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On Sunday, the Lady Lakers were in Niagara Falls, New York to face the Niagara County Community College Thunderwolves. The Lakers rolled and came away with two victories by the scores of 9-0 and 8-0. In game one, Lakeland collected 12 hits from eight different players. Abbe Mowrer led the way with three hits while Jamie Matso and Sydney Aey each had two hits. The big inning for the Lakers was a seven run the inning. Lakeland started the inning with six consecutive hits and later added two more to put this game away. McKailyn Woodward pitched the complete game shut out allowing three hits while striking out 14 batters.
In the nightcap, the Lakers had eight timely hits to score their eight runs and come away with the victory. Justine Barnes led the way with two hits and four RBI's while Jamie Matso also collected a pair of hits. Barnes knocked in two runs with a double in the third inning and then two more with a single in the fourth to key the win.
Sydney Aey picked up the complete game victory allowing one hit while striking out seven batters.


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Building a business analyst community in PDS
Sian Hodges is a business analyst and she's written about her career, what you need to be an analyst, and why you might want to become one.
Sian Hodges is a business analyst and she's written about her career, what you need to be an analyst, and why you might want to become one.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new EU regulation which strengthens people's rights to understand and control how information about them is used. The user research team has been busy preparing for it.
When people think about user research, their image is often of our research lab. Steve Bromley explores the attraction to usability testing in a lab, but also explaind how we decide on the research method used.
Gavin Berman, one of our business partners, explains what business partners do and how it works in Parliament.
The user engagement team is one of the largest in PDS. Despite being so many, there's probably a lot of people who don't actually know who we are or what we do. That's what this blog post is for.
When presenting findings from usability testing, we often get asked 'how many people had that issue'. In this post, Steve Bromley explains why we don't answer that question.
We recently launched a web interface to help applications access and query our semantic data in a triple store. Jianhan Zhu talks about what this means for our data.
On the 6 September last year, we turned on a new search service for parliament.uk. On the 19 January we'll switch off the 'old service' for all our users and we'll be fully decommissioning the service by the end of January.
We recently did some research into links to other websites on beta.parliament.uk. Colin Pattinson shares some of the insights we found.
The user research team are a busy bunch so how do they decide where to focus their time? Steve Bromley explains what these teams look like in Parliament and why user researchers support them.

subset: commoncrawl


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I am about as green fingered as The Blue Meanie from the Yellow Submarine. I only have to think about cutting the grass in the garden, for the said grass to get up and run away in fear of being butchered by me let loose with a lawn mower. House plants tremble when I approach with a jug of water.
I do, however, love taking pictures of pretty things, and I am lucky that the place where I work has a Garden that is lovingly tended and produces some amazing flowers. I take what ever chance I get to snap the flowers at various stages in thier growth.
This image was taken purely by chance. I had walked by this plant (grown on a Vine growing up a wall. Ordinarly, I hate Vines as they take over literally never stop growing until they are burnt with fire. This bloom caught my eye and I had to go back and look. Out came the phone and quickly I took this image.
I love that I can be surprised at any given time by something in (one of) my back gardens. Go take a look about and see what you find. Share what you find with someone, you never know what you'll find in return.


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Last week I witnessed a horrific accident in Cyprus. I had been following a car which contained my girlfriend's family, when out of nowhere it was hit side on, at speed, by a large Jeep.
They were in a much smaller Skoda Fabia, which the force of the crash caused to spin right around. The side of the door was also buckled in.
Miraculously no one was hurt, and it seems to have been even more traumatic to see the crash than to have been in it. I felt like writing a letter of gratitude to Skoda. It is reassuring to know that my car, a VW POLO 16 valve, is basically the same model in terms of framework. I bought the Polo in part due to its EURONCAP rating. EURO NCAP is a great website which tests cars (by using those cool crash test dummy simulations) to find out their safety rating.
With that in mind a bunch of crash tests have just been released for two-door cars. Although the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests showed that cars on the whole are getting safer, with the Ford Focus and Volvo C30 doing particularly well, the following cars did not. This is useful information when either buying or renting a car.
Earning poor ratings for side collisions:
Travel writer, car rental guru, Phil has rented cars all over the world and shares his knowledge and experience on the Rhinocarhire.com Blog. Favourite country to visit: France.


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Top Companies in San Ramon
Chevron Corporation
Address: 6001 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583
Chevron Corporation is one of the largest energy corporations in the United States of America. The company is based in San Ramon, California. However, it activates in over 180 countries. It was established...
Browse Cities in California
- Atascadero
- Burbank
- Calabasas
- Cupertino
- El Segundo
- Fremont
- Los Angeles
- Menlo Park
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- Pasadena
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- Redwood Shores
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- Santa Ana
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- Thousand Oaks
- Westlake Village
Best Places to Work for in San Ramon, CA
San Ramon has around 75,000 inhabitants. It is one of the small communities of California, but also one of the companies with the lowest unemployment rate. On the other hand, California has a relatively large rate – 8%, with 1.3% more than the nationwide ratio.
According to most specialists, information technology represents a good bet for the future. Chevron is a leading employer in the area. While drilling experience is also a good idea, the company also employs IT specialists.
AT&T Inc. is yet another big local employer, so the telecommunications field is just as attractive for both young and old aspirants.


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The rollout of new recruiting cycle time goals for all Virginia state agencies in early 2019 meant that their Time to Fill had to decrease significantly.
In order to meet the aggressive new goals, the Virginia Department of Transportation is taking a look at its recruiting process, systems and metrics across the entire HR function, and it's figuring out how to drive down its Time to Fill.
Join this webcast for a story that will reveal strategies that you can use in your own organization. The following will be covered:


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The house is situated next to the Allstate Arena and only 5 minutes away from O'Hare International Airport. After 4 km you reach the Stephens Convention Center and Rosemont Theater.
Placed moments from O'Hare International Airport and a short drive from downtown Chicago, this hotel features exceptional amenities and facilities, including free airport shuttles, and offers easy access to attractions.
Close to O'Hare International Airport and providing free 24-hour airport transfers, this hotel offers on-site dining options along with guestrooms furnished with microwaves and refrigerators.
Located near the Blue Line train to downtown and free shuttle service, the hotel offers good connections with public transport around the city and surrounding areas.
This Residence Inn is next to Allstate Arena and offers free airport shuttle service to Chicago O'Hare Airport, a 3-mile drive. Amenties include buffet breakfast and spacious rooms with a kitchen.
The Radisson Hotel Chicago O'Hare is located less than two miles (3.2 kilometers) from Chicago O'Hare International.
Conveniently located near the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, the Arena Allstate Arena, Convention Center Donald E. Stephens and business district, the hotel caters to business travelers and tourists.
Located 2 miles from O'Hare International Airport, this Des Plaines hotel offers free airport shuttle service. The hotel features an indoor swimming pool, free on-site parking and a Bistro-style restaurant.
Conveniently located 3 miles from O'Hare International Airport, this hotel offers services such as free, 24-hour transportation to and from the airport as well as entertaining facilities in Des Plaines, Illinois.
The Comfort Suites O'Hare Airport is conveniently located just minutes from O'Hare International Airport and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.
Maplandia.com in partnership with Booking.com offers highly competitive rates for all types of hotels near Chicago Airport, Canada, from affordable family hotels to the most luxurious ones. Booking.com, being established in 1996, is longtime Europe's leader in online hotel reservations.
At Maplandia.com you won't be charged any booking fees, cancellation fees, or administration fees – the reservation service is free of charge. The reservation system is secure and your personal information and credit card is encrypted.
We have put together also a carefully selected list of recommended hotels near Chicago Airport, only hotels with the highest level of guest satisfaction are included. Many photos and unbiased hotel reviews written by real guests are provided to help you make your booking decision. Luxury hotels (including 5 star hotels and 4 star hotels) and cheap Chicago Airport, Canada hotels (with best discount rates and up-to-date airport hotel deals) are both available in separate lists. Always bear in mind that with Maplandia.com and Booking.com the best price is guaranteed!
Accommodation in popular destinations near Chicago Airport.
Maplandia.com is not sponsored by or affiliated with Google.


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There is a special kind of bond between any girl and her dad, fathers are the best men in any girl's life, they take care of her needs and desires, they know what she likes and dislikes the most better than she does herself, they are always there for her no matter what age she is and much more.. And that's the reason why it's important to make him feel and understand that he is the best father, he's loved and remembered and nobody can ever replace him. Apart from a hug and a present, why not add a special birthday message or quote showing them that they mean so much to you. If you're looking to deliver a sweeter, softer message, the birthday quotes for daddy from daughter below are just right for you.
Are you a girl and your father's birthday is coming around, and you don't know what message or what to say to him? Are you looking for the perfect dad and daughter quotes for your father's birthday? Or maybe a special message for his birthday? Well, this article is for you! In this article you'll find best unique birthday quotes for dads from daughters to dedicate to your dad on a birthday card, share it on Facebook or twitter profile, send it to him on Whatsapp.. or even say it to him directly.
My advice now is to read all these birthday quotes, choose the best one which you think it's suits him and his character, and then add your own personal touch.
Birthday quotes for daddy from daughter
Dad and daughter quotes can help make your note to your dad extra special. Here are some cute, funny and inspirational quotes and sayings below for a father and daughter:
- Behind every great daughter is a truly amazing dad. Happy birthday daddy!
- We can't choose who our father is, but if I had a choice I would still choose you. Happy birthday to the king of dads!
- Happy birthday to you, dad, just know that I love you and that I would not know where I am right now if you are not there for me to guide me through it all.
- They say even the nicest ones have their limits, but how come my dad doesn't have limits. It means he's nicer than the nicest. Enjoy your special day dad. Love you so much.
- Dad, it may not always be easy to find time to spend together or to even talk on the phone. But I just want you to know that you will always be my hero and that I am always here thinking of you.
- Dear Dad, on your birthday, I want you to know that you are truly an inspiration, a friend and a teacher to all of us.
- Don't thank me for the birthday gift because I need to spend a lifetime thanking you for all the love you gave me when I was growing up.
- Fathers, be good to your daughters. You are the god and the weight of her world.
- To my dearest daddy, please know that you are the funniest and smartest man I have ever known. Happiest birthday to you.
- A perfect man is who you are, a perfect dad is what you've been, no lady or girl can be luckier than I have been. Happy Birthday father.
- To the best taxi driver, the most effective spider hunter, the cheapest handy man and the most generous bank I know: Happy Birthday, dad!
- One of the greatest gifts I've ever gotten came from God. I call him daddy.
- In the darkest days, when I feel inadequate, unloved and unworthy, I remember whose daughter I am and I straighten my crown.
- No one in this world can love a girl more than her father.
- Dear dad, thank you for showing me how great life it is. I may need quite a lot of tips from you as I go on and face the challenges in life, so thank you in advance.
- Fathers are the best men in any girl's life.
- You can always seem to make me crack a smile even when I'm at my lowest. Thank you for bringing so much laughter into the world.
- My dad, my guide, my dad, my encouragement, my dad, my everything, happy birthday precious dad.
- I didn't have the money to buy you an expensive present. But I want you to know that when I grow up and become rich, I am going to give you the best presents money can buy. Happy birthday, Daddy.
- From daughter to daddy, you have always been by my side dad. Happy birthday to you, I love you.
- Dad, in my life's treasure trove of memories, the ones we've shared together are the ones I miss the most. Happy birthday dad.
- Dad, I just want to tell you that you are my inspiration. I want to be successful in life and give you all the happiness and luxuries that you've ever thought of.
- When I need some support, you're always there. When I need some guidance, you always come. You are the best dad in this world. Happy birthday.
- I know I wasn't always the perfect child, but you have always been the perfect dad. Enjoy your birthday today. I love you!
- To an inspirational man of many accomplishments, my father, my friend. I have always looked up to you, and for good reason! Happy birthday to you daddy!
- Happiest birthday to the greatest man on earth – my dad! He has taught me everything in life and I am so honored to have him as my father.
- You are a perfect teacher who has taught me how to be a better person in life. I love you dad! Happy birthday!
- Dear daddy, you taught me the small ways on how to increase happiness in our lives, thanks for that. Have a great birthday!
- To my dearest daddy, please know that you are the funniest and smartest man I have ever known. Wonderful birthday to you.
These were the best daddy and daughter quotes, they are cute for any age and for any occasion. You can copy these quotes messages or get inspired.
If you want more, you can check the menu above, you'll find songs, other wishes, images, greetings and much more..


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Samourai Wallet Overview
General InformationSamourai Wallet is a crypto currency wallet that is average to use and anonymity level is medium.
Samourai Wallet, supports currencies as BTC.
For more information see list bellow.
Name: Samourai Wallet
Website: Visit
Security: Yes
Anonymity: Medium
Ease use: Average
Features: Hierarchical Deterministic,Open Source
Coins: BTC
Platforms: Android
Validation type: Centralized
If you want to improve this contact us or leave a review with resources that would help other people to know more about Samourai Wallet.
Samourai Wallet reviews
Overall rating: 0 | Total reviews: 0


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GLA Case Study: GSA Project Delays
Tenant Agency: Social Security Administration (SSA) Client: Building Owner Services Provided New GSA Lease Transaction Project Management, Design & Build-Out[…]
The complex nature of government real estate leasing and the large number of transactions that occur nationally with property owners make it inevitable that disputes and claims will arise. When these disputes cannot be resolved through alternative means, litigation may be the only way to bring the matter to closure.
Jamie Scruggs is the author of the peer-reviewed and industry accepted books The Complete Guide to Government Real Estate Leasing, Volumes I & II. Jamie has national experience consulting with attorneys and presenting and defending his expert reports, conclusions and opinions in deposition and trial testimony concerning government real estate lease policy, process and practice between government agencies and property owners.
Expert Witness Services
Jamie Scruggs Curriculum Vitae 4-10-18 (pdf link)
Publications – Books
The Complete Guide to Government Real Estate Leasing: Volume I (2016)
The Complete Guide to Government Real Estate Leasing: Volume II (2017)
Common Dispute Areas & Topics
Jamie Scruggs
Executive Director
Government Lease Advisors, Inc.


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Remnants of a contentious Confederate monument that stood on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for more than 100 years were removed Tuesday, but the controversy over "Silent Sam" was far from over.
The statue itself, constructed in 1913 in homage to "the sons of the university who entered the war of 1861-65 in answer to the call of their country," was toppled in August by protesting students. A pedestal and plaque remained in place and the statue in storage while school officials debated the memorial's fate.
School Chancellor Carol Folt on Monday ordered the removal of the pedestal and announced her resignation, effective at the end of the academic year.
"Overnight, workers removed the base and tablets from the Confederate Monument site," Folt said hours later on Twitter. "I am confident this is the right decision for our community – one that will promote public safety, enable us to begin the healing process and renew our focus on our great mission."
Silent Sam Memorial on the campus of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (Photo: Photo courtesy of The History Tourist)
The statue has been a divisive issue for the 30,000-student campus, with both sides conducting sometimes angry protests at the site. Last month, the board of governors rejected a $5.3 million proposal to build a new home for the statue, citing public safety concerns and the use of state funds for the project. But the board promised to review options and come up with another plan.
Folt's decision to remove the pedestal drew fire from the board's chairman, Harry Smith.
"We are incredibly disappointed at this intentional action," Smith said in a statement. "It lacks transparency and it undermines and insults the board's goal to operate with class and dignity."


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Home > Career Center
Crain Veterinary Center, a small animal, full-service practice in Grain Valley, MO, East of Kansas City, is seeking a full-time associate DVM. We are also offering a paid, full-time internship.
We serve a growing community with five full-time veterinarians and a wonderful staff. Our technicians and staff allow our doctors to focus on being doctors and not techs by assisting with appointments, procedures and surgery. If you're looking for an opportunity to be a part of something great, Crain Veterinary Center is the place for you!
We will provide you with the chance to experience a wide variety of medical and surgical cases with support from your other colleagues. A team-oriented approach to veterinary medicine is something we truly value. If you are a new graduate, we want to help make your transition from school to your career as smooth as possible. We are looking for an individual who is driven and willing to learn anything from internal medicine to a wide range of surgical procedures. Benefits include competitive salary, 401K, paid licensing dues, paid vacations, CE credits, NO overnight or on-call emergencies, etc,.
Offering state of the art equipment, including:
Digital Radiography
Digital Dental Radiography
High Speed Dental Drill
Therapy Laser
In-House UA Analyzer
Wide range of surgical/medical procedures including:
Mass Removal
Intra-Abdominal Procedures
Cruciate Ligament Repair
Fracture Repair (Plating and Pinning)
Ophthalmic Procedures (Cherry Eye, Enucleation, etc,)
Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
Aural Hematoma Repair
Anal Gland Removal
Emergency Operations, and more!
Please call or email Brianne Mays, Office Manager, with any questions. In-person and phone interviews are available!
Send your resume to our email!
NOVA is part of the Virginia Community College System
Northern Virginia Community College © 2011


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Clemency Papers Filed in Timothy Adams Case
AUSTIN, Texas - Attorneys for Texas death-row inmate Timothy Adams are set to file clemency papers in the case today.
Adams is scheduled to be executed on Feb. 22 for the shooting death of his 19-month-old son during a domestic dispute. The case triggered strong emotions because of the young age of the victim, and it is complicated by the fact that the family of the murderer is also among the family of the victim. Adams' relatives claim their voices were not heard in the sentencing decision.
Timothy's brother, Chadrick Adams, is a teacher in Houston who says they don't want to lose another family member because of the tragedy.
"It is in our deepest hopes and prayers that the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole, and Gov. Rick Perry, will hear us now. Timothy committed a horrible act, but our grief will only be worsened if he is executed."
The family wants to see Timothy serve life in prison with no chance of parole - a sentencing option that was not available during the trial. Surviving maternal family members said during the trial that they would live in fear if Timothy were to be released.
The clemency filing details Adams' Army career and the fact that he had no previous criminal record. The filing also includes sworn statements from three jurors who say they were not provided a complete picture of Adams' character and background. They want the sentence changed to life in prison without parole.
Andrea Keilen, executive director of the nonprofit Texas Defender Service, contends that Timothy Adams should never have been sentenced to death in the first place.
"This is a case that really exemplifies why our system needs to review cases when execution dates are pending, and really have a robust and meaningful clemency system."
The board rarely grants clemency, and when it does, the governor still has the final say.


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Allbright: Bills are gauging interest in a trade for a top-10 draft pick
Denver radio host Benjamin Allbright joined Howard Simon on Monday morning
While the start of the new NFL season is still roughly three weeks away, the search for a franchise quarterback is well underway for the Buffalo Bills.
Once the new league year opens on March 14th, the Bills will have two days to decide whether to pay quarterback Tyrod Taylor a $6 million roster bonus and keep him in the fold for another season at a cap hit of $18.08 million. If the Bills decide to part ways with Taylor, then the team would only have second-year quarterback Nathan Peterman on the roster.
A lot of talk has been surrounding the Bills and their desire to draft a franchise quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the Bills possess the 21st and 22nd overall picks, which is likely out of range for the top quarterbacks of this year's class. If the Bills are keen on drafting the likes of a Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Baker Mayfield or even a Josh Rosen, they will have to move up in the draft to get their guy.
Luckily for the Bills, they do have some capital to play around with. They have their two picks in the first round of the draft, while also holding onto two second round picks, a third round pick, and their first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft if necessary.
On Saturday, Benjamin Allbright of 1340 AM and 104.7 FM in Denver reported that the Bills are gauging interest from around the NFL about the possibility of moving into the top-10 of the 2018 draft.
#Bills have been calling around, pursuing potential trade partners in the top ten of this year's draft.— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) February 17, 2018
Presumably for a shot at a quarterback.
Allbright joined Howard Simon on WGR Monday morning to address the Bills' situation heading into the NFL Draft. He also discussed the Broncos' search for a quarterback and what they could do with the fifth overall pick.
Here are some of the most notable things he discussed:
On the Bills' trade talks with other teams:
"At this point, it's more exploratory framework. What's it going to take? Are you interested in any of our players? Are there going to be any picks? How do we do that kind of stuff? So they're trying to outline a framework with different teams where they feel they need to move up to, and then have contingency plans. Let's say the player they want falls a couple of spots, and they have a contingency plan with the teams behind them to be able to make sure they don't overpay to get up to the spot they want to."
On the Bills' framework of a possible trade:
"They're doing the smart thing. I'm not saying that there's a deal imminent, as some people seem to suggest, but they are taking the appropriate measures to try and get up into the top-10, and they would presumably be after a quarterback."
On a possible trade with the Colts for the third overall pick:
"The Colts are anxiously trying to move back and multiply picks, so they'll have no shortage of suitors or partners in order to try and trade back. It's not like there's going to be difficulty getting up there."
On other teams looking to make a move up in the NFL Draft:
"Arizona is a team that is trying to figure themselves out. Several teams are calling around and trying to figure out what they're going to do, especially teams outside of the top-six because you've got four teams inside the top-six that could take a quarterback. You've got three or four teams outside that are calling around trying to make sure that they can get up there or what it would take to get up there."
On the Broncos' plan at quarterback:
"They're all in on Kirk Cousins. If that does not work out, the backup plan there would be to hope Case Keenum hits free agency, and they can go out and get Case and then pair him with a draft pick. If Case doesn't [go to free agency>, then you've got A.J. McCarron or a Tyrod Taylor and a draft pick there at five."
You can hear all of Allbright's interview with Howard Simon below:


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Days Deluxe Lightweight Rollator
Deal Score0
- Folds easily to just 28 cm/11 inch wide in a standing position, making it easy to store and transport. Can also be folded inwards when in use
- Folds neatly into a compact size. When completely folded down it measures just 66 cm/26 inch high, 28 cm/11 inch wide, 39 cm/15.25 inch deep
Last Amazon price update was: August 13, 2020 12:03 am (Info)
× Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com (Amazon.in, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, etc) at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.


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Signature Keynote Speeches
We offer speakers on a variety of topics related to talent management, leadership development, diversity and inclusion. Our signature speeches include:
Listen In: Understanding Race in the Workplace
Seven Tips for Working While White/ Working While Black
Leading While White
Allison Manswell is one of the most electrifying speakers in the Les Brown Speakers Network. Because of her dynamic combination of powerful speaking and cutting-edge methods that take people to the next level, Allison is in high demand as a speaker, trainer and coach. Allison is insightful, inspiring and challenges people to tap into their greatness. Whether in a one-on- one session or delivering a knock your socks off keynote speech, Allison Manswell delivers."
- Les Brown, World Renowned Speaker


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NY and back to work
Well, I put off blogging for a week because I wanted to get some good pics. My friends haven't gotten them to me yet so I'll just show you these.
Central Park
The American Museum of Natural History
Polar Bear in the Bronx Zoo
I had a good time on my trip. NY is not a relaxing city. It was stressful combating crowds, figuring out directions. I yearned for the friendly atmosphere and slower pace of Texas. Above all, I missed my baby girl.
It surprised me how many New Yorkers mentioned Ground Zero and asked if we'd seen the "WTC site" yet. 3 NYers told us their stories.
I met Rupert Jee from David Letterman. Nice Guy. I went in to buy a Tshirt for a friend of mine who's a fan. He was working the register.
Rupert Jee at Hello Deli
The highlight of my trip was seeing a Broadway show, Phantom of the Opera. It gave me goosebumps and made me cry.
Back to work this week it seems so much more chaotic and busy. Sicker then usual patients. Every bed full. We also seemed more understaffed.
I sat with and held the hand of a Bipolar patient with Kidney issues who didn't want to be discharged last week.
She allegedly had left an abusive husband just previous to her admission and according to her, had no place to go. I talked with the MDs and the social worker. They had been unable to get her into a women's shelter and it seemed to me that they didn't quite believe her abuse story. I, too had my doubts about her story but I did believe she had no place to go.
I was the one who told her she was being discharged, her mood did a 360 degree turn. I sat and tried to convince her that staying at the Salvation Army would be better then going back to her spouse. When I left, she was still going back.....I hope she'll be Ok.
Listening to: "I want to want you" by Juliana Hatfield


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Can't get enough of the blog? Our new book is out November 19th.
You can but it here with code HTWN for 20% discount:
"Providing a fresh look at the classic social science concept of stigma, this book adds to the literature on why humans so readily stigmatize while touching on the ways in which interventions designed to address a particular health problem may inadvertently contribute to further stigmatization and worsen health outcomes. Interesting, timely, and lucid, this provocative book makes an important contribution."— Andrea S. Wiley, Indiana University, Bloomington, coauthor of Medical Anthropology: A Biocultural Approach
"Despite the growing interest in global mental health, the issue of stigma deserves much more attention than it gets from medical social scientists and health providers. The approach here is highly original and important. I believe there is a wide scholarly and student audience for this teachable book."— Peter J. Brown, Emory University, coauthor of Foundations of Global Health: An Interdisciplinary Reader
"This is a magnificent, highly engaging, and ethnographically informed examination of the fateful intersection of stigma and public health. It underscores, through multiple cases, the vital lessons of social science about the adverse consequences of shaming as a means of pushing people, especially the poor and marginalized, to fit socially accepted standards of appearance and behavior."— Merrill Singer, University of Connecticut, coauthor of The Social Value of Drug Addicts: Uses of the Useless
"In Lazy, Crazy, and Disgusting, two eminent scholars of stigma have provided a deeply engaging road map for understanding the unintended consequences of weaponizing shame in the service of public health and its inevitable cascades along the usual fault lines that divide the poor and excluded from the rest of the world. What is, then, the authors' deceptively simple recommendation for physicians, development workers, and policy makers? Don't do it."— Alexander C. Tsai, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
"Lazy, Crazy, and Disgusting tackles the important topic of stigma and the way it seeps into public global health programs. Filled at every level with grounded examples that contradict perceived wisdom, the book is a model of critical thinking. It is both readily accessible and marvelously synthetic for the way it blends biology, culture, and social experience. A must-read for medical anthropologists, global and public health practitioners, and anyone interested in stigma."— Thomas Leatherman, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
"Combining global reach with insightful depth, Brewis and Wutich forcefully counter shame-based, individually focused, and culturally unaware public health efforts. In the best tradition of social science, they document the unintended consequence of victimizing the most vulnerable. While acknowledging stigma's inevitability, this eye-opening warning offers a novel blueprint for improving population health."— Bernice A. Pescosolido, Indiana University, coeditor of Handbook of the Sociology of Health, Illness, and Healing: A Blueprint for the 21st Century
Categories: Uncategorized


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"In any given election year, the odds of
knocking off an incumbent are really slim,"
says political analyst Brigid Callahan Harrison, a professor of political science and
law at Montclair State University.
That certainly proved true in the state
legislative races this past November
when, with all 120 seats up for grabs,
only two challengers—neither of them
women—knocked off incumbents. In the
state's 2nd District, Republican Chris
Brown beat out Senator Colin Bell, a
Democrat who had gained the seat after
the death of Jim Whelan in August; and
former Monmouth County Democratic
chair Vin Gopal unseated Senator Jennifer Beck in the 11th District.
Frelinghuysen and Lance enjoy the
benefits of name recognition and loaded
campaign war chests. Unlike their potential challengers, they'll hardly need to tap
their funds until after the June prima-ries, Harrison notes.
When a challenger wins, Harrisonadds, as when Josh Gottheimer defeatedwomen to the House of Representa-tives. The most recent, Bonnie WatsonColeman, a Democrat, has served NewJersey's 12th District since 2015.
Women have had better success in the
state Legislature. Last term, they comprised nearly a third of its members in
Trenton, including Sheila Oliver, the first
African-American woman to serve as Assembly speaker; Senate majority leader
Loretta Weinberg; and assistant majority
leader Teresa Ruiz. (Oliver was recently
elected lieutenant governor.)
That growth is trickling down to the
local level—including big city mayors like
Perth Amboy's Wilda Diaz and Camden's
Dana Redd (whose eight-year tenure was
to end December 31), though women still
hold fewer than 15 percent of the state's
mayoral positions.
"Women are energized," says CAWP
director Debbie Walsh, noting the record
number of women attending the center's
Ready to Run training in 2017. These
women, she says, are compelled to be
more engaged in the political system.
"Women are showing up becausethey feel that they can't not be there,"says Walsh. "They're doing this for theirfamilies, for their communities, for theirkids. It's that level of drive and sense ofcommitment now."trict in 2016, there are likely three possiblefactors at play: money, scandal or otherdamage to the incumbent, and some shiftin district demographics or views awayfrom an incumbent's prior positions.
None of this is news to the women running in the 7th and 11th districts. They're
counting on growing unrest and activism,
fueled by each incumbent's alignment
with an unpopular Trump agenda, to
bring about an upset like those seen in
other seismic election cycles.
"Sometimes you have a sweeping tide
of new faces," Harrison says. "We saw
that in the Watergate class, when people
were so sick of Nixon and scandal. And
we saw that in 1994, with the Republican
revolution led by Newt Gingrich."
In North Jersey's 11th District, Sherrill
is taking on arguably the state's most
entrenched and powerful Republican in
Frelinghuysen, whose appropriations
title brings with it the ability to raise big
dollars for himself and for his party.
Long considered a stronghold for Republicans, the district is moving left, she
says, pointing out that Trump won there
by only a slim margin—while Frelinghuysen, she says, has been moving farther
to the right, as indicated by his yes vote
in May to repeal and replace parts of the
Affordable Care Act.
"He's become so focused on his own
power in D.C. that he's lost sight of the
people he's serving, the constituents,"
Sherrill says. Still, in November, Frelinghuysen—as well as Lance—voted against
the House version of the tax reform bill.
One complication for Sherrill: She
does not live in the part of Montclair that
is in the 11th District. To remedy that, she
plans to move within the town before primary day. Frelinghuysen has represented
a section of overwhelmingly Democratic
Montclair only since New Jersey's district map was redrawn in 2011.
In the 7th District, which includes
Hunterdon County and parts of Essex,
Somerset, Morris, Union and Warren
counties, Weber and Mandelblatt will
face a crowded Democratic primary field
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You are here
The value of managing absence
Employee absence is the biggest, non-recoverable cost to your business – but bringing these costs down can be achieved through the right strategy. Michelle Walker, experienced HR, health and safety and occupational health practitioner, explores the value to organisations of managing sickness absence.
The cost of absence is often well documented, but not always fully understood. The preferred approach is to undertake 'attendance management' as opposed to the more negatively perceived 'sickness absence' but no matter how we refer to it, when employees are absent from work the cost to your bottom line is staggering.
According the Office of National Statistics, 131m working days were lost to sickness in 2011; an incredible 22.4m of these as a result of "minor illnesses" such as coughs, colds and stomach bugs. The CIPD calculated that the median cost of absence per employee in 2011 to be £446. Many commentators believe this figure to be conservative, especially when the impact on production, service and other employees is taken into account. In the current climate, as the number of employees within organisations continues to reduce, the impact on the business when an employee is off sick is more significant than ever.
So what can we do to stop it?
The aim when managing attendance should always be to look for a return to work. For many short-term absence cases having the right procedures in place will help to reduce absence. Monitoring short-term absence, targeting those whose absence shows a pattern and ensuring that the correct recording and reporting procedures are followed can help. We all accept that some sickness absence is inevitable and most absences are genuine, but simply having to call in at a set time and speak to their manager can discourage the employee who "doesn't like Mondays". Interestingly, it's also estimated that effective hand washing practices could reduce short term absence by 50% - perhaps worth a poster campaign or intranet announcement considering the 22.4 million days lost to 'minor illnesses' in 2011.
What about the long-term?
Long- term absence cases can be more difficult, with many involving employees who have long- term health conditions, many of whom are long serving and highly valued. Statistics show that over 25% of the employed population have a health condition, meaning that the majority are in work and sustaining their attendance. When they do need to take time off due to illness, a holistic approach to managing their absence, including their manager, HR, occupational health and external agencies, can ensure that they return to work as quickly as possible and with any adjustments they need already in place.
However, there will be cases where a return to work isn't possible and these cases need to be managed to a conclusion as quickly and sensitively as possible. This means ensuring that the business follows both internal and legislative processes, whilst at the same time making sure that the employee continues to feel supported and valued.
For many managers having a conversation with an employee about their absence can be uncomfortable and challenging. They often don't have the necessary skills to manage absence, so up skilling them is key to bringing absence rates down, with the resulting cost benefits to the business. How many managers, when conducting a return to work interview, have taken the employee to one side and said "let's just say we've done this interview and I'll tick the box"? This creates a barrier to managing absence and can impact on the attendance culture within the organisation. Line managers tend to know their employees better than anyone and so are key players in managing their attendance.
We know that the costs associated with absence are significant, but there are ways to reduce them. The answer lies in taking a holistic approach.
- A clear policy and objectives on attendance management – including clarity on the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders and a definition of short and long term absence.
- An understanding of the types of absence within the business, the reasons for it and the associated costs.
- Support and guidance for managers to enable them to manage absence effectively.
Addressing absence trends
Once the absence trends have been identified measures can be put in place to address them. There's no point having a market leading approach to managing stress and anxiety if 90% of sickness absence cases are related to musculoskeletal disorders. Understanding the reasons for absence allows you to develop a proactive approach, based on preventing absence in the first place. This leaves you able to concentrate resources on the unavoidable absence cases.
Early intervention and ongoing management of absence cases is the key to achieving a rapid and sustained improvement. For example, an early referral for counselling to an employee assistance programme can minimise the absence of an employee who is absent for mental health reasons. Similarly, an in house physio service can mean a return to work before the employee reaches the top of the NHS waiting list. This individualised approach, together with regular reviews of exiting absence cases, brings absence rates down, with the resulting impact on costs.
Dame Carol Black and David Frost state in their 2011 publication 'Health at work – an independent review of sickness absence':
"Sickness absence from work is often unavoidable, but when unduly prolonged it is wasteful and damaging - to individuals and their families, employers and our wider society"
As employers, reducing sickness absence means reducing costs, so it's vital that we get it right.
For more information on managing employee absences, please contact our HR regional director, Rob Archer.


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Huge undead (nightshade), lawful evil
Armour Class 20 (natural armour)
Hit Points 200 (16d12 + 96)
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft.
Saving Throws Int +9, Wis +9
Skills Stealth +7, Intimidation +10
Damage Immunities acid, cold, fire, lightning, necrotic, poison, bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing from nonmagical weapons
Condition Immunities blinded, charmed, deafened, frightened, petrified, poisoned
Senses truesight 60 ft., passive Perception 14
Languages understands all but can't speak, telepathy 120 ft.
Challenge 15 (13,000 XP)
Ethereal Jaunt. As a bonus action, the nightwing can magically shift from the Material Plane to the Ethereal Plane, or vise versa.
Ethereal Sight. The nightwing can see 60 feet into the Ethereal Plane when it is on the Material Plane, and vise versa.
Innate Spellcasting. The nightwing's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). The nightwing can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:
At will: charm person, detect magic
3/day each: darkness, dispel magic, haste, invisibility
2/day each: confusion, contagion, cloudkill, hold monster
1/day each: finger of death
Magic Resistance. The nightwing has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Nightshade Presence. The presence of a nightwing has an effect on its surroundings within a radius of 120 feet. This aura is felt as chilled air, and spoils all food, water, holy water, potions, salves, and ointments (even if magical), making them functionally useless. Nightwings are often at a disadvantage when attempting to surprise their victims due to their aura.
Sunlight Weakness. While in sunlight, the nightwing has disadvantage on attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws.
Turn Resistance. The nightwing has advantage on saving throws against any effect that turns undead.
Multiattack. The nightwing uses its Summon Undead if it can and makes one bite attack.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature.
Hit: 9 (1d10 + 4) piercing damage, plus 22 (5d8) poison damage. The creature must succeed on a DC 17 Wisdom saving throw or be polymorphed into a giant bat and charmed by the nightwing.
Summon Undead (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest). The Nightwing magically summons three will-o'-wisps, a ghost, or a wraith. The summoned undead appear in an unoccupied space within 60 feet of its summoner and acts as an ally of its summoner. They remain for 1 hour, until it or its summoner dies, or until its summoner dismisses it as an action.


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What We're About
Second Wind Consultants was founded on a single core belief: that better solutions exist for owners, sellers and business transactionalists across the entire business landscape.
Our Mission
Solutions for all businesses. Not just the few.
Our mission is to create value in times of growth and preserve value in times of distress—for any business. Our solutions are driven by a core belief that there is a better way, and that advisory expertise is too important to remain the exclusive domain of only the largest corporations.
A better way, in times of growth.
For too long, elite management or turnaround services have been staked in hourly fees that are prohibitive for all but the largest corporations. Consulting structured as a partnership is staked in success—not hourly fees—and is accessible to every business.
A better way, in times that challenge.
Reorganizational techniques that can eliminate debt and preserve business value have been the exclusive domain of only the largest enterprises. All other businesses have been bound by the limited and irrational options of incurring further debt or facing the destruction of business value through bankruptcy.
Second Wind does not accept the proposition that only the largest of businesses are "too big to fail." Whether you're a small business person or a CEO navigating the variables of a complex organization, the preservation of value, jobs and economic activity is not only a better way, it's a moral obligation.
A better way to stimulate the economy.
We continually perfect business solutions driven by a mission to create efficiencies in the business investment space, generate pristine opportunities for alternative lenders, and preserve clients for trusted advisors. An alliance with Second Wind lets you discover opportunities where most see impossibilities, and further stimulates economic activity, growth and employment by result.
Giving Thanks By Giving Back
Second Wind Consultants gives back in many ways—by giving our team members time to support the causes they believe in, by volunteering time to nonprofit projects, and by donating money to charities.
In the past, we have partnered with the following organizations to create meaningful change in our communities.
In The NewsView All News
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Business owners are reporting new MCA solicitations- positioning MCAs as 'relief funds'. Many business owners have become educated...
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Company News - Feb 8, 2019


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SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Kim Boutin kicked off the World Cup season with a golden performance in the 1500m in Salt Lake City, earning the Canadian short track team its first medal of the 2019-2020 international campaign.
The native of Sherbrooke, Que. made an outside pass on the second last lap of the finals to overtake a pair of skaters and cross the line in first place (2:22.061). She was joined on the podium by defending world champion Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands (2:22.211) and Han Yutong of China (2:22.282).
On the men's side, 35 year old Charles Hamelin (Sainte-Julie, Que.) narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the 1500m, coming in fourth place. Despite not winning a medal, the result showed that the veteran skater has returned to form following a summer of recovery and rehabilitation from an ankle injury that kept him out of this fall's Canadian Short Track Championships.
Meanwhile, Canada's mixed gender relay team – consisting of World Cup rookies in William Dandjinou (Verdun, Que.) and Rikki Doak (Fredericton, N.B.), along with second year skaters Sarault and Cédrik Blais (Châteauguay, Que.) – raced to a fifth place result, behind medalists Russia, China and Korea.
The action in Salt Lake City wrap up Sunday with the 500m-2 and 1000m finals, along with medal races for the men's and women's relay. The competition will be live streamed on CBC Sports beginning at 5:00PM ET, while repechage races can be viewed on the ISU YouTube channel beginning at 12:00PM ET.
"It was a super nice finals. With three laps to go I was in third place, but it was a good challenge for me to make a pass. I was forced to go on the outside and it was very exciting. Typically it's the opposite that happens; I'm in the lead and I get passed at the finish line. I'm very satisfied." - Kim Boutin
"Today, things went super well for me. From race to race, I began feeling better. I wasn't 100% happy with my strategies and how I executed them in my races, but at the end of the day I am very satisfied with my result. It was very positive for me and I'm hopeful for good results tomorrow as well." - Charles Hamelin


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Mogrify® technology was developed as a systematic means of identifying the optimal combination of transcription factors required to convert any cell type into any other cell type. The figure below shows the step-wise scientific approach used in order to achieve such predictions. Firstly, the gene expression levels are compared in the source and target cell types (originally using the FANTOM5 dataset, now using advanced sources of genetic and epigenetic input data). This step determines the changes in the gene expression levels that are needed in order to achieve the conversion. Secondly, transcription factors are scored compared to the required changes in gene expression levels by both direct and indirect influences (using the MARA and STRING databases). This includes the regulatory network information on protein-DNA interactions as well as protein-protein interactions. Thirdly, local transcriptomic regulatory networks are built to calculate the effect of the transcription factors on the gene expression levels. Lastly, the optimal combination of transcription factors is chosen in order to achieve a minimum of 98% of the necessary changes in gene expression (identified in step 1) for the cell conversion to occur.
In addition to identifying transcription factor driven cell conversions, small molecules that are known to affect the expression of the key predicted transcription factors can be identified from published literature to create a small molecule conversion cocktail. This has the added benefit of not requiring the transduction of the transcription factors and consequently holds greater potential as an in vivo reprograming therapy.
(a) Differential gene expression levels are identified by comparing RNA sequencing data, while using the FANTOM5 database as background.
(b) All human transcription factors are ranked according to their effect on the identified differential gene expression using both direct (DNA-protein interactions, MARA database) and indirect effects (protein-protein interactions, STRING database).
(c) The optimal combination of transcription factors is identified in order to maximize the differential gene expression while minimizing the overlap in effects.
Images from Rackham OJL et al. A predictive computational framework for direct reprograming between human cell types. Nature Genetics (2016)


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Former South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy remains a thorn in the side of Democrats. No one has done more to call out and destroy corrupt officials.
But things kicked up a notch this week when Gowdy dared Republicans to subpoena both former President Barack Obama and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to testify before the Senate during the impeachment trial.
During an interview Thursday night on Fox News, Gowdy predicted there's a good chance that Obama will be called to testify because he was aware of Joe Biden's side, Hunter Biden, working for a shady gas company in Ukraine.
While Hunter was being paid $50,000 a month to work for the corrupt company, Joe Biden was Obama's point-man who led Ukrainian policy — meaning he likely abused his power while his son served on one of the most corrupt and powerful companies in the region.
Gowdy wants Obama to testify about what he knew, when he knew it, and why he allowed it.
"Part of impeachment is setting a precedent for what's going to happen in the future," Gowdy said.
"So, if the vice president can make that assertion, then he is relevant as a witness, but so, too, is President Obama, because I would want to know whether or not he had the authority of the president at the time he made that pronouncement that there will be no loan guarantees unless the prosecutor is fired," he added.
The incident Gowdy is referring to happened in 2018 when Biden bragged about "strong-arming Ukraine into firing a prosecutor by threatening to renege on a loan guarantee."
Here's what Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations at the time:
"I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee, and I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn't."
"I said, 'Nah, I'm not going to — or, we're not going to give you the billion dollars.'"
Gowdy said any good prosecutor would call Obama to testify.
Gowdy further explained that "if President Obama gave Joe Biden permission to condition loan guarantees on the firing of a prosecutor, then that makes both of them potentially relevant as witnesses."
Several Republicans want to either hear from Hunter Biden or top figures like Obama and Joe Biden who knew what he was doing and did nothing about it.
Essentially, the allegations are that Hunter profited financially from his father's time as vice president.
The details emerged as the Ukrainian government recently reopened an investigation into a company that once paid Hunter Biden roughly $50,000 a month.
That company, Burisma Holdings, is being probed by Ukraine's top prosecutor.
Joe Biden allegedly pressured and tried to intimidate the Ukrainian government to remove the prosecutor from the case, and his plan actually worked.
As reported by The New York Times, Biden, who was still serving as the vice president, went to Kyiv in March 2016 and "threatened to withhold $1 billion in United States loan guarantees if Ukraine's leaders did not dismiss the country's top prosecutor [Yuriy Lutsenko], who had been accused of turning a blind eye to corruption in his own office and among the political elite."
If Biden used his power as VP to pressure Ukraine into removing the prosecutor who was investigating a shady deal involving his son, that would be catastrophic and maybe even illegal.
If Democrats want to play this game, Republicans are more than ready to bust it wide open.


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TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Horizn is pleased to share that the Horizn Knowledge Platform used to power the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Digital Activation Strategy led to RBC winning a Model Bank 2018 award for Employee Productivity. Celent is a global research and advisory firm for the financial services industry. RBC is Canada's largest bank by market capitalization, the 5th largest in North America, and the 11th largest globally.
Celent's annual Model Bank Awards recognize the best practices of technology usage in different areas critical to success in banking. Nominations are submitted by financial institutions and undergo a rigorous evaluation process by Celent analysts.
The Horizn Knowledge Platform equips RBC's employees and customers with the knowledge they need to improve the client experience and increase digital adoption. Each time RBC launches a digital capability to clients, it's essential employees understand how the capability works.
The Horizn agile go-to-market platform provides a revolutionary approach to micro-learning with elements of gamification and proven measurable results. The Horizn platform is being used with RBC employees, in branch, with the call center and directly with RBC's customers through three scalable platforms: RBC Digital Learn, RBC Digital Demo, and RBC Demo. Together, these gamified platforms provide RBC with the infrastructure to support rapid digital deployments. As a result, in a short period of time, RBC's Digital Activation Strategy advanced dramatically without losing sight of the importance of the client relationship in the process.
"We are excited to support these initiatives with RBC and are very proud of the Celent Model Bank award for Employee Productivity," said Janice Diner, Horizns' CEO and founding Partner. "The Horizn Knowledge Platform equips RBC's employees and clients with the knowledge they need to improve the client experience and increase digital adoption."
"According to Bob Meara, Senior Analyst at Celent: "The Model Bank Awards recognize how banks are using technology to change the face of banking. These banks should serve as an inspiration to others looking for strong examples of best practice implementation that will have a truly meaningful impact on business results and the industry overall. RBC's Digital Activation Strategy clearly demonstrated this."
The Celent Model Bank Awards were presented at Celent's sold-out Insight & Innovation Day on April 24, 2018 in Boston.
To read the Celent case study, "RBC Digital Activation Strategy Winner of Celent Model Bank 2018, for Employee Productivity" Download the RBC Celent Case.
About Horizn
The Horizn Knowledge Platform helps financial institutions dramatically accelerate market adoption of digital innovation and new products at lightning speed. Whether the bank is adding artificial intelligence (AI) into their mobile app or launching a new online application, the Horizn platform helps onboard, retain and grow customers. Horizn is the first ever knowledge platform that focuses both on employees and bank customers, equipping them with the knowledge they need to improve the customer experience and drive digital adoption. Horizn has trained over 400,000 employees, made product learning available directly to 60+ million bank customers.


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(Toby Landesman, Copyright 2014) The experience of being in therapy leads to the awareness that there is more to us human beings than we might think. This first recognition of one's complex dimensionality can be inspired by a therapist providing a verbal snap shot of how she sees you. This image may take you by … Continue reading
Amy Becker (copyright 2011) In my first chapter on the experience of beginning to walk the healing path of psychotherapy, I identified that learning to tell our own story, finding our voice, and beginning to unpack our life experience in the presence of another person, who is trained to listen well, were powerful initial healing … Continue reading
(Toby Landesman, Copyright 2008) In the Tools blogs I have written since the re-incarnation of "Newtopia Magazine," I have been attempting to flesh out ways of approaching ourselves and our experiences that might be helpful and even transformative for us. Almost all of the "Tools" that I have written about have been picked from the … Continue reading
Becoming conscious means changing the rules by which we live and the beliefs we maintain. Our memories and attitudes are literally rules that determine the quality of life as well as the strength of our bonds with others. Always, a shift in awareness includes a period of isolation and loneliness as one gets accustomed to … Continue reading
The most dangerous thing in the world is to think you understand something. (Zen saying) Toby Landesman, Copyright 2014 On Wednesday morning, while I was still in the process of writing this article, the Zen saying above showed up on my page-a-day calendar. It stopped me in my tracks. Here I am , … Continue reading
In This Lifetime We are given so very much to learn And we sense we need to learn it well To make our goals, fulfill our dreams And save ourselves from hell Such pressure creates ambition or depression Sunny self-confidence or cringing inhibition It would be nice if it was simply our decision And oh, … Continue reading
Toby Landesman, Copyright 2012 In my last installment I began a series addressing the notion that we all have an essential self that is already at the core of our being when we are born. I suggested that there are ways to discover this essence by examining and connecting to what we deeply love, and … Continue reading
The Path, Copyright Toby Landesman 2006 In this article I propose to explore the idea that we come into this life with an essential self that will be with us throughout the course of our lives. It is this essence that contains the "DNA," the map, of the path that we are meant to follow. … Continue reading
Toby Landesman, Copyright 1985Author's note: This edition of Tools was written with the help of Amy Becker As I began preparing to write this edition of "Tools," I noticed that I had saved a PBS Program on my DVR: Rene Fleming/Master Class. As I watched Ms. Fleming observe and then guide four young opera singers … Continue reading
(or What I Learned from Fear by Trying to Write about It) Copyright, Toby Landesman, 2013 In this edition of "Tools of Transformation" I will attempt to address our experience of the "master emotion" fear, which is arguably the most powerful of our emotional experiences. Like shame and anxiety, fear sounds an … Continue reading


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Do you know the main role of the marketing team in a company? Well, it's to generate a maximum number of leads and pass it to the sales team. If the organization lead generation team is effective then you can successfully transform your business to brand.
If you want to become a good marketian of your organization then don't miss out reading this 10 killer web marketing strategies to drive numerous leads and sales in 2017
1. Quality Product/Service and Great Web Design
If the company is looking forward to establish a good profitable results then they should provide a better quality product or service to their customer. It's of no use to invest the large amount in advertising if the product or services don't have the fallout.
The best online marketing strategy is to build a right and effective website architecture by hiring the best website design company which can boost up the time and attention a visitor will spend on your website. The website layout is the first and last impression you can imprint on your customer mind. So, set up a website which is mobile friendly, responsive and compatible with all gadgets and browser.
2. Impressive SEO Strategy
Search engine optimization is the only technique which will help you out in driving huge amount of customers from search engines. According to the recent survey, 90% of the clicks are recieved on the top 3 organic listing website.
Optimize Your Webpages with proper title, meta description, and keywords.
Perform Quality off-site submission on high Page rank website such as Alltop, Scoopit and Reddit.
Use Wikigrabber tool to find the dead link in Wikipedia pages and replace it with your website links
Spy on the competitor backlinks using SEO profiler and implement them for your website.
3. Effective E-mail marketing Campaign
Shooting a single email to your subscribers won't work great. Therefore to make your marketing campaign bombarding you need to be prepared with the follow-up email template and shoot it again whenever you analyse the status of the previous email.
Follow-Up is the best thumb rule for marketing and customer retention.
4. Focus on Conversion Rate Optimizatioin (CRO) Strategy
A major technique to analyze the user feedback for improving the website performance. It's the best internet marketing strategy which makes the website more effective and simple to explore. Further, it helps in generating numerous leads without investing in paid traffic.
5 best CRO tool to boost your ROI (Return of Investment)
1. Google Analytics
2. Crazy Egg
3. Kissmetrics
4. Google Tag Manager
5. Hotjar
5. Content Writing, Curation & Marketing
Content is called as the 'King of internet marketing' . So, if you are writing a quality content and marketing it on the major blogging platforms then their are great chances of generating good quality leads for your business. Marketing industry has launched numerous tool and resources like Buzzsumo, Ahrefs where we can decide the catchy title for our content and also explore our competitors content.
6. Go for PPC – Fast Driven Results
If you want fast results then migrate from Organic Digital marketing service to PPC. Start planning your daily budget and run a PPC campaign through google Adwords. Listed below are the few tips that should be implemented for making PPC a controller of your internet marketing strategy.
Looking for More click and Sales? If Yes, then forget about CPM, vCMP, CPV. Focus & Bid on CPC and CPA
Stalk on your competitors Ads and thus make your ad accordingly
Good Ad rank can only be achieved if the Ad Quality and landing page experience are great.
Use Google Partners for deep PPC learning
7. Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing is the smart approach to reach the wide range of people and make them aware of your product/services. There are various simple, quick and free social media automation tools like Hootsuite, Buffer which helps you to become more productive by promoting your products/services on Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Instagram with a single click.
8. Analysis is important
Great output can only be achieved if we analyzed the input. So, frequently checkout the Google Analytics and google adword tracker tool to determine what is working positive and negative in your marketing campaign.
9. Make People Your Affiliate
Prepare a list of your previous customer who has purchased any product or service and has faith in your company. Ask them to share your company information on the basis of commission based platform which goona be boosting the credibility and awareness of your business.
Keep checking out the prices of media goals like CPM, CPI, CPA and much more.
10. Hire PR (Public Relation) Agency
Hire a good PR agency and get your news, article and public statements on the media. It results in improving your business visibility, awareness, and branding.


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For drivers who are seeking like-new options for their next vehicle and want a gently used vehicle that will provide them with many miles and years of standout driving, a certified pre-owned vehicle from Southfork Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM will check off many boxes and there are plenty of them here in our Manvel and Houston area showroom and you can take a close look, while also saving at the same time since we offer many certified pre-owned specials!
With these specials, drivers will be able to find savings on certified pre-owned Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM vehicles which gives you plenty of diversity, especially in our dynamic and ever-changing used vehicle lineup. Of course with a certified vehicle, you're getting vehicles that have been thoroughly inspected and must pass the rigorous standards set forth by each automaker so you're only getting the finest of used vehicles out there, with low mileage and recent model year technology and amenities.
Of course, you want savings, and you'll get them not only on the price of a certified pre-owned vehicle from our Houston area showroom, but also with our specials which provide many offers and incentives and different ways to save and when you are able to combine these, you can maximize savings potential on your next vehicle, and find the car, truck, or SUV you truly want and have many years of satisfactory driving at a standout price.
If you'd like to learn more, our team would be happy to provide you with all the details on the latest certified pre-owned Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and RAM specials we have here in our showroom in Manvel, answer any questions and arrange a test drive today.


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To live in Pleasant Grove Utah starts with a Custom MLS Search in our Pleasant Grove UT Real Estate Guide to find homes for sale, condos, houses in the Area.
Pleasant Grove, also known as "Utah's City of Trees", is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 33,509 at the 2010 census. On July 19, 1850, William H. Adams, John Mercer and Philo T. Farnsworth, Mormon pioneers sent by Brigham Young, arrived at the area now known as Pleasant Grove and staked out farms in what is now the southwest corner of the city. A small community was established September 13, 1850, consisting of George S. Clark and his wife, Susannah Dalley Clark, Richard and Ann Elizabeth Sheffer Clark, John Greenleaf Holman and Nancy Clark Holman, Lewis Harvey and his wife Lucinda Clark Harvey, Johnathan Harvey and Sarah Herbert Harvey, Charles Price and wife and child, Widow Harriet Marler and children, John Wilson, Ezekiel Holman, and possibly one or two others, relatives of those mentioned. Pleasant Grove was officially incorporated as a town January 18, 1855, by which time the settlement had grown to 623 people. Pleasant Grove is home to a unique summer festival, Strawberry Days, the longest continuing community celebration in Utah to date. The city hosts the annual festival, usually during the third week of June. A rodeo held in conjunction with this festival brings competitors and spectators from throughout the West. The festival includes parades, a carnival, pageants and other activities. Although no strawberries are currently grown commercially in the city, the festival takes its name from a time when strawberries were a major economic activity in the city. The first Strawberry Days celebration was held the second week of June, 1921. It was organized by the Wasatch Club, the forerunner of the Chamber of Commerce.
Information provided by Wikipedia.
Pleasant Grove Real Estate Guide Listings
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With most things in life, you get what you pay for, so cut price second hand usually means the quality or condition is not great. However, when it comes to storage containers, this isn't the case. Storage containers are built to last, and deterioration in condition is slow. It is not unusual to find a storage container still going strong after 20 years, particularly if it is a shipping container. So buying second hand storage containers most certainly can prove to be wise investment.
So the golden rule when purchasing second hand storage containers is to look for quality over price, and buy from a reputable dealer that offers a warranty on the product. Containers Direct have a 12 month watertight warranty on our quality used containers - for full details see Clause 6 of our Terms and Conditions
Used shipping containers for the best long term valueIf you are considering buying used but are not sure where to start and what to look for, this article will help you to avoid certain pitfalls and choose a reliable product that will provide you with dry, secure storage for a long period of time. For the strongest second hand storage containers, we would recommend buying a shipping container. These are the most commonly used type of storage containers, as they are built from extremely tough corten steel with rust repellent agents to protect the metal from the damaging effects of spending a life outdoors - especially at sea! As they are made entirely from steel, including the reinforced doors, it's almost impossible to force entry.
Altered and unaltered containersSecond hand storage containers can be divided into these two groups. Unaltered shipping containers work out cheaper per metre, as there have been no additional costs involved in modifying the container. These are usually either 20ft or 40ft long. Altered shipping containers have had work done somewhere along the line to produce features more convenient for storage use. This can be anything from a new or repositioned door, to a container cut in half with a new end piece and door welded on. Containers are cut up in this way to produce a wider range of sizes than unaltered shipping containers can provide. 10ft storage containers are always in demand for smaller storage loads.
Beware the pitfalls of very cheap containers - check for quality first!Although most second hand storage containers are in usuable condition, there are some important things to look out for before purchase. A very cheap container may cost you more money in repairs and maintenance than you bargain for. The cosmetic appearance of the container is not such as issue, as any used container will show surface signs of wear which can be painted over if the look of the container is an issue. More importantly the container must be structurally sound, so look for any holes, or signs of major corrosion that will cause leaks, particularly in the roof. Again, surface rusting is not too much of a problem - in fact corten steel is designed to rust on the surface on exposure to air, which creates a protective layer against further damage.
So the golden rule when purchasing second hand storage containers is to look for quality over price, and buy from a reputable dealer that offers a warranty on the product. Containers Direct have a 12 month watertight warranty on our quality used containers - for full details see Clause 6 of our Terms and Conditions


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Room details
Located directly below Luxury Villa 8. It features air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchenette, telephone, dining area, a king size bed, large sofa, cable tv, cd player with iPod dock, hair dryer, and much more. It also boasts a large terrace with chairs and a hammock. AMENITIES: - Telephone - iPod Docking - Air Conditioning - Coffee machine - Flat TV - Full Marble Bathroom - Individual safet - Minibar - Molton Brown Amenities - Complimentary Wireless Internet - Private Pool


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10 tea bags in a red cloth bag.
20g (0.70oz)
Ceylon black tea flavored with maple and cream.
Exquisite maple tea with sweet caramel flavor notes and a twist of creamy smoothness.
Luxury Ingredients: Black tea, Natural flavors, Real maple syrup.
Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Sri Lanka
Tea(s) From: Sri Lanka
Region(s): Nuwara Eliya + Dimbula + Uva
Antioxidant Level: High
Caffeine Content: Medium
Shelf Life: 3 Years
Product of Sri Lanka
Hot tea:
DIRECTIONS: Pour one tea bag for each oz/200-260 7-9 ml of water into the teapot. Pour boiling water over the tea.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Steep 3-7 minutes. Add milk and sugar to taste.
Iced Tea:
DIRECTIONS: To make 1 L / 1 QT to 6 tea bags in a teapot. Pour 1 ¼ cups / 315ml of boiling water over the tea.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Steep 5 minutes. Fill a pitcher 1/4 cold water. Pour the tea into the
pitcher. Add ice-cold water and the sugar or maple syrup to taste.
Additional information
|0.05 kg
|5 × 16 × 11 cm
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In response to my letter to the editor Wednesday, Nov. 6, Mr. Hickey expressed skepticism that a small percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere affected global temperatures or that a carbon fee would have much impact on global temperature.
We certainly have a lot of information at our fingertips these days.
An important question, though, is the process used reviewing that information.
Are we using a process that searches for facts regardless of how they fit our personal views, potentially challenging even for scientists, hence the need for peer-reviewed science.
Versus, are we seeking information without carefully vetting accuracy because it supports our views, alleviating a need for unwanted change.
This is not a new dilemma. In 1633, Galileo, after publishing his evidence that the sun did not revolve around Earth, was placed in house arrest until his death; his foes fearing a world that did not center on themselves.
These are critical times. It will be costly in every sense of the word to miss the facts.
It's important now, more than ever, to seek in our hearts the true nature of our search for information.
Donald J Miller


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20 Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Virtual Assistant
If you are reading this blog post, I am guessing that you are considering taking that leap and hiring a virtual assistant? If you are, congratulations you are one step closer to enjoying more time and more freedom. If you still aren't sure if a VA is for you, have a read anyway and hopefully this post might give you the confidence to go ahead and start your search.
The virtual assistant world is growing and more and more people are branding themselves as virtual assistants offering a vast array of services and expertise. This is of course as a small business owner or an entrepreneur a fantastic opportunity for you to benefit hugely from highly skilled people to support you and your business.
You can easily hire someone to help with your tasks on sites such as Upwork and Fiver. Although I wouldn't recommend that necessarily if you are looking for someone to be your right hand man or woman that you want to build a long term relationship with. I would suggest you look for someone who is just as serious as you and running their own business, not just working part time or as a freelancer.
Hold Your Horses
Don't hire the first VA you come across. Before you sign that contract, there are a few things you need to consider to make sure you are in the right place to hire a VA:
- Get really clear on EXACTLY where you need help
- Identify the MUST HAVE personality traits, who do you work best with? What type of person are you looking for?
- Write a job description outlining the tasks so you can easily identify the skill set you need, this will help you hire for the role rather than just the tasks.
After you have done that, you are ready to start asking your network for recommendations. Don't forget to search on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter too. More often than not you will find there are a number of VAs in the groups you are members of on Facebook or someone in there will know a VA.
20 Questions To Ask Before You Hire
Once you have found a few VAs, undertaken some social stalking to, shortlist your favourites and then interview them. Most VAs that are running serious businesses will offer new clients a free Discovery Call to see if you are the right fit to work with one another. Use this call as your chance to find out as much as you can about them, to make sure you are on the same page and the right fit.
To help you get started here are 20 questions to ask before you hire a virtual assistant.
- So here are a list of the 20 questions you absolutely need to ask before you hire a VA:
- How long have you been working as a virtual assistant?
- Why did you decide to become a virtual assistant?
- What do you enjoy most about your work?
- What is your background, experience and do you have a specific skill set?
- Do you work as a freelancer or do you have your own company?
- What time zone are you located in?
- What are you normal working hours?
- How many clients do you have?
- Will my work be subcontracted to someone else?
- What are your main methods of communication?
- What is your turnaround time on projects?
- How soon can I expect you to respond to an email or voicemail?
- Do you charge for time spend emailing or on the phone?
- How much do you charge?
- How do you invoice?
- Are you willing to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement?
- What software/programmes do you use and are experienced with?
- What security measures do you have in place? (Password, Data, Backup etc..)
- Do you think we'd work well together?
In addition to these questions, I am sure you will think of your own as you go through them. Ones that are more relevant to you and your business, but hopefully these 20 questions are enough to get you started.
My Top Tip
Go with your gut. If it feels right and you think you'll work well together, chances are you will. The times I haven't gone with my gut instinct are the times when things haven't quite worked out the way I wanted or expected and I've ended up kicking myself!
And if you still aren't sure, give them a trial project before your hire them to see how they perform. Then you'll know if you can trust your gut or not!
Are you looking for a VA? Do you need some advice? Let's grab a coffee, have a virtual chat and see if we are a good fit.


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Providing professional practice advice on behalf of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario (CMTO), the Practice Advisor is available to support registrants across the province with making sound and ethical business decisions that comply with legislative requirements, the Standards of Practice, and CMTO policies.
While the Practice Advisor does not give legal or financial advice, registrants are encouraged to contact the Practice Advisor to discuss unfamiliar circumstances and explore possible options to resolve existing challenges prior to taking action.
Guidance provided by the Practice Advisor is legislation-based and takes into account CMTO policies, standards and bulletins which serve to establish minimum standards, practices and expectations for Registered Massage Therapists throughout Ontario.
To contact the Practice Advisor, please email firstname.lastname@example.com. Where appropriate, information shared with the Practice Advisor may be forwarded to the CMTO Professional Conduct department for action.
The interprofessional record keeping resource is no longer available. Please see the workshops offered by CMTO.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Practice Specialist has developed a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by subject area that relate to common questions received from registrants. Please review the FAQs before contacting the College with your question.


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Using Leftovers: Press and Fill
- I love this recipe, because no matter what you have on hand– it works somehow! Too few chocolate chips to put into cookies but too many to justify eating alone? Got the cake all frosted, but what to do with that 1/2 cup leftover frosting? Misread the recipe and accidentally quintupled the cookie dough recipe
- Any leftovers
- Start with leftover cookie dough or brownie batter (or in my case, an accidental extreme excess of cookie dough… don't ask).
- Bake 1/2 tablespoon of dough or batter in a greased mini muffin tin. On average, you're looking at about 350º for about 10 minutes.
- Once baked, press the back of a tablespoon into the cookie or brownie before cooling, creating a shallow "bowl."
- Once they've cooled, remove from the tin and fill with whatever you've got on hand! Some ideas are: frosting, chocolate, peanut butter, ganache, caramel, nutella.
|Chocolate Chip Cookie dough, leftover canned frosting, and sprinkles!
And here's another one that I did: shortbread cookies and chocolate frosting,
If You Enjoyed PB Turtle Kiss Surprise Cookies, Try More Of My Recipes!
This Caramel Apple Sheet Cake is the perfect Fall dessert! Delicious apple spice sheet cake soaked in caramel sauce and topped with caramel icing.


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2020 Vision and a Look Back
As we anticipate an exciting New Year, we reflect with appreciation some favorite memories yet to be highlighted in our blogs. Like Janus—and in Italian profile, we look forward and backwards.
One Of A Kind has created several retirement tributes for Brunswick executives over the years, with this new One Of A Kind collage honoring their outgoing Chairman and CEO. With the Brunswick logo in 3D satin metal letters, a miniature boat, and a scarlet-and-gray Ohio State ribbon as the centerpiece, this art reflects of the CEO's leadership and favorite memories.
D.A.S. Services
To celebrate their 25th anniversary and honor the Founder, D.A.S. commissioned this One Of A Kind tribute. The diamond-shaped art showcases photos, publications and miniatures tell the story of D.A.S. Services. A shelf below features actual equipment, including the first tool the Founder ever made.
West Bend Mutual Insurance
Viktor, a leading incentive travel company honored their client West Bend Mutual Insurance Company on their 125th anniversary. The art features a ribbon with photos celebrating their longtime partnership and accomplishments.
American Road and Transportation Builders Association
ARTBA's yearly award honors their outgoing Chairman. The border highlights major highway projects. A pewter Capitol represents his advocacy, with a dedication plaque expressing appreciation.
Newell Brands, home to Rubbermaid, Coleman, Sharpie and many other brands, honored their outgoing COO with One Of A Kind art. Echoing the roof in their logo, the art is shaped like a house. Photos, publications and unique 3D items (check out the hand painted miniature fireplace!) help tell the story. An Era of Accomplishments highlights the COO's growth within the company.
What does 2020 bring? Great new One Of A Kind projects to be unveiled in coming months. To see them, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn! Wishing you a Happy, Healthy One Of A Kind New Year.


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King's Worcester is a school of today and the future. It is a dynamic and energising learning environment that equips pupils with all the academic and personal skills needed to succeed both here and throughout their life's journey. But what makes King's Worcester so different?
We want pupils to leave King's Worcester still curious about the world, still excited to learn, and able to adapt to changes and challenges in an increasingly unpredictable world.
A warm welcome awaits
Joining King's Worcester is an exciting time and a fresh start for many pupils. We aspire to challenge, inspire, and help support pupils through these important years of their lives and, most importantly, to ensure that they make the most of every day and to enjoy the next chapter of their education.Headmaster's Welcome


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We are using cookies, by continuing to use this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and our use of cookies.
We are using cookies, by continuing to use this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and our use of cookies.
neoLab's eProcurement solutions for more efficient ordering processes
neoLab: full-range supplier with established brands as well as self-developed products
Chemicals from A to Z, Safety Data Sheets
neoLab at your service: product information, ordering process improvement and laboratory planning
The laboratory chair system "Labster" is perfectly adapted in shape and function for the requirements in a laboratory.
Its basis is the result of the "Fraunhofer Laboratory user-study Lab l 2020" which was consequently implemented in every detail.
After finishing work, the "Labster" can be cleaned extremely quick and efficiently. Because of its "hygienic design", it has no gasps in which microorganisms, bacteria or small particle could be deposited. All parts' transition sites are sealed. Even the mechanics are situated under a washable casing. All surfaces are resistant against all current cleaning and disinfection solutions.
The chairs are practically emission-free and fulfill highest categories of air cleanliness. They are also suitable for the use under cleanroom conditions.
The upholsteries are washable, disinfectant-proof and easy to clean.
Short details
|Technical Data:
|Frame material
|Suied for cleanroom
|Ergonomically shaped
|Base type
|mit Teller/ Platte
|Rack color
|Chair/ backrest material
|polyurethane (PU)
|Seat/ backrest color
|Chair type
|standing aid
|Height adjustment
|65 to 85 cm
|Product Name
|Unit Price


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Pelargonium Sidoides Extract For Sinus Treatment - Relief From Sinusitis Through NebulizationHow Does a Nebulizer Work? Asbury university a small to medium-sized medical device that is equipped with a good atmosphere compressor, allowing it to aerosolize drugs. To aerosolize means to change fruit juice to aerosol particles. These particles are in turn, immediately breathed in by the sufferer through nasal cannula (also known as nose prongs) or masks. Depaul university most famous among patients suffering from asthma and COPD, such as emphysema or bronchitis. However, nowadays, nebulization is also being considered as a mode of treatment for other conditions like the common colds, sinus headaches or nose allergies.
Cold air sinus natural remedy is that, Sinus Dynamics, its manufacturer, also occurred to be a compounding drugstore. This means that Sinusitis discomfort a specialty of the preparation of customized drugs fit with regard to the needs of individual clients. There is a ways to distinguish sinusitis medications including antibiotics, anti-fungal, decongestants and also natural cures for sinus infections bad breath to be what foods not to eat with sinus problems fighting sinusitis with nasal nebulizers and medicated irrigators, additionally by Sinus Dynamics. Maxillary sinusitis information available on Sinus can be found out by reading the following matter on Sinus. We ourselves were surprised at the amount!
The Pill Disadvantage There are plenty of trusted sinus infection medications in the market right now. Hardly amazing, most of them tend to be available as medications like syrups, symptoms of vertigo tablets. Medications are often the option of medical doctors for most all cases because swallowing a pill is handy sufficient and seldom bothersome even for the young child. However, if a patient has swallowing difficulties, offers reduced renal and/or hepatic function, or has another medical condition like hypertension, oral medications may not be your best option. The reason for this would be that the active ingredient in dental medication affects not merely chronic sinus infection estrogen entire body also.
Nasal Apply Drawback Nasal sprays that contain adrenal cortical steroids and decongestants tend to be among the best solution to your recurrent sinus problems chronic sinusitis in children. They are very effective since the specific dose of prescription medication is released every time the spray nozzle is triggered. The myth and reality concerning nose headaches are very good water, what all of us ought to know about fighting sinus sinus infections naturally the nose and also define opacified. Unfortunately, however, other essential drugs used natural sinusitis remedies: basic applications kind of antibiotics or even anti-fungals are not available within forms of nasal sprays.


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Connect to Learn: Inspiring South African girls with ICT
One of the things I love about working for Ericsson is our commitment to the strategic objective of employing more women and promoting female leaders. Two great examples of how we are taking action in this area are our support for Girls in ICT Day on April 27th at a variety of locations around the world, and our Connect to Learn(CTL) project together with UNICEF's TechnoGirl program in South Africa.
Growing up female in South Africa, I have never believed my gender makes me any different or less valuable than my male counterparts. I was always told that I should do what I want to do – that I was free to make my own decisions and pursue my interests. But I know that not all girls are so lucky.
I joined Ericsson in 2016 as a graduate recruit because I thought working within the ICT industry would be challenging and offer me many different career paths to explore, and I wanted to be a part of a company that transforms lives through technology and ICT. My belief that Ericsson is the right place for me has only grown stronger after my experience working on the CTL South Africa project.
Launching Connect to Learn in South Africa
I joined the project in June 2016, the week before we were about to deploy and install the solutions at the three selected schools. I was thrilled to be asked to join the deployment team and see the solution in action at the schools where we would be making a positive impact. The project covers two things close to my heart: education improvement and gender equality.
The new state-of-the-art computer laboratory at Sivumelene Secondary School
The legacy of the apartheid era is still visible in South Africa's education system – especially in rural areas, where schools are often under-resourced. By tackling this problem, I believe CTL has the potential to truly transform education in South Africa. In other CTL projects across the world, the focus is on schools that have a large female contingency. This isn't the case in South Africa, though, because most of our rural schools are co-ed.
During the deployments I got to see for myself what an under-resourced rural school looks like – and it was an eye opener! Prior to our arrival, these schools had no ICT resources for education purposes and many of the teachers had limited ICT literacy. Using ICT in education is a step in the right direction in working towards transformation. It's a key way of leveling out the playing field and making sure that rural children have the chance to develop the ICT skills required to be able to study at the university level.
One of the teachers doing her presentation during training.
The deployment of CTL in South Africa has been as bumpy as the roads to get to the schools. Along the way, we've experienced delayed flights, connectivity issues, teachers with almost no ICT experience, and some language barriers too. We even had a goat walk into one of the classrooms!
Despite the setbacks we've faced, I'm pleased to report that we've completed a full deployment with training at one of the three schools in the pilot project, in a state-of-the-art lab that we built in a classroom. The teachers vary widely in age and ICT literacy. Their skill levels ranged from those without email addresses to those who knew how to download YouTube videos. As the training progressed, it was great to see how quickly they relaxed and got comfortable with the technology. By the time the training was over, we had excited teachers who couldn't wait to start using ICT in their lessons.
Sivumelene Secondary School teachers geared up and ready for ICT and Connect to Learn training.
Changing mindsets
Getting more women into the ICT sector should be considered an opportunity, not a challenge. Solutions like CTL in South Africa have an important role to play in changing the way people think about women's role in society and in the workforce.
On top of the obvious benefit of improving the quality of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for both girls and boys at under-resourced rural schools, my hope is that CTL in South Africa will also help change the mindset of rural girls. ICT in the classroom opens up a whole new world of career possibilities for them to consider. Personally, I would like to see more young women choose careers in ICT because they, like me, are inspired by it and want to work in this field. But more importantly, I want to see more young women who are have the confidence to pursue their dreams, whatever they might be, and truly believe that they can do anything they want.
Note: The people in the picture at the top of this post are Simon Muskett (Head of Education Design and Delivery for Connect to Learn), Monique Walters (Regional Head of Learning, RSSA) and blog post author Sarah Druce(Marketing & Communications Graduate, RSSA).