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Terms and conditions
By e-mail (telephone only for questions).
For reservation to be confirmed, a down payment of 50% of the rent must be received.
Full payment will be required upon arrival.
For weekly bookings full payment must be received 15 days minimum before arrival.
All reservations must be done through valid credit bank card.
Means of Payment
Bank card.
Bank transfer.
Postal transfer.
Bank Check (French bank only)
On site cash.
Cancellation Policy
Full refund if cancelled more than 30 days or more before planned arrival date.
50% refund if cancelled less than 29 day and 16 day notice.
No refund 15 days or less (the totality oh the amount of your journey is going to be charge on your credit card).
No refund upon early departure.


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The tour for four American high school students and two teachers was set up over the internet so I was skeptical about the service or committing money as a deposit. However, every detail was taken care of perfectly from being met at the Xi'an north train station by a Chinese guide whose English was excellent and knowledge of the history of the Terra Cotta warrior museum was also good. We arrived at 8:30a.m. and were driven directly to the Warrior and Horse museum – which took an hour. The VERY unfortunate part of the trip had to do with the pollution which was thick as a dense fog obliterating all views along the way. Our group wore masks. Abby, our guide, described the pollution as "mist" caused by all the construction projects. Thankfully she knew more about the museum and its history and the history of the sights.By 12:30 our small group of high school students were finished with being awed at this historical sight and were hungry. We ate at the museum site where a man was slapping around noodles outside for "show". The noodle soup with chunks of meat was perfect and inexpensive by U.S. standards at 20 yuan for a big bowl.Next we visited the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a temple (working), a bell tower (not working) a drum tower (not working) and more shops. It was good for those who have never been to a temple site. Next time with limited time to use, we would probably skip it.Our final part of the one day was spent on Muslim Street – a truly unique eating experience. Our guide walked us up the center of the street and gave us a meeting time and place. We thoroughly enjoyed the differentness of Muslim Street. Such unique foods, breads, sweets – all for the sampling. Pomegranate juice was being squeezed; taffy like candy was being pounded by huge wooden mallets. It was a fascinating conclusion to our day. We could have spent more time here, but only had a couple of hours before being returned to the Xi'an train station in time to return to Zhengzhou.
The company and our guide delivered an excellent service all the way around. I would recommend them and would use them again myself on another trip to Xi'an.
In short, I think your company did an excellent job of getting us to and from various destinations. Abby knew plenty about the Terra Cotta Warriors and museum BUT tended to talk to the two adults and didn't do much talking to the whole group to share the information. I would have preferred that all the information be shared with the group not just the person she was walking with at any given time.
Also too bad that while pointing out where the actual Tomb was that we didn't drive by it. We couldn't see if from the path the van took because of the thick pollution. I think it was an important oversight not to show us that.
Muslim Street was great – as I noted above. Next time I'll have to plan for an additional day as many suggested!

subset: commoncrawl


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text: Senior Care in Wendell, NC – Enjoy a Sweet Treat with Your Elderly Loved One and Spend Quality Time with FamilyNothing says family fun like ice cream. The next time you are looking for a unique activity to add to your senior care plan, get the entire family in on the enjoyment by creating an ice cream parlor right at home. Channeling the nostalgia of old-fashioned ice cream parlors takes this sweet treat from a delicious snack to an afternoon of fun and memories. You might remember hanging out with your friends and the local ice cream parlor when you were younger and your parents may have spent some of their early date nights sharing sundaes and ice cream sodas. Bring back this simple fun by inviting your family to join you for a themed gathering you'll want to make a tradition.Choose Your FlavorsOne of the most fun aspects of visiting an ice cream parlor is being able to choose from a wide variety of delicious flavors and make your own sweet creation. Choose several flavors your family enjoys and place them out on the kitchen counter or table to soften for a twenty minutes before you plan on serving them. If your aging parents have difficulty chewing or swallowing, avoid flavors that tend to have chunks, such as butter pecan, strawberry, or cookie dough. Instead, opt for indulgent flavors that are still smooth and easy to consume such as vanilla bean, chocolate, and coffee.If you have a small family that does not tend to eat ice cream often, look for small containers of each flavor so you can enjoy your treat without wasting the leftovers or having a freezer full of temptation later. Make sure each flavor has its own scoop or spoon so you do not mix flavors when serving. You can also put a pitcher of warm water on the table so you can use one or two scoops and dip them in between scoopsSet Out Your ToppingsDelicious toppings are where you really get to show your creativity and make something uniquely yours. Get a small bowl for each type of topping your elderly parents, children, and others at your ice cream parlor gathering enjoy and set them out on a separate table from the ice cream to make building your sundaes easier. Try a wide variety of toppings and slip in a few unusual options for some surprising tastes, such as:SprinklesMini chocolate chipsPeanut butter chipsGummy bearsChopped peanutsWalnutsCaramel sauceHot fudge sauceMarshmallow fluffMaraschino cherriesChopped pineapplePeanut brittleChopped mint candiesFresh berriesBananasCola, strawberry soda, or cream soda to make ice cream sodas (put these in their bottles alongside the toppings or keep them in the refrigerator and let everyone know they are there if they want them)Use themed dishesYou can find inexpensive ice cream dishes reminiscent of old fashioned parlors. Classic fluted dishes are a cute touch that makes your ice cream more special than just an everyday dessert. Give each person their own dish and take your place as the "soda jerk", serving up each of your customers with their choice of ice cream flavors before they move on to creating their own sundaes with the toppings. For extra fun, whip up a batch of thin waffles and push it into a jumbo muffin pan while still warm. As it cools it will harden, making a sweet and edible waffle bowl for your treats.The articles posted on this blog are provided for general information and discussion purposes only. These articles are not intended to suggest anything with respect to the operations or services of this office. If you or an aging loved one are considering non-medical in-home care in Raleigh, NC, call Griswold Home Care and speak to one of our caring staff members today. Call (919) 229-8944 Categories Senior Care


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FOOD FUN: Confetti Cake
With the success of The Flintstones television series, Post Foods obtained a license from Hanna-Barbera for Cocoa Pebbles and Fruity Pebbles breakfast cereals. Introduced in 1971, the crisp rice cereal bits are still going strong.
And not just for breakfast, either. They've made their way into a variety of baked goods, from donuts to Rice Krispie Treats. Fruity Pebbles, in particular, provides a rainbow of six colors to add brightness and crunch. The cereal has generated a plethora of Fruity Pebbles cakes.
Depending on your crowd, you may prefer to call them confetti cakes.
It's spring, it's almost Mother's Day: It's time to think of making a confetti cake:
Sophisticated: a Fruity Pebbles bundt. Here's the recipe. Photo courtesy Le Creme De La Crumb.
Check out Pillsbury's Funfetti cake mix.
We love these neon confetti cake decorations.
The easiest default: mixed sprinkles.


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Item Information
Title: Aldous Huxley seated near bookcases
Date: ca. 1956
Physical Details: 1 photographic print : b&w ; 21 x 26 cm.
Description: Identification on verso (handwritten): Aldous Huxley - Hollywood, Sept. 12, 1956
Creator: Bowden, Harry, 1907-1965, photographer
Forms part of: Harry Bowden papers, 1922-1972
Rights Statement: Current copyright status is undetermined
Citation Information: Harry Bowden. Aldous Huxley seated near bookcases, ca. 1956. Harry Bowden papers, 1922-1972. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Digital ID: 4840


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https://mangledfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Screen-Shot-2016-12-13-at-8.27.45-AM.png 404 1602 Jon Ray https://mangledfly.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/mangled-fly-northern-michigan-300x181.png Jon Ray2016-12-13 13:27:172016-12-13 13:46:20Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard Podcast
Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard Podcast
How I built This with Guy Raz interviews Yvon Chouinard from Patagonia
In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit.
Of course my favorite part is his explanation of fishing "one fly", and how focusing and using his knowledge he caught more fish than he ever has. He explains that one of the hardest things to do is to simplify your life.


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Al-Jazeera Podcast in Praise of Gen. Qassem Soleimani Receives Wide Acclaim in ME, Infuriates Saudis
Qatar's state-run broadcaster Al-Jazeera's motion graphics podcast glorifying Iran's martyred Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Qods Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani received wide acclaim and admiration from across the world, but certainly not from Saudi Arabia and its media, including Al-Arabiya TV.
The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya released the podcast on its twitter page just to express that it's gone mad, while the global audience admired the Qatari broadcaster for the move.
Al Jazeera's podcast was part of its 'Rumooz' series (which is the Arabic word for 'icons'), and introduced the episode by saying that "his star has shone in the Iran-Iraq war, then he became the engineer of most of Iran's foreign battles, leaving his mark on some of the most volatile areas in the region: Syria, Yemen, Iraq and others. His assassination almost ignited a third world war. who is Qassem Soleimani?"
The podcast's introduction was filled with cinematic music that builds dramatically, leading to the opening statement.
"I am Soleimani, the soldier fighting for the sake of Allah… The name great Satan fears… I am nothing more than a soldier of the Islamic Revolution… A soldier, I thank Allah, for blessing me with martyrdom," the voice actor said.
The podcast's voice actor speaking as Soleimani said, "We defended Syria, its people, and the whole region against the American-Zionist conspiracy and terrorism, and Iran has become a source of stability in Syria… We helped them using our experience through non-military jihadi groups."
"Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic Jihad Movement are not proxy groups, but are our brothers and partners in the resistance project against the Zionist regime."
The voice actor also referred to the cowardly assassination of General Soleimani at Baghdad airport in January by the US drones, and said, "The cowards do not dare to go for direct confrontation. Instead, they attacked my car from the air."
Lieutenant General Soleimani and Deputy Commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were assassinated in a US drone strike on Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on January 3.
On January 8, the IRGC Aerospace Force started heavy ballistic missile attacks on US Ein Al-Assad airbase in Southwestern Iraq near the border with Syria and a US operated airbase in Erbil in retaliation for the US assassination of General Soleimani.
Ein Al-Assad is an airbase with a 4km runway at 188m altitude from sea levels, which is the main and the largest US airbase in Iraq. Early reports said the radar systems and missile defense shields in Ein Al-Assad failed to operate and intercept the Iranian missiles. Unofficial reports said the US army's central radar systems at Ein Al-Assad had been jammed by electronic warfare.
The second IRGC reprisal attack targeted a US military base near Erbil airport in Iraqi Kurdistan Region in the second leg of "Martyr Soleimani" reprisal operation.
Iraq said the attacks had not taken any toll from its army men stationed at these two bases. The US army had blocked entrance into Ein Al-Assad to everyone, including the Iraqi army.
It was the first direct attack on the US army ever since world war two.
The IRGC officials said none of the missiles had been intercepted.
Iran has repeatedly stressed that Ein Al-Assad missile attack was just the start of its revenge for the US assassination of its top General, and not the end of it. Tehran has declared expulsion of the US troops from the region as its ultimate goal.


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The LA Galaxy's defense has been rock solid this year, letting in under a goal a game. What's more, they've managed to accomplish this feet by giving consistent starting minutes to a center-back in Daniel Steres who is making the jump from USL to MLS quality offenses.
Of course, I don't want to heap too much praise on Steres as his poor clearance against Colorado, missed mark against Houston, and penalty against Real Salt Lake, all lead to goals, (43% of the goals the Galaxy have conceded), but, by in large, this new defensive unit that Bruce Arena has put together has stepped up beautifully and played a large role in the Galaxy's success thus far.
But how good is this defense really performing? Through 6 games (the data has yet to come in on the RSL game), the Galaxy are currently averaging 0.575 expected goals against per 90 minutes (xGA p90). For those not familiar with soccer analytics, this basically means that if you take the average scoring rates (based on shot type and location, among other things) of the shots the Galaxy are allowing, they are only giving up a little over a half a goal a game in terms of chances.
How good is that number? For perspective, here are the top 5 lowest xGA p90 averages from 2011-2015.
xGA p90
As you can see, if the Galaxy were to finish the season today, it would smash the record by a huge margin. But is this Galaxy defense really this historically good?
With the sample size being so small, drawing any kind of conclusion is impossible at this time, however, there are a few things to point out in the data we currently have which can explain the Galaxy's current mind blowing numbers and help put them into perspective.
Strength of opposition offense
The first thing to consider is strength of opponents. If we look at expected goals for per 90 (xGF p90), which is how many expected goals each team's offense is creating per game, we see that the Galaxy's opposition thus far falls below the league average.
xGF p90
League average
Galaxy opponents
What's more, that 1.366 is largely buoyed by DC United who are currently league leaders in the xGF category. Considering the Galaxy faced them on opening day, it's safe to assume their offense wasn't where it is now. If we remove them from our sample, the Galaxy opposition average drops to 1.233
So, while the Galaxy defense has done a good job of limiting the quality of the chances for opposition, they also have been facing teams who are below league average at creating quality chances.
Game State
But there is actually more going on here. Let's take a look at how the Galaxy fared against each opponents xGF average (as of 4/22), and consider the circumstances of each game.
The top offenses the Galaxy have faced so far are DC United, Vancouver, Portland and Houston.
DC United Game- As we discussed, United's offensive numbers most likely do not reflect the quality of the offense that the Galaxy faced on opening day.
Vancouver Whitecaps game- The Galaxy played the majority of this game up a man, so Vancouver's offense was greatly weakened by this and didn't venture forward much.
Portland Timbers game- Portland was up a goal for a great deal of the game. When teams are up a goal, especially on the road, they tend to play more defensive. The Timbers also were without Nagbe after he went off injured, further reinforcing this tactic.
Houston Dynamo game- The Galaxy had a commanding lead for much of this game. As a team's chances of winning diminish, so too will their effort.
This leaves us with San Jose and Colorado, however, in the San Jose game, the Quakes were down a man for much of the game, and the Galaxy still managed to give up over 0.5 xG.
Once data has come in from the RSL game, things will be equally muddy when you consider that RSL are 15th in the league in xGF p90, were completely demoralized by half time and were missing Plata for the entire game and Martinez and Morales for most of it.
In other words, the question is still up in the air.
How good is this Galaxy defense?
As I stated before,there is not enough data to make any kind of conclusions thus far. What we can say is that the Galaxy's current 0.575 xGA p90 total is most likely inflated and likely to climb as the season goes on, however, this does not mean the galaxy defense is bad by any means. In fact, if the current inflation is anywhere under 0.425 xGA per 90 (which is a lot), then this Galaxy defense would fall into the 90th percentile of all MLS defenses since 2011.
While it will probably be another 8-10 games before we have enough solid data to start drawing conclusions about the quality of this Galaxy defense, they are certainly one to watch going forward.
Update: The data from the RSL game is in and the Galaxy defense currently sits at 0.77xGA p90 as of 4/27


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Real Estate Listings
Woodson's Reserve In Spring TX
With an average square footage of roughly 3100 square feet, this neighborhood offers some spacious traditional-style homes and ranch-style homes. You can find other styles, as well, but remember that all of them allow you to enjoy the amenities of this community. This includes being surrounded by miles and miles of wondrous, unspoiled beauty. Woodson's Reserve is also going to include a huge amenity center (more than nine thousand square feet), a lap pool, and a lovely river that lends itself well to the unique visual splendor of everything that is around you.
While this community offers a number of different ways to meet new, interesting people, you will also find that the homes for sale in this area allow you to go at your own pace. You are just a few minutes away from everything Spring TX has to offer, which includes hospitals, public parks, restaurants, major retailers, local sports, outdoor venues, bars, and much more. You are never going to be bored with your surroundings. Given that you also get to live just a few miles away from Downtown Houston, as well as The Woodlands, you will be just a heartbeat away from the best of Texas.
This neighborhood gives you all of that, and more!


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Daily Cake Server
Cutting and serving your favourite cake to your guests is easily done with our brushed stainless steel cake server. Minimalistic yet functional, it's made for casual afternoon teas and occasions where the small details still matter. As opposed to using a regular knife, a cake server will make sure the slice of cake is presented the best possible way on the plate. Place the server on a hanging utensil rack to create an industrial-style kitchen décor.
Size: L: 25cm, W: 6cm.
Material: Stainless Steel
Colour: Silver


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Content is king and nobody knows that better than Alex Valencia, co-owner and president of We Do Web Content. The digital marketing agency devises content and marketing strategies, producing online content for law firms, medical professionals, and both small and large companies across the country. In the past couple of years, the firm has seen explosive growth, increasing its staff size five times over and yielding a three-year growth of 197%, leading them to join the coveted Inc. 5000 this past year. Combining years of experience and forward-thinking technology, they started developing an internal proprietary software that would streamline the content creation process. The platform, named WeDo, streamlines the content creation process. They plan to fully launch it later this year and it is currently in beta for an invite-only group of companies.
Where did the idea for We Do Web Content come from?
The idea for We Do Web Content came from my wife. She was working on a website for a law firm, and we both quickly realized how efficient content was to drive traffic. At the time, there were SEO agencies and web design agencies, but nobody was creating insightful content at scale. We found a gap in the market and were able to fill it. As we pioneered this new way of doing digital marketing through content, law firms began reaching out. We grew organically and rapidly, similar to how we can harness the power of content and help our clients scale. Content is king and drives everything.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
I utilize many different calendar platforms for the various reminders needed to keep me on task. I have perfected the art of delegation and depend on my highly skilled team to get things done. There came the point in our business where we outgrew being a small shop and had to bring on employees to service the needs of our clients at the level we felt was necessary. We are fortunate to have a team we can rely on to push our vision forward and trust they will care for our clients.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Ideas will often come at the most unexpected time, so I always write them down or email them to myself, so they don't get lost. I work with an implementation team to take that seed of an idea and help it flourish into something tangible. Ideas help the business grow and progress forward and having a team you can depend on is invaluable.
What's one trend that excites you?
Content is still a growing trend, and that is very exciting for our business. There is no limit to the market for someone to create content for others. As a company, we continue to innovate in not only the type of content we develop but also the process in how we make it.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
One habit that I think makes me productive is morning prayer and meditation. For me, it is essential to start my day off with the right intention, and everything grows from there.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could go back in time and give myself some of my key life lessons, I would tell myself to buy Google, pay more attention to business contracts, and get a business or law degree. Looking back, those tips would have put me light years ahead.
Tell us something that's true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
The monetary value of content is not always fully appreciated by the buyer. Part of our job is educating companies on the importance of content and its true market price. One well-done piece of content that is transactional could be worth several million dollars to a client, with the investment to have it created only being a couple of hundred dollars.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
Being on the same page and proper communication is essential in business. Always confirm what someone is saying, and make sure they understand what you have said. And most importantly, recap the conversation so nothing will ever get lost in translation.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
We've never had a structured sales process. It's always involved attending webinars, speaking at conferences, building relationships with people, and not ever leading with the hard sale. As time goes on, by nurturing those relationships, a need is eventually created, and then those contacts become clients. I hold relationships very close to my heart, and I only work with people I know will fit within our company's culture. But more importantly, we always put other people before ourselves.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Not preparing for 2021 was a significant hurdle I've been able to overcome. We are working through it by building a sales machine, enlisting a consultant, and joining mastermind groups to build out that side of the business we've never had.
What is one business idea that you're willing to give away to our readers?
It would be great to have a place for our teenagers to get together and have meaningful experiential moments. A social environment where they can be social, develop relationships, and take a break from technology. How we interact with each other as humans have changed and not for the better.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I recently invested in Coinbase, a cryptocurrency selling platform that recently went public. From my research and advice from those that know the space well, it's going to be one of those new platforms that expand in price and continues to grow. It is a new way of using currency and rapidly increasing in popularity. It's been in the private sector for a while, but now that it's public, there's going to be a lot more opportunity. The world is finally accepting and taking cryptocurrencies seriously.
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?
Our business has been using excellent communication software called Slack. It is a perfect way of communicating with my team members beyond email. We can send documents, images, and text-like messages to the entire team or a specific group of people.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
I would highly recommend How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I've read that book countless times since my teacher recommended it to me in the ninth grade. I've tried to read it every year since then. In business, all roads lead to relationships, how to treat people, putting others first and how to become a good conversationalist.
What is your favorite quote?
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," Martin Luther King, Jr.
Key Learnings:
- Content is king and drives everything.
- Ideas help the business grow and progress forward and having a team you can depend on is invaluable.
- One well-done piece of content that is transactional could be worth several million dollars to a client, with the investment to have it created only being a couple of hundred dollars.
- Being on the same page and proper communication is essential in business.
- "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy," Martin Luther King, Jr.
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.


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Hulk Hogan, WWE Superstars Respond To Ronda Rousey's Controversial Comments
Ronda Rousey has been public enemy number one in the WWE universe as of late, as the former superstar had some harsh words for the organization in recent interviews. Rousey first ruffled feathers by going on Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast and talking about the performance theater of the sport. In short, she called the sport fake, which is never a statement that sits well with professionals in the industry.
While Ronda Rousey also talked about the pressure of fans and the strain of the road, many fans and WWE superstars took issue with her talk about the WWE being fake. It caused a massive backlash towards Rousey, who days later doubled down with a tweet saying that there was no comparison between real fighting and pro wrestling.
The doubling down and the podcast comments have now prompted responses from wrestling's elite, all of whom seem to have different opinions on the matter. Booker T, for example, said on his podcast Ronda Rousey was completely over the line with both comments, and needs to apologize.
Booker T is not the only wrestler who felt that way, as several WWE superstars who worked with Ronda Rousey also felt hurt by her comments. Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss, and other prominent female wrestlers of the brand were angered by Ronda Rousey, especially given Rousey didn't do nearly as much to earn her WWE status as some of them. Due to Rousey's former accolades as a UFC champion, she was immediately given opportunities by the WWE most wrestlers would have to pay dues for years to achieve.
To some like Becky Lynch, to call WWE fake but then admit keeping pace with the rampant schedule of the brand for even a short while was difficult felt hypocritical. Lynch talked about it during an interview with ViBe and Wrestling, and said the following.
For some context, Ronda Rousey squared off against Becky Lynch as part of the main event of WrestleMania 35, and left the WWE not long after. It's possible to me that Lynch could be more hurt than others thanks to that shared experience, but then this could be something that could be used for an eventual rematch between the two.
And who better to speculate on that controversy than one of the WWE's most controversial former superstars: CM Punk? Punk, who had his own drama with the WWE and is now working for the brand again as an analyst, said on WWE Backstage that whether Ronda's statements are genuine or calculated is a non-issue. She's doing what most great wrestling superstars should do right now.
When it comes to WWE talent and social media, there will always be a question of what's real and scripted. As CM Punk pointed out, sometimes the real can be utilized for scripted content down the line when cooler heads prevail. The important thing he believes is that fans are watching, reacting, and invested in seeing how it plays out.
Of course, there are also the others who just want to know if this is an elaborate setup by the WWE, and that's fair. This is especially true after a mysterious Instagram post by Ronda Rousey, which called back to an infamous social media moment by none other than Hulk Hogan.
The caption, as evidenced by the Hulk Hogan doll in the video, feels like a clear reference to a Hogan tweet from 2011. The tweet refers to "marks" or wrestling fans that are "worked" into a "shoot," which is to say convinced that something that was pre-orchestrated or scripted is real drama and unplanned. Folks like that can aggravate wrestlers, who may get bombarded with very real hate from passionate fans hoping to hurt these wrestlers as much as they "hurt" another favorite wrestler.
The Hulkster seemed to recognize his tweet and appeared in Ronda Rousey's comments to offer some support. Hogan, who has had his own share of troubles with WWE superstars and the fandom over the years, said the following to the former UFC champion:
So now the plot has thickened. There are the fans who now think this is a rather obvious fake beef to drum up hype for Ronda Rousey's eventual return to WWE, and still those who think Rousey was just running her mouth. Then there's the crowd that believes Rousey's comments were genuine, but will ultimately be referenced should she ever decide to link back up with the WWE. The bottom line is, it seems like there are some superstars that are just as confused as fans on this one, and the only thing to do now is wait and see what comes next.
Do you think Ronda Rousey's statements were genuine, or just part of an elaborate WWE angle? Sound off in our poll and, as always, continue to stick with CinemaBlend for updates on what's happening with television and movies in 2020 and beyond.
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Mick contains multitudes and balances his time reporting on big happenings in the world of Star Trek, the WWE, reality television, and other sci-fi shows.
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Nov 29, 2017
Unilever sees personal care business returning to higher growth 'soon'
Nov 29, 2017
Anglo-Dutch consumer goods maker Unilever expects new products and increased distribution to help its personal care business return to growth above 4 percent soon, after a recent slowdown.
Generating 20 billion euro per year, the division is often seen as its most attractive but posted only 2.4 percent growth in the first nine months of the year.
"I'm not going to give an exact date," said Alan Jope, head of the unit that includes Dove soap and Sunsilk shampoo, during an investor event in New Jersey that was broadcast online. "But I don't think I'd be standing here with this tone and this cocky, relaxed position if it wasn't going to come around quite soon."
The event was held at Unilever's New Jersey offices that was simultaneously broadcast over the internet, Jope declined to say exactly when the rebound would happen.
In explaining the slowdown, Jope pointed to lower growth of the global market, weakness in Indonesia and Brazil - two of its big markets - and increased competition from local rivals, such as Patanjali in India and Wardah in Indonesia.
While the first two issues were temporary, Jope said local competition was a long-term phenomenon, and largely why Unilever was focusing on increasing its agility in local markets.
He cited several new brands that would aid the unit's growth going forward, including prescription-strength Dove products for people with psoriasis or eczema; Skinsei, a personalized, subscription-based skincare regimen sold directly to consumers; and a beauty brand called Love Beauty and Planet.
Since rebuffing an unexpected $143-billion takeover offer in February from Kraft-Heinz, Unilever has been under pressure to prove it can quickly deliver comparable returns as a standalone company.
Investors were disappointed last month when Unilever reported a surprise slowdown in sales, citing lost market share to smaller rivals in certain areas.
Its shares have fallen more than 7 percent since then, but remain 26 percent higher than they were before Kraft's approach.
Over the past two years, Unilever has worked to make the most of its global scale in areas where it counts, like back-office functions and procurement, and to be quicker with new products targeted for local markets.
The company cited this new structure for being able to launch a low-calorie, high-protein Breyers ice cream in the United States in only five months, capping the damage done by the start-up Halo Top, which quickly gained market share.
Another reason for the new structure is costs, and Unilever on Wednesday reiterated its targets for savings of 6 billion euros by 2019, two-thirds of which will be reinvested into the business, and a 20 percent operating margin by 2020.
Over the next few years Unilever expects to generate more of its sales from alternative channels like health and beauty stores, delivery services and online. It is launching new products to suit those channels and pursuing partnerships with firms like Just Eat and Deliveroo to expand distribution.
The company said it is nearly done with the stock buyback plan it announced in April soon after the Kraft approach, and its plans to dispose of its spreads business were progressing well.
Reuters reported earlier on Wednesday that the auction process for the business, which could be worth more than $7 billion, has narrowed to three bidders.
Unilever said on Tuesday it favored collapsing its dual-headed, Anglo-Dutch structure into a single entity, but delayed a decision whether it would be based in Britain or the Netherlands, avoiding for now a choice with political dimensions amid ongoing Brexit negotiations.
© Thomson Reuters 2023 All rights reserved.


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. Ms. Susan Tsai
|Sales office: Room 3B-45, 3rd F., Taipei World Trade Center, No.5, Hsin Yi Rd., Sec.5
The forerunner of this company is a wired/wireless security
surveillance system manufacturer. Because of our consist
effort and achievement in marketing, the export department
has been independent, also further invested by a molding
manufacturer and an electronic manufacturer as an import &
export company.


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In case you've never seen the classic 1983 "A Christmas Story," it's about Ralphie Parker who needs to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa he's old enough to handle a Red Ryder BB gun. Although the story is filmed in a neighborhood walking distance from where my grandmother lived, I never saw "A Christmas Story"until I met my son-in-law. Rudy watches the movie at least once every Christmas season. But then, I was visiting that neighborhood in the 50s and the movie wasn't made until the 80s.
A Movie Re-vitalized a Neighborhood
The house in which the exterior scenes of the movie are filmed, and two other houses nearby, are now a museum complex in Cleveland, Ohio. When I visited the complex a man in the neighborhood told me how much he and his neighbors appreciate the positive impact the movie and museum have had on their community.
This West 11th Street neighborhood seems to be thriving. in part thanks to the efforts of entrepreneur Brian Jones. He's been "A Christmas Story" fan since his childhood. In 2004 he bought the house on E-Bay for $150,000. He paid for it with money he made from his business – wait for it – the Red Rider Leg Lamp Company. Who could could make a living from reproducing that iconic piece of plastic? Brian Jones could, and did.
The people from whom Jones bought the house had remodeled it, but he liked it the way it was in the movie. He studied the movie, frame by frame, making detailed drawings of the interior and exterior. The interior scenes in "A Christmas Story" were filmed in a Toronto studio, with exterior scenes filmed in the Tremont neighborhood. Some $240,000 later, Jones had a near perfect replica of the movie version.
Film-making disrupts the neighborhood. Years ago our Houston home was used to film a 30 second TV commercial. That required twelve hours, two moving van size trailers, and a dozen people. Imagine the disruption caused by the production of a feature length movie. However, the Tremont neighbors appear grateful for the interruption.
From Short Story to Big Screen
"A Christmas Story" is based on Jean Parker Shepherd's short story published in his, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. The movie Parker family home is based on a home in Shepherd's hometown of Hammond, Indiana. Movie director Bob Clark chose the Cleveland neighborhood primarily because of its proximity to Higbees Department Store on Public Square in Cleveland. That is the store we see in the movie.
Opening weekend when the movie was first released did not go well. That might have been the end of "A Christmas Story" were it not for TNT's decision to air the movie for twenty-four hours over Christmas Eve and Day in 1997. Running the Parker family's Christmas story non-stop allowed most of the station staff to spend the holiday with their own families.
Director Bob Clark got the idea for the movie version of "A Christmas Story" when he tuned into Shepherd telling his story on a radio station. Clark was nearly an hour late picking up his date because he kept driving around the block until Shepherd finished telling the story.
Shepherd adapted the original short story into the screenplay in 1983, with help from Bob Clark and Shepherd's wife, Leigh Brown. The film character Ralphie was inspired by some of Shepherd's own childhood.
Clark realized he'd created a hit when he overheard other guests in a restaurant reciting lines from the movie. The restaurant maître d' told Clark the family had an annual Christmas Eve ritual of dining there and amusing themselves quoting lines from various scenes in the film. Clark said, "That's when it began to sink in. This low-budget fluke of a movie had become a quintessential Christmas tradition." Clark died in a car accident in 2007.
So if A Christmas Story can do that for a family and a community, I'm all for it. But I do hope Ralphie will be careful. Guns are dangerous.
The now popular movie A Christmas Story owes its existence to a short story in Jean Shepherd's collection, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Well, that's part of the story. It also owes its existence to a Shepherd radio program Bob Clark heard while driving to pick up his date in Miami.
Jean Shepherd, writer, humorist, satirist, actor, and radio, television and film personality, had a gift for telling stories. He mingled memories from his childhood in Hammond, Indiana with his adventures as the Army Signal Corps to create nearly three decades worth of radio content that delighted and amused his radio audience. He started in Cincinnati in the early 1950's. After a few years he moved to New York where his radio program aired until 1977.
From Radio to Big Screen
Cameo Appearances
You can see Shepherd's cameo role in the movie. Look closely at the scene in which an angry man informs Ralphie, "The line ends here! It begins there!" Given his experience in radio, and the fact the idea for the film was birthed when Clark heard Shepherd on the radio, Shepherd was the natural choice to narrate the adult Ralphie in the story. Director Clark also has a cameo appearance as the next-door neighbor to Ralphie and his family.
Filming the movie proved challenging for Clark because Shepherd was intent on taking on the role of director as well as scriptwriter and voice over narrator. Clark had a budget and deadline to meet. Shepherd's constant interruptions with his assessments of how a scene should be played made Clark's job challenging. He eventually had to ban Shepherd from the set to complete the filming.
Life after A Christmas Story
Director Bob Clark realized what a hit he'd created when he overheard other guests in a restaurant reciting lines from the movie. The restaurant maître d' told Clark the family had an annual Christmas Eve ritual of coming to the restaurant and amusing themselves quoting lines from various scenes in the film. Clark said, "That's when it began to sink in. This low-budget fluke of a movie had become a quintessential Christmas tradition." Clark died in a car accident in 2007.
Peter Billingsley played Ralphie. He had been in front of the camera since he was three. Part of the Hollywood scene for years, he was nominated for an Emmy in 2005. He has worked as a producer on several shows, including the Marvel Comics feature film Iron Man.
The Amazing Path to Fame
When you watch this annual classic, be grateful for a guy who caught a funny guy on the radio and was willing to incur the wrath of his date to finish the story. We just never know when, where, or how an idea will take root and grow into something amazing.
Just like the way a little baby born to poor peasants in a backwater town two thousand years ago and thousands of miles away has inspired too many stories, books, plays, and movies to count. Maybe the next famous story is already lurking deep in your mind, just waiting to sprout and grow into something wonderful.
I triple-dog-dare you to turn your creative imagination loose on the possibilities.


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We are unique among our peers in that through our own community activities and philanthropic efforts, we launched a 501 (c)(3), non-profit entity, G3Community Services (G3CS). Through GCubed's continued support from employee volunteers and donations, G3CS developed and successfully implemented multiple programs benefiting local youth, veterans, aspiring entrepreneurs, and those less fortunate.
As a business owner and philanthropist, I understand that community development & economic development go hand in hand.
Employees are encouraged to be of service through G3CS, whether it's sharing their time and talents with the community or providing a monetary donation. To further incentivize our corporate social responsibility efforts, employees are permitted to utilize paid work time to contribute to the efforts of G3CS.


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Something to celebrate! Lamar Odom may not have won Dancing With the Stars, but he found love with his new fiancée, Sabrina Parr — and his former castmates are thrilled about the couple's engagement.
"Introducing my new fiancé!! Soon to be Mrs. Parr-Odom," the basketball player, 40, announced via Instagram on Monday, November 11. "She the ONE!!!! @getuptoparr."
The health and life coach, meanwhile, shared a close-up video on Instagram of her pear-shaped diamond engagement ring. "I SAID YES!!!!! @lamarodom #mrsparrodom #lamarandsabrina," she gushed.
Odom proposed to Parr while having dinner with their friend NeNe Leakes at Prime 112 restaurant in Miami Beach. "SO GLAD I COULD BE HERE WIT YOU!" the Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 51, commented on Parr's Instagram post. "LOVE BOTH OF YOU AND PRAYING OVER THIS UNION."
The former NBA star made his relationship with the personal trainer Instagram official in August. He shared a photo of her sitting on his lap alongside the caption, "'What we have is much more than they can see…' @getuptoparr."
Later that month, Odom called his romance with Parr "the truth" during an interview on Dish Nation. "She keeps it real," he added.
The athlete was previously married to Khloé Kardashian. He and the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star, 35, tied the knot in September 2009 after just one month of dating. They separated in late 2013 and finalized their divorce three years later.
Scroll down to see the DWTS season 28 cast's reactions to the news of Odom and Parr's engagement!


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Your office work area is an impression of your personality. A few workspaces are orderly whereas others are bright, colorful and personalized. Did you ever wonder how to organize your desk and maintain it properly all the time? For more do visit http://flawlessmania.com/
Here are eight recommendations on how to arrange your work area:
1. Arrange your stuff according to their priority:
Here's a technique for separating your things: On Monday morning, eliminate unnecessary things from your work area and put them in a draw that you don't use. As you get working, return around your work area and just check what you require for finishing each errand and place it on the work desk. Towards the end of the day, locate another home for the less priority stuff and put them in cabinet or desk drawer. Try finding the right office tables that will be ideal for you to use at work, whether in the office or your own home.
2. Go with your work process
Numerous individuals have a left-to-right inclination. This implies approaching things — phone, inbox, PC, different gadgets — on the left, the workspace in the center, and active things, for example, staplers and finished administrative work on the right. The most ideal approach to compose your work area relies upon how you work. Investigation with different plans until you discover one that feels regular and smoothed out for you.
3. Spare the space
At the point when you have to sign or spread out desk work, yet don't have a void space, your feeling of anxiety can increase. Assign some free space on your desk and make sure you do not place any items there. On the other side, you can use a divider rack to simply house unimportant records and different things quickly.
4. Diminish visual mess
Regardless of whether the work area is systematic or not, you may not be as effective as you need to be, if there are such a large number of things vying for your consideration. For instance, a few specialists love clingy notes, putting them on their work areas and around their PC screens. A couple are fine. But, if you have too many, they become an interruption and make it difficult to focus on what's really significant.
5. Include an individual touch
Despite the fact that it is clean, your workspace need not be sterile. You can place a couple of significant articles — photographs, kid's shows, inspirational statements or your most loved activity results— on your desk, notice board or work area. You can also choose to keep a small indoor plant at your workspace. However minimize your personal items or else it can look messy and unprofessional.
6. Go advanced
Paper is the biggest culprit of cluttered workspaces. Try to clear your calendar, to-do-list, memo pad sync them with your smartphone for great accessibility. You can set alerts for any important meeting or tasks.
7. Check under cubical
Always keep space for leg room. All those cables under your desk – just try to keep them tied up as a safety hazard and to prevent tangles. And if you are using the floor to store stacks of files or to store heaps of records, move them to a file organizer or even better, digitize them and shred the papers.
8. Wipe it down
Keep a couple of provisions helpful and start giving your work area, console, screen and telephone ordinary cleanings. Good smell from your work area improves your state of mind and efficiency.
An organized workspace is a magical time saver as you know where everything is. Plus it helps you to focus on the task at hand and creates a positive mental energy to complete your daily duties.


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Amharic to Tagalog Translation
Note: We are committed to user privacy, so we never save any kind of data on our server.
Most common spoken Amharic to Tagalog sentences
|In Amharic
|In Tagalog
|እንደምን አደርክ
|Magandang umaga
|እንዴት ነህ?
|Kumusta ka?
|ደህና ነኝ.
|Ayos lang ako.
|ሰመህ ማነው?
|Ano ang iyong pangalan?
|ስለተዋወቅን ደስ ብሎኛል.
|Sarap makilala kita
|እንዴት ልረዳህ እችላለሁ?
|Paano kita matutulungan?
|ምን ታደርጋለህ?
|Anong gagawin mo
|ቆንጆ ነህ.
|Maganda ka.
|ሀገርህን እወዳለሁ ፡፡
|Mahal ko ang bansa mo.
|ጥሩ ጣዕም ያለው ይመስለኛል ፡፡
|Masarap yata.
|ምን ማለትዎ ነው?
|Anong ibig mong sabihin?
|ነገ ነፃ ነዎት?
|Libre ka ba bukas?
|ከእርስዎ ጋር ማውራት ጥሩ ነበር ፡፡
|Ang ganda ng ka-chat mo.
|በጣም አመሰግናለሁ.
|Maraming salamat.
|ደህና ሁን.
|Kita tayo bukas.
|መልካም ሌሊት
|Magandang gabi
About Tagalog language.
According to Wikipedia, Tagalog( Filipino ) is spoken by approximately 82 million (2022) people around the world. Among these, it is the native language of around 28 million people, and 54 million use it as their second language. Tagalog is the native language of the Philippines and is the official language of the Philippines and ASEAN. Note that Tagalog is also the national language of the Philippines
Importance of language converter for a Amharic speaker.
According to Wikipedia, Amharic is spoken by approximately 57 million (2019) people around the world. Among these, it is the native language of around 32 million people, and 25 million use it as their second language. Amharic is the native and official language of Ethiopia. It is a Semitic language and is the 2nd most spoken native language in Ethiopia after Oromo.
This platform gives freedom to those people who are more comfortable writing in Amharic and want to communicate in Tagalog.
How does this website translate Amharic words into Tagalog language?
Translate King uses Google transliteration Application Programming Interface (API) which is an online language translator.
This API uses Google's neural machine translation that can translate a sentence into 100+ languages. It is the most accurate and widely used tool among all other language conversion tools.
This platform is very easy to use to translate into Tagalog from Amharic words perfectly. Just type or paste your Amharic text in the left input box and press the space-bar key to get the translated text into Tagalog in the right output box. E.g. "እንዴት ነህ" meaning in Tagalog is "Kumusta ka".
Who can use this best online Amharic to Tagalog (Filipino) translator?
This online Amharic translator can be used for both personal as well as commercial purposes.
It can be used to translate one language to another while online chatting and to get the basic knowledge of the language by a person. While, professionals (such as content writers, website bloggers, and those who are not comfortable to type in Tagalog) can commercially use it as an Amharic to Tagalog typing online software.
It can also be used as Amharic <-> Tagalog dictionary to get the quick result of Amharic word meaning in Tagalog.
It helps to practice Amharic to Tagalog translation with Amharic keyboard.
It can directly convert the typed text into Amharic script and, at the same time, translates it into the output language.
As we know that the electronic communication across the world is growing fast so this tool can be used to translate Amharic sentences into Tagalog words and to understand another user's queries. Therefore, this free Amharic language to Tagalog translation online tool will be beneficial for Amharic-speaking people.
Following are notable features of free Amharic to Tagalog converter
✅ Free of cost translation
We do not charge any fee to our users for this service, unlike some other platforms that charge in dollars.
✅ Easy to use
We believe in user satisfaction so we have been trying our best to make this platform user-friendly.
✅ Copy and download converted text
Text can be copied by clicking on the copy button and it can be downloaded as .txt and .doc file.
✅ One click text send
A send button is provided in the mobile version to send the text to any social media.
✅ One click language switch
In a single click, It will switch to Tagalog to Amharic translation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to translate Amharic to Tagalog text?
- Click on this link
- Paste your word, text, sentence, a paragraph in the text area.
- Click on translate button.
- Copy your translated text by clicking copy button.
Which is the best tool to translate Amharic to Tagalog with correct grammar
- Microsoft
- Bing
- Yandex
- Baidu
Out of these, Google translates Amharic to Tagalog sentences most accurately
Are Google, Microsoft, Bing, Baidu translator free?
Yes, these tech companies are providing free services for everyone.
How does Amharic <-> Tagalog translator works?
Our free language translator sends API request to google and the response is translated text in Tagalog.
Is Google translator is accurate?
No, it is not 100% accurate as a professional translator. Because it uses a neural machine translation learns from users input. Typed sentences and translated text gets saved in the Google database and it returns in the form of response if someone needed it. Although the tool delivers very decent translation that can help you to get the main idea of your query.
Can I type in Tagalog with Amharic Keyboard?
Yes, it is very easy to use this feature using our Amharic to Tagalog translation online tool.
Can I download translated text?
Yes, There is an option to download the translated text as word and text file.


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Meet the 2013 BFBA Winners: Manger
We're blown away by the talent, passion, and intelligence of this year's Best Food Blog Awards winners, and learning the stories behind their blogs–how they became interested in baking, travel, or craft beer; what inspires them to write, photograph, or create delicious original recipes–makes us appreciate their work that much more. See all the winners »
Category Won: Best Regional Cuisine
Blog: Manger, written by Mimi Thorisson and photographed by Oddur Thorisson
Geographic Location: Medoc, France
Running Since: April 2012
When and how did you become interested in cooking? I've been fascinated with food since I was a child, especially speciality dishes from the south of France, where my mother comes from. My parents introduced me to gastronomy at a young age, inspiring me to create my own dishes at home. I started cooking rather late, in my twenties, and haven't stopped since!
Credit: Oddur Thorisson
What are a few of your favorite recipes on your site? I love the pigeon pie, which is so rich in flavours with foie gras, cognac and pigeon. And the chocolate meringues with whipped cream and chocolate sauce are so decadent and old-fashioned.
Where do you draw inspiration for your posts and recipes? I draw inspiration from our lives here in Medoc and my food memories. We are surrounded by vineyards, pine forests and the ocean. I am lucky to have an incredible choice of quality local produce. My everyday cooking is fuelled by desire, memories and seasonal products.
** What blogs do you personally read, food or otherwise?** I'm a fan of Smitten Kitchen because I always find a recipe I like there. There are so many more, like Farmette, which I recently discovered, and Herriott Grace for its beauty.
Are you excited to go to Las Vegas for the BFBA Awards? Oh how I wish I could make it! I am so sad not to be able to attend due to tight working schedules (cooking show in progress). I am so honoured to have won Best regional Cuisine blog! It touches me to have reached out to so many readers within a year. The support, encouragement and kindness is a daily gift.


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November 6, 2018
Münster, Germany
November 8, 2018
Hannover, Germany
November 9, 2018
Royal Leamington Spa, UK
November 12, 2018
Praha 10, Czechia
November 14, 2018
Paris, France
ASNT Annual Conference 2018
George R Brown Convention Center Houston, TX
Booth #407
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Motor & Drive Systems 2018
Orlando, Florida
Booth #115
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
DesignCon 2019
Santa Clara Convention Center | Santa Clara, CA
Booth #955
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
In this example, we present a self-filtering horn antenna for satellite communications. The antenna uses a WR-62 (15.8 x 7.9) radiator. The self filtering properties are established by the use of a small bi-omega particles placed in the mid-way of the antenna's waveguide. These particles causes the antenna to operate at a very narrow bandwidth around 12.6 GHz. At this frequency band, the antenna shows as much radiation performance as a WR-62 radiator. Figure 1 shows the 3D model of the antenna and its geometrical parameters.
Figure 2 demonstrates a cross section plot of the electric field in the slab. The antenna's return loss has a sharp curve around 12.6 GHz. A fast sweep simulation can give an approximate S11 plot. Figure 3 shows the simulated S11 of an HFWorks discrete sweep frequency plan and the measurement results
Figure 1 - 3D CAD model of the Simulated structure and its dimensions
Figure 2 - Cross section plot of the electric plot
Figure 3 - HFWorks and measurement results of the return loss S11
A magnetic coupling is a coupling that transfers torque from one shaft, but using a magnetic field rather than a physical mechanical connection. The motor considered here consists of permanent magnet arrays in the form of a steel rotor containing 12 permanent magnets and a steel stator with another 12 permanent magnet. The magnets are polarized in an alternating fashion radially inwards and outwards from the axis of the cylinder. The array setup provides linear and rotational coupling from the outer array (stator) to the inner array (rotor).
Figure 4 shows the simulated machine and the magnets direction. The magnetic flux density in the machine is plotted in Figure 5.The computed rotor torque is shown in Figure 6. it represents a sinusoidal shape.
(Oct. 11) robotics company Boston Dynamics posted a new video on YouTube showcasing the robot's latest progress, carrying it past its prior agility goals in leaps and bounds — literally.
"Atlas does parkour," Boston Dynamics wrote in the video description. Footage shows Atlas nimbly leaping over a log and skipping between platforms of different heights "without breaking its pace," according to the description. [Robots on the Run! 5 Bots That Can Really Move].
Watch Video
More about Boston Dynamics robots
By 2027, IEA's forecasts (PDF) put wind just beating all other electricity sources with a 23-percent share of the energy mix. "Other Renewables" like biomass plants contribute a little over 20 percent, gas adds 20 percent, nuclear contributes just a little below 20 percent, and coal declines to just over 10 percent. Solar energy contributes about six or seven percent in the IEA's 2027 scenario.
150 Montreal-Toronto Blvd, Suite 120, Montreal,
Quebec, H8S 4L8, Canada.
© 2018 EMWorks Inc. All rights reserved.


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The Brit Lit Podcast
The Brit Lit Podcast is a monthly show of news and views from UK books and publishing. In each episode, there's an interview with an author or other figure from the industry and a shout out to a handful of notable books published that month.
It's hosted by Claire, a champion of British books who currently works part-time at East City Bookshop in Washington, DC, and part-time for Libro.fm, an audiobook company that profit shares with indie bookshops.
She is VERY excited about the arrival of Bookshop on the UK book scene!
You can follow her on Twitter at @bookishclaire and on Instagram at @claireandherbooks.


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The Treaties, Lands & Environment Department works hard to gain a better understanding of the health of our reserve land, the animals and the Thames River. Each year, the department conducts annual studies like Water Sampling, Benthic Testing and Fish Sampling. In addition and subject to funding, we have carried out studies for Species at Risk, Electrofishing, Fish Sampling and Phosphorus Reduction.
Many of these studies are successful through on going partnership with organizations like Carolinian Canada, Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority, Anishinabek Ontario Fisheries Resource Centre, Antler River Research, etc.
Electrofishing is a method used to sample fish
populations to determine quantity and species type.
An electrical current stuns the fish causing them to
float to the top. There is no permanent harm to the
fish as they return to their natural state shortly after.
Note: not all of the same locations were assessed
in 2019 due to accessibility issues at Dawson and
Hogg creek on Jubilee and two spots on the Thames
River (Western Property and near Flats).


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In order to graduate from East, students need to receive four English credits, three math credits, two-and-a-half science credits, and two-and-a half social studies credits, in addition to numerous elective credits. A mix of career-related and open electives are necessary to receive a diploma, but one type of class is notably left out of the list: fine arts.
Visual arts. Music. Theatre.
Outlets of creativity, emotion, and expression are being consistently disregarded by a significant portion of the student body. A lack of creative ability and diverse skills are beginning to hinder young adults in the workforce, as institutions encourage early development and strengthening of these skills. Being able to think outside the box and come up with new solutions to problems are just some of the useful things that are gained from specifically classes in this department.
Engaging with the fine arts allows you to unlock a certain part of your potential that is rather left untouched. The formulas and systematic thinking of other courses cause you to get stuck in a common system. When challenged with new problems, the average student falls back on the critical-thinking and deducing techniques taught in core classes. Improvisation, visualization, and even stating how you feel are difficult things to do if you are not challenged with spontaneity.
Furthermore, life tends to be unexpected. Things happen quickly and fast responses are necessary. You may never find yourself in a stage setting about to perform or questioned by peers in an art museum about your latest piece, but using your imagination and personality to manifest solutions will come in very handy in any future path.
Personally, I believe that our school should create a requirement that all students take some form of a fine arts class, in addition to the current standards.
The competitive society we live in seems to be demanding something out of the norm. Innovation and advancement require new levels of thinking that may have not previously been prioritized.
The University of Chicago is renowned as one of the greatest higher education institutions in the United States. They boast high academic and research achievements, including an appealing learning environment being the city. They also are famous for their rather interesting essay prompts.
For a vast majority of those who apply to colleges and universities, one must write one or several essays responding to questions ranging from leadership to hardship, struggle to triumph. UChicago is known for having essay prompts that reach past the basic form of questioning and strive to stretch the minds of those answering.
Should fine arts classes become a graduation requirement at East?
Some sample questions in recent years include:
- "Cats have nine lives, Pac-Man has 3 lives, and radioactive isotopes have half-lives. How many lives does something else– either conceptual or actual– have, and why?"
- "What's so odd about odd numbers?"
- "How are apples and oranges supposed to be compared?"
- "So where is Waldo, really?"
- "Find x."
The university's complex questionnaire has brought into light the formulaic nature of student expression. A number struggle with responding to the abstract nature of the prompts.
Attributing to this confusion is an unopened facet of thought and knowledge. High school students are pushed through four years of scientific rigor, arithmetic thought-processing, and an overall natural, progressive system of obtaining and mastering skills. Little creative flexibility is allowed in these concentrations (for good reasons), but the vital aspect of creativity is lacking in the modern school setting. Unless they elect to take it, students are left without experience in these subject areas.
Drawing skills and musical exposure may not be readily present in the common workplace. However, just as argued with English and Math, there are imperative skills to be learned from these disciplines. Creating a situation where students are comfortably introduced to the fine arts is at the forefront of this potential change. Some people simply do not want to take an art class, while others have absolutely no experience or skill in musical endeavors.
For this, a possible solution.
When asked on her position of the potential new addition to graduation requirements, Acting teacher and East Theatre director Nicole Chandler said she has been positively influenced by the arts in her life, and would love to see more kids benefit from the enriching experience. She did say, however, that lack of ability could become problematic in the execution of a possible new curriculum.
"I wish that we had more of a 'survey of the fine arts' kind of course available because I feel like it would be unfair to those people who just don't have those skills," Chandler said. "I think it would be cool if there was an experience where, for example, I would teach for three weeks, and then Mrs. King … would teach, and then Mr. Rexroat … because it would be cool to have that kind of experience."
Chandler expressed the belief that all students should be exposed to what the fine arts entail, but brings up a good point in the fact that natural capability does play a role in success in these courses, just as in other subjects.
A Survey of the Fine Arts class would be a reasonable integration to make in order to deal with the lack of creative expression in teenagers. During their freshman year, students would be required to take this class (most likely a semester), where every two or three weeks, a different fine arts teacher would take over a introduce their discipline. After taking the class, all students would have had exposure to many different areas, including specific art, music, and theatre concentrations. Then, if they wish, they can continue on to take higher level classes in their topics of interest.
Flexibility. Freedom. Exposure.
All important to the human condition.
Math, Science, English, and Social Studies are all important classes. One is not greater or less than the other. Given that, fine arts is constantly swept under the rug and has a stigma of being for only a "certain type of kid." My belief is that everyone could benefit from these classes in different ways. Whether it's applying to college, working on a job, or just going through the motions of life, situations will arise that will cause you to think on your feet and particularly think in ways you have never before. An easy way to set yourself up for success in these scenarios is by engaging in the fine arts. Considered relaxing and enjoyable, they also leave positive feelings within, and allows you to connect with something beyond a formula. Something new and impulsive could lead to a breakthrough in expression, one that is often lost behind the symbols of a math equation.
Alex Prince is a columnist for Oswego East High School's online news magazine the Howl


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Furniture retailers historically use the Memorial Day weekend as a barometer for sales not just through the summer but for the rest of the year, too. Strong sales over the three-day weekend usually translate into a busy summer and fall, retailers say. So retailers are breathing a sigh of relief over the recent Memorial Day weekend. Many reported less traffic but strong sales.
At Hacienda Furniture, Home Furnishings Association member Joaquin Rodriguez said Memorial Day traffic and sales were up in his Oxnard, Calif., store last week compared with the same weekend in 2019. Rodriguez attributed both to the fact his store had been closed for nearly three months and only opened May 22. "It was a very good weekend, but we're still uncertain (about the future)," he said. "It depends on how the economy goes and customers' purchasing habits. I think that customers will spend more in furniture to make their home more comfortable now that we will be spending more time in our homes."
Rodriguez said e-commerce sales were through the roof in recent weeks. "We did more sales on e-commerce this year during the COVID-19 closure than the whole last year," he said.
At Harkness Furniture in Takoma, Wash., HFA member Dave Harkness said traffic was down because the store is operating by appointment only. But those who are in the store are buying. "Even with lower traffic counts and appointments only, the demand is there. I would say our sales are just as strong this year as they were in 2019," he said. "Whether we can keep that going is the question. It will be interesting to see once we are fully open back up how long the pent-up demand will last. It's anyone's guess."
E-commerce gains traction
The national shutdown of retail for months forced retailers like Harkness to invest more in their e-commerce game. That move has paid off for the company this spring. "We're not killing it, but (the closure) forced us to focus more on that part of our business and it's going to help us in the long run," he said.
HFA member RC Willey saw better-than-expected numbers from its holiday sales, though sales trailed last year's number. The Top 100 retailer ran sales across all categories in stores, which are scattered across Utah, California and Nevada. Two bright spots for RC Willey: outdoor furniture and, as for many other retailers, appliances. "They've been two top sellers off the top of my head," said Jeff Child, RC Willey's longtime president. "We'll wait to see if other categories get more interest from customers."
Child said it's too early to predict the demand over the coming months. The company's Utah stores only recently opened after weeks of appointment-only hours. Nevada stores have been open for three weeks while California stores have only been open two weeks.
Canada doesn't celebrate Memorial Day, but HFA member Andrew Tepperman of Tepperman's, with six stores in Ontario, said Monday the last 12 days "have been above forecast."
"It's probably a combination of pent-up demand, government stimulus and subsidies, and a reallocation of spending from vacations to staycations," he said.


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(HealthDay News) – Two patients who died of an amebic infection had no history of freshwater exposure but had ameba in their household plumbing and used a nasal irrigation device for sinus problems.
Jonathan S. Yoder, MPH, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues describe the cases of a 28-year-old man and a 51-year-old woman in Louisiana who were hospitalized for infectious meningoencephalitis in 2011, and died after a brief illness.
The researchers found that both patients had been diagnosed with primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Neither patient had recent freshwater exposure, with their only reported water exposure being tap water used for routine activities, including in neti pots for regular sinus irrigation. The thermophilic ameba Naegleria fowleri (N. fowleri) was present in water samples in the homes of both patients. No amebae were detected in samples from the municipal water treatment plant and distribution system serving the homes.
"These are the first reported PAM cases in the United States associated with the presence of N. fowleri in household plumbing served by treated municipal water supplies and the first reports of PAM potentially associated with the use of a nasal irrigation device," Yoder and colleagues conclude. "These infections introduce an additional consideration for physicians recommending nasal irrigation and demonstrate the importance of using appropriate water (distilled, boiled, filtered) for nasal irrigation."
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