text:
The final evaluation report available as well in French and Spanish,of the 2008 World Conservation Congress (WCC), held in Barcelona, is available for consultation. The report, performed by independent evaluators Universalia, calls the Barcelona Congress the most successful congress to date.
The World Conservation Cngress brought together almost 7,000 participants from 183 different countries to debate on local, regional and global issues alike.
The Forum portion of the Congress showcased 943 events, of which 790 were organized by IUCN members. As ambitious as the World Conservation Congress was, the report cites areas for improvement or strategic redesign.
One particular need is to rework the model for receiving and processing the increasing number of motions submitted for consideration by the IUCN Members´ Assembly.
IUCN is dedicated to improving on the World Conservation Congress and is preparing a formal response to the recommendations in the evaluation report.


text:
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Expect half of the families to plan their fall commitments in the spring.
Follow-up again with the rest at your fall roundup.
|W.D.Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award
|Recruiter Strip
- Recruiting is also called "Roundup," "New Scout Orientation," "Race to Cub Scouting," or "School Night for Scouting"
Your spring and fall recruiting events are vital for your unit. With a spring roundup, you can recruit before they commit to other fall activities. New Scouts will get to go to Camp this year. Your summertime calendar is packed full with the trips, events, and camping they want. Parents who plan ahead can make great new leaders.
|— Robert Baden-Powell
Your fall recruiting is important too. This is when you get another chance to recruit the ones you missed in the spring. Don't focus on the activities they just missed but what is still coming up.
Your program and your calendar will sell them on Scouting. Make sure that your calendar is planned months or a year in advance and stocked full of great events. Make sure to include all of the council and district events you can. Prepare a simplified, one-page calendar for recruiting. The most important sales flier you have is your busy calendar.
Your other tool will be a good recruiting flier. Your district executive can provide the recruitment fliers and posters.
Don't forget how flexible we are. If they miss a sports practice, they may not be able to play the next game. But in Scouts, you can miss a meeting or even a season and still be welcome.
The Six P's of Recruiting
Have a clear purpose:
- Every boy deserves the chance to be a Scout.
- Sign up Cub Scouts and Webelos into existing packs as well as Boy Scouts and Venturer
- Recruit parents to be unit leaders and committee members
- Organize new units in areas we are not currently serving.
- You are "Here for the boys." Help every boy succeed, not just your own. Help every unit succeed, not just your own.
Involve everyone in the plan:
- Ask every leader to participate. You need everyone's help that night and as you publicize the event.
- Ask your district for help with Informational fliers and posters.
- Ask other units to buddy up with you. "A Scout is Helpful." Work with each other.
A new Scout will rarely find you. You have to be pro-active and invite them, often several times.
- Ask each Scout to invite two friends. Referrals are your best prospects. If their buddies join, your Scouts are more likely to stay in too. Show them the Recruiter Strip they can earn.
- Ask your chartered organization to distribute your fliers. Go to their meeting and show them all you do.
- Ask your committee to take recruiting fliers to PTO, Religious Organizations, Sunday Schools, sports teams, clubs, etc.
- Ask local newspapers to run an article about a recent event and include details of your upcoming orientation.
- Ask local radio, TV stations, and cable providers to run Public Service Announcements you can get from your district.
- Ask if you can do fliers, boy talks, and an open house in area schools. Your district executive should have contacts with school administrators.
- Ask your past prospects who have not signed up yet to come this time. You may need to invite them several times.
Use all seven ways to promote your unit. Note that the key word is Ask. Use your resources. Brainstorm other ideas.
Hold the roundup where the unit meets or at their school. Make it a brief, upbeat, and well-planned rally. Don't talk about the past or use jargon like DE" or "FOS" as this can scare off new families.
Setup - 30 minutes early and to be ready for early arrivals. Leaders and Scouts only attend if they are in Uniform.
- Gathering Activity
- Ask everyone who attends to sign in with their Name, Home Phone, Cell Phone, Email, Scout's Name, and grade.
- As they come in, pass out applications, fliers, and your calendar. Ask everyone to fill out the forms. Have plenty of pens.
- Don't stand in a click with your friends. Have a leader walk each prospect to a table and help them.
Opening - 4 minutes: Opening Flag Ceremony. Pledge of Allegiance. Very BRIEF remarks. Introduce your leaders.
Presentation - No more than 8 minutes.
- Let the Scouts tell about their favorite upcoming activities: trips, camping, Summer Camp, Pinewood Derby, etc.
- End the group meeting in a few minutes. Adults: Don't overwhelm them with stories, facts, and figures.
- Register
- Leaders continue to meet with families one-on-one to answer questions.
- Register new youth members. Explain what they need to know one-on-one. Don't overwhelm them. Ask, "Do you have any questions?"
- Have unit t-shirts available as a gift or at a small cost. If they leave in your t-shirt, they will come back.
- Consider light refreshments such as punch and granola bars.
Closing - Thank them. Announce the unit's next meeting date and a Welcoming Activity (picnic, bowling, etc.). Closing Flag Ceremony.
Scouts with involved parents are more likely to stay in Scouts. Recruit adults to at least help if not be the leaders. These are great tools to help find out what parents can offer. Involve everyone. Scouts with "drive-by" parents won't last.
- Pack Family Talent Survey Sheet - Give one to every adult at your Pack Roundup.
- Troop Resource Survey 34437 - Boy Scout Version
- Become a Scout Volunteer! - is a good resource to show potential leaders
- Call everyone who signed up to again welcome them and confirm information. Do not rely just on email.
- Call everyone who didn't sign up in a few days and see if they have any questions. Can you call them again in a week?
- Call your prospects again in a week. People often need to be asked several times.
- Call your prospect again just before your next orientation. The ones you missed last time are some of the best prospects next time.
Recruiting Suggestions and Ideas
Whenever possible, coordinate your large recruiting events with other Units in your area.
If you are sending home flyers, contact the Superintendent or Principal of the school to ensure that you have permission.
If you have an extended time were you will talk with parents consider asking a Troop or Order of the Arrow members to take the Scouts and prospective Scouts outside (or to another room) to play Scouting games.
Use multiple resources for publicity whenever possible. If your Chartering Organization has a newsletter, or involves families with appropriately aged children, ask if you can publicize your event via them, or make a presentation to them. If any major events are going on within your unit, invite local media outlets to profile your group and report on the events. Submit major events to public calendars.
Contact any lapsed members personally. If a boy dropped out of the unit halfway through the year, a phone call to him or his family may encourage him to rejoin.
Have the existing Cubs go to school in uniform on the night their pack/den meets. At this age many boys really want to get a uniform and will be drawn into the game.
- General
- Cub Scout Pack - Boy Scout Troop - Venturing Crew - Sea Scouting Ship
- New Youth Application: English and Spanish
- New Adult Application: English and Spanish
- New Unit Application
- Transfer Form - to transfer a Youth Member from one unit to another
- BSA's Local Council Locater — The Local Council Locater (search engine by Zip Code) will help you find the Council that serves your area.
- Troop locator - Pack locator
- Orientation for New Boy Scout Parents
- Recruit Youth Members and Orient Parents
- Mission Family PowerPoint - Explains the program their child has joined.
- Ways to involve parents in their Pack - Excel spreadsheet of tasks explained in common terms.
- Ways to involve parents in their Team/Troop - Excel spreadsheet of tasks explained in common terms.
- Ways to involve parents in their Crew/Ship - Excel spreadsheet of tasks explained in common terms.
- Let's Go Scouting comic book
- Cub Scout volunteering indicator form
- Boy Scout volunteering indicator form
- Scouting Orientation Guide pamphlet - 28-page pamphlet provides an overview.
- Scouting Builds more than just campfires brochure
- Scouting the Chartered Organization brochure
- Astronauts And The BSA
- Eagle Scouts - Facts from the BSA
- The Case For School Access PowerPoint Presentation
- Schools And Scouting: Working Together For Youth (PowerPoint Presentation)
- Mike Offers a Potential Eagle Scout His Eagle Perspective Eagle Scout Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs on what it means to be an Eagle Scout.
- Advertising
- Billboards - an excellent way to increase the awareness of Scouting within your community.
- Print Ads - provides samples of print ads.
- Public Service Announcements - PSA's in a variety of formats.
- News Release Sample - model news releases in the style used by the Associated Press (AP).
- PowerPoint Presentation Templates
- Sample Presentations PPT's that you can tailor
- Cub Scouting
- 2008 Roundup Guidebook.doc - Northern Star Council's Version of Cub Scout Round Up Campaign Guidebook #13-253.
- Dozens of other great recruiting resources from Northern Star Council
- LaSalle Council's Roundup Materials
- Organizing a new unit
- William D. Boyce New-Unit Organizer Award
- New Unit Resource Kits - Step-By-Step Instructions And Resource Materials For Organizing A New Unit With A Specific Organization.
- The New-Unit Organization Process - A Detailed Outline Of The 12-Step Process To Organizing A New Unit.
- Hispanic/Latino American Demographics In A Changing America
- Scouting Supports Home Schooling
- Help finding chartering organizations
- Be Prepared/I Am Prepared - information about each of the BSA's programs and their relationship to chartered organization.
- Letters Of Endorsement - Agreements Between Many National Organizations And The Boy Scouts Of America to have local units.
- Community Organizations And The Boy Scouts Of America
- Rotary International and Scouting
- 40 Developmental Assets [PowerPoint] - how the Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs support the developmental assets.
- Venturing
- Recruiting Venturers
- Venturing Highlights
- Venturing Marketing Guide
- Sea Scouts Brochure
- Have each youth complete the Venturing Activity Interest Survey.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass tells the story of a teen who decided to test the political tolerance at her school in the liberal Chicago suburb. In exchange for extra credit, the girl recorded the comments she received when she wore a shirt with "McCain Girl" written on it one day and a tee with "Obama Girl" written on it the next. When she wore the McCain shirt the teen was told, among other things, that she should be killed. Wonder how the experiment would have turned out if she'd done it this area of Idaho? [Chicago Tribune, 2News.Tv]


text:
PC-based controls help packaging machines
Packaging machines, as with mechanical engineering in general, are subject to increasingly higher customer requirements for higher speed, more flexibility, and competitive costs. Machine manufacturers must keep step with respective market developments to survive. Belgian packaging machine manufacturer Pattyn Packing Lines relies on a high degree of automation for its advanced food packaging machines. The company balances performance and cost on the basis of state-of-the-art PC-based control technology.
Packaging must fulfill various requirements, so that consumers receive packaged products fresh and in perfect condition. The Belgian packaging machine specialist Pattyn Packing Lines, which is based in Bruges, designs and produces fully automatic bag-in-box packaging machines for the packaging of bulk goods: food products ranging from fish, deep-frozen bread, or vegetables and semi-liquid products, such as oils, greases or liquid sugar, to powders and granulates, all of which can be packed hygienically and freshly using a bag-in-box package.
Packing machine trends: compact, efficient, multi-functional
Requirements for packaging machines follow general mechanical engineering trends for modular concepts, adaptability, ease of maintenance, reliability, high ease of operation, and universal high-performance control systems.
"Over and above that, a packaging machine must integrate itself seamlessly into the production process so that no goods tailbacks occur, which would lead to bottlenecks," explained Joeri Haegebaert, software manager and quality inspector at Pattyn Packing Lines. "In addition, our customers can choose between standard machines or solutions tailored precisely to their needs," Haegebaert said.
With the new Ceflex-21, Pattyn combines the proven technologies of carton forming by vacuum suction and bag insertion into one compact machine, combining two processes. First the carton is isolated, fixed by vacuum suction, and opened, and the base flap is folded over and glued. Subsequently, film grippers pull the bag off the roll, open it, and place it precisely inside the carton. The perfectly controlled bag enables the reduction of bag dimensions, resulting in film savings of up to 30%. The Ceflex-21 has a production capacity of 12 cartons per minute.
"The Ceflex-21 clearly benefits from the modern drive and control solutions. The rigid compressed-air driven systems for carton forming and the opening and insertion of the bags are replaced today by flexible systems driven by stepper motors. The stepper motor exhibits a favorable torque behavior for such applications," explained Haegebaert. The compact packaging module can be integrated easily into the fully automated Pattyn packaging line or the customer's existing packaging line.
The integrated bag-in-box packaging machine is controlled by an embedded PC with directly connected I/O terminals for EtherCAT Ethernet protocol. Stepper motor terminals control the stepper motors.
Customer expects openness
"Pressure on machine manufacturers is continually growing. Increasingly complex functions must be implemented with ever increasing efficiency. In addition to that, it is important to find the correct price-to-performance ratio. That can only be achieved with a high degree of automation," said Haegebaert. The PC-based control technology selected "gives us a number of advantages here: On the one hand, other vendors' systems and devices can be integrated without any problems; on the other, the openness of the PC controller makes it easier for us to manufacture custom machines. Also, our customers value the possibility to log directly into a PC environment."
After using the automation for several years, Pattyn decided to standardize on the technology, including touchscreens in the future, said Haegebaert.
Pattyn packaging machines
Pattyn Packing Lines, a family-owned business based in Bruges, Belgium, has more than 30 years of experience in packaging machines based on the bag-in-box principle. The company offers carton erecters, bag placers, fillers, and bag and carton closers. Food products are counted, weighed, filled, and packed in cartons or crates with a made-to-measure inner bag. The company constantly invests in the development of new technologies and machines to ensure a high degree of automation with all-around product protection.
– Information from Beckhoff Automation. Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager CFE Media, Control Engineering, and Plant Engineering, email@example.com.
Online extra: Products used on the Pattyn machines – linked below
The following information about products used in this application appears in this "Online extra," beyond the print/digital edition. See link below.


text:
Published Nov 1, 2013
There should only be one leap-of-faith on a wedding day. Who would you trust to capture those perfect moments?
Whether it's an independent gallery or a private collection, what sets... see the Top 5 →
Stand up, improv, sketch comedy. Who makes you laugh? see the Top 5 →
Where's the best place to see your favorite bands play when they're in... see the Top 5 →
What festival do you look forward to year in and year out? see the Top 5 →
Foreign films, indie movies, or maybe its just the popcorn. What's your... see the Top 5 →
Maybe it's your go-to spot for a rainy day or the place you take guests... see the Top 5 →
The 2013 OC HOT LIST awards are based on more than 32,000 votes from local Orange County-area experts.


text:
Current Initiatives
- Home
- Diversity Council
- Current Initiatives
Ezel Smith Diversity Scholarship
Two years ago, many of us attended a party honoring Ezel Smith, who retired after 53 years of service to IPFW - a record that few, if any, of us are likely to achieve. At the party, Ezel handed me a check - her personal contribution to the Ezel Smith Diversity Scholarship Fund. This generosity on the part of a woman of very modest means struck me as an example for us all - just as Ezel's strong work ethic and unfailing cheerfulness inspired us to name the scholarship after her.
The scholarship has been designated for Summer Bridge students - economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk recent high school graduates who enroll for an intensive summer program of six credits with supplemental instruction, tutoring, and a residential experience. Students who complete the summer courses with a GPA of at least 3.0 and who enroll at IPFW for the fall semester will be eligible for the scholarship. If no Summer Bridge student qualifies based on these criteria, eligibility will be extended to any student who has contributed to enhancing the campus climate for diversity.
As of October 31, 2005 there was $14,277.42 in the fund. However, $25,000 is needed to establish the endowment. The endowment must be there before scholarships can be awarded.
Please consider a gift to this fund in support of students who, like Ezel Smith, have overcome many disadvantages in order to succeed.
Contributions are eligible for a State of Indiana tax credit, that is, part of your gift comes back to you, up to a maximum of $100 for individuals or $200 for couples filing a joint return. The donation is also deductible from your federal taxes if you itemize your return.
To contribute, contact the IPFW Development Office at 260-481-6962. The Development Office is located in KT 140.


text:
Central Park gardens (Shaker)
Here comes the harvest! Fall is the best time to enjoy the farmers market as a bounty of local produce rolls in. Shop the market outside at the community center every Thursday through October 24. Hours thru September are 3 to 7 p.m. and 3 to 6 in October.
Read up on City of Maple Grove updates and happenings for September, October, November
Your one stop shop for info on your property, neighborhood, city services, elected officials, and more.
Interactive map with locations and summaries of projects within Maple Grove.
City of Maple Grove has a new addition to our social media "channels"
View over 400 amazing photos submitted by residents showcasing the Maple Grove community
Submit your non-emergency service requests online through YourGOV. Available via the web or your mobile phone.
City accepts new passport applications at Maple Grove Govt Center by appointment only--8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m, M-F.
Registration is open for a summer filled with programs, sports, activities and much more.
Permits are free, but new guidelines in place for annual renewal.
View the 2018 report on Maple Grove's monitoring of drinking water and other important facts and tips for water quality and conservation.
Learn more about the city's process and opportunities for public input.
Review and provide your feedback on City of Maple Grove's long-range vision for growth and development.
Free one-on-one business counseling available by appointment at Government Center.
Keep up with the latest business and housing projects in our community.
Have you ever wondered where stormwater goes? Click here to learn all about it through this interactive story map!
View the 2018-19 guide filled with city info and services.
The City Council established five initiatives relating to planning, housing, staffing, community center, and development.
This video offers a trip back in time sharing the Maple Grove's history and evolution--a peek at the past and present.
Stay in the loop with city happenings, news & events.
It's the spot for brief blasts of City of Maple Grove news/features/video.


text:
I am delighted you want to check out my personal website, however
please talk to my agents about commissions as they handle all of that for me.
I look forward to working with you.
Based in London, Lucia Emanuela Curzi focused on producing fashion and beauty illustrations across design, advertising and textile. She loves the sea, wildlife and horseback riding, and when she was a child kept a rooster for a pet. After working in advertising for four years, she won the first prize of Company High Street Edit Fashion Illustration Competition and since then has been commissioned by a a wide number of fashion publications around the world.
Give us a few details and we'll get back
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text: My buddy does flooring for a living and traded his van in on a pickup. After a couple months using a tonneau cover, we finally got him a camper shell last night. Great, except Phil is a large man and I don't see him easily getting stuff out of the front of the bed as the side windows on the camper are vent windows. I have been looking around at the in bed sliding drawers and was wondering if anyone has made one, or has any ideas as far as making the slides. It is only a short bed, but it would be nice if he could also use the table as a work surface when fully extended. Here is a link to one being installed. Anyone have any ideas, or have built one before?


text:
Quality Rating
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- Accurate Diagnosis
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- Easy Appointments
Showing 1 of 1 Ratings
Care Guides
- Back Pain Get the facts about back pain, including the symptoms and causes.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Facts about carpal tunnel syndrome, including the causes and symptoms.
- Dupuytren's Contracture Dupuytren's contracture is a thickening of the tissue in your hand
- View All Care Guides Prepare for your next visit with our extensive library of Care Guides


text:
DALLAS – Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys and practices have maintained key Chambers Global 2011 rankings across three of the firm's geographic bases, including the United States, Mexico and Latin America.
Haynes and Boone received honors for its international Franchise and Distribution and U.S.-based Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring practices, as well as the Latin America-wide and Mexico Corporate/M&A practices.
The firm's Franchise and Distribution group received a Band 2 ranking, with Chambers researchers concluding that the global practice is "excellent and does strong franchising work." Practice Chair Joyce Mazero was named a key individual in the group for being involved in international franchising work and inspiring client loyalty. In addition, Robert Lauer was recognized for handling a significant amount of international franchise work.
In the U.S., Haynes and Boone's Bankruptcy and Business Restructuring group received a Band 4 ranking. Veteran partner Robert Albergotti landed in Band 1 and Partner Robin Phelan, another of the firm's Dallas-based attorneys with a glowing national reputation, landed in Band 2. Chambers sources said Mr. Albergotti "gets deals done because he is decisive and has a practical business perspective."
Haynes and Boone's Latin America-wide Corporate/M&A Practice was ranked Band 5 for its work with major clients throughout the region. Sources noted "the firm has good offices in Dallas and Mexico ― the lawyers are competent bilingually and understand Mexico very well." Larry Pascal, head of the Haynes and Boone's Americas Practice Group, was singled out as a key player in the firm and throughout the region. He was also named a regional expert for his work in the U.S.-based Corporate/M&A practice.
In Mexico, the Corporate/M&A practice receiving a Band 4 ranking. Partner Antonio Franck was singled out as being "increasingly active on corporate transactions." He received a Band 3 ranking and was also recognized for his work with an array of prestigious financial institutions in the finance practice.
Media Contact
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text:
Wild Riders (Shields)Galloping to war with Orion, his personal guard bring a calamity to all who stand against them.
The Wild Riders of Kurnous are Orion's personal guard, each as aggressive and impulsive as he. They are fey and dangerous creatures who are no longer truly the Elves they once were. Now and forever, they are a part of the Wild Hunt's eternal glory. In appearance, Wild Riders are throwbacks to the ancient days of the Elves. Their weapons are things of crude iron, or even flint; their ceremonial robes and armour seldom more than the pelts of animals slain during their sacred hunts. Yet there is an otherworldliness and nobility about the Wild Riders that cannot easily be denied; the power of Kurnous flows through them as surely as it does through Orion.
Unit NameWild Riders (Shields)
Main Unit Keywh_dlc05_wef_cav_wild_riders_1
Land Unit Keywh_dlc05_wef_cav_wild_riders_1
Naval Unit Keywh_main_shp_transport
Land Unit GroupMelee Cavalry
Naval Unit GroupMelee Cavalry
CasteMelee Cavalry
ClassShock Cavalry
Custom Battle Cost1200
Recruitment Cost1200
Upkeep Cost300
Melee Attack34
├ Melee Weaponwh_dlc05_wef_wildrider_spear
├ Melee Damage Base28
├ Melee Damage Ap14
├ Armour PiercingNo
├ Bonus vs Cavalry0
├ Bonus vs Elephants0
└ Bonus vs Infantry0
Charge Bonus62
├ Base Defence29
├ Shieldwh_missile_block_55_wood
└ Shield Defence0
├ Armourwh2_main_chainmail_40
├ Armour Defence40
└ Shield Armour55
├ Man Entitywh_main_cavalry_rider_standard_blood
├ Man Speed33
├ Man Health8
├ Bonus Hit Points95
├ Mountwh_dlc05_wef_mnt_steed_of_kurnous
├ Mount Entitywh_dlc05_wef_cav_stag_blood
├ Mount Speed85
└ Mount Health8
Leadership (Base Morale)70
- Frenzy
Some warriors care not for their own personal safety and so work themselves into a whirlwind of destruction and mindless violence!
- Causes Fear
This unit frightens all enemy units, reducing their leadership when nearby. It is also immune to fear. Fear penalties do not stack.
- {{tr:guerrilla_deployment}}
- Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Forest Stalker
The Elves of Athel Loren gain bonuses to melee defence and accuracy while fighting within the forest.
- Vanguard Deployment
This unit can deploy in an expanded deployment area, allowing it to start the battle within striking distance of the enemy - or somewhere unexpected.
- Frenzy
Units with leadership is high.
- Damage Dealer
This unit has a strong emphasis on dealing damage. If fighting it, make sure to take it out before it can get into firing or melee range.
|Requires Buildings
|Lv. 0
Grove of the Horse
Level 1
Pastures of Skymark
Level 2
|Faction Availability
|The Eye of the Vortex
|Mortal Empires


text:
WITH SO many of us using our phones for day-to-day computing, the market for larger devices - tablets, let alone laptops - has begun to decline. The absence of a new tablet in Google's recently-announced Pixel range of devices speaks volumes.
Yet for heavyweight duty, there are times when only a "proper" computer will do. Homework and home office work are cases in point. However, what actually constitutes a proper PC in today's market - and in particular, whether it needs to run Windows - is deeply debatable.
As recently as five years ago, this was a question not worth pondering. A slew of then-popular netbooks came with their manufacturers' own operating systems, saving the cost of a licence from Microsoft, but sacrificing the ability to run any but the most basic applications.
Today, those models have given way to Chromebooks, which are stripped-down laptops running Google's Chrome operating system, instead of Windows. They now have sufficient traction and large enough user communities to represent a credible alternative.
It's not only Windows that is absent from Chromebooks: many don't have hard disks, either. That's because your apps, data and documents live in a cloud instead of on the machine itself.
Whether a Chromebook is right for you depends on what you plan to use it for. Desktop-bound programs like Photohsop or pretty much any video editor are non-starters, and you may have compatibility issues if you try to to connect to your company's system through a private network. Specialist programs like computer-aided design, music production and desktop publishing are also no-go areas. But for word processing, number crunching, and working on web-based projects, they're ideal. You can't lose your work because it's stored remotely, and the stripped-down hardware is lighter and cheaper than a comparable Windows alternative.
Chromebooks start at around £200, and for that you can expect an eleven or thirteen-inch screen - bigger than any tablet - plus at least 2GB of memory and a modest but adequate dual-core Celeron processor. Further up the price range, you can expect four times the memory and a relatively huge 18-inch screen. Battery life is much better than a traditional laptop, with at least eight hours on a single charge from most models.
The Chrome system is predicated on Google's own suite of office apps, which make your documents editable anywhere - and because they are fast becoming the industry standard, you need have no concerns about the absence of the bloated and redundant Microsoft Office.
The caveat is that you need an active internet connection for pretty much the whole time. Although a Chromebook can save changes locally for short periods, it needs to synchronize them to its server to make them "stick".
There are Chrome apps for most tasks, including photo editing. These are not in the same class as Photoshop, but they'll do for casual work. On the other hand, universal apps like Facebook, Spotify and a hundred others will work happily irrespective of operating system.
If you want to get a feel for a Chromebook before buying one, look no further than your Android phone; strip out the dialing and text apps and it's more or less a smaller version of the same thing. And that brings us back to the central dilemma facing manufacturers and users alike: given so much similarity, why have a second device at all?


text:
Wahoo towers: Biggest-ever student-plex rises behind Barracks
12 comments
$278,095 will barely pay for a single "affordable" home around here. How is that little amount of money paid to the City of Charlottesville's housing fund going to make a particle of difference to anyone?
TexasGal, the developer shouldn't have to pay this $278,095 to subsidize homeless and lazy people in the first place!!!
Students need housing and this will help keep residential neighborhoods near Uva from being overrun by landlords who rent to students and do little in the way of maintenance and often charge the students lots of money for crummy places.
The city should butt out-its city taxes and regulation that help drive rental prices up in the first place.
GSOE makes a good point too.
@texasgal , the money is usually given to Habitat for Humanity.
Charlottesville is over 60% rental because people, other than students, do not want to live in town in its outdated housing.
If you would like to see housing that most people want to live in here in central VA, watch the show at http://www.realestateiii.com/tv-episode
@GSOE----affordable housing is used for people with earned income that cant afford some of the high rents in this locale. being homeless or lazy has nothing to do with it. maybe you should start coming to planning commission meetings to learn something about this topic.
"Charlottesville is over 60% rental because people, other than students, do not want to live in town in its outdated housing."
Please elaborate. That statement strikes me as completely ridiculous and completely contrary to my experience. For one thing, if no one wanted to live in the city, the no one would be able to rent housing to them. Also, I live in a part of the city where houses still sell and seem to do so with some regularity. They sell to people who seem thrilled to move into them. Most are older homes, which is what draws their buyers to them.
TJeff, I couldn't afford the rent around here (or buying a home) either. Until I took a full time job at age 18 and saved my money for a few years. Nobody ever gave me a single dime to get into my first apartment or home. Back to what I was saying.... it's all for the lazy homeless who won't work to succeed. 2012 and we now have 45 million families on food stamps, namely the lazy who don't want to look for and find a job.
@GSOE...not all lazy. Some made bad decisions earlier and now want the government to bail them out. While I do have some sympathy for the 25 year old who had three kids by age 23 and dropped out of high school, I think it is highway robbery to make an "evil big, rich developer" cut a check for $278,000 to bail her out. But, alas, that is the redistribution of wealth mantra.
This dovetails nicely onto the city's "living wage" charade: conditioning this city to think that the evolution of one's self is to end up thirty-years-old with two kids and only be able to have a job that pays close to minimum wage.
@TexasGal...It does not make any difference to anyone except people like Dave Norris who have a vested interest in keeping people struggling for so-called "affordable housing." If these types of causes go away, people of his ilk are out of a job.
R.I.P.: Big Pun
@cookieJar, look at the link I provided to the TV show and start reading the property transfers published weekly in the Hook. It should be obvious. Of course somebody wants to live in the City, there are 43,000 people living here. What I have noticed in older sections of town is that, as the older home owners, die, their homes are often bought and turned into rentals.
@TJeff, "...affordable housing is used for people with earned income..." also people who are on disability or who do not otherwise work. Many people living in affordable public housing do not work and therefore do not declare any earned income. Originally, everyone who were to live at Norris Hall at 4th and Preston were supposed to have jobs. That has now changed. Some of the residents do not work. These things are not discussed at Planning Commission meetings because the commissioners have absolutely nothing to do with the finances of the City. That is discussed at Council meetings, sometimes in work sessions.
"Charlottesville is over 60% rental because people, other than students, do not want to live in town in its outdated housing."
What a goofy perspective on real estate. First of all, renters are "people" and they choose where to live too. So I'm not sure what the fist half of your sentence has to do with the second.
There is not a single kind of housing that "people want to live in." The market is diverse and everyone makes different trade-offs based on their own preferences. Some accept a smaller home to be closer to work. Some want new, others prefer old. I think the fact that homes in the city are so expensive is a good indication that people want to live here, whether or not you believe they should want to based on the homes you see on TV. The market speaks for itself.
"Charlottesville is over 60% rental because people, other than students, do not want to live in town in its outdated housing." Change "live" to "buy." Home prices in the city reflect that they are often investment properties.


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Chapter 4 - Friends
Make Your Own "Hip, Handmade" Gift Sets!
Create the projects that Nicole LaRue shows you how to make in her special issue, 101 Hip, Handmade Gifts. (Note: You will need Adobe Reader 5.0 or above to print these downloads.)
Want even more downloads than the ones offered here? Click here to get downloads to make every single project in the book!
Chapter 4 – Friends – TEA & CRUMPETS
Dress up a coffee cup with this cup holder.
Download cup holder template
Create a special card and tag for cherished friend, then find a unique way to package it.
Download template
Dress up a plain tea cup and saucer with word art. Use transfer paper specifically for use on plates and glasses. (Note: This is a multi-page download.)
Download word art
Create a coaster with cork sheets and this template.
Download template
Dress up jars of honey with this darling wrapper.
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Carolinda Ranch Estates Real Estate
Carolinda Ranch Estates is a mix of neighborhoods in Granite Bay ranging from rural roads and palatial homes to quiet residential streets with ranch style homes. It's conveniently located between Interstate 80 and Folsom Lake in Granite Bay.
Bordered by Douglas and Sierra College Boulevards and Cavitt Stallman and Auburn Folsom Roads, the area is primarily residential, with larger shopping centers on the perimeter. It features ample greenbelt and open areas, farms, and ranches. Greenhills Elementary School is located in Coralinda Ranch Estates, and numerous other educational enrichment opportunities, such as music schools, art centers, and riding schools are nearby.
The 152-acre Maidu Park, Sierra College, and Roseville and Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers are also all just minutes away.
Search for Homes in Carolinda Ranch EstatesView all Carolinda Ranch Estates listings
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Moderators: Three Stars, dagny, pfim, netwolf
shmenguin wrote:I don't follow. Without dumoulin and pouliot, we still have depres and harrington waiting to step in. We could also be dangling them as trade bait, and still be ok. We just lose the luxury of having infinity dmen in the system - which, again, is a luxury. Don't get me wrong, from an asset management POV, that trade was a stunning success, but it didn't really address any specific need - aside from getting a good not great 3rd line center.
columbia wrote:Maybe I'm wrong about it, but I thought I saw an indifference towards re-signing Sutter earlier in this thread.
Looking at their depth chart, he's not particularly replaceable with an internal option. Also, you're not going to get a player with his positive attributes, on the open market and at a cheaper price.
Hugo Stiglitz wrote:Why do we need to keep revisiting this?
mikey287 wrote:So we won Naslund for Stojanov?
Crankshaft wrote:This isn't the first time no name created this same thread.
shmenguin wrote:Stoll makes 3.25. Chris Kelly makes 3. Both of those were UFA re-ups, right? As an RFA, Sutter should get 2.75 or so. If he gets any more than 3, I'd call it a bad deal (relatively speaking of course).
shmenguin wrote:Yes. I was being snarky. I figure that's just assumed.
If Sutter is a 200 foot player, then almost everyone is.
shmenguin wrote:'09 seems like empirical evidence that it was the right strategy.
Idoit40fans wrote:I dont need to. I only needed two bits of information. 1. Its you. 2. Its a sutter thread.
Really it doesnt matter where they were playing. My point stands.
darkstar57 wrote:I would also say the trade now involves maata, if we don't do that trade and get the 8th, we probably take poiliot with the 22nd if he is still there
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My focus here is on what we experience on our family history journey.
I is for:
- Information and Investigation - at the heart of our family history activities.
- Do you Identify with, feel Involved with and are Inspired by some ancestors more than others, whilst other ancestors leave you Indifferent?
My Danson family seems to be characterised by a series of feisty females who greatly appeal to me, in particular my great grandmother Maria and my great aunt Jennie (right), the youngest child of ten and the only daughter - she had to fight her corner!
- Impasses are frustrating when we reach the provebial brick wall, and despite so many efforts I am no nearer tracing the birth certifcate for my grandmother Alice English (below), so I can find out the name of her mother. You cannot call me Impatient, as I have been on this trail for decades.
- Invention does not have a place in family history, but we can all Imagine what life must have been like. How did a family of ten in the late 19th century, living in what appears to be a small terraced house, cope with everyday tasks of heating, cooking, eating, sleeping, washing, laundering etc ?
We can often look back to past centuries and Idealize life then - but I suspect this is through rose coloured spectacles of film and TV presentations at the higher echelons of society with their grand houses and grand clothes we rather fancy wearing - and not at our Ag. Labs and Under Housemaid ancestors.
- I am regularly Impressed with the family history stories penned by fellow geneabloggers, and especially by the Images featured that have survived down the generations of ordinary families, and now contribute so much to eye-catching blog postings.
|My mother and aunt, Kathleen (right) & Edith Danson are the two little girls
at the front of this procession at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire c. 1911.
Copyright © 2012 · Susan Donaldson. All Rights Reserved


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The Necessity of Computer Adjustment and Maintenance
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What Has Changed Recently With Computers?
For home computer owners, there are some guidelines to chase to accumulate their units at their aiguille performance.
Finding Ways To Accumulate Up With Experts
One is to do some accepted cleanup by removing exceptionable programs or abstracts files and accidental alpha up card items, and others. If you conduct this approved accepted apple-pie up, you are absolution deejay amplitude and appropriately convalescent the acceleration of the computer. Remember aswell to analysis your deejay amplitude afore installing a new program. Remember that acceptable deejay amplitude in your computer will advice abate your computer adjustment and aliment issues.
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To apple-pie the registry, break the run time error, abolish besmirched files, access the alpha up acceleration and amend the operating system, you can buy an absurdity fix software to break these aliment needs. Approved scanning of your computer arrangement with this software will abbreviate the requirements for a computer aliment of your unit.
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Several account companies in PC adjustment and account are out there to action you this service, and so it is appropriate that you can accept the a lot of acclaimed account aggregation who you can assurance in analytic your problems.


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Teacher resources and professional development across the curriculum
Teacher professional development and classroom resources across the curriculum
Title of work: Parable
of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
Parable of the Sower grew out of a number of things. It grew out of the fact that I'm addicted to the news which is incredibly depressing. I listen to National Public Radio. I subscribe to a lot of magazines. So I'm stuffing myself with current events, and most of them are terrible, and I have to have something to do with them, and pouring them into novels is one of the things that I do with them. What I did when I was working on the book was look around for the things that really bothered me, things like the effect of drugs on whole populations, on the children of drug addicts, for instance.
Q & A with Octavia E. Butler
Have you had any career other than that of a writer?
I have a background in a lot of other horrible little jobs -- it used to be the writer's initiation. I did a lot of factory work, warehouse work, cleaning, food processing, clerical work. I really hated clerical work because you were supposed to pretend to enjoy it while you were doing it. You were to just smile and behave as though you really liked being there. And since I really hated being there, it didn't work out very well. The other things that I did -- blue collar, mostly -- I did because they paid a little better than the clerical work and nobody cared whether you were happy to be there or not. Fortunately, it was a time when jobs were opening up to women that hadn't been opened before. I was able to get the kind of jobs that most men didn't want because they required -- oh, say for instance -- manipulating small objects and dealing with things that were fragile. And women didn't want to do them because after you packed these objects, you had to move them around. So I wound up doing jobs like that in warehouses. I used all this, of course, in books like Kindred. I use it directly, because my character is a would-be writer and has to go through this initiation. But I wouldn't say that I had any kind of career apart from the writing.
Did you write during that time period?
Well, let me say first, writers use everything. It's not possible to have something happen to you and have it not affect the writing. I was getting the writing done very early in the morning. I found that I couldn't really write after work. I would come home, as I put it, "all peopled out." I didn't really like working with other people, and it made me more tired, I guess, than the actual job. So I would come home, eat, go to bed, and get up at around three in the morning and do some writing until I had to go to work. And this didn't make me a fun person to be with during the day, because I was already tired. But on the other hand, I did get some writing done. I never got anything publishable done this way. It lacked the coherence that the work needs. For me, that means that I need to be on it pretty much all the time. And the only way I could do this was to work at these jobs, save money, and buy writing time. You could actually save money then, while working for the minimum wage, if you were a single person who was willing to live in a really terrible place, which is something that I did.
What is the role of empathy in Parable of the Sower?
Power and empathy are important in Parable of the Sower, first of all in the neighborhood that my character lives in, the neighborhood that she's born in. She's born in a neighborhood that is similar as far as class is concerned: Everybody is pretty much middle class in an area where being middle class is the same as being rich. But people come in all colors and backgrounds, and the good thing is, I've lived in neighborhoods like that, and I've lived in neighborhoods like that that became communities. So I was able to just reach back into my own past and find the kind of thing that I really needed. As a matter of fact, in my writing, one of the things that my characters are always doing is either joining or building some kind of community. And it's always a community of people who actually do get on together, whatever their difference is. So it's just something that I come to naturally. You know, as far as empathy is concerned, my character actually has a disorder called "hyperempathy syndrome," which I made up, which is a delusional disorder. She feels, on some level, that she feels the pain of other people -- not in the sense of the president saying "I feel your pain," but in the sense of actually feeling it: Somebody gets the cut and she feels the physical pain of that cut. Now, it is delusional. You know how somebody says "It's all in your head," and they make you feel as though that should be an answer. Well, it's all in your hand and it doesn't matter, it still hurts. She can be fooled -- this is proof that it's delusional. Someone who is good at acting can pretend to be hurt and cause her to feel pain. Someone who is good at concealing pain can keep it from her; even though they are in terrible pain, she doesn't feel it because she's not aware of their feeling it. So what she has is a kind of biological conscience. She can't really inflict any pain that she isn't willing to endure. This is very bad for her, because she lives in a time when, if she's going to be attacked, she's going to have to fight back.
I hadn't thought of it before, but I can't help wondering if some of this came from when I was in junior high school. When I was in junior high school, I was the tallest kid in school, as usual. So I was the target of some bullies. The problem was if you got into a fight, you got kicked out. It didn't matter if somebody came up and punched you two or three times. If you punched them back it was a fight, and you were both kicked out. You had to really decide that it was worth it before you did anything like that. And I usually found other ways of dealing with it. But I wonder if that didn't play right into my character having to make the same decision. I said earlier, writers use everything, everything that happens to us filters into our writing, and this is the case where something that I hadn't really thought about for a long time seems to have filtered into my writing.
Is there a relationship between the themes and ideas of Parable of the Sower and contemporary political crises?
My characters in Parable of the Sower are living with the ecological results of our behavior. And I think I was really kind of horrified with the idea that now we're going to ignore global warming, and we're going to go on ignoring it. I think the big problem with a problem as big as global warming is there's no way to fix it and then it's done. Nothing we could do would fix it in our lifetimes, and I think this causes people, politicians, anybody, to think that, "Well, if we can't fix it, you know, maybe we should wait and some techno-fix will be around down the line, or maybe we should ignore it, because maybe it's natural." Or other excuses -- for instance, the SUV problem. I mean, I think it's becoming more of a problem. The idea that large numbers of people need huge cars to get around in, huge trucks almost, truck-like cars to get around in that use more fuel, spew more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, [and] increase global warming. But it's comfortable and it's fun, and we can assure ourselves that it's safe. And besides, we don't see global warming happening quickly. You don't get into your car and start the motor and something happens. It's not even as fast as cancer and cigarettes, and there are still plenty of people who smoke because they can't quite believe that 30 years down the line they'll get cancer. Global warming is such a long-term problem that I don't think we're taking it seriously, because it's not the kind of thing we're built to take seriously. It's not the kind of problem that we're good at solving until it's suddenly an emergency.
What is the biblical story "Parable of the Sower"?
The biblical story is actually in the book. It's the idea of a sower going out to sow his seed, to plant his seed, and some of it falling on rocks and not sprouting, and some of it getting eaten by birds and therefore being lost, and some being choked out by weeds and being lost. But the final bit that finally did take root and grow produced ten-fold. So I have these people who have been kind of winnowed out of their communities and who go to create another community that should, if not produce ten-fold, should survive and produce something that is of use to the world.
What does Earthseed mean?
Earthseed is the religion that my character creates. And I think it's most easily summarized by the first verse of Earthseed: "All that you touch you change, all that you change changes you. The only lasting truth is change. God is change." My character makes a god out of the idea of change. And not a god that you would pray to, not a god that you would look to for any sort of mercy, but simply a god that must be taken into account, and a god that is implacable. There's no way of escaping this god. So it's not a very comforting religion. I don't know whether you have time for an anecdote.
When the book came out, I was being interviewed by someone who wrote for a magazine and we were talking about Earthseed, and the interviewer said she liked it. And I said, "Well it really wouldn't work as a religion -- it's really not complete enough and it's not comforting enough." And she said, "Well, I don't need my religion to be comforting." And I said, "Well, that's because you already are comfortable." You know, we all are. But when times are very difficult, you know, when religion is pretty much all you've got to fall back on, it should be comforting.
Do you have any advice for teachers?
I think the thing that I would like most is that they do make clear to the students that this is not prophecy, this is warning. I think the most important thing I try to do in my books is make people think. One of the ways in which I got verses for the Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents was to read things I disagreed with, and that forced me to come to some kind of understanding of what I did believe.
Information about key references
Earthseed is an original religious philosophy which posits that the ultimate purpose of the human race is to leave Earth and seek new planets to populate. The core doctrine describes God as "change," and thus directs the adherent's attention to the ever-fluctuating conditions of life, particularly the volatile changes experienced during the course of the novel, which begins in 2024.
The scarcity of virtually all material goods (food, clothing, blankets, etc.), has led people to recycle goods in new ways, or ultimately to use them as fuel. A character comments that poverty has made the streets cleaner, as scarcity has eliminated what was once considered trash.
Walled Communities
The urban middle class lives in gated and walled communities. In response to the hostile poor outside the gates, community residents coalesce around issues of maintaining the safety of their members.
This is the name given to those who suffer from "hyperempathy," a condition caused by a pregnant parent's addiction to Paracetco, a pill used for intelligence enhancement. Described as an "organic delusional syndrome," hyperempathy causes the afflicted to acutely experience the pleasure and pain of those around them.
Suggestions for applying other theories to Parable of the Sower
Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Sower is part of a trilogy. Teachers can use a reader-response approach to the novels by dividing students into literature circles and having each group read a different book from the trilogy. Each group should create a series of questions gleaned from their text for the other groups to consider and respond to in writing. After the groups have responded to these questions, students should examine the responses, noting the new ideas and insights as well as the inconsistencies and missing information. In this way, the groups can see what common themes run through the trilogy and can integrate the questions into their own reading.
A cultural studies approach might include an exploration of the various sources that Butler draws on to create a certain aspect of the book, such the Earthseed religion. Students should ask themselves how this religion is like other religions they are familiar with and how it differs. As they research other religious texts, students should note how Butler has referenced, adapted, or changed aspects of various religious philosophies to create her own. By doing so, they see how writers draw upon the world around them to create new ideas.
An inquiry approach might require students to choose some aspect of the futuristic novel and trace its evolution back to the present. For example, they can examine the problems of the novel's Los Angeles of the future -- lack of technology, gated communities, poor public transportation -- and find sources for these problems in today's world. Such an inquiry might be a bit more interdisciplinary than other inquiries; students would have to conduct research in urban planning, environmental science, sociology, etc. In addition, students might look for literature with similar projections and cautions about the future. Ultimately, they can write or speak about specific steps they might take to help neutralize or rectify the conditions written about in the novel.
© Annenberg Foundation 2017. All rights reserved. Legal Policy


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In the first confirmed case of bubonic plague in the state since 2006, an Archuleta County resident has tested positive for the disease.
The last human case in Archuleta County was in 1998.
Although the investigation is ongoing, it is believed that the person contracted the plague during a family outing in the Cimarrona Campground northwest of Pagosa Springs, a news release from the San Juan Basin Health Department said.
The department declined to give the gender or age of the victim.
Warning signs are being posted in the campground and environs in cooperation with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the U.S. Forest Service.
The plague often spreads through rodent populations.
Joe Fowler, a disease-control nurse at San Juan Basin Health Department, said the Archuleta County case is the first confirmed human plague in Colorado since 2006.
In that year, there were four cases statewide, all in La Plata County, Fowler said.
The state had three cases of plague each in 2004 and 2005.
The health department news release said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports an average of seven cases of plague each year across the country.
Most human cases tend to occur in rural areas in two regions northern Arizona and New Mexico and southern Colorado and California, southern Oregon and western Nevada.
Symptoms of plague swollen lymph glands, sudden onset of fever or chills, severe headache or extreme exhaustion begin two to six days after a person is bitten by an infected flea, rodent or cat.
The plague can be successfully treated if diagnosed promptly.
Two animals have tested positive for plague so far this year.


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More than half (55%) of respondents around the world believed they were in recession in the fourth quarter of 2015, a modest increase from the start of that year (53%)—and a level that often exceeds official economic definitions. Recessionary sentiment was strongest and above 90% in Venezuela (96%), Ukraine (95%), Brazil (93%) and South Korea (91%). Sentiment was lowest and below 40% in China (29%), Czech Republic (33%), Denmark (34%), New Zealand (37%) and Germany (38%).
Recessionary sentiment improved most in Latvia (59%, -11pp), Estonia (46%, -10pp), Italy (80%, -9pp) and the U.S. (47%, -8pp) from the third quarter. Conversely, fourth-quarter recessionary sentiment worsened most in Sweden (62%, +13pp), Singapore (40%, +10pp), United Arab Emirates (53%, +10pp) and Norway (63%, +10pp).
In the U.S., the percentage who believed they were in recession fell under 50% for the first time since 2008, when Nielsen began tracking recessionary sentiment. "The U.S. economy is on a solid footing, and the path to recovery is holding steady," said Louise Keely, senior vice president, Nielsen, and president, The Demand Institute. "American consumers have experienced continued job creation and lower gas prices, along with some wage growth. So it is remarkable that, while the share of consumers who believe the U.S. economy is in recession has fallen steadily, it is still as high as it is. This 'overestimation' on the part of consumers is a global phenomenon and reflects the large number of consumers who continue to feel uncertain about their economies overall."
India's recessionary sentiment, on the other hand, is notably high (50%) given their optimistic confidence index score of 131. "Indian consumers are confident, but they are not without their worries, and global companies need to serve them with the same degree of smart insight and sophistication as they do consumers in developed markets," said Keely. "Consumption represents nearly 60% of GDP in the country, so consumers are an important economic driver for India. As both the population and its spending power grow, the Indian market opportunity will be increasingly important to global companies."
The ups-and-downs seen at the country level reflect a larger picture of recessionary sentiment within the regions measured in the survey. Since the beginning of 2015, increased recessionary sentiment was seen in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Africa/Middle East, while slight improvements were seen in North America and Europe.
Other findings from the fourth-quarter Consumer Confidence Index include:
For more detail and insight, download Nielsen's fourth-quarter 2015 Global Consumer Confidence Report.
For a historical look at global consumer confidence by region, country and time period, explore the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Trend Tracker.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Consumer Confidence and Spending Intentions was conducted Nov. 2–25, 2015 and polled more than 30,000 online consumers in 61 countries throughout Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East/Africa and North America. The sample includes Internet users who agreed to participate in this survey and has quotas based on age and sex for each country. It is weighted to be representative of Internet consumers by country. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. However, a probability sample of equivalent size would have a margin of error of ±0.6% at the global level. This Nielsen survey is based only on the behavior of respondents with online access. Internet penetration rates vary by country. Nielsen uses a minimum reporting standard of 60% Internet penetration or an online population of 10 million for survey inclusion. The China Consumer Confidence Index is compiled from a separate mixed methodology survey among 3,500 respondents in China. The sub-Saharan African countries in this study are compiled from a separate mobile methodology survey among 1,600 respondents in Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. The Nielsen Global Survey, which includes the Global Consumer Confidence Index, was established in 2005.


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Information for the CHP market sector in the State of Kansas covers the following topics:
Baseline CHP Information
CHP Generation Summary
Database of CHP Installations
Electricity Profile
Electric Industry Restructuring Status
Gas Utility Restructuring Status
Incentives for Renewable Power
Regulatory Requirements Database for Small Electric Generators
Energy-Efficiency Funds and Demand Response Programs
Net Metering Programs
Other Reports and Documents
Events & Activities
Baseline CHP Information
The MAC has not yet developed a Baseline Analysis report for the CHP market in Kansas. When this report is developed it will provide an assessment of the prevailing environment for CHP systems from the regulatory, private market and technology perspectives within the state of Kansas. This information may be used to develop educational and market transformation programs, which will foster CHP applications. Information in the report includes the following:
Survey of Existing CHP Installations
Current Pricing Issues
CHP Policy Issues
CHP Market Capacity Potential
Key Local CHP Contacts (A&Es, Property Management Firms, Equipment Manufacturers and Suppliers, Energy Suppliers, Gov't Associations, etc.)
State CHP Generation Summary
Data as of January 2006.
Database of CHP Installations
The MAC has developed a searchable database of CHP installations. The database can be searched by site installation location, prime mover size, prime mover type, primary fuel, and date of installation.
Electricity Profiles
A DOE report profiles the electricity generation for the State of Kansas, with statistics from 1993, 1997, and 2002. Data are presented for a number of areas including generating capability, electricity generation, fuel use, retail sales, capacity factor, and pollutant emissions
Electric Industry Restructuring Acitivity
A DOE report provides an overview of the status of electric industry restructuring is available as of February 2003. Each state has a link to several tables dedicated to summarizing regulatory orders, legislation, investigative studies, retail access, stranded costs, public benefits programs, pilot programs, and any additional information. The information is updated on a monthly basis, and gathered from a variety of sources including the state legislatures, public utility commissions, state energy commissions, Office of the Governor, and news agencies.
A DOE website for the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides updates after 2003 on the restructuring status of the Kansas state electric markets.
Gas Utility Restructuring Status
A DOE website for the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides information on the restructuring status of gas utilities.
Incentives for Renewable Power
A comprehensive Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) is maintained by the North Carolina State University. This database provides information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
Database of Regulatory Requirements for Small Electric Generators
The Energy & Environmental Analysis, Inc. maintains a database for information on state air emissions regulations, siting regulations, exit fees, regulatory codes, interconnection requirements, standby rates, and incentives for small electric generators.
Energy-Efficiency Funds and Demand Response Program
A DOE website for the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides information on available public purpose-funded energy efficiency programs, utility energy efficiency programs, load management options, distributed energy resource options, and state sponsored energy efficiency programs.
Net Metering Programs
A DOE website provides a map of the net metering rules. A website of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) "Connecting to the Grid" project provides information on net metering interconnection standards.
Other Reports and Documents
Events & Activities
Check for incentives for clean energy projects in Kansas at
the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE),
or Contact Us to see if we know of others
for which you may be eligible.


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a criddler is a very messed up tweeker meth-head. Like a tweeker who will steal your shit & then help you look for it. A criddler will steal your shit, help you look for it then try to sell it back to you forgetting it was yours. Criddlers lurk in yards & bushes looking to steal or cause something caught their eye (People not really there). They wear their hair in a bun w/scrunchie known as a TWEEKIN-BEACON. They carry everything they own (all of it stolen) at all times in backpacks & small bags so they can pack & repack endlessly as the mood strikes them & will follow anyone, anywhere & do anything if the guys got a bag of dope. A stack of used lotto scratch-its will keep them busy endlessly rescratching cause there must be a winner they missed.
The Criddler bag-bitch went for a walk to get some air. 6 hours later and only 1 block away from home she's in the neighbors back yard shopping in the bushes for SHINEY THINGS. She finds an electronic charger that just might work for the cell phone she "GOT" yesterday, or was it today? SHHHH I've got to criddle on the roof & get high cause there's people out ther I have to watch.
by berta look alike January 29, 2010
Look at that criddler in his gap shirt and American Eagle jeans
by Taylor Bell August 18, 2005
An individual who breaks societal norms by begging for change, wearing tattered clothes, digging through garbage cans and abusing drugs. A nusiance. The dredge of society.
by BigManBeats September 18, 2008
A skateboarder who only skates flatground and ledges. (Criddlers can also be seen often skating manuel pads and small sets of stairs. However, a criddler in its truest form, only skates flat and ledges).
"I hate all that 'jump off a building type' skating these days. I'm more of a criddler myself."
by Transworld March 29, 2008
some one who criddles. As in Criddles a woman IE hooks up. Criddle as in Beats down. Or a number of various other forms
I just CRIDDLED those two hot chicks over tehre
by billsmith July 13, 2003
It means to Score a Chick or to Kick Someones Ass. It is a word that can be applyed to basically anything you want.
We just Criddled a Gang of Hoe's over there on the curb
by Kelly Goosecock July 23, 2003
Trending RN - September 18, 2019
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- 4. Old Gray Lady
- 5. alabama hot pocket
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- 8. eat a bag of dicks
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- 28. locked and loaded and good to go
- 29. The Alaskan
- 30. spell coconut


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This pledge closed about 5 years ago
How YOU and Bold Visions Conservation Will Stop Wolf & Wildlife Slaughter in America? Start by reading BVC's 10-Step plan:
After you read the plan, these are immediate actions you can take to help:
1.) Sign all of BVC's Causes.com current and future Petitions and Actions. This is how we are building the large constituency we need to move public officials to action:
2.) Visit our Facebook page and 'Like' us. This action will make it possible to receive the numerous posts and updates on our Campaigns. Occasionally we have a need for IMMEDIATE action, and you may see these Alerts and be able to act much sooner than through other means:
3.) Explore our website! It's far from complete, but it's already one of the best in the world of conservation: we call it a 'Living Magazine.' We especially encourage you to explore the Opinion Page, where you can read about the Bold Visions Conservation Philosophy, as well as some off-topic musings of Executive Director Stephen Capra:
4.) SHARE! Please share our Causes.com Campaigns, encourage your Facebook Friends to 'Like' us, and invited them to explore our website!
5.) If you like our ideas, if you believe in our Causes, if you agree with our philosophy, and you are able, DONATE TO US. The people doing the work have to survive, the gasoline it requires to move across vast, remote territories, the computers, software, camera gear, outreach efforts, rallies, EVERYTHING: it all takes money to operate. WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO CONTINUE.


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continued retreat of Greenland's most productive glacierWednesday, September 5th, 2012
In terms of ice flow discharge, one of Greenland's most productive outlets from the inland ice sheet, if not the most productive glacier in the Northern Hemisphere, the Ilulissat glacier (also known as the Jakobshavn glacier) continues to retreat. The net area change at this glacier since late summer 2000 is a loss of 122 sq km, equivalent with 1.4 x Manhattan Is., retreating effectively 18 km (11.2 mi) in 12 years. In 2012, this glacier front lost an an area of 13 sq km, measured from August 2011 to August 2012. Thi's year's area loss is the largest since the 2007-2008 interval. A concern is that this and other major marine terminating glaciers, as they retreat, they accelerate, increasing their global sea level contribution. Indeed, once the ice shelf in front of this glacier disintegrated, by the end of summer 2003, it's speed had doubled (Joughin et al. 2004).
Flying over Ilulissat glacier this July, it was stunning to notice how retreat has proceeded upstream into a northern tributary, producing effectively two main calving fronts to this ice sheet outlet. The faster stream from the west off the right side of the photo also remains in retreat. The glacier is based below sea level more than 75 km inland (Thomas et al. 2011).
The Ilulissat glacier is considered the most productive in the Greenland in terms of ice flow discharge into the ocean (see e.g. Rignot and Kanagaratnam, 2006), even the fastest continuously flowing glacier in the world.
Thomas et al. (2011) summarize key aspects of what is known of this glacier, including its retreat history since 1852, its doubling in speed in the 2000s:
Ilulissat glacier " has a balance discharge (equivalent to total snowfall within its catchment basin) of about 30 km3 ice per year (Echelmeyer et al., 1991), and converges into a rapidly moving trunk ~4 km wide, that flows into a deep fjord on the west coast of Greenland. Until recently, a 15‐km floating glacier tongue was wedged between the fjord walls. VHF‐band radar surveys (J. Plummer et al., A high‐resolution bed elevation map for Jakobshavn Isbræ, West Greenland, submitted to Journal of Glaciology, 2011) show the fastest part of the glacier flowing in a deep trough, more than 1000m below sea level. Between 1850 and 1962, the calving front retreated ∼25 km up the fjord, and then stabilized to within 3 km until the mid‐1990s. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the glacier had a small positive mass balance [Echelmeyer et al., 1991]. Then, probably in 1997, the glacier began to thin (Thomas et al., 2003) at rates that increased to 15 m per year near the calving front, where its speed almost doubled to >12 km per year by 2003 as the floating tongue finally broke up, with continued increases since (Joughin et al., 2008), (Figure 1). Progressive retreat of the grounding line resulting from the rapid thinning reduced the basal and lateral drag acting on the glacier [Thomas, 2004], and by 2005 the glacier was thinning by >2 m per year at a distance of 50 km from the calving front, increasing to >5 m per year between 2005 and 2007.
Work Cited
- Box, J.E. and D.T. Decker (2011) Greenland marine-terminating glacier area changes: 2000–2010, Annals of Glaciology, 52(59) 91-98. .PDF
- Echelmeyer, K., T. Clarke, and W. Harrison (1991), Surficial glaciology of Jakobshavns Isbrae, west Greenland: Part I. Surface morphology, J. Glaciol., 37(127), 368–382.
- Joughin, I., W. Abdalati, and M. Fahnestock (2004), Large fluctuations in speed on Greenland's Jakobshavn Isbrae Glacier, Nature, 432(7017), 608–610, doi:10.1038/nature03130.
- Joughin, I., I. Howat, M. Fahnestock, B. Smith, W. Krabill, R. Alley, H. Stern, and M. Truffer (2008), Continued evolution of Jakobshavn Isbrae following its rapid speedup, J. Geophys. Res., 113, F04006, doi:10.1029/2008JF001023.
- Rignot, E. and P. Kanagaratnam (2006), Changes in the velocity structure of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Science, 311(5673), 986– 990.
- Thomas, R. (2004), Force‐perturbation analysis of recent thinning and acceleration of Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, J. Glaciol., 50(168), 57–66, doi:10.3189/172756504781830321.
- Thomas, R., W. Abdalati, E. Frederick, W. Krabill, S. Manizade, and K. Steffen (2003), Investigation of surface melting and dynamic thinning on Jakobshavn Isbrae, Greenland, J. Glaciol., 49, 231–239, doi:10.3189/ 172756503781830764.
- Thomas, R., E. Frederick, J. Li, W. Krabill, S. Manizade, J. Paden, J. Sonntag, R. Swift, and J. Yungel (2011), Accelerating ice loss from the fastest Greenland and Antarctic glaciers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L10502, doi:10.1029/2011GL047304.


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A Domino's Pizza outlet in Dover, N.J., secured a place in energy history when it recently completed the most energy-efficient restaurant lighting retrofit in the world. Vanguard Energy Services, an authorized dealer of Independence light-emitting diode (LED) tubes and fixtures handled the retrofit to break the previous restaurant record set in 2010 for an Applebee's in Newtown, Pa.
"We have many 'firsts' across the public and private sectors, but Domino's hits a special chord," said Charlie Szoradi, CEO of Independence LED. "Back in the '80s, I delivered Domino's pizza to help pay for my University of Virginia undergraduate architecture degree. Decades later, the massive potential quarter-billion dollars in cost savings across Domino's worldwide footprint is part of a global energy tipping point."
Typical 2-by-4-foot fluorescent troffer fixtures include four 32-watt (W) tubes, but the 15W Independence LED tubes were able to go from 128 to 60W for the 2010 Applebee's record. For Domino's, Vanguard recommended using the updated Independence LEDs at 50W per fixture. For roll-out to Domino's and other accounts, Independence LED can now go down further to 44W per fixture. The retrofit kit also is DesignLights Consortium-listed for rebates. Business owners can save more than 65 percent with a return on investment of more than 40 percent, while using U.S.-made products with a 10-year warranty.
The energy saving at the Dover location is $2,400 per year ($25,000 over LED life of 10 years). Plus, it eliminates 325,000 pounds of carbon dioxide.
As the world's largest pizza chain with more than 10,000 locations, if this energy-efficient LED lighting were installed in every Domino's location, the potential global savings would be more than $250 million while eliminating approximately 3.25 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.


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Kolache Factory: A History of Good Taste
Kolache Factory Corporate Office
23240 Westheimer Parkway #A
Katy, Texas 77494
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines "kolache" as "a bun made of rich sweet yeast-leavened dough filled with jam or fruit pulp."
The Kolache Factory defines "kolache" as "a warm, delicious, slightly sweet fresh-baked pastry traditionally filled with sausage, cheese, or fruit."
Kolaches originated during the 1700s in Eastern Europe. The Kolache Factory actually features 25 different kolaches, in addition to coffee, strudel, cinnamon rolls, croissants, and other baked goods.
John and Jerri Banks founded the Kolache Factory in 1982 in Houston, Texas. It is currently recognized as one of the Top 5 Drive-thru's in America, one of the fastest growing companies in Houston, one of the top 50 foodservice bakeries in the United States, and one of the top 20 bakery-cafes to watch.
Go and visit the Kolache Factory on Westheimer Pkwy. In addition to the corporate headquarters, this location houses its research and development department and a retail store! You can also enjoy kolaches at any of the Kolache Factory's 17 company-owned and 12 franchise stores in Houston.
They do catering, sponsor local sports teams, and recently opened a Cinco Ranch location at 231 S. Mason Rd. (281-398-8700)!


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Dwight Freeney and Peyton Manning nearly were teammates again in Denver. As Freeney noted Wednesday, Manning helped recruit the pass rusher to visit the Broncos before Freeney eventually landed with the San Diego Chargers.
Freeney would have enjoyed joining forces with Manning again, but it sounds like he'll enjoy facing the QB twice a year even more.
Why play fantasy football anywhere else? Play the official free fantasy football game of the NFL. Sign up today in under two minutes.
"Playing with Peyton for 10 years, him sitting back in practice, he has that 5-yard halo, you can't get within 5 yards of Peyton or they're screaming at you, saying, 'Oh, get away from our quarterback,' " Freeney told the Chargers' official website Wednesday. "So it's finally going to be a great opportunity for me coming up soon to put some hits on him. Might talk a little bit, too."
Dwight Freeney sacking Peyton Manning in a Chargers-Broncos game is a strange scenario to write, much less imagine. But that's life in the NFL. Even probable Hall of Famers usually end their careers with new teams, looking forward to destroying the teammate with whom they climbed the mountaintop.Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.


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The Sargent Swing Bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Matagorda County was hit by a barge Thursday night and was closed to vehicle traffic Friday.
The bridge was hit by a barge at 11 p.m. Thursday, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation.
The bridge, which connects Sargent Island to Farm-to-Market Road 457, provides access for nearly 50 permanent residents. Another 150 vacation homes also are on the island.
No injuries were reported. Barge traffic was not affected, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
TxDOT crews worked Friday to assess damage to the bridge and determine the necessary repairs and time needed to resume vehicle service.
An agency spokesman said drivers need to plan accordingly in the meantime.


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When Stephen Wright decided to enter the Tabernacle United Methodist Church Chili Cook-off on April 12 to benefit the 2008 Relay for Life, he had a plan.It wasn't much of a plan, but it was a plan."I told 'em, I'd probably be better off to go by Wendys, buy a bunch of chili, put it in a pot and try to fake out everybody," he said, laughing.
The Lancaster faith community is encouraged to attend the Fifth Annual Lancaster Community Prayer Luncheon on May 1 at Covenant Baptist Church, 165 Craig Manor Road.
This year's keynote speaker is Kelly McCorkle Parkison, who served as Miss South Carolina 2002 and participated in the television reality show, "Amazing Race."
In addition to McCorkle Parkison, the service will include prayers offered to God for our families, churches, our government leaders, military and civil servants and our nation said Dr. Bert Welch, Covenant senior pastor.
There's a shiny, new cast-iron skillet above the refrigerator in our kitchen. But that's about to change; I'm ready to knock that sheen off by seasoning it and putting it to good use.
To me, the pride of every southern kitchen is still a cast-iron skillet.
In a day when stainless, copper-coated cookware is the rage, that old dark skillet has lost its appeal to many.
I'm not really sure, considering that it can be used for a wide array of roasting, frying, sauteing and baking.
When Scots-Irish settlers migrated to the Carolinas in the 18th century, they brought familiar names like Lancaster, Chester and York with them.
They also brought what they had learned from cooking in the open hearths of their homes in Ireland and the Pennsylvania settlements.
Those attending the annual Andrew Jackson Birthday Celebration on Saturday at Andrew Jackson State Park will get a brief glimpse of colonial cooking from demonstrations by the Cooking Guild of the Catawba Valley.
No one knows when or where the idea for Scripture Cake came from, but its ingredients are rooted in Bible verses.
The late Charlemae Hill Rollins believed it was so significant in her own life that she included the recipe for it in her book, "Christmas Gif': An Anthology of Christmas Poems, Songs and Stories, Written by and about Negroes."
Disappointed that there were so few written resources about the Christmas traditions she learned as a child in Yazoo City, Miss., Rollins wrote the anthology in 1963 to pass along what she had learned from her grandmother, a slave.
The two month wait is over. A shipment of more than 35,000 boxes of Caramel deLites, Cinna-Spins, Lemonades, Peanut Butter Patties, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Shortbread, Thanks-A-Lot and Thin Mints arrived here late Saturday.
Eager local Girl Scouts from 25 troops and their leaders met a tractor trailer stacked high with some of America's favorite cookies at St. Luke United Methodist Church to unload them.
Nobody around town is happier about that than J.R. Snipes. For Snipes, it's cookie time.
It's less than 24 hours to V-Day and the pressure is on.
If you're tired of standing in a last-minute line to fight for picked-over flower bouquets, cards, syrupy stuffed animals and boxes of candy, take heart.
Nothing goes further than a homecooked meal for your sweetheart on Valentine's Day.
Men, the findings of a recent Cosmopolitan magazine survey should pique your curiosity.
That survey showed that 70 percent of women prefer a dinner cooked by a man than one from a five-star restaurant.
While oatmeal is one of the healthiest breakfast foods around, it's looked on with disdain by many.
A co-worker recently told me "the best thing you can do with oatmeal is to give it to someone else," commenting on her dislike of it.
"I can't stand the texture of it," she said. "It's just yucky."
Her hatred of oatmeal doesn't diminish its body-boosting properties. A half-cup of rolled oats has more than a high fiber content, says weight loss expert Elaine Magee.
It does take a little extra effort for a mother-to-be to eat healthy, but it has its benefits for her and the baby she's carrying. After all, she is eating for two.
One of the most important nutrients pregnant women need is folic acid, a B-vitamin that is needed to ensure proper cell growth. It helps the neural tube (the part of the developing baby that becomes the brain and spinal cord) develop properly.
Most food historians agree that hoppin' John has its roots in Lowcountry South Carolina cuisine. But just how did this rich-tasting, luck-bringing, poor-man's New Year's dish get it's name?
Made of peas, rice, pork and simple spices, hoppin' John is closely related to African and West Indian dishes with similar ingredients and was introduced to America by African slaves who toiled on rice plantations.
Copyright © 2019
The Lancaster News is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Lancaster County and Lancaster, South Carolina, and the surrounding area..


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Department of Revenue News Release
February 25, 2010Ava License Office Awarded to Springfield Not-for-Profit
JEFFERSON CITY - The current agent for the Ava License Office has been awarded the contract to manage the office for up to four more years. The winning proposal was chosen as part of a reformed, competitive bidding process for all of Missouri's local license offices.
Alternative Opportunities Inc. of Springfield will remain the agent for the Ava office. It won the initial bid for the office this past fall and has been operating the office since Oct. 8. The winning bid was one of two submitted for the office, which is located at 304 Northwest 12th Ave. The contract with the state is good for one year, and the state has the right to renew the contract for three additional one-year periods.
The Ava office is one of 10 offices initially awarded in 2009, but the Missouri Department of Revenue requested that the office management contracts be re-bid because of incomplete information provided by the winning bidder during the first round of bidding. According to figures from Fiscal Year 2009, there were an estimated 23,690 transactions conducted at the office during that year, and $79,768 in processing fees were generated.
Bidders have the option of returning a portion of an office's revenues to the state. Alternative Opportunities' winning bid included a 2 percent ($1,595) return to the state. More than $1 million is estimated to be returned to the state in the first full year of operations from the 181 license offices that have been awarded so far under the reformed bidding process. There are 183 offices statewide.
Details about changes in office operations, if any, will be announced by the agent.
Although Gov. Jay Nixon authorized the Department of Revenue to implement the new bidding system in January of 2009, it didn't become part of state law until legislation was signed by the Governor this past summer. The new law was overwhelmingly approved by both Republican and Democratic members of the Missouri Legislature.
Alana M. Barragán-Scott, director of the Department of Revenue, noted that the department considered many factors when awarding the Ava office.
"In the case of the Ava License Office, two not-for-profit organizations submitted solid bids during both bidding periods," she said. "The evaluation teams rated the bids using criteria such as customer service, the office location and financial efficiencies, and the winner was selected based on those and other bid specifications."
All local license offices provide services that are overseen by the Department of Revenue, but each office is operated by an independent contractor. Transactions that are conducted at these offices include the issuance and renewal of driver licenses, issuance of titles for motor vehicles, and the issuance and renewal of registration for motor vehicles, boats and outboard motors.
To follow the Missouri Department of Revenue on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/MoRevenue. If you don't already have a Twitter account, you'll have to create one before you can follow the Missouri Department of Revenue.