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Traditions of Higher Education in Ukraine
Currently Ukraine is building an open society, and as the educational opportunities widen, the question of making Ukrainian education comparable to that of the West emerges. The Ukrainian educational system has been in the process of reform since 1992 when the new Education Law (June 4, 1991) became active. The Ministry of Education remains the only accrediting body and both public and independent institutions alike may conduct educational activities and offer degrees or qualifications only when accredit with the Ministry of Education. The following accreditation levels and categories of institutions in Ukraine were recently instituted:
|Accreditation Institutions AwardsLevel (article 36, "Law of Education")
|Level I Vocational// Technical Schools Diploma with the (UCHILISHCHE) professional qualification
|Level II: Colleges Diploma with the professional qualification or Bachelor'sdegree
|Levels III, IV Institutes, Conservatories, Diploma of,Universities, Academies Specialista, Bachelor (Bakalavr) Magister
Institutions of levels I and II may be compared to technical and vocational schools in Western countries. According to the new Education Law (article 34), institutions of the I and II accreditation levels are considered to be institutions of higher education in comparison to their status before 1992 when they were considered specialized secondary education institutions. They can exist separately or be affiliated with other institutions. For example, in June 1996 according, to a Ministry of Education decision, the Kyiv River School (level I) was merged with the Odessa State Marine Academy. This unit was renamed, and now called Kyiv State Marine Academy and offers programs of levels I and III. Admission requirements to the program of the I accreditation level are typical: completion of 9 (8)* or 11 (10)* years of secondary education plus certain entrance examinations such as Ukrainian Language and Mathematics. The total length of the program is correspondingly 3.7 or 2.7 years. Students which had an incomplete secondary education study subjects typically offered in the final years of secondary school. They also study subjects connected with their future profession. Upon graduation, they receive an Attestat of Completed Secondary Education in addition to the Diploma (of Specialist) with the Professional Qualification. Students with completed secondary education learn majorrelated subjects as well as other subjects such as the social sciences. Upon completion of the program, they receive a Diploma with the Professional Qualification. Programs of the Level III have standard admission and graduation requirements described below and award their graduates a Bachelors Degree.
Many of the institutions of the II accreditation level, known as TECHNICUMS prior to 1992, have changed their names to COLLEGES after the new education law was adopted. Until 1992, they offered two types of programs that differed in entrance and graduation requirements and, correspondingly, the degrees offered. The first type of program did not require students to have a completed secondary education in order to apply; their educational plans were similar to those at institutions of the Level I, and graduates received a Diploma with the Professional Qualification. Since institutions of the Level II accreditation are considered to be institutions of higher education, there was a tendency to admit students only with a completed secondary education to the second type of program. Therefore, many institutions have changed their standard admission requirements and course outline so that only applicants with a completed secondary education may apply. The standard length of a program is 4 years and the award is a Bachelor's Degree. Only when a Ukrainian "College" provides the second type of program which leads to a Bachelor's degree may it be compared to colleges and similar institutions in Western countries.
There is a slight difference between institutions of the III and IV accreditation levels. Institutes are normally on the III level, and Universities and Academies usually rank at IV level. The term "Institute" in Ukraine means a full grown institution of higher education in comparison to the traditional meaning of the term in Western countries where "Institutes" are usually highly specialized professional (technical) institutions. Since 1992, when many institutions were reevaluated and granted a higher accreditation level, they changed parts of their names. For example, Kiev Polytechnic Institute (III level), or KPI was granted the IV level and in 1995 became the National Technical University of Ukraine, or NTUU. In addition, the degrees offered at NTUU were changed according new educational priorities. Now NTUU, awards a Bakalavr (Bachelor's) Degree and Diploma of Specialist instead of just the traditional Diploma of Specialist as before 1995. For the "Bakalavr" Degree, students must meet the following requirements: complete four years of formal education; successfully pass State examinations after the fourth year (each semester, students must pass end of terms examination, which are not STATE examinations); and complete the final course work. The Institution encourages students to complete a full traditional program of 5,5 length which leads to either the Diploma of Specialist or Master's (Magister) degree. Frequently, the Master's requires an additional semester of study. The main difference between these two programs is that the first one, leading to the Diploma of Specialist (engineer), is professionally oriented and its purpose is to encourage and facilitate qualified specialists to enter work in Ukrainian industries. Entrance requirements to the program are Bakalavr's degree and student's desire. The other program (leads to the Master's Degree) is oriented toward a scientific/research career. Entrance requirements are Bachelor's degree and outstanding academic achievements.
Traditional Ukrainian (Soviet) education, especially in sciences and engineering, was always highly specialized. The main goal of institutions was to prepare professionals to start their career immediately upon completion of the course of study. Therefore, curriculum included only mandatory fieldrelated courses and a tiny portion of nonrelated subjects like social sciences or humanities. A change of major, double major or concentration in a specific field were uncharacteristic for traditional educational institutions.
From this point of view, private institutions that have been founded since 1992 are more flexible with admission and graduation requirements and course offerings. The National University Kyiv Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), reestablished in 1992, can serve as a good example of this. This institution uses a Western model of education and may be compared to independent small liberal arts colleges in the USA (the total number of students enrolled is 1100). Also, it was one of the first institutions in Ukraine to offer a Bachelor's degree to graduates instead of the traditional Diploma of Specialist. Currently, there are four Departments offering a Bachelor's Degree: Natural Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Law, and two new programs in Computer Science and Social Work. The curriculum of the KyivMohyla Academy is designed so that students must complete 4 years of formal education in order to receive a Bachelor's degree and an additional two years to complete a program leading toward a Master's degree. The main thing that makes NaUKMA different from traditional statesupported institutions is flexibility in course planning. Apart from the mandatory courses that are taught in English and Ukrainian students may take electives that are also taught in both languages. Students also allowed to change their majors which was impossible in traditional statesupported institutions. In 1994 KyivMohyla Academy was honored as a highest accreditation level IV, and Educational Programs of the Academy were approved by a Special Council of UNESCO experts.
When Ukrainian students apply to educational institutions abroad there is always the question of transferability and evaluation of their courses. Every particular admission case should be carefully revised because changes and revisions in Ukrainian education occur almost daily and this process will continue into the foreseen future. Generally, though the Ukrainian "University" lacks a full range of disciplines normally offered by Western universities, it should not be considered deficient in quality. The main thing to look for when a Ukrainian student's academic record is to make sure placement was at accreditation levels IIIIV.
* Until 1991, secondary education in Ukraine was based on 10 years.


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Moynihan Phase 1 work to start later this yearBy · Published in 2012
When last we checked in on Moynihan Station, things were not looking good for the oft-delayed and rather expensive project. Phase 1 — essentially some wider concourses and more entrances — had to be scaled back amidst cost concerns when the bids on the project came in well above expectations. The Phase 2 work which includes the conversion of the post office building into the actual train station remains unfunded and a dream in the eyes of the project's supporters.
Now, though, the Port Authority has some cause to celebrate. With a new price tag of $270 million, Phase 1 will kick off later this year, nearly two years after the ceremonial groundbreaking, Port Authority head Patrick Foye said yesterday. According to Reuters, Skanska's $148 million bid to add street-level entrances at 31st and 33rd Sts. was the winning one. The different will go toward a new ventilation system and a mighty expensive underground walkway to Penn Station.
In comments yesterday, Foye spun this is a big step forward. Dana Rubinstein was on hand to report:
Foye, himself a Long Island Railroad commuter, said what has been a "fairly dingy" commuter experience would now "be fit for humans."
…The project's impact will be felt mainly by commuters. "It's going to mean easier access to and from the tracks for Long Island Railroad commuters, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak," said Foye. The authority was careful to present the project as Phase I of a two-part redevelopment that will culminate in the conversion of the Farley post office into an Amtrak terminal and retail center called Moynihan Station.
Though Related Companies and Vornado Realty Trust are still the designated developers for Phase II, the project is unfunded and generally considered, at the very least, dormant. Even so, Foye argued on Tuesday that the completion of this track work, which he called, "the concourse of the new railroad station, of the new Moynihan Station," would help make the latter a reality.
"The way I'd say it would be that the commencement of construction here later this year is gonna send a message to the development community, to investors, to Related and to Vornado and frankly to the whole community that this project's gonna happen," said Foye, "And, we would expect that not only is it a precondition to Phase II and the redevelopment of this building, but that it's commencement will accelerate those discussions and that investment."
By itself, the Phase 1 project is a worthwhile one. Improving access into and out of Penn Station will go a long way toward easing the crush of commuters in this underground cavern. That the Port Authority worked to ensure bids came in at budget is a step in the right direction too.
As I've noted in the past though, the Moynihan Station plan — with a price tag ranging from $500 million to $1 billion — leaves much to be desired. It doesn't increase track capacity through the city and represents a nice building for politicians and a lot of dollars spent on some cosmetic upgrades. If it's a future key for high-speed rail, that's an easier pill to swallow, but I still wonder about our infrastructure spending priorities at a time when funds are not freely flowing.
34 Responses to "Moynihan Phase 1 work to start later this year"
So now there will be entrances on the west side of 8th Avenue. I guess that's a bit of an improvement. But Grand Central basically did the same thing by providing alternate entrances through their Grand Central North project as far north as 47/Madison and 48/Park. Those have proven to be popular because there are many jobs in the northern half of Midtown that those entrances provide access to. Now, there are relatively few jobs west of 8th Avenue. Perhaps if these Hudson Yards and/or Manhattan West real estate pyramid schemes come to fruition, that might change.
But while Grand Central North is popular on weekdays, it is plagued by malfunctioning escalators, rotting ceilings, lack of air conditioning and MTA's unwilligness to keep the entrances open on weekends. Will the same fate befall these new passageways at the post office in the likely decades-long interlude between completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2?
Grand Central North was closed on weekends do to budgets & lack of usage.
They are also building a new entrance at the other end of the 47th St. cross-passage, between Park and Lex. The trouble is that it's taking forever to finish. No wonder they are talking now about a 2019 date for revenue service on the ESA project. They can't even get that little piece of the project done on time.
"So now there will be entrances on the west side of 8th Avenue. I guess that's a bit of an improvement."
there is a not-very-indirect entrance on the west side of 8th avenue, but it's depressing (like everything else about the place) and a new entrance as shown in the picture would indeed be an improvement.
One major advantage is that this adds two fully wheelchair-accessible entrances to Penn Station. Currently the main railroad station is accessible from ground level by *ONE* well-hidden elevator, and if that one's broken, you're out of luck.
You should expect most customers in wheelchairs to use this new pair of entrances.
The new entrances will only pay off in a major way if Hudson Yards is developed for commercial and/or retail, and there's a need to flow rail passengers westbound to and from Penn Station.
How about we reactivate the mail and package shipping through the Forley Post Office and NY Penn. The FRA might be queasy about letting passengers sit in the first and last cars of EMU HSR train sets, but packages and mail won't raise those objections. If you combine HSR with postal delivery, the USPS might have a compelling service to offer that will bring them back into the black. It would allow it to survive against UPS and FedEx. AMTRAK will have another revenue stream too.
P.S.: The Forley Post Office is a architectural gem in its own right. Don't gut it just to recreate something that is gone.
I believe passenger trains in the US used to carry mail, and that this was in fact their most profitable line of business. In effect the federal government subsidized intercity passenger rail through the postal service. The mail got to where it needed to go quickly using this system, too. When the USPS pulled mail off the passenger trains, the US passenger rail network collapsed, hence Amtrak.
Amtrak carried mail for a few years, but ended it about 5 years ago because the time & effort weren't worth the profit. If you rode Amtrak trains then you often made extra-long stops so that mail cars could be switched in.
It was it worth it then, and especially not now with mail volumes so much lower and still declining.
Actually, Amtrak made money on mail; the USPS pulled the mail contract in the mid-2000s because it didn't seem economical to the Postal Service.
Correction – "It was NOT worth it then . . . "
Switching cars won't be necessary. In this scheme, the end cars are where they will carry the mail and packages. The USPS will use bomb resistant containers similar to the pallets the airlines and air freighters use. Swapping the units in and out will take less time than letting passengers board and alight. Higher demand routes might have another parcel car or two. Unit trains like the TGV La Poste might work for USPS for max throughput service.
The crush of commuters and other rail riders. Even if you buy into the dubious belief that LIRR and NJ Transit patrons are all "commuters," it's a stretch to call all Amtrak passengers "commuters." And it doesn't matter if Patrick Foye makes the same mistake — it's still a mistake.
"Commuters"—such a retro term on a blog that is so excellent at exploring growth and possibilities.
But that's a reasonable term to use when you want to shore up local public support. Foye seems like a pretty sharp guy. I have been favorably impressed by his public statements and some of his preliminary actions on cost control have been long overdue. My main disappointment with the PA has been its sub silentio shelving of replacing the Goethals.
Respectfully disagree; it's a term anti-rail types use all the time.** "Commuter" for many equals "those people" — a term that separates, and alienates, "us" from "them."
And beyond any metaphysical and/or emotional overtones, it simply is not accurate, certainly not all-encompassing, even if we're limiting the discussion to crowded times at New York Penn. It's Old-Think, pure and simple, and not worthy of the participants (and the moderator) here who see things rail far more broadly than the average citizen.
**Charlotte Vandervalk, former New Jersey Assemblywoman representing much of the Pascack Valley, used the term "commuter" like a sharp knife … to obstruct needed expanded rail capacity on the namesake rail line. That's just one example.
I don't think I've ever heard anyone characterize the term "commuter" as pejorative. It seems an especially odd way to characterize the term when he appears to apply it to himself.
There is a term used pejoratively on this site. The term is "driver".
How's life in Fairyland?
The picture heading this post begins to illustrate the folly of converting a post office into a train station, in my view. Those massive vestigial staircases and tiny corner entrances (hey wait, isnt that one of the complaints about Penn????) are not going to get much better.
It's not an inherent folly of adaptive reuse of a post office. It's by design. This project is really about opening up the Post Office to retail space. The enhancements for transit riders are secondary. Per Scocca and Scicha's mostly excellent ode to the New Penn Station in the Times from 2010:
Regardless, for our politicians and preservationists the model for an appropriately majestic rail hub seems to be Washington's Union Station, which is actually a shopping mall, and that is likely what we will get. The real long game here is, as with so many of the recent reinventions of New York, the eventual creation of millions of square feet of new retail and office space.
In exchange, some of us get to look at some pillars on the way underground. Because if you've seen the renderings of Phase One of Moynihan Station, there by the post office, there is no majestic hall. There is no grand, starry entrance waiting at the top of that bizarrely wide stairway. Instead, there will be an unimposing little doorway down in each corner of the eastern facade of the post office — leading to a sunken concourse, parallel to Eighth Avenue and not even below the building proper, but tucked under the steps. The concourse of the future will connect nicely with the Long Island Rail Road's dingy airplane-hangar corridor that runs along 33rd Street.
So your much-hated, quite-glorious Penn Station isn't going away after all. It's actually taking over the neighborhood.
Hugely amusing and informative piece, thanks for the link.
As far as I am concerned, this is an absolute waste of $, that can be better used in other areas (New subway trains, reopening the Republic LIRR Station on 110 in Suffolk County, and actually repairing the escalator at Amityville Train Station (The LIRR admitted they don't have parts to repair it), come to mind. Instead, this is designed to mollify the preservation nuts, such as Andrew Berman of The Greenwich Village Society For Historical Preservation (Of course, the WEALTHY ELITE like him, can ignore they foul smelled, rat infested, subway station in Greenwich Village (aka West 4th St), which sad to say, I can't because I have to transfer to the F Train, coming from Penn Station). After they admit they are not finishing with East Side Access until at least 2018, can't they at least wait 24 hours until they announce the latest expenditure that is designed to guaranteed to bleed money?
Mr Brown, you sound quite bitter!
We should start a pool – I say East Side access opens March, 2020. Wet, soggy ground is very very hard to tunnel through. That is why the IND put up the Culver viaduct back in the 1930s to avoid the difficult ground there.
This is money from the federal government for a federally owned building… couldn't be used for "subways".
In this case, getting half as much money for something that is infinitely more useful would be a much better deal for us.
[…] MOYNIHAN COMMENCEMENT The demolition of the original Pennsylvania Station sparked furor at the loss of a grand entrance to the city. Renovations to the current Penn Station have been on hold due to insufficient funding for years now. But hope looms on the horizon. Port Authority executive director Patrick Foye has announced that construction will soon begin on phase one of the new Moynihan Station. While phase two, turning the Farley Post Office building into a grand intercity train station, is still a long way off, phase one will widen concourses, ease access to the commuter lines and add new entrances to the concourses via the post office building. According to Foye, "the commencement of construction here later this year is gonna send a message to the development community, to investors, to Related and to Vornado and frankly to the whole community that this project's gonna happen." Check out the coverage at Capital New York and Second Avenue Sagas. […]
[…] the headlines of the city's newspapers. The project officially got underway in 2012 with a very modest Phase 1 build-out involving some staircases and access points to Amtrak platforms, and earlier this year, […]

subset: commoncrawl


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HUNGER GAMES Wins Second Weekend at the Box Office!
Sci-Fi, teen juggernaut, The Hunger Games wins it's second weekend, scoring an estimated three day total of $63.5 million against big new releases Wrath of the Titans and Mirror, Mirror which managed to pick up $35.6 million and $19.3 million, respectively. Rounding out the top five were 21 Jump Street ($14.m) and Dr. Seus' The Lorax ($8.3m). The Hunger Games is expected to pass the $250 million mark in the week ahead.


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Ballet Friday
You guys...I'm really excited. Saturday is not only our monthly date night but this lucky girl is heading out to see the Joffrey Ballet with the hubs. Over. The. Moon. If you have followed this blog for awhile...you know I love ballet. Like major love. We're seeing Don Quixote - so yes, husband is a big sport. However I do sit through my fair share of football so give, take. Anyhoo...that's what's on the agenda. That and a whole lotta nothing. Perfect as I hear from my other BF, Tom Skilling, that we're in for some Fall weather this weekend. Break out the sweaters and get outside. Cheers! xo
**New giveaway posted - 3 winners announced on Friday, 10/21/11!**


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Not too long ago, I joined a group of local representatives looking for a better way to work with state and federal agencies. We thought a coalition of leaders with specific knowledge of their lands could identify water related problems and solutions. I spoke with Jared Huffman and he too believed in regional strength and local leadership. He instantly became an advocate and regularly assists us with our hugely successful public water, wastewater and watershed projects. He has been our advocate in Sacramento and I believe he will do a wonderful job for us in the U.S. House of Representatives. I am proud to support Jared Huffman for Congress.
Jimmy Smith
Humboldt County Supervisor


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|Ng Hok Yau, Anthony Chan, Jonathan Wong and Carlos Chan
courtesy of on.cc
Anthony Chan Yau, Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn, Carlos Chan Ka Lok, Ng Hok Him yesterday promoted their film THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SONS (HING DAI BAN). The story was based on the Wynners' experience in their youth. Playing the young Chan Yau, Ah Him had the least acting experience. Wong Chee Hynn said that Ah Him's nickname was "Off" because he often ran off. Chan Yau said, "Ah Him was very precise with his drum beats, but his life beat was completely wrong. He would disappear at meals and on the set." Ah Him explained, "Because I just left the Sil Hung Mo band, I had some negative emotions. I didn't want to affect the team." Chan Yau said that he did not yell at Ah Him for his behavior, instead he comforted him that life had ups and downs.
Chee Hynn said that as the director Chan Yau really took care of Ah Him, Ka Lok immediately got jealous. "The director was very accepting or loving toward other new actors, he would hug them. Yet I had a crying scene he didn't hug me, he didn't comfort me either." Chan Yau said, "You expected that, because Ka Lok was rich with acting experience he knew how to take care of himself. At first when I asked Ka Lok to play the young Pang Kin Sun, everyone thought when was Kin Jai was handsome? Actually when he was young he was very handsome. Later his look changed with age."
Chan Yau said that he treated all the actors the same, he would take care of everyone. Ah Him was a new actor. Some said that he looked like he was acting the least. This was the power of a new actor. Chee Hynn played the very important big brother in the young Wynners. He sang well and performed decently.


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Farewell AeroRescue – Job Well Done
For the past 12 years or so, AeroRescue has provided the Australian Rescue Coordination Centre with dedicated Dornier 328 fixed wing search and rescue aircraft. This contract has now drawn to a close, as we enter a new jet era with a new primary contractor.
source: http://www.aerorescue.com.au/
This video, put together by AeroRescue, looks back at some of the many incidents that the Dorniers were tasked to respond to. Some are incidents that received world wide media coverage, but the majority were 'all in a day's work' for the crew, who worked tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcome for those they were searching for. This video was put together to thank those wonderful people, but it also showcases the world class Australian Search and Rescue System at work.
Thank you AeroRescue. Job well done.
How to make sure you get rescued
For those of you who always wanted to know…
For more information check out Save Our Selves – A guide to getting help in remote areas.
Are new(er) cars really more reliable? Seeking a unicorn
We are getting ready for another adventure into the remote deserts of Australia. An important part of my preparation for the trip is to ensure our car is in top mechanical shape. As I dropped it off at the mechanics this morning, I let him know that I had thrown an error code relating to the EGR (exhaust gas reticulation system) in the past week or two. I had fortunately been able to use the Scan Gauge to not only get the car out of limp mode, but also been able to identify the fault to the EGR using this tool.
But it got me thinking.
We bought the car new in 2013, as a calculated part of our risk management strategy for our big lap in 2014. We figured a new car would be more reliable than an older vehicle, and if we did break down, at least we would be covered by warranty.
And breakdown we did. Almost 1000 km of corrugated dirt road from the nearest dealer we coasted to a stop beside the Cape York Development Road. It seems that modern 4wd vehicles are not designed for thousands of kilometres of corrugations – nor are dealers adept at identifying issues or checking the car thoroughly at its frequent servicing schedule. The full story of that adventure can be found here: http://project2014australia.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/returning-south-was-not-so-easy-our.html
To their credit, VW Assist were exemplary in getting us back to civilisation, and covered our flights, accommodation and rental car until we were back on the road. But it was an expensive exercise for them, and perhaps it was my first warning bell that modern cars aren't as bush ready as their predecessors.
And so here I am today with a faulty EGR valve. This equipment is the Achilles heel of modern common rail diesel engines. Part of the emission management system, it feeds exhaust gas back through the combustion chamber. Unfortunately it can also leak, and if coolant or water enters the system, the water can also enter the combustion chamber, causing the engine to hydraulically lock. This results in catastrophic failure of the engine.
My mechanic said it is unfortunately very common with all of the common rail diesels. And as manufacturers struggle to meet Euro V and VI emission standards, it will only get worse. It seems we have sacrificed reliability and longevity in the hunt for cleaner emissions. Whilst I understand completely the requirement for cleaner air, it seems that manufacturers are only interested in getting their vehicles to their warranty end date and no more.
It is one of the fine balances of marketing and economics I guess… You make a car too reliable, and people only buy one car, meaning you slowly go out of business. You make it reliable enough that people like it, and will buy a new one, but ensure that it doesn't last so long that you go out of business waiting for them to return to your marque. Argh.
So whilst I wait for the mechanic to call me back, I'll just start looking for my next car. It has to have the following features:
- Simple mechanical engine that can be fixed on the side of the road with a piece of fencing wire or cloth tape, and a diagnostic port that I can plug in my scan gauge and know what is wrong instantly.
- Loads of power to sit on the speed limit laden up hills but great fuel economy
- No computers to fail, but must have some modern aids such as traction control, cruise control, stability control
- A nice kangaroo proof bull bar – with air bags and crumple zones to keep us safe inside
- Euro 6 emissions…
- And blue tooth streaming, reverse camera, air conditioning…
I don't ask for much do I? Does such a car really exist?
Other thoughts as to what can make your adventures more comfortable can be found here:
Man injured in wild bull attack activates PLB
A grazier on a cattle station near Teemburra Dam is lucky to be alive after he was attacked by a mickey or wild bull on the weekend . He was seriously injured after being gored by the unbranded bull whilst working on his property. Unable to drive himself to medical care, he activated his PLB.
Authorities responded quickly. After determining the grazier was working alone on the property, the CQ Rescue helicopter was immediately tasked to locate the grazier by homing the signal from the PLB or beacon. A doctor and paramedic on-board the helicopter provided emergency care on scene before the man was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital.
Police praised the actions of the injured man. His quick thinking enabled the rescue helicopter to promptly locate him and provide first class medical care. It almost certainly saved his life.
A PLB is something all people who work remotely or in areas of poor mobile phone coverage should consider carrying. Many companies already mandate such a device for their employees. You may never need to use it, but you can be assured that if you do, help will be on its way.
To work out the best remote communication plan for you, check out Save Our Selves – A guide to getting help in remote areas.
Source: http://www.dailymercury.com.au/news/breaking-cq-rescue-route-possible-rescue/3039621/


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First speaking engagement of 2017
On Saturday 14th January, I'm delighted to be speaking at AutoSport on behalf of Dare To Be Different. I'll be on stage at 12 noon taking questions from the audience about all things racing, Susie Wolff's initiative Dare To Be Different that encourages and supports females in Motorsport, and my plans for the 2017 season. From 1pm, I'll be on the D2BD stand meeting and greeting members old and new and available to chat to you about how to get involved. Come and say hi!


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Virtuous Wellness Center offers a serene and comfortable environment to rejuvenate, repair and renew. Once inside these doors, you immediately feel a sense of warmth and relief.
Our staff will design an individualized treatment plan specific to your needs bringing together body, mind, and soul. At Virtuous Wellness Center we provide you with the best and most affordable service to meet your needs.


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By Austin Miller, Content Marketing Manager
More and more moms are finding ways to money from home, sometimes leading them to become the primary source of income. Although no business is easy to run, (let alone while watching kids), the internet has made this a much more viable option.
So here they are, 5 Proven ways for stay at home moms to make money online in 2017 and beyond...
Social Media Freelancing
Businesses large and small are rapidly coming to the realization that they need to maintain a presence on social media platforms in order to maximize their promotional efforts. However, having a top-notch social media presence takes time, work and effort that few business owners can put in. This is why freelance social media marketers have become a premium in the world of online business.
If you can learn the best practices for leveraging social media and turning views, likes and shares into sales conversions, you have a skill set that is valuable to practically any business. There are many free and relatively inexpensive online courses that teach exactly this skill set. If you have even a decent familiarity with social media, and learn a few new tricks to top off your knowledge base, you can begin helping businesses to grow with social media marketing.
Niche Website Ownership
Have you ever wondered how much money your favorite websites make by providing free content to readers and viewers? Surprisingly, the answer is that some large websites make thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per month without ever charging their audiences a dime. This is done through advertising and affiliate marketing, which are methods that allow website owners to earn money when viewers click on an ad or follow a link and buy a product.
If you want to get in on a business that you can scale and grow year after year, consider niche website ownership. Building a website from scratch is much easier than you think, and is relatively inexpensive. If you want to hit the ground running with a site that is already profitable, you can buy an established website through various website marketplaces. Buying a site that is already making money will cost you much more than building your own, but it will also take much of the uncertainty out of entering this business for the first time.
If you would prefer to build a brand and sell physical products, then e-commerce might be the best online business opportunity for you. E-commerce involves purchasing goods from wholesalers and then selling them to retail customers at a higher price that allows you to make a reasonable profit. You can sell through your own website platform or through retail platforms like Ebay and Amazon.
Some of the most successful e-commerce entrepreneurs sell through their own site and through various third-party platforms to maximize sales volume. Although e-commerce is one of the most labor-intensive and costly means of making money online, it is also among the most profitable for those who become successful in it.
Think the e-commerce route might be right for you? Check out our interview with the mom and owner of Sweet Peach Kids who turned her expensive shopping habit into a successful e-commerce business.
App Development
If you're one of the lucky few who knows coding well enough to develop apps for smartphones, you have a skill with the potential to make you a great deal of money. App development is also something that can be monetized in diverse ways. You could, for example, develop your own apps and sell them through various marketplaces to create a passive income for yourself. Most app developers, however, choose to make their money in the more reliable way of developing apps for people or businesses who want to try to sell them.
Some freelance app developers can command prices of $50 per hour or higher, depending on their experience levels and skill sets. If you want to begin making serious money online in a growth market, app development is one of the best options currently available.
Online Teaching
Teaching people new skills online has historically been one of the most reliable ways to make money in the digital marketplace, and this is as true today as it was five years ago. If you are expert in practically any subject, there's a good chance you can monetize the knowledge you already have as an online teacher.
One way to do this is to go to online teaching sites that will set you up for one-on-one teaching sessions via video call with students who want to learn what you know. Such sessions are paid by the hour. If you want to create a more passive income that will allow you to educate many students at once, consider creating video courses and putting them on course platforms such as Udemy or Skillshare.
These platforms will allow to you sell courses for prices of your choosing and profit from them each time a new student decides to take one of your courses. Online teaching definitely earns a solid spot on our top 5 Ways for a Stay at Home mom to make money online list.
Final Thoughts
In the past, "work from home" opportunities might have been replete with scams or offers that were too good to be true. But now that there are many real online jobs for stay at home moms that anyone with a little bit of (okay, A LOT of) hard work and determination can do to help support their family.
If you have been thinking of finding a way to make money online, 2017 is the year to finally take the plunge and indulge your entrepreneurial spirit. The online marketplace is ripe with opportunity for people with all types of skills and from all walks of life, so make the decision to start your online business and see what kind of success you can create for yourself in the coming year.


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Shop Banana Republic's Spring 2017 pieces straight off the runway
Our editorial team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission.
With fashionista Olivia Palermo as the style ambassador, it's no surprise that we wanted every single piece we strolled by at the Banana Republic Spring 2017 presentation at Cedar Lake on steamy Saturday afternoon (but really, it's hot out there).
See Gallery
The clothes themselves were drool-worthy, of course -- but the beauty was really in the detail of the accessories. Get ready to see everyone sporting this to-die-for suede shoulder bag (and soon -- because it's on sale already).
I mean, look at this beaut:
And if Banana Republic has anything to say about it, bright orange is going to be the color of spring 2017 -- and we're not complaining, as long as we can get our hands on this satchel:
Oh, and this jacket ...
We also spotted lots of asymmetrical stripes and checkers, so between the bright orange and the next-level patterns, spring 2017 is sure to be nothing short of a party.
Get the party started! Shop Olivia Palermo's exclusive, early-release capsule of select Spring 2017 womenswear styles right now:
See Gallery


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When we left off last week, I was recapping the progress that we made of essentially stripping our yard of its current contents. This week, thanks to the first morning of sunshine in probably a week, I am able to share with you some photos of a little of our planting progress. For those of you pursuing yard projects at your homes, I encourage you not to lose heart. The planting step is the most rewarding part! Trust me, I understand that all the work up until this point feels like you haven't accomplished anything. We have been digging out trees, weeds, and shrubs for weeks. I didn't want the power of the internet making you believe we are superhuman, and that this all happened super fast. For those of you curious, here is a little shot of our landscape design. You can see how easily marked each plant is-- both with name and location. Seriously, it is a no brainer when it comes to planting. The only hard part was finding the plants at the store. I have no actual knowledge about plants or planting so we were wandering the aisles repeatedly trying to read every little plant card. That really is a fun time if you add a 19 month old who hasn't napped! :) Learn from my mistakes people.
Last week I left you with the beginnings of some garden beds that we were digging on each side of the house. We were able to finish digging those out. One suggestion our lovely landscape designer suggested was to use water based spray paint (I think the stuff we used was specifically for yards) to draw out your bed lines so you can easily dig-- kind of like a coloring book. We found that super easy, and the paint lasted for about 2 weeks (though not much rain at that time) so I had plenty of time to dig them before the lines disappeared. Another suggestion I've heard before is to use a garden hose to create the outline so you can find the shape you like. You can even run your lawn mower around it to make sure it's easy to mow. I would probably then spray paint and dig.
And here's a little shot from the front so you can see our spindly little crab apple tree. Isn't he sweet?
And a little before and after of the front. (We got a new car too!)
Here is the before and after of the other side of the house.
Don't you just love different shades of green? God is so apparent in some of the simplest things.
Finally, the before and after of the front.
Nothing like a little (or a lot) of yard work to remind me of the awesomeness of our Heavenly Father. Only He could have come up with all of these plants!
Isaiah 64:8 - Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Anyone up to some landscape fun? Have any helpful hints for those of us not experienced in horticulture? Please share!


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Plant your skills and watch them grow
We train the next generation of farm educators and food advocates. PFP educators train young adults in farm- and garden-based education, cooking, working with youth, gardening and food systems. Interns facilitate farm visits, cooking workshops, gardening projects, lessons and educational games for youth.
Our education interns are hired through participating universities and colleges. Please check with your academic institution for internship availability. If you represent a university and are looking for internship opportunities for students, send an inquiry to email@example.com.
Over the course of their internship, education interns will:
Build skills and knowledge necessary to provide experiential learning about food and agriculture.
Build familiarity with larger networks and resources related to sustainable farming and gardening, food justice and agricultural/environmental education.
Build skills and knowledge necessary to plan and manage a garden for educational purposes.
We'll ensure you thrive by providing you:
Integrating interns into the hands-on work of the education department accompanied by explanation and discussion about context and methods
Offering training, weekly meetings, and education nights
Taking field trips to other farms and community food organizations, primarily through CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training)
Providing opportunities to teach and share new skills with visitors
Ensuring that the work is necessary and meaningful
Maintaining a respectful, positive environment
Involving interns in the planning and evaluation of our shared work


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For Immediate Release
The Los Angeles Clippers today announced that they have expanded their year old partnership with The National Basketball Academy (TNBA), who coordinates the year round Clippers Youth Basketball Clinics and Camps.
The expanded relationship with TNBA will bring Clippers Youth Basketball Clinics and Camps to different locations throughout Southern California, culminating with a one-day clinic held at the state-of-the-art Los Angeles Clippers Training Center in Playa Vista on July 17th. Children taking part in the clinic on the 17th will have the opportunity to practice on the same courts that the Clippers train on.
TNBAs primary goal is to teach children fundamental basketball skills, with an emphasis on detail and development, which help build the foundation for a long future playing basketball. Former professional basketball player Chris Acker directs the group which handles all aspects of basketball training. Acker also works with many professional and collegiate athletes to help strengthen their skills and conditioning during their respective offseasons.
In addition to the Clippers, TNBA currently works with seven other NBA franchises (Charlotte Bobcats, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic).
For further information regarding these camps and clinics please go to Clippers.com or The Basketball Academy.
Related Content


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Good morning, readers. Today is Monday, August 27. Construction for a transportation hub has finally begun at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank.
The 520,000-square-foot Regional Intermodal Transportation Center will link airline passengers with other means of transportation. The facility will include a parking structure for rental cars, a rental car customer service building and a bus station. Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles City Fire Department officials are reportedly considering canceling the bills sent to the families of two women who were electrocuted as they tried to help a driver after a traffic accident in Valley Village last week. Patch
New research suggests that the home market in the San Fernando Valley may be on a rebound. The number of foreclosures in the area have dropped 45 percent since last year and home sales and prices have increased. Los Angeles Daily News
After nearly 20 years, Burbank's Riverside Café served its final meal yesterday. The owner says that dwindling sales are to blame for the restaurant's closure. Burbank Leader
Have you 'herd' about this yet? Several cows, bulls, and calves treated themselves to the grass outside of a large Chatsworth apartment complex last week. Patch
-- Joshua Cox, Times Community News
Follow me on Twitter @joshualcox


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Books and Reports
A Longitudinal Approach to Family Trajectories in France - The Generations and Gender Survey
Author: Arnaud Régnier-Loilier
Adopting a longitudinal approach, this book examines the dynamics of union and family formation in France and its effects on various aspects of life, such as employment, intergenerational transfers, etc. Drawing on data from a survey in which the same respondents were interviewed three times at three-year intervals, the book explores how demographic behaviours are influenced across the life course at individual level and assesses some of their consequences.
Purchase the book here.


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Hello, my name is Kassy O'Shea.
I'm a creative type who loves graphic design, photography, digital art and creating books. I am currently studying Graphic Design/Photography.
I'm 30 years old and live in a small country town in regional New South Wales (Australia). I have a tremendous interest in graphic design, photography, illustration, creating websites and modern communication. I am a student with CSU, studying a degree in Graphic Design/Photography.
You can find out more about me by visiting my personal blog, Moonstone. 💖
About The Blog
The blog was launched in April 2015, when I commenced study with Swinburne Online. Earlier posts detail the classes that were studied, before changing to a new degree (Graphic Design/Photography) with CSU.
I hope this blog will provide an enjoyable insight into design and a way to examine how I have personally changed as a designer, thanks to the new knowledge I have learned.


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Ann Marlowe
Ann Marlowe is the author of the acclaimed memoir How to Stop Time: Heroin from A to Z. Her work appears regularly in Salon, the Village Voice, National Review Online, LA Weekly, and other publications. She lives in New York. Visit her website here.
A sexy, intimate and fearless account of a shattering love affair between a charistmatic Afghan man and a Jewish American writer infatuated with his culture, The Book of Trouble is also a provocative and original exploration of the so-called "clash of civilizations." Marlowe's vivid, gritty evocation of daily life in Afghanistan brings to life a luminous place she thinks of as "the morning of the world". She finds a similar re-discovery of feeling when she is in bed with Amir, "the gift of loving someone, which is incalculable"–but also, ultimately, a "terrible gap between hearts."
Marlowe finds complexity and beauty in Afghanistan, not the caricature of evil men and oppressed women. In fact, she found much that Americans can learn from in the warmth, tenderness and respect of Afghan family life and marriage. As Marlowe travels from Mazar-i-Sherif to her sophisticated, cynical New York world and then to Baghdad in the aftermath of the American invasion, she makes perhaps her most provocative claim: that we Americans, for all our self-help books, have forgotten how to take love and sex seriously.
"Ann Marlowe has a sense of adventure, style and a startling intelligence that makes The Book of Trouble a must-read. Whether she's writing about Iraq, Afghanistan, or the West Village, and whether you agree with her conclusions or not, her opinions are always fresh, nuanced, and thoroughly her own."—Gary Shteyngart, author of Super Sad True Love Story
"You won''t soon forget The Book of Trouble. Ann Marlowe tells a crushing love story, and somehow also manages to weave in exotic tales of travel and fascinating tangents about everything from cousin marriage to fake Arabic."—James Frey, author of A Million Little Pieces and My Friend Leonard
A detailed and inspiring portrait of family life in [Afghanistan] . . . Throughout, [Marlowe''s] intellectual intensity and unusual emotional wiring combine to generate pretty interesting positions.—Los Angeles Times
"The Book of Trouble is about a difficult love affair across an age and cultural divide, but it transcends its circumstances to become an eloquent meditation on marriage, freedom, religion andgender. Ann Marlowe feels a lot, but her feelings are always nuanced and contradictory; her book is an unusually rich reading of her emotional and intellectual conflicts"—Edmund White, author of A Boy's Own Story
Rights: Harcourt, North America; Byblos, Holland; Aletheia, Portugal
In this hypnotic and piercingly intelligent chronicle, Ann Marlowe dissects her former heroin habit, and recounts in harrowing detail the rigors and realities of life under the influence while building a successful Wall Street career and establishing a reputation as a critic in the alternative press. A one-time Harvard grad student in philosophy, Marlowe ruthlessly examines the paradoxical nature of addiction, and connects her own experience to a wider discussion of heroin in the context of our post-consumer, digital society.
"A very impressive book, all the more so because of its remarkable calm and restraint after such a terrifying experience."—Penelope Fitzgearld
"Ann Marlowe is a. . .relentless moral essayist and a secret poet. Her book burns as it goes down one's craw, and it keeps burning in memory."—Luc Sante
"A self-portrait of a coolly cantankerous woman, reformed but unrepentant."—The New York Times
"The little black dress of dope books. Smart, sleek and savagely subtle, Ms. Marlowe is the most gifted druggie to pop out of Harvard since the late Timothy Leary."—Jerry Stahl, author of Permanent Midnight
"A self-portrait of a coolly cantankerous woman, reformed but unrepentant."—The New York Times
Rights: Basic Books, North America; Virago, U.K.; Auf Bau, Germany; Anagrama, Spain; Film rights optioned by director Robert Berlinger


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LONDON — A swathe of Conservative MPs have been told they have "no case to answer" following an inquiry into their election expenses from 2015.
The Tories had feared that dozens of their MPs could have their victories ruled null and void following investigations into alleged overspending in a series of seats around the country.
Theresa May was even accused by former SNP Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, of calling the snap election in expectation of upcoming charges, after the Electoral Commission fined the party £17,000 for false election spending declerations.
However, the Crown Prosecution Service today wrote to a number of Conservative MPs under investigation to inform them that no charges would be levelled against them.
The CPS found that while there was evidence to suggest that some election spending returns had been inaccurate, there was "insufficient evidence" to suggest that there had been intentional and therefore criminal dishonesty.
However, investigations will continue in Thanet, where the Conservatives narrowly beat UKIP's Nigel Farage. The CPS said they had only received information about the seat recently and it would "remain under consideration."
Nick Vamos, CPS Head of Special Crime, said in a statement:
"We have considered files of evidence from 14 police forces in respect of allegations relating to Conservative Party candidates' expenditure during the 2015 General Election campaign.
"We considered whether candidates and election agents working in constituencies that were visited by the Party's 'Battle Bus' may have committed a criminal offence by not declaring related expenditure on their local returns. Instead, as the Electoral Commission found in its report, these costs were recorded as national expenditure by the Party.
"We reviewed the files in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and have concluded the tests in the Code are not met and no criminal charges have been authorised.
"Under the Representation of the People Act, every candidate and agent must sign a declaration on the expenses return that to the best of their knowledge and belief it is a complete and correct return as required by law. It is an offence to knowingly make a false declaration. In order to bring a charge, it must be proved that a suspect knew the return was inaccurate and acted dishonestly in signing the declaration. Although there is evidence to suggest the returns may have been inaccurate, there is insufficient evidence to prove to the criminal standard that any candidate or agent was dishonest.
"The Act also makes it a technical offence for an election agent to fail to deliver a true return. By omitting any 'Battle Bus' costs, the returns may have been inaccurate. However, it is clear agents were told by Conservative Party headquarters that the costs were part of the national campaign and it would not be possible to prove any agent acted knowingly or dishonestly. Therefore we have concluded it is not in the public interest to charge anyone referred to us with this offence.
"Our evaluation of the evidence is consistent with that of the Electoral Commission. While the role of the Commission is to regulate political finances and campaign spending, the role of the CPS is to consider whether any individual should face criminal charges, which is a different matter with different consideration and tests.
"One file, from Kent Police, was only recently received by the CPS, and remains under consideration. No inference as to whether any criminal charge may or may not be authorised in relation to this file should be drawn from this fact and we will announce our decision as soon as possible once we have considered the evidence in this matter."
Reacting to the news, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told BBC: "I am interested and surprised by it. We will have to look at the details."
"Quite clearly the Electoral Commission is independent, the CPS is independent, the Director of Public Prosecutions is independent. They have to make a judgement on it. But our election laws must be enforced and must be adhered to. There are strict spending limits for a reason: so that money can't buy power. Only votes in the ballot box should be able to get power and that's why I want you all to register to vote."
This is a developing news story...


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Yolo County News
West Sacramento imposes new water restrictions
West Sacramento is restricting outdoor watering in response to the state's historic drought.
The Stage 2 water emergency that went into effect last week bans residents and businesses from washing streets, sidewalks, driveways and buildings. Landscape irrigation that causes runoff is also prohibited, and residents cannot water lawns between noon and 6 p.m.
The mandatory restriction ramps up water-saving efforts after nearly a year of voluntary restrictions that cut residents' water use by more than 19 percent, said Paulina Benner, West Sacramento Environmental Services manager.
Though not as strict as Sacramento's twice-a-week outdoor watering requirements, West Sacramento has instituted an odd-even residential watering system. Residents with odd-numbered addresses may water lawns and landscaping Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Those with even-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Watering is prohibited Mondays.
Violators will initially receive two written warnings outlining city water codes. The penalty for water users' third and subsequent violations is five times the amount of the user's monthly water bill, Benner said.
Benner's office has launched an outreach campaign on social media, the city's City iLights online newsletter, face-to-face conversations at community events and direct mailings.
"Since November, residents and businesses have done quite a lot, but the more we save, the more we will have for the future," Benner said. "We're doing well, but more has to be done (to conserve water) on a statewide level. We all have to do our part."


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When logged in, you can choose up to 8 games that will be displayed as favourites in this menu.
Replaces Goblins in Skyrim with Vampires while keeping fixes from USSEP with no race edits. Some changes affect both PC as well as NPC. 3 Versions to choose from
See Description Tab
Fangs and Eyes - A Vampire Appearance Mod by Aipex8 https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/6842/?Fair Skin Complexion by HHaleyy http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/51602/?
This mod is not opted-in to receive Donation Points


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Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Best Zoo Parks, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust Address
Filed under World's Best Zoos
Durrell Wildlife Park makes a visit to Jersey more than worthwhile.
An impressive learning experience, a day of amazing sounds and sights, and of raising awareness. Here you will witness animals on the brink of extinction and learn about the effort Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust makes to educate the public.
Preserve biodiversity through contribution to captive breeding programs. This is likely the only place you'll ever get to see a blue iguana, a Lesser Antillean iguana or a panther chameleon.
Come face-to-face with the critically endangered gorilla, check out the acrobatic antics of the white-handed gibbon, be intrigued by the many cute species of tamarin and marmoset, or bask in the sun with the ring-tailed lemurs.
Additionally, there are many rare tropical birds here, ranging from the tiny Mauritius olive white-eye to rare peacock and crane species, up to and including exotically coloured hornbills, bald ibises and several flamingo species.
Finally, you can get way too close to several poison frogs in striking, bright colours and see several other amphibians.
In any case, be sure to drop by Café Firefly, where you'll enjoy locally-grown produce in a modern ambience. For more information, visit the website of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Address: La Profonde Rue-JE35BP Trinity, Jersey, Channel Islands
United Kingdom
Telephone number: 01534860000
Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust opening hours
Durrell Wildlife Park is opened from 9:30am to 6pm in Summer season and from 9:30am to 5pm in Winter season.


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Zum Tiroler Adler pharmacy - Kufstein
A good pharmacy has a large stock of medicines, so that anyone who is sick and comes in with a prescription from the doctor can get the right medication as quickly as possible. But there's even more to it than that... Offers for health and wellness. Medicinal plant teas, proven home remedies, our Tyrolean house specialities, homeopathic remedies, Bach flower essences or essential oils; we have whatever you need. Whether minerals, dietary supplements, or something to strengthen the immune system, we know which product and dose is right for you. You will also find the right product and advice for beautiful skin and a flexible body.


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A training ground for future professionals
SAE Institute has been located in Parnell since the early 1990s, and is part of a successful global network of campuses.
We offer a number of qualifications in filmmaking and audio engineering.
Our Diploma and Degree courses are approved by NZQA.
At SAE we offer:
- Electronic Music producer certificate (6 months part time) an ideal for anyone who might be interested in a basic understanding of electronic music, such as musicians or DJs
- Diploma in Audio Engineering (12 months full-time), the diploma is the foundation of any future training at SAE. With a focus on aspects of audio work for sound recording studios, post-production studios, radio-television broadcasting stations, live sound and mastering the diploma combines theory and practice in a full time course
- Diploma in Film Making (12 months full-time), the film diploma provides students with essential knowledge they will need in film industry. Film concepts are developed throughout the program. Students use individual computer workstations to develop their creative and technical skills in conjunction with a wide variety of location film equipment
- Bachelor of Recording Arts (3 years full time), this degree incorporates the Diploma in Audio Engineering but places strong focus on technology, creativity and the development of academic, practical, creative and business skills
Industry involvement & training
Because the creative media industry is constantly evolving, so are we! At SAE we are passionate about teaching using the latest technology and the expertise of lecturers that have all spent years in the music and audio business.
As a degree granting institution, our staff are continuously developing and researching in their respective fields. SAE also utilizes industry professionals and representatives on a regular basis by engaging them as guest lecturers, or through enabling students to produce real work for professional clients.
When you learn you can be assured of access to:
- Top quality equipment
- Personal studio time
- Lecturer interaction and assistance.
At SAE we combine theory and practice with assignment criteria that recreate work place scenarios, where students are responsible for managing projects within specific criteria and deadlines, with the help and assistance of our staff.
Our qualifications are designed to develop the independence and initiative that are valued in both the film and audio industry. Our goal is to ensure that when you leave SAE you will have the right combination of theory and practical skills for success in the real world.
Secondary school initiative
At SAE we offer a Secondary School Initiative to give young people the opportunity to experience working in a recording studio or on a film set so that they can get a feel for what we do before deciding on a career path.
Groups of year 12 or 13 students have the opportunity to visit the SAE Institute studios and produce a musical piece or film scene.
Under the guidance of SAE staff and current students, groups will observe and participate in the production.
Keen to know more?
We regularly hold open days. For information on future Open Days and Events click the Open Days & Events button.
If you are unable to attend one of our scheduled open days, you can book a free personal tour through student services.


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New Dungeon Loot Feature in 3.2 Patch Notes
Long ago I made my predictions about the changes that would be coming in WOW. I just didn't think that it would come so fast. For those of you who don't remember, I stated that within a year, because of the changes being made out of fear or competition, you will not recognize this game. I wouldn't be surprised if some people were dizzy with all of the changes coming into play. Finally, however, there is one that I agree with
Players will now be able to trade soulbound items with other raid or group members that were eligible for the loot. This system will work like the Item Buy Back system and allow 2 hours for players to trade an item after it has been looted. Players who choose to enchant or add gems to the item will get one last confirmation before losing the ability to trade the item.
This is a great change for both sides. For Blizzard, this helps in not having to pay GMs to deal with every mis-loot that happens in a raid, and for the players, the problem is easily solved on the spot. Even within our guild, there are times when people mistakenly choose a piece and then wish to give it to someone else, and now they can!


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Fighting Back Against Police Murder Outrage and
Resistance in Chicago & Minneapolis
Carl Dix, Representative of the Revolutionary Communist Party, co-founder of the Stop Mass Incarceration Network, will talk about outrage and resistance in the movement against police murder:
Chicago. 400 days after the execution killing of Laquan McDonald, and a day before the city was forced to release dash-cam video of the murder, the killer cop was charged with first degree murder. When the video was released, hundreds poured into the streets, blocking streets and highways, and demanding that the cop be convicted and sent to jail.
Minneapolis. Following the cold-blooded murder of Jamar Clark, face down and hand-cuffed when the cops shot and killed him, people in Minneapolis have been fighting non-stop for justice. Thousands have marched, blocked the highway, and occupied the lobby of the police station. Dozens have been arrested, and the occupation encampment was recently attacked by white supremacists, who shot five protesters.
Ousmane Sembéne has been called the Father of African Cinema. "Sembéne!" tells the story of the self-taught novelist and filmmaker who fought a life-long battle to give African stories to Africans.
Born in Senegal, he was part of a post-colonial artistic movement that rejected the dominance of the colonizers' culture and insisted on telling their own stories in their own language. A fearless spokesperson for the marginalized, he wrote books and made films in the indigenous languages of the country.
The documentary opens in Los Angeles this weekend. We'll talk with two very special guests about the film, and the life and work of Sembéne.
Samba Gadjigo, co-director of "Sembéne!', is the world's foremost expert on Sembéne's life and work, and author of Sembéne's official biography. He is professor of African Studies and French at Mt. Holyoke College.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o is a Kenyan writer and intellectual. He is one of the most prolific and beloved writers in the world today. His work includes novels, play, memoirs, and numerous theoretical works, in English and Gikuyu, focused on the cultural and political necessity for oppressed people to develop their own literary movement in opposition to the dominance of imperialist culture and thinking in the nations dominated by imperialism. Ngugi has dedicated his life and his work to opposing imperialism and all of the oppression it brings down on the people of the world.
Learn More: Home


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The SolidWorks Education Edition includes all resources needed for teaching 3D mechanical CAD, design validation, and data management.
Gain competitive advantage in the engineering or industrial design job markets with SolidWorks skills. The SolidWorks Student edition is perfect for students who want to sharpen their skills outside of the classroom. Join other Solidworks users in discovering the power of innovation and design.
Who can purchase Solidworks Student Edition:
|Get a Trial and begin your SolidWorks adventure
|Get a quote for Education Products now
Be the Best-in-class Design and Manufacturing solution provider
Provide innovative design and manufacturing solution and services to ensure our industries and education institution fulfill their design and manufacturing needs faster, better and in a cost effective manner


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Greg "Craola" Simkins Chats To The Idle Man →
New interview on theidleman.com:
In our Best Of The Web series we chat to creative talent from all over the world, gaining tips on fashion and style from designers, journalists, musicians and more. This week we're with artist Greg "Craola" Simkins, whose gained world wide esteem with his majestic artwork.
Inspired by everything from videos games to graffiti, Greg's intricate and mystic artwork combines familiar images of our childhood story books with twisted and sometimes sinister additions. Hands hide locks into underwater mazes, birds carry serpents with glowing eyes to unknown lands, and steampunk style worlds rage battle against one another.
We're not the only ones impressed with his unique style, and Greg's had a success artistic career, working with various companies and bands as an illustrator, and having his work displayed in countless museums around the world. We caught up with him to hear what he's been up to recently and his views on men's fashion and style. Read the full interview here.


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It's already Sunday afternoon and my day has consisted of doing nothing. No wait… I took a mid morning nap. This may be followed by a mid afternoon nap. Had a very impromptu weekend. Nothing planned but very nice indeed. Got a call on Thursday from my friend Christine in Tucson wanting to know if I would be up for a sleep-over! So Friday night was spent eating pizza, wings and fruit punch! Nom, Nom, Nom. We both crashed early and slept in late. Wonderful way to start a weekend. We ended up going to lunch with Mr. R at Chino's and then a quick trip to beer heaven. Then we headed over to Mr. R's because he gave me his old tv. It's the biggest TV I have ever had and I am still not sure how I am going to get this thing hooked-up. Not really worried about it at the moment. I can't help but feel that I just received some consolution prize for all the crap I was put through on his behalf. Oh well, he wasn't alone in this mess so if I get a big TV out of it, bully for me.
With the TV safely in my apartment I headed off to pick up Nikki from the airport, back home to shower and get ready for sushi and Eat Pray Love with Nikki. I enjoyed the book so much more but I was not too disappointed in the movie. I got an entirely different message from the movie than the book. And a new desire to try this dish. Oh does it look yummy! Today, well, totally lazy day. I was up early due to an upset tummy and having the history of Twin Moons removed from my life once and for all. (Yea, after stepping down in March, the new seneschal FINALLY picked up the baronial records!) I am sure I should have a bath…after my nap I think.


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When inventory ownership occurs under FOB terms/
The term FOB is an abbreviation of free on board. If goods are shipped FOB destination, transportation costs are paid by the seller and title does not pass until the carrier delivers the goods to the buyer.
These goods are part of the seller's inventory while in transit. If goods are shipped FOB shipping point, transportation costs are paid by the buyer and title passes when the carrier takes possession of the goods. These goods are part of the buyer's inventory while in transit. The terms FOB destination and FOB shipping point often indicate a specific location at which title to the goods is transferred, such as FOB Denver. This means that the seller retains title and risk of loss until the goods are delivered to a common carrier in Denver who will act as an agent for the buyer. The rationale for these determinations originates in agency law, since transfer of title is conditioned upon whether the carrier with physical possession of the goods is acting as an agent of the seller or the buyer.
Related Courses


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Rio (song)
"Rio" is the seventh single by Duran Duran. It was first released as a single in Australia, in August 1982, followed by a UK release on 1 November 1982.
12-inch vinyl single
|Single by Duran Duran
|from the album Rio
|August 1982 (Australia)
1 November 1982 (UK)
2 April 1983 (US)
|January–February 1982
at AIR Studios, London
|Colin Thurston
|Duran Duran singles chronology
|Music video
|"Rio" on YouTube
The song was the fourth, final, and title single lifted from the band's album of the same name, and was edited for its release. It was issued worldwide in October 1982 and became a Top 10 hit in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #9 on 11 December 1982.[2]
"Rio" was released as the third single from the album in Australia, and debuted on the Kent Music Report top 100 singles chart dated 6 September 1982.[3]
The song did not attract much notice in the United States upon its initial global release, but received very early airplay at highly influential KROQ in Los Angeles as early as 2 August 1982.[4] After the band's breakthrough hit "Hungry Like the Wolf" stormed MTV and scaled the American charts in December 1982, radio programmers paid closer attention to the catchy melody and insistent, intricate bass line of "Rio", and Capitol Records reissued the single in March 1983 to great success as the band's 2nd US top 20 hit (peaking at #14).
- 1 Background
- 2 Music video
- 3 Chart performance
- 4 B-sides, bonus tracks and remixes
- 5 Formats and track listing
- 6 Notes
- 7 Other appearances
- 8 Covers, samples, & media references
- 9 Goldfinger version
- 10 Nicole Scherzinger version
- 11 Moby version
- 12 References
- 13 External links
The keyboard pattern for "Rio", well-known among Duran Duran fans and synthesizer enthusiasts, was produced by an arpeggiator—a tool which can play the individual notes in a chord in a chosen pattern. It was once rumoured that the synthesiser used to achieve this was a Roland Jupiter-8. However, it has been said by Nick Rhodes to actually be a Roland Jupiter-4 using the random mode on the arpeggiator with a Cmaj7 chord.[5]
Rhodes created the unusual sound at the beginning of the song by throwing several small metal rods onto the strings of a grand piano in the studio. The recorded sound was then reversed to create the intro.[6] The laughter on the track was that of Rhodes' girlfriend at the time.
The song's verse was musically inspired by their earlier song "See Me, Repeat Me" and the chorus was taken from "Stevie's Radio Station", a song written by TV Eye which featured singer Andy Wickett who went on to be one of Duran Duran's early singers. The song was a favourite of Nick and John and was incorporated into Duran Duran live sets during Wickett's tenure.[7]
The tenor saxophone solo was performed by Andy Hamilton, who has also worked with Wham! and Elton John amongst others.
Music videoEdit
Director Russell Mulcahy filmed the vivid music video for "Rio", which featured iconic images of the band in Antony Price suits, singing and playing around on a yacht speeding over the crystal blue Caribbean Sea. The yacht in the music video was the Eilean.[8].[9] Short segments show band members trying to live out their assorted daydreams, only to be teased, tormented, and made fools of by a body-painted vixen Reema Ruspoli.
The music video was shot over the course of three days in May 1982 on the island of Antigua.[10] The yacht scenes were filmed on the bay at English Harbour, the beach scenes at Miller's Beach, and the segment featuring the raft at Shirley Heights. Some close ups were filmed later on the Solent due to a film processing error.
Director Mulcahy originally planned a scene where the band members got chased off the island by people wielding guns, but didn't have enough film stock left to shoot this. He had to borrow a tourist's camera to shoot the part of Nick Rhodes playing a saxophone on a raft. When the video was featured on VH1's Pop-Up Video, it mentions that after the video was completed, Mulcahy, Simon LeBon, and John Taylor went for a swim and were inches away from sharks when the yacht captain yelled for them to get out of the water. Nick Rhodes was reportedly seasick during the filming, and has often said "I hate boats unless they're tied up and you're having cocktails on them."[11]
While in Antigua, the band also filmed a video for the album track "Night Boat", which appeared with "Rio" and nine other videos on the Duran Duran video album released in 1983.
Chart performanceEdit
Weekly chartsEdit
Year-end chartsEdit
B-sides, bonus tracks and remixesEdit
There are 13 different official mixes of "Rio", many of which are edits of the album version or Kershenbaum remix with fades in various places.[17]
The B-side of the November 1982 original United Kingdom single was "The Chauffeur (Blue Silver)", an acoustic version of the moody album track. The B-side of the April 1983 reissue in the United States was an upbeat remix of "Hold Back The Rain". The B-side of the 12" single included a remix of "My Own Way".
In 1998 Recall 22 (Dan Bewick and Matt Frost)[18] released three new promo mixes of "Rio" in France.[19]
Complete list of versionsEdit
- "Rio" (Album Version) – 5:33
- "Rio" (Single Version) – 4:40
- "Rio" (Night Version) – 6:46
- "Rio" (Part 1) – 5:11
- "Rio" (Part 2) – 5:29
- "Rio" (Part 2) (Full 7'' Mix) – 5:02
- "Rio" (US Album Remix) – 5:24
- "Rio" (US Edit) – 4:44
- "Rio" (US Single Version) – 4:34
- "Rio" (US Single Remix) – 3:57
- "Rio" (UK promo Single Version) – 4:57
- "Rio" (Brazilian Edit) – 3:36
- "Rio" (Video Version) – 5:03
Additional information "Rio" versionsEdit
- Rio "Single Version" was made available on CD, being part of a Japanese promo compilation released in 1988: I Don't Want Your...Special DJ Copy.
- Rio "Night Version" is also known as "12 Inch Dance Version" or "Carnival Version".
- Rio "Part 2 (Full 7'' Mix)" was originally released on the Japanese EP of "Carnival" in 1982. This version is also available on "a Japanese-only 2CD compilation of four previously released EP's: "Nite Romantics", "Carnival", "Tiger Tiger" & "Strange Behavior".
- Rio "US Album Remix" appears on the promotional American 12" single for "Rio" and is also labelled as "Night Version" on an American split promo 12", being part of "Special Extended Selections".
- Rio "US Edit" appears on the "Greatest" CD.
- Rio "US Single Remix" was released on the US 7" reissue of Rio in 1983 and was remixed by David Kershenbaum.
- Rio "UK Promo Single Version" was released as a "one-sided promo only" in 1982.
- "Brazilian Edit" can be found on a Brazilian 4 track 7" EP.
Formats and track listingEdit
7": EMI. / EMI 5346 United KingdomEdit
- "Rio" – 4:40
- "The Chauffeur (Blue Silver)" – 3:48
- Track 1 is the "Single Version".
- Track 2 is the "Early Version" and is a shorter acoustic version of the moody album track.
7": EMI. / EMI 5346 United KingdomEdit
- "Rio" – 5:11
- "The Chauffeur (Blue Silver)" – 3:48
- Track 1 is "Rio" (Part 1).[verification needed]
Two different versions of this single were available in the UK, both with identical sleeves and labels.
12": EMI. / 12 EMI 5346 United KingdomEdit
- "Rio" (Part 2) – 5:29
- "Rio" (Part 1) – 5:11
- "My Own Way" – 4:34 (a.k.a. "Carnival remix")
7": Harvest. / B-5175 United States (1982)Edit
- "Rio" (US Single version) – 4:34
- "Hold Back the Rain" (Album version) – 3:59
7": Capitol. / B-5215 United States (Reissue 1983)Edit
- "Rio" (US Single remix) – 3:57
- "Hold Back the Rain" (US Album remix) – 6:32
CD: Part of Singles Box Set 1981-1985 boxsetEdit
- "Rio" (Part 1) – 5:11
- "The Chauffeur" (Blue Silver) – 3:48
- "Rio" (Part 2) – 5:29
- "My Own Way" (Carnival remix) – 4:34
- US Album/Single remixes done by David Kershenbaum.
Other appearancesEdit
Apart from the single, "Rio" has also appeared on:
- Carnival (1982)
- Arena (2004 reissue only)
- Decade (1989)
- Night Versions: The Essential Duran Duran (1998)
- Greatest (1998)
- Strange Behaviour (1999)
- Singles Box Set 1981-1985 (2003)
Covers, samples, & media referencesEdit
Cover versions of "Rio" have been recorded by Goldfinger, Bodyjar, Cranial Screwtop, Nip Drivers and Nicole Scherzinger.
Nirvana performed the song "Rio" during the Hollywood Rock show in Brazil, on 16 January 1993, and Barenaked Ladies played "Rio" live in Calgary on 1 April 2004, among other occasions. The song was also played acoustically on the 2007 Ships and Dips Cruise.
Green Day played it live briefly on their 21st Century Breakdown World Tour.
The music video for the Fountains of Wayne song "Mexican Wine" is partially based on the video for "Rio."
Parts of the song were sung by Santa Claus on "Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" South Park episode, after he bemoaned how there were hundreds of songs about Jesus Christ, but only about 4 about him.
It has been referenced in the lyrics of the 2005 UK #1 hit by Arctic Monkeys, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor": "Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand". The Killers also referenced the song in "On Top".
In 2008, for their video "Never Too Late", Hedley released a shot-for-shot remake of the video.
"Rio" was also used for and against former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, as a chant sung 'His name is Rio, Rio, Rio Ferdinand'.
Darren Criss as Blaine Anderson and Matt Bomer as Cooper Anderson covered this song as a mash-up with another Duran Duran song, "Hungry Like the Wolf" in the third season of Glee. Also, during the iTunes trailer for the film Alpha and Omega, both songs can be heard (except the song, "Hungry Like The Wolf," is the instrumental part at the beginning of the song).
California indie rock band Rogue Wave performed a version of the song in July 2013 for The A.V. Club's A.V. Undercover: Summer Break series.[20]
The song also appears in several music video games:
- Singstar 80's (also features the song's music video)
- Rock Band (downloadable content)
- Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore (cover version by Wavegroup)
- Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2
- Dance Dance Revolution
- Band Hero
- Rocksmith 2014
Goldfinger versionEdit
|Single by Goldfinger
|from the album Duran Duran Tribute Album
|December 1997
|CD single
|Ska punk, punk rock
|Duran Duran
|Jay Rifkin and John Feldmann
In 1997 Goldfinger brought their version of Rio out, which first appeared on a tribute album of Duran Duran, then later on the albums Spokesman and The Best of Goldfinger.
Nicole Scherzinger versionEdit
|Single by Nicole Scherzinger
|August 2008
|CD single
|A&M, Interscope
|Duran Duran
|Ron Fair, JR Rotem, Ben H. Allen
|Nicole Scherzinger singles chronology
Nicole Scherzinger (lead vocalist for the Pussycat Dolls) recorded a remixed cover of "Rio" as a promotion for Caress Brazilian body wash from Unilever.[21] The song was released to radio on 28 July 2008 and as a CD single in August 2008. The music video shows Scherzinger performing in a pink dress in front of a crowd, with flowers appearing all around her as she sings on stage.[22]
Of the cover, Duran Duran singer Simon Le Bon said "When we were first approached about Nicole doing a version of 'Rio' for this campaign, we thought it was the perfect fit. She's exotic and beautiful and embodies everything that inspired the original version. Because it's one of our signature songs very few people have covered it over the years, so it has been great for us to hear a new interpretation."[23]
Track listingEdit
2-track CD singleEdit
- "Rio (Caress Brazilian Mix)"
- "Rio (Caress Brazilian Mix)" (Instrumental)
CD single maxi jewelcaseEdit
- "Rio" (Caress Brazilian Mix)
- "Rio" (Caress Brazilian Mix) (Instrumental)
- "Rio" (dance Remix)
- "Rio" (Video)
- The making of the "Rio" (Caress Brazilian Mix)" video
Moby versionEdit
|Single by Moby
|from the album Making Patterns Rhyme
|3 June 2014
|Music download
|Modern Records
|Duran Duran
|Moby singles chronology
The song was recreated by Moby for the compilation album Making Patterns Rhyme.[24]
- ^ People Weekly, Vol. 62. Time, Incorporated. 2004. "But the big-haired lineup that gave us such '80s synth-pop hits as "Girls on Film," "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" has reunited for Astronaut, which finds the group taking creative flight again."
- ^ a b "Official Charts > Duran Duran". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ^ a b Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. Australian Chart Book, St Ives, N.S.W. p. 97. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Audio recordings of the station obtained by industry publication Radio & Records show in an archived column written by Adam Jacobson.
- ^ "Vintage Synth Explorer". Vintagesynth.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 June 2006. Retrieved 15 June 2006. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|deadurl=(help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 October 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2010. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|deadurl=(help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Long, Mark (29 May 2013). "Object of Desire: The Restored Yacht Eilean". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
- ^ Ellwood, Mark (17 October 2017). "Duran Duran video yacht rescued by luxe watch CEO". New York Post. News Corp. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
- ^ Nick Rhodes (9 November 2008). "Flashback: November 1982". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group.
- ^ Odell, Michael. "Duran Duran: In their own words Archived 2 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine". The Observer, 16 November 2003.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|deadurl=(help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 29 December 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2016. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|deadurl=(help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 463. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
- ^ "Duran Duran Rio". Ionpool.net. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Recall 22 Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Duran Duran - Rio (Recall 22 Mixes) (CDr)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Rogue Wave covers Duran Duran". Retrieved 27 July 2013.
- ^ "MSN.com - Hotmail, Outlook, Skype, Bing, Latest News, Photos & Videos". Caressbrazilian.msn.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2016. Cite uses deprecated parameter
- ^ Nicole Scherzinger - "Rio" official video from CaressBrazilian on YouTube
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2014. Cite uses deprecated parameter
|deadurl=(help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Grow, Kory (27 May 2014). "Hear Moby's Dusky Take on Duran Duran's 'Rio'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 14 November 2016.


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The Moon under Water
Sometimes I get so tired of chain restaurants; even the nice ones. There's a comfort in knowing what to expect and knowing you can get it anywhere, but I love the adventure of trying a creative, unique dining experience. There are just so few of them left!
To celebrate some birthdays, my companions and I traveled to downtown St. Petersburg to try The Moon Under Water, a British Colonial Tavern.
Located right on Beach Drive NE, nestled in with other interesting restaurants and shops, the Moon Under Water looks exactly as you would expect a British pub to look.
It's been a long time since I've dined in England, but I was pleased to see exactly the food I associate with England on the menu. There were pasties, bangers and mash, Indian curries, hummus and taboule.
My dining companions and I each ordered something different. We were each very pleased with our meals, which were plentiful, artistically presented and delicious.
Another delight came at the end of the meal. The Moon under Water provides lovely atmosphere, a unique menu and a great meal at a very affordable price!
A note of caution; call ahead for a reservation. We were there on a Tuesday and waited half an hour for a table. It was worth the wait for a unique dining experience in downtown St. Pete.


text:
A recent ABA Journal article, More Law Firm Layoffs Are Likely, Consultants Say, makes reference to Reed Smith's 45-lawyer layoff in January, 2016, and quotes consultants who project more of the same, citing a 2015 Altman Weil survey in which 65% of the respondents said equity partners weren't busy enough, and 79% said non-equity partners were insufficiently busy. One consultant, Peter Zeughauser, added that "for the last 18 months, law firms have been laying off lawyers, counseling partners to leave and closing entire offices."
This is consistent with recent reports from Citigroup and others pointing to slowing demand for legal services from traditional law firms. The common expression appearing in all these reports is "overcapacity." The dictionary definition is "excessive capacity for production or services in relation to demand."
Only two responses to overcapacity
If you're among the 65% or 79% mentioned above, the "excessive capacity" in this case is you. There are only two ways for organizations to respond to overcapacity:
Increase demand
Decrease capacity
There are exceptions, but generally speaking, law firms aren't very good at increasing demand. Their fortunes tend to rise or fall according to macro-economic trends. Even if marketing was a law firm strength, though, to make up for a 65% or 79% gap between supply and demand, they'd have to be legendarily great at it.
On the other hand, decreasing capacity is easy. All a firm has to do is pass out X number of pink slips and, "Presto!" they've balanced capacity with demand, at least for awhile. It's not surprising that firms are doing just that, and must (not "will," but "must") continue doing it as demand declines, competition intensifies, and firms lose pricing power.
(The reports acknowledge that there are firms outperforming the market. If you're at one of those, good for you. Perhaps it will continue for the remainder of your career, although it doesn't seem like the prudent way to bet.)
Unless your firm suddenly acquires and empowers legendary marketing capability, you can't count on it to create additional institutional demand sufficient to keep you busy enough that you're not vulnerable to being part of the capacity decrease. You're going to have to create demand for yourself, and you'd be wise to begin now.
Actually, you're not really going to create demand for yourself. You're going to identify and tap into logical pockets of existing and future demand for skills like yours.
Your firm can't afford to train everyone
If you're waiting for your firm to fund marketing/sales training for everyone, you're going to get good at waiting. They can't. There are too many of you, and training that works is expensive. You have two practical choices:
Learn on your own, pay attention to your attempts and learn from your mistakes, creating experience over time
Hire someone to teach you an approach that's been proved effective and help you apply that approach to your circumstances. You borrow that coach's experience to shortcut the learning process and increase the number of successes while you learn.
The do-it-yourself approach can work -- if you're willing to put in the time to identify and consume worthwhile content. For example, if you did nothing more than read every one of the roughly 700 posts in this blog's archive, you'd know more about how to generate business than virtually all the lawyers you compete with. How long would that take? Let's do the math.
The average reading speed is 300 words per minute. These posts average about 500-700 words, or about two or three minutes reading time per post. Let's call it three, which would mean 2100 minutes, or 35 hours, to consume the entire (searchable) archive. If you spend an hour each Saturday and each Sunday doing that, by mid-year you'll be hugely knowledgeable about every aspect of marketing and selling. If, during that same span, you spend another half-hour each weekday applying what you learned, by mid-year you'll be very good at doing it.
If you decide you'd rather have help with this, whether the training/coaching cost will be paid by your firm or you, you shouldn't see it as Option 1 "or" Option 2, but as Option 1 "and" Option 2, where the coaching help is in addition to self-learning.
Visualize this process as a funnel with three segments, such as shown below:
Education: Raise awareness, understanding; enable recognition of deficiency
Training: Skill acquisition; learn by doing (just as athletes or musicians train by practicing)
Coaching: Human guidance to apply what you learned otherwise
In the Internet era, education is free. There is no shortage of published material available to anyone who wants to learn. Training can be free, too. It's called trial-and-error. It's inefficient, but it works. Simply go out and make an attempt to use what you learned instead of sticking with old habits. Or, training can be at modest cost, using simulation technology to accelerate the trial-and-error virtually, at zero risk.
Coaching should be reserved for help applying--to specific situations--new principles and approaches to strategic decisions and to tactical opportunities. Too many lawyers waste too much of their firms' or their own money paying coaches to fulfill the first part of the learning mission, i.e., teaching them what they can learn on their own.
Whether you choose the DIY approach or decide to use a coach, get started now. The macro forces that cause law firm leaders to "right-size" their firms periodically aren't going away, and it'll always come down to, "Are you busy enough?"
Mike O'Horo
Have you ever used a coach? If not, or if your previous experience with one was unsatisfying or left you skeptical about their value, schedule a complimentary 30-minute call with me to get concrete, practical advice about how to progress with a real opportunity or challenge you face now.


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According to Twitter, they are working on a handful of changes to improve the experience and interface for their users. Their developers and programmers are working on a few things that will be rolling out in the coming year.
The biggest news is the changes they're making to increase the available character count. You may have heard that @names will no longer be counted against you. This will allow conversations to be conducted with greater ease. Another change coming is that media attachments - photos, GIFs, videos and polls - will not be counted. These links are often 20+ characters and can make phrasing a tweet difficult. These two changes alone could open up 40+ characters per tweet.
Twitter veterans are used to adding a period before the @ symbol so that the tweet will go out to their entire list of followers instead of just the person the tweet is aimed at. Now, this will no longer be an issue. As mentioned before, you can also Retweet your tweet to make sure it is seen by your followers.
Have you heard of #Stickers for Twitter? Millions of pictures are shared daily on Twitter, as well as other platforms, and now Twitter has a way to spice up your images with just a touch or two on your smart phone. These are a great way to show what you're thinking, feeling or even a cause you want to support. The coolest part of this new feature is that, depending on the stickers you choose, your tweet becomes searchable in a whole new timeline. This timeline is full of the other photos users all over the world used that same sticker in.
Keep an eye out for another video feature, coming soon. When you tap on a video or vine to watch it, you'll automatically be brought into full screen mode, with suggestions of other videos you may like at the bottom.