text:
The Great Cabaret pokie from Casino Technology offers up a fantastic gaming experience to pokie players with all gaming tastes. With 15 paylines, the game offers up plenty of generous winning potential and players can even trigger a generous bonus round with 15 free spins during which all payouts are tripled. Read our full review below.
Few of us ever get to experience great cabaret venues on a regular basis - if ever at all - but The Great Cabaret pokie means you can have some of the glitz and glamour right at your fingertips. With its bevvy of glamorous girls and practically every bonus and freebie you can think of, this is a Casino Technology pokie you cannot afford to miss.
A sparkling scene
Think free-flowing champagne and wine, sultry cabaret dancers and lots of friendly banter and you get an idea of how much fun you can have with The Great Cabaret. Add simple gameplay that will amuse rather than irritate and a bounty of bonus thrills and you are all set for a night - or day - to remember.
Enjoy the Paris nightlife of the 1920s from the comfort of your favourite chair or at your desk and be transported to a world without inhibition, where stars brush shoulders with everyday people and the jazz-filled atmosphere bubbles and fizzes as much as the ever-present champagne glasses.
Get in the mood for gameplay
The Great Cabaret perfectly sets the scene with its brightly-lit, glittering design and its jazz soundtrack, while the gameplay provides plenty of uncomplicated enjoyment. As long as you have at least a basic understanding of pokie play, you can set those reels spinning straight away.
It may not have the 15 paylines often seen these days, but its five reels and nine fixed paylines offer more than enough excitement when combined with all the features and bonuses that The Great Cabaret has to offer.
This is not one for the high rollers, however, as its maximum wager limits are anything but excessive. This pokie is aimed at the fun seekers amongst you rather than at people pursuing high-stake thrills.
Build on the basics
The base game is fairly standard, although the symbols are colourful, on-theme and easy on the eye. The cabaret dancers are key to the highest-value five-in-a-row win but there are plenty of other well-themed characters to lead you through the game, including the jokers and the violinists.
If your good fortune holds, you can advance and discover special symbols and bigger bounties than you may have encountered at the cabaret before. Combine four of the Mad Hatter wilds, for example, and 2,500 coins can be in the bag. This is nothing compared to the huge jackpot on offer for getting five of this fellow, in which case an astronomical 10,000 coins could be yours.
It is also worth keeping an eye on the seductive brunette scatter girl, who could hold the key to no less than 1,000 coins if you can persuade her to make five appearances. Even better, perhaps, is the scatter's potential to earn you as many as 15 free spins, which all benefit from a three-times multiplier.
These are pretty impressive wins for a pokie that is best-suited to players who rate enjoyment over blood-boiling excitement and novices who want to begin a fun-filled journey of discovery into the online pokie world.
|Game Name:
|The Great Cabaret
|Casino Technology
|Game Type:
|Min Bet (all lines covered):
|Max Bet:
|Top win:
|Bonus Game:
|Free Spins:
* The 'Play for Real' button that is visible on a mobile or tablet device on this page points to an Online Casino site. This site offers visitors the opportunity to play casino games for real money once they have registered. The Casino may not have this specific game available on their site. Please check the laws related to online gambling in your country/region before clicking this button.


text:
The U.K. has announced a policy that should be lauded:
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne told Parliament that Britain would reduce the emissions by about 50 percent from benchmark emission levels in 1990, part of its legally mandated commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent by 2030, and 80 percent by 2050.
This news is huge. Note first the benchmark: 1990 emission levels. The U.S.'s wasted effort at a needed emissions policy change was going to use 2005 as a benchmark – which was woefully inadequate. Of course, the policy never got changed so our trial benchmark is irrelevant.
What we need to know – and we obviously cannot for the time being – is whether this policy proposal will be watered down and if so by how much. No other European country has yet proposed such an aggressive cut in emissions. So while the U.K. is first and that's a good thing because it moves the debate forward, the sorry state of politics in general likely means that the target won't stand when put into place. But as long their efforts move actual policy forward, that's a good thing. I just hope it's enough and in time.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Anger, anxiety, bipolar, black sheep, Blame, Communication skills, crisis, cruel, Current Problem, denial, Dirty, disaster, Downward Spiral, Family, fears
Die Antwoord – I Fink U Freeky
Don't tell me to forgive. You can shove it in your ying yang. Go diddle your happy can. No one gets a pardon until I understand what happened.
Where do people get off pushing that hap-slappy crap on others? Be the bigger person. You're not doing it for them, you're doing it for you. I didn't find peace until I accepted that life hands us a sh!t cake and we get to eat it and smile. F^ck you. Go ahead sucker. Keep telling yourself that you are all better because you've put it on the back shelf and denied it or ignored it or whatever.
One thing I learned is it's easier to swallow later if you move away sooner. Living in the filth and being faced by it daily soaks into my skin a poison rub. How do you exorcise the toxins in your system when you're swimming in the sewage? When I say I'm trying to understand I'm told that there's no need to understand just leave it in the past and everything will be okay.
Is it style? Is it resistance? Is it faith? Is it a higher plane? Is it maturity? Or is it just because I'm crazy? Lately I'm trying to slough others and their opinions off. That's been a hard realization to come by when I've listened and believed in everyone else's POV and believed my own meant nothing. I always had to change. I have strived to calm the chaos in my head.
I'm like an old jalopy: starts and stalls. Not pretty, in fact quite skanky. I show all my miles. I've got to go.
I want to tell all the people to bug off. I'm not sure if they're really looking at me and talking behind my back. I see and hear what they say and I can tell that they are disgusted with me by their attitudes. I want to throw bricks at them. I want to get away from here. If I have to put up with those kinds of cr@p attitudes then I'd rather do it where I know people don't know me. I don't want to be the inside outsider. I want to just be the straight up outsider.


text:
LSU defensive end Sam Montgomery, in his own innocent and truthful way, confirmed one of the main criticisms NFL scouts have of him during his media interview Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine. Montgomery seemed comfortable admitting that he didn't always play hard during his college days, depending on the opponent.
"You know, some weeks when we didn't have to play the harder teams, there were some times when effort was not needed," Montgomery said when asked about LSU coaches not being happy with his consistency of effort. "But when we had the big boys coming in, the Bamas or the South Carolinas, I grabbed close to those guys (teammates) and went all out.
"Of course, this is a new league, the NFL and there are no small teams, small divisions It is all Alabamas and LSUs every week. It's definitely something I have to get adjusted to, but I'm sure with the right coaching I will be fine."
Montgomery, known for speaking from the heart and at times to his detriment, finished ninth among LSU defenders with 37 tackles. But he led the team with eight sacks and was second with 13 tackles for loss. He was held out of the starting lineup in three of LSU's 13 games.
There's no telling what Montgomery is saying to NFL teams in his personal interviews. He told the media the college experience and move to the NFL will help - or force - him to grow up.
"When you are a young, you do things as a boy, but when you grow, you do things as a man," Montgomery said. "From a maturing standpoint, and from everything going into this league that I have learned so far, I was a boy in college, and now that I am going into the league, I've become a man."


text:
Summer Colds
These are the worst thing ever. They get a hold of you and don't want to leave. You have to force them out with some serious medication. The last two weeks my BF has been fighting what seemed to be a mild one. Last weekend he thought he had it beat. He was feeling much better and wasn't really showing any signs of the cold sticking around. In my experience this is unusual. Every time I've ever ended up with a summer cold it's hung around forever and I just could never shake it. Of course I never said that to him b/c noone likes to think about that.
Last night he, X and I went to see the new Transformers movies (great great show btw – will review later). When X and I got to the theater to meet him he'd already started to not feel very good. He only ate a little bit of soup for dinner. By the time the movie was done he was too. The cold had come back full force. This morning he woke up feeling even more rotten… poor guy.
What is it about summer colds that make them so hard to get rid of. Generally speaking you can 'sweat out' a cold… They seem to thrive in cold and dry environments… not hot and muggy ones. Are summer colds so heinous simply because they are capable of surviving in the heat and humidity of summer. Does that actually play a part in why you can never seem to shake them?? All the normal tactics… lots of sleep, covered up in blankets so you sweat a lot only seem to make it worse. It's already generally hard to breathe in the summer time with all the humidity… add a cold on top of that and it's really not the most pleasant thing around.
Being sick is never fun… being sick over a holiday weekend… Well that's just unfair. This morning I am planning on going climbing with Squeaks – to kick off the weekend in our typical hard core fashion – But a big part of me just wants to stay here and take care of my man. Make him soup. Get him OJ and medicine. Watch whatever baseball games are on today … or whatever else he wants to watch. I know that if I decided to do this Squeaks would totally understand (even though we're both in desperate need of some climbing action). But I get the sense that my BF wants to deal on his own. Everyone enjoys being taken care of and he's no different. But, I don't think it's something he's used to so it's not what he seeks out when he's not feeling good.
Me, when I get sick… I turn into a big huge baby who wants nothing other than being coddled and looked after. I get whiny and annoying. It's not my most redeeming moment that's for sure. When other's around me are sick though… I turn into the 'mother hen' my mom used to tease me about being. I want nothing else than to scoop up the person feeling ill and take them away somewhere where I can baby them and make them feel better. I guess this morning we just have to strike a happy medium.
Beach Days
My friend Em asked me today if I wanted to take next Friday off and spend the day at the beach. Of course I jumped at the invitation about a second after she made the offer. Ever since I've been thinking about laying on a blanket in the sun just reading a book and enjoying the sound of the ocean. Such a relaxing feeling… Almost as soon as she mentioned the idea I was looking for a new bathing suit for the trip. I haven't been this excited about a day's vacation in a really long time.
We're both hoping that our 'boys' can also get the day off to come with and make a real trip out of it. Go early in the morning, set up some blankets and some beach umbrellas and just chill for the day with a cooler full of drinks and snacks. Perhaps bring some frisbees and balls to toss around…. I honestly can't wait. It's been AGES since I spent the day on the beach.
Last summer (around this time) I went on vacation with my family to Prince Edward Island (on the East Coast of Canada). We did spend one glorious afternoon on the beach but it was FREEZING and only my 7 year old nephew was brave enough to go in the water. It was still great to laze around in the sunshine… and I did still manage to get a wicked sun burn. But, it was not the warm day by the beach where you're just purely enjoying the day. That's what I expect from next Friday. I have a feeling it will be a near perfect day.
I love the beach. I love the water. I love the sand. I love the breeze and the smell of the ocean. I think it's one of the best ways to spend a day and one of the most relaxing places you can be. When I was young I lived in the Turks & Caicos Islands (from the age of 1 to the age of 7). I remember a lot of stuff from the last couple of years we were there. What I remember most (besides the hurricane that caused my fear of thunderstorms) was that we lived right on the beach. That I could go and play in the water and sit on the beach any time I wanted to. I loved falling asleep to the sound of the waves hitting the shore. It was so incredibly soothing.
If I could, I would live somewhere that I could get to a beach and to some seriously cool rocks to climb in the same (not very long) time frame. I'd love to be at the beach one weekend and climbing some amazing crag the next… all without actually having to 'go on vacation'. I guess there is no real reason why I couldn't do that… but I love the life I have and the people I have around me right now. I would also need to be much farther away from my family than I am now and I think I'd have a bit of a hard time with that. However, every time I am at the beach… or looking at some amazing rocks I realize how much I want to be somewhere that both of those environments are readily accessible to me. So, perhaps it's something I'd strive towards for the future.
For now, I am content to spend the next week thinking about how wonderful next Friday will be. While everyone else is at work Em and I (and hopefully the boys) and possibly miss LA will be lounging on blankets at the beach basking in the wonderful sunshine. Of course we'll also be covered in sunscreen to ensure the complete success and enjoyment of the rest of the weekend. I have no intention of repeating last summer's beach sun burn…. no thank you!
Happy weekend all!!


text:
Diseased farmed salmon. (Photo: GAAIA)
Chlamydia and gill disease ravage Scottish salmon: GAAIA
Wednesday, November 07, 2012, 02:00 (GMT + 9)
The Global Alliance Against Industrial Aquaculture (GAAIA) claims that salmon farming in Scotland's Isle of Mull is being plagued by several diseases, such as amoebic gill disease, proliferative gill inflammation and chlamydia.
The organisation released this information in a report called Scottish Salmon's Dirty Big Secret, which issued last year based on the data obtained from a dossier via Freedom of Information.
And it no states that it got a former public relations director of the salmon farming company first affected by gill diseases to blow the whistle.
"[I was] not prepared to lie to journalists about the extent of the mortalities," stated Fiona Cameron, former director of public relations for Pan Fish and Lighthouse Caledonia during the 2007-8 disease outbreak at the Lamlash Bay site.
The Scottish Salmon Company (SSC), Marine Harvest and Scottish Sea Farms are all seeing mass mortalities of up to 70 per cent in their farms. Marine Harvest and the SSC both reported considerable losses to shareholders and investors in their latest financial reports, and Marine Harvest predicted further losses in Q4 due to gill diseases, GAAIA stated.
"Scottish salmon is farmed and diseased. Lamlash Bay on the Isle of Arran is 'ground zero' with reports of infectious gill diseases since 2007. Since then amoebic gill disease has spread like a malignant cancer along the coast of Scotland from Argyll to Orkney and from Skye to the Western Isles," said Don Staniford of GAAIA, who is visiting salmon farms on the Isle of Skye this week along with representaives of Wild Salmon First.
Cameron said she believes amoebic gill disease is exactly what caused those large mortalities.
"I find it impossible to believe that this is not the same disease which killed a large number of fish at Pan Fish's Arran site a number of years ago (and indeed was the cause of my parting company with them, as I was not prepared to lie to journalists like Nick Underdown about the extent of the mortalities)," Cameron wrote in an email to GAAIA. "Not sure why they're saying it's a new phenomenon. I guess they don't want to frighten the horses (a.k.a. the shareholders!)."
According to official data from the Scottish Government, amoebic gill disease was first reported at Lamlash Bay in October 2011, killing 279,000 farmed salmon. By April 2012, the lethal disease had spread to 15 sites including Loch Roag in the Western Isles, the Firth of Lorne, Seil Sound, the Sound of Mull, Loch Kishorn, the Isle of Gigha and the Orkney Isles, GAAIA stated.
The organisation has now filed a FOI with Marine Scotland requesting disease data from April-November 2012.
"May the global voices for wild salmon unite to deliver the message to Norway that Norwegian salmon farms are not welcome and must go!" said Elena Edwards of Wild Salmon First, who is visiting from British Columbia, Canada.
Related article:
- Environmentalists push for boycott of Scottish salmon
By Natalia Real
[email protected]


text:
Ideapad 500S (13)
Ideapad 500S (13)
13.3" Thin & light, high performance laptop
- Lightweight design for everyday use
- Fast, efficient, state-of-the-art processor
- 180-degree hinge for flexible sharing
- Choice of integrated or discrete graphics
- Full hi-res display & lightning-fast connectivity
13.3" Thin & light, high performance laptop
The Latest Intel® Core™ i Series Processors
Enjoy cutting-edge processing with the latest Intel® Core™ i Series processors.
Up to Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Home is the best combination of the Windows you already know, plus lots of great improvements you'll love. Technologies like InstantGo* let you boot up and resume quickly, everything runs fast and smooth, and Windows 10 Home devices now have Battery Saver to automatically conserve power — so you can work longer and play harder. For total confidence, Windows 10 Home helps you stay up to date and has more built-in security features than ever for helping protect against malicious software. *Hardware-dependent
Slim, Lightweight, & Ultraportable
Never lug a heavy, clunky laptop around again. At just 19.3 mm (0.76") thin and weighing 1.5 kg (3.4 lb), the Lenovo IdeaPad 500S is perfect for your on-the-go lifestyle.
180-Degree Hinge
Open your laptop and share your screen with everyone around you. The IdeaPad 500S screen can be opened 180° for impressive viewing angles.
Customizable Graphics
Strike your own balance between cost and graphical power. Choose between integrated Intel® graphics or the optional NVIDIA GeForce® 920M graphics processor, giving you a boost when it comes to getting creative with video and photo editing, and assuring a richer visual and faster gaming experience.
Stereo Speakers with Dolby® Home Theater®
Get ready for a truly satisfying home entertainment experience. Thanks to advanced Dolby® technology and stereo speakers, your music and movies will sound big and loud on the IdeaPad 500S.
Up to 13.3" Full HD Display
The Lenovo IdeaPad 500S has the option of a 13.3" Full HD (1920 x 1080) display — delivering bright, crisp visuals in 16:9 widescreen format.
Integrated Webcam
With up to 720p HD video, the built-in webcam and mic lets you enjoy web conferences or online video chats like you're really there.
Surf the Web at Lightning Speed
At three times the speed of traditional WiFi, the IdeaPad 500S's 802.11 a/c WiFi lets you browse the net, stream music/movies, and share things faster than ever.
Fast Data Transfer
Move data between the IdeaPad 500S and other devices quickly with USB 3.0. Up to ten times faster than previous USB technologies, it's also backward-compatible.
Smile, Swap, and Sort – in Seconds.
The IdeaPad 500S comes with Lenovo® Photo Master 2.0 - a modern photo library with powerful, easy-to-use navigation and editing tools. Now, with features such as Auto Face Swap and Smart Event Sort, you can organize and optimize your photos to perfection.Show MoreLess
Ask An Owner
Ideapad 500S (13)Ask An Owner
Tech Specs
Tech Specs
DESCRIPTION LENOVO IDEAPAD 500s 13 INCH LAPTOP Processor
- Intel® Core™ i7-6500U Processor (4M Cache, 2.5GHz), Turbo Boost 2.0 (3.1GHz)
- Intel Core i5-6200U Processor (3M Cache, 2.3GHz), Turbo Boost 2.0 (2.8GHz)
- Intel Core i3-6100U Processor (3M Cache, 2.3GHz)
Operating system Windows 10 Home 64-bit Display
- 13.3" HD (1366x768), TN, 200 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 400:1 contrast ratio
- 13.3" FHD (1920x1080), IPS, 220 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 700:1 contrast ratio
Graphics Integrated Intel HD Graphics 520, some with NVIDIA® GeForce® 920M, 2GB memory; supports dual independent display Max resolution: 1920x1200@60Hz (HDMI) Memory 4GB or 8GB, PC3-12800 1600MHz DDR3L, one 204-pin SO-DIMM socket Webcam HD720p (1.0MP), fixed focus Storage 128GB SSD, SATA 6.0Gb/s, 2.5" Optical drive None Dimensions (W x D x H) 323 x 230 x 19.3 mm Weight 1.56kg Case colour White Case material
- Top: aluminum
- Bottom: PC/ABS plastic
Battery Integrated Li-Polymer 2-cell (35Wh) Battery life1 Up to 7 hours AC adaptor
- Integrated graphics: 45W
- Discrete graphics: 65W
Keyboard 6-row, multimedia Fn keys Touchpad One-piece multi-touch touchpad Fingerprint reader None Audio support HD Audio, stereo speakers with Dolby® DS 1.0 Home theatre®, 1.5W x 2 / dual array microphone, combo audio / microphone jack Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet connection Wireless LAN Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165 (1x1, 802.11ac, Wi-Fi, 80MHz) + Bluetooth 4.0 Wireless WAN None NFCNone TV tunerNone Security chipNone Ports
- 2 x USB 3.0 (one Always On Charging)
- 1 x USB 2.0
- 4-in-1 reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC)
- Combo audio/microphone jack
- Ethernet (RJ45)
- Security keyhole
Specifications and availability may differ from that promoted or available from Lenovo resellers from time to time.
Show MoreLess
- 1 Battery life (and recharge times) will vary based on many factors including screen brightness, applications, features, power management, battery conditioning and other customer preferences.
Accessories & Services
Ideapad 500S (13)Accessories & Services


text: A new security plan will sweeps by Iraqi forcesbacked by US troops [AFP] Al-Maliki had already announced on Saturday that his government would implement a new security plan for Baghdad, including neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood sweeps by Iraqi forces backed by US troops. Your Views "Bush's strategy has failed totally in Iraq and USA has already lost the war. The new plan will not work; it will only bring more deaths and make things in Iraq worst..." Dimos, Hania-Crete, Greece Send us your viewsHoda Abdel-Hamid, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Iraq, said: "Al-Maliki has been very stern, warning all militias to give up their arms." She said: "He needs to be successful in this step and deliver security to his people. At the moment he is an embattled prime minister." Prior to Bush's speech, a senior Shia official and adviser to al-Maliki, said the prime minister had warned that no militias would be spared in the crackdown. The official said: "The government has told the Sadrists: 'If we want to build a state we have no other choice but to attack armed groups." One senior US official said al-Maliki had agreed to stop protecting the Mahdi Army under pressure from both the US and his fellow Iraqis. Political protection In the past, the Iraqi government has tried to prevent American military operations against the Mahdi Army. But although al-Maliki has now withdrawn political protection, there is no guarantee the Mahdi Army will be easily displaced from the area of Baghdad under its control. The Mahdi Army has more fighters, weapons and sophistication now than it did in 2004, when it battled US forces to a standstill in the Shia holy city of Najaf and in Sadr City, a slum area in the northeast Baghdad which serves as headquarters of the Mahdi Army. Senior officials in al-Sadr's group said there will be no comment on Bush's speech until their political council meets later on Thursday. Hussein al-Falluji, a Sunni official, rejected the plan to increase the number of American troops and warned that it would only increase violence. "Bush's plan could be the last attempt to fix the chaos created after the invasion of Iraq. Yet, sending more troops will not end the problem, on the contrary, there will be more bloodshed," he said. "I think that the solution would be to set an objective timetable for the withdrawal of the American forces and start direct negotiations with the Iraqi resistance" Hussein al-Falluji,Sunni official"I think that the solution would be to set an objective timetable for the withdrawal of the American forces and start direct negotiations with the Iraqi resistance." Fawaz Gerges, a Middle East analyst, in an interview with Al Jazeera, called the new strategy Bush's "last card" and a "gamble" that he said "went against the advice of almost the entire political establishment in America". He said: "Once again he has chosen to risk the future of his presidency and the military and global strategy of America in the shifting sands of Iraq." Instead, Gerges said Bush should "invest serious political capital in the region". Kurdish force Iraqi and US officials said Iraqi commanders will be put in charge of each of nine city districts and each commander will operate independently of Iraqi military headquarters. The US plans to put 400 to 600 troops in each district as a backup force, a senior Bush administration official said on Wednesday. Others will be held in reserve throughout the capital to deploy quickly on the request of Iraqi commanders. An Iraqi general, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a unit of the Iraqi army, composed mainly of Kurds, would be sent into Sadr City. The general said Kurds, who are Sunni but not Arab, would make up the unit because soldiers from other Iraqi units were likely to refuse to fight fellow Shia. In his televised speech also on Wednesday Bush promised 21,500 extra US troops for Iraq [AFP]An estimated 80 per cent of Iraq's army is Shia. Washington wants al-Maliki to come up with a plan to equitably share Iraq's oil wealth, ease restrictions on former Ba'ath Party members and hold provincial elections. The US sees these as important steps to draw Sunnis into the political process. Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese general, told Al Jazeera: "I think in order for this [new strategy] to succeed it has to work on a number of levels." He said that more important than increasing troop numbers in Iraq was "political reform, amendment of the constitution and the introduction of new laws for the distribution of oil". SOURCE: Agencies


text:
The real estate industry is accustomed to dealing with private information and regulatory obligations, but the industry often overlooks cyber risks. For a long time, real estate organizations have been able to avoid the worst type of attacks, like those seen by several major retailers and newspapers in the last year. However, as retailers and other clamp down on security, attackers will broaden their horizons, seeking new opportunities to harvest customer data.Real estate companies are ideal targets for hackers who crave personal details and financial information that can be monetized on the black market. The old saying tells us that real estate investment is all about location, but those working in the industry know their success depends on a solid reputation that investors, buyers, and customers can trust.Understanding the threats, internal and external, that your organization faces is the best way to manage risk, harden cyber security, and protect your reputation.
Read More


text:
Worldwide Sites
You have been detected as being from . Where applicable, you can see country-specific product information, offers, and pricing.
Keyboard ALT + g to toggle grid overlay
South Korean architectural graphics firms make software asset management (SAM) a high priority, reducing costs by improving control over Autodesk® software licenses.
Wonyang Architecture: Software Asset Management
Leading South Korean architecture firm known for its BIM projects tightens its SAM program to better manage its Autodesk® software licenses.
A defense contractor institutes a rigorous software asset management program after discovering its noncompliance with Autodesk software licenses.
Global design firm HOK uses Autodesk software products to design a robust software asset management program and gains a competitive advantage: flexibility.


text:
- Chemistry
- Organic chemistry
- Camphor
Article By:
Saul, Everett L. Products Division, Bristol-Myers Company.
Last reviewed:2014
- Additional Readings
A bicyclic, saturated terpene ketone. It exists in the optically active dextro and levo forms, and as the racemic mixture of the two forms. All of these melt within a degree of 178°C (352°F). The principal form is dextro−camphor, which occurs in the wood and leaves of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora). Taiwan is the chief source of natural camphor which is distilled from the wood of this tree. Camphor is also synthesized commercially on a large scale from pinene which yields mainly the racemic variety. The structural formula of the molecule is shown below.
The content above is only an excerpt.
for your institution. Subscribe
To learn more about subscribing to AccessScience, or to request a no-risk trial of this award-winning scientific reference for your institution, fill in your information and a member of our Sales Team will contact you as soon as possible.
to your librarian. Recommend
Let your librarian know about the award-winning gateway to the most trustworthy and accurate scientific information.
About AccessScience
AccessScience provides the most accurate and trustworthy scientific information available.
Recognized as an award-winning gateway to scientific knowledge, AccessScience is an amazing online resource that contains high-quality reference material written specifically for students. Contributors include more than 9000 highly qualified scientists and 43 Nobel Prize winners.
MORE THAN 8500 articles and Research Reviews covering all major scientific disciplines and encompassing the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology
115,000-PLUS definitions from the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms
3000 biographies of notable scientific figures
MORE THAN 19,000 downloadable images and animations illustrating key topics
ENGAGING VIDEOS highlighting the life and work of award-winning scientists
SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER STUDY and additional readings to guide students to deeper understanding and research
LINKS TO CITABLE LITERATURE help students expand their knowledge using primary sources of information


text:
Short Answer Questions
The online GCC application includes the following short answer questions. The response for each question should be no longer than 1,500 characters (including spaces).
- Why are you interested in the Global Competence Certificate?
- What prior experiences do you bring to the program? How will these experiences contribute to your and your peers' learning?
- How will the GCC help you in your personal and professional life? How do you think you will use the learning you gain in the GCC?
- Please discuss whether and how global competence education can lead to better educational outcomes for students.
- Please discuss your communication and collaboration style. How will you apply and adapt it in various GCC components including: synchronous and asynchronous online coursework, virtual Collaborative Practice Groups, and the global fieldwork?
- The GCC is a rigorous online certificate program designed for in-service educators. Considering that teachers lead very busy lives, please reflect on how you will balance the program work with your other professional and personal responsibilities.
- A core component of the program is 2-3 weeks of summer global fieldwork. What do you anticipate you will learn as an educator and a person through the fieldwork experience?
Participant Selection Criteria
- Interest and commitment to global competence education
- Compelling purpose for applying to the GCC
- An open, communicative, and collaborative disposition
- Strong academic background and preparedness for program rigor (minimum bachelor's degree required)
- Professional experience (minimum 2 years) that will enhance constructive participation
- Technological proficiency (basic navigation and word processing skills; broadband internet access)
- Commitment to participate fully in all aspects of the program


text:
It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day
January 27, 2010 2 Comments
…it's a new life (or at least a new work life).
Arrived a bit early – unlocked the office. Even though I didn't have morning duties I still am the first person here so I unforward the helpdesk phone and swapped out the tapes from the Horizon and Authority Works severs.
Went downstairs to get my huge purple mug full of ice from the staff lounge.
The sun coming over the trees and the apartments next to the library caught my eye out the window of my ex-boss. So I went into her empty office and snapped a shot. Wasn't my best but took it anyway.
Fired up by Ubuntu and Windows machines. On Ubuntu I opened Tweetdeck, Thunderbird and Firefox. Checked both work and Gmail – looked at the helpdesk tickets on our Staff Intranet. Assigned them including two to myself.
Luis our network administrator called to say he was out today. Had completely forgotten he had volunteered to chaperone his grandson's field trip to Montpelier Mansion. Emailed the rest of IT because invariable I was going to be asked at some point during the day, "Where's Luis?". I suppose since I am mainly stationed at my desk I seem to know most people's coming and goings. I've become the unofficial IT secretary. I joke about it being a pain and sometimes it is but I also like being reliable and knowing the answers to the whereabouts of my co-workers.
Approved a comment on my blog than updated my T is for Training Meme by including links to others that had answered the same questions I had.
Read email from Read/Write/Web and tweeted a few interesting bits.
Worked on the morning bounceback emails. I often find these amusing since customers often hit reply instead of forward. I wind up getting love notes meant for spouses or kids saying "Hey honey, do you still have this the library needs it back".
Schedule another staff member for the usability testing or our new Intranet. Think we have everyone set now.
Blogged about Monday's Library Day in the Life.
Then the IT department met with Director of HR and our Deputy Executive Director. They assured us that Amy's departure would not effect our jobs, that they'd be posting her position ASAP as they knew with our new ILS migration coming we'd need someone to lead that and told us who our interim boss would be. A familiar face – Holly Johnson who had been my boss when I was part of the Automation department. Then Holly came and let us know she wants to make this as smooth as possible.
I went to her office and spoke with her privately about all the things that had gone on in our dept. over the past year. It's been a topsy-turvy one for us. I told her she is getting a great team but maybe not at the best time. We will recover, we will come together and get through this it's just we are still a bit in shock at the moment. I think she understands.
Worked on tweaking the usability tasks and survey.
Grabbed a quick lunch before the first usability test of the day. Went quickly and if all our staff was like this person my job would be done. She found almost everything with no problem. However, I know that won't be the case but she gave us good feedback.
Our web programmer and I went to our Savage branch to do the next usability test. Results were interesting. He also gave us good feedback. Danny, our web programmer, and I got to talking about all the results so far (4 by then) and decided we wanted one more person before we made any changes to the site. This would give us another round after the changes to see if the change helped or not. So we made an unexpected stop at our East Columbia branch. We asked the Customer Service supervisor to recommend one of her staff. This helped to make up our minds about one change we had been waffling on.
We came back to Central Library to make the change and then it was time for me to head home.


text:
Many brides are so excited to get ready on the big day and don their amazing wedding gown. You imagine walking down the aisle. You imagine the smiles on faces of your families and friends…BUT are you prepared for the gleeful look on the groom's face?
The groom will be patiently waiting at the alter and probably perspiring as he waits to say his vows. Men sometimes process the big day differently that us gals! They might stress about standing in front of the crowd, stumbling over their vows, and getting overheated in their tuxedos. They have been teased from their friends about taking the plunge and that day has finally come.
Imagine the groom…he is in front of your loved ones stressing with no where to turn and no where to run. There is probably only one thing that will make him feel better at this moment…you! You are his best friend. You are his everything. You are the breathtaking bride that will be walking down the aisle at any moment. Remember you are the other half he has been waiting for. Your presence, your beauty, your being will pull out every emotion he has in him. The look of joy, love, and inner peace will exude from him. Enjoy this moment. Take it in. Enjoy this once in a lifetime look from the man you love.


text:
You can opt-out from either of these at any time. Any questions or concerns please contact us. See our Privacy Policy.
You can opt-out from either of these at any time
Any questions or concerns please contact us.
We're taking time to celebrate Beyoncé's younger sister Solange Knowles because today is her 29th birthday! Solange has been making a name for herself beyond being "Beyoncé's little sister" as she is becoming an influential fashionista and musician in her own way.
Solange has had an exciting and interesting couple of years from marrying longtime sweetheart, Alan Ferguson, in November 2014, to a viral video leaking of her altercation with brother-in-law Jay-Z, and slaaaaaying various red carpet events in between it all.
Big sister Beyoncé celebrated her sister's birthday by going down memory lane by posting old photos of them as kids.
But since we don't have #TBT pics of Solange to post, we've decided to celebrate by taking a look at some of her chicest dance moves. We dare you to learn these advanced moves.
1. "Flick Of The Neck" (Disclaimer: Don't go too hard on this one)
2. "I'm Beyoncé's little what?" – The game changer.
3. "How It All Went Down In the Elevator" – It speaks for itself.
4. "The Creeper" – Ladies, this is the perfect move for the dance floor.
5. The " 1, 2, 3 and 4 and…" – Watch out, Beyoncé, she's coming close with that leg work.
6. "The New Age Sprinkler" – Out with the old, in with the new.
To see more of these dance moves, watch the music video for both singles off her debut EP, True, released in November 2012.
Lovers In The Parking Lot
Losing You
We love your fashion and dance moves — happy birthday, Solange!


text:
Not every body is perfect … Three Common Anatomy Issues that Affect Saddle fit
Horses are just like us — they're not physically perfect. Some are left leaded, some right; some are born with high withers, some are born to be round; some are wide, some are narrow. And to complicate matters, our riding habits and saddles can create anatomy issues that make saddle fit difficult.
Shoulder Pockets
Shoulder pockets are one of the most common anatomy issues a horse can experience. This condition can be caused by poor saddle fit, it can be a natural condition or it may be a transitional body change during the aging process. No matter how it occurs, however, horses with this condition can benefit greatly from the dispersion capability of the CSI Saddle Pad Flex-Plate. Shims may or may not be necessary for this back shape.
Uneven Development
Just like us, horses are right or left handed (leaded) and this can cause one side of the shoulder to be larger than the other. Usually horses are more dominant on the left side and many times we exacerbate this problem in certain western disciplines (such as roping) where we spend more time loping our horses on their left leads than on their right. However it occurs, uneven development causes uneven saddle fit. A common symptom is frequent saddle adjustment by the rider — which can cause irritation to the horse in and of itself. The CSI pad can benefit any horses with uneven development. Shims may or may not be necessary depending on the severity of the problem.
Sway Back
As our horses age their bodies change. Often one of the results of this change is a sway in the back. This condition causes bridging issues with the saddle where the tree contacts only behind the wither and over the loin and not down the center (like a bridge). This can cause all kinds of issues from soreness to resistance. It can be easily helped, however, with a CSI Saddle Pad and shims.
If you have a sway backed horse, it is a good idea to do latisimus dorsi muscle exercises to help them strengthen their top-line. Do this by "tickling" it by applying pressure under the belly (belly button area) until you see the top-line lift. Ask the horse to hold the lift for several seconds for maximum effect.
Using Shims to Affect Your Saddle fit …
Before you shim, you need to know that shims are only TEMPORARY solutions and should be used only when necessary and as part of an overall rehab program. You should re-access your shims every few rides.
The majority of horses out there don't need shims with the CSI Saddle Pad system. The CSI Flex-Plate is very, very effective at resolving minor anatomy issues. However, there are some conditions which can benefit from having shims.
Another common saddle fit issue is working with a horse with a sway back. Let's take an in depth look at the shimming process for a swaybacked horse.
Applying the Shim to the CSI Pad
You will add velcro to the top of the shim. This makes it removable and re-position-able. Applying the completed shim to the CSI Pad is as simple as positioning it correctly and closing the lid of the pad.
Shimming Tips
Shimming is the solution to the more dramatic versions of the conditions above. There is in depth information about shimming on this page and in other places on the site. If you choose to shim, be sure to keep these tips in mind:
- Shim using the thinnest shim to correct the issue. Do not over shim as this could cause other problems.
- Check shims OFTEN. Your horse's body changes frequently, keep checking the shim and the fit of your saddle and pad to make sure you still need the shim.
- Remove the shims if you ride a different horse and check the shims if you change saddles.
- When you shim, what you're really doing is filling in with foam or felt or other material where the horse should naturally have muscle. Keep this principle in mind at all times when you're cutting your shims.
Beveling Thicker Shims
Thicker shims should be beveled for your horse's comfort. Just cut the edge of the shim at an angle to create a bevel or slope.
Still need more help? Get a saddle pad fit consult.
If you have a horse with special needs and want help evaluating it for fit with a CSI Saddle Pad, you can get a free phone consult with one of our saddle pad fitters. To give you the most effective advice, you should be prepared to take some digital photos and email them to us at email@example.com. Here is a list of photos I'd like to see to evaluate saddle and/or saddle pad fit:
(To get good relevant photos, place the horse on level ground in an even stance.)
- A photo of the horse's back with no saddle or pad. One from each side.
- One photo looking down the horse's back from behind and above. Use a bucket or the fence to help get a good angle where we can determine if the horse is even or uneven behind the wither.
- Two photos of the horse with just the saddle, not cinched. One from the mount side and one looking down the gullet from the front.
You can download a handy PDF of both how to use shims and the photos you need to take to get help with shimming. Just click on the images below:


text:
Welcome to the newest big thing in PixieDragons! We are welcome to present to you PD WEEKLY!!!! Exculisively for members, it's like a magazine updated each week in your personal picks and likes! We post all the amazing stuff, tips and special news from PixieHollow to PixieDragons! We have weekly polls, games and more fun stuff! So stay tuned each week for new fairy fun!
Note: This page and it's chat system are still being tested and worked on. You may chat as long as it's not included with other websites. In other words, only chat if the chat system is associated with pixiedragons. We will soon get this fixed. Sorry for the delay. We will tell you when it is fully tested and ready to use without cautions.
Video of the Week!:
Pixie Hollow's Best Homes
Pixie Hollow's Best Homes
To suggest a video, picture or ask a question, fill out the fourm below to get in contact with us. Remember, we can only answer 25 questions/requests per month. So we will tell you when the the fourm is abvailable. (Fourms are not abvailable during contests unless they are entries, otherwise fourms are not abvailable once we get the 25 requests for the month. Only few requests will be used all month.) Good Lucky PixieDragons!


text:
Call Us! 801.756.LOVE (5683)
Honeymoon Registry | Store Location | Login | Register
Designed especially for the soft and sensitive skin of women, Pjur brings you a personal lubricant made to enhance female sexual pleasure. A super-concentrated, Silicone formula, this is one of the longest lasting, best skin conditioners available.
Have the sexiest deals sent right to your inbox.
Husband & Wife respects your Privacy. We don't rent or sell your personal information to anyone, ever.
View More Customer Testimonials >>
"I got married almost a year and a half ago. being new to marriage I was also new to THIS fun aspect of it! It was so nice to have a clean, comfortable, atmosphere, I never felt uneasy or embarrassed to be there and have loved the selection they have. Another thing I love is that all of the lingerie is modeled on mannequins, in the store and on the website, it all helps keep you from feeling uncomfortable. Because of all of this I can honestly say that the only place I keep returning to is Husband & Wife. Thank You!"
© Copyright 2014, Husband & Wife. All Rights Reserved. Design Corsets, Anniversary Lingerie & Erotic Games | Sensual, Sexy Shopping for Couples


text:
Lanolin Facial Serum Royal Jelly and Rosehip Oil 95% Natural 30ml
Paypal Visa Mastercard American Express Diners Club Bank deposit
Lanolin facial serum with Royal jelly and Rose hip oil 30ml utilizes only the best ingredients and is 95% Natural. Royal Jelly, having powerful moisturizing properties assists in the deep conditioning of the skin, while Vitamins A, C and E stimulate collagen production; and cellular rejuvenation is enhanced. Antioxidant and moisture rich Rose hip Oil has the ability to penetrate into the deep layers of the skin providing ultimate hydration and collagen production.


text:
NEW Design for 2012. A fitted base layer with short sleeves designed to be worn close to the body.
The T shirt is treated with 3xDry® to keep the wearer dry and comfortable. A perfect alternative to polyester or polypropylene base layers that cling, can transmit odours and have a low melting point.
This prevents gathering or bunching under outer clothing.
Made from high quality soft cotton (95%) and lycra(5%) for added comfort and shape retention. A soft bound collar ensures maximum comfort.
Colour Black/Grey with chest and back design. Additional breathable mesh tape on the body and sleeves for extra comfort.
7 Sizes XS - XXXL
Moisture Management
Water and Stain Repellent
Breather Mesh Panels on side for additional comfort
Minimizes perspiration marks


text:
- Outerwear
- Tees
- Ladies
- Accessories
- Sizing
- Velo Girl Rides
- Bookwalter Binge Gear
- N + 1 Athletes
Posted on February 14, 2017
In past months we've highlighted National Champions, pro riders, and record holders as the Athlete of the Month. The blog is a little different for February. Drew Miller and his wife, Marla, started N Plus One Apparel in 2015 while living in Houston, TX. Since Drew is a celebrating a birthday this month, he gets to answer a few questions.
1. Where did you grow up?
The small town of Sulphur in Southwest Louisiana. When people hear that you are from Louisiana, they ask if you're from New Orleans. But our town was actually closer to Houston than New Orleans (but I was still brought up as a Saints fan).
2. Did you play sports when you were growing up? Tell us about your position and what you loved about it.
I started playing soccer at the age of 5 and completely fell in love with the sport. I ended up as a goalkeeper despite not having a bit of a height disadvantage. Over time and with experience, I learned how to play angles and read the offensive players to be able to be in the right time at the right place. I also worked on plyometric and speed drills during the summers. I'd take a bag of orange cones out into a field and work on speed, strength, and improving vertical jump. I ended up playing through high school and a few years in college before it started to feel more like a job and really wasn't fun anymore. I still have not played in an organized soccer game since then.
3. What is your favorite food?
Pizza. For years, each Friday evening has been designated at pizza night. I usually eat as much as I possibly can. It pretty much satisfies my craving for "unhealthy" food for the week. I eat that much with the understanding that I am going to try to get out and ride the bike at least 50 miles or run at least 10 miles the next morning to try to burn some of it off.
4. When and how did you start cycling?
For about as far back as I can remember as a kid, my dad and uncle have always been into cycling. I remember taking many weekend trips to go to races and events with them ride. I always really wanted to join, but would not have been able to keep up very well on my BMX. So in my childhood, I used a bike as most kids do. It was a form of freedom. I would ride to my friends' houses, explore trails in the woods, and take some pretty sweet jumps into the yard using a wooden ramp that my dad made for me.
A bit later in life, after I was "all grown up", gas prices approached $5/gallon. I thought it would a great way to save a few bucks by riding a bike to work. I went to the bike shop and picked up a mountain bike (since there would be lots of hopping on and off of curbs to use sidewalks on very busy roads). I realized I enjoyed riding to work so much that I started riding more just for fun after work.
So after a few years of too much beer and generally not taking very good care of myself, I decided that this would be a great way to get some exercise. It soon became clear that I "needed" a road bike (starting the cycle of my N+1). I started riding a daily 10 mile loop near my house. I would be absolutely exhausted when I would get home. Very quickly I worked my way up to 15 miles, then 20. Within about a year, I was regularly riding anywhere from 50 – 80 miles each Saturday morning along the Gulf of Mexico. It became the one thing that I looked forward to all week long. The rhythm of the pedal strokes was meditative, like my mind was subconsciously working through things on a nice long ride with a refreshed feeling by the time I got home. I got hooked on the feeling, and have remained addicted to this day.
5. You are a great runner - when did you start running?
My dad was really into running as well when I was growing up. If he had a 10k or a half marathon, I would always get to enter the 1 mile fun run. Even at 9 years old, I took it pretty seriously and wanted to do well. I rediscovered running during a particularly rainy stretch of weeks in Florida. It was way too rainy to ride the bike, so I figured I'd go for a run instead. It had probably been about 5 years since I had gone for a run so I wasn't sure what to expect. As it turns out the bike had gotten me in pretty good condition. I just started running and before I knew it I had covered 10 miles. Once I realized that it was a pretty easy way to get a great workout rain or shine, I started running regularly.
6. What is your favorite thing to do when not working or cycling/running?
Looking at new bikes at the shop or talking to others about bikes, wheels, components, and routes. Even if I don't "need" a new bike at the time.
7. What is the best place you've ever visited?
I moved to Pensacola, FL right after college and I have been a beach person ever since. I would sometimes spend my entire lunch hour driving to the beach and back just to be able to look at the water for a few minutes. There is a calming effect of the waves. Being near the water, saltwater in particular, I felt like I could enjoy and see things that most people were only able to experience on vacation. I really loved seeing dolphins, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. Sometimes all in the same trip.
So it is only natural that my favorite place is on the beach. I actually have 2 favorite places. One is Opal Beach. It is in the National Seashore between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach. There are no buildings in sight and once you park you can walk about 10 minutes and have a stretch of beach completely to yourself. The other favorite place is Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. It literally looks like a postcard or a shot from some kind of "Exotic Tropical Beaches" calendar. The coolest part is the drive on the Overseas Highway to get there. Atlantic Ocean on one side of the road and the Gulf of Mexico on the other.
8. When did you start N+1 and how did you get the idea?
We started N+1 in late 2015. I thought it would be a great way to be involved in cycling and meet others. We had the idea because there are very many companies that make kits, but not too many that made casual items and tees.
9. What are some of the things you are looking forward to for N+1 in 2017?
Looking forward to releasing some new designs and attending some different events for 2017. My favorite part of N+1 is keeping up with all of the awesome folks we've been able to meet over the last year. We truly enjoy seeing everyone's success and what they have going on. We've been able to meet and work with people of all skill levels. We have been fortunate to work with people like Tour de France veteran and Olympian, Brent Bookwalter of BMC Pro Cycling, as well as some talented and driven younger pros that are on the rise. From pros all the way to some hardcore weekend warriors and triathletes that we meet at events, it's awesome to see the same level of passion and enjoyment that each one of them gets out of riding a bike.
10. Milk or dark chocolate?
Dark Chocolate. I think I read once that dark chocolate has antioxidants, so I've convinced myself that it is health food.
11. Do you have any rides or runs in particular you are looking forward to this year?
Anytime I'm able to go back home to visit Pensacola I'm always excited about riding there. Miles and miles of bike lane riding right next to the Gulf of Mexico is nice. Another ride I always look forward to is the Blue Ridge Parkway when we visit Asheville. Incredible views!
12. How many bikes do you own? Any plans for adding another +1?
Right now we have 5 bikes. The most recent is a new Specialized Allez Sprint that joined our family in October of 2016. I think the day you start shopping for your next bike is the day after you've just bought one. That's part of the fun. Even though I'm not always buying, I'm always shopping.


text:
A day after being named a team captain for the first time in his NFL career, Barry Cofield expressed confidence in the struggling Redskins as they prepare for the stretch run.
"We have to look at it like it's a different season," Cofield said, referring to last week's bye. "If we win out and fulfill all of our goals, no one will remember the beginning of the season."
While "winning out," as Cofield put it, might seem unlikely, the veteran nose tackle said that's got to be the Redskins' mindset entering the season's final seven games.
The Redskins enter Sunday's meeting with the Eagles in last place in the NFC East with a record of 3-6 overall and 0-1 in the division. The first-place Giants, however, are within striking distance at 6-3 and 2-2.
Cofield pointed to last year's Super Bowl participants -- and their lackluster defenses -- as one reason his teammates should remain optimistic.
"The Giants and the Patriots were both low-ranked defenses that got hot at the right time and played well enough to make that run," Cofield said, referring to the 2011 New York and New England units that ranked 27th and 31st, respectively. The Redskins currently rank 27th.
"We really feel like if we can put it together, with the way our offense is playing, we can win out," Cofield added. "We really feel that we can and anything short of that will be disappointing."
Cofield's confident comments came a day after he was elected a captain by his teammtes. The seven-year professional, who last served as a captain during his senior season at Northwestern, described his leadership style as lead-by-example.
"It means a lot, especially in the face of adversity," he said. "We haven't been our best on defense, but for people to see through that, see guys that are playing well and carrying themselves the right way, carrying themselves like leaders/captains, it's a great feeling."
"That 'C' on your jersey," he continued, "That's always something I've been envious of."


text:
Cooking Demo Schedule
Learn how to cook delicious food in a wood fired oven by attending one of our cooking demonstrations held at Dawson's Garden World Forrestfield on the following dates.
Next Cooking Demo >
Cooking demonstrations will return in Autumn. Check back soon for details.
|To be advised.
Where Are The Demos Held?
Dawson's Garden World Forrestfield
160 Hale Road
Forrestfield WA 6058
Phone: 08 9453 6533 — Visit Website
See the Alfresco Original™ on display.
More Information
If you would like more information, or have any questions, please contact us.


text:
Ping me!*
Use this form to send me a message. I'd love to hear from you or give you more information if you are interested in purchase of an image or setting up an assignment.
You can also give me a call at +1.425.292.9871
* Ping: A protocol that sends a message to another computer and waits for acknowledgment, often used to check if another computer on a network is reachable. named after the pulses of sound made by a sonar called a "ping". In common usage today it means: contact, usually in order to remind of something


text:
How we did it:
For any feedback, any questions, any notes or just for chat - feel free to follow us on social networks
Steve McConnell
Features the best practices in the art and science of constructing software--topics include design, applying good techniques to construction, eliminating errors, planning, managing construction activities, and relating personal character to superior software. Original. (Intermediate)
Roger S. Pressman
For more than 20 years, this has been the best selling guide to software engineering for students and industry professionals alike. This edition has been completely updated and contains hundreds of new references to software tools.


text:
Annuities: The Good, Bad and the Ugly
89% of people found this article helpful
Although annuities have been getting terrible press of late, the products themselves are not inherently evil (to borrow a saying from the NRA: "annuities don't kill finances, salespeople do."). However, having formerly been in the insurance/annuity business for many years, I can attest to the fact that the large (5%–10%), up-front commissions and corporate pressure ("sell ten of these by the end of the year and the company will send you and your wife to Jamaica for a week!") are huge sales inducements for folks whose compensation is, for the most part, commission based.
This tends to lead to a sales process in which the positive aspects of annuities are stressed while the downside is, for the most part, ignored.
Here then, is a brief annuity primer which covers the good, the bad and the ugly of annuities.
Single Premium Fixed Immediate/Deferred Annuities
Single-premium annuities are purchased with a lump sum of money and offer a guaranteed source of income for retirement, but once purchased they have substantial surrender fees for liquidation. An immediate annuity, also known as a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA), begins paying out income immediately after you have purchased it with a single, lump-sum investment. A deferred immediate annuity, also known as a single premium deferred annuity (SPDA), provides an accumulation period until it begins paying out income at a future date after you have purchased it with a single, lump-sum investment. Individuals approaching retirement age may choose these types of annuities because they allow seniors to supplement Social Security income and pension plans which might not provide enough income to cover basic retirement living expenses.
Immediate annuities can provide periodic lifetime payments or payments for a fixed period of time or for you (and your spouse if you wish), depending on which options you choose. If the immediate annuity is nonqualified, meaning you have purchased it with after-tax dollars, only the earnings will subject to income tax, which you must pay each year at your ordinary rate.
It is rarely a good idea to use qualified (IRA or 401(k)) money to purchase a fixed annuity.
- Safety: As with any annuity, your risk can be transferred to the insurance company. If the immediate annuity is fixed, your premium goes into the company's general fund to be invested in bonds and stocks, and the interest rate cannot go below a certain minimum. Also, every state has an insurance guaranty association that offers backup protection in the unlikely event the insurance company that sold you your annuity cannot honor its obligations.
- Tax-deferred growth: The income payments for non-qualified immediate annuities are based on a combination of principal returns, which are not taxed, and payout of income, which is taxed at income tax rates.
- Mortality credits: Risk pooling, or the spreading of risk across many accounts, allows premiums from annuity owners who die prematurely to be used to pay benefits for those who live beyond their life expectancy. These mortality credits can help increase your returns above those of other investment options and, by choosing a lifetime benefit option, you can hedge against ever outliving your available assets. In fact, depending upon how long you live, your annuity can actually pay you more money than you originally invested plus what your account has earned in interest or capital gains.
- Loss of control: The most significant drawback is that immediate annuities are irrevocable. Once your lump-sum payment has been exchanged for periodic distributions, you no longer have control of or access to your money. That means funds may not be available for emergencies or any other use.
- Loss of purchasing power: If your annuity has a fixed rate of interest that is lower than the rate of inflation, your money is not working for your benefit.
- Expenses: All annuities carry fees, commissions and administrative charges that are usually higher than those that accompany other investments.
You should always make sure the insurance company that issues your annuity is highly rated by any of the financial institution rating agencies like Moody's, Fitch, Standard & Poor's or A.M. Best.
Deferred Variable Annuities
A deferred variable annuity is a long-term, tax-deferred investment product in which money is invested into the account with a single premium, multiple premiums or regular contributions. The annuitant decides if and when they want to convert the accumulated value into periodic payments as supplemental income during retirement. It is rarely a good idea to use qualified (IRA or 401(k)) money to purchase a variable annuity.
Deferred annuities have two main phases: accumulation and income. During the accumulation phase, your premiums are invested in mutual funds that invest in stocks, bonds, and other short-term money market products called subaccounts. Your rate of return is linked to the performance of your subaccounts. The income phase, which is also known as the distribution phase, begins after the money has accumulated for a certain time period. During the income phase, you will receive regular payments from your annuity. Even with non-qualified money, annuitants must wait until age 59.5 before withdrawing funds from these accounts or face income tax and a 10% penalty for taking out money before that age. The distribution stage can start at any time after age 59.5.
- Tax-deferred investment: You only pay taxes once the distribution stage begins, generally after the age of 59.5. In a non-qualified annuity, only the earnings are taxed as ordinary income at your current tax rate. Again, it is rarely a good idea to use qualified (IRA or 401(k)) money to purchase any annuity.
- Safety: Annuities can only be sold by insurance companies. Unless the company goes bankrupt, there is little chance of losing your money. Also, every state has an insurance guaranty association that offers backup protection in the unlikely event the insurance company that sold you your annuity cannot honor its obligations.
- Bypassing probate: Since an annuity is an insurance product, it can be left to heirs without going through the probate process.
- Death benefits: A death benefit rider to your annuity contract ensures that if you die before the distribution phase begins, your survivors can still receive the premium payments less withdrawals.
- No contribution limits: Unlike with IRAs, the Internal Revenue Service places no upper limits on the amount you can contribute to your deferred annuity. (For related reading, see: Are Equity-Indexed Annuities Right for You?)
- Lack of liquidity: Withdrawals during the contract's first several years will incur a surrender charge for withdrawals over a certain percentage of the account balance. In addition, if you are under age 59.5, you will owe the IRS a 10% penalty for any withdrawal you make.
- Risk: If you have a variable annuity, your principal is subject to market risk.
- High tax rates on earnings: Unlike the lower capital gains rates that apply to investments in stocks, bonds and mutual funds that are held for more than one year, earnings from your deferred annuity are taxed at your ordinary income rate, which may be higher.
- No step-up basis: Other types of investments such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds receive a step-up in cost basis when you die; proceeds from most deferred variable annuities do not receive the same treatment.
- High cost: Variable annuities can be expensive because of mortality and expense charges, administrative fees, funding expenses, subaccount expense ratios, charges for special features and riders, and high commissions for salespeople.
Again, you should always make sure the insurance company that issues your annuity is highly rated by any of the financial institution rating agencies like Moody's, Fitch, Standard & Poor's or A.M. Best.


text:
A letter to me, to the 22 year old girl I'll be at the end of 2013, next new year's eve.
Dear me,
I hope this year you have accomplished everything you wanted to do. I hope you are in the position you want to be in your life. You graduated, that's great! You left, off to the adventure of your life, to travel. You actually went to another country, that's nice. I hope you had fun and enjoyed every part of that adventure.
Oh you got a tattoo!! That's awesome, did your family screamed at you? I bet your grandma almost killed you. But it was worth it right?
Then you went off to get your masters degree, I knew you wanted to keep on studying. Wow you accomplished so much over the year.
But let me ask you the most important question, are you happy? Of course, everybody have their ups and downs during the whole year but.. overall.. are you content with your life right now? Did you get to do all the things you wanted to do this 2013? and if you did, how did you feel? awesome?, half awesome? some things were disappointing?
Well life is not perfect, right? At least you had a good year. Full of new experiences, new people, new everything. I hope you already have your plans for 2014. In fact, I know you have been thinking about them all year long.
A piece of advice, from friend to friend?. Life is about the experiences, the new things, the challenges; not only about whether you are happy or not, because like I said before, nothing's perfect. If you had lived then that's more than enough to say that you have learnt something, other than just placing a checkmark on some stuffs. LIVE. That's the important.
Keep on the good work honey, you are doing great. Don't let anyone tell you the opposite. Always do you, no matter what.
Sincerely, myself.


text:
I've officially decided to end this blog now. I am no longer using it and haven't really for a while. Life happened, and I got back to paper journals instead. Which just feels much more natural to me.
I'm still working on my novels and I always will, until I make it in the publishing world.
I hope everyone out there is happy and using the gifts and talents they have in the best way possible. Good luck with everything, folks.
So long, and thanks for all the fish.


text:
Cooking With Kade | Bacon & Pecan Pralines using ZUZU's Praline Candy Mix on Cajun TV Network August 29, 2014
Cooking with Kade, 9 Year Old Chef Makes Bacon Pralines and Pecan Pralines with Granny Mary on the Cajun TV Network.
More Cooking with Kade videos are on the Cajun TV Network https://cajuntvnetwork.com/cooking-with-kade/
Connect with us on your favorite Social Media Hangout including,
Twitter http://twitter.com/CajunTVNetwork
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/cajuntvnetwork
Google Plus http://plus.google.com/+Cajuntvnetworkpost/posts
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/mediaadgroup/cajun-tv-network/
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/cajuntvnetworkshows/videos
Our main site https://cajuntvnetwork.com is a showcase for Food and Fun Louisiana style along with other interesting videos from around the globe.
Check out our Cajun Food Club that will allow you to get your choice of Foods, Seasoning and Cajun Happiness sent to your door every month for only $35 + $8 shipping http://www.store.cajuntvnetwork.com/products/category/12/cajun-food-club
For Business/Restaurant Owners, Foodies and Chefs, our new "Expand Your Brand" program is available to help publishers and small business expand their online reach with our established Social Media profiles.
Cajun TV Network is a division of Media Ad Group | MAG Marketing Network based in Louisiana.
We Appreciate Our Sponsors


text:
New mix coming soonest!
Collaboration of DJ ShiVish & Dj DPG for a new exclusive sound of music.
Visit us on soundcloud
Call/Email us for any bookings
Dj ShiVish and Dj DPG are two of DMV's finest deejays. They have been deejaying for about six years now separately. They have deejayed at events from weddings, corporate parties, sweet 16s, etc. Dj ShiVish and Dj DPG have now started a collaboration where they mix both their talents and different taste in music as one to give you a new exclusive sound. They have a new album coming out with the hottest tracks all mixed together with a personal touch given by ShiVish & DPG for your listening pleasure Check out our soundcloud for monthly mixtape, and mixes!!
21811 Ladyslipper Sq
Ashburn, VA
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when ShiVish & Dpg Official posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to ShiVish & Dpg Official:


text:
Vocabulary Word
Word: projectile
Definition: missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
Definition: missile; fired or thrown object (such as stone or bullet)
Sentences Containing 'projectile'
Mr. Cruncher was out of spirits, and out of temper, and kept an iron pot lid by him as a projectile for the correction of Mrs. Cruncher, in case he should observe any symptoms of her saying Grace.
In 1996, M. Steven Shackley of UC Berkeley announced work based on a study of Ishi's projectile points and those of the northern tribes.
Thus, no spin is imparted to the projectile in flight.
The projectile carried 88 M42/M46 grenade like dual purpose submunitions.
The 155 mm M864 projectile entered production in 1987, and featured a base bleed that enhances the range of the projectile, although it still carries the same M42/M46 grenades.
A pepper-spray projectile, also called a pepper-spray ball, pepper-ball or pepper-spray pellet is a projectile weapon made up of a powdered chemical that irritates eyes and nose (see pepper spray).
These forced compliance weapons launch a fragile projectile which breaks upon impact and releases an irritant payload.
A pepper-spray projectile may be a sphere, hence the name pepper-ball, but it may also come in other shapes.
The projectile is usually sold to be used with a launcher or gun by the same company, to provide best reliability.
In Swedish service the standard cartridge used a lead projectile (shaped like a Minié ball) weighing 24 gr (370 g).
Ths is a list of recoilless rifles (RCL) intended to catalogue these lightweight infantry support weapons that allow the firing of a heavier projectile than would be practical with a recoiling artillery guns.
The M107 155mm projectile is the US Army and US Marine Corps' standard high explosive (HE) projectile for howitzers.
The M107 is a development of the M102 155mm mm shell that was developed in the 1930s from the French Schneider 155 mm projectile for the Model 1917 Howitzer.
The complete projectile weighs 43.2 kg, is 800 mm long and contains 15.8% explosive by weight.
It is a separate-loading projectile - propellant bags or MAC charges are loaded separately.
In the episode "Targets", when assassins Cheshire and Sportsmaster attempt to kill him and two Asian diplomats, Mercy uses her mechanical arm that contains projectile weapons to stop them.
The weapon is used by inserting the projectile inside the pipe (known as a blowgun) and using the force created by one's breath to give the projectile momentum.
A snap cap is a device which appears similar to a standard firearm cartridge but contains no primer and no projectile; it is used to ensure that dry firing firearms of certain designs does not cause damage.
A new cultural complex was born, the Folsom tradition, with smaller projectile points to hunt smaller animals.
Excavations in 1964-1965, yielded projectile points ranging in age from 7900 t o 6210 B.C. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Since the Second World War, the penetration of HEAT rounds relative to projectile diameters has steadily increased as a result of improved liner material and metal jet performance.
HEAT projectile stabilization and accuracy.
Paradoxically, this leads to situation when a kinetic armor-piercing projectile is "more" usable at long ranges than a HEAT projectile, despite the latter having a "higher" armor penetration.
There are also various other projectile (BONUS, DM 642) and rocket submunitions (Motiv-3M, DM 642) and mines (MIFF, TMRP-6) that use SFF principle.
The new system allowed firing during the day and during night operations, and increased the likelihood of a first round impact (meaning, the chances of the first projectile fired by the gun hitting its target).
A projectile is any object projected into space (empty or not) by the exertion of a force.
Although any object in motion through space (for example a thrown baseball) is a projectile, the term most commonly refers to a ranged weapon.
Mathematical equations of motion are used to analyze projectile trajectory.
Examples of projectiles include balls, arrows, bullets, artillery shells, rockets etc. Projectile launchers.
Throwing is the launching of a projectile by hand.
A sling is a projectile weapon typically used to throw a blunt projectile such as a stone, clay or lead "sling-bullet".
This frees the projectile to fly to the target.
Catapult. A catapult is a device used to launch a projectile a great distance without the aid of explosive devices—particularly various types of ancient and medieval siege engines.
The confined gas accelerates the movable projectile down the length of the tube imparting sufficient velocity to sustain the projectile's travel once the action of the gas ceases at the end of the tube or muzzle.
Internal ballistics (also interior ballistics), a subfield of ballistics, is the study of the propulsion of a projectile.
In guns internal ballistics covers the time from the propellant's ignition until the projectile exits the gun barrel.
Transitional ballistics, also known as intermediate ballistics, is the study of a projectile's behavior from the time it leaves the muzzle until the pressure behind the projectile is equalized, so it lies between internal ballistics and external ballistics.
External ballistics is the part of the science of ballistics that deals with the behaviour of a non-powered projectile in flight.
Terminal ballistics is the study of the behavior and effects of a projectile when it hits its target.
These guns fired a projectile using cordite MD propellant.
The gun was fed with two-piece ammunition, the projectile and cartridge making up separate pieces.
Like many bosses, he is very hard to knock down, immune to being thrown and most projectile attacks have very little to no effect against him.
One kind of smart bullet is a projectile that is capable of changing its course during flight.
The bullet (projectile) has a sensor inside of it that can send wireless data up to 70 meters.
The projectile of RPG launchers is similarly designated PG, (PG-7, etc.), which similarly stands for противотанковая граната, "anti-tank grenade".
It is a fighting game in which characters fight in a 3D environment using mêlée and projectile attacks.
This was the typical artifact of these people — a simple, bi-facial, leaf-shaped projectile point which average about in length.
The projectile was shaped like a bullet because it was gun-launched from the ground, a method infeasible for transporting man to space due to the high acceleration forces produced.
After that Brenneke developed a 19-gram (293 gr) Torpedo Universal Geschoss (TUG – Torpedo Universal projectile) with a lead tip that is still produced.
That player will than be sent a warning or a "Incoming!" message where the player can try and dodge the projectile.


text:
Why Advertise with us?
CoinLive is a crypto market intelligence portal with the most professionally-run and reliable crypto news coverage via a state-of-the-art terminal. We have the firm conviction that in line with our principles, crypto-related projects will find value on the opportunity of being associated with and endorsed by CoinLive through a complete range of advertising and promotion options that we can provide to your business.
Our audience
Our readers are located mainly in Western-based countries, top of the list being North America, United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands. CoinLive is read on a daily basis by investors, traders, researchers, miners, developers and executives in the blockchain and fintech universe.
What we can offer?
Sponsored content
- Sponsored articles in our Analysis section that will be visible at the top of the side column.
- Press releases (ICOs or blockchain-related products or services)
- Promotion in CoinLive's newsletter
- Banner above the widget on home page, analysis, tutorials and interviews pages
- Promotion in the sidebar
- Sticky headline in our News Terminal feed
- Banner above the 3rd column in News Terminal article
- Banner in the opened article (3rd column in News Terminal)
- Banner in CoinLive's newsletter
- Various combo packages can be discussed that include multiple locations


text:
Galapagos Master Yacht Description
The Galapagos Master is a 16 passenger diving yacht providing you a tour throughout the Galapagos Islands. There is more than enough space onboard for all passengers and crew, with large and comfortable social areas like the sun deck, saloon, and the attractive dining area.
Galapagos Master Cabins
You can find 8 double cabins to accommodate all 16 passengers. All rooms have a private bathroom equipped with hot water and air conditioning.
Other comparable diving yachts are: Galapagos Sky, Humboldt Explorer, Nautilus
Galapagos Master Cruise Prices
2019 Prices per person (except charter) starting at:
Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
|8 days
|11 days
For the latest promotions on this boat and others, please click here
* Charter rates don't apply for Christmas and New Year.
* Special discount for kids may apply to the published rate. Please consult with your destination expert for more information and special deals.
Hyperbaric Chamber Fee $35
nitrox $ 150
E-mail usUSA: 1 877 4367512Contact us
|Rates include:
|Not included:
Galapagos Master ItineraryClick on each itinerary title to show or hide the corresponding information.
Galapagos Master Photos
The Yacht
Matrimonial Cabin
Twin Cabin
Twin Cabin
Diving Platform
Galapagos Master Deck Plans & Specs
Galapagos Master Deck Plans
Accommodations: 8 double cabins with lower beds, private bathroom and air conditioning
Enignes: 2 Detroit Diesel
Electricity: 2 honda generator 110 v
Speed: 10 knots
Length: 106 ft. (32m)
Bean: 24 ft. (7.5m)
Galapagos Master Reviews
Comments and recommendations received on this Galapagos cruise:


text:
Ouch! That really hurts! My back's been a mess since I was a kid. Fell off one horse too many. Rebuilt in 1967 — fusion and laminectomy using saws and chisels — long before micro surgery and instrumentation. I'm not special because I deal with pain. I've got plenty of company. It's just sometimes, I feel like I've got too much company. We're all squished together in an over-crowded lifeboat. Sinking. Together.
I've had a lot of problems with my back over the years. The fusion, which was bone paste made from a piece of my hip, began to disintegrate about 25 years ago, to be replaced by a sheathing of arthritic calcification. That's not such a bad thing because without the arthritis, I'd (literally) fall apart.
Looking at pictures of me in years gone by, I got to wondering how the long winding road of life landed me here. How did the bright-eyed woman become this creaking achy old thing fighting to keep moving under her own power?
Who is this person?
She doesn't look or act like me. I can vouch for this because I used to be her, but now I am not at all sure who I am or whose body this is. While I slept, someone slipped in an imposter body. I would jump right on the imposter theory except being me is not something any sane person would want. If I had a say in the matter, I would be healthier, wealthier and younger. Some other body, but I'd keep the brain. I like that piece of me.
Life changes, sometimes in a split seconds.
Remember Christopher Reeve? One minute, he was a big, handsome, strapping movie star. A dreadful split second later, he was someone else.
My down hill slide occurred at the pace at which bones and joints calcify. I broke my back when I was a kid. I was reconstructed when I was 19. For the next 35 years, I refused to pay any attention to my spine. I was not going to be disabled. Not me. It was mind over matter and I am strong.
Turns out, mind over matter only takes you so far. Seven years ago, I began to have trouble walking. My balance became erratic. I lost sensation in my feet and miscellaneous reflexes disappeared. I went to doctors, orthopedic hot shots. All of them said I need a new spinal fusion, the old one having fallen apart over the long years. Diagnosis: Horrible spine. Solution: New fusion in which I get screwed together using metal rods. After surgery, I would be in even more pain than now, but my spine would be stable. Say what? This surgery would be the 21st century version of the surgery I had in 1967.
I said Hell no and took my case to the top spine guy in Boston, the Supreme Court of spinal diagnosis.
He said I don't need surgery. More to the point, he said the surgery wouldn't solve my problems. Now I heard: "Your back has got you through this far, it'll take you the rest of the way. Pain control, gentle exercise, and recognize your limits. Don't do anything stupid." Like fall off a horse? Lift heavy packages?
There are a lot of members of the back pain club. After you join the club, you usually get a lifetime membership. I finally discovered I have a problem I can't fix. No amount of persistence, research, medical attention or cleverness is going to make it go away. So I've designed the world to make my back happy. We have a back-friendly home. From our adjustable bed, to the reclining sofa, our place is kind to spines.
There's no moral to this story. It's just life. If you don't die young, odds are you hurt. The years roll on, pain gets worse.
I've had to accept reality but I don't have to like it. Sooner or later we all face an intractable problem. Or several. It's a nasty shock, especially if you've always believed you are unstoppable.
When you hit that wall, I recommend very comfortable furniture.


text:
The Cinematheque and the Open Learning Agency present the History of Film Study Guides, a series of 20 packages exploring the artists, techniques, styles and practices that have dominated filmmaking for more than 100 years. Throughout the series, we examine why movies and other media look and sound the way they do, and ask why certain themes, codes and conventions continue to pop up in all media today. A great way to teach traditional literary concepts using a medium other than the printed word, these guides offer the perfect introduction for anyone set to begin teaching film studies for the first time.
The complete series is available for $150 plus shipping: Order a complete set online by clicking here.
A set of five study guides is available for $50 plus shipping: Order a set of five online by clicking here.
Contact us or call 604-688-8202 if you live in the Lower Mainland and would instead like to pick up your order in person.
The Cinematheque's film-specific study guides act as primers for teachers and students interested in examining contemporary cinema through the lens of film history and media education.
The Grey Fox: Artists and Their Stories is a 30 minute documentary profiling the story behind the making of one of Canadian cinema's greats: The Grey Fox. It includes extended interviews with Jackie Burroughs, who plays Kate Flynn, and screen writer John Hunter, as well as archival interviews with director Philip Borsos and star Richard Farnsworth. We also have an accompanying study guide available free of charge. Download the guide in English or French. Contact us if you'd like a copy of the guide and/or documentary sent to your school or library. View the documentary on our Vimeo page.


text:
Style# 2007495
$85.00 $29.49
Item is available for purchase In-Store only. Reserve it now at a store near you.
BLUE DOT: We've taken 50% OFF for this item!
Style# 2007495
$85.00 $29.49
BLUE DOT: We've taken 50% OFF for this item!
Item is available for purchase In-Store only. Reserve it now at a store near you.
- Size: Size Guide
- Color:
Product Actions
Additional Information
Print this tab
It's easy to keep on pushing forward when you've got these running shoes laced up. Here, a dual-density midsole and soft core cushion and smooth your strides, all while aspects like waffle traction and articulations let you move on a range of surfaces. Added to this, perforations and mesh create an all-around breathable feel for a completely natural sensation.
- Mesh upper with synthetic overlays offers a breathable, supportive fit
- Dual-density, two-layer foam midsole for a padded, stable fit
- Rubber studs at the heel and toe improve traction
- Flywire technology for midfoot lockdown
- Soft core sits directly underfoot to improve transitions
- Articulated cuts enhance flexibility
- Rubber outsole uses a waffle pattern to enhance traction
- Perforations enhance breathability
- Rubber crash rail added to lateral outsole
- 10mm drop
- Weighs 9.3 oz.
- Imported
Print this tab
Tech Specs
- Width: Regular
- Upper: Mesh and synthetic
- Midsole: Foam
- Outsole: Rubber
- Avg. Weight (pair): 9.3 oz.
- Closure Type: Lace Up
- Water Resistance: Non-Waterproof
- Running Shoe Type: Road
- Gender: Women's
Miscellaneous Attributes
- Best For: Road Running
- Support Type: Neutral
- Drop: 10 mm
- Country of Origin: Imported


text:
The Luisa Spagnoli spring-summer 2012 campaign features Czech model Hana Soukupová, one of the "angels" starring in Victoria's Secret. The campaign was shot by Michelangelo Di Battista in some famous Los Angeles locations, including Malibu Beach, the streets of Beverly Hills and the amazing Stahl House, a villa in Hollywood that has been used in many shoots and TV serials such as Charlie's Angels.
Hana's look is in fact very close to the beautiful detectives under Charlie's command, with streaming blonde hair, and perfectly able to wear the brightly coloured Luisa Spagnoli garments. There is a distinct resemblance to Farrah Fawcett who played the role of Jill Monroe.
The spring-summer 2012 collection represents a colourful departure for the brand, with bright orange, blue and green making an appearance alongside the blacks, whites and greys that are classics for this maison that has built its style reputation on timeless, discreet elegance. The garments are versatile and attractive, and include jump suits as well as the more classical wear, in which silk, organdy, georgette, lace and embroidery embellish the cleanly-sculpted tube dresses.
Click to see the Luisa Spagnoli spring summer 2012 catalogue
Click here to read an article on the Luisa Spagnoli fall-winter 2011 collection
Watch the backstage video of the Luisa Spagnoli spring summer 2012 shoot:


text:
My fiance C posted in her blog about the effects of evolution on the friendly pug, commenting on a humorous post from another blog suggesting that the pug is "proof that evolution doesn't work".
The obvious response is that pugs are not the result of evolution, i.e. natural selection, but rather the result of man's breeding to enhance certain traits. Artificial selection, as opposed to natural selection, usually results in unintended consequences. In a pug, breeding for friendliness also resulted in attributes for a short snout ("how do you breathe through that thing?").
Natural selection favours attributes that contribute to an animal's ability to survive and thrive in their environment and pass on DNA to the next generation. In nature dogs were efficient and effective hunters, as wolves are today; after domestication and human-influenced breeding we have certain dogs that are great hunters but also other dogs that are for show or companionship and would probably not survive long in the wild.
I seriously doubt that pugs, as a breed, would last in the wild long enough to pass on their DNA. Nor would a lot of other human-created breeds that are incapable of hunting. How would they survive day to day without their human companion there to feed them? Certainly bulldogs requiring C-section births wouldn't even get to the starting line. But as long as humans are there to feed them in exchange for companionship then the dog will be just fine. Return a domesticated hunting-capable dog to the wild, and within not too many generations it will regain attributes specialized for survival and loose those breed into it for domesticity.
So how did the pug get its short snout? It probably wasn't bred specifically by humans for that, but rather acquired that as an attribute somehow connected to other traits found desirable by the human breeder. You want friendly you also get a short snout; other short snouted dogs are also friendly so we have to assume that somehow these attributes are connected in a dog's DNA. But how did it happen? How does a dog "know" how to make a short snout?
Natural selection works because of "mistakes" in the inheritance of attributes. You get a some mix of attributes from both parents through sexual reproduction; you look like one or other or sometimes a mix of your parents, for example. But sometimes there's a hiccup and you get something that came from neither parent, for example a tall child being born of short parents. If this unanticipated attribute is severe and negative we might call it a birth defect. But if that attribute makes the child more able to survive and thrive in their environment then the child will be more likely to pass on that attribute to the next generation.
All dogs are born with short snouts in order to facilitate sucking; a baby born unable to suck would starve, so only dogs with that (perhaps originally accidental) attribute have lived and passed on their DNA to the next generation. But a short snout is a huge disadvantage in an adult as it lessens the effectiveness of a bite in hunting. (Can you imagine a pug hunting?) So evolutionarily successful dogs were born with short snouts which after birth grew into long snouts. This happens because a "switch" in the dog's DNA told the snout to start growing after birth. For some reason in pugs and other short-snouted dogs such as bulldogs, boxers, etc. this switch never turns on.
We see the effect of this switch in other animals as well. A human does not develop a long snout but a chimp does; they look similar at birth but develop differently afterwards. We share, it is said, 99% of our DNA with the chimp, but some of that DNA is composed of switches that while identical have different on/off settings.
Another example is in the skeletal structure of mammals. All mammals have the same bones, but the development of those bones is different. Comparing a human to a bat we see that all the same bones are there, but the finger bones in bats grow extremely long and have skin in between them that forms a wing. All mammals have five digits at the end of each arm/leg, but some have stunted growth to the point where they're almost invisible. For example, a horse's hoof is actually the overdeveloped middle digit, with the other digits suppressed. A whale has the bones for five digits in each of its flippers, and has rudimentary hip, leg, and feet bones hidden in its lower abdomen.
Very interesting stuff. I can't claim credit for any of these ideas; I've just recently finished reading Richard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth, which is a great explanation of the proofs of natural selection. Highly recommended reading.


text:
Happy Friday! I am off to Seattle this weekend to teach a copic certification! Oh how I love my job....coloring all day.....
I can't quite seem to get enough of this little cutie....She is "Make mine a double" from My Favorite Things! She is paired up with all my new Melissa Frances goodies! Isn't that rub-on just perfect for her....
The paper line is called Vintage Posy and is a perfect fit for this Pure Innocence line of stamps!
I also used my Jumbo Scallop Die-namics die to cut the little felt border...both the felt and the die are from MFT.
Here is a little close up of the copic coloring detail. I love that I can color in my rub-on's too!
The hair is E53, 57 and 59. The skin is my stand-by colors of E50, E21 and R20 for the cheeks.
You are going to want to play along for sure this week as Taylor is offering up a stamp set to the cutest 3 creations! The deadline to enter is Thursday, July 1st at 10pm PST and the winners will be announced on Friday July 2nd during out next sketch challenge.
Here is the sketch so you can play along in TAYLOR'S challenge.
Don't forget to see what the rest of the sketch crew came up with:
Jami Sibley: More is More
Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow
Lori Craig: Making a Difference
Hope your weekend is as colorful as mine!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sketch Friday!
Labels: copic markers, Melissa Frances, My Favorite Things
8 comments:
- Evgenia said...
- June 25, 2010 at 8:32 AM
- Jami said...
So incredibly sweet! Love the rub-on, the paper-pieced dress and that trim at the bottom over the scalloped felt. SWEET SWEET SWEET!!!
- June 25, 2010 at 8:35 AM
- Alli Miles said...
Super cute card! Great colour combo. Hope this finds you well my friend Hugs.
- June 25, 2010 at 9:19 AM
- Lori Craig said...
Great take on the sketch, Sherrie! So sweet. :) Love the sentiment and of course, that darling little PI. Hugs!
- June 25, 2010 at 11:58 AM
- leenda said...
- June 25, 2010 at 7:29 PM
- Jessie/knightrone said...
This is just too sweet!!
- June 27, 2010 at 3:09 PM
- Monika/Buzsy said...
Such a pretty card Sherrie. Love that image and the great coloring. :o)
- June 28, 2010 at 10:22 AM
- Stacey Schafer said...
so adorable, Sherrie!
- June 28, 2010 at 5:53 PM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)