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Food for Thought
I have the feeling that I'm going to emerge from this weight loss process an even more political person.
I've been frustrated by the state of our food system for a long time, but I didn't feel confident to raise my voice to speak to these issues while I was still weighed down by my own weight issues. (Crazy, I know.) But now that I'm staring to lose weight, I feel the need to add my voice to the growing chorus of voices saying that our food system has to change.
I resent the fact that poor quality processed foods have largely replaced the nutrient-rich whole foods that were the mainstay of our grandparents' diets. But, even more than that, I resent the fact that governments have not upheld their responsibility to ensure that the best scientific evidence (as opposed to pressure from food industry lobbyists) guides their nutrition policy-making.
* * *
And now a brief update from me. I've lost 11 pounds. And my energy level has increased because I'm being physically active on a regular basis. Thanks for all the support, everyone.


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The principle of halaqah as a prophetic pedagogy that synthesises tarbiyah, ta'alim and taadib.
The traditional pedagogy of halaqah has always been instrumental in tarbiyah; Muslim parents have always sat in circles with their children, telling Islamic stories and discussing Islamic beliefs and values. Prophet Muhammad (saw) established halaqah as a mode of tarbiyah. Although many of his companions were literate the transmission of learning was essentially oral and transformative. Islamic education has never been an 'academic' exercise; it has always been purposeful and transformative for individuals and society. The halaqah tradition has been maintained in the madrasaat and other educational institutions in the Islamic world. In Shakhsiyah schools, this type of tarbiyah halaqah has been developed to incorporate ta'alim and taadib.

subset: commoncrawl


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By Jamie Bain, Extension Educator and MFAN Coordinator
This August, the Metro Food Access Network (MFAN) will facilitate a meeting about institutional racism for its partners at the Robert J. Jones Urban Outreach-Engagement Center in North Minneapolis. Aided by co-facilitators from The Food Group and Appetite for Change, attendees will work together to learn about and discuss their role in both upholding and dismantling institutional racism in the food system.
Why Institutional Racism?Institutional racism is a form of racism expressed through the practices of organizations and institutions. It perpetuates inequity on a systemic scale. MFAN's mission is to advance equity in accessing the Twin Cities food system, so understanding and dismantling institutional racism is a key part of our mission.
MFAN partners meet quarterly as a large group. For the last three years, the third quarterly meeting in August has focused on issues of equity, our cultural lenses, and internal and dominant narratives. We seek to understand the unique ways we and others view the world, and to recognize how inequities in the food system came to be. This is the only way we can make meaningful progress in eliminating disparities in health and wealth.
Building a Foundation of EquityIn 2015, the August MFAN meeting was facilitated by Janice Barbee from the Community Engagement Institute of Nexus Community Partners. We focused on recognizing the cultural perspectives we bring to our work and understanding the difference between authentic community engagement versus outreach. A key resource introduced at the meeting was the Community Engagement Institute's Community Engagement Assessment Tool (PDF). This tool helps to identify the difference between community engagement and outreach in our work.
|One of five questions from the Community Engagement Institute's Community Engagement Assessment Tool.
In 2016, the August MFAN meeting was facilitated by the MFAN Equity Action Team. The meeting helped partners understand our own internal narratives about others and how that influences our personal and professional lives. For a recap of the content covered, check out Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's TED Talk on The Danger of a Single Story.
That was not the only equity-focused MFAN event in 2016, however. Later that year, the MFAN Equity Action Team facilitated an Equity Timeline event. The team constructed a 50-foot timeline of the policies and systems that have been put in place over the centuries to create today's food system. At the meeting, partners "walked the timeline."
Organizers created an impressive timeline. #mnfoodaccess pic.twitter.com/pf7dUoueSV— Hannah Jaaberg (@jastrd) October 11, 2016
Along the way, they saw tangible representations of reasons why study after study shows Minnesota has one of the worst rates of food access, especially for people of color. As a refresher, check out the MFAN Resource Page for the resources used to develop the timeline (DOCX).
Next StepsSo that brings us to 2017. We've looked at ourselves and tried to understand the different ways we implicitly and explicitly uphold and dismantle racism in society. From this foundation, we will look at how an alliance of organizations and institutions of people with known and unknown biases can have a profound influence on how a whole system affects society. We will look at MFAN's role within the food system and what we, the partners, can do to no longer uphold but only dismantle racism within our own institutions and organizations.
All are welcome. Come to learn, engage, and connect with others with a focus on taking action.
What: Q3 MFAN Meeting
When: 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Where: 2001 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis
RSVP for Q3 MFAN Meeting


text: NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY - Nabor House Community (NHC) admits children of any race, color, national, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities made available to children in the program. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its policies or programs. Each family must meet NHC requirements for eligibility. Eligibility is based on a family's proof of a church home, income and the age of the child. The NHC will make reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).


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Used Tiara Boats for Sale in New Hampshire
There are no Used Tiara boats for sale in New Hampshire, but some other boats are listed below
2007 Crest 3 Xrs Pontoon This is a Crest Pontoon boat with trailer loaded double biminis satelite stereo depth finder no feedback steering suzuki 150 hp 4 stroke engine has 150 ...
Henderson, NC | Powerboats | Pontoon Boats
Crest Pontoon Boats
2001 Colbalt 262 Bowrider This beautifully restored 262 Cobalt has everything you need. Its docked @ lake Berryessa Markley Cove Resort. This boat has New Tauno covers, New Seats...
San Francisco, CA | Powerboats | Cruiser Powerboats
2010 Craigcat Catch it For sale is a 2010 Craig Cat loaded. Catch It Model. Less than 10 hours on the motor. Loaded, Gps, Sonar,(Lowrance) Marine Grade Trolling Motor, Stereo,...
Missouri | Powerboats | Cruiser Powerboats
1981 Sea Ray Yacht 1981 Sea Ray.. Sedan Bridge...twain Engine Stern Drive...v8 Mercruiser Cursers...twain Steering Station...air Conditioned And D Pumps... (cabin Area)bed...
Calabasas, CA | Powerboats | Motoryachts
Sea Ray
Your Home in Paradise - 36' Houseboat 36 House boat in the fabulous Florida Keys. This is the cheapest way to grab your slice of paradise! Roomy galley and dining area with upstairs salon. S...
Marathon, FL | Powerboats | Pontoon Boats
No Photo
Starcraft Islander 221 Cuddy Cabin Starcraft Islander 221 Cuddy CabinIf you are looking for a small cabin cruiser, look no further!Starcraft has been making high quality aluminum boats si...
Pell City, AL | Powerboats | Cuddy Cabin Boats
2002 Chaparral Sunesta 263 2002 Chaparral Sunesta 263 Open Bow Boat Full Bath Loaded Only 78 HoursEngine type: Single inboard/outboard Length (feet): 26.1ngine make: Volvo Prim...
Tipton, IN | Powerboats | Bowrider Boats
It doesn't look like there are any Tiara boats for sale in New Hampshire that match all of your boat search criteria, but included some other boats that are displayed above. Boat Paradise has a lot of boats listed for sale on but some brands/locations might be a rare find. You might get a better luck if you broaden your search.
Boats by Make
Boats by Type
Boats by Location
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My next 5 ideas for good stuff to buy (it's 2 weeks since the last one, so time to go shopping, no?):
#1 One of my best friends (she also has very quirky taste in home decor) has this and it's possibly one of the coolest things I've ever seen. A modern cuckoo clock. The cuckoo pops out every hour, naturally. It's from John Lewis and they also do it in white. And red.
#2 A leather pencil skirt. It galls me to give this gem of information away as I've just bought it for myself, and I secretly hate anyone else having what I have but here goes: this skirt is amazing. And amazing value too (reduced to £45). They also have it in classic black for £90. I know it's amazing because I have it in the previous colour they did (a greeny teal) and it's sooooo soft and comfortable (well, for a skirt). And as you can see from the picture, you can dress it down. As I do. Of course.
#3 Rings. Get yourself or someone else one or more interesting rings. If you don't want to spend much, try Top Shop. It's an easy way of livening up an otherwise boring outfit. Be sure to put them on lots of fingers (at least index and middle) but I like to do it on one hand only.
#4 Continuing the wild boar theme from the last gift inspiration post, and in line with my general obsession with anything animal-y, Lush Lampshades (who have a shop in Greenwich) do some great, quirky homeware. These lampshades are available in various sizes and cost between £26 and £75
#5 Black salt. Yup, black. How cool is that? From: Marks & Spencers


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Ember Technologies
Ember is a design-led temperature control brand whose mission is to revolutionize the way people eat and drink. Founded by inventor and serial entrepreneur Clay Alexander, Ember creates, designs and develops household products that offer consumers complete customization of their food and beverage temperature. Ember`s Travel Mug and Ceramic Mug are the most advanced coffee mugs on the market, allowing individuals to set and maintain their preferred drinking temperature for hot beverages.
Ember`s world-class team consists of product designers, engineers and executives formerly with Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Under Armour, Skechers, Beats by Dre and Amazon Labs.
For more information, visit ember.com and connect with us on Facebook.com/ember, Instagram.com/ember and Twitter.com/ember_tech.


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Welcome to our second family photo album!
We're creating this photo album web site both to help us keep track of our
favorite family photos and to share our memories with friends and relatives all over the world. Look hard, some of you may
even find pictures of yourselves here (Deja vu)!
We hope to update this page often with new photos.
Next Page


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A Call to Listen and Walk Together: Three Sundays devoted to the power of transforming within ourselves and our church community. This transformation is reflected in our church covenant, which is the call to listen and walk together. Come learn how our Congregational Covenant calls us to have the courage to live, work and relate as a faithful, loving Christian community.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: January 4Family Promise Presentations
Later Event: January 18A Call to Listen and Walk Together- Adult Formation Program


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Outpatient data available for first time through provincial pilot
The RCA's outpatient/ambulatory pilot project is gathering data on outpatient/ambulatory rehabilitative care across the province. This marks the first time that significant data on outpatient rehabilitative services has been collected and will be reported and compared across sites and facilities.
Twenty-six hospitals and community-based programs from across the province are participating in the pilot. To date they have gathered and submitted data in the four quadrants of the RCA's standardized minimum data set (MDS) for outpatient rehabilitative care using the following tools:
- NACRS Clinic Lite (Access and Transition/Financial Performance): Over 2,300 records (visits) representing 166 patients have been reported by eight sites using NACRS Lite over the data capture period of March 1 to September 30, 2016. This was an interim data pull to allow the RCA to confirm the processes for extracting and analyzing data. A variety of patient populations and ages are represented. The data includes measures such as time from referral to first appointment, length of episode of care, number of visits, number of clinicians seen, etc.
- WatLX™ (Patient Experience): Data from over 500 patients at 25 sites has been gathered using the WatLX™ measure developed by researchers from the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University. The tool measures patient satisfaction with the quality of the care received.
- Community Rehab Assessment (Clinical Outcomes): Over 100 assessments representing 25 patients were conducted at 12 sites using the Community Rehab Assessment (CRA), a measure of functional outcomes developed by international InterRAI researchers. This tool allows clinicians to determine a patient's functional improvements in areas such as their ability to participate in activities of daily living, return to work, etc.
The provincial pilot is a first step in enabling organizations to answer questions about the value of outpatient/ambulatory rehab services provided to patients in Ontario. Equally important, the pilot will provide important information on the value and feasibility of using these three tools to collect and report data. This will allow the RCA to make recommendations on data collection in the outpatient/ambulatory setting going forward.
Data collection for the pilot will come to an end in early December for WatLX™ and CRA measures. Final date from NACRS Lite will be pulled at the end of November, however some sites may choose to continue to enter data and receive reports from CIHI. The RCA will release a report on the pilot in spring 2017.


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Alzheimer's affects about 5.2 million Americans. Dementia costs an estimated $214 billion a year, reportedly more than cancer or heart disease. Findings from WRAP and other studies are reshaping how experts think about Alzheimer's and what people can do to try to prevent it.
Obesity, smoking, stress and other factors may have as much to do with getting Alzheimer's as aging does, said Dr. Mark Sager, longtime director of WRAP.
"What we view as a disease of old age is actually a disease of lifestyle and environment to some extent," Sager said.
A University of California-San Francisco study in 2011 found that seven factors — diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, depression, physical inactivity and low educational attainment — contribute to up to half of Alzheimer's cases.
Lowering the prevalence of the risk factors by 25% could prevent nearly 500,000 Alzheimer's cases in the U.S.
Staying mentally active is also key: People who delay retirement reduce their risk of dementia by 3.2% for every extra year worked.
Meanwhile, Georgetown University researchers said that an experimental blood test — based on 10 lipids, or fats — can predict, with 90 percent accuracy, whether people in their 70s will get Alzheimer's. The findings need to be confirmed by larger studies.
Reducing the risk
A geriatrics researcher at UW-Madison, will begin a study this summer looking at how two types of exercise affect brain health.
The study, funded by the Alzheimer's Association, expands on findings from WRAP participants' reports of their activity levels.
Those who report higher levels of physical activity have less age-related memory loss and fewer age-related changes in brain markers linked to Alzheimer's. The markers include amyloid protein, glucose metabolism and hippocampus volume.
The effect of age on all four study measures was diminished with increased physical activity.
There is no "definitive evidence" on what can prevent Alzheimer's, according to the National Institute on Aging. But since the few drugs available to treat the disease generally have little effect, the growing findings on prevention are promising.
You can, without medication, reduce your risk.
Nationwide, as the population ages, staving off Alzheimer's and other types of dementia is also a financial challenge. Dementia costs $214 billion a year, according to the Alzheimer's Association. Direct dementia care purchases in 2010 were $109 billion, compared with $102 billion for heart disease and $77 billion for cancer.
For more information on Alzheimer's Care, contact Spring Arbor.


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I always thought I'd be married by my 10-year high school reunion. But considering that's now only a few months away and there's no engagement ring on my finger or serious boyfriend prospects in sight, it's safe to say that's not happening (don't tell my 16-year-old self – she'd be devastated). I can honestly say I'm not as lonely or frustrated as I thought being single in my late 20s would make me, and I've been genuinely excited and happy for my friends as the "I'm engaged!" phone calls and Instagram pictures have started rolling in.
But you know what is frustrating me? All of the money I've had to spend on their weddings – especially when I've been asked to be in them. It's common knowledge that weddings are expensive to plan, but no one prepared me for how expensive weddings are to attend. I thought the best part of being a guest at a wedding was supposed to be that it was free – open bar, catered food, a DJ, and a dance floor. But it's actually hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars to be the close friend of a bride these days, and the cost adds up at an annoyingly fast rate. You've got the engagement party present, the bridal shower present, the bachelorette present, the wedding present. The airfare to the bachelorette party and the wedding. The hotel fare for the bachelorette party and the wedding. The rehearsal dinner dress. The bridesmaid dress (and no – nine times out of 10, you cannot shorten it and wear it again). And even if you're not the maid of honor, you still might be asked to help plan the bridal shower and bachelorette party, which includes paying for decorations, food, activities, and gift bags. Before you know it, you've spent an entire month's salary to be in your friend's wedding. I was in the weddings of three close friends last year, and I have another two on the horizon. I finally added it up, and it's been costing me an average of $2,000 to be a bridesmaid.
I was recently airing my frustrations with a nonengaged friend of mine, and her response was, "Just say no – you don't have to be a bridesmaid." And she's technically right. But I could never do that. Besides not wanting to come across as cheap or a bad friend, I want to be a bridesmaid in my friends' weddings. I want to stand by their side as they marry the person of their dreams. I want to partake in the bachelorette party shenanigans. I want to play the silly bridal shower games. I want to give a heartfelt rehearsal dinner speech about how we met and what great wives they'll make. I want to be there for everything. Isn't that the point of being best friends in the first place – to celebrate life's special moments together? All I'm saying is I don't want to go broke doing it.
And so, as I approach my fourth bridesmaid experience, I've realized something: just because you aren't saying no to being a bridesmaid doesn't mean you have to say yes to all of the expenses that come with it. Even though the bride is ultimately calling the shots, there are many potentially costly aspects of being in a wedding that are well within your control, and finding the right way to navigate through them (without offending the bride-to-be) can save you a lot of money. Here are some of the tips and tricks I've learned to avoid becoming a broke bridesmaid.
- How to Be the Ultimate Maid of Honor
- 130 Ways to Save Money and Still Have the Wedding of Your Dreams
1. Be your own glam squad.
While some brides will pay for their bridesmaids to have their hair and makeup done for the wedding, it's not to be expected. I had one experience where the bride didn't offer hair-and-makeup services at all, and another where the bride provided the professionals but asked her bridesmaids to pay for it. Of course, you want to look your best because you are going to be in a lot of pictures and standing in front of all the guests during the ceremony. But in reality, no one will be focusing on you – all eyes will be on the bride. So if you find yourself in a nongratis hair-and-makeup situation, save your money on this one. There are going to be a bunch of other women/bridesmaids getting ready in the bridal suite; chances are, if you aren't great at doing your hair and makeup, one of them is and can help you – for free!
2. Recycle your outfit.
Don't be afraid to be a rehearsal dinner outfit repeater. A lot of rehearsal dinners are cocktail attire, so if you have multiple weddings coming up (as long as the guest lists are different enough and your outfit is weather-appropriate), you can wear the same dress, bag, and shoes to several night-before events without anyone ever knowing.
3. Invest in your shoes.
Speaking of shoes, most brides will ask their bridesmaids to wear nude or black shoes with their bridesmaid dresses, which is great news because you probably already have something in those colors. If you don't, invest in some staple pairs immediately – not only will you wear nude and black heels over and over to weddings, but you can also wear them to work, date nights, and more!
Related: 8 Things You Didn't Realize Annoy Your Bridesmaids
4. Mind your measurements.
Bridesmaid dress designers can vary greatly in terms of sizing, so don't assume your usual dress size is your bridesmaid dress size. You might be able to avoid paying for alterations or extra length if you measure yourself before purchasing your bridesmaid dress. Most websites where you purchase your dress will provide the measurements that correlate with each designer's sizes, so check yourself against them to determine the right size for you. If you're lucky enough to live near a bridesmaid dress showroom, it's worth the visit – the stylists there can take your measurements for you and suggest your ideal size in the designer/style your bride selected. Take it from someone who almost ordered a dress that was two sizes too big – by doing a little measurement homework, I saved over $100 by not having to pay for extra length or major alterations.
5. Rethink the registry.
Sure, cheese boards and cutlery sets are kitchen staples, but they're not exactly the most exciting (or affordable) gifts. The wedding registry definitely serves its purpose, but consider leaving those nonsentimental items for the happy couple's distant relatives and college roommates to purchase, and instead buy (or make) the bride and her groom something that is unique to your friendship or their relationship as a couple. Having trouble thinking outside the registry box?
Related: The Only Marriage Advice I'll Give My Sister at Her Wedding
6. Forgo the fancy hotel.
Do you really need to stay at the five-star resort where your friend is getting married? While most hotels will offer discounted rates for wedding party room blocks, these deals typically (a) fill up quickly and (b) don't save you that much money. If the wedding is too far to drive to and there are less expensive hotels nearby (or other sleeping accommodations like camping or Airbnb), it's worth it to consider those options. You'll probably be in the bridal suite getting ready with the bride for most of the wedding day anyway, so you won't be spending as much time in the hotel room as you may think. And if you're not bringing a date, bunk up with some of the other bridesmaids or guests you know – splitting the cost of a room will definitely save you a few bucks.
7. Give your opinion (if you're asked for it).
Once you agree to be a bridesmaid and/or partake in the wedding-related festivities, you're going to have to go along with pretty much whatever the bride wants. But sometimes the bride will ask her bridesmaids for their input on things like bridesmaid dresses or bachelorette party destinations. If you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to voice your opinion, seize this moment (but in a respectful way, of course)! For example, my close friend and bride-to-be couldn't decide if she wanted to have her bachelorette party in Nashville or San Diego, so she asked us which location we would prefer. Considering that most of the bridal party lived on the West Coast, we told her that while either location would be fun, San Diego was definitely a closer and therefore easier-to-get-to (and more cost-effective) choice, which would mean more time together and less traveling stress. And just like that – $600 in airfare saved!


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Most businesses and organizations are always looking for new ways to bring in more customers or members. What's so great about text messages? We've already discussed reasons and ways to get started using SMS text message marketing.
(For more reasons why you should use SMS text message marketing, read this from Huffington Post.)
Building on that, I wanted to elaborate on ways you can use text message marketing to personalize and connect with your target audience. MediaPost.com has some great ideas on this, among which include the following:
- Use your subscribers' location
If you know your subscribers' location, you can incorporate that in your marketing texts. For example, if you have subscribers in a certain area of the country that is having a lot of higher temperatures, you can send out a message referencing the heat and letting them know about a sale on swimwear.
- Collect information on special occasions
Have your subscribers submit information regarding their birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions and then send them messages on those dates. Sending them a text message with a special deal and a simple "Happy anniversary, Sam!" can really go a long way in increasing member loyalty.
- Follow up on inactive subscribers
You can use text messages to follow up on customers that haven't been active in a while. Keep track of all your subscribers who haven't used your service in the past several months and send them a text message enticing them to return. Consider this example from MediaPost.com: "We miss you. Come back and take $10 off your next purchase."
- Keep track of what categories subscribers prefer
If you have subscribers set their preferences or if you can find some other way to keep track of what categories they prefer in regards to your service, you can use this information to your advantage when it comes to personalizing marketing. If they enjoy a certain flavor of your ice cream, you can send a discount on that flavor, for example.
These are just a few options (see the MediaPost article for more ideas). There is so much personalization that can be done, and the fact that these messages go straight to your subscribers' phones automatically makes this medium infinitely more personal than other means of marketing!
Don't be afraid to experiment and spend time thinking about new ways to engage with your audience through text message. SMS is the language everyone is speaking these days!


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During the solar eclipse that swept across the U.S. on Monday, darkness fell as the shadow of the moon blocked out the sun.
Like a shadow, business challenges can obscure the positive developments at an organization. In the darkest moment, it can be hard to see anything but the urgent operational issues that demand attention. I've learned, however, that once the major challenges are behind you, it's important to step back, look at the business as a whole, and take stock of the bright spots, fresh ideas and areas of momentum.
With the bulk of the client restoration efforts behind us, I want to take a moment to look on the bright side. Our solutions are continuing to grow and as a team we have seen the benefits of our core values—Compassion, Transparency, Excellence, Teamwork and Integrity—in action.
Many Nuance solutions were not impacted by the NotPetya malware attack, including our PowerScribe and Dragon Medical cloud solutions, and those solutions continue to gain momentum. We recently announced partnerships with nine U.S. healthcare organizations that have chosen Nuance solutions to replace their incumbent radiology solutions. Nuance also added two solutions for workflow orchestration and lung cancer screening to improve radiologists' experience and help them be more efficient and productive.
Adoption of our Dragon Medical One solution continues to grow. More than 25,000 new users have gone live with Dragon Medical One in the past 90 days alone – the highest-ever quarterly increase in active users for Dragon Medical One.
As we continue to accelerate our commercial recovery efforts, Nuance is focused on doing what is right for our customers who also were victimized by the cybercrime. To this end, we announced our Incident Accommodation Program for affected customers. We believe that this Program offers a fair, consistent, accommodation for our client base and is the right thing to do.
To be sure, we all can learn many lessons from the malware attack. We are continuing to listen to customer feedback and making our customer communications even more frequent and transparent. We are humbled by the support we have received from our clients and appreciate the open exchange of information we have had with them since the incident.
We know our clients—and even our peers in the industry—expect us to continue leading the way in sharing what we learned from the malware incident. We plan to meet those expectations.
We will allow our past to inform and improve our future, but we won't be defined by it. We will continue to view our business holistically—because if you allow yourself to be consumed by managing through the darkness, you can miss seeing the light.


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You are here
LGBTQ History
Positively representing LGBTQ topics in the history curriculum improves student experiences.
For all of us, learning an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum can help us better understand our world and our differences. For LGBTQ students in particular, it can mean feeling safer at school and hearing homophobic and transphobic remarks less frequently, according to GLSEN research. That's why we're sharing the resources below, from an interactive timeline and coloring book to many other classroom resources.
Recognizing these benefits, former GLSEN Chapter leader Rodney Wilson, with the support of GLSEN's founder Kevin Jennings and many others, founded LGBTQ History Month in October 1994. While you can use these resources every October, they're perfect for use all year, so that students see the benefits year round.
A great resource you can use to learn and teach about LGBTQ history is Making Gay History, the critically acclaimed and award-winning podcast that brings LGBTQ history to life through the voices of the people who lived it. Listen to the podcasts below to hear about the lives and legacies of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who were participants in the New York Stonewall riots in 1969.
Use this interactive timeline to bring LGBTQ history to your school, and use this timeline resource for a lesson or GSA activity! Want random LGBTQ historical facts from the timeline to include in class? Text HISTORY to 21333!
A perfect activity for elementary school students and adults alike, this coloring book features leaders and groundbreaking events in American history that highlight people with LGBTQ identities.
Download the full coloring book in color or black and white. These LGBTQ leaders and events are featured in the book:
Purchase hard copies in bulk for your classroom!
These LGBTQ students shared their stories about how their identities are affected and represented historically.
One LGBTQ icon to include in class is Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the history of California. Sign up to gain free access to a short animated film about his life and other educational resources, offered by our partner BrainPOP.


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The Forsythia at the bottom of the garden is coming into bloom and taking on a cheerful Spring-like yellow hue. It is just right to add to a vase with daffodils and narcissus. The tiny Tete-a-Tete daffodils are over now but the double Narcissus "Abba", which I think look like poached eggs, have beaten the snails ( a few are eaten) and smell absolutely wonderful.
I bought a "variety" bag of daffodil bulbs to plant for this Spring, so I have no idea what the ones that have come up are called but they are looking very pretty and provided a great selection of daffs. There is a small delicate one with yellow outer petals and an orange trumpet which I was hesitant to cut but decided to add it to the spring floral display. I always have this dilemma, to cut or not to cut, whilst it's great to see the yellow happy daffodils nodding their heads in the flower beds, it is also nice to have them indoors where I can see them.
As I type this, listening to Gardeners Question Time on the radio, the sun is streaming into the lounge and the warmth is bringing out the heady perfume of the Narcissus "Abba" – it is glorious!
As soon as I have posted this I am off out into the garden again, there is a lot to do. Very cold nights are forecast so I am going to cover newly burgeoning plants with cloches. The warmth of the sun brought everything on and it would be awful to lose them now.
Happy Flower Friday!
© Hurtlingtowards60 and Hurtled to 60 and Now Beyond ©AarTeePhotography Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog's author is strictly prohibited


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I want to address a trending news story concerning a policy banning men from wearing their hair in cornrows and locs in a leadership program in the 5yr MBA at Hampton University, an HBCU in Virginia. Although recent attention has been brought to it, the policy has been around since 2001. It doesn't affect all students, just men in this particular group being groomed for the world of executive business elites. (I shudder to imagine the gender-specific rules for women.)
Some have looked at this and praised Hampton for taking a realistic and practical approach to preparing Black men for the harsh reality of racism and prejudice that they will already have to overcome. This view says that we need not give people reasons to assign negative stereotypes to us before we ever have the chance to open our mouths.
Others have praised the policy because it teaches proper business etiquette. One must look the part to play the part, according to this view. This perspective also tacitly accepts the dominance of one definition of professionalism that has been culturally informed by one group – middle and upper class White men.
On the other side, some (many in my networks) folks are decrying Hampton's policy for caving in to cultural imperialism and racial assimilation. By restricting how Black men can wear their hair, these detractors insist that Hampton is teaching Black men to reject their cultural heritage in favor of someone else's. Such assimilationist policies reinforce the social conservatism that scholars Shaun Harper and Marybeth Gasman found in their report on the character of HBCUs.
I can see justification for each of these perspectives. However, they cannot co-exist in the current framework that positions current Black men MBA students as future White corporation's employees. The only way to redress racism, look the part you want to play, and retain one's self-defined cultural authenticity is to reposition current Black men – and women – MBA students as future owners/entreprenuers.
Let me step back. In order to understand how Hampton even instituted such a policy, we must revisit Black higher education after the Civil War and the two philosophies about the purpose of Black education that competed for prominence at that time. I love the way James Anderson discusses this topic in his book on Black education in the South; his framing of this tension has heavily influenced what I'm about to say here.
Industrial education proponents, including Booker T. Washington, advocated for an education that would equip newly freed Blacks for the jobs that were open to them at that time in the US due to acknowledged racial discrimination. These jobs required skilled labor to work in the burgeoning mechanical industries for men and as office workers and domestics primarily for women. This was often the only kind of education that White philanthropists would support. The institutions that arose from this philosophy included Tuskegee and Hampton among others who told their funders that they supported that educational mission but actually followed a different course. We see this play out at what are now Spelman and Bethune-Cookman colleges.
That different course, led by proponents like W.E.B. DuBois, demanded that Blacks have the opportunity to receive a "classic liberal education," the same as White students would receive in college. Their vision was to train up a "talented tenth" (DuBois) that could fulfill leadership roles to promote community uplift. Colleges that strove to provide this kind of education included Fisk and Morehouse.
Either we are going to educate for accommodation with the status quo or we are going to educate for leadership. I find it ironic that a "leadership" program is implicitly using what I see as an industrial education paradigm. Why not educate its MBA students in the strategies and tools of entreprenuers, instead of grooming them to be worker drones (I'm suddenly reminded of Jerry Seinfeld's movie "A Bee's Life")? A critical pedagogy does not train for discipline, but rather primes the pump for innovation.
I surmise that an institution cannot both aspire to a liberal education that develops leaders who can challenge the status quo AND tow the line on a social conservatism that reinforces White racial dominance. Hampton needs to make a choice and students need to decide whether that is an educational vision they want to fulfill.
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The general rules and regulations shall apply to each and every driver, owner, mechanic, crew member, pit personnel and/or team member if applicable. All participants are subject to the rules and regulations. Any claimed ignorance of the rules will not be accepted or tolerated as an excuse. In the even questions arise, creating the need for another rules, the executive members of the Parkland Racing Association will make all final decisions.
All drivers and pit crew MUST sign a waiver and wear identifying marker (wristband, hand stamp etc.).
Reduce speed when entering pit road and pit area. NO PIT RACING AT ANY TIME!!!
Sleeved shirts, long pants and closed toed shoes must be worn by all racers and members of the pit crew at all times.
NO alcohol allowed in the pit area during an event. Anyone who has consumed alcohol prior to or during the races will not be allowed in the pit area that day.
All drivers and owners assume responsibility for their pit crew and any vehicles in the pit area.
All cars are to be in place and ready to race ONE HOUR prior to racing.
Three people and driver only are allowed in each pit area.
All pit people must pay pit admission.
No one less than 12 years of age is allowed in a pit crew.
Any minor under the age of 18 is required to have a parent or legal guardian present at the race event to sign a minor participant waiver which allows the minor to participate in any race or pit event. This minor must be over the age of 14 years in order to drive in any event being held at Yellowhead International Speedway.
Flag tower and timing tower are off limits to everyone with the exception of those individuals sanctioned as help, at all times.
Tower personnel are off limits to everyone other than sanctioned help during the race.
All vehicles and trailers are to be left in designated area during racing.
Race cars do not enter the track until pit personnel indicate it is safe to do so.
Maintain an orderly fashion when setting up in pit area.
After final race please clean up pit area and put garbage in supplied containers.
Each race vehicle must have a minimum 5lb extinguisher in its pit stall.
It is mandatory that all drivers and pit crew members must attend a pre-race meeting. Failure to attend will result in race vehicle starting at the rear of race of each event.
The responsibility for knowing which race and what position a race vehicle is in rests with the driver and or pit crew personnel of each vehicle.
At no time during racing will complaints be brought to the attention of the pit boss or the events coordinator. After the race has finished, any problems can be brought forth to the pit boss in an orderly and respectful fashion. Any further disputes are to be brought to the attention of the club president or in absence of the president, to the vice president.
Cars have the right-of-way in the pits at all times; please keep your eyes and ears open!!
Failure to comply with pit rules or any judgments made by officials of Yellowhead Speedway will result in disqualification and/or fines depending on the infraction.
At no time during an event will the driver get out of the vehicle while it is on the track area or past the pit fence unless the driver is in imminent danger. If there is a problem with the race vehicle (i.e. Mechanical failure or crash), the driver is asked to lower the window net and signal that he/she is okay and will stay in the vehicle until directed by track safety officials to do otherwise.
Absolutely no stopping at pit gate or on pit road when leaving the racing surface or area unless ordered to do so by the pit boss by a visible stop sign held in a fashion that all cars behind can readily see.
When in the pit area the pit boss is the main official and the "go to" person should questions arise.
The flag person will be in control of the racetrack side and all flags must be understood by all the drivers prior to the start of any race.
Green flag= go or continue racing
Yellow flag= caution, go slow, do not race back to the tower, reduce speed immediately and racing order will be reset to last completed green flag lap.
Red flag= stop as soon as safely possible where you are until directed by tower to do so otherwise.
Crossed red and yellow= proceed to start/finish line and stop to have racing order reset
Crossed green and white= race 1/2 completed.
Waving green and white= 2 laps to go.
White flag= last lap
Black with yellow circle= mechanical flag, proceed to pits for repair.
Black flag= d/q for reasons to be explained at the end of race day.
Blue flag= leaders are about to pass, hold your line and allow leaders to race.
Checkered black/white= winner/end of race
All racers will be responsible for looking from the back stretch to see what flag is being displayed and again on the front stretch. Race according to flags.
At the end of any and all race days 1 cool down lap is allowed plus a victory lap by the winner with checkered flag in hand and possibility of a short interview with the announcer when returning to flag tower. ABSOLUTELY NO SHOWBOATING (i.e. Donuts, burnouts etc.) WILL BE TOLERATED.
All race starts and restarts will be double file. On a restart after a yellow or red flag, the race leader has choice of inside or outside position. The initial start of any race will be determined by race officials.
The car or cars causing the caution will start at the back of the restarted field.
Aggressive racing is encouraged but "dirty" racing, out of control racing, will not be tolerated and dealt with by officials on a case by case basis.
Pace Laps
During pace laps proceed at a slower speed. On the indicated last pace lap coming to the green flag (indicated by a "boxed" green flag while on the back stretch) it is suggested to exit turn 4 at approximately 2000-2500 rpm as determined by leaders and will only start when green flag is waived.
If the start is jumped, the start will be waved off and try again.
Absolutely no passing on the inside of turn 1 on green flag starts or restarts.
No passing on starts or restarts before the flag tower.
Prior to any race event, any car may be subject to a safety inspection by Yellowhead Speedway officials and may be disqualified from competing until violations are corrected.
Only one person shall occupy a car at any time while the vehicle is at speed. Passenger allowed in car during race if the car is equipped with a racing seat, 5 point harness, window net, as well as 3 horizontal door bars in roll cage on right side of the car. Age limitations will be enforced; restraints must be properly used and fitted. All other applicable safety regulations in regards to race suits, helmets and footwear MUST be followed.
All start/finish lines will be below the flag tower.
No car may drive onto the track without pit bosses permission during the event.
Maximum speed limit in the pit area at any time must be off idle in your racing gear. Any car exceeding the speed limit will be subject to a fine.
If at any time during a race a car is assisted off the track (does not leave under its own power) in any fashion, the car will be out of that race.
At any time a car is on the track (packing track, hot laps, etc.), the driver will wear a helmet, neck brace, fire retardant gloves, seat belts, racing suit and have the window net fastened.
Any car that leaves the track under green flag racing or yellow will not be allowed to re-enter the track unless prior arrangements have been made.
QUALIFYING PROCEDURES AND TIME TRIALS (if applicable)
One vehicle per class may be qualified by a driver. The driver who qualifies the vehicle must race to feature race, unless starting at the rear of the field.
Order of time trials may be determined by draw for random order as per the pit boss' discretion.
Cars qualifying through time trials must do so in the time allowed. Racers must be fully prepared before entering the lineup for qualifying. Any delay will be sufficient reason to deny qualifying. The pit boss' decision is final. Cars not timed in will start at the rear of the field.
Two timed laps will be recorded with the faster time being the official qualifying time. One qualifying attempt per vehicle unless a second time is requested by the timing tower personnel.
Yellowhead International Speedway reserves the right to set up an inspection area and determine how many people are allowed in this area.
Yellowhead International Speedway officials in charge of the race meet shall determine the method and type of car inspection as well as which cars will be inspected, and have the right to rule on all aspects of a race vehicle including building, safety and performance areas.
A vehicle not complying with regulations will not be allowed to compete until such infractions are corrected and re-inspected.
Placing Heat race Feature race
1st 10 20
2nd 8 18
3rd 6 16
4th 4 14
5th 2 12
6th 2 10
7th 2 8
8th 2 6
9th 2 4
10th 2 2
11th 2 2
And so on
Anyone taking the starting green flag gets at least one point HOWEVER:
You must take the green and complete the heat or feature race to get placing points.
Points go to the vehicle in a registered class. Vehicle must meet class rules. Main drivers in hobby, thunder, or street class may not collect points in mechanics or ladies races.
Mechanics and ladies races line up first come first served with thunders at the front, streets at the back with other classes placing according to speed at the discretion of track officials.
Cars DO NOT race back to the yellow, double file restarts line up according to order on last completed green lap with the leader having lane choice.
Lapped cars will start at the back of the field.
Any cars assisted on the track by a tow or push vehicle will be out of that race under any circumstances.
If there is a yellow flag before the completion of the first lap, restart is double file.
Car causing yellow flag (to the flag person's discretion) will restart at the rear of the field behind lapped cars.
Pit boss has same authority as flag person; pit boss controls starts, entry and exit from track, and pit conduct.
If you receive an open black flag, you will start at the back of the pack for the next race.
Two open black flags and you are out for the remainder of the day.
Track officials have the right to suspend racers for their conduct.
Flag tower and timing tower are off limits to racers at all times.


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Saving cash in the kitchen – Part 1.
I can never understand why people would waste money by wasting electricity. Let's put aside any environmental benefits for one second and think in just monetary terms. You could be working overtime, or worse doing without a night down the pub just because you don't run your kitchen in an efficient manner. Well I hate to waste things, especially a night down the pub so here are a few practical ways to save you a bit of cash in the kitchen.
It is possible to do without a refrigerator and just use the pot in pot cooler instead, but for the rest of us we rely on a good old fashioned fridge. There are simple ways of getting this to run more efficiently my favourite is to fill it with beer. If you think your fridge spends all of its energy trying to keep things cool, if you have some bottles or cans of beer in there once these are cool they radiate coldness. This means that your fridge not only has less of an area to cool down but that area is radiating coldness too, so of course your fridge does not have to work so hard (you can also use bottles of water or any liquid).
Also keep your fridge in a cool place so that it can work less, some folk keep theirs in an outbuilding. I have also heard of people cutting a hole in the floor beneath their fridge, to keep it cool. Possibly not great for keep your house warm or to keep the landlord happy.
You should also keep the back of your fridge clean as again it will have to work harder if covered in dust.
Cooker – Hob
Think flat bottoms and crusty rings here. If you have food deposits on your electric ring then all the heat will not be getting to the pan. It stands to reason that the nearer your pan gets to the heat source the hotter it is. In the same respect your pan should be flush with the ring, if it has a flat bottom rather than a rounded bottom it will fit flush with the ring. So to recap; crusty rings and round bottoms are bad but a good flat bottom and a clean ring is good.
Cooker – Oven
The main area of your oven needs to be kept as airtight as possible. Frequently check your door to ensure that it seals properly. You could try putting a bank note in the door then closing if it stays in the same place your seal is fine, if it drops out then your seal possibly needs replacing.
You should also consider cooking as much as possible in the oven. Nev cooks loads of food in his in one go (such as three casseroles) then freezes it for later use. I always try and dry herbs or fungi in mine after I have used it as the temperature stays pretty warm for a good while after cooking.


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XL Hybrids' XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System will be installed in 52 vehicles that serve five Massachusetts state agency fleets.
The hybrid-electric vehicles will be used by the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Police, Department of Correction, Department of Developmental Services, and Department of Youth Services. The XL Hybrids upgrades were made possible by support from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
"The state agencies are the latest in an impressive list of leading brands and fleets adopting our technology, including the Coca-Cola Company, the City of Boston, AmeriPride Services, Harvard University and Yale University, to name a few," Tod Hynes, founder and CEO of XL Hybrids, said. "Fleets appreciate that our technology is electrifying popular vehicles, allowing them to maintain OEM warranties, with no special fueling infrastructure or driver training required. The fuel savings are immediate and the positive impact on the environment is proven."
Massachusetts placed its new order after seeing successful results from past vehicle conversions by XL Hybrids in its Conservation and Recreation and Environmental Police vehicles. Those vehicle upfits—on a mix of Ford Transit vans, Ford E-Series Cutaways and Chevy Express vans—have saved 650 gallons of gas to date and the agencies expect to save nearly 82,000 gallons over the life of the systems, the company noted.
XL Hybrids vehicles include the XL Link cloud-based big data analytics system, which measures MPG performance and reports sustainability benefits. The XL Link vehicle connectivity is a continuous data link from every vehicle, collecting millions of operational data points, allowing analysis and reports on key performance indicators.
More information: email [email protected].


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Toronto FC lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in an abrasive game Sunday and still advanced to the MLS Eastern Conference final on away goals after the two-leg series ended tied 2-2 on goals aggregate.
It was a feisty affair that saw Toronto striker Jozy Altidore and Red Bulls captain Sacha Kljestan sent off after a tunnel melee at halftime.
League-leading Toronto will be without star striker Sebastian Giovinco for the next game after his second yellow in two games. TFC will play the Columbus Crew SC or New York City FC in the Conference final.


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Best things to do in Spain
Discover the city according to locals. Find the best things to do, places to eat, and get priceless advice from the people who live here.
"What i like most about this must-see in Barcelona is the exhibition they have in the underground of the cathedral with the models Gaudí created to build it During the summer is necessary to book it in advance if you want to go in, if not it would be almost impossible to get a ticket for the day"
1059 locals recommend
Art Museum
"One of the most important art museums in the world housing masterpieces from local and international artists, with a calendar of temporary exhibitions. "
656 locals recommend
"Amazing park where you can picnic, relax and forget about the time. You can use a bike or any other choice to move around"
705 locals recommend
"Park Güell is another Barcelona's wonders and must to see places. This is another art designed by Antoni Gaudí."
620 locals recommend
"The Parc de la Ciutadella is a park on the northeastern edge of Ciutat Vella, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. For decades following its creation in the mid-19th century, this park was the city's only green space. The 70-acre (280,000 m2) grounds include the city zoo (once home to the albino gorilla Snowflake, who died in 2004), the Palau del Parlament de Catalunya, a small lake, museums, and a large fountain designed by Josep Fontserè (with possible contributions by the young Antoni Gaudí)."
740 locals recommend
Seasonal eats in an modern space with an all-season terrace
"The contemporary arts center housed in a former historic hospital with an addition signed by French architect Jean Nouvel, that blends historic architecture and contemporary construction. Permanent collection with XIX-XXI art and temporary exhibits . Library, Bookstore, cafeteria. and gardens. Absolutely worth the visit. Check on free entrance days/hours."
492 locals recommend
Monument / Landmark
"It is Antoni Gaudi's most iconic work due to both its constructional and functional innovations, as well as its ornamental and decorative solutions. It is a complete artwork. A must when in Barcelona Web: www.lapedrera.com/es"
455 locals recommend
Art Museum
"An important private collection of masterpieces, now belonging to the state and shown in a recently renovated historic house. Also a good calendar of temporary exhibits and events from lectures, to films or seminars. Also guided and/private visits "
335 locals recommend
"The Spanish people are very proud of their Artist Pablo Picasso and for a good reason!"
356 locals recommend
"Castelo. The view from under the umbrella pines on the Castle's esplanade takes in Alfama, the Baixa, Bairro Alto on the hill opposite, and the river. The light here is particularly warm in the late afternoon, encouraging you to linger."
473 locals recommend
"The spectacular Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct bridge built in the first century AD to carry water to the Roman colony of Nemausus. It crosses the Gardon River near the town of Vers-Pont-du-Gard. The Pont du Gard is the highest of all Roman aqueduct bridges, and one of the best preserved. Definitely worth a visit. "
402 locals recommend
Art Museum
"Surely "the" museum to visit in Barcelona. For the artist and for the building. Imagine Montcada Street, in the Gothic quarter, five mansions united to form a museum, lovely to visit. About Pablo Ruiz Picasso the museum is essential to understand his formative years. The genius of the young artist is revealed to us through more than 3,500 works that make up this permanent collection."
391 locals recommend
"A trip to the origins of the city. The Plaza Mayor in Madrid is one of the most emblematic points of the city, along with the Puerta del Sol, the Fuente de Cibeles or the Puerta de Alcalá."
426 locals recommend
" City of Arts and Sciences is a cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain."
345 locals recommend
"Typical neighbourhood in the old part of town with lots of bars and restaurants."
549 locals recommend
Point of Interest
"The most iconic Food Market in Barcelona. A must visit! Also grab a bite the food court in the back of the market, you will enjoy great seafood!"
480 locals recommend


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This week I managed to put together all the separate parts of measuring, storing and visualizing program performance. Now, there is a single Python command that runs an external executable, measuring its time and memory consumption, stores it first in a log file and then in a SQL database, and finally produces an HTML report with a graph. A sample output can be seen on the following screenshot.
The document formatting is courtesy of Twitter Bootstrap, while the graphs are made with JavaScript using the free library Dygraphs. Of course I plan to add more data to them, not just how long a program takes vs. when it was run. There is also no filtering yet, the two measurements with noticeable higher durations were actually with a slightly different test program.
Instructions for running the test are included in the code repository in the README file. Neither Bootstrap nor Dygraphs are included in the repository, and they both have to be in a specific location to work. Apart from that, you just have to run "perftest.py" a couple of times (so that you have more than 1 point on the graph), and you already can see results similar to the ones above.


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Glasgow will once again be the global focus of piping, as thousands of pipers arrive in the city to perform and compete next week (8 – 14 August). Piping Live! Glasgow International Piping Festival, sees hundreds of events take place throughout the city before The World Pipe Band Championships return to Glasgow Green on 12 and 13 August, bringing competitors from all over the world to compete for the ultimate prize in pipe band competition.
Known as the world's biggest week of piping, Piping Live! celebrates Scotland's national instrument with concerts from the world's top traditional musicians, performances by pipe bands from across the globe, family fun days and even come and try sessions. Headlined by the globally-famous Red Hot Chilli Pipers (Saturday 13th, O2 ABC), the festival will also feature daily performances by some of the best pipe bands from across the world, which will take place in Glasgow's main civic space, George Square.
You can also enjoy hearing bagpipes from other countries such as Slovakia, Spain, France and Ireland, which look and sound very different from the Great Highland Bagpipes. For the first time, pipers can take part in a massed band procession through the streets of Glasgow with proceeds going to Asthma UK. For more information and to book tickets, visit www.pipinglive.co.uk.
The World Pipe Band Championships return to Glasgow Green on 12 and 13 August and will welcome 235 bands who will fight it out for the ultimate title of World Champions. Bands are coming from as far afield as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA, South African and Zimbabwe as well as from across Europe to compete.
For more in formation on the World Pipe Band Championships, visit www.theworlds.co.uk.


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Board of Trustees
Robert Bowsher, candidate for Penn State board of trustees
About Bowsher:
• Accounting manager for Avitus, Inc. and a freelance writer
• 1986, accounting
• From San Deigo
Keep the faith, fellow alumni. Penn State will be a better place when all is said and done.
To reach that place, we need to usher the Board of Trustees into a new era of genuine openness and transparency. As someone who came out of the closet to lead an openly gay life, I know how to face the challenges that a commitment to openness and transparency requires.
We also need the Board of Trustees to spend money more wisely. Instead of paying millions for public relations firms and consultants, the Trustees need to invest those funds in programs that directly benefit the Penn State community. With those millions, Penn State could retain and attract more top-notch faculty and staff. That money could also help make college educations more affordable for students.
In addition, Trustees should be allowed to inform the public when they don't agree with a decision reached by the Board. Supreme Court justices can communicate dissenting opinions. Why can't Board of Trustees members do the same? Standing Order IX, the set of rules that forbids trustees from communicating dissenting opinions, no longer serves the University's best interests. It must be rewritten.
Fellow alumni, let's join together to do what Coach Joe Paterno did for over 60 years: let's make Penn State a better place.
Learn more: email@example.com


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Thank you for contacting us for your landscape design needs. We do not provide free consultation. We believe in providing professional, ethical and honest landscape design and consultation service to our clients. If you have questions regarding design fee please check service section.
In order to better understand and serve our clients, we have developed detailed landscape design client questionnaire. We request to fill this form out before contacting us. We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.


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Augustinian Gala Honoree: Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A./
**See also: Fr. Tom will be leading 3 nights of lenten reflections March 6, 7, and 8 at Holy Name Cathedral, Chicago
At the Fifth Annual Augustinian Gala, on April 28, we will be celebrating the service of four very special honorees: Fr. Jim Friedel, O.S.A., Fr. Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., and Augustinian Affiliates Anne and Don Berschback. Today we are delighted to tell you about just some of the service Fr. Tom McCarthy has provided for our Order.
For his work in the last eight years as Director of Augustinian Vocations alone, Father Tom McCarthy, O.S.A., deserves to be honored at this year's gala. When you add to this his tenure as President of St. Rita of Cascia High School and his direction of numerous life-changing parish retreats, we become immeasurably indebted, as a family and community, to his selfless service.
Let us consider the numbers: The Order of St. Augustine, in North America, currently has 40 men in formation, with 11 friars newly professed in 2016. For those of you who have been supporters of the Augustinians, you can understand what a dramatic shift this represents from only five years ago. Each year that Fr. Tom has served as Director of Vocations, the number of men in formation has increased.
As a graduate of St. Rita of Cascia High School, class of 1983, Fr. Tom encountered the strength of community in the Augustinian Brotherhood at a formidable moment in his life. While working at the monastery answering phones to help pay his own tuition, Fr. Tom was able to witness the personal side of the friars who ran his school: "I saw the way they lived their life. I saw the way they prayed and the way they had fun, and it attracted me, saying this is what I want."
After St. Rita, Fr. Tom went on to Villanova University, where he earned his B.A. in Communication Arts in 1987. While there, he entered the pre-novitiate formation program, and he made his first profession of vows in 1988. Five years later he made his solemn profession, and he was ordained to the priesthood in 1994. He earned his M. Div. from Catholic Theological Union in 1993 and his M.A. in Education Administration from Lewis University.
Fr. Tom was chaplain at St. Rita from 1994 to 2000. In 2000, he was appointed President of St. Rita, and he served in this position until July, 2012, when he became Chairman of the Board of the school.
In 2012 he assumed his current position as full-time Director of Vocations for Eastern and Midwest Provinces. While he resides at Villanova, he makes frequent trips back to St. Rita of Cascia High School, where he still serves as the Director of the Shrine of St. Rita.
Fr. Tom continues in the role to lead renowned parish retreats and is known within the Order as one of the most passionate and effective speakers at missions appeals. Both of these accolades have been made possible only through Fr. Tom's great dedication to his mission, as he continually seeks counsel to become better at his vocation. It is with great joy that we thank Fr. Tom at this year's gala. Please join us in celebration of the unofficial "Mayor of the Southside!"
Please join us in congratulating Father McCarthy at this year's Augustinian Gala!
This year's fifth annual Augustinian Gala will be held at the historic Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. The gala is on April 28, 2017.
For information on how to register, sponsor, or donate please click below:


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Examining different theories of how Japan's economy managed to boom since the Second World War.
Japan has performed a miracle. The country's economic performance following its crushing defeat in World War II is nothing short of astounding. The economic expansion of Japan is second to none. All of the elements are in place for Japan to continue increasing its share of the world's wealth as America's gradually declines. The country is on track to becoming the world's largest economy. How did Japan do it? There are many theories and studies that have traced the Japanese miracle without success. The answer to the mystery can be found by examining Japan's culture, education, and employment system. Japan's success is not just a case of good technique and technology in business, but a real recognition and development of the necessary human skills. A better understanding of the Japanese society provides the framework to understanding the workings of Japanese business (and possibly the Japanese mind.) The ways of the Japanese provide a foundation for their economic adaptability in modern times. Japan is a culture where human relations and preservation of harmony are the most important elements in society. "It is their sense of identity and destiny which gives their industrial machine its effectiveness."1 "Among the Japanese, there exists an instinctive respect for institutions and government, for the rules of etiquette and service, for social functions and their rituals of business. Japan is a traditionally crowded island, the people are forced to share the limited space with each other and to live in harmony.. The Japanese are very protective of their culture. They are very conservative to outside intrusion. Their distinctive ways are a source of pride and national strength."2 Japan's striving for purity is very different form a North American idea of open doors and diversity as strength. Japan is relatively closed to immigration to outside countries. However, this feeling of superiority does not stop them from being careful. "This is probably because the Japanese know their economic house is on shaky ground, literally. Japan is eternally at nature's mercy, vulnerable to the sea that surrounds it, to earthquakes of the soil beneath it and a real shortage of raw materials, particularly food and fuel."3 A period of extended isolation could be disastrous to the country. Japan's trade surplus is its only generator of wealth. This is a fact of life that is preached through the media and taught constantly to Japanese throughout their lives in school, from parents, and when they enter the working world. The message is clear: Japan is always vulnerable, we must protect her. "Obsessed with national character, the Japanese are proud and ambitious, constantly measuring themselves against the world's best and biggest. Accordingly, one of the main sources of Japan's strength is its people's willingness to sacrifice, to be regimented and homogenized, and to subordinate personal desires to the harmony of the working group."4 The Japanese people have had to become a group-oriented society. While in the western world, individuality and independence are highly valued, Japanese society emphasizes group activity and organization. The people accept that they will belong to one social group and work for one company for life. The crowded island conditions have driven society to value conformity. "The highest priority is placed on WA, or harmony."5 The Japanese have learned to share their limited space and value the precious distance between themselves and others. The culture that Japanese people are brought up in causes them to recognize that they have to work together to succeed. Only harmony will provide improvement. This development of the human nature and attitude relates directly to Japan's business practice and provides a basis for good business relations. Japan's education system has grabbed the world's attention as it is specifically designed to teach the children skills and aptitudes to give them an edge in the business world. "The educational system, based on the principle of full equality of educational opportunity, is widely recognized as having greatly contributed to the prosperity of Japan by providing a highly qualified work force supplemented by extensive intraining programs by many of the major employers."6 "The primary and secondary educational system is probably the most comprehensive and most disciplined in the world."7 Where North American students attend school 175 days a year, Japanese students attend 240 days. . Japanese students attend elementary and secondary school six days a week and for two months longer each year than North American students. In addition, they have long hours of homework. A large majority of Japanese students attend juku, or preparatory schools, in the evenings and on Sundays. In higher education, while lacking the strong University system which exists in North America, the curriculum is equally rigorous, and "Japan is graduating 75 000 engineers per year, 3 000 more than the U.S., from a University population one fifth the size."8 "The education system itself is a unifying force. It molds children into group oriented beings by demanding uniformity and conformity form the earliest ages. The attainment of excellence within this complex environment, and the importance it holds for one's future is stressed early."9 This emphasis places a great burden on the young to perform well in school an to earn admittance to high status universities. The public school system not only produces good, obedient citizens, it produces good workers. A willingness to give oneself to the corporation's best interest, to arrive early and stay late, and to produce good work are attributes learned in the Japanese schools. Those who cannot learn these skills do not do well in school or do not rise in the ranks of the corporate world. The education system is an excellent example of how the Japanese recognize and develop the necessary human skills that are needed in society and stressed in the business world.. One of the most important aspects of Japan's successful economics is the countries employment system. The system is very complex and has many hidden but powerful aspects that help Japan maximize its output. The system's three main principles of lifetime employment, company unions, and seniority pay, work together to form a system worthy of notice. "The system is based on comprehensive labour regulation, and it has been consciously invented as Japan's answer to a Western labour system that Japanese leaders have long believed is inappropriate for an advanced economy."10 "The whole system is based around a people-centered management. Japanese companies undertake their annual hiring of recent graduates expecting all the people they hire to work with them until retirement."11 Lifetime employment is often regarded as a key factor behind Japan's industrial success. Yet, "lifetime employment as practiced in Japan is no more than a general guiding principle. It is by no means a guarantee and only the large companies can afford to assure employment."12 The obvious value of such a system is the sense of stability it presents. But there are many advantages to such a system. "Consider how valuable the lifetime employment system is in winning worker cooperation for the introduction of productivity enhancing new technologies. Japanese workers see no downside risk in helping their employers improve productivity, they embrace new technology knowing it will enhance their company's future and their own jobs. Workers can then be reassigned to different work, typically making improved products."13 "The American hire-and-fire system sets works and managers against each other over new technology. American workers are suspicious of new technology because employers often use such technology to cut jobs. If a company is to innovate, it must train its workers to handle ever more sophisticated tasks."14 "Here again the Japanese labour system provides Japanese employers with a vital advantage in that they can undertake expensive training programs knowing they will enjoy a good return on the investment."15 By contrast, American employers see such training as a risk because the workers are free to take their skills to rival employers. Japanese management is also a major source of Japan's success. "A Japanese manager knows that the decisions he makes today remain permanently on his record and he may be asked to account for them many years down the road. He cannot simply sweep problems away. The company's long term success always has to be on the mind of the manager."16 "The lifetime employment system also enables Japanese corporations to groom prospective executives for many years." The managers know that the path to success is to dedicate themselves single- mindedly to the success of their companies. The lifetime employment system contributes greatly to raising employees' desire to work and to fostering loyalty and commitment to the company."17 The merits of the Japanese employment system are endless. The healthy relations provide a basis for growth. All the aspects of the employment system develop skills necessary for a stable company. Ever since the Tokyo stock market entered a period of decline in 1990, the Western press has attacked aspects of Japan's economics and portrayed Japan as in an economic slump. Westerners endlessly attack the Japanese employment system. It is true that the system was supposed to make workers fiercely dedicated to their employers, but it prevented Japanese companies from cutting the size of the work force in hard times. "While Canadian companies emerged from the recession leaner and more competitive, Japanese firms stagnated."18 The argument is always the same: as the world economy "globalizes", Japanese corporations are being drawn into increasingly head-to-head competition with Western counterparts and face extinction if they do not adopt the "more efficient" Western system of employment. This argument was "never more insistent than in the recession of the early 1990's"19, but, as on previous occasions, the Japan Employment system triumphantly silenced its critics by emerging from the recession as strong as ever. Westerners cut jobs to increase profits, the Japanese cut profits to increase jobs. Western critics also attack the Japanese education system. "Although often noted for their rigor and high test results, the school system is seen as presenting a dark side with conservatism and conformity."20 A modern economy is argued to "need creative thinkers willing to take risks, which Japan's schools are not producing."21 This may be true as Japan has a history of copying Western products detail by detail. The lack of creativity is dismissed by the Japanese. They feel that "copying is common sense. Relieved of the burden of having to come up with original designs, Japanese manufacturers can concentrate all their creative talents on the far more economically effective task of beating Western rivals in productivity."22 The school systems are producing thinkers and problem solvers. All of these attacks are underestimating the power of the Japanese. Is it an economic slump when "in the first four years of this decade, Japanese exports soared by 32 percent, the yen rose 27 percent, and Japanese employers created 3.2 million new jobs. Japan is not crumbling, it has now surpassed the U.S. to become the world's largest manufacturing economy and is ready to claim the lion's share of the world's growth."23 Attacks on Japan's ways are countless. Obviously there are many problems with the way they run their country. Yet, no one can ignore the economic success that Japan has had. The roots of the success can be traced back to the skills developed through culture and education, and the healthy attitudes developed by the Japanese employment system. The Western world could learn much from what makes the Japanese successful in business. It is not just a case of adopting Japanese techniques and technology but of recognizing and developing the necessary human skills. The East has borrowed heavily from the West in improving its business performance; the West could also take note of the lessons of Japanese history and culture and consider applying them in its own organizations.
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Meet Kayla
Kayla is a Certified Yoga Therapist who has spent a lifetime realizing her joy in movement
From dance to theater, teaching to therapeutics, Kayla Fell has committed herself to exploring the mind-body connection as a path to self-expression, centering and vitality. She has been teaching 1-on-1 yoga therapy and group yoga classes in the Philadelphia area since 2009, and is accredited by the International Association of Yoga Therapists.
Her ongoing work focuses on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and management of symptoms from chronic conditions. Former co-founder of Nava Yoga Center in The Navy Yard (2013-7), Kayla established yoga and meditation as a viable therapy within a leading sports medicine institute, specializing in hip and core muscle injuries for professional, collegiate and recreational athletes. This unique setting invited daily collaboration with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, osteopaths, acupuncturists and massage therapists on treatment plans for individual clients and specific conditions or injuries.
Kayla is a current co-author and instructor for Jefferson University Hospital's Institute of Emerging Health Professions. She is driven to establish engaged, informed, evolving relationships with physicians, athletic trainers and physical therapists. Kayla sees her yoga therapy work as a launching pad to empower individuals with a role in their own healing, via compassionate, informed self-care.


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Creating content solutions for your professional needs.
The BYCCOLLECTIVE is a boutique collective of independent visual artists and creators.
We take pride in our art and the technology we use to produce our content. The post-production artists we collaborate with are hand picked and have studio experience working in 3d animation & visual effects for film, t.v and commercial productions.
Our initiative is to decentralize the work place. With todays technology we are able to communicate, create and develop ideas together without having to be in the same room, city or even country. We leverage our strength off the experience and knowledge of the industries finest post production creatives. We have connected a dedicated team of professionals together using a robust infrastructure dedicated to servicing productions internationally.
From live-action production to 3d animation. We create high-end visual content.


text: Brazil (4/21/17) -- "Sixty percent of the 6.8 million liters of daily sewage sludge generated in Brazil gets dumped back into nature untreated." A group of Brazilian companies established a new company, Lodologic, in partnership with Paulee CleanTec in Israel. Paulee CleanTec has a process to oxidize organic residue, turning it into a fertilizer. They hope to bring that technology to facilities throughout Brazil.


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Sage Oak Charter School is new to the area, and I am excited to announce that we are vendors! After looking at their vendor list, it appears that they have a very hefty collection of vendors, although quite a few seem to be focused down in Orange County, East LA, and South LA.
If you are interested in taking lessons through Sage Oak, please get in touch and we'll get you started! Not in the Santa Clarita area but still want a piano teacher? Let us know, and we'll see if we can bring on a piano teacher in your area and get you set up through Sage Oak.
~Adam Bendorf


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Miami-Dade County
Some victims identified after deadly wrong-way crash on I-95
Video: Five killed in wrong-way crash on I-95
A 23-year-old woman driving the wrong way on northbound I-95 early Wednesday crashed head-on into a sedan near Miami Gardens Drive, killing herself and four people in the car she struck, police said.
The California woman, who was identified as Alexandra Lefler, was driving south in the northbound express lanes in a white 2001 Ford pickup truck around 12:45 a.m. when she sideswiped a Chevy Cobalt driven by Katherine Warsch, 27, of Hollywood. The Cobalt then smashed into the concrete median.
Then the pickup crashed head-on into a 2013 Hyundai Sonata carrying four people, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. Florida Highway Patrol identified the victims as:
▪ Miguel Gil, 47, of Cooper City, who was driving;
▪ Gisela Gil-Egui, 48, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, sister of Miguel;
▪ Gisela Margarita Egui Hernandez, 71, of Venezuela, mother of Miguel and Gisela;
▪ Jose Martin Labrado, 52, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, husband of Gisela.
According to FHP, both women were not wearing seatbelts and were ejected from the vehicle.
After the violent collision, the pickup spun onto its side and stopped in the inside express lane, and a Kia Optima rear-ended the Sonata. The Optima, driven by 58-year-old Nameer Khattab, veered into the general traffic lanes, where it was clipped by another vehicle.
Warsch and Khattab were both taken to local hospitals with minor injuries.
Gil-Egui was a communications professor at Fairfield University, a private Jesuit school in Connecticut. Her husband, Labrado, worked at Housatonic Community College. They had flown in to visit family.
In a statement to the Miami Herald, university president Rev. Jeffrey P. von Arx said Gil-Egui was a beloved member of the faculty and community.
"Dr. Gil-Egui was a delightful friend, an enthusiastic and inspiring colleague, and an accomplished academic, receiving her B.A. from Universidad Central de Venezuela, and her M.A. and Ph.D from Temple University," he said. "As an Associate Professor of Communication at Fairfield University, she taught courses focusing on globalization of mass media and information, mass media and society and other subjects, she assisted her students on their thesis proposals and research, and was an avid and inspiring faculty collaborator in a number of other projects and committees."
Wednesday's accident marked the second wrong-way crash on the interstate — one of the busiest in Florida — in recent weeks. On Dec. 13, a blue Toyota driven by 24-year-old Franklin Chavez was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes on I-95 near Southwest Eighth Street when it collided with a Honda Civic driven by 23-year-old Carmen Criales. Criales was pronounced dead at the scene.
Joey Flechas: 305-376-3602, @joeflech


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- Thank the person awarding you
- Share a little about why you blog and how the journey started
- Paste the blog award on your page
- Nominate 10 other blogs you think are deserving of the award
Budget Chic
Fashion Du Jour
Mrs. Pancakes
JAdore Fashion
Yummy Mummy
Beatrice Clay
Frannie Pantz
Scarberian Fashion Lover
Punctuation Mark
Congratulations Lovelies!
And now for the Versatile Blogger Award! Thanks Again Ms. Foodie Fash!
The rules for the versatile blogger award are:
2. Let the nominated bloggers know that they have been nominated.
3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.
4. Thank the blogger who has nominated you.
5. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your post.
I would like to thank the always humourous, effervescent and fabulous Ms. Foodie Fash for nominating me for the Versatile blogger award. My 7 random facts are:
1. I hate raisins. Don't give me anything with a raisin in it or anything in the raisin family
2. I love to travel and am always ready to pack my bags and go on a trip
3. According to a test to discover my purpose, hospitality, exhortation, mercy and compassion are some of my gifts
4. I have a serious fixation on candy that has a sweet and sour taste or is extremely fruity like sour patch kids, or jelly bellies
5. I do nerdy things like read the dictionary. I am a writer, so I like big words, LOL
6. I think Siracha tastes good on everything
7. Shawshank Redemption, Love Jones, Like Water for Chocolate and Imitation of life are some of my favorite movies
And here is a bonus fact, I love going to events where I can meet interesting people. Food Festivals, outdoor concerts, art gallery openings and anywhere else where there is some fun and excitement:-)
And now I nominate these remarkable bloggers:
Diary of a Chic Mommy
Congratulations! All of you are amazing!


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Emerald Ash Borer
Emerald Ash Borer
What is Emerald Ash Borer
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect pest from Asia that attacks and destroys ash trees. This wood boring beetle was first found in Michigan in 2002 and has continued to spread into neighboring states, threatening to eventually spread across the U.S. and Canada. EAB has killed tens of millions of ash trees since its discovery in 2002 and threatens the entire North American ash tree population. EAB is predicted to cause an unprecedented $10-20 billion in losses to the urban forest over the next 10 years.
Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan Information
To view the City of Dubuque's Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan, please click
Borer Documents and Information
Common Problems of Ash Trees and Ash Tree Identification
Does My Tree Have Emerald Ash Borer?
Management Options
EAB or Native Borer?
Businesses Providing Tree Care Services
Finding a Pesticide Applicator
Tree-age MSDS Sheet
Current Dubuque EAB Infestation Map
EAB Infested Iowa Counties Map
EAB Infested Iowa State Map
USDA EAB National Quarantine Map
Firewood Quarantine Information
Iowa Quarantine Order
Recommended Street Trees
Iowa Outdoors Magazine Tree Diversity Article
Iowa Outdoors Magazine Tree Diversity Article 2
FAQ-State of Iowa Answered
Tree-age MSDS sheet
USDA EAB Iowa County Map
Other Emerald Ash Borer Sites
Iowa DNR
Iowa State Extension
Emerald Ash Borer Website
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This afternoon, snuggled beneath the covers of my decadent king-size bed, I finished reading Donna Tartt's The Secret History. I was totally mesmerized by this book--it's characters, their behaviors, and the location of Bennington, VT, a place I've visited several times. If I had college to do over again, I'd choose Bennington College or Middlebury.
Anyhow, booked as a "thinking person's thriller," the twists and turns of the plot and the six characters, all young, mostly eccentric Greek scholars and their equally mercurial professor, were extensions of my own family. I have no idea why, because my own life is so different from the characters, but I somehow identified with their plummeting towards oblivion--drugs, alcohol, sex, murder. There but for the grace of God---The protagonist is a 19 year old from Silicon Valley--Richard Papen, who gets enmeshed with a group of brilliant, immature, privileged kids. Kind of like a perverted cast for Friends. Can't recommend this book enough. Tartt's The Little Friend was good, too. This book was suspenseful and riveting until literally the last word. As the plot unfolded, I wrote many of the insights Richard got in my own journal for later consideration. Written in 1992, I can't believe I had never heard of Donna Tartt until my friend Loretta at Pomegranatesand paper recommended her. So, what are you reading right now?


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The first design from a new brand named Horki (Kia's joint venture with Dongfeng Yueda Kia in China) has been unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show. This concept saloon is intended for the Chinese market. The origin of the 'Horki' name is the combination of two Chinese characters. 'Hor' means China while 'Ki' means driving.
When combined, Horki signifies harmony and driving. Kia said that the new brand is targeted at meeting the particular requirements of Chinese buyers. For this new brand, a dual-brand strategy will be followed. The Kia nameplate promotes passion, sportiness and style while the planned range of Horki models will be the epitome of practicality, economy and trustworthiness.
From these official renderings, we see that the four-door saloon shares a platform with the newest Cerato/Forte saloon. Dongfeng Yueda Kia has yet to confirm if the show car will enter production but it said that Horki will offer a lineup of vehicles that will also be available with alternative power. Horki is slated to debut on the Chinese market in the second half of 2015 with vehicles built at any of the three factories of this joint venture in Yancheng, north of Shanghai.
It was in 2002 that the joint-venture between Kia, Dongfeng and Yueda was first established. Kia has prepared an aggressive expansion strategy for the Chinese market. Its Yancheng facilities can produce an annual total of 730,000 vehicles when the third one turns fully operational in early 2014. Dongfeng Yueda Kia sold 150,000 vehicles in 2007 while it posted sales of 480,000 vehicles last year.


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Getting to Know Your Air Conditioning System: Part 4: The Thermostat
Your thermostat is a heat-sensitive switch that regulates the temperature of your home. It responds to changes in the temperature surrounding it and turns the air conditioner on or off as needed to maintain the temperature at the set point.
The most important component of the thermostat is a bimetallic element, often in the form of a coil in modern thermostats, that expands or contracts as the temperature increases or decreases in your home. The contraction or expansion of the bimetallic element causes the electrical circuit in the thermostat to open or close, respectively. When the electrical circuit closes, the system turns on and starts running; once the system has reached the set point, it turns off again.
If this bimetal coil is improperly set, it will cause your thermostat to fall out of calibration.
If you believe you are having any problems with your thermostat or HVAC system, contact us for an appointment or ask us a question.


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Gray City Council takes next step to buy building that will be used as police headquarters
City Council voted during a called meeting Monday to accept a bid for financing for a lease-purchase agreement to buy a building to be used as headquarters for the Gray Police Department.
The city has agreed to pay up to $463,000 for the building, depending on an appraisal and the seller completing some interior modifications and paving the parking lot.
"If it doesn't appraise that high, then we have the option of paying the appraisal amount or the seller can back out of the deal," said city attorney Joan Harris. "Everything is also contingent on us getting the financing."
The two-story building on Ga. 18 East near the county jail is owned by local contractor Chris Wiedner and is now headquarters for his Gray Builders Group. It has more than twice the space in downtown Gray the city now pays $18,000 a year to rent for its police department.
The city has leased space for the police department for a number of years and began negotiating during the spring with Wiedner about buying his building as a way to stop leasing. City officials backed off on buying the building at first, instead looking for land it could buy to build a police headquarters. But land prices and construction estimates proved too high, so they began talking with Wiedner again last month.
City officials will purchase the building through a lease-purchase agreement with the Georgia Municipal Association. The GMA will own the property until the loan is paid off, then the title goes to the city.
The council voted Monday to accept a bid from BB&T Bank to finance the loan at a 4.67 percent fixed rate for 20 years. The other bid it received was from Security Bank for a floating rate with a ceiling of 7 percent interest.
If the appraisal and other conditions are met, the closing date for the sale is Nov. 21.
The council also announced that it will hold public hearings on the city's 2009 budget and millage rate at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday. It is scheduled to adopt the budget on Nov. 10.
To contact writer Chuck Thompson, call 744-4489.


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* Foundation to sell up to 3.55% stake, keep about 20.2%
* Erste reaffirms 2012 guidance on operating results
(Adds details and background)
VIENNA, Oct 1 (Reuters) - The foundation that is a major shareholder in Erste Group Bank will sell a stake of up to 3.55 percent in the Austrian lender, the bank and the foundation said on Monday.
"The stake in Erste Group controlled by Erste Foundation after the transaction will amount to an approximate 20.2 percent," a statement said, adding the foundation was not planning any further share sales.
Goldman Sachs International and Erste Group will act as joint bookrunners in the accelerated bookbuilt offering to institutional investors, it added.
"With this transaction Erste Foundation has concluded a share sale programme which the board ... had decided upon in spring 2012. The proceeds from the transaction cover the planned repayment of liabilities of Erste Foundation to its full extent," it said.
Erste said as well that Spain's CaixaBank , its second-largest shareholder, had purchased a block of one million Erste Group shares from the foundation, boosting its stake to slightly below 10 percent.
"Erste Group reaffirms its guidance for its operating result and risk provisions which it announced as part of its H1 2012 results presentation," it added.
(Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Mark Potter)
((email@example.com)(+43 1 531 12 258)(Reuters Messaging: firstname.lastname@example.com))
Keywords: ERSTE FOUNDATION/