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This programme is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (Approval #886779403-8981) for 26.5 continuing education contact hours.
Official SWSD 2018 Scientific Programme
Note: this programme is subject to change
Click here to view a guide on how to use the programme
If you wish to view a simplified PDF version of the programme, please click here
Kindly note that all presentations for SWSD 2018 will be presented in English, with the exception of presentations in Hall 2. Presentations in Hall 2 will be translated from English into Spanish. There will be no further translation available at the conference.
The Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) 2018 will explore the theme 'Environmental and Community Sustainability: Human Solutions in Evolving Societies'. The conference will cover the following themes:
- Linking environmental and sustainable development
- Role of social workers in fulfilling the UN's sustainable development goals
- Income, wellbeing, employment and poverty
- Relationship-based practice: promoting the importance of human relationships
- Evidence informed interventions
- Strengthening education to meet the needs of communities
- Identity, discrimination and social exclusion
- Community development and social enterprise
- Health, mental health and disability
- Conflict, violence, migration and human trafficking
- Engagement with people who use services
- Rights of families and children
- Life span perspectives and issues
- Ensuring the sustainable and ethical use of technology in human services*
- Women's issues focused stream **
* The technology-related theme will be organized by husITa and form part of the #husITa18 stream of human service technology presentations within the conference. If you wish your presentation to be made as part of #husITa18 please select theme No.14 when submitting your abstract. To find out more about #husITa18 and other human service technology related activities – please click here. ** The women's issues focused stream will be organized by the Women's Committee of the International Association of Schools of Social Work. If you wish your presentation to be made as part of this stream select theme No.15 when submitting your abstract. Papers relating to gender, feminism and women's issues are not restricted to this stream and can be submitted under any of the other themes as appropriate also. To find out more about the women's issues focused stream please click here.


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It has been 21 months since the UK voted in a Referendum to Leave the European Union. Britain is well on the way to becoming an independent, self-governing nation once again. We will Leave the political institutions of the EU in just over a year's time.
Opinion polls report a large majority of voters want the Government to respect democracy and get on with Brexit. At this stage in the Brexit process, public figures and politicians should be engaging in a respectful, wide-ranging debate about what Brexit will look like. What type of immigration controls should be introduced? Which regulations, previously forced on us by the EU, should be altered to make them more suited to Britain? How should we use the 'Brexit dividend'?
However, an anti-democratic clique of former Remain campaigners is shamefully continuing the campaign to reverse the will of the people. We learned this week they meet regularly at Europe House – the European Commission's base in London – for secret strategy meetings! Remoaners - including George Soros, Gina Miller and Dominic Grieve - are funding or supporting a new legal challenge by the 'Best for Britain' group.
Gina Miller was successful in a previous legal case in January 2017. This forced the Government to pass an Act of Parliament before triggering Article 50. Emboldened by the success of the previous case, these campaigners are preparing to submit further legal action in the High Court in the next few weeks if the Government does not announce its intention to hold a Second Referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal. A pre-action letter has already been sent to the Brexit Secretary, David Davis.
The new case is based on the EU Referendum Act 2011, which sets out a requirement to hold a Referendum on any further transfers of power to the EU. The Remoaners believe the Implementation Period – agreed this week by David Davis and EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier – represents such a transfer of powers.
The passage of the 2011 Act was an early achievement by Eurosceptic MPs during the Cameron Government. It is a ridiculous, cynical ploy for Remoaners to use this Eurosceptic law to ultimately try to transfer more powers to the EU – the opposite of its original intention.
The Government is confident its Brexit plans will not be derailed by this action. The Government's legal team and Ministers will have learned from the Miller case how to better utilise legal and Parliamentary tactics to try and defeat these cases.
Supporters of Best for Britain, such as the co-Leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas MP, claim they are not asking the Great British Public to think again on Brexit. Instead, they say, they propose a 'People's Poll' on the terms of the Brexit deal. This is dishonest political spin, because any such 'People's Poll' would have an option to Remain in the EU. Clearly, Lucas's true intention is to reverse the decision of June 23rd 2016.
Yet again, the Remoaners are cloaking their anti-democratic argument in the language of democracy. While the Remoaners talk of Parliamentary Sovereignty and consulting the electorate, it is clear their ultimate objective is to thwart the will of the people and reverse Brexit. The Great British Public will see through this deception.
As long as a Second Referendum is deemed politically possible, the EU will have less incentive to make concessions and agree a mutually advantageous trade deal. By supporting the idea of a Second Referendum - this time by legal means - these Remoaners are acting not only against democracy, but are acting against the national interest.
As for the legal argument, the Government has made clear the EU Withdrawal Bill is designed to revoke the 2011 legislation, in which case, no Second Referendum is required. In fact there is no provision in Article 50 for a Second Referendum. The EU Withdrawal Bill is currently in Committee stage in the House of Lords, where masses of pro-EU amendments have been proposed by Remoaner MPs and Peers. However, when the Bill returns to the Commons, it is likely all these amendments will be defeated, thanks to the Government's majority with help from the DUP.
Unfortunately, it is clear the campaign to Get Britain Out of the EU is not over yet. This proposed new legal challenge is a shameless attempt to use past Eurosceptic legislation to try and thwart Brexit. This anti-democratic movement must be stopped, for the will of the 17.4 million voters to be delivered.

subset: commoncrawl


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A Note From The Editors: One Year In
Exactly a year ago we decided to launch The Project Magazine in the belief there was an opportunity for something new in climbing media. We wanted to build a collaborative publication for the creative climbers we knew existed within the community. At a time when publishing is perhaps under more pressure than it has ever been before, we believed a new sustainable model could succeed. When we first hit the 'publish' button last March, we had no idea whether our model would work. It was a leap of faith.
The response we have had since the launch has shown that creativity runs deep in the climbing community. There is something unique about our sport that both attracts those of a creative nature and inspires those who may have not yet discovered their creative side to do so. As Dai Koyamada stated in our interview: 'Climbing is... creative and philosophical. It may appear to be simple but in fact it's deep practice'. For many, something in that practice can unlock creativity that we never knew existed. That creativity has been central to our content over the past year—whether it be through the photo essays or features from our contributors, our films such as 56° Underground, or the Focus series on creative climbers.
Our launch may have been a leap of faith but since then it has been a labor of love; we are driven by climbing, the outdoors and creativity. We're a team spaced out across the globe who share a unique belief that in the digital age, collaboration and community can build a better publishing model than the ones that have gone before.
As we set about our second year as a publication we'll continue to highlight and foster the creativity that exists within our community, whilst building out new initiatives that take us on to new platforms and reflect our editorial mission: To inspire creativity, progress, exploration and success. We're excited about the opportunities we have in the pipeline and we will be able to tell you more about them in the coming months. But for now what we can say is that they will be built on that same foundation of collaboration and creativity.
We're always looking for people who share that vision, so if you're a climbing creative and like what we do, then reach out to us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Our model is built on collaboration and community—and whether you're a reader or contributor we want to thank you for being a part of that community.


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Head back in time at this historical, colonial city full of charming streets and horse drawn carriages. This quaint city is a favourite stop-off for a number of our escorted and self-drive tours. Read more...
Explore the Capital Region Self-Drive
10 Nights Tour from £1,479 Including Flights
This self-drive itinerary takes you through one of the most fascintating and beautiful regions of the USA. Begin in Washington DC, travel through the charming and beautiful states of Maryland & Virginia, enjoying historical towns and lovely seaside resorts.


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Science week in SMGS
There were many activities organised for SMGS students for Science Week. 1st year students were asked to build a rocket from a 2L plastic bottle and yesterday they launched them by building up pressure inside in the rocket using a pump! Ms Foley, Mr Cremen and Mr Nolan were all on hand timing the rockets and helping with pumping up air. Naomh Áine put in a great effort into their rockets - well done to everyone involved! Finals between all first year class groups are likely to be held next week.


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Q&A: Religion in SALVAGE
Nici McCown asked me a great question on Twitter today. One hundred and sixty characters isn't enough space to answer it, though, so I thought I'd address it here.
I grew up in a very religious home. My stepfather was a Methodist minister with a progressive streak and my mother was both socially liberal and devout, which is a combination I don't think you hear much about in Christianity, especially in the rural South. Growing up as a preacher's kid is an odd double-edged sword. On one hand, I got the chance to meet people from all over the world and from different religions through my parents' mission work and interfaith outreach activities. Soraya*, who is Muslim, is based in equal parts on the wife of a local imam who I met when I was a teenager, Middle Eastern academics like Azar Nafisi, who wrote Reading Lolita in Tehran, and the main character of Randa Abdel-Fattah's Does My Head Look Big in This?
On the other, even the most progressive, welcoming churches can be very insular communities. They are tiny worlds where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everything about everyone. People judge. They gossip. They buy into certain ideas wholeheartedly and can't see past them. The Parastrata and the rest of the merchant crewes were based largely on my experience growing up inside the church.
Despite my liberal parents, our church was still in a predominantly Protestant evangelical community in '90s farm country that was beginning its slow transformation into suburbs. That is to say, not exactly a bastion of equality and feminist ideals. For example, I was allowed to be an altar girl, but I was also called out of the worship service some Sundays to run the church nursery. I only realized in looking back that this was something the boys were never asked to do. At the time, though, I knew I had it better than some of my friends in more conservative churches, so I just felt sorry for them and didn't consider my own situation anything other than normal. I was fortunate, even.
Which brings me back to the imam's wife. She and her husband came to dinner at our house one night when I was seventeen. I had heard about Muslim women. They covered their hair and were subservient to their husbands. They were oppressed. My mother and I, eager to make a good impression on our guests, scurried around making dinner and taking drink orders while my stepfather sat at the dinner table with the imam and his wife, making conversation. She was so calm an self-possessed, but didn't hesitate to speak up when she had an opinion about religion or the interfaith initiative. As I hurried into the dining area with a bowl of yeast rolls, it hit me. I had expected this woman to come join us in the kitchen, to help us make dinner, because that's what women did when you had people over. The men talked and the women helped, even if they were your guests.
And yet, there she was, calmly sitting beside her husband at the table, carrying on a conversation like she had every right to be there.
This was not what I expected. My mother and I, we were the ones who didn't have to cover our hair or dress a certain way. The imam's wife was the one who was supposed to be subservient. Her husband wasn't supposed to treat her as his equal, as if they were speaking for their mosque together. Yet, here we were. Was it really her headscarf that made her oppressed, or was the real problem our exclusion from the conversation?
There is a Bible story about Jesus telling a woman named Martha not to chide her sister Mary for discussing religion instead of helping in the kitchen. That story popped into my head then. The irony wasn't lost on me, either.
Parts of the merchant crewe's religion came from this feeling in the water when I was growing up. Women had worth, but only under certain circumstances. We might think we had power and influence in our community - we certainly had responsibilities - but when it came time to sit down at the table, we were too busy with those responsibilities to take part. Good women were demure and helpful. They didn't need credit for things they did, because God saw and took note. It wasn't a stretch for me to write about a religion in which women are simultaneously treasured and discounted.
Beyond that, I picked up the ephemera of the merchant crewe's religion from odd sources over the years. The inspiration for the carvings on the captain's doors came from European wood cuts I studied in college. The cadence of the stories and poems in The Word of the Sky came from a lifetime obsession with folktales and myth, which included several trips to the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, Tenn., along with years marinating in and memorizing Bible stories.
Religion is complex. It can buoy you up on your darkest night as easily as it can be used to destroy someone. I hope those shades of gray come through in Salvage.
If you have any other questions for me, please ask! Submit your question through my Contact page or give me a shout on Twitter at @DuncanAlexandra. I will do my best to answer.
*If you're interested in reading more about Soraya, she appears in a short story I wrote called "Bad Matter." It was originally published in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction in December 2009.


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Help us in the fight against waste
Environment Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, writes in today's Edinburgh Evening News about the challenges of dealing with the city's waste.
We all want Edinburgh to be clean and how we deal with waste comes down to everyone taking pride in our fantastic city.
No one is more aware than myself that the city faces major challenges in this area not least during the busy summer months when the city's population doubles in size.
As a Council we are committed to 'reduce, reuse and recycle' and every year we carry out over 26 million waste collections, the vast majority of which happen without any issue. However it is only right we constantly review and make improvements to our services as we have done in recent years.
There has been increased recycling, investment in new vehicles, daily bin collections, communal bins extended throughout the city, the roll out of food waste collections, new technology such as sensors to litter bins to monitor how full they are and removing 80% of trade waste bins off the street.
Some of the biggest challenges facing us include flytipping and trade waste which has a massive impact on the Council doing our waste collection job properly. Our communal bins are not designed for large goods and the practice of discarding mattresses and other large items in the street is simply unacceptable.
I want to see the strongest possible action taken against these irresponsible people and that's where the public can play an important role. Just last week a resident contacted us about communal bins in my ward being full of builders' rubble which stopped people using them. This cost the taxpayer considerable expense as we had to use a different vehicle to take the bins to a depot to dispose of the rubble as required by law.
A new enforcement section has been set up to ensure that all businesses have a trade waste certificate as required. Initial figures are quite disturbing as they show that only six of the first 35 businesses contacted appeared to have the required certificate. This raises the question of where the waste produced by these businesses is going. The public are probably unaware that the vast majority of trade waste bins are the responsibility of the businesses themselves and not the Council.
Obviously I recognise that we have particular hotspots in the city where we have recurring problems with overflowing communal bins with additional bags being placed beside them and we will be looking at these locations to see if additional collections or providing more bins to meet residents' needs are required.
Sometimes however simple solutions can make a big difference. Recently at the West End we were able to resite some communal bins which solved the issue of them being continually full.
We also need to consider what improvements are needed to both our web based and call centre reporting systems to make them as easy to use as possible and to ensure that the processes for dealing with service requests are as efficient as we can make them.
I hope that this gives a flavour of how we are tackling waste in our Capital city and I would like to stress that we need the public's support to ensure that Edinburgh is kept as clean as possible.
Hopefully we can all do our bit and continue to allow residents and visitors alike to be proud of our wonderful Capital city.


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The headline rate of price inflation in the United States has been suppressed by double-digit declines of energy costs. As a result of that, a steady upward push of the core rate of inflation to 2.2 percent in May from 1.7 percent a year earlier is erroneously taken as a non-event.
People seem unaware of the fact that the Fed's medium-term price stability target is a core rate inflation of 2 percent. Based on the consumer price index (CPI), that target has been hit since November of last year. And we are almost there - i.e., at 1.6 percent - if you prefer, as the Fed apparently does, to look at the core personal expenditure price index (PEPI).
Either way, from the policy viewpoint, the signal should be clear: It is time to defend the credibility of the Fed's monetary management.
But that's not what we are hearing. To confuse the gallery, the Fed is now throwing in the concept of policy neutrality that, according to media reports of official statements, revolves around the zero real short-term interest rate.
A nice smokescreen
Here is how that particular idea of neutral monetary policy (i.e., a policy stance that is neither tight nor loose) looks like based on current numbers of inflation and the effective federal funds rate – the only interest rate the Fed directly controls.


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AlThing 37 Report
By Kollr Logmather
In the days before Althing was about to begin, news from the highlands spoke whispers of a grand event that was about to take place. I had heard from Valgard that we were expecting about a hundred of the folk by Saturday as I took very tongue and cheek at best, because I had heard that song before. Still I couldn't help but feel the excitement of our annual gathering. Seeing old friends and getting everyone charged up is not only what I needed but I feel it is the shared feelings of all the Alliance Kindreds who attend.
Althing 37 started out with perfect weather this year with Sunna's light shining from Wednesday to Sunday. I hurried as fast as I could to get to Payson where most of us rendezvoused at Valgard's house and finished up the packing for our annual pilgrimage to the Thing site. By the time I got there the Valgardian Pack had already left. George, Magni and "very much pregnant" Angela along with Elizabeth and Mac traveled forth to the site where others were already waiting.
Lif and Sven along with the rest of the Gladheim Kindred (David & Jennifer) were already setting up the kitchen when I got there. Also to arrive that day were our Texas comrades; Bagger & Wife, Mitchell and Amanda our favorite "Pregnant" Christian. Florida established their presence shortly thereafter with Magnus, and Courtney. Magnus had mentioned that this is the first Wednesday he's made to an Althing since he first started coming around because of military deployment issues.
That evening after our feast, we enjoyed kinship by the fire with our traditional mead and cookies event. This consisted of a one-round introduction of everyone present, who they were, where they came from and their affiliation to the Alliance. Shortly after that, most of us turned in for the night and others chose to stay up a bit later.
The banners were hung thanks to Derek and crew and The World Tree tent went up amongst all the organized chaos. Before we knew it camp was taking shape. That evening after our feast we enjoyed kinship by the fire with our traditional mead and cookies event. This consisted of a one-round introduction of everyone present, who they were, where they came from and their affiliation to the Alliance. 47 were present at the fire that evening which was a record. Shortly after that most of us turned in for the night and others chose to stay up a bit later.
Thursday morning came quick and breakfast was served at 9am sharp with an abundance of breakfast burritos and hot sauce for everyone with a strong constitution. After that most of us fell into a food coma and remained socializing with one another the rest of the morning. Around the same time at the main area auction items began to gather and take up the whole distance of the Long House. This year there were so many items to be displayed and special thanks to Mitch Zebrowski for his kind donations which took up an entire section of the auction table.
Tyr Blot came in the early afternoon. There was a short delay waiting for Steve and Sheila to arrive but before too long the group had a procession to the sacred grove where Blot to Tyr and a blessing of steel was made. I will admit my nerves were a little dicey having two Allsherjargothi's present who were also some of our founding fathers of the Åsatru movement attending at that moment. It ended up being a successful Blot with all weapons steel held high in the end shouting to Tyr and making the grove echo with power.
After the Tyr Blot the Thing session was called to order. Patrick Henry served as Thing Speaker and Valgard served as Secretary. Hammers of Asgard from Phoenix was accepted as a full voting Alliance Kindred and other new business was raised concerning another Kindred's full status acceptance and due to a controversial loophole in the tribal law. I think it is okay to have these things come up once and awhile to keep the law body on its toes and also to learn from our mistakes so that we can make our laws more iron clad and professional.
Later that night Thorvald from the Gladheim Kindred and Glen fron Innergarth Kindred took charge of the dinner menu and served up some excellent stuffed pork chops. I must say it was a rather clean meal for Althing and I feel it was an excellent health conscious change for everyone involved. Thank you again, Thorvald and crew for a job well done. At 8pm that night we had sumbel by the fire ring. It was a larger than usual number who attended Thursday night Sumbel this year, 67 to be exact so it took some time for us to finish. It is always worthwhile as the folk shared many personal things about themselves, their experiences, ancestry and their accomplishments. I hail to all who shared and welcomed the rest of us into your ring of trust.
Friday morning breakfast Sven and Lif cooked up biscuits and gravy. Talk about a stick to your ribs how-do-ya-do greeting to your colon. Ugh, so delicious and sinfully good. Special thanks to Sven and Lif for doing such a wonderful job all these years with the Althing kitchen. We love the menu and all the work that you put into doing such a great job. Hail...!
Soon after Valgard conducted a very timely and interesting seminar on self-reliance and preparedness for aborted emergencies. It was well attended and many of the folk realized just how dangerous Vinland had become in the past several years.
The rest of the morning was spent with a few of the members going into town for more ice and provisions. The down time gave others a window of opportunity to seek advice from the Elder Greybeards and Gothi's alike. On a side note it was really nice having Steve and Sheila McNallen at the Althing this year. When they showed up on Wednesday Steve got swarmed by many of the folk anxious to talk with him. In addition to that I observed both Valgard and Steve whenever they got time to spend with one another sharing old stories and a few new ones and happy as two grade school kids sharing laughter and kinship. It was really something special to see and maybe someday someone else will be writing a Thing report and say, "it was good to see Doc and Magni, or Ingvar, or Magnus sharing a memory about days of Althing's past or Magni's ham sandwich."
The Thing was called to order and proceedings got along quickly. The election of Alliance officers was held, and Sven was re-elected as Chieftain and Magni was elected as Law Gothi. They will jointly serve 3 year terms. Vor Tru magazine was discussed and Patrick Henry will assume the duty of editor after issue after issue 103 Is published. This is a result of Magnus being deployed at sea as an officer in the US Navy. Vor Tru magazine subscriptions was also discussed and the Thing voted to raise prices for domestic and overseas rates for the first time in 20 years. I am proud to report that 21 kindreds attended the Thing.
Deliberation on a few other Issues ran late so the Thing was extended until Saturday morning after breakfast. Spoiler Alert, it was a happy ending.
Next year's Althing will be in Arizona again just squeaking out a victory over the Oklahoma site. AIThlng 38 will be held at the same site during the same week as this years AIThlng.
I think special mention should be made of this years Kinder Hof hosted by Laura Henry. She provided a safe and productive learning experience and activities and safe environment for a dozen of our Asa Kids for 3 days of the AIThlng. Hail Clan Otter!
Dinner was served at 6pm with even more guests arriving from work. As the sun set and nightfall came a huge roaring fire took place up by the Thing grounds and a name giving took place. Destinee Boring and Mike Thomas had newborn, Ethelind brought before the folk to share her name and power that she brings to the tribe. Jenniffer Garrison (Mieth) was then asked to step forward after a quick sermon about name giving and was asked to grab the ancient ring of the Alliance and was from there on known as Seigur Tiltru.
The expecting mothers were also honored and were given sage advice by many of the other mothers present, plus one dad who raised five daughters.
And then the mead competition happened.-.the winner of the coveted silver bee was Sven Forengi with his vanilla spiced mead. Mike from Southern Norse Kindred won the Mead Hog favorite.
It seems to me that each year the mead hogs get more and more obnoxious. They had some crazy chant going on that sounded like the slurring a swine cries and joyous calamity.
Breakfast came at 9am sharp. Great job Cooks! Some moving slow and others were fresh as a daisy including yours truly. The Thing reconvened and resolved it's issues as we moved on to the next event. At 11 o'clock Magni started the Viking Games. Most of the campers participated in all the events offered like axe throwing, knife throwing, caber toss (light and heavy) and the hammer throw. This year archery was outlawed by the camp hosts and the cut & pillage course was destroyed by the Viking children. All in all the event was a hit and all who participated had a great time. My hat is off to those who organized the Viking Games and saw it through until its end.
It wasn't long before the folk started donning their tunics and ceremonial garb in preparation for the Odin Blot. This year the Gothi on deck was Jason from Hammers of Asgard. All the folk gathered in the grove and Jason along with his Kindred came prepared. It was a great and powerful Blot and is one I will never forget. Hail to the Hammers! A grand feast followed until our bellies were full. Then award presentations to all the winners of the Viking Games categories. This year Sven and Lif presented handmade rings for the victors. By this time the auction table was spilling over with more than enough auction items. Special attention was made to the raffle items this year. A handmade horn, needlework and a sax were donated by skilled crafters of the Alliance. As the night went on the auction carried on and by the end of the evening almost all the items were sold. In the end fatigue got the better of us all and it was time to throw in the towel and call it a night.
I might add that the assembled folk raised by their donations of items and bidding on the items added over eight thousand dollars for the Alliance general fund. Later that night 8 of us stayed by the fire for a seith session which was total judgment call that I left up to Isa and didn't take her long to say, "Go for it. As you all probably know this is as much about Seith that I will talk about due to its personal nature of the individuals involved. If you know anybody involved in the session that night feel free to ask them of their experience.
Sunday morning was the even anticipated Spam breakfast cooked by an elite squad of Spam Gothar and three new Spam Gothis were sworn in. This is tradition and will probably never be broken. During this the folk work very hard to break down their camps and pack up their vehicles and prepare for final departure. In the end we left the campsite on time and headed back into Payson to unload and say our final goodbyes. My last reflections of Althing are always the same. Saying goodbye is never an easy thing. All the years we spend and time we invest all seem so bittersweet in the final hours of Sunday. Whenever I say goodbye to any of the greybeards there is always a notion in the back of my head saying that this might be the last time I see this person. Others emphatically say, "I'll see you next year for sure" and then...nothing. But living in the past or dwelling on the future never really gets us anywhere. It is the here and now where we revel in the joy and laughter with one another and say that in that moment in time, this was the best Althing ever.
Kollr Logmather
Allsherjargothi -The Asatru Alliance


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Will you run away with me?
We could go anywhere
Run away with me
No way for them to find us
We need to get out, get out, of this picture of a city
'Cause the colors never change here
Only the people I keep looking at
Today's Most Important Song was chosen for it's chorus - because tonight Keith & I are boarding a plane to (finally) take us to Australia (together)! Modern Me's sound is reminiscent of so much that is great about indie music right now, yet it combines to be fairly unique, I think. For instance: the first few seconds of this track sound a bit like the opening to "Giant" but then the music goes in a direction much more like something The Neighborhood or The 1975 would do, and then the vocals are akin to Cold War Kids-meets-Warpaint (or, fine, maybe the male-female combo is more like Grouplove). Anyway, their first single ("Waters", released last fall) is finally getting the play it deserves (on their local San Diego radio station), so hopefully this second single means the full EP and a tour are coming soon.
RIYL: Of Monsters and Men, Finish Ticket, Miniature Tigers, Lemuria


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(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) April 8, 2009 — Now in its fourth year of data collection, the world's largest longitudinal survey of new businesses shows that external debt markets become increasingly important during startup companies' early growth years. In 2007, the 2,915 entrepreneurial firms surveyed injected an average of $53,000 into their businesses, with 62 percent of that capital coming from outside debt markets. By comparison, external debt markets provided 40 percent of financing in these companies' first year of operation.
These and other data were released today in the latest Kauffman Firm Survey (KFS), a Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation-funded study of new businesses founded in 2004 and tracked over their early years of existence. The KFS fills a void in valuable data collection on young U.S. businesses, providing an understanding of how businesses are organized and operate in their early years, and shedding light on survival and growth indicators.
"This report highlights the importance of external financing for young business and sheds new light on our understanding of the credit constraints they feel," said Robert E. Litan, vice president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation. "In addition to studying actual debt and equity financing, the 2007 survey asked about credit applications. It will be interesting to compare these data with research on their financing in 2008, which clearly was a more challenging credit market."
The KFS started its baseline study with a cohort of 4,928 firms that began operations in 2004. This group of companies is tracked annually and asked detailed questions that cover a range of topics, including the founders' backgrounds, the sources and amounts of financing, firm strategies and innovations, and outcomes such as sales, profits and survival. The project has an additional four years of study planned. At the end of the project, the KFS will contain data from 2004 to 2011.
Twelve percent of the firms in the KFS study submitted new external credit applications for debt financing in 2007. Of those firms that sought financing in 2007, 70 percent always received approval. Nearly 18 percent had mixed results, and slightly more than 12 percent of the firms said their loan applications always were denied.
For those whose loan applications were denied, almost half said insufficient collateral to guarantee the loan was a primary reason given for the denial. The second-most common reason was flaws in the owner's personal credit history.
Less than 10 percent of black-owned firms applied for new credit in 2007, compared with nearly 13 percent of firms owned by non-Hispanic whites. Seventeen percent of firms said they did not apply for credit at some point when they needed it because they feared their loan applications would be denied. Women and African-Americans were more likely than men and whites to have avoided applying for credit for this reason. Nearly 40 percent of African-Americans said they feared being denied, compared with 14.5 percent of whites.
Interestingly, however, among the group that feared denial, a higher proportion of firms—20.7 percent—applied for credit than those in the overall sample who applied (12 percent).
Other key findings from the latest report include:
- About 90 percent of firms that began operations in 2004 survived through 2005, while about 80 percent survived through 2006 and 73.4 percent through 2007. Most of the remainder of firms closed either permanently or temporarily over the period, while a small number, 3.5 percent, either merged with or were sold to another business.
- Surviving employer firms increased average employment from 4.6 employees in 2004 to 6.7 employees in 2007.
- About 40 percent of firms had revenues greater than $100,000 by 2007, compared with just 17 percent in 2004.
- About 17 percent of firms have a national market area, and more than 13 percent of firms had some international sales.
- More than 25 percent of firms sold at least some of their goods or services on the Internet. Nearly one-fourth of those firms had Internet sales that were more than half of their total sales.
The KFS dataset is accessible to scholars worldwide, and all reports in the KFS series are available for download. The public-use microdata file and reports are available at http://www.kauffman.org/research-and-policy/kauffman-firm-survey.aspx.


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Getting started
First thing's first, getting the best deals to your destination. You'll want to sign up for travel updates at sites like www.travelzoo.com, www.shermanstravel.com, and www.octopustravel.com. These sites send email updates with weekly or monthly deals that I've often taken advantage of.
As far as searching for flights goes, the cheapest flights I've found have been using www.kayak.com for general travelling. Specific airlines for South and Central America (check these before checking general search sites) are TAM airlines, GOL, BROL, and TACA airlines. In the lowland tropics, the USA winter (Dec-Apr) is the dry season (when it's very hot) and the USA summer (May-Nov) is the wet season. It may be cheaper to visit the tropics during the wet season, as there is more rain and humidity, and less tourists. When I went to Costa Rica in June, I had the whole of Manuel Antonio (one of the greatest vacation spots on the Pacific side) to myself.
If you are visiting the tropics for the first time, here is an important list of essentials:
SUNBLOCK, SUNBLOCK, and more SUNBLOCK,
as you're close to the equator and the
sun burns very hotly (is that a word? :P)
Bring rainboots. These are the
best thing to walk through the jungle in.
They not only look really cool, especially
with some cute shorty shorts, but protect
you from snake bites (yes, the most deadly
of snakes live in the tropics, but don't let
that scare you off. In my years of experience
in the jungle, I haven't had any trouble) and
from the muddy wet ground or small streams
or ponds you may run into while exploring.
They are lighter than hiking boots but work
just as well. The only problem with them is
they do get rather hot. Wear light socks.
Well worth it in the end, though.
The jungle, being covered by a massive
canopy of tall beautiful trees, gets
rather dark at night. Pitch black, in
fact. So you will definitely need a light
in case you get stuck in the dark or fancy
a bit of night-meandering. This is when
the jaguars are active, after all. Lol,
kidding, but the caimen are, if you
happen to find yourself around bodies
of water. In any case, a headlamp is
useful because it lights your way while
still allowing you the use of both your
hands, which comes in HANDy (get it?) if
it's slippery or steep.
Essential for life. In the least, bring
an empty bottle that you can gather all
your sweat up in and drink that.
Great to tie your hair back (yes it's HOT
out there) or wipe your face, swat bugs,
tie wounds, or collect various kinds of
feces from exotic rainforest animals that
you're facscinated with.
Two words: Bug. Spray.
Yes, very necessary. Not only are the mosquitoes,
blackflies, sandflies, and sweat bees extremely
annoying, they can carry diseases such as dengue
fever, yellow fever, malaria, and more. And you
don't wanna get those things, trust me.
Duct tape.
This is my personal one, as it's not a necessity,
but did come in handy for me when I got TICK BOMBED
in Belize. SO not cool. I was innocently walking
through the jungle, thinking on the GOOD OF THE
SPECIES when I walked through a tick-egg-sac, which
proceeded to explode all over my leg (luckily I
was wearing long pants). Now there were over a
hundred teeny tiny ticks in the egg sac, and my
leg was quickly covered. I needed to get them off
before they crawled under my pants and dug in for
a feast. My supervisor (for a research project we
were working on) just happened to be carrying a roll
of duct tape, and tore off a large piece and began
pulling off the ticks with it (apparently the only
real way you can get them off your clothes, as you
can't just flick them off cuz they are sticky bastards).
So take this advice as you will, but I'm sure glad we had
the duct tape.
For all the wildlife you'll spot! The only time I
didn't bring my camera into the forest is (of course)
the time I spotted a cute little mouse oppossum in a
tree and it let me bend the tree down and pet it. So
just goes to show...*shrug*
Also great for snapping quick shots of the offending
monkeys who throw sticks and pee at you so you can
report them later.


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Estate tax: Advantage India?
India can easily attract tax tourists from the US or other high estate-tax countries, with improved physical infrastructure and adequate legal framework, including full capital account convertibility.
Apr 17, 2007, 12.08 AM IST
India's economic growth and booming capital markets have generated unprecedented wealth for Indian promoters. Suddenly, India has billionaires coming out of its ears, more than Japan by one count. Yet, India's entrepreneurs are lucky: they can pass most of their wealth to their children without too much hindrance.
Unlike many advanced market economies, India has no estate tax, or estate duty as it was known in India. Estate duty was introduced in 1953 and was abolished way back in 1985, when V P Singh was the finance minister. It is not payable on deaths occurring after March 16, 1985.
World wide, the estate tax, also sometimes called the death tax, is very much a reality. Wherever it is levied, it is usually payable on the value of the accumulated savings (by way of assets accumulated) of a deceased person. The policy intention is to bring about inter-generation equity, i.e., to ensure the children of the rich don't have too much of an advantage in life compared to the less privileged.
On the other hand, many tax experts slam the estate tax — known as the Inheritance Tax in the UK — as a-hard-to-collect levy, which penalises savings and investment. It also encourages tax avoidance by way of creation of trusts and shell companies to which property and other assets can be transferred.
Tax rates vary widely across countries. Data collated for 2005 by PricewaterhouseCoopers for 50 countries shows Japan with a top rate of 70%. South Korea's rate is 50% followed by the US (46%), and France and UK with 40% each. On the other hand, many countries, including India, do not levy estate tax. According to the PwC study, the 24 countries with no estate tax include China, Russia, Australia and Malaysia.
In virtually all countries with estate tax, the nominal rates usually apply only for assets above a certain exemption limit, which is usually set high enough to exclude a large chunk of taxpayers. In the US, for instance, the estate tax is payable after an exemption of $2 million.
The US law is, in fact, very complicated. As part of President Bush's 2001 tax cuts, the basic exemption limit was raised from $1 million in 2001 to $2 million, at which level the 46% rate kicks in. In 2010, the estate tax is repealed for a year. Then after 2011, the basic exemption drops to $1 million and the tax rate rises to a rather high 55%. There are jokes about the murder rate for rich people shooting up in 2010.
The June 2006 Tax & Budget bulletin of the libertarian Cato Institute states, "The estate tax is probably the most-inefficient tax in the US. It has a high marginal rate and is very difficult for the government to administer and enforce. It has also created a large and wasteful estate planning and avoidance industry. The industry overflows with...lawyers and accountants... creating financial structures to minimise the tax burden using trusts, life insurance and private foundations." The institute wants the US to scrap the estate tax, which accounts for just over 1% of federal tax revenues.
In the UK, the inheritance tax is payable if the taxable value of the estate is above £285,000 (2006-07 tax year) according to the British government's website. The term 'Estate' is defined as "broadly speaking...everything you own at the time of your death, less what you owe," according to the website. In addition, it might be payable on assets given away by the deceased during his/her lifetime, including property, money and investments. The tax kicks in over the threshold value.
The main argument in favour of estate tax is that it levels the playing field between the rich and the poor. The main argument against is that it discourages savings and investment, and hence capital accumulation. Obviously, a high rate of estate tax is a disincentive since a person would find it difficult to pass on his wealth to his descendants.
Further, since the tax is levied on the net value of assets, not on income, it can create a major liquidity problem for the inheritor who has to pay. This is because the tax is a lump-sum payment that may exceed revenues from a particular set of assets. Indeed, it can potentially create an incentive to liquidate the business.
In India, estate duty was abolished partly because it amounted to double taxation, since stamp duty is in any case levied on transfer of property to heirs. Stamp duty is currently between 7-9% in most states and is in some way a quasi-estate duty. The Centre wants states to bring it down to the 4%-6% range. A stamp duty is, however, only a rough proxy for estate duty since it is payable on all property sales/transfer while the latter is payable only on the death of a property owner.
In general, all taxes which are levied on assets, such as estate tax or the wealth tax tend to result in the creation of complex tax avoidance structures. Sweden's new centre-right government has recently decided to scrap the country's 1.5% wealth tax, which in that country is levied on all persons with wealth exceeding $2,00,000.
The tax is estimated to have led to billions of dollars of capital flight. Ingvar Kamprad, the owner of iconic furniture maker Ikea and Sweden's richest man controls his wealth, estimated at over $20 billion, through foundations based outside Sweden.
Enormous donations to foundations with a charitable purpose, most famously by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates, may well be part of the Christian tradition but high estate tax is undoubtedly a major driver. Typically, the children of the wealthy tend to be associated with the trusts set up by mega creators of wealth like Buffet or Gates. In both Europe and the US, broadly speaking centre-left parties tend to support estate taxes while centre-right parties (such as Republicans in the US and Tories in Britain) tend to favour their abolition.
Can India attract tax tourists from the US or other high estate-tax countries? That's right now a theoretical possibility, experts feel, given the poor physical infrastructure and lack of adequate legal framework, including the absence of complete capital account convertibility.
Also, it is far from clear what view the IRS, the US government's famous tax arm, will take of persons relocating to India. The US claims to tax income generated worldwide by all its citizens, though in practice major companies use tax havens such as the Cayman Islands to minimise the dues payable to Uncle Sam. Still, it's a possibility that India can exploit in the future as it gets richer.
(With inputs from Bakul Chugan)


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"Scriptures As Operational Artifacts: Neutralizing Rather Than Actualizing Scripture"
A plenary lecture by Ambassador Aref Nayed
6:15 pm in Nau 101.
"Weaponizing Scripture?"–the 2nd annual graduate colloquium in Scripture, Interpretation and Practice–will convene at the University of Virginia on March 22-23, 2015.
On March 22nd at 6:15pm as part of this conference, Ambassador Aref Nayed will give the plenary lecture entitled: "Scriptures As Operational Artifacts: Neutralizing Rather Than Actualizing Scripture." This plenary session will be held in Nau 101 and is open to the public.
For more information on the conference, see the conference schedule, paper panels, and graduate presenters.
Check our website https://sipgradconference.wordpress.com for the most up-to-date information.
For more information on Dr. Nayed, visit his profile on Kalam Research and Media's website


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Implementing Universal Design for Learning
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has been gaining in popularity among teachers and school districts in recent years. This inclusive teaching methodology offers educators a set of strategies and tools for engaging every student and for bringing learning equity to a diverse classroom through acknowledging each learners individual needs and strengths—and then accommodating those needs and strengths. While UDL is typically implemented on a district or school level, there are ways that teachers can incorporate UDL into their curriculum. But first it is important to understand what UDL is and how it was developed.
What is Universal Design for Learning?
UDL is a set of principles that were born from the desire to offer every student an equal opportunity to learn, and is based on the idea that every person has their own unique and individual learning style.
[RELATED] How to Advance Your Career: A Guide for Educators >>
For example, the Thomas Edison Elementary and Middle school in Brighton, MA has been working towards UDL implementation because they recognize the need for diversity of instruction in order to reach every student. "We're working on changing the way we teach," said Principal Samantha Varano in the Harvard Gazette. "There used to be a standard way of teaching: One lesson for the whole class," she explained. "But every child is different. Every child has a unique background and different way of learning. We must think of a variety of lesson plans for students with all varying capabilities. We want to reach students where they are — and work to grow from there."
According to UDL, there are three primary brain networks that are responsible for how a person learns: the recognition network, the strategic network and the affective network.
National Center on Universal Design for Learning
The three main principles of UDL— Representation (the what of learning), Action and Expression (the how of learning), Engagement (the why of learning) — were formed based on these three brain networks. Understanding the foundation of UDL – the principles and brain networks — is imperative for teachers who wish to implement UDL in the classroom.
How to Implement UDL in Your Classroom
While implementing UDL is often a district, school or even statewide initiative, there are steps you can take to incorporate UDL into your lesson plans even if your school is not adhering to the UDL principles.
The first step is to define your goals.
- What do you hope to achieve by implementing UDL?
- What goals do you have for your class as a whole and each individual student? Be sure your goals are aligned with your state standards.
The second step is to assess your current class and each individual students needs.
- What is the makeup of your class?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of your students? Look at each student through the UDL lens and evaluate them based on the three different brain networks and UDL principles.
Finally, evaluate what challenges you foresee.
- How will you teach to the multiple learning styles in your classroom?
- How will implementing UDL affect your current curriculum?
Luis Perez, author of Mobile Learning for All suggests starting small. In an article in The Journal, he said, "You're not going to apply every single [guideline] to every single lesson. It depends on which ones are relevant to your learning goals. Start with a single lesson or activity and then build success from that, and then start to look at other parts of your curriculum."
The National Center for Universal Design on Learning has a plethora of resources and information for educators interested in universal design. For implementation tips and ideas check out their universal design for learning series.
At the University of San Diego we offer a 100% online Master of Education with five specializations to choose from: Inclusive Learning—Special Education and Universal Design; Literacy & Digital Learning; STEAM; School Leadership; and Curriculum & Instruction. To learn more about our nationally accredited program visit our program page.


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That's us, Mirjam and Peter, from 1999 on dancing through 'tangoland'. First trying Leiden then The Hague and after that back to Leiden, Rotterdam, and in between the 'Achterhoek. In the last few years Paris, Istanbul, Berlin and Buenos Aires. For us Leiden is top, so every time we go back to our roots.
We're contaminated with this tangovirus. Tango has touched us, it permeates our minds, bodies and souls. It has become a wonderful journey, of which we still don't know where it ends. We're on the road, searching, discovering more and more in the dance, the music and ourselves. 'El tango es un posibilidad infinita'; it enriches our lives.
Now that we're captivated by this dance, we also want to spread it. The best way to do this is to: get lots of people together in the right atmosphere. What we would like is for active, enthousiast people who enjoy dancing to come together as often as possible in this beautiful and inspiring place.
In 2005 we gave up our traveling existence en made the 'waterlelie' in the 'Leidse Hout' our homebase. This is where we organise, on Saturday afternoons, during the summermonths our milonga the 'waterlelie'. Now it's a flourishing brisk, outdoor milonga, where dancers from all over the country and far beyond, meet each other.
In August 2010 we celebrated the 5th year of the 'Waterlelie'. Leah and Danny made a documentary about that. Pity it doesn't have subtitles
Organising the 'Waterlelie' is our way of sharing our enthusiasm. We hope that it will stimulate the practice and advancement of Argentinian tango in this region.
We're not ultimo's, just very passionate!


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Zoey | Pet Photography in Virginia
I met S and her spunky labradoodle, Zoey, for some photos in Alexandria just as the sun was setting. I loved capturing the relationship between the two of them. And I learned that dogs are very similar to babies ... they require just as much patience and understanding to get the shots :) But it's absolutely worth it in the end!


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Newly-discovered fossils have revealed something stunning to the scientific world: that some of the first animals to walk on land lived in Antarctica. Scientists unearthed the fossils of prehistoric Devonian Period amphibians at a site called Waterloo Farm in Grahamstown, South Africa. Hundreds of millions of years ago, Waterloo Farm would have been in the Antarctic circle.
Devonian tetrapods are believed to be the earliest known four-legged vertebrates, making them the ancestors of all vertebrates. The new species, named Tutusius umlambo and Umzantsia amazana, pre-date the next earliest African tetrapod fossils by some 70 million years. The paleontologists, working with the South African Center of Excellence in Palaeosciences, recently published their findings in the journal Science.
The environment where the fossils were unearthed was the real surprise. Devonian tetrapod fossils are found practically everywhere in the world, with most fossils discovered in present day North America, Greenland, and Europe. However, the fossils of both Tutusius and Umzantsia were found to have come from the southernmost part of ancient supercontinent Gondwana, which became Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica, and India in the present day.
Scientists trace the original locations of ancient fossils by mapping the movement of continents over millions of years. Dr. Robert Gess, the lead author of the study, said, "Whereas all previously found Devonian tetrapods came from localities which were in tropical regions during the Devonian, these specimens lived within the Antarctic circle." While Waterloo Farm wasn't frozen back in the ancient Devonian period (plant fossils show that forests grew nearby), it still faced nights that lasted for weeks in the dead of winter.
The researchers built a picture of the animals from just a few fossilized bones. They said in the published article, "Alive, they would have resembled a cross between a crocodile and a fish, with a crocodile-like head, stubby legs, and a tail with a fish-like fin." The Tutusius species was estimated to be about 3 feet long. Umzantsia measured about 2.3 feet long.
South African fossils offer new insight on how life started on land. It was previously thought that prehistoric tetrapods evolved exclusively in tropical regions. The discovery of the new fossils show that four-legged vertebrates could have evolved anywhere in the world.


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Founded in 1965 as a developer and manager of high-quality residential communities, Lincoln Property Group's portfolio now includes a diverse range of commercial projects. Every Lincoln project highlights a strategic location, attention to detail and seamless incorporation of the surrounding environment. Lincoln brings the skills, experiences and resources to get each job done right with maximum results.
Founded in 1991, DAVIS is an Architecture, Interiors and Urban Design firm specializing in exceptional commercial and residential mixed-use properties. We create inspired architecture for everyday life for the nation's best corporations and developers; and have designed 75 million square feet of highly successful business, residential and social environments with a value of $20 Billion.
DAVIS is in the business of maximizing the quality of 'life' in 'place'. Life in Place® is about making meaningful connections between people and place, movement and urban form, nature and the built environment. Inspired architecture for everyday life involves a heightened sense of wonder, awe and joy by such intensity of perception, as to cause it to stand out in contrast to the experiences that surround it in time and space.
Cushman & Wakefield is a leading global real estate services firm that helps clients transform the way people work, shop, and live. Our 45,000 employees in more than 70 countries help occupiers and investors optimize the value of their real estate by combining our global perspective and deep local knowledge with an impressive platform of real estate solutions. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest commercial real estate services firms with revenue of $6 billion across core services of agency leasing, asset services, capital markets, facility services (C&W Services), global occupier services, investment & asset management (DTZ Investors), project & development services, tenant representation, and valuation & advisory. 2017 marks the 100-year anniversary of the Cushman & Wakefield brand. 100 years of taking our clients' ideas and putting them into action.
G.W.C. Whiting and LeBaron Turner founded The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in 1909 on the belief that integrity, engineering talent, and a dedication to its customers would make it the very best in the construction industry. For more than a century, the company's success and reputation in the marketplace have been testaments to their wisdom.


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Bestform was founded in the 1920's in New York and has sold a wide range of foundation garments since then. In 2014 they became part of Ariela and Associates, a US distributor of lingerie to retailers. Previously they were part of Vanity Fair brands. Bestform in Europe is a separate company with a wider range of products. Here is a fun little video with an overview of the company's history.
This all in one girdle shaper has extra support panels sewn into the mid-section and an adjustable hook and eye crotch closure with cotton liner. The wire-free bra cups have a horizontal seam and light fiberfill padding. The straps are non-stretch except for a short elastic section in back and they adjust in front. I have no information about this product- my guess is that it may be from the 1970's.


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The Stop Online Piracy Act would allow the government and copyright holders to demand Web firms delete links to foreign websites deemed rogue or dedicated to copyright infringement. The legislation has broad support on the House Judiciary Committee and strong backing from the entertainment industry.
But the bill has sparked a widespread backlash from Web companies and free speech advocates that claim it could lead to censorship and stifle innovation thanks to some broad language and vague provisions that could ensnare legitimate companies.
Some of the initial supporters and co-sponsors appear to be wavering in their support as the bill's language receives more scrutiny. Opponents in both chambers are circulating a draft of an alternate piracy bill that could be introduced as soon as next Wednesday.


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© Didier Doceux/Fotolia
In February 2015, the European Commission announced its proposal for the creation of an Energy Union built on the five dimensions of: energy security, solidarity, and trust; a fully integrated European energy market; energy efficiency; decarbonization; and research, innovation, and competitiveness. BDI supports this development and these fundamental aims, and looks forward to concrete action in 2016, which has been labeled the 'Year of Delivery' by EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic.
European requirements for improving the energy efficiency in the EU are currently being reviewed. The main aim is to set the regulatory framework for the period 2021 – 2030. The European Commission proposes in its draft directive from November 2016 a binding target that obliges the EU to increase its energy efficiency in the next decade by 30 percent. After the Council took a position in June, the European Parliament is currently working on its opinion.
The European Commission has presented its "Clean energy for all Europeans" package. The proposals seek to chart the course of the European energy transition to the horizon of 2030 and beyond. The Commission addresses current weaknesses in energy systems with a view to identifying opportunities for more cost efficiency in climate protection. BDI will set out its position on this legislative package.
The European Parliament has voted on reform of the European Emission Trading System for the fourth trading period (2021-2030). BDI calls also for an economically convincing reform because one thing is already clear: the scheme will be tightened and will lead to greater burdens on companies.
Germany's commitment to addressing climate change, maintaining energy security and ensuring industry competitiveness would not be possible without the efforts of Germany's public and private sectors.
In the spirit of celebrating this collective German action, the Federation of German Industries, German Embassy Rabat, and German Chamber of Commerce in Morocco jointly hosted "Deutscher Abend" on 14 November 2016 as a side event to this year's COP 22 in Marrakech, Morocco.
As the evolution of the U.N. climate effort continues, this year's 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech, Morocco proved to be an important transitional step, rotating away from the years of negotiation that produced the Paris Agreement to a new phase focused on implementation.
To understand the true scale of the challenges we face, we must envision a fundamentally new world for the energy sector–one where the demand for electricity could double by 2060. We at BDI understand that meeting this demand with cleaner energy supplies will require significant and substantial infrastructure investments, creating both new opportunities and challenges for the energy...
The energy transition is striding forward. Any plane passenger flying over Germany can look down from his window seat and see countless revolving wind turbines. But how are further aspects of the energy transition going? What technological priorities need to be set for energy research in order for German suppliers to remain in the international vanguard of energy technologies also into the future? Lastly, what can State and industry do together concretely in the area of research and development so that Germany can also continue to produce reliably, cleanly and competitively going forward?
2015 marked the ten year anniversary of the EU greenhouse gas emissions trading system, or ETS - an occasion on which to reflect on how far the program has come and focus on how to improve the program for the future. Presently, the EU ETS is under review. This overhaul is necessary because in October 2014 Heads of State and Government have tightened the reduction objective for the fourth trading period (2021 – 2030). Emissions trading as market-based and technology-neutral approach continues to be the "right" instrument for cost-efficient climate protection. The BDI therefore supports this review of the EU ETS as long as effective precautions are taken to protect our companies' international...


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William in AZ
Worst fit of any pants way to long way way to baggy $100 to buy 46 to get tailoredRead All Reviews
Brenden in WA
This visor makes the helmet look way better in my opinion. The speed and strength helmet looks really good.. except the clear visor that breaks up the smooth lines on it. This visor makes the helmet look much more sleek and great for daytime riding. Make no mistake this visor in gold mirror should NOT be used in the night time as it is literally as dark as most sunglasses.Read All Reviews
Brenden in WA
Nice helmet looks great, but doesn't seal the best. Vents and visor often let a bit of wind in at higher speeds and make a bit of noise, more so than other helmets I've been around, not a super big deal but when it's cold outside on your commute it kinda sucks???????.Read All Reviews
Matthew in CA
If your looking for good protection and ventilation this is a great option. If muscular go up a size.Read All Reviews
Phil in NY
I had considered a leather vest but wanted something more unique and this vest was it. With the adjustable straps it easily fits over a light jacket or sweatshirt.Read All Reviews
DUSTIN in PA
I got this helmet for me and one for my fiancé. They are awesome for the price, cannot get a better helmet for the money you pay.Read All Reviews


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Uptown Piccolo in Dior
This collection of porcelain coffee cups is inspired by Megan's Monday Coffee girl sketches! Uptown Piccolo features a bespoke Coffee Girl in a chic Dior ensemble with shimmering gold details.
The dimensions measure approximately: 150mm tall x 100mm. Each coffee cup is made of fine porcelain with a 100% silicone lid. This product is presented in an elegant Megan Hess gift box.


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What To Pack: Trip To Europe
Barcelona Day Trip: Cava Tasting in Sant Sadurní d'Anoia
My Flytographer photoshoot in Barcelona
What to pack: Trip to Iceland
5 tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon in Iceland
Best Places In Europe For Fall Travel
5 Ways To Enjoy Coffee In Europe
5 Tips For An Amazing Parisian Experience
3 ways to experience Europe with more authenticity
My Experience with Flytographer in Paris
1 day Paris Itinerary
Paris. Oh, Paris. I am not the first person to fall in love with this city, nor will I be the last. It has inspired the world's best poets and writers, given birth to some of the greatest art the world has ever seen, and it is home to some of my favorite things in the world— namely croissants, red wine, french fries… and now you can add macarons to the list. It is the perfect blend of modern and history, with just the right amount of class and sophistication. What is there NOT to love about the city of light?
I wanted to share with you a helpful guide to experiencing this city, based on my recent personal trip. It's a logical itinerary of activities that give you insight into the city, people, and culture, while showing you the must-sees and top attractions. It is a great starting point, especially if you are a first-time visitor.
How to Combine your Obsession with Game of Thrones and Travel
The Game of Thrones season finale may mean life feels a little empty but you can cheer yourself up with a trip to Northern Ireland and the dramatic locations where the series was filmed.
I recently had a client depart for a month long trip to Europe, with half of that time spent in Ireland/Northern Ireland with—you guessed it—a focus on Game of Thrones sightseeing. Unbeknownst to me at the beginning of our vacation planning, some of the most majestic locations in Northern Ireland have become part and parcel of Westeros.
NFL International Series: Travel + Sports
I love travel!! I love sports!!
If you know me, these are two very true statements. So any time I have the opportunity to create crossover with those two passions, it's absolute win in my book! About a month ago, they released the information for the NFL International Series. 3 games in London, and 1 game in Mexico City.
I have been to many, many NFL games in my life, but never in another country. To me, that sounds like an absolute dream! Being able to explore London (and beyond!), plus root for your favorite team all in one swoop?! Sign me up.
It sounded like such a great idea, I decided to create 3 simple itineraries that would make the whole process easy and enjoyable. They're a baseline of how to make a trip like this come together successfully.
Top 3 Reasons I Love Prague
Prague is the capital city and largest city of the Czech Republic. With it's romantic riverside location, it remains one of Europe's best-preserved cities. It's easy to see why Prague charms everyone who visits, with its location enhanced by beautiful bridges, and an impressive skyline punctuated with medieval church spires. The historic Old Town is a collection of ancient squares and winding cobblestone streets, all in the shadow of her majestic 9th century castle that looks eastward as the sun sets behind her.
Prague is also a modern and vibrant city full of energy, music, cultural art, fine dining and special events catering to the independent traveller's thirst for adventure.
How to Vacation with Two Different Travel Styles
I remember about 5 years back when I first traveled internationally with one of my dearest friends on the planet. I had already been friends with her for over 15 years, so surely we have had plenty of time to know each other's personalities and likes. But traveling with someone is different.
Why wasn't she in more of a hurry to get down to breakfast before it was over?
When was she going to realize that my internal itinerary that had outwardly been expressed as "no real plans" was being thrown off?
How come she wanted to spend SO MANY HOURS inside a museum?
Different Ways to Experience Ireland
Ireland is magical. There is beauty to be found across the whole country, and so much of that you get to see by actually driving from place to place. Whereas sometimes driving on vacation is a necessary evil, in Ireland it's part of the specialness. So, whether you take an extended vacation and see the whole country, or get specific by just picking one half or the other and take your time to see and do more at each of your stops, there will be no shortage of things that leave you speechless.
A First-Time Trip to Europe
Creating itineraries for people who don't travel very extensively can be exciting. It also can be a bit challenging in it's own way. Whereas you can have some clients who know exactly what they like and what they want to do, the flip-side is having clients who don't know too much about what they might enjoy while traveling. Case in point- I just had a honeymoon couple return from an absolutely amazing trip in Europe that had never been, yet wanted a fully customized, off the beaten path trip that was all their own.
The hard part at the beginning though, was being able to uncover what the experience was they were after. Our literal starting point was: "We want to spend about three weeks in Europe." No specific countries, no specific type of trip… just Europe. A whole entire continent of goodness.
The Beauty of Solo Travel
A dear friend of mine recently returned from a solo trip to Lisbon that had amazing written all over it. She only had a short time in the city, but we made sure we created an itinerary that fulfilled all that she wanted to do and see.
The outcome of this trip was nothing short of amazing. Each time I got an update from her, it made me fall more in love with this destination, and I had a newfound appreciation for it's beauty by experiencing it though her eyes.
This was a trip she took on her own. Yes, she's married, and certainly she has the best friends in the whole entire world who are also world-travelers (duh!). But sometimes our own schedules and those of the ones we love and feel comfortable traveling the world with, simply don't line up. What I love about her is that she didn't let that deter her from making memories and seizing the opportunity to make this trip happen anyway. The result is something she will always cherish, and from the sounds of it, was worth it 100%.
In Melanie's own words:
If the beautiful city of Lisbon excites you, or if just the idea of going somewhere on your own because you deserve it and you absolutely CAN, then contact me to discuss how we can make it a reality! The sooner the better!


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Mr. Shi, the chairman of The IHBF attended the Chinese traditional gala in the Shifeng Monastery, Fujian China. The monastery was built up since Tang Dynasty and still keeps its ancient style with wooden pillars of Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Accompanied by Chinese traditional instrument and song, Mr. Shi performed Chinese Calligraphy writing on the site.
Shifeng monastery is about 30 kilometers from Fuan city, you can get there easily from Fuzhou or Xiamen.


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Inkinbythebay - A Creative Place to Play!
Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator Silver
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Just added
Good day stampers, I have just added to my blog. Now there is a way for you to follow my every move. Just sign up for regular updates to this blog by entering your e-mail address on the left hand side of the site in the spot provided by feed burner.
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This Week
April 11: Learn how to make Magical Chocolate Cake Gems with Megan Coffey at Festive Collective.
April 11: Workshop on shifting your mindset to achieve success at The Shift.
April 12: Meredith MacDougall of Canary Lane talks Instagram growth at a Six Degrees Society workshop.
April 13: AIGA Chicago celebrates Jenna Blazevich by recognizing her as an Emerging Designer of 2017.
April 18: Dana Frost is leading an aromatherapy workshop at DL Loft.
April 21: Create your signature scent at Department of Curiosities' Fundamentals of Fragrance workshop.
April 27: Meals on Wheels hosts Chicago on Tap at Thalia Hall.
May 4: Forth is hosting a launch party for our new podcast at Beermiscuous.
Claire Staszak's home renovation was featured in the Chicago Tribune.
Lauren Ash weighs in on the wellness book that changed her life over at Well + Good.
Alia Dalal makes asparagus sound delicious with her latest recipe.
Jessica Zweig shares the biggest secret of personal branding.
South Loop Loft made Time Out Chicago's list of best furniture stores.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken made Eater's Spring 2017 list of essential Chicago restaurants.


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Facilitating Multidisciplinary Agent-Based Social Simulation Modelling: A (More) Formal Approach
- Date: Tuesday 17 October 2017, 11:00 – 12:00
- Location: Mathematics Level 8, MALL 1, School of Mathematics
- Type: Integrable Systems, Seminars, Applied Mathematics
- Cost: Free
Peer-Olaf Siebers, University of Nottingham. Part of the Leeds applied nonlinear dynamics seminars series.
When aiming to develop Agent-Based Social Simulation (ABSS) models one faces the question of how to build them and where to start. This can be challenging not only for novices in the field but also for multidisciplinary teams where it is often difficult to engage everyone in the modelling process. In this case co-creation is an important aspect. Team members need to be open minded about the use of new tools and methods and about the collaboration with researchers from other domains and business partners.
Over the years we have developed a quite sophisticated "plan of attack" in form of a framework that guides the model development. The EABSS (short for Engineering ABSS) framework supports model reproducibility through rigorous documentation of the conceptual ideas, underlying assumptions and the actual model content. It provides a step-by-step guide to conceptualising and designing ABSS models with the support of Software Engineering tools and techniques. While this framework will not work perfectly for all possible cases, it provides at least some form of systematic approach. The user should be prepared to adapt it to fit individual needs.
Peer-Olaf Siebers, University of Nottingham


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AMI specialise in a wide range of balustrades from complex custom glass and stainless steel designs with LED lighting to basic mild steel through structures.
AMI provide a wide range of balconies which are designed to suit your exact specification.
AMI offers bespoke fabrication for all types of steel stairs to suit the balustrade required. Available in a range of finishes from stainless steel, powder coated or galvanised finish.
AMI can produce any type of canopy to suit your exact requirement from complex glass structures to simple steel fabrication.
AMI have experience in all secondary and structural steelwork from simple posts to complex bridges and structures.
Click here to find out more our Structural / Secondary Steelwork.


text: Profile Akhila Show my name on the attendees list for events I am attending: Yes Last activity: on 02/06/2016 Joined: on 31/05/2016 http://www.fullcirclelivingdyingcollective.com/ Design quotient Research 12pt Idea 0pt Evaluation 0pt Collaboration 0pt Total 12pt Recent contributions (1) Contribution list My Beautiful Death. Envisioning Dying Times & a Beautiful Death. 1 0 Akhila Updated on 21:08, May 30, 2016


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Please contact Abrash Gallery with any questions you might have or if you would like to be part of what we do. Let us also know if you have comments and suggestions. In this way, we will know what else we need to improve and work on the next time.
about us
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9 month Post Op/
Almost the one year mark. Wow! What a journey its been.... I don't even know where to begin. Where did I leave off? After my six month check up in LA I veered of track mentally. The positive path I've been heading down became a little rocky after I attended an Acoustic Neuroma support group during my LA visit. The check up with Gianotta at USC went well as he said he's extremely happy with my progress. My next scheduled MRI isn't till June 2014. Not so sure I am ready to subject myself to a support group where I felt as if I was reliving my journey from the beginning. I was in a room of about 20 AN patients who were either just diagnosed, 2 weeks post op or years post op. All who had similar journeys yet some better than others. Emotions ran high and I was just overwhelmed. Without being rude I stayed for the whole meeting and tried to remain positive. After my return to Vegas I became very worried that my tumor was regrowing and started to stress myself out which caused me to feel as if my symptoms were coming back. I called USC and talked to Gianotta's PA, Dawn who reassured me it was all stress and that I needed to relax. Since that episode I have returned to my "new normal" thank god.
I have continued to remain active and healthy. I am regaining my strength through exercising, Bikram Yoga, and daily vegetable juicing. I have joined my bowling league again for the fall/winter season. I started out pretty strong but yet to have found my happy medium as I struggle with balance and vision. I currently hold a 170 average and hope to improve that to a 185 by the season end. As for the dry eye and vision I visited a new eye doctor recently who reported that my eye is blinking roughly 25% and he would like it to blink about 90% to properly lubricate the cornea. Mind you 9 months ago the eye wasn't blinking at all. There is hope! Up until about 2 weeks ago I was using ointment all day to prevent any damage to the cornea which obstructed my vision making it extremely blurry. My eye doctor recommended a high moisture contact that will protect the cornea which I just have to add eye drops. As frustrating as it is on a positive note I can see again. On the other hand my balance doesn't really seem to be improving anymore. If it is I'm not really noticing that much. I feel like I'm becoming a highly skilled walking drunk, I'm able to correct most of my stumbling and wobbling easier. I wish everyone could walk in my shoes for just one day to understand exactly what I'm talking about. I have been slowly relearning all the things I use to enjoy for example riding my motorcycles. I've recently went on a couple rides and as enjoyable as it was it was also challenging. I have to really focus which makes sightseeing almost impossible. This should become easier over time. I'm excited to strap on my snowboard and hit the mountain slopes this season. Ill keep you posted and let you know how that goes. Lately I've been trying to avoid naps at all cost and push through the day. When and if I lay down for a nap instead of a 30 min cat nap it becomes about a 2 hour hibernation. Doctor says listen to your body and trust me I know when its time to hibernate.... When my drunk walk becomes an uncontrollable stumble and wobble I know its time to hibernate. I live in Las Vegas so its acceptable, I fit right in.
Back in June you may recall my Yoga goal and the instructor Sharon who was really inspired by me. Well since then Sharon has invited me back to UNLV to speak to her wellness class again. This time after speaking I was asked to be a part of a group project and share the benefits of yoga and how it has helped my recovery. "If I can do it so can you." The students are finalizing the project and are going to send me a copy which I hope to share on this site. It makes me so happy to help others.


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The boys have been wanting to build their own hut, so we got together a saw, nails, hammer and some old scraps of wood. Although their skills aren't quite good enough to build their own hut, it didn't stop them having a good time trying.
After a morning of being indoors, the boys needed to get out.
Seth the builder.
Lucky Tyler got to experience hammering his own thumb. Something every boy needs to learn at some point.
Jack learning from big brothers.
Seth working hard.
Have fun.


text: Here is the beginning of the apps I will be testing that works well with a jailbroken iPad. Here I am using UserAgent Faker which makes your safari device think it's a computer. So, view any site as you would see it on your laptop. This comes in handy for YouTube, specially when you need to check your YouTube mail. It's impossible to do this on your device without UserAgent. Also, am using MobileCinema which for some reason has been acting up lately, but you can find some sites it still works with. This will let you see flash videos or flash websites in general. These 2 apps are enabled within SbSettings and are made for iPhone/touch but it works great on iPad too.


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The site was designed to reflect the French character and name for the project. The formal layout of attached garage buildings and streets create private courtyards that offer attractive views to residents and visitors. The primary amenity area is located in the courtyard formed by the clubhouse, spa and recreation building, and the model apartment building. The amenity area includes an elegant formal knife edge salt water swimming pool, a decorative fountain, private cabanas, outdoor dining and cooking areas, and an outdoor loggia. Formal hedges and gardens were incorporated into the landscape design.
Aerial Photo: Pictometry


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Allegations of elder neglect or abuse can range from a failure to properly care for an elderly person to assault, from theft of real or personal property to misappropriation of identity. Rien, Adams & Cox, LLP provides effective defense services to caregivers, fiduciaries and others charged with various kinds of elder abuse.
If you have been charged with, arrested for, or are under investigation for elder abuse, neglect, theft or fraud, contact Rien, Adams & Cox, LLP immediately online or call 925-344-4634. The firm offers confidential, free initial consultations and is available 24/7.
Bay Area Theft And Fraud Defense Attorney
The attorneys at Rien, Adams & Cox, LLP are dedicated to building a strong defense that fully protects your rights. The firm is dedicated to minimizing the damages elder abuse charges have on your life and securing the best possible outcome. The firm defends caretakers, nurses, home health aides, nursing home employees, trust administrators, fiduciaries and others who have been charged with:
- Theft
- Identity theft
- Fraud
- Neglect: such as withholding food, water and medicine
- Abuse: such as sexual abuse or physical abuse
A conviction for any of these offenses can mean jail time, fines, destruction of an otherwise clean record and reputation as well as the loss of state licensing. If you have been charged with credit card theft, using an elderly person's name, using an elderly person's Social Security number or any other crime, do not wait to speak with Rien, Adams & Cox, LLP.
Get Help Today
If you need to speak with an attorney immediately regarding elder abuse charges, call Rien, Adams & Cox, LLP today. The firm provides personal service — a live operator is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will be placed in immediate contact with an attorney who will be glad to address your needs and questions confidentially. Contact the firm today for a free initial consultation.


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The hugely popular Game Grumps has announced on their channel that they will record and air shows on Adult Swim. As let's plays become increasingly popular, Adult Swim has taken the first step to making it mainstream. Grumps has seen huge success in doing live shows and strong growth since the channel first began in 2012. The new Game Grumps show (no working title yet) will further cement their long term success.
According to a press release from Adult Swim, the plans to bring a let's play to major television had been in the works for a few years. They originally intended to bring Pewdiepie to the national spotlight but recent controversy forced them to back out and seek out another YouTube channel. Their next choice was Grumps.
Game Grumps first started with Arin Hanson (formerly Egoraptor) and JonTron but has evolved into a few distinct shows and some Game Grumps affiliated channels.
Arin released a short statement on Grump XX along with the announcement video on the main Game Grumps channel:
"I'm really happy to move Game Grumps in such a huge direction. If you told me Game Grumps was going to be on TV back when I was with Jon or even when Danny and Ross first came, I wouldn't have believed it. But now we have a big opportunity to really expand and reach more people. At the end of the day, I just want to make people laugh and have a good time."
Danny (Danny Sexbang, Ninja Sex Party) also added his thoughts during the video:
"I'm stoked. I mean, this is a huge step for Game Grumps. This is really cool and I hope we can continue to entertain everyone the same way we have here on YouTube. I think this is really the first time for me being on TV in such a big spotlight. I'm a little nervous but also really excited.
Me and Ninja Brian (Brian Wecht) talked it over and we feel that we can both do Game Grumps, TV and YouTube, and Ninja Sex Party. We're not going to let it get in the way of our band or even Starbomb. It'll be tough be we believe we can do it."
Production has yet to begin but they plan to air 50 fifteen minute episodes across two years. The first major obstacle will be acquiring rights to play games on television though they will probably feature many Cartoon Network games. The first episode is slated for next April Fool's.


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16th January 2019
Back on the Market
Listed once again as of January 16th at 8:47am, this Contemporary home was originally listed on January 15th in 2019. The property is being listed at a price of $639,000 , the same as its original list price. This 3 bedroom, 2 full baths, 1 half bath residence is located on Mendez Drive, an excellent location in .
With a total size of 1,778 square feet, this beautiful home comes in at $359.39 per square foot. That's 1.48% higher than the neighborhood average. There are also 2.00 garage spaces available for parking.
Originally built in 2003, this home sits on a 0 square foot lot.
Gallery Walk | 1244 Mendez Drive CA 92833
Listing provided courtesy of Sam Sang Oh at First Team Real Estate.
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Introducing KAISER ENCORE AND SAGE
November 15, 2016 | Posted in Press Release
(Santa Barbara, CA)
Noble Audio proudly introduces Kaiser Encore, the latest premier piece to stand in their luxurious line of in-earphones. A direct replacement to Noble's award-winning Kaiser 10U, Kaiser Encore introduces all proprietary Noble drivers to the 10 armature driver configuration and a cosmetic re-design - enclosed in a precision machined aluminium housing.
Noble's Kaiser Encore retains the musical essence of the Kaiser 10U, while building an additional layer of clarity on top of the remarkably transparent sound. With a reputation for crafting instruments tailored to every music-listening preference, Noble Audio is no stranger to setting a premium standard in the audio-accessory market. The Kaiser Encore establishes a larger soundstage and presentation with more accurate imaging and spatial representation, resulting in yet another engaging in-ear masterpiece from Noble Audio.
Noble Audio also announces the launch of Sage, a new two-driver in-earphone in replacement to its predecessor, Savant. Now featuring all proprietary drivers and a relocation of the bass vent, Sage, enables an increase in aperture, resulting in an extended low-end response with more texture and a lift in overall bass response. Following in the footsteps of Savant, the new Sage model remains perhaps the most subjectively balanced in-ear monitor while introducing a more refined and capable sound. Sage caters to a large variety of music genres with greater imaging accuracy and enhanced special representation.


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How To Apply a Patch to SME File Fabric Appliance v1705
Patching Best Practices
- If you want to familiarise yourself with the changes introduced by a patch prior to deploying the patch to production, install it first in a non-production environment and test it there.
- Patch your system during a service window when users are not permitted to use the system.
- During the service window and prior to patching the system, backup the appliance itself and, if the database is external, backup the database as well. (If you have a a multi-node (HA) system, it is only necessary to back up one node.)
- Confirm that the system is working correctly after applying the patch and prior to ending the service window.
- If you are unable to confirm that the patched system is working properly, contact SME Support or roll back the patch prior to ending the service window. (Roll-back instructions are provided later in this document.)
To Check Your Current Version
There are two ways to check the version of your appliance:
- Log in to the appliance through the browser as appladmin and click on the hamburger menu in the upper right of the screen. The version number will be displayed.
- SSH into the appliance VM as smeconfiguser and execute the smeversion command. The version number will be displayed.
Patch Contents
Release notes describing the contents of version 1705 and its patches can be found here:
Patching Steps
Note that these steps should be completed for each appliance in a multi-node (HA) system.
- Open a secure shell on the appliance as smeconfiguser:
ssh smeconfiguser@yourappliancevmname
- Become the root user:
su - root
- Use the yum command to download and install the patch:
yum update sme-release sme-ff-ftp
The final lines of the output you see should be similar to this:
Updated: sme-release.x86_64 0:1705.01-2
If you see something different or encounter any issues during these steps please contact SME Support.
Database Update is Automatic
When patching version 10 an extra step was necessary to ensure that any database changes associated with the new code were applied to the appliance's database. With version 1705 database updates are handled automatically by the patching process.
To Roll Back a Patch
- To roll back a patch it is necessary to reverse both the appliance changes made by the patch and any database changes made by the patch.
- If your database is internal to your appliance you can reverse all of the changes by restoring the appliance backup you made prior to applying the patch.
- If your database is external then you need to restore the appliance backup and restore the database backup.


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I think this is pretty inspiring. Even without him ever earning a dime for it, I think its beautiful, and sad to think of what was happening to those precious baby seahorses (being chewed up).
I think its also scary and great that CBC calls it news!!!
Monday, March 5, 2007
inspired by seahorses
Labels: uncategorized
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I can feel the frown on my face; it's between my eyes pushing against the bridge of my nose.
I know why it's there too. There's a sadness growing in me every
day as I realize the possibility of never seeing you again. While I know it's
for the best, it means death for us. There have been some very sad days since I
met you that I wished I could have turned back the clock and never done so.
would not have this heaviness in my chest that pushes against my lungs
preventing me from taking a full breath. I wouldn't have this constant yearning
to feel your warm body against mine. There wouldn't be this unfulfilled ache in
the pit of my being that keeps me from sleeping. I can't seem to forget about
you, but everything in me screams that I must.
So I'll hold you to my lips one
last time and breathe you in slowly. I'll miss your warmth, your scent, your closeness.
Then I'll crush out your flame and let you go while there's still a little of
me left to salvage. Goodbye, my sweet corncob pipe, I love you.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Posted by Unknown at 10:32 PM
2 comments:
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! I'm not even going to tell you what things were going through my head before I read that last sentence! You're such a NUT!!ReplyDeleteReplies
:) Thanks, Jennie girl. I know I'm a nut...I just can't help myself. The pipe is pretty delicious, but I know it's bad for me...:( so I guess I'll quit before I get addicted!Delete
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I've long heard rumors in whispers around town that the best pie in Denton can be found at Loco Café. Not only did my long overdue reconnaissance mission need to be performed between the hours of 7:00am and 3:00pm, but the pie doesn't even show up until Friday. You may see this elusive beast Saturday, Sunday, or even Monday morning for the luckiest, but those who appreciate freshness, predictability, and just-from-the-oven warmth can and should make their standing pie dates around 10am on Friday.
Let's first talk about the size of this pie. At six deep-dish inches in diameter, it is the perfect size for a dessert. It is easily sharable for two or three, or can even be split into mini slivers of six with a melon ball scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream (you know you want to try that for the Instagram-able cuteness of it all). Let's be honest though, the real genius of this perfect size is you could conceivably hoard it all for yourself. No judgement here. I would probably pony up my own $5 round of decadence and join you.
Last week's jackpot showcased a cherry pie with a crumb topping. I felt like I won the lottery when I saw the sign. I love a sour cherry pie, and this one was far from disappointing. Of course it offered more than canned pie filling. Of course. Instead, whole bright dots of cherry floated in a creamy pink base. The filling was nicely balanced, not too sweet so the rubbly sugar from the crumble topping crunched through in every bite. The buttery crust was rustic and nicely salted, thin on the bottom and thick up the sides as it should be. I ate a piece for breakfast and it was perfect. I ate another piece after dinner for dessert, and it was also perfect. Coffee-drinkers, for you, this pie will offer up extra delight. I can't even imagine trying it without a steaming cup of black coffee at its side.
You can expect to find buttermilk, peach, pecan, chocolate pecan, and coconut cream in the line-up, but varieties are chosen based on seasonal freshness and the best all-natural ingredients at hand. Loco's master baker, Janita, mentioned she will even take requests. I asked what we could expect to see this weekend and she replied, "Do you have a suggestion?" In fact, I did have a suggestion, and you can expect to see it in the bakery case this Friday.
Keri Daskam is a Denton, TX based freelance writer who divides her time between family, food, books, textiles, ReadyRosie, and the warm comforts of home.