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In 2012, American Express introduced Amex Sync on Twitter, which allows card members to sync their card to their Twitter account and earn credits by tweeting special hashtags. In early 2013, American Express introduced a new feature to this program, which allows card members to make direct purchases by tweeting special hashtags.
Blogger Adi Robertson highlights the significance:
"The results here are functionally similar, but you're not just doing some advertising in exchange for credit — you're putting an actual purchase history online and asking American Express to charge your card through Twitter."
Thinkers, bloggers, marketers and American Express card members note that this move further streamlines the process of shopping online, and speculate upon the role financial institutions and social networks will play in the future of ecommerce. Several have also shared privacy and security concerns over merging their banking and social media accounts.
Card members sync their accounts online at the American Express website, and then follow @AmericanExpress to find out about the latest credit offers and purchase offers from American Express and its partners. CNN's Heather Kelly explains the process of loading credit offers on their cards:
"On Twitter, you tweet the hashtag for an offer and then go make the purchase in person or through a separate online store. The discount is then applied to your American Express account within eight weeks."
Card members must use their synced card when making purchases at partnering stores.
Social Commerce Today's Paul Marsden explains the process of making direct purchases through tweets:
"Amex cardholders sync their Amex card with Twitter at sync.americanexpress.com/twitter. Then, when Amex/Amex retailers offer deals (published in the @AmericanExpress Twitter feed), cardholders can buy them by simply tweeting the deal's special hashtag – e.g. #BuyAmexGiftCard25."
To prevent accidental purchases, Amex requires a second, confirmation tweet. TechCrunch's Natasha Lomas notes:
"Payments are made by tweeting a purchase hashtag, and retweeting the confirmation tweet from Amex within 15 minutes of receiving it. The product will then be shipped to the account billing address synced with Twitter, and payment taken from your synced Amex account."
Amex Sync On Twitter – American Express
American Express launched the new feature with an irresistible offer – buy a $25 Amex gift card for $15. Bloggers and online media spread word about the offer, as did card members who tweeted to avail of it.
Discounts are an increasingly common – and effective – way for brands to promote their online & mobile payment initiatives. For instance, in mid-2012, Starbucks made headlines for selling a record 1.5 million $10 virtual gift cards on daily deals site LivingSocial at a discount of 50%. Strategist Jeremy Jacobs attributes this rise in real-time and impulse sales to increased connectivity on mobile devices:
"Putting the right offer in the right context in the right time frame is so much easier now than it ever was before, so consumers are responding by being willing to say, no matter where I am at – whether at home watching TV or at my kid's soccer game – I can make this purchase right away."
In addition to the $25 Amex gift card, card members could also choose to purchase other items, such as an Amazon Kindle Fire HD or Microsoft Xbox 360, at discounted rates.
In addition to Amex Sync on Twitter, American Express also engages card members on Foursquare and Facebook. As Mashable's Todd Wasserman reported:
"Last July, the brand launched a program called "Link, Like, Love" that tailored deals to you based on your Facebook "likes." (For instance, if you "liked" Whole Foods, you might see an offer on your Facebook dashboard.) The brand also linked with Foursquare last June for a national program that rewarded users with a loyalty card-like credit when they checked in."
Other social American Express initiatives include the Social Rewards campaign in 2011, which, as AdAge's Beth Snyder Bulik noted, encouraged "customers to think about spending rewards points in less traditional ways" and share their experience on Facebook:
"What's the most memorable thing you've picked up with Membership Rewards points — great trip, cool gadget? Do tell!"
Bloggers and thinkers, like Fast Company's Austin Carr, believe that American Express' social media partnerships and initiatives help differentiate the brand as a modern-day social company:
"With the [Twitter] partnership, AmEx helps fortify its role as the credit card for the social media generation."
Similar to the Social Reward campaign, Amex Sync on Twitter encourages people to talk about their spends on their social networks, resulting in free promotion for the offer and brands involved. As Mashable's Todd Wasserman noted:
"For AmEx, the move may be less about boosting a fledgling ecommerce platform and more about promotion; With each hashtag, users give a tacit endorsement to the program and, by extension, the AmEx brand."
This same philosophy is shared at PayWithATweet.com, a service which allows people to exchange their virtual items for a tweet of endorsement:
"In today's world the value of people talking about your product is sometimes higher than the money you would get for it."
Some thinkers, like Red Ant CEO Dan Mortimer, note that the purchase-with-a-tweet feature streamlines the shopping experience, but doubt that convenience is the only criteria for online shoppers:
"Shortening the payment cycle for impulse purchases through social is certainly an interesting field and should definitely be followed closely by certain retailers. The timing of the announcement by Amex, one week after Twitter is hacked and loses 250,000 passwords is certainly very brave as is the assumption that consumers want to make all of their purchases public and traceable."
Marketers note the Amex Sync on Twitter program presents ample opportunity for measurement which can help Amex develop its program further, glean insights from consumers and share this back with partners. Some, like Paul Marsden, believe the program paves the way for American Express to enter the ecommerce field:
"The Amex pay-by-tweet initiative is part of a broad industry move for financial services companies to get more intimately involved with e-commerce."
Fast Company's Austin Carr remarked:
"AmEx aims to be the connective tissue between merchants and consumers on social media that will provide a mix of offers, data, and branding to its members."
Consequently, several thinkers believe the program can help Twitter establish its validity as an ecommerce platform. GigaOm's Eliza Kern pointed out:
"Most of Twitter's monetization efforts so far have come through marketing and advertising, such as promoted tweets which now cost up to $200,000 a day, but this partnership that allows purchases through tweets could move the company toward e-commerce opportunities as well."
WSJ technology reporter Shira Ovide shared a similar view:
"Marketers for the most part devote a small chunk of their advertising budgets to Twitter, partly because it's tough to prove a tweet or an ad on Twitter leads to a sale. Being able to directly show consumers seeing a Twitter message and buying a product may prove that connection."
* MSLGROUP's People's Lab crowdsourcing platform and approach helps organizations tap into people's insights for innovation, storytelling and change. The People's Lab crowdsourcing platform also enables our distinctive insights and foresight approach, which consists of four elements: organic conversation analysis, MSLGROUP's own insight communities, client-specific insights communities, and ethnographic deep dives into these communities.
[Can't see this Slideshare presentation? Click here to view it directly on Slideshare.net]
As an example, 100+ thinkers and planners within MSLGROUP share and discuss inspiring projects on corporate citizenship, crowdsourcing, storytelling and social data on the MSLGROUP Insights Network. Every week, we pick up one project and do a deep dive into conversations around it — on the MSLGROUP Insights Network itself but also on the broader social web — to distill insights and foresights. We share these insights and foresights with you on our People's Insights blog and compile the best insights from the network and the blog in the People's Lab Quarterly Magazine, as a showcase of our capabilities. We have synthesized the insights from 2012 to provide foresights for business leaders and changemakers — in the ten-part People's Insights Annual Report titled Now & Next: Ten Frontiers for the Future of Engagement.
As you can imagine, we can bring the same innovative approach to help you distill insights and foresights from conversations and communities. To start a conversation on how we can help you win with insights and foresights, write to Pascal Beucler at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Lightweight and portable, the E-Z Up Envoy Shelter is a snap to transport and set up at your next outdoor event. Because of its accordion-like design, the pop-up tent unfolds quickly and can be set up in as little as 60 seconds.
It stands securely on grass, dirt, or pavement without extra ropes or poles — all you need is the provided stake kit. When it's time to pack up, collapse the tent and tuck it back into the included carry bag.
The water- and fire-resistant top blocks 99% of the sun's UV rays, protecting you, your artwork, and your customers. The white, powder-coated steel frame is rust resistant.
Enjoy 100 sq ft of shade under the E-Z Up Envoy Shelter. Its base measures 10 ft × 10 ft, and the adjustable frame allows for multiple height options up to 9 ft. The shelter includes a one-year manufacturer's warranty.
10 ft
350 cm
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® E-Z Up is a registered trademark of International E-Z UP, Inc.
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text:
So you see them all summer–those colorful insects with the gorgeous wings that flutter around your yard and garden. What do you know about these lovely creatures?
Here are 10 things that may surprise you.
1. Butterflies taste with their feet! When they touch nectar, they automatically uncoil their long tongue. And speaking of their feet–Have you ever had a butterfly crawl on you? They have prickly feet that can cling to many surfaces, including your skin! Each foot has claws that allow it a strong grip. This lets them stay in place during windy days or when it's raining.
2. Their long tongue can coil in and out and is called a proboscis. Many people mispronounce this word! The c at the end is silent, so it is said like this: pro ba sis. (If you'd like, hear it here) They use their long proboscis to drink sweet nectar from flowers.
3. When they emerge from their chrysalis (see that HERE!) their proboscis is in two pieces and must be zipped together! If they don't accomplish this successfully, they will not be able to drink nectar and will die of starvation. If you watch one emerge, you will see butterfly winding and unwinding the proboscis as it does this.
4. A butterfly's wings are covered with thousands of tiny scales, which is why their Greek name is Lepidoptera. This means "scale-wing." If you've ever touched a butterfly and had a powder on your fingers afterward, this is why. Some of the scales rubbed off onto your fingers! Butterflies lose scales all the time and will still be able to fly without all of their scales.(Hence, it is a myth that a butterfly will not be able to fly if you touch its wings.)
5. Lepidoptera consists of both butterflies AND moths. But there are MANY, MANY more moths! More than 90% of Lepidoptera are Moths!
6. The first meal most butterflies eat is their egg shell. When they hatch out, they are tiny. They consume their egg before starting to feed on leaves. Some caterpillars are generalists, eating many kinds of leaves and some, like the Monarch are very specific, eating only ONE kind of leaf. This is one of the reasons why the Monarchs are in such decline–it would be so much better if they weren't so fussy!
7. A butterfly uses its antennae for touch and smell. Butterfly antennae have knobs or hooks (think of a crochet needle) at the ends unlike moth antennae, which are feathery or filamentous.
8. When a butterfly grows it is called molting and the stages between molts are called instars. Butterflies start their lives as eggs that become caterpillars. The caterpillars are EATING MACHINES. All they do is eat, molt and poop! For about two weeks until they are ready to molt for the last time into their chrysalis. A cocoon and a chrysalis are NOT the same thing! Butterflies make a chrysalis. They do this at their last molt. (Watch HERE!) Moths and other insects make a cocoon, which is a silky case spun by the insect larvae to protect them during the pupal stage. Regardless of whether they emerge from a chrysalis or cocoon, they will look different than when they went in. This is called metamorphosis.
9. When a butterfly comes out of its chrysalis, it is said to eclose. (See this HERE!)Its wings are all scrunched up and it must hang for a while before it can dry out and fly. Their first flight is a bit clumsy! but eventually they get the hang of it and flutter off.
10. The females of most butterflies lay their eggs singly on a leaf. By doing this she is giving the larvae a chance to have the plant to themselves and not have to compete for leaves.
11. Butterflies can't fly if the temperature is below 60 degrees F. Their body fluid –called hemolymph–under this temperate becomes too thick and won't allow their flight muscles to work properly. This is why you'll find them just hanging out on cool mornings, their wings sometimes covered in dew. The butterfly must wait for the sun to warm them up before flying is possible.
12. The poop of caterpillars (and other insects) is called Frass. Seeing Frass on a plant is a good hint that a caterpillar is nearby.
13. Butterflies have a short lifecycle, most living just 20-40 days. Of course there are exceptions, some living just a couple of days and then, Monarchs, who, if they emerge at the end of the summer from their chrysalis, will MIGRATE! East of the Rocky mountains they migrate to Mexico. West of the Rocky Mountains, they head to some places along the coast of California. (Read about Monarch migration HERE.)
14. Butterflies can see ultraviolet light and are able to enjoy colors we don't even see!
Yes, I know that was not 10! But sometimes it is hard to know which ones to pick so I've just included them all! Hope you learned something today.


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Eesti Energia and Elering Post Better Than Expected Profits ({{commentsTotal}})
Energy giant Eesti Energia doubled its profit to 51 million euros in the first quarter compared to the same period a year ago.
That figure is even more astonishing as turnover decreased by a fifth to 226 million euros due to the warm winter. The company produced 2.4 terawatt-hours of electricity in the first three months, 23 percent less than a year ago.
The company said electricity sales were lower, but more profitable due to a strategy of minimizing risks.
Eesti Energia produced 15 percent more oil shale (62,000 tons), which made up 6 percent of turnover and 12 percent of the profit.
Another state-owned utility company, transmission system operator Elering, reported 20.8 million euros in profits in Q1, on level with results from the same period in 2013.
The company said the results were better than expected mainly due to more cross-border transfers. Turnover grew by 1.3 million to 43.8 million euros.


text:
Product or Service
glitter glue
Profile:Manufacturer - Producer|Ref:PSL110311YH | Country: China | Currency: | Export: No
Glitter Glue
Capacity: 10ml/pc
Packing: 6pcs/blister card
The capacity and packing we can OEM
1) Smooth, well-transparent and rich in glue.
2) No precipitating, nor bubbling. Vivid Glitter Flake colors do not fade away.
3) The colors are brightness, fashion. We can provide more than 40 kinds of color.
3) Non-toxic
4) Good quality and reasonable price
For DIY purposes as making greeting cards and decorating T-shirt and Christmas ornaments.
Contact the company


text: Human Rights Observatory Syria Opposition: No Geneva Talks Unless Aleppo Bombardment Ends Syria's opposition coalition said on Tuesday it would not attend international peace talks in Geneva next month if President Bashar al-Assad's forces continued a fierce air raid campaign on the northern city of Aleppo. More than 300 people had been killed in a week of air raids on Syria's biggest city, many of them by so-called barrel bombs dropped from helicopters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a pro-opposition monitoring group, said on Monday. Syrian...Read complete article© Voice of America - Tuesday, December 24, 2013


text:
About Rising Sun
We are reputed service provider updated with latest technology and trends. All services we offer are exclusive in its quality and we live up to the expectations of our customers. At You Brodband Service is Tikona Wireless Broadband Connection. Contact us for further details. You can reach us and contact : Kothrud Main Road, Kothrud, Pune - 411029 Pune, Maharashtra - India Telephone: +91-9209278474
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text:
Isle: One of the Last Peaceful Get Aways
by: George Payne
Camping at Grand Isle's State Park
Nestled between the beautiful Gulf of Mexico on one side and Barataria and
Caminada Bays on the other, Grand Isle, Louisiana is quickly becoming one of the
must see destinations in the South. From fishing to boating to beach combing,
Grand Isle is the place for summer relaxation.
As best said by The Tourist Commissioner, Mrs. Josie Cheramie,
Grand Isle is the perfect place for people who need to escape.
It is the place where you will get reacquainted with who you are, and it
is the place where you will find yourself once again. Just like everywhere else, we have some nice hotels and some
good restaurants here, but unlike other places, we dont have a fast paced
culture. Enjoy Grand Isle at your
leisure. The island was built for
fishing, bird watching, and just being lazy.
Take a tip from the residents go slow and enjoy.
Almost eight miles long and a mile wide, Grand Isle is home to approximately
1100 residents and the island maintains close to ten miles of public beaches.
Furthermore, as a result of being between salt and fresh water estuaries, Grand
Isle is a nature lovers paradise, and because of its closeness to open water
it is a fishermans dream. Regardless
if you own a sailboat or cruiser, Grand Isle is an ideal place to spend the
weekend or the week.
Trawling just off Grand Isle's Beach
Born from the collision between the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico,
Grand Isle is rich in geologic history. Between
2,000 and 800 years ago, the Mississippi River flowed through what is now known
as Bayou Lafourche. All the
sediment the river drained from the mid-west U.S. was deposited into the
Barataria and Timbalier deltas. Over
the course of time, the deltas sank and became the bays we know today.
Wave and tidal action pushed the excess sand from these bays into the
barrier islands of Grand Isle, Grand Terre Island, E. Timbalier Island, and
Timbalier Island. Unfortunately,
the same forces that gave birth to Grand Isle are now trying to destroy it.
The constant damage from hurricanes and tidal erosion is causing the
Island to move from west to east at about 16 feet per year.
Hopefully, with some intervention, Grand Isle will be around to meet the
next millennium.
Steeped in history, Grand Isle and its sister island, Grand Terre, were
originally settled in the late 1700s as a fishing village.
The famous Gentleman Pirate Jean Lafitte converted the islands into
the base of his looting operations. According
to the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation, Jean Lafitte used Grand Isle
and the neighboring island Grand Terre for his commune
which included a café,
bordello, gambling den, warehouses, and a barracoon (for detaining slaves).
Besides the use of the island by pirates, in 1841, the U.S. military constructed
Fort Livingston at the mouth of Barataria Pass on Grand Terre.
This fort was designed to protect New Orleans back door, Barataria
Bay, from attack. Constructed of brick and granite, the fort still stands
proudly today. Although the fort
was never involved in military action, 300 Confederate soldiers occupied it
during part of the Civil War. The easiest way to view the fort is with
binoculars at the observation tower in the State Park.
Despite the attack of innumerable hurricanes, the island has several buildings
that are over 200 years old. These
houses are located in the center of the island in the mists of large oak trees.
The trees provide the homes with the protection necessary to survive the
storms. Twice a year, the Tourism
Commission offers walking tours. Just
by walking by the homes, you can get an idea of what life was like in a turn of
the century fishing village. The quaint little neighborhood is a must see for
any visitor.
For fisherman, Grand Isle has a lot to offer. There are over forty-six species of game fish that can be caught within one hours boat ride of Grand Isle. From tuna to tarpon to speckle trout, Grand Isle has it, and best of all, if you want to relax and just surf fish, you have almost ten miles of beach to do it from. The speckle trout and red fish catches are some of the biggest in Louisiana. Some of the hottest fishing on the island is from the beach. The State Park and Caminada Pass offer great action. The best times to fish are when there is strong tidal movement. Live shrimp and cacahoes are always a good choice for bait, and medium tackle should be able to land any fish you may catch. For offshore fishing, check with some of the local marinas to find out which platforms are hot.
Furthermore, on July 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, Grand Isle will welcome
15,000 visitors and 3,500 anglers for this years International Tarpon Rodeo.
The rodeo is in its 78th year.
During the rodeo the island erupts with live music, good food, and
fishing excitement. During these
three days, Grand Isle comes alive, and there is literally something to do 24
hours a day.
Grand Isle also has Louisianas only state-owned and operated beach on the
Louisiana Gulf Coast. Each year
over 300,000 visitors come to Grand Isle State Part for beach combing, surf
fishing, sun bathing, and primitive camping.
There is a modest fee for using the park, but the quality of the park and
beach is superb. As mentioned
before, there is an observation tower located in the park that gives a fabulous
view of the area. And for those
boaters who want to camp, the State Park offers campsites that are centered
right on the beach, just yards from the water.
It certainly makes for a pleasant nights sleep listening to the wave
lap in. To supplement the campground there are also nice bath facilities located
within the park. It makes for a
nice day to be able to rinse off the sea before going back aboard your boat. Furthermore, for boaters just wanting to picnic, the State
Park also has dozens of covered picnic tables.
The park is located on the far east end of the Island.
To get there by car, just stay on the main road until it ends.
The park entrance is just before the end on the right hand side.
For nature lovers, Grand Isle is nothing short of heaven. From migrants to nesting birds, there is something on the island for everyone. During the spring and fall, the island plays host to thousands of migrating birds. Occasionally, during a spring storm, it is possible to see a phenomenon known as a fall out. A fall out occurs when migrating birds become so exhausted by fighting bad weather or winds as they fly across the gulf that they land on the first bush they see. When this occurs, the island is covered with thousands of resting birds. It is possible to see as many as fifty tanagers, thirty buntings, and a few other species all in one small tree.
The best birding on the island is located at the home of Mr. Bobbie Santinni.
His yard is a welcome sanctuary to all birders and migrating birds.
Just as birds seem to know the same routes year after year, they also
seem to know to stop in Mr. Santinnis yard.
If it were not for Santinni, many of the birds would most certainly
parish. His property is located at
the end of Coulon Rigaud Road on the right hand side at the end of the road. He
welcomes all birders with open arms. In
addition to seeing the birds at Santinnis, his home was built in 1776.
It was the residence for the towns midwife.
Another must see birding spot is Queen Bess Island.
Located approximately four miles due north of Barataria Pass, the island
is the nesting home to thousands of brown pelicans.
It is difficult to describe the magnitude of this island in words. There are so many birds on the island, that when disturbed by
a predator, the sky seems to darken from their flight. As best stated by Captain Ricky, owner of Rickys
Motel and long time nature lover, Every time I see these birds I notice
something new and different. I have
been out here a thousand times, but each time is more enchanting than the last.
A few years ago, the browns (pelican) were few and far between, but just
look at them now. For those guests staying at his hotel, Capt. Ricky, if
available, will provide free guide service around Queen Bess Island.
As one can see, Grand Isle is the perfect getaway from it all spot. It is an area rich in history, nature, fishing, and atmosphere. It offers all the luxuries we expect from a resort without all the prices and hassle. Where else in the world can you do so many things with your family in one day and spend so little. Grand Isle is truly one of the Souths last bargains. Who knows, once you begin going there, you may never want to leave.
The boating facilities on the island are nothing short of superb.
There are at least eight different marinas on the island, and they offer
a wide variety of services from hoists, to wet and dry boat storage, to boat
launches. All the staff at the
marinas are very helpful with fishing and boating advice.
Most notable of the marinas on the east end are the Sand Dollar and
Pirates Cove. Most notable on
the west end is the Bridge Side Marina. Furthermore,
Cigars Marina, located just across Caminada Pass is a one-stop shop for
boaters. Cigars offers a
restaurant, launch, and accommodations all in one spot.
The island offers a wide variety of accommodations.
As expected, there are several good hotels on the island.
The most notable ones are Rickys Hotel (all new construction with a
lighted pier for good night fishing), Cigars (located next to a launch with a
restaurant), The Blue Dolphin, and Bridge Side (next to a launch and good bridge
fishing). All the hotels range in
price from $40.00 to $100.00 per night.
If you want to stay in an apartment or camp, there are several very good
places to stay. They range in price
from $400 to $600 per week, and you can find out which ones are available by
calling the Tourist Commission at 504-787-2997.
For those who want to come during the Tarpon Rodeo, accommodations can be
hard to come by. Call early.
In addition to the hotels, the eating on the island can range from good to
excellent. The Chicken Shack,
located off highway 1 in the center of the island, offers good hamburgers,
pizza, and chicken. Sarahs, also
located in the center, is a tasty diner. The
Sand Dollar and Cigars have excellent food and are a real nice sit down type
restaurant. For a dinner with a view, nothing beats the IceHouse.
For boaters who trailer their boats, driving directions are as follows: Take
Interstate 10 to the 310 spur located just West of New Orleans. Stay on 310
until it ends at Highway 90. Turn
right onto 90 and follow it until you see the Highway 1 exit (It is about twenty
miles from the 90/310 exit). Go
south and follow highway. It will
eventually take you through the center of Grand Isle (about 67 miles from the
90/1 exit). One word of caution,
when traveling through Golden Meadow follow all speed limits exactly. There is no tolerance for error.
For boaters approaching via water, there are 2 channels that lead into separate
harbors. They have separate markers for each channel.
The left one leads to the Sand Dollar Mariana and the other leads into
the Coast Guard Station and Pirates Cove Marina.
All boaters should be careful if they travel through either of the passes
around the island. The passes have strong currents and have scattered shoals
thorough out.
Isles location is at Latitude 29 degrees 15/Longitude 90 degrees 00.


text:
FDA, Interpol Shut Down 18K Illegal Pharmacy Sites
The FDA worked with international regulators and law enforcement agencies from 100 countries in Operation Pangea V. In one week, the operation took action against more than 4,000 online pharmacies. Seventy-nine people were arrested or are under investigation, according to Interpol....
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text:
'Do I have to marry my boyfriend?'
Should I marry my boyfriend just because we have been together for three years? He seems to think we will eventually marry. I don't see how he can just assume that though...
Should I marry my boyfriend just because we have been together for three years? He seems to think we will eventually marry. I don't see how he can just assume that though. We are happy together, but what if it doesn't work out and I find someone else I want to marry? It isn't even on my mind at the moment, so I find this disturbing. Am I overreacting?
If neither of you are discussing marriage at the moment, I don't see why it should bother you. If at some point you both feel the need to discuss it, that's the time to put your opinion across, depending on how you feel about it then. Why ruin your present by obsessing about something that may or may not happen in the future? No one's forcing you to marry anyone, so why get into a panic about a possibility that isn't even on the horizon?
I sometimes wonder whether or not we should ever get into a relationship with anyone. My friends are all unhappy about their boyfriends or husbands. I am very happy being single and don't see why I should date anyone just to prove to people that I am capable of being in a relationship.
I don't know what your question is. You're right though. No one's forcing you into a relationship at gunpoint. And millions of single people are happy.
My girlfriend wants me to tell her that I love her on her Facebook wall. This is an invasion of my privacy because I don't feel comfortable discussing my feelings in public. She says it means I don't really love her if I can't declare it. What should I do?
If she believes a Facebook post is the only way of proving that you love her, she should stop whatever it is she is obviously smoking and get a life. And yes, not everyone is comfortable with baring their soul on Facebook. You are well within your rights to refuse.


text:
Don't starve you to ultimately fit into a wedding dress. You are going to find yourself lightheaded and dehydrated if attempting to lose weight too rapidly just before your big day. You don't desire to turn out fainting on the I do's!
It is possible to tie every one of the elements together by choosing fabrics which have unique textures, including silk, satin and velvet, and you may then go for either patterned fabrics or solid-colored fabrics.
Ask others for opinions from friends and relations about how precisely well the tux fits and appears for you prior to selecting a tuxedo.
Look for decorative elements that convey a shared sensation of wanderlust if the groom and bride love to travel. Invitations and RSVP cards can be created to appear like aged or vintage postcards and boarding passes.
Always be familiar with Mother nature and just how she could result in the weather. Even though you're convinced the climate won't be foul, it is a great idea to get another site prepared.
Be mindful from the varying weather conditions. If the outdoor wedding happens in excessive heat, your attendees will not be approximately celebrating for days on end. Should they be freezing at your winter party, similarly, they may leave early. If it's hot out, be sure you keep the guests as comfortable as you can for example, like having fans available.
You can utilize that free space for renting various furniture to ensure a comfortable evening among the crowd if dinner isn't part of your reception plans. Plush seating arrangements encourages comfort and relaxation among your guests, and also a area for guests to obtain comfortable and relax.


text:
Venue & Hospitality
Conference Dates: June 20-22, 2018
7th World Congress on
Conference Dates: June 20-22, 2018
Driving Directions to
Directions From Leonardo da Vinci International Airport to Hotel Holiday Inn Rome – Aurelia
From Leonardo da Vinci International Airport Via dell' Aeroporto di Fiumicino, 320, 00054 Fiumicino RM, Italy
Destination will be on the right
Italy's political and religious heart beat- Rome, the eternal city celebrates its long history with priceless works of art, palaces, museums, parks, churches, gardens, villas, piazzas, theatres, restored ruins that offer a glimpse into life during the days of the Roman Empire and so on. With nearly 3,000 years of rich history, Rome is often called the "Eternal City." But there's more to Rome than history, fine art and food. The top tourist attractions in Rome include The Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, Pantheon, Vatican Museums, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori. The Colosseum is the largest and most famous amphitheatre in the Roman world with a capability to hold 50,000 spectators through around 80 entrances. Pantheon, one of the best preserved Roman buildings is a place not to be missed.
Random Facts about Rome:
Rome's cityscape is an exhilarating spectacle. A trip to Rome is about relaxing into the city's Mediterranean rhythms and idling around the picturesque streets.


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FREE SHIPPING on orders of $85 or more
An excerpt from www.HouseOfNames.com archives copyright © 2000 - 2018
Anglo-Saxon origin and comes from the family once having lived in an area of Devon that contained large amounts of the furze plant. This plant was a prickly shrub with yellow flowers and was often found in large amounts covering a heath.
Furze Early Origins
Devon at Fursdon, a historic house and farming estate. "From the days of Henry III, if not from an earlier period, this ancient family has resided at this place from whence the name is derived." [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Furze Early History
Furze Early History
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Furze research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1340 and 1620 are included under the topic Early Furze History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Furze Spelling Variations
Furze Spelling Variations
Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Furze family name include Furse, Furze, Fursdon, Fursdonne and others.
Furze Early Notables (pre 1700)
Furze Early Notables (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Furze Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
The Great Migration
The Great Migration
For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Furze surname or a spelling variation of the name include:
Furze Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Furze Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
Furze Historic Events
Furze Historic Events
HMS Prince of Wales
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: No desit virtus
Motto Translation: No lack of power
Furze Family Crest Products
Furze Family Crest Products
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The deal was a big hit with investors, particularly central banks and official institutions, which took 62% of the bonds.
The transaction was launched on Tuesday with HSBC, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and UBS in the lead with price guidance of mid-swaps plus 25bp area.Within 24 hours, more than $1.6bn ...
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CodePlexProject Hosting for Open Source Software
Hi guys,
Thanks for your work on such a great menu system! Have been using DNN a long time, and this is by far the best.
Im having some W3c validation errors on mine though, and wanted to ask if you could offer any advice to get it 100% w3C happy?
The error is...
Line 142, Column 74: document type does not allow element "div" here; missing one of "object", "applet", "map", "iframe", "button", "ins", "del" start-tag
The mentioned element is not allowed to appear in the context in which you've placed it; the other mentioned elements are the only ones that are both allowed there and can contain the element mentioned. This might mean that you need a
containing element, or possibly that you've forgotten to close a previous element.
One possible cause for this message is that you have attempted to put a block-level element (such as "<p>" or "<table>") inside an inline element (such as "<a>", "<span>", or "<font>").
Its from a bog standard installation of DNN, with the DarkKnight skin (cutup so it works for me - but I havent touched DDRMenu).
Any help appreciated! Thanks!!
you need to replace the div whihc is around the page name with span (a is a inline element and XHTML does not allow to include a block element such as div). Having said that, I don't know where to fix that in the code. The CSS bit is easy.
Will there be an updated release thta makes it compliant?
Are you sure you want to delete this post? You will not be able to recover it later.
Are you sure you want to delete this thread? You will not be able to recover it later.


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"Kagianas": a delecious omelette with feta, tomato & oregano!
If you like it, save it!
Save and organize all of the stuff you love in one place.Got it!
If you like something…
Click the heart, it's called favoriting. Favorite the stuff you like.Got it!
Author Notes: A delicious breakfast to enjoy when you have the time to start your day in leisure, with the right mindset for preparing something special to the ones that you love.
This recipe pairs great with Japanese green tea or with herbal infusions like for example warm mint tea.
Serves 1-2 persons
- 2-3 eggs
- 200 grams feta cheese
- some rice milk
- 1 tomato chopped
- Scramble the eggs together with 200 gr of feta cheese, some rice milk and the tomato chopped into small pieces
- Fry the mixture over medium fire for a few minutes
- Serve it with a generous amount of dried oregano
More Great Recipes:
Cheese & Dairy|Eggs|Breakfast & Brunch


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Reflections on the Bishop of Lichfield's Selwyn Lecture at Lichfield Cathedral, 16th October...
The Climate Coalition spans over 100 organisations, from environment and development charities to unions, faith, community and women's groups.
Check them out below, or use the drop down menu to filter by organisation type.
New Environmentalist
We are non-profit society that campaigns on a wide range of environmental issues and offers advice to people volunteering in conservation projects around the world. We are London based however we work closely with volunteers and partners from South America to Eastern Europe, in areas that we believe have the best potential for eco-tourism.
Northfield Ecocentre
Northfield Ecocentre is a Midlands based charity offering practical, inspiring ideas and advice on how to green up your lifestyle. We run a wide range of activities, workshops and events across a variety of themes including energy saving, home energy makeovers, organic gardening, sustainable transport, tree planting, recycling and much more.
One World UK
The OneClimate team focuses on supporting the climate movement, as an essential component of the work of the OneWorld Group. We are focusing our role more sharply now on pioneering media tools to support the climate movement. And that's what OneClimate is. We are innovating new tools and platforms that make it easier for us all to share information, actions and experiences with one another, to help us hang in there and keep moving forward.
One World Week
One World Week offers opportunities for people and organisations to come together at local events to explore how they can work together to build a more just, peaceful and sustainable world. OWW, working with partner organisations, mobilises local volunteers to organise events where people of diverse backgrounds can: acknowledge our interdependence; raise awareness of global inequalities and injustice and inspire action to increase equality, justice and sustainability, locally and globally. One World Week is around United Nations Day (24 October) but activity can take place at any time. OWW's website offers opportunities to participate in SCC members' campaigns.
People & Planet
People & Planet is the largest student network in Britain campaigning to end world poverty, defend human rights and protect the environment. We're a student-led movement that empowers young people with the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to make change happen, at home and globally.
Peopleriver works to engage more and more people - helping them take action on the campaigns and causes that they care about, by spreading the word and highlighting opportunities – locally, nationally and internationally. They build stronger relationships between organisations and their supporters by placing an emphasis on the many different ways in which people can participate, rather then just focusing on monetary donations. Together we are a real force for good.
Plantlife International
Our wild flowers and other plants are wonderful, not just for the beauty they bring to our lives but for the vital role they play in supporting wildlife, cleaning our air and water and helping in the fight against climate change. Plantlife is the charity that is speaking up for the nation's wild plants. We work hard to protect wild plants and to build understanding of the important role they play in everyone's lives.
Portsmouth Climate Action Network
The Portsmouth Climate Action Network wants to see action on climate change in the Portsmouth area. We put pressure on the local council, respond to consultations, attend meetings, support national campaigns and spread the word through links with other groups, stalls, talks, displays and our annual Summer Fair.
Preserve the Rainforest Guyana Campaign
We are a small independent campaign group of volunteers. Millions of acres of Guyana rainforest, a vital carbon sink in the climate system and vital biome, are at threat. We as a group have campaigned on behalf of rainforest retention in Guyana.
The RSPB is the largest wildlife conservation charity in the UK. With more than a million members and nearly 20,000 volunteers together we speak out for nature. It says Birds in our title, but we're also about other wildlife — it's all interconnected and you can't help one thing without helping all the others too. We work around the world, from people's back gardens to the ferocious southern oceans, saving species from extinction, protecting special places for wildlife, and motivating people to add their voice to ours.


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Coffeehouse Post
Single Post Permalink
View Thread: MetroTwit beta is up
mawcc said:BorekB said:*snip*
The blurry text is indeed strange, considering it is a WPF 4 application. Also, I wonder if this could have been done in Silverlight 4 (and if so, what the motivation was to use WPF instead of Silverlight).
I think they did it because of the task bar integration.


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It seemed like the van prep work would never end!! We finally got to a point where we were somewhat satisfied and ready to move on to the official build. Step 1: CUT A HOLE IN THE ROOF! This ought to be fun. 🙂 The plan was to first install the Fantastic Fan.
Tools and Supplies Needed
- Fantastic Fan (Many models available)
- Power Drill
- Marker
- Template (should come with fan)
- Jigsaw
- Hammer (optional – see below)
- Plumber's Pipe Pliers (optional – see below)
- Sheet Metal Screws (should come with the fan)
- White Silicone Caulk
- Support Board with padding for knees
Fantastic Fan Install – Build 1
Fantastic Fans are a product line of Roof Vent Fans made by Fan-Tastic Vent. I've been researching van builds for a few years now and Fan-Tastic Vent is the industry leader in my opinion. They have a number of models and some really cool features. Personally, I went with a fairly basic model – see it below:
The fan we chose had the manual opening vent, quiet operation, 3 speeds and reversible airflow. Sure, we could have bought one with a remote control, a rain sensor and thermostat features but that would have cost much more and it really isn't necessary in such a small space. Turning on the fan for me will just be extending my arm, so no need for a remote. The rain sensor would have been cool though. Basically, the vent closes automatically when it senses rain to keep from getting the inside of your Van/RV wet. I guess I'll just use the manual method – turning the knob. 🙂
Watch the Build 1 Video – Fantastic Fan Install:
Fantastic Fan Install – Step 1
The first thing you need to do is determine where in your Van or RV is the best place to put the vent/fan. You will need to cut a square hole in your roof to install this vent/fan, so you REALLY want to get this right the first time. Whatever you do, don't cut through a ceiling beam. They are there for a reason, to hold up the roof. 🙂 I've seen people do this. Not smart, but it may have been their only option, so who am I to judge?
When you get your Fantastic fan, it will come with a styrofoam template to help you trace the area you need to cut out of your ceiling/roof. The opening for our 1250 model was a 14″ X 14″ opening. In my Astro van, there were two options, towards the back or more centered. Centering it sounded like a good idea at first, but when thinking a few steps ahead, we realized we also needed to fit 3 solar panels up on the roof. It turned out putting it towards the back end of the van was best for our application.
Here is a look at the template:
It's best to cut the hole out from up on the roof. In the picture above, we are determining where we will need to cut. We made a center-line, then put the template in place and marked the 4 corners. Next, we used the power drill to drill the holes in the corners from inside the van through the ceiling. We then, moved the template up to the roof, lined up the holes we just drilled and traced the square template.
We used a jigsaw to cut the square hole out of the roof's sheet metal.
When using the jigsaw on the sheet metal roof, try to keep straight lines on your cuts. It's not crucial though as the fan assembly will hide any slip ups or uneven cuts. 🙂 Below is my "steady hand" Dad finishing up with cutting out a big hole in my roof.
The roof of your Van/RV will either have ribs like my van or possibly a flat and curved surface. Your fantastic fan install may vary from my install based on the type of roof you have. In the case of having roof ribs, you should either build on top of the ribs and build a dam or flatten out the ribs along the fan install. We actually placed our fan in a spot that was flat on 3 of the 4 sides, so we just needed to flatten out one side to allow the fantastic fan to sit flush with the van's roof.
To flatten the roof ribs, we first cut along the edge of the ribs with the jigsaw about 2 inches, then we used a hammer and plumber's pipe pliers to flatten the ribs. See the finished look below:
Next, we placed the fan inside the hole and made sure it fit properly. As expected, it fit well, so we marked all the fans screw holes to be drilled and pulled the fan out of the hole and pre-drilled all the screw holes.
The next step was to apply a layer of white silicone caulk along hole where the fan would be placed so that it would provide seal between the fan and the roof. We then screwed the fan to the roof which compress the silicon caulk and created and even better seal. Some of the excess squeezed along the outside edge of the fan cover which we neatly formed it around the edge. We did the same with then inside area as some excess caulk squeezed into the interior.
Here is a look at the Fantastic Fan after it has been installed, caulked and screwed into the roof:
We put the vent hinge towards the front of the van to hopefully prevent the vent hood from ripping off if we were to drive away without closing the vent.
Below is an inside look at the fantastic fan install which shows where the caulk squeezed through to the inside and it shows where the screws penetrated the sheet metal.
This is as far as we plan to go at this point on the fan install as we need to add insulation to the van and a power source.
Next up – Flooring Insulation – Build 2


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We use two applications to test video transcoding. The MainConcept Reference app can transcode video using a number of different codecs. We start with a 133MB WMV HD video and transcode it to DVD MPEG-2 in one test. The other MainConcept test takes the same video, and transcodes it using the H.264 encoder to Apple iPod format. Windows Media Encoder transcodes the same video to a low resolution, VC-1 formatted video suitable for Web surfing.
Both the MainConcept transcoding benchmarks and the Adobe Media Encoder render run faster on AMD. The Adobe test is particularly strenuous, since it takes a variety of different media types—video, audio, photos—and renders them into a single AVI file, replete with transitions and special effects. Continued…
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Sometimes you may want to clone your collection for many reason, we can use the following command:
[code language="xml"]
C:Program FilesMicrosoft Team Foundation Server 12.0
Tools>tfsconfig collection /attach /collectionName:ClonedFabrikam
collectionDB:vsalmSQLExpress;TFS_FabrikamFiberCollection /clone
And remember:
- You will need to detach the collection first and make a copy of the DB
- The /clone switch didn't actually clone DB it just telling TFS Admin Console this is a cloned collection so please don't start it 🙂
Note 1:
It's important to know that you can't start the cloned collection until you delete the projects from the original or the cloned collection, so you can't keep projects on both collection, otherwise you will face the following error:
TF253021:The following team project is duplicated in at least two team project collections: The collection cannot start while the duplication exists. You must delete this project from all but one of the collections before the collection can be started. The project exists in the following collections:
Note 2:
It's Important to know that you must detach the collection otherwise it will not appear when you try to attach, you can make the backup without detach if you are making upgrade from old version like 2010 or 2008.
Note 3:
For not detached collection you can use TFSConfig with Recover option but this only for TFS2010 but don't use it with TFS2012 or TFS2013 as it's deprecated
Fore more information:


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Margaret C. Gonzalez
- 78 years old
- Year of birth: 1937
- Place of birth:
- Year of passing: 2015
- Place of passing:
Richmond, California, United States
This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Margaret C. Gonzalez, 78, born in 1937 and passed away in 2015. We will remember her forever.
Memorial Tributes
Margaret, in all the years we've known you, we have collected many memories that we will cherish. You were always a strong person and very brave to the end. May you rest in peace in the arms of Angels. With Love, Ruben and Clara
Leave a Tribute:
Invite your family and friends to visit this memorial:
Subscribe to receive e-mail notifications when others contribute to this memorial.
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Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health care in the United States and globally. Planned parenthood delivers health care, sex education, and information to millions of women, men, and young people worldwide.
There is a wide range of pro-choice advocates. These advocates believe that women should have the choice to either keep or abort their child. While there is a large amount of advocates for pro-choice, there are many individuals who are more in favor of pro-life. Let's say, millennials for example.
Studies show that over 50% of millennials believe abortion should be illegal in some if not all states. Millennials are against the killing of unborn children. Believing that all things should have a chance at life, even if adoption becomes a final resort, millennials are more likely to be in favor of life.
After conducting a little research, I ran across an interesting video that had a very strong and admirable message to it. The video was created by Kristan Hawkins, head of the largest millennial pro-life organization in the United States. In the video Kristan makes a statement directed to Republicans. The overall message was that they [Republicans] are expected to keep their promise to defund planned parenthood no matter how they have to do it. The video is over a month old, but the message and morals that it was built upon are still valuable to millennials who are pro-life.
In the video Kristan states that the election wasn't easy but millennials still have a lot of questions about the plan for the nation's future. She also shares that the majority of us, millennials, agree that abortion is wrong and that taxpayers should never be forced to fund the killing of innocent human life.
Planned Parenthood is the nation's largest abortion vendor. When it comes to the decision between pro-life or pro-choice it is understandable that women go through things; unexpected pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, victims of rape, financial instability and many more things that deter women from actually giving life.
According to US.abortionclock.org, since 1970 Planned Parenthood has contributed to 7,711,648.9 abortions in the U.S (and counting). Simultaneously, while women are having life taken away from unborn, unspoken for humans, the CDC reports that 6.1 million couples cannot conceive on their own, or at all.
In an attempt to win over the votes of millennials for pro-choice, political advocates of Planned Parenthood began a $30 million effort to encourage voters to choose pro-choice. In the meantime, Ms. Hawkins and the voices of many millennials across the nation still stand their ground.
"We expect you [Republicans] to stand up to their lobbyists, which are all federally funded from Planned Parenthood. In every bill and redirect those funds to thousands of federally qualified community health care clinics that do so much more across our nation. Don't betray us. Keep your promise." –Kristan Hawkins
what do you think?
Sources: Susan Berry (BreitBart)


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Brides & Grooms – This is an event you will not want to miss! This weekend The City Club of San Francisco is hosting a brunch workshop for engaged couples. This is an opportunity to speak to wedding professionals one-on-one and learn some great tips for planning your wedding. Whether you are newly engaged or happily into the planning process you will find valuable information in all of the workshops. PLUS, a yummy brunch! What more could you ask for?
Following are details about the workshops. As a special guest of Well Rehearsed use coupon code: CCSF25 for a discounted rate of $25/per person.
Register here: http://cityclubweddingworkshop.eventbrite.com/
I will be speaking about what you need to know about planning your rehearsal dinner and how to integrate personal touches into the kick-off evening.
San Francisco Brides magazine will present tips and trend of 2011 and share exclusive information about how to get your wedding featured in their magazine.
The City Club of San Francisco and Classic Party Rentals will teach you how to design your tabletop to create the look that will dazzle your guests and delight your pocketbook. And if you are still looking for a wedding venue, this is one of the most beautiful, classic San Francisco spaces. It's one of my favorite in the city!


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One of the great joys of theatre is the contract of imagination between performer and spectator: if the former can conjure up another world, the latter will enter it with them. A bonus, then, to have not one, but layers upon layers of worlds evoked by the two female cellmates in Alice Birch's Little on the Inside, from their dismal reality and fractured past to their dreamlike shared fantasies. However, what for us is a quick sojourn into another realm is for them a vital means of survival, and its loss could spell devastation.
This compelling 45-minute snapshot was written as a response to another Clean Break production, Rebecca Prichard's Dream Pill, and both find effectively theatrical ways of framing harrowing, urgent issues. Birch avoids both melodramatic cliché and solemn preaching by focusing on the women's perfectly symbiotic relationship and their sly glee in narrating and reframing events, conducting and directing one another with easy rapport.
The energy and wit of their re-enactment prevents the evening from becoming unbearably grim, as violent, traumatic experiences are related with bracing stoicism and a captivating eagerness to entertain. Simone Jones's B has the cheeky swagger of the natural raconteur, brilliantly impersonating others and storming through story as she builds up to a punch line, while Susan Wokoma's A balances lyrical evocation and wry observation with quiet gravity.
Underpinning their recitation is a surprisingly tender relationship, forged in mutual determination to break out of the enforced role of victim, but there are also interesting notes of ambiguity as they teasingly compete with and contradict one another; A in particular understands the fine line between fiction and deceit. The two women have the dangerous intimacy of family members or old lovers, using their extensive knowledge both for fierce support and the occasional well-aimed barb.
The strongest moments of Lucy Morrison's taut production come during the pair's fast-paced interactions, trading memories and exchanging refrains to create a dynamic, rhythmic soundscape; there are times when their harmonising verges on spoken-word poetry. The necessity of narrative as a means of escape gives their performance a compelling urgency, as B comes to realise that her gift for storytelling is a powerful currency in this environment and A tries to outrun the horror of silence.
Some of the overtly emotional beats don't land quite as effectively, particularly when Birch shifts tone abruptly or begins to labour the point, most notably in the bumpy climax. Arguably, the theatrical space doesn't offer much in the way of amelioration, as the Almeida's airy foyer, with its expansive skylights and ambient hum from the bar, creates an extra challenge for the performers by detracting from the supposed claustrophobia of their surroundings.
In future, the play might be better off staged in the round to give us better contact with the performers, and the design is a little confused; why, when the piece celebrates the power of words to paint Elysian visuals, do we need a vaguely turf-like carpet and screensaver sunset backdrop?
However, minor quibbles aside, Birch's short piece packs a real punch by committing to a rich portrayal of female friendship, without shying away from the reality that co-dependence is a risk in prison; if another person is almost literally your whole world, what happens when you face separation? It is to Birch's credit that we vividly understand how such losses are terrifyingly magnified.


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Where To Buy Coconut Oil Online
I used to get coconut oil from my local grocery store until I realized I was spending a small fortune and could buy coconut oil much cheaper online, without sacrificing quality.
I usually buy Nutiva coconut oil from Only Natural Pet because I get other stuff at the same time and take advantage of free shipping specials on orders $79 and over.
If I run out before it's time to make my normal purchases from ONP, I'll get Carrington Farms coconut oil, which is nice because it comes in a big 54oz jar for about the same price I'd pay for 20 oz in the grocery store.
Both of these brands come in plastic containers, which I normally wouldn't buy because I try to avoid buying plastic as much as possible, so I always reuse the containers afterward for dog treats, holding dog food, etc.
(*these are affiliate links and should you buy through these sites, I get a small commission at no additional cost to you – in fact, using these links sometimes give you better pricing than normal since I'm a partner. I only recommend products I believe in – especially when it comes to a dog's health.)


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Haynes And Boone Seeks To Debunk Rx.com Conspiracy Theory
David J. Beck, who represents Haynes and Boone, suggested to jurors that the pharmacy benefit managers that Rx.com claims conspired to exclude it from their benefit networks had in fact made legitimate, independent business decisions to deny the online pharmacy access, gutting an antitrust suit the company wanted...
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Why You Should Become an Atlassian Certified Administrator
The beginning of the year is the usual time to reflect on past accomplishments and set goals for the year ahead, both personally and professionally. The personal goals seem to come more naturally: be healthier, travel more, get organized. But when it comes to professional goals, it can be harder to come up with ones that are guaranteed to show […]read more »


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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA--(Marketwired - April 10, 2015) - Platinum Group Metals Ltd. (TSX:PTM)(NYSE MKT:PLG) ("Platinum Group" or the "Company") reports the Company's financial results for the six months ended February 28, 2015 and provides recent highlights and outlook. All amounts herein are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified.
http://ift.tt/1PvQDSy @MasterMetals MasterMetals Blog


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Radio presenter Grant Stott created a hit with his musical parody 'That's Fife', now he's set to host a comedy show of the same title.
The DJ, actor and raconteur helped promote the first ever Fife Comedy Festival last week as he braved the cold of the Forth for a photo-shoot and prepared for his first ever appearance on a comedy bill.
However he's quick to point out that he's not a stand up comic and is only hosting the 'That's Fife' comedy night at Carnegie Hall in Dunfermline on Saturday, April 12.
The evening features home-grown Scottish funny men Fred MacAulay, Scott Agnew and Vladimir McTavish.
The event is part of the first ever Fife Comedy Festival which takes place at On at Fife theatres across theKingdom from April 1-13.
Grant said he's looking forward to coming to Carnegie Hall.
He explained: "I was there for the first time last week and had a look around. It looks fantastic. I'm rather excited and very nervous about doing this as it's not something I have ever done before, appear on a comedy night bill like this.
"When Karen Koren from Gilded Balloon first asked me to do this I said to her I'm not a stand up comedian, but she assured me that the role is purely as the host."
Expect tall tales and perhaps a wee song from the police officer turned radio and TV presenter/newspaper columnist and pantomime villain.
Grant added: "Given the history with 'That's Fife' and the song, Karen wanted to call it that and it seemed fitting that I should be involved.Who knows, I may even do a rendition."
On the night Grant will be joined on stage by fellow radio presenter, comedian and friend, Fred McAulay.
Also on the bill is Vladimir McTavish who serves up a feast of social observation and topical satire and Scott Agnew, a master storytellere.
Grant hopes that Fifers will get behind the festival and help to make it a huge success.
He said: "I really hope the community gets right behind this. I know how successful comedy is in Edinburgh with the Fringe and all the years that's been running.
"Edinburgh is of course a bit different, but the people of Fife should get behind this comedy festival as it is very much for them as opposed to the Fringe which is for the tourists.
"There's some top comedy for people to see during this festival and it would be great if people could get behind it and it was a big success for Fife."
For full details visit www.onfife.com/comedy.


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A year ago, I decided to quit a Portuguese language course at the University of São Paulo, because I felt that the professors failed to represent the Afro-Brazilian and indigenous culture in their so called history lesson. Later that day, I found myself sitting in my apartment reading Langston Hughes' Always the Same, a poem that addresses the global issue of racism and injustice. I thought to myself, here we go again. Once again, people like me have been erased. Just like in the United States, I knew that if I wanted to learn about the African experience in Brazil, I was going to have to dig deep.
After making friends with Afro-Brazilians in São Paulo, and listening to their experiences with race and identity, I decided to film their stories and share it with an American audience. Before I knew it, I was hopping on subways across the city to speak with various people, some whom I met that day. I learned a great deal from this experience and this conversation has opened my eyes to a new view of Brazil. We talked racism, higher education, spirituality and more in this in-depth conversation. In this film, you'll meet Afro-Brazilian artists, entrepreneurs, educators and more. Get familiar with a Brazilian experience that the media doesn't show.


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Tampa, Florida (PressExposure) March 01, 2009 -- e-BlackWomenNetwork, a fast growing Web site dedicated to Black female business owners seeking tools, information and resources to launch or grow a home based or small business announces today the formation of its Board of Advisors. Newly appointed advisors include Jewel Diamond Taylor, a highly sought after international motivational speaker; Frank Shines, widely-recognized Lean Six Sigma expert and Fortune 500 consultant; Clemmie Perry, a highly accomplished Instructional Design and Technology expert and consultant; Deena Pierott, a diversity advocate and owner of a C-level executive search firm and Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley, a retired Campus President and trendsetter in higher education retention and student development.
According to Carmin Wharton, Founder and CEO of e-BlackWomenNetwork, "The e-BlackWomenNetwork Board of Advisors consists of business, technology and education leaders who, while having worked in the private and public sectors, are also successful entrepreneurs. Their unique qualities and expert perspectives will provide objective guidance to our administrative team regarding our growth strategy and development. We are truly honored to have these trailblazers join us so that they can help us achieve our next level of organizational objectives."
About the e-BlackWomenNetwork Board of Advisors
Jewel Diamond Taylor delivers life-transforming, high impact presentations all over the U.S. and internationally. Taylor acts as a creative catalyst to challenge current thinking, reframe opportunities and generate remarkable results. Jewel also founded the Women on the Grow, Super Goal Saturday Motivational Seminars, the Don't Give Up Conference and Women's Paragon Leadership Training Series. Her articles have been in the Black Enterprise, Essence and Jet Magazines.
Frank "Rio" Shines is a co-founder and CEO of Skill of Success Publishing, Inc. which provides web-based products, Organizational Change, and Lean Six Sigma services and training to individuals, professional associations and organizations throughout the USA and emerging countries. Frank is a former Techdata Director of Lean Sigma, IBM Principal, Ernst &Young Manager and Air Force officer. He has been a business adviser, trainer and speaker to Fortune 500 clients such as Daimler-Chrysler, Exxon Mobil and 24 Hour Fitness.
Clemmie Perry is the CEO of Educational Training Consultants and a Corporate Training Executive at Lockheed Martin, the largest provider of IT services, systems integration, and training to the U.S. Government. Before Lockheed Martin, she spent 25 years at Florida Power and Light. This highly sought after speaker's efforts in bridging the digital divide has been recognized by the following: U.S. Black Engineer Magazine, the U.S. White House Report to the Nation - Colin Powell's America's Promise Alliance for Youth and The Mayor and City of Miami.
Deena Pierott is CEO of Mosaic Blueprint, a global executive search and job board specializing in diversity candidates. Prior to launching Mosaic Blueprint she spent 15 years working in various administrative roles for the City of Portland. She is a recent gubernatorial appointee in the State of Washington serving as a Commissioner on the Commission on African American Affairs. She has also served as President of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators Oregon Chapter, NW EEO Board member and member of the United Way Vision Council.
Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley is the former (retired) President of the Ybor City Campus of Hillsborough Community College. Prior to serving in that capacity, she served as the college's Chief Academic Officer. She has been a leader in academic innovation in learning communities, service learning, supplemental instruction, uses of academic technologies and developmental education reform. She conceptualized the Black, Brown and College Bound Summit which focuses on encouraging African American and Latino males in their pursuit of higher education.
About e-BlackWomenNetwork Launched in May 2008, by entrepreneur Carmin Wharton, e-BlackWomenNetwork brings together in a single Web site business and lifestyle resources, information and advice for women of color who desire to take every area of their life to the next level. e-BlackWomenNetwork's community allows women to attend teleseminars, engage in forums, meet other women business owners, share knowledge, and participate in endeavors designed to teach the intricacies of building an online business while keeping other parts of their lives balanced and healthy.


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My last layout inspired me to do another page of my mother. I have done many before but none since joining SB.com. This would have been taken during the early 1940's. I used the beautiful Kaisercraft Chanteuse collection with some Prima flowers. The wood flourish at the top is also Kaisercraft...I broke it up so it would fit in the corner. A couple of things didn't go to plan, like the rubon quote at the bottom. It just wouldn't rub off nicely and I almost wrecked it. The word treasure ended up a bit skewiff but I think I will get away with it. Thanks so much for looking :)
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Oh Emma, Oh Kate is a series of funny things my kids say. Emma is 10 and Kate is 7.
Me: Let me pull your tooth out.
Kate: Let me pop that zit on your back.
Me: Why won't you play softball this summer? You'd be so good!
Kate: Because I'll probably have a weird named team.
I picked up the girls from school on the day Emma went to school with no braces.
Me: Hey Emma! Did you show your class your smile?
Emma: Yeah, everyone noticed and were like, "whoa."
Kate: Any boys kiss you?
Me: KATE.
Kate: What? She looks prettier.
Me: Knock it off. She's always pretty.
Kate: I know she'll have boys kissing her before boys kiss me. (sighs)
In the car.
Me: Girls, you ready for sunny and 75 this weekend?! Let's lay out on the driveway and feel the warm sun.
Emma: YEAH!!
Kate: (rolls down window and sticks her head out) BIKINIS AND SUMMA SUMMAAAAAA! WOOOOOOOO!
Me: Come on, Kate. Wake up.
I pulled Kate up, out of bed.
Kate: UGH! JULIE BUG! NO!
Me: STOP! FIGHTING! I can't take it!!
I walked into Kate's bathroom. She was staring at me by looking through the mirror while she brushed her teeth. She rinses her toothbrush, flings the toothbrush water at the mirror.
Me: WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!
Kate: Flinging water at you.
Me: Grounded.
Kate: Worth it. Hair flip. (flips hair)
Kate: I'm on a sugar hiiiiigh!
Emma: Kate, stop being weird.
Kate: Fine. I'm going sugar freeeee!
Emma: Stop being more weird.
Emma walked in my bedroom.
Me: Hey, Em.
Emma: I forgot what I was going to say. Hold on.
Emma walked out then walked back in.
Emma: Ok, I remembered.
Kate: I'm the princess of the family. And Emma is the bully.
Emma: STOP, KATE!
Kate: It's true.
Emma: STOP IT!
Me: Stop. Both of you. If we were royalty, your dad and I would be the heirs to be king and queen on both sides of the family since we're both first born. That means, Emma – you would be the next queen. Kate would only be queen if Emma were to die before having children.
Scott: Julie.
Me: It's true.
Emma: HA! Kate, I'm the next queen. That means I'm more powerful than you!
Kate: I'M STILL THE PRINCESS. You're still the bully.
Kate: Mom, you're my BFF.
Me: Really?! Awwww!
Kate: Big fat fart.
Emma borrowed my phone to text Scott while he was in Florida.
Kate: Can I open the soup package?
Me: No, let me get scissors. You'll open it and it will fall all over the floor.
Kate: That's how normal people do it.
I played the classic rock station on Pandora while I straightened Emma's hair. "Carry On Wayward Son" started playing.
Me: Who is singing this?
Emma: Hmmmm…
Me: I'll give you a hint. It's a state.
Emma: America.
Me: A STATE.
Emma: California? Florida? New York?
Me: No. Another hint: it starts with a K.
Emma: Kentucky!
Me: IT'S THE STATE YOU LIVE IN.
Emma: Oh! Kansas!
Me: Let's take a picture.
Kate: I'm a little sensitive when it come to taking pictures. No, thanks.
Me: Where did you hear that? Smile.
Kate: Pay me $1 per picture with smile.
Me: OH MY GOSH, KATE! What happened to your legs? You're bleeding all down your legs!
Kate: Ran through a rose bush. Kinda hurt so I just kept running through it. I don't care. It's just blood.
Me: You ran through a rose bush.
Kate: What do you want me to do? Fly over it?
Me: What should I caption this picture of Emma and daddy?
Kate: What's a caption?
Me: When you write a sentence or two, explaining the picture.
Kate: Oh. Hm, well how about "Emma's dad calls Emma 'boo' sometimes as a nickname. But one day, he accidentally called her 'boobs' and Emma hates it.
Kate: You know how Grandma calls everyone's name with an "I-E" at the end of it? Like Katie, Scottie, Emmie….
Me: Yeah.
Kate: What if she called Emma's new nickname with an "I-E"?
Emma: Kate, what are you talking about? What nickname?
Me: KATE.
Kate: Boobs. Boobie. Hey Boobie!
Emma: STOP IT, KATE!
Me: You smell like a Thin Mint.
Kate: I didn't eat five.
I was listening to the radio after I picked up the girls from school.
Emma: What are they talking about?
Me: Shoplifting. Who do you think is more likely to shoplift, men or women? Like, steal something from a store without paying.
Emma: Boys!
Kate: Girls. Because they can sneak out like, hanging on the ceiling, doing cartwheels and flips and stuff.
I picked up sushi to-go with Kate. We had to wait for our order. Kate picked up a magazine.
Kate: How do you be on the cover of a magazine?
Me: Well, depends on the magazine.
Kate: What about this magazine?
Me: It looks like it's a local business. So this flower business paid the magazine money to have the owner be on the cover in this issue.
Kate: I want to be on a cover.
Me: Better have some money if you want to be on this magazine's cover.
Kate: I'll just take yours.
Kate handed me a mint from the sushi restaurant.
Kate: I think it's a fruit flavor.
Me: Looks like blueberry from wrapper.
I put the mint in my mouth.
Me: Tastes like…it tastes like wine? Weird.
Kate: Lemme try one. No, not wine. It tastes like cranberry juice.
I helped Kate with homework.
Me: Ok, so what is the opposite of south?
Kate: West.
Me: Not south, but…
Kate: East.
Me: Down is south. Up is….
Kate: West! Southeast! East West!
Scott was in bed with Kate, saying goodnight. The lights were off and it was pitch black. Kate started giggling.
Scott: Shhhhhh
Kate: You shhhhhh. I'm pushing my nostrils up. Shhhhhh
Me: You're so sloppy.
Kate: Cool.
I was writing on my laptop at the kitchen counter. I feel my ponytail being pulled back.
Me: Ow!
Kate: Thanks for the ponytail holder.
My niece, Evelyn (almost 4): I like your face and your braids in your hair.
My nephew, Ben (age 3): Dad, are you my uncle?
My brother-in-law, Mark: I'm your dad.
Ben: Uncle Scott is my uncle?
Mark: Yes.
Ben: I miss my uncle.
Wait, don't go! Find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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I can't say enough about how much fun it was to go up to Dallas and capture this amazing bridal session with Marissa. But I need to say this, Marissa is a total natural. She knows exactly how to move, how to laugh and best of all, how to have a really good time on a photo shoot! We spent all day going from one fabulous location to the next, I mean seriously, whoever knew Forth Worth was so cool? I loved that we just stumbled upon the Richard Serra installation at the Dallas Museum of Art and captured some of my favorites images from the session. And then the daffodils, did I mention the daffodils!? Or the shoes? Jimmy Choo we love you!
Our Team? Marissa's sister, and sensational queen of coordination Christina, helped us find our way around and sweet talk all the right people. Whitney, who was so gracious and let us all use her adorable cottage house as our bridal base camp. The talented Adeana, who did a killer makeup job. Thank you all! We couldn't have done it without you, I seriously had so much fun I forgot I was working.
And, to top off the whole thing off, one of my favorite people, SuziQ of QWeddings, offered to join me on my little bridal joyride adventure up North. Of course we had to stop on our way back home to get some silly photos of each other (stay tuned, I will post these). And, not only did she keep me awake driving back but she totally took care of us throughout the whole shoot.
Ladies, if only I could bottle you all up and take you with me on every bridal I do! We rocked it! I think Marissa has a future in bridal coaching…
[svgallery name ="Dallas_Texas_Bridal"]
You were here and didn't call? Shame shame!! Beatiful work!
Great session – those field shots are beautiful.


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HBM - Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH (Germany) - HBM offers customers FDA-approved gasket rings for various weighing tasks in the food sector.
As the first platform load cell for Hygienic Design with EHEDG certificate, the PW27 from HBM Test and Measurement provides optimal hygienic safety for weighing tasks in the food sector with high weighing accuracy.
In order to meet even the highest of hygienic requirements, HBM now offers various gasket rings, for instance O-rings, made of NBR gasket material. These are characterized by excellent cold flexibility and very good resistance against greases and oils.
In some applications, acids or alkalis are used for cleaning. Gaskets made of EPDM are available here and can be used even under high application and cleaning temperatures. Gaskets for the heads of fastening screws are also available as accessories. These have an external sealing bead made of EPDM elastomer.
All gasket rings are FDA-approved and are therefore optimal installation aids for weighing tasks with Hygienic Design.
For more information about the FDA-approved accessories for weighing tasks from HBM click here.
Source Link
Other Articles from HBM - Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH (Germany)
© HBM - Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik GmbH (Germany) / International Weighing Review
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
HBM's FDA-approved accessories for weighing tasks in Hygienic Design
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 FDA, Germany, HBM, Load Cell, Load Cell Accessories, Product News


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Callahan V Back Jumpsuit
- sold out
Callahan V Back Jumpsuit
- sold out
Relaxed jumpsuit featuring deep v back detail with drawstring waist and slight drop crotch. Pair with heels or high tops for a super effortless look. Model is wearing size Small.
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The Designer
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Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar Trailer (1992)
22 May 1992 Drama, Foreign 174 mins
Ramlal Sharma lives a poor life-style with two sons Ratanlal Sharma and Sanjaylal Sharma. Both sons attend Model School for the poorer folks. Rantanlal excels at everything he does including his studies and outdoor activities while Sanjaylal is a no good slacker who loves to enjoy himself with his friends and have everything done without any hard work. Both sons run a small café providing eatable
Watch the official Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar 1992 trailer in HD below or find more Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar videos on Vidimovie.


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China's sports industry is on the cusp of a boom unlike anything previously seen. But even with trillions of yuan on the line, will cycling be a beneficiary or just a second-tier sport ailing behind basketball and football?
Gong Xi Fa Cai and prosperous beginnings to all in this Year of the Fire Monkey.
If you're at all puzzled by the gentle fluidity of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, be assured that it's a lot easier to understand than the UCI's ever-shifting racing calendars which were silently overhauled again last year.
The Tour of Qatar also starts today. The ASO-managed Asia Tour 2.HC event has so far not acknowledged this important cultural occasion, and there's really no reason for it to. Anyway, the hundreds of millions of people celebrating the Chinese New Year are likely doing something other than frantically searching on their smartphones for a live feed of the race.
Cycle sport is a growing but niche sector in China; a thesis discussed by sports industry panelists at the Hainan International Cycling Industry Investment Forum, held one day before the 2015 Tour of Hainan.
The panel of stakeholders, which included IMG Events' Head of Media Sponsorship (Asia Pacific) Ivan Sien, discussed several data points such as the low rate of national participation in cycling (0.4% of China's population, according to one report) and insignificant sales of sport bikes as a share (6%) of the overall market when compared to developed countries such as France or the US.
While China's GDP per capita remains significantly lower than either of those two countries, the absolute number of Chinese with similar levels of discretionary income to the average French or US citizen still numbers in the millions. That this base will only grow is seen as a huge upside for the bicycle industry and sports sector in general.
Participation in sports is a direct driver of consumer investment in sporting equipment and, for its part, key players in the mainland bicycle industry have created their own events and leagues (such as Trek's series in Shanghai) to build brand image and drive consumer demand. Though effective in isolation, the disparate structure hardly resembles an optimal base for national growth.
At a professional level, China's Hors Categorie Asia Tour events continue to grow with the organiser of Tour of Hainan reporting it delivered an economic impact of CNY3.7Bn (USD56Mn) to its region in 2014. Additionally, more than 3'000 people rode in amateur cycling events within the Tour of Hainan program – a 30% YoY increase from the previous year.
Ahead of President Xi Jinping's announcement of his government's 13th five year plan, China's State Council presented guidelines which sought to transform the nation's sports industry. Announced on 20 October 2014 the key document – titled 'Opinions on Accelerating the Development of Sports Industry and Promoting Sports Consumption' – laid out a vision for growing the value of China's sports industry to five trillion yuan (USD760Bn) by 2025 – equivalent to roughly 1% of expected GDP in the same year. Furthermore, the guidelines called for 500 million people to be regularly participating in sport within the next decade.
To achieve this almost five-fold increase in value, the Government planned to relax regulation on the sports market, facilitate the flow of more private sector capital into the sector whilst sustaining its own investment envelope, offer preferential treatments normally accorded to nascent industry and require new neighbourhood developments to include sports facilities in their plans.
According to a China Institute of Sports Science national exercise survey of 2014, 33.9% of Chinese exercised with medium intensity at least three times weekly – a 5.7% increase from its survey of 2007. The survey also found that almost half of the respondents aged 20 and older received no external guidance in their recreation of choice – a potentially huge opportunity for event organisers.
Chinese-owned Wanda Sports' acquisitions of Infront Sports & Media and World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) in 2015 received eager coverage in the sports media. Though seemingly endless rumours of Wanda's interest in RCS Sports were proven to be unfounded (at least for now), the group's acquisition of Lagardère Sports' endurance division came from left-field. The move was seen to be a harbinger of Wanda's likely exposure to professional, and particularly mass-particpation, cycling events.
The most recent name in sports to come out of China is Alibaba. The e-commerce and cloud computing enterprise founded by Jack Ma in 1999 company recorded less than one-third the revenue of Wang Jianlin's empire last year, but its growth has been meteoric.
In September 2015, Alibaba Group announced it had formed Alibaba Sports Group in partnership with Sina Corporation and Yunfeng Capital. Majority-owned by Alibaba Group, the new entity would be led by CEO Zhang Dazhong, a former vice-president of Shanghai Media Group who helped bring the NBA to television screens in China.
"Sports has the enduring ability to create shared happiness and encourage healthy lifestyles," said Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang in a press release. "Alibaba Sports Group aims to transform the China sports industry through the use of Internet-based technologies to bring greater and better products and services to consumers, sports participants and sports fans alike."
One of the first 'products' Alisports hopes to bring to China is the FIFA World Cup. In an interview last week with Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (which Alibaba also purchased in December 2015) Zhang Dazhong stated his company's interests were in entire leagues, not necessarily clubs or teams, saying "it's not our direction to buy a club or team, but to create a platform for clubs and teams. Just to buy a club would be an exception or special case, an individual case."
The Chinese Goverment's vision for sport in China may be local, with companies like Alisports targeting already-popular sports like football and basketball, but the impact of value accretion will be felt globally and across many sporting disciplines. One of the preferential treatments offered by the Government to qualified sports companies is a reduction in the corporate income tax rate from 25% to 15% – surely an incentive in itself to start investing in sport.
Professional cycling events may not yet be a prime target for Wanda or Alibaba, but neither are those two companies the only ones in China capable of entering the sports market and making a move. The ASO/UCI stoush and overall lack of consensus about a plan for professional cycling's monetisation may be an embarrassment to people inside the sport, but the uncertainty created by this also makes cycling events and teams a 'cheap buy' for a cash-rich company with commercial acuity.
Of course, the directive from the Government to get more Chinese into sport will not be solved solely by the acquisition of existing assets alone. Mass-participation events will be vital to achieving the growth targets in participatory and consumption terms. In the past, organisers of Asia Tour races flew in experts from larger event organisers to assist with technical and sporting management. It's not hard to imagine a future where an existing 'brand' is bought and its name leveraged to present a Gran Fondo somewhere in the mainland. It will be a very interesting ten years.
Granfondo events were introduced to China already back in 2012 with the Granfondo Yanbian in the north, and the past 2 years there has been a multi-stage Granfondo tour in the Southwest of the country (Yunnan). A foreign "branded" cycling event, Vaetternrundan namely (Swedish), was organised for the first time over six years ago in 2009.
So far, it remains very difficult to establish mass participation road cycling events in China. Participation numbers do not justify the total closure of the roads – for several hours – which is a must for local authorities…. and that makes sense there, too.
The article is quite right that cycling has remained a niche in China, and the expected "boom" has not yet materialised. Maybe things change soon, but as in nearly all countries and all sports that requires elite athletes who are winning on the international stage. Instead, we must recognise that even the Chinese WorldTour riders who finished Giro and Tour in the past 2 years were not present at the latest world championships in Richmond.
However, we keep on working 🙂
Kris, thanks for your comments – it's great to hear from someone who is in the mainland events sector.
China certainly lacks a cycling mega-star, and there are few current elite Chinese cyclists on the horizon who may take over from Ji Cheng once he retires (which may be at the end of this season). Shame about the lack of representation at Richmond and I note the same will be true for Rio – no representatives from China. For now, riders from Hong Kong such as Cheung King Lok and Ronald Yeung will have to fill the void.
Readers can check out Kris' company website at kuaisports.com, while Vätternrundan China is organised by Nordic Ways (nordicways.com).
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You know those Pepsi commercials that Kyrie Irving stars in? You know, the ones with Uncle Drew? Well, here's a fun little fact: Irving has written, directed and produced every installment of the Uncle Drew series.
"I think I kind of just fell into it," Irving said on CBS Sports Radio's The Doug Gottlieb Show. "I was always kind of nervous to get in front of the camera, and this was kind of my way of letting myself loose and giving myself a chance to be a creative behind such a project. Partnering with Pepsi (was) probably the best thing to do. Going from 2012 with Chapter 1 all the way to now with Chapter 4, it's so amazing to think (of) the steps we've taken to make this a storyline and have Uncle Drew come to life. It's been an amazing journey."
It's also been an amazing journey for Irving in Cleveland. The No. 1 overall pick in 2011, Irving did a lot of losing in his first couple of seasons but last year helped the Cavs advance to the NBA Finals. Then he fractured his left knee in Game 1 against Golden State and has been sidelined ever since.
Irving, however, said his knee is getting better.
"It's good, man," Irving said. "I'm coming along really well. Just looking forward to the date that I have in mind and shoot for that one."
Irving, who averaged 21.7 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds last season, is going to be cautious about returning to action. Cautious to an extent, anyway.
"In my mind, I'm saying (I'll be cautious)," Irving said, "but as a competitor, I'm going to listen to not only the doctors, but more importantly, I'm going to listen to my body. There's a way to be extra cautious, but eventually I'm going to have to get out there in play. Whether that be in December or whether that be in January, I'm eventually going to have to test out my knee against professional competition. There's no way to go out there and feel the trust unless you're going out and playing. you can have weeks and weeks and weeks of preparation, but there's nothing like simulating a game. So I'm just doing everything possible, staying in the weight room, staying on the court, working out every single day and doing whatever I can to be out there with my teammates."
Still, Doug Gottlieb feels going from practice to an NBA game is a major bump in intensity. After all, this isn't like MLB where a pitcher can make a rehab start in the minors. This is the NBA. This is going from fractured kneecap to trying to break down Chris Paul and Steph Curry.
That's a pretty big leap, no?
"It's a big leap if you see it as that," Irving said. "I don't really see it as a big leap. I just see it as getting back on the court and being part of competition. Now, the realization is that there's going to be some rust that I need to knock off. That's reality. there's no way anybody can come back and average 25 points and be the exact same player or better than they were last year. It takes time to build that back up. That's what people have the summer for. Coming back from an injury during the season, this is the first time I've ben through it. The only thing I'm looking forward to is being back out there with my teammates, being out there with my coaches and being out there and competing at the highest level. So I see it as a challenge that I want to overcome, and the best way to do that is by going out and testing it. I can't be over-cautious and sit on the sideline if I'm 100 percent healthy. That just wouldn't make sense. So for me, it's just about seeing that challenge and attacking it."
The Cavs (7-1), who are atop the Eastern Conference, play their next three games on the road. They face the Knicks (4-5) at Madison Square Garden on Friday before facing Milwaukee (4-5) on Saturday and Detroit (5-3) on Tuesday.
Cleveland has won seven straight games since its season-opening loss to Chicago.


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Success in records and information management takes planning, organisation and a strategy for taking control of your migration from physical to digital media. Done well, it will help your organisation limit information risk, manage costs and lay the foundation for big data analytics.
Here are the six steps towards successful digitising:
- Assess the Situation
Any project aimed at converting physical records to digital must start by establishing some basic facts. You need to know where your records are located, whether they are being tagged properly, and what technologies are being used to create and store records.
- Define Your Goals
Whether your digital records project is large or small, decide what you want to achieve. For some, it could be speeding up customer service enquiries. For others, the goal could be increased document sharing and collaboration.
- Examine Manual and Paper Intensive Processes
It's not just about effective document scanning, but also eliminating the flow of paper into a process. For example, people may be turning electronic records back into paper for processing. Look at the processes you want to transform carefully.
- Prioritise Judiciously
Determine the importance of each document for scanning so you scan what you need access to. This will eliminate the need to use paper as part of a business process. It will also allow you to create easily indexed records in a common, searchable format.
- Bring People With You
In order to achieve change, you'll need to convince senior stakeholders and the people who use information in their jobs that digitising will benefit them. Work closely with both to create and deliver a plan that's fit for purpose and makes a strong business case.
- Plan and Evaluate
Look at the systems your business uses for scanning records to capture information and consider the value of simplicity. Working with Iron Mountain will give you access to the latest thinking on digitising and the guidance of a trusted advisor.
Our short guide, Getting It Right from the Start, The Basics of Digitising, can help you take these important steps.