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VOIPFUTURE and Simac Build on Partnership
VOIPFUTURE, Hamburg, and Simac Business Management Solutions, 10th April 2014. Vodafone Netherlands have selected Simac and VOIPFUTURE for the deployment of their continuous quality improvement initiative. Both partners came into contact during their previous work for Vodafone and continue to build on their existing partnership from additional first-class projects in Europe. The current project, which includes an array of VOIPFUTRE solutions including fixed-line and mobile monitoring tools, is shoring up Vodafone's quality initiative with the most innovative technology available in the telecommunications industry. Edwin Siebum: "Simac supply high-quality services in medium-size and large companies to improve operations. VOIPFUTURE's technology is of great value for this project and fits perfectly well to our own standards." VOIPFUTURE's state-of-the-art monitoring technology enables a new level of voice quality and service level commitments to end customers. VOIPFUTURE have deployments with fixed network, mobile and global operators. Jan Bastian, CEO VOIPFUTURE: "We are very satisfied with Simac's excellent performance as a partner and system integrator for this project. This partnership brings true value to our customers and we are looking forward to being awarded more projects together." About VOIPFUTURE Emerging Company of the Year-Award, Frost & Sullivan, 2010 "Best of Show" award at TMC's ITEXPO in Los Angeles, 2010 "Cool vendor", Gartner, 2012 "A vendor to watch", Gartner, 2012 VOIPFUTURE develop leading edge technology for monitoring and analyzing voice quality in IP networks. The VOIPFUTURE products enable communication service providers and large enterprises to control and evaluate their network performance as well as their Voice over IP service quality. Our technology provides our customers with deep insight into their networks, delivering them the root causes and not just the symptoms of performance issues. In addition, our customers are protected from impaired traffic entering their domains, by enabling voice quality assurance at the network borders. VOIPFUTURE's voice quality assurance system is an essential building block of any network management solution, providing all the information required for proactive, effective network and voice service management. The unique technology provides for an exceptional scalability making it applicable to a wide range of network environments, voice over LTE, IMS, IPX and applications such as trouble shooting, customer care, network performance, and voice SLA. Press Contacts VOIPFUTURE Michael Wallbaum Wendenstr. 4 20097 Hamburg Germany +49 40 688900121 email@example.com


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Baby led weaning is a means of introducing your baby to stable food from unique breast or bottle feeding. This action must be coordinated with swallowing, and most babies youthful than six months are just not prepared. Babies differ so much of their preferences and their readiness for solids that it is troublesome to make laborious and quick rules concerning the consistency, quantity and type of strong foods to offer. By 12 months, your child can eat many of the healthy meals that the remainder of your family is consuming, corresponding to fruits, vegetables, nuts (however as a paste to stop choking), grains, cereal, meat, fish, chicken, egg, tofu, lentils, pasta, rice and bread. Dried beans which were cooked and mashed, cottage cheese, yogurt, and mashed tofu are additionally good meat options to your child. Start with a small quantity – Don't give your baby a full serving of a highly allergenic meals on the primary feeding. After baby is three months old, you might have a schedule for him to be fed each 2 to 3 hours.
There is some (unproven so far as I know) scientific speculation that delayed introduction runs in families which have allergy symptoms and that it's the follow of delaying, not biological inheritance, that's inflicting allergic reactions to run in some households. When your child is 9 to 12 months previous and consuming quite a lot of iron-wealthy foods, he or she can start to drink pasteurized complete-fats cow's milk.
Babies exposed to 4 or more different types of strong before four months of age had risks of creating eczema 2.9 times larger than those that weren't uncovered to early strong feeding. We plan to attend till closer to 6 months (we need to start with finger meals and he's not fairly ready for that but). Health Canada recommends starting with iron-wealthy foods after which step by step introducing extra meals to your child. Complementary feeding should be timely, that means that every one infants should begin receiving foods along with breast milk from 6 months onwards." The government recommendations in Australia PDF and the U.K. mirror the WHO's recommendation. The AAP page that really recommends exclusively breastfeeding till 6 months is right here: (which is what we initially had written).
It alwaaaays occurs right around the time you're bragging to all your mates about how much your child looooves greens – ha! This is especially the case when mother and father or different family members have meals allergic reactions. Talk with your doctor about how a lot and what sources of vitamin D are right to your child. Sitting along with your child while she's eating not only prevents choking but in addition encourages social interplay and helps her study consuming. You'll additionally study what your child likes and would not like – it will fluctuate from youngster to baby! When your baby is not breastfeeding or taking formula, your doctor might suggest a vitamin D supplement. The actual quantity of meals your child eats will not be all that important, so long as he continues to take breast or bottle feedings.
When introducing strong meals that you must conscious of the potential of allergic reactions and must you be concerned about a response cease giving this meals and allow the infant more time to mature. Health guests must be aware of various behaviours and beliefs while highlighting the significance of introducing a range of foods at round 6 months.

subset: commoncrawl


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Niels' field work is over. This is a major milestone in his PhD studies, so in this blog-post you can find an interview, where I asked him few questions about grad school, his project, free time, and near future plans. Additionally, I've selected some of his (and few of my) Instagram field pictures from Bear Creek (Dubois, Wyoming). Enjoy!
Archives for 2017
Groundwater and health sessions at AGU2017
In this post you can find a list with groundwater- and health-relevant AGU 2017 sessions. You can also witness my near-frustration with choosing appropriate session for my research.
First semester at NUS
Writing a blog post about my first semester as a lecturer was on my to-do list for the last month or so... Now that the semester is over, it seems really unnecessary. Survived! And that sums it up. It was fun (see figures below), it was stressful and challenging, and it is just half of [...]


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Find new polys! CLICK HERE to go to Polyamory Connections
We are Associated with the Alternative Connections Network
The soul of panfidelity is its life-affirming spirituality - what I have called green faith and ritual. Without a green faith, the Aluna clan would have little to offer in the way of service, if we even existed at all. Because of our green faith, we feel connected to each other and supported by the universe as we work and play and do our part to create a just and sustainable world.
Green faith is a spirituality that validates all the world's religions and grounds them in the reality of Life itself. Many different faith traditions are represented within Aluna. Some of us consider ourselves Christian, others Jewish, and still others, Buddhist, Taoist, or Pagan. Many of us find nourishment in more than one tradition. What unites us in our diversity is our shared green faith. By that, I mean our shared love of Nature and trust in the universe process.
For most of human history the world has been understood from a spatial point of view. From a spatial perspective, the universe is thought of as a place. Time is understood as the ever-renewing cycles of nature within the universe. Our common language reflects and reinforces this perception even today. Human beings are said to live on Earth. Earth is understood as a planet in the Milky Way, one of more than a trillion galaxies thought to be in the universe.
Popular Western theology reflects this spatial world view. God and heaven are up. Hell is down. Both are considered places we may go to when we die. Even the biblical concept of developmental human history is understood as unfolding within a fixed and completed world. Creation is primarily thought of as a noun, a thing, an artifact made by God sometime in the past. History takes place within creation but is not itself considered the story of creation. To speak of human history as part of the story of creation is to begin thinking of the world and ourselves from an evolutionary, or time-developmental, perspective.
Scientific discoveries made during the last few centuries have gradually revealed a universe that is more like a developing super organism than it is like a place. Since its beginning some 12-15 billion years ago, the universe as a whole has been expanding, evolving, maturing. As the universe has grown, it has become increasingly complex: from simple hydrogen and helium, to galaxies, stars, and the creation of atomic elements, to the progression of life; from bacteria to primates to the evolution of human consciousness, culture, and technology. The story of the universe is the story of the development of matter and spirit from simpler to greater complexity in structure and functioning as well as to a greater variety and intensity in forms of conscious expression. The whole of human history is only the last page in this multi-volume adventure story of the universe, a story still very much in process.
From a time-developmental perspective, everything looks different. Rather than understanding God as a supreme landlord who resides off the planet and outside the universe (a spatial perspective); from an evolutionary point of view God can be understood and, more importantly, experienced as the creative Life force and Love force of the universe. Heaven and hell can be seen as states of consciousness, or nonmaterial dimensions of reality. Creation can be understood more as a verb than a noun - a process, a story, an unfolding mystery. The universe is not exactly a place or a thing; it is a being still becoming - and we are part of it! We are a part of the universe that has evolved to the extent that it can think about itself, learn its story, and co-create its own future. We are not separate beings in the universe, who live on Earth; we are a mode of being of the universe, an expression of Earth. We did not come into this world, we grew out of it - in the same way that an apple grows out from an apple tree. We are organically related to the rest of nature.
This is an awesome and wondrous thing to reflect upon! It is faith inspiring. Four billion years ago the planet Earth was molten rock. Now it sings opera and dances! It laughs and it cries! Such is the fruit of human nature and the human fruit of Nature. If we had taken time lapse photography over the last 600 million years, we would see life springing forth from the seas and the land, becoming more complex over time, and giving rise to concert halls, railroad stations, and the Internet. Now if that isn't a miracle, I don't know what is!
It is important to note here that, as far as we can tell, at no point in time during the past four and a half billion years, the age of our solar system, did anyone literally come from the outside and put anything on the planet. "God" is the inner Wisdom, the Life force, the incomprehensible Love at the heart of the process, the Great Mystery revealed in and through the universe. In the Bible, when Genesis 2:7 speaks anthropomorphically of God forming us from the dust of the ground and breathing into us the breath of life, this is a poetic, mythological, and spatial way of describing the evolutionary process I am outlining here.
To have green faith is to trust in the universe process, to have faith in the God of nature, to believe in ourselves and in time. It means aligning oneself with Ultimate Reality, i.e., Real Life, Love, and Truth. Different cultures prefer different names for Ultimate Reality. But whether I call this Mystery God, the Goddess, Brahman, Allah, the Risen Christ, the Holy Spirit, Aluna, Fate, Nature, the Universe, my Higher Power, or some other name, when I follow its leading I feel more connected and whole, and experience a deep and meaningful peace even in the midst of great difficulties. On the other hand, when I am in denial - when I ignore the signals of my body and soul, or when I scorn the Truth - I usually feel alienated and angry, and experience an inner emptiness and restlessness no matter how well things seem to be going externally.
Green faith is a spirituality grounded in an evolving, living world. Earth is not so much a planet with life on it (a spatial view), as it is a living planet - a body of which we are a part. The physical structure of the planet - its core, mantle, and mountain ranges - acts as the skeleton or frame of its existence. The soil that covers its grasslands and forests is like a mammoth digestive system. In it all things are broken down, absorbed, and recycled into new growth. The oceans, waterways, and rain function as a circulatory system that moves life-giving "blood," purifying and revitalizing the body. The bacteria, algae, plants, and trees provide the planet's lungs, constantly regenerating the entire atmosphere. The animal kingdom provides the functions of a nervous system, a finely tuned and diversified series of organisms sensitized to environmental change. Each species is a unique expression of planetary consciousness, with its own unique gifts to the body. Humanity allows the planet to exercise self-conscious awareness, or reflective thought. That is, the human enables Earth to reflect on itself and on the divine Mystery out of which it has come and in which it exists. We are a means by which Nature can appreciate its own beauty and feel its own splendor; or do tremendous violence to itself.
This shift, from seeing ourselves as separate beings placed on Earth ("The world was made for us."), to seeing ourselves as a self-reflective expression of Earth ("We were made for the world."), requires a new understanding of who and what we are. It is a shift at the deepest possible level: our identity, or sense of self.
When we look more closely at our relationship to "the environment," the need for a broader understanding of the self becomes obvious. It turns out that the environment is not "out there," separate from us. We are part of it. We are part of vast cosmological, geological, and biological cycles which are interrelated. My own body, for example, is constantly exchanging matter, energy, and information with my "environment." The atoms and molecules of my body now, what I collectively call "me," are not the same ones that made up my body a year ago. Every five days I get a new stomach lining. I get a new liver every two months. My skin is replaced every six weeks. Every year, 98% of my body is replaced. The molecules that are continually becoming "me" come from the air I breathe, the liquid I drink, and the food I eat. Before that, they were part of worms and fish, plants and trees, bacteria and other humans, and all that we eat and drink. I give out as I take in. It makes little sense, then, to overly identify with my "ego" self, for that is only a very small part of the real "me." My larger body is the body of Life itself. This is why any society that thinks it can "throw away" its garbage is a society seriously out of touch with Reality. There is no "away." The toxins and chemicals that our factories spew into the air, water, and soil end up in our bodies and in the bodies of our children, and there they accumulate and eventually contribute to cancer, AIDS, and a whole host of other diseases. Whatever we do to the environment, we do to ourselves.
We are the product of creation, not its masters. We will suffer or thrive to the degree that our bioregion and the planet as a whole suffers or thrives. But we need not despair at the enormity of the tasks before us. Indeed, we have good reason to hope. As Thomas Berry has said, "The basic mood of the future might well be one of confidence in the continuing revelation that takes place in and through the Earth. If the dynamics of the universe from the beginning shaped the course of the heavens, lighted the sun, and formed the Earth, if this same dynamism brought forth the continents and seas and atmosphere, if it awakened life in the primordial cell and then brought into being the unnumbered variety of living beings, and finally brought us into being and guided us safely through the turbulent centuries, there is reason to understanding of ourselves and our relation to this stupendous process. Sensitized to such guidance from the very structure and functioning of the universe, we can have confidence in the future that awaits the human venture."
Hope and confidence based on the sacred story of life, or based on some other life-affirming cosmology, is a mark of green faith. But such faith must be deeply integrated in the body and life of its practitioner(s) before it can produce fruit or lead to effective service and action, and this is a function of sacred ritual. Thus, an essential aspect of any panfaithful community will be sacred ritual and heart-centered celebration.
Rituals work at a level of consciousness far deeper than the merely rational and verbal level. They engage the mind, heart, feelings, body, and soul - the total being. They bond us to each other and align us with the cycles and rhythms of both our inner and outer nature. As Dolores LaChapelle states in her book, Sacred Land, Sacred Sex, "Sacred ritual takes us out of this narrow, artificial human world and opens us up to the vast unlimited world of nature - both outside, in our non-human environment, and inside, in the deeper layers of our older brains and cellular body knowledge." In ritual, we move beyond the narrow confines of our neocortex and reconnect with the Mind of the cosmos within and around us.
Sacred ritual tends to facilitate the experience of a deeper and more expansive sense of self. We identify with our smallest ego "self" when our brain waves are at a frequency known as Beta, or ordinary waking consciousness. When our brain wave state drops to Alpha, however, we naturally experience more interconnectedness with all of Life. Our sense of self expands even more in the Theta brain wave state. Strong feelings of joy, peace and contentment typically accompany these deeper states of consciousness. We feel our "self" as larger, and can experience and feel (as opposed to think about) our connection to each other and the living cosmos as a whole. Alpha and Theta states of consciousness are reached most effectively through practices like deep breathing, prayer, meditation, drumming, dancing, chanting, singing, rhythmic movement, sacred sex, and the use of symbolic gestures, incense, candles, bells, and other means of entering "sacred time and space." The effects of community generated sacred ritual are a deeper alignment and resonance with one's self at all levels of reality: family, community, bioregion, and cosmos.
No community can survive without attending to, and being grounded in, the spiritual dimensions of reality. Whatever differences exist between tribal cultures all over the world, a common chord to all is their use of ritual, and their seasonal celebrations and festivals. Anthropologists tell us that this has probably been the case for millennia. It seems that certain things can be expressed only in ritual and, for that reason, ritual is without equivalents or alternatives. That which can be expressed only in ritual is vital to the spirit of community. As individuals and communities, our health depends on sacred ritual more than we may realize.
In the Aluna clan, we celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other personal and community holy days. We also celebrate various religious, cultural, and seasonal holy days. We honor these special days in different ways, of course. No two are recognized or ritualized in the same way. Eventually, we plan to commemorate throughout the calendar year the major events of the story of the universe.
The spiritual life of any individual or community is always in flux. So it has been with Aluna. We go through seasons of being undisciplined and inconsistent. But however we're doing on any given day, or in any given month or year, our spiritual food is to be with each other in love and forgiveness, in truth, and in sacred ritual. Green faith and ritual are essential components of our panfaithful spirituality.
It is impossible to be in the space of deep communion with another, or to be in authentic community with others, without respectful communication. Respect is a basic human need, no matter what a person's age, gender, race, class, culture, or subculture. If we would create a sustainable society, nothing is more important than for us to respect differences and communicate honestly with each other.
Respect means different things to different people. What constitutes respect to one culture may differ from what another culture considers respectful. For example, among some Native Americans and Asians, it is considered disrespectful to look directly into the eyes of an elder who is addressing you. In other cultures the exact opposite is true. Differences also exist among individuals within the same culture. So if you are not sure, it's often helpful to ask a few simple questions: "What does respect mean to you? What does disrespect mean to you? What would you see, hear and feel that would let you know someone was being respectful or disrespectful?" Responses to questions such as these generally yield a wealth of useful information for those who would relate to others in a respectful manner.
Though cultural differences exist, many criteria for respect are consistent across cultures. I think most people would agree that, at the very least, "respect" means listening with full attention, accepting differences, acknowledging feelings, and gently speaking the truth. It also means no blaming, no accusing, no name calling, no commanding, no lecturing, and no sarcasm. Respectful communication is clear, clean, and compassionate.
The difficulty, of course, is that this kind of communication does not consistently happen just because we want it to. Rarely do we choose our communication patterns in the moment. More often, our responses are unconscious habits formed over many years. Without even realizing it, we absorb the dysfunctional patterns modeled for us by our families and peers. Culturally, we have neither been empowered nor encouraged to communicate honestly, directly, and clearly. Disrespectful habits of speech are not replaced by respectful habits of speech overnight, nor easily. It takes more than willpower, it takes practice - lots of practice - and a safe context in which to practice. We need to have people with whom we share a commitment to counsel and practice communication.
Over the years, the Aluna family has used several means to help us develop the habit of
communicating more respectfully. The first was the practice of internalizing and rehearsing the
following affirmations:
* "I accept myself and others right here and now, trusting that we each tend to do the best we can, given the internal and external resources available to us at the time."
* "I take full responsibility for what I am now experiencing. I act when I'm in a resourceful state and procrastinate acting when I'm not."
* "I listen carefully and curiously to those who are different from me. I affirm the differences of others while I remain faithful to the truth as I understand and experience it."
* "I feel with compassion the problems of others without getting emotionally snagged in those things that are offering them messages for their own growth. I don't need to fix, heal, or convert anyone. If needed, Life will...in Life's perfect timing."
By memorizing and rehearsing these affirmations (while driving, exercising, washing the dishes, etc.) they have become part of my everyday thinking. Because they are memorized (this is the key!), they come to mind when I most need them, often many times a day. They almost always transform my emotional state.
Affirmations such as these are useful and fruitful beliefs, not ultimate truths. Is it True that people do the best they can given what they have to work with? God only knows. All that I know is this: when I act as if it's true, for myself as well as others, I enjoy the fruit of my life. I am less impatient, judgmental, resentful, or regretful. I am more compassionate, accepting, forgiving, and understanding. So whether or not it is True, it is a very useful, fruitful belief.
Memorizing the four meditations listed above, and rehearsing them regularly, has helped us communicate more respectfully.
Another means toward this end has been our commitment to the following functional relationship agreements:
1. Each of us has the responsibility to treat each other with respect and awe.
2. Each of us has the right to speak our truth without fear or shame.
3. Each of us has the right to ask for what we want.
4. Each of us has the right to refuse or say "no" without fear or shame.
5. Each of us has the responsibility to express displeasure. (Therefore, we don't need to fear each other's internal thoughts.)
These functional relationship agreements have been very helpful, as have the affirmations, but the most effective tool we've used so far to help us relate to each other more respectfully has been our regular "family meetings." Here, adults and children alike offer appreciation to each other, confess wrongdoings without fear of punishment, express anger, resentment, or hurt feelings, peacefully resolve conflict, plan ways to have fun and serve others, and deal with all the issues common to family and community life. We have an agreed upon set of rules and a process that serve to keep us faithful to our higher ideals. They also remind us how to communicate with each other throughout the week. At the family meeting, everyone is respected. Adults and kids have equal power. Everyone is allowed to tell their truth on any topic without fear of being interrupted or criticized. Everyone's perspective is valued. Decisions are made by consensus. By practicing this kind of relating once a week, it becomes easier to do it at other times as well.
As with the other principles of panfidelity, I do not wish to give the impression that Aluna has mastered respectful communication. We haven't. But we are more respectful now than we used to be, and this is encouraging. Despite our present failings, we seem to be consistently moving in the direction of greater respect and appreciation of differences. Sometimes the going is slower than we would like, but the journey is rewarding just the same. One of the things that makes the journey so meaningful, wherever we are on the path, is the playfulness and creativity of our panfaithful life together.
Playfulness and creativity lie at the heart of the universe process and at the heart of what it means to be human. Thus, any relationship or community that would be "faithful to all" must honor the playful, humorous, and joyful side of life, and must be a channel for the ongoing creative energies of love.
Human beings are a recent evolutionary development of the unbroken process of divine creativity that began some 12-15 billion years ago in a stupendous explosion of light and energy. Creation is not something that happened once upon a time and then stopped; it is something that is still happening. As evolution continues, God's creating continues. Whenever we are guided by love or truth to bring something into existence - when we give birth to beauty in the world - we co-creatively participate in the ongoing creation of God. This is why it is important for families to nurture the time and space for artistic creativity. It is part of our deepest nature to create, to play, and to laugh. It is what makes us human and unites us with the divine. As Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
A common characteristic of all mammals is that the young are consistently playful and exploring. With adulthood, however, this curious, creative side tends to close down. Humans are a fascinating exception to this rule. We can remain playful, curious, and inventive all of our lives. What Life essentially did when it created the human was to take mammalian youth, stretch it out, and call it a species. Scientists call this "neoteny."
When children grow up in an atmosphere of love and tender touch, their natural state tends to be curious, playful, trusting, spontaneous, and creative. In the process of becoming adults in a dysfunctional world, however, we often become fearful, serious, rigid, predictable, and addicted to everything from food, drugs, and alcohol, to television, shopping, and our work. This is why virtually every religious tradition in the world teaches that the way to (enlightenment, salvation, wholeness, maturity) is to recapture the mind and heart of the child.
Humor is an essential aspect of playfulness and creativity, and a must for healthy relationships. As Patch Adams, M.D., has said, "Humor is an antidote to all ills. It forms the foundation of good physical and mental health. Humor is vital in healing the problems of individuals, communities, and societies....People crave laughter as if it were an essential amino acid. Humor and fun (which is humor in action) are equal partners with love as ingredients for a healthy life."
Though we are not always successful at it, in the Aluna clan, we try not to take ourselves too seriously. Humor is almost always welcome and appreciated. Over the years, we've discovered that a little bit of silliness can go a long way toward relieving the stresses and burdens of everyday life. When we can laugh at ourselves - at our problems, idiosyncrasies, and shortcomings - we re-enter that heavenly space of love and forgiveness, trust and acceptance, where healing and reconciliation happen.
Forward to Part 4
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Stock-car racing is actually a massive market and virtually every little boy and girl required, at-one place inside their lives, to be a race vehicle driver winning a battle. How many instances have your pals competed across the block, across the street or to the finish of the garage? The burning want to win a battle beats in the hearts of everybody at another inside their living or one place. For stock-car people, it is a 24-7 urge also have that checkered flag waved for them and to beat others. Come on the journey to spot those people have this burning within our individuals with me and perhaps not realize it. see here how you are match by several capabilities of a stock-car driver also.
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The Tulsa Artist Fellowship (TAF) recognizes excellent visual and literary artists and provides them the resources to live and work in Tulsa and contribute to its vital visual and literary art scene. The TAF provides an unrestricted stipend of $20,000, housing and workspace to visual and literary artists. The TAF encourages artists from all across the country to apply and requires all fellows to reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma for the duration of the fellowship.
The application for the 2019 class of Tulsa Artist Fellows will be available on January 1, 2018.
The applications for the 2019 Tulsa Artist Fellowships are due on March 1, 2018.
2018 Artist Fellows will be required to move into their assigned apartments on January 15, 2018.
The Tulsa Artist Fellowship is a one year fellowship with an option to apply for a modified second and third year.
For 2018, TAF will award fellowships in two categories: Visual Arts and Literary Arts.
For Visual Artists, fellowships will be awarded in Public and/or Gallery Oriented Visual Artists of all kinds.
For Literary Artists, TAF will award fellowships to writers focused on Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Graphic Novel, Young-Adult Fiction, Poetry, and Play/Screen Writing.
The TAF committee encourages applicants at all stages of their career to apply.
Public Art is defined by TAF as any type of art in which it was planned with the intention of being staged in the public domain accessible to all. Gallery Oriented Visual Art is defined by TAF as any medium or visual art that is exhibited in public or private museum, gallery or art center.
The number of Fellowships awarded will vary but the goal is to award between five and fifteen Fellowships for each category.
The Fellowship applications will be screened for eligibility by the local coordinating committee. Review of the application will be performed by a national panel of artists, art critics, curators, editors, writers, art educators and administrators.
The TAF program will use the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 as a guideline for awarding the Native American TAF. The details of this Act can be reviewed here: www.iacb.doi.gov.


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Increase Performance by Reducing Investment Costs in 5 Steps
Costs matter. Whether buying a car or selecting an investment strategy, costs are likely to be an important factor. When you buy a car, for example, the sticker price tells you approximately how much you can expect to pay. But the sticker price is only one part of the overall cost of owning a car. Sales taxes, insurance, routine maintenance costs, and the potential cost of unexpected repairs are also important. When investing in mutual funds, less familiar investment costs need to be considered for evaluating the overall cost effectiveness of a strategy.


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Red Lobster and DoorDash Expand Partnership Across North America
Orlando, Fla. — Red Lobster®, the world's largest seafood restaurant company, has expanded its partnership with last-mile logistics platform DoorDash to make delivery more accessible. Together with DoorDash, delivery will be available from more than 300 Red Lobster locations across the U.S. and Canada by mid-July.
- Published in The Latest News


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Gary Wick
Self taught artist Gary first used pastels in 1963-64 and not again until 1996 after 32 years of working as an architecture draftsman. He picked up those old pastels and started painting his favorite subjects, flowers, barns, sunsets and landscapes along with documenting works from various trips in Europe and North America with his wife Alice. He creates his paintings from the photos he has taken even from some taken in Vietnam in 1967-68, those paintings have been donated to the National Veterans Art Museum here in Chicago. His work is based on the experiences gained by making mistakes and correcting them, his art work has won many awards and he has been published something his dad said would never happen. He has gained Distinguished status as a member of the Chicago Pastel Painters.


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So for the last little while I've been trying to just be conscious of my food intake and try to eat healthy. Of course, this hasn't worked, or you wouldn't hear me constantly complaining about being in a cult led by a very manipulating breakfast sandwich. I've been trying to walk around and get exercise (one hour a day of activity, even walking, is my goal) but you know what I've realized?
The heavier you are, the harder it is to work out ie walk up stairs.
The silver lining is that getting my heart rate up is very easy, so one flight of stairs can be quite the cardio boost!
How I think I look walking up the stairs:
How I actually look:
Anywho, all this to say that I can buy carrots and grapes as much as I want, currently I cannot actually force myself to eat them. And honestly, that's what I've been trying to do on and off for years. Ideally I would eat mostly fruits and vegetables except at dinner or maybe eggs at breakfast. But so far… my will to eat other things in the moment is SO much stronger then my will to curb my appetite and eat right over time. I know its an issue with instant gratification, and instead of fighting it by appeasing it little by little, small snack by small snack, I say, KILL IT WITH FIRE.
Which leads me to intermittent fasting. No snacks (except when its actually okay to snack, not just when I'm bored or should drink water). I'll be writing more about this soon, but now you know the why behind this endeavor of mine.
Gaining control over my hunger, while giving up trying to control my snacking.


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Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first MLive.com user to add photos or videos of I BP Inc
I BP Inc is located at 1090 Chicago Rd, Troy, MI. This business specializes in Manufacturing & Industrial Supplies.


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Last night I had a resident ask me to edit her paper for a peer review. I obliged, and she brought me five notebook pages filled with blue ink. She told me the prompt was "A Life Changing Experience", and I rolled my eyes. The prompt was so overdone, and usually the stories describe the heart breaking experience of the death of a dog or break up.
I began reading, and it was clear she was fresh out of high school. I began marking her paper up with pink highlighter with her eyes intently looking on. I explained to her that oct of what I would write would be questions or sentence restructuring. I went back to the paper, and the story began.
When she was six years old, her brothers, herself, and her mother was in a car accident. Her mom didn't make it. They were placed with their grandparents, who were not the most upstanding people. Her grandfather was addicted to several drugs, was an alcoholic, beat the children, and cheated on his wife multiple times. Needless to say, it was not a good environment. Her older cousin began molesting her, and she tried committing suicide when she was 7. When her school finally intervened after noticing the bruises and being alerted of the attempted suicide, she was placed in foster homes, separate from her brothers. The foster homes made it clear that she was only there for the money. They told her she was ugly and worthless, and continued to abuse her. She tried to take her life again when she was 15. A few months later, her big brother was stabbed 27 times at a party, and she held him in her arms as he died. A year after that, her little cousin was shot in a drive-by shooting.
And somehow, this girl managed to make it to college.
Somehow, this girl survived.
I handed her the marked up paper, she took it, and ran out the door while saying thank you. And then I huddled up in a little ball and cried for her. I cried because I am so selfish and undeserving. There are times when I think my life sucks. There are times when I think to myself "How the hell did I get through that hell?". And there are moments like these that make me realize what I went through wasn't hell. It was heaven compared to what she went through. There are times when I feel like I deserve so much more, and then stories like these pass through my life and puts me right back in my place.
This girl deserves so much more than I ever will.


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League Announces Dates and Times of NLL Finals
May 14, 2018 - National Lacrosse League (NLL) - Rochester Knighthawks News Release
The National Lacrosse League has released NLL Finals dates after the conclusion of the East and West Division Finals. The NLL Finals will feature the Saskatchewan Rush and the Rochester Knighthawks in a best-of-three series.
Game One of the Finals is slated to take place at the home of the highest remaining seed, the Saskatchewan Rush, on Saturday, May 26 at 9:30 p.m. ET. The Knighthawks will host Game Two on Saturday, June 2 at 8:00 p.m. at Connors & Ferris Field at The Blue Cross Arena.
Tickets to Game Two are available by calling the Knighthawks office at (585) 454-4295 or by going online to www.knighthawks.com/Finals.
The full NLL Finals schedule can be found below:
2018 NLL Finals
Game 1 at Saskatchewan
Saturday, 5/26 at 9:30 p.m. ET
Game 2 at Rochester
Saturday, 6/2 at 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 at Saskatchewan (if necessary)
Saturday, 6/9 at 9:30 p.m. ET
All playoff games will be broadcast live on NLLTV for subscribers, and available on-demand 24 hours after each game. The NLL Finals will also be simulcast via Twitter.
• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 14, 2018
- NLL Sets Finals Schedule - Saskatchewan Rush
- Fan Choice Award Winners Announced - Toronto Rock
- League Announces Dates and Times of NLL Finals - Rochester Knighthawks
- NLL Sets Finals Schedule - NLL
- Commissioner Sakiewicz Named Mission Speaker for Annual LLS Executive Breakfast - NLL
- Rush Eliminate Roughnecks - Calgary Roughnecks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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Emeric started Agorapulse in 2011 with his business partner Benoit after pivoting several times. Since then they have taken their business from €0 to over €245k in MRR. Besides some angel investment from friends and family and a small seed round (approx €500k in total), Agorapulse was completely bootstrapped. Emeric highlights that the keys to success were "hard work, creativity and persistence".
Using Facebook Ads to Convert Free Trials and Paying Customers
On their growth journey, Agorapulse tested many marketing tactics including a thorough exploration into the RIO of paid social media ads. Some key learnings they observed were:
- They managed to get free trial sign ups from between $10 and $25 per user
- Paying customers from anywhere between $80 to $500
- It's possible to pay far beyond $500 with no paying customers to show for it
- If costs per click (CPC) are $3-5 campaigns become too unprofitable
- Free trials at $40-50 dollars are unprofitable
- With retargeting it's possible to get new customers for $200 to $300
- Good results may occur from countries where CPC is very low, these involved countries in South America, North Africa and the Middle East
- Advertising to Europe, North America and Asia (especially Japan and South Korea) is quite expensive. Whilst ads in Mexico could be 20 Cents per click, the same campaign and audience in the US is likely to be ten times more, at $2 per click.
As you can see from the above paid advertising can be costly. In general Agorapulse haven't found advertising to provide consistent RIO for them. Ernoult's view is that if you have a brand that's seen as 'sexy' on social media, you may experience much better results with paid ads. However, Social Media Marketing platforms are not really seen as such.
"The challenge to target Facebook users is difficult because you are trying to find a tiny proportion of users and trying to isolate them". Ernoult has found paid targeting to be outrageously expensive and doesn't work very well. For instance, the adwords CPC for 'social media management software' was around $8 dollar per click, which was never a workable cost for Agorapulse.
Taking this knowledge forward, tests may produce workable results for you but it's critical to keep an eye on your campaigns to avoid high costs with little returns. The key here is to identify the breakpoint at which campaigns become unprofitable so you can stop your losses. Of course you'll need to calculate this based on your Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).
Retargeting produces much better results but it's capped by your traffic. This is because you can only retarget the number of people who actually visit your site. So any activity to boost your traffic, particularly of the organic evergreen variety works well to support your retargeting efforts. Agorapulse's retargeting efforts are as follows:
- They can gain new customers with $200 to $300 each. Whilst Agorapulse's monthly ARPU is $130, this can provides profitability after 2-3 months. This is considered okay but not great in terms of profit feedback.
- Agorapulse's website receives approximately 300,000 visits per month which is pretty good for b2b software but low for a retargeting audience and is exhausted pretty quickly. At this level they can spend $2,000 to $3,000 per month to gain approximately 10-15 customers.
Social Media Marketing Tactics for Startups
Agorapulse therefore invest more to increase their website traffic. Ernoult explains, "you have to create your own audiences. If you are targeting agencies like we do, it's difficult to create that as a Facebook audience. So it's better to run your own campaigns attracting that audience to your website and then retargeting them on Facebook".
In doing this Ernoult has seen the value in tests and is always testing social media campaigns to identify areas that show results. Agorapulse run at least 3 tests per month, investing at least $5oo bucks or more and a part time member of staff dedicated to these campaigns. This provides much needed insight that informs how to use their marketing budget.
Use Evergreen Content that Compounds Over Time
Ernoult firmly states, "There is no question that the only things you should be doing when you are starting your marketing efforts for a B2B startup are things that compound over time"
A clever trick Agorapulse hit on was to identify all the highest ranking blog posts for 'social media management software' and contact the owners of those blogs, offering to update and refresh the posts, do all the work and add themselves to the posts. For example, a post may be list the top 5 or 6 social media management software platforms. Whilst some of these posts may be outdated, the owner often welcomes the offer to update the post with new and fresh content, whilst having a new one included.
Some didn't respond but Ernoult persisted until his request was accepted and the results really increased Agorapulse's traffic. then you are in that post with their keywords. Guest posting. Long term strategy with effective results.
When producing content you need to change your strategy and revisit your options all the time. Things Agorapulse did 3 years ago don't work anymore. Things they tried one year ago are starting not to work now too. It's because the market changes quickly, especially for SaaS social media and the channels to reach people are changing, evolving and they get saturated.
Using Creativity in Your Marketing
Have you reached your limit on SEO? Can you focus further? Here's where creativity, new ideas, and test can really help you. Groove, a helpdesk software company, started documenting their journey (one of the first to do this) about how they grew from $0 to $100k MRR… they're now at $10m.
For other SaaS founders in their target audience it was a revelation to read this content, it was information they all wanted to know. Now, many SaaS companies produce this type of content, so the concept is not as effective anymore. But Groove started something new and clever and the results were very effective for them.
Tips and tricks content has reached it's peak too, so Agorapulse regularly brainstorm to find new content they can produce. They're currently trying to find out if they can provide accurate ROI data on the spend of social media marketing. Though many people want to know, this is a problem noone has really found the answer to. So Agora Pulse are setting out to do this in their blog. And example of this type of post may include topics such as 'Do Facebook hashtags get more reach? We have spent $x, carried out the following experiments and here are our results'.
Agorapulse are in a unique position to carry out these tests. As experts in social media, with a budget and resource to dedicate the sufficient expenditure of approximately $15,000 per month. Noone else seems to be testing this out and Ernoult is keen to be able to reach out to people and show off their exciting new content. It's experiments and content such as this that have had Agora Pulse's blog being named as one of the 10 best social media blogs in the world.
Reflections on Building a Bootsrapped SaaS Business
"It's not one things that's going to make your business, it's hundreds of things built over consistent effort, it takes hard work and persistence to succeed so don't pay attention to fancy stories you hear about other businesses or look for a silver bullet, which I assure you doesn't exist".
Ernoult explains, "instead focus on the consistent effort. Small wins, one at a time, that build up over time to create good results. Keep going if it's moving up and to the right, no matter how slowly it may be happening".
Links to Reference Material
9 compelling reasons not to raise VC money for your startup


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How Does YouTube Encode Video Uploads and What Codec Should You Use?
If you're working to build a popular video channel, you need to do everything you can to stand apart from the competition. It's essential that your videos are smooth, professional, and look great on YouTube. One way to make sure everything looks great is to use the right codec to upload your videos. Keep in mind that YouTube has more than a billion users and reaches more people in the United States — just on mobile — than any television network. So you're reaching a lot of potential viewers any time you upload a new video.
What is a Codec and Why Does it Matter?
According to MUO, a codec "is an encoding tool that processes video and stores it in a stream of bytes." Video files are extremely large, which makes them unwieldy to upload and store. Codecs reduce the size of the rule and then expand it again when it is going to be viewed.
How do Codecs Affect Video Quality?
Codecs that aren't suited for the type of video you're uploading could cause unfortunate effects in the video itself that take away from what you're trying to display. This happens when you use a codec that uses lossy compression. Lossy compression means that the video quality isn't as high as the original — but it can still be suitable for your audience. The images can be more blurry, especially when there's a lot of motion. There might be odd shapes or artifacts in the video. In general, it won't look quite as good as the video you shot did. It will, however, usually upload and download more quickly because of the smaller file size.
Lossless compression is the other option — but it's not viable for YouTube. The files are too large to store and share through the site. Don't despair, though. No current widely-available method of streaming video at home supports truly lossless compression. While some codecs and containers come close, YouTube is still only able to stream them at a certain speed, which means that it isn't practical to wait days for a video to upload when the output for the viewer will still look the same.
The trick is to make sure you use the best format available for your video that is compatible with what YouTube supports.
How Does Compression Work?
Compression essentially looks for places in video frames that matches places in other frames and then deletes those. That's one reason why fast-moving videos often have blurry places or artifacts after compression is performed. This is one reason why compression methods and codecs are especially important for people who make very quick videos — like video game replays — to pay attention to.
YouTube Codecs
YouTube uses a specific set of codecs for their videos. Using the same ones may offer a benefit when it comes to your video quality. However, YouTube doesn't include which codecs it uses in its tutorials — instead, some people have found out in other ways that what they upload isn't always the same file that's stored. For example, people often use a free video downloader such as Freemake to store copies of YouTube videos, you can get a copy if you go to their official website landing page — and they don't automatically always download in the same file format that you uploaded them. That's one clue that you might not be using the supported codec and container.
YouTubers have determined that YouTube uses the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC and VP9 formats. In most cases, H.264 is the best codec to use to encode your videos. VP0 is sometimes used for 4K videos. Certain other codecs may be used to encode videos from old, uncommon formats, too. But in general, it's best to go with H.264.
How Does YouTube Encode My Videos?
YouTube encodes your videos so that every video on its site can play on every type of device that can access it. If your video is optimized for mobile, it might not look great on a desktop computer. Quality is an issue for YouTube and they go to great lengths to provide viewers with a cohesive experience.
YouTube transcodes all videos into video streams that can play quickly when someone clicks to watch. This doesn't mean that all videos have the same quality, though. The quality depends on what quality your video is to begin with. It's fine to go with a higher quality video with a file like ProRes or uncompressed HD video.
YouTube also changes each video you upload so that it can play in lower qualities in addition to the highest quality available. To save data or to make the video stream quicker, some people may choose to watch videos in lower quality than you upload. YouTube makes that possible with every video uploaded to the site.
A basic understanding of codecs can make it easier for you to deliver a great experience to every one of your viewers. Using the H.264 codec when you create your videos can create a better experience not only because it's what YouTube uses but because you'll know the entire time what the final product will look like. All you have to worry about then is creating engaging videos that your viewers will love, comment on, and give thumbs ups to.
The post How Does YouTube Encode Video Uploads and What Codec Should You Use? appeared first on SpyreStudios.


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Transcribed from: Comedy CentralCast:
Transcribed by: Matt Morrison (firstname.lastname@example.com)
- Kevin- Bobby the Pimp
- Scott- Maudre
- Dave- Joycelyn
Kevin: [loudly] Thank you ladies for the great sex! And so reasonably priced!
Passerby: Yeah, right! I don't think so!
Scott: Faggot!
Dave: It's me, it's me. I'm off.
Scott: Don't blame yourself. I hate it when you do that...
Kevin: [loudly] Thank you ladies for the great sex! And so reasonably priced!
[The next two lines are said together and it is difficult to make out what is said as they begin talking. It could be just sounds to sound like arguing...]
Scott: [something unintelligible] No, I think....I think it's your fault Rudy!
Kevin: Don't talk back to me whore! Don't talk back....
[Kevin makes various bitch-slapping gestures as the three walk off]


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Adding an extra bit of sass to my outfit with Skinnydip
Jacket: Vintage Versace via EtsyUK | Top: Primark | Skirt: Warehouse | Belt: Topshop | Bag: Skinnydip London | Boots: Zara via Depop
I shot this look a few weeks ago, on a girls day out with my best babes Abs and Megs. We went for a laavly brunch at Bills (standard), had a good ole catch-up and then mooched around Hoxton Square - the perfect Sunday afternoon.
Totally felt like Cher Horowitz in this suede-on-suede combo and Zara knee high boots. With an added bit of sass thanks to my new Skinnydip London Bee Clutch Bag.
The babes at Skinnydip have featured me as their 'Blogger of the Month' - check out my Q&A over on their blog!


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|RC Cars and Trucks
Remote Control Boats
Buy the fast remote control boats to race, or the mini speed boats to just play with friends in your swimming pool!
Remote Control Gas Boats
Powered by nitro engines, these gas powered remote control boats can reach speeds of 30+ mph! Perfect if you love speed and live near a lake or pond.
The two models I recommend are...
Nitro Vee RTR Kit W/Radio
Traxxas is well known for their quality remote control cars and trucks. And their boats are no exception... quality at a reasonable price.
Powered by the TRX Pro-15 nitro engine, this boat also has a backup electric motor. Just in case you run out of fuel in the middle of the lake, you can use the backup electric motor to bring your boat safely back to shore.
Wicked Angel Nitro Boat
At 30 inches long, this gas powered remote control boat was designed for speed.
It comes fully assembled with a 2-channel radio system installed.
* Pictures copyright by their respective manufacturers.
Where to Buy Remote Control Gas Boats
There is only one online hobby shop I can highly recommend. Visit their online store by clicking on the link below.
Click here to choose and buy remote control gas boats.
For model boats, speed boats, pool boats, sail boats, and fast mini remote control boats... click on the link below.
Click here to choose and buy remote control electric boats.
More on RC Boats
RC Boat Shop
©2003 - 2010 RCCarTips.com


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A new revolution is happening unnoticed in one of the world's last communist strongholds. In the land of salsa, rum, and Fidel Castro, a significant shift in economic ideology is transforming the future of the island: Cuba is rapidly diversifying its economy and giving priority to developing a world-class information technology (IT) sector. Considering the island's competitive advantages--proximity to the United States, a highly literate population, and the lowest wages for skilled labor in the Western Hemisphere--Cuba could become the digital hub between North and South America.
With 11 million people and more land area than any other Caribbean island, Cuba has been economically and politically isolated from its giant neighbor just 90 miles to the north for the past half-century. However, under the leadership of one of the staunchest communists of the 20th century, Fidel Castro, Cuba is beginning to subtly reorient its economy for the 21st century. The 74-year-old leader and his still officially communist government have adopted a program called "Entrepreneurial Upgrading" that aims to center the country's economic regeneration on technology, markets, and new capital.
Within the past few years, Castro has quietly retired the old revolutionaries who followed Moscow's defunct economic model, replacing them with a new generation of cabinet ministers and senior government officials who seem to have swapped Karl Marx for Adam Smith. The average age of the members of the Cuban National Assembly is 40; the Foreign Minister is 35 years old, and the Minister of Foreign Investment and Economic Cooperation is a 50-year-old woman. These leaders of a new generation read The Wall Street Journal and The Economist and roll their eyes at stilted Marxist dialectic.
"Entrepreneurial Upgrading is the most in-depth, extensive, and transcendent change that has taken place in the Cuban economy," says Cuban Vice President Carlos Lace, architect of the economic reforms. The program requires State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to be self-supporting, capable of creating their own production plans and administering their own financial, material, and human resources. These policies represent a truly revolutionary departure from the old socialist command economy, where decisions always came from above. Granting autonomy to SOEs may be the first step toward privatization, a move that is still considered heresy by the old guard. Yet all indications are that the Cuban government has begun to privatize the telecommunications industry.
In January 2000, the Cuban government established a Ministry of Information Technology and Communications (MINIT) with a mandate to make Cuba an "information society" and to quickly develop trade and e-business using IT. MINIT has various subordinate enterprises functioning like corporate subsidiaries, each run by different presidents and focusing on separate IT industries such as telecommunications, software, hardware, wireless internet, business training, and e-commerce.
The Paradoxical Island
More than the average developing country, much of Cuba makes little sense to the Western observer. It has been described as a Third World country with First World people. Although the country is a one-party communist dictatorship, small-scale private enterprise is encouraged. Cubans watch CNN and listen to Miami radio stations, and every type of US and European publication is easily found on newsstands and in bookstores. Che Guevara's passionate visage is ubiquitous, but what would this revolutionary icon think if he saw how the regime he helped to create is commercializing his image? Posters, calendars, books, pins, T-shirts, caps, and even comic books featuring Guevara are sold in every state-owned tourist gift shop--for US dollars, the de facto currency of 21st-century Cuba.
Yet outside of Havana, even in major cities like Cienfuegos, horse-drawn vehicles outnumber gasoline-powered ones. The few automobiles on the roads are likely to be 1950s Oldsmobiles or Chevrolets. Cubans without televisions tend to watch programs through the windows of those who do; a surreal but common Cuban experience is to walk down darkened Havana streets lined with vintage cars while congregations of sidewalk viewers watch a Miami broadcast rerun of I Love Lucy.
As products of Cuba's impressive educational system, children who live in primitive thatched-roof huts are likely to greet you in English, French, or German in addition to their native tongue, Spanish. And they may excitedly tell you about plans for JCC (Cuban Communist Youth) summer camp on the Isle of Youth, where they are no longer indoctrinated in Marxism-Leninism like previous generations of young Cubans but, instead, attend the government's massive Computer Youth Club, which was inaugurated by Fidel Castro in summer 2001.
These Computer Youth Clubs are pervasive, existing in all 14 Cuban provinces. In one club in central Havana, now named "Joven Club--Palacio Central de Computacion" (Youth Club--Central Computer Palace) workstations with modern Pentium processors are situated on the ground floor, occupied by young, goateed, longhaired web designers who look like "dot.commies" from a start-up in San Francisco. The walls are emblazoned with slogans and posters, but not quite of the type one might expect in a club owned and operated by the Cuban Communist Party. The predominant slogan is "Creemos en el Futuro" ("We Believe in the Future") and numerous posters advertise courses in software programming, multimedia, hardware repair, and e-commerce. Classes are in progress upstairs, packed with serious young people avidly learning HTML and the fundamentals of Microsoft Office.
During breaks, students discuss articles in Giga, the slick Cuban computer magazine published by Internet Service Provider (ISP) Colombus Conectividad. Recent topics included internet security, an overview of new hotel reservation software developed by the Cuban firm Softur, and "Programming Orientation for Metaobjects." Despite the embargo, Giga is replete with advertisements for US technology brands such as Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, Macintosh, Sun, and Oracle. And such advertisements make their mark: US-owned Hewlett-Packard has a near-monopoly on printers throughout Cuba. However, because of the US trade embargo such products can not legally be exported directly to Cuba, so they are acquired from resellers in Mexico and Peru.
An Information Society
Fidel Castro seems to have an affinity for the creation of an "Information Society" in Cuba. The septuagenarian president reportedly spends a couple of hours each day surfing the web and sending emails. Nonetheless, access to computers in Cuba is low, and e-mails sent from Cuba are often monitored by state security agencies, taking several days to reach their destination.
Eight Cuban universities now offer degrees in IT, and the Lenin Institute for Science operates 40 branches around the island that provide adult education in computer science. Four ISPs are available, all of which are owned by government entities but function like independent "dot.coms."
While there were no Cuban software companies only three years ago, today Cuba has 30 enterprises developing software, two of which are joint ventures with foreign investors. Total exports for 2000 may seem paltry at USS 14 million until one realizes that this is a 650 percent growth since 1999. So far, software has been developed to serve areas ranging from medicine, education, and multimedia, to accounting, hotel management, and Intra/Internet development. As Cuba's tourism industry grows, products such as Softur's Rodas hotel-reservation system will begin to find external markets; Rodas has already been sold to several Peruvian hotel chains.
Cuba's joint IT ventures have interesting links to the international market. One such joint venture, Primeras Inversiones Internacionales (PII), is a product of a collaboration between the Cuban firm Softel and Cydonia Investments, a partially-British-funded enterprise based in the British Virgin Islands and registered on the Canadian stock market. This joint venture is developing largely tourism-related Internet services within Cuba, such as online sales of airline tickets, photos, and travel insurance; gift-ordering from abroad; and automobile and hotel-room reservations. The company also offers server hosting, domain name reservations, electronic trade, and online payment accounts. It currently has 300 web domain names registered and 20 functioning sites with a target of 256 sites online within three years.
"Cuba is interested in developing through commercial associations the promotion of its software," says MINIT Vice Minister Boris Moreno. "Cuba has no shortage of finance or the technical skills to develop product, but [it] has not yet found the killer application to commercialize what it is doing."
Although only two percent of Cubans now have home telephones, general telecommunications access is quickly being improved, and the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is being implemented to leapfrog the archaic analog telephone.
"Telecommunications are a cause rather than a consequence of development," says Maimir Mesa Ramos, technical vice president of Cuba's national telecommunications company La Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba SA (ETECSA). By the end of 2001, Havana will reach 65 percent digitalization, and the rest of the country will reach 40 percent, with plans to bring the national level to 78 percent by 2004. ETECSA is also investing in the installation and widening of the public network for data transmission, as well as a national digital microwave system to support television services and network and Internet connections for the provincial capitals.
The government aims to have Internet terminals at all post offices so that average citizens can have full Internet access on the basis of one post office for every 200 persons. Cellular telephone service, digitized with the Global Mobile System (GMS) employed in Europe and other parts of the world, was launched in January 2000 by Empresa de Telecomunicaciones Celulares del Caribe (C-Com). Visitors can rent cell phones upon arrival at Jose Marti airport.
Government offices, universities, and businesses have wireless Internet access. PII has developed a wireless system for the Cuban market that has a range of up to 25 miles with antennae 1.5 feet in diameter. The system can receive and transmit vocal signals, images, and data at 11 megabytes per second, compared to the maximum of two megabytes by Cuba's existing telephone infrastructure.
In January 1999, the Cuban Trade and Management Corporation (CUTISA) took charge of marketing telecommunication products and services for all of Cuba. CUTISA serves as the agency for Alcatel and DHL, offering their products of radio and telephone communications and of world package and messenger service, respectively. The company also operates a customs agency, a post-sale technical-services center, and the firm Caribbean Com, which offers communications solutions by radio, cable, or satellite. CUTISA also imports a wide range of top telecommunications equipment.
Satellite-earth stations are being built across the island--14 Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) stations operate in the main tourist areas alone. Fiber-optic cable is being laid throughout Havana, connecting to a "fiber ring" around the capital city. (Although a new fiber-optic cable has been laid between Cuba and Florida, it has not been connected to a US terminal due to the embargo.) The ARCOS 1 trans-Caribbean submarine fiber optic cables--a "fat pipe" developed by a consortium that includes major US Telecom companies--is currently being laid down; ARGOS 2 (an offshoot to connect Cuba) will be completed within three years, linking Cuba to the telecommunications infrastructure being built in the United States and the rest of Latin America.
Last year, Cydonia Investments partnered with the Canadian firm Corinex Global to carry out a six-month study of the Cuban telecommunications system, with a focus on wireless technology. The results showed that the majority of wireless technology manufacturers use a number of US components despite the difficulties created by the embargo in terms of maintenance, supplies, and spare parts. The study confirmed the existence of a Cuban market for a wide range of hardware and software products, as well as for services with a broad variety of possible applications in public and private networks. Cydonia is developing a series of products adapted to the Cuban market that provide solutions not requiring US-made parts. Components are sourced from commercial partners such as Alcatel, Ericsson, Samsung, Nortel of Canada, Corinex Global, and Alpha Stream.
How could a one-party socialist state that still monitors e-mails, curtails freedom of the press, and limits private enterprise create a digital society, which is premised on the open exchange of information and trade? The Cuban government knows that normalized relations with the United States are inevitable, and it is actively preparing for integration into the US marketplace--and perhaps into the North American Free Trade Agreement. By developing a pragmatic economic development strategy now, Cuba believes that it can maintain control over its political and economic destiny.
Cuba also needs to provide good jobs for its young people. More than three-quarters of all Cubans are under age 40, and this group has a 98 percent literacy rate. The country has the highest percentage of university graduates per capita in Latin America (higher, in fact, than most European countries), and an increasing number are being trained in technical fields like IT. The state envisions technology as an economic boon that will create employment; it seems willing to give young entrepreneurs a chance to nurture dreams of Silicon Valley-style fortunes.
Strategic Location
In the 16th century, Spanish King Phillip II called Cuba "the key to the New World." Any map of the Western Hemisphere will demonstrate why conquistadors, pirates, and a host of great powers--most recently the United States and Russia--established strategic bases in Cuba. In the past, Cuba was the key to dominating vital sea lanes; it also had a starring role in the Cold War because of its proximity to the United States. Over the next decade, the country's geographic position will surely make it a prime location for IT industries.
Cuba is ideally positioned to be a global hub for conventional trade as well as for e-commerce. Both Mexico and the United States are less than 100 miles from the island, and Havana is closer to Charleston, Atlanta, and Houston than any of these major US ports are to Washington, DC, or New York. Cuba has an established electronics manufacturing industry where semiconductors, radios, television, and Cuban-designed computers are assembled with foreign parts. The industry could expand rapidly to provide a low-cost base for the export of electronic products.
A plan is being implemented for the country to become an alternative for air-cargo traffic between Europe and Latin America, an activity currently held in an almost absolute monopoly by Miami. The air-cargo handling capacity at Havana's Jose Marti international airport is currently being doubled to three thousand tons per month, at the same time that the Wajay Free Zone is being developed in areas adjacent to the airport. The Free Zone, located less than a mile from the air-terminal warehouses and 12 miles from downtown Havana, covers a total area of nine acres and has a basic infrastructure serving 72,000 square feet of warehouses and offices linked to the development of commercial, industrial, and service activities.
Havana and Santiago de Cuba are destined to become premiere sites for Internet data centers, providing web-hosting services for thousands of businesses throughout the Western Hemisphere. Global data-center companies are already spending billions of dollars building infrastructure in Latin America to support the growth of e-business; for instance, OptiGlobe, an Internet infrastructure company based in Bethesda, Maryland, plans to construct 15 data centers in Latin America by 2002 at a cost of US$1.5 billion.
What Cuba Needs
Cuba's government has extended an invitation to foreign businesses interested in helping develop its IT industry. Although Cuba would prefer to obtain US expertise and products directly, other nations are currently providing US technology. "Trading with the United States is an American problem, not a Cuban one," says Daniel Fernandez Lopez, Vice President of Grupo de la Electronica, a division of MINIT responsible for telecommunications. "We welcome American business, but we can't wait."
Some US executives are also not waiting for the embargo to be lifted. High-level commercial delegations from a range of industries regularly visit Cuba, and hundreds of deals are being quietly negotiated. Another way for US technology companies to build business bridges to Cuba is by providing charitable IT training, computer hardware and software, and exchanges between US and Cuban IT executives, a legal practice under the current embargo. By doing so, businesses can generate cultural goodwill while laying the foundations for future business.
Like it or not, Cuba is an emerging economy with which the world market, including the United States, will be forced to reckon. Cuba's intellectual capital, combined with a growing technological infrastructure, gives the island an incredible comparative advantage over its northern and southern neighbors. With increased support from the international community, Cuba could finally realize its full potential as an international economic force.


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From Focus Ireland:
On behalf of those who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes, I would like to thank you and all the staff of Frontline Energy & Environmental for your support of our annual Focus Ireland Sponsor a Star Campaign. Your very generous €500 donation will help us to change the lives of families, children, young people and adults, who so desperately need our help in the run up to Christmas and into the New Year. Thank you.
Demand on our services has never been so great. So far this year - more than 1200 children and their families have become homeless. Focus Ireland are there giving hope and support to those in crisis. Thank you on behalf of all the staff in Focus Ireland for supporting our work and enabling us to reach out to those in crisis by contributing to our Christmas tree at the top of Grafton Street.
We depend upon this campaign to ensure that we can continue to provide hot food, comfort, advice and support to those who need it most this coming year.
We truly could do little without the support of companies like Frontline Energy & Environmental, who share our belief that homelessness is a problem that can be solved – together. Thank you.
From all of us at Focus Ireland, we wish you and the staff of Frontline Energy & Environmental a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
Thank you.


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Otto Link Tone Edge Hard Rubber mouthpieces produce the full tone and projection preferred by most jazz players. Otto Link Rubber Saxophone Mouthpieces are the mouthpiece of choice for students and professional saxophonists.
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Otto Link metal mouthpieces combine gleaming good looks with the rich sound quality of a larger bore rubber mouthpiece for exceptional style and sound. A wide selection of facings offer superior tone quality and projection with complete control.
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Survivors of an atomic blast fight for survival in a bleak, irradiated world. Radio pioneer Arch Oboler was the first filmmaker to seriously approach the concept of a post apocalyptic society. It's an earnest, arty low budget indie that occasionally skirts pretentiousness, but it's passionately sincere and progressive for the period.
About Joe Dante
Joe Dante is a lifelong film buff who turned his obsession into a career. He got his start cutting trailers for Roger Corman and later directed the hit movie Gremlins, as well as Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Innerspace and Small Soldiers for producer Steven Spielberg. His feature films include The Howling, Piranha, Matinee, The 'burbs , Looney Tunes Back in Action, The Hole (first winner of the 3D Persol Award at the Venice Film Festival) and the zom-com Burying the Ex. His TV directing work includes: Police Squad, Amazing Stories, the HBO film The Second Civil War, the Masters of Horror titles Homecoming and The Screwfly Solution, and episodes of Eerie, Indiana, CSI: NY, Hawaii 5-0, Witches of East End, Legends of Tomorrow and Salem. His latest big screen credit is an episode of the upcoming anthology film Nightmare Cinema. Joe is also the frequent co-host of Trailers From Hell's official podcast, The Movies That Made Me, available everywhere podcasts are streamed and downloaded!


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PS4's The Last Guardian Coming To VR; Wipeout Getting VR Update
Sony announces new additions to the PlayStation VR catalog during the PSX keynote tonight.
Sony announces new additions to the PlayStation VR catalog during the PSX keynote tonight.
The Last Guardian and Ico creator Fumito Ueda shared a few small details about what he's working on next.
Inside follows with seven, while Overwatch, The Witness, and The Last Guardian also do well.
Watch the joke video for Fumito Ueda's next game--it's not what you expect.
The Game Developers Choice and Independent Games Festival Awards took place tonight.
Blizzard's shooter takes the Game of the Year award away from Naughty Dog.
You can get the acclaimed adventure game for a new, lower price point right now.
Uncharted 4 picks up the most nominations, including nod for Game of the Year; see all the finalists here.
See all the categories and nominees for this year's Game Developers Choice Awards.
Our people's choice voting is closed and we have our community-chosen game of the year.
We've been counting down our Top 25 Games of the Year over the past week, and today we finally reach the top five. For now, here are our picks for ...
Here are GameSpot's picks for the most essential PlayStation 4 games that launched this past year.
The Last Guardian comes in seventh in opening week.
Sony's "Living With Trico" commercial for The Last Guardian is wonderful; watch it here.
How do critics rate The Last Guardian?
Gorgeous-looking statue and more included with the $120 collector's edition.
"The title took longer than anyone expected," Fumito Ueda says.
Ahead of release next week, Sony releases new gameplay video for the long-awaited adventure game.
At least four have been left of the the list because they're secret.
Watch a new trailer for the PS4-exclusive and hear directly from designer Fumito Ueda.
Check out the trailer here.
HDR Support also coming for all The Last Guardian players.
The Last Guardian's vinyl record art was done by Fables and Wolverine & Jubilee artist Nimit Malavia.
The PS4 exclusive has had a long, rocky development road, but it's now almost finished.
Mafia 3, BioShock, and Uncharted are among the PS4 games now available on Green Man Gaming.
See lots of new footage from the long-awaited adventure game.
Team Ico needs extra time to squash bugs in The Last Guardian.
Take a look at some new images from Team Ico's PS4 exclusive.
The Last Guardian director says it will be a while before he's able to "calm down and take a look" at his game.
"For me, what's most important is that I am creating and completing this game in the way that I envisioned it."
Shuhei Yoshida isn't worried Team Ico's The Last Guardian won't live up to expectations.
Like an ancient myth come to life, the latest game from Shadow of the Colossus creator Fumito Ueda treats story with reverence.
"The scale--the idea itself being able to express a sense of scale through VR--is very appealing and very interesting."
A special edition of the long-awaited game is coming.
Our collection of clips lets you relive one of Sony's most memorable pressers.
Team Ico's The Last Guardian finally gets a release date, following years of development.
Director wanted players to understand the "force and ferocity" of the bird-dog creature.
Games lineup includes Uncharted 4, The Last Guardian, No Man's Sky, and The Witness.
If you're on the fence about buying a PS4, Sony's 2016 lineup will draw you in, Shuhei Yoshida says.
Sony is intentionally limiting what it shows of the long-in-development adventure game.
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Love the Delivery.com iPhone app? Well, it just got even better.
We just made some major changes to our app and the update is available in the app store now!
The new and improved Delivery.com iPhone app is better, faster and makes it all-around easier to order on the go. Whether you want to order lunch while you're walking to the office or place your dinner order on the bus ride home, you can do it with our iPhone app. We're so excited about it, we're trying to order from as many places as we can. From the treadmill at the gym? Check. During a weekend stroll around town? Check. At home because the computer is just too far away? Check, and no, we are not ashamed!
Here are just a few of the improvements you'll find on the updated Delivery.com iPhone app:
- Hassle-free checkout: Easily complete your order with in just a few simple steps at checkout
- Faster menu loading: Faster app = faster food. Menus load faster so you can order what you want right away
- Improved search: It's easier to find exactly what you're looking for with the options to sort by distance, delivery minimum, cuisine or rating
- Better ordering experience: From searching, to selecting items, to adding special instructions, we've made the ordering process easier and more intuitive.
- Bug and stability fixes: If you experienced problems with the first version of our app, say goodbye to those bugs and hello to easy ordering on the go.
Download the Delivery.com iPhone app and start ordering the go today! Where will you order from?
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Daily Archives: 2013-06-17
Meandering Monday
UP The grand staircase in the Ann Starrett Mansion Boutique Hotel, in Port Townsend, WA. The mansion was built in 1889 as a wedding gift to a new bride. Ann Starrett is portrayed in the face of the four angels … Continue reading
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Sunday, 5 February 2012
snow & leather & stripes
jumper - mango @ asos, skirt - asos, boots - dune
pretty simple outfit for a snow day! obviously a coat was worn over this, but i whipped it off for these photos. snow also means a pair of knee-highs over tights. and i'm convinced snow makes me look even more pale...
so, i was tempted by another leather item... but it was also burgundy, and you guys know i have a soft spot for burgundy. plus it was 50% off, i just couldn't say no. well, i could, but i didn't want to!
34 comments:
That skirt looks fantastic on you.ReplyDelete
Embrace the fairness! You look lovely with such fair skin. :)
i love ur striped jumper and the colour of ur skirt :) xReplyDelete
Loving the black knee highs over black tights look. Subtle, but a great touch.ReplyDelete
Oh I love the color of that skirt :)ReplyDelete
xo Camilla
Into The Fold
I love it :) the skirt has a really nice colour <3ReplyDelete
Love that skirt, its amazing! xReplyDelete
Love this outfit, perfect skirt!xxReplyDelete
Your jumper looks so cosy, I was nosying at a similar one yesterday! I love the colour of your skirt too :)ReplyDelete
Louisejoyb xo | Bits&Bobs
What a perfectly gorgeous look for the snow- red lips are a must! (And so is a hat of course!)ReplyDelete
you are a hottieReplyDelete
You look lovely! I love your adorable styleReplyDelete
Burgundy is always a favourite of mine!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous jumper. I'm particularly loving all these outfit posts with a snowy backdrop - looks so cosy!
Dayner x jewellery/fashion/lifestyle - mozzypop.com
you look gorgeous! xxxReplyDelete
LOVE this girl xReplyDelete
Such a cute outfit and I love your hair :)ReplyDelete
Very pretty outfit, stripes + burgundy has got to be a winning combo. Did the snow stay? Here it rained in the afternoon/evening and washed it all away :(ReplyDelete
I love this outfit! Simple, but nowhere near boring. And it looks even better against the snow. I'm jealous - it's gone all slushy and horrible in Manchester now. The pains of city life. xReplyDelete
Stripes always look so cute on you!ReplyDelete
I love your boots!ReplyDelete
sehr hübsch!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous10:37 pm, February 05, 2012
Cute Outfit :)ReplyDelete
Definitely copying the socks over tights tomorrow. And that skirt is pretty much perfection!ReplyDelete
Emily Wears Things
Love that slightly oversize stripey sweater! I have been dying to find one that'll look good on me. Your red lips look beautiful in the snowy background :)ReplyDelete
Love the whole look!ReplyDelete
Visit my blog:
Ohh, the snow looks incredible! <3 And your red lipstick looks incredible!ReplyDelete
Lost in the Haze: Fashion Blog
love this sooo much!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous7:42 pm, February 06, 2012
This is such a gorgeous outfit! It looks stylish and practical, much love.ReplyDelete
R xx
I love your bag where is it from? I really like the socks over tights idea very stylish.Delete
Nicolette xo
- Anonymous2:16 pm, February 07, 2012
you're glowing, dear!ReplyDelete
so beautiful, especially the lipstick makes you look like snow white.
warm wishes from freezing munich,
love it.. really nice.. :) Irene WibowoReplyDelete
Love the jumper! Lovely outfit.ReplyDelete
Lovely outfit, i adore the skirt xxReplyDelete
I love stripes. And that hat is so cute. you look adorable!ReplyDelete


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China lands aircraft on disputed islands, media calls US, Japan 'eunuchs'
China on Thursday continued to defy an arbitral tribunal's ruling against its claims in the South China Sea, landing civilian aircraft on disputed islands in the region while state-run media referred to the US and Japan as "worrying eunuchs".world Updated: Jul 15, 2016 01:13 IST
China on Thursday continued to defy an arbitral tribunal's ruling against its claims in the South China Sea, landing civilian aircraft on disputed islands in the region while state-run media referred to the US and Japan as "worrying eunuchs".
Beijing rejected the ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) that it has no exclusive rights over islands and resources in the South China Sea, saying it was "null and void". It also warned it could create an air defence zone over the contested waters.
In what appeared to be planned retaliation, China successfully tested two new airfields on the Nansha (Spratly) Islands with civil flights, state media reported. This took the number of airfields in the archipelago open to civil aircraft to three.
"The two flights, an Airbus A319 chartered by China Southern Airlines and a Boeing 737 by Hainan Airlines, both returned to Haikou after a short stay on the reefs," official news agency Xinhua reported.
"The round trips came one day after a Cessna CE-680 flew to the two reefs to ensure that both airfields are prepared for civil flights," Xinhua reported, giving more details about the build-up by China on the islands.
"Including the airport on the Yongshu Reef opened in January, China now has three functioning airports on the Nansha Islands, which lie under one of the world's busiest airspaces," it said.
Besides the airports, there are four multi-purpose lighthouses on as many reefs and the construction of a fifth on Meiji Reef is nearing completion, according to the transportation ministry.
State-controlled media continued to castigate the US for purportedly manipulating the Philippines, which had approached the PCA, and for destabilising the region.
An editorial in the nationalist tabloid Global Times stood out for its use of language that usually doesn't get into print. It said the US and Japan were more worried than the Philippines, whose attitude was "relatively mild" after the tribunal's ruling on Tuesday.
The editorial said the Philippines had described the ruling as a "milestone decision" and called for restraint. "An old Chinese saying goes 'The emperor doesn't worry but his eunuch does,' meaning the outsider is more anxious than the player. In this case, Washington and Tokyo are the worrying eunuchs," the editorial added.
It said: "It should be noticed that the arbitration tribunal is not a permanent court for arbitration, but a temporary institution for the South China Sea case established against the spirit of international law. It also has nothing to do with the UN."
A post on the UN's Chinese microblog saying the body has nothing to do with the PCA was another point repeatedly emphasised by the Chinese government and state media.
The UN said on Wednesday the PCA "operated out of the same building, the Peace Palace, as the UN's primary justice branch, the International Court of Justice, but the two agencies were unrelated".
China was quick to latch on to the microblog post.
"We have noted the reports, which showed that the temporary arbitration tribunal is not an international tribunal. It has no legitimacy. The award given is not authoritative," foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news briefing on Thursday.
"In fact, the PCA in The Hague just happens to be the neighbor of the International Court of Justice, both located in the Peace Palace in The Hague in the Netherlands," Xinhua reported.
"On the other side, the PCA, established in 1899, writes on its official website that 'unlike the International Court of Justice', the PCA 'has no sitting judges' and its sessions 'are held in private and are confidential'."
First Published: Jul 14, 2016 17:32 IST


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