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Whether you use it as a means of generating your sole income, or simply to supplement your existing income, starting a home business can be a profitable venture. Once you put in the required effort, your business will really pay off. Here you'll find some great tips to help you create the best home business possible.
Launching a home business can be very exciting but it is also a lot of work. You must first find the business niche that you want to pursue. There are no limits to what you can decide, but you should know a good amount of information on the topic. Research different businesses; don't risk everything without knowing what you're doing. Also network with other people that have succeeded in starting home businesses so that you can learn from them.
Your home business with benefit from a phone line that is separate from the phone line your family uses. A business that has a separate phone line will always appear more professional, thus lessening the chances of the wrong person answering the phone.
Figure out where you fit in the business world. Locate the appropriate customers for the product you are selling. When you follow through, you'll see selling is a lot easier. Talk to anyone you know about what they think about your niche. See if they have anyone they can refer to you. Go to trade shows or conventions to learn more about your niche.
You must make sure that you follow all laws in your area. Neighbors could complain if the noise levels are too high. If you use chemicals for your business, check about that as well. Try not to anger neighbors either. Keep the noise down, and don't post any ugly or intrusive signs. Stay invisible if possible.
You should always have a good business plan for your home business. It's possible that you'll make alterations to this plan as time passes, and you may wind up throwing it out completely. The business plan is an initial starting point, and it will guide you when you need reminding of what direction you want to send your business in. You should update your game plan every now and again.
The world is constantly changing, and you need to be prepared. Remember that those successes are the past. It's much more important to focus on the future and how you should prepare for it. This will ensure that you are prepared for all of your upcoming obstacles and opportunities. You are sure to never be surprised.
Pick out a room in your home to designate as your office. You must have adequate space to ensure that everything is organized and easy to find. Proper organization is one important element of any successful home-based business.
The only way you're going to have a successful home business is by learning how to promote yourself. Owning your home business means that you will have to talk it up to a lot of possible customers. This will show your customers that you are producing only quality products. Understanding how to sell yourself and your company is a primary key to success.
Pick out a room in your home to designate as your office. It is important that your home include enough space to keep your work organized. A designated area for your business will keep things organized, one of the keys to ensuring success.
{Pick a name that has meaning. Your brand represents your products, so creating a recognizable name makes it easier for your customers to relate to you. Attach a quirky or inspirational story to your brand. This will help build your customer loyalty and give your brand a direction.
|It's vital that you know exactly how much you're spending to create and offer a service or product. You want to double the amount that you sell your product for, than it took to actually make it. Sometimes people charge three or more times their costs successfully!
|Advertise your home based business online. With a website your customers can browse with ease, whether designed by you or a professional, you will be more successful. Give your customers relevant content that is informative and enlightening, and provide them with a way to contact you and make online purchases. Learn ways to make a great page to market your company.
|To maximize the success of your home-business financial plan, claim every possible tax deduction related to your business. If you claim all of your deductions, you will save a lot of money on taxes.
|Try to speak with others that have home businesses in your area. This can accomplish a few things: you get out of the house to see your network, you team up to sponsor local events and get publicity, and you support one another. It is always good to step away from the computer for a while and see people in person.
|Many home business owners are coming together online. Visit several message boards or forums, both within and outside of your specific niches. Listen to everyone's advice when it comes to home business, you never know when it can be valuable info.
|Self-promotion is key to success with a home business, so make sure you are willing to do that. Owning your home business means that you will have to talk it up to a lot of possible customers. You must learn how to show your customers why the company you run and the products or services you sell are the best quality. Successful self-promotion is critical to earning big profits.
|Do not write off deductions that you cannot justify when the time to file for taxes arrives. Monitor expenses and determine which of your business items are legitimate write-offs. Do not claim items that you use for your home instead of your business.
|Have you thought of a name for your business? Don't purely choose one from a marketing point of view. You will see the name of your business more than anyone else. Pick something that has a personal connection to you, and a name that will bring you pride when you hear it.
|One of the most important considerations when you are running a business from your home is to make the most of deductions you are allowed to claim for the business. If you claim all of your deductions, you will save a lot of money on taxes.
|If you are starting a new home-based business, then you need an effective website. This gives your product a broader audience that can produce higher sales and bigger profits. If your budget permits, professional website designers can produce quality websites for you without the challenges of creating your own website.
|Is there a particular need that needs filling in your life? This could be the product you should chose for selling or providing in your home business. If your product offers a solution to a common, everyday problem, people will be more interested in buying it. Your product will be a success when you create solutions to common problems people face.
|Make sure the business you establish is


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Our deep understanding of customer requirements led to the concept to offer integrated consulting and engineering services in the field of water and sanitation under one company name.
Therefore, in 2005, Dornier Consulting International GmbH and Schneider & Partner Ingenieur-Consult GmbH joined forces and established a new engineering firm, which now provides these consulting services under the name of Dornier- Schneider Consulting.
Dornier-Schneider Consulting's success in international projects and any associated works is related to the backing of a strong Consulting Group with:
- sound technical and practical experience of works and studies of a similar nature
- technical ability tempered with a pragmatic approach to individual projects
- flexibility to adapt to changes in the (overall) scope of the scheme or short-term or immediate needs
- depth and range of technical expertise to respond quickly and decisively to changes
- sufficiency of resources to react quickly, in case of technical, practical or procurement related difficulties

subset: commoncrawl


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DAY 2 (or "Values are basically everything. Run with it.")
8.11am And we're back! The first tweet we picked up on Day 2 of #Purpose2015 was deeply flattering and a nice way to kick off. Cathy Knight, we think that'd be tops too.
8:36am As attendees made their way to the venue, they seemed particularly attuned to symbols of sustainability all around them.
8.49am The doors to the Playhouse theatre were announced open and folks made their way inside. There was a lot more chatter than yesterday, which leads us to believe y'all made some friends since we last met. (Yay!)
9.04am Stevie Wonder's morning-appropriate song As filled the room as MC Matt Wicking hit the stage. At his instruction, we asked the person sitting beside us how they were feeling. One woman nailed it with, "like a big, rich, caffeinated truffle." RESPECT. Next, Damien Walsh of Bank Australia (the fully customer-owned bank) began the day's proceedings with a chat about his journey, which was peppered with ace takeaways: "We're in the business of banking, but that's not why we're in business" + "Be prepared for your purpose to change; ours changed over the course of our journey" + "Having purpose is crucial. It's also crucial to change your purpose in response to new things you learn."
10.11am Audette Exel was next onstage. She is the founder of Adara, which bridges the worlds of business and not-profit, i.e. bringing the big dollars to where it's most needed. We were deeply moved by Audette's credo of "Purpose is a privilege." She cites her leftist, supportive family as the reason she has always felt compelled to extend a hand to those in need. She also sparked a hearty audience laugh with the below photograph. She added, "When I show this slide to business people, it's deathly silent."
10.01am Abigail Forsyth, founder of KeepCup, certainly brought the chuckles as she looked back at her purpose-led journey, from designing the prototype coffee cup seven years ago (and transporting it to NAB in a shoebox), to the international demand for her disposable cups today.
11.11am The Purpose Adventure Club and The School of Life hit the streets for a conversation titled What Drives Us To Make A Difference? The group concluded that it's important for each person to define their "why" — as in why are we engaging in the work that we do? Reasons vary depending on the person, their personality and their goals, but that's a good thing.
11.46am In Pitfalls and Air Punches, we overheard: "The position of privilege we have in Australia is an extraordinary opportunity to take risk." @ckraine
11.50am In Values-led Leadership, we talked of how to infuse purpose into the fabric of your organisation. Sarah Fortuna of the Centre for Workplace Leadership unveiled so many wisdoms, which we'll paste here for you.
11.45am Tom Dawkins, CEO of StartSomeGood, came up with this metaphor: "Working for a social enterprise is like being repeatedly punched in the face, but working for a big corporate is like being water boarded."
12pm In Becoming a B Corp, Alicia Darvall of B Lab, enlightened us with this: "There's a new generation who don't want to check their values at the door when they enter [a new business]." She went on to explain that the key to finding your tribe is to embed purpose into the very DNA of your company. "The B Corp movement is one of the most important of our lifetime. Kickstarter's website traffic increased by 30% since becoming one."
1.03pm How to Community commenced with Helen Souness of online marketplace Etsy Australia. Fittingly, she wore a vintage print dress and ring found on Etsy. Her top tip was that everything boils down to the people you bring onboard: "Recruit to your values. If you want to sustain a community, hire people who get it; those who connect with your purpose."
1.22pm James Meldrum of Whole Kids, which produces healthy snacks for children, said, "We didn't set out to build a community, we simply stand up for what we believe in and we tell people about it. That's the power that can drive meaningful change. It led to the discovery of our purpose: to make it easier for parents to create a happy, healthy life for their kids."
1.30pm Lauren Capelin of Reinventure Group explained that community is particularly important in a purpose-led org. The following was particularly poignant: "Community is a role of service more than anything else. Once upon a time, community was heaped into marketing, and now it's about the community having a stake in where the organisation goes."
Meanwhile, across the road at The Commons, The Unfuckers spoke of the knock-on effect of good peer pressure: "Friends don't let friends be planet fuckers," noted the refreshing Caroline Shields and Vanessa Morish, whose enticing session was aptly titled, Shit, Did We Just Interrupt The Green Conversation? Yeah, they did.
2.30pm The generous and hugely talented Matt Wicking serenaded us with a tune called Cape Grim. We thanked him with a standing applause and at least a handful of woos. We then moved on to talks on Meaningful Work.
Kyra Maya Phillips, author of The Misfit Economy, spoke of the benefits of being still, citing the example of an entrepreneur slash former prisoner. "Meaning isn't elusive, we are moving at a speed that doesn't allow us to take it in," she said. "Make more time for deeper moments."
Guys… we did it! That's a wrap.
From the team at WildWon, thank you for attending #Purpose2015.


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In my last visit to Santiago de Compostela I was eggar to go to Museo das Peregrinacións e de Santiago (Pilgrimage's and Santiago's Museum). I really wanted to go there because I already was a pilgrim myself (I made the Portuguese Camino in Saptember 2015) and I knew it would be a special experience to me. I lived in Santiago de Compostela as an Erasmus student between 2011 and 2012. At that time I saw the museum as a person insterested in the History of the city and its growth and I couldn't see everything because I went near its closing. At that time the museum was located in an old house in the historic center and after I left the city the museum was transferred to Praza de Praterías. The museum is now located in the edifice of the Bank of Spain. This was my first time visiting the museum in this building.
The museum has its focus in three things: pilgrimages all over the world, the pilgrimage to Santiago and the development of the cathedral. The first floor offers a sneak pick on other pilgrimages all over the world, not only Christian ones but related to other religions. The two images below correspond to a Japanese pilgrimage. Part of the same floor is related to the various ways to Santiago, with maps and an interactive tables. Alongside with that floor if you look up in one side you see lots of pilgrim's sticks and the word Ultreia (used in the past to wish a safe journey) and on the other side a yellow way with words related to the Camino. I was particularly touched by these two things, they reminded me of my own journey.
On the second floor there was a part related to the story of the cathedral, with pieces of it and miniatures to show the different architectural styles. The original tumb was a Roman mausoleum that evolved to a Romanic cathedral and nowadays the facade is from barroque period. Other part of the same floor showed lot of objects and art related to Santiago, from objects used by pilgrims to images of Santiago.
The third floor showed the first objects given to pilgrims in the XX century to prove and congratulate them for doing the Camino. There were some medals. I was amazed by this part because nowadays it's so simple to show that you did the way with the pilgrim's credential that I haven't think earlier how people would do before Compostela and the credential.
What I liked the less in my experience was that I saw few things about other pilgrimages, the colection is still small. The schedule of the museum is weird because it was only open in the morning on Sundays, so I had to watch the clock to see it. I don't understand why is closed on a day when there are tourists and pilgrims in town.
I liked very much to be able to go to the museum. It was very emotional to see pilgrims' objects from other times and to thing how hard must have been for them to do the camino and I also remembered my own experience. I was a happy person inside that museum absorving everything I saw. I love History, I love Santiago de Compostela, I loved doing the camino. Everything was there in my heart and in my thoughts. The amazing thing is that this is all available for everyone, because the entrance is free and there are elevators for those who can't go through the stairs. It has locks to put your stuff, so it's pilgrim friendly (and even I left my things there just to feel more comfortable).
You can find more information about the Museo here.


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I'm all about shapes and patterns this week, it seems! Check out these cool items I want to buy this week:
Buckyballs by Zoomdoggle
Located downstairs in the Chapter Book Room
How they got the name Buckyballs is beyond me, but these 216 magnetic spheres are super fun to play with! Each ball is a rare earth magnet with a positive and a negative pole, so they stick together in chains, squares, and tons of other shapes. Instructions to make a variety of geometric wonders are included, and the balls come in a handy travel case to keep them all together--though their magnetism is fairly strong, so they stick together very well on their own! They can also be mushed up into a shapeless mass that's fun to massage in your hand when your attention isn't focused enough for pattern-making. Best of all, the carrying case and Buckyballs all together are small enough to fit in a purse or tote or glove compartment, making them easy to bring along wherever you're going.
Women of the Ukiyo-e coloring book from Dover, art by Ming-Ju Sun
Located downstairs in the Art Room or upstairs in the Activity section
I've been feeling like coloring lately, but the average coloring book is too dull for me. Luckily, we have tons of interesting and unique coloring books to choose from! My favorite today is Women of the Ukiyo-e, a coloring book adaptation of thirty classic woodblock prints and paintings of Japan's Edo period (1615-1867). Not only is each page beautifully rendered, but they all include a snipped of information about the original work and artist. Of course, aside from all that learning, there are also plenty of pretty patterns and kimono pieces that require more delicate attention than the average coloring book, which is just the kind of activity I love.
That's it for now--see you next time!


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Despite vast mineral deposits, Namibia currently imports 100% of its ceramic tile – 2.2m square metres annually. A small, determined team is about to change all that.
Heikky Katti graduated as a mining engineer from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in 2011. Like any other graduate, he landed a graduate job at Namdeb before moving to Sasol as an explosives engineer.
But his story is different and unique. The 28-year-old came up with a business idea, Namibia Ceramics, which on November 15th won the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) 2017 Innovation Award that came with N$500,000 (€29,600) prize money.
DBN has said Namibia Ceramics will add value to Namibian clay, quartz and feldspar, by manufacturing tiles, locally. The project is expected to create 150 jobs, the bank said.
The prize money will be used to bring the project to full bankability which will include doing a reserve estimation study in order to estimate the life of the mine, The Namibian reported.
Katti told the newspaper in an interview that the idea of Namibia Ceramics came to him in December 2015, after discovering there were no ceramic products produced in the country, despite the fact there are deposits of industrial minerals in abundance in Namibia.
Representatives of Namibia Ceramics receive their award at a Windhoek hotel – The Namibian 2017
After finding out that countries such as Angola and South Africa had ceramic plants, he and his childhood friend, Titus Hidishange, came together and started to put aside a portion of their salaries, eventually committing more than N$300,000 of their own funds to the project.
He spent a further N$50,000 in October 2016 for a business trip to a company called SACMI in Italy. Namibia Ceramics will source equipment from SACMI and they will give them after-sales technical support, including training on site at Rundu and in Italy.
The project will cost an estimated N$185m in total. The business will generate over N$90m in revenue annually.
"We have not secured the capital yet, but we are at an advanced stage of due diligence with different financial institutions. We have got the Development Bank of Namibia who are acting as the lead fund arranger for the transaction and they will most likely contribute between 30% and 50% of the fund portion," he said.
Katti expects that the transaction will go through in the first quarter of 2018, after which they will order the equipment.
Asked what their target market will be, Katti said they target local retailers and property developers.
"Namibia consumes about 2.2m square metres of ceramic tiles annually and 100% of these tiles are currently being imported. Namibia Ceramics will initially produce 40% of the imports, after which we will ramp up to 70% over a period of three years," he said.
The team includes Protasius Aluvilu, a mining engineer at Rössing Uranium, who has just completed his Master's degree in mineral economics at Imperial College London; Katti's former university classmate, Ike Aphane, a mining engineer; and Sello Mashebela, a geologist. The whole team is younger than 30 years of age.
Katti said as soon as the team secures the capital, they will establish the first production line, which will see Namibia Ceramics producing glazed and decorated ceramic tiles. After five years, they plan to explore sanitary ware such as toilet seats, basins and bath tubs.
"My advice to fellow young innovators is, if you can picture it spiritually then consider it done already physically," said Katti.
Subscribe to the Africa Research Bulletin today.


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KINGZONE officially announces, as exquisite fashion intelligent products, KINGZONE S2 will make a formal debut on May 30, the sales price: $49.99. The machine's facade adopts high-definition screen of 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS of LG, with excellent quad-core 1.3-GHz MTK6780 processor and 1 GB RAM.
Vogue appearance, four-color rear cover, perfect matchof metal and color
KINGZONE S2 adopts full metal carbon steel frame,one-piece pure-color linear strong wire-drawing rear cover of PC material, simple and clear appearance. Matched with four-color (black, white, red, orange) one-piece rear cover, you can change optionally. The machine's facade adopts high-definition screen of 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS of LG.
S2 also provides rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, samsung/OV sensor, backside illumination, F2.2 large aperture, and supports 720p recording.
Battery capacity is 2100 mAh, cooperated with good power-saving technology, so normal use time can reach 36 hours, with longbattery life.Support 3G WCDMA + GSM dual sim cards, dual standby.
Targeting at the public, pursuit of experience, high cost performance.
KINGZONE S2 will be equipped with high-definition screen of 4.5-inch FWVGA IPS of LG. Carried with a quad-core 1.3 GHz Mediatek MT6580 processor (Android 6.0 Lollipop systems), equipped with 1 GB RAM + 8 GB ROM, supports maximum 64G TF card extension.
Built-in GPS satellite navigation, supports light sensor, gravity sensor, distance sensor, wireless WIFI / 3G, mobile router function.
In formal sales, KINGZONE S2 will offer two kinds of color combination suits for the user to choose.
Suit 1: black ( orange back coveras gift)
Suit 2: white( orange back coveras gift)
The KINGZONE S2 release price is $49.9, which will be a first product shockingprice limitation of KINGZONE used to pay great attention to quality and high-end line, fans will be really blessed.At pre-sale period and panic-buying period, there is more unthinkable favorable price.
Please pay attention to the KINGZONE official website:


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Post Cataract YAG Laser Capsulotomy
What is a laser capsulotomy and when is it done?
A laser capsulotomy is a simple procedure that is sometimes necessary after cataract surgery. A cataract develops when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy, blurring the vision. Cataract surgery is performed to remove the cataract, which is the cloudy lens, and replace it with a new and clear artificial lens implant.
Over time, the lens implant can develop a "film" behind it which can again cause symptoms of blurred vision. A simple laser capsulotomy procedure can be performed to create an opening in the film in order to restore normal vision.
What can I expect to happen if I decide to have a laser capsulotomy?
Laser capsulotomy does not require going to the operating room nor does it involve any incisions into the eye. It only takes a few minutes and is painless. The only anesthesia you will need are some eyedrops, which are the same as the eyedrops you receive during a routine eye exam.
Your vision will improve very quickly after the procedure. You do not have to alter your usual activities. The procedure is extremely safe. Very rarely complications do occur and they will be discussed with your Arlington Eye Center surgeon before undergoing the procedure.
How will I know if I need a laser capsulotomy?
If you feel that your vision has become worse since your cataract surgery, and you cannot do the things you need or like to do because your eyesight has changed, then you should consult your ophthalmologist. He or she can do a full eye exam to determine whether a laser capsulotomy would improve your vision.


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If there were ever a male specimen sent directly from the gods to mingle with mortals, it would be Brad Pitt. With an{pb} aura about him that reads both "hometown hottie" and "A-list glitterati," Brad has the world on a string, and we hear his role in Moneyball, in theaters now, is his best work in years. This is one baseball movie you don`t have to drag us to! Man Candy Mondays: Brad Pitt Born:ĀDecember 18,Ā1963 Hometown: Shawnee, Oklahoma Height: 5`11" Why we love Brad Pitt: From the effortlessly sexy way he wears a tux on the red carpet to his humanitarian efforts to how he puts his kids first, we have a crush on Brad Pitt after all of these years. Early Brad Pitt movies set our hearts aflutter


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- All Developers
- Marvel Realtors
Marvel Realtors
Eleven years and 24 million sq ft of luxury residential construction has made Marvel Realtors one of Pune's most widely recognized names in real estate. Now synonymous with ultimate luxury, quality and technology, Marvel's exclusive apartments of over 4000 sq ft will soon be visible in Mumbai, Bangalore and Goa. In recent times, Marvel Realtors has also forayed into commercial projects that will offer over 1 million sq ft of world-class commercial space for 21st century businesses. Marvel's greatest challenge is to consistently surpass its own benchmarks. Firsts include, offering one apartment per floor, adding a swimming pool on private terraces and state-of-the-art automation systems to homes. The Marvel team ensures in-house construction, stringent quality control, superior finishes, routine checks on cost and time over-runs and detailed and transparent project scheduling and estimations.


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My current obsession with Greek Tragedy, Fantasy, and Greek tragedy as Fantasy has led me to ponder at length on the single most powerful fantastic element in both the tragic and epic traditions: Prophecy. Having already touched upon it here, this post is an attempt at articulating my understanding of its narrative machinery.
Freudian implications notwithstanding, Sophocles's Oedipus the King, the archetype of prophecy driven tragedies, is essentially a moral and logical puzzle. A moral puzzle because men, both ordinary and those gifted with foresight, the prophets and the oracles, unanimously condemn a man who inadvertently brings a terrible prophecy to fulfilment by having consciously taken measures at every capricious turn of his life to prevent it from coming true. This is a dubious verdict at best and one that smacks of moral ambiguity: If prophecies are destined to come true, irrespective of one's preventive actions, is it fair to condemn someone for having fulfilled it? If not, then is it not infinitely more insidious to condemn someone who, having heard the prophecy, had taken all humanly possible measures to avoid its fulfilment? In the final analysis, everything seems to boil down to the question of belief: Did he, a mere man, believe that he could prevent the prophesy from coming true? Or equivalently, did he believe that he could beat fate by exerting his free-will? It is on this note that Oedipus seems to lose the moral high ground that is his by all rights. He does, or at some point in time did, believe that he could beat fate by exerting his free-will and it is hard not to come to the conclusion that it is for this that he seems to be punished. This is by no means any less unfair and Sophocles has Oedipus himself take up his case in the most complex and, in my opinion, effective play in the Oedipus cycle, Oedipus at Colonus, where the moral, and in some sense even legal, aspects of the Oedipus conundrum take centre stage. Oedipus at Colonus brings the tale to a hardly harmonious, if in its own way fulfilling, closure; the Gods themselves, for a brief moment, break their silence to bestow a sort of legendary status on the long-suffering hero.
Prophecy, as a narrative device in epics and tragedies, seems to derive its logical, moral, and emotional potency by playing out that most fundamental of conflicts, fate versus free-will, against the template of a tragic, or at least dark and dramatic, universe. And nowhere is it more devastatingly effective than in the "dark" Sophoclean world of the Oedipus cycle.


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Following some links around on this site. You can find a solution by broll with a bit of a method. This leads me to believe the solution can be neatly expressed by the product of a few prime factors. I haven't had the mental energy to figure out quite how it works.
flooble's webmaster puzzle


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For those following the ongoing evolution of streaming music services, the term monetization has been so oft-repeated that it's hard to tell if someone is talking about board room organizing, rather than something Taylor Swift once raged on about (to the suspicions of many - especially as her heavily-crafted PR exploits have begun to unfold). The simple, uncomforting reality for many artists and non-artists looking to make a living is that the road to success is hardly paved for everyone to use. Fortunately, some are working on it.
Music service Tradiio has been a formidable bridge in the world of streaming music, giving users a chance to easily access service, but support lesser-known artists in the process. The service launched originally in early 2015, but has updated with a newer, more direct way for artists to achieve vital funding for their projects: crowdfunding.
"Tradiio started with a clear goal to enable artists to extract value from their music," writes CEO Álvaro Gomez in a company press release. "Now, just after a few days with this feature, we're already seeing artists earning in excess of $500 per month."
Subscribers can lock in on specific artists to get access to exclusives, like early behind-the-scenes content or highly-unique opportunities. Producer Ark Patrol, for instance, has been providing fans unique ringtones and production tutorials in exchange for direct payment. Head over to the Tradiio site for more details and to download the app, available on web, iOS, and Android.
Take a listen to Isaura's exclusive Tradiio session from last year, below.


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I want to start this review by stating that I have never read the Priest comic books, nor am I a student of any of the Priestly lore. However, I am utterly obsessed with religious and catholic iconography in films, books, roleplay, art. Well or poorly executed, it is an aesthetic I have always loved. Mix that in with a little post-apocalyptic cyberpunk, and I was raring to go for Priest.
|I didn't watch it in 3D... because
it's rubbish.
A nifty little animated opener describes the history of the world through the war between humans and vampires. Forget brooding reflections of immortal sexuality. Not a Count, Cullen or Compton in sight, these vampires are strictly blind, semi-humanoid, feral beasts. And they want all human's dead!
Pit these soulless, godless demons against a crack troop of inhumanly gifted mortals who beat the vampires into submission. The Catholic Church, stealing their moment have subjugated the people to a fascist theocracy. It's brutalism is beautifully represented through Orwellian style mass prayers and automated confessional booths.
But I digress…
Paul Bettany is one of my favourite actors at the moment, perhaps because he seems to take all the tormented religious roles that hit just the right note with me (Silas the Monk, the archangel Michael, and now Priest). He is no less tormented and beautiful here. Even with his disturbing body modification, Bettany's soulful eyes and softly spoken tones suit the Priest perfectly.
I have but one problem: why do directors insist on forcing him to do his American accent? While British actors should have this talent to slot into films based across the atlantic, why is it foisted upon him when playing an angel, or post-apocalyptic demon hunter? Surely the American accent is not required, and Bettany's brilliance shines far brighter when he is allowed to use his natural voice, (see A Knight's Tale for proof). Nevertheless, he is excellent in Priest and manages to leave his strangely attractive thumbprint on an unusual, distant character.
|Sexy, even like this...
Acting props must also go to the severely underused Karl Urban, another of my top actors. The southern accent he perfected for Dr McCoy is back and better than ever. Spending half the film on a train is no way to treat such a fine actor, but when he is given the chance he injects some much needed energy into the jedi-like priests. He even manages to make conducting explosions to Mozart's Requiem seem dramatic and not as ridiculous as it sounds.
|... him too. Damnit this is a hot film!
While the art direction for this film is stunning and bleak, my main problem links in with an issue I have with most recent thriller or vampire films. Darkness. I don't possess a high-tech, high-def, high-price home cinema system (lord knows I wish I did). I watch most of my DVDs on my laptop. The screen is fairly smudged and even on the highest brightness as soon as all the lights go out I lose any ability to pick out fine detail in any film.
This is a crime committed mainly in these vampire, horror thriller films, and while I understand that vampire films must equal a lot of night time, I do wish directors would come up with a more original way of lighting their scenes. Lanterns, moonlight, fire, fucking arc-lights anything! Just less darkness, please…
Overall, Priest has so much potential as a film setting and leaves all the right avenues open. I only wish it had done better at the box office - I thought sequels were supposed to be obligatory!


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No, I wasn't really dead. Last summer I completely stopped writing. While I could give you an endless list of reasons why, I won't; it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Just like that very first workout after a lengthy break, the hardest thing to write is that first sentence. I call it, "Breaking the spell." That's what I'm doing right now.
Within the past couple months, I've pushed myself out of my comfort zone. . .a little bit. I've done some new things, spent some time with new friends and visited new places. The result was a renewed inspiration to write again. So, here I am back again and I'm looking forward to sharing these things with you.
As always, thanks for reading.


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The official investigation into the Melbourne, Lacrosse Apartment blaze has resulted in the referral of 2 more building practitioners for disciplinary action over their failure to work in a professional and competent way.
The 2014 incident happened in Melbourne's Docklands district and the blaze spread quickly from the 6th floor to the 21st floor. More than 500 building occupants had to be evacuated and the fire caused damage in excess of $2 million.
It was determined that non-compliant aluminium cladding on the exterior of the building was to blame for the rapid spread of the fire.


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Blackmagic Design Announce 4K Pocket Cinema Camera
Blackmagic have announced a pocket 4K cinema camera aimed squarley at the likes of the Panasonic GH5. Literally named the 'Pocket Cimena Camera' the new unit is built around a 4/3 sensor that shoots native DCI 4k at 60 fps.
- 4/3″ Sized HDR Sensor
- Record DCI 4K 4096 x 2160 up to 60 fps
- Dual Native ISO to 25,600
- 5″ Touchscreen Display
- Active Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount
- Record up to 120 fps Windowed HD
- CFast 2.0 & SD/UHS-II Card Slots
- External Recording via USB Type-C
- 13-Stop Dynamic Range, 3D LUT Support
- Includes DaVinci Resolve Studio License
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera will cost just $1,295 which could be seen as somewhat of a bargain when line dup to the competition although this is a cinema camera through and through, there is little in the way of still shooting focused functionality here. Shipping commenced on September 3rd and pre-orders are live right now at the following links:
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera at B&H Photo.


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My apologies for being Missing In Action this week. I succumbed to a rather nasty sinus infection which has now settled on my chest. Again. Yep. I know – I have had quite a few colds and infections recently. Having chatted with the Doc I find that I am badly anaemic and potentially suffering Coeliac disease. This is interesting since most of my meals consist of gluten in some form: bagel for breakfast and/or lunch, pasta, rice etc. It seems the anaemia makes me weak (!) and the (potential) Coeliacs prevents my stomach from absorbing the goodness and vitamins from my food – hence the anaemia and susceptibility to everything thats going. This time I have been laid pretty low spending pretty much all my time asleep as I felt too weak to do much else. On top of this my youngest now has Mumps. The big one came home from Uni telling tales of how people had Mumps at Uni and I assured him that he would be OK as he had had the MMR and his boosters: he was vaccinated up! The very next week he looked like a Squirrel who had just remembered where he had put his winter store and its now spring! Monday the youngest got up and said his jaw was hurting. I did the usual Mum thing: 'You two been messing around again?' On closer inspection however I realised that this poor boy was beginning to resemble a cast off from a Rocky movie with his swollen face and square jaw! He is loving the jelly and ice-cream though!
So…Back to anaemia and Coeliacs. I am so fed up of feeling unwell that I have decided to take a drastic measure with my health and make serious changes to my diet – I don't eat badly, we never have processed/package foods but realistically, we can do better! A colleague at work has been banging on about the 'diet' he follows. He is a very healthy looking lad with muscles all over the place. I had a chat with him and he pointed me in the direction of The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. Basically it is about eating like our Paleo ancestors – who were apparently as healthy as our present day Olympian athletes – I am up for that! – even if they had shorter lives (due to nasty animals etc). Whilst Robb does suggest that you will lose weight – I am up for that too! – he advocates a general 'feeling better' health wise and challenges you to give his way a go for thirty days. Go check it out and I will keep you posted whilst I do my thirty days to see if I do feel better – lets face it – I cannot feel worse than I have been lately! And no – to the Gods in heaven above – that is not a challenge thank you!
DID YOU KNOW…you can subscribe to my blog? If you look at the very top of the page and to the right there is a bit where you can subscribe and follow my blog – if you want to that is….and of course if you want to find out how my Paleo thirty days is going this would be a great way to follow and keep up to date. Go on…subscribe – you know you want to….
And finally…..I havent actually felt like doing much crafting this week – now you know how really poorly I have felt! However, I did have some stuff I had intended posting right before I hit my low point. So here they are:
This is SU Style Beautiful stamp set from the 2010/2011 Idea Book and Catalogue, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla and Soft Suede CS, and Chocolate Chip Ink finished with a few pearls and gold embossing powder – I love the simplicity of this.
I totally love this stamp set and think I will get a lot of use out of it – It is the Strength & Hope set from the 2011 Mini catalogue. I used Crumb Cake – again – Night of Navy, Whisper White and Bashful Blue CS, Bashful Blue ink and Rose Red seem binding ribbon. I also buffed a very tiny bit of Rose Red ink into the butterfly. this was finished with a little paper piercing around the scallop circle punched with SU scallop circle punch of course!
This turned out a lot better than I anticipated! I used the Fun Flowers Sizzix die – an exclusive to Stampin Up – and used it to die cut NewsPrint DSP, I mounted it onto Basic Black, Whisper White and again onto Basic Black CS only this piece had been run through Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions embossing folder – another SU Exclusive! and gently rubbed it with copper wax to give it a metallic feel before mounting on Whisper White and again onto Basic Back – I added pearls and some ribbon from my – large – ribbon box! Oh and I also rubbed a little of the copper wax on the edges of the flower petals too!
And Finally….
This is another set I think will get a lot of use – This is the Baby Blossoms set and you quite literally make your own blooms yourself – YEP – each flower on this was stamped into parts – the light blue and the dark blue! I also used the frame from the same set to 'cameo' the main bloom. I used Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Not Quite Navy CS, Bashful Blue, Not Quite Navy and Old Olive Ink, Scallop Trim Border punch and some pearls to finish. Turned out quite nice if I do say so myself – mind you it took me ages lining things up, then I got the hang of it – all I had to do was follow the shapes but I was a while figuring that out!
Ok, thats me, I do have a couple more cards but will save those till the next post. I am back to work again tomorrow but will post as soon as I can. Don't forget to subscribe. Until then remember to keep stamping your place in the world!


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The cannabis industry could be in for a serious buzz kill.
Marijuana dispensaries and manufacturers are increasingly worried that the Trumpadministration will crack down on enforcement of federal laws that ban growing and selling marijuana — reversing the president's stance during his campaign and potentially upending what has become a $7 billion market. The anxiety was sparked by surprise comments from White House spokesman Sean Spicer last month that the government would likely step up its enforcement of drug laws.
Shortly afterward, Attorney General Jeff Sessions told a conference of state attorneys general that he is "dubious" about the benefits of pot. He reiterated those concerns in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Hugh Hewitt last week.
"Marijuana is against federal law, and that applies in states where they may have repealed their own anti-marijuana laws. So yes, we will enforce law in an appropriate way nationwide," Sessions said. "It's not possible for the federal government, of course, to take over everything the local police used to do in a state that's legalized it. And I'm not in favor of legalization of marijuana. I think it's a more dangerous drug than a lot of people realize."


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10 Tips on How to be a Green Festival Goer This Summer
It's that time of year again! Festival season is upon us, it is time to soak up some sun, enjoy some good music, and spend time with friends.
Below are some tips on how to enjoy a festival in away that will make the planet happy too:
1) Refill
With the latest athleisure style trend in full swing this season, make a reusable water bottle or cup (check out some Cupanion options)your most fashionable accessory yet. Don't waste your money buying bottled water – save some dough, help the environment, and look fabulous doing so.
2) You're Only Cool if you Carpool
We all know how hectic festival parking can be, long lines, bad drivers, and a chorus of honking. Reduce the chaos for yourself and for others by carpooling with a friend or if possible biking to the festival. Sit back, relax, and get to enjoying the festival sooner than everyone else while knowing you just did the planet some good!
3) Straight Savage
Mastering the art of minimalist packing is a necessity for festival season. Realistically speaking, half of the stuff you may bring to wear and do will not see the light of day…So be a savage when packing and leave all the extra clutter at home, and in doing so you will cut back on the amount of waste left behind at the end of the festival.
4) Don't be Extra
Let's be honest… do you realllyyyyyy need a straw? Get more fluids into you and quicker with one big gulp instead! Feel good about doing your part in reducing waste by cutting out straws, and let your good deed shine through for all to see!
5) Let's Keep it Separate
Contrary to popular belief, not all garbage and recycling bin contents end up in the same place. So let's get old school, and whip out the forgotten Three R's this festival season! It's time to hop off the band-wagon and start recycling!
6) Unplug
Part of the bliss of attending a festival is to let loose and have a good time! So this festival season, avoid cell phone charging stations and go screenless for as long as you can! Save some energy and connect with the people around you…who knows, you may just meet your soulmate.
7) Au Natural
Mosquitoes are a festival goer's worst nightmare, while to them, you are a dream come true. One way to go green is to reduce your use of store bought bug spray. The aerosol cans contribute to air pollution, and the damage the grass and insects around where you spray. Instead be a smarty and make your own DIY bug spray that is 'Au Natural' beforehand! Help yourself, while helping nature.
8) Throw Some Shade
Everyone wants to be hot at a festival. However there comes a point when even you can become too hot to handle. When this happens during a festival, people tend to run to their vehicles to the comfort of air conditioning. We encourage you to step OUT of this comfort zone and into the embrace of shade. Why waste your gas and pollute the air, when the shade is your own personal chill pill for free! So throw some shade if you want, no one's stopping you!
9) Fresh to Death
When at a three day festival – personal hygiene becomes an issue. No one wants to smell bad, however, they also want to avoid high shower fee's. As a result, many people plan on bathing in nearby accessible waters like rivers, lakes or oceans. This may be cost friendly – however the shower products you use causes chemical imbalances in the water, and can dangerously affect marine life. Be kind to the fishies and save it for the shower instead! Even though I am sure they would love to hear your great shower singing!
10) Local Love
When confronted with tons of options from vendors while at a festival, try and make a conscience effort to support local artisans and businesses. By turning your money away from large corporations, you will be putting your money into local economies and making a difference where it truly counts! Plus, you will usually get more unique and enduring products in the long run! So go shopping – and feel good about it.
These are just a few tips on how you can make a festival a little greener. At the end of the festival make sure you reach out to the organizers to provide feedback and suggestions. If you notice things the festival is doing well or can improve on, make sure you let them know!
We hope you have a fantastic festival season this summer!


text: Kynse Leigh Agles O: 239-489-2900 Home Agents Kynse Leigh Agles "Making DREAMS come true" My name is Kynse Leigh Agles and I am the Owner/Broker of RE/MAX Dream located in Downtown Fort Myers, Fl. I specialize in Commercial, Residential, Luxury and Investment properties. I have been a licensed RE/MAX Realtor in Florida since 2003 and in 2014 I opened RE/MAX Dream in the Downtown Historic District of Fort Myers. I love assisting both buyers and sellers in the sale, purchase, lease and management of their properties. Kynse Leigh Agles Owner/Broker Office: 239-489-2900 Personal Website RE/MAX DREAM 2285 First Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 Phone: 239-489-2900 Fax: 239-322-5520 Contact Me Now First Name Last Name Email Address Phone Number Message Any questions, comments, or feedback Submit Now!


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- This event has passed.
Improving Outcomes in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (IOTOD) 2018
May 15, 2018 - May 16, 2018
IOTOD aims to provide the most up-to-date information in the field of opioid addiction in Europe. If you work in the field of opioid addiction, this conference should not be missed.
The conference attracts a multitude of specialists from across the globe, thus representing a unique opportunity to network with high-level experts in opioid addiction and get their insight on some of the most controversial topics in the field.
Who should attend?
Anyone who has an interest in opioid addiction medicine or plays a role in the care of people who inject drugs. Past attendees have included addiction specialists, pain specialists, psychiatrists, social workers, general practitioners and nurses.


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zaterdag 11 september 2010
Sketchy Thurdays: challenge 9.9 YOU ROW GIRL
Also submitted on Practical scrappers: challenge use buttons...
5 opmerkingen:
What a fun summer layout! That is a great photo and I absolutely love your title work.BeantwoordenVerwijderen
Great LO. love the scatter of buttons.xBeantwoordenVerwijderen
The Creative Team of Papercraft Star has been out visiting blogs of talented papercrafters like yourself to spread the word about the new challenge blog, Papercraft Star. Our blog is unique in that we offer participants and the public an opportunity to vote on their favorite projects for each weekly challenge. The winner then receives a beautiful "People's Choice Award" button to display on their blog. Gifts from sponsors are also awarded to winners and/or participants of the challenges for any given month. The weekly challenges are posted way in advance in order to give you plenty of time to get your project ready to enter too! If you are not already a follower of Papercraft Star, or haven't entered any challenges yet, then we hope this note from us will encourage you to come on over and meet the growing number of talented papercrafters that gather at Papercraft Star's challenge blog as well as the Papercraft Star Message Boards and Facebook page. Right now, you can enter to win a $25.00 gift certificate for papercraft star just by becoming a follower and leaving a comment on the $25.00 gift certificate post. We look forward to seeing you soon! http://www.papercraftstar.blogspot.comBeantwoordenVerwijderen
Wowwwwwwwwwww! This is GORGEOUS! I loveeeeeeee the photo, the flowers and LOVING the buttons! :):):):) Thanks sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for playing along with Sketchy Thursdays! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)BeantwoordenVerwijderen
Great page, love the buttons like that!BeantwoordenVerwijderen


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Ref ID: 08LONDON425
Date: 2/12/2008 9:40
Origin: Embassy London
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Header: VZCZCXRO5702RR RUEHHM RUEHJO RUEHPODDE RUEHLO #0425/01 0430940ZNR UUUUU ZZHR 120940Z FEB 08FM AMEMBASSY LONDONTO RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDCRUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7365INFO RUEHXI/LABOR COLLECTIVE
Tags: ELAB,SOCI,UK
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LONDON 000425 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12598: N/A TAGS: ELAB, SOCI, UK SUBJECT: DOL ADVISOR BRUMFIELD DISCUSSES LABOR PRIORITIES WITH HMG, UNIONS AND EMPLOYERS Summary: William Brumfield, European Area Advisor and Foreign Service Coordinator at the Department of Labor (DOL), visited the UK to discuss labor priorities with HMG, Unions and Employers. At HMG he was told that James Purnell, the new Work and Pensions Secretary, will prioritize welfare reform. The UK has set itself an "aspirational target" for employment of 80 percent, up from current levels at approximately 72 percent. An official from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) discussed the UK labor movement's focus on the Temporary Agency Workers Directive. Unions are calling for the creation of parity between the working conditions and benefits of temporary workers and permanent employees. On Gordon Brown, Brumfield was told that while the Labour Party has seen a change in leadership, there has not been a change in substance. A meeting with the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) discussed a downturn in economic growth which has hurt public finances. However, the UK housing market is not as vulnerable as the U.S's because the UK still has a housing shortage. End Summary.
HMG Prioritizes Welfare Reform -----------------------------
2. (U) In a meeting at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with Satish Parmar, of the International Employment and Social Policy Division, and Paul Russell, of the ILO, UN and Council of Europe team, Brumfield was told that James Purnell, the new Work and Pensions Secretary, will prioritize welfare reform. In his new position, following Peter Hain's resignation, Purnell will focus on raising the UK employment rate by getting more lone parents, disabled people, and ethnic minorities into work. Personalized employment advice and 'city strategies' will be used to increase employment amongst these groups. Incapacity benefit will also be reformed into a new Employment and Support allowance. The support allowance will go to people who have no capacity to work. The employment allowance, which will be a lower level of assistance, will go to people whose capacity for work has been assessed and who undertake mandatory activity to get back to work. The government has set itself an "aspirational target" of 80 percent employment, up from current levels at approximately 72 or 74 percent.
3. (SBU) Parmar discussed the UK's bilateral relationships. He noted that DWP has a rolling program of meetings with counterpart ministries in France and Germany. He went on to observe that, based on a recent visit from a high-level Canadian official, the UK and Canada are going to initiate a reciprocal study tour whereby a group of officials from the UK visit Canada with a "shopping list" of things that the UK is interested in seeing and vice versa. Parmar said there would be interest in introducing the same type of exchange with the U.S. DWP is also finalizing an international strategy, which now needs to be signed off by Ministers. It will identify what all parts of the department are doing in terms of international engagement. It is intended to lead to a more coherent international approach across the department.
HMG's Participation in International Labor Meetings ---------------------- ----------------------------
4. (SBU) On the OECD's LEED meeting in Venice, Parmar said that it is unlikely to be attended at the Ministerial level. The UK has not previously placed a high value on these meetings, only attending one or two at a junior level. However, the focus on addressing local problems, including money for local regeneration, is now high on the UK agenda. Caroline Flint, Minister for Employment prior to Peter Hain's resignation, had expressed an interest in attending the meeting given its focus. However, they are still waiting to see if Stephen Timms, Flint's replacement, will attend. It is highly unlikely, however, that Purnell will go.
5. (SBU) On the G8 preparatory meeting, Parmar said he will be attending on the UK side along with Liz Tillett, Deputy Director of the International, Employment and Social Policy Division. The UK is looking to agree on outcome-based employment objectives, which will be useful to persuade other European countries of the benefits of adopting policies less likely to promote benefits dependence. With regards to the Ministerial meeting, Peter Hain had agreed to attend. It is likely that Purnell will attend but they are awaiting confirmation. If he does not attend, Stephen Timms will attend in his place.
Unions Prioritize Temporary Workers, Public Sector Pay and Open Skies Agreement -----------------------------------------
6. (SBU) Owen Tudor, Head of International Relations at the Trades Union Congress (TUC), said the Temporary Agency Workers Directive is a primary focus of the UK labor movement. The labor movement is calling for the creation of parity between the working conditions and benefits of temporary workers and permanent employees. This issue, Tudor said, is currently on Brown's desk, awaiting a decision. The issue will be focused upon by the French Presidency of the EU. By that time, Tudor opined, the EU Reform Treaty will LONDON 00000425 002 OF 003 have been approved (for which the government needs the employers' support) and the government will be in a position to accept the Directive.
7. (SBU) In terms of public sector pay, Tudor said that everyone knows the "money is running out". Unions acknowledge that some cuts need to be made. However, Tudor said the government's argument that staged pay awards are necessary to restrain inflationary pressure is not acceptable. Instead, HMG should argue that it's done because of public borrowing requirements.
8. (SBU) Brumfield also met with UNITE's Brendan Gold, National Secretary for Aviation (T&G section) and Paul Talbot, Assistant SIPDIS General Secretary (Amicus section). Gold's union represents the aviation sector except for pilots and air traffic controllers. Unlike most unions, their membership is growing, by about one thousand a year, on top of the 75,000 in aviation already part of the T&G or Amicus sections of the newly-merged mega union UNITE. (UNITE is the UK's largest union, with over 2 million members.) Gold is also the vice chair of the European Transport Federation and the International Transport Federation. Current priority for the ETF is a pan European agreement with low cost, but unionized European carrier EasyJet. For the ITF, it is Open Skies and "social dumping" (seeking trade advantages by exploiting workers). Gold said the key to organizing workers is to fight for local issues (a break room, better food) and signing up members. Talbot had a similar take. Unions don't want to get involved in the nitty gritty issues at the shop floor level, but that is how members are recruited.
TUC Critical of Brown's 'Dithering' ----------------------------------
9. (SBU) Owen Tudor stressed that while the Labour Party has seen a change in leadership, there has not been a change in substance. While Brown was keen to imply that he would usher in a completely new administration, the biggest change has been one of style. Tudor said that accusations in the press of Brown 'dithering' over decisions were accurate, that it is difficult to get him to make a decision. His long-term focus means decisions are not made quickly or easily. He said there is less Ministerial control of government business, with more done at the center, amongst Brown's close allies.
Employers Discuss Economic Environment and Temporary Workers -------------------------------- --------------------
10. (SBU) Speaking for the UK employers group that attends the ILO meetings, Neil Carberry, Head of Pensions and Employment at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said the Brown government's policies were not much different from Blair's, but the economic environment had changed. Public finances were problematic, because economic growth had declined 17 percent in a year. The UK housing market is not as vulnerable as the U.S.'s, in Carberry's view, because the UK still has a housing shortage. Brown is under pressure to spend on programs to rein in unruly parliamentary backbenchers upset about the EU treaty, but he hasn't the money in his budget. Hence the proposal for a rise in the capital gains tax, which upset the business community and had to be abandoned. Carberry said the government was legislating but not enforcing work place rules. The pending EU vote on a Temporary Agency Workers Directive was "totemic" for the trades unions (the same term used by Tudor at the TUC). The law would give temporary workers the same employment rights as full time direct hires after a certain period on the job. The dispute is over the qualifying time period. The unions want 6 weeks, the employers (and HMG) want one year, but might accept 6 months. Both sides say it is more about rights than pay.
UK ILO Office to Be Replaced by Desk Officer in Geneva ---------------------------- -------------------------
11. (SBU) In a meeting with Lord Bill Brett, currently Director of the ILO Office in the UK, Brumfield was told that the UK's ILO Office is closing and that Lord Brett will end his representational role this year. The office will be replaced by a UK desk officer in Geneva. On the position of Director-General, Lord Brett believes Somavia will go for another term and will get another term. He said that Somavia has unfinished business and is likely to reform the ILO quite dramatically. Additionally, there is nothing on the horizon that will attract him away from the ILO. He said that it is highly unlikely that the ILO will introduce two-term limits (which HMG is pushing for) as it is not in the interests of either the workers or employers. On Gordon Brown, Lord Brett believes he did well to get MPs to accept a 1.9 percent pay rise. In doing so, he isolated the police. He also said that the various one day strikes will not have created much fear within the government. He said the big problem on the horizon will be pensions. LONDON 00000425 003 OF 003 TUTTLE


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Experts have extensively described the December 23 incident at western Ukraine's Prykarpattyaoblenergo utility as the initial recognized electricity outage because of a cyber assault.
Slovakian antivirus software package company Eset also mentioned that it experienced observed proof of BlackEnergy being used in assaults on Ukrainian energy corporations, which it reported was centered on destruction as opposed to just deleting files. Destructive malware has started to become a lot more well known with hackers.
BBC British isles · 7 times back The assault caused a blackout for 80,000 shoppers of western Ukraine's Prykarpattyaoblenergo utility. Typically the hacker might have individual specifics of the concentrate on to make the e-mail much more plausible – it might seek advice from the focus on by name such as.
23 incident at western Ukraine's Prykarpattyaoblenergo utility as the 1st known ability outage a result of a cyber attack. Ukraine's SBU point out security service has blamed Russia for that incident, whilst U.S. cyber agency iSight Associates joined it to a Russian hacking team often known as "Sandworm."
"The attackers demonstrated scheduling, coordination, and the opportunity to use malware and probable direct distant entry to blind program dispatchers, cause unwanted point out improvements on the distribution electric power infrastructure, and try to hold off the restoration by wiping SCADA servers when they caused the outage," Assante wrote.
Specialists have broadly explained the December 23 incident at western Ukraine's Prykarpattyaoblenergo utility as the main recognized power outage brought on by a cyber assault.'
Michael Toecker, a consulting engineer who advises utilities on grid security, said that some clientele are inquiring 'What do we must do to ensure this doesn't materialize to us?'"
The attackers also are believed to possess spammed the Ukraine utility's customer-company center with cellular phone calls so as to prevent serious clients from communicating regarding their downed ability.
Preferably, engineers Establish in basic safety units making sure that if an individual does click on a type of terrible inbound links, the malware will get cordoned off to some part of the community that doesn't influence the particular transmission strains.
stories that Ukraine's energy ministry remains conducting a probe into what brought on the shutdown. "Up to now the almost certainly Edition is interference while in the workings of your automated Handle devices," reported Prykarpattyaoblenergo technological director Oleg Senik.
Though security researchers broadly believe that the outage was a result of a cyber attack, several gurus for the conference said they need more information prior to weighing in on what took place.
A report unveiled by Washington-dependent SANS Inc about the weekend concluded hackers probable brought about Ukraine's 6-hour outage by remotely switching breakers in a means that Slice electric power, soon after installing malware that prevented specialists from detecting the intrusion.
The warn marked The very first time the U.S. govt had publicly commented on the Ukraine outage. It reported ICS-CERT would carry on to check the attack, offering further technological facts on a private government portal.


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Cultuurhuis De Klinker
Cultural life is buzzing in Winschoten. Cultural centre De Klinker houses a modern theatre, arts centre and a library. The programming of the atmospheric theatre Tram Workplace is attractive and varied. During summer the performances in the amphitheatre in nature reserve Reiderwolde at the foot of the red tower between Beerta, Winschoten and Finsterwolde are very special.
Since March 2015, Oldambt has a beautiful new cultural centre. The building houses a theatre, an art centre and a library. Also a cinema and the local broadcaster RTV LOGO find shelter there. The theatre has a large and small hall.
In De Klinker expression is not only reflected in drama, dance and music. It gives space to a 24-hour cultural vibrancy. Due to its central location in Winschoten people pass by the cultural centre on a daily basis, where they can enjoy culture in the theatre, the library, the art centre or the radio studio. It is possible to reminisce on the show while enjoying a snack and a drink at the café of the theatre "Koperen Kees".
From afar it is easy to recognize the amphitheatre in reserve Reiderwolde. On the hill next to it is a red watchtower, which is 7.20 meters tall. From above, you have great views of the entire area. The amphitheatre is not only for performances. It is also used for excursions and education.
Actually, the old tram workshop should be leveled to the ground. But when the former cultural centre De Klinker had to be demolished and there was still no new theatre, this building was transformed into a small theatre with a flat floor. And guess what? The performances attracted many people who were thoroughly enjoying themselves. The neighboring shed had the function of production house with studio, dance and theatre space. The Tram Workplace is a kind of theatre laboratory: talent for art is discovered here, nurtured, developed and used in own art productions. The brasserie has been transformed into the Harbour Jazz Club Winschoten. A place to meet for lunch or a drink and listen to live music. Cultural heritage in Winschoten has thus been given a new function.
google map met vestigingen


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Carolyn Kiernat
Horizon High Corona, CA
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Desized Jefferson Linen Home Decor Fabric
- Fiber: 55% Linen & 45% Viscose
55% Linen and 45% Viscose Desized Jefferson Linen Home Decor Fabric is 55" wide. In a subtle shade of tan, this linen fabric is perfect for table clothes, light and airy drapes, and more!
CARE INSTRUCTIONS: Dry clean only.
Available in 1-yard increments. Average bolt size is approximately 14 yards. Price displayed is for 1-yard. Enter the total number of yards you want to order.
Item not available in Hobby Lobby Stores.
Check your local store for availability.
*Marked price shown in strikethrough. Discounts provided every day; marked prices reflect general U.S. market value for similar products.
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Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie - 6 OZ Tube
Special Price $6.79 Regular Price $7.99
Out of stock
Item Code
Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie - 6 OZ Tube is rated out of 5 by 22.
SheaMoisture's Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie defines curls, reduces frizz and smoothes hair for a soft, silky feel. Restores moisture, creates brilliant shine and conditions hair without weighing it down for bouncy, healthy curls. Made with natural and certified organic ingredients. Coconut Oil hydrates and protects hair while reducing breakage. Silk Protein smoothes hair for a soft, silky feel. Neem Oil controls frizz while adding brilliant shine.
|6 fl OZ
|Height (inches)
|Width (inches)
|Depth (inches)
|Key Ingredients
|Coconut Oil, Neem Oil, Silk Protein
|Coconut & Hibiscus
|Usage Instructions
|Section hair and apply product sparingly to damp or dry hair. Do not rinse out. Style hair as desired. For best results, use as a styling cream for twist-outs, braids and wash-and-go styles.
|Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Fruit Juice, Water, Glycerin (Vegetable), Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*♥, Cetrimonium Chloride, Polysorbate 60, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Oleth-10, Panthenol, PEG-150 Stearate, Steareth-20, Mangifera lndica (Mango) Seed Butter, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Silk, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Tocopherol, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Fragrance (Essential Oil Blend), Triethyl Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Benzoic Acid *Certified Organic Ingredient. ♥Fair Trade Ingredient.
|Product Used By
|Special Price
Rated 5 out of 5 by vvy7 from Love! I've used both Cantu curl cream and Mane Choice's styling gel for curling and they both made my hair hard and crunchy. This product makes my hair feel soft, manageable, and I love the way it curls my hair!
Date published: 2018-07-19
Rated 3 out of 5 by Nicole from works great but,, Okay so it's got good ingredients in it and works great, like it's not greasy or anything and it smooths my curls; HOWEVER, the smell is sickeningly sweet to the point where I feel nauseated using it and even have to breathe through my mouth some mornings. I like strong scents and am not usually bothered by sweet ones, but this one makes my stomach churn. Other than that, it's a really great product and it's a such a shame that the smell takes the attention off how well it works.
Date published: 2018-04-08
Rated 5 out of 5 by Lorelei from Magic for my in between 2C hair I use this whenever I am air drying my hair and don't feel like styling it. I have never been able to air dry my hair before until I found this product. Maybe it is because my hair is not in layers, but when it dries some of it is straight and some of it is in 3A curls! And it doesn't look that great to me. This stuff doesn't make my hair any curlier, but it does help my hair clump together and not look frizzy. It would look frizzy and all over the place before. I don't recommend using this before you style your hair if you have my hair type. I put this in before I slept in flexi rods and my Flexi-Rod Curls came out as soon as I stepped outside! That never happens!
Date published: 2017-11-01
Rated 5 out of 5 by Ailin from Bringing the Spanish waves back! I cut my hair a bit ago and was hoping my waves/curls would come back, but I've struggled to add volume to my hair since! It was looking very flat (even after testing several products) until I started using this Curl Enhancing Smoothie. It's done a good job at adding volume and texture and I love how my hair looks afterwards! I use it in the shower as a leave-in-conditioner or apply it to damp hair and scrunch it up. I've also had good results when using it before going to bed, it gives me this nice bedhead texture. It also doesn't weigh my hair down or makes it feel stiff like other products I've tried. Gonna keep buying for sure! TIP: a little goes a long way! Otherwise it can make hair look greasy. It also doesn't do great on super humid days, so I like adding a bit of Coconut & Hibiscus dry oil to tame any extra frizz (love how these products work so well together!). I received this product for free but all opinions are my own (seriously, this is worth trying ;) ).
Date published: 2017-08-07
Rated 5 out of 5 by LolitaMimi from Love my hair again! First of all, I use to hate my wavy hair because it was always frizzy and I always wished for either curlier hair or straight hair so I wouldn't have to straighten it but these products have changed my mind. I've never gotten so many compliments on my hair. I feel like I'm walking on the beach haha I've even purchased 3 more sheamoisture products and currently typing this with a sheamoisture hair mask in my hair! IM OBSESSED. All I do is put on this curl enhancing smoothing after washing my hair with the coconut & hibiscus shampoo and conditioner! I don't spend nearly the same amount of time that I used to on my hair. I've learned to love my wavy hair again! I received this product complimentary for testing purposes but all opinions are my own!
Date published: 2017-07-27
Rated 4 out of 5 by desvanecete from INCREDIBLE!! This is by far one of the best (if not the best) products I have ever used for reducing frizz!! I have very thin hair, so at first I thought that it could be too heavy for me. Later I realized that a little goes a long way since it´s consistency is pretty thick and will leave your hair feeling greasy if used too much. My hair is pretty messy because it´s chemically treated and is very thin. I like to apply the product and twist my hair into a bun! It gives it beach waves without using a flatiron. What I love the most (besides the incredible coconut scent) is that it doesn´t leave my feeling crunchy nor hard - it´s the best! I received this product for free in a Shea Moisture VoxBox but I would definitely buy it again.
Date published: 2017-07-14
Rated 5 out of 5 by Ivlyn from Best leave in conditioner for my curly hair! I love this leave in conditioner! I have used this every time I wash my hair and by the time it air dries it leaves my hair sooooo soft and so defined I am shocked every time. My hair really loves this stuff and the scent is divine. *This product was given to me for free by Influenser.
Date published: 2017-07-12
Rated 5 out of 5 by piru from AMAZING I LOVE IT! My curls had never been SO beautiful with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and The coconut and hibiscus curl & shine shampoo and conditioner that i got totally free for testing pourposes from @influenster Ive been using this products for the last 2 weeks and my hair is feeling so beautiful and Healthy, I have very thick, dry and dyed hair but this products have totally revived my natural curls
Date published: 2017-07-10
Can I use this product if my hair is thin and wavy??
This product is formulated for thicker hair types, we recommend checking out our Fruit Fusion Coconut Water line or our Argan Oil & Almond Milk line to help moisturize and cleanse!
Date published: 2019-01-18
is it meant for natural locks or it can also be used on natural straight hair
This product is formulated for thick, curly hair because it adds shine, defines curls, and reduces frizz. Without a natural curl pattern this product may weigh down hair too much. To create curls we recommend trying something like our Coconut & Hibiscus Curling Gel Souffle or the Frizz-Free Curl Mousse.
Date published: 2018-05-22
Hi, is this product good for thin wavy hair? I have long, thin wavy hair and I want something that will define my waves without weighing it down. Thank you
We recommend going with something like our Fruit Fusion Coconut Water line to help with defining waves for fine, wavy hair. Please also check out our online tool, amillionwaystoshea.com, which will give you recommendations based on your hair type.
Date published: 2018-05-01
I love shea moisture hair products! I have wavy/curvy hair type and was wondering if the curl enhancing smoothie would give me the bouncy soft wavvy texture I'm looking for?
Yes, this product would be a great option to help tame frizz and define curls. We recommend checking out the Curl & Style Milk for a lighter-weight cream that also helps define curls and tame frizz.
Date published: 2018-02-21
Hi! I am a reseller. Can I buy at a business/resale price?
Please email us at [email protected] for more information on wholesale.
Date published: 2018-02-02
I love this product since I bought it on a holiday in Seattle earlier this year. Now I need some more and I see it is out of stock. When will it be back?
At this time we do not have a restock date available for this product, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We recommend checking back with us in 1-2 weeks <3
Date published: 2017-11-03
When can I get the 6 oz Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie?
HI Mariane, The Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie 6oz can be found in select Target, Ulta, and Walmart stores.
Date published: 2017-11-03
Hi, My hair is very thick and coily so am very curios about whether this product would give the definition i want and if it does i could recommend it to my friends
Results vary from person to person based on different hair types and needs. This product will help define curls by reducing frizz and leaving curls with a bouncy light hold.
Date published: 2017-10-10


text:
My work on Ninja Girl KO! won the Bronze Award at the 2nd International Manga Awards! Being amongst the 16 finalist with an entry composed of only 10 pages, this is a great honor!
I went with to the Japanese Embassy the day of my awarding and was awarded by the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines himself, Mr. Makoto Katsura-san! I was petrified, speechless and did most of the talking -____-; good thing he went along or the room could have been filled with silence.
To all the Mangaholix readers and Ninja Girl KO! fans out there, thank you very much for your continued and enthusiastic support! Rest assured me, Marco and the rest of the Mangaholix crew will be working hard to bring more of Michiko's world-class, award-winning ninja girl adventures to you.
Got tagged by
1. Post these rules
2. Each tagged person should post 8 facts of themselves
3. Tagged people should write a journalblog about these facts
4. In the end tag and name 8 people
5. Go to their dA pages and comment saying that they are tagged!
1: I love coffee
2: I like chocolate
3: I like beef
4: I like to dive into the waters even though I can't swim! I only know how to float
5: I don't eat pork... the taste reminds me of pig stench, though hotdogs are fine
6: I'm allergic to shrimp
7: I don't drink beer or any alcohol
8: I don't smoke
I tag


text: I love boxing and MMA. As a former high school wrestler, I have this competitive drive in me and sports where it is one competitor against another competitor, I just can't get away from them. Boxing and MMA is one of those things that I absolutely love to shoot, because it brings back some great memories from my wrestling days. When I got a call from the photo editor at the News-Leader, I was really excited to be shooting the main fight of the night. I had also never been to the Shrine Mosque where the fights were taking place. It a pretty neat venue to say the least. BJ Flores, a local fighter, was on the card in the main event bout and that brought a decent crowd to watch the fight unfold. The ring was a bit hot (bright) in the center, but I am pretty happy with the images that I came away with.


text:
Opaline jar for mocha coffee. Old vehicles, aquamarine blue lid
Opaline jar for mocha coffee. Old vehicles, aquamarine blue lid.
Opaline stock jars for mocha coffee, made from white milky glass. Available in different colors with different decorations.
- Aquamarine blue lid: decoration with various old vehicles.
- Diameter: 9 cm.
- Height: 11 cm.
These pots were originally used for the storage of soluble Mocha coffee. Some are still with the original plastic cling lid which was used to seal the content airtight.
Some translations come from an automated system and may contain errors.


text:
User authentication gets real boring real fast. It is fun the first couple of times you do it. I remember the exhilaration that I felt when I wrote the authentication for my first ever web application. But after doing this for 108 times I don't particularly enjoy writing for register-login-logout scenario anymore. In fact I think it is one of the slowest most boring parts of the web application design.
It is a thankless job. Do it right and no one pats on your back and says "Well done joe! you wrote beautiful authentication code. Boy I just love signing in and out of this website" But if, God forbid, you get it wrong you end up on hacker news where this "piece of news" stays on the front page for some 23 days giving the entire programming community ample time to revel in your woe and making sure that your reputation as a programmer is completely destroyed. Life is sad, a bitter cookie if you ask me. But there it is.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could "outsource" the user account management to some software so we can focus on more important stuff like working on the actual application rather than writing boiler plate code. Ah yes I can picture you nodding your head in approval. "It would be nice indeed!" But what's that? I detect a slight sarcasm in your voice. You don't trust me. You think it is a pipe dream. I don't blame you. Once bitten twice shy and all that.
Say hello to couchdb.
"Hello to couchdb?"
"Yes hello to couchdb"
"But isn't that-----"
"Yes it is"
"But doesn't it-----"
"No it doesn't"
"Wouldn't it be -----"
"No it wouldn't"
So here is the kicker. We are going offload entire account management to couchdb. We will create users in couchdb. We will store their roles in couchdb. And will let couchdb authenticate them while we sit back and feel clever. But before we do that we must learn some basics.
Start of basics tutorial
Step 0: install and start couchdb. The default port that it listens to is 5984 and I am going to assume that you are running on 5984.
Step 1: Create a couchdb administrator
The administrators are defined in the couchdb configuration files. But thankfully we don't have to look for big ugly files in big ugly directories. We will just type a beautiful single line command from our majestic terminal and let couchdb take care of the REST.
curl -X PUT http://localhost:5984/_config/admins/ABBA -d '"dancing-queen"'
You should see the
in the response. I guess couchdb was too stunned by your magnificence to make a reply, whatever. Any way lets check our config file to see if we have an admin named ABBA.
curl -X GET http://localhost:5984/_config
{"error":"unauthorized","reason":"You are not a server admin."}
All right we will login as the administrator and see if that helps.
curl -X GET http://ABBA:dancing-queen@localhost:5984/_config
.....irrelevant objects we don't care about
admins: {
ABBA: "-pbkdf2-2c3adb095f2c91498e816e6873ac2297f2bba378,11661435b847e1d5ad526b8ee6d36a67,10"
..... irrelevant objects we don't care about
Ahh that's better. Notice how our "dancing-queen" password was automatically saved in a secure hash rather than in plain text. All of this without us having to move our fingers. I mean without us having to move our fingers much.
Step 2 : Add couchdb users
Now that we have an administrator
we will add a few users. All the users in couchdb are stored by default in
_users database. To store
a user you just have to issue a PUT request to the
_user database.
Here's how you do it.
curl -X PUT http://ABBA:dancing-queen@localhost:5984/_users/org.couchdb.user:fernando \
-H "Accept: application/json" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"name": "fernando", "password": "apple", "roles": [], "type": "user"}'
And that adds our friend fernando as a user.
At a minimum user document must contain name, password, roles and type field. The type will
always be
user. The
_id field must be prefixed with
(we don't have to include
_id in the json body we can simply append it after the
_users in the url).
roles is an array that can contain anything and name and password are self
explanatory. Besides these fields you are free to add any arbitrary number of fields to the user document.
Let's fetch this document and see how couchdb saves it internally.
curl -X GET http://ABBA:dancing-queen@localhost:5984/_users/org.couchdb.user:fernando/
_id: "org.couchdb.user:fernando",
_rev: "1-f8d04469cd45d99c9c7cdf0beda1cf99",
password_scheme: "pbkdf2",
iterations: 10,
name: "fernando",
roles: [ ],
type: "user",
derived_key: "1864805738e4515cb677b4b55e99beaa844c0998",
salt: "bba686808c217c316604c84f15f666b5"
Ah once more we see that passwords are not stored in plain text. This makes us :-) no?
End of basics tutorial
We are almost done! we still have to see how to manage sessions though. But first let me run quickly and get a refill of the custard while everyone is still sleeping.
You know how easy it is to eat custard right? Dip in a spoon inside the bowl, bring the spoon filled with custard to the brim right up to your lips. Part your lips to about the width of the spoon(it might be a difficult estimation if this is your first time but soon you will be doing it without giving it a second thought). Drive the spoon inside your mouth to about the tip your tongue. At this point your sweet receptors should sense the angelic taste of custard which will melt in your mouth as you slowly try to chew it but discover that you can't and regretfully gulp it in hoping the next serve would last longer. Life is a tease. But there it is.
How to manage sessions? Right ho! all you got to do is make a post request to
_session endpoint
curl -X POST http://localhost:5984/_session -d 'name=fernando&password=apple'
**Set-Cookie: AuthSession=amFuOjUzQzE4MjY4Opq9wMW4hZALkEqoZagHgu_v3-rT; Version=1; Path=/; HttpOnly**
Server: CouchDB/1.6.0 (Erlang OTP/17)
Date: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 18:46:00 GMT
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Content-Length: 36
Cache-Control: must-revalidate
Ah yes we have the cookie
Let us use it to get session information
curl -X GET http://localhost:5984/_session -H " Host: localhost:5984
Accept: application/json
Cookie: AuthSession=amFuOjUzQzE4MjY4Opq9wMW4hZALkEqoZagHgu_v3-rT"
ok: true,
userCtx: { name: "fernando", roles: [ ] },
info: {
authentication_db: "_users",
authentication_handlers: ["oauth", "cookie", "default"],
authenticated: "cookie"
usrCtx has the name and the roles. Just what we want.
But there are still some adjustments that we need to do.
Some adjustments
I think it is safe to assume that most of us will be using a middleware in front of couchdb. So we must find a way to extract this cookie header from couchdb response and send it to the browser to save it. Thankfully it's not too tough. Let us take a look at the example using nginx and lua (open resty)
location /couch_session{
proxy_pass http://localhost:5984/_session;
location /login {
local res = ngx.location.capture(
local cookie = res.header["Set-Cookie"]
ngx.header["Set-Cookie"] = cookie
ngx.say("Logged in sir");
location /logout{
local cookie = ngx.req.get_headers()["Cookie"]
local res = ngx.location.capture("/couch_session",{method=ngx.HTTP_DELETE});
ngx.header["Set-Cookie"] = res.header["Set-Cookie"]
The code above defines two handlers :- login and logout. The approach is similar for both of them
For login
_session api with the credentials. Make sure to set the
Host to where your couchdb is running.
Set-Cookie header.
Set-Cookie with the response to the client.
For logout
_session api with the cookie we
extracted in the first step. Make sure to set the
Host to where your couchdb is running.
Set-Cookie(which will be null) to the client.
And so in a couple of lines we have a fully functional session and user management code on our hands that is secure (remember that all passwords are hashed) and well tested.
Addressing a potential complaint
Now you might be wondering if it is not a bit of an overkill to install a database just to do user management. It depends upon your outlook.
First of all couchdb is very light weight. Unless you look very closely
you would not even notice it running on your machine.
As a test I added a hundred thousand users with
roles:["vassal","mama-mia"] and the reported memory usage for couchdb was a meager 22MB.
If this does not convince you let me present some other useful features. Couchdb can cache authenticated users in memory to reduce disk lookups. This makes session management very fast.
The configuration parameter is
auth_cache_size. By default it is configured to hold 50 documents.
The actual size of the auth cache would depend upon the maximum number of logged in users that
your application experiences at peak time. For this you will have to run tests. But I am going to be reckless here
and store all of my 100K users in the cache. For that we will need to override the default configuration.
curl -X PUT http://ABBA:dancing-queen@localhost:5984/_config/couch_httpd_auth/auth_cache_size -d '100000'
Now I will have to make authentication requests to the
(just like we did earlier) handler to actually
put them in a cache.
Please read this totally relevant other article while I do that.
28 minutes later
Ahh it's all done now. All of 100000 users are in the cache. Before we dive deeper into the cache it is time for some tests. Now I suppose you don't have a 100k users handy. No problem. One will do.
sudo couchdb -i
_stats handler
curl http://localhost:5984/_stats
couchdb: {
auth_cache_misses: {
description: "number of authentication cache misses",
current: 100000,
sum: 100000,
mean: 8.148,
stddev: 20.337,
min: 0,
max: 62
.......irrelevant objects that we don't care about.
auth_cache_hits: {
description: "number of authentication cache hits",
current: 8,
sum: 8,
mean: 0.001,
stddev: 0.045,
min: 0,
max: 3
.... irrelevant objects that we don't care about.
Couch db will respond with some statistics that it diligently collects.
But at this moment we only care about two of them.
auth_cache_misses and
My auth cache misses were
sum: 100000 that is none of the users were in cache by default.
This number should be 0 for you as we have not tried getting session for a user at the moment. Disregard
auth_cache_hits for now.
Now we will test if the user is actually in the cache.
First the old way
_session handler passing
in the cookie returned in the first step just like we did before
_stats handler. You should see non zero numbers in both cache hits and misses.
At first fernando is not in the cache list since we restarted couchdb.
Then after we make a request to
_session couchdb creates a session for fernando
and puts him in the cache and increments the cache miss counter.
Finally when we request the credentials of fernando using the
supplied cookie couchdb looks up in the cache and returns the results and increments the
cache hit counter.
Using couchdb shell
I don't know about you but I am getting mighty tired of keeping track of cookies from my terminal. Therefore we will just use the couchdb shell to trick it into authenticating our user without the cookie. Simply do
and press enter. You should see something like this
Now run that
_stats handler once more and you should see
auth_cache_hits: {
description: "number of authentication cache hits",
current: 8,
sum: 8,
mean: 0.001,
stddev: 0.045,
min: 0,
max: 3
a number greater than 0 for
current and
sum for
while there will be no change at all for the
I loved authenticating from shell so much that I did it
8 times which is why you see the number 8 in my results. Anyway it's time to dig a little bit
(80 feet below)
(140 feet below)
How does couchdb cache the users?
Internally couchdb uses ETS (erlang term storage) to hold the users in a cache. ETS is like a mini redis built into erlang. Let's check it out.
ets:i().. This will give you a list of all the ETS tables
that couchdb uses. The list will be divided into 5 coloumns: id,name,type,size,mem and owner.
couch_auth_cache and especially the table
ets:lookup(auth_by_user_ets,<<"fernando">>). You should see
in the result. Sweet isn't it? Everything nicely stored in memory for quick retrieval.
There is just one more small test that we need to do. That is we need to check if the ets table is actually holding the correct result. This is simple we ask the table to lookup for a user that is not there.
We get an empty list just like we expected.
How much space the tables use largely depends upon the amount of data that is stored
within them. For me with a 100k users the
auth_by_user_ets table took 103 MB.
The memory usage of couchdb bumped up to 160 MB. This means that I can do authentication
for 100k users right from the memory in under 200 MB of space. I'll take that deal.
Some other configuration options
You can also configure couchdb to persist your cookies. All you got to do is set a config property
curl -X PUT http://ABBA:dancing-queen@localhost:5984/_config/couch_httpd_auth/allow_persistent_cookies -d '"true"'
Now lets test this
curl -X POST http://localhost:5984/_session -d 'name=fernando&password=apple' -v
> POST /_session HTTP/1.1
> User-Agent: curl/7.35.0
> Host: localhost:5984
> Accept: */*
> Content-Length: 23
> Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
* upload completely sent off: 23 out of 23 bytes
**< Set-Cookie: AuthSession=amFuOjUzQzJENTVGOtZa0E2aNe_CtdCnDs5SDAkva02U; Version=1; Expires=Sun, 13-Jul-2014 13:32:15 GMT; Max-Age=600; Path=/; HttpOnly**
* Server CouchDB/1.6.0 (Erlang OTP/17) is not blacklisted
< Server: CouchDB/1.6.0 (Erlang OTP/17)
< Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2014 18:52:15 GMT
< Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
< Content-Length: 36
< Cache-Control: must-revalidate
Ah there is somthing new here. An expires header. Now the browser won't delete the cookie as long as it is not expired.
You can also do other neat things like changing the hashing algorithm and
the default
_user database. For that you will have to dig through the
_config reference
If cookie based authentication is not your style then you can configure couchdb to use OAUTH. But that will be a topic for another post.
This post turned out to be a lot longer than I had initially expected. The idea was to show how couchdb can be used to simplify the user management process for your application. I think that couchdb offers many advantages that are hard to overlook. It is light. It is secure by default, all the passwords are hashed, it offers an easily configurable environment with which you can enable many other features like session caching for which otherwise you will have to use a third party application anyway. Most importantly it takes just three requests to the http api to have a fully functional register-login-logut workflow in your application. It can't get any easier than that. Life is good. Have fun :)
You might also want to read the official couchdb blog and toptal's fantastic article on 10 Most Common Web Security Vulnerabilities, by Gergely Kalman.


text:
Activities of DZLM
The German Center for Mathematics Teacher Education (DZLM) is operating in the German federal states in cooperation with partners in these states. Its activities are in line with a coherent concept for mathematics education from kindergarten and elementary education to upper secondary level that includes diagnosis and advancement of students' learning processes in mathematics. The theoretical framework (in German language) constitutes the foundation of its activities and builds upon theory and is evidence based. A competence model and design guidelines have been derived from this and serve as a basis for the actual continuous professional development courses. All activities are monitored for quality with a systematic evaluation through transparent criteria.
The activities of the German Center for Mathematics Teacher Education can be structured in four main strands:
Certified Qualification Measures
- Creation of a nation-wide master course for teacher educators
- Subject-specific and didactical qualification of teacher educators particularly for professional development
- Further qualification of out-of-field teachers
- Qualification events and courses for teachers and elementary educators
Networking and Information
- Networking on a national and international scale through conferences, institutional cooperation and the creation of regional branches
- Cooperation between educational and government institutions or ministries from different German federal states
- Creation of a web portal offering information, material for professional development and interactive teaching environments
- Inclusion of further education offerings from other people, projects or institutions through integration or linking
Research in Teacher Education and Professionalization
- Evaluation of activities of the German Center for Mathematics Teacher Education and of other agencies
- Research in the effectivity of professional development courses and publication of the results on an international level
- Research based design of the quality framework (theoretical basis, design guidelines and competence framework)
- Initiation and financial support of professional learning communities (PLC) for peer coaching and competence development
Development of Material and Concepts
- Development of material used by teacher educators in CPD courses
- Development of material used by teachers and elementary educators for self-teaching
- Development of information material, videos and fliers
- Joint development of concepts with teacher education institutes and ministries in the German federal states.