.
- Scenario 2
- 3G+ mobile broadband with a good signal.
We can just duplicate the above-created population by performing a right-click and rename it as Mobile and change the Wan Emulation(bandwidth) and Mobile browser.
Step #1: Change the wan emulation as shown below.
You can also change the upload and download speeds.
Step #2: Select the mobile browser on the mobile browser in which you want to run the script as shown below.
Once all the settings are done the population will look like the below figure.
(Note: Click on the below image for an enlarged view)
Scenario Setup
Scenario created under the runtime section in the Neoload are shown in the below steps.
Step #1: Go to the Runtime tab in the Neoload and click on '+' symbol to create a New Scenario as shown below.
Step #2: Once the scenario is added we can select the required populations which we want to run just by doing check and uncheck as shown below.
Step #3: Give the individual settings to each population by selecting one by one as shown below.
#1) Scenario for Web:
Duration: 20 min
Users: 100
Ramp up: 5 users for every 10 sec.
#2) Scenario for Mobile:
Duration: 10 min
Users: 200
Peak load: Start with 5 user's max users ramped in 8 min.
Step #4: Both the population and the scenario have advanced settings, which we can set depending on the requirement.
Example: If you want to monitor the scenario1 during the first and last 5 minutes while running the test then it can be done as shown below.
Click on the advanced button under the scenarios section and give the monitoring duration.
Can also set rendezvous point and future test executions.
Add the Load Generators
Before starting load test execution, we will check how to add the load generator(LG) if the test includes more than one LG.
For larger load test like 1000 web users, it should use more than one LG.
Step #1: Click on the default zone on the right-hand side and give the 'IP address or domain name of the LG'.
Step #2: Once you successfully add the LG it will show under the 'default zone' as shown below.
Red indicates that LG is not active.
Note: Neoload has the cloud load testing facility which is very easy to do cloud load testing in Neoload.
Neoload has LG's across the world. Here, I will show how to add the cloud LG to the test.
Cloud Load Generators
Step #1: Before we use the Cloud LG's, We Should buy the cloud LG's first depending on the requirement like how many hours' test will run, number of users and the location of LG.
Step #2: Once the LG's are bought. The neoload team gives the account to access the 'Cloud LG's'. Use those credentials and add the LG's.
Step #3: Click on the cloud symbol from the right-hand side and click on '+' symbol and give the credentials to access the cloud 'LG'.
Step #4: It will open the cloud wizard, select the On Demand/ existing if already reserved close session and click next.
Step #5: Once you click on next it will show the available credits in the account.
Credits mean: 1 Credit = 1hour medium LG we can use for testing.
To use one Large LG (good configuration) with a duration of 1 hour, you should use 2.5 Credits.
Cost of 1 Credit= $1 (again it depends).
Step #6: Once you click on next it will display the load generators that are available across the world as shown below. One should give the duration to use and specify the type of LG as either medium/large.
Select the medium and duration of one hour from the location USA Arizona.
Total 25 is available from the selected location
Step #7: Once you click on finish, the LG is launched and it will shut down after an hour. But before a shutdown, it will remind via email.
The added LG shows under zones as shown below.
We must select the checkbox and distribute the load across the LG's.
As we set different user loads for each population like Web and Mobile in the previous section.
We can also select the different 'LG's' for different populations as shown below.
Select the population from the left-hand side populations and check the LG's which you want to use.
For Web population, select the default zone as localhost and 192.168.40.22. You can find more details in the below screenshot.
For Mobile population select the USA Arizona cloud load generator as shown below.
Should uncheck the default zone which is selected for web population and check the USA zone as shown above.
Once done with the scenario settings, click on the run button to run the test.
Test Execution
Step #1: Once you Click on run, a test will launch.
Once execution is done, you will get the summary report under the result section as shown below.
You can also get the runtime graphs while running the test.
And get the individual details just by drag and drop from the left panel like errors, populations Transactions etc.
If we click on the transactions from the left pane, then it will give transaction response times as shown below.
Step #2: Go to the Graphs tab from the top menu and drag & drop whichever graph is required.
Step #3: Finally generate the report into different formats like word and HTML or whichever is required. To generate the report, click on the 'Result Manager'.
Step #4: Next click on the generated report.
Step #5: Select the load test results for which you want to generate a report and click next.
Step #6: Select all the fields that you want to include in the report and click next.
Step #7: Select the type of report that you want to generate and the location to save the report. Then click on finish and the report will generate.
Note: Neoload also has a web dashboard like Blaze meter and while running the test we can send the result to the Neoload WEB. But we should signup into Neoload only then we can see the report on the Neoload WEB.
Let us see how it will be.
Neoload Web Report
Step #1: To send the data to Neoload Web, we should get the 'Access Token' from Neoload and update it under the Recording Preferences-> Neoload Web as shown below.
In order to get the access token click on 'get token' as shown in the below screenshot. It will redirect you to the Neoload Web login and you should sign up first.
Step #2: While running the test it will show an option to send the report into Neoload Web as shown below.
Step #3: Login to the Neoload web and you will be able to see the report dashboard.
This is the official website of Neoload.
That's all readers. We have come to the end of the Neoload series.
Through this tutorial we learned how to create populations, Scenario creation, adding Cloud load generator, Neoload Web dashboard and test execution along with some scenarios and their pictorial representation.
I hope I have covered all about Neoload and I'm sure that it will be very useful for the readers.
Check out the complete list of tutorials under Neoload training series here.


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- Careful manual selection of clusters.
- Fermentation through selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures, ranging 57 °F (14 °C).
- No oak or malolactic fermentation.
Tasting Notes
- Pale olive green color, with a bright and young tint.
- Intense and expressive aroma recalling white fruits such as pineapple and pear. Elegant floral note.
- In the mouth, its fruitiness and very balanced acidity makes a lingering finish.
- Serve at 45-46 °F (7-8 °C).
Andeluna Chardonnay - Altitud


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Flickr user ilmungo
Update December 31: The water samples have returned and the advisory has been lifted.
Tests now show that the drinking water in thearea is free from all harmful bacteria.
First reporting December 30: Officials of Beaufort-Jasper Water and Sewer Authority (BJWSA) and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control are advising residents on Coosaw Island, Judge Island and areas along Sams Point Rd from Lucy Creek Rd to Coosaw Island to boil their water before using for drinking, cooking or dishwashing.
The advisory area includes Token Lane, Honeysuckle Road, Tuxedo Drive, Lucy Creek Farm Road, Lucy Creek Drive and Coosaw Point.
Officials said they expect the advisory to end sometime on Friday.
The advisory is being issued because of an accident Wednesday around 1:30 PM, when a cement truck overturned onto a fire hydrant. The main water line serving the area had to be shutdown to repair the damage and crews were able to restore service late Wednesday.
SC DHEC requires that water utilities issue a boil water advisory when such an event occurs that allows the possibility for bacteria to enter the public water system. Such an event may include a loss of water pressure, which could allow bacteria in soil and groundwater to enter water pipes through cracks or leaks. A drop in pressure could also cause backflow, which is best defined by the example of a garden hose in a bucket of dirty water "sucking" that water back into the public water system when the water pressure drops, although backflow prevention valves make this unlikely.
Residents and businesses in the affected area are urged to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, preparing food, and giving to pets until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms that may be present in the water. Some water filters do not protect against bacteria, so customers with filters are advised to contact the manufacturer for more information or boil their tap water. The water is safe for bathing and doing laundry.
Residents are urged to tell their neighbors about this situation who may not receive this message. Information can also be found at www.bjwsa.org.
For further information, residents can contact BJWSA at 843-987-9200.
How to purify water
If water does not appear to be clear, strain through a clean cloth into a container to remove any sediment or floating matter. If water is clear, omit this step.
Disinfection by heat:
Chemical disinfection
Use common liquid chlorine laundry bleach. Read the label to find the percentage of available chlorine and then follow the table below:
|Drops to be added per quart of water for
Clean Water
|Drops to be added per
Quart of water for
Cloudy Water
|4 to 6 %
|7 to 10%


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Amenities ▲ Meeting Space ▲
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General Information
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Meeting Space
Sleeping Rooms


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Is The Current Crop of DP Living Under Illusions?
- Press Statement by Democratic Party President Norbert Mao
This is the Press Conference that started the flurry of activities that lead to the 3rd IPOD Summit that took place on 12th March 2021. Please read until the end. The last few paragraphs contain the call for an IPOD Summit.
The purpose of this press conference is to announce definite constructive measures to express our ideas, concerns and hopes. Specifically we shall focus on plans for rebuilding our party and saving Uganda from fragmentation due to misrule and parochial differences.
After an election season filled with frustration and disappointment, we have a choice between wallowing in self pity and bitterness or picking ourselves up and moving forward with dignity, grace and hope.
To all our members, supporters and well wishers, I say there's no time for licking our wounds. We have to regroup without delay and continue the pursuit of the objectives for which the Democratic Party was set up in 1954.
Those who watched our efforts from a distance have the luxury of making comments – some well meaning, some painful and even outright malicious. But only our close friends, family and the true believers of the party know what we invested in the race and how much it cost us physically, emotionally and financially.
We are very proud of all those who lifted high the banner of our party. We salute your courage. Some of our members succumbed to pressures of propaganda and hate speech from our opponents and ended up betraying the principles enshrined in our party constitution and to which they profess allegiance.
When circumstances demanded that they lead, they degenerated into blind followers of populism. Instead of fighting and risking to lose with y and dignity, they instead resorted to forging opportunistic alliances based on the selfish and flimsy excuses. Unfortunately for some, even their resort to opportunism did not save them from defeat. They still lost, only that their losses were full of indignity, shame and dishonor.
For those of us who stood firm to the end and still lost, our loss did not come at the expense of our dignity and honour. The founders of our party are looking down upon us from the high heavens with great pride. We did not dishonor them. We did not betray the party they sacrificed so much to defend and protect.
We congratulate those who against all odds were able to win. You swam with sharks and you prevailed over the crimson tide of hatemongering, intimidation and baseless prejudice.
For those of our candidates who were incumbent office bearers, there must be disappointment. To you I say don't let your disappointment degenerate into bitterness and paralysis. You sought another term and we backed you because we believe you were doing a great job and deserved reelection.
We are not going to let our frustrations keep us down. We shall get up, appraise our weaknesses and strengths and act on our findings. We will not imitate the path of others with whom we have no shared values and goals.
You can't want to win and at the same time persist in doing the things that can only lead to failure.
Things haven't worked out to our expectations but we'll keep going. We will not focus too much on what has happened but what is possible. We shall be adaptable and study different scenarios.
We are very proud of the decision we made to field candidates at all levels – presidential, parliamentary and local government. We resisted the pressures to surrender our right to think for ourselves and make decisions based on our values, conscience and convictions. As the saying goes, 'only dead fish flow with the tide'. DP is alive and as ever will never be afraid to swim against the tide. Like our heroic leaders who stood firmly against prejudice in the 1960s we appeal to history to absolve us and make our tormentors pay a high price for their short sightedness and misguided ambition and sense of entitlement.
Everything possible has been done to destroy me and DP. Malicious smear campaigns have been orchestrated by a cabal of tribal enemies of DP. Our structures have been infiltrated and subverted. Our leaders have been blackmailed and intimidated to betray the party and many succumbed.
But it has failed to destroy me. It has failed to destroy the party. The party is still standing. I'm still standing. We're still standing. There's nothing more anyone can do. We've hit rock bottom. The only way for us now is up. We can't sink any lower.
Call me crazy but one day DP will lead this country. And that day is not far off because Uganda yearns for a government whose foundation is Truth and Justice and only DP can offer that kind of government.
Many have sought to dismember and destroy DP in order to build monuments to themselves on its ruins but none have yet succeeded and none ever will.
When the waters in DP were stirred with a turbulent strife, caused by provincialist agitators, many thought that it was just about DP and Norbert Mao. Those of us who believe that DP belongs to the whole of Uganda were in contention with those of our members who believe that DP belongs to a section of Uganda.
With the benefit of hindsight, we now thank those who troubled the waters in DP. Calm waters can be deceptive. A lot of deadly creatures hide beneath the calm surface. When the waters are troubled you get to see the deadly creatures lurking in the water. With the waters stirred, we were able to see the scorpions, crocodiles and snakes hiding among the fish and turtles.
If 2021 has done anything, it has been a reality check. We can no longer deceive ourselves or each other. A moment of truth stares us in the face. We have gone through an empty ritual and called it an election. On 16th January, 2021 I issued a statement on the elections held on 14th January. The outcome of the presidential elections is now facing a legal challenge in the Supreme Court and as an Advocate I won't say much today. It is our expectation that the Supreme Court will carry out a thorough inquiry as required by law to determine compliance with electoral laws. But I will say this: It would be an insult to our constitution and all the electoral laws to say the 2021 elections were free and fair.
In line with our commitment to rebuild our party, I wish to make the following announcements:
We shall focus on rejuvenating the Uganda Young Democrats (UYD). Almost 80 percent of Uganda's population is below the age of 30. This majority is politically silenced, discouraged and marginalized due to pervasive commercialization of politics, nepotism coupled with tribal and cultural prejudice. The youth have been relegated to the role of disposable pawns and sit at the periphery of our political and electoral processes.
We shall evaluate and appreciate youth contributions towards achieving a better Uganda for all now and in the future. We shall also promote critical thinking on how to include young people in active and meaningful politics. 2021 has made it clear that if you don't allow young people the space to express themselves within the law, they will find a way to express themselves outside the law.
We shall focus on the DP Women's League
We shall focus on training our leaders and members. Training is the best answer to meal card politics.
We shall carry out a post election assessment, put a mirror before our eyes and see ourselves the way we really are and focus on building a better party of true believers.
We shall carry out an inspection of all our branches to determine their functionality after many of them were cannibalized by enemies of DP
We shall compile a new membership register as a basis of rebuilding then party structures nationwide
In terms of our constitutional framework these proposals and ideas will be thoroughly discussed at a party Management Committee meeting this week followed by a session of the National Executive Committee.
Eventually the National Council will consider the recommendations from these organs and convene a National Policy Conference to facilitate further consultations. We shall evaluate and overhaul the administration of the party.
Finally, as DP we are extremely concerned with the reported cases of abductions, kidnaps, unlawful arrests, illegal detentions, torture and disappearances targeting opposition activists. These illegal activities are being blamed on the security organs of the Uganda government. To date, scores of opposition activists are in detention and face charges before the court martial which continues to deny them bail without any lawful excuse. As a party committed to non-violence, rule of law and constitutionalism, we condemn these illegal acts of state terrorism in the strongest terms.
But we will not stop at condemnation. We believe that this is the time that the political parties have to take steps to end these troubling activities that flagrantly violate the rights of citizens. We call upon President Yoweri Museveni who is the current the Chairman of the Summit of the Inter-Party Organization for Dialogue (IPOD) to convene an Extraordinary Summit to discuss the reports of unlawful arrests, illegal detentions, malicious prosecutions, disappearances, kidnaps and torture. We believe that a frank discussion by responsible representatives of IPOD member party together with other non-member political parties that may be invited as observers will allow for a proper diagnosis of the problem and information sharing that will lead to solutions.
I have consulted the leaders of three of the IPOD member parties namely JEEMA, UPC and FDC and they agree that a high level meeting under the aegis of IPOD can be an important forum for dealing with mutual suspicions and ensuring that the armed forces adhere to the rule of law. This approach is definitely better than trading accusations and grandstanding in the media.


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Neckline: Square, Sweetheart
Sleeve Length: Short Sleeve
Back Details: Zipper, Zip up
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Fully Lined: Yes
Built-in Bra: Yes
Shipping Weight: 1.5Kg
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How long is take to delivery to US?
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Italian cardinal: Our synodal journey will not be like Germany's
Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, president of the Italian bishops' conference, at a press conference in Bari, Italy, on Jan. 22, 2020. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.
Rome Newsroom, May 28, 2021 / 03:20 am (CNA).
An Italian cardinal told journalists Thursday t… […]


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Mass Effect N7 Black Leather Biker Jacket
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- Description
- Delivery & Return
- Additional information
- Reviews (0)
Mass Effect N7 Black Leather Biker Jacket Features:
- High-quality real leather outer shell
- Front zip closure
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- N7 logo on the chest
Cleaning and Care:
Wipe With A Damp Cloth
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Additional information
XS = Chest = 36" – 38", S = Chest = 38" – 40", M = Chest = 40" – 42", L = Chest = 42" – 44", XL = Chest = 44" – 46", 2XL = Chest = 46" – 48", 3XL = Chest = 48" – 50"
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Cold Cave Remixed by Pantha Du Prince, Optimo on New Single
Published Apr 07, 2010Since signing with Matador last year, dark wave group Cold Cave reissued their excellent debut, Love Comes Close, and followed it up with the Death Comes Close EP. While it's unlikely that we'll be hearing anything new from the band anytime soon, Matador has revealed plans for a remix-laden single of Love Comes Close standout "Life Magazine."
The single will be available as a twelve-inch record, and will include remixes of the track from across the map. Lending their reworking skills to the track are Afrika Bambaataa and New Order producer Arthur Baker, Glasgow DJ duo Optimo, minimal techno dude Pantha Du Prince and noisemonger (and Cold Cave member) Prurient.
Matador will drop the twelve-inch on June 8. In the meantime, Pantha Du Prince's interpretation of the track is available here.
Life Magazine:
A1. "Life Magazine" (The Arthur Baker's Not Going Back Remix)
A2. "Life Magazine" (An Optimo (Espacio) Remix)
B1. "Life Magazine" (Pantha Du Prince First Flash Remix)
B2. "Life Magazine" (Prurient Remix)


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Amish Handcrafted Shaker Extension Bench
(Product ID:44157)
Amish Handcrafted Shaker Extension Bench
Dutchcrafters is proud to carry Amish handcrafted Shaker furniture. The simple Amish Shaker Extension Bench is available in four different sizes and five different wood types and is one of our best selling dining room benches.
Style Your Shaker Seating
Why do so many find this dining bench appealing from top to bottom? The solid wood is sensational and the quality craftsmanship unbeatable. This is not furniture that will get thrown out. It's furniture to become part of your legacy.
- Available in four sizes from a 36" - 72" in length.
- Up to 4 - 12" leaves available for 48", 60" and 72" lengths (36" only available with a solid top).
- Choice of wood and finish
- Specialty finish options available including distressing, burnishing or unfinished if you wish
If you order two or more leaves then a storage container is included with your order. This leaf storage container is made from solid oak wood and will be stained to match the bench.
Depth: 12 1/2"
Width: 36"
Height: 18"
Top Thickness: 1"
Other Sizes Available:
48" Width
60" Width
72" Width
Center Leg:
Solid Top and Bench With 1 Extension Will Not Have Center Leg
Bench With 2-3 Extensions Will Have Center Leg
Bench With 4 Extensions Will Have Two Center Legs
Solid Seat(Standard)
1 - 4 12" Leaves Available (36" is only Available As Solid Seat)
Middle Legs are Included to Support Extensions
Oak Wood Leaf Storage Box is included with 2, 3 or 4 leaves. The box will be stained to match the bench.
Red Oak (Standard)
Quarter Sawn White Oak
Brown Maple
Wormy Maple
Rustic Cherry Wood with Open Knots Not Filled*
Rustic Cherry Wood with Knots Filled with Epoxy*
Rustic Hickory Wood with Open Knots Not Filled*
Rustic Hickory Wood with Knots Filled with Epoxy*
Rustic Quarter Sawn White Oak Wood with Open Knots Not Filled*
Rustic Quarter Sawn White Oak Wood with Knots Filled with Epoxy*
Rustic Walnut Wood with Knots Filled with Epoxy
Rustic Walnut Wood with Open Knots Not Filled
Grey Elm
Curly Maple
Sap Cherry
Standard Features:
Amish Handcrafted Furniture
Solid Hardwood Construction
Mission Edge Profile
Finish Packages:
- Stained
- Painted
- Regular Semi Gloss Conversion Varnish
- Flat Matte Sheen Conversion Varnish
- Light Distressing - Customers can expect to receive glazing to replicate a rich natural patina, light distressing, slightly eased edges, nicks and extensive pinholes in the furniture.
-Heavy Distressing - Our ultimate antique finish. Rub-through of the rich patina are masterfully punctuated with another level of extensive nicks, pin holes, eased edges, simulated cracks and other distressing techniques to bespeak several centuries of robust wear and loving care.
Shipping & Lead Time
Learn More About Our Furniture Delivery Options


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Jesse Asmussen and Ruf Style Of Play claimed two Non Pro Futurity championships.
By Nichole Chirico
When Jesse Asmussen drew up first in the 2019 NRHA CINCH Non Pro Futurity finals aboard his mare Ruf Style Of Play (Not Ruf At All x UB Stylin With Me), he knew he needed to set the bar high if he wanted to claim the Level 4 and L3 championships. But little did he know that was only the beginning of an exciting non pro finals that'll go down in reining history.
Make That Three
Thirty horses into the draw, Asmussen clung to the lead with the 220 he marked early in the night, until a bizarre incident left Luca Fappani with a re-ride after a dog sprung into the arena during his second set of circles. When Fappani came back in for his re-ride, he matched Asmussen's 220, leaving Asmussen and Fappani with the tough decision about taking the tie or running it off for the win.
"You don't expect to have someone tie your score; you just assume they'll beat you," Asmussen explained. "I'd been pacing back and forth at the stalls trying to keep busy when I heard we'd tied. I looked over at my horse, who wasn't saddled or ready to go, and thought, 'What are we going to do?'"
Ultimately the two decided to ride again, giving Asmussen only 15 minutes to warm up his horse before heading back into the arena for his second run of the night.
"In the runoff, she was phenomenal," Asmussen gushed. "She stopped big, had great turnarounds, and pretty circles. I couldn't believe she was better there than she was the first time I showed her in the finals."
By the end of his run it was clear from the audience's reaction that Asmussen had once again set the bar high, and with a score of 222 Asmussen would go on to win his third L4 championship and also claim the L3 title.
However, that wasn't the part that stood out the most to Asmussen, who says it's always a dream come true when you have a horse that's special enough to win an NRHA Futurity championship. For the first time, Asmussen's dear friend Dave Kunkle was sitting in the stands, cheering him on as he competed in the Futurity finals.
"Dave [Kunkle] was the person who got me into reining," shared Asmussen. "The first two times I won he was back in Iowa; it was really special to have him here tonight."
Sight Unseen
It was never the plan to buy another horse. In fact, when Bobby Avila Jr. originally called to tell Asmussen about Ruf Style Of Play, Asmussen turned him down.
"I begged Jesse to buy [Ruf Style Of Play]," Avila joked after he was asked about selling the horse. "I knew that if I could pick the rider of this horse, she'd be successful. I know how Jesse rides, and I knew he would get along great with this mare. She has a ton of talent and wants to be trained; she just needed someone who's patient and willing to put in the work to get her ready for a show like the Futurity. Jesse was the perfect fit."
Asmussen finally gave in to Avila and decided to buy the mare sight unseen.
"When I told my wife I ended up buying this mare, she just rolled her eyes at me because we already had too many horses," Asmussen said with a smile. "When we got her home, I was really excited about her. Bobby had told me she was really good-minded and a great stopper, and he was spot on."
After Asmussen decided to pull the trigger on buying Ruf Style Of Play, she originally came back to Iowa to be under his guidance, and for the first couple of months Asmussen did the majority of the riding himself. It wasn't until the weather in Iowa began to get colder that he decided it was time to send the mare to NRHA Professional Kole Price to prepare for NRHA's premier 3-year-old event.
"This mare really surprised me," Price exclaimed. "She had a few green spots when she got to my house, but she stepped up to the plate fast. When Jesse came out to ride her, he couldn't believe it's the same horse."
Asmussen agreed, and credited Price's help as to why the two were able to put everything together in the show pen. "I felt that I changed her a lot, but he really got her ready for this show. I don't think I could've done it without his help and guidance."
'She's a Show Horse'
It's not often you find a 3-year-old capable of so easily handling the pressure of a long event like the NRHA Futurity, but Ruf Style Of Play was ready for the challenge and handled the workload like a seasoned veteran, even beating her previous score each time she went to compete in the show pen throughout the NRHA Futurity.
"It's really hard to stay this consistent, especially with a 3-year-old, but every ride Jesse and this mare had together was a productive ride," Price shared. "They just kept getting better and better each time they went into the show pen, and
the end result was great."
After the consistency Ruf Style Of Play demonstrated in the show pen at the NRHA Futurity, it's no surprise both Price and Asmussen agree that she's the definition of a
show horse.
"You can tell that she really enjoys her work," Asmussen explained. "She never gets mad, she's always happy and tries so hard every time you get on her. She truly wants to be a show horse."
Price added, "It's not an ideal situation to only get 15 minutes to warm up to runoff at an event like this, especially after going so early in the draw and sitting for as long as she did. But you can tell she's a show horse because she went in that arena with very little warm-up and managed to get even better in the show pen."
Next to Come
Asmussen doesn't have his game plan finalized going into 2020, and jokes that he still has too many horses, but one thing they know for sure is Ruf Style Of Play will be getting a well-deserved break.
"When she's on a break there will still probably be some light riding involved because she's fresh every day," Price laughed. "Even after an event like the Futurity she'll be fresh the next day."
And while Asmussen's not sure what's next for the mare at this moment, Price knows that whatever it is she does, she'll be great at it. "Just judging by how she showed at the Futurity, this mare has a really long career ahead of her. She's going to make a really nice derby horse."


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When people said the Astros might lose 120 games this season, I scoffed. "Why," I scoffed, "they probably won't lose even 100 games!"
I should scoff less. No, they're not going to lose 120 games. They're not going to lose 110 games. But they're going to lose somewhere between 100 and 105 games, and their run differential is the worst in the majors by a lot (although to be fair, their run differential is actually somewhat better than their record).
But of course the Astros are rebuilding. How's that working out for them? You know, down lower? As MLB.com's Brian McTaggart writes, pretty, pretty, pretty well:
If success in the Minor Leagues is any indication, the Astros' rebuilding process appears to be coming along nicely.
The Astros became the first organization in 10 years to qualify six domestic Minor League affiliates for the postseason in the same year after short-season Tri-City clinched its division in the New York-Penn League on Tuesday.
The six playoff clubs is a franchise record and makes the Astros the first team to accomplish the feat since the Pirates in 2003.
At the top of that list is center fielder George Springer (No. 3 prospect), who hit a combined .303 with 37 homers, 108 RBIs and 45 stolen bases this year at Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Oklahoma City. First baseman Jon Singleton (No. 2 prospect) and pitcher Asher Wojciechowski (No. 13 prospect) also figure to contribute in the Majors next year after finishing the year in Triple-A.
Wait a minute ... can we go back to the 2003 Pirates? If that's the precedent, it's not real encouraging. After going 72-89 in 2004, the Pirates lost at least 94 games in each of the next six seasons. And the Pirates had some good prospects, too! In '04, Baseball America's list of the Pirates' top 20 prospects included Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, Paul Maholm, Ryan Doumit, Matt Capps, Zach Duke, Nyjer Morgan, Nate McLouth, and Tom Gorzelanny. That's impressive.
What's even more impressive -- or less impressive, depending on how you look at it -- is that with the exception of Jason Bay, those guys weren't even the Pirates best prospects. According to Baseball America, five of their top six were pitchers John VanBenschoten, Sean Burnett, Bryan Bullington, Blair Johnson, and Ian Snell. You probably don't need me to tell you that none of them became stars. Ian Snell was useful for a couple of seasons, and he was easily the best of them.
One good thing about the Astros' top prospects -- Spring, Singleton, and 19-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa -- is that none of them are pitchers. Of course you want pitching prospects. But it's easier to get lucky with pitchers than hitters, and it seems the Astros won't need much luck with their hitting prospects.
The signs are pretty good at this point. The hitting prospects are there, and the minor-league playoff teams are there. But so are the 2003 Pittsburgh Pirates. The past isn't prologue. But the prologue isn't the prologue yet, either. And the Astros aren't the only smart guys in the room.
For much more about baseball's more rebuildingest franchise, please visit SB Nation's Crawfish Boxes.


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More than half a dozen staffers at the New York City-based green tea chain Cha Cha Matcha — best known for its flashy, millennial pink branding and celebrity clientele, including many of the Kardashians — allege that the company's co-founders have engaged in problematic company practices related to hiring, promotional giveaways, and the payment of their employees.
In dozens of Instagram comments and in separate interviews with Eater, former employees alleged that Cha Cha Matcha co-owners Conrad Sandelman and Matthew Morton screened employees' appearances during job interviews; declined to pay employees for their final two weeks of employment in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, despite distributing hundreds of thousands of dollars in free merchandise to celebrities in previous months; and appeared in recently resurfaced Instagram photos that staffers labeled as offensive and culturally appropriative.
Staffers' complaints came to the fore early last month after the chain started posting a series of messages to its Instagram page addressing the widespread, ongoing protests against police brutality. The posts — which were published on June 1, June 2, and June 3 — outlined Cha Cha Matcha's stance on racial inequality and announced the company's intention to donate $25,000 to local Black-led civil rights groups.
"As white owners of a business that employs and serves many people of color, there is no more standing on the sidelines," the message by owners Morton and Sandelman reads. "As a company, we have a lot to learn."
But soon after the posts went up, a host of Instagram users who identified themselves as former employees posted a litany of complaints alleging the workplace culture Morton and Sandelman fostered contradicted the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement.
"Black Lives Matter is a people's movement," according to an NYC-based former manager who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal from Cha Cha Matcha's owners. "This has never been a people's company. It's a company for celebrities."
The company has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
Sandelman and Morton, 27 and 28, debuted the first location of Cha Cha Matcha on Soho's Broome Street in 2016. In the four years since, the Japanese green tea chain has marketed its matcha as the beverage of choice for celebrities and influencers in New York City and Los Angeles. The company has partnered with major fashion brands like Kith and Versace, while its drinks have appeared in photographs with models Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid.
The company quickly gained a following due to its celebrity endorsements, but it was also poised for success due to Morton's family affiliations with the restaurant industry: His father, Peter Morton, is the co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe line of restaurants and casinos, which was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for nearly $1 billion in 2006. Cha Cha Matcha now operates six stores in New York City and Los Angeles, with a seventh location planned for the West Coast, according to the company's website.
The company's fast rise, though, has come at the expense of staffers, former employees say.
During interviews with Eater, former workers in the company's Los Angeles and NYC stores allege that Sandelman and Morton screened employees' appearances via Facetime during the application process to ensure that they adhered to the brand's aesthetic. Multiple staffers in both cities said this was referred to as a "fit-for-look" call, though some employees reported that the interview occurred in person.
Sandelman allegedly made the final decision on whether an applicant was hired or not, according to the former manager in NYC. "I had someone once who I really advocated for," they said. "They seemed like a great fit for the job, and Conrad just said 'No.' He didn't think they fit the vibe," which the manager described as "hot and attractive."
"Mine only lasted 45 seconds," recalls Marli Peress, a former employee at the company's West Hollywood store. "It wasn't long enough to be an interview. It feels like he wants to check that you fit the store's aesthetic." Not unlike the company's tropical logos and millennial-pink color palette, former workers say that Conrad and Sandelman hired employees to curate a specific "look" in their stores, which Peress described as young, white, and conventionally attractive.
In the six months that Peress worked in the company's West Hollywood store, she says there "was not one Black person who worked in the West Hollywood location." Another former staffer, Brandon Colbein, confirmed Peress' account.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, a commenter — who identified himself as a former NYC manager but who declined to comment for this story due to fear of professional repercussions — added that the company should "stop denying black applicants with great resumes because they don't fit the overly white Cha Cha aesthetic."
Cha Cha Matcha stores in New York City and Venice Beach, California, have more diverse staffs, former staffers have pointed out. Morton and Sandelman did not respond to requests for comment.
Cha Cha Matcha is not the first company to be accused of emphasizing applicants' physical appearances during hiring processes. Abercrombie and Fitch famously included physical attractiveness and "sense of style" as factors in its hiring process until April 2015 — a practice that is likely to lead to discriminatory outcomes.
At Cha Cha Matcha, the company's alleged obsession with image to the detriment of employee well-being went beyond staffing, though. Roughly half-a-dozen former workers described a marketing strategy in which Sandelman and Morton gave out "lifetime supply cards" to celebrities and influencers, which, prior to February 2020, could be used to acquire unlimited quantities of free merchandise. While it is not uncommon for restaurants to distribute free merchandise as part of their marketing budgets, the difference at Cha Cha Matcha, former employees say, is that the business practice caused "chaos" and discomfort in its stores.
Colbein, who worked at Cha Cha Matcha's West Hollywood and Venice Beach locations, says the loyalty program was "out of control." He and other staffers allege that celebrity customers would skip lines, bring friends into the store with them, and order "uncomfortable" quantities of drinks for themselves and their guests, ranging anywhere from $75 to $150 worth of product. "You pretty much just give them whatever they want," the former NYC manager says, in reference to the shop's celebrity clientele.
At the company's West Hollywood flagship store, the practice resulted in approximately $200,000 in free giveaways to celebrities and influencers in 2019 — roughly 20 percent of the store's sales that year, according to Colbein, who had access to the branch's point of sales system. Given that those drinks were marked as free, staffers say that celebrities and influencers rarely left tips that matched the cost of orders — let alone at all — despite some of Cha Cha Matcha's employees being classified as tipped workers by the company.
"They never tipped," Colbein says, in reference to participants of the loyalty program. "It pissed me off." Meanwhile, Colbein and his co-workers were paid $14.25 per hour, the minimum wage in Los Angeles for companies with more than 26 employees as of July 2019.
Colbein says that he was offered a job to return to the West Hollywood store in May — as the company was reportedly gearing up to reopen its stores — though he says his contract specified that he would now be paid $12.25, two dollars less than his previous rate, as a result of receiving tips. The minimum untipped wage in Los Angeles for companies who have fewer than 26 employees is $14.25 at the time of writing. In New York, some employees were paid $12.50 before the novel coronavirus pandemic, also as a result of receiving tips.
Staffers say the lifetime card program was changed in February 2020, due to the company giving away thousands of dollars a month in free merchandise. Under the new program, participants in the loyalty program could still receive free drinks and food from Cha Cha Matcha stores, but limits were placed on the sizes of their orders.
Staffers' frustrations reached a boiling point in March, when former employees say they did not receive their final paychecks prior to the company's stores closing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. They allege that Sandelman and Morton pledged to pay workers for their shifts for two weeks while Cha Cha Matcha temporarily closed its NYC and Los Angeles stores in mid-March.
But on the day before the promised pay date, staffers say that the company let all of its retail staff go, refused to pay them for those two weeks, and assured employees that they could make more money by collecting unemployment. (While technically true, at the time of the termination, state unemployment websites were overwhelmed nationwide, resulting in weeks-long delays.)
Like many other restaurant owners, the co-founders had also created a GoFundMe campaign for their roughly 70 employees prior to letting them go. Employees say they saw the GoFundMe as a bonus in addition to the two weeks of pay that they had been promised. Once they were fired, however, employees say they only had the GoFundMe money to rely on, which amounted to a little less than $300 per person.
Cha Cha Matcha's West Hollywood and Venice Beach stores appear to have started accepting delivery orders through Postmates, though the phone lines at both stores have been disconnected.
Staffers say their issues with Sandelman and Morton weren't just limited to company hiring practices and employee pay, though. Following Cha Cha Matcha's June 3 Instagram post in support of Black Lives Matter, staffers resurfaced photos of the duo, which they say were offensive and culturally appropriative.
In these photos — which have now been deleted — posted to the co-founders' Instagram accounts and obtained by Eater, the duo is shown at a party and on the NYC subway wearing costumes, including one that appeared to mock Arab culture, with both men pictured in white robes and keffiyehs. In another post, Morton posted a video of himself dressed as a geisha with the caption "Matt Mo's of a Geisha," seemingly referencing the 2005 film Memoirs of a Geisha. Geisha costumes have long been used to promote harmful stereotypes of Asian women.
"Their elitism is a symptom of their racism," says Colbein, who says that he decided to quit his job as a barista as a result of the photos.
Another now-deleted image posted to Sandelman's Instagram account shows a "Make America Great Again" hat with Donald Trump's signature on the brim. "Got an autograph from my favorite person," the caption reads. Trump has a demonstrated history of making a litany of racist remarks before and during his presidency, including calling Mexican immigrants "rapists" and regularly promoting messages from white supremacists on his Twitter account.
In response to the resurfaced image of a Make American Great Again hat, hundreds of commenters flooded Cha Cha Matcha's Instagram posts, calling for a boycott of the brand, requesting refunds for past drink orders, and referring to the company's support of local civil rights groups as "fake" and "pretend activism." Other commenters demanded that Cha Cha Matcha publish receipts of its donations. The company and its founders have not posted to their Instagram accounts or issued a statement following their June 3 pledge to donate $25,000 to black-led civil rights groups.
Notably, the company's New York City locations have remained closed at a time when many coffee and tea shops have reopened their doors for counter, delivery, and outdoor dining service.


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Tag: Charles Wheeler
Where can you learn more about BYOD?
January 2, 2013Martha Entwistle
Happy 2013! I'm back in the office after an extra long vacation, which involved no work and a lot of food, exercise and fun with my kiddos, husband and extended family. I hope you all had some time off as well. Going through emails and pre-holiday to-dos, I came across some notes from the Imperial Capital Security Investor Conference from a panel discussion that took place at the very end of the conference about BYOD—that's bring your own device. The panel featured government professionals...