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TRENTON -- A surprise windfall from a tax amnesty program may restore property tax rebates this fall for New Jerseyans earning up to $75,000, Gov. Jon Corzine and state lawmakers said today.
The news of at least $400 million in extra revenue postponed votes on the $28.6 billion state budget until next week, and prompted a giddy response from Democrats who had reluctantly trimmed the popular rebates in Corzine's re-election year.
Full Star-Ledger coverage of the N.J. budget"I want to convey in the strongest possible terms my commitment to using these recovered resources to provide middle-class homeowners with much-needed property tax relief," the governor said.
Along with reviving rebates for households earning up to $75,000 annually, lawmakers want to restore property tax deductions on state income taxes next year for households making up to $200,000, said Assembly Budget Committee chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden). The proposed budget calls for eliminating property tax deductions for those making $150,000 or more and eliminating rebates for all but seniors and the disabled.
With more than 17,000 payments yet to be processed by the Treasury Department, the final take from the amnesty program may reach $700 million, the highest in state history, Corzine said. The six-week initiative, which ended June 15, was projected to bring in $200 million.
"It surprised him as much as it surprised us," said Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex), who learned of the windfall from Corzine on Wednesday evening. "It changes the dynamic."
Republicans -- who have spent months assailing Corzine's recession-starved budget as an attack on the middle class -- immediately blasted the move as an election-year gimmick.
GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie accused Corzine of "haphazard governing," while Assemblyman Joseph Malone (R-Burlington) called the announcement a "Hail Mary" stall tactic to give Senate Democrats time to marshal votes for the spending plan. Codey said that was not the case, but at least three Democratic senators -- enough to block the bill -- expressed reservations about voting for the budget.
Corzine's announcement at a late morning news conference triggered a whirlwind of activity at the Statehouse, where a bevy of lawmakers and lobbyists had gathered in anticipation of a politically charged budget debate stretching late into the night.
Instead, legislators postponed votes on other bills linked to the budget -- including those enacting targeted tax increases -- until next week. The new revenue will be incorporated into the budget proposal before the Senate and Assembly budget committees meet Monday, and a final vote will come Thursday, still ahead of the June 30 deadline, said Codey and Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden).
Echoing Corzine, Roberts said property tax relief should be "the primary focus, if not the exclusive focus" of the amnesty money. All members of the Democratic-dominated Assembly are also up for election this year, and Roberts said his caucus broke into applause when they heard news of the windfall this morning.
The governor's campaign staff, meanwhile, fired off an e-mail blast and posted an online ad touting the development as evidence of his leadership amid the economic crisis.
The state spent $2.2 million on an advertising campaign urging deadbeat taxpayers to settle up, waiving penalties and half the interest owed on unpaid taxes for returns due from 2002 and this February. As of today, officials said the amnesty program collected $617 million -- 56 percent of it from corporations.
Roberts and Greenwald could not say today how much the restored rebate checks would be.
Corzine's original budget proposal called for preserving rebates at last year's levels for seniors, the disabled and those making less than $50,000 a year. Households earning $50,000 to $75,000 a year would have received two-thirds of the rebate they got last year. But dramatic revenue drop-offs last month led Corzine to propose eliminating rebates for all but seniors and the disabled.
Restoring rebates to homeowners making up to $75,000 and deductions to those earning up to $200,000 would cost a combined $560 million, Greenwald said.
Codey said he does not want to see the revised budget bill contain any spending increases outside of the additional property tax rebates and income tax exemptions. He acknowledged the money disrupted the momentum of a hard-fought budget and invites problems by posing a tantalizing pool of cash for lawmakers and special interests.
"That's our fear. We can't allow that to happen," Codey said. "It's Christmas in June, but it also upsets the apple cart."
Corzine, too, warned "special interest groups" not to expect new funding and lawmakers not to try to use any money for special projects for their districts, commonly referred to as "Christmas tree items."
"Today is June 18, not Dec. 25," Corzine said. "We will not be buying a Christmas tree."
But that didn't stop lobbyists from trying.
"This will set off a scramble from a lot of groups to get funding restored and taxes eliminated,'' said Philip Kirschner, president of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
Statehouse Bureau reporters Josh Margolin, Susan K. Livio and Chris Megerian contributed to this report.


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Vacation and tcm?
annelies espeel
Like many of you I will go on vacation too. Question is, which medicine do I take with me on my trips. I try to take just the bare minimum, but then you never know.
In my travel kit pharmacy I tend to have certain fixed tcm plant formula for various ailments:
constipation: ma zi ren wan
diarrhoea : huo xiang zheng qi tang
tiger balm (headache, mosquito bites, muscle aches)
aloe vera (98%): sunburn relief
The first two are typical TCM formula. If you find it hard to get them, you can always send me an email or make an appointment for more info.
the last two are easy to get by at any bio shop or pharmacy or beauty shop.
have a great vacation !

subset: commoncrawl


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Limited Learner's Permit involves parents, guardians, and/or other responsible drivers in the training of young drivers:
For at least 12 months, the Level 1 driver must be supervised by parent, guardian or other approved licensed driver who has been licensed at least 5 years.
All people in vehicle driven by Level 1 driver must wear a seat belt and only the supervisor can ride in the front seat.
For the first six months, a Level 1 driver may only drive from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM with his/her supervisor.
For the second six months, a Level 1 driver may drive at any time with his/her supervisor.
The level 1 driver must have no violations during the last six months to graduate to the next level.
Limited Provisional License protects young drivers during the nighttime hours when they are most at risk:
Unsupervised driving is allowed between 5:00 AM and 9:00 PM or when driving to or from work.
Unsupervised driving is allowed to or from an activity of a volunteer fire department, volunteer rescue squad, or volunteer emergency medical service if the driver is a member of the organization.
Supervised driving is allowed at any time.
All people in a vehicle driven by a Level 2 driver must wear a seat belt.
The Level 2 driver must have six months of violation-free driving to graduate to the next level.
Full Provisional License rewards violation-free driving:
Unsupervised driving is allowed at any time.
Level 3 driver is subject to all other conditions of provisional license.


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Thought I would share my latest baby hat I just finished.
It's my favorite hat yet. I adore those sleepy eyes!
It's the best formed hat I've made, and it's it's super soft and stretchy. I've learned to loosen up on my stitching for hats and they are turning out so much better! Before I ever attempted to make a hat I remember thinking trying a hat would be so scary and hard! But now that I've made quite of few of them, they are so easy! And with most simple hat patterns you can add anything to turn them into cute animal hats or anything else! I love it! I'm so tempted to keep this little birdie hat, but I added him to my shop. I plan to make him again.
... Oh yes, that reminds me. I have some news I never told. I'm going to be an auntie! My little sister (7 years younger) is pregnant and she had her first ultra sound a few weeks ago.
When I saw this photo I got so emotional! I started crying! Wow, this little peanut is real and it's my family... my little niece or nephew.... So amazing. And I'm so excited to make all sorts of cute things for the baby to wear!!
There are a few people telling my mom (back in California) that I really need to get a move on having kids because I'm getting old. To be honest, I'm not ready and I'm not worried either. I'm 26. I don't exactly think that's considered old yet haha! We are just waiting for awhile, and enjoying each other alone. So if you're reading this and by chance you are one of those people who are worried that I haven't rushed into having babies already, please don't ask or recommend anymore. When it's our time, you will know. Much appreciated.


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Olga Adamova-Sliuzberg tells the story of a young woman named Zina, a mathematics teacher from Gorkii, whom she met in the Lubianka jail. Zina had been arrested for failing to denounce one of her teachers, a lecturer in dialectical materialism who came to Gorkii from Moscow once a week. In conversations with Zina the lecturer had openly expressed his criticisms of the Stalinist regime. Because he stayed in Gorkii in a dormitory, he had used Zina's apartment to entertain his friends and had kept a trunk of his books there. When the NKVD carried out their search, it turned out the books were Trotskyist. Zina acknowledged her guilt. She decided to expiate her sin and 'clean all the stains from [her] conscience' by informing on other 'enemies' to the NKVD. She told her interrogators about a certain professor who had given lectures at her institute. One day there had been a power cut while the professor was performing an experiment. There were no candles, so, as she explained, ZinaPolitical sensitivities in modern American political campaigns seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to those in Stalin's Russia.split a ruler and lit a splinter from it, as the peasants do, to provide light. The professor finished his experiment by the light of the splinter and at the end remarked [poking fun at Stalin's famous phrase], 'Life has become better, life has become more joyous. God be praised, we have reached the age of the splinter!'The professor was arrested. Zina did not feel that she had acted wrongly in denouncing him – just a little awkward when she had to confront him during his interrogation. Asked by Olga what she thought about having 'ruined someone's life' for such a petty thing, Zina replied: 'There are no petty things in politics. Like you, I failed to understand at first the criminal significance of his remark, but later I realized.'
07 April 2008
'We have reached the age of the splinter!'
From The Whisperers: Private Lives in Stalin's Russia, by Orlando Figes (Metropolitan, 2007), p. 263:
Posted by Joel at 4/07/2008 06:38:00 PM
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Well now, THIS is fun! Tom and Debra will present a 30-minute beginner swing lesson at 2:30pm, U.S. Army Blues (that's "Pershing's Own") plays big band music of the '30s and '40s in a special tribute to our World War II veterans. And it's FREE! Come out and enjoy some dancing, or just watch the band. See more at USArmyBand calendar, directions at USArmyBand directions. You don't have to dress vintage or military, but it's always nice if you want to.
BIG IMPORTANT NOTE: Enter through the gate at 2nd Street. Allow 20-25 minutes to clear security. Due to increased security measures, everyone is asked to fill out an Access Visitor form at the gate. DOWNLOAD THIS PDF, fill it out and bring it with you to present at the gate to save time. Also, be sure to bring a valid photo ID.


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Long Island's maritime climate and its unique glacial soils form the key natural components of our terroir. Our long, warm summers are tempered by cooling breezes off the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean that prevents excessive summer heat. The surrounding water gives off warmth to the East End that extends summer into a mellow fall, allowing us ample time to ripen our fruit well into October and November. It also provides buffering breezes during the winter months, protecting the vineyards and allowing us to be the largest producer of European grapes in the Northeast.
Our climate is characterized by warm summer day temperatures and warm summer night temperatures creating a relatively low diurnal fluctuation and moderate rainfall in each month of the growing season. Nearly every summer contains a stretch of dry weather lasting between 3 to 4 weeks. Our average growing season accumulates between 2,800-3,500 Growing Degree Days (UC Davis system, >50F) depending on the distance of the vineyard site to cooling breezes coming off the Ocean and Sound. The hamlet of Cutchogue, in the heart of the North Fork of Long Island AVA, is considered the sunniest location in New York State, indicating that Long Island wine country has relatively high insolation.
Our moderate climate with plenty of sun allows the East End of Long Island to grow and ripen an array of grape varieties from the most dependable and widely planted duo-Chardonnay and Merlot- to the whites Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Viognier, Gewurztraminer, Pinet Grigio, Gruner Veltliner, Albarino, Chenin Blanc, Semillion,Tocai Friulano, Pinot Blanc, and the reds, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Carmenere, Blaufrankisch, Dornfelder, Syrah, and Pinot Noir.


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I'd like to enter my magnet in the That's Crafty challenge - All Things Bright And Beautiful.
For my DT piece I've altered a postcard size fridge magnet that a local estate agents put through our door.
I also used three metal butterflies of this necklace that I found in a charity shop.
I covered the magnet with copy paper and painted it with gesso and acrllic paint.
I then glued some butterflies taken from a paper napkin and added more acrylic paint and some stencilling.
I stamped the Paper Inspirations image onto white copy paper, coloured it with pencils and glued it to the magnet. I splattered some black and white paint. I used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch and stamp for the small butterflies.
I cut three butterflies from the necklace and left the chain on. I coloured them with alcohol ink, bent the wings up and glued them to the magnet. I added the words.
I hope you can join in with the challenge, why not take a trip to Mixed Media Mojo to see the fabulous samples that the rest of the DT have made.


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Hebrews 1:1-4 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Maybe you noticed it. Maybe you didn't. There's no a mention of a manger. There's not a hint of hay or a syllable about animals. There's no Mary. No Joseph. There aren't any angels either - at least not in the way you might expect. In fact, I think it's fair to say that here in Hebrews there is nothing at all said about what we've traditionally come to know as Christmas. So what does Hebrews have to say to us at Christmas time? Good question.
We can begin to get at an answer to that question by making an observation. The writer is abrupt. If we didn't know better, we'd say that he is rude. Just like it's rude and impolite to get a gift from someone and not say, "Thank you." It's also considered good etiquette and good manners to start a written letter with a greeting. If you're an ancient Christian writer you might say something like, "To so and so, grace and peace..." So what's up with the writer to the Hebrews tossing common courtesy out the window? There's only one answer that I can think of. It must have been bad. Like when the ambulance shows up at a house, the paramedics don't say, "Good morning and how is your day going?" They walk right in and they get the paddles out.
Like I said, it must have been an emergency situation for the writer to the Hebrews to dispense with a greeting at the beginning of his letter in favor of the swiftest launch possible. It was time to get the paddles out. We're told why. Just after these verses we find out that Jesus had suffered a huge downgrade. "So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he (Jesus) has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say..." (v. 4-5) Do you see what the writer is arguing? He's saying, "Jesus is better than angels." Actually, I should clarify something. The writer in the section never calls Jesus, Jesus. He calls Jesus, God's "Son." He wants to emphasize Jesus' deity. So why argue that Jesus is greater than angels? Why harp on Jesus' sonship and deity? And why dive into all of that without even a decent hello or greeting in the letter? Do the math. God's Son had suffered a huge downgrade in the minds of those ancient Christians.
Before we shake our heads in disappointment at those ancient Christians, let's realize something. Hebrews is a unique letter among New Testament letters. Hebrews wasn't written to anyone in particular. It wasn't named after a city and the people there like Philippians and Corinthians and Colossians were. It was a letter written to no one in particular. Actually, let me rephrase. It was written to everyone in particular. This letter was not tailored to the needs of a specific place or specific people. It was written to be universal. Let me put it another way. The letter was written with everyone in mind. That tells us that downgrading Jesus is an all-Christianity problem. What's unique to different times and places is how that happens. For the people at the time of this letter the problem was angelology. In other words, they were really into angels and spirits and stuff and it was really affecting their faith life in a powerfully negative way. For us, downgrades still happen. They just happen for different reasons.
Think about what that means on Christmas Eve. I was sitting with my daughter, Elliana, reading her a book called What is Christmas? The jacket of the book promises "it will help kids know what Christmas is all about." That's when it hit me. The author thought kids would have trouble cutting through the cookies, family, special songs, presents, and Santa Claus to get to Jesus. That's why she wrote the book. Turns out that she was right. I used to pastor a church with a rather large early childhood program and I remember watching a video they put together called, "What is Christmas?" They were each asked, "What is Christmas?" And very few of the 30+ kids hesitated with their answer. They said, "presents." As their pastor, it scared me into understanding their spiritual reality. Christmas had given Jesus so much competition that Jesus has suffered a major downgrade in the hearts of his little ones.
That's not unique to a child's world. Jesus downgrades happen all the time in our lives even this time of year. It's so easy to give more attention to the Christmas parties than to Jesus' manger. It's so easy to decorate cookies and the tree as a family, but much tougher to stop and worship the Christ child together. Even wonderful, heartfelt shopping and giving of gifts can overwhelm the more important Christmas act of receiving God's present, Jesus Christ. Do you see it? Jesus can suffer serious downgrades this time of year.
That's what's beating in God's heart when he starts in on this letter. That's why he had to dispense with the niceties and lay a message on us. "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining everything by his powerful word." (v. 1- 3) Do you see what he's saying? He saying, "God talked through a lot of people in a lot of different places about his Son, but he's not doing that anymore. He doesn't have to. He's here." Do you feel the gravity of that? The writer is purposefully saying, "Jesus is it. He's God's message. Tune in. He's the beginning and end of what God is saying and doing for humankind. And by the way, if you've got any doubts about that - the writer goes on - know something about this message. He's not just a message. He's the one who has been willed the universe. He is the heir appointed of all that exists. And he's not just a recipient of all that exists. No, that's not it. He's much more than that. He's the creator of it."
So let's get this straight. Jesus is God's final message to people. He's been willed everything and he's the one through whom God made the universe. Do you see what that makes him? The writer tells us so we don't have to wonder. It makes seeing Jesus equal to seeing all the radiance of God's glory. Seeing Jesus = seeing God. He is the exact representation of God's essence. Do you see what that makes Jesus? That makes Jesus - in a word - God. That's the ultimate upgrade - the highest heights of deity.
There are no shortcuts to getting the mind and the heart around that truth. That is a Holy Spirit worked wonder that God has to place in our souls. But it is real! And it is incredible! God actually came at Christmas time. You know what I find amazing? I find it amazing that no one - absolutely no one - questions the reality of Jesus' birth. Have you ever thought about that? People question what Jesus accomplished; what he means for us; what his identity is; but no one questions whether or not he was actually here. Jesus actually was born. And we know that he is God. There's a song that a group called Pentatonix sings that went viral on the internet this year. It's called Mary, Did You Know? That song gets it right. Mary, did you know that he walked where angels trod? Mary, did you know that when you kiss your baby that you kiss the face of God? Mary, did you know that your son is the great I Am?
That is an overwhelming reality. The one who has been willed all things and will receive it as something properly owed him. The one through whom the sun, the moon, and the stars came into being. The one who still upholds this universe with his word of grace. The one who knit me together in my mother's womb. That one is here. He came. He's here - in the flesh. And don't be confused. God didn't come as an anthropologist. Jesus didn't sit in the skies and say, "Father, I wonder what it's like to live with the natives. Can I go check it out?" God came because there was a God-sized job to do. Only God could bring a sacrifice that would purify all the Jesus downgrades that have happened in history. Only God could provide a purification that would infinitely produce rivers of forgiveness that run richly and powerfully over every aspect of our brokenness. Correction. Only God did provide the ultimate and forever purification. Interesting, isn't it? The writer to the Hebrews - even on Christmas Day - takes us right to the foot of the cross, "He provided purification for sins." (v. 3)
Do you see what the writer to the Hebrews is saying. He's saying, "For a moment… Strip away the manger. Forget about Mary. Don't worry about the hay or Jesus' stepfather, Joseph. On Christmas Eve, give Jesus the ultimate upgrade. Claim his deity for your own soul. Realize that God showed up because there was a God-sized job to do: the purification for all sin."
See? Now we're talkin'. If you catch my drift, it's not so much what you do at Christmas time. It's what's in your soul when you do it. Eat those cookies. Enjoy your families. Open your presents. Do everything that is Christmas at Christmas time. And through all the warm and grand trappings of Christmas, let your soul stop and peer into the manger and just marvel that all the fullness of the deity is lying there. That the owner, the maker, the receiver, and the upholder of all that exists - was squeezed out of a birth canal. That he met his mother and began to experience the world as one of us and for all of us. And he did it all because there was a God-sized job to do. He arrived to provide THE SACRIFICE for purification. You know what that means, don't you? It means that it's not just happy talk to say that you're a purified, holy person. It means you actually are. Merry Christmas, Peace family. Amen.


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My mother is obsessed with trying to make a gardener out of me. Ignoring my frequent protests - along the lines of 'BUT I KILL EVERYTHING I TOUCH' - she is adopting sneakier and sneakier strategies to turn me into some kind of green-fingered guru. These include: randomly depositing packets of seeds on my desk when she comes to visit; turning up with unrequested surprise armfuls of courgette and tomato plants; constantly steering any conversation round to the potential of my 'lovely little garden'; asking me just to 'come outside and have a look at these plants', a request that then somehow ends with me and my soil-stained fingernails helping to establish said plants in my greenhouse.
Now I have to admit that I do fancy the idea of myself as some kind of Nigel Slater type - a keen cook with a fabulously fertile garden brimming with the raw materials for my culinary exploits. His Tender cookbooks are some of the best in my collection, and I like to live vicariously as I leaf through them, imagining that I too have the wherewithal to train a gooseberry bush up the fence and have oodles of my favourite fruit in the back garden, ripe for the picking come July, or I too am pretending to moan about a gigantic glut of courgettes but am secretly thrilled at my own gardening prowess, or I too can just casually wander through my herb garden, brushing the leaves of chervil, marjoram and lemon verbena with my fingertips and inhaling their fragrant aromas as I pass.
Much as I do love the idea of myself as a gardener, I will always be a cook first and foremost. Nothing illustrates this fact better than this recipe.
You see, there are quite a few weeds in my garden. The poor thing has been pretty unloved for a couple of years and left to run a little bit wild. In particular, there are bright green clusters of leafy weeds sprouting from a small gap between the paving and the garage walls.
A gardener would remove them. Weedkiller, brute force, elbow grease with a blunt knife, whatever - they'd have those unsightly weeds gone in no time.
So what do I do? Obviously, I use them to make ice cream.
Because this is not just any weed. No, it's deliciously scented lemon balm, a herb that looks a bit like mint but with slightly fuzzy leaves and an incredible sharp citrus aroma with a hint of minty freshness about it. It has the same citrus astringency as lemon thyme but is sharper somehow, almost limey. I discovered it when I noticed this aroma floating in the air as I brushed past the plant walking through the garden. I'd never heard of lemon balm before, but its smell was too intoxicating not to think about bringing it into the kitchen.
So this is about as close to the Nigel Slater fantasy as I get. I took some scissors outside, chopped some weeds and made them into dessert. You couldn't make this up. I think I now get why my new friends in York think I'm a bit weird.
Still, it made logical sense to me. Take a thick, rich mixture of milk and double cream, and infuse it with those sharp lemony leaves. Beat egg yolks and sugar until pale, thick and frothy, then transform the lemony dairy into a luscious scented custard, before churning it in the ice cream machine. I've made lemon thyme ice cream before, and it was amazing, so this wasn't too far a step from that. Except for the fact it was made with weeds growing in the garden, of course.
The flavour of the resulting ice cream didn't quite pack the heady citrus punch I'd expected. I think lemon balm has a stronger smell than it does flavour, or maybe it doesn't take well to heat. However, the ice cream is nonetheless delicious - it has a very subtle, herbal tang to it and a moreish flavour you can't quite place. It is sweet and creamy but with a refreshing hint of minty lemon. I think it would be very good served alongside some fresh strawberries, raspberries or cherries, or - as I plan to do later in the week - in scoops to adorn a strawberry and rhubarb crumble pie.
Maybe one day soon my gardening skills will have advanced to the point where I can intentionally grow herbs to make my own ice cream. In the meantime, I'll stick to making dessert out of weeds. Sorry, mum.
Lemon balm ice cream (makes approx 500ml):
- 250ml whole milk
- 250ml double cream
- A pinch of salt
- 40g lemon balm leaves, rinsed and dried
- 4 egg yolks
- 110g caster sugar
Put the milk, cream and salt in a saucepan. Roughly tear the lemon balm leaves and add to the pan. Bring to just below the boil, then turn off the heat and let the mixture infuse for an hour or two.
Using an electric whisk, beat the egg yolks with the sugar in a bowl until thick, pale and creamy. Strain the milk/cream mixture to remove the lemon balm leaves, and add to the eggs and sugar. Whisk well, then return it all to the pan. Place over a low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (this could take up to half an hour). When it has thickened, chill in the fridge overnight.
The next day, churn the mixture in an ice cream machine until set, then transfer to the freezer.


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Tracy Morford was born and raised in upstate New York, relocated to NYC to attend Pratt Institute, and later the School of Visual Arts with a concentration in photography. After working under and being mentored by some of the world's biggest fashion photographers, she created her own portfolio of diverse imagery which has reached book /magazine covers worldwide, and the attention of a number of celebrity clients.
The large majority of Tracy's shoots are produced, art directed, photographed, and retouched by her, allowing for a consistent visual theme regardless if the job is aimed at commercial rebranding, or an artistic portrait session.
Being an avid world traveller provides Tracy with a uniquely inspired creative eye, and an array of eclectic inspirations. She now lives in Austin, TX, and is always looking to take on new clients and creative projects both locally and across the globe.


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Our mission is to create life transforming medical products
Prime Group Solutions ("PGS") is a medical research company focused on the development of life transforming medical products. PGS' multi-disciplinary team of world-class researchers and developers is working to translate innovative concepts into breakthrough human diagnostics and therapeutics in a number of diseases. Our pharmacology program has advanced into the unique technologies that improve bioavailability of chemical compounds used in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals & cosmeceuticals. Our biomedical division is currently researching conceptual solutions of selected oral parafunctional activities. PGS' headquarters and R&D operations are in Boston, Massachusetts.


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Contact Info
E-mail: email@example.com
Phone: 585-520-8271
Portfolio Website: www.tejalsampat.com
M.F.A Visual Communication Design, Rochester Institute of Technology
Major: Human Computer Interaction and UX, UI design (GPA: 4.0)
Bachelor's in Applied Art, Sophia Polytechnic
Work Experience
User Experience Architect - BitGo. Inc, CA (Nov'2015 - Present)
Lead the ideation and vision in a fast-paced environment to bring forth the unique products for digital assets and distributed ledgers. Create information architecture diagrams, user experience workflow diagrams, wireframes, proof-of-concepts, and interactive prototypes. Create holistic design solutions that address business, brand, and user requirements. Design, implement, and test the applications and dialogs required for our users to specify what they want to accomplish and present the results of their analysis in a clear, intuitive way.
User Experience Architect | User Experience & Interface Design Intern - Esri, CA (July'2015 - Oct'2015, May'2014 - Aug'2014)
Responsible for creating information architecture diagrams, user experience workflow diagrams, wireframes, proof-of-concepts, and interactive prototypes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to present cohesive interaction, design, and user experience approaches to a non-design audience.
Graduate Assistant – College of Imaging Arts and Sciences - Rochester Institute Of Technology (Aug'2013 - July'2015)
Responsible for designing and conceptualizing the identity (logo), display panels and website for the Visual Communication Design Program at College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.
Jr. Visualizer - Ogilvy and Mather, Mumbai (May'2011 - May'2012)
Successfully managed and coordinated graphic design projects from concept through completion. Worked closely with clients to create vision, conceive designs, and consistently meet deadlines and requirements.
Skills & Expertise
Responsive Design, Web design and development, Mobile App design and development(iOS and Android), Wireframing, Hi-fidelity prototyping, Workflow diagrams, User testing, User research, Information design, Personas, Moodboards, Journey maps, Conceptual models, Animation, Brand Identity, Product management and Development.
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe After Effects, Adobe Muse, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Animate, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Axure (wireframing), Balsamiq, Framer and InVision.
- Adobe Design Achievement Awards 2015 Semifinalist for InteractiveInfographic Design
- RIT: Maintained 4.0 GPA while attending graduate school.
- Experiential design: Designed visual identity and User Interface concepts for "E-Nabling the future", organization working on 3D printed prosthetics. Design selected for the November cover of American Orthotics and Prosthetics magazine
- Awarded the Commercial Artists Guild Bronze Cub Illustrator Award for Sole Bread Winners (2011)
- Won Access Awards 2011, An opportunity to meet and showcase my work to CEO of Scarecrow Advertising and NCD of Ogilvy and Mather
- Won the Leo Burnett Most Promising Work, and Best Exhibit for an Annual Group Project


text:
2015 TOC Student Survey
Although this season has seen a lively debate on the direction of high school parliamentary debate, there has been very little hard data about student opinion. To fill this gap, POI has surveyed parli debaters during our annual General Assembly. Of the 60 debaters who qualified to the TOC, 46 attended the General Assembly and filled out the survey.
The survey does not claim to be scientific, since the sample was neither large nor random, and since the regional composition of the General Assembly differed substantially from the regional composition of most tournaments. Nonetheless, several results do stand out, in particular, the strong support for the introduction of topic areas into some (but not all) prelim rounds - a practice not widespread outside of POI-run tournaments.
Full results follow.
The following should be allowed during prep time:
Team prep: 38%
Coach prep: 20%
Internet: 85%
Computers: 96%
Debaters' own paper: 82%
Resolutions at the following tournaments were "mostly good"
Logan: 19%
Stanford: 27%
TOC resolutions:
Rd 1: 83%
(The United States federal government should immediately establish a program to create a permanent human colony on Mars by 2040.)
Rd 2: 63%
(South Africa should prohibit any non-governmental legal person from owning more than 12,000 domestic hectares of agricultural land and should purchase and redistribute the excess land.)
Rd 3: 53%
(The Bank of Japan should end its quantitative easing program.)
Rd 4: 68%
(Ukraine should end all offensive military operations against the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic and Donetsk People's Republic.)
Rd 5a: 90%
(The United States federal government should ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants and should phase out all existing coal-fired power plants by 2025.)
Rd 5b: 57%
(The European Union should mandate women comprise at least 40 percent of each corporate supervisory board.)
Rd 5c: 58%
(High school tournaments that offer parliamentary debate should generally allow parliamentary debaters to consult in preparation time with anyone except their judges and the resolution writers.)
Ideal number of prelims with topic areas at a tournament with 5 prelims:
0: 16%
1: 2%
2: 40%
3: 19%
4: 0%
5: 21%
Parli debaters should disclose strategies prepared before the tournament: 30%
Tournaments should encourage debaters to dress formally: 47%
The following percentage of topics should be phrased as:
Policy: 72% (mean), 80% (median)
Fact: 10% (mean), 10% (median)
Value: 13% (mean), 9% (median)
Metaphor: 5% (mean), 0% (median)


text:
Morgan Stanley bank analyst Huw Van Steenis attended the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, and there was one concern he said kept coming up over and over in meetings with investors.
The dreaded "1994 scenario."
In 1994, against the backdrop of a strengthening U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve surprised investors by hiking interest rates, causing a bloodbath in the bond market. The Fed was trying to ward off inflation - even though no real sign of rising prices had yet emerged.
Van Steenis says this concern was voiced by "every single long-term asset owner" that he met.
In a note to clients today titled "What I Learned at Davos," Van Steenis writes:
The consensus of much of the official sector and investors at Davos was that central banks have maxed out and should be soon start focusing on exit, given the unprecedented size of this experiment and its impact on asset prices.
Every single long-term asset owner I met, and numerous longer-term investors, voiced concern about asset prices and the risks from a huge knock from rates backing up (a super-sized version of 1994). While so far one can argue that the monetary injection was vital to offset massive deleveraging, it is clear that the risks for debasement of currencies remain high.
However, the vibes Van Steenis picked up from policymakers painted a decidedly different picture.
Van Steenis continues (emphasis added):
One of the most debated topics in the corridors of Davos was the dramatic changes in Japan, with the new government keen to jumpstart the economy with a new 2% inflation target which has led to a material depreciation in the Yen.
And yet several central bankers argued there is more they can do. In one public debate, Angel Gurria of the OECD argued that the world had probably reached the limits of monetary policy. But Mark Carney contradicted Mr. Gurria saying "There continues to be monetary policy options in all major economies and they have to be framed in the context of the [monetary policy] mandate." This flexibility should be used until their economies reach "escape velocity".
While Mr. Carney was speaking at a generic level for all central banks, I came away from this debate and other meetings with central bankers that that this quantitative experiment is far from over. Not only in Japan are we seeing a bold new experiment but that the new Bank of England governor is likely to give it an extra nudge with a de facto or de jure change in mandate. My colleague Charles Goodhart wrote about options on this early in January. What does it mean for UK banks - in the longer term a stronger economic recovery is a clear positive; however, the market may underestimate that the normalisation in rates and margins may take longer to come through.
In other words, though it's the biggest fear on everyone's mind right now, a "1994 moment" may be kept at bay longer than most expect as central bankers continue to experiment with monetary policy in a bid to spur growth.
Of course, that doesn't mean that those experiments can't backfire - but so far, at least with regard to interest rates, they haven't.
READ MORE: The '1994 Moment' Is Keeping More And More Bond Traders Awake At Night >


text:
Marni Sumbal
Here are some great memories....
My dog Misty. She battled bladder cancer for over a year and she lived longer than expected with the help of my mom's holistic diet for her. She was the best thing that ever happened to me. I think about her every day and I miss her so much but she allowed me to truely enjoy life for what it is and to never take anything for granted. This pic was at Karel's cycling race. Misty was in her last few months of life and this was one of her best days.
I miss my 21 years in Lexington Kentucky but I don't miss this. Life in Lexington Kentucky= ICE! I miss my old house but I don't miss the ice tearing down all our trees!
But misty LOVED the snow!
My very first triathlon in 2004. I was the only one in my age group and I just got a bike 5 days before the race. To no surprise, I won my age group and I was sore for at least a week. The race was so hilly and I had no idea what I was doing...but I had fun!
My brother, being the stud that he is. 4 years on the NCAA gymnastics team at the University of Michigan and 1 Big Ten, High bar champion title. He is now a business man at PPG in Pitt, PA but he will always have a love for gymnastics.
Swimming! Where would I be without 10 years of competitive swimming. This was my life and although I was into the arts (I played piano at an arts school for 5 year before HS) I always felt comfortable in the pool. I remember getting so upset at my parents if I would have to miss practice for whatever reason. Swimming kept me grounded during HS and because of it, I didn't get involved with any bad crowds or bad habits in HS or college. Without swimming I wouldn't have triathlons and I know I wouldn't have the discipline, motivation and determination to reach my goals.


text:
- Purchase Equipment
Used Packaging, Processing and Supporting Equipment for SaleTop Packaging EquipmentTop Processing EquipmentTop Supporting EquipmentRelated ServicesRelated Links
- Sell Your Equipment
Sell your Used Packaging, Processing and Supporting Equipment
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Used Packaging, Processing and Supporting Equipment for RentFlexible Rental Program >Related ServicesRelated Links
- About SIGMA
Learn About SIGMA Equipment
Used Mettler-Toledo Equipment
83 Used Items
Page 1 of 6
Mettler-Toledo, LLC Our industrial solutions cover the diverse steps in a host of manufacturing processes at many of the same customers as served for the laboratory. Solutions range from receiving raw materials, in-line process control and end-of-line packaging control, to logistics and shipping. Increasingly, these solutions are fully integrated into the customer's IT environment, helping automate their workflows.
- Mettler-Toledo


text:
Tips for Linux in HVM domain
How to fix bootup kernel error
The HVM may pause on boot, showing a fixed cursor. After a while a series of warnings may be shown similar to this:
BUG: soft lockup - CPU#0 stuck for 23s! [systemd-udevd:244]
To fix this:
- Kill the HVM.
- Start the HVM
- Press "e" at the grub screen to edit the boot parameters
- Find the /vmlinuz line, and edit it to replace "rhgb" with "modprobe.blacklist=bochs_drm"
- Press "Ctrl-x" to start the HVM
If this solves the problem then you will want to make the change permanent:
- Edit the file
- Find the line which starts:
- Remove this text from that line:
- Add this text to that line:
- Run this command:
grub2-mkconfig --output=/boot/grub2/grub.cfg
The HVM should now start normally.
Screen resolution
Some kernel/Xorg combinations use only 640x480 in HVM, which is quite small. To enable maximum resolution, some changes in the Xorg configuration are needed:
- Force "vesa" video driver
- Provide wide horizontal synchronization range
To achieve it (all commands to be run as root):
- Generate XOrg configuration (if you don't have it):
X -configure :1 && mv ~/xorg.conf.new /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- Add HorizSync line to Monitor section, it should look something like:
Section "Monitor" Identifier "Monitor0" VendorName "Monitor Vendor" ModelName "Monitor Model" HorizSync 30.0 - 60.0 EndSection
- Change driver to "vesa" in Device section:
Section "Device" # (...) Identifier "Card0" Driver "vesa" VendorName "Technical Corp." BoardName "Unknown Board" BusID "PCI:0:2:0" EndSection
Now you should get resolution of at least 1280x1024 and should be able to choose other modes.
Qubes agents
Linux Qubes agents are written primarily for PV qubes, but it is possible to run them also in a HVM qube. However some work may be required to achieve this. Check this thread.


text:
Arun Gandhi's visit to Union College
On Tuesday, Oct. 11, Union students and staff had the opportunity to hear Arun Gandhi, speak during chapel as part of the annual Leadership Symposium. Arun is the fifth grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi, better known as Mahatma Gandhi, and he continues to follow in his grandfather's footsteps as an activist.
Oct. 11 resulted in one of fullest chapels of the semester. The pews of College View Church were filled with students and staff both eager to listen to Ghandi.
Arun began by briefly describing the time he spent living with his grandfather in India and how he observed his nonviolent approach to achieving change. Early in his talk he stated, "What I want to do this morning is to show you that grandfather [Mohandas Gandhi] was not born great." He stressed that we aren't perfect, but we must try to change our weakness into strength. We can't go through our lives ignoring our weaknesses and focusing only on our strengths.
"We need to be humble, we need to have the humility in us to have that ability to achieve great things to help people," Arun said.
Arun shared the advice that his grandfather gave, "Every morning when you get up, you tell yourself you're going to be a better person today than you were yesterday." He advised we make a list of what we believe to be our weaknesses and think about how we can turn them into strengths.
Arun concluded his talk with a warning about our lifestyle that has become dependent on "the culture of violence." "It's passive violence that fuels the fire of physical violence," he shared. He emphasized that it's by becoming aware and putting a stop to the passive violence that we can achieve a peace where we can all live together in harmony.
The week before Arun's visit, Professor Chris Blake organized an evening event to view clips of the award-winning film, "Gandhi," and have a discussion following the movie. The evening began with a brief rundown of who Gandhi was and the significance of what he has done for India. Gandhi's activist beginning, death and views on religion and equality were observed during the movie and discussed between scenes.
The evening was concluded with a discussion of how Gandhi's actions and teachings apply to us today. "Love transcends differences and actually appreciates them," said Blake. Gandhi's actions go against what we usually think we should do and this allowed him to effectively promote equality peacefully.
In sum, Arun's presence on campus sought to remind the campus how we can't change who we are overnight or even in a year, but that by working on one or two of our weaknesses each day, we can become better people. Some of these weaknesses of ours can take our entire lifetime to change into strengths, but it is these changes we make in ourselves that can help to create change for others.
If you missed Arun's talk, you can watch it archived on UCLive at: livestream.com/uclive/arungandhi
Amanda McCarter is a sophomore studying biomedical science


text:
I don't know about you, but I have been getting a bit bored with my typical winter look–A cute, comfy sweater over jeans or miniskirt with a coat, or a sweater dress with over-the-knee boots with coat. Those were my typical winter looks and I was dying for a change.
In preparation for meeting a friend downtown at Kimpton Vintage Hotel, I spotted this silk maxi dress. Some may recall from my 10-year anniversary celebration party (as seen in the below picture). With spring is approaching, adding a bit of "flowy-ness" to welcome spring seemed appropriate to get out of the winter funk! Thus, an experiment with silk maxi dress over a black sweater with grey wool capri pant.
My followers might recall that using the same piece of clothing to create multiple looks is one of my key styling principles — "rearrange" in the header of my website.
This maxi dress is very long. To prevent stepping on my dress, I paired it with black over-the-knee high heel boots . The black color also helps to keep focus on the dress rather than the shoes. This dress works well for apple-shaped body type, as well, since it is very forgiving from the torso down. However, if you are a super-big cup size lady, it may make your breasts look even bigger. I stay warm inside by layering and and cover with a long coat outside. The bottom of the dress shows a bit with the long coat, which is another reason I love this combination!!
For my purse, I paired the outfit with this Petrazia Pepe handbag. The color of the purse matches with the print of the dress. The metal chain contrasts with the softness of the silk. Match and contrast in one look, the recipe to a wonderful look. There is the No.5 styling tip I like to share!
Shop the Look
Italian Brand TTT silk maxi dress {Similar here & here}, Black turtle neck cashmere sweater {Similar here}, Australia Brand SOL SANA suede over-the-knee boots, Patrazia Pepe purse (Purchased 10 years ago, also like this), Adornmonde earrings {Similar here }
5 comments on "SILK DRESS LAYERING"
Very creative and pretty look, i love it! From the jewelry, nails to the purse, all the details reflect your wonderful taste and inspire me. Thank you for sharing.
You made my day!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!!
what a creative idea!!! I am going to try this idea myself!! Thank for continuously being a wonderful inspiration of women styling!!
Thank you for your compliment! I shall sure work harder to be better everyday!
Pingback: A LITTLE FRENCH FLAIR |


text: Today's business world has us working in groups and teams more often every day. Some of you love this collaboration and get excited to learn from others, brainstorm and find creative solutions. Others dread going to team socials, team-building and the dreaded team meeting. Jennifer Owen-O'Quill and Jeff Smith will be sharing best practices for leaders of teams and groups to help get the most out of their team. We will share case studies, review several models and offer suggestions on how to handle challenging situations. We will give the listeners ways to help with decision making, roles and responsibilities and conflicts on teams. Please join us at 1:00pm EST on Tuesday, January 24th for Voltcast: Illuminating Leadership.


text: Dr. Ji Chul Yang is Research Fellow at SKhynix Semiconductor in South Korea. Since he joined SKhynix in 2017, he is now responsible for Cleaning&CMP innovation team in Manufacturing Division. Prior to SKhynix, he was CMP team leader and CMP Representative of Future Technology Roadmap Team at GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. He was also engaged in developing 14nm & 7 nm logic CMP process as technical leader. Prior to his time with Globalfoundries, Dr. Yang was CMP Project Leader in Line 16, SAMSUNG Memory Division in South Korea. He has experiences throughout Memory (NAND and DRAM) and Logic Foundries Device over 20 years in semiconductor CMP field. He was invited talker for ICPT2018, ICPT2014, ICPT2010, 60th KCMPUGM, ECS2016, SEMICONWEST-CMP2016 and STS2017. Dr. Yang has a Ph.D degree in Electronics Engineering from SUNGKYUNKWAN University, South Korea, Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from YONSEI University. He has authored more than 40 technical publications and conference presentations with semiconductor items. He may be reached at 82-10-8643-5546 or by email firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?
Will.i.am. I find him a fascinating character.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell – Top Gun
What two living people would you take to a desert island?
A boat builder and a sailing teacher
When were you happiest?
I'm not really one for looking back and making comparisons with the present day, but I have to say I was particularly happy in 2014 while away on a very special Tanzanian safari holiday with my wife and children. I love the outdoors, animals, warm weather and most of all my family.
Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought?
I once had to charter a ship for a job at work and with it came a bill for $600,000 for half a tank of fuel!
What is your favourite word?
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
A motor mechanic
What was your most embarrassing moment?
The first time my children showed me a video of me dancing – I immediately retired, but not for long!
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
Ice cold Guinness
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My long suffering wife, Clare
Which words do you most overuse?
Sorry. I make too many mistakes!
What is the trait you most dislike in others?
Ostentatiousness – this really irritates me.
What is the worst job you've done?
One of my first! I worked in a drawing office when I was an apprentice and I hated it. It was a place where one of the first things that too many colleagues did was to put on their cardigan and slippers, make a cup of tea and light a pipe. You will be able to guess that not much work was done in there!
What has been your biggest achievement?
This is not an easy one to answer as I have had many opportunities in my life and I have achieved an awful lot, but I think winning two different motor racing championships in two years was quite special.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I stopped playing the piano at about age14 – I wish I had carried on, it would be so much fun to be able to do it now.
What is your earliest memory?
I don't have the greatest memory but I do vividly remember sitting in my highchair in my grandmother's kitchen
How do you relax?
I go motor racing
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
An eight day week – it might give me time to clear my back log.
What is top of your bucket list?
Climb Mt Kilimanjaro
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
The harder I work, the luckier I seem to be!
Tell us a secret
No way – secrets are always safe with me!


text:
WidSets Developer Competition/
dev.widsets.com is announcing a developer competition!
According to them, Widsets developer team is looking for game developers to try out their platform. There seems to be plenty of room to show your skills so why not! Anybody from indie to corporate are welcome! Apparently there is only roughly two weeks time left so hurry up!
More details from competition HERE and the developer kit from dev.widsets.com
What is Widsets?
With WidSets you can get your favorite web content straight to your mobile phone. Find news and information, stay in touch with email and blogs, play games, share pictures and more. WidSets uses mini-applications called widgets to push updates from your favorite sites directly to your phone. Why waste time surfing for information when WidSets can do it for you?


text:
Ceredigion County Council's Public Rights of Way team couldn't do their job of maintaining and improving footpaths and bridleways without the help and support of their dedicated, skilled and enthusiastic volunteers.
Reflecting on this work, Jill Lowry, Community Access Officer, gives an account of a challenging but rewarding project that she helped out with.
"I'm not a clever woman. I can't offer wise words or sage advice. I frequently make mistakes. One thing that I have learned however is if a Rights of Way Ranger asks you if you're feeling strong, think very carefully before you answer. Unfortunately this is a lesson I've learnt the hard way, and too late to turn down the invitation to help build a new footbridge on a footpath running alongside the River Teifi at Henllan.
Given the short hours of winter daylight, Ranger Osian Jones arranged an early start to the day with the timber being delivered to site soon after 8:30am. The delivery driver asking "what time is your machine coming to unload the beams?" was the first indication of the sort of day ahead for Osian, four of his committed volunteers, myself and my sister who had foolishly admitted to having a day off work and had offered to deliver sustaining biscuits.
I thought the 5 meter long, and rather substantial, crossing timbers looked intimidating strapped along the frame on the delivery lorry and I'm sure the driver thought we were crazy to even think about moving the timbers without mechanical assistance. The volunteers obviously didn't, with two of them and Osian jumping up and beginning to slide the timbers down to us others at ground level. Once off loaded, on a level surface, stable and lined up, the technical stuff could begin with Osian measuring up and a volunteer beginning the drilling.
The next task, and the reason I'd been invited I realised, was to carry each beam the 300m along the path to where we needed to install the bridge. The carry was made easier by the use of timber tongs, working in pairs and the presence of extra pairs of hands to swap in and out, allowing tiring arms and legs to rest without slowing progress. As ever our motivated, skilful and resourceful volunteers made short work of actually constructing and installing the bridge onsite.
The job was completed as daylight began to fade under the beechwood canopy. The journey back to the truck being considerably easier without the bulk of timber we'd had to take with us at the start of the day. As ever, even after a task as tough as this, the buzz of a job well done meant the team finished the day with smiles on faces and a sense of enormous achievement.
Users of this very popular route in Henllan can now cross the stream which cuts across the path without getting wet feet or walking the plank."
Visit the 'Walks and Rides' page on the Council's website to view the network of public paths offering an excellent way to explore Ceredigion. The diverse countryside offers a range of opportunities for the walker, horse rider and cyclist from gentle coastal walks to rugged mountain hikes www.ceredigion.gov.uk.
For more information about Public Rights of Way, see: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/coast-countryside/public-rights-of-way/
If you would like to help the Rights of Way Team why not join our Adopt a Path scheme? For more details contact Jill Lowry on 01545 574140 or see: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/coast-countryside/public-rights-of-way/adopt-a-path-scheme/


text:
We are excited to announce that we are getting ready to launch our new website!
Thank you for visiting us here at The Sugarplum Cake Shoppe – we appreciate you considering us for your cake and sweet treat needs.
We are pleased to offer you a great variety of cakes, sweet treats and luscious desserts – available in the
bakery or by special order. And, we deliver!
We offer wedding cakes, special occasion cakes, cheesecake, cupcakes, muffins, sticky buns, linzer tarts, pies of all flavors, gluten-free dessert options, and our bakery case constantly has exciting new treats for everyone.
Please come by for a cup of coffee (just $.25) and a treat – we would love to meet you! We are located at 412 S. 8th street, Colorado Spring, CO – across the street from Hobby Lobby and directly past Radio Shack.


text:
Platform: Web Browser With Flash or HTML5 Support
Company Line:
Saboom is the first ever truly interactive porn website where you decide about what do you want to see and how should the action proceed. Enjoy a totally new dimension of Porn 2.0.
Pick the girl that you like the most and what would you like to do with her, try out anything you ever wanted to try.
Saboom is an Interactive Porn Site or Live Action Sex Game depending upon which camp you belong to. Either way, Saboom offers a fresh adult video experience that's much more than simple POV action.
Saboom has been around for over a year now but is just in the process of launching their world wide premier. We had a sneak peek at the Internext show in Las Vegas and have since had time to check out the full offering.
If you're familiar with interactive adult DVDs such as the "My Plaything" or "Virtual Sex with" series' then you have a pretty good idea what Saboom offers, only way better.
Saboom serves up the the video in flash right in your browser so there's nothing to download, just log in and you're ready to go. Video's are categorized by interest and by star, plus you can mark your favorite videos and share with the community of users. Currently Saboom has over 250 hours of video comprised of more than 6,000 scenes.
The video streaming reliability is excellent and the can be adjusted to three different sizes to suit your available bandwidth; we had no problem running in the largest (XL) mode with HD 1200 x 700 picture quality. Having said that there is no full-screen mode which is a bit disappointing. Like traditional streaming sites Saboom has regular controls for pausing, fast forward, and reverse. Unlike those sites with Saboom you will receive prompts at the end of each scene wherein you can choose what you want to do next. For example, after watching a nice strip tease you can have the girl rub oil on her ass, lick her tits, or give you a blowjob.
While not seamless, transition times are reasonably quick between scenes. Also, Saboom will prompt you for the next scene well before the current scene ends to avoid unwanted delays. Currently there are over 26,000 decision points encoded within Saboom's video collection, or in plain English an awful lot! If you wish to jump to any scene within a movie you need only click on the big orange button to see a quick pick list all all available scenes by interest. Besides this interactivity, you may view most scenes from multiple angles. Saboom calls the different angles Producer (traditional), Actor (POV), and Paparazzi (Voyeur).
As if that's not enough you can splice together whatever ever scenes you want using a drag and drop interface... just click on drop down menu to create and then save your playlist. When done you may just sit back and watch undisturbed and even share your production with other users.
Saboom has a selection of almost 50 actresses and 20 actors. Many of the women are extremely hot, although we didn't recognize anybody other than Carla Cox and Tarra White. In fairness Saboom is based in Austria and likely using mostly local talent so we shouldn't expect to see familiar north American porn stars. Having said that Saboom may be offering a line-up of American starletts in the near future.
Most of the content is shot as a full length movie and therefore contains most of the typical areas of interest (anal, blowjob, and so on). Saboom does also cover some more niche content, however, such as MILF, latex, and squirting. In a nutshell there is something for everyone.
Saboom is also a site that recognizes there are women that enjoy porn. They offer a softcore long story series of videos for those more into foreplay than the main event.
Saboom has an established social community where other users share their home videos and photos. There is even a chance to meet other like minded people for real; similar to what Red Light Center has done though on a more modest scale.
Saboom offers a free limited trial and a monthly subscription fee structure which may be discounted through their loyalty program.
- True Interactive Porn experience
- Clean easy to use interface
- Large content library for various interests
- Excellent production values
- No true full screen mode
- Lacking big name models
The Skinny:
Saboom offers a truly Interactive Porn or Live Action Sex Game (if you prefer) experience. The video and sound quality is outstanding and the library of content is huge with coverage for most areas of interest. While there are no big name stars the models are hot and very good at what they do! We would like to see an upgrade to support true full screen display, but other than that we have no complaints. If you like Interactive Adult DVD's you're absolutely going to love this. Saboom is a must see experience not to be missed.
Demo: No Nudity
Cost: US$29.90/1-month, $49.80/2-months, $59.70/3-months
Maker: Joyfactor Company
Link: Saboom


text:
Optometrist - Boutique Independent - £57k
- Recruiter
- Vivid Optical
- Location
- Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent
- Salary
- around £57,000
- Posted
- 20 Dec 2018
- Closes
- 20 Jan 2019
- Ref
- Jorge Sobral
- Job Role
- Optometrist, Pre-Reg Optometrist
- Sector
- Independent Practice
- Contract Type
- Permanent
Seeking a confident and friendly Optometrist near Congleton
If you're someone who loves to deliver great patient care and excels at engages with patients, then I am keen to speak with you!
The opportunity available is with one of the leading independent groups in the UK.
They're a group that pride themselves on building, and maintaining, trustful relationships with their patients, and are very keen on bringing someone in that shares the same values. They are confident that you will give the best care possible so allow you to have freedom within the testing room – they give you a chance to flex your "clinical muscle".
The practice has recently been refurbished and looks amazing – it has a family feel to it. This is something that patients love, as they enjoy having time spent with them to ensure all their needs are met.
The position within this store is fantastic, but what's on offer for you?
- Salary to match the candidate's expertise - around £57k
- Experienced support staff
- Instore perks
- Insurance and Professional Fees paid
- Relaxed testing times (30-35 minutes)
- Top of the range equipment
If you are interested the position, then please contact Jorge on firstname.lastname@example.com or on 0207 199 8641 to arrange a free career consultation.
- GOC registered or the ability to be
- Clean and faultless GOC record
- Part time commitment
- Team and self-motivated
- Ambitious
- People person
*if you cannot provide the above requirements then please do not apply for this position!


text:
Gail Collins: Counting Benghazi blessings
This year, in a break from tradition, I am giving thanks for the House Intelligence Committee's final report on Benghazi.
Also family and friends. But I give thanks for them every year. This is our first opportunity to be grateful for the House Intelligence Committee's Benghazi report. So let's jump at it.
Really, you don't get good news like this all the time. The committee spent two years conducting a bipartisan investigation into the terrible night in 2012 when four Americans, including the Libyan ambassador, were killed in a violent attack on a U.S. compound. It found that while mistakes were made, the Americans on the ground in Libya made reasonable decisions, as did the people trying to support them. The CIA was brave and effective. Nobody in the White House thwarted a possible rescue or deliberately tried to mislead the public about what happened.
Whew. You can imagine the excitement when this report was unveiled. Or, actually, quietly posted on the committee's website. On Friday evening. On the eve of a holiday week.
The Intelligence Committee is, of course, led by members of the Republican majority. The only time Republicans don't talk about Benghazi, it turns out, is when they report about their findings.
The silence was pretty deafening. Except for Sen. Lindsey Graham, who helpfully told CNN: "I think the report's full of crap." And Newt Gingrich, who theorized that the Intelligence Committee had been "co-opted by the CIA."
Newt knows. ("I've talked to four different people who have a real interest in this topic at a professional level. They are appalled by this report.")
There have always been two ways of looking at Benghazi. One is as a terrible loss that might have been mitigated if the diplomatic compounds had been better protected, and that the State Department needs to rethink its traditional bureaucratic approach to overseeing security. The other, far more exciting, possibility is that this is all about Obama-Clinton perfidy. Was there a team of potential rescuers who were kept away from the fray because the administration didn't want to admit it had underestimated the terror threat in Libya? Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, confided at a Republican fundraising dinner that he had "suspicions" that Hillary Clinton told then-Defense Secretary Leon Panetta "to stand down." The Intelligence Committee didn't find any evidence whatsoever that that had occurred. But they were, you know, co-opted.
The committee and its staff spent what one Democratic member said was "thousands of hours" reading intelligence reports, cables and emails about the incident. It was a heck of a commitment. Although, to be fair, surely no more than the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which have been looking into exactly the same events and coming up with pretty much the same conclusions.
Still to come: A special $3.3 million House Committee that Speaker John Boehner has created to pursue what Chairman Trey Gowdy of South Carolina says will be the "final, definitive accounting of the attack." The effort is needed, Boehner said, because the "American people still have far too many questions" to let the inquiries drop now after nobody has had a chance to look into the matter except a special independent review board, the House Intelligence Committee, the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
And then, of course, there's the House Oversight Committee, under the irrepressible Issa, which shows no sign of wrapping up its Benghazi investigations. Issa has already sent Gowdy a 37-page letter listing what he said were State Department efforts to obstruct his probes. But he's required to step down as chairman at the end of the year, and his replacement, Jason Chaffetz of Utah, seems to be planning a less lively approach. The top Democrat on the committee, Elijah Cummings, said Chaffetz had shown "a sincere interest in working together," as opposed to Issa's sincere interest, at one point, in cutting off Cummings' microphone at a public hearing.
We give thanks for all the congressional investigations into Benghazi. Who says Congress can't reduce unemployment? In March, the Defense Department said that it had devoted "thousands of man-hours to responding to numerous and often repetitive congressional requests regarding Benghazi, which includes time devoted to approximately 50 congressional hearings, briefings and interviews" at a cost of "millions of dollars."
Meanwhile, there are rumblings from some Senate Republicans that what the next Congress needs is a good joint House-Senate Benghazi investigation. On the other hand, the House Agricultural Committee seems to have no interest whatsoever in initiating a probe. For this, we are truly thankful.


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Xlibris author Shalisa Anthony will be having a book signing at the Redbridge Central Library (formerly Ilford Central Library), Ilford, Essex, on Saturday, 27 October 2012, from 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Ms. Anthony wrote and self-published She Who Walks Alone… With One, an inspirational novel that invites readers to take a journey on the path to healing and enlightenment. The book signing activity will include excerpt and poetry readings, a meet-and-greet with Ms. Anthony, and a Q&A opportunity to learn more about her book, about her as an author, and as a person.
Running a school takes a toll on anyone. But for Gregory and to his wife, it's more than that. Gregory is plagued by threats of revenge from his jealous twin brother, leading to the deterioration of his mental health. What will Gregory do then? Such is the desire to find out the answer that Guardian News & Media, Sunday Express, Pulse, and Redwood have sent in their requests to Xlibris author, Gabriel Kealey, for a copy of his book, Stain.
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands native and Xlibris author Lynda C. Wade was given Honorable Mention in the Children's Books Category of the 2012 Hollywood Book Festival. Her book, Candace Says... "You're Not The Boss Of Me" was one of the titles acknowledged as some of the best books of this year. The Hollywood Book Festival is a book awards program that spotlights self-published titles worthy of the attention and consideration from the movers and shakers of the world's largest entertainment industry.
A Lass from Richmond Hill is reviewed by The Northern Echo, a leading daily morning newspaper in the Priestgate, Darlington, north-east of England. The autobiography was written by Xlibris author E. V. Perkins, who now resides in Darlington, but vividly remembers her early life in North Yorkshire and considers herself to be a "Yorkshire lass" at heart. She dedicates her childhood memories and stories to her grandchildren.
College student and Xlibris author Sam Shooter is featured by Worcester News for the release of his debut book, The Goat in the Coat. Worcester News' James Connell writes that Mr. Shooter wrote the book as a present for his ten-year old brother. The AALPS Midlands student has already written several books, this one being his first published title.
Ina Hughs of the Knoxville News Sentinel features a list of local authors in her book roundup feature. Included in the list is first-time Xlibris author Tee J. Mueller's children's book, Bubu Bear's First Day of School. Tee J. shares that writing has always been her first love and that the book was inspired by walks in the woods behind her family home, where she would imagine it to be the home of magical creatures, fairies and elves.
Beauty and brains may score points, but a heart full of generosity wins it all. For Farishta Farhang, being selected as one of the heat finalists for the Miss London 2012 competition is a chance to help people in need. As one-half of the duo behind the young adult drama Stranger's Love: Family's Blood, Farishta plans to continue writing but her goal at the moment is to raise money for charity. She says that after reading Miss World's "Beauty with A Purpose" section, the University of Wolverhampton student was touched by the charities that the pageant supported and was inspired to enter—despite never having competed in a pageant before.
You can help your fellow Xlibris author to the crown by voting for her as well as donating money to the Miss London 2012 Thai Children's Trust or to the
Miss London 2012 Deloitte National Charities or both. Please ensure that you include her name (Farishta Farhang) while donating. You can vote for Farishta by texting MISS LONDON15 to 63333 (include gap after "MISS"), or phoning 09013071037 and enter 15 when prompted. The public voting for the Miss London 2012 beauty pageant commenced last February 10, 2012, and will end on Monday, March 12, 2012, at 5:00 PM.
Dr. Edwin Mapara is an award-winning physician who has been promoting public awareness for HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis through a teaching strategy outlined in his books, AIDUCATION 20-10 Taking Control of AIDS and AIDUCATION 20-10 TAKING CONTROL OF TB & AIDS. Read more about Dr. Mapara's work in a featured article in ukzambians.com
Xlibris-published author Daniel Eisan published his first children's book, The Lonely Peach, when he was nineteen. Eisan wrote the story for a school project, but his passion to be a writer pushed him to take it to a wider readership. The Shields Gazette features the young author and his book.
War changes everything. Especially the innocence of childhood. And in her children's book, The Piano Tuner's Daughter, Ingrid shows both the childhood happiness she shared with Sonia, the eponymous piano tuner's daughter, and the horrible upheaval that World War II visited upon them. The novel's story resonated so much with readers that it won second place in the Children's Literature category of the 2015 Writers-Editors Network International Writing Competition.
Born in Solingen, Germany, in 1930, Ingrid and her mother moved to Cologne when she was four years old, where she grew up before coming to the US in 1953. She writes a monthly column for the Senior Times of Columbus and has made Columbus, Ohio, her home for the last 33 years.
The list of nominees for the 14th National Arts Merit Awards (NAMA) is out, and Xlibris author Enock Chihombori earns the distinction of being one of the three shortlisted in the Literature Category – Children's Book, for his self-published work, Little Hare Stories: Big Trouble at the River. Enock Chihombori is a multi-awarded children's book author, screenwriter, and illustrator. Little Hare Stories is his second book, but the first where he showcases both his writing and drawing talents.
Launched in 2002, the NAMA programme serves as the setting for recognising the efforts and achievements of Zimbabwean artists, writers, performers, and professionals working in theatre, literary arts, film and television, dance, and music, among others. Through NAMA, the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe hopes to encourage and inspire established and emerging artists to showcase their works, as they seek to promote these artists locally, regionally, and around the world.
Xlibris author Eileen Sanchez's book Craving the World was honored with the Christian Alert 2012 Literary Award by ChristianAlert.org. The news and opinion blog discusses books, media shows, radio programs, and events that relate to the Christian faith. Ms. Sanchez wrote Craving the World after being inspired by her experience of reconnecting with old friends. She hopes that readers will enjoy reading about Marisa, the heroine of her story, and learn, laugh, and empathise with what her character undergoes through the novel.
Xlibris congratulates Doctor Edwin Mavunika Mapara, author of the influential AIDucation books, for winning the 2011 Mwape Peers Physician Award. The Physician Award is given to outstanding doctors who consistently achieve high standards in the practice of medicine by finding innovative ways of delivering quality medical care despite budget constraints.
Dr. Mapara received the award for his tireless volunteer work with HIV patients in Zambia. He has written several books on his unique teaching strategies, including AIDUCATION 20-10 Taking Control of AIDS, AIDUCATION 20-10 TAKING CONTROL OF TB & AIDS, and The Health of the Stars (HOTS) Hospital 20-10. All of Dr. Mapara's books are available on the Xlibris UK online bookstore.
"Heart Reflections and Other Love Beads" has been nominated for Dan Poynter's Global e-book Award.
Author Tom Edwards was honored a finalist place in the International Book Awards 2011 under the Fiction: Environmental/Green Fiction for his work on "Lethal Legacy". A fiction book which raises concerns regarding the Earth's deterioration set in the year 2050, the book elicits truth of politics, natural exploitations and environmental mishaps which are influenced from the natural events occurring now and in the previous years.
Richard Hawkey author of "Life Less Lived- A Passage through Burnout and Depression in the Suburbs", was recognized as a finalist in the recent International Book Awards 2011 under the Health: Psychological/Mental Health. This inspirational book is a story of his inner battles against stress and depression.
Ella F. Young was awarded The Beacon Award in the Arts, for her book, "The Realities of Life", last February 12, 2011. This was for her contribution and achievement in poetry. She also received an invitation from the Poet Laureate, Donald Hall, to be a member of their Academy of American Poets. This organization publishes "The American Poet", which is the best of poetry's institutional voices. Each year, it sponsors the National Poetry Month and other programs in over 200 colleges and universities.
L. A. Noble's 'About Time Already' won the Honorable Mention under the Mystery category for the 2010 Los Angeles Book Festival:
Hopfenbeck's first novel, 'The Liquid City' is named one of "Top 10 Must Reads of 2011" and "5 Best Books of 2010" by GQ Magazine. The book is a witty and suspense-filled page turner joining now the ranks of Stephen King and John Grisham's books. Touted as one of America's hottest new authors, Hopfenbeck's passion and impetus for writing has been in existence since birth.
The 'Memoirs of a Life Insurance Icon: Khuda Buksh' of Muhammad Rahim won the GLOBAL Asia Category of Readers Views 2010 Literary Awards. The book illustrates the life of a legendary Insurance Specialist who chose to serve humanity by sparking an insurance awareness movement in three countries (India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh).
Fida R. Abbott, Managing Editor and Director of the Online Writing Course at http://www.kabarindonesia.com, a daily online Indonesian News site won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for 'Enthusiasm'. The award was under the category of novels from North American Book Dealer Exchange (NABE).
Writer, poet, and Christian apologist Christopher Hugh Kawal Persaud Persaud's 2010 book, The Da Vinci Code Revisited: A Conclusive Refutation of the Widespread, Sinister Lie was adjudged the First Place winner in the Theology category for the 2010 Christian Choice Book Awards competition. This is his second national award.
'3rd Generation Country' by Benecca Ward was nominated under the Outstanding Literary - Debut author category for the 41st NAACP Image Awards.
Sophia's Exit Strategy" of trainer CP Carusso bagged the 2009 Oakland PEN (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) Award.
Amira Tame received the National Mature Media Silver Award for her book, Activity Techniques that Heal the Wounds of Alzheimer's.
Her book, Be Careful What You Wish For ... The Story of: Gwendolyn the Great, Savior of Idlebury, Protector of the Universe, placed as a Finalist the 2009 National Indie Excellence Awards and as a Finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Books Awards.
Connie Houser, author of The Letters, Portrait of an Artist, Jim Houser, won FIRST PLACE in the Art and Photograph category in the 2008 California Book Festival.
Steve Phillips, author of Proximity, won the 2008 Gold Medal Award (Navy Category) from the Military Writers Society of America.
Albert Russo has three books, which qualified as finalists at the National Indie Excellence Awards in the Photography category.
Gina E. Jones, author of Flying Between Heaven and Earth, was voted semi-finalist for Fiction & Literature in the New Age Fiction category by USA Book News.
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Lucy Cain, author of Secure the Fort, is the recipient of the 2007 Military Writers Society of America Gold Medal Award for Best Anthology to be presented at the annual conference/banquet in Branson, MO.
Kevin M. Weeks, author of The Street Life Series: Is it Suicide or Murder?, was inducted as the Best New Urban Author of the Year 2006 for his novel. A voluntary Top Advisory Board of one hundred active members inducts The YOUnity Guild Award Winners of Excellence each year. He also won an award (Wild Card) in the New York Book Festival.
Jameela Alter, author of On Clipped Wings, is a finalist in Foreword Magazine's eighth annual Book of the Year Awards in the Fiction-General category.
Judy K. Snider, author of Goldy's Baby Socks, and her illustrator, Thomas McAteer, won The Cat Writer's Association award of excellence and the 2006 CWA Muse Award for best children's book.
Sarah Kennedy has collaborated with us in the past to bring you the award-winning Sgarrwrath novel. Now she's giving readers an exclusive opportunity to win a copy of her latest Xlibris title - Arising, Prophecy of Hope Book 1. Kennedy is collaborating with Goodreads to hold a simple raffle until March 30. Head over to the Goodreads website for a chance to win one of 10 copies of the first in a masterful fantasy series.
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1. What Kind of Times Are These http://5thin.gs/H90awN
There's a place between two stands of trees where the grass grows uphill
and the old revolutionary road breaks off into shadows
near a meeting-house abandoned by the persecuted
who disappeared into those shadows.
I've walked there picking mushrooms at the edge of dread, but don't be fooled
this isn't a Russian poem, this is not somewhere else but here,
our country moving closer to its own truth and dread,
its own ways of making people disappear.
I won't tell you where the place is, the dark mesh of the woods
meeting the unmarked strip of light—
ghost-ridden crossroads, leafmold paradise:
I know already who wants to buy it, sell it, make it disappear.
And I won't tell you where it is, so why do I tell you
anything? Because you still listen, because in times like these
to have you listen at all, it's necessary
to talk about trees.
"What Kind of Times Are These". © 2002, 1995 by Adrienne Rich, from The Fact of a Doorframe: Selected Poems 1950-2001 by Adrienne Rich. Used by permission of the author and W.W. Norton, Inc.
Source: Dark Fields of the Republic: Poems 1991-1995 (W. W. Norton and Company Inc., 1995)
2. The Answer by Robert Creeley http://5thin.gs/H8Zurj
3. [by any measure] by Ben Lerner http://5thin.gs/H90pYI
4. Broadway by Mark Doty http://5thin.gs/H90DPF
5. Letter to a City under Siege by Carolyn Forché http://5thin.gs/H91ShO


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SDMS Credentialed Sonographer Workplace Program
Exit Survey
Thank you for your interest in the SDMS Credentialed Sonographer Workplace Program. This program recognizes organizations which employ multiple sonographers and comply with the SDMS position statements on Sonographer Credentialing and Non-Diagnostic Use of Ultrasound. If your organization meets these criteria, please apply for/renew your recognition now by clicking on the
button below.
Sonographer Credentialing
Approved by SDMS Board of Directors, 04/2009
Provision of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (DMS) procedures, including those performed for screening purposes, requires that the sonographer performing the sonographic examination be credentialed by a nationally recognized sonography credentialing organization.In the view of the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS), there is a strong need for requisite sonographer credentialing because medical sonographic services are highly operator dependent. To ensure consistency and patient safety, the sonographer shall demonstrate broad-based knowledge, good judgment, and appropriate real-time discretion to assess and evaluate anatomy, and to acquire and optimize the appropriate images and data for sonographic screening and interpretation by the interpreting physician.
Non-Diagnostic Use of Ultrasound
Approved by the SDMS Board of Directors, 03/2013
The Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) believes that the use of sonography without a medical indication is inappropriate. Therefore, the use of sonography (including two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound) to view the fetus, obtain a picture of the fetus, or determine the fetal gender without a medical indication is contrary to responsible medical practice.
Yes, my organization meets these requirements
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Dr. Sumpter breast augmentation
- Age:
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side view
alternate side view
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Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (OBIA) Fact Tables
December 31, 2013 7 Comments
Dimensionally modeled (star-schema designed) data warehouses are primarily made up of two types of tables – Fact and Dimension. Fact tables store the measurements generated by business events (# of orders, amount of dollars, etc.); and Dimension tables store the descriptive attributes that provide context to the measurements (product [product name], customer [customer type], date, etc.).
This post describes the types of Fact tables found in Oracle Business Intelligence Applications (OBIA) data warehouse – Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse (OBAW). There will be future posts that describe in detail the other table types in OBIA (Dimension, Internal, etc.).
The 5 types of Fact tables used in the OBAW are:
- Transactional
- Aggregate
- Cycle Lines
- Snapshot
- State Transition.
The Transactional Fact Table is the main type of fact table. It stores the lowest-level of information from transactional sources. An example of a Fact table in OBIA (Financial Analytics) is: W_GL_BALANCE_F
Note: Fact tables in OBIA end with "_F".
This table stores the current balance for GL accounts by GL_ACCOUNT and other dimensions.
The Aggregate Fact Table is typically used for performance improvements. It is a summarized or rolled-up version of the Transactional fact table. Instead of querying the data at the transactional level – which is the most detailed level and the level with the most records, the Aggregate table allows you to query the data at a more rolled up level when appropriate. One of the most frequent roll-ups is time – for example, a transactional table at a day level is rolled up to the month level.
Aggregate tables can be tens of times less (or even hundreds) than their transactional versions. These types of tables are also very common in OBIA and in data warehousing in general.
An example of an Aggregate Fact Table in OBIA (Financial Analytics) is: W_GL_BALANCE_A
Note: Aggregate Fact tables in OBIA end with "_A".
This table stores the GL account balances aggregated by GL Account Segment and other dimensions. Instead of having data at the GL_ACCOUNT level as in the Transactional fact table, the data is at the GL Account Segment level in the Aggregate table. Aggregate Fact tables are derived from Transactional Fact Tables or other Aggregate Fact tables. This table is derived from the transactional fact table mentioned above: W_GL_BALANCE_F.
The Snapshot Fact Table stores "snapshots" of measurements taken at well-defined, predetermined time intervals – such as daily, monthly, annually, etc. Examples include Inventory and Account Balance snapshots, and AR/AP aging snapshots. Common items such as financial reports or bank statements are examples of reports from Snapshot Fact tables.
An example of a Snapshot table in OBIA(Supply Chain Analytics) is: W_INVENTORY_DAILY_BAL_F
Oracle's description of this table will help to clarify its makeup and purpose.
The W_INVENTORY_DAILY_BAL_F fact table is used to represent at a point in time information of all inventory balances and inventory values related to products whose inventory is maintained by the business organization, these would typically include all inbound (purchased from external entities) products as well as outbound (sold to external entities) products. The inventory balance information is trended by copying historical snapshot information from this table at periodic points in time into history table W_INVENTORY_MONTHLY_BAL_F.
The W_INVENTORY_MONTHLY_BAL_F table stores a snapshot of inventory balance.
There is one row for each product and product storage location whose point in time inventory quantity and value information is maintained. The storage location could represent a warehouse or further divisions within a warehouse. This aspect is configurable within the product. All the dimension key links to the other Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse dimension tables, such as W_DAY_D, W_BUSN_LOC_D, W_PRODUCT_D, W_INVENTORY_PRODUCT_D, and so on, represent information associations at that point in time for that product inventory information. The DATE_WID column represents the date on which the inventory balance information is valid.
These tables can also have Aggregate versions:
As mentioned in the description for the W_INVENTORY_DAILY_BAL_F table above, there is an aggregate version. However, snapshot tables are not necessarily aggregated like transactional tables, because many times the measures are non-additive or semi-additive. For example, you would not take your account monthly balance in January and add it to your account monthly balance in February to determine how much money you have – that would be wrong.
The W_INVENTORY_MONTHLY_BAL_F fact table is used to represent the monthly information of all the inventory balances and the inventory values related to products whose inventory is maintained by the business organization. This information includes all inbound (purchased from external entities) products and outbound (sold to external entities) products. The aggregation period is configurable, and has a preconfigured value of Monthly.
There is one row for each product and product storage location whose point in time (as of a month) inventory quantity and value information is maintained. All the dimension key links to the other Oracle Business Analytics Warehouse dimension tables such as W_DAY_D, W_BUSN_LOC_D, W_PRODUCT_D, W_INVENTORY_PRODUCT_D, and so on, and represents information and associations at that point in time for that product inventory information. The PERIOD_START_DT_WID and PERIOD_END_DT_WID column represents the aggregation bucket start and end dates. The column INV_BALANCE_DT_WID represents the date within this aggregation period on which the inventory balance information is valid.
The Cycle Lines Fact Table store measurements for multiple related business events and are therefore typically derived from multiple fact tables. They typically store process cycle times or provide the ability to easily determine process cycle times. These tables are also called Accumulating Snapshot Fact tables because they are snapshots of different events accumulated on each other. An example of a Cycle Lines Fact table is W_PURCH_CYCLE_LINE_F.
Here is Oracle's description of the table which should help clarify its purpose: W_PURCH_CYCLE_LINE_F table tracks the time duration of all events pertaining to the purchase process commencing with a requisition. Information in this table enables analysis of the direct spend process within an organization beginning with a purchase requisition, its approval, the creation of an approved purchase order, its submission to a supplier, the creation of a purchase schedule and ending with its receipt of the products. It can be used to calculate the time taken to receive products that have been ordered, the time between the first receipt and last receipt of products that have scheduled for delivery. The W_PURCH_CYCLE_LINE_F table contains all the various dates associated with the processes such as submission, approval, ordering and receiving as well as quantities and amounts. While Other spend related fact tables capture individual process such as requesting, ordering, scheduling this table combines all the in one place for ease of analysis and reporting.
These Cycle Lines tables can also have aggregate versions. For example: W_PURCH_CYCLE_LINE_A This is an aggregate table of W_PURCH_CYCLE_LINE_F at a higher level of dimensionality. The Product dimension is replaced by a Product type dimension to give a high level analysis of the sourcing data. It stores Purchase Cycle Line records aggregated over a preconfigured Monthly time period and product types.
State Transition Fact Tables store state-transition metrics based on business events, such as customer state – new, top, dormant, lost, etc – based on the customer order activity. These tables store or allow you to easily derived counts of the various states. State Transition Fact tables are derived from Transactional or Snapshot fact tables.
Below are two examples of State Transition Fact tables in OBIA (Marketing Analytics):
The Customer Status History Fact: W_CUSTOMER_STATUS_HIST_F
This is a fact table that tracks the status of customers based on the frequency of orders they place with the organization. Possible statuses are NEW, RECENT, DORMANT and LOST. The time duration for each status bucket is configurable, out of the box being a calendar year.
The grain of this table is at a Customer, Customer Status and the Status Start Date level. Other important columns in this table include the Sold to and the Ship to location for the customer. These are derived based on the status bucket start date against the Customer Locations dimension table.
The Loyalty Member Status History Fact: W_LOY_MEMBER_STATUS_HIST_F
W_LOY_MEMBER_STATUS_HIST_F Fact table stores status changes of Loyalty members. Grain: One record for each member status changed.
That's it for OBIA fact tables. Understanding the types of fact tables and their purpose helps us to make better design choices when we set out to build new fact tables to represent business events, and it also helps us to quicker recognize and better analyze the data in these tables.
I hope you found this information useful. If you have information about other fact table types, please share.